Hong Kong's #612strike protest movement: a million strong, leaderless, wireless and smart as hell
Hong Kong’s previous mass-protest uprisings – 2014’s Occupy Central, 2016’s Umbrella Revolution – were ultimately smashed by the state through a combination of violent suppression and electronic surveillance, greatly aided by the hierarchical structure of the protest movements (which made it possible to decapitate them by arresting their leaders) and their internal divisions and infighting.
But the latest eruption – more than a million strong and gaining – has learned from the mistakes of the past. The #612strike movement has a flat, self-organizing structure that emerges deputies who take on functional roles (like keeping lookouts for cops planning kettling operations, which surround protesters with fencing and keep them locked down while they are identified and/or identified), that is augmented by the use of encrypted Telegram chats (the Umbrella Revolution also made heavy use of encrypted chats, with some P2P mesh apps emerging as the Hong Kong government shut off the internet).
The cultural shift is also marked by a spirit of cooperation, which is making it easier to resolve tactical disagreements – where to put barriers, whether to risk storming key buildings – in a collegial fashion, despite the high tensions, physical risk and punishing physical conditions (being on the streets for hours in Hong Kong June weather presents real risks of heat exhaustion, to say nothing of regular soakings in the torrential rains).
This third wave of networked protests seem close to realizing the promise of Occupy: a collaborative, networked protest movement devoted to mutual aid, where a protester can call out a request for an asthma inhaler, have that call amplified through the crowd, and then get the inhaler they need, followed by a round of applause from the crowd, justifiably pleased with itself.
The Hong Kong authorities are pulling out all the stops to shut down the protests, including the indiscriminate use of pepper spray, rubber bullets, tear gas and smoke bombs. It’s a sure bet that they’re also using electronic countermeasures against the protesters, and the protesters have tightened up their operational security in response: the subway stations have long lines in front of the cash-for-ticket machines as protesters eschew the use of their electronic payment cards.
Telegram has been under sustained DDOS attack, and the company has officially attributed the attack to the Chinese state; given that the protesters are making extensive use of Telegram, the connection seems likely.
(I worry that using mobile phones at all makes the protesters vulnerable to Stingrays and other mobile surveillance tools)
(I’m also excited to see them using mobile devices to accomplish something similar to Sukey, which I’ve been fascinated by for years)
The protests are motivated by the latest move in China’s encroachment into Hong Kong’s cherished independence: after Beijing’s consolidation of control over the city council and kidnappings and forced televised confessions of pro-democracy booksellers, the council is now set to allow for extraditions to the mainland for people accused of political crimes.
https://boingboing.net/2019/06/13/stingrays-tho.html
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Astrology Signs Meanings and Characteristics ✨🌏💫 (Using the Old Dates)
Aquarius 🏺
Element: Air
Quality: Fixed
Colour: Light Blue, Silver
Day: Saturday
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Leo, Sagittarius
Lucky Numbers: 4,7,11,22,29
Date Range: January 20 - February 18
Strengths: Progressive, original, independent, humanitarian
Weaknesses: Runs from emotional expression, temperamental, uncompromising, aloof
Aquarius likes: Fun with friends, helping others, fighting for causes, intellectual conversation, a good listener
Aquarius dislikes: Limitations, broken promises, being money, dull or boring situations, people who disagree with them.
Pisces 🐠
Element: Water
Quality: Mutable
Colour: Mauve, Lilac, Purple, Violet, Sea Green
Day: Thursday
Ruler: Neptune, Jupiter
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Virgo, Taurus
Lucky Numbers: 3,9,12,15,18,24
Date Range: February 19 - March 20
Strengths: Compassionate, artistic, intuitive, gentile, wise, musical
Weaknesses: Fearful, overly trusting, sad, desire to escape reality, can be a victim or a martyr
Pisces Likes: Being alone, sleeping, music, romance, visual media, swimming, spiritual themes
Pisces Dislikes: Know it all, being criticised, the past is coming back to haunt, cruelty of any kind.
