Peter Gabriel Won't Perform At Academy Awards

By Nikki Finke on Thu, Feb 12th, 2009

Peter Gabriel Pissed At Oscar Producers And Won't Perform At Academy Awards

EXCLUSIVE: I'm told that Peter Gabriel just pulled out of performing at the Academy Awards show. In a letter to the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences, the co-writer and performer of Wall-E's "Down To Earth" says he doesn't think the nominated songs, and their writers and performers, are getting enough respect during this year's Oscars telecast. That's because the show's producers, Larry Mark and Bill Condon, have reduced the song segment to a medley of the three songs nominated for "achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original Song)" -- "Down to Earth” from WALL-E (Walt Disney), with music by Gabriel and Thomas Newman and lyric by Gabriel;

“Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight) with music by A.R. Rahman nd lyric by Gulzar; and “O Saya” from Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight) with music and lyric by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam.

I'm told the producers have slotted 90 seconds in the medley for each song sung by its original performer. But Gabriel said in his letter that he was only being offered 65 seconds for his song. "I don't feel that is sufficient time to do the song justice, and I have decided to withdraw from performing," Gabriel informed AMPAS. "I fully respect and look forward to the producers' right to revamp the show. Even though song writers are small players in the filmmmaking process, they are just as committed and work just as hard as the rest of the team, and I regret that this new version of the ceremony is being created in part at their expense." I'm told that the medley is the brainchild of the producers in their attempt to get the Oscar show's running time down to 3 hours -- which, frankly, would be a miracle given that it usually runs more than 4 hours. No word yet on whom the producers will choose to sing in place of Gabriel.

UPDATE: Here is the text of Peter Gabriel's letter:

"I was delighted when "Down to Earth" was nominated for an Oscar. I was also pleased to have been asked to perform the song in the Oscar ceremony. However, in recent discussions with the Producers, it became clear that despite there being only three nominees, only 60-65 seconds was being offered, and that was also in a medley of the three songs. I don't feel that is sufficient time to do the song justice, and have decided to withdraw from performing.

I fully respect and look forward to the Producers' right to revamp the show. Even though song writers are small players in the film making process, they are just as committed and work just as hard as the rest of the team and I regret that this new version of the ceremony is being created, in part, at their expense."

I still very much look forward to attending the ceremony."

Peter Gabriel refuse de chanter seulement une minute aux Oscars, s'en retire

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Le musicien britannique Peter Gabriel, sélectionné aux Oscars pour une chanson du film d'animation "Wall-E", a annoncé vendredi qu'il refusait de chanter seulement une minute sur scène, comme demandé par les organisateurs, et qu'il préférait ne pas se produire.

Dans une vidéo visible sur son site officiel, le chanteur qui fête vendredi ses 59 ans explique que les organisateurs de la grande soirée du 7e art lui ont demandé de se limiter à "65 secondes" de "Down to earth", qui concourt dans la catégorie de la chanson originale.

"Nous pensions que les chansons seraient chantées en entier. Mais les producteurs (des Oscars) ont changé la formule en raison de la chute des taux d'audience télévisée. Alors j'ai décidé de me retirer de la cérémonie", a ajouté l'interprète de "Sledgehammer".

"Je pense que c'est un peu dommage, parce que nous les auteurs-compositeurs, même si nous ne représentons qu'une petite partie du processus d'élaboration des films, nous travaillons toujours sacrément dur et méritons, je pense, une place au sein de la cérémonie", a-t-il ajouté.

"Je suis un vieux type et cette petite protestation ne va pas m'être dommageable, mais je pense que ce n'est pas aussi facile pour les autres artistes", se justifie Peter Gabriel.

Deux autres titres sont sélectionnés dans la catégorie de la meilleure chanson originale: "Jai Ho" et "O Saya", tous deux représentant "Slumdog Millionaire", favori de la cérémonie dans la catégorie reine du meilleur film.

Contactée par l'AFP, l'Académie des arts et des sciences du cinéma, organisatrice de la cérémonie, n'a pas réagi dans l'immédiat à la décision de Peter Gabriel, qui a dit qu'il avait toujours l'intention d'assister aux Oscars le 22 février depuis une place dans le public.

Peter Gabriel dit non aux Oscars

Canoë 13-02-2009

Peter Gabriel a renoncé à la prestation qu’il prévoyait offrir lors de la prochaine cérémonie des Oscars, qui aura lieu le 22 février au Hollywood Kodak Theater.

La chanson de Gabriel intitulée Down To Earth, tirée du film Wall-E, est en lice pour le prix de la meilleure chanson. Il espérait l’interpréter en entier, mais s’est ravisé quand il a appris qu’il ne disposerait que de 65 secondes pour la mettre en valeur, dans un pot-pourri.

Sur son blogue vidéo, que l’on peut lire sur son site officiel Petergabriel.com, Gabriel mentionne que cette décision de ne pas diffuser la chanson en entier est «déplorable», mais qu’il assistera quand même à la cérémonie.

«Nous souhaitions offrir une prestation, dit-il. Nous avions présumé, parce que seules trois chansons étaient sélectionnées, que ces dernières seraient interprétées en entier. Mais les producteurs ont décidé de modifier le scénario de la soirée pour revamper leurs cotes d’écoute».

«L’une de leurs décisions fut d’écourter les chansons. Ils ont restreint à 65 secondes, au sein d’un pot-pourri, le temps nous disposions. Nous avons donc choisi de ne pas monter sur scène, mais je serai dans la salle.»

«À mon avis, c’est un tantinet déplorable. Je crois que les auteurs-compositeurs, même si leur travail ne représente qu'une petite partie du processus de production d'un film, travaillent très fort. Nous méritons une place à la cérémonie.»

