Latest news with #resistance
The Guardian
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Donald Trump visit to Scotland expected to be met with wave of protest
Protest organisers anticipate a wave of resistance to Donald Trump from Ayrshire to Aberdeenshire this weekend as Scots take to the streets to express 'widespread anger' at what they termed the US president's increasingly extreme policies. The US president is expected to arrive in Scotland on Friday for a five-day private visit to his luxury golf resorts at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire. While it is not a formal trip, Keir Starmer will hold talks in Scotland with Trump on Monday. No press conference is scheduled, but the media are expected to attend the start of the discussions – opening the possibility for another freewheeling question and answer session by the president. There is no expectation the protests will bring disorder or disruption, the assistant chief constable Emma Bond, Police Scotland's gold command for the operation, insisted at a pre-visit briefing on Tuesday. But the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the scale of the policing operation would stretch resources and could double the time taken for a police officer to attend an incident elsewhere. The Stop Trump Coalition is organising events in Aberdeen in the city centre and outside the US embassy in Edinburgh on Saturday at midday – similar gatherings during Trump's visit to Scotland in 2018 attracted thousands of protesters. Along with the two main city gatherings, protests are expected around Turnberry and Menie, where Trump is expected to open a new 18-hole golf course named in honour of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who was born on the Isle of Lewis. Starmer is likely to travel to Scotland on Monday morning or late on Sunday, after attending the women's Euro final in Switzerland, in which England are playing, although if the White House dinner on Sunday night goes ahead, he might have to change his plans. Downing Street has given little information about the trip and Starmer's role in it, saying that normal protocols do not apply because it is officially a private visit. The White House has already said that a pool of 12 US journalists will be present at the talks with Starmer, and the expectation is that the UK media will aim to be represented as well. While most initial greetings between world leaders are brief and uneventful, Trump has a habit of answering a number of questions shouted out to him, often creating news. Before the last time Trump and Starmer met, at the G7 summit in Alberta, the US president answered questions on subjects including the possibility of tariffs on UK steel, Ukraine, and his stated affection for the prime minister. Connor Dylan, the organiser of the anti-Trump protests in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, said: 'The vast majority of people in Scotland were already opposed to everything Trump stood for when he first visited as president. As we've learned more and more about him and the way he governs, that attitude has only hardened. 'His politics – and those of the people around him – have only become more extreme since then, with once fringe ideas like mass deportations now part of mainstream American politics and being effectively exported to the UK and other European countries by far-right allies.' A fellow organiser, Alena Ivanova, said she had heard from people across the country who planned to protest: 'There's a widespread anger and determination to come out from people across Scotland and calling on our elected leaders not to give Trump the acknowledgement and welcome he wants.' While Police Scotland has pledged a 'positive and engaged approach' to lawful protests, Ch Supt Rob Hay, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents said the visit would require a 'significant operation across the country over many days' which would 'undoubtedly stretch all our resources from local policing divisions to specialist and support functions such as contact, command and control'.
Malay Mail
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
KL's DIY community raises over RM9,000 for Palestine through art, music, and solidarity
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — The basement of Semua House KL was buzzing with energy last weekend as around 160 people turned up for the 'Turun Bawah Volume 3: A Push Toward Freedom' charity event. Organised by local non-profit solidarity project Hiphop Against Genocide together with Burrow Skateshop, the benefit show aimed to raise funds and awareness for Palestine, more specifically, the Palestinian skateboarding community, through a full-day celebration of resistance, camaraderie and solidarity. The event featured a slew of activities, including a curated photo exhibition of the Palestine skateboarding scene, a flea market selling merchandise, vinyls, CDs and cassette tapes, live silkscreen printing, a mini skateboarding competition, a graffiti session, and a benefit show by local underground acts. Why the focus on skateboarding, you might ask? According to the group, despite being under military occupation and facing restricted mobility, the Palestinian skateboarding community is thriving. Skateboarding is not seen as just a