http://www.masternewmedia.com/archive/mastermind13.htm 
 
 MasterMind Explorer
 ____________________________________________
 
 "Extend Communicators Reach Through New Media and ICT"
 
 Executive Editor: Luigi Canali De Rossi
 
 December 31st, 2001 #13 - Special Issue
 .....................................................
 
 In this issue:
 
 1) Reality fabrication - Part III
 The use of new media and the Internet as alternative
 information sources
 
 a) What is Really Happening Beyond the War Media Hype?
 
 b) Access to Information Sources After the Sept.11th
 NY Attack
 
 
 2) 70 Alternative and Independent Online News Sources  
 
 
 3) 10 Ethical guidelines for effective communication online
 
 
 4) Internationalization - Part III
 
 a) Best Translation Resources On-line
 
 b) Complementary Translation Tools
 
 c) FREE demo Multilingual chat system
 
 
 
 
 
 .....................................................
 Welcome friends, to a new rich edition of MasterMind
 Explorer.
 
 Edited and compiled until the afternoon hours of December
 31st, this is my last work of heart for 2001. It is in many
 way a present to the ones of you that most appreciate my
 research and questioning.
 
 As a new media technology pathfinder I have been
 continuously trying to bring to your attention tools and
 techniques with which you could further extend and improve
 your reach and effectiveness.
 
 Now I need to bring more of your attention to what
 old media technologies (TV and the main press in 
 particular) and media can do to create whatever reality,
 consensus and public support we wish to impose on any
 passive, unquestioning and TV-numbized audience.
 
 The Internet and its networking and self-publishing nature
 offer a great opportunity to shape and create alternative
 forces that counterbalance the flattening of actual news
 coverage, the rise of news propaganda and the demise 
 of insightful reporting on real issues.
 
 It is useless to develop better and more advanced
 interactive learning and communication technologies if
 first we do not foster the presence of forces capable
 within our society at large to counter and balance the
 need for actual protection of our rights of _expression
 and for our need to have direct and unfiltered access to
 information.
 
 I encourage you to research each topic for yourself:
 check out all the links, especially the ones that 
 seem contrary to your views; question the motivation of
 the writer and publisher; and form your own opinion about
 the information that is being presented.
 
 I suggest that you treat all other news/information
 outlets in the same way - the media have strong biases
 which directly affect the way in which news and 
 information is presented to you - and very often that leads
 to disinformation.
 
 If you do not start to question the information and the
 assumptions on which you are making your most fundamental
 decisions and choices, who is going to do for you?
 
 Without such vital, fundamental questioning how good a
 communicator or agent of change couild I ever be?
 
 Enjoy and please, let me have your comments:
 feedback-issue13@masternewmedia.org
 
 
 Luigi Canali De Rossi
 Executive Editor
 MasterMind Explorer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 REALITY FABRICATION - Part III
 
  THE USE OF NEW MEDIA AND THE INTERNET AS
 ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION SOURCES
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
 "Alternative information sources report freedom, human rights
 and information access are being rapidly lost in the face of new
 anti-terrorism laws".
 
 
 MasterMind Explorer reports on Alternative News Sources through:
 
 11 new articles which offer a chilling view on
 what is really happening
 
 13 articles on access to information Sources After the
 Sept.11th NY Attack
 
 70 short reviews of alternative and independent
 news sources online
 
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 a) WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING BEYOND THE WAR MEDIA HYPE?
 ...............................................................
 
 In my genuine effort to provide a Robin Hood approach to check
 and verify reported news and events through alternative sources
 available online, I have scouted and collected a number of very
 interesting articles pointing to the loss of freedom rights
 and liberties derived by the promulgation of new laws after
 the Sept.11 Twin Tower attack.
 
 Among the ones I enjoyed and found most challenging I would
 recommend the following ones:
 
 
 ...............................................................
 1) Freedom flees in terror from Sept. 11 disaster.
 
 Last Tuesday's terrors were so calamitous that they threaten to
 shake us loose from our constitutional mooring. A civil
 liberties catastrophe looms as citizens surrender to fear, fury
 and frustration and as lawmakers throw money and shards of the
 Bill of Rights at the specter of terrorism.
 09.19.01
 
 http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=14
 924
(the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 2) U.K. Anti-Terrorism Bill Undermines Fundamental Human Rights
 Protections
 
 Human Rights Watch expressed deep concern today over proposed
 measures included in the United Kingdom's Anti-Terrorism, Crime
 and Security Bill that would violate human rights and undermine
 protections provided by the 1951 Refugee Convention.
 
 In a 10-page critique, Human Rights Watch said that the bill
 would permit the unlawful detention of persons without access to
 effective appeal and deprive some asylum seekers of individual
 determinations of their asylum claims without recourse.
 16.11.01
 
 http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/eca/UKleg1106.htm
 http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/UKBill1116.htm
 
 http://www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/eusecurity.htm
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 3) Don't Sacrifice First Amendment to Terrorism, Ombudsman Warns
 
 The anger and fear Americans feel in the wake of the terrorist
 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon should not
 lead the nation to carve away at the very freedoms on which this
 country was founded, said Paul McMasters, First Amendment
 ombudsman for The Freedom Forum.
 
