Awol from Afghanistan: The Private Story

A total of 349 British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since the start of the war in 2001. Most recently the death of a serviceman, from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 5th Battalion, died on 1 January in a mission against Taliban fighters infiltrating the district of Helmand. No doubt there will be more mainstream media coverage of military coffins draped in national flags as grieving friends and relatives mourn their deaths, slumped by their gravestones, fraught with anger and grief. But to whom should this anger and grief be directed towards? The Taliban? The British government? An evil world which has spawned so much death and destruction?

As much as I admire our servicemen and women for their dedication, I suspect their decision to sign up is as much a result of the effects such images have had on their psyche as it is their sheer courage, bravery and tenacity. The culture of the army is obedience, born out of a belief that the government has your best interests at heart. Ask no questions and I’ll tell you no lies. But as one ex-logistics specialist and anti-war campaigner tells us: “I read about the history of the conflict and realised I had been duped. This wasn’t a war about liberation; it was about strategic influence; about economics and mineral wealth.”

More than 11,000 British soldiers have gone AWOL since 2003, hardly an insignificant number, but this has been hushed up by the higher ranks of the British army. I think the public have the right to know why people are refusing to fight. After all, we are the ones paying for courts martial and military prison for these dissenting soldiers. It’s all very well for anti-war campaigners to stand up and criticise the army but when the criticism comes from within its own ranks, it is somewhat more resounding. I think that’s the problem, people assume that all members of the military understand what they have signed up for, but clearly they don’t. The culture of war breeds naivety and ignorance.

The reasons for going to war have always been justified by nationalist sentiments and in many cases outright lies, as proved by Tony Blair’s false WMD claims in Iraq. You simply can’t put a price on human lives. Sacrifice your freedom for liberty we are told, but they are fundamentally the same thing. As one ex-serviceman claims: “I went out to Afghanistan for all the right reasons. It’s a shame all these conflicts are being fought for all the wrong ones.” See the video below for some inside insight on the subject.

My Top 5 in Global Cinema

Cicade de Deus – City of God (Fernanado Meirelles, 2002)

Adpated from the novel by Paulo Lin, this epic coming-of-age gangster saga set in the deprived slums of Rio de Janeiro is a real assault on the senses. Cut and spliced with frenetic fast paced action the film follows a group of street kids as they fall into the cyclical process of drugs, guns and violence. But as we learn, there may be some faint glimmer of hope in avoiding the pitfalls of poverty. After a chance meeting with notorious overlord Lil ze and some even more extravagant twists of fate the character Rocket manages to gain a job as a phototgrapher at a local newspaper. It is here that he acts as a luminary, exposing the harsh and often brutal realities of life in the favelas. Claustrophobic, disorientating but highly intoxicating this film is surely not to be missed. 10/10.

Amores Perros – Love’s a Bitch (Alejandro Gonzales, 1999)

This insiduously dark and gut-wrenching thriller set in the sun-bleached underbelly of Mexico city see’s multiple lives collide in a beleagured car crash of events. Centred around one main plot with two separate strands enveloping the looping and tumultuous narrative, protagonist Luis and rotweiller Cofi find themselves in the jaws of a ruthless and barbaric dog fighting ring. Parallel to this, a hobo-hitman named El Chivo pursues an assassination attempt on behalf of the victims own brother, only to be distracted at the last minute by his own love of dogs. Meanwhile supermodel Valerie becomes obsessed with her yappy pooch Richie after he is trapped beneath the floorboards of her apartment. powerfully pieced together and rich in canine subtext, this disturbing jigsaw of events will leave your heart pounding and your head racing. 9/10.

Waltz With Bashir (Ari Folman, 2008)

This fascinating quasi-fictional animated documentary see’s director Ari Folman recount his own perspective on the events of the 1982 Lebanon war. As a member of the IDF (Israeli Defence Force) he finds himself repressing memories of combat in which he and his comrades effectively resided over mass murder and genocide. Creeping in ominously with dreams of 26 ravaged dogs chasing him through the streets of Beirut his army buddies begin to dismantle his own amnesia, jolting his psyche back to the horror of previously forgotten events. From here on in the animated dreamscape invokes a sinister and often disjointed narrative, falling somewhere between fraught hallucination and shockingly vibrant reality. This film certainly doesn’t pull any punches, leaving the viewer with a brutal yet foggy portrayal of war. 8/10.