«Suis-je un vieux crouton? Oui, et ça ne me fera aucun mal de protester un peu. Mais je suis certain que la cérémonie sera très agréable et je suis enthousiaste à l’idée d’y assister.»

Jai Ho et O Sava sont les deux autres pièces en lice pour le prix de la meilleure chanson. Elles sont toutes deux tirées du film Slumdog Millionnaire.

Thousands to march through London over Middle East conflict

Rashid Razaq and Jack Lefley, Evening Standard ,09.01.09

Thousands of protesters will take to the streets this weekend in demonstrations over Israel's assault on Gaza. A national demonstration against the attack will march from Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park tomorrow. It will be followed on Sunday by a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square and march. The protests follow a series of demonstrations outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington which have led to small businesses in the area losing thousands of pounds.

The pro-Palestinian demonstration is expected to be joined by stars including singers Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel, actors Corin and Vanessa Redgrave, and Children's Laureate Michael Rosen. Their march will end near the Israeli Embassy in Palace Green. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has planned a rally to call for peace from 11am to 12pm on Sunday in Trafalgar Square. Half an hour later protesters will congregate at Marble Arch and walk to Belgrave Square.

Last night, hundreds gathered at the Friends Meeting House in central London. Speakers condemned the Israeli and British governments, with former Labour Cabinet minister Tony Benn calling for the Israeli ambassador to the UK to be expelled. The protests, which have seen up to 2,000 pro-Palestinian supporters bring Kensington High Street to a standstill, have affected independent traders who have reported takings down by more than 50 per cent. Many have struggled to pay staff and cover overheads.

Residents want the protests moved to Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park. Maryam Taghavi, owner of Foubert's Café, said: "We couldn't open on Saturday or Sunday." Craig Teasdale, manager of Brasserie Gerard, said his restaurant had had virtually no bookings since the protests began on 28 December. Police said they have had talks with organisers, but there are no plans to relocate the demonstrations.

Activists protesting invasion put best foot forward

By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter, Published: January 08, 2009

Dubai: A collection of old shoes is due to be delivered to the Israeli embassy in London this weekend as part of an organised protest against the invasion of Gaza.

The organisers of the protest, who call themselves the 'Stop the War Coalition', say they are inspired by "the spirit of Iraqi journalist Muntadar Al Zaidi, who used his shoes to protest George Bush's war crimes".

Organisers are encouraging protesters to bring along old shoes, which will be delivered to the embassy at the conclusion of the march that begins at Speaker's Corner (London's dedicated protest platform) in Hyde Park at 12.30pm tomorrow.

Shoes were also collected after a January 4 protest march, with the aim of delivering them to Downing Street. However, after being prevented from "delivering" the items, protesters flung the footwear in the general direction of Downing Street.

A host of British actors, musicians, politicians and writers have added their names to the forthcoming demonstration, including politician George Galloway, who was reportedly injured when a previous protest against the Gaza attacks on January 4 led to clashes with police.

Other famous names being associated with the action include singers Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel; politician Tony Benn; musicians Michael Nyman and Nigel Kennedy; actress Vanessa Redgrave; and comedians Alexei Sayle, Mark Thomas and Billy Bailey.

The Stop the War Coalition has organised daily protests outside the Israeli Embassy since January 5.

PM briefed

Community warning

A group of prominent Muslims who advise the government on security issues have written to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warning that Israel's invasion of Gaza could fuel violent Islamist extremism. Anger within Britain's Muslim communities had reached "acute levels of intensity", the letter said, calling for pressure on the US to change its approach to the crisis. "The Israeli government's use of disproportionate force to combat threats to its security has revived extremist groups and empowered their message of violence," it said.

The new wave of cross-culture

Written by Jody Prewett, Sevenglobal,Thursday, 27 November

Not so long ago, the very utterance of the term “world music” to the proverbial indie kid or NME reader would be greeted with an onslaught of chortling and sneering. Rather like the new age genre, we’ve come to associate it with saccharine compilation albums called Sacred Spirit or the earthy ethnic hymns of Enya. The genre itself is something of a misnomer; all music should fall under the banner of world music. I’d like to think that music is a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries; surely it is a language that speaks to everyone alike?

However, it has been some time since modern pop really embraced the music of multiple cultures. Not since Peter Gabriel’s flirtations with African percussion or Paul Simon’s epochal Graceland have we been exposed to a true mingling of musical cultures. Recently, though, the tide seems to be turning with a clutch of new guitar bands being directly influenced by the music of Africa.

In recent times, indie has remained stationary and landlocked inside its own hemisphere. In the last year, there has been a new wave of bands far more at ease with the idea of world music, looking towards the primal rhythms of Africa for inspiration. This latest incarnation of guitar music has as much in common with Fela Kuti as it does with The Beatles; there is a sense of cultural crossover in pop that hasn’t been heard since The Clash collided head on with reggae.

For those unfamiliar with the genre, Afrobeat is a style that became popular in Africa during the Seventies and was spearheaded by Kuti. The music is a celebratory melting pot of African folk, funk and jazz with political undercurrents; Kuti, in particular, was compelled to react to the unsteady political climate of most African countries during the Sixties through his music. For Kuti, music is an impetus for social change, both a celebration of African folk traditions and a desire for human unity. The rich combination of primitive folk with modern electric sounds certainly seems to reflect this.

Two of the hottest new bands currently coming from the States are Brooklyn’s Yeasayer and Vampire Weekend. Both can be loosely referred to as guitar bands, but something sets them apart: they have a desire to go beyond simply being referred to as alternative rock. The debut album from Yeasayer, All Hour Symbols, is characterised by an emphasis on percussiveness combined with a sense of struggle and protest in the lyrics that echoes the great Kuti. On “2080” they sing, “I can’t sleep when I think about the future I’ve been born into” over a wash of guitar scales reminiscent of Thomas Mapfumo. This sounds unusually spiritual for a white guitar band, the kind of statement you would normally associate with the struggle against injustice of Africans during the Sixties. Perhaps this desire for universality and multi-culture in the music is symptomatic of the times we are in and represents a yearning for change in a separatist America and divided international community.

