FVEY: UPSTREAM DATA COLLECTION
New Zealand has been a part of the Five Eyes Treaty since 1948. Spying on the Russians during the cold war, the Vietnamese during America’s invasion, on Kim Dot Com, on our Pacific neighbours, on every country the USA has ever invaded. Upstream collection is a way of collecting data so it can be analysed by the NSA, the GCSB? Maybe a few government organizations or corporations? From cables under our oceans and rivers. I did my own data collection by rowing upstream from the mouth of Avon River / Ōtakaro to the center of Christchurch with five eyes watching me, watching you.
A critique on the imperialism, neo-colonialism and the modern war machine.
An act of futility.
Performance art piece performed live on the Avon River / Ōtakaro, and live streamed to foyer of Ron Ball, Christchurch Townhall (As it was live streamed - there was a poem playing on loop which you can read below.)
Duration: 3 Hours and day 51 minutes.
Presented as a part of Tiny Fest, Christchurch, New Zealand 2021
FVEY: Upstream data collection
By Sara Cowdell
Five eyes watching me and watching you.
Paddling upstream. Collecting upstream data. On an upstream battle.
An act of futility.
Why bother? I’m not doing anything wrong, they’re targeting terrorists.
Nicky Hager wrote the book ‘Secret Power’ in 1997, Catholic workers popped the bubble in 2010, New Zealand passed amendments to the GCSB bill in 2013, Shihad made the album FVEY in 2014.
(Some) people seem kind of pissed about the American military satellites being sent up into space up north at the moment, others just know it’s a no 8 wire bloody success story!!
Whats next ay?
Just Keeping the imperialist project alive.
New Zealand has been a part of the five eyes treaty since 1948.
Spying on Russians during the cold war, Spying on the Vietnamese during America’s invasion, Spying on Kim Dot Com, Spying on our pacific neighbours, Spying on every country the USA has ever invaded.
How do you think people end up in Guantanamo bay?
How do you think hegemony takes hold? Neo-colonialism?
We love it, but in secret because we are New Zealanders, we are chill, you know…
We just like neo-liberalism and water sports.
We can’t spy on our own citizens technically, unless like we get asked to by the cops or like the ‘allies’.
FUCKING LONG LIVE THE IMPERALIST PROJECT.
‘Sovereignty or servitude’ that’s what the Americans say, be afraid of the Chinese they are way worse than us, you know. Look, look at what THEY are doing. Not like us we are upholding the morals of the ‘free world’.
New Zealand amendments to the GCSB bill passed through parliament with major opposition over 7 years ago, John Campbell did a poll and apparently 80% of people were opposed.
7 years on, it’s still in the law.
We forget, we give in, it’s worth it….for fast internet.
Probably!
I wonder if google is watching, got a few key words in here.
We’re easy going in New Zealand though.
You know, don't wanna make a fuss. What can we do anyway?
I asked about five eyes on instagram someone replied, New Zealand is nothing, NOTHING.
The next war will probably be one of the internet, hackers and technicians, maybe a few skillful explosions.
KEY WORDS, popping off…
I guess we can go back to the pen and paper.
Analog revolutions, or maybe it will just be a technological one, but that seems less fun.
What hope do we have for peace. For utopia?
We are so small, just a smug lil hermit kingdom, some might say.
It’s not my house, It’s not my kids, It’s not my country.
Just watch the youtube videos about the universe and you’ll feel better, cause maybe nothing really matters in the scheme of things.
What is there in the futility? Why try to resist the empire?
It seems inevitable you’ll lose.
Who decides who is worthy of the ‘free world’? The computer technician aiming drones? Instructed by some big man, the location was pinned by your friendly Blenheim local at waihopai.
Empire decides who is the haves and who are the have nots.
WINNERS, WINNERS, WINNERS.
LOSERS, LOSERS, LOSERS.
Hoarding information
Panopticon-ing your dreams.
Why do we need cameras? For safety? For who? Lots of data, sent upstream for anyone with the right clearance to see.
Who gets to have security cameras? And who’s the pervert now?
Over a million people died in those so called wars on terror, hows that helping us, oh cause we are allies right, good to stay on the right side of history, the white side of history.
Of the 7500 files we received three months before the mosque shooting not a single one was on on right wing terrorism apparently. It's the war on terror, but who’s terror?
But down under! We don’t really matter, bottom of the earth, cause we are DEF the good guys.
clean green, covid free, nuclear free.
Oh an update! The satellites in the beautiful basin of vineyards, they are coming down! No more satellites at Waihopai
The technology has become redundant.
It’s all internet now, the cables under our oceans ‘upstream data collection’ they call it.