Stage Talks with Bellingcat

This week, we talk to Michael Hilliard. He and his colleagues at the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs recently released their report titled "The Armed Forces of Central Asia". We discuss the complex geopolitical landscape in Central Asia, and what defence capacity the countries have to tackle their strategic challenges. The talk was hosted by Merel Zoet on Thursday October 24th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist.Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcatYou can find the first chapter of the report "Tajikistan" here: https://oxussociety.org/the-armed-forces-of-central-asia-tajikistan/

This week we talk to Elizabeth Pearson. Together with her colleagues she recently worked on the REASSURE report (https://voxpol.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Online-Extremism-and-Terrorism-Researchers-Security-Safety-Resilience.pdf )- which is published with the online extremism and terrorism research network VOX-Pol. The report describes experiences regarding safety and security of researchers who work on digital extremism and terrorism. We explored her learnings and took questions from the audience. The talk was hosted by Merel Zoet on Thursday October 10th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist.Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcatFor advice on looking after your mental health as a researcher you can look to our guide https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/ and find helpful resources on the DART center's website (https://dartcenter.org/)

This week's stage talk is focused on our new and updated toolkit! We've packed every useful open source research tool into one place to help assist new and old researchers, journalists and NGOs. Johanna Wild, who lead the project, joined us on stage to talk through the new developments. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday September 26th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist.Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcatLinks discussed:Link to article on the Toolkit launch : https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2024/09/24/bellingcat-online-investigations-toolkit/ New toolkit: https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkitBellingcat volunteer community: https://sites.google.com/bellingcat.com/bellingcat-volunteer-communityIf you have questions around joining the Volunteer Community - reach out to volunteer@bellingcat.comInvid: https://www.invid-project.eu/Obsidian: https://obsidian.md/

This week's stage talk is about a militant attack in Burkina Faso that happened in late August, in which over 100 unarmed civilians died. We explore how Bellingcat investigators went to work trying to locate and verify graphic imagery claiming to be associated with the massacre. Content warning: Discussion of civilian harm, abuse and death. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday September 12th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist.Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcatLinks discussed:The investigation: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/09/04/burkina-faso-barsalogho-massacre-attack-jihadi-militia-military-human-rights/(You can find the 'screenshots' referenced repeatedly in the recording in the investigation link above)ACLED: https://acleddata.com/Wagner in Africa Discord Channel: https://discord.com/channels/709752884257882135/1054884622955184228 Detail about Chirpwire: https://disinfo.africa/inside-al-shabaabs-digital-propaganda-machine-05cbdb04ed4f Bellingcat's auto-archiver tool: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/09/22/preserve-vital-online-content-with-bellingcats-auto-archiver-tool/ How to prevent, identify and address vicarious trauma: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2018/10/18/prevent-identify-address-vicarious-trauma-conducting-open-source-investigations-middle-east/Giancarlo's how to maintain mental hygiene as a researcher https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/Wassim Nasr: https://x.com/SimNasrHéni: https://twitter.com/MENASTREAM/

This week's stage talk is about using open sources in environmental focused investigations. We spoke to freelance journalist Luiz Toledo about his recent work covering deforestation policy gaps. He uncovered his stories using open databases and FOIA requests. Note that Luiz's mic has some distortion in the recording. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday August 29th 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist.Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcatLinks discussed:Luiz's investigations: https://www.icij.org/investigations/deforestation-inc/https://piaui.folha.uol.com.br/desmatamento-amazonia-embargos-icmbio/https://www.occrp.org/en/feature/criminal-gangs-are-logging-the-worlds-last-brazilwood-trees-to-make-violin-bowshttps://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/operation-do-re-mi-the-brazilian-bow-makers-under-investigation-for-dealing-in-endangered-woodLuiz's newsletter: https://news.fiquemsabendo.com.br/ FOIA tools: https://www.404media.co/foia-forum-with-a-pacer-expert-7-31-1pm-est/https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/https://x.com/JasonLeopold/status/1804630789205942322https://portaldatransparencia.gov.br/Environmental/deforestation resources: https://brasil.mapbiomas.org/https://infoamazonia.org/en/https://ambiental.media/https://dadosabertos.ibama.gov.br/dataset/fiscalizacao-auto-de-infracaohttps://cruzagrafos.abraji.org.br/https://climatecrimeanalysis.org/https://oxpeckers.org/https://eia-international.org/

In this week's stage talk we discuss open source research methods of covering protest movements and any corresponding violent action. Using the example of recent clashes in Bangladesh, our team unpack how they go about reporting on this topic, sharing their favourite resources, techniques and advice.The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday August 15 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist.Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcatLinks discussed in the recording:Investigation: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/08/07/bangladesh-overthrow-resignation-sheikh-hasina-footage-open-sourceLinks from UN/ Amnesty on policing and weapons here: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2023/10/repression-trade/Regarding rubber bullet usage https://www.amnesty.nl/content/uploads/2023/03/Amnesty-position-paper-kinetic-impact-projectiles.pdfPolicing manual from Amnesty https://www.amnesty.nl/content/uploads/2017/01/book_1_0.pdfUN : Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/basic-principles-use-force-and-firearms-law-enforcementUN: Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons In Law Enforcement https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CCPR/LLW_Guidance.pdfBellingcat Auto-Archiver tool: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/09/22/preserve-vital-online-content-with-bellingcats-auto-archiver-tool/Bellingcat's Search Grid Generator tool: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2024/08/05/tracking-your-search-a-guide-to-the-grid-generator/NASA-FIRMS: https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/Bellingcat guide to NASA-FIRMS: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/10/04/scorched-earth-using-nasa-fire-data-to-monitor-war-zones/Bellingcat's guide to maintaining mental hygiene as an open source researcher: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/

