9/11 CultWatch

Welcome To The 9/11 Cultwatch Blog

Thank you for visiting the 9/11 Cultwatch blog.

We have watched with alarm the spread of the 9/11 'truth' movement. We oppose its venal analysis, lazy research, dubious politics and the anti-semitism that lies at its core. Unopposed these ideas will spread - the 'truth' movement has already spawned a ginger headed stepson - the 7/7 'truth' movement - other flawed campaigns will no doubt follow.

From the e mails and personal approaches we are receiving, it is obvious that the message of 9/11 Cultwatch is spreading.

You too can help us. We value information on 'truth' activities. If you have a blog or website, why not link to this site? Lacking the financial backing of wealthy cranks like Jimmy Walter or Belinda Mckenzie, means this blog takes adverts to pay its way. If you see any Google Ads here that interest you - click on them. We earn money from that.

Finally 9/11 Cultwatch will consider approaches to speak at conferences, public meetings and to the media about the 9/11 'truth' movement and its offshoots. Feel free to get in touch.

You can follow me, this blog and the I Intend To Escape blog on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/MrPaulStott

Discord At The David Icke Forum

I am not aware of a conspiracist forum as popular as that of David Icke. With approaching 70,000 members, it is home to the weird and not so wonderful, as well as a few lurking critics like myself.

All it seems is not well in this forum for discussing everything from 9/11 truth through to Cryptozoology, with the focus, naturally, being on Icke's own work. The trouble at t'mill seems to centre on website users trying to recruit members for rival forums. The following personal message has been sent to all forum members:

Have you been sent a PM inviting you to join another forum or website?

If so please be aware that a small handful of other forums/websites out there have been set-up by individuals with a personal axe to grind, who are out to harm and disrupt this forum by recruiting members on here in order to promote an anti David Icke Forum/David Icke agenda.

If you receive any correspondence from another member inviting you to a place you feel is at odds with this forum please feel free to report it to one of the moderators or admin team on this forum. You can do so by clicking on the red triangle with exclamation mark in the middle (located at the bottom left of the PM) or by simply forwarding the PM to one of the team.

Over the years we've had numerous anti David Icke Forum/David Icke websites spring up and unfortunately a tiny minority of our members get fooled into joining them. Many lies are usually spread about this place and about David in order for the recruitment drive to be successful and as a consequence people get banned in the process.

The reason people were/are banned here is for linking to sites that are predominantly set up to promote an anti David Icke Forum/David Icke agenda and bad mouth site staff or David; And [arrogantly] using this sites resources to promote it!

This is something we simply do not tolerate. Any owners or members of other forums/websites caught doing so will find their accounts banned without warning.

If you would like to discuss this off the forum via email feel free to email me at webmaster@davidicke.com (mailto:webmaster@davidicke.com).

*Please note: This PM has been sent to all members. *

Certainly the tone of Icke's message is that of the concerned businessman. How dare someone use his shopfloor to advertise a rival trader? So much for the free flow of thought and ideas. Secondly it would be nice to think that Icke's greed, anti-Semitism and irrational view of the world has prompted these small acts of rebellion. Has it?

Conspiracy Theory In International Politics

CALL FOR PAPERS: Conspiracy theories in international politics

Panels for the ISA's annual convention, San Fransisco 2013

Theme: The Politics of International Diffusion: Regional and Global Dimensions
April 3-6, 2013, at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square; San Francisco, California, USA

http://www.isanet.org/annual_convention/call-for-papers.html/

Co-convenors: Stefanie Ortmann (University of Sussex) and John Heathershaw (University of Exeter)

Conspiracy theories have been identified as an increasingly prevalent mode of social and political discourse which seem to have important transnational and international dimensions. Research has shown that they have proliferated in American society and politics through the twentieth century, and can be found in all regions of world politics, perhaps especially in the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. Early analyses suggested that conspiracy theories were pathologies, evidence of a 'paranoid style' of politics or dysfunctions of pubic discourse found particularly in totaliterian societies, subject to social psychological explanations. However, the emergence of Conspiracy Theory Studies since about 2000 has been dominated from scholars in History, Humanities and Cultural Studies. This research embarks from the premise that CTs can be understood in sociological terms as the expression of an increasing lack of autonomy in the face of uncontrollable forces, such as globalization, narratives of terrorist threats etc. In spite of this obvious link to themes of international politics, conspiracy theories have recevied little or no attention from scholars in Political Science and International Relations.

