

Yakama Nation responds to Law Enforcement Brutality; Energy Transfer Partners’ Threats to Native Lands and Lives; and Mainstream Media’s Misportrayal of DAPL’s Defeat (14.09.2016)





“In other Dakota Access pipeline news, last Thursday, Morton County, North Dakota, issued an arrest warrant for Amy Goodman. The charge: criminal trespass, a misdemeanor offense. The case, State of North Dakota v. Amy Goodman, stems from Democracy Now!’s coverage in North Dakota over the Labor Day weekend of the Native American-led protests against the Dakota Access pipeline. On Saturday, September 3, Democracy Now! filmed security guards working for the Dakota Access pipeline company using dogs and pepper spray to attack protesters” (Democracy Now, 2016)





Here the full text:
The Department of Justice, the Department of the Army and the Department of the Interior issued the following statement regarding Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
“We appreciate the District Court’s opinion on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act. However, important issues raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other tribal nations and their members regarding the Dakota Access pipeline specifically, and pipeline-related decision-making generally, remain. Therefore, the Department of the Army, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior will take the following steps.
The Army will not authorize constructing the Dakota Access pipeline on Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe until it can determine whether it will need to reconsider any of its previous decisions regarding the Lake Oahe site under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or other federal laws. Therefore, construction of the pipeline on Army Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe will not go forward at this time. The Army will move expeditiously to make this determination, as everyone involved — including the pipeline company and its workers — deserves a clear and timely resolution. In the interim, we request that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe.
“Furthermore, this case has highlighted the need for a serious discussion on whether there should be nationwide reform with respect to considering tribes’ views on these types of infrastructure projects. Therefore, this fall, we will invite tribes to formal, government-to-government consultations on two questions: (1) within the existing statutory framework, what should the federal government do to better ensure meaningful tribal input into infrastructure-related reviews and decisions and the protection of tribal lands, resources, and treaty rights; and (2) should new legislation be proposed to Congress to alter that statutory framework and promote those goals.
“Finally, we fully support the rights of all Americans to assemble and speak freely. We urge everyone involved in protest or pipeline activities to adhere to the principles of nonviolence. Of course, anyone who commits violent or destructive acts may face criminal sanctions from federal, tribal, state, or local authorities. The Departments of Justice and the Interior will continue to deploy resources to North Dakota to help state, local, and tribal authorities, and the communities they serve, better communicate, defuse tensions, support peaceful protest, and maintain public safety.
“In recent days, we have seen thousands of demonstrators come together peacefully, with support from scores of sovereign tribal governments, to exercise their First Amendment rights and to voice heartfelt concerns about the environment and historic, sacred sites. It is now incumbent on all of us to develop a path forward that serves the broadest public interest.”

“Senator Finistirre is still fighting for his causes:
Interviewer: What do you say to the people who claim you are destroying cinema classics?
Senator Finistirre: mmm, no. All we’re doing is using digital technology to tastefully update movies of the past… by removing cigarette” (Thank You For Smoking, 2005)
Today the madness is clear, it is vindicated as the Youtube and their affiliates have censored and taken away advertisement monies from their channels and direct videos added on their page. If they are not up to standard fitting certain advertisement companies and their agents who pick videos fitting the standards of the companies that need to sell their products. Surely the chocolate industry doesn’t want to connect to the videos addressing the Syrian violence. As much as Political inspired videos who are steering a conversation is not something to connect H&M to. Still, the conversation made by certain by these videos broadens the perspective and also adds to genuine interest for otherwise intelligent debate.
If we just want water-downed sexed out headline whores of Donald Trump, than the Colgate and Nike can use the ratings to spike their sales, but that does not extend the democracy or the discussion we might need.
The reality today is that the giant corporations are really steering the conversation with their decisions. In the recent days and also earlier this year Facebook also showed their true colours. As they have actually taken away pictures of the Vietnam War Photo as the Aftenposten in Norway have written about the Iconic Photo. This been taken down because the little girl is naked on the photo and that is disturbing for the Internet Service and the Social Media.
Facebook have before also even deleted WikiLeaks Democratic Party E-Mail leaks post on their page. Just the same has happen on Twitter as the sensitive picture of the Vietnam War for them as well. The Mark Zuckerberg really suck; to be frank Suckingberg is the proper name for now. Zuckerburg and Facebook! Facebook owns Youtube who has been addressed already for their clearance and political motivated advertisement ban on the videos. I am sure they have deleted pictures on Instagram as they own that to, because the Gram can’t handle certain political MEME’s.
That all of these Social Media and Video Provider are their own businesses; they are free to do as they please, but still worrying as they are common networks for sharing information in the modern world. It is a reason why some become members to Facebook just to get invited to certain parties and social events as they are not sent through slow-mail and not even E-Mail. With this common knowledge the internet providers and Social Media power of Facebook and Youtube, can either be investor and advertisement friendly or like they are becoming a Censorship haven for Political Correctness and not for conversation. Because if an Iconic Photo from the Vietnam War becomes an issue and if videos with cursing and discussing not so humble topics; than the Youtube and Facebook can become the innocent little cry-baby that will not change discourse, but trade their soul to Kelloggs.

