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June 30, 2008

Mote and Beam

Two comments concerning responses to the question whether Mugabe is legitimate leader of Zimbabwe today. Both are quoted in Al Jazeera (30/6/2008)

"If media controllers had any courage, the headlines today would read: ILLEGITIMATE & INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL U.S. (P)RESIDENT DECLARES ZIMBABWE ELECTION ILLEGITIMATE. What nerve! Imagine a gang-banging thug sitting in judgment of ANYONE. Now, I readily admit that some people criticizing the Zimbabwe election are sincere in their convictions. George the Bush, Condo-Sleazeball & Gordon Brown are, BY VIRTUE of the illegitimate crimes they have committed, together with all they don't see as illegitimate, are not: war of aggression against four countries that never did a thing to them, stealing elections, crossing any and everyone's borders & sovereignty to kidnap MOSTLY innocent people, torturing them - many to death, depriving them of ANY human rights, including habeas corpus, imprisoning them INDEFINITELY. Not a single country in the world other than Israel stoops THAT low."
Nelson Rappaport, Stockholm, Sweden
Added: Monday, 30 June 2008, 09:43 AM Mecca time, 06:43 AM GMT

"I think Mugabe's election was every bit as legitimate as George W. Bush's elections and less harm may be done."
Puck, Seattle, United States

Posted by John at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)

June 29, 2008

Tough at the top

Our dependency on big corporate organisations for our essentials - food and energy - needs to be carefully considered as we trip off to the local supermarket and shell petrol station. Have they got us over a barrel, or is their still room to fight back. Government - all parties - are complicit and compete in showing loyalty to the market and the powerful. It isn't doing New Labour much good now though, having rubbished unions and rubbed shoulders and more with the wealthy.

The biggest predatory giant in the supermarket business, Tesco, has come in from criticism from many quarters and now, according to a report in the Observer (29/6/2008), others are joining in. Tesco has extended its sphere of operation abroad, and in the U.S. has come to the notice of Barack Obama. It's encouraging to read that his criticism is to do with Tesco's attempts to remove union rights from its employees. Given Obama's tendency to sound as far right as his Republican rivals as he did at AIPAC, his intervention is to be welcome.

Tesco has a reputation in the UK for the aggressive way it conducts itself, grabbing land not for the purposes of building yet more new stores, but to stop its competitors acquiring it. Did I read something about Tesco being refused permission to get involved in a proposed eco-town and then trying to take over the whole enterprise? What can't money do? Take a look at this.

Posted by John at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)

June 25, 2008

Birmingham up for grabs

A meeting at Birmingham Council House, organised by Birmingham Trades Council (24/6/2008), invited speakers on the vexed matter of privatisation of public services. What amazed even seasoned activists was the extent of moves to bring in the private sector offering lucrative contracts. All three major parties support this although it is the manifesto of none.

While post office closures are a national issue there are proposals to close a considerable number in Birmingham. This needs to be seen in the context of the government's plan for postal services as a whole, which have all the hallmarks of privatised operations. Private companies have the opportunity to "cherry pick" the lucrative bits they like and leave the costly unattractive parts. These are usually the parts that provide essential services to the public - like mail delivery and post offices. The process was described in graphic and gory detail by a leader of the Communication Workers' Union. He would have to leave the meeting early to attend another meeting in Coventry in advance of an announcement that this City, 7th largest in UK, would be having its Mail Centre closed.

In order for firms to tender the rules are that this has to be placed in the European Journal, at a cost of around £1 million. The competitors have to pay VAT so that has to be added in somewhere. The UK has moved much further in running down its postal services than anywhere else, and they give the Chief Executive of the Post Office a 3 year bonus package worth £3 million to run it down, with a poorer service to all of us: later deliveries when we have already been cut from 2 to 1. The once proud flagship Crown Post Offices which remain under the Post Offices control will now be found behind the green groceries of Cost Cutter and the like The Post Office has a huge distribution network, but there has been massive underinvestment. Money has been taken out of the Post Office following the Postal Services Act. Another familiar feature is the "consultation" process in which people are invited to meetings where the commercial decisions will already have been taken. These are not for negotiation.

In discussion we were further reduced to abject gloom when we realised that other unions such as the NUT used private mail services.

Rick Hatcher had earlier given us a rundown of education in the brave new world. "Modernisation" is the word New Labour always uses. Before we discussed the Academies soon to feature in Birmingham Rick reminded us what had already been privatised in education, again with lucrative contracts on offer. What did working people get to benefit them? The answer was loss of jobs, poorer working conditions and a threat to local democracy. Among those bidding for Birmingham schools were Land Securities, one of the biggest property companies, and Catalyst Education owned by the Bovis group. Rick saw these as a springboard to getting other council services. The contracts are for 20 years, once more cherry picking the profitable parts, and are a partnership between national and local government and the contractor, with the council and government having a 10% stake each and 80% going to the contractor. For this the contractor would have a say in what is taught, selection of staff and membership of governing bodies. While there was room for a councillor and parent governor it is clear to see that lone voices would find great difficulty in putting their views across.

Six academies are proposed for Birmingham, although following the announcement by Ed Balls that any school deemed to be failing would be a prime target for conversion. This could add up to 10 more in Birmingham. Land and premises are being handed over. While these are still described glowingly as "part of the family of Birmingham schools" the City Council will have little say in practice, which means of course that they will become unaccountable to the electorate. More democracy out of the window in one fell swoop! It emerged that one of those lined up to take over schools in Birmingham had made a bid in Bradford, but for reasons that are unclear they were "booted out". Another comes under a former education director for Dudley and his sidekick under the name of the Orbiston Trust. The story goes that they had left Dudley in quite a hurry and once again it would be reassuring to have a reason. The Kibg Edwards Foundation are due to take over Shenley Court.

While claims are made that Academies improve educational standards there is absolutely no evidence that they do. One member of our group had visited the Grace Academy in Solihull, which is one of the schools run by committed evangelical. For some reason there is an extremely high turnover of staff there. Evidently they began the teaching day at 8.30 and finished at 3.15, allowing a 25 minute break for lunch. The school, was very well endowed with buildings and equipment. WE have already heard how a religious foundation elsewhere in the UK now teaches creationism, having appointed a head teacher and staff to carry this out. We can look forward to seeing schools set up to teach a range of bizarre matters, and none of us will have the power to say a word.

Since all three major parties are up for all of this, and elected members seem united as turkeys voting for Christmas. Happy to lose power, happy to bury democracy, happy to see essential services go to providers with dodgy backgrounds who will provide inferior services from unmotivated staff on low pay. This is even weirder when you consider members of the public's view on the privatisation of their services. First of all there is wide spread ignorance. When out canvassing in May I raised the matter and found the vast majority were alarmed. Was this raised by other candidates, including those now elected?

Posted by John at 9:19 AM | Comments (0)

June 22, 2008

Europe to get Iraqi gas?

An article in Al Jazeera (22/6/2008) may explain why Blair was joined at the hip with Bush. We are told that Shell is charged with exploiting the vast source of gas in Western Iraq which would would be piped out across Syria. All this while Iraqis continue to endure intense suffering at the hands of the western capitalist war machine.

Further reading of the article raises a puzzle since it appears that plans were well on the way to develop this before the 2003 US led invasion. If this was the case then Blair was well off song in this respect too.

"Iraqi energy experts have told Al Jazeera that oil and gas fields in the western Anbar province may soon begin pumping gas to European markets.

Mukhtar al-Ani, an Iraqi oil consultant, said: "In early January, the Ministry of Oil held talks with a number of potential companies regarding development of the huge Akkas gas field in the north-western desert of Anbar province."

According to the ministry, Akkas, which lies 40km from the Syrian border, is believed to contain up to seven trillion cubic feet of gas, which accounts for six per cent of Iraq's estimated total of 112 trillion cubic feet. The field is capable of producing up to 500 million cubic feet per day if fully developed." Source Al Jazeera 22/6/2008.

