It’s officially winter here in the US, which means the days are actually starting to get longer, which means the Northern Hemisphere is getting closer to the sun – in other words, the solstice is here! Phil Plait has a nice explanation of the winter solstice at Slate.

I do like having a cold time of the year, and I hope to experience some cold days before spring. But I’m glad winter doesn’t last forever, and it’s easier to do things outside when there is more sunlight anyway. Also, after being in the dark for so long after Hurricane Sandy, it’s easier to understand why a mid-winter celebration of light was such a big deal for ancient people.

What I’m up to besides the expected holiday stuff, is the history adventure project Head First. Head First will continue to grow in the coming weeks, as there is plenty of interesting history to explore.

Best wishes for a festive midwinter!

Darian and Ryan are heading out to explore the past and read the ruins!

The history adventure series begins with Holes in the Ground, where we explore old mines in New York.

Check out HeadFirstAdventures.com and let us know what you think!

We have a video in the works that should be out in early December. It features a trip to the grounds of the old Modern School Colony at Stelton with a graduate of the unique school.

Head First has an evolving list of places to explore, and we expect our videos and adventure blog to only get better!

Pussy Riot might be the most punk thing since the Sex Pistols. Now three of their members have been given two year prison sentences for making an anti-Putin chant in a church.

Remember Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Marina Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, and free all political prisoners.

The Dark Knight Rises was a good movie. Seeing as it’s a Batman movie, it’s fine for the story to be a little far-fetched as long as it’s told well within the confines of the Batman world. The uncertainties and genuine surprises were well played. It had just enough references to current issues to make the story more potent, but not so much to be preachy or look like it’s trying to be more profound than it really was. I did think the prison dynamic that developed under a demagogic warlord was well done and I was reminded of Escape from New York.

I really liked Bane as a villain and I thought Catwoman was cool. And yes, even anarchists can like a movie where cops are good guys (though the Gotham police force is not portrayed as unambiguously good).

No, The Dark Knight Rises wasn’t as fun as The Avengers, but that’s a Joss Whedon project we’re talking about. Comparing the two films shows how the superhero genre can be told differently. The Avengers was a larger-than-life epic with comedy and cheese sprinkled tastefully throughout. The Dark Knight Rises was dark and gritty but kind of uplifting in it’s own way.

And as for the movie theater shooting in Aurora… this is why it shouldn’t be considered weird for a responsible person to carry a handgun to a movie theater. As we try to understand the root causes of such violence we should keep in mind that these kinds of crimes are rare and there are many more gun owners than there are murderers. Giving more power to people in government is not a real solution; building communities with a culture of respect for individual life and liberty is. It is not infrequent for police to shoot people under questionable or unacceptable circumstances and it is even more common for them to harass and victimize people. Police in Denver, which neighbors Aurora, even got t-shirts commemorating how they “BEAT the crowds.” The more that police are viewed as special protectors standing above the rest of us, the more they will adopt authoritarian mindsets, and the worse police violence will get.

I hope the families of the Aurora shooting victims are given space to mourn and I’m dismayed that this would need to be added to the discussion of the film.

It’s not unreasonable to be suspicious of the United Nations. It is, after all, run by politicians. And it’s definitely good to be vigilant against threats to liberty whenever regulations are being written. However, much of the scare surrounding the Arms Trade Treaty currently being discussed at the United Nations appears unwarranted.

I wouldn’t consider myself an authority on the Treaty. However, I have spent some time looking at the documents of the negotiations. In general, the treaty involves establishing universal guidelines for international shipments of weapons, including small arms.

Three issues that immediately came to mind:

1) It could be interpreted that abiding by the treaty would involve the expansion of domestic laws concerning the prevention of arms transfers to international criminal organizations, thus providing a justification to tighten regulations on private firearms sales. However, from what I’ve read there is currently no intention to ban private sales.

