Saw a live cinema screening of Fela just now. Socks blown off. Cultural Jihad indeed. Might want to minimise the window and ponder the words without visuals. :-P
13.1.11
11.1.11
6.1.11
Carbon Counts
Those blinking counters, look what they have done.
Look at the institutions and global rules they are drafting
To make money, first fetishising and then offsetting carbon that hasn't been 'released' yet
Commodificatiing of the SKY above our heads.
(Anybody remember the intro song to firefly? well he was wrong they can take the sky)
Whilst managing to subsidise technology transfer and maintain that industrial edge through a veil of belevolent self interest.
Clean Development Mechanism Adaptation Fund.
No doubt non-compliance will entail sanction and de-civilisation in the future,
just like today's human rights bitching
Maybe they will look back on the war on iraq as a carbon mitigation exercise.
Look at the institutions and global rules they are drafting
To make money, first fetishising and then offsetting carbon that hasn't been 'released' yet
Commodificatiing of the SKY above our heads.
(Anybody remember the intro song to firefly? well he was wrong they can take the sky)
Whilst managing to subsidise technology transfer and maintain that industrial edge through a veil of belevolent self interest.
Clean Development Mechanism Adaptation Fund.
No doubt non-compliance will entail sanction and de-civilisation in the future,
just like today's human rights bitching
Maybe they will look back on the war on iraq as a carbon mitigation exercise.
5.1.11
Salman Taseer assassinated in Pakistan
Over the past few days news hasnt been good from the erstwhile West Pakistan. First the MQM Muhajir party pull out of the ruling PPP coalition turning it into a minority, then the bodyguard of the Governer of Punjab, the punjabi filled state of Pakistan, was assassinated by an individual assigned for his own protection.
Surely we belong to Allah, and the Him we return. (2:156)
The 26 year old killer's motive, cited in the press, was Taseer's solidarity with a poor rural christian lady, Asiya Bibi who converted from Islam, accused under redundant blasphemy laws that run contrary to the objectives of the sharia. Sunnarchic Societal Suicide. I hear that some people are of the careless, ruthless e-pinion of 'Taseer deserved it'.
Urdu speakers see Javed Ahmed Ghamidi's Islamic demolition of Pakistan's blasphemy laws here.
This dehumanisation, of both the christian and the politician reminds me of a conversation I had at a tea stall in Dhaka after the assassination of political scientist and intellectual 'inswinger' Aftab Ahmed (see the link for more detail).
'All those Dhaka University professors are atheist anyway'.
Specifically never further from the truth; demonstrative of a great gap and distrust between people and professors; and dehumanising of people who are atheist.
A man with literary heritage (his mother was the shali/sister-in-law of Faiz Ahmed Faiz), an accountant by training and institutionalised within the local elite schooling system, Taseer suffered under General Zia in the 80s but succeeded in establishing a telephony-finance-media corporate block which included The Daily Times, publisher of many amusing cartoons. He wasnt always successful at elections but was persistent with it and eventually appointed by a Musharraf-PPP complex.
Awaiting nur.
Surely we belong to Allah, and the Him we return. (2:156)
The 26 year old killer's motive, cited in the press, was Taseer's solidarity with a poor rural christian lady, Asiya Bibi who converted from Islam, accused under redundant blasphemy laws that run contrary to the objectives of the sharia. Sunnarchic Societal Suicide. I hear that some people are of the careless, ruthless e-pinion of 'Taseer deserved it'.
Urdu speakers see Javed Ahmed Ghamidi's Islamic demolition of Pakistan's blasphemy laws here.
This dehumanisation, of both the christian and the politician reminds me of a conversation I had at a tea stall in Dhaka after the assassination of political scientist and intellectual 'inswinger' Aftab Ahmed (see the link for more detail).
'All those Dhaka University professors are atheist anyway'.
Specifically never further from the truth; demonstrative of a great gap and distrust between people and professors; and dehumanising of people who are atheist.
A man with literary heritage (his mother was the shali/sister-in-law of Faiz Ahmed Faiz), an accountant by training and institutionalised within the local elite schooling system, Taseer suffered under General Zia in the 80s but succeeded in establishing a telephony-finance-media corporate block which included The Daily Times, publisher of many amusing cartoons. He wasnt always successful at elections but was persistent with it and eventually appointed by a Musharraf-PPP complex.
