Latest news with #DemocracyNow
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Can Swim Very Well": Greta Thunberg Hits Back At Trump Ally Over Gaza Trip
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has hit back at South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham for mocking her Gaza trip, saying it spoke "a lot about their priorities". Mr Graham, an ally of US President Donald Trump and a vocal supporter of Israel, earlier sparked outrage after sharing a cryptic comment about Ms Thunberg on X. Sharing an article by The Times of Israel about the 22-year-old activist, he wrote, "Hope Greta and her friends can swim!" Hope Greta and her friends can swim! — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 1, 2025 Asked about her response to Mr Graham's post, Ms Thunberg told Democracy Now, "We can swim very well... In the face of genocide and systematic starvation of two million people, lawmakers, elected officials, whose responsibility should be to serve the people and to protect the people, that they, rather than ending their complicity in genocide and the massive slaughtering of civilians, are focusing on mocking people who are at least trying to do their bit," she said. "I think that says everything we need to know about their priorities," she added. Ms Thunberg is among a dozen crew members sailing to the war-torn strip with a boat full of humanitarian aid. They set sail on Sunday aboard the Madleen, a vessel operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC). Besides her, among 11 others are Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament. Ms Hassan is of Palestinian descent. The group claims their mission is a "non-violent, direct action to challenge Israel's illegal siege and escalating war crimes." Gaza faced a total blockade from the Israeli side for more than 90 days. It has remained under land, sea, and air restrictions since 2007. The Benjamin Netanyahu government has bombed the city of roughly two million people over a year and a half, killing more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The airstrikes have targeted schools, hospitals and even camps where thousands have taken refuge after being displaced and asked to move multiple times. Mr Thunberg and others are carrying essential supplies, including milk, protein bars, baby formula, diapers, flour, rice, water filters, hygiene products, and medical equipment, for locals in Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, Forensic Architecture, a multidisciplinary research group based at Goldsmiths, University of London, has equipped the ship with an advanced tracking system. Earlier in the day, its live feed showed it off the southeast coast of the Greek island of Crete. Earlier, a senior military spokesperson for Israel said they were "prepared" to prevent the flotilla's arrival. "For this case as well, we are prepared," Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Brig General Effie Defrin told The Times of London. "We have gained experience in recent years, and we will act accordingly."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Greta Thunberg and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition are sailing to Gaza, but will they make it?
There are a number of things that could cause the ship to turn around, like lack of food and water or problems with the engine. The well-known Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is sailing to Gaza as of June 5. According to reports, she is aboard the Madleen, a sailboat that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is operating. A report at Democracy Now noted that when the ship sailed from Catania in Sicily, it had 12 people on board, including actor Liam Cunningham, known for his role in the series Game of Thrones. The ship is named for 'Gaza's first fisherwoman,' the report said. According to The Marine Executive, the boat 'corresponds to a UK-registered 18-meter (59-foot) sailing vessel named Barcarole.' The vessel left port on June 1 on what is thought to be an estimated 2,000 km trip. The boat has a website devoted to tracking it. 'In partnership with Forensic Architecture, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has equipped the Madleen with an advanced tracking system. This technology plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of those on board, maintaining transparency about the vessel's location, and holding potential aggressors accountable for their actions,' the Freedom Flotilla said. As of June 5, the tracker had stopped working. Israel has said the sailboat will not be allowed to dock in Gaza. This is not the first time a group of activists has tried to sail to Gaza. In 2010, hundreds of activists boarded six ships off Turkey and tried to get to Gaza. The IDF carried out a raid on their lead ship, the Mavi Marmara. Nine people were killed in the melee with the IDF, and the ship was towed to Ashdod. In 2015, another attempt to sail to Gaza was frustrated when a ship was damaged at a Greek port. The 2025 group that is trying to reach Gaza already had issues off Malta. In May, the Conscience ship claimed to have suffered damage and loss of power off Malta before heading to Gaza. Activists claimed the ship was hit by drones. This explains why the crew of the Madleen, while sailing off the coast of Crete, were afraid on the evening of June 3-4 when they thought a drone was circling the ship. Activists posted videos and claimed to be in distress. It turned out, according to reports, that the drone was from the Greek coast guard. The Madleen was around 68km outside of Greece's territorial waters. For Thunberg, this is not her first long voyage at sea. She also did transatlantic voyages in 2019 to get to a climate conference in New York. Therefore, she is experienced at sailing long distances. It is not clear if all the other members of the crew have the same experience. A long journey of 2,000 km can take many days. A sailing vessel may make around six to twelve knots an hour, meaning it may sail between 100 nautical miles and 250 a day. Therefore, it can take