 In spite of corroborating testimony from former inmates of Camps X-Ray and Delta at the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, and in spite of photographic and video evidence depicting shocking prisoner abuse, the response of the US Government to the claims has been universally to deny knowledge of or responsibility for any of it.
When the Tipton Three - a trio of British Muslims from Birmingham who were captured in Afghanistan shortly after the bombings began in September 2001 - first provided their account of their time at the detention centres on Guantanamo Bay, US Secretary of State, Colin Powell told ITV, "We have watched Guantanamo Bay very carefully ... knowing that we have responsibilities under the Geneva Convention, and because we are Americans we don't abuse people who are in our care."
If Michael Winterbottom's reconstruction of the testimony of the three is anything to go by, that's not quite so accurate. Following on from films like Welcome to Sarajevo and In This World, The Road to Guantanamo is as unashamedly political as Winterbottom gets, finding a personal story in a desperately impersonal conflict and ensuring that his message is communicated in as unabashed away as possible.
It's a fine line to tread, and Winterbottom peers over the edge with a fearless quality that so few so-called political filmmakers can match. If the occasional gust of wind threatens to nudge him into the unwelcome territory of judgemental sermonising, Winterbottom is quick to steady himself. The Tipton Three's story is here powerful enough to steady him further, and, as can be expected from Winterbottom at this point, no threat of personal ego encroaches on the realisation of that story.
And that story speaks for itself. This is certainly a safer film than perhaps we've been used to from Winterbottom, but in many ways it's the denial of a visual look at the real evils discussed in the narrative that gives The Road to Guantanamo an added strength; it urges you to stay with it until its conclusion and leaves you assured that you've got off lightly while the real victims weren't so lucky.
Powerful, insightful and yet disturbing, this is a film that'll stay with you; and that's a very good thing.
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 Come see how the Corporate Media has been deregulated and how it has led to our current political state of affairs. See it free at the Big Muddy IMC, 214 North Washington Street, Carbondale at 7 pm Friday February 2nd.
This stuff is fairly complex, but let me put it to you really simple. The Bush family, both daddy and junior, used to be on a board of directors of a Texas company with the guy who runs ClearChannel Communications. ClearChannel once owned almost 200 radio stations. When the radio industry was deregulated, ClearChannel bought up radio station after radio station, until now it owns over 1200. It owns over 60% of all rock stations in the USA. In some towns, it owns as many as eight stations, most of which have no local on-air talent. Musical artists have regularly complained that if they refuse to go on ClearChannel sponsored concert tours, their music won't be heard on American radio. When local disasters have happened in some parts of the country, calls to ClearChannel's local radio stations to ask them to report on the incidents have remained unanswered, because the stations are unmanned, being 'DJed from headquarters'. In the meantime, advertising rates have skyrocketed, because ClearChannel owns a near monopoly in many cities and advertisers are allegedly told that if they don't want to advertise on multiple ClearChannel's stations, they're flat out of luck.
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IN 1996, ELECTRIC CARS BEGAN TO APPEAR ON ROADS ALL OVER CALIFORNIA.
THEY WERE QUIET AND FAST, PRODUCED NO EXHAUST, AND RAN WITHOUT GASOLINE.
TEN YEARS LATER, THESE CARS WERE DESTROYED.
Who Killed the Electric Car? is a documentary about GM's short-lived EV-1 electric car. It explores the positive response that the car received from owners, the termination of the EV-1 line, the suspects in this act of mass destruction, and the issues surrounding electric vehicles and renewable energy.
After the film, you are also invited (though not obligated) to stay for a discussion of electric vehicles and related energy issues. With our global economy, ecology, and peace hanging on the brink of disaster, it becomes clear that this film is about more than just the destruction of a cool line of electric vehicles. Join us on this night to witness the drama, consider the issues, and discuss them with your neighbors. We look forward to seeing you there!
