September « 2007 « RADICALCROSSSTITCH

Free Burma from Everyone

I really don’t have time to rant about Burma at the moment even though it is an issue really close to my heart. Read this instead:

THINGS CAN ONLY GET BUDDHA

…AS SchNEWS EXAMINES THE SUDDEN INTEREST IN HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA

“I call on those who embrace the values of human rights and freedom to support the legitimate demands of the Burmese people.” – George Bush.

Burma’s people are on the streets. Simmering discontent with the military junta that keeps millions in poverty boiled over into saffron-clad streetrage this week. The biggest clashes since 1988 were sparked by a 500% rise in the price of fuel, which also sent the cost of foodstuffs soaring. The first march by students and monks on 19th August led to series of protests; a movement which has been confronted with countrywide curfews, tear gas and live fire. There is no doubting their courage but why the sudden outpouring of concern for human rights from the West’s leaders? And why is it twenty years late?

Gordon gave us the answer in a comment piece in the Independent when he came to the heart of the matter – “Burma should be one of the most promising economies in south-east Asia. Instead, it is one of the poorest countries in the region.”

Roughly translated – Burma’s military junta just aren’t very good at ensuring that enough of the country’s natural wealth ends up in the hands of the western corporations. And recently, instead of opening the country up to western investment, the regime has become more friendly with regional superpower China. During the first seven months of this year, China-Burmese trade reached £600m up 40% compared to last year. So suddenly the West swings behind the idea of sanctions – maybe if the junta can be ousted then we could find more PR friendly people with whom we could do business.

The clashes in 1988 led to mass repression and the deaths of 3000, but extracted the promise of an election out of the junta. This was won outright two years later by the NLD, personified in the West by Aung San Suu Kyi who’s been under house arrest for 11 years. Suu Kyi has achieved a Mandela-like status in the West in recent years, and Gordon demanded that any solution in Burma have her “at its heart”. However her party has little control over the uprising. In fact they’ve been pleading from the sidelines for the gatherings not to become an excuse to topple the regime, preferring the adoption of sanctions by the international community to bring the junta to the negotiating table.

Burma solidarity campaigners have been screaming for sanctions for twenty years but apart from an arms embargo, the EU has only issued ‘guidance’ on investment. The largest western investor is French oil conglomerate, Total. The UK follows with $26m in trade but ‘recommends’ that the multinationals shouldn’t increase trade with Burma. The EU – policing its guidelines – has confiscated a wallet-busting four grand. With such a brutal regime in power, it’s also a little embarrassing when by 2000, the EU was responsible for almost three-quarters of all investment and nearly one third of those corporations doing business in the country had their headquarters based in Europe. Profits from foreign investment have helped double military spending at the same time the public health and education systems have crumbled. Outside investment is not the answer in Burma – it’s the problem. What the west would like to see in Burma is a transition to ‘democracy’ of a wearyingly familiar market variety.

The question is: when the military junta eventually have to step away from government (although not necessarily power), will a free and newly elected Aung San Suu Kyi sign on the dotted line with the IMF and World Bank? And will there be a deal for Western support or will she think a little more carefully about the historical precedent and tell foreign investors where to shove it? Answers on a postcard to the usual address….

* For more background about Burma see www.burmacampaign.org.uk

* Read John Pilger’s book ‘Freedom Next Time’, about how corporate interests exert power over former authoritarian regimes – www.johnpilger.com

So if that gets you fired up to do something creative, get the marching Buddha stencil. I’ve got mine, watch out!

Solid Territory

A great friend of mine once said that he’ll listen to any music as long as it’s conscious. And I don’t reckon there’s any conscious music more real and true to spirit than the music of indigenous and grassroots resistance. All over the world there is music that unites the people and this part of our great earth is no exception.

Now is such an important time for the resistance to neo-colonial imperialism to be heard and heard loud. So I am so stoked to be supporting this tour about to shake the solid red earth in solidarity with the people of the Northern Territory. All of the bands who are performing on this tour are not only exceptional musicians but also have no fear in mixing the snares with the slogans.

