Undercurrents Blog

Public urged to buy out the mainstram media

2013-06-17T14:50:00.002+01:00

Are you fed up with Murdoch owning all our media?

Then follow this example?
A crowdfunding campaign in the US is attempting to raise $660m to buy The Tribune Company, which owns publications including the LA Times, in order to prevent it from being taken over by media conglomerates

The Tribune Company, which is the country’s second largest newspaper publisher – with ten titles including the LA Times, the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Times – is up for sale for $660m (£421m). It looks set to get into the hands of either Rupert Murdoch, owner of News Corp, which houses The Sun, Sky and Fox News, or the Koch brothers – famously funders of climate denial campaigns and of the right wing political group, the Tea Party.
Read more here

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Cardiff University launches UK's first Centre for Community Journalism

2013-06-12T20:56:00.002+01:00

Cardiff University, home of the UK’s oldest J-School, launched a new Centre for Community Journalism. The move comes at a time of increased interest in hyperlocal media in the UK, with 2012 seeing the launch of “Destination Local” a £1m program aimed at stimulating next-generation hyperlocal services in the UK as well as a £1.4m research project exploring creative citizenship.

Learn more here

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Amongst Giants- saving the trees

2013-06-10T10:27:00.000+01:00

Among Giants from Rainhouse Cinema on Vimeo.

Risking injury and incarceration, an environmental activist disrupts the clear-cutting of an ancient redwood grove by sitting on a tiny platform a hundred feet up in the tree canopy. Already three years into the tree-sit when filming begins, AMONG GIANTS blends vérité cinematography with intimate personal reflection to remarkable effect.

This film was shot and edited in 2011, and a year later, the tree-sit ended as a victory for the tree-sitters (indybay.org/newsitems/2012/06/26/18716373.php) As of 2013, negotiations are still underway for the sale of the land, and the exact acreage is still being determined.

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Censorship on the net in China

2013-06-04T14:51:00.001+01:00

The Chinese Government likes to control history. 24 years after the Chinese government's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, "today" is part of a long list of search terms that have been censored on Sina Weibo, the country's most popular microblog.

Other banned words include "tomorrow," "that year," "special day," and many number combinations that could refer to 4 June 1989, such as 6-4, 64, 63+1, 65-1, and 35 (shorthand for May 35th).

At least people are using satire such as the photo above to cut through the secrecy.The Twitter image mocking Chinese censorship of Tiananmen Square, adapted from AP's 1989 photograph (the search term 'Big Yellow Duck' is also banned now). Photograph: Twitter/weibo.com/weibolg

For an different view of the original Tank man, see the stunning photo here.

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Al Jazeera try to claim my video as their own!

2013-06-04T09:41:00.001+01:00

Al Jazeera are claiming this morning that they own one of my videos
YouTube wrote to me today stating

'Your video "Hidden video camera inside Israeli prison", may have content that is owned or licensed by Al Jazeera, but it’s still available on YouTube! In some cases, ads may appear next to it.'

I have counter claimed so it will be interesting to see how this pans out.

I replied;

Through my company Undercurrents prod, I directed, I hired the camera operators, and edited this video. I own the copyright for all the images. I have the original tapes, I can provide witness statements from the camera people if needed.

A week later I get an email stating 'Al Jazeera has reviewed your dispute and released its copyright claim on your video'. Always feels good to win a dispute.

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

A movie that will inspire and uplift you - Searching for Sugar Man - Official UK Trailer

2013-05-28T22:12:00.001+01:00

Imagine Jim Morrison or Elvis were found alive and well but without any recollection they had been a superstar?

How would they handle it?
Watch this documentary and find out how a working class man found out he was a rock and roll hero without ever knowing

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.http://www.undercurrents.org

The future of news journalism and the rise of citizen journalism

2013-05-22T19:29:00.005+01:00

Herefordshire Media Network takes a look at the future of news journalism
and the rise of citizen journalism.

Tuesday 11^th June 2013, 7pm - Saxty’s Wine Bar, Hereford.

£5 Entry on door (includes light bites)

Google’s Eric Schmidt has forecast that over the next 8 years, 5 billion new internet users will come online, the vast majority accessing the internet via mobile devises.

There are now worrying signs of the decline of the news industry. The radical connectivity of the internet has greatly diminished the scale of our local and national newspapers’ reach, and the value of their advertising.

