Frank Crichlow (1932 - 2010) was a community activist and civil rights campaigner. He founded the Mangrove restaurant which became the centre for Black civil rights activism in Britain which led to the infamous Mangrove Nine trials of 1970 and the first admission of institutional racism within the Metropolitan Police force.
Video smuggled out of Israel that captures the Israeli Navy threatening to open fire on a boat containing human rights activists who were delivering aid, following the massacres in Gaza under Operation Cast Lead 2008/2009 during which over 1,400 people were killed and over 50,000 people displaced.
With the US's political landscape under more scrutiny than ever before, citizens of the US are rapidly calling for change.
Will history ever stop repeating itself? A statement on the illegalities of war and the actions which should be taken to stop the outbreak of war.
Robin Miller looks at some of the propaganda tactics used by the mainstream media to help shape public opinion and perceptions about the Israel/Palestine conflict.
With gas prices at an all-time high, oil conglomerates are, now more than ever, looking to Africa for its relatively untapped resources.
Zimbabwean political analyst George Shire talks to Ishmahil Blagrove, Jr. about the recent elections in his country, the cause of the crisis and the impact of Western interference on the democratic process of change in Zimbabwe.
A quarter of a century after the Soweto Uprising, the linguistic and social divides which underly the upheaval are still a pressing issue.
Pat Dodson, winner of the 2008 Sydney Peace Prize, talks to Ishmahil Blagrove, Jr. about the plight of Australia's indigenous people, the recent government apology and the opportunities for black and white Australians to resolve their differences.
With religious intolerance now at the ugly centre of many of the world's major conflicts, it is important to look at the concepts of spirituality and the clashes of conformity within the contexts of organized religion.
Described as “…a masterpiece and one of the most fascinating and important books written about the Black British experience,” ‘The Frontline’ is a celebration of struggle and survival - that familiar and recurring narrative of the migrants journey, retold through the footsteps of those brave African and Caribbean pioneers who settled in 20th century England.
Ali Shalal is a professor of theology. It is important to understand that what Ali Shalal experienced is part of a routine process of torture, applied systematically to those arrested. Many of his companions in Abu Ghraib died as a result of torture or were executed upon their release so that they would not reveal the gruesome horrors and atrocities committed under orders by the Bush Administration.
Many have suggested that the Aboriginal people of Australia have been reduced to drug abusers, petrol sniffers, murderers, rapists, and all-around dysfunctional entities of society. Why?
In Syria, Iraqi refugees are preparing to return to the warzone they once called home. "We'd rather die in Iraq than starve as foreigners," they tell Mike Otterman and Tamara Fenjan.
It has often been said that, "you have to be a man to be a woman in politics." But would a feminine approach really make a difference?
Will history ever stop repeating itself? A statement on the illegalities of war and the actions which should be taken to stop the outbreak of war.
Antony Loewenstein reviews Dahr Jamail's book, Beyond the Green Zone, a frightening account of the effects of the US occupation on the Iraqi people.
Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, millions of Iraqis have fled their country, seeking refuge in neighbouring Iran, Syria, and Jordon. As the West fails to respond and neighboring countries begin to close their borders to this refugee crisis, the fate of Iraq's displaced people hangs in the balance.
In today's war zones, mercenaries have evolved from rag-tag amateur soldiers into private armies of elite, specialist-trained combat units.
The world recently saw Saddam Hussein hanged for his crimes against humanity. Should Bush and Blair be brought to justice for theirs?
In the aftermath of the US-led War in Iraq, the citizens of this destroyed country continue to fight the occupation that has supposedly "freed" them. As the US soldiers' morale steadily decreases, we are forced to ask the question: Can the US actually win?
The influences and motivational forces that propel a society are many, but what is it that drives individuals or organisations to become extreme? Whether it be Islamic fundamentalists, white racists, Osama Bin Laden or George Bush, is there a common pathology that links them all?
The Russian-made AK47 and the US-made M16 are two of the most popular assault rifles ever made. How do they compare?
Geoffrey Nyarota was the founding editor of The Daily News, Zimbabwe’s only independent publication, from 1999 to 2002. During this time, he earned a fierce reputation for his uncensored voice, was arrested on six occasions, and was fired during President Robert Mugabe’s campaign to quiet criticism from independent newspapers.
