WATCHING YOU...WATCHING ME: 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

#Panorama :Secret Service Pressed BBC To Censor Panorama - Papers

The head of the BBC personally intervened to censor a 1981 Panorama programme on Britain's intelligence agencies, official papers reveal.

Documents from the National Archives show the then director general, Sir Ian Trethowan, was put under pressure amid concern over the planned documentary.

The papers show Sir Ian told the press no-one from the government had seen the film or put pressure on the BBC.

The documents however reveal he in fact met the heads of MI5 and MI6.

Sir Ian also asked for a video cassette of the original 100-minute programme and showed it to Bernard Sheldon, then the legal adviser to MI5, who suggested a large number of cuts to be made.

The director general then went to the BBC's head of news and current affairs and asked him to reduce the programme by half, including making the cuts suggested by MI5.

"Mr Sheldon has in my judgement done a very good job with Sir Ian Trethowan," one document for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, marked "secret and personal", stated...read more

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16358075

#Twitter To be Sued By Pro-Israeli Group

A pro-Israel group is all aflutter over Twitter allowing groups on the US Terrorist list access to the social media site. Can they stop Twitter?

The group Shurat HaDin - Israel Law Center (ILC) has the stated goal of "Bankrupting terrorism, one lawsuit at a time." And their most recent target will be Twitter, which is being used by Hezbollah, in what the ILC suggests is an illegal provision of "assistance and support" to a terrorist organization.

The San Francisco-based Twitter spokesman reportedly had no comment regarding the threat of a lawsuit, nor about providing access to Twitter accounts for a known terrorist organization as reported at MSNBC. ...read more

Thursday, December 29, 2011

#SOPA Supporters - Bad News For The Internet

http://roynelson.blog.co.uk/2011/12/22/sopa-supporters-the-worst-thing-for-the-internet-12341914/#comments

http://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2011/12/sopa-supporters/

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The #Spam Factory's Dirty Secret - Mother Jones

On the cut-and-kill floor of Quality Pork Processors Inc. in Austin, Minnesota, the wind always blows. From the open doors at the docks where drivers unload massive trailers of screeching pigs, through to the "warm room" where the hogs are butchered, to the plastic-draped breezeway where the parts are handed over to Hormel for packaging, the air gusts and swirls, whistling through the plant like the current in a canyon. In the first week of December 2006, Matthew Garcia felt feverish and chilled on the blustery production floor. He fought stabbing back pains and nausea, but he figured it was just the flu—and he was determined to tough it out....read more

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/06/hormel-spam-pig-brains-disease?page=1

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

#FOX Pushing #GPS Tracking Device -Claims Could Have Prevented Tragic Murder

According to a report made by Fox News 31 (Denver, CO), a teacher was fatally shot and killed by he ex-boyfriend outside her Denver apartment last Friday (December 16). A GPS tracking device that would have been able to warn the victim that the suspect was nearby was not requested by the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

If the suspect, identified as Ryan Miller, had still been wearing the GPS tracker it would have alerted Andrea Roan that he was just outside her apartment, however, it was removed after a previous domestic violence case involving the Miller and Roan was taken over by the Denver District Attorney. Upon taking on the case, the District Attorney decided they did not need to track the suspected killer.

“We don’t ask for it [GPS tracking devices] in every case, just those cases where we think it would be appropriate and necessary,” says Vince DeCroce. Although he was unable to talk about any specific cases, he did explain that authorities often request GPS tracking devices when they believe the victim’s life could be in danger.

“First and foremost is victim safety,” DeCroce says. “The tracking device sends an alert to the monitoring company if the suspect gets near the victim’s home or workplace. The company then immediately warns the victim.”

Law enforcement authorities said that Miller waited outside Roan’s apartment last Friday morning and then shot her in the head as she drove away, presumably on her way to work. However, Roan never received a warning that Miller was outside of her apartment because his GPS tracking device had been removed.

GPS Device Could Have Prevented Tragic Murder

Miller’s case files had been handed over to the Denver District Attorney’s Office, and they did not ask for a GPS tracker.

“It appears in this particular case, we did not ask for a GPS to be a condition of Mr. Miller’s bond,” says Denver DA spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough. “In looking at the file folder, some of the things that the prosecutor would have looked for that would have triggered a request for GPS (tracking), he simply didn’t see them in the case file at that time.”

The DA apparently was unaware the City Attorney’s Office had requested one for Miller. “This is a tragedy that has been felt by everyone in our office,” Kimbrough says.

Court documents also reveal that Denver Police arrested 27-year-old Richard Leavitt as an alleged accessory after-the-fact.

According to the arrest warrant, Miller asked Leavitt to drive him to Roan’s apartment that Friday morning. Leavitt told law enforcement officials that he heard a gunshot while waiting in the car, and then saw Miller running back to the car.

He told police they went back to Miller’s apartment and Miller asked him to carry out a backpack. When police stopped Leavitt as he was leaving the apartment, they say they found a gun and ammunition in the backpack.

Source: Fox News 31 Denver, Colorado

http://www.landairsea.com/gps-tracking-blog/gps-tracking-device-could-have-prevented-tragic-murder/#more-3351

#Microchip : All Human's Chipped By The Year 2017 Through The Healthcare System

#RFID Tags : Hospital Patients Are Now Being Microchipped

(NaturalNews) Being microchipped is now being spun as a method of protecting the health of hospital patients. To help mask the practice of this bodily invasion with a trendy, high-tech appearance, microchipping sensors are being referred to as "electronic tattoos" that can attach to human skin and stretch and move without breaking.

Supposedly the comparisons of this hair-thin electronic patch-like chip to an electronic tattoo are being made because of how it adheres to the skin like a temporary tattoo using only water.

