Showing posts with label of. Show all posts
Showing posts with label of. Show all posts
Friday, May 19, 2017
ORIGIN OF CHINESE DESIGN
ORIGIN OF CHINESE DESIGN
ORIGIN OF CHINESE DESIGN
Gardens can be traced back to ancient times in China, but always included the same basic elements. After the Han dynasty, Daoist ideals of disengaging from worldly concerns gave a rationale for gardens as environments in which an individual could escape the often harsh demands of a politically engaged civic life.
Gardens were originally simple retreats for contemplation set in nature. Early exponents of the ideal of retreat from public life, like the legendary Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove of the Six Dynasties period, merely sought their own retreat in a ready-made natural setting such as a wooded area or mountain stream. From the Han dynasty onward, some individuals built more elaborate precincts that were based on the models of the imperial grounds. One aristocrat lost his life for assuming for himself this royal privilege, flaunting his wealth with a collection of natural specimens similar to those previously found only in the emperors Hunting Park.
Daoist immortals were believed to inhabit remote mountain peaks and practice secret methods of elixir-making there. Portraits of other religious figures, like the Buddhist lohan at the left, were often situated in a landscape with magical qualities. The deer in this painting is a symbol of the Buddha because it is believed a deer was one of his early incarnations.
Certain plants and animals were favored for gardens because of their associations with overcoming the limits of ordinary life. Some trees or plants, for example, grew against harsh odds, such as difficult terrain, and certain animals, such as cranes, seemed to possess an ability to survive in ways beyond human capability.
What objects can you identify in this painting that might have carried such symbolic associations?
Fengshui (or wind-and-water, or geomancy) also played a large role in the form a garden would take. The natural environment was interpreted by the fengshui master as a living organism, the alteration of which could positively or negatively affect the lives of people in contact with it for generations to come.
Follow this link for more on fengshui.
The lore of mountains and rocks, important in Chinese religion and art, was also an indispensable part of garden landscape design. Large rocks placed by themselves or groupings of smaller rocks served as analogies for mountains, which were considered sacred sites and potential resting places for immortals.
One of the most common implements found in tombs from the Han dynasty onward was the incense burner. Below is a typical example of this kind of object.
What features of a mountain would appeal to a Daoist?
Which features do you see here, and why might they be so exaggerated?
The emperor, as guardian of the realm, sought to demonstrate a harmonious relationship with and an intimate knowledge of the forces of nature. The imperial parks were vast in territory and kept an abundance of all imaginable plants and animals, almost like a museum. Such parks replicated the emperors realm in miniature, with man-made lakes and mountains often corresponding to real geographical features. They reinforced the emperors role as the Son of Heaven.
By the Tang dynasty, a tradition of painting the royal hunting parks as paradise landscapes had developed. This gradually came to be applied to representations of landscapes in general.
What might be the purpose of depicting such a dramatic contrast between size of people and mountains in the scene below?
Sometime during the Tang dynasty, miniature landscapes in trays (or penjing), composed of rocks, plants and water, began to take the place of the censers (see above). These small-scale landscapes still retained their otherworldly associations. Especially favored were highly contorted rock and plant specimens. Scholars often kept these dwarfed landscapes on their desks, and one Tang dynasty court magician was said to have cultivated the ability to disappear into his tray landscape at will. Collecting unusual rock and plant specimens became common literati pastimes from the Song Dynasty onward.
The selection of plants for the garden also carried meaning. Private garden builders at first followed the examples of the emperor in collecting exotic plant and animal life in a complete miniaturized version, or microcosm of the realm. In the Song Dynasty, however, many scholars took up garden planning as a cultivated pursuit, writing handbooks on growing a wide number of flower varieties and the collecting and appreciation of unique and valuable rock specimens. There were many private retreats in the estates of scholars in and around the larger cities of Kaifeng, Hangzhou, and Luoyang.
Garden construction reached a peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties, as landholding aristocratic and scholar elite families moved their main residences from the countryside to urban and suburban areas of southern cities. Suzhou in particular became a place of refined culture, renowned for its canals and mild climate, as well as the ready availability of garden building expertise.
Available link for download
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Outrageous Retcon of a Beloved Comic Characters Origin!
Outrageous Retcon of a Beloved Comic Characters Origin!
Thanks to Brad Curran for letting me know about this outrage. Now, Id like to think that I am a reasonable enough of a fellow, and I wont fly off the handle at an innocuous change to a characters origin. But this is just too much. TOO MUCH, I say. The creators involved clearly have NO respect for the characters origin. NONE, I say! Now, before you click on the "Read More," please prepare yourself for a real shock to your system.
The year was 1971.
We should all have been prepared for it, but we werent.
The cover of Amazing Spider-Man #94 mentions the re-telling of the origin, but it cannot even BEGIN to prepare us for the disrespect about to be heaped upon the Amazing Spider-Man, one of the most beloved superhero characters ever!
Right off the bat, there is a problem. The spider bite occurs the same, but LOOK at Peter Parker!
THIS is how Peter Parker is supposed to look - a normal, geeky looking guy.
Look at how they retconned Peter into looking like!
Hes practically a jock!!
Next, Amazing Spider-Man #94 introduces a fight that NEVER happened in the original version!
And the fight makes no sense! Think of Spider-Mans secret identity!!
Luckily, the new version follows the original with the jumping in the air part.
Original...
New version...
However, right after that, the original version says...
The new version?
THEY RET-CONNED CRUSER HOGAN OUT OF THE COMIC!
Can you believe it?
One of the most important figures in Spider-Man history, and he doesnt even appear in Spider-Mans origin?!?!
Next problem is Spider-Mans costume.
The original version made sense. First Spider-Man created the costume, THEN he invented the webspinners.
In the new version?
LUNACY!
Webspinners THEN costume!
WHY ARE THEY DOING SO MANY RIDICULOUS RETCONS?!?!
The next disaster is the encounter between Spider-Man and the robber.
