The events of the last fortnight -- from the increasing violence in Libya, the end of the Space Shuttle Discovery's era, to the swelling of protests in Wisconsin against the continued assault on labor unions -- pale in comparison to the human, societal, structural, and environmental disaster that has devastated Japan. We witness in collective horror the results of Mother Nature's enormous power, and hold our breath that a nuclear catastrophe will not add insult to such grave injuries. So with all due respect to our readers in Japan we introduce this edition, whose ideas, research, and creation took shape long before the shifting tectonic plates released their destructive energy on your beautiful country. Our hearts and hopes are with you...
We begin with Louis Proyect's exceptional review of the three critical books on Barack Obama that have emerged from the left -- the mainstream The Mendacity of Hope and from a Marxist standpoint, The Obama Syndrome and The Empire's New Clothes, neither of which have been addressed in the mainstream media nor published by mainstream press. Gilles d'Aymery balances the US budget in a few easy and painless steps, and shares some must-read tidbits about the rising cost of fuel, the growing waste of food, the bloated list of billionaires, and more. "People power" is a theme that runs through Michael Barker's work on Stephen Zunes and the Philippines, Femi Akomolafe's reflections on the Tunisia and North African uprisings, and Charles Marowitz's similar hopes for America.
Next, Peter Byrne transports us to Barcelona through the perspectives of George Orwell, Antonio Gaudi, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan Miró. Fabio De Propris examines the symbolism and economics of the hands-off world of soccer, while Maxwell Clark considers the narrative, psychoanalytic, and political-economic dimensions of the poetry of Charles Bernstein. If by now you're inspired to contribute your ideas, thoughts, or opinions to Swans but don't know how to begin, start with Bo Keeley's short primer on writing and self-editing, then check our guidelines. We close with Giovanni Raboni's poetic fragments on the insults and injuries of the Berlusconi era, along with your letters on our beloved Martian Blips.
# # # # #
Louis Proyect: Taking Obama's Measure
An excellent review of the three critical books on Barack Obama that have emerged from the left -- the mainstream The Mendacity of Hope and from a Marxist standpoint, The Obama Syndrome and The Empire's New Clothes, neither of which have been addressed in the mainstream media nor published by mainstream press. More...
Gilles d'Aymery: Blips #106
A few selected issues that landed on the Editor's desk, from the extraterrestrial Ben Bernanke, the rising cost of fuel, and the ever-annoying disappearing URLs; some unappetizing facts about food waste in America; the moneyed vampire immiserating the globe and the growing list of billionaires; to a few simple steps toward a balanced budget, a few words on Libya, and some perspective on the human predicament, with thoughts for our brothers and sisters in Japan. More...
Michael Barker: Blinded By People Power: Stephen Zunes on the Ousting of Dictators
Stephen Zunes and the misrepresentation of people power in the Philippines. More...
Femi Akomolafe: Reflections On The Tunisian Revolution And Other Arising Matters
A view from Africa on the people power that is reshaping the continent. More...
Charles Marowitz: Comes The Revolution
America should learn from the people-power uprisings in Northern Africa and the Middle East: in the face of oppression, rebellion is born. More...
Peter Byrne: Stalking Utopia In Barcelona
A tour of Barcelona from the perspectives of George Orwell, Antonio Gaudi, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, and the author. More...
Fabio De Propris: Soccer Feet: The World From The Grassy Pitch
Football (soccer) must be taken into consideration not only by fans, but also by economists, and by everyone who wants to understand, and change for the better, the world we live in. More...
Maxwell Clark: Charles Bernstein's All The Whiskey In Heaven
A review of the narrative, psychoanalytic, and political-economic dimensions of the poetry of Charles Bernstein. More...
Bo Keeley: Short Guide To Writing And Self-Editing
Tips on writing and editing -- give it a try and send a submission to Swans. More...
Guido Monte: "Song Of Injury And Insult"
Guido Monte translates two fragments of a poem by Giovanni Raboni on the Italian Berlusconi's era. More...
Gilles d'Aymery's Blips on the recent events in North Africa and the Middle East and the missing coverage of the regions' public education system, and why is the situation in Libya missing from the pages of Swans? More...
# # # # #
Let us know if you wish to receive an e-mail regarding each new edition (twice a month) with the Note from the Editors, and please become a subscriber. See our Donate page.
« Previous | Current Issue | Next »