Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land
U.S. Media & the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
How Israel manipulates and distorts American public perceptions
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land pt 1
Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land
U.S. Media & the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
How Israel manipulates and distorts American public perceptions
Through the voices of scholars, media critics, peace activists, religious figures, and Middle East experts, Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land carefully analyzes and explains how--through the use of language, framing and context--the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza remains hidden in the news media, and Israeli colonization of the occupied terrorities appears to be a defensive move rather than an offensive one.
U.S. Media & the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
How Israel manipulates and distorts American public perceptions
Through the voices of scholars, media critics, peace activists, religious figures, and Middle East experts, Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land carefully analyzes and explains how--through the use of language, framing and context--the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza remains hidden in the news media, and Israeli colonization of the occupied terrorities appears to be a defensive move rather than an offensive one.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Unreported World 2007 06.08 Israel's Wild West
On the West Bank, ideologically-driven Israeli settlers are taking back settlements that the Israeli government expelled them from only two years before and expanding into new areas.
As reporter Sandra Jordan and producer Edward Watts find when a member of their own team is injured, violence in the West Bank is never far from the surface. As tensions escalate, the prospect of more widespread conflict across the West Bank is growing by the day. If that happens, it'll make what's happening in Gaza look insignificant by comparison.
As reporter Sandra Jordan and producer Edward Watts find when a member of their own team is injured, violence in the West Bank is never far from the surface. As tensions escalate, the prospect of more widespread conflict across the West Bank is growing by the day. If that happens, it'll make what's happening in Gaza look insignificant by comparison.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
PART 3 OF 3
PBS FRONTLINE: KIM'S NUCLEAR GAMBLE PART 3 OF 3
Foreign Relations
In 1998, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung implemented a Sunshine policy (HaetpyÅt chÅngch'aek) to improve North-South relations and to allow South Korean companies to start projects in the North. Kim Jong-il announced plans to import and develop new technologies to develop North Korea's fledgling software industry. As a result of the new policy, the Kaesong Industrial Park was constructed in 2003 just north of the inter-Korean border, with the planned participation of 250 South Korean companies, employing 100,000 North Koreans, by 2007. However, by March 2007, the Park contained only 21 companies - employing 12,000 North Korean workers.
In 1994, North Korea and the United States signed an Agreed Framework which was designed to freeze and eventually dismantle the North's nuclear weapons program in exchange for aid in producing two power-generating nuclear reactors. In 2002, Kim Jong-il's government admitted to having produced nuclear weapons since the 1994 agreement. Kim's regime argued the secret production was necessary for security purposes - citing the presence of United States owned nuclear weapons in South Korea and the new tensions with the U.S. under President George W Bush.
Internal Politics
North Korea remains silent on the issue of an appointed successor. South Korean media have suggested that he is grooming his son, Kim Jong-chul; however, Kim Yong Hyun, a political expert at the Institute for North Korean Studies at Seoul's Dongguk University, believes any appointee would be outside the family. "Even the North Korean establishment would not advocate a continuation of the family dynasty at this point." His eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, was earlier believed to be the designated heir, but he appears to have fallen out of favor after being arrested at Narita International Airport in Narita, Japan, near Tokyo, in 2001 while traveling on a forged passport.
Foreign Relations
In 1998, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung implemented a Sunshine policy (HaetpyÅt chÅngch'aek) to improve North-South relations and to allow South Korean companies to start projects in the North. Kim Jong-il announced plans to import and develop new technologies to develop North Korea's fledgling software industry. As a result of the new policy, the Kaesong Industrial Park was constructed in 2003 just north of the inter-Korean border, with the planned participation of 250 South Korean companies, employing 100,000 North Koreans, by 2007. However, by March 2007, the Park contained only 21 companies - employing 12,000 North Korean workers.
In 1994, North Korea and the United States signed an Agreed Framework which was designed to freeze and eventually dismantle the North's nuclear weapons program in exchange for aid in producing two power-generating nuclear reactors. In 2002, Kim Jong-il's government admitted to having produced nuclear weapons since the 1994 agreement. Kim's regime argued the secret production was necessary for security purposes - citing the presence of United States owned nuclear weapons in South Korea and the new tensions with the U.S. under President George W Bush.