more than four days to make the journey. When one is sailing at sea in the open ocean, a boat doesn't usually stop. This is because there is wind, and even when the wind drops, the boat can continue on its journey on a diesel engine. On the engine alone, it could also make around 200km a day or more. A sailboat won't usually use its diesel engine for a long period of time because it doesn't want to waste fuel. On a long journey like this boat is embarking on, it won't want to go to port, so it will want to conserve fuel. The reason that the Madleen won't want to put into port in Greece or Cyprus is likely because they will fear sabotage to their boat or that authorities will prevent their journey. Greece and Cyprus are both close friends of Israel. The boat won't want to stop in Egypt because it is an authoritarian state, although Egypt is an option. Turkey could also be an option because Ankara tends to back Hamas. The vessel could also divert to Lebanon or Syria. Sailing at sea over numerous days is challenging. A vessel may have GPS and satellite phones; however, sailing at night is complex. This is because a small sailboat has to cross shipping lanes. It will be near large ships. It is hard to see a sailboat at night. A sailboat usually will have red and green lights, one on each side at the front, indicating port and starboard. It will have a white light on the stern and may also place lights on the mast. A white light on the mast will indicate the vessel is under engine power. According to Marine Traffic, a vessel called Barcarole appeared to be south of Crete on June 5 in the afternoon. It also appeared to be heading slowly west at 1.5 knots. This means it is drifting or has stopped. It is unclear why. The photo for Barcarole shows a vessel that looks the same as the Madleen, with a Palestinian flag. The vessel appears to be a ketch, a type of two-masted sailboat with a mainmast that is taller than the smaller mizzenmast toward the rear. If the sailboat is off Cyprus, it will still have several days of sailing to reach the coast off Israel. Since the ship has been at sea for five days now, it means they will need to make sure they have enough food and water for the crew. They will also need to continue making contingency plans in case issues happen with their engine or other equipment. The vessel appears to be in a sealane near a number of large container ships. The Horae crude oil tanker is to the west, and a barge carrier and a cargo ship are to the east. The crew may be suffering from boredom, seasickness, or crowding on a ship like this. Being at sea for so long with so many people can become a difficult experience, even for seasoned and veteran sailors. It remains to be seen what other challenges they face.
The Guardian
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
May Day: protests expected across US over workers' and immigrants' rights
Protesters are expected to rally nationwide on 1 May with a focus on workers' and immigrants' rights in the latest round of demonstrations against Donald Trump and his administration. May Day, commemorated as international workers' day, comes after two massive days of protests in April – 5 April's hands off rallies and 19 April's day of action – drew millions to the streets across the country. The 1 May protests are supported by hundreds of organizations and set to take place in nearly 1,000 cities, organizers said. Turnout will likely be lower than the previous two April protests because 1 May is a weekday, but tens of thousands are expected to show out. 'This is a war on working people – and we will not stand down,' a website for the national day of action says. 'They're defunding our schools, privatizing public services, attacking unions, and targeting immigrant families with fear and violence. Working people built this nation and we know how to take care of each other. We won't back down – we will never stop fighting for our families and the rights and freedoms that propel opportunity and a better life for all Americans. Their time is up.' A map of May Day protests shows several major metro areas have more than one rally planned. A coalition of groups in Los Angeles said they will start the day with an early morning rally, then a program and march to show solidarity with the city's workers and immigrants. In New York, a protest iswas planned for early evening. As Trump surpassed 100 days in office, a period filled with slashing and burning of the federal government and democratic norms, a resistance has taken shape, growing in size since February. People have started to organize in larger numbers to pressure Democrats to stand up more strongly to Trump. Trump's approval ratings have fallen from positive to negative, with more people disapproving of him than approving. The focus on workers and immigrants comes as Trump has fired a host of federal workers and as his administration has ramped up deportations, including of people who the courts have said were not supposed to be deported. 'Everyone deserves respect and dignity, no matter who they are, where they were born, or what language they speak,' the May Day protest website says. 'Immigrants are workers, and workers are immigrants. Our fight for fair wages, safe workplaces, and dignity on the job is the same fight for immigrant justice'. Jorge Mújica, the strategic organizer for Arise Chicago and an organizer of the city's May Day protest, said on Democracy Now that 'the Trump administration miscalculated completely' by targeting so many constituencies in its first 100 days. 'They are attacking everybody at the same time, and that [has] enabled us to gather a really broad coalition with labor unions, with federal workers, with students, with teachers at universities, and every other community and put together this event on May Day', Mújica said.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ryan Coogler Confused by Media Frenzy Around His ‘Sinners' Rights Deal: ‘Nothing About This Is a New Thing'