Meanwhile the UK’s nascent hyper-local and community media sector has witnessed a step change in activity and recognition from policy makers and funders alike.

We are now seeing citizen journalism entering the mainstream and successful business models emerging for local news and entertainment platforms.

Herefordshire Media Network is delighted to welcome two distinguished speakers to lead a discussion on the implications of online journalism for local media and communities.

Professor Richard Sambrook, former Director of Global News at BBC, is Director of Cardiff University’s Centre for Community Journalism. Richard will outline the reasons why one of Britain’s leading journalism schools has decided to focus on community journalism, and give an overview of its future plans.

Dr Andy Williams is a lecturer at Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture. He will provide insights into emergent forms of news and address key challenges for community news in the UK.

For rural counties such as Herefordshire successful roll out of superfast broadband will be critical to both media producers and consumers. Matt Smith, Herefordshire Council’s Broadband Operations Manager will provide an update on Herefordshire and Gloucestershire’s ‘Big Build’ – ‘Fastershire’.

Many HMN members will remember Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s support when establishing HMN several years ago. Colita Dainton, Area Relationship Manager for Herefordshire, will give a short update on the Chamber’s services and benefits of membership.

To round out the evening, members of Herefordshire TV’s Steering Group will give an update of progress and launch HTV’s website.

Refreshments will be available, together with information on all the above topics.

Book onto this event at http://hmnjournalism.eventbrite.co.uk/

The Herefordshire Media Network

T: 01432 344039

E: info@herefordshiremedianetwork.co.uk

W: www.herefordshiremedianetwork.co.uk

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Geeks, activists, media gurus all in one place in June

2013-05-19T20:28:00.002+01:00

Brought to you by HacktionLab, Bristol Wireless and FLOSS Manuals, BarnCamp 2013 is the fifth edition of our summer camp at Highbury Farm in the beautiful Wye valley. BarnCamp is three days of workshops, discussions, demos and practical how-to sessions looking at how technology can be useful (and dangerous) for campaigners, community activists and general trouble makers. We have limited places so please book your place on-line today.

When is it?
BarnCamp takes place Fri 7th, Sat 8th and Sun 9th June 2013 (staying on site available between 5th to 10th, production crew from Wednesday 5th).

Where is it?

It's at Highbury Farm, a beautiful hilltop farm near the village of Redbrook. There are buses to Redbrook from Chepstow and Monmouth. There is parking in Redbrook village, and also on-site for live-in vehicles. People have also hiked and biked to BarnCamp and a mass "bike to BarnCamp" exodus from Bristol/Chepstow is being planned for Thursday evening (more info).
For more information about getting to BarnCamp, visit this page.

What do you get for your dosh?

Three days of workshops and open space sessions.
Four nights camping in the beautiful Wye Valley.
Food from Friday through to Sunday (9 meals).
Indoor and campfireside entertainment.

How do I contact BarnCamp?

The best way to get in contact with other BarnCamp people is to join the Hacktionlab mailing list. Alternately you can email us at barncamp2013 [at] hacktionlab [dot] org

How much does it cost?

£35 on the gate, £32 in advance, £? concessions available.

How do I book and pay for it?

Head on over to our registration form. We'll send you details of how to pay once you've registered.

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Human Trafficking films wanted

2013-05-16T09:32:00.003+01:00

Unchosen is an anti-trafficking charity promoting human trafficking film campaigns nationwide. Through film, documentaries, interviews and Q&As, Unchosen raises awareness about domestic servitude, forced labour, child and sex trafficking happening here in the UK.

Unchosen is proud to be launching the first Human Trafficking Short Film Competition! We have collated 8 case studies from leading anti-trafficking charities across the UK and Ireland that include forced labour; forced criminality; domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.

The competition is open to anyone who would like to make a film- amateur or professional- on the case studies provided. The closing date for registration is May 23rd and final date for submission is 13th August 2013. Please go to their FILM COMPETITION page for more information.

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Bill Oddie's BankWatch

2013-05-14T12:25:00.001+01:00

Why was Bill Oddie evicted from HSBC's London HQ?

It takes a light-hearted look at a very serious issue. The UK's biggest bank has so far made around £100 million by providing loans and services to some of the most destructive logging companies in the world, often in violation of its own policies.

