Condor and buzzards at my old playground

This is a video about Eurasian griffon vultures being fed in Spain.

Today, I went to the playground where I used to play when I was small.

I then used to walk along a meadow (with redwings in winter) and a ditch with many water insects and three-spined sticklebacks; also common newts and tadpoles.

Then, the playground would be on the right; and, still further, the soccer ground on the left.

The soccer ground isn’t there any more.

There was a birds of prey show today, to celebrate the re-opening of the playground; maybe, they brought the show as the streets in this neighbourhood are called after birds.

The owner had 65 birds, and had brought 13 for the show.

All those were bred in captivity; else, it is illegal to have them.

They included a one year old Andean condor.

And a Eurasian griffon vulture.

And a bald eagle; see also here.

These big birds, however, could not fly here, as there were too many obstacles on the playground.

The same was true for the falcon, a hybrid between gyrfalcon and peregrine falcon.

There was also a Eurasian tawny owl.

The first bird to fly today was a barn owl, 300g in weight.

This owl has been with this show for ten years, and sometimes brings the wedding rings at weddings.

After the barn owl, a Harris’ hawk.

When it sat down on top of the playground building, jackdaws tried to drive it away.

Then, a Rüppels’ griffon vulture.

Then, a red-tailed hawk.

Then, I went to the allotment gardens, next to the playground.

These gardens were founded originally in 1942, when many people were hungry.

Today, there are still potatoes, but also flowers.

And a pond for toads is being built.

Then, just before the playground, I went up the path across the meadow, which hadn’t been there when I was small.

I saw a moorhen and a mallard.

And thirteen Canada geese, a grey lag goose, and a Egyptian goose.

A bit further, coots, and two oystercatchers.

Still further, there was woodland, and I heard ring-necked parakeets and great tits.

There were also jays, grey herons, and magpies.

A woman told me there were often two buzzards there.

I went back across the meadow.

Herring gulls; many coots and moorhens.

Back at the playground, the second birds of prey show.

First, a hooded vulture.

Then, a Harris’ hawk.

Third, a Eurasian eagle owl.

Then, the Rüppels’ griffon vulture again.

Ferruginous hawks of America: here.

USA, white supremacist wants to censor African American artist in Florida

This video from the USA says about itself:

John Sims/Dread Scott Notorious A.R.T.

10 Jan 2007

Artist Dread Scott discusses the connection between his piece, “The Proper Way to Hang A Flag” and John Sim’s “Recoloration Project”.

From Associated Press:

Confederate flag hanging from gallows ignites controversy

By STEPHEN MAJORS

March 16, 2007

A Confederate flag hanging from a noose on a 13-foot gallows will remain on display, after a local museum rebuffed requests Friday from the Sons of Confederate Veterans to take it down because of what the group feels is an offensive affront to Southern heritage.

The display, entitled ‘The Proper Way to Hang a Confederate Flag,’ is just one of 14 pieces of artwork _ all by the black artist John Sims that the Sons wanted removed from display at The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science.

The museum announced that it was standing by Sims’ work, part of a larger exhibit called ‘AfroProvocations,’ because it wants to inspire dialogue in the community about a symbol that engenders a diversity of strong responses. It has been on display since Feb. 26. …

But Robert Hurst, commander of the local camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said Friday he has lost respect for the museum, calling the display ‘offensive, objectionable and tasteless.’ …

Gee, either this Mr Hurst, or his rebel soldier father, surely is the biggest medical miracle of longevity in the world.

As the US Civil War ended with the Confederate army surrendering in 1865. And most real sons of Confederate veterans already being dead in the early twentieth century.

The article continues:

the exhibit _ which also contains a painting of Sims and a noose in front of the flag, and the flag juxtaposed with voting booths from the contested 2000 election …

Florida statutes say it’s unlawful to ‘deface, defile or contemptuously abuse’ the Confederate flag, but say it’s also illegal to prevent the display of the flag ‘for decorative or patriotic purposes.’

‘I think that we’re well within the statute,’ Barber said.