2) Weapons embargoes can make it harder for one side of a conflict to acquire arms it needs to defend itself against the other side. This was a factor in the Spanish Civil War and the wars in the former Yugoslavia. It’s unclear how the Arms Trade Treaty would address this issue.

3) The whole thing could be a feel-good statement by politicians who will manipulate language as much as their power allows to get what they want for themselves and their cronies anyway.

Official documents can be found at the United Nations Website. I spent the most time perusing the Compilation of views on the elements of an arms trade treaty. Certainly, there is always closed-door diplomacy going on that the public will not be permitted to see for some time, but public documents are valuable in understanding the positions of the players.

On Page 3 of the Compilation, the Algerians discuss their idea of the treaty:

Assuming that since the future arms trade treaty must facilitate the legal trade
in arms and prevent their illicit transfer and trafficking, it should be founded on:
• The purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations
• The right of self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the
United Nations
• The right of all States to manufacture, import, export, transfer and possess
conventional arms for their legitimate self-defence and security needs and for
the maintenance of order
• The obligation for States to take steps to prevent the diversion of conventional
arms from legal channels to the illicit market
• The need to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional
arms, including small arms and light weapons, and their ammunition.

The Canadian statement emphasizes the need to explicitly protect lawful gun ownership by individuals (15-16):

Canada believes that the primary goals of an arms trade treaty should be:
• To prevent transfers of conventional arms that breach Security Council
sanctions regimes
• To prevent arms transfers that contribute to serious violations of human rights
• To prevent arms transfers that contribute to serious violations of international
humanitarian law
• To prevent transfers of conventional arms that provoke, prolong or aggravate
armed conflict
• To prevent transfers of conventional arms that support or facilitate terrorist
acts
• To prevent transfers of conventional arms that would be used in the
commission of transnational organized crime
• To prevent the diversion of conventional weapons to unauthorized end users
• To promote transparency and due diligence in transfers of conventional arms.
These should be the core criteria of any future arms trade treaty. While other
criteria may be considered, it is these that should form the foundation of an effective
treaty.

Recognizing legitimate trade and ownership
The goal of the treaty should be to curtail illicit and irresponsible transfers of
conventional arms, and their diversion from legal trade into the illicit market. The
treaty should not impede the legitimate trade in conventional arms, nor should it
discourage or undermine the use of firearms for recreational activities or other
forms of lawful and responsible ownership and use as recognized by States parties.
Canada is particularly concerned that the treaty not place new burdens on lawful
firearm owners.

Canada therefore believes that the goal of the treaty should be clearly stated in
its preamble and requests the inclusion of the following two (or similar) preambular
paragraphs:

“Recognizing that the purpose of the Arms Trade Treaty is to prevent,
combat and eradicate the illicit and irresponsible transfer of conventional arms
and their diversion into the illicit market, including for use in transnational
organized crime and terrorism,

“Noting that the Arms Trade Treaty acknowledges and respects
responsible and accountable trans-national use of firearms for recreational
purposes, such as sport shooting, hunting and other forms of similar lawful
activities, whose legitimacy is recognized by the States Parties”.

Presumably, self-defense and militia drilling would be lawful activities whose legitimacy is (officially) recognized by the US Government.

The Canadians go further on page 18:

Many States participating in the arms trade treaty process have called for a ban
on transfers to non-State actors. While it is clear that those advocating this wording
are referring to illegal armed groups such as terrorist organizations and transnational
criminal groups, this wording could also be interpreted to mean legitimate and
responsible private companies and individuals. Accordingly, to clarify the intent of
this position, Canada would prefer the term “illegal armed groups” to “non-State
actors” as it better captures the intended meaning and provides clarity regarding which actors in particular the arms trade treaty seeks to prevent obtaining access to arms.

Much hinges on what makes an armed group illegal according to the treaty. In the current political situation this passage does not appear to threaten individual gun ownership.