Posted by John at 12:48 PM | Comments (0)

A desperate plea from Friends of Bil'in

Each week the people of Bil'in protest against the wall, their loss of land and livelihood, and violent attacks by Israeli soldiers armed to the teeth on defenseless people. Now, as reported before, live ammunition is in use in contravention of Israeli law.

F.F.J June 20 2008-"The Israeli Army has used almost every weapon in their arsenal to impose their Apartheid on the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. In many cases these weapons, which are often lethal, are used on the whole of the Palestinian population regardless of whether they are simply trying to lead a private family life or if they are resisting the occupation.

The Village of Bilin in particular has been struggling against the Apartheid Wall and the occupation for three consecutive years using peaceful resistance. Bilin has been holding weekly demonstrations with the participation of local villagers, internationals, and Israeli supporters. In return, the Israeli Army has used all manner of violent methods and weapons to silence the Bilin Resistance, even though Bilin's approach has been non-violent."

"This use of disproportionate and sometimes lethal force against peaceful resistance has been perpetuated by the Israeli High Courts decision to "legally" allow the use of live ammunition on peaceful Palestinian protestors, only barring the use of live ammunition when foreign nationals and Israeli Activists are present at these protests. The Israeli Army has now used live ammunition against Palestinian protestors in Bilin with the presence of Internationals and Israeli activists there, even in violating its own racist laws. This has lead to many serious injuries to the Bilin Villagers, such as Ibrahim Burnat, who was shot with three bullets in his thigh at last weeks protest.

The action of the Israeli Army against the whole of Palestinian Society betrays their rhetoric about security as the purpose of their occupation and instead shines light on what seems to be their true aim; the slow removal of the Palestinian people from their land by any means possible. This includes terrorizing the population through forced transfers, economic starvation, house demolitions, unwarranted arrests, and unchecked killing of the civilian population. This ethnic cleansing is cemented as a reality through the Israeli policies of land confiscation, settlement expansion, and the control of water resources which are the true aims of the Apartheid wall and system of occupation.

This week as part of Bilin's ongoing weekly resistance, the villagers and their international supporters organized a protest against the Apartheid Wall. The protestors carried signs and banners denouncing the use of live ammunition against peaceful protestors. They also raised pictures of some of the villagers who had been wounded by Israeli Forces while participating in the protests. Below the pictures of the victims was written "Despite the hatred of your bullets, we will uproot your wall". Israeli Troops responded by showering the protest with tear gas and flash bombs and dozens were treated for tear gas inhalation.

Today, the people of Bilin sent the message that they will not be bullied by Israel's use of deadly force and their peaceful struggle will continue its effort to bring about the end of the settlements, the destruction of the Apartheid Wall, and the end of the occupation as a whole.

To read more or view photos from the protest please visit our new website "

Thank you for you continued support,

Iyad Burnat- Head of Popular Commitee in Bilin
Head of Friends of Freedom and Justice in Bilin

Email- ffj.bilin@yahoo.com
Mobile- (00972) (0) 547847942
Office- (00972) (2) 2489129
Fax- (00972) (2) 2489129

Posted by John at 11:56 AM | Comments (0)

June 21, 2008

Cllr John Lines

John Lines is a prominent member of Birmingham City Council, in fact he is Cabinet Member for Housing currently. Today's "Iron Angle" in the Birmingham Post (21/6/2008) illustrates why he shouldn't continue to be a cabinet member, or to hold public office at all. The following is a report from Defence Management which reports Line's vile message:

From: DefenceManagement.com 23rd January 2008

Birmingham Tory slams asylum seekers
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

"While British soldiers and Gurkhas may struggle for support from a government that overlooks the significance of their contribution, many immigrants who sneak into the UK get preferential treatment, according to Conservative Birmingham City councillor John Lines.

Talking to defencemanagement.com about housing services for former members of the armed forces, the cabinet member for housing was highly critical of the government's treatment of veterans and ex-Gurkhas in particular and suggested asylum seekers got a much better deal.

Lines said: "We do not afford them [Gurkhas] citizenship. We pay them a pension to go back to Nepal. Yet some scallywag, some scumbag can jump on the back of a lorry, come over under the tunnel and never expect to work a day in his [expletive] life. And if he's been here for a time waiting for a decision, we give him automatic British citizenship. The world's gone [expletive] mad."

Lines' comments come at a time when Tory party leader David Cameron is looking to stamp down on outspoken remarks and give the party a softer image on immigration and asylum seekers.

But this is not the first time Lines has expressed such views. In May 2006 he ordered the removal of TVs from council houses allocated specifically to asylum seekers. He said that taxpayers' money should not pay for a luxury many people cannot afford.

And in June 2005, Lines wanted to stop a grant to Birmingham's Asylum Support and Immigration Resource Team (ASIRT) which provides legal assistance and other services for asylum seekers.

• Gurkhas who have left the British Army after 1 July 1997 are eligible for indefinite leave to remain, which allows them to stay in the UK forever. Most refugees discovered at the border are held in detention facilities while they await a hearing. If they are granted asylum, refugees are usually granted further or indefinite leave to remain. After a few years they are allowed to apply for citizenship."

Has anyone complained. Well, yes. A letter was written by former Cllr Dennis Minnis to the National Standards Board concerned with standards in public office. "He's just exercising his right to free speech" was their view. The Iron angle article points out that the MP Alan Cairns lost his position as a shadow education minister, and his place on the Welsh Assembly, after he referred to Italians as "greasy wops".

We don't tolerate the BNP propagating its views inciting racism and racial violence, we should even less so from the major political parties. There is absolutely no excuse for such conduct, and if Lines doesn't pack his bags and go, Mike Whitby, the Tories and their Lib-Dem mates should make (expletive) sure that he does.

Posted by John at 4:09 PM | Comments (0)

Route 443

The following is from Jewish Voice for Peace and is an illustration of how some prominent Israeli citizens won't descend to the level set out by the present extremist government:

"Adam Keller, spokesperson for Gush Shalom, translated this article from Yediot Aharonot, Israel's widest-read newspaper, from Hebrew, since it wasn't translated into English. His introductory note and the article are below.

Route 443 is one of the "apartheid roads" cut through the West Bank for Israeli drivers (as far as I know regardless of whether they are Jewish or Palestinian Israeli) to the exclusion of Palestinians. There have been ongoing popular protests in the West Bank against the road and the confiscation of lands that it causes, as well as a court case brought by Palestinians and ACRI (Association for Civil Rights in Israel).

As Adam Keller notes below, despite the prominence of the article in Yediot, it was not translated to English or posted on the popular YNet website. This seems to be part of a pattern of lack of willingness to air "dirty laundry" to an international audience.

It is certainly notable that such a prominent member of the Israeli establishment is using the word "apartheid." It is also interesting that this judge seems to despair for now of the court system, in the end reminding Israelis of their individual responsibility to protest and not allow the Court to give them a reason to be 'voluntarily blind.' "

--Rebecca Vilkomerson

Don't travel on Route 443
The Apartheid Road - Silence of the Judges

By Boaz Okon

Yediot Aharonot, June 10, 2008

Boaz Okon is a prominent jurist, was a judge on the Jerusalem District Court and registrar of the Supreme Court, and since his resignation in 2006 is the juridical commentator of Yediot Aharonot. The following article appeared not only on the op-ed page, but also with a box, containing a summary, placed conspicuously on the paper's front page - which is quite exceptional. Exceptional in the opposite direction is the fact that this article, unlike many others of Okon's, was not included in the Y-net website nor translated to English. This I have decided to do myself.

Adam Keller

Box on Page 1 - entitled "Don't travel on Route 443"

"There are acts for which in retrospect we would not be able to forgive ourselves. Moments for which we would ask ourselves how we could have been so stupid.
Our Supreme Court is approaching such a moment. On its desk is the appeal against the decision of the Defense Minster to block to Palestinian traffic the part of Route 443 which goes through the West Bank, and allowing passage to Israelis only. The Defense Minster gave the order to create a network of alternative roads for the Palestinians, which came to be knows as the "Fabric of Life Roads". Which means: in the 1980's, a narrow village road was widened into a full-fledged inter-city highway, the present Route 443. In order to achieve that, the land of Palestinian villagers was confiscated; now, these villagers are forbidden to use that route, and face new confiscation of lands in order to have new routes, with a tempting and cynical names, created for their use.
Had words been capable of dying of shame, the words "Fabric of Life Roads" would have died long ago."