sport but rather, a form of freedom and resistance. The spirit of Palestinian youth, who continue to carve out space for joy, resilience, and community, was showcased through the 'A Push Toward Freedom' photo exhibition, which will run until July 31. The photo exhibition is free to attend and all 40 photos on display are for sale at RM300 each. The benefit show comes with a RM25 donation tag. Hiphop Against Genocide is also collaborating with UK-based NGO Skatepal, which is actively building skateparks and providing equipment, workshops and support for Palestinian skaters in Palestine. Local skaters from all ages turned up for the 'Turun Bawah Volume 3: A Push Toward Freedom' charity event. — Picture by Firdaus Latif Local underground rapper Yarobin Yashar, who is also the founding member of Hiphop Against Genocide and one of the brains behind the charity event, said that for the first phase collection, they have amassed a total of RM9,770 through ticket donations, photo sales, t-shirt printing and merchandise sales. All of the proceedings will be fully donated to Skatepal. This is not the final figure as the second phase collection will be announced next week after the photo exhibition wraps up. Voices of solidarity and resistance One of the highlights of last weekend's event was the benefit show that took place at the Union Skate Club, an indoor skatepark just one floor beneath Burrow Skateshop – where most activities took place, except for the photo exhibition. The skatepark also had a little makeover, filled with thought-provoking banners and posters showing solidarity with the cause. The benefit show, which took place in the concrete bowl of the skatepark, featured four local underground acts: rappers Yarobin and Altrbng, who were joined by DJ Killah Z on the decks, along with local shoegaze band Commemorate and Shah Alam-based screamo band Piri Reis. The Shah Alam-based screamo band Piri Reis had the audience going during their set. — Picture by Firdaus Latif Yarobin opened the show with a powerful call for solidarity, before diving into his setlist with hunger and purpose – spitting bars that resonated deeply, including several compelling lines that highlighted his message of resistance. Altrbng brought the same matching energy to his set, pausing midway to call for solidarity not only with the Palestinians but also with other displaced communities, including the Rohingyas and Ethiopians. 'Every human being deserves to live,' Altrbng said. The show continued with mesmerising riffs and melodies from Commemorate, who also called for solidarity, emphasising that it transcends faith and religion. 'Just a few days ago, the only Catholic church in Gaza was bombed as well. Obviously this is not about which religion you are in, this is about being human and having empathy,' the band's vocalist, Sasha, said. The show wrapped up with an energetic performance by Piri Reis, which had the crowd hyped—forming mosh pits, crowd surfing, and shouting their solidarity throughout. A communal effort Aside from Hiphop Against Genocide and Burrow Skateshop, 'Turun Bawah Volume 3: A Push Toward Freedom' was also a collective effort from the do-it-yourself (DIY) community around Kuala Lumpur, which consists of skaters, music and visual art lovers. Some of the main faces behind 'Turun Bawah Volume 3: A Push Toward Freedom' charity event, from left to right: Dirty Donuts' Azmal, Burrow Skateshop's Munir Muhammad, rapper Yarobin Yashar, DJ Killah Z and operation manager Syafiq. — Picture by Firdaus Latif For example, the live silkscreen printing was done by Dirty Donuts, with one of their crew members, Azmal, preparing several designs in solidarity with Palestine. The crew also encouraged the public to bring their old t-shirts to be upcycled with their prints. Another highlight was the live graffiti session, which was done by local graffiti collective, Satu Table Crew. According to Burrow Skateshop's representative, Munir Muhammad, the 'Turun Bawah' series, which began in January this year, is part of the store's initiative to showcase the KL skateboarding scene to the public by combining skateboarding, music and arts into one event. For the third instalment of the series, they maintained the same vision, but with an added cause. 'I think what we have curated so far is very special to the community. 'When it comes to skateboarding events, usually it's just competitions but here, we are celebrating the community as a whole instead of just organising skate competitions. 'And to be able to do it while raising funds for a greater cause is just something special for us,' Munir said. Meanwhile, Yarobin, who has been organising similar fundraisers for Palestine in the past under his Hiphop Against Genocide project, admitted that this is by far the largest collection they have made. He extended his gratitude to everyone who was involved with the event. In 2024 alone, Yarobin collected a total of RM7,915 for Palestinian causes through events, exclusive merchandise sales, and album releases, including the Viva La Resistance EP featuring Palestinian poet and actress Dana Dajani. He added that all the proceeds from their latest event will go to Skatepal, sharing that Skatepal had helped build four skateparks in the West Bank, which are still actively in use today.