 "There are calls by many people to start making things more
 secret than they are, censoring speech, censoring the press,
 interfering with freedom of association, all of which are very
 fundamental to who we are as a nation … . I would just say that
 we need to take a deep breath, step back and reconsider, because
 those kinds of freedoms are never regained once they're given
 away," he cautioned.
 09.20.01
 
 http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=14
 940
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 4) The Politics of Terror and Mass Persuasion
 WHAT NOW?
 
 "Nothing would be what it is. Because everything would be what
 it isn't. And contrary-wise -what it is, it wouldn't be. And
 what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?' - Alice in Wonderland
 18.12.01
 
 Read Will Thomas' full article on MasterMind Explorer home page
 at: http://www.masternewmedia.org
 
 http://www.lifeboatnews.com/
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 5) Anti-Terrorism Bill Could Impact Nonprofits
 (in the US and maybe abroad too!)
 
 The "USA PATRIOT Act" (PL 107-56) could pose big problems for
 nonprofits, especially those that advocate changes in US foreign
 policy or provide social services to individuals that become
 targets of government investigations. The central problem is a
 vague, overbroad definition of a new crime, "domestic
 terrorism".
 11/13/01
 
 http://www.ombwatch.org/npadv/2001/usapatriot.html
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 6) Specific Legislation and Investigative Actions Emanated After
 the Sept. 11 New York Terrorist Attack
 
 
 *LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE ATTACK OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
 20.12.01
 http://thomas.loc.gov/home/terrorleg.htm
 
 
 *White House reports on updated investigative actions
 
 As of December 17, 460 individuals were being detained by the
 INS. 116 individuals, 77 of whom are in custody, are facing
 federal criminal charges.
 
 Created 93 Anti-Terrorism Task Forces -- one in each U.S.
 Attorney's district -- to integrate the communications and
 activities of local, state and federal law enforcement.
 
 The FBI created a national task force to centralize control and
 information sharing resulting in hundreds of thousands of leads,
 over 500 searches, thousands of interviews of witnesses, and
 numerous court-authorized surveillance orders.
 
 At the Attorney General's request, the State Department
 designated 39 entities as terrorist organizations.
 
 
 N.B.: None of the people and organizations names being
 designated as terrorists are publicly accessible. If among them
 there is someone you know, you may never find out.
 
 http://www.whitehouse.gov/response/investigativeresponse.html
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 7) Why isn't the US news media confronting American leaders with
 the questions listed above?
 
 Unanswered questions surrounding the September 11, 2001
 World Trade Center attack .
 23.11.01
 
 http://friendsoffreedom.org/article.php?sid=102
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 8) WIRED Magazine Report on US Strategy for War on Terrorism
 
 I did not need to go too far, nor to search too deep to find
 proof and stated evidence of the never-said open fears that
 stand behind all of these discourses.
 
 As an avid reader of technology news and their social impact
 I read every issue of Wired magazine from back to back.
 
 In the last, December issue 2001 entitled: "The future of war is
 here" I have spotted a few key sentences that if read enough
 times give you a wider and more down-to-the-ground perspective
 on what is really happening and what will happen next if me and
 you do not do something about it.
 
 The source of the statements is a report by two RAND analysts
 providing advice and direction to the US government. They are at
 present the so-called experts on "netwar" (by "netwar" is not
 meant a war to be fought on the Internet but a war fought
 through the means of highly networked forces and technologies).
 
 In 1997, John Arquilla told Wired about a new kind of war -
 where the enemy is invisible but the casualties are all too
 real. Today the netwar visionary and his partner, David
 Ronfeldt, have a five-point plan to tear apart the terror
 network.
 
 On the December 2001 issue of WIRED magazine, at pages 150 and
 151, they say:
 
 1) "To win a netwar the US must control the battle of the story.
 For starters, that means the US and its allies must agree on
 what story they are selling."
 
 2) "The best way to expose them [the terrorists] as such is to
 create a self-propagating meme - a winning idea or, in business
 parlance, a bit of viral marketing - that reveals them for what
 they truly are."
 
 3) "A true win in this netwar means confronting a scourge that
 is bigger than even al Qaeda. It means battling anyone in the
 world who shares these terrorissts mind-set and modus-operandi.
 ..."
 
 4) "The US must build its own network - a quicker, more diverse,
 populous, and powerful organization that includes military and
 non-military organizations around the world - in order to wage a
 full-on netwar".
 
 
 All of the above paragraphs can be read on pages 150 and 151 of
 the December 2001 issue of Wired magazine.
 