We intend to submit up to two panels on conspiracy theories to address the conference theme of international diffusion, focusing particularly on a comparative study of conspiracy theories in different regions of world politics and considering their transational forms and international diffusions. On the other hand we are interested in the workings of conspiracy theories in Europe and the US, relating to globalization, terrorism, the fall-out from the global economic crisis and similar themes. These are preliminary suggestions: We would like to here from potential presenters interested in submitting a paper on any aspect of conspiracy theories in international politics.

Please contact:

John Heathershaw (j.d.heathershaw@ex.ac.uk)

Stefanie Ortmann (s.ortmann@sussex.ac.uk)

Deadline for expressions of interest: Friday 25 May, 2012

Deadline for full abstracts: Tuesday 29 May, 2012

9/11 Truth? Transcript of My September 2011 Interview With George Galloway

Who said 'truthers' were useless?

One conspiracy site, Living With The Conspiracy 24-7, has been good enough to type up a transcript of my interview on George Galloway's Talk Sport programme on 9 September 2011. There is the odd typo in there, and the transcript slightly mangles my explanation of why we consider 'truth' activists to be a cult, but all in all its probably more accurate than any other 'truth' material to come out this year!

You can read the transcript, and play the interview again, here.

Finally I was greatly impressed by the titles added to the article at the end, as subject headings:

"Published April 21, 2012 9-11 , conspiracy , false flag , lies , Mass murder , scam , sci-fi , spin , war OF terror , Zionist fetish"

I am not sure what 'Zionist fetish' is, but if my wife finds out I have been engaging in it I may be in some trouble..........

BBC Giving Platform To 7/7 Conspiracists?

A couple of different sources have been in touch with 9/11 Cultwatch to tell us about Renegade Pictures, who are working on a programme for the BBC.

The intention of this programme seems to be, at least in part, to give a platform to those who dispute the 'official' story of the 7/7 attacks. The eventual product will be screened on BBC3. Given the somewhat 'mature' nature of many high profile 7/7 conspiracists - Dr Mohammed Naseem, Nick Kollerstrom and Muad’Dib (alias Anthony John Hill) to name but three - Renegade Pictures may struggle to find the 5 activists aged between 18-35 they are apparently looking for.

Anyway - we await any such programme with interest.

A Variation on 2012 Apocalypse

Yesterday's Sun newspaper had a different variation on the Mayan 2012 end of the world claims.

Two whole pages were devoted to Michael Carroll's feature on Cornish computer repair man Larry Peters, who is stockpiling food and attempting to live self-sufficiently in readiness for a giant solar flare striking the earth. The term sometimes used for survivalists like Mr Peters is preppers. Here is an insight into his thinking:

"By the end of 2012 a huge flare is predicted that will wipe all this out. It will be a total breakdown of society, complete anarchy. Lots of people are going to die. The government and the super-rich know this is going to happen and they are prepared. That leaves the rest of us to fend for ourselves".

Several problems emerge. Firstly no evidence is offered that the British government and the rich actually do know that the world is going to end this year, and no insights into changes in their behaviour or practices are offered. No scientific evidence is presented as to the likelihood of such a strike on earth. Rather like many 9/11 'truthers' it does emerge where Peters is getting his information from:

"Once he opens his computer repair shop, Larry spends three hours checking for solar flare updates, looks on You Tube for new conspiracy theory videos and catches up with preppers from across the world"

Clearly business is far from booming in the computer repairs world! Interestingly we also gain an insight into how Larry Peters reached the views he has - from reading a web posting on solar flares by US conspiracist Jessie Ventura. Then

"I watched his documentary and conducted my own research online"

And that sums up so much. No need to read a book, journal or speak to an expert in the field of solar flares, we can all do it ourselves on line. We are all experts. They only problem is, a lot of people aren't.

 

Anthony J. Hilder: The Greatest Turkey

Having childcare responsibilities this afternoon, I decided to watch a bit of TV in the hope the boys would fall asleep. 

