The Carnival of Socialism

Compiled by Renegade Eye

The Carnival of Socialism # 40 is here. At it's description profile it says, "The Carnival of Socialism attempts to bring a fortnightly round up of everything that's going on in the global socialist blogosphere." Hopfully this carnival, will introduce a few new blogs for your consideration, at other carnivals as well.

Kasama caught my interest with a post entitled Mao Zedong: Should Reactionaries Have Free Speech?.

American Left History should be a regular stop on your blog reading. This blog centers on American history and culture, from a socialist view. Markin's love of history and art shine through.

The Third Estate managed to interview political icon in the UK Tony Benn.

Left in East Dakota notes Obama's base being disillusioned with him.

Worker's Press criritiques Obama on healthcare.

River's Edge notes that the UK anti-terror units, only find rightist plots, "it is invariably more by luck than by design".

Vengeance and Fashion has an interesting post about a schoolteacher who was abused by his students and snapped. There are Facebook groups supporting both sides. It is unusual for socialists to write about such a subject so close to home.

The Trotsky Museum has a blog of its own.

Querida Celia Hart Is a Spanish blog that honors Celia Hart Santamaria, the Cuban revolutionary who died last year in an auto accident related to the Cuban Hurricane. Celia opened doors for socialist democracy in Cuba.

From Turkey Mehmet Çagatay writes about Michael Jackson.

The Red Mantis tackles Iranian unrest, and asks who leads and where is it going?

Histomat replies to a BBC documentary about Leon Trotsky, based on the book The Exile and Murder of Leon Trotsky. Histomat writes, "Just as Stalin smeared the Jewish Trotsky as an agent of Hitler, so Richard Overy describes Trotsky's supporters as a 'motley crew', while Trotsky himself suffered from a 'blindness to any sense of humanity' and apparently 'never had any scruples about killing those in the way of the Marxist utopia'. It is a pity that Overy has seemingly not made time to read Trotsky's Their Morals and Ours where he answered exactly Overy's critique about 'moral scruple' over seventy years ago:"

Socialism or Barbarism reviews the Irish economy, in a two part series.

Celticfire writes about a Portland transit riders union.

The Daily Maybe discovered the Trotskyist soft drink Red Kola.

Untouchable Earth writes from India about the will of the Iranian people. This blog is oriented to socialism, art and astronomy.

Madam Miaow gives us good analysis of the Uighur uprising in China. At my local coffeeshop Madam Miaow's blog is blocked by the computer's filtering software. What's wrong with Anna Mae Wong?

A Reader's Word from India, takes on the myth of micro finance.

The next Carnival will be August 02, 2009 at Red Wombat

Renegade Eye

untouchable EARTH reviewed

Shen reviewed untouchable EARTH on The Blog Reviewer

REVIEW #168. A blog with a cool header that simply amazes me. It has long posts and articles that are well articulated and are of original content. Indeed each post is an interesting read. This is what for me summarizes the blog, Untouchable Earth. I do not know why the blogger called it that way but I certainly know that he had his reasons.

I have to scroll down and skim read all of the posts in the first page in order to see what the blog is all about and I find posts which are highly commendable. These posts touches the very core of the human being in us. The analysis of the film which he had reviewed recently was not an ordinary review but an in-depth review relating each movie to real life.

SITE RATINGS:

    * Layout - 7
    * Content - 9
    * Coherence - 9
    * Reach - 6
    * Readability - 7
    * Overall Rating - 7.6


It seems the .6 factor is still happening but anyway the only problem with the layout and the readability is the unindented first paragraph sentence or too close paragraphs. Which makes it a no-no for writing. The layout is pretty good although it has one sidebar and a continues running of blog posts which makes the reading continues but would definitely make the page hard to load for some.

I would also suggest a 'Read More' widget for some of the lengthy articles so that the posts will be pushed up. A blogger who engages in social network which if properly done could enhance the blogs reach.

Well I highly recommend everyone to come and visit Untouchable Earth.

Thank you SHEN

leave the kid alone

“The channels discussed these with so called experts and dissected the noble soul (Aarushi) sadistically and with perverted minds. They are equally if not more guilty of violating the law and should face the same consequences as the investigating agencies,”
--Nupur Talwar, mother of arushi talwar

An emotional appeal by Nupur Talwar, mother of murder victim Aarushi Talwar, the National Commission of Protection of Child Rights on Monday directed the Information and Broadcasting ministry to stop Balaji Telefilms from including the Aarushi murder case in its popular teleserial Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki. Balaji Telefilms had decided take inspiration from the sensational twin murders and show that the protagonist Parvati’s granddaughter is killed in circumstances similar to Aarushi’s murder.