It is important to note that, on the surface, Vampire Weekend is a guitar band in the mould of Arctic Monkeys. But listen closer and there is something decidedly African in the spangling sun-soaked guitars and danceable rhythms. Both of these bands are injecting a sense of colour into the traditionally white indie alternative arena, seduced by the exoticism and splendour of the music of Africa.

Also from New York is Antibalas, an Afrobeat orchestra whose brass section forms an integral part of Foals’ Antidotes. As an album, it bypasses traditional song craft in favour of a reliance on infectious polyrhythms and repetition. The guitars, in particular, are peculiarly alien to ears trained to the established conventions of alternative music. Their two guitarists play cyclic staccato riffs, recalling the playing style of many Senegalese guitarists. In their music, you can hear the same carnivalesque sense of energy and repetition that is prevalent in African music. The Oxford-based band is regarded as one of the most progressive bands of the moment and is a front-runner in British music right now. Yet they hardly fit the stereotype of British guitar bands we’ve grown accustomed to. While the likes of The Enemy and Kaiser Chiefs are synonymous with the North of England, Foals sound like a truly international group.

It seems as though our audiences are becoming more open and accepting of more unfamiliar sounds. This wouldn’t seem so relevant if it were some underground phenomenon, but this bringing together of styles is taking place well within the radar of the mainstream press. It promises the kind of step forward that has previously been stunted by the regressive Britpop boom and the consciously retro “New Rock Revolution”.

In the 1980s, Talking Heads were heavily influenced by Afrobeat and very reactionary to the grit and grime of punk rock. Their sound was built on a funk groove that celebrated the concept of a large group of musicians singing and dancing in a kind of musical celebration of unity. In many ways, Talking Heads embody the idea of diversity and seem driven to distance themselves from the mono-culture of hard rock and punk of the 1970s. At the same time in Britain, The Clash played a politicised amalgamation of punk and reggae while The Specials were at the front of the ska movement. The current resurgence seems to mirror what happened during the Eighties in the borrowing of sounds from beyond the realms of recognised pop culture.

In dance music, Afrobeat is also thriving, with DJs Giles Peterson and Laurent Garnier regularly mixing Kuti or Ethiopia’s Mulata Astatke into their sets. Certainly, African music lends itself more directly to the dance floor, yet it is hugely symbolic that audiences are embracing Afrobeat to such an extent that it is beginning to influence our own popular music. It doesn’t seem to be a conscious source of influence either, more a subconscious gradual change in how people are approaching music-making.

Looking back to the 1990s and the turn of the millennium, pop culture seems to have its own distinct regional identity. From Britpop to grunge through to nu-metal and nu-rave, the mainstream has had a traditionally Anglo-American soundtrack and pop music hasn’t really made any great leaps across cultural boundaries. The renewed sense of openness displayed by the likes of Vampire Weekend and Yeasayer is an indication that universal divisions in the music world are narrowing once more. Perhaps today’s bands are tiring of the same reference points or are simply fed up with being conveniently categorized and thrown into a whirlpool of multiple genres and sub-genres. The timing is almost perfect. In the wake of Barack Obama’s vote of confidence from America, could this be the opening to a new dawn of truly multicultural music?

Lobbyists to raise funds to build peace centre

Yazeed Kamaldien, The Times.co.za, Published:Oct 13, 2008

Plans to develop the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre in Cape Town are on track, with lobbyists trying to drum up the R150-million it will cost from international philanthropists and even ordinary South Africans.

The centre, which will be the first of its kind to offer peace brokers from international conflict zones a neutral space to strike deals, will be up and running by 2011 if all goes to plan, said centre chief executive Nomfundo Walaza.

It is being driven by its namesake, the retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1984 who has been viewed as an international moral compass.

“[For example] if the South African government is brokering peace for the Democratic Republic of Congo, instead of meeting in the parliament buildings, they can meet at a neutral space at the centre ,” said Walaza .

Tutu’s emissaries and fundraisers are now approaching his friends, such as maverick British businessman Richard Branson and lobbyist Peter Gabriel, to donate cash for the development.

“Branson has indicated he would be of assistance ... but ordinary South Africans can also give R100 or R500 towards the bricks. We don’t want this to be funded only by people from overseas ,” said Walaza.

The centre will be built on a piece of prime real estate close to the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The land was donated by the City of Cape Town in 2004.

bipolar disorder

Posted on: Saturday, 4 October 2008, Source: Daily Post; Liverpool

Head Strong ; BANISHING THE MYTHS OF MENTAL ILLNESS Health

One in four of us will suffer mental ill health during our lifetime and one in 100 will fall victim to bipolar disorder, which can be devastating for patients, their families, friends and carers. It's an issue society can't afford to ignore, yet despite the disturbing figures few of us take steps to better understand mental health issues unless they directly impact on us. Ill-informed rumour, misinterpretation of facts, discrimination at work and public prejudice have all taken an extra toll on patients already carrying heavy emotional burdens.

That's a situation professionals and voluntary workers hope to change. Next Friday is World Mental Health Day, which aims to raise awareness of the facts and debunk some myths surrounding mental health problems. The challenge for mental health organisations is to ensure the true facts are in the public arena, easily accessible, concise and regularly updated, and people suffering mental health problems are not sidelined but diagnosed early and equipped with ongoing support.