The Swedish submission discusses encouraging states to create national systems to control the arms trade (86):

In practical terms, the main operational goals of an arms trade treaty are to
create international norms in the area of arms transfer controls and, through
obligations in the treaty, encourage as many United Nations Member States as
possible to enact and maintain a national system to control the trade in arms and
military equipment. The illegal trade in arms that causes so much human suffering
and societal disruption around the globe is, by definition, a problem that straddles
national boundaries and requires international cooperation to address. An arms trade treaty which fulfils these goals should significantly improve prospects for curbing the illegal trade in arms and enhance responsibility in the legal arms trade.

On Page 88, it is apparent that the Swedish are referring to international arms shipments:

Sweden favours a numerical ratification requirement for entry into force. All
countries, whether they are mainly exporters, importers or transit States, have an
important role to play in the treaty…

The treaty should not regulate the movement or possession of controlled items
within the territory of a State party, or their transfer to a State’s own armed forces
abroad.

While the politicians at the UN certainly put their own interests first, so do the politicians, pundits, and industry representatives who cry out against the treaty. The average American gun owner might experience more regulation as a result of the treaty, and an increase in red tape for international transfers could affect the availability of firearms from foreign countries. While these are not good things for liberty, they don’t spell out the nightmare scenario some are concerned about.

I hadn’t been to Occupy Wall Street for a while, until I was encouraged to come down last week. Friday night the square was packed with a lively settlement of dissent: a library, an anarchist literature table, a compost station, a bicycle-powered battery charger, a large communications center, a medical tent, a food area. Then in the small hours of the morning the NYPD attacked the park, arrested many occupiers, and removed or destroyed the possessions inside (right now it’s unclear if the property seized will actually be returned). According to a CNN reporter at the park, the NYPD had deliberately obstructed the media from covering the attack. Some reporters for Mother Jones did manage to witness the event.

But tonight the occupation returned. I was able to make it down there for a little while. I ended up using my Qik video account for the first time, which explains why things were shaky.

The first video is me walking the block north of OWS, showing all the police vehicles.

The second video is walking down Broadway and a quick view into the general assembly.

In the longer third video I walk around the block and into the back of the general assembly.

Some of my reports can be found on my Twitter feed. Follow OccupyWallSt for updates on the Occupation. NYCLU is also monitoring the scene.

And don’t forget about the actions on November 17!

George Washington Williams,writing in 1882:

But the most effective agency in filling Southern prisons with Negroes has been, and is, the chain-gang system—the farming out of convict labor. Just as great railway, oil, and telegraph companies in the North have been capable of controlling legislation, so the corporations at the South which take the prisoners of the State off of the hands of the Government, and then speculate upon the labor of the prisoners, are able to control both court and jury. It has been the practice, and is now, in some of the Southern States, to pronounce long sentences upon able-bodied young Colored men, whose offences, in a Northern court, could not be visited with more than a few months’ confinement and a trifling fine. The object in giving Negro men a long term, of years, is to make sure the tenure of the soulless corporations upon the convicts whose unhappy lot it is to fall into their iron grasp. In some of the Southern States a strong and healthy Negro convict brings thirty-seven cents a day to the State, while he earns a dollar for the corporations above his expenses…No system of slavery was ever equal in its cruel and dehumanizing details to this convict system, which, taking advantage of race prejudice on the one hand and race ignorance on the other, with cupidity and avarice as its chief characteristics, has done more to curse the South than all things else since the war.

Axel Caballero, writing last week:

So, here is how it goes. First, the state passes a harsh immigration law. Then, it detains large numbers of immigrants. Third, private prisons (LCS, CCA, GEO) receive fresh inmates. And finally, the artificially created labor shortage is supplied by the new inmates.

Disgusting.

Philadelphia has a newsletter of occupation. Check it out:

Occupy Philadelphia Inquirer

[UPDATE - 9 Oct - Since this was posted, the person who wrote it has reported that much has changed, and their local Occupy action is doing well at including people from across the political spectrum. Others report that their local Occupy movements are essentially being run by Democrat Party people, and others still are excited by the experience of genuine grassroots, participatory democracy that addresses the concerns of concerned individuals from diverse political backgrounds.]