Internal Politics
North Korea remains silent on the issue of an appointed successor. South Korean media have suggested that he is grooming his son, Kim Jong-chul; however, Kim Yong Hyun, a political expert at the Institute for North Korean Studies at Seoul's Dongguk University, believes any appointee would be outside the family. "Even the North Korean establishment would not advocate a continuation of the family dynasty at this point." His eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, was earlier believed to be the designated heir, but he appears to have fallen out of favor after being arrested at Narita International Airport in Narita, Japan, near Tokyo, in 2001 while traveling on a forged passport.
PBS FRONTLINE: KIM'S NUCLEAR GAMBLE PART 2 OF 3
PBS FRONTLINE: KIM'S NUCLEAR GAMBLE PART 2 OF 3
WHO IS KIM JONG ILL?
Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born February 16, 1942) is the leader of North Korea. He is the Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, and General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (the ruling party since 1948). He succeeded his father Kim Il-sung, founder of North Korea, who died in 1994.
Continuing the official ideology of Juche (self-reliance) established by his father, Kim Jong-il operates out of a secretive and restrictive North Korea - criticized for human rights abuses and controversy over its nuclear projects.
Kim Jong-il has been routinely criticized by world governments and international NGOs for human rights abuses carried out under his rule, as well as for North Korea's production of nuclear weapons, contrary to previous legal, international obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and his own commitment to make the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons. Camp 22 is North Korea's largest concentration camp, where up to 50,000 men, women and children accused of political "crimes" are held. Reports of gross violations of human rights by the guards have been reported, such as murdering babies born to inmates.
Kim's expensive taste has become a media target. In the context of United Nations sanctions restricting the trade in luxury items to North Korea following the country's October 2006 nuclear test, Reuters coverage noted that "No one enjoys luxury goods more than paramount leader Kim Jong-il, who boasts the country's finest wine cellar with space for 10,000 bottles. Kim has a penchant for fine food such as lobster, caviar and the most expensive cuts of sushi that he has flown in to him from Japan." His annual purchases of Hennessy cognac reportedly total to $700,000, while the average North Korean earns the rough estimate equivalent of $900 per year.
WHO IS KIM JONG ILL?
Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born February 16, 1942) is the leader of North Korea. He is the Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, and General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (the ruling party since 1948). He succeeded his father Kim Il-sung, founder of North Korea, who died in 1994.
Continuing the official ideology of Juche (self-reliance) established by his father, Kim Jong-il operates out of a secretive and restrictive North Korea - criticized for human rights abuses and controversy over its nuclear projects.
Kim Jong-il has been routinely criticized by world governments and international NGOs for human rights abuses carried out under his rule, as well as for North Korea's production of nuclear weapons, contrary to previous legal, international obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and his own commitment to make the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons. Camp 22 is North Korea's largest concentration camp, where up to 50,000 men, women and children accused of political "crimes" are held. Reports of gross violations of human rights by the guards have been reported, such as murdering babies born to inmates.
Kim's expensive taste has become a media target. In the context of United Nations sanctions restricting the trade in luxury items to North Korea following the country's October 2006 nuclear test, Reuters coverage noted that "No one enjoys luxury goods more than paramount leader Kim Jong-il, who boasts the country's finest wine cellar with space for 10,000 bottles. Kim has a penchant for fine food such as lobster, caviar and the most expensive cuts of sushi that he has flown in to him from Japan." His annual purchases of Hennessy cognac reportedly total to $700,000, while the average North Korean earns the rough estimate equivalent of $900 per year.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
PBS FRONTLINE: KIM'S NUCLEAR GAMBLE PART 1 OF 3
PBS FRONTLINE: KIM'S NUCLEAR GAMBLE PART 1 OF 3
DEBATE OVER HOW TO DEAL WITH NORTH KOREA
The past 10 years have been marked by a contentious debate between Democrats and Republicans over America's North Korea policy. When the Clinton administration held high-level talks and negotiated the 1994 Agreed Framework with the North Koreans, Republicans called it appeasement. Now Democrats are criticizing President Bush's approach to the DPRK, maintaining that labelling North Korea part of the "axis of evil" and refusing to engage in direct talks serves no useful security purpose. Here are excerpts from FRONTLINE's interviews with Richard Perle, Thomas Hubbard, Madeleine Albright, Robert Gallucci, Stephen Bosworth, and William Perry, in which they discuss the two administrations' contrasting approaches, the current nuclear crisis, and the U.S. refusal to talk with the North unless Japan, South Korea, and China are involved.