Main article on the op-ed page - entitled "The Apartheid Road - Silence of the Judges"


"There are acts for which in retrospect we would not be able to forgive ourselves. Moment for which we would ask ourselves how we could have been so stupid. In order to overcome our shame and confusion, we will try to find support in the claim that "things were different than" or that "that's the way everybody was thinking at the time" or with arguments of national security.

Such moments come also for elected institutions, legislatures and governments, which in stormy situations, out of righteousness or security hysteria, are passing laws or defining policies which afterwards could not possibly be explained. This also happens to courts, when they abandon their fundamental duty to uproot any manifestations of racism.
Such a moment in the history of the US Supreme Court was, for example, the Dred Scott Case (1856). The court in this case decided that a Black person cannot be a citizen, since he belongs to an inferior race. Another such moment was the notorious ruling of Justice Holms (1927) approving a Virginia State law providing for the forced sterilization of retarded persons, since "Three generations of imbeciles are more than enough."

Now, our Supreme Court is also approaching closer to such a shameful moment. On its desk is the appeal lodged by ACRI (Association for Civil Rights) and by Palestinian villagers against the decision of the Defense Minster to block to Palestinian traffic on the part of Route 443 which goes through the West Bank (Modi'in - Jerusalem), and allowing passage to Israelis only. The Defense Minster gave the order to create a network of alternative roads for the Palestinians, which came to be knows as the "Fabric of Life Roads". All for reasons of security, of course.

Had words been capable of dying of shame, the words "Fabric of Life Roads" would have died long ago. In the 1980's, a narrow village road was widened into a full-fledged inter-city highway, the present Route 443; in order to achieve that, the land of Palestinian villagers was confiscated; now, these villagers are forbidden to use that route, and face new confiscation of lands in order to have new routes, supposedly aimed at their own good, with a tempting and cynical names, created for their use.

"Security" has been used, more than any other word, to justify acts of infamy. This word is like a suitcase with a false bottom, outwardly carrying a legitimate interest and in fact carrying a negative, illegal load.

For the time being, the Supreme Court ruled on March 3, 2008 not to deal with this appeal at all, and asked the Defense Minster to provide within six months information on the progress in construction of the "Fabric of Life Roads". This week, the court rejected a request by ACRI to hold a hearing on the subject anyway. In this way, the court in practice endorsed the decision of the Defense Minster, a decision which is leading us beyond the doorstep of Apartheid.

The rolling thunder of that decision is strong that no one can but hear it. The judicial backing of the Supreme Court serves as it powerful amplifier.

Sometimes, we prefer to become voluntarily blind, and rely on various bodies to take the decisions in our place. "It is a fact" we tell our conscience "that the judges have convened and took a decision, we are no longer personally responsible". Such a silencing of the conscience has a tendency to develop into a chronic disease, which through continuing erosion becomes a habit of obscuring even the most heinous of deeds.

Of course, the Supreme Court will continue to express its shock at individual act of discrimination ("An Arab was not allowed into the water park", "Ethiopians were not allowed to register their children at a Petach Tikva school") but will shrug at a comprehensive official policy which is systematically criminal.

So, what can we do? It is not always possible to rely on mass decisions, on institutions, on courts. It is possible to travel to Jerusalem by Route 1 only. ACRI should distribute stickers with text "I don't travel by Route 443" and all of us should avoid using this road until the evil decree is removed."

Posted by John at 3:52 PM | Comments (0)

June 20, 2008

New Labour in New Europe

It's fascinating when some of those who disappear from view emerge through the gloom from time to time. One of the originators of New Labour, who even they found a liability, Peter Mandelson turns up as the one responsible for the Irish "No" vote rejecting European unity. This is according to Nicolas Sarkozy.

"The foreign secretary, David Miliband, this morning dismissed Sarkozy's remarks as a 'playful' gesture.

'I don't think Peter's turn from national figure of blame to international figure of blame is really fair,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."

Posted by John at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)

Understanding Zimbabwe

Understanding what's going on in Zimbabwe is a tall order, but an article in today's Guardian (20/6/2008) about who might follow Mugabe with a description of the present locus of power illustrates one aspect. The military became involved in politics after 2000 when a possible alternative to Zanu PF appeared. What the successive generals made clear is that they were not prepared to see a reversal of what they considered they had won through the liberation struggles.

In this regard socialists might have sympathies, particularly if it was clearly a peoples' struggle. However it seems most people are seen as the enemy now and a powerful elite has emerged enjoying the privileges brought with it.

"On January 9 2002, the then Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander Vitalis Zvinavashe declared to the country:

'We wish to make it very clear to all Zimbabwean citizens that the security organisations will only stand in support of those political leaders that will pursue Zimbabwean values, traditions and beliefs for which thousands of lives were lost in the pursuit of Zimbabwe's hard won independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests. To this end, let it be known that the highest office in the land is a straitjacket whose occupant is expected to observe the objectives of the liberation struggle. We will therefore not accept, let alone support or salute, anyone with a different agenda that threatens the very existence of our sovereignty.' "

"Zvinavashe retired as ZDF commander in 2003 and was succeeded by General Constantine Chiwenga. In October 2004, ahead of the 2005 parliamentary election, General Chiwenga reiterated Zvinavashe's 2002 statement, stating:

'I will not hesitate to go on record again on behalf of the Zimbabwe defence forces, to disclose that we would not welcome any change of government that carries the label "made in London" and whose sole aim is to defeat the gains of the liberation struggle. The military generals not only openly sided with Zanu-PF but their involvement in politics and the national economy became increasingly intrusive. By 2006 Chiwenga could go as far as to instruct the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono to "make sure agriculture is revived and make food available so we [the military] will not be forced to turn our guns on hungry Zimbabweans' ". Source Guardian 20/6/2008.

While Ian Smith presided over a very different economy he made it clear that black Africans should never be allowed power. Of the remaining white settlers many still hark back, still maintaining a relatively comfortable life-style with black servants (still referred to as "boys" and "maids" and addressing their bosses as "sir" and "madam"). Seems to be two sides of fantasy land here. To maintain supremacy it was forbidden to teach about the Zimbabwean black heritage.

Article "Smith worse than Mugabe" (Guardian)

Posted by John at 9:41 AM | Comments (0)

June 19, 2008

Guantanamo firm to leave Birmingham

Hiatt the Great Barr firm, which is said to have made shackles for Guantanamo Bay, is to relocate to the US. The firm was established over 200 years ago when its products were available for the slave trade.

The company joins a long list of firms which trade in human misery, receiving considerable profits for their shareholders. Firms in the US like Blackwater and Haliburton have massive contracts supposedly for security operations in theatres of war. The people of Iraq are incensed that non-military personnel have been found responsible for killings and torture - people not covered by any rules of engagement applying to military personnel. Not that anyone from these firms who is kidnapped can expect much support from their employers. Five people taken five years ago have been virtually forgotten about.

The Birmingham Post reports (19/6/2008): "Former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg said he was delighted to see the company leave Birmingham, adding he had been ashamed that a company based just a few miles from where he lived had helped to keep him locked up.

Mr Begg spent nearly three years in Guantanamo Bay as a suspected terrorist. He was released in January 2005 without charge.

He said: 'It's bizarre, because the first time I met my lawyer I said to him that both myself and the shackles I was in were made in Birmingham.

'There was no sense that they were taking responsibility for what they were making.

'The fact they are closing is great news, and it's appropriate that they're going to America, where they'll be closer to where they are used.' "

Posted by John at 12:09 PM | Comments (0)

World food crisis. Capitalism to the rescue

Why is there a crisis in the availability of food world wide? Phil Woolas, another New Labour wonder, knows the answer that we don't. He goes straight into bed with Monsanto and other huge industrial giants responsible for plundering the earth and exploiting labour. "GM crops" will rescue us. We've been here before. No, Mr Blair, going to war is not the answer for dealing with Iraq, you've been warned. Privatisation won't improve the quality of our health, our education, our prisons as we learn to our cost daily.

