Flag on my Backpack

Ai Weiwei is the most famous artist in China, best known for his iconic “Bird’s Nest” stadium that was the focal point of the Beijing Olympics. 

Ai has always pushed the envelope, both with his internationally-acclaimed art and with his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government. 

But these past weeks have brought Beijing’s harshest crackdown on dissidents in more than a decade. And on April 3rd, government agents arrested Ai at the Beijing airport and seized papers and computers from his studio.

We don’t know where Ai is now. The Chinese government is holding him on flimsy charges of “economic crimes” — an allegation often used to silence dissenters. 

Twelve leading figures in the international arts world, including the directors of the Guggenheim, Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, and Tate Museum, have started a petition on Change.org demanding that the Chinese government free Ai Weiwei.

The regime in Beijing has proven largely resistant to pressure from foreign governments. But they’ve made a huge push to raise China’s profile in the arts — the government just finished building the world’s largest art museum. Widespread condemnation, led by the arts community, may be our best chance to save his life. 

Please sign the petition to free Ai Weiwei as soon as possible:

http://www.change.org/petitions/call-for-the-release-of-ai-weiwei?alert_id=ZntTBqdKpo_khEsYzPNYV&me=aa

whatsajuthika:

unrequitedbibliophile:

thegirlwhoownstheworld:

So in making/promoting our “it’s over steve” video, there’s been a heck of a lot of negative commentary from people on the Hamilton Spectator (Hamilton’s local) website. Not the Hamilton Spectator itself, but mostly men who have been commenting some awful, sexist things:

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What a Joke! 

I’m sure the smart women will make a smart choice and that choice is Harper. You losers lose (again).

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It will have no effect!

Who cares if a group of small, ugly, fat lesbians don’t vote conservative. The liberals and NDPs will look after their needs. The high class, smart girls can vote conservative. 

I’m sorry, but the last time I checked, democracy was for everyone not just “high class” or “smart girls”. This fat lesbian isn’t going to vote conservative. It’s offensive to me how they’ve said that other women don’t matter. And of course, everyone who speaks their mind, or is doing something politically active is a “fat ugly lesbian”. I personally think some of the ladies in the video are prettty attractive, pretty straight, and pretty passionate. 

Ew to the douchey comments.

It’s like ALLLLLLL OVER THE PLACE! which is super awesome.

And I’m adding my name as another fat lesbian who won’t vote conservative.

That’s…awful. Is it all about physical beauty for women? Sign me up for another fat lesbian who doesn’t vote conservative.

Prime reason why people (women and men) should vote the Conservatives OUT of office, and send Harper packing.

(via juthikaforpresident-deactivated)

whatsajuthika:

tres-mal:

shesawfullysweet:

dfast:

attackofthekillerderk:

Are you Canadian?

Are you between the ages of 18 and 25?

Don’t approve of the Tory government?

If the answer to those three questions is yes, for God’s sake, vote on May 2nd.

We’re staring down the barrel.

And don’t give me any of that cynical “voting doesn’t change anything” bullshit.

If you’re young and dissatisfied, fucking vote.

This shit is important.

More now than ever, every vote counts, because one riding could mean the difference between a Tory minority government and a Tory majority government.

Do you want that shit to happen again?

No?

Then vote.

Especially since the Conservatives want to monitor what you do on the internet.

Oh God, Please Vote.

If you don’t vote, then don’t bother bitching about the government later people.

I wish I could vote. I’m unfortunately 16.

I will be voting for sure!

(via stfukyriarchy-deactivated201112)

The Green Party is the first political party to support a bold new OpenMedia.ca public engagement initiative. OpenMedia is inviting Canadians to bring political attention to the online communications crisis in Canada that has been largely ignored during the election campaign. The organization is asking political candidates to pledge their support for the Internet.

“The Greens are proud to be the first party to announce support for OpenMedia’s  proposition,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. “The internet is critical for modern day citizen engagement and an integral part of our economic competitiveness. The Greens pledge to adhere to OpenMedia’s Stop the Meter campaign on Internet access. We are committed to enhancing broadband access, competition, transparency and choice.”

A decade of neglecting the Internet regulatory issue is stifling Canada’s economy, global competitiveness, free expression and Canadians’ personal budgets.

“A vote for the Greens is also a vote in support of open and democratic Internet access in Canada” said Emma Jane Hogbin, the Green Party Science and Technology critic. “Vote Green – vote for the internet.”

Visit http://openmedia.ca/ to learn more about the initiative.

From Johan Hamels, Executive Director, Green Party of Canada

“You must be proud to be working for democracy,” the taxi driver said to Karen, one of our staff members, who had just spent 15 hours in Green Party headquarters and was exhausted and—truthfully—feeling a little sorry for herself, as she told me when she shared the story this morning.

He continued, “I am from the Ivory Coast. Yesterday, I found out that the war had come to my home village. My mother and father are alive, but they had to walk over 100 km to Liberia. Everything they own and know is gone. Because two leaders of different factions each claim to be the rightful elected ruler of our country.”

He thought for a moment, “I love Canada. It makes me happy that people who criticize the government are not taken away in the night to be killed. But I am very sad that Elizabeth May will not be allowed to talk. This is not good. Those people who stop her are like the leaders in my country—afraid to let other voices speak.”

Then he smiled widely, “But still, this country makes me hopeful!”

Hopeful. To be Green is to be hopeful. We commit time, we commit money, and we commit ourselves to creating a sustainable future. A future where all voices can speak without fear.

Every day of the year, Green Party supporters like you work for positive change. We don’t just hope; we also work. And—to speak bluntly—some of our work requires money. We use your money carefully. We spend it on those things that make the biggest impact. But we do need to ask you for it.

So far, Elizabeth’s exclusion from the leaders’ debates has forced us to focus on the true democracy aspect of our platform, but now we also want to share our vision of a smart economy and strong communities with fellow Canadians. We have a detailed, practical, and—yes—hopeful plan to build a better Canada.