Death in our backyard

Last week, Friday, I took a train from the Hawthorns park and ride station, just out of Handsworth, changing at the next station down, Galton Bridge, for a train to Shenstone, near Lichfield. One more change at Aston and I was soon there. At Shenstone there was already a gathering in the car park, including the organisers of a vigil, members of the local Methodist Church and a number friends and acquaintances concerned about the issue we had assembled to confront - peacefully of course!

Just three minutes walk down the road is a factory, an unassuming building on an industrial estate. The place didn't seem active at all as there was no sign of movement within. At the site 40-50 people gathered on the narrow grass verge with assorted placards pointing out the results of what was being manufactured here.

UAV engines seems innocuous enough except when you realise UAV stands for "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" or drones, one of the latest developments in global warfare. Here operators sitting at a safe distance from their target play what look like a computer game to strafe their target. In reality it includes the killing of people, men, women and children alike. Civilians in Pakistan, Somalia,Yemen and Afghanistan are among the recipients. The perpetrators include the US, the UK and Israel, who are prominent in the development, manufacture and use the weapons significantly against the people of Gaza. The section on their products leaves no doubt of the intended use: "one trip lethal UAVs".

The Palestinian was prominent on the vigil. The hour-long programme consisted of remembering the victims of drones, as well as those associated with their use. Prayers and thoughts were interspersed with 10 minutes silence ended with the sounding of a bell. When the Church leaders took a letter to hand in to the company the door remained firmly closed. The place appeared empty without a sign of movement through the windows. Only a police vehicle stood in front. Eventually a police officer came across to speak to the leaders.

The vigils are held regularly every 3 months or so. Concern about wars and the use of indiscriminate and sophisticated weaponry attracts increasingly widespread concern.

Continue reading "Death in our backyard"

Blogged by John Tyrrell at 11:37 AM, May 20, 2012 | Comments (0)

Mordechai Vanunu. Time for his release is long overdue

When I was in the Palestinian territories and Israel in early 2004 we discussed Mordechai Vanunu who was still held in prison where he had served 18 years, much in solitary confinement. This after being lured to Rome where he was kidnapped (presumably illegally by Mossad who seem to be immune to international law) and smuggled back to Israel. He has spent 8 further years restricted to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. He is widely regarded as a spy and traitor and so continues to be harassed.

Now is the time for the Israeli government to show good will. I seriously wonder if it is capable of doing this. Any report you read on this bunch shows them laying into everybody and anybody, except that is the settlers to whom Netanahyu continues to give away Palestinian land and property. Extreme is not the word to describe these actions, but since the US appears powerless to deal with him it continues,

The following are letters published in the Guardian which coincide with a day of action called by the Free Mordechai Vanunu cause on Facebook, supported by 5,500 people.

Continue reading "Mordechai Vanunu. Time for his release is long overdue"

Blogged by John Tyrrell at 2:28 PM, April 22, 2012 | Comments (0)

Education. The Verdict

Just as anyone with a background in health is the last to be asked about running a health service, anyone with the slightest understanding of education and learning will be swept aside. The Independent has published the verdict. Not that Gove at al will be the least bit interested since those giving the verdict either represent teachers or actually have to run the run down "system" that has emerged from the market- led views of running society. Class divide prevails.

There is no opposition to government because New Labour had already begun to introduce the Academy, which undermined local control of education. Underfunding always meant this was never to be perfect but at least local representatives who knew local needs could plan, Now anyone can go straight to the Secretary of State and day they want to open a school. Those who have applied in and around Birmingham seem the most unlikely educationists without any previous sign of interest or expertise. In one case it is a religious institution so a divide on religious/cultural lines is on the cards. Such schools have proved highly divisive in Northern Ireland and Israel/Palestine.

Now that the state system of British education is well on the way to being dismantled, just how will it be reconstructed. The major parties appear to have little if any idea.

Blogged by John Tyrrell at 9:58 AM, April 5, 2012 | Comments (0)