THE GREAT COPYRIGHT SCAM

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Norwich Radical in Arts and tagged amazon, atuhors, blackwell's, books, comixology, corporation, cory doctorow, drm, EU, featured, hachette, harpercollins, kate clanchy, kindle, libraries, library, metallica, napster, penguin, Penguin Random House, philip pullman, publisher, racism, rights, society of authors, Sony, torrenting, waterstones.

by Alex Valente

Consider this example: Marvel Comics publishes Spider-Man, Sony makes a Spider-Man film or videogame, and your local queer fan-artist sells an art zine or print inspired by that film. There is a cost associated with each of these items: the floppy or trade collected comic; a cinema ticket or streaming subscription; the art print itself. But, there is no ethical consumption. ‘Illegally’ downloading or streaming the film, torrenting or finding a hosting site for the comic, or pirating the zine are all the same act: you are overcoming the monetary gatekeeping of art. With one exception: if you ‘steal’ from Marvel, Sony or any other megacorp you might even be doing some good (with reservations); if you do it to an artist who is trying to pay their bills, you’re an asshole.

THE ACID TEST OF ‘BRITISHNESS’: DEFERENCE TO POLITICAL ELITES OR DEFENCE OF DEMOCRACY?

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national, Perspectives and tagged Boris Johnson, british politics, Britishness, citizneship, corporations, Covid-19, democracy, economy, elections, featured, freedom of speech, freedoms, media, nationalism, neoliberal, NHS, Perspectives, political participation, politics, poverty, rights, social welfare, society.

by Sarah Edgcumbe

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic continues to have disastrous consequences for many people around the globe who have lost loved ones, or who are struggling to cope financially due to livelihood disruption. Domestic violence rates have increased at a staggering rate, whilst loneliness and uncertainty are having a negative effect on many people’s mental health. It is amidst these turbulent times that once again, much like the train-wreck of Brexit, the acid test of “Britishness” seems to be qualified by how deferential people can be to the political elite, as opposed to how willing they are to defend democracy and the welfare of Britain’s citizens and residents.

INDIA’S DEMOCRACY IS AT BREAKING POINT

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national and tagged anti caa, BJP, blackouts, CAA, citizenship, deomcracy, featured, India, Islam, islamophobia, Jammu, justice, Kashmir, Narendra Modi, nationalism, protests, religion, rights, student protests, unrest.

by Ella Wade-Jones

On 12th December India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) passed the Citizen (Amendment) Act (CAA) into law. The series of protests that have erupted and brutal crackdown that has ensued has thrown the country into a state of flux. The highly controversial Citizen (Amendent) Act seeks to fundamentally amend the definition of illegal immigrants in India. Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Parsi and Buddhist immigrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan will be granted fast track Indian citizenship in six years. Muslims are not included on the list.

MEXICO AND THE EZLN – WHERE ARE THEY TODAY?

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national, Perspectives and tagged amlo, caracoles, Civil Rights, compARTE, EZLN, featured, indigenous, land rights, Marichuy, Maya Railway, Mexico, NAFTA, native, Oaxaqueño, revolution, rights, US, Zapatista.

by Cristina Flores

2018 was a landmark year for Mexico. July saw the election of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (popularly known as Amlo), whose party Morena won 53% of the popular vote. This landslide victory against the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), a centre-right party, has offered fresh hope for a country exhausted by corruption and fraud. The marginalisation of Mexico’s native communities, however, is in no way a resolved issue. Although Amlo’s social democratic agenda may seem to be an oasis in the desert for Mexico’s working classes, the fight for recognition, rights and justice amongst the indigenous peoples of Mexico continues. Arguably the most notable group leading this movement is the Zapatista Army of National Liberation – the EZLN.

This movement has re-emerged as a journalistic hot topic in the past few weeks, owing much to Amlo’s inauguration back in December and the recent commemoration of 25 years since the first EZLN uprising. So where did the movement come from, where are they now, and what does this mean for indigenous rights in Mexico?Continue Reading

UN VOTE TO REAFFIRM PEASANT RIGHTS

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Norwich Radical in Inter|national and tagged Adam Langford, declaration, farming, featured, HelpAge International, human rights, indigenous peoples, La Via Campesina, Mission LifeForce, PeasantRightsNow, peasants' rights, rights, rural populations, UN, UNHRC.

by Yali Banton-Heath

Some positive news! A solid step has been taken towards the wider global push for an increased protection of rural workers rights. In Geneva on Friday 28th September 2018, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution culminating in the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas.

With 33 votes in favour, 3 against (one of which being the UK), and 11 abstentions, the declaration will now be taken to the 3rd committee session of the UN General Assembly in New York in October, where it will be open for adoption by all UN member states. Once adopted, it will serve to strengthen the obligations of governments in upholding the rights of its nations rural populations: of peasants, indigenous communities, migrant workers, and small-scale farmers alike. Some argue that we must be wary of such expansions of rights. I disagree.

TRADING FREEDOMS – THE OFFICE FOR STUDENTS PROPOSALS

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Student and tagged academics, Cardiff University, censorship, clampdown, debate, establishment, freedom, freedom of choice, freedom of speech, germaine greer, government, HEFCE, higher education, jo johnson, mainstream media, no platforming, office for students, power, regulation, rights, safe spaces, safeguarding, student politics, student power, students, students' unions, transphobia, universities.

by Robyn Banks

CW: mentions transphobia

‘Universities must bring back freedom of speech!’ That was the premise of various headlines surrounding Jo Johnson’s announcement last week of proposed powers for the Office for Students (OfS). One of those proposals is that universities and student unions that don’t conform to Johnson and the OfS’ concept of ‘freedom of speech’ could receive sanctions in the form of fines. While the powers of OfS are still only at the consultation stage, this announcement gives us a rather concerning insight into the plans and aims that Johnson has for the newly formed office.