Learn? We all suffer but members of the government don't, won't learn. To solve a problem you need a different approach to the one that put you there in the first place.

"Green groups reacted angrily to the prospect of a government rethink. Clare Oxborrow, GM campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said: "Industry claims that GM crops are necessary to feed the world are a cynical attempt to use the food crisis for financial gain - and governments should look at the industry's record before believing the hype.

'After a decade of commercialisation most GM crops are used for animal feed, not food; they do not yield more than conventional crops; and GM drought and salt-tolerant crops remain a PR promise rather than reality. We now need a radical shift towards sustainable farming systems that genuinely benefit local farmers communities and the environment worldwide.'

Jan van Aken, agricultural campaigner for Greenpeace International, said: 'I am appalled that the GM industry is abusing the misery of millions of hungry people around the world, using it as propaganda to sell a product by claiming it would reduce hunger. By all means the Government can have a look at it, but it should look at the facts and then drop it. There is no science behind the industry's claim.' " (Source Independent 19/6/2008)

Posted by John at 9:23 AM | Comments (0)

Michelle takes the stage 2

Every word and action of both Barack Obama and wife Michelle has received spotlight treatment. Michelle's ability to answer criticism has been illustrated in a chat show. Everything she has said or done has been interpreted and misinterpreted. The bumping of fists in celebration of victory, for example, was taken as a revolutionary symbol, while a comment about "being proud of my country for the first time" has been repeated ad nauseum ripped from its context. The show found that MIchelle Obama had at first tried to dissuade her husband from deep involvement in politics, which she regarded with mistrust as being "a dirty business."

Posted by John at 9:12 AM | Comments (0)

June 18, 2008

Singing like a canary

Smelly is now on trial and has begun to sing out putting his old mates, like Scratcher into deep, deep doo-doo. What a surprise. Did we ever think that Scratcher was an innocent bystander contributing to the air ambulance service? Smelly's saying that it was all a terrible mistake and how glad he is that the plot didn't succeed. grovel, grovel.

It seems his mates could well be in trouble. Scratcher is living it up in Spain, (or more possible keeping a low profile - a Russian team were sent to kidnap him if this article can be believed) having been moved on from the U.S. and South Africa where other scams led to him dodging prosecution.

Update on Scratcher.

The whole episode demonstrates the kind of contempt that persist for sovereign African nations with a belief that the place is ripe for exploitation regardless of those who already live there. The problem for the long suffering Zimbabweans is that they are caught in a double bind. The kind of society which has been set up in Castro's Cuba could and should have come into being under Mugabe. Mugabe has chosen to live a privileged life-style handing out largesse to a few chosen people. The Europeans who have stayed still hark back to a golden age when Smith ruled. Yes there was a strong economy, but as the rest of world knew and recognised the basis of that rule was unsustainable. Smith's regime perpetuated myths about the African past denying evidence staring them in the face. (I saw some of this for myself in 2006). It took Peter Garlake, a European historian, to present the facts behind Great Zimbabwe and the African heritage. The huge tragedy is that Mugabe as custodian of these treasures should be putting all this into disrepute and allowing the old guard a smug satisfaction which is totally unjustified.

Posted by John at 9:02 PM | Comments (0)

Our condolences, but now here are some more for slaughter

Four more British troops have died in Afghanistan (Afghanis not counted), including the first woman soldier. This comes days after five other bodies were flown back to the UK, Gordon Brown wined and dined George W. Bush on his farewell tour and Des Browne announced that more young people were being sent into harm's way.

George didn't come to say "goodbye" at all. He came to get support for more of the same in Afghanistan, Iraq and then onto Iran. On this mission against "terrorism" - the kind of term politicians love to use when it can mean what you want it to - he and his mate Gordon are adding fuel to the flames. It is easy to replace "terrorism" with "Islam". Anyone killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine (never mind many are Christian) will lead to outrage any many more signing up to the cause they claim to be fighting. It's like trying to cut off the head of the hydra. It's costing us millions to do the impossible never mind the incalculable human price.

Posted by John at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)

Handsworth has gone green

A question has been raised about the future of Cabinet Member for Transportation and Street Services in Birmingham Councillor Len "Gridlock" Gregory. His achievements in taking transport forward during his time in office has been called into question as zero progress with a metro or any serious alternative has come to a grinding halt, just like the traffic. The department is running at a deficit and has record levels of sickness, although Cllr Gregory couldn't give details.

Friends of Len have defended him on his record of recycling, however. This was an item for discussion at this month's Council meeting when it was noted that there had been a huge growth in the amount of green waste due to "the wrong sort of weather". Here in Handsworth the green waste collection has become so successful that our streets are awash with (uncollected) green bags. These should have been collected last Wednesday (11th June). I phoned Environmental Services to be told that our streets would be cleared by the weekend.

A week later they're still here. In College Road the heap has been added to by all sorts of detritus. I duly phoned 303 1112 to be told that collections have been put on hold due to a backlog. In the case of the accumulated rubbish please would I notify Environmental Health who would check for needles and anything dangerous. Dutifully following instructions I was informed that that department dealt with leaflets to residents telling them not to put rubbish out on the street. Confusion reigns in this section too for our recycling wizard.

Meanwhile the area looks like a huge dump, added to by badly overgrown bushes in two sections of College Road. These harbour rats and were due for clearance in 2004 when Len started. Perhaps it will all go when Len does.

Posted by John at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)

June 17, 2008

Ibrahim now needs urgent blood donations

The following is from Jewish Voice for Peace about the live rounds used by the Israeli Military hitting a demonstrator in the thigh. Blood tranfusions saved his life initially but he still requires more: "he is still in constant need of AB+ blood transfusions at large quantities and have already received 11 counts." The whole episode was caught on film (see below).

"The West Bank village of Bil'in is one of very few instances where steadfast non-violent resistance, maintained jointly by Palestinians and Israelis, along with a petition to Israel's High Court of Justice, have achieved positive legal results. The High Court ruled in favor of the Palestinian petitioners, instructing the state and the military to re-route sections of the separation barrier appropriating much of the village land, on which private building companies have proceeded to construct an orthodox neighborhood. As reflected in earlier items selected and forwarded by Jewish Peace News, this court ruling remains unimplemented to date. (For more information ).
Non-violent demonstrations therefore continue regularly in Bil'in, organized and attended by activists from Bil'in and its environs and from Israel.

As is the case throughout the Occupied Territories, Israeli forces regularly meet non-violent protesters with violent action. This systematic practice is clearly exemplified in the item below, issued by Jonathan Pollak, of "Anarchists against the Wall", one of the Israelis active in resisting the separation barrier and focusing on its forceful destruction of Bil'in.

The item below is an urgent call for blood donations needed for treatment of Ibrahim Bornat, a Palestinian activist from Bil'in, targeted by Israeli forces and wounded by live ammunition in last week's demonstration. It includes a link to video footage of Ibrahim's shooting.

For those interested in a more immediate sense of the ongoing struggle at Bil'in and, among other things, with the activist Bornat family whose son, Ibrahim now needs urgent blood donations, I suggest obtaining and viewing the film "Bil'in Habibti" (Bil'in My Love) filmed and directed by Shai Carmeli-Pollak."

Rela Mazali

----------------------------------

From: Jonathan Pollak
Date: 2008/6/15
Subject: Urgent: AB+ blood donations needed for Bil'in demonstrator who was shot on Friday

Hello,
Last Friday, during the weekly demonstration against the wall in Bil'in, soldiers opened fire on Ibrahim Bornat using live ammunition and hitting his right thigh. Ibrahim is son to Intessar and Wageeh and brother to Rani who was himself shot by an Israeli sniper eight years ago at a demonstration in Ramallah. The shot left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Ibrahim, a regular participant in the Bil'in demonstrations for the past three years, had already been injured numerous times, but this is the most serious one yet. The bullets that pierced his leg had ripped an artery and a vain and caused local nerve damage, of which the long term implications are still not clear.
Resulting from the massive blood loss, Ibrahim was brought to the hospital unconscious and in critical condition. He was operated on for several hours, but still has no feeling in his right leg, at least temporarily.

