"Dramatic increases in infant mortality, cancer and leukemia in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, which was bombarded by US Marines in 2004, exceed those reported by survivors of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, according to a new study."
Toxic Legacy Of US Assault On Fallujah 'Worse Than Hiroshima', The Independent UK, July 24 2010
Posted by US&THEM
"I
want to push people on (this to) understand what war is. You know that
axium of war is hell. I hope people learn from these documents, that’s
exactly it, and not attach moral colorations of good and evil to these
reports. But this is the basic nature of warfare, and this is what it’s
been like, and it’s been consistent since really '04, in terms of how
poorly things have been going on in Afghanistan. And I shouldn't say
"consistent," because every year, as we’ve increased troops, it’s gotten
worse and worse. So, I think these documents are providing a valuable
service. But like I said, the main point to take away is that why
weren’t we paying attention to this these last five or six years? Where
was the media? Where was the American public’s interest? And most
importantly, where was that congressional oversight?"
WikiLeaks Releases 90,000 Secret Military Documents Painting A Devastating Picture Of Afghanistan War, Democracy Now, July 26 2010
From back in June. This was - and probably still is - going down in the Gulf. Private security acting like they are the law and talking tough - and workers too shook to talk to the newsman. Freedom of speech and the press getting coated with the slime just like the pelicans.
Posted by US&THEM
New fav records selected by the MIDNIGHT ROCKERS EXPRESS.
Earlier in the month The So So Glos were fresh out of the studio, having just recorded a new EP, when they took to the stage of their performance space called Shea to play to a packed crowd. Photographer Mel D. Cole was there to capture it all in black and white. His right hand man in Village Slum, Blair Mil, was also there to witness the Glos on this summer night and sent over these vibes:
"July 4th, The So So Glos tear through songs at Shea Stadium with an unbridled energy and fire that is indicative of the holiday itself. Carried by a DIY sound system they reach through to the kids who are achingly willing to drip sweat and mosh to raw, Brooklyn bred rock n roll. There's something painfully sweet about the Glos lyrics that grip ears and compel bodies to move. The sounds live and hold mad weight without being forced. It's gritty, pulsating, honest, immediate - it is indeed Brooklyn." - Blair Mil for Village Slum
(All images copyright 2010 Mel D. Cole/villageslum.com)
Posted by US&THEM
Posted by US&THEM
"Little brother he ain't feeling well / What you spraying on that oil spill"
- Drew Landry
Not only a hell of a songwriter - but one of the few people speaking some sense. Obama should listen to him when he says "just do the right damn thing."
Democracy Now staying on the details of what is happening around the BP oil mess in the Gulf. First, that $20 billion fund to pay claims by local folks is a sham. Now, payments to workers (many of them fishermen) who have already been working on the clean-up for BP are going to get paid from that amount, rather than BP paying those workers directly. The bigger story, this Corexit they have been spraying and shooting deep into the water - to basically "hide the body", breaking apart the oil so it doesn't appear that massive - is highly toxic. This dispersant is in the air, in the water, on the beaches, in the food chain - and it is a dangerous and powerful poison.
BP Pours Two Million Gallons Of Corexit Into The Gulf, Lawmakers And Advocacy Groups Saying Obama Administration Not Being Candid About The Lethal Affects of Dispersants, Democracy Now, July 20 2010
Last week Zakee killed it at his debut performance for 15,000 people at OkayAfrica's party at Prospect Park. Huffington post article here.
Link to stream his new tracks "Freedom" and "Snakes" on Okayplayer.
More soon from Zakee
Posted By Stephen Glicken
stephen@greenowl.com
The Very Best performing 'Julia' and 'Warm Heart Of Africa' for Daytrotter.
Below is the Special AKA's 'Free Nelson Mandela', a song that was released originally in 1984 when both the US and the UK supported South Africa's apartheid regime and it's stance that Mr. Mandela was in effect jailed for being a terrorist. The song was written by Jerry Dammers of The Specials after attending an anti-apartheid concert in London in 1983. Four years after the song's release, in time for Mandela's 70th birthday, Elvis Costello would pull together an all-star remake of the song to support further protests against apartheid and to rail against the continued imprisonment of Mandela. The song was performed at Wembley Stadium as part of a massive concert to 'Free South Africa'. Among the performers were UB40, George Michael, Whitney Houston, Simple Minds, Little Steven Van Zandt, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Al Green and Tracy Chapman.
The UK's anti-apartheid concerts and related records like 'Free Nelson Mandela' would spark a fire in the USA and help support movements in this country. Little Steven from the E Street Band would get on MTV with his all-star record called 'Sun City' pushing the message into the mainstream that the racist gov't of South Africa were the real terrorists. While pop culture was being hit with this message, college students in the US were pushing their universities to divest from companies that did business with South Africa. Major corporations like Coca-Cola began to have the spotlight shined on them due to their support of the apartheid regime as the movement spread details of who was doing business with the racist, ruthless and cruel government. The early and outspoken stances by popular recording artists of the day were without a doubt a major force in helping turn world opinion against South Africa, bringing about the fall of apartheid and leading to Mandela's release.
Posted by US&THEM
Respect and many thanks to Sugar Minott for all the years of music, rest in peace. Condolences to his family and community.
'Sugar Minott Was Unique', The Gleaner, July 13, 2010
Posted by US&THEM
Jah Jah from Ninjasonik talks style and takes some flicks for The L Magazine's Fashionable Bystander column. 
(Photos by Crystal Gwyn for The L Magazine.)
Posted by US&THEM
Following Ninjasonik's cameo with MIA at the Vice blowout at Milk Gallery, the Ninjas will be supporting her at both HARD dates in LA and NY. Get info here. A warm-up gig will happen at MIA's album release party in NYC this weekend with Ninjasonik opening along with her NEET roster. If you can get on that list - well you're doing better than most of us.
Pictured above and below: MIA and Ninjasonik photographed by Mel D. Cole at the Vice Creators Project, Milk Gallery, New York City, June 26 2010.
(All images copyright 2010 Mel D. Cole/villageslum.com)
Posted by US&THEM
Green Owl's Zakee with a burner for the cutting-edge DJs out there - taking on MIA's track and re-working it into an even bigger summer anthem. Mastered download version coming soon - stay tuned to this site. You can catch him spinning alongside The Roots at OkayPlayer's all-star Africa jam in the park in Brooklyn on Sunday. Summer heat continues.