The small chip is less than 50 micrometers thick, which is thinner in diameter than a human hair. It is being marketed as a "safe" and easy way to temporarily monitor the heart and brain in patients while replacing bulky medical equipment currently being used in hospitals.

This device uses micro-electronics technology called an epidermal electronic system (EES) and is said to be a development that will "transform" medical sensing technology, computer gaming and even spy operations, according to a study published last week.

The hair-thin chip was developed by an international team of researchers from the United States, China and Singapore and is described in the Journal of Science.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033427_electronic_tattoos_microchipped.html#ixzz1hjYkrdvJ

#Microchip :Predictive Programming and the Human Microchipping Agenda from John Smith on Vimeo.

Predictive Programming and the Human Microchipping Agenda from John Smith on Vimeo.

Predictive Programming and the Human Microchipping Agenda confirms the reality of the microchip agenda, and shows that the weapon of propaganda has been used against the public for decades in order to familiarize us with the idea of being chipped. This process is called predictive programming and its purpose is literally to program the mind of the victim so as to accept without question whatever is required by the programmer - in this case, the idea of being microchipped at some point in the future. The victim is generally unaware of being programmed, believing that it's all just harmless entertainment. For this reason it can be a powerful and effective weapon against us.

By explaining this process and giving example after example, Predictive Programming and the Human Microchipping Agenda is an attempt to alert the viewer to some of the ways in which we have been manipulated throughout our lives for the specific purpose of slowly but surely shepherding us all into a Hellish world of microchip implants and totalitarian control. We hope that by exposing the programming we can break the program and derail this diabolical agenda. To be successful we need your help.

http://www.wethepeoplewillnotbechipped.com/main/news.php

#LindaRazzell Mystery : Is Linda Dead Or Alive ? (Archive 2004)

The Linda Razzell mystery is a very strange story , is it possible that Linda is still alive ? No cadaver dogs picked up the scent of Linda as in the Kate Prout case AND even though there is no media coverage someone returns on a regular basis to this site to read this newspaper article from 2004.

Coincidence : Linda Razzell - Claudia Lawrence And Sian O'Callaghan ALL three disappeared on the same date, March 19th.

Glyn Razzell may well be the first person in this country to be convicted of murdering someone who isn't dead. A former insurance investment manager in Swindon, he was found guilty last November of the murder of his wife. Yet there are many who believe she is still alive.

Linda Razzell, then 41, officially went missing on Tuesday March 19 2002. A learning support assistant, she left home at 8.40am, parked her car, but never arrived at work.

In such cases, the police have an initial investigative strategy: they check the money. If a woman has disappeared and her savings are untouched, then murder may be suspected. Linda, however, had seemingly withdrawn cash from three banks or building societies the day before she went missing.

Moreover, her 14-year-old daughter remarked that on the morning of her disappearance her mother had been "in a good mood, more cheerful than usual. Normally, she'd say, 'See you at six', but that day she didn't, which I thought was a bit odd."

However, police found bloodstains that were DNA-matched to Linda in a car that Razzell had used, and he was arrested in May 2002. Prosecution lawyers believed he had abducted and murdered her as she arrived for work. Her mobile phone was found in the small roadway she normally walked through. At the trial in Bristol, they described him as "a methodical man who planned everything in advance and was a good chess player". Despite the fact that no body was found and, indeed, there was no information about what had happened to his wife, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Razzell, now 44, met Linda Davies on a train in 1979. He was 20, she was a 19-year-old student reading French. They married in 1984 but the marriage was not a happy one. Linda had mental health problems and never embarked on a career. As Razzell's life became more successful, hers may have seemed more empty.

With four growing children to accommodate, Razzell designed an extension to their home and builders started work. Linda began a relationship with one of them. Belatedly she learned that he had a reputation for bedding other women, but by then the marriage was over. In August 2000 Razzell moved out.

While Linda started a relationship with Greg Worrall, the husband of one of her friends, Razzell found a new partner in Rachel Smith, a work colleague who was 20 years younger than him. The custody battles became increasingly acrimonious. Linda twice alleged that Razzell had assaulted her; both times he was charged and acquitted.

In 2000, Linda started work part-time at Swindon college. Then, at the end of 2001, Razzell was made redundant by his company, Zurich Financial Services. His maintenance payments to Linda stopped and, on Friday March 15, she got a court order freezing his bank accounts. On Monday he phoned his solicitor, who advised him to get back into court as soon as possible. Accordingly, he pulled out of a day-trip to France he had planned with friends for the following day. They were going to stock up on wine and cheese, and since Razzell's Ford Galaxy was the largest of their vehicles he agreed to swap it for a friend's silver Renault Laguna. (As these were company cars, there were no insurance problems.) This was to become an immensely significant factor in the case.

At 6.24pm that Tuesday, the Razzells' oldest child telephoned Worrall to say that the two younger children had not been picked up from school. He rang the police and reported Linda as missing, while the daughter arranged for someone to collect the others. When they were all at home, the children began texting their mother. One message read: "All we want is for you to come home but if you feel you can't that's fine."

That evening, Razzell met his friends on their return from France. They shared out the wine and took back their own vehicles. Razzell had only had the Renault from Monday afternoon until Tuesday evening. .....read more

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/may/04/ukcrime.features11

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8247945/Father-of-missing-Claudia-Lawrence-shares-the-anguish-of-Joanna-Yeatess-parents.html

#Azerbaijani #Gove's Backers : This company is owned by UK-based Shahrivar Mahmoud-Zadeh, who owns ‘Azerbaijan’s leading tissue and nappy maker’, and is also a member of lobbying group the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society.