In the original, it makes perfect sense - Spider-Man meets the robber as hes leaving after a TV special (which has been perfectly set up by his wrestling victory).
The new, disrespectful version?
It makes NO sense!
Spider-Man meets the robber as hes ENTERING the TV station! ENTERING?!?! Do they think were morons or something!?!? And without the wrestling scenes, we have no idea HOW Spider-Man even GOT a TV special!!! OUTRAGE!!
The final outrage is Spider-Mans confrontation with the robber.
Heres the logical, original version.
Now, heres the over-the-top retconned version...
I feel like plucking my eyes out and setting them on fire, with the outrage I have at the changes these HACKS made!!
TOTAL disrespect for the characters.
Who WERE these hacks?
#94...lets see the credits....
Stan Lee and John Romita?
It FIGURES.
Marvel Editors in Chief always have a way of screwing Spider-Man over.
I smell an online petition a-brewing!!
Read More
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Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Out of my head
Out of my head
K loves music in the car. The confusing thing is that he makes up names for all the songs he likes, but I dont know which name goes to which song. For example, he will demand to hear "mommys song" when in fact, I had no idea I have my own song!! Apparently, "mommys song" is actually M.I.A.s "Galang", which is a pretty fun song from the Live at KEXP Volume 2 CD - if I werent driving, I would dance too! Anyways, I need to make notes on these things, really!
This video was taken a few months ago when J was driving, and Kades song of the day, "out of my head," (Tegan and Saras "Back in Your Head") played on repeat at least 5 times, but the cuteness was worth it!
Available link for download
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Origin Of Ratha Yatra Story Of Ratha Yatra History Of Ratha Yatra
Origin Of Ratha Yatra Story Of Ratha Yatra History Of Ratha Yatra
Origin Of Ratha Yatra, Story Of Ratha Yatra, History Of Ratha Yatra, Happy Ratha Yatra, Happy Ratha Yatra Wishes, Happy Ratha Yatra Messages, Happy Ratha Yatra Images.
A couple of legendary stories related with Rath Yatras inceptions exist that mirror the socio-religious speculation and convictions of the general population of the district. A portion of the main ones are:
To slaughter Lord Krishna and Balram, Kansa, their maternal uncle, welcomed them to Mathura. He sent Akrur with a chariot to Gokul. As asked, Lord Krishna, alongside Balram, sat on the chariot and left for Mathura. The enthusiasts commend this day of flight as Rath Yatra.
To slaughter Lord Krishna and Balram, Kansa, their maternal uncle, welcomed them to Mathura. He sent Akrur with a chariot to Gokul. As asked, Lord Krishna, alongside Balram, sat on the chariot and left for Mathura. The enthusiasts commend this day of flight as Rath Yatra.
Euphoric enthusiasts praised the day when Lord Krishna, aftr vanquishing the malevolent Kansa, gave them darshan in Mathura in a chariot with his sibling, Balaram.
Aficionados in Dwarika praised the day when Lord Krishna, joined by Balaram, took Subhadra - his sister, for a ride on a chariot to demonstrate the citys quality.
When Lord Krishnas rulers asked for mother Rohini to portray the numerous intriguing passionate scenes (ras lilas) of Lord Krishna with the Gopis. Rohini- - thinking of it as inappropriate of Subhadra to hear such scenes (Leela)- - sent her away. Still, the Vrajkatha soon retained Subhadra alongside Krishna and Balram, who at this point had showed up on the scene. While they were totally immersed with the stories arrived Narad. On finding the kin standing together still, he asked, "May you three gift darshan in this way until the end of time." The shelter was allowed. Whats more, the three everlastingly live in the Puri Temple of the Lord Jagannath.
There is an energizing story of Lord Krishna turning into the Sarathi - driver of Arjunas chariot, amid the 18-day skirmish of the Mahabharata.
At last, a story which has been passed on from mouth to mouth, tells what happened after the cremation of Lord Krishnas mortal body.
At the point when Shri Krishna was being cremated in Dwarika, Balaram, greatly disheartened with the advancement, hurried out to suffocate himself into sea with Krishnas mostly cremated body. He was trailed by Subhadra. In the meantime, on the eastern shore of India, King Indradyumna of Jagannath Puri envisioned that the Lords body would coast up to the Puris shores. He ought to construct a monstrous statue in the city and bless the wooden statues of Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra.
The bones (asthi) of Lord Krishnas body ought to be placed in the empty in the statues back. The fantasy worked out. The lord found the chips of bone (asthi) and took them. Be that as it may, the inquiry was who might cut the statues. It is trusted that the Gods planner, Vishwakarma, landed as an old woodworker. He made it clear that while cutting the statues no one ought to aggravate him, and on the off chance that anyone did, he would vanish leaving the work unfinished.
A few months passed. The restless Indradyumna opened the entryway of Vishwakarmas room. Vishwakarma vanished quickly as he had cautioned some time recently. In spite of the unfinished statues, the ruler purified them; setting Lord Krishnas heavenly soot in the empty of the statue and introduced them in the sanctuary.
A superb parade is done with the statues of Lord Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra, consistently, in three huge chariots. The enormous chariots are pulled by aficionados from Janakpur to the sanctuary in Jagannath Puri. The statues are changed like clockwork - the new ones being fragmented moreover.
The Jagannath Puri Temple is one of the four most consecrated sanctuaries in the four bearings of the India- - the other three being: Rameshwar in South, Dwarka in West and Badrinath in the Himalayas. Perhaps, the sanctuary in Jagannath Puri is the worlds exclusive sanctuary with the statues of three divinities who are kin - Lord Krishna, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
Upcoming search terms
Happy Ratha Yatra
Happy Ratha Yatra Wishes
Happy Ratha Yatra Messages
Happy Ratha Yatra Images
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Monday, May 15, 2017
Oceanhorn Monster of Uncharted Seas ™ PREMIUM v 1 0 0 Android
Oceanhorn Monster of Uncharted Seas ™ PREMIUM v 1 0 0 Android
Oceanhorn ™FDG Entertainment GmbH & Co.KG Juegos de rol
Un día te levantas y encuentras una carta de tu padre diciendo que se ha ido...
