sound of rum

banger of a song from kate tempest and the sound of rum

"because when the whole thing shatters it always starts with a little crack"

article 27

I am now a blogger for the wonderful Article 27.


 In Article 27's own words: 

Article 27 believes human rights issues and stories are often best told through creative means. We research and write on a variety of finds- old and new- that shed light on human rights issues in a unique way.

We want Article 27 to be a hub of inspiration for human rights activists, artists, technology enthusiasts, and anyone who believes in the power of creativity.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 27: 

•  Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
•  Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

You can find my first blog on institutionalised racism represented by a collaborative artwork in the United States of America here: The House That Herman Built


You can also find a rather brilliant piece by the lovely Sushi on the french artist JR here: Women are Heroes


And a very touching photo tribute to Troy Davis, who unfortunately was executed amid national and international outcry last week: The execution of Troy Davis


As my friend Dilhayat told me this week:
 earth without art is 'eh'...


I definitely concur. 

my talented friends

Please let me show you miss aurelia lange (she has already featured on this blog: here, as the artwork for emily teague's album, and here, as a good luck card for my trip to Sweden to embark upon my current adventure. 


Just look at her lovely thoughts and website and blog and enjoy her beauteous imagery. It is just yummy. 

I am living her klubb based dream right now by being in the 'filmklubb' of Tromso Kino. She is one of the greatest and I hope you enjoy her talented talents. 


All images copyrighted to aurelia lange. 

chaplin

the state of things

And so the time has come once again for Palestine to demand recognition as a state and to be accepted by the United Nations in her statehood. 
Those at the Huffington Post have made this jazzy interactive map to show which states are in favour of/ against/ undecided toward Palestinian statehood. 
Find the map here.


It looks like if the EU, France and UK pull through on the side of Palestine, there may be hope. Of course the US' veto power in the UN could always been thrown down on the table all too readily in favour of Israel, as we have seen in the past. 
There are some more excellently informative articles of the proposition of a Palestinian state on the Huffington Post website, #palestinianstatehood.


Personally, I really hope it is time for recognition of the Palestinian people after such a long, bitter conflict that is played out day by day, checkpoint by checkpoint, bullet by bullet in an endless desperate struggle for liberation and security. I worry about what the price may be. Whether the Palestinians will have to make irreversible sacrifices in regards to territory, historical narrative and life. 


In the words of academic Illan Pappe:
"It could be either painful and violent, if Israel continues to enjoy international immunity and is allowed to finalize by sheer brutal force its mapping of post-Oslo Palestine. Or it could end in a revolutionary and much more peaceful way with the gradual replacement of the old fabrications with solid new truths about peace and reconciliation for Palestine. Or perhaps the first scenario is an unfortunate precondition for the second. Time will tell."

alice walker

This beautiful post was written by the wonderful Alice Walker, in the wake of the Museum of Children's Art, Oakland, refusing to show the work of Palestinian children.  (Following intense pressure from pro Israeli groups)


She writes:
"We can educate and increase the capacity for compassion among our children with this Art.  We can make something magical, even of the present disappointing dilemma. We can encourage ourselves, and our children, never to be afraid to feel. No one dies from compassion, is a mantra they might like.
   Empathy is a wave that need never be stopped.  If our children can catch this wave,  from the ocean of tears shed by Palestinian children, they might have a future in a more stable and saner world."


The exhibition is still rejected by the museum, but will be shown outside in the courtyard despite the museums refusal. 

enough

filmklubb

One of my first choices here in Tromso was to join the Filmklubb.

Tonight I watched 'Days of Heaven' by Terrence Malick.

It was entirely filmed between the hours of dusk and dawn, lending itself to beautiful expansive sunsets and cold sharp mornings. The score was incredible. Highly recommended.

Arctic Circle

I have just moved to Tromso for my final semester.

I will mainly be looking at cultural and indigenous rights, and trying to focus on my research questions for my dissertation, knitting, secretly reading novels, walking everywhere, joining Tromso filmklubb and learning litt Norsk.

I will be searching the night skies for the aurora borealis and seeing colours like salmon pink and fishscale blue beginnings behind cut out mountains and mirror clear lakes.

This is the only polar bear I have seen thus far. tbc.