Education Secretary Michael Gove / Image courtesy of Regional Government

Private Eye reveals in its new issue that education secretary Michael Gove – who already attracts more political donations than any other Cabinet minister – has received funds from a rather surprising source: an Azerbaijani nappy company.

Rifling through the latest register of MPs’ interests, the Eye noticed a £3,000 donation to Gove’s Surrey Heath constituency party from Dilman UK. This company is owned by UK-based Shahrivar Mahmoud-Zadeh, who owns ‘Azerbaijan’s leading tissue and nappy maker’, and is also a member of lobbying group the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society.

As the Eye points out, ‘This isn’t the largest slice of Azerbaijan-linked cash in British politics.’

To read the Bureau’s investigation on Lobbying’s Hidden Influence, click here.

In August, the Bureau revealed the Europe-Azerbaijan Society had provided all-expenses paid trips to the country for a number of MPs. Several of these MPs went on to speak favourably about the country in a Commons debate, although others raised concerns about the country’s human rights record...read more

http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2011/12/21/bureau-recommends-goves-azerbaijani-backers/

#BellPottinger #Lobbying : The Hidden Influence

http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/category/projects/lobbying-projects/

Monday, December 26, 2011

Roll It : New Theme Park Furniture In Ukraine

«Roll it» – это совместный роект нескольких факультетов университета Карлсруэ. Представляет из себя эксериментальное жилище, с модульным ространством внутри. Домик оделен на три секции – стол с кроватью, вращающийся цилиндр для уражнений и кухня со сливом. Круглая форма жилища оддерживается с омощью четырех оорных колец над внутренней оболочкой, окутанных снаружи олурозрачной ленкой, которая может служить в �! �ачестве рекламных лощадей. Дом остроен из ламинированных деревянных анелей, имеет круглые отверстия для того чтобы обесечить естественное освещение и охлаждение. А для защиты от влаги и холода редусмотрена внутренняя крышка.

http://creepru.blogspot.com/2011/12/roll-it-7.html

Sunday, December 25, 2011

#Gibraltar - Downing Street Cabinet Office Gibraltar Tax Evasion Fraud Files Epic Scale UNCUT BBC SKY News

http://www.myvidster.com/video/3627043/Downing_Street_Cabinet_Office_Gibraltar_Tax_Evasion_Fraud_Files_Epic_Scale_UNCUT

#BNP : Nick Griffin Tells The Nativity Story - One For The Album I Think

Friday, December 23, 2011

#Trafigura #Amnesty :Trafigura guilty verdict upheld in toxic waste dumping case

A Dutch court’s decision to uphold a guilty verdict against the multinational company, Trafigura, for illegally exporting toxic waste is an important step towards justice for the thousands of people affected by the dumping in Côte d’Ivoire, Amnesty International said today.

A judge rejected Trafigura’s appeal against its previous conviction for illegally delivering hazardous waste to Amsterdam while concealing its true nature, and for exporting the waste to Côte D’Ivoire in 2006.

“This is a damning verdict against Trafigura which has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing," said Benedetta Lacey, a special advisor at Amnesty International who has visited Côte d’Ivoire and met victims of the dumping.

“The verdict is clear: Trafigura is criminally accountable for having concealed the harmful nature of the waste on delivery in Amsterdam and for having illegally exported the waste to Cote d’Ivoire. In particular we welcome the court’s finding that EU regulations on hazardous waste did apply in this case.”

The appeal verdict found that the municipality of Amsterdam was able to claim immunity from prosecution for having allowed the toxic waste to leave the Netherlands. Amsterdam Port Services (APS), a Dutch company that had been initially contracted by Trafigura to dispose of the waste, was also cleared of any criminal charges after the appeal court upheld the previous court’s decision that APS had made an ‘excusable error of law’.

“Whilst this is a significant step towards justice there are still many unanswered questions. The Dutch prosecution focussed on events and legal breaches which occurred in the Netherlands alone. It did not consider the impact of the dumping in Côte D’Ivoire or illegal acts committed abroad,” said Benedetta Lacey.

“Today is an important milestone for the victims of the toxic waste dumping. States must ensure that multinational companies are prosecuted for illegal conduct that leads to human rights abuses both at home and abroad.“

Amnesty International is assessing the full text of the appeal verdict.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/trafigura-guilty-verdict-upheld-toxic-waste-dumping-case-2011-12-23?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

#TWITTER FLAW :Potentially Major Security Flaw In Twitter

Potentially Major Security Flaw in Twitter

Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:46:43 +0100
From: Eugen Leitl <eugen[at]leitl.org>
To: cypherpunks[at]al-qaeda.net
Subject: [liberationtech] UPDATE - Re: potentially major security flaw in twitter

----- Forwarded message from Brian Conley <brianc[at]smallworldnews.tv> -----

From: Brian Conley <brianc[at]smallworldnews.tv>
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:29:40 -0800
To: Liberation Technologies <liberationtech[at]lists.stanford.edu>
Subject: [liberationtech] UPDATE - Re: potentially major security flaw in twitter

Hi all,

So an update. Essentially I've run into what some of you have probably
previously mentioned, the impact of the OAuth protocol.

For an uninformed user of twitter, OAuth can cause them to provide access
to their twitter account from secondary devices even after changing
passwords at the source.

Obviously this has huge implications for citizen journalists, activists,
and human rights workers among others. Anyone who is detained and whose
twitter passwords become compromised (as well as other applications, i'm
guessing the facebook app for iPad also uses OAUTH, though it may just
store the password) is at risk of providing ongoing access to these apps if
they fail to remove the OAuth authorization after changing their passwords.