The descendants of the Atlantic Slave Trade are spread out all over the world. Where do the children of these former slaves stand today?
Two films about the Rwandan genocide of 1994, one made by Hollywood the other made by Britain. How do they compare?
Robin Miller looks at some of the propaganda tactics used by the mainstream media to help shape public opinion and perceptions about the Israel/Palestine conflict.
An examination of the media's power to influence youth and their perceptions of themselves, their communities, and their world.
From gangsta rap to the voice of youth, hip hop has undoubtedly evolved in the past 30 years. Desi K. Robinson examines hip hop from it's not-so-humble beginnings in the Bronx to it's current place on the global stage as a voice of social change and political revolution.
The once underground music and fashion trends of the inner cities have now become mainstream. Has the street lost its cred?
Muslim women who wear the veil appear to be trapped between their faith and the demands to conform to Western conventions. The government and media suggest that Muslims are not doing enough to integrate. But are they being asked to integrate or assimilate?
Racial and cultural terms of reference are often ascribed to "people of colour" with the deliberate intention to demean or subjugate them. Desi K. Robinson takes a look at the struggle of African Americans to claim an identity of their own and to be defined by their own criteria.
Ask anyone who has a long term memory of what black music has been, and they’ll tell you: “It’s not what it used to be.”
Frank Crichlow (1932 - 2010) was a community activist and civil rights campaigner. He founded the Mangrove restaurant which became the centre for Black civil rights activism in Britain which led to the infamous Mangrove Nine trials of 1970 and the first admission of institutional racism within the Metropolitan Police force.
Video smuggled out of Israel that captures the Israeli Navy threatening to open fire on a boat containing human rights activists who were delivering aid, following the massacres in Gaza under Operation Cast Lead 2008/2009 during which over 1,400 people were killed and over 50,000 people displaced.
With the US's political landscape under more scrutiny than ever before, citizens of the US are rapidly calling for change.
Will history ever stop repeating itself? A statement on the illegalities of war and the actions which should be taken to stop the outbreak of war.
Robin Miller looks at some of the propaganda tactics used by the mainstream media to help shape public opinion and perceptions about the Israel/Palestine conflict.
With gas prices at an all-time high, oil conglomerates are, now more than ever, looking to Africa for its relatively untapped resources.
Zimbabwean political analyst George Shire talks to Ishmahil Blagrove, Jr. about the recent elections in his country, the cause of the crisis and the impact of Western interference on the democratic process of change in Zimbabwe.
A quarter of a century after the Soweto Uprising, the linguistic and social divides which underly the upheaval are still a pressing issue.
Pat Dodson, winner of the 2008 Sydney Peace Prize, talks to Ishmahil Blagrove, Jr. about the plight of Australia's indigenous people, the recent government apology and the opportunities for black and white Australians to resolve their differences.
With religious intolerance now at the ugly centre of many of the world's major conflicts, it is important to look at the concepts of spirituality and the clashes of conformity within the contexts of organized religion.
Across the world's largest continent, objective journalism is difficult to come by. Who are the real tale-spinners behind Africa's stories?
With celebrity status easier to achieve than ever before, are the parameters which define fame shifting?
While the Haitian Food Riots made brief international headlines, the mainstream media has failed to cover the real causes and effects behind the crisis.
Who really knows best? An examination of the effect the West's arrogance and condescension has on the less-heard voices of the global community.
In today's dangerous world, kids begin to experiment younger and there is much more to protect our children from than the sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll.
Ishmahil Blagrove, Jr. talks to film-maker Shango B'Song about his feature length, action adventure thriller, 'Quiet Storm'. A hard-hitting film about four Black extremists on a mission to correct some of the political and economic injustices affecting African people.
Ali Shalal is a professor of theology. It is important to understand that what Ali Shalal experienced is part of a routine process of torture, applied systematically to those arrested. Many of his companions in Abu Ghraib died as a result of torture or were executed upon their release so that they would not reveal the gruesome horrors and atrocities committed under orders by the Bush Administration.