NORTH KOREA's NUCLEAR THREAT
Since October 2002, North Korea has admitted to a secret uranium-enrichment program, kicked international inspectors out of the country, announced its withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and restarted its plutonium program. Pyongyang maintains that it needs nuclear bombs to defend itself against a U.S. attack. In excerpts from their FRONTLINE interviews, William Perry, Thomas Hubbard, and Ashton Carter debate how close the North may be to achieving its nuclear ambitions.
DEBATE OVER HOW TO DEAL WITH NORTH KOREA
The past 10 years have been marked by a contentious debate between Democrats and Republicans over America's North Korea policy. When the Clinton administration held high-level talks and negotiated the 1994 Agreed Framework with the North Koreans, Republicans called it appeasement. Now Democrats are criticizing President Bush's approach to the DPRK, maintaining that labelling North Korea part of the "axis of evil" and refusing to engage in direct talks serves no useful security purpose. Here are excerpts from FRONTLINE's interviews with Richard Perle, Thomas Hubbard, Madeleine Albright, Robert Gallucci, Stephen Bosworth, and William Perry, in which they discuss the two administrations' contrasting approaches, the current nuclear crisis, and the U.S. refusal to talk with the North unless Japan, South Korea, and China are involved.
NORTH KOREA's NUCLEAR THREAT
Since October 2002, North Korea has admitted to a secret uranium-enrichment program, kicked international inspectors out of the country, announced its withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and restarted its plutonium program. Pyongyang maintains that it needs nuclear bombs to defend itself against a U.S. attack. In excerpts from their FRONTLINE interviews, William Perry, Thomas Hubbard, and Ashton Carter debate how close the North may be to achieving its nuclear ambitions.
THE CHILDREN OF DARFUR PART 2 OF 2
THE CHILDREN OF DARFUR PART 2 OF 2
-About The Author-
Camilla Nielsson is an anthropologist, whose research interests have centered on visual anthropology, third world media and communication practices in developing countries, primarily in a South Asian context.
She has produced various communication materials concerning children's rights, developed guidelines for visual representation of children's rights issues and produced public service announcements on children's rights, health and education.
-About The Author-
Camilla Nielsson is an anthropologist, whose research interests have centered on visual anthropology, third world media and communication practices in developing countries, primarily in a South Asian context.
She has produced various communication materials concerning children's rights, developed guidelines for visual representation of children's rights issues and produced public service announcements on children's rights, health and education.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
THE CHILDREN OF DARFUR PART 1 OF 2
THE CHILDREN OF DARFUR PART 1 OF 2
"The Children of Darfur" is a youth documentary film that will tell the children's version of what is happening in Darfur. Some of the strongest testimonies are told by the children and etched in drawings made in the support centres that have opened throughout Darfur.
”When the militia came to our village, we were at school. 45 Students were killed including my cousin and best friend Mona. We walked for two days, without water, before arriving in Nyala. A month later we were brought here to the displaced people’s camp. In my village we had animals and crops and trees. Here we have nothing”, says Sumaya, 15 years old.
More than 10 years ago, when the international community finally realized the kind of atrocities that had taken place in Rwanda, the world’s leaders gathered to take action. Under the slogan “Never Again”, they decided that what had happened in Rwanda should never happen again. Today, in 2006, Darfur has turned into, what the United Nations describes as, the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The families, who have fled their villages, escaping attacks by marauding bands of Janjaweed militia, are often killed or separated during the escape. Many have lost family members, and witnessed rape and killing. The worst affected by the crisis are Darfur’s children, who represent more than 50% of the displaced people in the region
"The Children of Darfur" is a youth documentary film that will tell the children's version of what is happening in Darfur. Some of the strongest testimonies are told by the children and etched in drawings made in the support centres that have opened throughout Darfur.
”When the militia came to our village, we were at school. 45 Students were killed including my cousin and best friend Mona. We walked for two days, without water, before arriving in Nyala. A month later we were brought here to the displaced people’s camp. In my village we had animals and crops and trees. Here we have nothing”, says Sumaya, 15 years old.