So all of you in Austrayalia, see you at Solid Territory.

SOLID TERRITORY jams express solidarity for the Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Territory (NT)- in the spirit of Indigenous Self Determination and unity. It brings together conscious and creative crews to express solidarity given the recent military driven – land grabbing attack on Indigenous Self Determination.

Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Maori and other hip hop reggae crews join forces to express outrage at the recent ‘Trojan horse’ tactics of the Federal Government in Australia. Local crews join forces with hip hop legends Upper Hutt Posse, Revolution MC’s and Miss bMe coming all the way from Aotearoa/NZ!

Local mob include The Last Kinnection, Street Warriors, Wire MC, Nadeena Dixon, Honesty, Djaypun Inc, MC Liquid, The Whitehouse with interstate guests Zennith (Qld) One Blood Hidden Image (TSI) and Dizzy D (Qld). It promises to fire up some seriously solid hip hop and reggae flavours – true south pacific songs of solidarity.

BAND BIOS

Upper Hutt Posse.
The Posse’s in your face Maori activist lyrics are a breath of fresh air in a hiphop jungle obsessed with the blingbling, the Posse evoke heros of resistance from Malcom X to Maori revolutionaries who fought for indigenous self-determination against colonisation. No stranger to controvery head Mc Te Kupu tells it like it is …. Upper Hutt Posse have created their own sound.” Te Kupu is also a filmmaker, having traveled the ghettoes of the world to produce the rapumentary ‘Ngaatahi – Know the Links’ (Official Selection at Sundance Film Festival 2004), a six part music-documentary connecting the musical cultures and struggles of oppressed people worldwide

Revolution MCs
The REVOLUTION MCs are an Aotearoa hip-hop crew that fluidly mix superconscious flows with killa machine gun raps and the phattest beats, on a prophesised mission to take hip-hop and the native revolution to the next level.

The Last Kinnection
“I’m not gonna wait for the ok, I’m gonna do it even though they got too much to say, when it all falls down, tell me who’s still standing?”….. Introducing The Last Kinection. Take a look, have a listen, and you’ll agree, without a doubt, that TLK is the voice that’s going to keep you connected, with the next era of Australian urban music. Bridging mainstream and Indigenous, music and culture. Blending contemporary and traditional, they empower their listeners with respect for culture, truth and freedom of speech. Delivered with a clarity, originality and passion that’s undeniable, making their talents hard to surpass. Lyrically mind blowing with beats to match. A TLK performance will have you nodding your head, shaking your butt, throwing your hands up in the air, screaming ‘oh yeah’. Their latest recorded achievement can be heard on ‘Cannot Buy My Soul’, a tribute album to the legendary Kev Carmody, through EMI. Where their remix of ‘The Young dancer is Dead’, appears alongside the likes of Bernard Fanning, John Butler Trio, The Herd, Troy Casser-Daley, Missy Higgins and Archie Roach to name a few.

Street Warriors
Having performed both nationally and internationally in their previous group Local Knowledge, these brothers have rocked crowds in excess of 10,000 people. Street Warriors come straight out of the steel city of Newcastle with a rugged style, a deadly look and carry a second to none attitude wherever they go.

Combat Wombat
OZHIPHOP.COM: “[Unsound $ystem is] an ‘auralmentary’, recorded on the frontline in a heated battle between ignorant conservatives and the voiceless unknowns…the music acts as a slingshot for their verbal bullets is uncompromisingly creative, frequently brilliant and wonderfully broadens the current Aussie Scene. Verdict: 4/5″ – CYCLIC DEFROST: “DIY resourcefulness, independence and imagination. Indeed, while their political direction is indelibly strong, the crew’s message isn’t one of negativity or pessimism – it’s about being proactive and creative and their dub-infused hiphop excursions lend some weight to this…while plenty of MCs are willing to posit the ills of the world, not many are willing to get their hands dirty working on a solution.” – THE AGE: “What makes Combat Wombat special is that the band members not only talk the talk, they’re full-time political activists and squatters.”