Does anyone know of resources that have been produced to raise awareness
about this issue, or similar issues? I'm wondering whether Small World News
should put some effort into developing a more comprehensive social media
security 101 that considers these technical issues as well as general best
practices?

Regards

Brian

On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 5:38 PM, Brian Conley <brianc[at]smallworldnews.tv>wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> So I don't really want to broadcast this to an entire list of people whom
> I don't know, but I've found what is potentially a huge flaw in twitter's
> security architecture. Can any of you connect me directly with someone at
> Twitter who is involved with security?
>
> I will be happy to brief the list once its fixed.
>
> Brian
>
> --
>
> Brian Conley
> Director, Small World News
> http://smallworldnews.tv/
> m: 646.285.2046
> Skype: brianjoelconley
> public key: http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xE827FACCB139C9F0

_______________________________________________
liberationtech mailing list
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If you would like to receive a daily digest, click "yes" (once you click above) next to "would you like to receive list mail batched in a daily digest?"

You will need the user name and password you receive from the list moderator in monthly reminders.

Should you need immediate assistance, please contact the list moderator.

Please don't forget to follow us on http://twitter.com/#!/Liberationtech

----- End forwarded message -----
--
Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org/">leitl</a> http://leitl.org/
______________________________________________________________
ICBM: 48.07100, 11.36820 http://www.ativel.com/ http://postbiota.org/
8B29F6BE: 099D 78BA 2FD3 B014 B08A 7779 75B0 2443 8B29 F6BE

http://cryptome.org/0005/twitter-flaw.htm

#Chernobyl : Joyful Scenes As Hosts Greet Chernobyl Children

CHRISTMAS celebrations began in earnest in dozens of Irish homes yesterday when a group of Chernobyl children arrived to spend the holidays with host families.

Sixty youngsters from Belarus aged seven and upwards will spend the next two-and-a-half weeks in Ireland, reuniting with friends, catching up on vital medical care and being immersed in hugs and love from their "Irish parents".

The children, whose trip has been organised by Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International charity, are all orphaned, abandoned or from impoverished homes in the Gomel and Mogilev regions of Belarus, which bore the brunt of the fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster 25 years ago.

Chernobyl Children International has been working to improve conditions in the orphanages and asylums into which many were dumped by authorities or families unable to cope with the physical and learning disabilities they suffered. ..read more

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/joyful-scenes-as-hosts-greet-chernobyl-children-177884.html#.TvSOKiURdw4.twitter

#WhoCallsMe ? http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/08712210030....Some Kind Of SCAM In Operation Beware !

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/01515471414/2

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

#Cancer : #Twitter And Follow For Cancer Research

Fellow tweeters are uniting to help Dave on Twitter reach 1 million followers , in return he will receive 1000 pounds from William Hill News for cancer research. There are only a few days left so start tweeting and happy holidays .

Please, followers, follow @Dave_V_WH until 25/12 - if he gets 1M, @williamhillNews will give him £1k for charity - Velindre Cancer Hospital

Sunday, December 18, 2011

#Qorvis #BellPottinger : #Oslo Freedom Forum

Maryam al-Khawaja took the stage at the Oslo Freedom Forum last Tuesday and stunned the audience with her experiences of government violence in the Kingdom of Bahrain. She described the killing of student protestors, the torture of democracy advocates, and how human rights defenders are "disappeared." Maryam also detailed how troops from a neighboring dictatorship, Saudi Arabia, rushed into Bahrain to prop up the crown prince's regime.

Ali Abdulemam, a renowned Bahraini blogger, was also invited to the Oslo Freedom Forum. Ali was imprisoned by his government in September 2010 for "spreading false information." After being released on February 23, he enthusiastically accepted his speaking invitation and plans were made for his travel. And then he disappeared. No one has seen or heard from him since March 18.

Beyond disappearing bloggers and rights activists, Bahrain also tries to disappear criticism. The government has been aided by a coterie of "reputation management" experts, including professionals from the Washington, D.C., offices of Qorvis Communications and the Potomac Square Group, in addition to Bell Pottinger out of their offices in London and Bahrain....read more

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thor-halvorssen/pr-mercenaries-their-dict_b_863716.html

#Qorvis & #BellPottinger Working Together

In August, news came out --- notably through the blogger Brian Whitaker --- that the major American public-relations firm Qorvis had signed a $40,000/month contract with the Bahraini regime. Soon it emerged what Qorvis was delivering for their money : the company was trying to place a series of press releases, posing as "news", on the pages of American and international newspapers and websites (see separate feature).

Not long after that, the blogger Chan'ad Bahraini placed Qorvis within a larger story, setting out a Top 10 List of American and British firms and individuals with PR contracts with the Kingdom. Included on the list were a former top Democratic Party strategist, Joe Trippi, a former Wall Street Journal reporter, Chris Cooper, and a USA Today journalist dismissed for alleged plagiarism, Tom Squitieri.
And now we have more to consider --- on Friday, Chan'ad Bahraini noted the latest Foreign Agents Registration document of Qorvis. This is a form, required every six months by the US Justice Department, declaring the company's organisation and its relationship to and work for its clients.

The entire form deserves reading. It is much bigger than just Bahrain, given Qorvis's roll-call of individuals and governments --- including the Saudi Embassy in the US and Ellam Tam, "Palestine's first strategic communications company" --- but here we will focus on Qorvis's favourite little Kingdom.

1. WORKING TOGETHER --- QORVIS AND BELL POTTINGER

Up to now, I had treated each of the Bahraini regime's PR outlets as separate. The Potomac Square Group did its bit, and Tom Squitieri's TNS chipped in with his "journalism". Britain's Bell Pottinger --- whom we have profiled this week for their activities on behalf of regimes like Uzbekistan, their manipulation of Wikipedia entries, and their braggadocio about access to the highest levels of British politics --- provided big-name advice.