Please sign the public petition to HSBC CEO Stuart Gulliver calling for the bank to stop profiting from the disappearing rainforests of Borneo. We can stop this.

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.http://www.undercurrents.org

Riot Training as entertainment.

2013-05-14T10:32:00.002+01:00

The World Economy is going to pot so turn riots into entertainment!
Companies who have spotted an opening in the emerging market is hosting Riot training just for you. Go along and get battered just for £159 each

Their statement is that
'You’ll receive training on how to defend yourself in the midst of a riot from an experienced ex-military instructor, who will introduce you to equipment and anti-rioting techniques. You’ll be able to experience the noise, fire, smoke, fear and excitement of the battle from both sides, acting as both a rioter and a riot cop!

They also write that 'your experience will also include a light lunch'. So all your bases are covered- is this a sign of things to come?
Check it out

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Smoking and Climate Change...

2013-05-14T10:03:00.001+01:00

Then and Now....

'In 1998, the vice-chancellors of the UK's universities decided that they would no longer take money for cancer research from tobacco firms.

Over the past few days I have asked the Shell professor of earth sciences at Oxford, the university itself and the umbrella body Universities UK to explain the ethical difference between taking tobacco money for cancer research and taking fossil fuel money for energy research. None of these great heads, despite my repeated attempts to engage them, were prepared even to attempt an answer.'
Monbiot

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Filming TED talks in Swansea today

2013-05-11T10:04:00.002+01:00

Undercurrents will be joining A Thousand pictures today to film the first TED talks in Swansea. The inspiring series of presentations will be hosted in the Waterfront museum

The first TEDx event is the Swansea area will feature inspiring and insightful talks from a variety of professionals and guest speakers both local and regional - here is confirmed speaker list so far:

Professor Rory Wilson - 'Reading runes in animal movement'
This lecture will talk about new approaches for elucidating animal movement using state-of-the-art animal-attached tags and new, clever software for visualizing data.

Professor Harold Thimbleby – 'Bad design to die for'
Many computerized devices in hospitals have bad user interfaces, which encourage and cause errors. Instead of blaming nurses when things go wrong, we ought to be improving design.

Vikki Butler - 'Social inclusion and why it matters'
Drawing on approaches from person centered planning, community development, social anthropology and current social research in Wales I pose the question: What is social exclusion, and what are the costs of not having an inclusive society?

Stu Wootton - 'The idiots guide to DIY music making'
So how easy is it to be a DIY musician? Let's find out shall we? using gear we borrow or own, the talk will be a commentary on the methods and logic we used to create music on a tiny budget and how you can do it too.

Brian Spinks - 'The Invention of Telescopes: new horizons for Science'
A look at the past, present and future of telescopes in science and how the telescope shaped much more than our view of the cosmos, influencing many elements of everyday science

More details here

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Why is there a lack of Right wing comedians?

2013-05-09T14:35:00.001+01:00

Radio 4 says it struggles to find right-wing comedians to balance its shows. Why do you think stand-ups don’t tend to be on the right?

‘If you’re trying to attack other races or attack women or alternative sexuality, you’d have to get very intellectual about it. Maybe that’s why: if you’re an intellectual right-wing comedian you actually run out of logic, you have to be some sort of brain-blocked person to shove out that hatred.’
Eddie Izzard (now running for Mayor of London)

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Yes you can film the Police!

2013-04-29T11:41:00.000+01:00

When police carried out a routine stop-and-search of her boyfriend on the London Underground, Gemma Atkinson filmed the incident. She was detained, handcuffed and threatened with arrest. She launched a legal battle, which ended with the police settling the case in 2010. With the money from the settlement she funded the production of this animated film, which she says shows how her story and highlights police misuse of counterterrorism powers to restrict photography

http://www.actofterrordocumentary.com/

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Twyford Down remembered

2013-04-28T11:02:00.000+01:00

I began filming and protesting 20 years ago, in 1993 after seeing the destruction caused by the M3 motorway through Twyford Down near Winchester. Today I read a very well written story here about the road protest...

April 1992
The flags are flying again. Green, red and black.

“We’re human in scale. We oppose the tyranny of the motorcar,” pronounces the speaker. He’s clearly rehearsed, slightly shaky of voice, a hint of RP. Someone asks about the name.

