social revolution – Page 1409

Oil and Trouble | George Monbiot

Oil and Trouble

Posted on March 14, 2011 by George

Why western governments won’t support democracy in Saudi Arabia.

Last week, while explaining why protests in the kingdom are unnecessary, the foreign minister, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, charmingly promised to “cut off the fingers of those who try to interfere in our internal matters”(2). In other parts of the world this threat would have been figurative; he probably meant it. If mass protests have not yet materialised in Saudi Arabia, it’s because the monarchy maintains a regime of terror, enforced with the help of torture, mutilation and execution.

Yet our leaders are even more at ease among the dyed beards and man-boobs of the Saudi autocracy than they were in the eccentric court of Colonel Gaddafi. The number of export licences granted by the UK government for arms sales to the kingdom has risen roughly fourfold since 2003(3). The last government was so determined to preserve its special relationship with the Saudi despots that it derailed British justice, by forcing the Serious Fraud Office to drop its inquiry into corruption in the Al Yamamah deals(4).

Why? Future weapons sales doubtless play a role. But there’s an even stronger imperative. A few days ago the French bank Société Générale warned that unrest in Saudi Arabia could push the oil price to $200 a barrel(5).

Abdullah’s kingdom is the world’s last swing producer: the only nation capable of raising cru

and Trouble | George Monbiot.

Feminist Coming Out Day /Bitch Media

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are! Feminist Coming Out Day Q&A

Bitch HQ post by Kelsey Wallace, Submitted by Kelsey Wallace on March 21, 2011 – 1:34pm; tagged FCOD, Feminist Coming Out Day, get involved.

As you may know, this month marks Feminist Coming Out Day 2011, a holiday which encourages awareness of issues affecting the feminist community. We’re super excited and honored to be a part of this year’s festivities, and we recently spoke with organizers Lena Chen and Abby Sun to find out more. Read on for their answers!

Tell us a bit about Feminist Coming Out Day (FCOD). What does the project entail?

Abby: Feminist Coming Out Day is a campaign to spread awareness about gender equality. It was started at Harvard in 2010 by a queer students organization and a feminist group as a way of encouraging conversation about gender and demystifying feminism on campus. We made shirts and buttons that said “This is what a feminist looks like” and exhibited photo portraits and testimonials in an exhibition called the Feminist Portrait Project.

This year we wanted to bring FCOD to schools across the U.S. A lot of feminist blogs have been supportive of FCOD (which we’re very grateful for), and we reached out to many colleges and schools. The majority of schools have found us, though! To support these schools and everyone who wants to participate, on feministcomingoutday.com there are links to buy the “This is what a feminist looks like” shirts, buttons, and stickers, and information for FCOD events around the U.S. Anyone can and every feminist should submit a portrait and a statement for our online Feminist Portrait Project. In support of feminist media, proceeds from the merchandise will go to Bitch! (ed.’s note: THANKS!)

via Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are! Feminist Coming Out Day Q&A | Bitch Media.