 An online version of the article is now available at:
 http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/netwar.html
 
 
 RAND analysts John Arquilla (arquilla@rand.org) and David
 Ronfeldt (ronfeldt@rand.org) cowrote "Networks and Netwars: The
 Future of Terror, Crime, and Militancy" (RAND, 2001).
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 9) In Terror War, Don't Surrender Personal Freedoms
 
 More than 150 organizations on the left and right, and hundreds
 of computer scientists and law professors are circulating a
 petition urging that personal freedoms not be sacrificed in the
 fight against terrorism.
 
 http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/9/21/215438.shtml
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 10) Behind the War on Terrorism
 
 "We are not afraid to entrust the American people with
 unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies and
 competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its
 people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a
 nation that is afraid of its people." President John F. Kennedy
 
 Americans are now beginning to pay the price for sleeping
 through history classes, ignoring important information in the
 alternative media and neglecting to participate in their own
 political process.
 
 They find themselves in a new war --- the War on Terrorism. This
 is a war they never asked for and never envisioned, anesthetized
 as we all are by the flickering tube of distraction. It is a war
 predicated on the premise that a sneak attack was made on the
 United States September 11, 2001.
 
 http://users.actweb.net/~eye/propaganda/articles/war_on_terroris
 m.html
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 ...............................................................
 11) Civil Liberties at Home: "Enduring Freedom"?
 
 http://www.accuracy.org/press_releases/PR101001.htm
 
 
 
 .............................
 Further recommended readings:
 
 If you find the above articles and commentaries of interest I
 suggest reading one of the following books:
 
 ...............................................................
 1) Inventing Reality: The Politics of News Media by Michael
 Parenti
 
 How much of what the news media tell us is true, and how does it
 control our view of the world?
 
 In this passionate, provocative critique of the news media,
 Michael Parenti examines the subtle but profound ways in which
 the media influence and manipulate the public's perception of
 reality. It attacks the widely held belief that the news media
 are controlled by liberals and liberal opinion - and clearly
 depicts the news media as a controlling institution of the
 American capitalist system, an institution that serves the
 interests of the rich and powerful while appearing to serve the
 many.
 
 Michael Parenti received his Ph.D. in political science from
 Yale University in 1962. He has taught at a number of colleges
 and universities, in the United States and abroad. His writings
 have been translated into Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish,
 Chinese, Turkish, Polish, German, Bangla, and Dutch.
 
 http://free.freespeech.org/americanstateterrorism/InventingReali
 ty.html
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 http://www.michaelparenti.org/InventingReality.html
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 2) 9-11 by Noam Chomsky
 
 In 9-11 Noam Chomsky examines the root causes of the September
 11th catastrophe, the historical precedents for it, and the
 possible outcomes as the world moves forward into the post-
 September 11 reality.
 
 As for why the attack happened, Chomsky writes that "this
 question is rarely raised in a serious way." And he adds, "To
 refuse to face this question is to choose to increase
 significantly the probability of further crimes of this kind."
 
 Noam Chomsky is a world renowned political activist, writer, and
 professor of linguistics at Massachusetts Institute of
 Technology, where he has taught since 1955. Chomsky has written
 and lectured widely on linguistics, philosophy, and politics.
 
 Saying What Media Don't Want Us To Hear
 http://www.fair.org/media-beat/011206.html
 
 www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005S8QI/qid=1007636913/
 sr=12-14/
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 b) ACCESS TO INFORMATION SOURCES AFTER THE SEPT.11TH NY ATTACK
 ...............................................................
 
 
 ...............................................................
 1) OMB Watch Statement on Access to Information Post Sept. 11
 
 In an open society we run enormous risks. Any individual or
 group of individuals can cause great damage. We try to protect
 against such damage, but the potential remains. One way is to
 make ourselves as aware as we can of the risks and take steps to
 ameliorate them. An alternative is to limit the free flow of
 information, which is how totalitarian societies operate. While
 security may improve, the spirit of civil society is lost. We
 cannot let that happen here. Already, valuable information is
 being pulled from agency web sites. For a list of these actions,
 click here.
 10/2/01
 
 http://www.ombwatch.org/info/2001/rtkstatement.html
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 2) The Post-September 11 Environment:
 Access to Government Information
 
 This is an accurate and up-to-date listing of all public
 information sources that have been censored, closed or are being
 restricted as a consequence of the anti-terrorist regulations
 and laws being promulgated by the US.
 
 http://www.ombwatch.org/info/2001/access.html
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 3) The War on Journalism
 
 Closing off information to the public by squeezing the press
 leaves us in the dark with pundit prattle, poor policies and
 panic.
 10.22.01
 
 http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=15
 211
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 4) Denial of Access Shushes the Democratic Dialogue
 
 Some restrictions are warranted to guard against attack, but as
 government demands more information of Americans, it's asking
 Americans to demand less information from government.
 
 This is an edited text of the keynote address Paul McMasters
 delivered at the annual symposium of the American Society of
 Access Professionals in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 10.
 12.12.01
 
 http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?docu
 mentID=15517
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 5) States seek to restrict public access in wake of
 terrorist attacks
 
 In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, several state
 Legislatures have considered or passed measures restricting
 access to government records or facilities.
 