Ryan Coogler said his multifaceted deal with Warner Bros., that gives him complete ownership over his hit action-horror film 'Sinners,' is not a new concept in Hollywood, nor is he the first filmmaker to make such a request. The conversation came about while Coogler was chatting with Democracy Now journalist Amy Goodman on Friday. At the time, Goodman inquired about the terms of his arrangement with Warner Bros., which includes the studio offering $90 million for Coogler to make the film, and their agreement to give him first-dollar gross — a cut of the ticket sales — as well as handing over ownership of the film to Coogler after 25 years. Other filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth, Christopher Nolan and more have received first-dollar and/or ownership deals for their movies. After mentioning the reporting that some 'rival film companies were horrified that Warner Bros. would give a film away even after a period of time,' Coogler shared his thoughts. 'I'll maybe add some context that maybe those articles didn't add: I'm not the first filmmaker to get any of these deals. And Warner Bros. is not the first studio to provide these deals to a filmmaker,' Coogler explained. 'I think that a lot has been made of my deal in particular, I'm not totally sure why. I have my guesses, but I've been in the industry long enough to know what deals are possible and nothing about this deal is new thing.' When Goodman asked, 'What's your guesses, Ryan?' The director responded with a gentle laugh, 'I would rather not say.' He continued: 'But the attention on what's happening with this project outside of it as a piece of art and as a piece of commerce has been very interesting. But for me, this film was very important to me.' He went on to explain that in the time that he has been a feature film director, he has earned Hollywood more than a billion dollars with his films, including the 'Black Panther' and 'Creed' franchises. In addition, Coogler noted that 'Sinners' is a much more personal cinematic work that he wanted to advocate for. 'As a writer-director, I've made over $2 billion at the global box office; I'm not yet 40 years old. It's taken a lot of time, commitment, energy and I've missed out on a lot things in my life making films that will always be owned by other people,' Coogler said. 'For this one, because it was so personal, and because I had the ability to negotiate, I asked for a few things that are very important to me for this project. For what it was about and what it meant to me and my family. And thankfully, I was able to get those things I was asking for from Warner Bros.' 'Sinners,' which stars Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Omar Benson Miller and more, is now in theaters. You can watch the full 'Democracy Now!' clip in the video above. The post Ryan Coogler Confused by Media Frenzy Around His 'Sinners' Rights Deal: 'Nothing About This Is a New Thing' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Morocco World
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
‘No Other Land' Oscar Win Makes History for a Story of Israel's Destruction of West Bank
Rabat – 'No Other Land', a documentary that chronicles the Israeli destruction of the Occupied West Bank, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film last night at the 97th Academy Awards, which took place in Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. This documentary was made by a Palestinian-Israeli joint collective made up of Palestinian journalists, activists Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal along with Israeli investigative journalist Yuval Abraham and Israeli Cinematographer Rachel Szor. The documentary specifically depicts the destruction and ethnic cleansing in the Occupied West Bank, namely in Masafer Yatta, a collection of 19 Palestinian hamlets south of the city of Hebron (Al Khalil). The film consists mostly of camera footage and a narrative produced by Basel Adra as he resists the demolition of his disappearing hometown, which Israel intends turning into a military training zone. While this documentary was the result of contributions by both Palestinains and Israelis, their fight is by no means equal; which is something that Yuval Abraham touched upon in his acceptance speech. 'When I look at Basel, I see my brother, but we are not equal. We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law, and that still is under military laws that destroy his life and he cannot control,' the Israeli journalist said. 'About two months ago I became a father, and my hope to my daughter is that she will not have to live the same life I'm living now; always fearing settler violence, home demolitions, and forcible displacements that my community Masafer Yatta is living and facing every day under military occupation,' said Basel Adra. Upon receiving the Oscar nomination, the Palestinian activist said in an interview with independent outlet Democracy Now that his goal has never been the awards: 'We want people to see the reality, to see what's going on in my community in Masafer Yatta, but [also] in all the West Bank to Palestinians and their life under this brutal occupation.' Despite being one of the most critically acclaimed documentaries of 2024 and having been picked up for distribution in 24 countries, no US distributor has dared touch it given the subject matter – reflecting the country's biased policy towards Palestine. Up until the Oscar nomination, Adra filmed a group of illegal Israeli settlers terrorizing his community by assaulting residents and destroying their vehicles and water tanks. While such hostile acts are commonplace in the occupied West Bank, there has been a noticeable escalation of violence amid what Israel has dubbed 'Operation Iron Wall.' Following the ceasefire in Gaza that came into effect on January 19, Israeli Occupation Forces and Israeli settlers launched a series of intensified raids across the West Bank.. These raids have displaced roughly 40,000 Palestinians across Jenin, Tulkarem, Nur Shams and El Far'a Camps by early February, according to the data from the United Nations. Tags: documentary filmsGaza Strip West BankOscars 2025