Many have suggested that the Aboriginal people of Australia have been reduced to drug abusers, petrol sniffers, murderers, rapists, and all-around dysfunctional entities of society. Why?
Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, “The War on Terror” has become a household name, found in the headlines of every newspaper and on the lips of every news commentator in the US and abroad. But what is the “War on Terror,” and whom is it really being waged against?
An examination of the media's power to influence youth and their perceptions of themselves, their communities, and their world.
Ishmahil Blagrove Jr talks to Aboriginal activist and community leader Shane Phillips about the plight of Aboriginal people in Australia, the suspension of the Race Discrimination Act, and the country’s Intervention Laws which have been described as Australia’s Apartheid.
In Syria, Iraqi refugees are preparing to return to the warzone they once called home. "We'd rather die in Iraq than starve as foreigners," they tell Mike Otterman and Tamara Fenjan.
Who wants to let their taste, culture, or political views be dictated by media-influenced stereotypes? An examination of the public’s growing dissatisfaction with mainstream representations.
Udham Singh was charged with the murder of Sir Michael O'Dwyer, the former Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab who had approved of the action of Brigadier-General R.E.H. Dyer at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar on April 13, 1919, an event which resulted in the massacre of hundreds of men, women and children and left over 1,000 wounded during the course of a peaceful political meeting.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi banker and economist who has extensively spoken out against the evils of poverty across the globe. The following is an excerpt from his 2006 Nobel Prize acceptance speech.
The following is a translation of Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's speech made at Riad Solh Square on Tuesday, 8 March, 2005, in central Beirut.
The following statement is an excerpt from a speech made by Jean-Paul Sartre at a press conference of the French Liaison Committee against Apartheid on 9 November 1966 in Paris.
The following is an excerpt from a speech delivered by Fidel Castro in 1962. With the recent rise of socialist movements throughout Latin America, it is interesting to look back on Castro’s words looking forwards in the aftermath of the Cuban Revolution, forseeing and warning of today’s imperialistic world.
On April 4, 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City. These prophetic words are probably the least known of all of King’s speeches, yet today, it seems to be one of the most crucial speeches to remember in the face of current world events. The following is an excerpt from that speech.
It is important to note that many scholars have argued that had King refrained from addressing the Vietnam War through his stirring oratory, he would still be alive today.
Peter Kropotkin was a Russian prince and a prominent Russian anarchist. Throughout his life, he advocated for a communalist society free from central government. He wrote many books, essays, and articles on the subject of anarchist communism and was known throughout Russia as “the Anarchist Prince.”
The following is an excerpt from his 1897 essay, “Anarchist Morality.” ...
I challenge any balanced and independent journalist with a shred of moral accountability to review the BBC’s reporting of the Zimbabwean elections and to declare it to be impartial.
Fidel Castro has retired after forty-nine years as President and Commander-in-Chief of the larger-than-life revolutionary island of Cuba. After almost two years as acting President, Raul Castro was elected his successor and is now the custodian of the world’s most famous revolution.
With another year drawn to a close, many of the serious calamities and disasters that the world faced entering 2007 still remain.
Both the government and monarchy fail to acknowledge any hypocrisy in Britain’s masquerade as a champion of human rights and democracy while simultaneously playing host to one of the world’s most corrupt and infamous abusers of human rights: the dictator and ruler of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah.
The western media’s coverage of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the United Nations was disgraceful and the worst type of media propaganda imaginable. It is this type of shameful news reporting that epitomizes the biased stance of many news agencies that claim to uphold balanced and ethical values in broadcasting.
Youth violence is again at the top of the news agenda as the result of the recent murder of Rhys Jones, an eleven-year-old boy from Liverpool. His callous slaying at such a tender age has shocked the nation and sparked a series of public and media debates about the phenomenon of youth violence and its root causes.
By all accounts, there is untold suffering and serious human rights abuses taking place, with reports of rape, amputations, and destruction to civilian life and property. But these terrible acts are a general symptom of war, so should the events that have been taking place in Darfur over the past few years be described as a 'genocide'?