 But Americans don't seem to care much about threats to their
 right to access government information, wrote Joe Adams in a
 December 2001 Presstime article.
 12.12.01
 
 http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=15
 523
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 6) Tough Times for the Punditocracy
 
 Talk about burying the news. One of the more noteworthy
 critiques of how the media have covered the war in Afghanistan
 appeared in the Wall Street Journal on Monday. Okay, okay, it
 was on page one, and the Journal's not exactly obscure. But it's
 probably safe to assume that not a lot of people were paying
 attention on Christmas Eve. Fortunately, the article is still
 available online at:
 http://interactive.wsj.com/fr/emailthis/retrieve.cgi?
 id=SB100914 1535828813720.djm
 
 It's well worth a look.
 
 http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/daily/document
 s/02073534.htm
 (the URLs above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 7) The More We Know, The More Secure We Are
 
 It defies reason that we'd rush to limit information that has
 no real bearing on national security or military operations.
 12.07.01
 
 http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=
 15496
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 8) Fighting Back Against Information Shutdown,
 at Home and Abroad
 
 Up to a point, even the most ardent Freedom of Information
 advocate can accept that some secrecy is essential. A covert
 operation can't be conducted in public. No journalist would want
 to be told that a news story revealing operational details led
 to the death of American troops. And if experience is any guide,
 the public will tolerate, even embrace, the military's
 insistence on secrecy, at least in the short term.
 
 Jane E. Kirtley is the Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law
 at the University of Minnesota. She was the executive director
 of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press from 1985 to
 1999.
 
 http://www.poynter.org/Terrorism/kirtley.htm
 
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 9) The 404 Effects of 9/11
 
 from Search Day archives
 http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/01/sd1205-404.html
 
 
 It's already a worn cliché that the horrific events of September
 11th "changed everything," but on the web it's true: scores of
 web sites have shut down or have removed content in the
 aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
 
 What exactly is missing? While it's impossible to know the full
 scope, a number of watchdog sites are documenting the changes
 made on the web. Two of the most comprehensive are maintained by
 the Electronic Frontier Foundation and OMB Watch.
 
 http://www.ombwatch.org/
 http://eff.org/
 
 U.S. government agencies that once offered open access to
 "public" information are among the most prominent sites now
 restricting access to information, according to the two watchdog
 sites. Agencies removing content range from the Agency for Toxic
 Substances and Disease Registry to the U.S. Geological Survey.
 Most government sites that have pulled information have
 displayed bland notices noting the removal of content, along
 with "apologies for any inconvenience" messages.
 
 Despite censoring its own sites, the U.S. government has
 apparently not forced any non-governmental sites to shut down.
 However, the British government has forced the closure of at
 least two web sites, and a number of Internet Service Providers
 have also pulled the plug on "inappropriate" sites.
 
 Some sites have engaged in self-censorship, euphemistically
 claiming that they are "evaluating" whether content once freely
 available on the web should now be accessible online.
 
 This "9/11 404 effect" creates a significant challenge for
 searchers. It hits professional researchers and journalists
 particularly hard. As online journalism commentator Steve Outing
 notes in the eMedia Tidbits weblog, "Where journalists (and the
 public) will likely suffer is with information that's created
 from now forward. Agencies aren't publishing as much information
 on the Web due to security concerns, so reporters will have to
 work much harder to gain access (or even learn about it)."
 
 To keep up with content that's gone missing from the web, check
 out the EFF and OMBWatch pages listed below.
 
 
 ...............................................................
 10) Chilling Effects of Anti-Terrorism
 http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/Terrorism_militias/antit
 errorism_chill.html
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 The Electronic Frontier Foundation's list of web sites that have
 been shut down or have removed content in the aftermath of the
 events of September 11th.
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 11) The Post-September 11 Environment: Access to Government
 Information http://www.ombwatch.org/info/2001/access.html
 
 This list, from activist watchdog OMB Watch, provides an
 inventory of U.S. government information that has been withheld
 since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 12) Journalists: Crank Up Your Search Skills
 
 Steve Outing on removal of government information from the web
 
 http://www.poynter.org/tidbits/2001_11_25_tidbitsarchive.htm#752
 2635
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 ...............................................................
 13) Librarians, Others Alarmed by Order to Destroy Data
 The Morning Call, November 21, 2001
 http://www.mcall.com/news/yahoo/all- a1_2destroynov21.story
 
 
 
 It's not just the web: the Government Printing Office has
 ordered libraries to destroy public information - specifically,
 a CD-ROM on reservoirs and dams prepared by the U.S. Geological
 Survey. The reason for the order: national security.
 
 
 **********
 NOTA BENE:
 
 Deleted "Sensitive" Web Sites Still Available via Google
 http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/01/sd1009-google-
 cache.html
 
 Heightened security concerns have led a number of organizations
 to remove "sensitive" information from their web sites, yet much
 of this information is still available, even to people with
 relatively modest searching skills. Since this story ran in
 SearchDay, Google has apparently changed its policy and has
 proactively worked with some organizations to remove content,
 according to ABC News.
 
 
 
 --------------------------------------------------------
 SearchDay is a free newsletter from Search Engine Watch
 featuring web search news, reviews, tools, tips, and search
 engine headlines from across the web. SearchDay is published
 daily, with headlines only on Fridays.
 