They did not, but I still managed to watch the whole of Anthony J Hilder's film 9/11 The Greatest Lie Ever Sold. Those of you with satellite packages can go to Channel 200 and watch Controversial TV, where hours of this type of pap is available. I tweeted some comments as I watched it, but all the usual 'truth' standbys were here. Take casual racism - we were informed the 19 hijackers could barely speak English and were more used to riding camels than driving a car. Yet 15 of these men were from Saudi Arabia, the wealthiest and most developed of the Arab nations. Leader Mohammad Atta was far from being a rural hick but an Architecture student who spoke Arabic, English and German. I doubt we can say the same for Mr Hilder.

Hilder pushed repeatedly the need for the left and right to come together (and he calls others fascist!) in this instance ideological unity is required, not against the Bolshevik menace but the New World Order. Indeed so curious was Hilder's world view that he thinks that China is still a Communist country - in case he has not noticed, China's capitalist economy is outstripping even that of the United States. 

Some big names from the world of conspiracy turn up - Jim Marrs, with Lydon Larouche probably deserving the long service award in this field - but I was particularly impressed by a new name to me - Will Thomas. He states that no fewer than seven of the 19 9/11 hijackers are still alive.

I offer a simple challenge to 9/11 'truthers' - both in the West and the Arab world. I will close this blog if you can achieve an interview with any living 9/11 hijacker. Surely one of the seven is willing to make his fortune by coming out to the world's press?

2012 and The Maya Calendar - Do Not Despair

As lovers of all things conspiratorial and apocalyptic should be aware, 2012 may be the biggie.

Certain interpretations of the Mayan calendar appear to suggest there is no ‘time’ after 21 December 2012. Good news if you have a bank loan you don’t want to pay back, or you want to wriggle out of buying lots of Christmas presents, bad news if you rather like life and want to make the most of it in 2013.  So, in excitement not known since the millennium bug failed to interfere with the working of one single computer, this is the year the Mayan calendar allegedly predicts will be our last. For those looking to battle through the various conspiracy theories, scam artists and genuine believers of this, I recommend the March 2012 issue of Fortean Times, which devotes its front cover and no less than 14 pages to doomsday 2012.

Former BBC Religious Affairs correspondent Ted Harrison gives us a good summary of how the Maya calculation was apparently reached, whilst also looking at some of the other attempts made to predict the end of the world. Special mention here must go to US evangelist Harold Camping who made a fool of himself not once but twice in 2011 by predicting the end of the world. Rather unsatisfactorily Harrison tells us Camping’s supporters have made a further prediction for 2012, but then ruins things by not telling us the date they have suggested. What a tease! For the record, it seems on-line sources are placing this third date as 21 October 2012. Perhaps Camping and his supporters are work on the old 'bullseye' approach - throw enough darts, and you will hit the bullseye eventually!

Joseph Gelfer takes a more political stance by considering the manner in which 2012 prophecies may hijack elements from indigenous cultures in a way new age activists have been doing for some time (often at considerable financial benefit to themselves) Jose Arguelles and his ‘Dreamspell Calendar' and Drunvalo Melchizedek’s use of Maori culture are both critiqued. Much to my delight John W Hoopes “The Hidden History of 2012” suggests that the big day may not be 21 December at all but the 23^rd, before he takes us through some of the variations 2012 theorists have adopted. It is worth quoting one sentence from his article in full:

“2012 has become a vehicle for new mythologies, from the liberation of information to the Occupy movement. There are serious problems in the world, from global warming to revolution, but the idea that the ancient Maya prophesised change in our time is ludicrous.”

Kevin Whitesides is possibly being a tad wordy when he takes on Terence McKenna’s concept of a “balkanisation of epistemology” taking place,  but he is probably on the right lines. We increasingly have a world where ‘experts’ attempt to use their theories to prove virtually anything – and in the process prove nothing. This tactic can even be adapted to  suggest the exact opposite of a particular discourse – Whiteside’s article is illustrated by an apocalyptic drawing marked “The Beginning Is Near”. Ever the salesman David Icke has talked of 2012 as not the end of the world, but the beginning…… (provided of course you adopt his approach to life!

For some reason placed many pages back in the magazine, Richard Stanley relates how the small French village of Bugarach, lying below Mount Bugarach, is the reluctant home to scores of new age visitors who believe the mountain is a UFO base. Fortean Times illustrates this article with a picture of a new age group meeting in the shadow of the mountain, with most the delegates dressed in white – how long until our very own David Shayler pops up in south west France?
Jokers like Shayler aside, there can be a serious angle to such developments. As the end of 1999 approached, Israeli police in particular were on edge concerning US Christians entering the holy land who it was feared may be involved in either mass suicides or acts of terrorism. A French civil servant from its anti-cult body, one Georges Fenech, is reportedly prepared to take preventative measures should similar issues arise in Bugarach in the run up to 21 December 2012.

