Protests all over Iran yesterday, and reports that they continue today, in spite of the vicious crackdown by regime forces.
Meanwhile, The US and South Korea await more cyber-attacks.
Last week on twitter, in the #iranelection feed, someone (or ones) warned/bragged about just such an attack happening, and more. This was reported to authorities. I read it, and it sounded like crazy talk until my computer was overtaken and operated by remote control on Sunday night by a mystery person, who was also posting disinformation about Iran, for whatever that's worth.
This weekend, leave the car at home, wear Green to support the Iranian protesters, and post your pic in the Flickr group. This is the first of four Don't Drive Days this summer. Read the FAQ for more information.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
It is Now Urgent
The latest from the New York Times here. The regime has made it pretty clear, with us or against us:
The Green Brief has turned out to be one of the most reliable sources of breaking news, and the news that "doesn't fit" in the MSM as well. Read the latest here.
It's difficult to confirm anything right now and the brewing cyberwar makes almost all sources suspect. But given what we know of regime leaders' past actions, we can be sure the people still in custody and those who contiue to defy the regime and protest are in great danger.
One thing is certain. It is now urgent that people everywhere start conserving oil as much as possible because this is the only thing the regime understands, the only thing we can do as citizens to have a strong and positive effect on the outcome. Protests and petitions can help a few people and they give a lot of support to the Iranian protesters. Cutting oil usage quickly and significantly is the only way for people of the world to hit the regime where it will hurt them, barring a military strike, which would be a very bad idea.
It's not about one Don't Drive Day but as many as you can manage, and about convincing as many people as possible to do it too.
“Today, no one is impartial,” said Gen. Yadollah Javani, political director of the Revolutionary Guards, in comments made on Sunday as reported by IRNA. “There are two currents; those who defend and support the revolution and the establishment, and those who are trying to topple it.”
The Green Brief has turned out to be one of the most reliable sources of breaking news, and the news that "doesn't fit" in the MSM as well. Read the latest here.
It's difficult to confirm anything right now and the brewing cyberwar makes almost all sources suspect. But given what we know of regime leaders' past actions, we can be sure the people still in custody and those who contiue to defy the regime and protest are in great danger.
One thing is certain. It is now urgent that people everywhere start conserving oil as much as possible because this is the only thing the regime understands, the only thing we can do as citizens to have a strong and positive effect on the outcome. Protests and petitions can help a few people and they give a lot of support to the Iranian protesters. Cutting oil usage quickly and significantly is the only way for people of the world to hit the regime where it will hurt them, barring a military strike, which would be a very bad idea.
It's not about one Don't Drive Day but as many as you can manage, and about convincing as many people as possible to do it too.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Kalemeh, from Iran
Iranian girl rapper Kalameh got this out to the world:
Translation of lyrics can be found on Mark Levine's blog on Huffpo, about halfway down the page.
Translation of lyrics can be found on Mark Levine's blog on Huffpo, about halfway down the page.
News from World War Four
The Bad news is that Iran hanged 20 people this weekend, bringing to 32 the official total of people hanged in the last ten days. Iran claims they were hanged for drug trafficking, but there is no way to verify any of this. In the past, the regime has claimed executed people were ordinary criminals when in fact, they were opposition members. This is a way to preclude world condemnation. Iran executes more people than any other country except China according to Human Rights Watch.
There is good news too, an increasing amount every day. Under tremendous pressure at home and abroad, the regime is releasing more and more detainees. And in an unprecedented, and highly significant move, a respected body of Qom mullahs has condemned the Iran election and called for the results to be thrown out. Other groups of Mullahs are said to be meeting behind closed doors to decide what to do.
Ayatollah Ghaffari has done the unthinkable, called into question sharply the Supreme Leader.
Mousavi continues to hold out. This man reminds me a bit of Obama, a bit of Gandhi, and a lot of Mikhail Gorbachev, another man who worked and survived within a tricky political apparatus, the Politburo in his case, and emerged as a genuine reformer with his country's best interests at heart.
The Biden Gambit: Baffling? Interesting"? Crazy? Crazy like a Fox? Not sure.
Random Thoughts: This is the first world war of the 21st century, the first global cyberwar, the first war where anyone with computer access or a green balloon can fight, at little personal risk for those outside Iran, where they are risking everything.
The The Dutch go Green.