Awaiting nur.
31.12.10
Rudro and the production of Taslima
There's a familiar song in bangla by the late Rudhro Muhammad Shahidullah (d. 1991) known as "Amar Bhitore Baire" or " Bhalo Achi Bhalo Theko". The rendering in the clip below below has really caught me, from the dude's roommate tapping on his laptop in bed in the background, to the sincerity of his voice. I remember hearing the lyrics from cousins during trips to the Bangladesh in the 90s but have only come to think of them and their situatedness very recently.
The poet was an ex husband of the now notorious writer Taslima Nasreen (TN) and some say that this poem was his suicide note to her.
Thats enough to mess anything up.
Then I got thinking about the experiences that deshi society has given TN, the montage of framed action images that have (co)produced her. I wonder where the agency lay, in her or/and in the societal ecosystem around her.
Looking back at this and similar flashpoints the socially protective-reactive line of reasoning has dominated from what i can see. Forces to compound to power of the covering of truth.
A generative-tawhesive line of flight is what i'dlike
The poet was an ex husband of the now notorious writer Taslima Nasreen (TN) and some say that this poem was his suicide note to her.
Thats enough to mess anything up.
Then I got thinking about the experiences that deshi society has given TN, the montage of framed action images that have (co)produced her. I wonder where the agency lay, in her or/and in the societal ecosystem around her.
Looking back at this and similar flashpoints the socially protective-reactive line of reasoning has dominated from what i can see. Forces to compound to power of the covering of truth.
A generative-tawhesive line of flight is what i'dlike
27.12.10
Transparency International Bangladesh - National Household Survey 2010
So people are slightly miffed at Transparency International Bangladesh's (TIB) national household survey which fingers the judiciary as a highly corrupt sector, along with land administration, tax and customs, . You can read the breakdown in the executive summary here.
I wonder if TIB had to pay the court to find a technical fault in the plaintiff's application.
TIB has influenced knowledge-making on corruption for a long time. It considers itself a social movement yet in many ways is a case in point of the problems of NGOisation. However, whats interesting is that the findings concerning the judiciary come at a time in which the Government of Bangladesh and others would like to project the integrity of its judiciary.
A few years after the Caretaker Government adventure, its annoyingly clear that corruption is the carte blanch that apathetics use to stop giving a stuff about Bangladesh and what the World Bank uses to discipline and institute micro-surveillance on the Government of Bangladesh. 'Civil' society and the military used corruption as an important plank in their argument for the caretaker government. Quickly corruption becomes a dominating buzzword of disempowerment.
Ranking and surveying perceptions and experience with numbers within a eurocentric framework promoting 'transparency' has an audience of its own. But decolonial corruptionology must have other dimensions, sociological (eg. late Husain Alatas), embodied ethical and imaginal. I'm wondering what it might be.
I wonder if TIB had to pay the court to find a technical fault in the plaintiff's application.
TIB has influenced knowledge-making on corruption for a long time. It considers itself a social movement yet in many ways is a case in point of the problems of NGOisation. However, whats interesting is that the findings concerning the judiciary come at a time in which the Government of Bangladesh and others would like to project the integrity of its judiciary.
A few years after the Caretaker Government adventure, its annoyingly clear that corruption is the carte blanch that apathetics use to stop giving a stuff about Bangladesh and what the World Bank uses to discipline and institute micro-surveillance on the Government of Bangladesh. 'Civil' society and the military used corruption as an important plank in their argument for the caretaker government. Quickly corruption becomes a dominating buzzword of disempowerment.
Ranking and surveying perceptions and experience with numbers within a eurocentric framework promoting 'transparency' has an audience of its own. But decolonial corruptionology must have other dimensions, sociological (eg. late Husain Alatas), embodied ethical and imaginal. I'm wondering what it might be.
25.12.10
like you can vote this away!