“The name is…thanks for asking by the way…the name is, um, actually a Matabele term coined by Professors at the Winchester College, to help describe the medieval track ways that criss-cross all over the Downs.”

Greasy haired, he’s wearing a faded black T-shirt bearing an image of the Uffington Horse.

“The Tories are talking of the biggest road-building project since Roman times. The Romans, well, they were invaders, conquerors by might, too.”

I nod over-enthusiastically in agreement before I fully digest what he’s just said. I’m wary of this talk of invaders and natives. The Dongas describe themselves as British indigenes. It seems a useful fiction. I’m not sure the dividing line can be drawn so easily. I’ve been here a day. We’re up on St. Catherine’s Hill, at a sort of informal induction day – how I imagine the first session of a creative writing workshop or an AA meeting to be. Say your name, introduce yourself with flushed cheeks, make fleeting eye contact with the others before looking at your shoes, check out who the hot lads are. I oppose the motorway, yes, but I’m also here to do something different. Expand my horizons. Find myself. Do something.

The arguments I’ve seen playing out on the five o’ clock news, on ITN, Channel 4, the Beeb, the ones that led to me coming out here, they say the bypass is the last missing link in the M3 between Southampton and London. Evolution. We need it. I never understand where all the traffic is going. Mum didn’t even have a car until I was ten years old. I myself can drive, largely taught by dad, but I do not own a car.

Sofia grins shiftily at me as a prelude to her introduction. We’ve known each other since we were toddlers, both our single mums close friends, nattering as we played on our small patch of grass in Kent, yelling our lungs out, making daisy chins, falling over. Dad would visit every weekend, more or less.
Read more here

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Undercurrents in Liverpool May 1st

2013-04-28T10:35:00.003+01:00

I will be presenting the work of Undercurrents in Liverpool on May 1st at this symposium.

Cyberspace, Alternative Media, and Activism Symposium

Date: 01 May 2013
Time: 12:00-16:00

Event information: This symposium will create a space for discussion and analysis of alternative media output that is now found within the online realm. It will specifically focus on new media forms open to dissenting voices, politicized identities, and movements that are working for positive social change but are marginalized or ignored by the mainstream media.

Bringing together academics and producers, this event will facilitate a dialogue on how and why diverse resistant media are thriving within cyberspace. Our keynote speaker for the event will be Professor Chris Atton, an expert on new media and political communication, radical online journalism, the media of social movements, fanzines, and community media. He is author of 'Alternative Media, An Alternative Internet: Radical Media, Politics, and Creativity', and 'Alternative Journalism' (with James F. Hamilton).

If you are interested in contributing to or attending this event, please contact John Boyle at: jboyle@liverpool.ac.uk.
Location: Location: Lecture Theatre 8, Rendall Building, University of Liverpool
Open to: Any UOL students
Any UOL staff
Students from other HEIs
Staff from other HEIs/research institutions
General Public
More web info: http://www.liv.ac.uk/communication-and-media/events/
Fee details: Free admission
Contact: Dr John Boyle - Department of Communication & Media.
Email: jboyle@liverpool.ac.uk

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Did your film have an impact?

2013-04-25T16:02:00.003+01:00

The PUMA Impact Award is an annual prize honouring the best in documentary filmmaking. The 50,000 Euro award, given to one documentary that has made the greatest social or environmental impact, acknowledges the film's makers and also helps the continuation of the film's campaigning work.

APPLY HERE TODAY
Anyone can put a film forward from any country. Films can be put forward any time up to three years after release. Independent creative documentary films on any subject are welcome, from social justice issues to the environment and in any form, from expository to observational.
In order to be considered for the award, each filmmaking team must submit data demonstrating evidence of the film’s social impact, for example:
• How a film demonstrably changed public awareness of a given issue
 • Influenced corporate policy on sustainability or workplace issues
 • Impacted lawmakers & politicians triggering reviews or enquiries
 • Affected consumer purchasing or voting decisions
 • How the film helped build capacity or raised funds for campaign organisations and other partners
Past winners of the award are The End of the Line in 2011, an environmental documentary on the overfishing of the world’s oceans, and Budrus in 2012, about non-violent demonstrations conducted by the residents of Palestinian village Budrus to protest against the building of the Israeli West Bank barrier.