Famous sufferers such as exprime minister Winston Churchill, singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel plus comedians Spike Milligan, Paul Merton, Alan Davies and Stephen Fry - who made BBC2 programmes highlighting the condition's pros and cons - have helped bring the issue to the fore over the years. Fry famously fled abroad from a West End production, leaving colleagues in the lurch, during one bout of depression.

Next week publicity campaigns, workshops and advice desks will be open throughout Wales. In Llandudno a pioneering residential self- help course will be hosted at George Hotel. Llandudno mum Gail Silver has been group development officer with Manic Depression Fellowship: the Bipolar Organisation Cymru, for three years.

"It's a bit of a mouthful, I know, and the name of our organisation will be changing soon, but the work we do will be as important as ever. Bipolar disorder is the condition the man in the street has more commonly heard of as manic depression. That's what it used to be officially called and it aptly describes how patients' moods change from the bleakly depressive to feelings of manic joy. We all get highs and lows, every one of us, but in bipolar sufferers the elation of the high periods and gloom of the lows is magnified in intensity a thousand times."

The disorder is brought on by a chemical imbalance in the brain but it can also be triggered by incidents in an individual's life, whether traumatic such as divorce, bereavement or job loss, or more subtle like dietary deficiencies or lack of sleep. Recognising these triggers and their potential impact can be key to helping a patient cope.

"That's why we're organising next weekend's residential workshop. From Friday to Sunday we'll be hosting a selfmanagement training course specially for bipolar disorder sufferers," said Gail. "We can help them detect early changes in routine which could signify the likely onset of a manic episode. We'll look at workplace issues, how to inform employees about the condition, diet tips, management of medication, the opportunity to gain a greater insight into themselves and mix with others in the same situation."

This course is already fully booked but Gail is delighted funding has been made available for another 30 courses in Wales over the next three years. Having worked in the field for 20 years she is passionate about removing the stigma still surrounding mental ill issues.

"There is a desperate need for the public to be more accurately informed, for help mechanisms to be put in place and for everything possible to stop the downward spiral so many patients endure. A condition like bipolar disorder does not just affect a person emotionally, the repercussions affect personal relationships, careers, financial decisions, every aspect of their lives."

For more details call Gail Silver on 01492 877699 or 07841994053, or e-mail gail@mdfwales.org.uk.

The North Wales office of MDF: Bipolar Organisation Cymru is in Madoc Street, Llandudno

I-concerts : Peace One Day 2008

In 1999 filmmaker Jeremy Gilley decided to try and establish the first ever Day of Peace with a fixed calendar date. In September 2001 the Member States of the United Nations unanimously adopted the first-ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence — Peace Day, 21 September.

Peace One Day now works to create global awareness of the day and manifest life-saving activity and individual action throughout the world on September 21 each year.

The day is working. Lives are being saved and individuals are making commitments.

To learn more about Peace One Day, or to make a commitment, please click here.


Peace One Day 2008 - 12 - Peter Gabriel - Interlude

http://home.i-concerts.com/#/?q=en/node/5827/

Peace One Day 2008 - 17 - Peter Gabriel - Father Son (live performance)

http://home.i-concerts.com/#/?q=en/node/5832/

Notting Hill, oasis dernier chic

Marc Roche, LE MONDE, 12.09.08

Rachel Johnson chipote avec sa tranche de thon, boit une gorgée d'eau minérale en regardant d'un oeil critique la clientèle nonchalante du bistrot 202 : "C'est le monde de la femme qui ne travaille pas et n'a pas le temps de s'ennuyer, trop préoccupée par les nombreuses séances au club de gym, chez l'esthéticienne, le coiffeur, le psy, et par l'ascension sociale. Avec l'argent, on achète tout, et ceux d'ici ne s'en privent pas."

Voici donc la dame qui déclencha la tempête dans le Tout-Londres journalistique en pourfendant de ses pires sarcasmes la communauté tribale des nouveaux riches qui vit sur cet îlot barricadé de l'ouest de Londres. Comment osait-elle, elle qui a habité toute sa vie d'adulte sous cloche dorée dans cette oasis bon chic bon genre, située au nord de Hyde Park, à un pas de Holland Park et de Bayswater Road ?

L'objet de tous les ressentiments des supernantis du lieu est son livre, Notting Hell ("L'Enfer de Notting Hill"), qu'elle décrit comme une fiction autobiographique.

"Ils ont tout, ils n'ont rien" : Rachel Johnson quitte sur cette profession de foi ce restaurant créé par l'une des locomotives de la mode londonienne, la Française Nicole Fahri. C'est l'un des points d'ancrage privilégiés du nouveau Notting Hill à la réussite insolente. Des banquiers d'affaires, directeurs de hedge funds, avocats internationaux ou consultants, arrivés grâce à l'assiduité au travail, au flair, au culot et au Bottin mondain. Des stars du show-business et des médias (Björk, Uma Thurman, Elisabeth Murdoch ou Peter Gabriel) habitent également ce "village" où tout le monde se connaît. La fortune bétonnée par les ans, sinon par les siècles, de Mayfair ou de Knightsbridge regarde de haut cet argent nouveau qui ruisselle. Les néoparvenus n'en ont cure.

Westbourne Grove, l'artère centrale, est au coeur d'une toile d'araignée tendance d'où rayonnent toutes ces ruelles entrées au panthéon du chic anglais : Ledbury, Pembridge, Chepstow. Le mode de vie s'étale sur des trottoirs d'une propreté aussi étincelante que du papier glacé. On frôle la plus grande concentration de boutiques de design et de mode parmi les plus originales.