Aries 🔥
Element: Fire
Quality: Cardinal
Colour: Red
Day: Tuesday
Ruler: Mars
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Libra, Leo
Lucky Numbers: 1,8,17
Date Range: March 21- April 19
Strengths: Courageous, determined, confident, enthusiastic, optimistic, honest, passionate
Weaknesses: Impatient, moody, short-tempered, impulsive, aggressive
Aries Likes: Comfortable clothes, taking on leadership roles, physical challenges, individual sports
Aries Dislikes: Inactivity, delays, work that does not use ones talents
Taurus 🐮
Element: Earth
Quality: Fixed
Colour: Green, Pink
Day: Friday, Monday
Ruler: Venus
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Scorpio, Cancer
Lucky Numbers: 2,6,9,12,24
Date Range: April 20-May 20
Strengths: Reliable, patient, practical, devoted, responsible, stable
Weaknesses: Stubborn, possessive, uncompromising
Taurus Likes: Gardening, cooking, music, romance, high quality clothes, working with hands
Taurus Dislikes: Sudden changes, complications, insecurity of any kind, synthetic fabrics
Gemini 👩🏽👩🏽
Element: Air
Quality: Mutable
Colour:Light-Green, Yellow
Day: Wednesday
Ruler: Mercury
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Sagittarius, Aquarius
Lucky Numbers: 5,7,14,23
Date Range: May 21 - June 20
Strengths: Gentle, affectionate, curious, adaptable, ability to learn quickly and exchange ideas
Weaknesses: Nervous, inconsistent, indecisive
Gemini likes: Music, books, magazines, chats with nearly anyone, short trips around the town
Gemini dislikes: Being alone, being confined, repetition and routine
Cancer 🦀
Element: Water
Quality: Cardinal
Colour: White
Day: Monday, Thursday
Ruler: Moon
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Capricorn, Taurus
Lucky Numbers: 2,3,15,20
Date Range: June 21 - July 22
Strengths: Tenacious, highly imaginative, loyal, emotional, sympathetic, persuasive
Weaknesses: Moody, pessimistic, suspicious, manipulative, insecure
Caner Likes: Art, home-based hobbies, relaxing near or in water, helping loved ones, a good meal with friends
Caner Dislikes: Strangers, any criticism of Mom, revealing of personal life
Leo 🦁
Element: Fire
Quality: Fixed
Colour: Gold, Yellow, Orange
Day: Sunday
Ruler: Sun
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Aquarius, Gemini
Lucky Lumbers: 1,3,10,19
Date Range: July 23 - August 22
Strengths: Creative, passionate, generous, warm-hearted, cheerful, humorous
Weaknesses: Arrogant, stubborn, self-entered, lazy, inflexible
Leo Likes: Theatre, taking holidays, being admired, expensive things, bright colours, fun with friends
Leo Dislikes: Being ignored, facing difficult reality, not being treated like a king or queen
Virgo 🙅🏽♀️
Element: Earth
Quality: Mutable
Colour: Beige, Pale-yellow
Day: Wednesday
Ruler: Mercury
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Pisces, Cancer
Lucky Numbers; 4,14,15,23,32
Date Range: August 23- September 22
Strengths: Loyal, analytical, kind, hardworking, practical
Weaknesses: Shyness, work, overly critical of self and others, all work no play
Virgo Likes: Animals, healthy food, books, nature, cleanliness
Virgo Dislike: Rudeness , asking for help, taking centre stage
Libra ⚖️
Element: Air
Quality: Cardinal
Colour: Pink, Green
Day: Friday
Ruler: Venus
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Aries, Sagittarius
Lucky Numbers: 4,6,13,15,24
Date Range: September 23 - October 22
Strengths: Cooperative, diplomatic, gracious, fair-minded, social
Weaknesses: Indecisive, avoids confrontations, will carry a grudge, self-pity
Libra Likes: Harmony, gentleness, sharing with others, the outdoors
Libra Dislikes: Violence, injustice, loudmouths, conformity
Scorpio 🦂
Element: Water
Quality: Fixed
Colour: Scarlet, Red, Rust
Day: Tuesday
Ruler: Pluto, Mars
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Taurus, Cancer
Lucky Numbers: 8,11,18,22
Date Range: October 23 - November21
Strengths: Resourceful, brave, passionate, stubborn, a true friend
Weaknesses: Distrusting, jealous, secretive, violent
Scorpio Likes: Truth, facts, being right, longtime friends, teasing, a grand passion
Scorpio Dislikes: Dishonesty, revealing secrets, passive people
Sagittarius 🏹
Element: Fire
Quality: Mutable
Colour: Blue
Day: Thursday
Ruler: Jupiter
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Gemini, Aries
Lucky Numbers: 3,7,9,12,21
Date Range: November 22 - December 21
Strengths: Generous, idealistic, great sense of humor
Weaknesses: Promises more than can deliver, very impatient, will say anything no matter how undiplomatic
Sagittarius likes: Freedom, travel, philosophy, being outdoors
Sagittarius dislikes: Clingy people, being constrained, off-the-wall theories, details
Capricorn 🐑
Element: Earth
Quality: Cardinal
Colour: Brown, Black
Day: Saturday
Ruler: Saturn
Greatest Overall Compatibility: Taurus, Cancer
Lucky Numbers: 4,8,13,22
Date Range: December 22 - January 19
Strengths: Responsible, disciplined, self-control, good managers
Weaknesses: Know-it-all, unforgiving, condescending, expecting the worst
Capricorn Likes: Family, tradition, music, understated status, quality craftsmanship
Capricorn Dislikes: Almost everything at some point
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