 To subscribe to Search Day
 Use the form at http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/ or
 send a blank email message to
 join-search-day-text@list7.internet.com.
 
 Subscription is FREE
 --------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
 2) 70 FREE, ALTERNATIVE AND INDEPENDENT NEWS SOURCES ONLINE
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Personally selected, verified and read before you here is my
 recommended mini-guide to best alternative and independent news
 sources online.
 
 
 
 1) Institute for Public Accuracy
 As a nationwide consortium of policy researchers, the Institute
 for Public Accuracy seeks to broaden public discourse by gaining
 media access for those whose perspectives are commonly drowned
 out by corporate-backed think tanks and other influential
 institutions.
 
 The Institute's news releases provide well-documented analysis
 that is pegged on fast-breaking events while focusing on
 fundamental issues.
 http://www.accuracy.org/
 
 
 2) American Prospect
 The American Prospect publishes articles for the general reader
 that attempt to break through conventional understanding and
 creatively reframe public questions. M magazine of public ideas,
 firmly committed -- however unfashionably -- to a belief in
 public improvement.
 
 The Prospect is available on newsstands, by subscription, and
 online. It is published by The American Prospect, Inc., an
 independent nonprofit organization established by the magazine's
 founders.
 http://www.americanprospect.com/
 
 
 3) Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
 http://aan.org/gbase/Aan/index
 
 
 4) Al Martin Raw
 Al Marting reports on behind the scene news, covert action,
 political conspiracies and analysis major issues not reported on
 mainstream media.
 Two very interesting articles from Al are:
 "Citizen, Can I See Your ID." at:
 http://www.almartinraw.com/column37.html
 "The war on terrorism scam"
 http://www.almartinraw.com/column43.html
 
 
 5) Alternative News Group
 A well designed and easy to read news web site. Up-to-date
 articles and commentaries on all major issues seen from an
 alternative and independent point of view. Recommended.
 http://www.alternet.org
 
 
 6) The Arab-American Online Community Center
 Look at Arab news from a different standpoint. CafeArabica was
 founded in early 1996 and provides the Arab-American community
 with a single source for information, articles, interviews, and
 a place for discussion. Organized by members of various Arab-
 American community and grassroots organizations, CafeArabica is
 a place to catch up on the latest news.
 http://www.cafearabica.com/
 
 
 7) Antiwar
 Best source for antiwar news, viewpoints and info
 http://www.antiwar.com/
 
 
 8) Arab News
 News from the Arabic world in English
 http://www.arabnews.com/
 
 
 9) Arena
 Arena is an Aotearoa/New Zealand network of individuals and
 organizations committed to resist 'globalization' in all its
 forms. Arena stands for an alternative development model based
 on self-determination, social justice, genuine people-centered
 development and environmental sustainability.
 http://www.arena.org.nz/
 
 
 10) La voz de Aztlan
 A totally independent news service
 Lots of good articles, reports and news stories in english and
 spanish. Very interesting.
 http://www.aztlan.net/
 http://www.aztlan.net/crying.htm
 
 
 11) Bildeberg - The High Priests of Globalisation
 editor: Will Hutton
 http://www.bilderberg.org
 
 
 12) Blatant Propaganda and Suppressed Info
 Over 300 pages. Views & information you won't often find in the
 mass-media, nor in most "alternative" media.
 http://users.actweb.net/~eye/propaganda/index.htm
 
 
 13) Blythe - NY Transfer
 All the news that doesn't fit.
 http://www.blythe.org/
 
 
 14) Common Dreams
 Breaking News and Views for the Progressive Community.
 http://www.commondreams.org/
 
 
 15) Concerned Citizens Opposed to Police States
 CCOPS educates people about current and proposed laws and
 regulations that concentrate too much power in any branch or
 level of government.
 
 Now in its first phase of operation, CCOPS transmits its
 information and analysis to citizens via op-ed articles, radio
 and television talk show appearances, billboards and free e-mail
 alerts.
 http://www.ccops.org/
 
 
 16) Copvcia
 Exceptional site offers hundreds of research and
 alternative news articles on well organized hot topics.
 Professional design and access to all content. Very thorough and
 very interesting. Offers a paid subscription service.
 http://www.copvcia.com/
 
 
 17) Covert Action Quarterly Online
 Provides news stories on major issues not covered by mainstream
 media and frequently focusing on US foreign policy.
 http://www.covertaction.org/
 
 
 18) David Icke
 Not a pleasant read if you are not into believing we are being
 taken by a new, dictatorial world order, with vast commercial
 interests (frequently verbalized in the main political agendas
 as "globalization")
 http://www.davidicke.com/icke/articles3/worldtradecenter.html
 http://www.davidicke.com/icke/articles3/terrorattack.html
 
 
 19) DEBKAfile
 We Start Where the Media Stops.
 