On remarque les traiteurs qui s'adressent à une clientèle toute sensibilisée à sa santé, chez qui l'on peut entrer avec ses patins à roulettes. On ne s'étonne pas de la voix douce et posée de la propriétaire de Melt, une fabrique de chocolats, ancienne responsable du département des estampes de la vénérable maison de vente aux enchères Christie's. La petite place centrale, dominée par des toilettes design et par un fleuriste, est nommée Turquoise Island, allusion aux destinations exotiques où ce public cossu et policé passe ses vacances d'hiver.

Le bar gay a été livré aux démolisseurs. La station-service a laissé la place à un tailleur huppé. Le kiosque débordant de journaux sages et de magazines osés est devenu un café appartenant à l'un des fils de Sir Terence Conran, le fondateur d'Habitat. Le petit bureau de poste, qui avait toujours été là, de mémoire de Londonien, a disparu. Ici, l'amateur de meubles de style palladien, de bijoux de création ou de posters de collection ne sait pas où donner de la tête. Mais pour dénicher un quart de lait, il faut s'aventurer du côté des puces de Portobello, le vieux Notting Hill, le quart-monde.

"Le quartier est un luxe haut de gamme, raffiné sans être ostentatoire, avec une conscience sociale et écolo marquée. Avec toutes ces grandes marques qui débarquent en masse, l'endroit risque cependant de perdre son âme", souligne la Française Liliane Fawcett qui célèbre l'an prochain les 25 ans de son magasin mythique, Themes & Variations, étonnante galerie d'objets contemporains.

A l'écouter, les aristocratiques maisons à façade blanche, les délicieux squares privés, les écoles payantes de renom, la sécurité, aussi, offerte par le voisinage du palais de Kensington et des ambassades, ont attiré les beautiful people. Avec la Central Line, la ligne la plus ponctuelle du réseau, la City, le temple de la finance mondiale, est à 15 minutes. La navette Heathrow Express vous emmène en un tour de main de la gare de Paddington à l'aéroport, ombilic de la planète. Preuve de cette popularité, les prix des habitations et des locations ont mieux résisté à la crise du crédit que dans le reste de la capitale. Impossible... mais vrai.

RENAISSANCE CULTURELLE

Enfin, le nouveau Notting Hill est aussi bien placé pour partir tranquillement en week-end par l'autoroute de l'ouest desservant les comtés gras - Cotswolds, Gloucestershire ou Hampshire -, où il est de bon ton de posséder une résidence secondaire.

Touche-à-tout éclectique, l'hôtelier Martin Miller est un peu le mémorialiste du lieu. "Quand je me suis installé ici, il n'y avait que des brocanteurs et des magasins d'antiquités qui ont disparu les uns après les autres avec l'explosion des services financiers. L'idylle cinématographique entre Hugh Grant et Julia Roberts a accéléré le processus de régénération", insiste ce gaillard aux cheveux en bataille qui reçoit dans la salle à manger de son bed & breakfast qui tient d'un grenier capharnaüm.

Au départ, le quartier était habité par les "cols bleus" qui, après la guerre, se sont transférés en banlieue. Aussitôt, les immigrants antillais et les artistes se sont emparés des logements laissés à l'abandon, scindés en studios. Puis vinrent les professions libérales et les financiers. Où sont passés les anciens habitants ? Martin Miller n'en sait rien...

La renaissance de Notting Hill est aussi culturelle. Les arts de haut niveau, c'est surtout dans ses innombrables galeries qu'on peut les goûter. L'ambition de la Jane England est de faire un bel écrin pour ce qu'elle appelle "la vraie bohème artistique des années 1950 et 1960 qui est toujours là, mais se cache". Notre galeriste rêve d'organiser une chasse aux trésors sur les pas de David Hockney et de sa bande qui avaient élu domicile dans le coin. Elle compte inclure la dalle de pierre grise posée par la Pembridge Association qui proclame : "Soyez gentils et miséricordieux envers tous les animaux." A Notting Hill, l'excentricité anglaise est toujours là et bien vivante.

Your Cameraphone: a Harbinger of a Massive Social Transformation

WorldChanging Team, September 4, 2008

This article was written by Jamais Cascio in May of 2005. We're republishing it here as part of our month-long editorial retrospective.

This week, I spoke at the first MeshForum conference, held in Chicago. The following is an adaptation of my talk, which adapts some earlier material with some new observations. Fair warning: it's a long piece. I look forward to your comments. (...)

Even if the term sousveillance is recent, the action isn't. An early well-known sousveillance effort -- long pre-dating the term -- is the Witness project. Founded in 1992 by musician Peter Gabriel, Witness has partnered with over 200 human rights groups in 50 countries, supplying video cameras and communication gear to allow people on the scene to document abuses of human rights. Witness attempts to create pressure for change by shining a light on injustice around the world. These are remarkably brave people. If the worst sousveillance supporters in the US may face is being escorted out of a department store, the worst Witness activists might face is torture and death.

But the Witness cameras stand alone; their only connection is via the hand delivery of video tape.

Things change when you can send your exposé over the Internet. Speed and breadth of access are the best allie for transparency, and the Internet has both in abundance. Once damning photos or video have been released onto the web, there's no bringing them back -- efforts to do so are more likely to draw attention to them, in fact. (...)

Quebec : Les entreprises culturelles s'inquiètent

Radio-Canada, lundi 18 août 2008

Compressions dans la culture : Les entreprises culturelles s'inquiètent

Les coupures du gouvernement Harper dans sept programmes de financement à la culture mettent en péril plusieurs productions de compagnies de la région, selon plusieurs. Jean-Pierre Vézina, vice-président aux finances chez Ex Machina la maison de production de Robert Lepage, indique que les programmes fédéraux avaient permis à sa compagnie de s'imposer sur la scène internationale.

Leur disparition compromet maintenant le développement de nouveaux marchés en Asie et en Amérique du Sud. « Il faut être là dans les prochaines années, c'est là qu'on va pouvoir exporter nos produits », souligne-t-il.