Recipients of the Jury Commendation have been Josh Fox's anti-fracking polemic Gasland, and Burma VJ, about the video journalists who risked their life to report the 2009 Burmese uprising.
Do you have a film that is eligible? have your seen or worked with a film that should be up for the award? If so, please spread to your networks.
Find out more and apply

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

John Pilger's thoughts about dancing on Thatcher's grave

2013-04-25T11:16:00.003+01:00

'Perhaps it is too easy to dance on her grave. Her funeral was a propaganda stunt, fit for a dictator: an absurd show of militarism, as if a coup had taken place. And it has. "Her real triumph", said another of her boys, Geoffrey Howe, a Thatcher minister, "was to have transformed not just one party but two, so that when Labour did eventually return, the great bulk of Thatcherism was accepted as irreversible." '

The award winning journalist also wrote;

In 1982, the Argentine cruiser, General Belgrano, was steaming outside the Falklands exclusion zone. The ship offered no threat, yet Thatcher gave orders for it to be sunk. Her victims were 323 sailors, including conscripted teenagers. The crime had a certain logic. Among Thatcher's closest allies were mass murderers - Pinochet in Chile, Suharto in Indonesia, responsible for "many more than one million deaths" (Amnesty International). Although the British state had long armed the world's leading tyrannies, it was Thatcher who brought a crusading zeal to the deals, talking up the finer points of fighter aircraft engines, hard-bargaining with bribe-demanding Saudi princes. I filmed her at an arms fair, stroking a gleaming missile. "I'll have one of those!" she said.

Read his full article here

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Dirty Wars- movie trailer

2013-04-24T18:41:00.001+01:00

I have filmed in the Middle East with the director of this stunning movie. Rick Rowley (below) is fearless and an excellent cameraman.

It's the dirty little secret of the War on Terror: all bets are off, and almost anything goes. We have fundamentally changed the rules of the game and the rules of engagement. Today drone strikes, night raids, and U.S. government--condoned torture occur in corners across the globe, generating unprecedented civilian casualties.

Investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill (author of BLACKWATER: The Rise of the World's Most Mercenary Army) traces the rise of the Joint Special Operations Command, the most secret fighting force in U.S. history, exposing operations carried out by men who do not exist on paper and will never appear before Congress. No target is off-limits for the JSOC "kill list," even a U.S. citizen.

Director Richard Rowley takes us on a chilling ride with whistle-blower Scahill. Dirty Wars is a battle cry for the soul and conscience of an America few of us know exists.
http://dirtywars.org/

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.http://www.undercurrents.org

Measles- caught in the spotty light of the media

2013-04-21T16:05:00.001+01:00

Here in Swansea, we are besieged by news that measles is running rampant across the city- over 800 cases since November. But cutting through the hype to find the truth is very difficult as the media have created a wall which has obliterated nearly all rational debate. The mantra being repeated is 'get the MMR jab.' But what about the other options? Why is nothing else being aired?

I think many people who have had, or will get their kids vaccinated have done little or no research into whether they actually work or not. A lot of scare mongering is produced by the pharmaceutical companies and taken as truth by the NHS so trying to wade through the hype is difficult.

The BBC for instance is following the line that MMR jab is the only option. The fact that children get the MMR jab and still end up getting measles is generally ignored. The medical response is that people should line up for more MMR jabs. That doesn't inspire confidence in me.

Many blame a Doctor Wakefield for causing the current skepticism about the MMR, missing the actual fact that it was the media itself. Journalists with little or no scientific background were making headlines with spurious claims. Pro-MMR writer Ben Goldacre published how the media had more impact than Wakefield in his book Bad Science.
I can recall my own experience with Measles as it was a common childhood disease when I was growing up in the 1970's. It has now been reshaped into a dangerous threat and I understand that doctors want/need to believe that the MMR is a vital tool in their kit to save the nation. After all it is drummed into them from day 1 at medical school, and reinforced daily by the Pharma industry. It is surely easier for any trainee doctor to believe than to take the trouble to step outside the box and look at it objectively. Any doctor who gives an alternative view of the effectiveness of MMR will be (and has been) quickly shut down or deemed to be a quack. I generally find that looking at any financial incentive is always interesting to explore motives. While most GPs back the Government line, I do wonder how much this has to do with the bonus of £860 if they achieve a 70 per cent take-up of the jab? Or the £2,580 they get if they reach 90 per cent?

