China arrested ‘Jasmine’ activists
Scores of government critics, lawyers, activists, bloggers, artists and "netizens" have been arrested since February, amid government fears of a "Jasmine Revolution" inspired by events in the Middle East and North Africa. Amnesty International profiles some of the new generation of Chinese activists caught in the sweep.
Liang Haiyi aka Tiny: Early victim of the "Jasmine Revolution" crackdown
Status: In detention on suspicion of "subversion of state power"
In her own words: "When the country cannot protect a beggar, it cannot protect the emperor!
Liang Haiyi was reportedly taken away by police on 19 February in the northern Chinese city of Harbin for sharing videos and information about the ”Jasmine Revolution” on the internet. Her lawyer confirmed she was detained on suspicion of “subversion of state power”.
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TODAY: Fundraiser for Japan @ Sacred Gallery
Sacred Gallery NYC
424 Broadway 2nd Floor New York, NY 10013
05.05.11 | 8:00 pm
http://www.sacredgallerynyc.com
Group benefit show to lend a helping hand In Japan.
Artists and Photographers from all over the globe come together to help all those affected by the earthquake, tsunami and now radiation damage in Japan.
When we first listed this event, we wanted to keep this as a print based show. After receiving so many emails from people wanting to donate original drawings, we've now decided to allow original works on paper.
All artwork will be priced at $200 or less!
This is a rare opportunity where artists lower their standard pricing in order to help those in need.
100% of the sales made from this one-night-only exhibition will be donated to the Red Cross.
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2 Artists, 2 Coasts, Both in Jail for Graffiti
Left, LA II, right, Revok. (images via dnainfo.com & ballerstatus.com)
As LA’s MOCA tries to give graffiti and street art their moment in the Southern California sun, in New York
LA II, aka Angel Ortiz, and in Los Angeles,
Revok, aka Jason Williams, are in jail for doing the art they love.
While LA II, who is best known as a collaborator of Keith Haring, has quietly languished at Riker’s Island prison, Revok’s arrest and subsequent sentencing has been accompanied by a vocal outcry from his comrades and fans, including Shepard Fairey, who
issued a poster last week to raise money for his legal defense fund.
The debate about graffiti and street art and its role in a democratic and free society is sure to rage on as the artists associated with the art form continue to make waves by openly challenging vandalism laws. The whole phenomenon is strangely reminiscent of the emergence of hip hop in the 1980s and 90s, when artists (and their handlers) often parlayed criminal charges into more publicity and fame for the artist.
The largest question is do artists have — or should they have — a right to create art on public property or the property of others.
The Twitterverse has been very vocal about its anger regarding Revok’s arrest.
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The Power of Music to Ignite Hope in Haiti
Dave "Phoenix" Farrell in Camp Corail
Port Au Prince, Haiti -- As Haiti welcomes a new president, who also happens to be a musician, we started to think about the power of music to bring change to Haiti. Music has long been a source of inspiration to people and can be the perfect motivator to incite action to create a better world. As a member of a rock band and leader at the United Nations Foundation, we are a unique pair, but our goal is the same. We are committed to helping the United Nations protect Haitian women and girls from violence in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake and we are urging music fans around the world to do the same.
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Eat, Pray & Heal Japan – A Night To Benefit The Children Of Japan
Join us for an evening for Japan's children at the Bowery Hotel. Hosted by Candice Kumai, Harold Dieterle, and Angelo Sosa of Top Chef! We are sadly finding that donations to Japan are much lower than those made to Katrina and the Indonesia/Thailand, so let's do our part to get help out there!
Follow us @4JapanKids #EPH
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Death Penalty in 2010: Executing countries left isolated after decade of progress
Countries which continue to use the death penalty are being left increasingly isolated following a decade of progress towards abolition, Amnesty International has said today in its new report Death Sentences and Executions in 2010.
A total of 31 countries abolished the death penalty in law or in practice during the last 10 years but China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the USA and Yemen remain amongst the most frequent executioners, some in direct contradiction of international human rights law.
The total number of executions officially recorded by Amnesty International in 2010 went down from at least 714 people in 2009 to at least 527 in 2010, excluding China.
China is believed to have executed thousands in 2010 but continues to maintain its secrecy over its use of the death penalty.
“The minority of states that continue to systematically use the death penalty were responsible for thousands of executions in 2010, defying the global anti-death penalty trend,” said Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“While executions may be on the decline, a number of countries continue to pass death sentences for drug-related offences, economic crimes, sexual relations between consenting adults and blasphemy, violating international human rights law forbidding the use of the death penalty except for the most serious crimes,” said Salil Shetty. ...