Let The Right One In (Tomas Alfredson, 2008)

Set in the crisp and clinical suburbs of Stockholm this horrocom style thriller adpated from John Lindqvist’s novel sees outstanding performances from child actors Kare Hedebrant (Oskar) and Lina Leandersson (Eli). Living with his divorced mother, Oskar is subject to torment from his peers who persecute him for his shy and reclusive demeanour. But when new tenant Hakan moves in nextdoor with his supposed daughter Lina, events take a grisly yet satisfyingly righteous turn. Lina is a vampire, burdened with the eternal lust for blood, but as the two become friends, even soulmates, Lina’s murderous desire is the paradoxical passion which frees Oskar from the shackles of his tormentors. Littered with comically grotesque scenes and at times utterly bizarre, this one-off gem is undoubtedly a generic trailblazer. 8/10.

Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi, 2007)

This elegantly simplistic but poignant animation adapted from Satrapi’s earlier series of cartoon strips see’s young protagonist Marjane, possibly the creation of her own experiences, growing up in 1970′s pre-revolutionary Iran. She is the daughter of well-off progressives who despise the oppressive Islamic state, but when revolution fails Marjane is shipped off to Europe to avoid the harsh realities of the regime. Marjane is smart, shrewd and iron-willed but it soon becomes apparent that the allure of western culture juxtaposed with the yearning for her homeland leaves her agitated and perturbed. An angry undercurrent which flows though a tapestry of social commentary makes this animation highly enagaging and entertaining. 8/10.

Señor Nice: Straight Life from Wales to South America

In the recent biopic Mr Nice, Hollywood actor Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, The Boat That Rocked) plays charismatic drug smuggler, MI5 agent and Oxford graduate Howard Marks. Based loosely on his autobiography, the film alludes to Mark’s humble upbringing in a Welsh mining village and traces his international exploits up until his release from Terre Haute Penitentiary, Indiana, in 1995. His shady dealings throughout the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s saw him rub shoulders with criminal and terrorist organisations as diverse as the IRA, The Mujahedeen and the Sicilian Mafia. But what happened in the years after his release? In his second autobiographical book Senor Nice, Marks shares his experience of freedom and details his “straight life” as a stand-up comedian, travel writer and Welsh provocateur.

Having gained substantial notoriety after the publishing of Mr Nice, Mark’s being ever the entrepreneur decides to adapt his rather dull readings in local book shops to cater for a more obliging and hedonistic audience. As he claims, “I modified my extracts severely and let the cash tills ring and the booze flow all night.” Not only this, but his one man shows also provided a platform to endorse the legalisation of marijuana, with him frequently smoking a joint or lighting up a bong on stage. Needless to say this was much to the disapproval of the authorities and the approval of his loyal audience.

The spark which ignited Mark’s latest international exploits however began with a quest to uncover his Welsh smuggling ancestry and familial links to the famous pirate and buccaneer Henry Morgan. Rather conveniently this global escapade coincides with a travel piece he is commissioned to write for The Observer. His journey takes him from his birthplace of Kenfig Hill in Wales through Europe and into South America where he takes numerous drugs and indulges in local culture. Along the way he stumbles across an anarchist commune in Italy, a Welsh colony in Patagonia and a reggae concert in Jamaica. Perhaps most notably is his time spent in Argentina where he details a spiritual and mind bending experience on DMT; a hallucinogen extracted from the cheek glands of an Amazonian toad.

These days however Mark’s celebrity status means that he is more likely to be stopped at airports and asked for his autograph than reprimanded for smuggling drugs. This somewhat deducts from the danger and suspense present in his previous book but nevertheless this sequel stands alone quite comfortably as a travel guide, with rich description and engaging insights into various subcultures. Apparently John Lennon, Bob Marley and Elvis are all descendants from The Welsh Valleys; a snippet of rockstar heritage which is by no means common knowledge. But perhaps some of these spurious claims should be taken with a pinch of salt, or herbs, depending on your tastes.