Not so. The Qorvis form indicates that it got to the Bahraini regime via representation from Bell Pottinger. In July, Bell Pottinger also subcontracted work for the Yemeni regime, for $30,000, to Qorvis. The two companies, in other words, are not necessarily rivals for business; they work hand-in-hand.

And, as we noted yesterday, Tom Squitieri --- the independent "media analyst" placing his pro-regime slant in outlets like The Huffington Post --- is not even independent in his business operation. The registration form makes clear he is actually employed by Qorvis.

2. ALL THE NEWS FIT TO PRINT

Qorvis declares that it "coordinated media and press activity on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain". Under that heading, it lists almost 120 articles distributed, via PR NewsWire at a cost of $116.60 per piece, to newspapers and websites. So, in the name of news, Qorvis distributed "Prime Minister of Bahrain Works to Implement National Dialogue Political Reforms", "U.S. Optimistic About Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry Report and Reform Implementations", "U.S. Navy Committed to Bahrain says State Department", as well as "Bahrain to Host Charity Golf Tournament for Disabled".

That output is almost the entire English-language production of the Bahraini regime's Information Affairs Authority.

3. BUT IT'S JUST NOT NEWS --- HOW ABOUT FACE TIME?

Qorvis, however, is far more than the Information Affairs Authority's US branch. The company also arranged access for Crown Prince Salman to Washington's elite in May and June, including a gathering at the White House.

The Crown Prince sat down with leading members of Congress, while hands were shaken and words were exchanged with columnists like David Ignatius of The Washington Post --- who has been a prime outlet for good news about Bahrain's leadership --- analysts of think tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations and RAND, and former Government officials such as Elliot Abrams.

4. SOCIAL MEDIA COUNTS AS WELL

Facebook also gets a big name-check in the Qorvis reports --- dozens of payments of $50 to $100 were made to the social networking site from April to October.

Read the full Foreign Agents Registration Document....

http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2011/12/10/bahrain-special-4-more-revelations-about-qorvis-the-regimes.html

Blogger Has Computer Seized !

For those of you that haven’t seen or read about it yet, a UK blogger has had his computers seized by the police. Tallbloke’s Talkshop, climate skeptic blogger, was the first person to break the Climategate 2 story.

An Englishman’s home is his castle they say. Not when six detectives from the Metropolitan Police, the Norfolk Constabulary and the Computer Crime division arrive on your doorstep with a warrant to search it though.

His full blog post on the incident is still available to read HERE.
Anthony Watts has been in touch with Tallbloke and has a post on the incident HERE.
Meanwhile, feel free to stick this poster up wherever you think it might be appropriate ...read more

http://www.maxfarquar.com/2011/12/blogger-has-computers-seized/

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Tallbloke towers raided: many computers taken

Posted: December 14, 2011 by tallbloke in Philosophy, Politics

105

Visit cartoonsbyjosh.com and buy a t-shirt or mug or something!

An Englishman’s home is his castle they say. Not when six detectives from the Metropolitan Police, the Norfolk Constabulary and the Computer Crime division arrive on your doorstep with a warrant to search it though.
I waved the first three in and bid them head through to the sitting room, where there was less of an chill near the woodburner. Then they kept coming, being introduced by the lead detective from Norfolk as they trooped in. I thought I’d been chosen to host the secret policemen’s ball or something.

I managed to log out of my email on the big lappy as they sat down, to the annoyance of the Computer expert. he soon regained his composure though and asked his first question.

How many computers do you have in the house?

Oh, I’m not sure… around twenty.

I breezily replied.

Some glances were exchanged.
“So where are they” he asked.
“Most of them are up in the attic bedroom. We’re in the middle of decorating it. You’ll have to mind the wet paint…”
After surveying my ancient stack of Sun Sparcstations and PII 400 pc’s, they ended up settling for two laptops and an adsl broadband router. I’m blogging this post via my mobile.
I got the feeling something was on the go last night when WordPress forwarded a notice from the U.S. Department of Justice. I’ll post it tomorrow once I get access to the net from a bigger keyboard sorted out.
UPDATE 15-12-2011

http://tallbloke.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/tallbloke-towers-raided-many-computers-taken/

http://www.maxfarquar.com/2011/12/blogger-has-computers-seized/

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Linda Razzell Is She Still Alive ?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/may/04/ukcrime.features11

http://watchingyouwatchingyme-steelmagnolia.blogspot.com/2011/04/httpwww_11.html

http://watchingyouwatchingyme-steelmagnolia.blogspot.com/2011/03/regina-v-glynn-razzell.html

http://forum.wronglyaccusedperson.org.uk/other-specific-wrongly-accused-cases/gyn-razzell/

PC MACINTYRE..UNCOVERED by Steve Patterson & Larry O'Hara

The article below first appeared in Notes From the Borderland issue 3 2000-2001 p.3-8 and is, we believe, of enduring importance, as it accurately nailed the dishonest 'new breed' of TV 'investigative journalists', an insult to the term. Macintyre & those behind him were certainly clever, not in the sense of undertaking genuine investigations, but in dressing up information received primarily from 'official sources' as though it were not. In the day (as they say) Macintyre was a 'big thing', his talent for self publicity knew no bounds. His career subsequent to the show analysed below has hardly flourished, intermittently chronicled in various NFBs (issue 4 p.5/issue 7 p.47/issue 8 p.50). Most recently, he was spotted on regional TV in London looking sheepish reading out reports of lost pets & such-like, still trying to inject an air of mystery into the blindingly obvious. Amusing as his trajectory might be, the hammer-blows Macintyre & other practitioners of SPIJ (State-compromised Pseudo-Investigative Journalism) delivered to the already ailing body of TV investigative journalism are no laughing matter. Though he is, we think you'll agree, an intrinsic figure of fun--a far better clown than journalist.