“The serial is drawing inspiration from real life and parallels can be drawn to the case without naming Aarushi Talwar,”
--Nivedita Basu, creative director, Balaji Telefilms

Most of the channels like gang of wolfs perpetuated the character assassination of Aarushi by graphically showing time and again, day after day, episodes in which they created events which were figment of imagination that designed to increase TRPs of the channel. The I&B ministry is considering action against some channels following protests from child rights organizations.

Is it freedom of creativity? To what extent media reporting or TV serials go for exploits circumstances that increase TRPs of the show. Resulting more like a girl, Aarushi Talwar murdered again and again and making unforgiven insult to her small life.

A Bourgeoisie society falls to its Frankenstein and what showing are rapid degradation of moral ethics as well as marketization of values, social responsibilities. Some prime time slick, glossy serials are nothing but reflecting mentally handicapped creations of a deteriorate society.

Is anybody there to tell them, educate them to “leave the kid alone” ?

Mr. G and Mr E

When Mr. G saved a file then he press two/three times Cntrl S on keyboard and click 2/3 times on save button. My colleague Mr. B and miss C always find it funny. They always make fun out of it. But I have some preserved sympathy for Mr. G as I think it is reflection of his disbelief in machine. Some time I imagine what if Mr. G meets characters like terminator and T-1000 from the movie Terminator 2-JUDGEMENT DAY. [I find Terminator-2 really a poetic film in treatment, although the movie covers some violence still it poetic and lyrical.] Of course Mr. G will not to be pleased to meet terminator and T-1000. When a bug became a headache and big stores of bugs already there but Mr. G never seems to be so concern about it. He just always calms and his profound belief that machine can’t be accurate. And it is just so delighting to see Mr. G and Mr. E together. Mr. E is a die-hard gadget maniac. Before some important talk everybody needs to listen about his updated gadget information for some minutes may be for hours [I usually listen over expenses of cigarettes and coffee.] There is always high decibel sound of shouting or complete pin drop silence if Mr. G and Mr. E meet, although we often see both them together. Mr. G always has concern over him and invites Mr. E and his girl friend miss D to his home. Mr. G lives absolutely a happy life with two angel like children and his wife Mrs. G. And Mrs. G is what we can describe as a loyal, caring, dedicated wife. Mr. G consider his fridge, washing machine, TV etc are some unkind person who always indulge in conspiracy again him and his family. And Mr. E never understand this and always complains him and try to make Mr. G understand that development of technology and its necessity in human life. In reciprocal Mr. G try to teach him that he spent most of his time in gadget oriented life and ill effect of it on his life. Mr. G calculated that Mr. E never much careful about his girlfriend Miss D as he should. According to him Mr. E spent 70% on his gadget life and only 30% remains to his girl friend Miss D (not including his other time) Mr. G always amazed how Miss D clings to Mr. E for long time as he think Miss D is beautiful and very fond of music who often goes for classical music show and while in those mission if Mr. E accompany her then he prefer he might agree to venture in desert with out water then these classical music shows. But Mr. E proclaims that its works and their relationship works and complains Mr. G that Mrs. G living very painful life, living only a kitchen life. Mr. G says that it was her choice. Mr. G advised that he should increase his percentage of caring to miss D as he claims that he noticed sometime miss D is very depressed. But Mr E said she depressed not for him but because shopping was not done according to her. When there are cases like shopping, cosmetics etc. Mrs. G and miss D builds a mysterious hate and love relationship between them.

As those all kind of argument heated on at cozy-comfort home of Mr. G (sometime in messy home of Mr. E, I generally have some fear of some electrical-fire kind of accident about home of Mr. E, so always sited near by windows or doors). Sometime I accidentally put my presence there and put a silent smile on my face I said “yes” to Mr. E and again I said “yes” to Mr. G. (actually I was noticing consciously whether any cooking activities going on or not in kitchen) Miss D called me sometime “harami”, (a Hindi slang word, I am not sure of English translation of it.) according to Mrs. G being a harami fitted to me and she just said to me "you shaitan, hell is awaiting for you" while she offering a cup of tea to me with a smiling face.