During the operation Ibrahim was given numerous blood transfusions that saved his life, but he is still in constant need of AB+ blood transfusions at large quantities and have already received 11 counts.

Usually recipients of AB+ blood type can receive from any blood donor, but due to Ibrahim's harsh condition the doctors prefer the transfusions to be of the original blood type only.

If you will be willing to urgently donate blood for Ibrahim in Ramallah, and your blood type is AB+, please call Sarah at 0523991897

Video of Ibrahim's shooting.

Posted by John at 2:48 PM | Comments (0)

June 14, 2008

An American in Baghdad

The Washington Post (14/6/2008) summarises the U.S. position in Iraq presently. All parties have an eye on upcoming elections and, no, the American presence is greatly resented. Do the politicians support Americans or Iraqis. In consequence U.S. plans for staying on after a U.N. mandate runs out at the end of the year have been rejected. Perhaps Bush's successor won't have a difficult choice after all. At the same time militant groups are calling for renewed attacks on American troops.

Another matter of concern is the Iraqi government's refusal to offer guarantees for the huge number of civilian personnel now involved in Iraq - and party to killing and abuse of Iraqi civilians. Such is the anger at their role that the government dare not offer support to employees of Blackwater, Haliburton et al - some of which have bases in UK.

Meanwhile back at the ranch as they say, George W. is talking about the defeat of barbarism. Someone sent me these pictures of Baghdad before and after 2003 with the comment "look and weep". This beside the human consequences - and he continues with more of the same in Iran.

As demonstrators massed in Parliament Square and attempted to enter Whitehall Gordon Brown entertained Bush. As five coffins were flown from Afghanistan Brown was promising the discredited President more troops - and no timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. All this is unbelievable given that Blair has long gone, and Brown initially at pains to distance himself now endorses. The United States, in spite of its own economic difficulties, continues to be able to dictate terms which are irresistible across the globe - unless you are Cuba or Venezuela. Look what happens to you if you dare contradict the message, never mind its Neocon provenance.

Mr President is described as the lame duck of lame ducks, but just now seems as dangerous a time as any. The man has a mission and considerable if not unlimited power at his elbow. He has at once held back progress on emissions and climate change and charged full tilt at "terror". The world's biggest terrorist (along with his Israeli friends) is feted by governments as he bids farewell. Does this look like the end? Not to me it doesn't, as he once famously remarked "you ain't seen nothing yet!"

Up date: major oil companies to return to Iraq. This is what it's all been about so US and global interests will have got what they wanted irrespective of its cost in both money and humanity.

Posted by John at 10:27 AM | Comments (0)

June 13, 2008

Soldier you're no longer needed

A report in the U.S. claims that soldiers are being deliberately misdiagnosed as having a pre-existing mental illness, or are guilty of misconduct to prevent payouts for post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition has routinely been overlooked going back to World War I when soldiers were shot for desertion when they were suffering from an experience no human being should have to deal with.

Today PSD has been recognised to the extent that disgraced troops have received posthumous pardons, yet governments are continuing to duck the issue and pretend it doesn't happen. Mush is made in the rhetoric of top politicians about the bravery and heroism of those who lose their lives. If you survive it appears a raher different story.

Of course our young people should not have been sent into pointless and illegal wars in the first place. When they are there short cuts are made on providing protection and equipment. The mothballed Chinook helicopters which have ended up costing the British government huge sums are a case in point.

Posted by John at 7:40 PM | Comments (0)

Settlers' lawlessness

The Jerusalem Post can hardly be described as pro-Palestinian, so an article on the behaviour of illegal settlers in Hebron (13/6/2008) criticising their lawlessness has to be taken seriously. First a group blocked the passage of a bus carrying a group who were visiting Hebron in support of the plight of Palestinians. The report labels them as "leftist" however a story is told of how two teenagers from the settlement had come into town to steal from the Palestinians. When they were caught the IDF came to their rescue. They then said that they had been abducted and their friend was missing, When a search failed to confirm this the boys were accused of making up the story. The settlers succeeded in preventing the visitors' tour from proceeding.

Unsurprisingly Barack Obama has withdrawn the remark he made at the meeting with AIPAC that Jerusalem would never be divided. He acknowledged that what happened in that city would be the outcome of negotiations within a peace package.

This week's news from Bil'in where the Israeli military protect settlers and take violent action against those protesting against the wall which cuts the community off from its land.

F.F.J. June 13 2008 - Today a young man from Bilin was shot with live rounds during the weekly Bilin Protest. Ibrahim Burnat who was shot in his right thigh was taken directly to Sheik Zaid Hospital in Ramallah and was described by doctors as being in critical condition. Ibrahim posed no threat to Israeli soldiers who shot him with live rounds simply for attempting to scale the Apartheid Wall as a symbolic gesture against the ongoing illegal occupation.

The protestors were shot with tear gas, rubber coated steel bullets, and finally live ammunition as the protest wound down. The Israeli peace activist Lee Lorian was injured with a rubber bullet in the chest and another more seriously injured from rubber coated steal bullets. In addition dozens were treated for tear gas inhalation.

Locals where joined by International activists this week to protest against the Apartheid Wall and the expansion of Israeli Settlements. The weekly protestors raised the Palestinian flag and slogans against the occupation. The signs demanded the dismantling of the Apartheid Wall, land confiscation, and the expansion of Israeli Settlements.

The protesters also demanded an end to Israel's killing of unarmed Palestinian civilians, the closure of roads in the West Bank, and large scale imprisonment as a form of collective punishment.
]
Also earlier in the week, the Israel Occupation Army arrested Bil'in resident Ashraf Mohammed Al-Jamal Tafwik Al-Khatib. Ashraf was passing through one of the many checkpoints on his way to work in Jericho when he was arrested. No reason was given for his arrest. Ashraf was active in the weekly Bi'in peaceful protests and villagers believe this was the reason he was targeted in a continued effort by the army to silence the people of Bilin.

Thank you for you continued support,

Iyad Burnat- Head of Popular Commitee in Bilin
Head of Friends of Freedom and Justice in Bilin

Email
Mobile- (00972) (0) 547847942
Office- (00972) (2) 2489129
Fax- (00972) (2) 2489129

Website

Troops firing at protesters in Bil'in January, 2008

Posted by John at 11:41 AM | Comments (0)

June 9, 2008

A message to their Zionist parents

Young Jewish people in Canada have decided to speak out and refuse to be manipulated into believing in fantasies like when they stopped believing in Santa Claus. Young people are constantly pilloried, but it is clear as in this case that many see clearly what has been fed to them to digest without question. The healthy thing is that they do ask their elders some searching and uncomfortable truths. (Article quoted in Jewish Voice for Peace):

Heating Up: The Battle for the Jewish Voice and the Jewish soul

Dear Mom, Dad, your Zionist friends, and Bob Dylan too,

I've got news for you all: The times they are a changin'! Remember last Passover? Remember when we sat around the Seder table and listened to you rant about Israel`s victimhood? About how ethnic cleansing really isn't that bad? And about how if they try to kill the Jews this time, we will at least take them all with us? Remember the rolled eyes of my cousins and the looks we exchanged thinking you were all nuts?

These are the four questions we were thinking of:

1) Why, on this night we dedicate to remembering our own history as an oppressed people, do we justify Israel's oppression of the Palestinians?

2) Why, on this night when Israelis are free to celebrate, are the Palestinians locked down under curfew - as is done on most Jewish holidays?

3) Why, here in Canada, where we are a minority amongst a Christian majority, do we advocate for and support a 'Jewish State' in the Middle East, where the non-Jewish minority are treated as second class citizens?

4) Why should anyone think that just because we say 'next year in Jerusalem' at the end of our Seder, that we had a right to kick others out of their homes so that we could live there?

