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November 28, 2008
ALISTAIR IN WONDERLAND (from SLP)
This article is from the Socialist Labour Party (SLP)
According to Chancellor Alistair Darling's pre-budget report a total of £20 billion is being allocated to stimulate the economy. Darling predicted that this stimulus would put the UK into a favourable position when there was a "return to growth in the world economy" which, according to the Chancellor, would be by 2010 with growth of "between 1.5 percent and 2 percent."
However, when this £20 billion sum and the Chancellor's comments are analysed and connected to developments in the real world it exposes either utter naivety or downright deceit on Darling's part.
At the same time as Darling was delivering his report, the United States government was ploughing $250 billion into Citigroup, representing the largest government bailout to date, and the Federal Reserve announced they were making a further £800 billion available to the banking industry. All this is on top of the $200 billion they allocated to Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac and the $150 billion given to insurance giants AIG, and, of course, the $700 billion bailout fund that was authorized by the US Congress in September.
These are truly staggering sums and to understand the depth of the current crisis it is important to note that Citigroup is by revenues the world's largest bank with over 200 million customer accounts in over 100 countries.
Added to this is the fact that General Motors, the world's largest car manufacturer, established a hundred years ago, has had to go cap in hand to the US government for a bailout and in the UK recently both Woolworths and MFI have gone into administration.
So together you have long established companies going to the wall and the largest bank in the world now existing on a government hand-out, and yet Darling is talking about 'a return to growth in the world economy' as if all this was a minor hiccup.
Moreover, the Chancellor is suggesting that the cost of the measures he has implemented will have to be paid back by 2011. The much publicised 5 percent increase in income tax for those earning £150,000 or more covers less that half a million people and will raise only £2 billion; so how and from whom is the rest of the cost going to be raised?
The clue to this came when Darling addressed the CBI prior to making his report. He told his audience that the government borrowing needed to fund his measures would be paid back by 'efficiency savings' and the 'sale of government assets'.
'Efficiency savings' is a euphemism for job losses and wage cuts, and the 'sale of government assets' relates to state-owned industries being split up and sold off to the private sector. In other words it is the working class who will be asked to pay for the bail-out of the financial system.
The significant increase in Job Centre staff throughout the UK, underlines the fact that Darling knows full well that unemployment is going to rise to horrendous levels, and the unemployed are going to be made to jump through hoops and go after none existent jobs in order to receive a pittance in return. What a stark contrast to the way the financial fat cats have been treated, and what an example of the class relations in the UK.
Posted by John at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)
November 27, 2008
Can London afford Boris?
Well London has been there and done it where others are still scratching their heads and probably other parts of their anatomy. Seems he's scrapping extensions to congestion charging after consulting with views of the scheme.
This was one response:
"Abolition of the Western Extension means that London's fare payers will take yet another hit after the unnecessary above inflation fares increase coming this January.
Boris Johnson has now loaded on the London fare payer £50 million a year through abolition of the CO2 congestion charge on gas guzzlers, £20 million a year through abolition of the cheap oil deal with Venezuela, and now a minimum £14 million a year (too low Evening Standard estimate) to £70 million a year (TfL estimate) through abolition of the Western Extension.
The cost to London's fare payers of Boris Johnson has therefore so far been between £84 million a year and £140 million a year - bloggers and journalists should be able to hone that down further.
And Boris Johnson used to go on about saving £3 million a year on the cost of the Londoner under Ken Livingstone!
Really Londoners cannot afford the cost of Boris Johnson."
WillDuff's profile picture WillDuff
Nov 27 08, 10:24am
Posted by John at 10:31 AM | Comments (0)
November 24, 2008
Venezuela supports Chavez allies at the polls
Contrary to some reports predicting a huge turn against Hugo Chavez the results of polling, with record numbers turning out to vote, have returned his supporters. With reportedly high rates of crime in the poorer areas it was expected that there would be a recation against the President, but that didn't happen with a few exceptions. The Mayor of Caracas was one where an opponent was victorious.
An article in the Observer (23/11/2008) reported that Caracas was the capital of gang warfare predicting this would turn people against Chavez. It appears, however, that destabilising factors are very much present with outside influence from a US dominated Columbia.
In Columbia one business is making "a killing" out of the sale of bullet-proof jackets for the wealthy. There is a huge market, according to the Guardian article, by celebs, political leaders et al.
Posted by John at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)
Execution agreed. Not through the courts though
The execution of suspected terrorists by remotely controlled aircraft inside Pakistan has met with anger and condemnation in many quarters. A question has been asked in parliament whether British intelligence played a part, or even knew about, a plot to assassinate some wanted "terrorists" holed up in Pakistan's NW territory. The answers have been far from clear, but according to an article in The Independent (24/11/2008) it was a deliberate act. One of the victims is said to be a British subject born in Birmingham and associated with the plot to blow up transatlantic airliners with liquid bombs.