L'aide fédérale a permis à Robert Lepage de jouer dans des théâtres prestigieux comme à Londres. « Peter Gabriel est venu voir le spectacle, ça nous a permis après, Robert et Ex Machina, de faire du travail de mise en scène pour ses spectacles », ajoute M. Vézina.

Pour chaque dollar d'aide accordé à Ex Machina, 15 $ reviennent au pays.

L'abolition des programmes inquiète aussi les plus petites boîtes de production comme Vidéo Femmes à Québec. Suzie Genest, adjointe à la production, mentionne que depuis 2000, au moins une dizaine de documentaires créés par Vidéo Femmes ont pu bénéficier du Fonds canadien du film et de la vidéo indépendants.

De passage à Québec en fin de semaine, le chef bloquiste Gilles Duceppe a ridiculisé le gouvernement Harper. « C'est une idéologie de dinosaure et le seul lien entre le gouvernement conservateur et la culture, c'est parc Jurassique. »

Le gouvernement Harper veut remplacer les programmes abolis, mais pour l'instant, aucune aide n'est disponible et une année sans subvention pourrait compromettre plusieurs productions locales.

Stopping Music Piracy

Slap on the wrist

The UK music industry has launched its biggest initiative against download piracy: a huge letter-writing campaign, targeting hundreds of thousands of illicit file-sharers with a mixture of appeals and vague threats. So far the business has concentrated on nailing the big peer-to-peer networks (most famously Napster in 2001) but the industry's efforts have had little effect: the average UK teenager now holds around 800 illegally-downloaded songs on his MP3 player.

This latest move attempts to jolt ordinary internet users out of that warm, fuzzy feeling of total anonymity. Legally, however, the record companies can’t actually lift a finger to stop them. With UK law skewed towards personal privacy above all else, and web providers unwilling to play policemen and sever any customer's internet connection (which would include the connection to their bank account), this new initiative isn’t likely to change much. Nor has the Digital Rights Management fiasco done the industry's moral stance much good.

A more realistic policy was suggested this week by former Genesis front-man Peter Gabriel, who called for a radical overhaul in the commercial structure of the music industry, with subscription and advertising replacing the increasingly unworkable pay-per-song system.

Posted by Jonathan Theodore, 28 July 2008

Chinese world music phenomenon Dingding to appear at this year's Womad

This weekend sees a key world music festival and on the bill is one of China's biggest musical exports. More4 News reports. Some musicians have, controversially, been denied access to Womad due to visa problems, but one performer who will be there is Sa Dingding.

World Music, or the marketing to westerners of international music, is growing in popularity and Sa is becoming a global phenomenon. If you haven't heard of her yet, it may only be a matter of time.

Kylie Morris reports, Channel 4

Womad acts fail to get UK visas

The cancellation of three acts who failed to obtain UK visas will not spoil this weekend's Womad Festival, organisers have said.

Congolese band Kasai Allstars, India's The Dhoad Gypsies and Pakistani Asif Ali Khan will not now perform at the UK's biggest world-music event.

They failed to meet entry rules despite being exempt from needing work permits.

More than 70 acts from 35 countries are performing across four days at Charlton Park in Wiltshire.

A Womad spokesman said another two acts - singer and saxophonist Seun Kuti and his band Egypt 80, and Malian guitar group TeraKraft - were also in doubt because of "visa issues".

"It's a problem that we always have at Womad as you do at any big festival with so many artists on the bill," he told the BBC News website.

"With Womad, [it is] even more so, because the artists are so much more diverse and from little countries that don't necessarily deal with visas as much as other places."

He said such restrictions had been tightened in recent years.

The spokesman said all the missing acts had been replaced on the bill and insisted the forced cancellations would not spoil the enjoyment of festival-goers.

Speaking on Friday morning, he said: "I think generally about 60% of the people arrive on the Thursday so it's buzzing already and the atmosphere's phenomenal already. Every artist that you can think of is performing at Womad - and a lot you could never think of."

The Home Office said acts at major UK festivals, including Womad, were already exempt from having to apply for work permits.

"However, performers still need to meet our entry requirements, applying for a visa where necessary, and where they do not, applications to enter the UK will be refused," a spokesman said.

The government recently announced that, in future, performers coming to the UK for permit-free concerts and festivals would be assessed under a new "visitor visa" category with different entry requirements.

This was "to ensure entertainers continue to contribute to British cultural life", the spokesman said.

The festival began on Thursday night with dub and reggae from artists including Lee "Scratch" Perry and Adrian Sherwood.

Friday sees an Irish ceilidh night with artists such as Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, while on Saturday brings a celebration of Sufi - hypnotic vocal music found throughout the Muslim world.

Highlights of Sunday include a gala performance featuring Malian musician Bassekou Kouyate - whose band Ngoni Ba took home two prizes at this year's BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music - and a number of other guest artists.

Kouyate plays the ngoni, a lute-like instrument from West Africa.

Other artists appearing at the festival include Eddy Grant and The Frontline Orchestra, drum 'n' bass veteran Roni Size and Brit Award-winner Finlay Quaye.

Visa rules force top acts to pull out of Womad festival

Organisers of the country's biggest world music festival were forced to make last-minute cancellations yesterday after three musicians in their line-up were unable to obtain visas to play at Womad. Another two performers – including a headlining star from Nigeria – were struggling to gain entry into Britain for the weekend festival which attracts more than four million viewers. Womad is the latest of a succession of events that have been affected by tougher visa rules.

Seun Kuti, the son of the Nigerian legend, Fela Kuti, who was to play with his father's politically-charged Afrobeat band, Egypt 80, was fighting to gain an artist's visa in the hope of performing on Sunday. He was among the headlining acts listed on Womad's website, along with Eddy Grant and Martha Wainwright.

