Singer under fire after shouting 'Tibet! Tibet!' after performing her song Declare Independence at Shanghai concert.

Here is a full report and a clip of the moment itself courtesy of The Guardian,

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Take 'GI Jane', for example, the simple tale of a brilliant young female officer who signs up as a test case for the Navy SEALS and who in one scene is taught through direct experience the interrogation technique known quaintly as  waterboarding as part of her basic training. Now I have a problem with this. According to Amnesty International, waterboarding is a form of torture and because it is a form of torture there is consequently an absolute ban on it by the European Court of Human Rights. Yet, here is a fictional depiction albeit 10 years old, of American soldiers being taught how to torture people in contravention of fundamental human rights, and all in the name of an entertainment which has the message that there should be more gender equality in Western Society. You work it out, words fail me.

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If there are three things that politicised me as a callow student, it was in no particular order a) the way that musicians around the world took a stand against Apartheid South Africa b) the music of Christy Moore, Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen and c) a small paragraph on the liner notes for U2's 'The Joshua Tree' that encouraged fans to join Amnesty International.

Two decades later, artists such as Yoko Ono Lennon and Mia Farrow are again taking a stand against abuses of human rights and again they are mobilising popular opinion and boycotts, an Irish invention by the way, against the continuing crisis in Darfur. So Sound Waves, being a rather liberal blog asks, should Ireland boycott the Beijing Olympcs? To help you decide I have posted up some (very few) relevant links below and, should you then come to the conclusion, either yes or no, you can convey your support of or protest against Ireland's planned participation in these games, directly to Ireland's Olympians.

The Olympic Council of Ireland

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Official Site

Irish Defences Forces To Deploy in Chad

BBC: Q&A, Sudan's Darfur Crisis

Amnesty International (Irish Section)

China & Darfur: Washington Post

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If you only download one track, make sure it is, "Right To Arm Bears', a subversive take on the American obsession with hunting wild animals, in which the animals fight back. Gnarly. To hear preview clips from the album click on to Lost Highway Records - Paul Westerburg - Open Season.

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I ushered in the New Year stitting quietly on my couch alone watching the Jools Holland Hootennany on BBC. In a show full of highlights such as Eddie Floyd, Daffy and Kylie Minogue (expertly writhing on a grand piano), one musician shone out, Seasick Steve (aka Steve Wold) a veteran American bluesman whose raw uncompromising brand of blues brought the house down. Winner of the 2007 MOJO Breakthrough award, he is my first choice for 2008.

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Sound Waves wishes to congratulate Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who are nominated in the Best Original Song Oscar category for 'Falling Slowly' from 'Once'. It is a remarkable acheivement and, win or lose, places Hansard and Markéta in the company of previous winners such as Bob Dylan, Randy Newman and Bruce Springsteen. It's often said that we are a nation of begrudgers but when an Irish artist makes a breakthrough like this the right and proper thing to do is acknowledge it. Sound Waves will be watching the Oscars on the 24th February, fingers crossed, and will have a bottle of champagne on ice to celebrate in the event that 'Falling Slowly' takes the gong.

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Surf Movie producers Globe have partnered with DJ Sasha to produce a tripping new surf DVD for watching during or after an all night party. The video is entitled, "New Emissions of Light & Sound', and features shots of Taj, CJ, Damien and other rad surfers hitting the lip.

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MTV has launched a new reality show about a group of photogenic surfers in Maui entitled 'Maui Fever', and focusing on the sexy, good times lifestyle of surfers who are also, probably, professional models. The photo to the right says it all. The shows airs on January 20th on Mainstage Sunday, MTV Ireland.

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