The medical system works very well for broken bones etc, but not so well for viruses. This area of care has been largely taken over by the Pharma industry involving millions of pounds. Generating fear is a tried and tested road to vast wealth. Remember all those swine flu vaccines that the tax payer bought a few years ago? According the media and Big Pharma, we were going to be wiped out. Big Pharma has the last laugh as £75m of those public taxfunded Tamiflu vaccines have been flushed away unused. The government meanwhile also spent £424m stockpiling 40m units of Tamiflu between 2006-07 and 2012-13, despite question marks over the effectiveness of the drug, a National Audit Office memo stated. You can trace similar stories with bird flu, and just about every other kind of flu they demanded we should be jabbed against.

Links between the MMR and Autism have been largely dismissed but in 2010 New Scientist published the case of the $1.5m payout because vaccines were linked to a child's severe Autism.

Newspapers use hype to sell their papers- they did it with linking autism to MMR in the '90s and the result has been public confusion for the last 13 years. Today the media are now all backing MMR as the only thing that can save us. A complete U-turn so it is no wonder that people are confused.

The media is now in a constant campaign to create tension and fear over measles. ITN contacted me recently asking me if I knew anyone who could give an alternative side of the MMR issue. I couldn't find a single person who wanted to go in front of their cameras. The reasons aren't difficult to understand. For weeks we have had blanket media coverage that the MMR is the only thing that will stop measles and anyone not willing to have their kids injected are bad parents.A day later The Guardian published this from blogger Sarah Ditum -

'I had a brief chat with a researcher who was trying to track down anti-MMR talking heads for a TV report. In an area where at one time, one in five families had eschewed the vaccine, no one was available to explain this collapse in confidence. It was as if they were embarrassed. And this was a problem, explained the researcher, because these opponents were necessary for "balance". ' The Guardian

It wasn't embarrassment that stopped people talking.Expecting any parent to be able to give an alternative view following weeks of a MMR supporting barrage is just ridiculous. They were concerned that their kids would end up being ostracized in public.

So the mainstream media give the airwaves to people such as Dr Paul Offit, a 'US-based measles expert' who told the BBC a few days ago that the Government should 'Make MMR jab mandatory'

This is the same 'expert' who was exposed in a CBS News investigation in 2008 with very strong Pharma industry links. He may honestly believe he is saving the world from measles, but can we accept that the millions he is earning from his vaccine patents are not clouding his judgement? Of course none of his patent wealth is mentioned in the news reports so the viewer isn't able to put his views into context.

I have met a number of parents in Swansea over the last week who had kids with measles- some had the MMR, some didn't. All survived after a week or more in bed and are now healthy again with lifetime immunity.

Should we all line up to be jabbed? Is medical intervention a help or a hindrance in our childrens health? One father whose child caught measles recently told me that he was shocked at the lack of support from doctors who offered him no information on how to treat his child or how to stop other children being infected.

He said;
'This simple information is not given out- I notified the doctors and have heard nothing since, nor have I come across any 'how to take responsibility' pull-out sections in the Evening Post.....I firmly believe that the outbreak wouldn't be as extensive, that there wouldn't be so many hospitalisations and so many complications if people were given honest information'

One thing which is oft repeated is that Measles kills the weak and is cited as one of the key reasons we should vaccinate as it will give 'Herd immunity-- ie; the 95% who are vaccinated will protect the remaining 5% who are not vaccinated. However, the original definition (before a measles vaccine was invented) of herd immunity applied to the protective effect that occurred when a population contracted and recovered naturally from infection.

According to one article I read;
'The herd immunity theory was originally coined in 1933 by a researcher called Hedrich. He had been studying measles patterns in the US between 1900-1931 (years before any vaccine was ever invented for measles) and he observed that epidemics of the illness only occurred when less than 68% of children had developed a natural immunity to it. This was based upon the principle that children build their own immunity after suffering with or being exposed to the disease. So the herd immunity theory was, in fact, about natural disease processes and nothing to do with vaccination. If 68% of the population were allowed to build their own natural defences, there would be no raging epidemic.
Later on, vaccinologists adopted the phrase and increased the figure from 68% to 95% with no scientific justification as to why, and then stated that there had to be 95% vaccine coverage to achieve immunity. Essentially, they took Hedrich’s study and manipulated it to promote their vaccination programmes.'