TeraKraft, an electric guitar collective from Mali, are also facing the possibility of missing their performance tonight. Meanwhile, Kasai Allstars, a Congolese band who have performed all over the world, did not gain a temporary work visa from the Home Office, along with the Pakistani Sufi master, Asif Ali Khan, a protégé of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and a powerful figure on the international music stage who is often referred to as Pakistan's musical prince.

A statement from Womad added that Kasai Allstars have been forced to "cancel their whole European tour as they couldn't get the visas they needed."

An Indian troupe, the Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan, were also unable to enter the country to perform at the three-day festival.

A spokesman for the organisers said it was an increasingly frequent problem each year, with musicians being denied performances in this country due to "red tape". "Organisers have noticed it's getting harder and harder with more performers in trouble over visas each year, having to go through a lengthier process each time. Three of the performers have not got visas for whatever reason but it has nothing to do with the band as far as I know. These three acts are hoping to play at next year's festival but the fact that two acts are fighting to get visas on the day the festival begins makes things very difficult," he said.

Many devotees of world music will have bought their £150 weekend tickets to the festival, starting today, expecting to see the billed performers who have since faced visa difficulties.

Jason Walsh, who runs Musicians Incorporated, a booking agency for many African artists including Seun Kuti's brother, Femi Kuti, said that, while visa regulations were changing, they still presented enormous difficulties for many African acts. "We have enormous problems getting artists over here from the likes of Mali as there is no British embassy there and we have to fly the entire band – sometimes as many as 20 people – to Senegal, where they may have to wait for days for their visas. This is so financially prohibitive that I can't see why there isn't a deal where artists from these Francophile countries can go through this process at a French embassy. We are working towards greater cultural diversification and exposure to each other's cultural heritage and it's a great shame that these performers can't be seen by people who would otherwise never be able to see such acts. Where else could you see them perform?" he said.

A Home Office spokeswoman refused to comment on the Womad cases but added that each case was "assessed on its individual merits".

Meanwhile, Eddy Grant, who is scheduled to play at the festival after a 25-year career break, has said of Womad that: "It is still about real people from all over the world coming together to play real music."

Visa requirements

Womad is one of the country's many "work permit-free" music festivals, but performers at these events still need to meet certain immigration requirements. As well as complying with immigration rules that apply to all visitors, they need to provide a genuine invitation from the organisers; evidence they will be self-financed during their time here and proof they can pay for their journey home.

By Arifa Akbar, Arts Correspondent, Independent.co.uk, Friday, 25 July 2008

Contre la "world"

Véronique Mortaigne, LE MONDE

"Le rock a souvent montré qu'il était sourd aux autres musiques, c'est une honte", répète Damon Albarn. L'icône de la britpop des années 1990 n'est pas tendre avec ses pairs, et encore moins avec ceux qui ont trempé dans la world music, un "concept qui laisse croire que la Terre est plate, alors qu'à Honest Jon's nous la voulons ronde et fertile". Peter Gabriel, fondateur du festival Womad en 1987, puis du label RealWorld, en prend pour son grade : "Honest Jon's a une saveur radicalement différente des productions qui sortent des studios RealWorld. Là-bas, on ajoute des effets technologiques aux musiques du monde, on les triture, on les mélange. Donc on les tue, on les dénature. Cela devient de l'ambient music. Et puis, il faut se déplacer, ne pas attendre des démos depuis son chez-soi à Londres. Nous sommes allés en Algérie enregistrer le projet arabo-andalou El Gusto (présenté aux Nuits de Fourvière le 6 juillet), cela a duré trois jours, sur le vif, prenant la musique comme elle se joue, avec fraîcheur."

Plus déprimant encore, "scandaleux, criminel", fut le Live 8 organisé en juillet 2006 par Bob Geldof pour convaincre les dirigeants du G8 d'aider l'Afrique à sortir de la pauvreté. Parmi le millier d'artistes animant les concerts planétaires, il y avait une seule star africaine, le Sénégalais Youssou N'Dour, un ami et compagnon de luttes humanitaires de Bono, chanteur de U2. Damon Albarn n'avait pas décoléré, dénonçant en termes vifs "la volonté du Live 8 de montrer l'Afrique comme un continent fatigué, pauvre, en déclin. Ce qui est faux".

Depuis l'album Mali Music, publié en 2002, Damon Albarn attend que ça change. Mais pas les bras croisés. "Nous avons montré des possibles, j'ai une longue relation d'amitié avec ces musiciens, et j'ai du mal à penser que tout est encore compliqué."

La culture africaine favorise le maintien de Mugabe, regrette le rappeur Jal

LONDRES (AFP) — La culture africaine, en insistant sur le respect dû aux anciens, empêche les élites du continent de dénoncer sans retenue le président zimbabwéen Robert Mugabe, déplore dans un entretien à l'AFP le jeune rappeur soudanais Emmanuel Jal.

Arrivé au pouvoir en 1980, Robert Mugabe, 84 ans, fait figure de patriarche pour les dirigeants africains, ainsi enclins à modérer leurs critiques, estime la star africaine du hip hop dans cette interview accordée à l'AFP après le concert de Hyde Park pour le 90e anniversaire de Nelson Mandela, vendredi soir à Londres.

"C'est difficile. Mugabe est considéré comme un héros", constate Jal. "Il a obtenu l'indépendance pour son pays, il l'a dirigé pendant plus de 20 ans et il a aidé la plupart de ces pays africains: aidé le mouvement anti-apartheid en Afrique du Sud, aidé l'Angola."

"Il a aidé tous ces dirigeants et il a gagné leur respect", insiste-t-il. "Le proverbe dit de ne pas témoigner d'ingratitude envers la personne qui vous a aidé. Alors maintenant, c'est difficile. Même s'il a tort, ces dirigeants n'ont aucun moyen de lui forcer la main".