The Winter Solstice has rarely been as exciting – or as profitable. Whether it is actually dangerous or not is another matter entirely.

 

Conspiracist Quote of the Day: 4

When I had responsibility for answering mail to the Class War Federation, I would estimate 2-3% of the letters we received were from people with mental health problems.

I have no idea if this is common to all political organisations, or if CW was any more or less prone to such correspondence. Sometimes it was very entertaining. One man in Blackpool was convinced he was being spied upon by the town's CCTV (you may be right I told him, that's what it's for) but he was probably incorrect when he claimed secret messages were being passed to him via advertisements on Blackpool bus shelters (Why they were using the buses, and not the trams for this intimidation was unexplained).

As always in Class War, we encouraged those under attack by the state to fightback. This approach was not without its consequent victories. Our Blackpool correspondent was insistent that the reason David Blunkett resigned as Home Secretary in 2004 was nothing to do with 'nannygate', but his own work exposing the harrassment Blunkett had conducted of him via the Blackpool district bus system. A second correspondent, Gaz Derbyshire, wrote such long letters I am not sure a team of secretaries could have covered every point raised. In 2006 Gaz, probably wisely, instead put his thoughts into book form, the catchily titled "Book 1, Part A, First Contact? Do, Re, Me, In God I Trust" with the subheading Complete Re-Writes.For some reason the authors were listed as Gaz Derbyshire, Gary Martyn and Arch Principle, even though I am sure this was Gaz's work alone.

Showing he was no fan of political correctness, Gaz had illustrated the front cover with a confederate flag, and a further ten books were promised in a series of eleven. Where the other ten books are I know not, but Gaz Derbyshire needs to  be added to the list of those with alleged foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks. As he states in his book:

"In addition in Book IV, which was in March 2001, I was given informal information as to the amount of actual plane hijackers for the 11th of September 2001 terrorist attacks, namely that of 'nineteen'. This above information was received from a woman called "Julie Madison" who had worked at one time for a solicitors firm in London that represented the company providing engineering skills for the Iraqi Big Gun" (p.xciii)

There are several things I particularly like about this quote. The Iraqi connection is entertaining and so general it is a wonder it did not end up in the case for invading Iraq Alastair Campbell and Tony Blair were pushing in 2002-2003. Also we have the figure of 19 hijackers known, to a London Solicitor, as early as March 2001.
This means the various press articles naming Zacarias Moussaoui as the intended twentieth hijacker (and indeed parts of his trial) are rather superflous. We also have the figure of Ramzi Binalshibh, a Guantanamo Bay resident widely seen as one of the planners of 9/11. According to Yosri Fouda and Nick Fielding's book on 9/11, Binalshibh made strenous efforts to get himself into the US so he could take part in the 9/11 attacks. He was unsuccesful, which handily ensured the numbers being discussed in London remained accurate. 

Then again, it could be that the claim Julie Madison (who she?) knew the number of 9/11 attackers eight months beforehand is bollocks. I will allow the reader to decide!

A Hint At David Icke's Financial Empire?

I have only just been alerted to the Daily Mail of 7 January which contained a piece on Pamela Leigh Richards and her divorce from David Icke.

The web version of this, updated on 9 January, can be viewed here. Researchers have long wondered just how much Icke makes from his incessant touring, conferences, book and DVD sales and subscription website, and more pertintently where that money is then invested. Whilst much of the article is the type of frippery you may expect - Icke allegedly began to suspect Pamela was a shape-shifter when their relationship began to deteriorate - the news that she has been holding out for large settlement, and even demanding 'immense' sums does of course reiterate what a cottage industry Icke has built over the past two decades.

So, will the settlement buy her silence, or will we get an insight into just how much money there is in conspiracy theory?

Using The Truth Movement....

Or alternatively 'I used to be a 9/11 Truth Activist, But I'm Alright Now'.

You have to hand it to Annie Machon. She gets the Vancouver branch of the 9/11 Truth movement to promote her speaking tour in Canada in May, but manages to have a CV that has now been stripped of any involvement in 'truth' activism.