 This is a Jerusalem-based site which is able to bring
 alternative and very up-to-date news to the public often before
 the mainstream news is able to. DEBKAfile is a self-supporting
 Internet publication devoted to independent, investigative
 reporting and forward analysis in the fields of international
 terrorism, intelligence, international conflicts, Islam,
 military affairs, security and politics. DEBKAfile comes out
 seven days a week in English and Hebrew with additional language
 sites planned.
 Professional, well written and delivered. Extensive information.
 Highly recommended.
 http://www.debka.com/
 
 
 20) Disinformation
 A very well organized and nicely designed site about
 disinformation in all of its aspects.
 
 Launched on September 13, 1996, Disinformation was designed to
 be the search service of choice for individuals looking for
 information on current affairs, politics, new science and the
 'hidden information,' that seldom seems to slip through the
 cracks of the corporate-owned media conglomerates. Ironically,
 it was funded by one of the largest media companies in the world
 (TeleCommunications, Inc. (TCI), now part of AT&T), who paid for
 placement on Netscape's then ubiquitous search page.
 
 The site drew immediate attention and (usually) applause from
 the very same news media that it was criticizing as being under
 the influence of both government and big business, but the
 honeymoon was short. Some three weeks after launch the CEO of
 TCI learned of Disinformation and immediately ordered it closed
 down. Needless to say, site founder Richard Metzger and a few
 loyal members of his team managed to keep the site going and it
 has evolved into the largest and most popular alternative news
 and underground culture destination on the Web.
 
 Today, The Disinformation Company is owned and operated by
 Metzger and business partner Gary Baddeley, with offices in New
 York and Los Angeles.
 
 While the subculture search engine, which focuses the searcher's
 queries on those portions of the Web that are relevant to our
 areas of interest and research, remains an important feature of
 the site, Disinformation has become a leading source for
 original writing and reporting, led by editor Alex Burns. The
 site features 'dossiers' on a broad variety of topics with links
 to selected sites covering many sides of a given issue or topic,
 both pro and con.
 
 The site also has opinion and editorial articles, streaming
 video clips featuring original Disinformation interviews and
 reporting, plus communities areas for users to post comments and
 chat about the issues presented on the site and other topics of
 importance to our community.
 
 Recommended.
 http://www.disinfo.org
 
 
 21) The Drudge Report
 Alternative news reports and analysis. Good commentaries and
 dossiers available on the site.
 http://www.drudgereport.com
 
 
 22) The Electronic Frontier Foundation
 http://www.eff.org
 
 
 23) The Emperor New Clothes
 Extensive alternative site covering all major cover-ups.
 One of the most prominent sources of articles questioning the
 terrorist attack on NY WTC. Many interesting reports.
 Messy layout but definitely worth a stop.
 http://www.tenc.net/
 http://www.emperors-clothes.com/
 http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/jared/treason.htm
 
 
 24) Eye Spy
 The magazine that lifts the lid on world intelligence, espionage
 and terrorism..
 http://www.eyespymag.com
 
 
 25) The Experiment
 A news filtration experiment and a very
 interesting web site to look at. Providing a nice and usable
 interface The Experiment offers a window on alternative news and
 commentaries posted directly by readers. Recommended. Any
 experiment begins with the notion that there is something
 missing from the big picture... http://www.theexperiment.org/i
 
 
 26) FAIR - Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting
 "FAIR, the national media watch group, has been offering well-
 documented criticism of media bias and censorship since 1986. We
 work to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater
 diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that
 marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints.
 
 "As an anti-censorship organization, we expose neglected news
 stories and defend working journalists when they are muzzled. As
 a progressive group, FAIR believes that structural reform is
 ultimately needed to break up the dominant media conglomerates,
 establish independent public broadcasting and promote strong
 non-profit sources of information."
 http://www.fair.org/
 
 
 27) Free Speech Internet Television
 http://www.freespeech.org/fsitv/ramfiles/dnhowardzinn.ram
 
 
 28) Friends of Freedom - The Voice of the People
 A very rich and interesting alternative news and commentaries
 site. It provides lots of research, dossiers and challenging
 reports. Active discussion forums on many relevant
 topics. Definitely worth a look.
 http://friendsoffreedom.org
 
 
 29) Center for Research on Globalisation
 Behind the News, Analysis, Commentary and Intelligence on the
 New World Order Guerre et mondialisation, analyses et débats
 http://www.globalresearch.ca
 
 Two very interesting articles:
 "The Role of Pakistan's Military Intelligence (ISI) in the
 September 11 Attacks"
 by Michel Chossudovsky
 Professor of Economics, University of Ottawa
 http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO111A.html
 
 "Profits of Death - Part II - Trading with the enemy"
 http://globalresearch.ca/articles/FLO112A.html
 
 
 30) Greg Palast
 High profile political insider and journalist Greg Palast has
 been the World Bank chief Economist, reports on major issues
 with a different stand.
 http://www.gregpalast.com/
 
 
 31) International Advocates for Health Freedom
 Find lots of interesting and challenging articles written by the
 site untiring John Hammel. A bit extreme in some statements
 but worth the subsequent questioning and the unique view.
 http://www.iahf.com
 
 
 32) Index on censorship
 Latest news on censorship issues.
 http://www.indexonline.org
 
