United States
United States
Fair Observer provides inclusive, insightful and non-partisan analysis of important American issues, events and trends.
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As new technologies change the way war is waged, important new 'sociologies' emerge - both within the nations inventing and using the new weapons and among those upon whom they are inflicted. For that straw and mortar community, they are smitten as if by a mysterious, Old Testament retribution. There are the chickens scratching the earth for seed, the kids chasing a ragged ball about the courtyard, the women cooking the vittles, the men smoking and arguing about the weather... or the war... and then without even the warning that lightening allows for thunder, they are zapped, blown to smithereens by something inexplicable from the sky. For the...
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United States / Europe / 360° Context / BRIC / Middle East / Americas / Africa / Global Security / Asia / OceaniaDoes execution of terror suspects through drones for security trump the basic human right to life and rule of law? Background Deemed as the smartest piece of military technology guaranteeing zero casualty and highly cost efficient, Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAVs) have in the last decade revolutionized modern warfare arguably as much as they have evoked moral outrage and international debate over their legitimate use. Although around since WWI, there has been a dramatic rise in the use of UAVs, commonly known as drones, for surveillance, intelligence gathering, implementing counter-terrorism programs and targeted warfare in recent years, most notably by the United States as part of its War on...
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360° Analysis / United States / Europe / BRIC / Middle East / Americas / Africa / Global Security / Asia / OceaniaFair Observer's five best Global Security articles of 2012. 1: Libya to Syria: R2P and the 'Double Standards' Issue — Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer The ‘double standards’ critique is not relevant to justify a military intervention in Syria, and denotes a dangerous romanticism in international relations. 2: The Best Laid Plans: How Quickly will the US Leave Afghanistan? — Tom Engelhardt With the 2014 withdrawal date coming closer each day, several countries are planning their exit from Afghanistan. It now becomes apparent that it is long overdue for the US to leave as well. 3: Leadership Decapitation and the End of Terrorist Groups —...
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360° Analysis / Israel / Journalism / Palestine / Politics / United States / Middle EastFor many years, Palestinian deaths and subjugation have not generated the same contempt US journalists express for other global conflicts. This is slowly starting to change. Recently at the Doha-Tribeca Film Festival, attendees screened a documentary on Hollywood and United States media portrayals of Arabs and Muslims. The large audience adored the film, “Valentino's Ghost,” and had fulsome praise for its chief creator, Michael Singh. Meaningful Debate Much of the documentary was spot on, including assertions that Hollywood films about Arabs and Muslims tend to focus on war and terrorism, and that Hollywood splatters Arabs with stereotyped tones that are unconscionable for...
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Arabic graffiti artist eL Seed shares his thoughts on the role of Tunisian street art, his unique mix of calligraphy and graffiti, and why contradictions are the key to overcoming difference. [View the photo feature, Graffiti, Meet Arabic Calligraphy.] If you haven’t heard of Arabic graffiti, then you may want to re-consider your preferred news source. From the onset of the revolts that swept across North Africa and the Middle East from December 2010 onwards, street art from the region has been privy to much deserved global attention. Within this new wave of interest in unconventional, revolutionary art, one particular artist has been heavily courted by the media. His name is eL Seed...
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By Hanna WolfFor many decades, street artists have made San Francisco’s Mission District one of the most colourful and fascinating places to see, mirroring the city’s vibrant multiculturalism and diversity. We are walking through some of the stinkiest alleys in San Francisco, yet still tourists from all over the world come here to take pictures and admire the street art gallery surrounding them. Whether huge murals, stickers on the floor or graffiti: art is all around in this area of the city. Our tour guide Russell Howze, who offers street art tours through the Mission District, has been walking through these alleys for 15 years, and still he discovers new pieces. “Once you train your eyes, it’s...
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Art / Banksy / Street Art / United States / Vandalism / Europe / 360° Context / Arts & Culture / Middle EastWhile street art is becoming increasingly more popular in the mainstream, artists still, more often than not, risk arrest and criminal charges, raising important questions about how we define and appreciate art. It is safe to say that all of us, at some point in our lives, have been exposed to street art. Lurking under bridges, spilling over billboards, splashing colour across grey concrete, derelict buildings and subway carts,the work of masked night warriors spans every city on every continent. To some, it brings joy. To others, it is mere vandalism. But with the recent explosion in street art’s popularity and its projection into the realm of critically acclaimed modern art, it is...
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Art / Banksy / Street Art / United States / Vandalism / Europe / 360° Context / Arts & Culture / Middle EastWhile street art is becoming increasingly more popular in the mainstream, artists still, more often than not, risk arrest and criminal charges, raising important questions about how we define and appreciate art. It is safe to say that all of us, at some point in our lives, have been exposed to street art. Lurking under bridges, spilling over billboards, splashing colour across grey concrete, derelict buildings and subway carts,the work of masked night warriors spans every city on every continent. To some, it brings joy. To others, it is mere vandalism. But with the recent explosion in street art’s popularity and its projection into the realm of critically acclaimed modern art, it is...
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Art / Banksy / Street Art / United States / Vandalism / Europe / 360° Context / Arts & Culture / Middle EastWhile street art is becoming increasingly more popular in the mainstream, artists still, more often than not, risk arrest and criminal charges, raising important questions about how we define and appreciate art. It is safe to say that all of us, at some point in our lives, have been exposed to street art. Lurking under bridges, spilling over billboards, splashing colour across grey concrete, derelict buildings and subway carts,the work of masked night warriors spans every city on every continent. To some, it brings joy. To others, it is mere vandalism. But with the recent explosion in street art’s popularity and its projection into the realm of critically acclaimed modern art, it is...