La única pista que tienes es un viejo diario y un misterioso collar. ¿Qué habrá pasado?
Explora las islas de los Mares inexplorados, un mundo lleno de peligros, rompecabezas y secretos. Enfréntate a monstruos, aprende a usar la magia y descubre tesoros antiguos que te ayudarán en tu misión. Usa todo tu ingenio y tus habilidades para revelar los misterios del antiguo reino de Arcadia y del monstruo marino llamado Oceanhorn.
Oceanhorn combina una cautivadora historia con impresionantes gráficos 3D y una emocionante mecánica de juego, lo que resulta en una fascinante experiencia de acción y aventuras que jamás olvidarás.
La única pista que tienes es un viejo diario y un misterioso collar. ¿Qué habrá pasado?
Explora las islas de los Mares inexplorados, un mundo lleno de peligros, rompecabezas y secretos. Enfréntate a monstruos, aprende a usar la magia y descubre tesoros antiguos que te ayudarán en tu misión. Usa todo tu ingenio y tus habilidades para revelar los misterios del antiguo reino de Arcadia y del monstruo marino llamado Oceanhorn.
Oceanhorn combina una cautivadora historia con impresionantes gráficos 3D y una emocionante mecánica de juego, lo que resulta en una fascinante experiencia de acción y aventuras que jamás olvidarás.
????????????DESCARGA ????????????
Archivo Apk? MEGA
Dattos? MEGA
[Compatibilidad] ? PLAY STORE
Requiere Android ? 4.1 y versiones superiores
????????????INSTRUCCIONES ????????????
•?Descarga el Archivo Apk
•?Instala Ojo pero no lo Abras
•?Descomprime el otro archivo Dattos
•?Copia la Carpeta a la Ruta Android/obb/aquí, si no esta obb la creas con Minúsculas
•?ABRE EL JUEGO Y DISFRUTA
????????????NO OLVIDES SEGUIME EN MIS REDES SOCIALES????????????
•? CANAL ACTIVO DE YOUTUBE ? http://goo.gl/AiZfG5
•?TWITTER ? http://goo.gl/cjUpgd
Available link for download
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Of All the Things 2012 Full Movie Free Download Watch Online
Of All the Things 2012 Full Movie Free Download Watch Online
+Full+Movie.jpg "Of All the Things (2012) Full Movie")
Screen:
.jpg "Of All the Things (2012) Full Movie")
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Sunday, May 14, 2017
On the eve of Albert Woodfoxs 5th Circuit oral arguments Amnesty International demands his immediate release
On the eve of Albert Woodfoxs 5th Circuit oral arguments Amnesty International demands his immediate release
MEDIA COVERAGE: Lauren McGaughy, Times-Picayune II The Republic / Associated Press
After decades of appeals and counter-appeals, delays and diversions, the 5th Circuit Court will review Judge Bradys decision to overturn Alberts conviction tomorrow.
Years and years of efforts to bring attention to this case and to see that justice is finally done will culminate in the outcome of this important hearing.
If you are intending to attend the hearing, please refer to our last newsletter for detailed information on time, place and court-room etiquette. If youre watching from afar as so many of us are, we hope that you will join us in sending all of our prayers, thoughts and energy towards a positive ruling that will lead to Alberts release.
We have to believe that all the hard work to shed light on this horrific case will ultimately lead to Alberts freedom.
Join us in focusing all our attention on this final and crucial hearing to bring Albert home.
Free Albert Woodfox and all political prisoners!
Featured below are statements released January 6, 2014 by both Amnesty USA and Amnesty Internationals Media Centre, on the eve of Albert Woodfoxs oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit Court in New Orleans on Tuesday, January 7 (see also postings by Amnesty Suisse and France).
Following that is an email action alert sent on January 3 that declared "Drop the vengeance! Free Albert Woodfox!" It called on supporters to sign the petition calling on Alberts immediate release.
Amnesty International USA Calls on Louisiana to Release Albert Woodfox
Contact: Natalie Butz, nbutz@aiusa.org, 202-675-8761, @AIUSAmedia
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - On the eve of a federal court of appeals hearing on the case of Albert Woodfox, Amnesty International USA is calling on authorities in Louisiana to immediately release Woodfox from prison where he has spent over four decades in solitary confinement.
"Louisiana cannot extend the abuses and injustice against Albert Woodfox another day," said Steven W. Hawkins, executive director, Amnesty International USA. "Louisiana authorities are leading a campaign of vengeance instead of upholding justice. Keeping Woodfox in solitary confinement for over four decades is a dark stain on human rights in the United States and globally. Louisiana must withdraw its legal appeal and allow the federal court ruling to stand. Should this not occur, the Court of Appeal should rule in the interests of justice and pave the way for Albert Woodfoxs release."
On January 7, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (the federal court that oversees appeals in Louisiana and other states) will rule whether to uphold a federal district judges ruling issued last February that overturned Woodfoxs conviction. The state of Louisiana has appealed asking for the federal court to reinstate the sentence.
"The state of Louisianas action is not in the interests of justice," said Tessa Murphy, USA campaigner at Amnesty International. "Its insistence on keeping Albert Woodfox behind bars after decades in solitary confinement amounts to a campaign of vengeance, paid with taxpayers money. The conviction has been overturned three times in what is a deeply flawed case, yet Louisiana has opposed every remedy ordered by the courts."
Albert Woodfox was placed in solitary confinement over 41 years ago in Louisiana State Penitentiary, known to many as "Angola." During this time, he has been confined to a small cell for 23 hours a day, denied access to meaningful social interaction and rehabilitation programs.
Prison records show that Woodfox has not committed any serious disciplinary infractions for decades and that he doesnt pose a threat to himself or others.