Nepal: lesson learned

MAOIST chief Prachanda said his political group was not against capitalism. "Our fight is against feudalism, not against capitalism," said Mr Prachanda.

The Maoist leader told a private TV channel that private business and property would get protection. "We will nationalize royal property and the property belonging to the late King Birendra," said the Maoist supremo.

Mr Prachanda has been maintaining that Mao Tse-tung's model for a people's republic cannot fulfill modern needs. He has been critical of Stalin for not allowing competition in the society.

Mr Prachanda clarified that only the property the king enjoys as the monarch would be nationalized. "His personal property will not be touched. He will be allowed to do business."

The Maoist leader used the opportunity to soothe the frayed nerves of investors and said businessmen and industrialists would be encouraged to do business, create new jobs and new infrastructure.

Mr Prachanda said his party favored capitalism in Nepal. "Between the feudal stage and socialist stage, there will be capitalist stage," he said, adding that he would follow the mixed economic model and encourage creation of wealth through capitalism.

The former rebel leader said he would encourage foreign investment, including that from India. "We will try to create a favorable environment for them to invest here. When we create an environment where people can make a profit, then naturally, Indian investors will also come," he said.

The Maoist leader had recently said the new government would expand the tax base, eliminate red tape and end the culture of corruption. "We will set up an industrial security force in the process of integrating the People's Liberation Army with the Nepal Army to provide security for industries," he had said.

So lesson is learned from east Europe as it is necessary to before socialism people need to experienced with capitalist mode of production. Once Pakistan able to practice bourgeois democracy in full phase and Bhutan got more matured with democracy, South Asian region will move one step further and conceive more advanced situation which will fitted to socialism. Before it, the big illusion of so called prosperity, new economic boost that generated by neo liberal economy and globalisation will slowly begins to break up as Latin America already witnessed and experienced it.

This is how proletarian internationalism will build up in a way through out all continents which conform to reason and sentiment of all kind of growing people’s struggle in every part of world.

BEING rootless

“But, for the final time, I'm not from Kerala, my dad is. I'm not from Andhra Pradesh, my mom is. I'm from Delhi, yeah? That's the only city that can lay claim to who I am and what I do. So, I'm sorry that my ancestors and yours came from the same place, I don't!”

“I like the concept of being a global citizen. I don’t yet subscribe to the theory of growing roots and getting old in one place, living there for the rest of my life. Maybe, I’ll change my views once I get older. Maybe, I won’t.”

Two same kind of perspective came out from two most famous Indian blogger. And seems like this perspective widely accepted and reflection of 21century young generation of India. So we can assume that post independence generation doesn’t believe in regional nationality or no more comfortable with this kind of identity. Yes, it is mostly educated and privileged generation of any metropolis or city culture of India. May be new identity are growing as mumbaiya, puneite, delhity, etc. and this bound to happen because it fulfill some ideas of corporate marketing. Mostly for fitted to consumer society.

In India with diverse culture, different languages, the situation about identity level is complex. We have layer by layer overlaping of identity of any Indian. An Indian, then religious identity like Hindu Muslim, Christian etc. then with a regional identity (like Marathi, Bengali, Bihari etc.) or new kind of metropolis identity (mumbaiya, puneite, delhity etc), then again dalit, Brahmin, kayastha etc, then again tribal, non tribal etc. and its goes on deep to core or may be to no end. In India we have identities like this way. So the question is where to fit oneself with situation or where someone belongs to. Of course with globalization, whole cooperative culture build a ground with modern tempo that new young generation feel suit to them or more comfortable with it. Now an identity of a person is controlled by any brand. A product can controlled or influence a person wholesome way. And average teen spent more time thinking of a brand product or grow up under influence of any product. Emotion, value are key factor to sale a product or values are easily used as commodity. Most of advertisements are for any product use human value for productizing or marketing. Values are degraded from society rapidly with more coming days. Repeated broadcasting of this value degradation put impact on young who grow in this era of any corner of world. So a kid while growing up accepted these all by repeated viewing. Only some values are kept pure unconditionally by those peoples and class who does not have access to consumer world (often referred as backward).
Religious identities are comes from history of civilization.
Those dalit, Brahmin, khatriya etc identity are mostly historical or from Indian caste system.
Tribal, non tribal, privileged unprivileged, are from developed or underdeveloped condition.
Any regional identity is mainly from language, then geographical position, food habit, dress etc.
There are clash in regional nationalities also in newly developed socio- economic situation. Like we witnessed and observing clash of Marathi-Bihari, Maruwari-Bengali etc.
Hopefully we will see more clashes in more regional identities in near future. Every body wants their share of bite. Lets it’s come out from in the name of regional identity and so on, an identity can go for acquire and preserved share of own bite to any point like conflicts, clash etc.
And opposing those all or denying all to maintained another level identity like floating identity or being rootless also a kind of opportunistic manipulation of own self.