Why, or more importantly, how has the disappearance of a four-year-old girl sparked such a frenzy amongst the world's media and in particular, the British public? We’ve entered the age of entertainment news - an age where the importance of a news story is not determined by the public value of its content but rather by its ability to mesmerise and sustain its viewers.
Bayonets can now be removed, as the hand-to-hand combat that was widely predicted within the Labour Party has truly been averted; Gordon Brown is the “new” Labour Prime Minister.
Channel 4’s Celebrity Big Brother sparked a public debate into race and class that dwarfed all previous public discussions on the subject and eclipsed all domestic and international news.
Die Weiße Rose (“The White Rose”) was a coalition of university students in Germany during the Third Reich who opposed Hitler by independently writing, producing, and distributing leaflets throughout Germany which sought to expose the tyranny of the Nazi party in a country otherwise totally controlled by government-produced news and propaganda.
The Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to drop charges against Hans and Eva Rausing for possession of cocaine, crack, cannabis and heroin is shocking and makes a mockery of the British judicial system.
Part of Africa's pantheon of post-independence martyrs, alongside Congo's Patrice Lumumba and South Africa's Steve Biko, Sankara seized power in a 1983 coup at the age of 33 to tackle corruption and the dominance of former colonial powers.
There was certainly no honour amongst thieves during the trial of Simon Mann who was sentenced to 34-years imprisonment for his part in the 2004 failed coup attempt to topple the government of Teodoro Obiang Nguema in Equatorial Guinea.
Patrice Lumumba became the first democratically elected leader of the Republic of the Congo on June 23, 1960. He was a staunch anti-imperialist who believed in African self-determination and black pride. He was eventually overthrown and murdered in a coup supported and sponsored by the governments of the United States and Belgium.
“Stand for change,” “Change you can believe in,” “Are you ready for change?” Change is clearly the message that the Barack Obama campaign team are trying to get across, and with the recent victory over Hilary Clinton it would appear that many voters are hearing the message loud and clear.
Amilcar Cabral was a marxist revolutionary leader who fought against Portuguese colonial rule in Guinea-Bissau. He was assassinated in 1973. The following is an excerpt from his address delivered to the first Tricontinental Conference of the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America held in Havana in January, 1966.
After the Labour Party’s worst local elections defeat in over four decades, I think it is safe to say that the people have spoken and the carcass of New Labour is now in the process of decay, marked by the appointment of Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson, lovable rogue and full-time stand-up comedian, who now holds the keys and financial reins to London.
Udham Singh was charged with the murder of Sir Michael O'Dwyer, the former Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab who had approved of the action of Brigadier-General R.E.H. Dyer at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar on April 13, 1919, an event which resulted in the massacre of hundreds of men, women and children and left over 1,000 wounded during the course of a peaceful political meeting.
Imprisonment has become the response of first resort to far too many of the social problems that burden people who are ensconced in poverty. These problems often are veiled by being conveniently grouped together under the category "crime" and by the automatic attribution of criminal behavior to people of color. Homelessness, unemployment, drug addiction, mental illness, and illiteracy are only a few of the problems that disappear from public view when the human beings contending with them are relegated to cages.
I challenge any balanced and independent journalist with a shred of moral accountability to review the BBC’s reporting of the Zimbabwean elections and to declare it to be impartial.
Fidel Castro has retired after forty-nine years as President and Commander-in-Chief of the larger-than-life revolutionary island of Cuba. After almost two years as acting President, Raul Castro was elected his successor and is now the custodian of the world’s most famous revolution.
We don’t allow defendants in court cases to select the charges on which they will be tried. So why should the government set the terms of a public inquiry into its own failings? We don’t allow criminal suspects to vet the trial judge. Why should the government approve the inquiry’s chair?
We support the survivors and mourn the dead – they are our families, friends and neighbours, many of whom are still missing.
The Justice4Grenfell campaign welcome Nicholas Paget-Brown finally doing the right thing and stepping down as Leader of the Council, something the survivors, residents and broader community have been calling for since the Grenfell Tower disaster. His Deputy, Rock Feilding-Mellen, has also stepped down according to media reports.
The limited nature of the inquiry and Moore-Bick’s history raise doubts over whether decision-makers involved will be held accountable – and they must be