Website Analysis: John Pilger vs Naomi Klein

In conducting a comparative analysis of two competing websites I will be focusing on the world renowned journalists John Pilger and Naomi Klein. More specifically, a comparison of their personal websites will be achieved by drawing upon relevant theory and relating it to featured aspects of usability and design. An assessment of both websites will therefore involve an analysis of elements such as: SEO (search engine optimisation), SMO (social media optimisation), UGC (user generated content), interactivity and multimedia. By comparing, contrasting and evaluating these specific elements I would hope to ascertain which individual website fosters the most effective and ubiquitous presence on the net. As Brinck et al. (2002, p2) states “highly usable websites are intuitive. They are transparent. They support the users and allow them to accomplish their goals quickly, efficiently and easily.”

Both websites demonstrate a concise, uncluttered and easily navigable homepage, with all relevant sections clearly signposted. Sections of the websites which demand greater attention are also placed closer to the top of the page to emphasise their importance. For example, an advert for Pilger’s new film takes up the majority of space on the homepage, likewise for Klein’s latest book. As Brinck et al. (2002, p175) argues, “Sites benefit from strong orientation cues, such as an obvious site logo, a large title page and a distinctive layout.”

Taking both websites into consideration, the sheer number of available articles would imply a significant amount of original content. For example, Pilger has posted over 100 articles spanning 16 years; likewise Klein’s archives reach back ten years and cover a plethora of different topics including war, environment, banking and politics. Such a far reaching reporting agenda is also likely to increase user traffic to both websites as a higher frequency of relevant keywords will produce higher rankings in search engine results. In addition, both individuals have several articles published in respected newspapers such as The Guardian, The NY Times and The New Statesman (direct links to original articles are present on Klein’s website), suggesting that the content is not only vast, but also authoritative. As Pierce et al. (2010) argues, “Content or information is the main product of an online news site, and it is the primary determinant behind a user’s selection and satisfaction.”

In terms of interactivity and UGC neither website seems to be fully engaged with the processes involved. On Klein’s website for example there is a “Democracy Now” video/audio blog present, but it has not been updated for almost a year and there is no option to comment. Again this points to improvements that can be made by keeping site content fresh as this is one of the factors which will contribute to more backlinks and higher search engine rankings (Jones 2008). In addition, neither website makes use of a discussion forum which would provide the potential to understand more about visitors, inviting a greater variety of perspectives on the topical content of the website.

I would argue however that SMO is being put to good effect by both websites with the presence of sharing features that allow users to post content onto social networking sites. Klein’s website for instance allows users to link content to Del.icio.us, Digg, Reddit, Newsvine, Facebook and StumbleUpon. The situation is similar for Pilger whose site displays icons for Digg, Del.icio.us, Reddit, Facebook and Twitter. Clearly, reaching such an expansive audience will reap benefits for the website by generating buzz, traffic and backlinks. Aside from this, a prolific use of social media also shows transparency and a willingness to engage with diverse members of the online community. Klein for example links all her tweets to her Facebook page which reaches a combined audience of almost 72,000 people. By doing so she also provides a space for interactive debate and UGC which will often spark further discussion amongst fans and followers.

By contrast, despite Pilger utilising Facebook and Twitter to promote his new film “The War You Don’t See,” his combined audience only totals a mere 1400. As Jones (2008) argues, “Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter can be used as a vehicle to manage reputation, build recognition and promote products.” Seemingly however, Pilger has only concentrated on the latter and in this case could benefit from a more salient approach to social networking, using it to promote himself and his work more effectively. Not only this, but Rusbridger (2010) asserts that many of the best reporters are now habitually using Twitter as an aid to find information, pointing to Pilger’s failure in realising the potential to generate more resources and therefore more relevant content.

To conclude, theory used in conjunction with observation has demonstrated that both websites feature desired characteristics that enhance usability and design. The evidence suggests that although many aspects colluded to increase the authority and effectiveness of the websites, there were still various elements which could have been improved upon to optimize the experience for the user. However, in terms of the website that I believe fosters the most ubiquitous presence on the net I would argue that Klein wins the title. Although Pilger does have slightly more content on his site and it is perhaps marginally more effective in terms of design and usability, it does not detract from the fact that his use of social media is insufficient in comparison with Klein’s. Not only this, but by focusing all social media efforts on the release of his new film It moves attention away from the idea of a “news website.” This in turn means that social media is being used for the purpose of promotion rather than a tool to foster a community of dedicated online followers.