He and Herman Wallace were both convicted of the 1972 murder of prison guard Brent Miller. There was no physical evidence to link them to the crime and their convictions relied primarily on the dubious testimony of a sole eyewitness who received favorable treatment, and was eventually pardoned, for his testimony. The case against them was based on flawed evidence and riddled with procedural errors that have been extensively documented over the years.
Both men robustly denied any involvement in the crime. They believe they were falsely implicated in the murder because of their political activism in prison as members of the Black Panther Party.
Herman Wallace was released in October 2013 just days before he died of liver cancer. A federal judge overturned his conviction on the basis of the systematic exclusion of women from the grand jury during his 1974 trial.
"A remedy to the injustice inflicted on Albert Woodfox by the state is long overdue," said Murphy. "Herman Wallace gained his freedom only to die within days. Justice must not again be so cruelly delayed."
After the death of Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfoxs co-defendant in the "Angola 3" case, Amnesty International launched a campaign calling on the state of Louisiana to release Albert Woodfox from prison by means of withdrawing its appeal against the U.S. District Courts ruling.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million members in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
AI Index: PRE01/001/2014
Drop the vengeance! Free Albert Woodfox!
(Email Action Alert sent by Amnesty USA on Friday, January 3, 2014)
This could be the end of Albert Woodfoxs 40-year plus prison nightmare, if you act now.
On Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will hold a hearing to determine Alberts fate. Will they finally act on the 2013 ruling that overturned his conviction and set him free, or shut the door and send him back to another unthinkable year in solitary confinement?
Federal courts have overturned Alberts conviction 3 times. The state of Louisiana has appealed 3 times.
Enough is enough.
Tell the state of Louisiana to end its campaign of vengeance and let Albert go.
Nothing can justify the cruel treatment that Louisiana authorities have inflicted on Albert, one of the famed Angola 3 prisoners.
For decades, the authorities have punished Albert with solitary confinement. Hes survived 40 years living in a tiny cell for 23 hours a day, denied meaningful human contact and rehabilitation.
In a deeply flawed verdict, Albert was convicted of murder even though no physical evidence ties him to the crime, the state lost potentially exculpatory evidence, and authorities bribed their key witness.
Albert maintains he was put in solitary confinement in retaliation for organizing prisoners against segregation and other abuses in Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as "Angola".
Its simply unconscionable for the state to hold this man one day longer.
Please help Amnesty International demand freedom for Albert Woodfox.
Please take action before the Jan. 7 hearing.
Thanks for standing by Albert, and for all you do to defend human dignity for all.
Sincerely,
Jasmine Heiss
Campaigner, Individuals and Communities at Risk
Amnesty International USA
After decades of appeals and counter-appeals, delays and diversions, the 5th Circuit Court will review Judge Bradys decision to overturn Alberts conviction tomorrow.
Years and years of efforts to bring attention to this case and to see that justice is finally done will culminate in the outcome of this important hearing.
If you are intending to attend the hearing, please refer to our last newsletter for detailed information on time, place and court-room etiquette. If youre watching from afar as so many of us are, we hope that you will join us in sending all of our prayers, thoughts and energy towards a positive ruling that will lead to Alberts release.
We have to believe that all the hard work to shed light on this horrific case will ultimately lead to Alberts freedom.
Join us in focusing all our attention on this final and crucial hearing to bring Albert home.
Free Albert Woodfox and all political prisoners!
 |
| (PHOTO: Artwork displayed at Herman Wallace’s memorial service, with Herman calling for Alberts release. See more photos of the memorial service by Ann Harkness.) |
Featured below are statements released January 6, 2014 by both Amnesty USA and Amnesty Internationals Media Centre, on the eve of Albert Woodfoxs oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit Court in New Orleans on Tuesday, January 7 (see also postings by Amnesty Suisse and France).
Following that is an email action alert sent on January 3 that declared "Drop the vengeance! Free Albert Woodfox!" It called on supporters to sign the petition calling on Alberts immediate release.
Amnesty International USA Calls on Louisiana to Release Albert Woodfox
Contact: Natalie Butz, nbutz@aiusa.org, 202-675-8761, @AIUSAmedia
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - On the eve of a federal court of appeals hearing on the case of Albert Woodfox, Amnesty International USA is calling on authorities in Louisiana to immediately release Woodfox from prison where he has spent over four decades in solitary confinement.
"Louisiana cannot extend the abuses and injustice against Albert Woodfox another day," said Steven W. Hawkins, executive director, Amnesty International USA. "Louisiana authorities are leading a campaign of vengeance instead of upholding justice. Keeping Woodfox in solitary confinement for over four decades is a dark stain on human rights in the United States and globally. Louisiana must withdraw its legal appeal and allow the federal court ruling to stand. Should this not occur, the Court of Appeal should rule in the interests of justice and pave the way for Albert Woodfoxs release."
On January 7, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (the federal court that oversees appeals in Louisiana and other states) will rule whether to uphold a federal district judges ruling issued last February that overturned Woodfoxs conviction. The state of Louisiana has appealed asking for the federal court to reinstate the sentence.
"The state of Louisianas action is not in the interests of justice," said Tessa Murphy, USA campaigner at Amnesty International. "Its insistence on keeping Albert Woodfox behind bars after decades in solitary confinement amounts to a campaign of vengeance, paid with taxpayers money. The conviction has been overturned three times in what is a deeply flawed case, yet Louisiana has opposed every remedy ordered by the courts."
Albert Woodfox was placed in solitary confinement over 41 years ago in Louisiana State Penitentiary, known to many as "Angola." During this time, he has been confined to a small cell for 23 hours a day, denied access to meaningful social interaction and rehabilitation programs.
Prison records show that Woodfox has not committed any serious disciplinary infractions for decades and that he doesnt pose a threat to himself or others.
He and Herman Wallace were both convicted of the 1972 murder of prison guard Brent Miller. There was no physical evidence to link them to the crime and their convictions relied primarily on the dubious testimony of a sole eyewitness who received favorable treatment, and was eventually pardoned, for his testimony. The case against them was based on flawed evidence and riddled with procedural errors that have been extensively documented over the years.