Natural immunity lasts a lifetime whereas vaccine induced immunity does not which is why the call for booster jabs is being heard. Some people are blaming unvaccinated kids for spreading measles. They are missing the fact that many adults who were given MMR in their childhood are now just as likely to contract the disease because their vaccine ceased working years ago. If this is the case,why aren't simple blood tests being made available to test if we are immune rather than just giving us even more MMR?

'Measles kills' is the headline grabber but I am frustrated by media reports which do not paint the wider picture. The first death linked to the Swansea outbreak occurred last week. The young man already had health problems and tests are being done to determine what role the measles played in his death. Looking back at how the media reported other deaths, much emphasis was given to the Dublin measles outbreak in 1999/2000, which also resulted tragically in two deaths. However none of the media reports I read at the time offered any reasons on why they actually died. One of the victims was a 12-month-old baby girl from a very poor family living in grim conditions on a large Dublin housing estate and was malnourished. The other was also exceptional and seriously ill before he contracted measles. He was a two-year-old with a severe malformation of the throat which linked his windpipe with his oesophagus and who had to be fed by a tube let into his stomach.None of the media reported this at the time, preferring to hype it up as a simple death by measles and ignoring the wider facts and using it to scare people into getting the MMR. One investigative reporter found that the Irish epidemic revealed 'that at least ten per cent of those who developed measles had been given the MMR jab.' One in ten is a pretty high failure rate for any treatment. I wonder what the failure rate is in Swansea?

Measles is an unpleasant disease, but not as unpleasant as the hype and divisive role being played out by the media and big Pharma. One supporter of vaccines told me that while he supported the vaccines, he would;

'like to see all vaccines produced generically out of patent, ideally by not-for-profit businesses answerable solely to regulators or something like that, and i also believe strongly that the results of every single medical trial should be published so we can finally start to make fully informed decisions'
To that end it is worth checking out http://www.alltrials.net

So to conclude- less hype and more useful information is needed. On that basis, here is a pamphlet produced by a Swansea mother:

Practical ways to support someone with measles

“Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children, especially those with insufficient vitamin A, or whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS or other diseases. Severe complications from measles can be avoided though supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and treatment of dehydration with WHO-recommended oral rehydration solution. This solution replaces fluids and other essential elements that are lost through diarrhoea or vomiting. Antibiotics should be prescribed to treat eye and ear infections, and pneumonia. All children in developing countries diagnosed with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements, given 24 hours apart. This treatment restores low vitamin A levels during measles that occur even in well-nourished children and can help prevent eye damage and blindness. Vitamin A supplements have been shown to reduce the number of deaths from measles by 50%.” – World Health Organisation.

“Vitamin A is found abundantly in dairy products; eggs from free range hens; liver; fish, shellfish, cod liver oil. The best plant sources of beta-carotene are yellow/orange vegetables & fruits like carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, apricots, nectarines, peaches, mangoes, plums; and dark green leafy vegetables: spinach, broccoli, kale, watercress, beet leaves, turnips, asparagus and peas. In order to be absorbed, vegetable sources requires fat, so serve them with butter, coconut or olive oil. Chopping and puréeing also enhance their bioavailability” -
Dr Jayne Donegan.
(Try fresh raw juices e.g. carrot, or if child is fussy, try drops e.g. Vitasorb A by BioCare.)

“Fever represents a universal, ancient, and usually beneficial response to infection, and its suppression under most circumstances has few, if any demonstrable benefits. On the other hand, some harmful effects have been shown to occur as a result of suppressing fever. It is clear, therefore, that the widespread use of antipyretics should not be encouraged either in developing countries or in industrial society.” Heinz Eichenwald, Professor of Paediatrics, writing for WHO 2003 This means: Do not suppress a fever. It is a sign that your body is fighting infection properly, helping to detox and strengthen your immune system.