"If the ruling party is truly sincere about translating its pre-election promises into reality, it would be well-advised not to repeat the wrongs of the previous government including politicisation of different educational institutions along partisan lines and disregard for the rule of law. Otherwise, the people will call it to account come the next general elections, just as they did the previous elected government in the last parliamentary polls. "
Said the New Age, as an ngo report reports that the judiciary is quite corrupt and as the awami government show disregard for basic legal norms, drunk on empowered vengeful rage.
The press thing that the 'axe' of public voting is sufficient to keep a government in check?
Its quite pathetic really, almost as dubious as the military-sushil care taker government's reasoning behind the minus 2 formula.
What needs to happen is for there to be mass disenchantment from the clientelist political parties and new disciplined ideological formations and parties. The intellectual class, who are busy cashing in on private university teaching, consultancy and being dedicated foreign puppets have no credibility any more and need replacement.
Now step away from the NGO and put your hands in the air.
Said the New Age, as an ngo report reports that the judiciary is quite corrupt and as the awami government show disregard for basic legal norms, drunk on empowered vengeful rage.
The press thing that the 'axe' of public voting is sufficient to keep a government in check?
Its quite pathetic really, almost as dubious as the military-sushil care taker government's reasoning behind the minus 2 formula.
What needs to happen is for there to be mass disenchantment from the clientelist political parties and new disciplined ideological formations and parties. The intellectual class, who are busy cashing in on private university teaching, consultancy and being dedicated foreign puppets have no credibility any more and need replacement.
Now step away from the NGO and put your hands in the air.
24.12.10
RAB and wikiLeaks
The Rapid Action Battalion was set up by the recent past BNP-led coalition government, because it was thought that the existing forces of the country were unable to deal with law and order problems. Black bandanas, black dogs, girl RAB, black jeeps, black shades. Don't mess... unless you are the state, in which case they will do your bidding.
Crossfire killings occurred in plentitude, but the people - many of them - felt some protection from some of that everyday violence that they are subjected too and have become 'entitled to' expect. Shahidul Alam, a photographic artist did an exhibition of crossfire killings, much to the establishment's chagrin.
As the caretaker governments made way for the current Awami League regime, the organisation can be seen to have become more vulnerable to war on terror distorting field.
Its a disgrace that secular fundamentalists play up the 'islamist menace' in the country ahead of the everyday violence. Every body knows that the lions share of violence is committed by the main parties. As a distraction tool, I can totally see how internal muppets of various political stripings used RAB as a card to cushy up to the state terrorists that are the UK and the US.
So as whiteous indignation follows the Guardian spin of UK coalition support of RAB i do wonder how it has been coached and trained by the bastard forces of these here colonials. RAB is an instrument of the drunken awami league government and its users now. Just like the human rights bitches for hire we see in Bangladesh, and much of the South, being so managerial in sanctioning who can be human and who cant.
RAB needs to cake a decolonial route, and promote life, not death. The Guardian needs to get over and temper its 'death squad' imagery, however sexy and latin american-CIA assisted it sounds. I suppose they are listening to partial voices from Bangladesh who are happy to decontextualise, amplify extra-judicial killing and silence the great social problem of violent crime and gangsterism.
UK taxpayers getting all hoity toity about the evil crap they sponsor overseas (iraq/afghanistan anyone?!?) seems pretty rich to me.They need to recalibrate.
Crossfire killings occurred in plentitude, but the people - many of them - felt some protection from some of that everyday violence that they are subjected too and have become 'entitled to' expect. Shahidul Alam, a photographic artist did an exhibition of crossfire killings, much to the establishment's chagrin.
As the caretaker governments made way for the current Awami League regime, the organisation can be seen to have become more vulnerable to war on terror distorting field.
Its a disgrace that secular fundamentalists play up the 'islamist menace' in the country ahead of the everyday violence. Every body knows that the lions share of violence is committed by the main parties. As a distraction tool, I can totally see how internal muppets of various political stripings used RAB as a card to cushy up to the state terrorists that are the UK and the US.
So as whiteous indignation follows the Guardian spin of UK coalition support of RAB i do wonder how it has been coached and trained by the bastard forces of these here colonials. RAB is an instrument of the drunken awami league government and its users now. Just like the human rights bitches for hire we see in Bangladesh, and much of the South, being so managerial in sanctioning who can be human and who cant.