This week we were joined on stage by Sam Stecklow, from the not-for-profit newsroom The Invisible Institute. Within the talk we discussed their work on making police complaint data publicly accessible and explored their collaborative models, funding and large data projects.The talk was hosted by Giancarlo Fiorella on Thursday August 1 2024. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist.Join our Discord Server for the next live talk at: https://discord.gg/bellingcatFind the full list of links shared by Sam during the talk below:Civic Data Project Live site: http://CPDP.coKicking the pigeon: https://invisible.institute/kicking-the-pigeonCode of Silence: https://theintercept.com/series/code-of-silence/https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Resources/61e475d6-97b0-4eef-8d62-23766553a041/1121846.pdfhttps://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/02/laquan-mcdonald-shooting-a-recently-obtained-autopsy-report-on-the-dead-teen-complicates-the-chicago-police-departments-story.htmlhttps://champaign.cpdp.co/https://invisible.institute/ypphttps://invisible.institute/somebody-podcasthttps://chicagopolicetorturearchive.com/https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/10/15/mauled-when-police-dogs-are-weaponshttps://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/the-killing-of-harith-augustus/https://www.btsurface.com/https://chicagomissingpersons.com/https://invisible.institute/illinois-police-datahttps://invisible.institute/data-access-transparencyhttps://ipmnewsroom.org/sean-grayson-sonya-massey-sangamon-county-sheriff-misconduct/https://www.chicagocopa.org/data-cases/case-portal/

This week we were joined on stage by Aram Shabanian, the Open-Source Information Gathering Manager at the New Lines Institute and long time Bellingcat contributor. Aram shared a long list of interesting open source tools that citizens and journalists alike can use to help monitor wildfires. Find the full list of tools shared by Aram here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SJHzw5cSenCvEq7iGEyhHhRKAHq1vOcVlJy4sYAcchM/edit?gid=0#gid=0And additional tools referenced in the chat here: Aram's livestream guide https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/11/09/using-livestreams-to-monitor-crises-in-gaza-and-beyond/Look up your local area's wildfire pocket card with this link: https://www.wildfire.gov/wims/pocket-card-tableBellingcat's OSINT Forest area tracker https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2023/08/18/a-new-tool-shows-what-war-has-done-to-ukraines-forests/Canadian map resource shared by an audience member: https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/interactive-mapOnXMaps: https://www.onxmaps.com/ Link to our Discord channel for tool idea pitches: https://discord.com/channels/709752884257882135/1173992891945861160Wildcad.net: http://www.wildcad.net/WildCADWeb.aspOregon specific references: Odffire https://odffire.com/Arcgis view: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6329d5e4e13748b9b9f7f33f06a3c376/?fbclid=IwAR2HH7Zxyi-vqihq8pWQJKzynrFK19bKFow-VjTAn3Puz6lZtHpz5JrTgP4Inciweb https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/Oregon Dept of Forestry Course: https://odftraining.thinkific.com/courses/media-accessThe IMSR report shows national fire deployments in the US. In the off season it's updated every Friday. Peak fire season it's daily. : https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfnThe talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on Thursday the 18th of July in the Bellingcat Discord server. Music courtesy of Artlist.

This Stage Talk is about the impact of conflict on cultural heritage sites and how, as open source researchers, we can monitor the scale of destruction. The discussion was based around our latest documentary with Scripps News, which you can watch in full hereTools: Planet Sentinel Hub Google Earth Ollie Ballinger's damage probability map tool of GazaWikimapiaAnnique's analysing satellite imagery to monitor settlements, video guideRelevant research:The Byzantine mosaic https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/emergency-safeguarding-recently-discovered-al-bureij-mosaics-gaza Jake's X thread on the demolition of the mosaic https://x.com/JakeGodin/status/1805965185653395721Bellingcat's investigation into the 8219 IDF unit. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04/29/weve-become-addicted-to-explosions-the-idf-unit-responsible-for-demolishing-homes-across-gaza/CNN visits a destroyed graveyard: https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2024/01/29/idf-gaza-graveyard-destruction-diamond-pkg-lead-vpx.cnnDamage to Ukraine's cultural heritage sites by Bellingcat and Scripps News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HiGgcuB2y4Organisations referenced:EAMENA: https://www.eamena.org/Heritage for Peace: https://www.heritageforpeace.org/Aliph Foundation: https://www.aliph-foundation.org/Caucus Heritage Center (Cornell) https://caucasusheritage.cornell.edu/This talk was recorded on July 3rd, 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download Discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.

In this Stage Talk we discuss extremism on digital gaming platforms with experts Rachel Kowert and Linda Schlegel. We talk about how and why extremists are using digital gaming spaces for radicalisation and mobilisation efforts, but also about prevention efforts to stop extremists from exploiting these gaming communities.You can find Linda and Rachel's book here: www.routledge.com/Gaming-and-Extre…ok/9781032482996Other links that were mentioned in the talk: www.takethis.org/2024/05/resilient-resources/ www.stopspying.org/banned-for-being www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUoIVZ3vEHk www.theguardian.com/games/2024/mar/…ame-consultants www.isdglobal.org/explainers/discord-extremism/ www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.…791/html?lang=deThis talk was recorded on June 20th, 2024 in the Bellingcat Discord Server. To join the server, download Discord and visit www.discord.gg/bellingcat . Music courtesy of Artlist.