Way to go Annie. I think the word I am looking for is chutzpah.

Happy New Year To 9/11 Cultwatch Visitors

There has been a quiet period on this blog, but that will soon change.

We will soon start again the series of conspiracist quotes, as allowing truthers to express themselves in their own words is one of the best mechanisms against them we have. Over in the United States the issue has emerged of the extent Republican Presidential hopeful Ron Paul is a support of the truth movement. Certainly here in the UK truth activists regarded him as their man, hence the regular presence of 'truth' activists bearing the words 'Google Ron Paul' on major demonstrations in the capital. If Paul's candidacy is to continue, he will have to decide which side of the fence he stands.

I am currently working on an article for the next issue of Notes From the Borderland magazine on a decade of 9/11 truth, which should appear in the next month or so. In the meantime, 9/11 Cultwatch relies so heavily on those who send us information. Keep it coming!

Teaching About Terrorism and 'Conspiracy' Theory

I have just completed a one hour lecture on Terrorism and Conspiracy Theory, and followed it up with three seminars to undergraduates on the same subject.

The main things I wanted to get across to students were the historical scale of conspiracy theories, that they can be accelerated by secrecy, government dishonesty and incompetence and that the Internet has allowed them to go in a thousand and one different directions. I then focused on the 9/11 Truth Movement, looking at some of its core beliefs, MIHOP (that the US government made the attacks happen on purpose) and LIHOP (let it happen on purpose) and the uses that are made of the following quote from the neo-Cons Project For A New American Century:

"Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event – like a new Pearl Harbour" (2000, 51).

This of course 'proves' that the Bush administration either allowed 9/11 to happen or arranged it! I also covered some issues around race, religion and conspiracy theory, and that whilst black American groups such as the Nation of Islam may be paranoid, that has not always meant that in the past that no one was out to 'get' black Americans!

In the closing part of the lecture I covered some of the responses to 'truth' activism - the papers of groups such as Demos, writers like Jon Ronson, David Aaronovitch and Damian Thompson, and the belated responses by the US government. Concluding comments centred on whether there is a 'template' of conspiracist ideals - core elements that can be found in all arguments, and whether we can see in this, glimpses of future conspiracy theories. Most of all I hope students took away the impression that the Internet, as well as being a tool for good, can also retard debate. Look around some workplaces at lunch or break times, and instead of talking to workmates, many people are sat there playing with their I-Phones and Blackberrys. What happens when most people, get most of their news, most of time, from the Internet?

In the seminars, I asked students to consider two things. What  questions did they have outstanding with regards to 9/11, and to what extent should opinion formers, polticians and government seek to respond to 'truth' theories. To stimulate some debate I distributed photocopies of an A5 'truth' leaflet from 2006 "It's 5 Years Since the Attacks on 9/11" - this largely focused on the argument controlled demolition brought down WTC 1, 2 and 7, plus provided suggestions witnesses heard explosions before the towers came down.

Some of the 'celebrity' supporters of 9/11 truth that were listed - Charlie Sheen and David Shayler - had not stood the test of time very well, all three groups roared with laughter at the mention of Mr Sheen. Answers on the first question were few and far between (most student's were clearly sheeple, as they seemed to broadly agree Bin Laden did it) whilst the second brought more mixed answers.
The difficulty of 'responding' to truth arguments was stressed, as was the lack of any named sources for the 'scientific' evidence presented. On one level I was left feeling slightly more optimistic than I had expected to be - students appear to want to discuss evidence and to see named sources for claims that are made - freeze framed pictures of 'premature' explosions did not seem to impress them.

This may be a protest generation. But on this evidence at least, it is unlikely to go up the blind alley of 'truth' activism.

Conspiracist Quote of the Day: 3

"In his previous work, The Secret Society of Freemasons Revealed, Almighty God Dawud Allah explains that nine out of every ten Caucasian babies are born with tails. While this secret has been hidden by Doctors (who are all Masons) Dawud names it as the reason for a preponderance of the word "tail" in white speech ("heads or tails," "boy I will beat your tail," "tailgate party"). It would be a mistake to consider Almighty God Dawud Allah's work as representing the Five Percenters' intellectual highpoint."

From Michael Muhammad Knight, The Five Percenters: Islam, Hip Hop and the Gods of New York (Oxford: One World, 2009) p.196.