The following report is from an activist at an Occupy event inspired by Occupy Wall Street.

Several occupations are becoming seriously divided which is the first step toward becoming conquered. Ron Paul people, tea party members, and the full spectrum of libertarians are being indiscriminately shouted down at General Assembly meetings and in side meetings amongst individuals. Personally, I agree that signs promoting any political parties should be discouraged because they are not only divisive, they represent a method that has not worked to serve the people, however, alienating large segments of the population is not only inherently wrong, it is a bad tactic.

One of the things that makes this movement different from others is its intent to let everyone have their say about how they would like to see the economic situation addressed and create a public forum where people can safely engage in constructive, respectful dialogue.

I have not personally seen this happen on a large scale at our occupation yet but I was talking to one of the libertarian right last night and he said he was definitely being alienated. I think he has only bothered to stay around because he is determined to participate as a member of Cop Watch. The rejection of portions of the population who love the idea of participating in a democratic forum will turn this into a right/left thing rather than an underclass/overlords thing and a mob rather than a diverse group of individuals seeking solutions in a horizontal, democratic fashion.

I have heard many individuals saying that have to keep libertarians and tea partiers away, while in the same breath saying, “everyone has a voice, we are here to discuss everyone’s views on economic strategies”. To make matters worse, many people are making no distinction whatsoever between libertarian right and libertarian left.

I have been called naive for continuing to insist that everyone be welcome to come out and talk, but I feel that getting all kinds of different people together in the efforts to agree on one point is much more realistic than aiming to rebuild the world. If we can not manage to sit together, all of us, and find one thing we agree on, we are certainly not going to be able to build a new economic system for ourselves or follow through on any of the other lofty goals people are discussing.

The story below, “Brown Power at Occupy Wall Street”, really sums up, for me, how the occupations are supposed to function. It is about how one little voice can steer things in a better direction.

http://www.racialicious.com/2011/10/03/brown-power-at-occupy-wall-street-92911/

And while the liberals are busy alienating the libertarians, the democrats are knocking on the occupations’ collective door. I got this from MoveOn yesterday…

“Wall Street isn’t the only place where greed is undermining the American Dream. By bringing these speak outs to as many communities as possible, we’ll help to spread and amplify the energy of the Occupy Wall Street protest across the country. . . .To build on this energy, we’re organizing a huge round of speak-outs nationwide next week to deliver the simple message that we need “Jobs Not Cuts” and to “Make Wall Street Pay.” It’s part of a massive week of action to show the human impact of the economic crisis. But we need public events in as many communities as possible to show that this is a national movement. We’ll provide everything you need to hold a successful event. Can you sign up to lead a speak-out?”

Also, people like myself, who are far left and latched onto this movement because of the horizontal, democratic participation that was being promoted, will likely become discouraged with the lack of respect for dissenting voices and begin to drop off, making the occupations even more susceptible to the democrats.

It is a shame when the meaning of democracy – of power vested in the people – comes to mean marginalizing people who leaders cast out of the majority. This is how the government operates and it is unfortunate to see this trend in a protest movement with potential to radically alter how decisions are made. There is potential for progress here. This is not the only trend in the movement and it still presents opportunities to get involved in conversation and change, and to continue to move things in a less authoritarian direction.

My latest commentary, To Occupy and Rise, is now online at Center for a Stateless Society.

Against visions of a bleak and stagnant future, the occupiers assert the optimism that a better world can be made in the streets. They have not resigned themselves to an order where the young are presented with a foreseeable future of some combination of debt, economic dependency, and being paid little to endure constant disrespect, an order that tells the old to accept broken promises and be glad to just keep putting in hours until they can’t work anymore. The occupiers have not accepted that living in modern society means shutting up about how it functions.

For the latest updates on the Wall Street occupation and similar movements check Twitter #occupywallst.

I took some pictures during my brief stay at Liberty Plaza on September 19, which are viewable at my Google+ profile