RAB needs to cake a decolonial route, and promote life, not death. The Guardian needs to get over and temper its 'death squad' imagery, however sexy and latin american-CIA assisted it sounds. I suppose they are listening to partial voices from Bangladesh who are happy to decontextualise, amplify extra-judicial killing and silence the great social problem of violent crime and gangsterism.
UK taxpayers getting all hoity toity about the evil crap they sponsor overseas (iraq/afghanistan anyone?!?) seems pretty rich to me.They need to recalibrate.
23.12.10
Is it from the meat we eat?
Chicken Cottage, please continue,
To imbue, how far I am from true.
That which is lawful and good
That's what we are ordered to eat, and earn. Quranically, repeatedly.
Like in many areas of diasporic ritual practice, we seem to have ourselves convinced of the fiqui side of things, but abandoned the ethics of it. I really want some good meat. Vegetarianism alone is insufficient, I feel it virtuous but liberal abdication. This halal market lock in system needs systematic transformation.
This book on animal welfare by Al Hafiz Al Masri, one time imam of the Woking Mosque is a gem I must get hold of fully. Originally written in 1987, the Islamic Foundation republished it in 2007.
So what of halal (c), is it sufficient?
Its not just about the method of ritual slaughter (which is where a great deal of the whiteous indignation targets it wrath), but the entire end-to-end process including: rearing, husbandry, welfare, slaughter, packing, distribution, retail, disposal and consumption. Modernisation, commodification, urbanisation, migration and economisation seems to have squeezed the spirit our of how we eat.
The Serious Sausage Company and Willowbrook Farm are there already. I think the Canadians got there ages ago.
Bi ism Illah, (with)in the names of Allah. Such a beautiful sanctification. Living in the bi.
Wandering around central with some lovers recently I felt angsty at having just attended an intracommunity dialogue with Tariq Ramadan and Shayk Haddad discussing what islah could be, and the ensuing social negotiation of what dinner could be. It was a disembodying experience. MachoMeatPax.
The ummahood feels disembodied and disembowelled. We have been De-ganjed and thrown into megacities where industrial farming and mechanised farming are norms avoidable only with steel and resources. We must resist this detawherance because its causing hypocrisy. Tawherence being integrity between belief and practice.
The literal truth and the the logic of our embodied practice link (un)ethical consumption to perpetuation of (in)justice to ensuing human behaviour.
To imbue, how far I am from true.
That which is lawful and good
That's what we are ordered to eat, and earn. Quranically, repeatedly.
Like in many areas of diasporic ritual practice, we seem to have ourselves convinced of the fiqui side of things, but abandoned the ethics of it. I really want some good meat. Vegetarianism alone is insufficient, I feel it virtuous but liberal abdication. This halal market lock in system needs systematic transformation.
This book on animal welfare by Al Hafiz Al Masri, one time imam of the Woking Mosque is a gem I must get hold of fully. Originally written in 1987, the Islamic Foundation republished it in 2007.
So what of halal (c), is it sufficient?
Its not just about the method of ritual slaughter (which is where a great deal of the whiteous indignation targets it wrath), but the entire end-to-end process including: rearing, husbandry, welfare, slaughter, packing, distribution, retail, disposal and consumption. Modernisation, commodification, urbanisation, migration and economisation seems to have squeezed the spirit our of how we eat.
The Serious Sausage Company and Willowbrook Farm are there already. I think the Canadians got there ages ago.
Bi ism Illah, (with)in the names of Allah. Such a beautiful sanctification. Living in the bi.
Wandering around central with some lovers recently I felt angsty at having just attended an intracommunity dialogue with Tariq Ramadan and Shayk Haddad discussing what islah could be, and the ensuing social negotiation of what dinner could be. It was a disembodying experience. MachoMeatPax.
The ummahood feels disembodied and disembowelled. We have been De-ganjed and thrown into megacities where industrial farming and mechanised farming are norms avoidable only with steel and resources. We must resist this detawherance because its causing hypocrisy. Tawherence being integrity between belief and practice.
The literal truth and the the logic of our embodied practice link (un)ethical consumption to perpetuation of (in)justice to ensuing human behaviour.
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