Both men robustly denied any involvement in the crime. They believe they were falsely implicated in the murder because of their political activism in prison as members of the Black Panther Party.
Herman Wallace was released in October 2013 just days before he died of liver cancer. A federal judge overturned his conviction on the basis of the systematic exclusion of women from the grand jury during his 1974 trial.
"A remedy to the injustice inflicted on Albert Woodfox by the state is long overdue," said Murphy. "Herman Wallace gained his freedom only to die within days. Justice must not again be so cruelly delayed."
After the death of Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfoxs co-defendant in the "Angola 3" case, Amnesty International launched a campaign calling on the state of Louisiana to release Albert Woodfox from prison by means of withdrawing its appeal against the U.S. District Courts ruling.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million members in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
 |
| (PHOTO: Herman Wallace, on left, with Albert Woodfox, on right) |
USA: End four-decade campaign of vengeance and release Albert Woodfox
(Released by the Amnesty International Media Centre on January 6, 2014)
Authorities in the US state of Louisiana must end their campaign of vengeance against Albert Woodfox and release him after nearly four decades of cruel solitary confinement, Amnesty International said on the eve of a Federal Court of Appeals hearing on his case.
“The state of Louisiana’s action is not in the interests of justice. Its insistence in keeping Albert Woodfox behind bars after decades in solitary confinement amounts to a campaign of vengeance, paid with taxpayers’ money,” said Tessa Murphy, USA campaigner at Amnesty International.
“It is incomprehensible that the state continues to keep him behind bars. This conviction has been overturned three times in what is a deeply flawed case, yet Louisiana has opposed every remedy ordered by the courts.”
On 7 January, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (the Federal Court that oversees appeals in Louisiana and other states) will rule whether to uphold a federal district judge’s ruling issued last February that overturned Woodfox’s conviction. The state of Louisiana has appealed asking for the Federal court to reinstate the sentence.
“Louisiana should withdraw its legal appeal and allow the federal court ruling to stand. Should this not occur, the Court of Appeal should rule in the interests of justice and pave the way for Albert Woodfox’s release,” said Tessa Murphy.
Albert Woodfox was placed in solitary confinement over 41 years ago in Louisiana State Penitentiary, known to many as “Angola”. During this time, he has been confined to a small cell for 23 hours a day, denied access to meaningful social interaction and rehabilitation programmes.
Prison records show that Woodfox has not committed any serious disciplinary infractions for decades and that he doesn’t pose a threat to himself or others.
He and Herman Wallace were both convicted of the 1972 murder of prison guard Brent Miller. There was no physical evidence to link them to the crime and their convictions relied primarily on the dubious testimony of a sole eyewitness who received favourable treatment in return for his testimony. The case against them was based on flawed evidence and riddled with procedural errors that have been extensively documented over the years.
Both men robustly denied any involvement in the crime. They believe they were falsely implicated in the murder because of their political activism in prison as members of the Black Panther Party.
Herman Wallace was released in October 2013 just days before he died of liver cancer. A federal judge overturned his conviction on the basis of the systematic exclusion of women from the grand jury during his 1974 trial.
“A remedy to the injustice inflicted on Albert Woodfox by the state is long overdue,” said Tessa Murphy.
“Herman Wallace gained his freedom only to die within days. Justice must not again be so cruelly delayed.”
Background information
Louisiana must end its campaign of vengeance against Albert Woodfox (press release).
Justice deferred to the end (press release).
USA: 100 years in solitary: The Angola 3 and their fight for justice (report).
After the death of Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox’s co-defendant in the “Angola 3 case”, Amnesty International launched a campaign calling on the state of Louisiana to release Albert Woodfox from prison by means of withdrawing their appeal against the US District Court’s ruling.
Authorities in the US state of Louisiana must end their campaign of vengeance against Albert Woodfox and release him after nearly four decades of cruel solitary confinement, Amnesty International said on the eve of a Federal Court of Appeals hearing on his case.
“The state of Louisiana’s action is not in the interests of justice. Its insistence in keeping Albert Woodfox behind bars after decades in solitary confinement amounts to a campaign of vengeance, paid with taxpayers’ money,” said Tessa Murphy, USA campaigner at Amnesty International.
“It is incomprehensible that the state continues to keep him behind bars. This conviction has been overturned three times in what is a deeply flawed case, yet Louisiana has opposed every remedy ordered by the courts.”
On 7 January, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (the Federal Court that oversees appeals in Louisiana and other states) will rule whether to uphold a federal district judge’s ruling issued last February that overturned Woodfox’s conviction. The state of Louisiana has appealed asking for the Federal court to reinstate the sentence.
“Louisiana should withdraw its legal appeal and allow the federal court ruling to stand. Should this not occur, the Court of Appeal should rule in the interests of justice and pave the way for Albert Woodfox’s release,” said Tessa Murphy.
Albert Woodfox was placed in solitary confinement over 41 years ago in Louisiana State Penitentiary, known to many as “Angola”. During this time, he has been confined to a small cell for 23 hours a day, denied access to meaningful social interaction and rehabilitation programmes.
Prison records show that Woodfox has not committed any serious disciplinary infractions for decades and that he doesn’t pose a threat to himself or others.
He and Herman Wallace were both convicted of the 1972 murder of prison guard Brent Miller. There was no physical evidence to link them to the crime and their convictions relied primarily on the dubious testimony of a sole eyewitness who received favourable treatment in return for his testimony. The case against them was based on flawed evidence and riddled with procedural errors that have been extensively documented over the years.
Both men robustly denied any involvement in the crime. They believe they were falsely implicated in the murder because of their political activism in prison as members of the Black Panther Party.
Herman Wallace was released in October 2013 just days before he died of liver cancer. A federal judge overturned his conviction on the basis of the systematic exclusion of women from the grand jury during his 1974 trial.
“A remedy to the injustice inflicted on Albert Woodfox by the state is long overdue,” said Tessa Murphy.
