Month: May 2010

Meanwhile, in Thailand…

May 27, 2010: J. Rosencrantz

In Bangkok, a 10 week anti-government protest led by “Red Shirts” was ruthlessly crushed by the Thai military.  Here is a video illustrating consequences of a sniper’s cowardly work:

Surviving Red Shirts have returned to their villages… at least for now.

Here is a slide show of the aftermath of the Thai military’s crackdown, and a play-by-play breakdown with maps of the action.

Democracy Now hosted a debate on the meaning of the Red Shirts — are they a genuine grassroots struggle for self-determination or a proto-fascist front for a billionaire ex-Prime Minister?

And here is a short piece giving historical context context to the protests and to Obama’s foreign policy stance.

Still Spilling (Live)

May 26, 2010: J. Rosencrantz

BP, cont.

May 18, 2010: J. Rosencrantz

Here is a short video document I produced of the collective action at BP’s “Green Curve” station in Los Angeles last Wednesday:

The sad story of the Deepwater Horizon spill continues, of course. 60 Minutes has some decent coverage here, including an interview with a survivor of the initial blast.

Firedoglake has a page devoted to developments here, as does the UK Guardian here.

Leaks

May 14, 2010: J. Rosencrantz

“Green Curve”

May 11, 2010: J. Rosencrantz

Tomorrow, I’m fixin’ to bicycle to Olympic and Robertson to document the collective action at BP’s “Green Curve” station, si alguien tiene ganas de acomanarme:

Wednesday, May 12, 5-7 PM
8770 West Olympic Boulevard, L.A.

(There are similar events in other cities…)

Meanwhile, here is an argument for the public seizure of BP’s assets.

BP

May 10, 2010: J. Rosencrantz

But the latest episode in a sad history of oil operations.  This current disaster will result in several disastrous and long term effects.

Democracy Now covers the important angles of this story – how the government exempted BP from environmental review despite its dismal environmental record, noting its lobbying and greenwashing campaigns as well as its  role in the 1953 overthrow of democracy in  Iran,

Nikolas Kozloff reviews the role of Obama’s secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar. (I can’t help but succumb to a flash of schadenfreude for President Centrist since this disaster comes right on the heels of this.) And here is a bit about the Halliburton connection.

One group is mobilizing for a day of protests and calling for the seizure of BP’s assets.