Al Quaeda have been warning Obama that if there is no change in policy to wards Afghanistan then more harm would come to the US. Whichever way the people of Afghanistan continue to suffer and are requesting food aid to sustain them through a harsh winter. as with incursions into neighbouring parts of Pakistan there appears to be an awareness that hearts and minds are not being won when civilians are killed. Attacks in Pakistan, while getting support from the Pakistan military, is very unpopular with ordinary people. The government makes noises of disapproval but continues to work with the US. As far as people in this part of the world are concerend they will find it difficult to see the difference when Bush fades out and Obama fades into office.
Posted by John at 9:56 AM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2008
Peres demonstration at Oxford.
Sir Shimon Peres, (as he now apparently is: knighted for services to war crimes?) was given a rowdy reception when he responded to an invitation to speak at Balliol College, Oxford. It seems that opposition to Israel's actions against Palestinians is growing, although this is still not having an impact on the elite. Governments insist on supporting Israel and turning a blind eye to the daily murders and atrocities handed out to civilians. They justify this with their continuing "war against terrorism" rhetoric which is being continued by president-elect Obama. No change here apparently.
Thanks to Zarina Bhatia for drawing my attention to this following her letter of complaint over the original invitation.
Shoppers are being encouraged to watch out for items grown or manufactured in the "West Bank" since this can be Israeli produce using Palestinian land by settlers. It is illegal, but is being imported by firms including Waitrose.
Posted by John at 1:26 PM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2008
Land grab - back to the scramble for Africa
One response to the economic crisis is a return to a competition for scarce resources - back to Africa for example where well endowed nations - and multinational organisations - grab land. Already struggling people are forced to compete for food while others secure their own wellbeing.
Already we have seen the European Union plundering fish stocks vital for the well being of poor African countries. The well-known philanthropist and Come Dancing hopeful, Peter Mandelson, secured deals to ensure starvation reminscent of colonialism in Ireland and India during the nineteenth century.
" 'If this was a negotiation between equals, it could be a good thing. It could bring investment, stable prices and predictability to the market,' said Duncan Green, Oxfam's head of research. 'But the problem is, [in] this scramble for soil I don't see any place for the small farmers.'
Alex Evans, at the Centre on International Cooperation, at New York University, said: 'The small farmers are losing out already. People without solid title are likely to be turfed off the land.'
Details of land deals have been kept secret so it is unknown whether they have built-in safeguards for local populations." Source Guardian 22/11/2008)
The problem is by no means confined to Africa. Brazil has been using land in neighbouring Paraguay for growing crops to produce biofuels not only displacing people from their land. The use of pesticides has given rise to malformed children being born.
Latin American states are discussing ways in which co-operation in the region can offset pressures from powerful neighbours and climate change affect their development. African countries are also talking about collective action to strengthen negotiations. However investments from rich foreign nations are attractive to governments strapped for cash. Small holders have little power to resist. The development of socialism in a number of countries provides an alternative approach with hope to many formerly oppressed groups. Venezuela and Bolivia have made great strides in eliminating illiteracy empowering many with education to offset the rapacious appetites of the powerful elites supported by the U.S.
Posted by John at 11:04 AM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2008
Obama watch
The news that Barack Obama is moving urgently on Guantanamo Bay is to be welcome. It recognises the far-reaching damage done to world views of the US in the world. The promised change is noted. Less clear is the action that Obama will take on continuing incursions into sovereign territory not at war with the US. Pakistan is the most prominent example of that. No apparent change here so far.
However closing Guantanamo Bay does not solve the problem of dealing with the 250 or so remaining inmates, only a handful of whom can be said to be "hardcore terrorists":
"Lawyers representing clients at Guantanamo Bay such as Marc Falkoff point out that only a dozen or so detainees are know to be avowed terrorists and say that it would be wrong to set up an entirely new legal system to deal with suspects. Mr Falkoff described the proposals from the Obama team as 'a solution in search of a problem'.
'Most of the detainees are goat herders, or Arabs who volunteered to help the Taliban, but they are not hardcore terrorists. The real problem is getting their home countries to accept them back.' " Source The Independent 11/11/2008
Obama made his first visit to the White House since becoming President-elect and he had what was described as a cordial meeting with President Bush to discuss the transition. While Obama has been careful to avoid criticism of Bush he is said to be considering further packages to address the current economic crisis.
Posted by John at 11:50 AM | Comments (0)
November 9, 2008
Looking for signs
"Change" is the word that has been at the top of the agenda, but seeing signs that things will be different doesn't always measure up. Tough talk from Russia has made it clear that if the defence shield idea continues with sites close to her borders then they too will assemble a similar response. The Boston Globe reports that Obama and Medvedev have been on the phone - Obama has been doing the rounds - and agreed that both countries must work on global issues.
I think I read a statement that the "war on terror" rhetoric would be dispensed with. While Obama's intentions on Iraq are to draw back from continued force his willingness to continue in Afghanstan and even Pakistan make it difficult to see what is changing. It seems as if the military operating there are seeking a clearer objective on what they are doing. It is intensely disappointing that Obama, like Brown, would associate himself with any bit of US foreign policy that continued to use bombs and violence. No change here.