Sandridge Band
Sandridge formed in 1995 playing for the first Lidjakarda Festival at Wandangnula Outstation near Borroloola. Their songs are a fusion of reggae, rock and metal sounds about land, culture, people and contemporary life in communities. They have more recently undertaken study at the Charles Darwin Contemporary Music Course and in performed at Tenant Creek Battle of the Bands Youth Week 2004 and 2005, 2004 Katherine at Music Without Humbug supporting Neil Murray, 2004 Borroloola Rodeo Battle of the Bands, 2005 Katherine Flying Fox Festival supporting Naberlak Band, Youth Week in Borroloola, supported Nomadics Band at gig at Youth Centre, Borroloola Rodeo Battle of the Bands. They are also committed to community gigs and have played many times at Borroloola Hotel and Sandridge Outstation. In 2006 they performed at Merripen Arts Festival, Festival Darwin and are winners of Barkly Bands comp and Barunga Festival Song Writing comp in 2007.

Nadeena Dixon
A vocalist, songwriter and performer, Nadeena’s musical style includes elements of Hip Hop, Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Indigenous grooves, Funk & Dance. Nadeena has a style and dedication that only comes from many years of artistic development. Nadeena’s powerful and beautiful voice take her audience on an emotional, spiritual and even political journey across the reality of Aboriginal existence Nadeena often performs with her mother to produce a beautiful Indigenous folk & contemporary music show for all occasions. Singing of identity, the land, the life and the dreaming of the Aboriginal people of Australia, the didgeridoo rhythms are used to drive the story telling.

Zennith
Australian ‘roots’ has finally matured, with the deepest reggae splash and funkiest urban swing that is Zennith. From the deep scrub of Bulwai country in Kuranda, Far North Queensland, emerges a sound that fuses skankin’ rainforest reggae with funky hip-hop. Zennith have been rippin’ up venues and festivals in the Tropical North with their roots/ska/urban combo. The group have just blown away audiences in Palm Island, the Laura Festival and Kuranda Roots Festival, and have just dropped their debut EP “We Got It”. The guys have supported Boney M and Ash Grunwald, and are working towards their first Music Video for “We Got It” and an East Coast tour in October. Zennith are the new future of roots and indigenous music from down-under, kickin’ stereo types and rockin’ dance floors.

Miss bMe
……..You see we all representing our own blood… solid foundations… droppin a beat to the nation… connecting back through our roots whakapapa inspiration… influencing thoughts waves… our musical infatuation… cos if ya here representin your own blood… dig ya hands in the dirt… remind your memories of birth…take a deep breath…. and know the seeds that you posess mean you are truly blessed……….

Wire MC

One Blood Hidden Image

Dizzy D

Djaypun Inc

Honesty

The Whitehouse

MC Liquid

Yetis are real!

When I first started university I was in one of my tutorials and we had a ‘get to know you’ round. We had to introduce ourselves and tell the group if we could be any other animal what would we be and why. Most of the class said lovely things like lions, dolphins, butterflies and birds. I said I’d want to be a yeti cause then I could just chill out in the bush and not have anything to do with humans (I was still a teenager OK). In hindsight this might not of been the best thing to say in a human development and behaviour class, but I thought I was clever.

Anyhoo, I’ve had a mild interest in the hairy blighters ever since. And I was super delighted recently to discover the existence of yowies in austrayalia. I always thought they were chocolates but apparently this big red continent has its own hairy ones thumping around.

My beloved has his own yowie story which definitely involves thumping so I’m super excited to go stay out there and find one of these beauties!

So imagine my delight when I discovered Megan Whitmarsh. Megan makes yeti embroidery art!

This is my favourite of them all and there’s tons so go check them out.