Just like the flag itself, the law is up for competing interpretations.

True.

Nevertheless, it is disturbing that today, Florida law still protects a flag standing for slavery, bloody war to keep slavery and to expand it to what were then the Western territories of the USA like Kansas, segregationism, rebellion, and secession.

Somewhat like if in Germany today, the nazi swastika flag would still be protected against defacement.

However, in Germany the swastika is illegal. Not if anti nazis depict it crossed out or being thrown into a dustbin, however.

Kara Walkers cut-paper silhouettes on slavery: here.

The Election of 1860 and Secession—to Preserve Slavery: here.

Was the civil war about slavery? Yes.

The American Civil War: war against slavery: here.

At yesterday’s rally led by Senator Ted Cruz, Tea Party activists marched to the White House with Confederate flags in hand. It’s downright inexcusable.

Related articles

• Video: Protesters in Confrontation with Black Man Right in Front of Confederate Flag (mediaite.com)
• Some People Love America! It’s Just the People They Can’t Stand! (ipledgeafallegiance.wordpress.com)
• Confederate Flag Guy Identified (littlegreenfootballs.com)
• Right Wing Protesters Bring Confederate Flag to the White House (littlegreenfootballs.com)
• Confederate flag stirs patriotic flag retort in Va. (thedailyrecord.com)
• The right’s Confederate flag conspiracy theories (salon.com)
• Please give me a break – and the country a break (UPDATED with Tweet roundup) (themoderatevoice.com)

Ghosts, new film on exploitation of Chinese workers in Britain

By Robert Stevens:

Ghosts—a harrowing and honest depiction of modern slavery

17 March 2007

Ghosts, directed by Nick Broomfield, screenplay by Nick Broomfield and Jez Lewis. Based on articles by Hsiao-Hung Pai.

Nick Broomfield’s Ghosts, about the fate of undocumented Chinese workers in the UK, is a powerful work.

The semi-factual account is constructed around the drowning deaths of 23 Chinese cockle pickers who were caught by incoming tides at Morecambe Bay, England in February 2004.

Shown at the Sundance film festival in the United States in January, it was the first film to be screened at the 2006 San Sebastián International Film Festival, whose main theme was immigration.

The film is something of a departure for Broomfield, who is normally associated with documentaries in which he takes a confrontational role, often in front of the camera.

His previous efforts include two feature-length documentaries about the South African fascist Eugene Terreblanche.

He also directed Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer, about Aileen Wuornos, who was found guilty of killing seven men in the US.

The film explored her case and its exploitation by the mass media. It included footage revealing her to be insane at the time of her execution.

Ghosts is a slang term used by the Chinese to describe Caucasians, but in the context of the film it is also a description of the army of immigrants who are forced to undertake the most menial and low-paying jobs whilst remaining hidden from official society.

The inspiration for Ghosts came from a series of articles on the Morecambe Bay tragedy by journalist Hsiao-Hung Pai featured in the Guardian.

During his research for the subject, he went undercover as an undocumented worker.

Serial killers: here.

Stop Iraq war demonstrations everywhere in the world, 17-18 March

This video from Britain is called Historical anti-war protest in London: 15 February 2003.

Stop the Iraq war demonstrations will be everywhere in the world, on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 March.

For instance, just in one of the smaller states in the USA, Maine in the North East, according to Associated Press:

Demonstrations to be held in more than 100 towns across Maine

March 16, 2007

PORTLAND, Maine –Demonstrations are being planned in more than 100 Maine towns and cities on Sunday in observance of the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

The gatherings are organized by a grass-roots group known as From Every Village Green, which expects thousands of Mainers to participate depending on the weather.

The events were originally planned for Saturday, but were pushed back a day because of the winter storm.

On Saturday 17 March, there will be a big March on the Pentagon in Washington, DC, capital of the USA.

Also on 17 March, there will be a peace demonstration on Dam square in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

On Sunday 18 March, there will be a peace march in Brussels, capital of Belgium.

The new SDS in the USA: here.

And here.