Monotonix Conquer The Volks

Tel Aviv guerilla-rockers Monotonix consist of singer and frontman Ami Shalev, guitarist Yonatan Gat, and drummer Haggai Fershtman. Banned from playing most of the venues in their hometown because of their depraved on-stage (and off-stage) antics, they have embarked upon a worldwide tour, exporting their raucous riffs to venues across the globe. So, when they played in my hometown of Brighton earlier this year, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to check them out. Here’s a short review of their debauched yet exhilarating performance at The Volks.

As Frontman Shalev bounds on stage he reminds me of a risqué Robin Williams in the film Jumanji; dirty, dishevelled and crazed having just spent decades trapped in the jungle but oddly, wearing tight, brightly coloured speedos. Guitarist Gat and Drummer Fershtman are similarly hairy and primitive, but instead sporting marginally more modest Lycra shorts. The crowd is apprehensive after the support band (I actually saw people asking for earplugs), but the commanding presence of Shalev accompanied by looping guitar riffs from Gat and kicking drums from Fershtman soon launches them into action.

Within moments the speedo-clad trio are moving their snares and cymbals onto the dance-floor, urging the compliant audience to pick them up so they can play whilst suspended in mid-air. Having gained sufficient height, Shalev swings upwards from a metal beam like a demented primate, managing to sing whilst squashed into a tiny crevice above the stage. After returning to ground the band then proceed to stumble around the cramped room, nicking pints and lobbing them into crowd. To top off this beautifully riotous performance, Shalev scatters the contents of a bin over the bar and sprawls across it on his back, rolling in the filth whilst guzzling Fosters direct from the tap.

Bemused bouncers and redundant bar staff look on like petrified puppies, unwilling to crack down on the chaos. Entertaining? Liberating? Yes indeed. Unfortunately one employee didn’t share the sentiment, “If you like em’ so much why don’t you f***ing clean up?” Sorry pal that’s your job, better luck next time ay?

So, you could go out and buy the album, but frankly it doesn’t do them justice. This is a band that has to be witnessed in their raw primordial state: Sweaty, smelly and unsophisticated but hugely entertaining and free-spirited. So next time they are performing near you, I suggest you sell your soul for a ticket. This opportunity is not to be missed. Check out the video below to see them in action or head to their Facebook and Myspace page for information on upcoming shows.

Brighton Blizzard

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Q&A: Crop Circles – A Global Supernatural Phenomenon

Every year breathtakingly complex patterns are found swirled into crop fields around the globe. Over the last few decades they have sparked an intense public debate amongst scientists and politicians yet their origin and purpose remains a complete mystery. Despite attempts to dismiss them as the work of human artists, many believe the evidence points to a much stranger explanation. Wherever they come from, these spectacular designs often display very clear symbolism and demonstrate some extraordinary and unexplainable effects. Below is a brief insight into the subject which I have laid out in a question and answer format. I hope will you will find the information of interest.

 

When was the phenomenon first recognized?

Reference to crop circles reaches back to ancient folklore in places as far afield as Africa and China. A local news-sheet in 1678 entitled “The Mowing Devil” also makes reference to anomalous patterns, proclaiming “no mortal man was able to do the like.” They have also been witnessed by policemen and farmers as far back as 1890 and are mentioned in 17th Century academic texts.

More recently, public interest in crop circles did not emerge until the early 1980’s when formations began appearing in the South of England. By the late 1980′s the more simple designs had developed into pictograms and by 1990 the designs had developed exponentially in their complexity. Today crop circles display fractals, fourth dimensional processes and elements of quantum physics.

Where are crop circles found?

Around 250 formations appear on average each year with over 8000 documented in total. England has played host to around two-thirds of the recorded formations so far, but places as diverse as Germany, Canada, Russia and Japan have also recorded their presence.

Formations tend to appear in an array of crops, including barley, wheat, oat, flax, peas and potatoes. However they have also been discovered in wild grass, snow, ice and salt beds.

Prevailing theories suggest that the positioning of crop circles is also closely linked to ancient sites and sacred monuments. Some maintain that this relates to the earth’s magnetic energy grid, represented by invisible ley lines.

How are they formed?

In 1991 MI5 presented two individuals named Doug Bower and Dave Chorley to the media, via a fictitious press agency, claiming they were the makers of all crop circles. However, the majority of their claims were later proved to be fraudulent as it was shown that almost 300 documented formations predated their alleged exploits. This was never reported in the media.

