Racism: A History (BBC 2007) Episode One

Executive Producer David Okuefuna presents a general summary of the formation of race as a discourse in the 15th and 16th century as part of the enlightenment project. Focus on slavery, the Haitian slave rebellion of 1791-1804. Features commentary by many star academics, including David Theo Goldberg (who I have met and whose work I admire).

It is an Anglo-American account of race and racism with some attention paid to the French, Spanish and Portuguese colonial missions. I suppose the bias can be attributed to the time frame and the series seems to follow a chronological order. It is interesting that they say slavery was abolished by the British in 1833. But I know that it continued in the part of Australia I come from until 1901, the year the colonies there were granted independence from Britain. So-called 'blackbirding' was part of the economy of Queensland until that time and the workers continued on after then often in harsh conditions.

Tibet 1959-2009

Video: The Yogis of Tibet
Since the invasion of Tibet over 50 years ago, China has systematically destroyed the Tibetan culture. One of the most profound losses is the tradition of the great master yogis. The entire system which supported these fascinating mind masters has been inexorably eliminated. In order to record these mystical practitioners for posterity, the filmmakers were given permission to film heretofore secret demonstrations and to conduct interviews on subject matter rarely discussed. This profound historical, spiritual and educational film will someday be the last remnant of these amazing practitioners.

Today on the fiftieth anniversary of the flight of his Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama from Tibet to India, the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, accused the Chinese Government of putting his people through "hell on Earth".

The Dalai Lama accused Beijing of "repressive and violent campaigns" that have killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and destroyed its cultural heritage.

"These 50 years have brought untold suffering and destruction to the land and the people of Tibet," he said.

China described the critical comments from the Dalai Lama as "lies" and insisted Tibet has enjoyed profound democratic reforms under Chinese rule.

In the landmark speech to commemorate 50 years since he fled Tibet, the Dalai Lama dispelled speculation that he would step back from the struggle for Tibetan autonomy. "To work for the cause of Tibet is the responsibility of every Tibetan, and as long as I live I will uphold this responsibility."

“Today, the religion, culture, language and identity, which successive generations of Tibetans have considered more precious than their lives, are nearing extinction,” said the Dalai Lama, 73, the spiritual leader of the Tibetans. SMH, NYT

Occupation 101: Voice of the Silenced Majority

After staying up until midnight writing, I then stayed up longer and watched this film (so tired). Occupation 101 is a amazing summary of the forces behind the conflict between the Palestinian people and the modern state of Israel. I found it a thought provoking and surprisingly balanced account of the situation. One thing that shone through for me was the post-colonial/colonial realities of what is going on in the occupied territories. This is not an ancient struggle, it is an occupation based on power. I have been thinking a lot about this film since I saw it. Maybe you will too.

Occupation 101: Voice of the Silenced Majority is a 2006 documentary on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict directed by Sufyan Omeish and Abdallah Omeish, and narrated by If Americans Knew founder Alison Weir. The film focuses on the reality and the effects of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and discusses events from the rise of Zionism to the Second Intifada and Israel's unilateral disengagement plan, and presents its case through dozens of interviews. It questions the nature of Israeli-American relations. Specifically, it questions the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and whether Americans should help pay for it.[1] Occupation 101 includes interviews with mostly American and Israeli scholars, religious leaders, humanitarian workers, and NGO's critical of the injustices and human rights abuses that stem from Israeli policy in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip.

Wikipedia

The End of the Commonwealth of Englishes

In three weeks I have presented seven lectures on The Cultures of Commonwealth English. It has been a demanding time, but I have learnt a lot. I have been using a wiki to teach and administer the course. The wiki is the textbook, the lectures notes, the plan and the study materials for the exam. I am not sure how the students feel about the use of the wiki, but I suspect it may be positive. I will distribute a short series of questions to guage opionion during the last lecture tomorrow. I have been even teaching from the wiki in the classroom, using the embedded videos and images as learning objects in lessons. I have been spacing out the videos from between 10 an 20 minutes apart, as the students start to get bored listening to my voice after about that amount of time. I hope to be teaching the same course again next term and I will continue to develop the wiki as part of future teaching of the course. You can check the wiki out HERE.

Stand with Tibet - Support the Dalai Lama

Tibet: End the Violence.

After decades of repression, Tibetans are crying out to the world for change. China's leaders are right now making a crucial choice between escalating brutality or dialogue that could determine the future of Tibet, and China.

We can affect this historic choice -- China does care about its international reputation. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get the government's attention. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has called for restraint and dialogue: he needs the world's people to support him. Fill out the form below to sign the petition--and spread the word.

A RADICAL BLACKFOOT TEACHES THE ECONOMICS OF GLOBALIZATION

Jim M. Craven (Omahkohkiaayo i'poyi), Professor of Economics and Business Division Chair at Clark College/Vancouver, speaks at the Globalization of Homelessness and Poverty Community Lecture Series, Washington State University/Vancouver. January 27th, 2005
Thanks to Nick for the tip.

Representation and Self-Representation: Arabs and Muslims in Digital Games

Representation and Self-Representation: Arabs and Muslims in Digital Games
by Vit Sisler
This paper presents the ways in which Muslims and Arabs are represented in mainstream European and American digital games. It analyzes how games — particularly of the action genre — construct the Arab or Muslim ‘Other.’ Within these games, one finds the diverse ethnic and religious identities of the Islamic world reconstructed into a series of flat social typologies, often presented within the framework of hostility and terrorism. The second part of the paper deals with selected digital games created in the Middle East, whose authors are knowingly working with the topic of self-representation. Recent digital games originating in the Middle East can be perceived as examples of an ongoing digital emancipation taking place through the distribution of media images and their corresponding meanings. A key part of this ongoing digital emancipation involves the construction of Arab and Islamic heroes, a process accomplished by exploiting distinctive narrative structures and references to Islamic cultural heritage.