“Herman Wallace gained his freedom only to die within days. Justice must not again be so cruelly delayed.”
Background information
Louisiana must end its campaign of vengeance against Albert Woodfox (press release).
Justice deferred to the end (press release).
USA: 100 years in solitary: The Angola 3 and their fight for justice (report).
After the death of Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox’s co-defendant in the “Angola 3 case”, Amnesty International launched a campaign calling on the state of Louisiana to release Albert Woodfox from prison by means of withdrawing their appeal against the US District Court’s ruling.
AI Index: PRE01/001/2014
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| (PHOTO: Michael Mable, the brother of Albert Woodfox, speaks at the press conference and delivery of petition to free Albert at the Louisiana State Capitol on Oct.21, 2013.) |
Drop the vengeance! Free Albert Woodfox!
(Email Action Alert sent by Amnesty USA on Friday, January 3, 2014)
This could be the end of Albert Woodfoxs 40-year plus prison nightmare, if you act now.
On Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will hold a hearing to determine Alberts fate. Will they finally act on the 2013 ruling that overturned his conviction and set him free, or shut the door and send him back to another unthinkable year in solitary confinement?
Federal courts have overturned Alberts conviction 3 times. The state of Louisiana has appealed 3 times.
Enough is enough.
Tell the state of Louisiana to end its campaign of vengeance and let Albert go.
Nothing can justify the cruel treatment that Louisiana authorities have inflicted on Albert, one of the famed Angola 3 prisoners.
For decades, the authorities have punished Albert with solitary confinement. Hes survived 40 years living in a tiny cell for 23 hours a day, denied meaningful human contact and rehabilitation.
In a deeply flawed verdict, Albert was convicted of murder even though no physical evidence ties him to the crime, the state lost potentially exculpatory evidence, and authorities bribed their key witness.
Albert maintains he was put in solitary confinement in retaliation for organizing prisoners against segregation and other abuses in Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as "Angola".
Its simply unconscionable for the state to hold this man one day longer.
Please help Amnesty International demand freedom for Albert Woodfox.
Please take action before the Jan. 7 hearing.
Thanks for standing by Albert, and for all you do to defend human dignity for all.
Sincerely,
Jasmine Heiss
Campaigner, Individuals and Communities at Risk
Amnesty International USA
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| (PHOTO: Amnesty USAs Jasmine Heiss spoke at the Louisiana State Capitol on Oct. 21, 2013.) |
Available link for download
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Nunu Advent Calendar of Stuff She Likes to Chew December 21st
Nunu Advent Calendar of Stuff She Likes to Chew December 21st
Coachs Oats.
Its our favorite oatmeal. Its the chewiest.
Available link for download
Monday, May 8, 2017
Opening the Box Sarah Shourd on Herman Wallace California Hunger Strikers and the Horror of Solitary Confinement
Opening the Box Sarah Shourd on Herman Wallace California Hunger Strikers and the Horror of Solitary Confinement
READ: Herman Wallace and Nelson Mandela: A Tale of Two Heroes (Ebony Magazine)
Please take Action for Herman Wallace of the Angola 3 by joining Amnesty Internationals call to release him on humanitarian grounds! There are action pages for the: USA, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and everywhere else.
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| (Recent photo of Herman: No Shackles!) |
Opening the Box: Sarah Shourd on Herman Wallace, California Hunger Strikers and the Horror of Solitary Confinement
By Angola 3 News
Last month, we were devastated to learn that the Angola 3’s Herman Wallace had been diagnosed with liver cancer, and that he was continuing to be held in isolation in a locked room at Hunt Correctional Centers prison infirmary. Reflecting on his confinement while battling cancer, Herman said: "My own body has now become a tool of torture against me."
On July 10, Amnesty International launched a campaign directed at Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, calling for Herman’s immediate release on humanitarian grounds (take action here). "After decades of cruel conditions and a conviction that continues to be challenged by the courts, he should be released immediately to his family so that he can be cared for humanely during his last months," said Amnesty USA campaigner Tessa Murphy.
In recent years, Amnesty has initiated other campaigns challenging the over 41 years spent in solitary confinement by Herman and Albert Woodfox, also of the Angola 3, including the April 17, 2012 delivery of a 67,000 signature petition to LA Governor Jindal demanding Albert and Hermans immediate release from solitary. Earlier this year, Amnesty called on Louisiana Attorney General James Caldwell to not appeal the US District Court’s overturning of Albert’s conviction. More recently, accompanying their call for Herman’s release, Amnesty also expressed concern about “the worsening conditions of confinement” for Albert at David Wade Correctional Center, where he remains in solitary confinement. “For approximately two months, Woodfox has been subjected to additional punitive measures – including strip searches each time he leaves or enters his cell, being escorted in ankle and wrist restraints, restricted phone access, and non-contact visits through a perforated metal screen. Temperatures in the prison cells are reportedly extremely high, regularly reaching up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit,” wrote Amnesty.
In recent years, Amnesty has initiated other campaigns challenging the over 41 years spent in solitary confinement by Herman and Albert Woodfox, also of the Angola 3, including the April 17, 2012 delivery of a 67,000 signature petition to LA Governor Jindal demanding Albert and Hermans immediate release from solitary. Earlier this year, Amnesty called on Louisiana Attorney General James Caldwell to not appeal the US District Court’s overturning of Albert’s conviction. More recently, accompanying their call for Herman’s release, Amnesty also expressed concern about “the worsening conditions of confinement” for Albert at David Wade Correctional Center, where he remains in solitary confinement. “For approximately two months, Woodfox has been subjected to additional punitive measures – including strip searches each time he leaves or enters his cell, being escorted in ankle and wrist restraints, restricted phone access, and non-contact visits through a perforated metal screen. Temperatures in the prison cells are reportedly extremely high, regularly reaching up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit,” wrote Amnesty.