Other theories such as freak whirlwinds have tried to account for the phenomenon, but the increasing size and sophistication of formations in recent years throws this theory into doubt.

In July 1996, a 915 feet spiral of 151 circles named the “Julia Set” appeared in full view of the busy A303 road opposite England’s ancient Stonehenge monument. A pilot, gamekeeper and security guard confirmed it had not been there before 5.30pm yet shortly after 6.00pm the massive formation was being spotted by passing tourists. Much smaller man-made designs have taken several hours to complete.

Numerous eye-witness accounts also claim the existence of incandescent or brightly coloured balls of light which either precede a crop circle or are actively involved in its creation.

Scientific anomalies

• Soil samples taken from within crop circles show changes to its crystalline structure and mineral composition. Expert analysis concludes that such a process requires temperatures of 1500ºC and sub-soil pressure typically found in strata thousands of years old.
• The stems of affected plants are not broken but bent and swirled. Research suggests that infrasound could be producing such an effect.
• Plant nodes within crop circles are drastically extended; also observed are distortions of seed embryos and the creation of expulsion cavities as if they have been heated from the inside.
• Crop circles alter the local electromagnetic field; affecting the proper function of compasses, cameras and mobile phones; the frequencies are also known to affect aircraft equipment.
• Work by laboratories on circle-affected crop has shown biological changes taking place at a cellular level, suggesting the involvement of microwave energy.
• Evidence from crop circles shows how the floors of laid plants are swirled in mathematical proportions relative to the Golden Ratio – the vortex used by nature to create organisms.

What is their purpose and significance?

Many theorists claim a connection between crop circles and sacred geometry – shapes that contain the fundamental laws of the universe. It is argued that in some way these shapes are interacting with our subconscious and or making subtle changes to biological systems.

Other ideas put forward suggest that the crop circles are interacting with the frequency range of the earth in order to facilitate some kind of evolutionary process.

All of the ideas put forward however are merely conjecture and no theory to date has managed to satisfactorily decipher the real meaning behind these perplexing patterns. Whatever the truth is, it seems set to remain a genuine mystery. Check out the documentary below for some further insight.

Surrey Snowday

De-icer anyone?

 

This is a selection of photographs I took last winter when an intense blizzard brought the Surrey Downs to a standstill. Head to my Flickr page to see the full picture story.

Wikileaks – A Brief History

WikiLeaks is a non-profit media organisation founded by accredited journalists, software programmers and network engineers. It aims to provide an innovative, secure and anonymous way for sources to leak information to its journalists. The broader principles on which it is based are the defence of freedom of speech and media publishing, the improvement of our common historical record and the support of the rights of all people to create new history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 2006 – WikiLeaks releases its first document – a decision to assassinate government officials signed by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.
• 2007 – Official WikiLeaks website launched by The Sunshine Press.  Over 1.2 million leaked documents set to be published.
• 2008 - Wikileaks.org domain is taken offline after Swiss Bank Julius Baer obtains a permanent injunction against them and the wikileaks.org domain registrar Dynadot. The website had hosted allegations of illegal activities at the bank’s Cayman Island branch.
• 2008 - The injunction is dropped following concerns regarding the First Amendment. WikiLeaks is able to bring its site back online.
• 2008 – Classified documents reveal U.S. counterintelligence plans to destroy WikiLeaks.
• 2008 – WikiLeaks publishes British National Party membership list. This includes many of the names, address, and occupations of the 13,500 members.
• 2009 – Wikileaks release over 600 internal United Nations reports (60 of them marked “strictly confidential”).
• 2009 –  WikiLeaks release 86 telephone intercept recordings of Peruvian politicians and businessmen involved in the “Petrogate” oil scandal.
• 2009 – Home of Theodor Reppe, registrant of the German WikiLeaks domain name is  raided after the release of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) censorship blacklist.
• 2010 – WikiLeaks release classified U.S. military footage showing a series of attacks in Baghdad by a U.S. helicopter that killed 12, including two Reuters news staff, Saeed Chmagh and Namir Noor-Eldeen.
• 2010 – Wikileaks spokesman Julian Assange makes suprise speech at TED conference. He confirms that WikiLeaks is once again accepting submissions.
• 2010 – WikiLeaks release over 92,000 documents related to the war in Afghanistan.
• 2010 – WikiLeaks release the Iraq War Logs.