It's a bit soft Archived Message Posted by walter on April 29, 2020, 12:23 pm, in reply to "Jonathan Cook on Conspiracy Theories" JC pitches an overcautious position and cements it in with references to lizards and strawmen like the Vodafone fantasist. He is of course correct that the underlying issue is the need for a new media, but in order to make this case he seems to retreat on some of the issues which drive his case. This doesn't do campaigners on those issues any favours. It's interesting that he leads with 5G on which he admits he knows, essentially, nothing. But in keeping to his 'middle ground' Cook falls into a trap. He believes the issue is a lack of research and 5G safety testing. He seems unaware that there is an option d) - ie there is already sufficient evidence to be demanding a halt to further saturation of our environment with EMF waves - and 5G will probably add to this by an order of magnitude. Unlike his examples relating to the war machine, he doesn't produce any experts who are being ignored (though he did mention the backlash against TV presenter Eamonn Holmes). That's probably because he purposefully led with the issue on which he knows least - but even a little digging would have immediately uncovered some stark truths about i) the research picture and ii) the tight stonewalling in the media, where 'expert's robotically stamp on lizards robotically fed to them by the BBC, Guardian and Indy and all the rest. JC links to the BBC for the 5G mast-burning story: "... why such concerns might quickly morph into fears of a connection between 5G and the current global pandemic; and why frightened people might decide to take things into their own hands by burning down 5G masts." In speaking for the people burning down the 5G masts, JC didn't think to mention that these risk-takers have not (for obvious reasons) been asked for their reasons; some may be 'frightened' but some of this mast construction has been rushed and carried on in the night to avoid protests by taking advantage of the lockdown; hence constructed by breaking the lockdown, arguably illegally as they are not essential to anything but profit. Where the legal protection of the public was seen to be bypassed, some would think they had a right to take preventative action - emotions need not feature. In citing the BBC who only wants to peddle the least valid reasons for 5G concern (coronavirus link) Cook exemplifies the very media behaviour that he writes in order to change. He also puts people towards BBC fact-checker type rebuttals which are as good as examples of fake news as I've seen. The theme of 'trust in our institutions' is an excellent one. But had he spoken to anyone who knows anything about the way phone masts are forced on communities by councils, he could have highlighted spectacularly robotic, almost completely widespread behaviour that would make the Stepford Wives look tame. For example, referring to guidelines that are expressly concerned only with heating of body tissue when that is not the concern expressed. I'm not sure Jonathan shouldn't have done a bit better on 9/11, eg pointing out what and who are being ignored. You don't need to be an expert to ask why there is no discussion in the media of how two planes can bring down three buildings. The piece is moderately useful as a general, Voltairian-style contribution to free speech but for me, pulled punches on the specific issues weaken the impact. Cheers Message Thread: Jonathan Cook on Conspiracy Theories - George Brennan April 28, 2020, 7:00 pm V good piece of work, as usual by him. nn - marknadim April 28, 2020, 9:39 pm A+ for ... - Shyaku April 29, 2020, 4:29 am Re: A+ for ... - Shyaku April 29, 2020, 4:37 am Obvious I agree, but well and convincingly expressed nm - marknadim April 29, 2020, 6:31 pm Re: Jonathan Cook on Conspiracy Theories - Mary April 29, 2020, 9:14 am It's a bit soft - walter April 29, 2020, 12:23 pm   Searching