Public outrage intensified on Friday, July 12, when a letter citing the Angola 3 case, was sent to the Civil Rights Division of the US Justice Department by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the full U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, and Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-La.). The letter called for an investigation of the Louisiana Departments of Corrections for its “abysmal history of protecting the rights of its prisoners,” of which the “tragic story of the Angola 3 is a case in point.”
About Herman Wallace, the Congressmen wrote: “We have heard that he lost over 50 pounds within 6 months. Despite that dramatic weight loss, and at 72 years old, the prison did nothing to treat or diagnose him until he was sent to an emergency room on June 14. Given the late stage of his diagnosis, his treatment options are now limited. He is frail and ill, but is still being treated as if he is a threat to security, and we hear that he remains under lockdown conditions. This is unconscionable.”
Within hours of the letter’s release, Herman Wallace was transferred out of solitary confinement, when Louisiana’s Hunt prison reduced his classification from maximum to medium security. Herman is now staying at the prison hospital in a 10-bunk dorm, with access to a day room, and does not have to wear leg irons anymore. While celebrating the more human conditions, Herman and the International Coalition to Free the Angola 3 emphasize that the transfer from solitary is not enough. They are asking folks to continue supporting Amnesty International’s call for humane release. The Angola 3’s Robert H. King, himself released in 2001 after 29 years in solitary confinement, says, “The wind is at our back and with your continued help our objective will be realized - freedom is in sight.”
The case of the Angola 3 is at the center of a 42-day fundraising drive begun for a touring play, entitled Opening the Box, that will focus on the use of prolonged solitary confinement in US prisons. The choice of fundraising for 42 days is a tribute to the almost 42 years spent in solitary by Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox. The writer and producer of Opening the Box, Sarah Shourd, is herself a survivor, having spent 410 days in solitary confinement while held as a political hostage by the Iranian Government from 2009-2010. After returning to the US, she successfully fought for the release of her now-husband Shane Bauer and friend Josh Fatal.
Conceived specifically “to add to the momentum of a burgeoning movement” against solitary, Shourd will be working with Solitary Watch to “collect real stories from a diverse spectrum of people living in solitary confinement today--immigrants, children, lifers and women. Then, Im going to write a play about it and go on tour.”
“While watching this play, I want the audience to breathe along with a young man having a panic attack after being denied a visit with his mother, to crawl inside the skin of an immigrant detainee terrified of being deported and to travel with a lifer on a magic carpet of memory--only to be pulled back into the stark, implacable reality of the hole. By hearing these stories, my hope is that the audience will be able to relate to the men and women enduring this torture in our prisons, to their pain but also to their resistance to the dehumanizing forces around them, their incredible resilience...and their refusal to be institutionalized,” explains Shourd.
In this interview, which Shourd dedicates to Herman Wallace, we take a closer look at her project, Opening the Box, as well as the ongoing prisoner hunger strike in California, the Angola 3 case, and the politics of prisons in the US. Currently based in Oakland, California, Shourd is an author and Contributing Editor at Solitary Watch. Before being captured by the Iranian government, Shourd was living in a Palestinian Refugee Camp in Damascus, Syria, working as a journalist and teaching for the Iraqi Student Project. She’s written for The New York Times, CNN, Newsweeks Daily Beast and has a blog on Huffington Post. Her memoir (co-authored by Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal) will be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in Spring 2014. To learn more visit sarahshourd.com and/or follow her on Twiiter @SShourd.
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| (PHOTO: Sarah Shourd speaks in support of solitary survivor Bradley Manning) |
Angola 3 News: Why did you choose to spotlight the case of the Angola 3 with 42 days of fundraising?
Sarah Shourd: I only knew a little about the Angola 3 before I was detained in Iran, but I thought about them when I was inside. I also thought about Mumia Abu Jamal, Nelson Mandela, my friend Jafar Saidi (who is being held in a Pennsylvania prison) and all the other prisoners I’d heard of being held in prolonged isolation. I reasoned that if these people found the strength to endure weeks, months or even decades alone, then that meant I could get through it too. Their example helped me believe that it was possible to survive indefinite solitary confinement, that with enough discipline and focus, I could learn to stay afloat, to ward off depression & hopelessness and even confront each day with some sort of dignity and purpose.
Now that I’ve studied Herman and Albert’s case, I know there is absolutely no evidence that either of them is guilty of the crime (murdering a guard) that landed them in solitary 41 years ago. The 70’s were an extremely volatile and politicized time inside Angola prison and prisons around the country. Herman, Albert and Robert were organizing and resisting mistreatment by guards inside Angola—and I believe that’s why they were targeted by prison officials and used to set an example.
Herman and Albert were given a sentence on top of their original sentence—life in solitary confinement. This ruling was made internally, without judge or jury, which in my opinion is unconstitutional.
A3N: Following Herman Wallace’s recent cancer diagnosis and continued isolation, we are mobilizing public support for compassionate release. Can you say something in support of Herman’s medical release?
SS: Herman deserves a release on compassionate, medical grounds more than any other prisoner I’ve ever heard of. It couldn’t be more obvious that he’s no danger to anyone and the yet extent of suffering that’s been heaped upon him over the last four decades is beyond comprehension. No human being, under any circumstances, should be subject to this kind of cruelty.
That said, there’s no changing what’s already been done. The best hope for Herman is that he be allowed to taste freedom and be with his loved ones for the last months or years of his life. After 41 years, Herman deserves much, much more than that—but all we can really hope for is that government officials decide to grant Herman a compassionate, medical release the most expedient way possible. This is the only way to make right even a fraction of the wrong that’s been done— before it’s too late.
A3N: Last week, on the other side of the country, California prisoners began a hunger strike, following up on the demands first made by hunger strikers in 2011. How did the 2011 hunger strike affect you, following your release from Iran?
SS: I’d been fighting non-stop for over a year when my now-husband Shane Bauer and friend Josh Fatal were finally released from prison in Iran. Just weeks later, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, issued a report condemning the long-term use of isolation on prisoners and calling it torture. Mendez went on to say that any period over 15 days in solitary can cause permanent psychological damage and should be subject to strict, mandatory review.
