Edward Said died last night

Edward Said died last night. He was one of humanity's best and brightest, a towering intellect and ceaseless activist on behalf of Palestinians and all other oppressed peoples seeking a voice and champion. His presence in this world, especially at this time will be sorely missed. Here's a tribute from his friend Alex Cockburn.

I fear now we shall see a quickening of time as other great minds and humanitarians such as Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn approach the twilight of their years.

Martyrdom at the WTO

On September 10, Lee Kyang Hae made the ultimate sacrifice in his personal protest against the WTO. Fifty-eight years old, Lee has seen what the neoliberal economic order has done to farmers worldwide, and most painfully at home, where rural life has been destroyed by free trade agricultural policies. His poignant and symbolic act, coupled with his statements and actions against the WTO in the past, highlight the desparate plight of billions worldwide in this era of globalization. May he rest in peace and may his death not be in vain.

Here's an article about his life and death. Here's another one recounting the moments before and after Lee's taking of his own life.