Megan also makes films and books and does ace drawings, all based on yeti themes. It’s so wonderful and a great way to start a saturday!

Up Yours Myspace

I finally did it! After months of begrudgingly logging in to Myspace to accept or deny friend requests from people I didn’t know. And nine times out of ten getting some stupid technical error which prevented me from doing so.

I have deleted my Myspace account.

Why did this take so long? you may ask. Well, it took four attempts because every time I logged in and went to my account settings I got a fucking technical error.

So if you go to my page now it belongs to some guy in Wisconsin. Good on him.

The highlight of this wee adventure was definitely the part where they ask you why it is that you’re deleting your account. I should of kept it but to summarise:

Because your technological junk heap fucking sucks and your boss is about the fourth evilest man on the planet. Get yourself some karma and quit your job today.

And that would be about the most I ever wrote on myspace.

Don’t Let Me D(r)own!

OMG the world is full of synchronisity sometimes. So there’s this amazing woman who makes fantastic recylced clothing and things like this super hot top.

Which I might even buy one day when I get my superhot pre-baby body back…

Anyhoo, it turns out I’m not the only polar bear climate defending needle artist out there. Check this baby out!

Do I need to add more? The fact so many animal species which exists on earth since milleranies will disappear in the next 50 years depresses me to a point you cannot imagine

Awesome stuff eh? I love the stitching on the bear to, it makes it look as if it’s moving.

And if you have any ideas for what to do with this gorgeous wee embroidery, suggest them here.

As for me, I just finished a big craft swap and have some super fun stuff to share with you all soon, I’ve just got to wait until it all gets received.

And we’re off to Newcastle next week for the TINA Festival. Check the radical craft workshop in the Young Writers Fest!

Clean Up Your [e]Trash!

I’m really busy so apologies for no recent updates. Have this nice piece of news instead:

Electronic waste (e-waste) can seriously harm the environment, wildlife and human health when dumped in landfills.

eDay is a drive-through recycling event which gives you the opportunity to dispose of old computers or mobile phones in an environmentally sustainable way.

eDay 2007 is on Saturday 29 September (9am – 3pm) in 10 locations across the country and Sunday 30 September (10am – 2pm) in Auckland. It’s easy to get involved – and it’s free!

Fox TV: Fighting the War on Smarts

I’m sure you all saw Sally Field and her super fab acceptance speech at the Emmys yesterday.

Well not if you watched it on Fox. Check this out for an amazingly shithouse piece of editing. And when I saw shit house I am referring to both the content and the style.

“If mothers ruled the world, there wouldn’t be god-damned wars in the first place.”

I think I’m gonna have to cross stitch that.

Props Brownfemipower

Not Part of Your Revolution

This one goes out to the anti-APEC after party. Hope your revolution was fun…

And this one goes out to Rosa, coz she’ll get it.

Calling Australia Home

Well I don’t, but this crew who’ve been living here for about 80,000 years do. But apparently they don’t figure in the equation too often.

Check this video

Hat tip Ana

And like Rosa I say read this! Now!

I think I saw one land rights flag during the whole APEC ‘resistance’ and certainly didn’t read anything supporting the Tent Embassy crew, exept what they wrote themselves. Fucking dismal Seedney.

“The real wall exists in the mind, its made with stolen bricks and glued together with genocide.”

Cross Stitch Cunts

Little known fact: There is a hormone that is released during pregnancy that compells women to cross stitch. I never would’ve believed it but I know at least two other women that this has happened to.

One of whom is my super friend Lenka in Wellington. When Lenka got pregnant she decided to start cross stitching cunts. Which is totally understandable if you think about it.

Now I’d heard about these cunts for a while and when I was last in Wellington I did try and get to Lenka’s to photograph some but never made it in the end. Luckily one of these cunts has moved to Melbourne so I got to take photos!

The person that this one was made for has a particular thing for body hair. So presenting hairy dentata c**t!!

At first it looks like some normal ol’ hairy canvas