In 1999 the BBC showed a major investigative series, 'Macintyre Undercover', with accompanying book and glowing media accolades. In the BBC's 2000 annual report Chairman Sir Christopher Bland singled the programme out for particular praise. Donal Macintyre, former print journalist in Ireland and graduate in England of the World In Action reporting school, had made it [1].

What a difference six months made. Macintyre's laughable documentary on football hooliganism screened 10/11/99, and a seriously shifty performance on Radio 5 Live's Nicky Campbell Show (8/12/99) more than alerted the interest of NFB. To date, while others have been subject to scrutiny, nobody has commented critically (as opposed to satirically) on the football programme. No longer. We have analysed both film and book cross-referencing them with each other and our own information. While the results didn't surprise us. we hazard they will surprise people naive enough to imagine Macintyre was/is a genuine investigative journalist. But then such people no doubt believe The Guardian a cracking good read. In what follows we refer to the football TV documentary as film, and related book 'Macintyre, One Man Four Lives' as book. Page numbers in brackets refer to this text.

PREVIOUS FIXTURE: HEADHUNTERS 1 POLICE 0

On 12 May 1987 5 Chelsea football hooligans were jailed for a total of 38 years. The trial, costing £1.75 million, followed a police operation initiated October 1985 in West London -'Operation Own Goal'. The own goals in this match however, came from police. Dodgy notebook evidence from dodgy geezers led to eventual acquittals and the collapse of 3 similar trials [2]. Not only had crimes been mistakenly attributed, the role of the boys in (temporary Chelsea) blue as regards encouraging, facilitating and participating in violence meant they themselves were compromised. Subsequently, the police, and Football Intelligence Unit (hereafter FIU) especially, have been obsessed with Chelsea. As regular as clockwork, every new football season starts with a 'briefing' on how dangerous Chelsea are (off the pitch at least). In August 1993 for example, Bryan Appleby, FIU Head at NCIS singled out (yet another) "new generation of extreme right-wing football hooligans...involved in violent crime in Britain and abroad" [3]. There was also wistful reference to the failure of Operation Own Goal, which had created a mythology of Chelsea as "untouchables" [4].

REPORTING FOR DUTY

In view of past matches between police and Chelsea, it was no shock Macintyre focused on the Chelsea Headhunters, and visited the Football Intelligence Unit. It is our contention, however, that Macintyre's dealings with the police were so extensive, and incestuous, his was in effect a police programme, all the more pernicious in that (unlike 'Crimewatch') it masqueraded as 'investigative journalism'. In case you think that too strong a statement for a genteel magazine like NFB, review the facts below. For convenience, we divide evidence into the openly disclosed, and that which Macintyre made some attempts to conceal, or has not trumpeted.

DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF POLICE INPUT

The final TV programme stated "I started with some background research. A sheet from the police files revealed a rogue's gallery of some of the most dangerous hooligans in the country" [5]. Indeed, his reading (and access) was extensive, for "in the files one man's name keeps cropping up, Andy Frain" (film). In the book, Macintyre states he initially had in front of him an extensive press rogue's gallery of photos—a semantic distinction because these picture galleries come from the police anyway, even if presented as journalistic 'investigation' [6].

As well as written files, Macintyre & company were given photos. At one point Macintyre admits two researchers used Operation Own Goal trial pictures for identification purposes in the field (p.40). Macintyre himself was so well acquainted that in Lens he recognised "Stuart Glass instantly from the mug-shots" (p.40).

In addition to a free run through police files, Macintyre and crew got excellent access to police footage of football related violence and activity. This included not only a ruck filmed inside Maine Road during the Man City versus Millwall game 6/2/99, but CCTV footage of a fracas outside a pub near Baker Street 11/4/98. Such access has a price-lack of independence and genuine 'investigation'. There again. Macintyre wouldn't know the meaning of either word.

In the book, Macintyre makes no mention of FIU assistance apart from one aside concerning Clothier (see below). Yet the film of Macintyre getting briefed by Chief Superintendent Bryan Drew of the FIU clearly shows the starting point of his whole journey was West London FIU HQ. Indeed, Macintyre is even warned by Drew as to how Headhunters would react if he were discovered to be a journalist. This illustrates the Drew interview was early in the investigation, rather than simply added on at the end. Or if it was added on later, the complicity would be even greater than it appears....read more

http://www.borderland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=210:dummy-article&catid=46:journalism-spij-watch

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Nellie Geraghty : Search And Appeal

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Stephen Lawrence's : blood stained accused's collar, jury told

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/30/stephen-lawrence-murder-case?CMP=twt_gu

Superinjunctions : Ian Hislop was wrong: superinjunctions are back

4 weeks after Ian Hislop said injunctions were dead, up pop a couple to irritate those whose cannot afford the expensive courts to keep the media from reporting something that may or may not be in the public interest as judged by unelected judges who are the moral arbiters of UK life....read more

http://super-injunction.blogspot.com/2011/12/ian-hislop-was-wrong-superinjunctions.html

Censored By The British Press : Madeleine McCann Book Ban Overturned

Book written by detective who investigated disappearance claims parents hid their daughter’s body

BY Sophie Taylor LAST UPDATED AT 11:35 ON Wed 20 Oct 2010

A Portuguese court has overturned a ban on a book in which it is claimed that Madeleine McCann's body was hidden by her parents after she died on holiday.

Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared from her holiday apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz while her parents were dining with friends in May 2007. It was assumed the child was abducted and her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, believe she is still alive.

The book in question, Maddie: a Verdade da Mentira (Maddie: the Truth of the Lie), was written by Goncalo Amaral, the police inspector who led the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance from May until October 2007.

The book was published in July 2008, but the McCanns, who deny Amaral's assertions, took legal action and a year later a court banned sales of the book and forbade Amaral from repeating his claims about the McCanns. In February this year, the ban was upheld.

Now a judge has ruled that the ban on the book was a breach of "a constitutional and universal right: that of opinion and freedom of expression".

According to the court, "The contents of the book do not breach the basic rights of the plaintiffs."

In his book, Amaral claims that Madeleine died in a tragic accident and her parents then hid the body.

He also questioned why Gerry and Kate McCann had to employ a spokesman and said they were too close to British police.

After his court victory, Amaral told reporters: "The book is an exercise in freedom of speech.

Portuguese democracy has won, as banning the book was unconstitutional."

A defamation case brought by the McCanns against Amaral continues. ·

http://www.theweek.co.uk/comment/7987

Cardiff 3 :CPS Collusion - No Justice For The Cardiff 3 - MORE Police Corruption

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) incompetence or collusion allows corrupt cops to walk free.
After five months of a trial costing ‘tens of millions of pounds’, eight police officers accused of perverting the course of justice have been able to simply walk away from Swansea Crown Court. They walked free not because a jury acquitted them – the jury didn’t get a chance to pass any verdict at all. They walked free because the CPS and police investigators made such serious and repeated failings in presenting the evidence that it was impossible for the trial to proceed.

This was one of the biggest and most serious cases ever tried in Wales. These police officers had ‘allegedly’colluded to imprison three men for a murder they knew they did not commit,making little effort to find the real killer. They fabricated evidence, and bullied witnesses into committing perjury. One witness recounted that police officers had told her they would

"nail those men and, if I didn't do what they said, they would nail me as well".

A forensic witness told of how detectives had ‘strengthened’ a witness account in order to implicate Abdullahi and Actie, two of the three men, known as the Cardiff 3,who were later sentenced to life in prison.

Given that this was such an important trial, it is, to put it mildly, ‘remarkable’ that the police and prosecution messed up the evidence in the case to the extent that they did. From the statement made by the trial judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, it is clear that the collapse of the case stemmed not from one mistake, but from aseries of failings, omissions and errors in that made it impossible for the eight police officers to be fairly tried. ---read more

http://www.radicalwales.org/2011/12/no-justice-for-cardiff-3.html

Stephen Lawrence Trial : Tiny Bloodstain Links Gary Dobson

Traces of Stephen Lawrence's blood linked to a jacket belonging to one of the men accused of his murder totalled just two cubic millimetres, a court has heard.

Forensic scientist Edward Jarman told a jury at the Old Bailey that "microscopic" traces were found on Gary Dobson's coat.

A cold case team found a tiny bloodstain on the collar of the jacket, measuring 0.5mm by 0.25mm, and a number of dried blood flakes in its evidence bag. ...read more

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/01/stephen-lawrence-trial-_n_1123164.html?1322756964

Dangerous Internet Surveillance

Exclusive Western and Chinese high-tech companies are competing aggressively to sell, install and manage intrusive and dangerous internet surveillance and communications control equipment for the world’s most brutal regimes, a six-month investigation has found.

During 2011, investigators from Privacy International, a London-based NGO, infiltrated a circuit of closed international surveillance equipment marketing conferences, obtaining private briefings and technical product specifications from contract-hungry sales executives. The group will publish its data and document haul on the net today, in conjunction with other campaigners.

The scale and audacity of the proposals in many of the companies’ documents and hand-out
DVDs is breathtaking. They describe and offer for unrestricted sale technologies which were in existence a decade ago, but which were held in utmost secrecy by major intelligence agencies such as the US National Security Agency (NSA) and Britain’s GCHQ.

Over 150 international companies now trading in this sector have been identified during the research. The majority of them did not exist or were not offering electronic surveillance products, even in the early noughties.

Companies exhibiting at the shows now openly offer to target and break specific international commercial communications satellites, including Thuraya (covering the Middle East), Iridium satellite phones, and Marlink’s VSAT. Commercial satellite intercept was previously the almost exclusive turf of GCHQ and NSA’s Echelon satellite interception network.

Other companies offer routinely to install malware on phones and PCs, to break SSL encryption on web connections and A5 crypto on mobile phones, or to break into high-capacity optical fibre networks.....read more

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/12/01/security_firms_compete_to_sell_snoopware_to_repressive_governments/

Jeremy Clarkson : Calls To Sack Him After UK Strike Remarks !

TRANSCRIPT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/01/jeremy-clarkson-one-show-strike?CMP=twt_fd

Jeremy Clarkson should be sacked by the BBC over his "appalling" comments about killing striking public sector workers, trade union Unison has said.

The union said it was considering reporting the Top Gear presenter to the police over comments on The One Show.

Referring to striking workers, Mr Clarkson said: "I'd have them all shot. I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families."

The BBC received over 4,700 complaints and has apologised for the comments.

Mr Clarkson's comments, on Wednesday's screening of the BBC One show, sparked hundreds of responses to be posted on social networking site Twitter.

Talking about the strikes over pension changes, Mr Clarkson also said: "I mean, how dare they go on strike when they've got these gilt-edged pensions that are going to be guaranteed while the rest of us have to work for a living?"

Some of his remarks, which appeared to have been made in a lighthearted tone, were greeted with laughter from a studio audience, as did his comment that the strikes were "like being back in the 70s" which made him feel "at home, somehow".