WILL UEA DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR PHD ASSOCIATE TUTORS?

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Student and tagged academia, academic staff, access, access to employment, application processes, complaints, contracts, disrespect, diversity, elitism, employee feedback, employment rights, equality and diversity monitoring, hierarchy, higher education, hours, HR, male dominance, marking, mental health, nepotism, pay, phD, PhD Associate Tutors, postgraduate, postgraduate community, postgraduate tutors, recruitment, report, rights, shift covering, student employment, student mental health, students, support, temporary contracts, trade unions, training, UEA, UEA School of Arts Media and American Studies, UEA School of Chemistry, UEA School of International Development, UEA School of Politics Philosophy and Language and Communication Studies, UEA Student Experience Committee, UEA SU, unconscious bias, undergraduate teaching, unpaid work, white dominance.

by Maddie Colledge, UEA SU Postgraduate Education Officer

Following a steady drip of complaints to the SU in recent years, the Postgraduate Committee have this year steered me to focus my efforts on launching research into the experience of our PhD Associate Tutors (ATs). We already knew some of the issues that our ATs face and had brought them to the University’s attention, but in light of little change since then, it seemed a full review was needed. Following the publication of that review, I’d like to share our findings with you as well as our plans for the future (the full report can be found here).

SHAME ON SOAS – OCCUPIERS PROTEST TREATMENT OF CATERING STAFF

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Student and tagged #SHAMEonSOAS, BME, Bouygues, catering, closures, Community, Elior UK, fair pay, London Living Wage, Lucas Lecture Theatre, migrant workers, ob cuts, occupation, occupy, outsourcing, peaceful protest, redundancies, rights, SOAS, SOAS refectory, SOASJ4C, student activism, student unions, unions, universities, women workers, workers rights, zero hours contracts.

By SOAS Justice for Workers

Yesterday, on the 8th anniversary of the deportation of 9 SOAS cleaners, students of SOAS began an occupation of the Directorate on the Main Building first floor. We are taking direct action in resistance to the planned shut down of the refectory and outrageous threats made by management to the livelihoods of members of our community. We stand in solidarity with the catering staff, and all the exploited workers of SOAS, in their fight for dignity and respect.

THE PARADOX OF TORY EDUCATION POLICY – STUDENTS AND THE ELECTION #7

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Student and tagged #GE2017, conservatives, cuts, education policy, employment, EU, EU students, exports, general election, HE policy, higher education, immigration quotas, international reputation, international students, manifesto, marketisation, migration, NHS, non-EU students, nurse bursaries, politics, racism, reputation, rights, skilled graduates, snap election, student numbers, student politics, student vote, students, Students and the Election, tuition fees, universities, university funding, university league tables, university rankings, voters, voting, xenophobia.

by Alex Powell

In the midst of multiple crises faced by students, universities and schools, the outcome of the snap general election will be a major indicator of the future of the UK education sector. Each week until the vote we are featuring perspectives from our regular contributors and guests on what the election could mean for students.

There is a severe dissonance between the conception of higher education that the Conservatives purport to support and the policies presented in their 2017 manifesto. In order to show this I have to work from within the Tory understanding of the purpose of higher education, and the role international students play within achieving that. Despite my adoption of this form of argumentation, I wish to make it clear that I do not subscribe to the idea that higher education is purely about reputation, financial stability, or the production of an effective workforce. Further, I do not accept the idea that international students are valuable only in terms of what they can offer to either educational institutions or the UK more generally. The current treatment of international students, and the blatant disregard shown for their welfare, is one of the most indefensible aspects of modern higher education policy.

IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN? – STUDENTS AND THE ELECTION #6

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Norwich Radical in Student and tagged #GE2017, armed forces, Article 50, austerity, buses, clive lewis, commentary, cuts, education, end poverty, EU, EU citizens, EU referendum, exit poll, Free Education, general election, Green Party, higher education, jeremy corbyn, journalism, Labour, left wing, Liberal Democrats, living wage, london, manifesto, MPs, Northampton, norwich south, NUS, Parliament, politics, polls, prime minister, privatisation, public services, rent, rights, shadow cabinet, snap election, student politics, student vote, students, Students and the Election, Sure Start, tactical voting, tax, theresa may, Tim Farron, Tories, UEA, UEA Labour Students, universities, voters, voting, wages, Wales, work.

from a member of UEA Labour Students

Having resolved to sit down today and write this article, I’m struck by the appropriateness of my day. I caught the bus to UEA from outside one of the few remaining Sure Start centres, a public service provided by the last Labour government which has been decimated by the Conservatives (and Liberal Democrats) since 2010. My bus was 40 minutes late, the consequence of a privatised, under-funded service – and even the previously UEA-hosted launderette I went to had been privatised since I last used it. It served as a strong reminder of the power of Labour government to change lives for the better, which contrasts with the crumbling services and privatisation festival that has characterised the last 7 years of Conservative and ConDem government.

rights

THE GREAT COPYRIGHT SCAM

by Alex Valente

INDIA’S DEMOCRACY IS AT BREAKING POINT

MEXICO AND THE EZLN – WHERE ARE THEY TODAY?

UN VOTE TO REAFFIRM PEASANT RIGHTS

TRADING FREEDOMS – THE OFFICE FOR STUDENTS PROPOSALS

WILL UEA DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR PHD ASSOCIATE TUTORS?

SHAME ON SOAS – OCCUPIERS PROTEST TREATMENT OF CATERING STAFF

THE PARADOX OF TORY EDUCATION POLICY – STUDENTS AND THE ELECTION #7

IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN? – STUDENTS AND THE ELECTION #6

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