You see, our generation is different. We are not blind Zionist ideologues. We did not take the lesson of kill or be killed from the stories our grandparents told us about the Holocaust or the anti-Semitism they faced. Alongside our lessons about Zionism and about why the Holocaust meant that Jews need a Jewish state for themselves, we couldn't help but absorb the need to oppose racism, to fight oppression and to not justify the subjugation of one 'people' for the benefit of another.

At first, we may have believed your myths about 'Israel the good', about the Israel Defense Forces being the world's only 'moral' army, and about how it's not Israel but 'the Arabs' who don't want peace. But we have grown up now, and like our Christian peers who come to understand Santa Claus is not real, the growing majority of us have come to see myth of Israel the good as a relic of our childhood Chanukahs.

For those of us who have followed developments in the mainstream Jewish community, we see more to your ranting, too. We see a sick hierarchically organized Jewish community that is not only serving as a smokescreen to allow the ongoing genocide of a people; we also see the twisted irony that you, our parents who claim we need Israel as a safeguard from anti-Semitism, are actually putting us and the rest of World Jewry in danger. By tying our fate (and our children's) to that of the leadership of the dying American empire, you are setting us up as a scapegoat.

Israel is an offshore American army base and the Israeli leadership and its North American lobby are so in bed with the neo-cons that our community will be suffering consequences for years. Even worse, in Canada and the United States, the lobby has deluded itself into actually thinking it controls the hand that feeds it. The lobby happily plays the role of the dirty cop on the beat using underhanded (but not so secret) ways to try and eliminate what it sees as threats to Israel's support, or the lobby`s own domestic power. I'm sure that Harper, Bush, and their corporate masters are not disappointed that the targets the Israel lobby chooses for career or character assassination (in the media, academia, public life, etc.) typically line up with their own. But, what will happen if: Oil prices keep rising? The war in Iraq and Afghanistan keeps failing? Housing foreclosures keep increasing? And world anger at the West keeps growing?

The Jewish community's leadership certainly makes it easy enough to paint a picture that the Jews are behind it; sometimes they even gloat. Will it really be a surprise if, when shit hits the fan, our supposed allies in the US/Canadian elite cut Israel's strings and point the blame at home towards Jews?

Hypotheticals aside, luckily this too is changing! From the disenchanted, once isolated Jews, a new community is rising. Remember the article I wrote on "The Fall of Zionism" last October? Remember how you thought I was a dreamer and that there was no way a threat to the Zionist control of our community could ever take hold? Well, a lot has happened in the past eight months. The kids are coming home! All those 'self-hating' Jews who isolated themselves from the community not because of a dislike for our culture, heritage, or religion, but because they were told to leave after speaking their mind on the oppression of the Palestinian people, are finding each other, organizing, and coming back.

In Canada, for example, there is a new national umbrella organization called the Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians (ACJC), which represents Jews who are opposed to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The ACJC was launched in March when internationally renowned author, journalist, keynote speaker and Canadian Jew Naomi Klein kicked off a national conference that brought together over 100 activist Jews representing 23 different Canadian Jewish groups. The purpose of the ACJC is to provide a counterweight to Jewish organizations that serve as apologists for Israel's crimes, such as the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC). The ACJC has since put action to words. Recently, for example, it lent support to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers when it became the first national Union in North America to courageously pass a resolution supporting the Palestinian campaign for a Boycott of Israel, and recognizing that Israel has become an apartheid state.

Likewise, in May the ACJC, along with other anti-occupation Jewish groups across North America and the world, heeded the call of the Palestinian people to declare the 60th anniversary of the Naqba (disaster) as No Time to Celebrate (this is a common slogan being used in protest of Israel's celebrations). Protests were organized worldwide, and in Canada and the United States Jews protested alongside Palestinians and other concerned citizens. In San Francisco, twenty Jews were (unjustly) arrested trying to make themselves heard as Jews opposed to Israel`s crimes. In Britain, over one hundred Jews signed an open letter published in The Guardian, one of the United Kingdom's leading newspapers, declaring they would not celebrate Israel's birthday. In Paris, French Jews hung the Palestinian flag on the Eiffel Tower in protest. Here in Canada's capital of Ottawa, Jews, Palestinians, and other concerned individuals formed a one hundred person-strong silent protest outside the official Israel
celebrations at the Convention Center on May 8th, and then repeated it a few weeks later at another event at the National Arts Center on May 20th. Despite the money and glamour being thrown into making 60 years of Israeli oppression a propaganda campaign to whitewash Israel's crimes, Jews around the world are promising not to celebrate (one US-based online pledge not to celebrate has over 500 Jewish signatures).

The actions I am describing did not have millions of dollars for publicity like the official events organized by the Jewish community's elites. Instead, they grew through grassroot networks and traveled by word-of-mouth from committed activist Jew to committed activist Jew. The Jews taking part in these events are the ones who are informed and willing to put themselves on the line to oppose the mainstream Jewish community's official position, and I am growing increasingly confident that their support runs deep.

This letter may sound angry, and at some points it is. It upsets me to hear our Passover conversations, and I won't just quietly roll my eyes anymore. But the reason for that is love and respect. We are forming a new community, with a humanist core that ties us together strongly. Seders are being held that tell the story of the Palestinian enslavement along with that of our own. Events are being held where Jews celebrate Jewish culture from a place that recognizes how our history gives us a responsibility to speak out against oppression. I will continue to celebrate my heritage as part of our family, just like all those supposed 'self-hating' Jews will celebrate with me, as Jews and as part of the Jewish community. We are committed to justice, and through this we are finding our Jewish souls. And when you are ready to join the multitudes of other Jews opposing Israeli oppression, our door will be wide open.

Love,
your Young Non-Zionist Kids

Posted by John at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)

Road map to where?

There is supposed to be a road map to peace in the Middle East so that Palestinians can live peacefully alongside Israeli citizens. The problem is there is a dangerous and voluble group who want a "road map to Armageddon" rather than to achieve peace. These are Stephen Sizer's words when he delivered a talk to the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign in Birmingham on Saturday (7/6/2008).

The power of the lobby in support of Israel was shown when both presidential candidates addressed the American-Israeli group AIPAC affirming support for Israel while not mentioning Palestinians and their inhumane treatment at the hands of the Israeli government. Jewish Voice for Peace has spoken out about this and is sending a petition to McCain and Obama to point out that the peace process doesn't start where they are beginning.

The Christian Zionists have had much to say and have friends in (very) high places. American foreign policy has been predicated on their message, and now they want to move on th attack Iran using their pseudo-religious arguments to justify it. It has worked before, and if people don't wise up it will happen again judging by the fact that Obama has to go along with the plot (despite the fact that some are trying to discredit him with the label "Anti-Christ". The Christian Zionists look to me as the most appropriate candidates for that role themselves!)

McCain had to make a quick withdrawal from his associations with a Christian Zionist televangelist rather hastily when the latter announced that Hitler had been placed there by God to ensure the Jewish people had a homeland in Palestine.

Muslims are attacked for promoting an idea that martyrs will be blessed in the hereafter, yet the concept of Armageddon seems to have much in common. It appears to go far beyond that concept in that it justifies the deaths of many because of the glory they believe will follow, so sacrifice in Iraq, Iran is of high merit. Needless to say it is a highly dangerous doctrine and a tremendous threat to world peace.

Note someone recently posted a comment on the Wikipaedia under the entry for "anti-Christ" naming Barack Hussain Obama using some obscure numbers for justification. This has now been removed.

Posted by John at 6:30 PM | Comments (0)

New Labour in Ladywood

To be quite honest I have found the debate on the Ladywood selection by New Labour tedious in the extreme. How could any one of the candidates bear comparison with Clare Short? The problem is New Labour don't want anyone who is likely to criticise or interfere with their reactionary Tory policies. The candidates may or may not have held office, but when have you read about them and their achievements? The question is how you run a country with the non-entities New Labour is enlisting up and down the country. Their merits as far as New Labour is concerned that when they are told to "jump" they are likely to answer "how high?"