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: "Clarkson's comments on The One Show were totally outrageous, and they cannot be tolerated.

'Silly thing to say'

"An apology is not enough - we are calling on the BBC to sack Jeremy Clarkson immediately.
"We are seeking urgent legal advice about what further action we can take against him and the BBC, and whether or not his comments should be referred to the police."

He added: "Jeremy Clarkson clearly needs a reminder of just who he is talking about when he calls for public sector workers to be shot in front of their families.

"Whilst he is driving round in fast cars for a living, public sector workers are busy holding our society together - they save others' lives on a daily basis, they care for the sick, the vulnerable, the elderly."...read more

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15977813

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

UK Strike : Great Britain's Strike Action 30/002011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvSoGGxFlYA

UK Strike - Video Charing Cross Police Kettling

Google : An Interesting Case Against Google And A Claim Of Defamation By Andrea Davison

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2011/3031.html

Somerset : UK's Biggest Ever Ond Day Strike Begins In Somerset

Normal life in the West will be put on hold today as the biggest one-day strike in a generation affects everything from school lessons and hospital appointments to driving tests and rubbish collections.

Tens of thousands of public sector workers across the region will be walking out in protest at changes to pensions, and with the Government’s announcement of a pay rise cap further angering public workers yesterday, more strikes like today’s seem increasingly likely in the months to come.

A previous teacher strike in 2008

The biggest effect of the strike will be felt by parents, as hundreds of schools across the region close for the day. The total number of schools closing was still being assessed last night, with some headteachers left in the dark over whether their staff would strike or not.

But yesterday, more than three-quarters of secondary schools and the vast majority of primary schools had already told parents they would be closed for the day, and all the others had warned of partial closures. In some parts of the West, special ‘strike clubs’ have been set up for the day in leisure centres, but for tens of thousands of parents the strike will mean emergency childcare or taking the day off work themselves.

Ambulance chiefs warned people dialling 999 for emergency medical care to think twice, and only call if it is ‘a life-threatening injury or serious medical emergency’ throughout the day.
The Great Western Ambulance Service tried to reassure people that the 999 service would be ‘safe and effective’, but warned there could be problems as its staff decide whether or not to strike.

“GWAS is also urging those with less serious clinical conditions to seek the help they need elsewhere, rather than calling 999,” said interim chief executive Ken Wenman. “Our staff are passionate about patient care, but also feel strongly for their pensions.”

With more different unions than ever before joining the one-day strike action, disruption could happen in any aspect of public service. In law and order, police community support officers could strike along with police civilian workers, but police officers themselves can not strike.
Court officials and prison officers are also stepping out on strike, which could disrupt court hearings, people trying to access services at places like Job Centres could be hit, while people taking their driving tests today have been told to turn up as usual, but warned their test might be cancelled when they get there.....read more

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Biggest-day-strike-generation-begins-Somerset/story-13997286-detail/story.html

Day Of Strike's -as millions heed unions' call to fight pension cuts . Will It Include British Police Brutality ?

• Disruption across UK as many services come to virtual halt
• Airports, schools, rail services and hospitals affected
• Reform of public sector pensions is at heart of dispute

Strikers outside Birmingham Women's hospital at midnight as public sector unions begin action across the UK to oppose pension cuts. Photograph: David Jones/PA

The UK is experiencing the worst disruption to services in decades on Wednesday as more than 2 million public sector workers stage a nationwide strike, closing schools and bringing councils and hospitals to a virtual standstill.

The strike by more than 30 unions over cuts to public sector pensions started at midnight, leading to the closure of most state schools; cancellation of refuse collections; rail service and tunnel closures; the postponement of thousands of non-emergency hospital operations; and delays at airports and ferry terminals.

The TUC said it was the biggest stoppage in more than 30 years and was comparable to the last mass strike by 1.5 million workers in 1979. Hundreds of marches and rallies are due to take place in cities and towns across the country.

Pickets began to form before dawn at many hospitals, Whitehall departments, ports and colleges.

The strikes have been called over government plans to overhaul pensions for all public sector workers, by cutting employer contributions, increasing personal contributions and, it emerged on Tuesday, increasing the state retirement age to 67 in 2026, eight years earlier than originally planned.

Union leaders were further enraged after George Osborne announced that as well as a public sector pay freeze for most until 2013, public sector workers' pay rises would be capped at 1% for the two years after that.

In Scotland an estimated 300,000 public sector workers are expected to strike, with every school due to be affected after Scottish headteachers voted to stop work for the first time.

The UK Border Agency is braced for severe queues at major airports after learning that staffing levels at passport desks will be "severely below" 50% despite a successful appeal for security-cleared civil servants to volunteer.... read more

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/30/public-sector-workers-strike-uk?CMP=twt_gu

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Stephen Lawrence :scientist concerned about contamination

The former chief forensic scientist in the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation has told the Old Bailey he was concerned that crucial evidence had become contaminated.

Adrian Wain said that by the late 1990s sellotape used to seal bags of clothing had become ineffective.

Prosecutors say evidence on the clothes of Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35 links them to the 1993 killing.

Mr Dobson and Mr Norris deny murder and say police contaminated the evidence.

Mr Wain told the jury he had warned police in July 2001 that the sacks and sticky tape used to seal exhibits could degrade and therefore let in fibres or hairs.

He said: "I was aware that items had been in and out of the laboratory. I didn't have control of them outside the laboratory. I didn't know whether they'd been in the same location outside the laboratory.

"I knew that the packaging was deteriorating, I knew that the seals were deteriorating. I had concerns about contamination.",,read more

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15869973