A few weeks later, the largest hunger strikes in history erupted in my home state, California. It was such an intense, mixed time for me. After more than two years since our initial arrests, the three of us were all finally together, free and back in the US. Yet, I was acutely aware of the tens of thousands of people in my own country, who were needlessly suffering the same kind of torture that the three of us had been subjected to.
I began speaking and writing about solitary confinement, connecting my own experience to what I saw happening around me. I knew the fight for justice wasn’t over for me—this was now a lifelong commitment.
A3N: What do you think of the current hunger strike? Do you support the strike’s criticism of prison authorities’ response to the 2011 strike?
SS: I’m angry that ten of thousands of prisoners have been forced to begin hunger striking again, but they have no other choice. The response from California prison authorities to the demands of the prison hunger strikers in 2011 was sorely inadequate. In fact, no tangible changes have been made at all. Prisoners in our country have next to no rights—they have to risk their health, safety and even their own lives in order to be heard.
I’m impressed, but by no means surprised, by how widespread resistance to solitary confinement has become inside our prisons—with 29,000 people refusing their food on the very first day. I think the renewal of this hunger strike is a sign that prisoners have reached a tipping point. They’ve made their grievances visible, so that now politicians, prison officials and the public can no longer afford to ignore the horrors happening inside our prisons.
A3N: With over 2.4 million prisoners today, the US now has the most total prisoners and the highest incarceration rate in the world. How do you think this unprecedented level of mass incarceration relates to the widespread use of long-term solitary confinement?
SS: Before I spent 410 days in solitary confinement, I knew that isolating a person was a cruel form of punishment. Still, it wasn’t until I experienced it myself that I realized it was torture. Long periods with little to no human contact violates a person’s psyche in the deepest, most insidious way—a way that usually leaves no physical marks but leaves most people psychologically damaged and changed forever
I see solitary confinement as the deep end of our very broken prison system. It’s the worst punishment our system dolls out. It’s also used routinely, often arbitrarily and with little to no oversight.
There are other ways to run prisons that are better for both prisoners’ individual health and public safety. However, instead of trying to deal with serious issues like prison violence (by inmates and guards) constructively, in U.S. we lock ten of thousands of people alone in cages where they lose their minds, often hurt themselves and commit suicide at a much higher rate than in the general prison population.
Still, prison authorities can’t keep them locked up forever. The majority of people that have been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement will one day be released back into society, where little to no services exist to help them recover, reintegrate and move forward in a positive way. That’s why so many ex-prisoners reoffend and the cycle continues.
Our prison system has veered so far from the path of rehabilitation over the last 30 years, there’s hardly even an attempt on behalf of prison authorities to give the impression they’re trying to provide inmates with resources or opportunities to change. Instead, prisoners are treated like raw material instead of human beings, warehoused away like surplus goods.
A3N: Who, in particular gets targeted for solitary and why?
SS: Solitary confinement is a perfect illustration of what our prison system has become. It’s used as a control strategy against anyone who presents any kind of hassle to prison officials and/or needs services that our prison system has neglected to provide. Guards use any excuse to get rid of people by sending them to the ‘hole,’ such as petty drug use, profanity and/or any small, petty (often non-violent) infraction.
The real reason many people wind up in solitary is because they have unpopular or threatening political beliefs, because they’re gay or transgender and need so-called ‘protection,’ because they’ve reported rape or abuse by prison officials and/or simply because they are mentally ill.
Human Rights Watch estimates that one-third to one-half of inmates in isolation had some form of mental illness before they were put there. Using solitary confinement instead of providing mental health and other rehabilitative services is inhumane, not to mention extremely negligent. This practice doesn’t serve society and that’s why we need to hold prison officials accountable and end this practice.
A3N: Looking from an international perspective, how do other countries differ regarding the use of prolonged solitary confinement?
SS: Many countries around the world only use solitary in their prisons as a very last resort. England, for example, tried implementing solitary confinement as a disciplinary measure. When prison violence increased, and they realized how expensive and cruel this practice was, they simply stopped relying on it. Today there are a few dozen prisoners held in prolonged solitary in the UK—compared to our estimated 80,000 on any given day.
The reason this mistake was caught and largely corrected in England was simple—they have a system of oversight in place, a government body that closely monitors what happens inside their prisons and keeps the public informed. In the U.S. we have nothing like this in place. As a result, this practice has gotten out of control and we’ve become by far the largest offender of this inhumane, senseless practice in the world.
A3N: Why is theater a useful medium for telling these stories? How do you foresee this helping to build momentum against the practice of solitary confinement?
SS: I believe a play can reach a new and different segment of the population with a human rights issue that should be of grave concern to everyone in our country. ‘Opening the Box’ also has the potential of humanizing this issue in a visceral, embodied way that an article or report can’t.
In the late 90s a play called The Exonerated—based on true stories of innocent death row survivors— came out and quickly spread like wildfire. Half a million people saw this play and actors like Susan Sarandon & Danny Glover did cameos and the Governor of Illinois was so affected by seeing the play he decided to commute all the existing death row sentences in his state to life in prison.
I believe that hearing, seeing and reading real, complex stories of people living through the daily hell of solitary confinement (there is also a book in the works, slated to be published in conjunction with the play) has the potential of effecting people in a way they can’t and won’t forget. The play is not only about entertainment, of course, we want it to be a catalyst for action, a humble effort to contribute to a nation-wide movement—one that’s gained more momentum in the last few years than it did over the last century.
‘Opening the Box’ is also a deeply personal journey—an attempt to understand what happened to me during the year I spent in solitary and to connect my own suffering to that of so many others.
--Angola 3 News is a project of the International Coalition to Free the Angola 3. Our website is www.angola3news.com where we provide the latest news about the Angola 3. We are also creating our own media projects, which spotlight the issues central to the story of the Angola 3, like racism, repression, prisons, human rights, solitary confinement as torture, and more.
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