There is good news too, an increasing amount every day. Under tremendous pressure at home and abroad, the regime is releasing more and more detainees. And in an unprecedented, and highly significant move, a respected body of Qom mullahs has condemned the Iran election and called for the results to be thrown out. Other groups of Mullahs are said to be meeting behind closed doors to decide what to do.
Ayatollah Ghaffari has done the unthinkable, called into question sharply the Supreme Leader.
Mousavi continues to hold out. This man reminds me a bit of Obama, a bit of Gandhi, and a lot of Mikhail Gorbachev, another man who worked and survived within a tricky political apparatus, the Politburo in his case, and emerged as a genuine reformer with his country's best interests at heart.
The Biden Gambit: Baffling? Interesting"? Crazy? Crazy like a Fox? Not sure.
Random Thoughts: This is the first world war of the 21st century, the first global cyberwar, the first war where anyone with computer access or a green balloon can fight, at little personal risk for those outside Iran, where they are risking everything.
The The Dutch go Green.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Nature and The Nation
Nature Magazine on why world scientists should support the Iranian protests.
And The Nation on how widespread the pro-opposition protests have been.
A lot of the MSM seems to buy the regime's line that the movement is limited to North Tehran, despite scenes of mass protests drawing people from all walks of life all over the country. One of the videos I saw was nothing but miles and miles of South Tehran, that reported Ahmadinejad stronghold, lined with people holding pro-Mousavi posters, of anti-government graffiti and burning tires. I cannot find it now. It was shot by an old woman riding in a car, and as she videos she says over over in Farsi, "Bravo for the youth, bravo for the youth."
And The Nation on how widespread the pro-opposition protests have been.
A lot of the MSM seems to buy the regime's line that the movement is limited to North Tehran, despite scenes of mass protests drawing people from all walks of life all over the country. One of the videos I saw was nothing but miles and miles of South Tehran, that reported Ahmadinejad stronghold, lined with people holding pro-Mousavi posters, of anti-government graffiti and burning tires. I cannot find it now. It was shot by an old woman riding in a car, and as she videos she says over over in Farsi, "Bravo for the youth, bravo for the youth."
Friday, July 3, 2009
Happy July 4th!
Afshin Molavi sends a message from the Iranian people, wishing the American people a happy July 4th, and extending an invitation: Please join our revolution.
Let the Usurpers Writhe
Roger Cohen, who has covered the Iran story with a sharp eye and pen, has a very interesting take in the NYT today:
Meanwhile, the protester motto circulating at the moment is "Happiness and Hope," despite the dire stories coming out of Evin prison, reminding of a quote I saw this week from a protester about life during the crackdown after the positive mood of the demonstrations,"It's hard to go back into the cage once you've experienced joyful flight."
A very reliable source sends along a link to this video of students protesting at Kashan University the last few days. They can't go out to protest because of the security forces, so they stay in and innovate:
And a Portuguese revolutionary has been tweeting juicy bank details on regime leaders' Swiss and German bank accounts, including account numbers (Russian hackers are unclogging their siphon hoses as I write). No confirmation on whether the info is legitimate yet.
I think Mahmoudi’s right. Khamenei and Ahmadinejad may begin to unclench their fist, as isolation and sullen defiance grow, in a bid to deliver what they would not allow the reformists to initiate: détente with America.
Obama must leave them dangling for the foreseeable future. He should refrain indefinitely from talk of engagement.
Meanwhile, the protester motto circulating at the moment is "Happiness and Hope," despite the dire stories coming out of Evin prison, reminding of a quote I saw this week from a protester about life during the crackdown after the positive mood of the demonstrations,"It's hard to go back into the cage once you've experienced joyful flight."
A very reliable source sends along a link to this video of students protesting at Kashan University the last few days. They can't go out to protest because of the security forces, so they stay in and innovate:
And a Portuguese revolutionary has been tweeting juicy bank details on regime leaders' Swiss and German bank accounts, including account numbers (Russian hackers are unclogging their siphon hoses as I write). No confirmation on whether the info is legitimate yet.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Nonviolent (Mostly) Realism
At what point do you change tactics from nonviolence to physical defense, or even attack? Nonviolence doesn't always work. As Woody Allen said in Annie Hall, "With Nazis, bricks and bats are always better than biting satire." Andrew Sullivan's wrap-up on the latest news/rumours from Iran, here, focuses on this dilemma.
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