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 While watching the Chicago Bears demolish the New Orleans Saints at 214 North Washington Street the location of The Big Muddy IMC, it occurs to me that I will no longer be seeing the groundhog family that lived across the street. The block has changed drastically in the last two years. The open space that had several shrubs and other overgrown ornamentals where the marmots, raccoons and other critters lived is being turned into an urban park. The trimming and cleaning appear to have brought about critter removal. Also, the Tuscan Lodge is becoming an historic building. The Carbondale City Council will more than likely approve the designation. It is one of those grand improvements at which
Carbondale has become quite good. The Cadillac Lounge is now a clothing store. Fortunately, Ms. Nesbitt still sells fish sandwiches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. However, you'd never recognize the facade of her building.
Unfortunately, raw sewage was being expelled from the storm drain at the curb. This is a historic district. It has brick streets. The city is offering grants on above ground improvements while not improving the underlying sewers. It is understandable. The expense of repairs on a brick street that is kept as brick and not converted to asphalt is quite high. That is why few brick streets remain. However, the brick is conducive to "
Old Town" appeal. Probably the groundhogs and raccoons that used to live in the open space have left or been evicted. I hope they have as they frequently used the storm drains as an additional residence.
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 Current Carbondale resident Tiger Moon will screen a documentary and show 10 contemporary film shorts produced by and starring Native Americans beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, January 19 at the Big Muddy Independent Media Center at 214 N. Washington St. in Carbondale. Moon, part Chocktaw, is a musician, poet, screenwriter and film student who
has lived in Carbondale for many years. She has long been an impassioned
advocate for Native American and indigenous people and is the founder of The
Restorarion of Indigenous Beliefs Expeditions Foundation, or TRIBE, a
grassroots organization which uses media and other means to draw attention
to the plight of Native and Indigenous peoples and to change mainstream
perceptions about them.
Moon began TRIBE in 2004 to raise awareness about the the many challenges
faced by Native Americans and other indigenous youth from North and Central
South America who live and labor in the United States and Southern Illinois.
For example, reservations have the highest suicide rate in the nation -- 12
times the national average of all other ethinc groups combined. By age 12,
many Native Americans are addicted to alchohol and by age 16, a 50 percent
dropout rate has been recorded. The documentary and following shorts are the outcome of a collaborative
effort of 25 Native Americans from across the United States who were chosen
to attend a special workshop program organized by the Institute of American
Indian Arts (IAIA), the only Native Amercian arts school in the country,
located in Santa Fe, N.M.
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Approximately 25 people gathered today at the Carbondale Town Square Pavillion to protest the deployment of more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq. This protest, organized by the Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois and the Shawnee Green Party, was one of more than 1,000 rallies that took place in communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They were held in response to the public address given by President Bush last night from the White House library. In this address, Bush stated that his new strategy in Iraq included the deployment of over 20,000 new troops, most of which would be sent to Baghdad to aid in efforts to secure the city.
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By ridgerunner at 2007-01-05 17:38 | login or register to post comments
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 The Prepared signs say "Don't rezone walnut and oakland" and it looks like they'll win but could the Arbor District be mistaken about this one?
Could it actually be beneficial for C'dale to allow a 24hour CVS pharmacy at Walnut and Oakland. If the city actually had a developer build a complex with apartments above the pharmacy, it might improve the area. It is not as if that is a really great spot to live. It is right on Route 13. The traffic is heavy and noisy. A good deal of the proposed developement is rental property. Better parking could be arranged for appartment dwellers under a new plan.
Inner-cities were made up of apartments above storefronts. What is wrong with recreating that type of neighborhood appeal. Pratical use of property is frequently dual use. I just wonder if the city would consider going to such effort?
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 Tonight at 6:30 pm, Carbondale will be celebrating the holiday season with its 16th Annual Lights Fantastic Parade. The Big Muddy IMC will be joining in the celebration with an Open House event during and after the parade.
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 Rosetta Stone Bookstore announces the opening reception for "Book Art" by the School of Art and Design's Bookmaking class. The show opens December 8 and will run for the week through December 16. The reception will take place on Friday, December 8 from 6-8 p.m. Rosetta Stone Bookstore is located at 214 West Freeman Street in the Campus Shopping Center in Carbondale.
The reception is free and open to the public.
