In 2009 we conducted a study of online distribution of pirated media.  The questions were: “How do they make money?”, “Why do the sites survive?”, and, “Who pays the operators?”.  The answers were strange, and changed noticeably over the course of a single year.

The pirate media distributors stream their wares out of server farms on sovereign native people’s territories in the West, and in Sweden, Ukraine, and China to the East.  Using legal loopholes, bribery, and protection from mob and government interests, the sites not only survive, they thrive and propagate.

Often it seemed there was hardly any money making involved, where it begged the question why so much time was being spent mounting the pirated materials beside the distribution of malware to steal private data.  Ad revenue visibly increased every month, however.

22% of studied pirate streams had ad placements for major corporate interests on Jan 1st, 2009.  By June major corporate placements had gone to 39.5%, and by September, 52.5%.  By Jan 1st 2010 it was 91%. It is what the slaves to cliche call a tipping point. [Read more →]

Perhaps it is the organic ingredients, or the mountain spring water.  Could it be the natural hops, grains, and honey right from the farm?  Or, is Brett Nichols the greatest brewmaster to ever make beer.

Too much, you think?

Wait until you take the top off a Shooting Creek Farm brew: taste the silken, pure, complex taste, and then join me in exalting the best small brewery in North America.  High on the Blue Ridge, Shooting Creek Farm Brewery sits on Brett and Johanna Nichols’ certified organic Five Penny Farm in legendary Floyd county.

There are six distinct brews offered by the farm, and while I am the type to pick favorites, with this roster I am undone. [Read more →]

The editors recommend checking out Ahniwanika’s site Intercontinental Cry regularly!

In the month’s Underreported Struggles: 20,000 Lepchas Vow to Die for Their Community; Nicaragua Recognizes Indigenous Land Rights; Dam workers attack the Enawene Nawe; and 18 other stories about the ongoing, world-side struggle for land, rights, and life.

December 29 – Indonesia Police Destroy Indigenous Village – Indonesian police forces have violently evicted 400 indigenous people from their land in the province of Riau on the eastern coast of Sumatra. According to Amnesty International, approximately 700 local security forces entered the village of Suluk Bongka, firing bullets and tear gas. As the villagers fled into the forest, two helicopters dropped what was thought to be a fire accelerant on the village, burning it to the ground.

December 26 – We shall give up our lives but not our land – “We shall give up our lives but not land.” The slogan is overwhelming across the state of Jharkhand against displacement induced by the development projects. It is not only a slogan for the Adivasis but it is also their determination, pledge and hope to ensure their ownership rights over the natural resources i.e. land, forest and water.

December 24 – Uprising against Barrick Gold in Tanzania – Earlier this month, thousands of villagers raided a gold mine in Northern Tanzania, setting fire to $7 million worth of mine equipment. Most reports claim the action was performed by “gold-seekers”, however, local reports say the uprising was the result of a murder by a Barrick Security Guard. [Read more →]