"Vitamin A supplements have been shown in some studies to help prevent some
of the serious complications arising from a measles infection" – NHS

Ensure your child is in a well ventilated, dimly lit room. Get them to drink lots of water, and keep food intake to a minimum. Supplements like Vit C, D and Zinc, garlic and echinacea will all support the immune system. Elderberry and rosehip tea could also be useful. For helping with a rash, baths with 3 tbsp of baking soda or porridge oats will help to soothe it. Chamomile, Calendula and Aloe Vera also help. (These also help Chicken Pox)

To help eyes, Euphrasia (Eyebright) baths or internally (homeopathic remedy) can help. Breastfeeding boosts babies’ natural immunities.Take a week off work! We can forget that love, hugs, care and attention make all the difference to a child’s recovery. Enjoy the time with them, they will remember it.

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

International Citizen Media Award

2013-04-17T17:33:00.003+01:00

2013 the International Citizen Media Award will take place in Münster, Germany in November.

We’ve just started to look for motivated participants who would like to win up to 1000 Euros
by doing a TV or radio broadcast.

This years’ topic is:

Citizen Media for Democracy and Tolerance – Against Racism and
Right-Wing Extremism

As our network is partner of this competition, I would kindly like to
ask you to:

1)     take part actively in this competition, inform all your staff
and motivate all members of your organisation to do so,

2)     spread this information email via your contacts and networks,
cooperation partners as well as further associations and institutions.

To get participants, we need your help. More information can be found
at the websites:

http://www.icm-award.com

http://www.youth4media.eu

Best regards from the Bennohaus,

Cecilia Nicklaus
-- 
Public Relations Youth4Media Network
Arbeitskreis Ostviertel e.V.
Bürgerhaus Bennohaus
Bennostraße 5
48155 Münster

Telefon: 0251 60967-3
Telefax: 0251 60967-77
E-Mail: info@bennohaus.info
Web: http://www.bennohaus.info

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Funds for inspiring protest and social change

2013-04-12T11:19:00.001+01:00

Edge Fund Round 2 is still open for applications for radical protest.

The deadline is 22 April. Please help us spread the word to small groups working in the UK for social, economic and environmental justice and for an equal world. Find out how to apply, what we fund and who received funding in the first round on our website.

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Distributor is seeking good Documentaries

2013-04-11T09:57:00.003+01:00

Have you produced any great docs for college classrooms and libraries? We are particularly interested in educational programs for Urban Studies, African-American Studies, Latin-American Studies and the Behavioral & Healthcare Sciences
Through our Documentary & film Library at www.forwardintime.com, Parallel lines currently distributes almost 400 titles in 23 educational categories, We have sold our documentaries and independent film titles to more than 900 schools and libraries in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia. What we believe sets us apart from more traditional documentary distributors is that we do not force producers to sign a 2-3 year exclusive agreement. We are only interested in selling programs to specific markets. To that end, we allow producers to opt out in 45 days (in writing) if they are unhappy with the our marketing efforts.
Our Producers also have the option to supply the complete DVD packages for sale or to have us handle the duplication and printing for them.
So, if any you have documentaries or independent films (at least 15 min. in length) that could help promote discussion or raise awareness in college classrooms, you can check out the related categories on our web site and send us a DVD screener to review or email us a link to watch the film online. My assistant and I personally watch all docs that are submitted for review. It usually takes us 2-3 weeks to respond.

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Definition of News...

2013-04-10T23:22:00.002+01:00

Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions. http://www.undercurrents.org

Undercurrents Blog

Public urged to buy out the mainstram media

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A movie that will inspire and uplift you - Searching for Sugar Man - Official UK Trailer

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Geeks, activists, media gurus all in one place in June

When is it?BarnCamp takes place Fri 7th, Sat 8th and Sun 9th June 2013 (staying on site available between 5th to 10th, production crew from Wednesday 5th).

Where is it?

What do you get for your dosh?

How do I contact BarnCamp?

How much does it cost?

How do I book and pay for it?

Human Trafficking films wanted

Bill Oddie's BankWatch

Riot Training as entertainment.

Smoking and Climate Change...

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Yes you can film the Police!

Twyford Down remembered

Undercurrents in Liverpool May 1st

Did your film have an impact?

John Pilger's thoughts about dancing on Thatcher's grave

Dirty Wars- movie trailer

Measles- caught in the spotty light of the media

International Citizen Media Award

Funds for inspiring protest and social change

Distributor is seeking good Documentaries

Definition of News...

When is it?
BarnCamp takes place Fri 7th, Sat 8th and Sun 9th June 2013 (staying on site available between 5th to 10th, production crew from Wednesday 5th).