 
 33) Indymedia
 Independent media which collect and show in database format
 articles and news contributed by readers and interested
 individuals. This is the international site, there are also
 many international chapters.
 http://www.indymedia.org/
 http://italy.indymedia.org/
 
 
 34) The Latest Political and Intelligence News
 Global strategic information.
 http://www.intelligenceonline.com/p_index.asp
 
 
 35) InterPress Service
 IPS, the world's leading provider of information on global human
 security, is backed by a network of journalists in more than 100
 countries with satellite telecommunications links to 1,200 media
 outlets. Available in 9 languages.
 http://ips.link.no/eng/last.html
 
 
 36) Investigative Reporters and Editors
 National Journalism Organizations
 http://www.ire.org/
 
 
 37) Joel Skousen
 Joel Skousen is a political scientist, by training, specializing
 in the philosophy of law and Constitutional theory, and is also
 a designer of high security residences and retreats.
 He brings back news and highly interesting reports on World
 Affairs, Strategic Relocation, Security and Philosophy and
 Governement Law.
 http://www.joelskousen.com/
 
 
 38) Media Beat
 Media Beat is the insightful weekly syndicated column on media
 and politics written by FAIR associate Norman Solomon. It runs
 in newspapers across the country.
 http://www.fair.org/media-beat/
 
 
 39) Media Channel
 MediaChannel is a media issues supersite, featuring criticism,
 breaking news, and investigative reporting from hundreds of
 organizations worldwide. MediaChannel slogan "As the media watch
 the world, we watch the media" well portrays its role and
 position. News updates, discussion forums and mailing list.
 Highly informative.
 http://www.mediachannel.org/atissue/conflict/
 
 
 40) Mother Jones
 News and resources for the sceptical citizen.
 http://www.motherjones.com/
 
 
 41) Media Workers Against the War
 To promote pluralism in debate, the free flow of information,
 and the public scrutiny of official pronouncements.
 http://www.mwaw.org/
 
 
 42) New Netizen
 Get free, get freedom.
 http://www.newnetizen.com/
 
 
 43) Nexus Magazine
 Research magazine available also in print format provides behind
 the scenes news and information as well as suppressed science
 and alternative health. http://www.nexusmagazine.com/
 http://www.nexusmagazine.com/overview.html
 
 
 44) No More Fake News
 The real news reported everyday
 http://www.nomorefakenews.com/
 
 
 45) Online Journal
 Building a new news media of, by and for the people. Alternative
 news and articles.
 http://www.onlinejournal.com/
 
 
 46) Tom Paine
 A journal of opinion and alternative views, inspired by Thomas
 Paine, author of Common Sense and The Rights of Man.
 http://www.tompaine.com/
 
 
 47) Poynter.org
 Everything you need to be a better journalist.
 http://www.poynter.org
 http://www.poynter.org/Terrorism/
 
 
 48) Pravda, Russian news service in English -
 for a balance in the news
 http://english.pravda.ru/
 
 
 49) The Psychological Operations Alert
 (presently inaccessible!)
 Still it is possible to access this alternative news site
 through the advanced use of Google features. Search for
 "psyopnews" and then access the "Cached" version of those pages.
 E.g.:
 http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:SbQJ4uUIM9E:63.116.178.41/M
 S/Terrorism/EYEWITNESSES%2520SAW%2520UNMARKED%2520PLANE%2520.htm
 +psyopnews&hl=en
 
 http://www.psyopnews.com PsyOpNEWS.com
 
 
 50) The Professional Paranoid Home Page
 Definition: someone who wishes to aid and support those accused
 of being paranoid, especially when help has been denied
 elsewhere. Conspiracy and cover action analysis and news.
 http://www.proparanoid.com
 
 
 51) Jeff Rense
 Investigative, visionary and research guru Jeff Rense brings his
 views and reports to the open public on a number of very hot
 issues. Dramatic site look, many images and visuals, and a lack
 of adequate site organization and navigation tools do not
 overshadow the high quality content and deep questioning about
 key US international issues brought forward.
 http://www.rense.com/general14/americansdemand.htm
 
 
 52) Silent Majority
 A dissenting news commentary site from the UK.
 http://www.silentmajority.co.uk/
 
 
 53) Skolnicks Report
 Pretty interesting articles and commentaries. Strong stuff. Be
 ready to read what you would have hardly suspected had the news
 been brought to you only by mainstream controlled media.
 http://www.skolnicksreport.com
 
 
 54) Behind the news - TiM
 Bob Djurdevic
 http://www.truthinmedia.org
 http://www.truthinmedia.org/news.html
 
 
 55) War News
 News about other ongoing conflicts and for news about other
 ongoing conflicts that no one talks about.
 http://www.warnews.it/
 
 
 56) What Are We Swallowing
 A great alternative news site offering up-to-date commentaries
 and articles within a dramatic and highly visual layout.
 http://www.whatareweswallowing.com
 http://www.whatareweswallowing.freeserve.co.uk/
 
 
 57) What Really Happened
 One of the best alternative news sources accessible today.
 It offers very exhaustive and well organized content challenging
 all of the main assumptions on major news facts. Well done.
 A must read for truth seekers!
 http://www.whatreallyhappened.com
 