“America is sitting on our world. I am making films that have to do with America [because] 60% of my life is America. So I am in fact an American, but I can't go there to vote, I can't change anything.”
- Lars von Trier (Danish film director)

A global citizen a good idea but now a global citizen mostly means a 60% American anywhere in the world as truly said by Lars von Trier. Someone he or she may not allow voting in USA but mind of that global citizen (!) is occupied by an imposed cultural economic superiority and that person acts accordingly. It creates conflicts with his or her geographical, cultural and historical identities which we mostly say as origin identity.
Of course there is a dialectical process in every socioeconomic background for which identity crisis developed and built. Globalization phenomenon makes its more quick and effective all the way. No escape from this global trap.
Same time a conscious effort also in making or rises to keep diverse beauty and significance of world intact and it’s reflected through out some global resistance every part of world.

So game is on. It’s nice to observing and of course it’s looking fun...........

KAFKA: Father of all blogger

As I new in blog arena after visiting lot of blog I realized that if internet exists on time when Kafka was alive he would be number one blogger of the world ever. Most of blogger seems to me as inheritor of writing legacy of Kafka.

Above all we might get some of more beautiful writings by Kafka if he able to use internet as blogger. And we might not lost his writings as his some of major writings already lost. His companion Dora destroyed some of his writings after his death. Only his loyal friend Max Board saved his writings and published those remaining to the world.

I think Joyace or Camus never been a blogger. Sartre might use blogging for his activities.
Even great Tolstoy might use blogging for writing letter to reader and for messages. But might not for his major literacy works.

Just visualizing that after all day work Kafka came to his house, he had his dinner and he sat in front of his laptop and start writing up to late night. This characteristic suits same as a blogger. More then publishing for print, Kafka wrote for living, existence, it was an urge, urge for expressing, communicating and reach out to other people.
Another great author Virginia Woolf also might possible of being a blogger. But Kafka suppresses all. The authenticity, style and sensitiveness all evoke through writings of Kafka and bloggging suits his kind of writing.

Of course blogging would come to him as bliss and he might use most of it. And now lot of blogger just follows his tradition of writings which fitted to Kafka style.

Brand INDIA !!!

Brand INDIA !!! A suiside country too

GDP growth is estimated at a stunning 8 percent-plus.
Foreign exchange reserves are at over $103 billion.
Check out the mushrooming malls, improving telecom connectivity, booming industry.
The government has ambitious plans to link rivers, to build superhighways -- both concrete and wireless, criss-crossing the nation.
A South Asia Free Trade Agreement has been created.
Plus radical economic and strategic pacts with the United States, the European Union, and Southeast Asia.
The nationwide media blitz -- would have us believe that we are now looking at a resurgent India, an economic and military powerhouse striding firmly towards its rightful place in the world.
Economists say many million Indians still do not have access to potable water, electricity, decent housing or even good roads.
And literacy rates are appalling.
Do you think the 'feel good' factor sweeping India is more imaginary than real?

The suicides in Maharashtra mark an increase of 527 over the 2005 figure. This was four and a half times bigger than that in Andhra Pradesh, the next worst-hit State, which saw a rise of 117 farm suicides over 2005. It was also more than twice the increase of 198 in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh taken together.
The NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) figures show an unrelenting uptrend in what can be termed the ‘SEZ’ or (Farmers) ‘Special Elimination Zone’ States. These States, which account for nearly two-thirds of all farm suicides in the country, include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh (including Chhattisgarh).
As a group, the ‘SEZ’ States saw an increase of 6.2 per cent in such deaths.
Among them, Maharashtra (4,453), Andhra Pradesh (2,607) and Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (2,858) show a sharp upward spike.
And the trend of rapidly rising farm suicides, particularly post-2001 in the ‘SEZ’ States, remains unchanged.
NCRB data record 1,66,304 farmers’ suicides in a decade since 1997.
On average, there has been one farmer’s suicide every 30 minutes since 2002.