More than 10 years ago, when the international community finally realized the kind of atrocities that had taken place in Rwanda, the world’s leaders gathered to take action. Under the slogan “Never Again”, they decided that what had happened in Rwanda should never happen again. Today, in 2006, Darfur has turned into, what the United Nations describes as, the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The families, who have fled their villages, escaping attacks by marauding bands of Janjaweed militia, are often killed or separated during the escape. Many have lost family members, and witnessed rape and killing. The worst affected by the crisis are Darfur’s children, who represent more than 50% of the displaced people in the region
Saturday, September 15, 2007
The North Korean Human Rights Crisis
ABSTRACT
North Korea today is home to a network of several dozen concentration camps rivaling those of Auschwitz and Dachau of days past, hosting over 250,000 political prisoners and their families. North Korea is a prison state- there are no freedoms of religion, speech, movement, assembly- even the right to leave the nation is barred from the people. Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have fled to neighboring China, only to be hunted down by Chinese authorities and sent back to North Korea to face torture and death; or to be sold by brokers and smugglers as labor or sexual slaves. An additional 15,000 North Koreans toil in slave labor camps outside North Korea.
North Korea today is home to a network of several dozen concentration camps rivaling those of Auschwitz and Dachau of days past, hosting over 250,000 political prisoners and their families. North Korea is a prison state- there are no freedoms of religion, speech, movement, assembly- even the right to leave the nation is barred from the people. Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have fled to neighboring China, only to be hunted down by Chinese authorities and sent back to North Korea to face torture and death; or to be sold by brokers and smugglers as labor or sexual slaves. An additional 15,000 North Koreans toil in slave labor camps outside North Korea.
How soon could Iran have a nuclear weapon?(1:39)
Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com#/video/world/2007/04/10/meserve.how.close.is.iran.ap#/video/world/2007/04/10/meserve.how.close.is.iran.ap#/video/world/2007/04/10/meserve.how.close.is.iran.ap: "Iran's nuclear timetable 1:39 How soon could Iran have a nuclear weapon? CNN's Jeanne Meserve takes a look"
Emergency In Darfur
A humanitarian crisis is raging in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Civilians are suffering torture and death by government-supported militia. Tens of thousands have been killed and over a million people have been driven from their homes. The refugees and those who remain in their villages in Darfur must deal with hunger and disease, lack of water and the absence of sanitation facilities. Seasonal rains hamper access by humanitarian aid organizations, whose assistance is already drastically reduced by limitations imposed by the Sudanese government.
Iran's Nuclear Program Symposium
Iran's Nuclear Development and Production--A Status Report (video)
Speakers:
Charles Ferguson, Fellow for Science & Technology, Council on Foreign Relations
Mark Fitzpatrick, Senior Fellow for Nonproliferation, International Institute for Strategic Studies;
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary Of State for Nonproliferation
Daniel Poneman, Senior Fellow, Forum for International Policy;
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Nonproliferation and Export Controls,
National Security Council
Presider:Carla Anne Robbins, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Wall Street Journal
• April 5, 2006
Symposium: Iran's Nuclear Program Symposium: Iran's Nuclear Development and Production: A Status Report
Speakers:
Charles Ferguson, Fellow for Science & Technology, Council on Foreign Relations
Mark Fitzpatrick, Senior Fellow for Nonproliferation, International Institute for Strategic Studies;
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary Of State for Nonproliferation
Daniel Poneman, Senior Fellow, Forum for International Policy;
Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Nonproliferation and Export Controls,
National Security Council
Presider:Carla Anne Robbins, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Wall Street Journal
• April 5, 2006
Symposium: Iran's Nuclear Program Symposium: Iran's Nuclear Development and Production: A Status Report
Friday, September 14, 2007
Media Talk: Is Iran building a nuclear bomb?
With Frank Barnaby (Oxford Research Group), Mark Fitzpatrick (IISS), Abbas Edalat (Imperial College London) and Majid Tafreshi (historian and journalist). Moderated by Sheila MacVicar (CBS).
Darfur: Our Choice Too
With Darfur activists focused on building pressure for U.N. force, Jon Sawyer makes the case to strengthen the African force on the ground.
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