Robert Mugabe est assuré d'être réélu à la tête du Zimbabwe, après le second tour de l'élection présidentielle vendredi, boycotté par l'opposition qui, tout comme l'Occident, a qualifié le scrutin de "farce".

Conscience de l'Afrique, Nelson Mandela, 89 ans, a dénoncé mercredi au cours d'un dîner de charité à Londres, après s'être abstenu de tout commentaire pendant des années, la "tragique défaillance de la direction" du Zimbabwe.

L'initiative de l'ancien président sud-africain est source d'espoir, pour Jal. "Parce qu'il est l'un des anciens, Mandela a le droit de parler, selon les critères de la culture africaine", explique-t-il. "Mugabe devra l'écouter. Si Mugabe aime réellement le peuple zimbabwéen, il devra faire quelque chose pour sauver le pays".

Les violences qui ont eu lieu au Zimbabwe entre les deux tours de l'élection présidentielle sont à ses yeux tragiques.

"C'est ainsi que les guerres éclatent", met-il en garde. "Elles commencent avec quelque chose sans trop d'importance comme ça, vous opprimez les gens. Si vous opprimez quelqu'un un jour, il tentera de réagir. C'est difficile d'opprimer quelqu'un continuellement sans qu'il réagisse".

Il y a quinze ans, enfant soldat dans un Soudan déchiré par la guerre civile, Jal envisageait le suicide. Recruté de force à huit ans par l'Armée de Libération du Peuple Soudanais (SPLA), il a passé quatre ans dans la savane soudanaise, fusil en mains.

Au concert vendredi, où Peter Gabriel l'a présenté en estimant qu'il avait "le potentiel d'un jeune Bob Marley", Jal a chanté "Emma", chanson de son dernier album "Warchild" (enfant soldat) dédiée à la travailleuse humanitaire britannique Emma McCune, qui l'avait libéré avec 150 autres enfants soldats. Elle est décédée peu après dans un accident d'autocar au Kenya en 1993.

Le destin zimbabwéen est ainsi profondément enraciné dans sa propre expérience.

"Ce que je crains, c'est que si Mugabe est isolé et acculé, et que si nous parlons de façon négative de lui, nous risquons d'en faire un monstre", dit-il. "Si nous faisons ça, il va commencer à tuer les gens, c'est un soldat. Cela fait peur. S'ils utilisent la force, alors le Zimbabwe perdra beaucoup."

Values keeping Africa leaders silent on Mugabe: rapper Jal

LONDON (AFP) — Cultural values are stopping Africa's leaders from speaking out against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's regime, Sudanese rapper Emmanuel Jal says.

The soft-spoken hip-hop star and former child soldier said that because Mugabe, 84, is older and has been in power longer than most African leaders, his peers are reverential towards him.

"It's difficult. Mugabe is considered like a hero," Jal told AFP in London, where he appeared at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert in Hyde Park on Friday in support of the former South African president's global AIDS campaign.

"He made his country get independence and he has been leading for more than twenty years and he helped most of those African countries; helped anti-apartheid in South Africa, helped Angola," he said.

"He has been helping all those other leaders and he earned respect. The saying is: 'don't bite the hand that feeds you'. So now it's difficult. Even if he wrong, those leaders won't have a chance to force him."

Mugabe was set to remain in power after a presidential run-off election Friday in which he was the only candidate on the ballot, after Morgan Tsvangirai of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change pulled out.

Mandela, 89, Africa's most respected elder statesman, has condemned the "tragic failure of leadership" in Zimbabwe, but held back from criticising Mugabe by name.

"Because he's one of the oldest, Mandela has the right according to African culture to speak," said the deep-thinking, dreadlocked singer, 28, who campaigns on a number of issues, including Darfur

"So with him doing that, Mugabe will have to listen. He's been given chances and he's not seeing them. I hope he's going to see. If Mugabe really loves the people of Zimbabwe then he has to come up with something to save the country."

Jal spent his childhood fighting in the Sudan People's Liberation Army in his native southern Sudan before going to Kenya in his early teens and embracing a career in music.

At the Mandela concert, Jal performed "Emma", a song from his latest album "Warchild", about late British aid worker Emma McCune -- the wife of an SPLA commander -- who freed him amongst 150 child soldiers and took him to Kenya.

Peter Gabriel introduced the rapper at the open-air gig, saying he had the "potential of a young Bob Marley".

Jal's other hits include "All We Need Is Jesus," and he has written a song, "50 Cent", taking the US rap star and others to task for sometimes glamourising crime in their lyrics.

He called the violence in Zimbabwe tragic and frustrating.

"That's how wars begin," he said.

"They begin with something small like that, you oppress the people. If you oppress somebody one day, they will start to try to react. It's hard to oppress somebody every day without them reacting back."

Jal called for neutral international negotiators to forge a solution as happened in Kenya following the disputed December 2007 election there.

"What I'm afraid of is if Mugabe is going to be isolated and put in a corner and we all pronounce negative stuff, we're going to make him into a monster," he said.
"If we do that, he's going to start cutting people and killing people: he's a soldier. It's scary. If they use force, then Zimbabwe will lose a lot."

Neoteny

Posted By: Sheila Roberts /movieonline.ca

Andrew Stanton Interview, Wall-E

Extract :

" There’s actually a scientific term that Peter Gabriel told me about. It’s called neoteny where there’s this belief that nature kind of figures out that you don’t have to use these parts of yourself anymore to survive so why give it to you? Why let you grow any farther? And I thought that’s perfect. It was almost again sort of a metaphor for it’s time to get up and grow up a little bit at the end."