Some truly bizarre-looking vehicles recently started to appear on the battlefield in Ukraine. Nicknamed “turtle tanks”, these vehicles are tanks that literally look like they have protective turtle shells covering them.  What do we know about them? Why are they appearing? How can they be defeated?  Listen to our Eyes On Russia investigator, Kyle Glen, sharing his insights

published: 17 May 2024

Russian Turtle Tanks: what are they?

Who did it? 

How analysing two photographs of a bloody massacre revealed that one was likely staged.

published: 11 June 2024

Analysing evidence that a photograph was likely staged

It's over 1,000 days since the Taliban's education ban. We asked Meetra Qutb from CIR's Afghan Witness project to talk us through what that means.

published: 18 June 2024

1000 Days Of Summer: Imagine a generation of children with illiterate mothers...

What is it like when your country introduces conscription?

published: 20 June 2024

Myanmar's new conscription laws and their effect on our team

What is it like to investigate human rights abuses in your own country?
Listen to "Ei" sharing her experience and her hopes for the future of Myanmar.

published: 28 June 2024

Working for accountability when your home is in conflict

How are conspiracy theories born? How do they spiral into various corners of the internet? How can I avoid propagating them? We asked CIR investigator Jack B.

Spreading Conspiracies: Practical tips on how not to

"My country, Myanmar, is a diverse and very sensitive country. It's like almost walking through the glass."

Listen to 'Cozyn', a CIR investigator, talking about the time he was investigating a discovery of six bodies found in Yay Yo village in Myanmar.

Report here: https://www.myanmarwitness.org/reports/six-civilians-killed-and-hidden-in-yay-yo-toilet-pit

For transparency:
CIR’s voice memo interviews are intended to give insight into the various people and roles at CIR and its projects in a conversational style. Speakers are asked to talk (without notes) about something that really matters to them. This voice memo has been edited for structure. 'Cozyn’s' image has been generated with Ai and his voice changed to protect his identity.



How a Google Earth update unlocked an investigation

Professor Yessir's Birthday Machine

Wrote this song in Edinburgh when we met Lauren O'Rourke in the early hours while we were wandering round with the guitar. As the sun came up and the commuters started heading into work, we started freestyling this to them as they crossed the park on their way into work. Most people ignored us, but one guy was like, fuck it you're right. I'm not going in today. 

Sample is of Donald Rumsfeld talking during the war on terror. 

All my songs whether about love or relationships or whatever, are liable to be interrupted by the political, which for me started going wrong with the lies that led the US and the UK into the Iraq war. We can try to keep our love lives and our political lives separate, but when there's a fundamental incoherence lurking in your society and civilisation, the truth will keep rearing its ugly head in the least appropriate places. That's why the political is always invading my work.

Shout out to Lauren for channeling Kate Nash with the original chorus line and freestyle that inspired us to keep working on this song, here played by the Oystar band, Ben Richards, James Henderson, Kevin Davidson and DCR James.

Who you are

my set from the virtual burn at the wonderful co-reality.co  sparkleverse. 

I was playing a hybrid sunrise/lunch set, depending on whether or not you were in blighty or on the west coast. i decided to start with some downtempo songs for the start of a new day and then some more funky tracks. i hope you enjoy. 

tracklist
Kelso Dunes	Floating Points
Boys Of Summer (Lord Of The Isles Depth Charge Re-shape)	Don Henley
Birthday (Justin Robertson 12" Mix)	Sugarcubes
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Lautaro Fernandez Unofficial Remix)	Pink Floyd
Cool Trainer (Iories Consensual Remix)	Madmotormiquel
What Kind Of Man (Nicolas Jaar Remix)	Florence + The Machine
Born Slippy (Alma & Mater Edit)	Underworld
White Flowers	Tom Demac & Real Lies
Flug & Fall (Extended Mix)	Ben Böhmer
What Is Real (Deep in the Playa Mix)	Rodriguez Jr., Liset Alea
1 Year	Austin Cesear
North Circular	Real Lies
Always (Ashley Beedle's Mahavishnu Dub)	Bent
Hypnotized (Oliver Schories Remix)	Oliver Koletzki
Pop A Cap In Yo' Ass (Full Mix)	Ben Watt feat. Estelle
The Journey (Full Journey Mix)	Scott Grooves
Shed My Skin (Pete Heller's Stylus Mix)	D*Note
Halcyon (Tom Middleton Re-Model)	Orbital
Hypercolour (Patrice Bäumel Remix)	CamelPhat, Yannis
Wish	Chymera

Slow And Steady Wins The Rave

Welcome... 

As you know, Chloë and I have a baby on the way! 

So we went to Le Santé in the hills of Southern France a couple of months ago to take a moment to think about the new arrival and how our lives would soon be changing...

Also to find his name! 

The unpredictable nature of 2020 and changing lockdown rules meant that not everyone could join us in person. Instead, Kevin and Lydia found a way to bring everyone present, by creating a ceremony, like an island inside and outside of time by gathering the voices, songs, thoughts and wishes of our bestest. They made a beautiful moment for us on the island and on the little trip there and back - where all the songs and spoken words were recorded. 

It was such a beautiful moment and the main thing is to say thank you so much for being part of it, it really was special for us - and something that has already given me a lot of strength at various moments when I felt like I needed it.   

As well as hosting a magical moment for us on the island on the day, Kev recorded it and put it together with the audio gifts that were sent - and so we just wanted to make a moment where everybody who had made such a special thing for us could listen to it and be part of the experience of it if they'd like to. 

Ceremonies do rely a little on the pressure of time and space in order to magnify their meaning and resonance - and so we've chosen a time, exactly 2 months after the original splash of the ceremony - to invite you to join us and dip in to the immersive ceremony experience that Kev has co-created with you. 

So, without further ado, we'll be listening to this from 12.00 midday on Sunday 18th October 2020.

I'll take it down again at 1pm. To fully immerse yourself, you'll need to create your own space, wear headphones and make sure you're not interrupted for 38 minutes.

If you can do that, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful experience - like the one that you made possible for us. 

Thank you :)

Who you are

DCR James

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