Conspiracist Quote of the Day: 2

Headline news in the UK yesterday was the Leveson Inquiry into the conduct of the media.

All a waste of time if they had consulted David Icke, who in this mailing of 30 December 2010, reminds us that the media (and just about everything else) is controlled by the Rothschild-Zionists:

"that the Rothschild Zionists control the mainstream media; Hollywood and the movie industry; governments, not least in the United States; and crucially in the light of current events, they control global finance and commerce."

Classic Conspiracist Quote of the Day

Welcome to a new series on 9/11 Cultwatch where each morning (if I get round to it) I will bring you a classic quote from the weird and wonderful worlds of 9/11 truth and related conspiracy thinking.

To start the ball rolling, lets look back to 2006, when David Shayler and Annie Machon expressed the view that no planes hit the twin towers on 9/11. Annie likes to style herself as a serious columnist in The Guardian these days, commenting on the security services, policing and civil liberties. Those considering her views really should take her long term double act with David into account, in the years before the big man turned all David Icke on us.

This is from Brendan O'Neill's 11 September 2006 interview in the New Statesman:

"We know for certain that the official story of 9/11 isn't true," says Shayler. "The twin towers did not collapse because of planes and fire; they were brought down in a controlled demolition. The Pentagon was most likely hit by an American missile, not an aeroplane." Machon nods. In black trousers and black top, this sophisticated blonde in her late thirties comes across more like a schoolmarm than a 9/11 anorak. "The Pentagon's anti-missile defence system would definitely have picked up and dealt with a commercial airliner. We can only assume that whatever hit the Pentagon was sending a friendly signal. A missile fired by a US military plane would have sent a friendly signal." She says this in a kind of Anna Ford-style newsreader's voice, as if she were speaking the truth and nothing but the truth. She takes another sip of tea.

Check back later for more of the same - there is plenty more where that came from!

Uncon 2011 - Views Sought

It seems Fortean Times are emailing those who bought tickets online for Uncon 2011, asking for their views.

I am never sure how much surveys are listened to, but I completed it, urging Fortean Times to reduce or hold the prices next year, to vastly increase the number of stalls, and to seek to involve the magazines readership far more in the event. A series of small talks or discussions is more people centred and progressive than being lectured at on six seperate occasions from a big stage.

Lets see what happens in 2012..............

Jon Ronson At Uncon 2011

I spent this morning at the annual Fortean Times covention - Uncon 2011, held at the Camden Centre in London.

The last time I was at the Camden Centre was in the days the London Anarchist Bookfair was held there. I have to say that event probably rather spoiled me - Uncon has considerably less going on, and at £32.35 including booking fee for a one day ticket, the pricing structure is also somewhat different. Todays session had a room with a coffee bar and six stalls, and then in the main arena six one hour talks on the big stage. Of these the only one that really floated my boat was Jon Ronson, discussing his book The Psychopath Test.

I have apparently met Ronson before (he wrote a sarcastic report for Time Out on a Class War public meeting in Brixton in 1993) but was pleasantly surprised by just how funny he was and how capably he dealt with a thirty minute Q&A session. Ronson's talk took in the Scientologists, a Broadmoor inmate who says he faked mental illness to avoid a long prison sentence, and his experience meeting some of the leading figures in mental health such as Robert Hare. Ronson attended Hare's classes so as to be able to use his psychopath checklist. From Hare, Ronson took the idea that many corporate CEO's display psychopathic tendencies, and indeed that these ideals are actually a boon for business careers. A lack of empathy, remorselessness and a superficial charm are benefits in corporate life. Hare estimates that whilst only 1 person in 100 is a psychopath, 4 in 100 CEOs are. More recently both George Monbiot and Horizon have adapted these arguments.

Before we all rush to work and ask our boss if he minds sitting through the PCL-R test before his first meeting of the morning, Ronson did offer a clear warning of the dangers of untrained amateurs rushing about in the this field, plus secondly the obvious problems with labelling people. Throwing the floor open for questions, this point was again re-emphasised, with Ronson arguing he hopes the first half of the book may allow the reader to become power crazed, the second half to realise the error of their ways.

Ronson expressed relief that his work on conspiracy theorists was conducted before 9/11. He takes the view that he was the first person outside of the 'conspiratorial left or right' to look at the Bilderberg meetings, and that these events now get serious press coverage. Ronson was scathing about the 9/11 'truth' movement, arguing its humourless nature meant it was impossible to empathise with them (and presumeably to make good television out of them!)