The chosen candidate is not known for herself, but her father is chair of the recently revived Birmingham Labour Party. This was run down a few years ago because Ian Reilly, Commander of West Midlands New Labour, didn't like some of us. Dad was agent to all three Bordesley Green (Birmingham) councillors ousted for postal vote fraud. How come none of the mud stuck here? Hope daughter doesn't follow his example! Reilly has consistently championed such people and smoothed their way into New Labour while systematically pushing out anyone with the faintest trace of being progressive. New Labour is suffering but Reilly keeps power and unaccountability to ordinary New Labour members. He clearly has his support in high places. No wonder they're in deep, deep trouble.

There is a politician in Birmingham today who is regular heard of both locally and nationally and that is Salma Yaqoob. The problem is even if New Labour wanted her to stand for them she would refuse to endorse their wars, their privatisations, their curtailment of human rights and their general inhumanity. Consequently they have to scrape the barrel. Salma has demanded and end to the postal voting system which continues to be problematic and abused systematically, This is not least because women have lost their vote when others have used their names for postal votes and proceeded to fill them in themselves. Clearly Mahmood Ahmed knows all about this and one wonders if his daughter, Shabana, the Ladywood candidate caste her own vote.

The big problem is that New Labour looks like the other main contenders for political office following a root which puts consumerism and markets above human need. Those who have spectacularly failed are hugely rewarded, those who run the banks and large enterprises, while those who have lost out, ourselves, the rank and file take the consequences: a massive rise in the cost of essentials while our assets drop in value. But who will come to the rescue when all are singing from the same hymn sheet. Vote Tory you'll get more of the same, vote Lib-Dem you get Tories. What a mess!

Do most of us know what the candidates for New Labour think and plan to do about these crucial issues. I haven't got a clue, yet one of them is about to be set on the residents of Ladywood with the possibility of actually becoming their M.P.

Posted by John at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)

June 8, 2008

Consumers of death

The Jewish Voice for Peace covers the story of how nine activists disrupted an arms manufacturer in Northern Ireland. When their case came to court the judge ruled it was not illegal to prevent killing.

Raytheon are said to have provided lethal weapons to the U.S. and Israel used for the killing and maiming of many civilians. Apart from demonstrating the activists disrupted the company's computers.

The banned film "On the Verge" also showed how a group of determined people demonstrated against another manufacturer dealing in death in Brighton. It seems that reasons for not allowing the film to be shown are that it shows heavy-handed policing. Once again the courts took a different view and threw out the case brought by the police.

Blackwater and Haliburton are well-known names in the U.S. as part of the privatisation of war with no accountability to voters. Rather they have connections with powerful people in the U.S. including the Vice-President. Their shares have done extremely well in the context of an economy showing signs of deep trouble elsewhere. There are five Britons still held in Iraq. They are not part of the military but members of private firms carrying out missions. Little is heard about them. Raytheon clearly glories in its technical know-how. EDO Corporation lists itself as in the top ten of defense suppliers in the U.S. We need to know more about them and their connections to power bases in the U.K. and elsewhere. The Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) continues to dwell on British Aerospace.

These companies employ extensive state -of-the art technology. If they can do it for destructive purposes surely they can do it for peace. Time to beat swords into plough shares. Time for us to ensure our elected representatives give lucrative contracts out to save our planet instead of destroying it!

Posted by John at 11:23 AM | Comments (0)

June 7, 2008

A Transport Cocktail. Shaken or Stirred?

Full marks to the Stirrer in continuing to mark up the non-advancement of a half-decent public transport system. While I held office as Transport Cabinet Member between 2003-4 I can't see what progress has been made to what was on the table then. There was a regional transport plan, fairly modest but considerably beefed up when additional resources were put on the table. It seemed to me it was crucial to support this since it would be likely to succeed than if I stopped off to think up something different. That's precisely what the following regime did. However good an idea an underground system might be, credible it wasn't. In addition the City Council Officers were advising me of, and taking me to see all kinds of initiatives. Park-and-ride, car sharing were on the agenda. Four years on I'm asking myself where is the progress? The new administration had the same advisers to hand.

Dear Stirrer

Good to see you're keeping alive a healthy debate on our transport system, or lack of it, with some imaginative ideas about the tram or variants. The present [Birmingham] council "leadership" seems dumb on any way forward even if there are ideas, such as those you describe, which have proven effective in cutting congestion.

It's puzzling when there is such pressing need to cut carbon emissions as well as getting up-to-date public transport that there's no comment from the centre.

Beware of generalisations about who is for and against progress. Gary Clark as chair of the PTA is a Tory yet has shown to have progressive views when promoting good transport while New Labour's Khalid Mahmood, MP did all he could to bring progress to a halt.

Why are politicians who haven't got a progressive bone in their bodies being promoted, even by you. What are you stirring, a soggy rice pudden? Mine's a fiery cocktail please shaken, not stirred. So make sure if
you're supporting candidates for parliament what their thoughts are on these issues. What's their track record?

In the case of some of those now up for their advancement there's little evidence to go on as far as I can see.

There are technologies, not unknown to us in Britain and which we've actually pioneered, that can take us forward. True the Maglev, capable of practically unlimited speed on a cushion of air, no moving parts, is an obvious contender for a public transport system. Germany, Japan, China I believe are all moving forward. The 5 or so mph Maglev at Birmingham Airport hardly put it through its paces!

I put the challenge forward to all those wishing to get into power. What are your ideas for moving transport in Britain and specifically the Midlands into a state comparable to that around the globe. Don't like the tram, o.k. but what do you like apart, that is, from your b(eloved) car?

Cheers,

John Tyrrell

Posted by John at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)

Increased consumerism won't, can't solve the world's food crisis

A belief in the sanctity of market forces continues to lead to misery for countless numbers of people as costs and availability of essentials spiral. These woes are graphically drawn in today's Washington Post (7/6/2008). If wealthy consumers in the US are having a tough time then what about those without economic clout? One things for sure, the very engine for creating the problem is geared up to exacerbate the situation. It's in a hole and won't, can't stop digging.

In UK banks have come to grief through nonsensical acts by their managers. Government bails them out with the result that the very idiots responsible for huge failures are walking away with the money, our money. Son of Thatcher (not poor, pathetic Mark (aka Scratcher) who continues his comfortable life style while his mate is in the rather less opulent surroundings of a notorious African jail), Tony B. and his New Labour cronies have given succour to the continually discredited system. Neither Gordon Brown or anyone else is going to muddle their way out of the mess. Look as they might for an alternative to G.B. ain't going to work. Baby face Milliband? Forget it.

What's so frightening from the Washington Post article is Israel's reaction which is to attack Iran. What we are going to expect is more of the same. Would oil prices be what they are now if Iraq had not been attacked? The big worry is what happened at the AIPAC conference when both candidates McCain and Obama pledged unconditional support and a blank cheque to Israel. The US-based Jewish Voice for Peace is alarmed and invites us to sign a petition to be sent to both of them. If I were you I'd sign it now. I certainly have!

When Obama is accused of lack of experience bringing about naivety this demonstrates why. Clearly candidates have to appeal to reactionary interest groups in the US whether Jewish, Cuban or whoever, but Obama didn't know when to draw the line when he promised an undivided Jerusalem. Not even Bush has done that!

Posted by John at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

June 4, 2008

USA 'ARMS AND SURVEILLANCE' COMPANY TO RUN THE UK 2011 CENSUS?

Worried? Want to sleep soundly tonight? If so take immediate action!

The next UK Census (in 2011), in which participation is compulsory, might be run by an arms company with close links to the United States government, and which also focuses on intelligence and surveillance work. See below for more info.

(N.B. there are currently just 3,460 signatures on the petition, 3/6/2008)
Deadline to sign up by: 15 June 2008)

The decision is now imminent. Sign the petition today:
Petition on the Downing Street website
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ census-alert/

------------ --------- -------

What's the problem?

The process of running the 2011 Census will be contracted out by the
Office of National Statistics to a private company.

One of the two contractors in the final round of selection is the arms
company Lockheed Martin, 80% of whose business is with the US
Department of Defence and other Federal Government agencies.

