Monthly Archives: January 2015

Malta to Dubai on a freighter

Posted on 28 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

It all started off with this FT piece by Horatio Clare, whose book (a meditative reflection on ships and travel on the sea) was about to come out.  I had just finished reading Rose George’s amazing book on her travels on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle East, ports, ships | 1 Comment

Sha’bi cosmopolitanisms

Posted on 14 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

There is very little that is original in this post, but I want to put it down anyway, because the affects of this moment are lovely; something that I want to remember when I think about so much that is … Continue reading →

Posted in capital accumulation, labour, Middle East, ports, the sea | 2 Comments

Benjamin’s grim writing on Marseille

Posted on 12 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

Marseilles Walter Benjamin The street . . . the only valid field of experience. – Andre Breton Marseilles-the yellow-studded maw of a seal with salt water running out between the teeth. When this gullet opens to catch the black and brown proletarian … Continue reading →

Posted in literature, ports, readings | 4 Comments

Confidence

Posted on 8 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

Confidence By Marsden Hartley (1877-1943) ‘We’ll have the sun now,’ the quaking sea gulls said ‘We’ve run the gamut of the thundering sea, one by one one by one, and though the wave is full of bread a wing is … Continue reading →

Posted in literature, the sea | Leave a comment

The Logistics of War

Posted on 7 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

The indispensable National Security Archives has released a memo by Rumsfeld (dated 6 October 2001) that has loads on the logistics of war.  The memo covers Rumsfeld’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and Central Asia, in preparation for the invasion … Continue reading →

Posted in empire, imperialism & colonialism, logistics, Middle East, militaries, war | Leave a comment

Stand-Up Beer Hall

Posted on 7 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

Stand-Up Beer Hall Walter Benjamin Sailors seldom come ashore ; service on the high seas is a holiday by comparison with the labour in harbours, where loading and unloading must often be done day and night. When a gang is then given a … Continue reading →

Posted in capital accumulation, labour, political economy, ports, readings, seafaring, shipping conditions, the sea | Leave a comment

At Melville’s Tomb

Posted on 7 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

At Melville’s Tomb By Hart Crane Often beneath the wave, wide from this ledge The dice of drowned men’s bones he saw bequeath An embassy. Their numbers as he watched, Beat on the dusty shore and were obscured. And wrecks … Continue reading →

Posted in literature, Melville, the sea | Leave a comment

More on London canals

Posted on 6 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

I have written lovingly of London’s canals before. I just want to briefly write out something else I have discovered which ties in nicely with the whole infrastructure thing. Today I spent an hour or so in the London Canal … Continue reading →

Posted in infrastructure, political economy, transport | Leave a comment

Dangers of crewing an oil tanker

Posted on 5 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

Associated Press reports that jets belonging to the Libyan government bombed a Greek-owned tanker, killing two crew members: A military spokesman for Libya’s internationally recognised government says its fighter jets bombed a Greek-owned tanker ship because it had no prior … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle East, militaries, oil, political economy, transport, war | Leave a comment

Ghost ships

Posted on 4 January 2015 by Laleh Khalili

In the last two weeks, two ships filled to the brim with hundreds of Syrian refugees have been brought in to Italian ports.  The ships seem to have left Eastern Mediterranean, and sailed parallel to the Turkish coast, picking up … Continue reading →

Posted in infrastructure, literature, logistics, Middle East, political economy, ports, shipping conditions, transport, war | Leave a comment