Those expecting Jon Ronson to use his platform to criticise the pharmaceutical industry, or the health industry may have been disappointed. His position here is, he insists, evidence based. The only trend he is aware of that lacks any evidence for it is childhood bi-polar disorder. Here children 2-3 years old are being labelled as bi-polar because of what are in effect temper tantrums - with the pharmaceutical lobby and pushy parents happy to revel in 'treatments' for this condition.

More generally in the questions Ronson praised The Guardian for its high moral stance, something that suggests he is unaware of the more critical literature about The Guardian/Observer to emerge in recent years, or the treatment of certain Guardian journalists such as Michael Gillard and Laurie Flynn. He ended by pointing out pyschopathic tendencies are ideal for some of the business practices that have proved so damaging to the economy in recent years - the sub-prime market and asset stripping need a short term, get rich quick and never mind the consequences mentality. The long term businessman behaves in exactly the opposite way.

Uncon 2011 continues today and tomorrow. If the prices are held, or come down, I may well attend next year, but the organisers should throw the event open to Fortean Times subscribers a lot more. Until they do, Uncon won't achieve what it could.

Fortean Times - Uncon 2011

This weekend, I will be one of many punters attending the 2011 Fortean Times gathering in central London.

Held on Saturday and Sunday, with tickets at £30 a pop (plus booking fee) I can only afford to go to Uncon 2011 on the Saturday, which does have Jon Ronson speaking at 1000 on the Psycopath Test. No I have not tried it yet.

If you are a reader of 9/11 Cultwatch or Notes From the Borderland and you see me wondering about - do stop me and say hello.

Occupied With Conspiracy Theories?

Spencer Sunshine has written an interesting summary of the occupy movement and some of the less savoury characters which have appeared in its slipstream.

Focusing on events in the United States, and placing them in an historical context, occupied with conspiracy theories appears courtesy of the ever informative Shift magazine.

Emel Magazine + Dr Mohammad Naseem = Comedy Gold?

Emel is a Muslim lifestyle magazine, distributed nationally. I get mine, every two or three issues or so, from Sainsbury's in Dalston.

Each issue contains a two page feature, Migrant Memories, where a senior Muslim reflects on their life here in Britain. November's, headed 'Serving the Society' features Dr Mohammad Naseem, Chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque, former (?) financier of the Respect Party and owner of one of the best syrup and figs in the West Midlands.

Dr Naseem is of course well known to visitors to this blog for his prominent role as a 7/7 conspiracy theorist, indeed shortly after the London Bombings he was using public platforms in the West Midlands to insist it was impossible any Muslims could be involved in the attacks. This bizarre position continued even after the first suicide video - that of ringleader Mohammad Sidique Khan - surfaced. Since then he has popped up in the BBC's Conspiracy Files programme working with leading 9/11 'truther' Tony Gosling, and distributing a DVD around his mosque which argues Israel was responsible for the 7/7 attacks.

More recently Birmingham Central Mosque has threatened to sue Prime Minister David Cameron, after he mentioned it in connection to conspiracy theories about terrorist attacks. Oddly eight months on there is no news of a writ landing on the doormat at number ten, and Dr Naseem does not take the opportunity to update Emel's readership on this important case. So what do we get from the great man?

Well in terms of controversy, very little. He tells us about his belief in inter-faith dialogue and the Rabbi he worked with after 9/11 - sadly we are not told if the mosques 'Jewish Comrades' have received one of their copies of 7/7 Ripple Effect. Things look as if they might get interesting when Dr Naseem tells us that some of his 'decisions in the public arena have sparked controversy' but there follows merely an unremarkable passage about appointing women to public posts. How the good Doctor views himself is interesting, saying he is a "strong critic of the political establishment when it enfringes on our rights as citizens of a democratic country" - it is hard to place 7/7 or 9/11 'truth' activism in this context.

So - no mention of Respect, nothing about suing the Prime Minister, and of course nothing about 7/7 suicide videos being created by the security services to frame Muslims. On balance, we are left with the conclusion that Emel - rather like secular lifestyle magazines - prefers the anodoyne and the uncontroversial, to the dramatic and downright odd. Still, they have achieved the near impossible - they have provided a platform where Mohammad Naseem comes across as rational.