 
 58) William Cooper
 Very interesting alternative news stories, well researched and
 documented. Lots of good reading and mind food. Find an
 especially rich report, documented with many relevant links to
 official news sources and several questioning articles at:
 http://www.williamcooper.com/
 http://www.williamcooper.com/vnsexclusivesarchives6.html#who
 
 
 59) Will Thomas
 Canadian investigative writer Will Thomas reports on all major
 international scams with good insight, references and visual
 support. Recommended.
 http://Lifeboatnews.com
 
 
 60) World Net Daily
 A Free Press for a Free People
 Independent news source. Aggregates interesting news articles
 from other world independent news sources
 http://www.worldnetdaily.com
 
 
 61) World Socialist Web Site
 Provides international news and analysis.
 http://www.wsws.org/
 
 Find an interesting dossier at:
 US planned war in Afghanistan long before September 11
 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/afgh-n20.shtml
 
 
 62) We Hold These Truths
 ...exposing the traceable links between the behind-the-scenes
 power groups, and the critical political events of the day
 http://www.whtt.org/
 
 
 63) Netizens for Spin-Free News
 Alternative news site for cover-ups, behind the scenes info and
 other alternative views on major issues.
 http://www.yowusa.com/
 
 
 64) Znet
 A community of people committed to social change.
 A rich news and commentaries web site. Many contributions,
 editorials and space for interaction through forums and
 discussion areas.
 http://www.zmag.org
 
 Emergency: Terrorism and War ZNet's highlighted essays organized
 by author and focus. Anthology of 245 anti-war recent articles
 appeared in the media http://www.zmag.org/terrorframe.htm
 
 
 
 
 * Directories - Lists *
 
 
 65) Alternative Resources on the U.S. "War Against Terrorism"
 http://www.pitt.edu/~ttwiss/irtf/Alternative.html
 
 
 66) Alternative News Sources
 http://www.agrnews.org/media_links.html
 
 
 67) Google Directory on Alternative News Sources
 http://directory.google.com/Top/News/Alternative_Media/Alternati
 ve_News_and_Info/
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 68) ODP Directory of Alternative Media
 http://dmoz.org/News/Alternative_Media/
 
 
 69) ODP Directory of Alternative News and Information Sources
 http://dmoz.org/News/Alternative_Media/Alternative_News_and_Info/
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 70) List of Lists - Internet Directory
 Home > Top > News > Alternative Media > Alternative News and
 Info
 http://www.listoflists.com/Top/News/Alternative_Media/Alternativ
 e_News_and_Info/
 (the URL above may be broken in two lines - make sure you copy
 and paste the complete Internet address in your browser URL box)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
 3) 10 ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION ONLINE
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Writing relevant research articles, reports and surveys is a
 great method to create exposure for yourself and your Internet
 projects. In fact, I would consider the online world one of the
 best PR, PA and marketing tools you can use.
 
 Here are 9 very basic guidelines to ensure quality, integrity
 and readability of your articles to be published online.
 
 
 1. Write serving a specific purpose. 
 Before writing an article, ask yourself what problem it will
 help others solve. Some of the more common issues people deal
 with revolve around a lack of something, whether it's time,
 money, self-confidence or just joy in life. How will your
 article help with these issues.
 
 2. Grab the attention of your readers early. 
 If possible, intend to "hook" your reader right from the
 beginning. Ideally, your title should be the hook. When creating
 the title, ask yourself if it would make you want to read the
 article. Your first paragraph should also serve as a hook, as
 well as a general introduction to the article content.
 
 3. Write to one person only. 
 Forget the fact your article will be read by many people and
 write as if you were addressing one specific person. Think of
 him in front of you and tell him your story.
 
 4. Keep the a very clear and logical sequence. 
 This is where it shows if you have done your homework in school.
 If you have not, you should better look at who writes good and
 outstanding reports and copy and refine its basic writing
 structure.
 
 5. Keep your paragraphs short. 
 Ideally, 4-6 lines per paragraph is what you want to shoot for.
 It looks and feels much more appealing to the reader to see
 "bite-sized" paragraphs.
 
 6. Inspire action in your article. 
 If your article is, in fact, intended to solve a common problem,
 give people practical suggestions for taking action.
 
 7. Let others understand your story.
 When possible, create analogies with other situations or
 concepts that your readers can easily refer to and identify
 with. Make it easy for your reader to relate to your ideas. That
 will also make it easier for your reader to apply your ideas in
 their life.
 
 8. Review.
 Summarize the article in the final paragraphs. Briefly review
 the main points of your article, and provide guidance to your
 readers in how they can now transfer and apply the insight
 derived into their life or professional interests.
 
 9. Don't forget the resource box.
 Provide a brief resource box following your article. It should
 tell a little about you, your credentials and your organization,
 how you serve others and how to contact you. Be sure to include
 your URL and email address with an invitation to contact you or
 visit your site.
 
 10. Give reference.
 Provide as much annotated reference and links to other relevant
 content, sources, and complementary articles available online as
 possible.