Posted by John at 10:35 AM | Comments (0)
November 8, 2008
"Comrade Sarkozy"
Reading Fidel Castro's reflections often brings a smile to my face. They have interest because they come from someone with first hand knowledge of world affairs, and often draw out interesting observations. He notes that Carlos Chavez refers to "Comrade Sarkozy". This wasn't a malicious jibe but more in recognition of Sarkozy's outspoken views on the current world economic crisis. Fidel comments that if such sentiments had come from a country like Cuba the world's press would have given a rather different reaction.
Chavez likened attempts to renew the capitalist world as like trying to refloat the Titanic as it lay on the ocean bed before commenting on Sarkozy's speech which was made in Beijing in his capacity as President of the European Union.
Two more reflections are worthy of note. The first is Fidel's take on the economic crisis and the reactions of various leaders (some humour here), and then the impending US election on 4th November. I notice he was anxious not to publish his comments early so that he could observe neutrality in the process.
Posted by John at 12:09 PM | Comments (0)
November 7, 2008
The future is now
It was just two years back when this site picked up Obama, rather late in the scheme of things. However the view that he would actually be at the door of the White House just two years on was hardly credible. At that time I was teaching some young people who were out of school for one reason or another, predictably a number of them were black so I introduced them to Obama While they were interested they clearly felt the idea that he would one day be President of the USA was a myth.
I spent the night of the announcement of the presidential election results at the Afro Caribbean Millennium Centre in Birmingham. We had a good celebration including cow foot soup, curried goat and Jamaican rum. The last time I had joined them was as Nelson Mandela walked free. The sense was that this was indeed history. That was clearly the mood across the US but the whole world was watching and joined in. To me, while it was clear that this had a particular significance to black people, there are many who are not who are able to share that and demonstrate the fact that they too are genuinely overjoyed and relieved that there appears to be forward movement.
The Civil Rights tradition was clearly invoked with Martin Luther King's family witnessing what they felt to be a culmination of what he stood for. "Rosa sat so the King could stand so that Obama could run" was one view.
Clearly there are some who are not joining in the general mood of euphoria. A resentful group of white youths took it out on a young black Muslim on Staten Island. Fortunately he was able to save himself.
Posted by John at 10:16 AM | Comments (0)
November 3, 2008
The First US Black President?
Questions have been raised over some time now about the ancestry of several former presidents of the United States, none more so than Eisenhower with pictures circulating of a grandmother who was black. Certainly his mother looks to have African ancestry but it was a matter never discussed when Ike held office. It's clear times have changed whether Barack Obama wins or loses the presidential race.
The situation is surely similar to that in Egypt where many pharaohs were either African or partly so. Herodotus claims that a number were and it is quite wrong to assume that the pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty were the first:
"After this man the priests enumerated to me from a papyrus roll the names of other kings, three hundred and thirty in number; and in all these generations of men eighteen were Ethiopians, one was a woman, a native Egyptian..."Herodotus Histories: Egypt.
Carved stone heads of the very first Egyptian pharaohs appear to be black African.
Posted by John at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)
November 1, 2008
What Obama can do - and what he can't
I found this story in the Guardian food for thought. It's one black American considering what's in store for his new born son. Chances of young black people ending up in prison or being shot remain significantly higher than for white people.
While his initial thoughts were that if Obama gains power it would give a message that the sky was the limit for his son. However what was the likelihood that the situation would be turned round for the many?
In the UK the prospect of a black Prime Minister remains remote. Black MPs report the daily round of racism. Here too young black people have a much higher risk of ending up in prison or suffering from mental health problems. A conference in London marked ten years since the David "Rocky" Bennett report - a name that goes alongside Stephen Lawrence. Have lessons been learned? Well reports are legion saying the same thing but in practice statistics indicate the situation remains stubbornly fixed.
There are many people in voluntary organisations (now labelled by the professionals "the third sector", a term that might describe how it is like "Third World", but is unwelcome by those who work in it). who wish to help with advocacy and counselling services. The problem with mental health is that no one wants to recognise it. Fear and mistrust is widespread if not universal. A government document "Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT). Commissioning Toolkit" spells out the need.
I have set up a website as a tool for helping organisations and individuals build their capacity to offer advocacy and counselling services. However when I approached commissioners recently they politely declined meeting myself and a colleague. "We are already working with those we have selected in the third sector. Thank you." The result will inevitably be more reports on mental health problems, particularly among black and minority ethnic groups - and not only African Caribbean young men. They are sure they have got it right. Those in the community know they haven't. Recently in Birmingham a centre for mental health called the Frantz Fanon Centre closed down in favour of a new approach. I wonder if those responsible for its closure knew why it was named after this man and what he stood for.
Posted by John at 9:38 AM | Comments (0)
