Lots of unrelated subjects today:
A few stories running around of late about Cambodian soldiers using traditional yantra written on cloth as protection against bullets. Lots of these are written with a slightly hidden sneer, which is unfortunate. Still, yantra are cool.
Where Elephants Weep, a rock opera written by amazing Khmer composer (and nice guy) Him Sophy (who I had an opportunity to interview about Smout once) and Catherine Filloux, begins performances soon. I wish I was around for it. Mongkol has some highlights, along with a video, on his page.
Beyond Cambodia’s borders, which are under discussion again, finally, there is nasty news coming out of Burma’s courts. Awzar Thi of Rule of Lords writes that
It has been a frantic week in Burma’s closed courts. At least 60 people have in the past few days been sentenced for their roles in last year’s mass protests, including high-profile activists, monks, a blogger and a poet.
The blogger is Nay Phone Latt, who was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for posting a cartoon critical of Burma’s generals.
That’s a lot worse than what the RNC 8 are facing here (7.5 years) in Minnesota, but the principle is the same: none of the RNC 8, nor Nay Phone Latt, are accused of doing much more than using the internet and communicating with people who are opposed to current government practices and policies in their respective families. Article in local City Pages newspaper.
Two good articles on Indigenism from Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (“Stop Saying This is a Nation of Immigrants!“) and Ward Churchill (Interview on Indigenism, Anarchism, and the State). The former from Dunbar-Ortiz’ own website, the latter from Upping The Anti. Both via Indigenous Solidarity: An (Un)Settler’s Place.
A group of workers at another Starbucks here in the Twin Cities has declared their affiliation with the Industrial Workers of the World’s Starbucks Workers Union. Press conference today at 11 AM. Congratulations, Fellow Workers.
Oh yeah – remember Hok Lundy’s death? (That post has started receiving more hits on a daily basis than the post which is far and away my most popular post – strangely, about Clint Eastwood. I only recently figured out the reason for this). Hun Sen’s niece’s husband Neth Savoeun has been selected as his replacement. Keep it in the family, folks.
Regarding the Starbucks Workers at Franklin and Nicollet here in the Twin Cities, the media’s on the story (strangely), and the comments in the pages are often hilarious. (not really in a good way, but then, what did you expect!)
–
Fox 9- Starbucks Baristas in Minneapolis Demand Security Guard
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7856693&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
Southwest Journal- Starbucks employees seek security guard at Franklin
and Nicollet
http://www.swjournal.com/index.php?publication=southwest&page=152&story=12777
MinnPost- Starbucks baristas at a Minneapolis shop are protesting the
company’s refusal to hire a security guard at the location
http://www.minnpost.com/businessagenda/2008/11/13/4581/unitedhealth_studying_medical_tourism_also_starbucks_baristas_walk_off_job_and_could_auto_bailout_help_st_pauls_ford_plant
MNSpeak- Minneapolis Starbucks goes union
http://www.mnspeak.com/mnspeak/archive/post-6677.cfm
Minneapolis Business Journal- Baristas at Mpls. Starbucks say they’ve
unionized
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/11/10/daily26.html?ana=from_rss
Starbucks Gossip
http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2008/11/starbucks-union.html
[...] Link Dumps 16 11 2008 Brad Adams, of Human Rights Watch, commenting on Neth Savoeun’s appointment to the position of Top Cop, following Hok Lundy’s helicopter-crash death: “[He] should be under investigation by the [...]