Is that what Zukerberg want to do to M-Pesa as well, so it can become PC and act as tool for technical monopoly and control the internet companies? We can question that because it is interesting that the photos of old have to shade because of nudity. That is similar to the quote I started this piece with. Thank You For Smoking is social political satire, but it is happing in front of our eyes as entertainment usually mirroring the reality. That is what is happening now and the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other media are doing it. They just don’t know it.
They are doubled edged swords who cut themselves in the tail while suiting their suitors just like dictators pays of their media houses and their loyal elites to cling to power. The same ways does Facebook, Youtube and Twitter to fit the programme of H&M, Nestle and Unilever. That proves the capacity of indulgent media who trades their justice for a buck. Trade of their own freedoms to fit the marginalized boards and owner of multi-national corporations instead of the world citizens; than we can do two things!
First, we can buckle under and cry havoc over the misfortune of the corporate misgivings, the Zukerberg’s who wants to friends with Corporate buddies instead of us, the people. Or we can stop using their social medias and create own. That if we want it free, just as the other portefolios of the past of information has gone from being government censorship into the public. With the public and commons decisions the Media Houses and Entertainment companies had for instance accept that the people we’re taping music on cassettes instead of buying Hank Williams at the Gas Stations for long car-trips to the coast. I am sure they felt the same with the VHS where we captured and taped the magnificent stories of Lassie and Walt Disney Corporations; even if the Disney Corporation felt insulted as they didn’t earn enough cents on the dollar on The Great Mouse Detective (1986).
With this in mind, the people can as number two still use it, but sanction the companies that are behind the insulting censorships, meaning the corporations who are dropping advertisements on Facebook, Youtube and elsewhere. Because if their hit for inability to give the people ability to converse and to share their thoughts. The censorship show the access of free speech and trust between corporations and people are dwindling.

The Media Houses have already been compromised by less budgets and less adverts as the Internet and free content on places like Social Media are stealing funding. As the tabloid click-based fuelled non-questionable content are spreading like wildfire. Instead of the pictures like the back-in-day photo of Vietnam War who actually once upon the time changed discourse. That should say something about Political Correctness, the Advertisement friendly environment of Social Media and disillusioned Zuckerberg’s who in quests of getting dollars have forgotten a key aspect of the people. The people share their opinions, their pictures. Not all make sense to add like pornography or nude children per say. The reality is that the Vietnam War pictures showed the cruelty and massive assault on the fellow human beings. Would the same corporation have trouble with starving kids of Biafra as they wasn’t nude, but we’re describing malnutrition and adverse civil-war in Nigeria in the 1960s? A piece of me saying that wouldn’t care, would you?
This will not stop here as the giant corporations and their partly ownership of the Social Media will not stop here. Not now and not in the near future as the Ads and paid sponsorship of the corporations owning the Social Media need the fuel of money from the giant multi-national corporations and their standards. They want to be on the right side of them; so they can be feed and earn their money. Still, that does not mean we got to accept this blatant disregard for the past and for the present. There are difference between child-porn and iconic pictures. Something the Facebook should have ability to do and be able to correct. If not then they are not serious shop and having hired the right personnel to look over the content added on the page. A wise-guy like Zuckerberg should have the capacity to see that, but he is excusing himself with poor words of non-sense. Time to man up and kiss the ring. If not, than he wouldn’t know what hit. The worst that would happen would be dozen of using suspending their use and spot using the Social Media and Corporations owned by Facebook. If we did they surely would know why the sanctions against the conversation… against the truth and against freedom of speech. Something that is worthy fights and we the commoners always have fought the battle to be able to speak without fear and with censorship from our master. Now it is just digitally and not directly on paper. Otherwise it is the same ways as in the past. The elite, the rich want us to be silenced and they want to earn on us without being questioned. We the people shouldn’t accept that. Peace.


A group of United Nations human rights experts today called on the Sudanese authorities to drop charges carrying the death sentence brought against six people linked to a prominent Khartoum-based organisation, Training and Human Development (TRACKS).
GENEVA, Switzerland, August 31, 2016 -A group of United Nations human rights experts today called on the Sudanese authorities to drop charges carrying the death sentence brought against six people linked to a prominent Khartoum-based organisation, Training and Human Development (TRACKS).
The six*, who were detained some three months ago but are yet to face trial, have been charged with criminal conspiracy, undermining the constitutional system, waging war against the State, espionage, and terrorism by the Sudanese State Security Prosecution Office. All these charges carry the death penalty.
“The death penalty is an extreme form of punishment. lf used at all, it should only be imposed after a fair trial that respects the most stringent due process guarantees as stipulated in international human rights law,” said UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnes Callamard. “I am seriously concerned that any trial of these six people would not uphold such principles.”
The six individuals have faced constant targeting by agents from the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) over the past two years. Their offices have been raided twice, and their documents, equipment and passports confiscated. In addition, they say they have been summoned, detained and tortured several times at the NISS office, where they were questioned about the organisation’s activities.
“The charges brought against them appear to be directly linked to their work in the defence of human rights, while exercising their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai.
“Sudan ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a binding instrument, which enshrines the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association and this sentence is likely to have a chilling effect among activists and human rights defenders in Sudan,” he added.
The human rights experts have already jointly raised their concern to the Sudanese authorities about the ongoing harassment of TRACKS members and, more broadly, about the increasing targeting and prosecution of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, in Sudan for undertaking their peaceful and legitimate human rights activities.
“This action is part of an increasing trend to threaten, harass, or intimidate key members of Sudanese civil society, and to curb freedoms of expression and association, which are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights of the Interim National Constitution of the Sudan,” said Aristide Nononsi, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, who visited the country in April 2016. Mr Nononsi had already expressed concern about this case to the relevant Sudanese authorities. ”Human rights defenders play an important role in the country, and there is an urgent need for the Government of the Sudan to allow them to carry out their activities in an open, safe and secure environment,” he stressed.
*The six facing charges are Mr. Khalafalla Mukhtar, Director of TRACKS; Ms. Arwa Elrabie, Mr. Midhat Hamadan, and Mr. Alhassan Kheiri, TRACKS’ employees; and Mr. Mustafa Adam and Ms. Raye Imany Leyla who are affiliated to the organisation.
The experts’ appeal to the Sudanese Government has been endorsed by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mr. Michel Forst.