Forbes
a day ago
- Science
- Forbes
International Resistance To AI In Education Marked In Open Letter
Breaking the techno-ties that bind As the use spreads of computer tools marketed as artificial intelligence, some educators and even entire institutions are embracing the new tech. For example, Ohio State University has anounced a bold AI Fluency initiative to redefine learning and innovation. But some educators are pushing back against the 'inevitable' technology, and open letters are becoming one tool of the resistance. Literary Hub published a letter from authors addressed to publishers. In the Netherlands, over 900 educators have signed a letter entitled 'Stop the Uncritical Adoption of AI Technologies in Academia.' The unfettered introduction of AI technology leads to contravention of the spirit of the EU Al act. It undermines our basic pedagogical values and the principles of scientific integrity. It prevents us from maintaining our standards of independence and transparency. And most concerning, AI use has been shown to hinder learning and deskill critical thought. Earlier in July, another open letter launched 'from educators who refuse the call to adopt GenAI in education.' Melanie Dusseau (University of Findlay) and Miriam Reynoldson (RMIT University) got the petition up and running, and to date over 700 educators have signed on in just two weeks. Dusseau has previously spoken out about AI in education with an article at Inside Higher Ed last November, arguing that resistance is not futile. If you are tired of the drumbeat of inevitability that insists English faculty adopt AI into our teaching practices, I am here to tell you that you are allowed to object. Using an understanding of human writing as a means to allow for-profit technology companies to dismantle the imaginative practice of human writing is abhorrent and unethical. Writing faculty have both the agency and the academic freedom to examine generative AI's dishonest training origins and conclude: There is no path to ethically teach AI skills. The open letter declares that 'Current GenAI technologies represent unacceptable legal, ethical and environmental harms,' that it is 'a threat to student learning and wellbeing,' and that it is "overwhelmingly aimed at automating and replacing human effort.' The open letter includes a series of pledges, including a refusal to use AI to design or evaluate coursework, nor include 'AI literacy' in course design. They also pledge to resist marketing hype, especially that coming from salespeople who are net themselves educators (a problem in education that predates the invention of the computer). Numerous writers tout the 'inevitability' of AI in education {the London School of Science and Technology published a whole post about 'the futility of resisting AI in education'). But there are also voices arguing against any rush to AI adoption. Scott Latham, Ph.D., a professor of strategy at the Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts, wrote a 'memo to teachers' at Inside Higher Ed last year, 'AI Is Not Your Friend' And writing educator John Warner mounts a defense of humanity in writing and writing instruction is his new book, More Than Words. Dusseau said via email that she and Reynoldson 'wanted to do something that focused on autonomy and academic freedom in the face of the many ethical concerns surrounding generative AI technology.' What they created was one more sign of international resistance to GenAI.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Protestors vow to ruin JD Vance's Cotswolds family holiday as they warn the US Vice-President to expect a 'resistance in waiting'
Activists have threatened to wreck US Vice-President JD Vance 's mooted UK family holiday in the Cotswolds - telling him to expect a 'resistance in waiting'. Donald Trump 's deputy is reportedly planning to arrive next month for his summer vacation in the popular tourist spot dubbed 'the English Hamptons'. The US VP appears to be joining celebrity compatriots such as Ellen DeGeneres, Beyonce and Jay-Z and Taylor Swift as an admirer of the area. President Trump's number two is expected alongside his wife Usha, 39, and the couple's three young children, Ewan Blaine, Vivek and Mirabel. But there is now a backlash among opponents of the latest high-profile visitor - with campaigners promising to hold protests during his stay. A group calling itself the Stop Trump Coalition has declared it will emulate recent protests against Mr Vance on a family trip to Disneyland in California. Last week, Disneyland visitors were left outraged after Mr Vance shut down rides so he could enjoy them with his children - and he previously faced protest placards during a skiiing holiday in the US state of Vermont in March this year. The Stop Trump Coalition alliance is said to include pro-Palestinian activists, climate campaigners and trade unions. The pledges come as President Trump prepares to visit his two golf courses in Scotland from Friday, with Sir Keir Starmer lined up to meet him for talks in Aberdeen. Mr Vance and his family are expected to arrive in Britain shortly after the US President's five-day stay in Scotland. The Stop Trump Coalition have told of plans to greet Mr Trump with banners and flags along roads and a beachside message visible from the sky. Further action is intended for his proposed state visit expected to take place in September. And they have now signalled similar opposition to Mr Vance's British sojourn, with a spokesman saying: 'We are meeting Trump with protests in Aberdeen and Edinburgh this month, and then in London and Windsor in September. 'JD Vance is every bit as unwelcome in the UK as Donald Trump. 'We remember how Vance cut short his ski trip in Vermont because he was so enraged by the sight of a few protesters. 