Kites rise above the divisions in Gaza
Electronic Intifada - 16 Jun 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rGAZA CITY, 15 June (IPS) – Mahmoud Abu Teior, 13, knows it’s Abdullah’s kite up in the skies, though he has never seen Abdullah. But that kite rises into the skies from across the Egyptian side of the border across from Gaza. And, Mahmoud knows Abdullah’s voice because they speak sometimes. They have never met, and likely never will, but they are connected through their kites.

Refugee children chronicle life in camp
Electronic Intifada - 16 Jun 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rBEIRUT (IRIN) – A photograph of the sea, perfectly framed by the ragged window of a gutted building, illustrates the contrasts of Lebanon. Hanging in Medina Theatre as part of an exhibition in Beirut’s fashionable Hamra district, it could easily be the work of a professional. But the photographer is seven-year-old Manah Moustafa Diab from Rashidieh refugee camp, one of the 12 camps for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

Art in a Time of Terror: Acclaimed Art Professor Steve Kurtz on How He Became a “Bioterrorism” Suspect After His Wife Died in Her Sleep
Democracy Now - 16 Jun 2008
In his first broadcast interview, Steve Kurtz discusses the bizarre case of how he became the focus of an FBI bioterrorism investigation. On May 11, 2004, his wife Hope Kurtz tragically died in her sleep. When he called 911 for help, a nightmare that would last for the next four years began to unfold. The police became suspicious of his art supplies and harmless bacteria cultures that he was using for an antiwar project about the public health impact of germ warfare programs. His home was raided by the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and Homeland Security. His belongings, his cat, and even his wife’s body were seized.

Extreme Weather & Global Warming: Floods in Iowa & China, Wildfires in California, Heat Waves on the East Coast, Tornadoes Across the Midwest
Democracy Now - 16 Jun 2008
The words “extreme weather” are rarely associated in the mainstream media with another two words: “global warming.” But scientists argue that these extreme weather events are consistent with changes they have long predicted would accompany global warming. We speak to Joseph Romm of ClimateProgress.org and Perry Beeman of the Des Moines Register. [includes rush transcript]

Headlines for June 16, 2008
Democracy Now - 16 Jun 2008
Iowa Flooding Leaves 36,000 Homeless, Flooding in China Kills 70 People, Al-Maliki Warns Iraq May Not Sign US Forces Agreement, Sadr Forms Secret Militia to Attack US Forces, Karzai Threatens to Send Afghan Troops into Pakistan, Number of Foreign Troops Killed in May in Afghanistan Exceeds Iraq, Bush Warns UK Not to Announce Withdrawal Timetable, McCain: Gitmo Ruling One of Court’s “Worst Decisions” Ever, McCain Fundraiser Compares Rape to Bad Weather, Obama Criticizes McCain’s Stance on Social Security, Report: AQ Khan Had Electronic Blueprints of Nuclear Weapon, Memorial Unveiled for Journalists Killed, Reuters Calls on Israel to Release Findings of Killed Cameraman, FCC Chair to Support XM-Sirius Merger, Los Angeles Dismisses “Afro-centric” Teacher, Drug Reform Activist Arrested in NYC, Progressive Philanthropist Stewart Mott, 70, Dies, “Meet the Press” Host Tim Russert, 58, Dies

Net tightens around Gaza fishermen
Electronic Intifada - 16 Jun 2008
rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rGAZA CITY, 16 June (IPS) – When the broiling sun sinks behind the rolling Mediterranean sea in Gaza, hundreds of fishing boats turn on their motors and assemble ragged nets to round up the evening catch. Flickering blue lights scatter across the shallow seas as the boats gather offshore in close quarters. Mackerel, sardine and grey mullet are caught in nets and dumped into plastic crates to be sold in the street markets.

Struggle and Repression for Social Centres and Autonomous Spaces
Indymedia UK - 16 Jun 2008
Mill Road, a new squatted social centre in Cambridge, lost against Tescos in court last week but are confident about holding onto the place a while longer yet. They have however been experiencing violent attacks from anonymous cowards. There have been quite a few reports of attacks on autonomous spaces recently. In Greece there have been heavy police repression and fascist arson attacks against autonomous space (more). In Amsterdam, the Citex squat was attacked and illegally evicted by Police. Just a few days ago in Rome, fascists were caught planting a bomb in the front yard of the Loa Acrobax social centre. The tide turned briefly during action days for autonomous spaces in Berlin. Hundreds of people from Berlin and elsewhere went on the offensive and instigated six days of diverse and often militant action. In a city which has one of the harshest anti-squatting policies in Europe (the Berlin Line – where squats can be evicted immediately and brutally) people showed they were undaunted and defiant. (more)London has seen the eviction of two squatted social centres recently (1, 2) but last week a new squatted community space opened in Nunhead. Also in south London, the Spike is under threat and raising it’s profile as part of it’s strategy to hang onto the site. The Bowl Court social centre located at the heart of Londons city fringe expansion lost their David and Goliath courtroom battle against property giant Hammerson on the 12th June and is now considering next moves (background). Meanwhile, the long running rampART social centre in East London marked it’s 4th anniversary but is considering voluntary closure as it has been suffering from neglect, theft and lack of use since the owners were granted a possession order way back in January.The UK gutter press followed the Tory party inciting hatred towards squatters. The squatted church on London Road in Brighton is still hanging in there and generating somewhat better press coverage. Meanwhile the UK Social Centres Network have produced a booklet ‘What’s this Place’ (PDF).In Bristol, Kebele has had a big revamp and is offering to host a UK social centres network gathering in September. Also taking place sometime in September will be a follow up to last months international ‘interspace’ gathering near Berlin which followed the April2008 mobilisations.Websites of mentioned spaces: Bowl Court, rampART, Mill Road, The Spike, 88 London Road, Loa AcrobaxPortal sites : UK Social Centres Network website | Autonomous London

Iran’s ‘dance’ of nuclear packages
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) - 16 Jun 2008
Summary: Hypothetically, Iran could in principle agree to a temporary suspension, for example six months, pending earnest negotiations on the status of such a consortium. The incentive package refers vaguely to legally-binding guarantees on nuclear fuel delivery to Iran, which is fine, yet hardly expels the healthy cynicism of the Iranians who have seen European and American companies’ abrogation of perfectly legal nuclear contracts in the past. This is the main reason why the “Iran Six” should show good faith in negotiations by opening serious talks on the issue of a consortium. Unless and until this is done, one can expect little if any major or meaningful breakthrough in their talks with Tehran. source: Asia Times Onlineread more

Status of Forces Agreement will Decide Whether Iraq is Independent or “a Client State of the US”
AlterNet: War on Iraq - 16 Jun 2008
Veteran reporter Patrick Cockburn broke the story of Bush’s secret Iraq plan. He explains its terrible implications for Iraqi sovereignty.