This show contains examples of work by students in the School of Art and Design's Bookmaking class in the fall of 2006. The class worked with several binding and construction techniques, including the accordion fold, pamphlet stitch, Japanese binding, Coptic stitch, interactive books, altered books, and book boxes. Each of the books in this exhibition was made by hand and shows the unique vision of the artist. Some play with the layout of traditional books, searching for the ideal synchronicity among their chosen text, images, and materials, while others utilize the book form as a playground for experiments in appropriation, process, and objecthood, in order to question and expand our understanding of what a book can be.
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After over two hours of protracted discussion at its November 21 meeting, the Carbondale City Council did not pass a proposed ordinance to ban smoking in enclosed public places such as bars and restaurants. The ordinance required a four vote majority to pass the measure, and the Council was divided 3-3, with Councilperson Steven Haynes abstaining abstaining.
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[Original Story by Andrea Zimmerman of Daily Egyptian]
Walter Wendler, whose tenure as SIUC chancellor has been marked by sweeping plans for change as well as accusations of insensitivity and intellectual dishonesty, is being replaced, President Glenn Poshard said Wednesday.
The move takes effect in a week, with Provost John Dunn taking over as interim chancellor and Wendler becoming a professor of architecture, Poshard said.
He said a national search would take place, and he hopes to have a new chancellor take over in July 1. Poshard said Dunn would not be a candidate for the job.
Citing problems such as declining enrollment and his desire to build his own team of administrators, Poshard said he believed SIUC needed a "different skill set and a different kind of strength" to achieve his goals for SIU's main campus.
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Download here: 2006 US Debates I : five debates in Midwest and East Congressional and gubernatorial races
Kenneth Blackwell, Republican; Ted Strickland, Democrat (Ohio U.S. Cong. Dist. 6) debate in the Ohio gubernatorial race.
Representative John Hostettler, Republican incumbent, Indiana U.S. Congressional District 8, debates Democrat Brad Ellsworth, Vanderburgh County, Indiana Sheriff, in the Iowa District 8 race.
Representative Christopher Shays, Republican incumbent, Connecticut U.S. Congressional District 4, debates Libertarian candidate Phil Maymin and Democrat Diane Farrell in the Connecticut District 4 race.
Pennsylvania Democrat Governor Ed Rendell debates Republican Lynn Swann in the gubernatorial race.
Mike Beebe, Democrat, and Asa Hutchinson, Republican, debate in the Arkansas gubernatorial race.
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Southern Illinois activists and activist-lawyers / law students / legal workers are invited to join the National Lawyers Guild, Chicago chapter, in honoring Michael E. Deutsch, in Chicago, Nov. 11.
NLG Chicago 2006 Annual Dinner
Honoring Michael E. Deutsch
Saturday, November 11, 2006
6:00 p.m.
Irish-American Heritage Center
4626 N. Knox
Chicago, 60630
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If America's So Great, Where's Our Health Care?
By Sarah Ruth van Gelder and Doug Pibel, YES! Magazine. Posted September 23, 2006.
The rest of the industrialized world gets universal health care. The U.S. gets limited access at a far higher cost. It's time for Americans to get the health care system they want, and the savings that go with it.
For Joel Segal, it was the day he was kicked out of George Washington Hospital, still on an IV after knee surgery, without insurance, and with $100,000 in medical debt. For Kiki Peppard, it was having to postpone needed surgery until she could find a job with insurance -- it took her two years. People all over the United States are waking up to the fact that our system of providing health care is a disaster.
An estimated 50 million Americans lack medical insurance, and a similar and rapidly growing number are underinsured. The uninsured are excluded from services, charged more for services, and die when medical care could save them -- an estimated 18,000 die each year because they lack medical coverage.
But it's not only the uninsured who suffer. Of the more than 1.5 million bankruptcies filed in the U.S. each year, about half are a result of medical bills; of those, three-quarters of filers had health insurance.
Businesses are suffering too. Insurance premiums increased 73 percent between 2000 and 2005, and per capita costs are expected to keep rising. The National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC) estimates that, without reform, national health care spending will double over the next 10 years. The NCHC is not some fringe advocacy group -- its co-chairs are Congressmen Robert D. Ray (R-IA) and Paul G. Rogers (D-FL), and it counts General Electric and Verizon among its members.
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