'We are sure that, even in the Cotswolds, he will find the resistance waiting.' The Vice President strolled through Disneyland in Los Angeles, California, hand-in-hand with two of his children, Vivek and Mirabel, last Saturday - with a vast Secret Service security detail alongside them. Barricades went up outside popular rides including Pirates of the Caribbean as K9 units stood guard. An entourage of 50 bodyguards and Disney personnel was said to be involved. The prospect of such a heavy security presence in the winding rural roads of The Cotswolds is likely to spark logjams in an already overly-congested area of the UK. Locals in quiet Cotswolds villages have raged in recent months over their narrow roads becoming rat runs for traffic between TV star Jeremy Clarkson's farm shop and his pub - after four series of his Clarkson's Farm TV show has triggered an influx of tourists. The route between his Diddly Squat Farm Shop in Chadlington and his Farmer's Dog pub which is 12 miles away near Burford in Oxfordshire have been particularly clogged. In the spring, local residents led by parish council leaders in villages nearest the pub urged internet bosses to redirect drivers using their Google Maps app, towards main roads rather than narrow village alternatives. Clarkson himself has also made a plea to motorists on the pub's website to use only main roads and not the smaller single-track lanes through quaint quiet villages which can appear on Google Maps as most direct routes between his farm shop and pub. The Farmer's Dog has attracted many fans of Clarkson, known as previous host of The Grand Tour and Top Gear. A message on the pub's website now reads: 'If you're travelling to The Farmer's Dog, especially from Diddly Squat Farm Shop, please use the main roads. Elsewhere, social media and particularly TikTok has paid a part in overtourism in the area - with one tiny village feeling the brunt more than others. Parking restrictions are being introduced on tourist coaches entering what has been dubbed England's 'most beautiful village' which is invaded by a huge number of visitors every weekend. The picturesque Cotswold village of Bibury can sometimes see as many as 20,000 visitors in a weekend, and up to 50 coaches parking there in a day. Gloucestershire County Council has now announced a temporary traffic management trial. Existing coach bays in the village centre temporarily closed and instead bus stops will be installed for safer passenger drop-off and pick-up. The county council said it had worked with local coach operators, businesses, and the community to introduce the trial in the popular village. Elsewhere, the hashtags #CastleCombe and #CastleCombeEngland are among the most searched for when it comes to English tourist spots. Thanks to its starring role in films such as Steven Spielberg's War Horse, Dr Doolittle and The Wolfman, the small Wiltshire village of Castle Combe has become a tourism honeypot year-round. Yet the influx of crowds has prompted criticism among residents. In 2023, furious locals claimed their privacy was being 'invaded by drones' as TikTokers tried to capture the perfect view of the village, They also complained the community was being ruined by the rise of Airbnbs. One resident said: 'In the hotter months people pitch up like it is the beach which can be a bit annoying. 'There are coaches that come and do guided tours of the Cotswolds so we will have those pitch up a few times a day.' Then there is Bourton-on-the-Water, aka the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' with its ornate stone bridges, where a number of residents are trying to convince the parish council to explore the radical solution of banning vehicles and introducing a drop off-point for tourists a 30-minute walk outside the village. TikToker @jedi_explores showed the reality for those descending on 'Britain's prettiest village' - Castle Combe in The Cotswolds, saying it was almost impossible to get a photo of the village's picturesque bridge because there's always people on it The village, 15 miles east of Cheltenham and with a population of 3,000, was given the 'Venice' label due to the number ornate stone bridges over the River Windrush. Tens of thousands of tourists flock to the village every year - which is great for traders - but residents were growing increasingly frustrated with the congestion. Parish and district councillor Jon Wareing last year said Bourton was buckling under the weight of an ever increasing number of daytrippers. 'People can spend an hour in their car, driving around. Some of the 'difficult' behaviour that follows is because they get frustrated. 'One of my neighbours asked this person not to park on his property and got threatened with violence. He said he knew where they lived if they did anything to his car and threatened to throw a brick through their window.'
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
‘For a better Germany': leaders mark failed Hitler assassination plot 81 years ago
Top politicians and civil society representatives on Sunday commemorated those behind a failed attempt to assassinate Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler 81 years ago, and warned against historical amnesia amid a rise of the far-right. Advertisement 'July 20 became a symbol of resistance against injustice, for justice and conscience, for a better Germany,' said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in front of around 250 recruits in the Bendlerblock, the headquarters of the Defence Ministry in Berlin. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg and three other Wehrmacht officers were shot dead in the courtyard just hours after their failed attempt to kill Hitler with a bomb planted in his military headquarters on the eastern front on July 20, 1944. Marking the events that unfolded about a year before the end of World War II, Pistorius stressed the day did not stand for failure, but for a new beginning. Speaking at a commemoration ceremony at the Plötzensee memorial in Berlin, where Germany's wartime Nazi dictatorship carried out many executions, the son of former chancellor Willy Brandt warned Germans against forgetting the atrocities committed by the regime. Advertisement 'We are seeing it again today, including in election results, how the poison of hatred, racism and exclusion is penetrating and shows itself in social coarsening,' Matthias Brandt said. He cited a number of racist terms used by the Nazis, noting they were increasingly being used again. Doing nothing to counter this was a decision to let things run their course, he warned.