This might concern you because:

The Census rules mean that every household will be legally obliged to
provide a wide range of personal information that will be handled by
the chosen contractor.

Lockheed Martin produces missiles and land mines which are being used
in Afghanistan and Iraq and which are illegal in many countries.

They also focus on intelligence and surveillance work and boast of
their ability to provide `integrated threat information´ that combines
information from many different sources.

New questions in the 2011 Census will include information about income
and place of birth, as well as existing questions about languages
spoken in the household and many other personal details.

This information would be very useful to Lockheed Martin´s
intelligence work, and fears that the data might not be safe could
lead to many people not filling in their Census forms.

Census Alert is therefore campaigning to stop Lockheed Martin from
being given the contract.

The campaign is supported by the Green Party, politicians from Plaid
Cymru, Labour and the Scottish National Party, and others opposed to
the arms trade and concerned about personal privacy.

We are not opposed to the Census itself. Aggregated, the information
collected is important in allocating resources to local authorities
and public services.

But personal privacy is important too, and we are concerned that
Lockheed Martin's involvement could undermine public confidence in the
process and lead to inaccurate data being collected.

What can I do?

There is still time to stop this happening and we are not calling for
a boycott of the Census at this stage.

Before the final decisions on the contract are made, we are asking you
to do the following:

Sign our petition opposing arms company involvement in the
Census.Contact your MP and ask them to raise the issue in Parliament.
Contact your local Councillor and ask them to highlight their concerns
about the allocation of local authority resources.

Posted by John at 3:18 PM | Comments (0)

Dudamel in Birmingham with the Philharmonia

I don't attend concerts very often these days, but I decided to get a ticket for this one at Symphony Hall (3/6/2008). It was under the baton of the Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel. The seat was front row and searching for the right number rivalled looking for that in an aircraft. I still managed to sit in the wrong seat. However the experience was highly rewarding.

The Philharmonia Orchestra played under Karajan at the first concert I attended in the Royal Festival Hall in the 1955-6 season. Clara Haskil was pianist. Not long ago I heard Carlo Maria Guilini conduct them in Birmingham for an all Brahms concert (2nd Piano Concerto and Symphony), all played at a very deliberate pace. Hugh Bean returned as leader. This time it was Brahms First Piano Concerto. I have always preferred the second, but here was a deeply felt reading giving the impression of a first hearing. Dudamel launched the piece with the dark angry chords emphasised. Although the tempo was deliberate there was a clarity where detail could be heard to telling effect. Piotr Anderszewski was soloist, similarly forceful where necessary, but clear and delicate also. Quite honestly it's the first time I noted a fugue in the finale. Anderszewski rounded off with an encore of solo Bach while Dudamel reclined on the decking among the players.

Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony also made its mark. The performance ranged from breath taking pianissimo to rousing fortissimo, particularly in an exciting finale. Bernard Haitink gave a very different performance with the Concertgebouw Orchestra a few years back but of a similar high quality. Someone warned me that Dudamel distorted rhythm in Shostakovich, but I didn't detect it here. I was almost expecting salsa to emerge somewhere along the way!

Posted by John at 12:01 PM | Comments (0)

Obama is the nominee for Democrats

Barack Obama secured nomination as presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. Both he and Hillary Clinton spoke in recognition of each others achievement during a long and grueling campaign. Hopefully the earlier spiteful combats have not done lasting damage to the Democrats given that a McCain victory would look like a Bush third term. Need to get off the planet now!

In 2006 I was teaching a group of young people. They were out of school for one reason or another. At this time Obama came to our attention in an article in the Washington Post. I got hold of a copy of his first book and we talked about him. At that time it appeared a long shot for him to get anywhere near the presidency. The subject matter proved to be of deep interest to the class.

American politics range between right and far right, so what can be expected. He was always opposed to the Iraq war so we can hope that if elected he will begin to close this chapter down and not get involved with any more high adventures of this nature. He talks of maintaining the sanctions against Cuba and appears supportive of Israel. What would he do about achieving peace and justice for citizens of both Israel and Palestine?

Obama's African roots.

Posted by John at 9:48 AM | Comments (0)

June 3, 2008

Archaeology enters politics

Archaeological digs in East Jerusalem are acquiring a new significance. They are being used as part of the land grab operation by settlers. Unbelievably remains of Muslims have gone missing or have been mishandled by the so-called archaeologists.

The operation is being covered up by the use of jargon and academics are keeping quiet about what's going on. More.

"The struggle for Silwan, an extremely poor Palestinian village in East Jerusalem, is a small microcosm of all the ways the occupation is perpetrated: the tag team of settlers and the state, the passive acquiescence of academics, the use of language to obscure reality, and the long term strategy being used to enlarge Jewish territory, backed by foreign money. It is also an inspiring example of a coalition of Palestinian and Israel activists and scholars who are working to save the village-- against very high odds." Source: Jewish Peace News 16/4/2008

Posted by John at 2:13 PM | Comments (0)

June 2, 2008

Pauline Campbell's legacy

I attended Pauline Campbell's funeral which took place at St Alkmund's Parish Church, Whitchurch in Shropshire last Friday (30th May, 2008). Family and friends took part in a service where her young friend, Georgina Griffiths, had organised music associated with Pauline. Fond tributes were paid by representatives of the Howard League for Penal Reform (Frances Crook, their Director) and Inquest as well as close friends.

Others remained outside with a banner accusing the Home Office with responsibility for now Pauline's death. Pauline was interviewed outside Holloway prison earlier this year, along with other demonstrators, including Georgina, who had been a friend of Pauline's daughter Sarah until her death in 2004. Before the interview Pauline had been manhandled by the police present and brought to the floor by a 16 stone officer.

Posted by John at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)

Cuban medical aid to China's earthquake victims

While US Cuban sources try to rubbish Cuba's achievements in health, the following suggests that those achievements are real and benefiting many from poor regions across the world. Although not a Muslim country Cuba is included in Bush's "axis of evil" category, a clear case of "mote and beam"!

While we were visiting the Santa Clara region of Cuba in May this year we were given a comprehensive overview of Cuba's health provision at home and abroad, and as far as we can see it stands up to close scrutiny, something Bush's claims about WMD etc. manifestly don't!

Fidel sends message to Hospital No. 1
in Chengdu

CHENGDU, China, May 27 (PL). -- "Cuban leader Fidel Castro sent a message today to Hospital No. 1 in Chengdu, in Sichuan province, to tell staff there that they could count on the island's medical brigade for as long as necessary.

Doctor José Rodríguez, head of the brigade, transmitted that message during a meeting with the hospital's director, Doctor Li Yuan Feng.

Fidel also assured the hospital authorities that Cuba has well-trained medical personnel, who are desirous of supporting their brothers and sisters in China in the Chengdu region if the Chinese government finds that useful.

Dr. Rodriguez, who is leading the group of 35 doctors and paramedics that arrived on May 23 in China, thanked Dr. Li for the warm welcome and attention given to the Cuban personnel.

The hospital where the Cuban internationalists are working is the largest in this province of 90 million inhabitants, and is considered to be among the 30 best in the country.

Rodríguez also expressed the brigade's willingness to remain in China to help attend to victims of the recent earthquake for as long as necessary, and to work wherever and under whatever conditions to help the Chinese people.

Dr. Li thanked Cuba and its leadership for the aid provided during this difficult situation caused by the earthquake, and said he would pass on Fidel Castro's message to top authorities. Dr. Li also commented on the excellent relations between the two countries and their strong historical ties, which have been expressed particularly during difficult times.

Dr. Li recalled that during his visit to the hospital last Saturday, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao spoke for all Chinese people in thanking Cuba, and especially charged Dr. Li with taking care of the brigade members."

Translated by Granma International

In 2005 Bush turned down offers of aid from Cuba following the devastation of New Orleans by hurricane Katrina, while his own efforts at helping were severely criticised as being too little too late. It was the poor who took the brunt of the catastrophe.

Posted by John at 10:24 AM | Comments (0)