I've Moved To WordPress

I have decided, after much humming and hawwing, to transport this blog over to WordPress.
My new blog is called Talking Liberties, and it contains all the posts I had here, and it can be found at http://talkingliberties.wordpress.com/

Toodle-pip blogspot. And thanks for all the fish.

Violence And The G8.

Anyone following the mainstream media's coverage of the anti-G8 demonstrations in Germany this weekend, and at previous G8 gatherings, could be forgiven for thinking that those opposed to the polices of the G8 group of rich nations are nothing but violent thugs, hell-bent on chaos. Very little attention is given to the reasons why some people feel so angry that they revert to violence. Even less attention is given to the murderous violence of the G8 nations themselves, or the destructive policies they espouse. Just as little coverage is given to the overwhelming majority of campaigners who march completely peacefully.

From the television pictures I have seen this weekend, it seems plain that those involved in fighting the Police were numbered in the low hundreds, from a crowd tens of thousands strong. Of course, civilised and non-violent demonstrations are not regarded as 'sexy' enough for the BBC's, ITV's, and SKY's of this world. I know this well enough from several years of campaigning with Trident Ploughshares, CND, and the Stop The War Coalition. Ask yourself how often the daily actions and arrests at the Faslane 365 actions make the headline news, or how often people like Brian Haw feature prominently on TV? The Easter blockade of Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment I blogged about hardly raised a blip on the mainstream media's radar. But if we had thrown a couple of Molotov cocktails, or started a riot, you can be damn sure we would have made headline news. It is highly dispiriting when one is involved in a good and peaceful demonstration of one kind or another, only to find that as far as the rest of the world is concerned it did not even happen.

In my opinion it is a terrible indictment of the media that if one mentions the G8, for many people the first thing that springs to mind is the violence of a tiny minority of protesters, whether at Seattle, Genoa, Gleneagles, and now Rostock. This is how the propaganda machine works.

In actual fact, the violence of the G8 protests pales into near insignificance when set against the violence of the G8 nations themselves, whether that be military violence, or economic violence. This is what the mainstream media omit completely from their reports.

The G(reedy) 8 gang of rich industrialised nations represent the rapacious greed and war-mongering we see every day in the world all around us. These self-styled Masters of The Universe are the architects of wars from Afghanistan to Chechnya, and through to Iraq, to name but a few, which have caused the deaths of millions, and the injury and destitution of countless millions more. The G8 are the defenders of a status quo that sees the horrific inequalities in wealth between rich and poor, of a global system that sees half the world living on less than a dollar a day, while, for example, European cows are subsidised to around twice as much. According to UN statistics, somewhere in the world a child dies every 15 seconds due to the lack of clean, safe water. Roughly 30,000 people die each and every day from preventable and easily treatable diseases. And it has not improved much since the inception of this undemocratic club of the rich.

No doubt, in the coming days and weeks, the media will make much of two things, the violence of the anti-G8 demonstrators, and the so-called efforts of the G8 nations to alleviate poverty in Africa and elsewhere.

Anyone who tries to tell you that President Putin, Bush, Blair, Sarkozy, Merkel and the rest are committed to Making Poverty History, is a liar and a fraud. They exist to further the interests of their own corporate elites, paying only token lip-service to the urgent deands of the worlds poor. This much is obvious from the record on tackling poverty since 1975, when the first gathering took place.

I was at Gleneagles in 2005, when the the G8, with the conniving assistance of the thoroughly discredited Bono and Geldof, made much of their pledges on debt relief and poverty reduction. Something like $55 million dollars was earmarked for the cancellation of debt to some 30-odd of the worlds poorest states, so long as they met strict conditions. This might seem like a lot of money, but in actual fact, it is very little in the grand scheme of things. The UK government is intending to spend as much as 3 times that figure just replacing it's obscene nuclear weapons. God alone knows how much has been spent visiting death and destruction on Iraq. And yet, even these meagre commitments have not been met. The G8 does not give a damn about the plight of the worlds poor.

And this is why people are angry. Add to this that peaceful protest receives very little media coverage, and you have to ask yourself, is it any wonder some people react with sticks, stones, and petrol bombs against those who defend these cold, murderous bastards?

The overwhelming majority of the violence, chaos, crime and disorder comes from the G8 themselves. Just don't expect to be told that on the evening news.

Plymouth CND Quiz Night

Friday night's Quiz Night staged by Plymouth CND went off quite well considering none of us had organised such an event before. Despite us not having as many people turn up as we would have liked, the evening was a success. We raised a little money, and most importantly, everyone had a good time.

I had the dubious honour of being the compere for the evening, reading out the questions through a microphone in my think Scottish brogue. Pleasingly, I was understood most of the evening!

To save embarrassment, the names of the members of the PCND team who came in last with a score of 13 out of 50 will be withheld. Their efforts won them the booby-prize, which to be fair was far too good for them!

Afterwards, a couple of us went to the Princess's place and talked the night through with a bottle of vodka, in between sessions on the guitar. The following day I awoke at 2pm, which was slightly problematic as I was supposed to be at meeting at 12... Hopefully I will be forgiven as this is something I am not known for - missing meetings, or staying up all night drinking vodka.

Hopefully we will be able to use the venue we had on Friday again, for other events. Next time we will have to promote the event a bit better, and time it better. I don't think it did us any favours that Friday was the start of half-term, and the Bank Holiday. One or two of us aired the notion of putting on an open mic/karaoke night, which I think is a fantastic idea. I can just see myself scaring the punters with a punk version of Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy'!

Who said political activism can't be fun!?

Plymouth CND at the Lord Mayors Parade

Despite the best efforts of Plymouth City Council to ban us for being "too political", anti-nuclear activists took part in the annual Lord Mayors Parade, carrying the Plymouth CND message. In line with the declared 'maritime' theme, we carried an 8ft paper-mache submarine and banners requesting the use of the seas for peace. We were generally well received, and up until the Sandra-incident, I personally experienced no negativity from anyone. On one or two occasions I heard parents explaining to their kids "It's a nuclear submarine, darling. It's about the bombs."

At another point, a council employee doffed his hat to us and clapped us as we walked past.

According to some of my colleagues, we would have been booed 10 years ago. The people of Plymouth are coming round to the dangers of Trident on their doorstep, on all our doorsteps.

We are winning.

Sandra Leslie Is Barking.

For the last several months, probably approaching a year now, myself and a couple of other activists I work with have been the target of slanderous and hate-filled diatribes from one Sandra Leslie. I have been accused of being a bully, a fascist, a nepotist, a fifth columnist, a boss's pet, a homophobe, and a few things more besides. Sandra has taken to emailing all and sundry in Trident Ploughshares and CND about my so-called crimes, as well as posting them on her public websites. As I have the full support of National CND, and the TP Core Group, I have not felt the need to respond to Sandra's vindictive missives, until today.

Things took an unsettling turn for the worse on Saturday, when Sandra actually physically attacked the Plymouth CND procession in the Lord Mayor's Day Parade, in front of scores of onlookers. Leaping in amongst our group, she started screaming "Nazi's!" at the top of her voice at us, myself and Mark in particular, before starting to physically attack the paper-mache submarine that I and another colleague were carrying. This carried on for several hundred yards along the route, with pleas for her to cease and desist falling on deaf ears, and only seeming to enrage her more. Without a doubt she had completely lost the plot, and was immune to reason or placation. It was decided that the best course of action was to remove ourselves from the procession, Sandra effectively managed what Plymouth City Council have failed to do for the last couple of years - prevent Plymouth CND from completing the Parade. No doubt she is proud of herself. All this after spending months accusing us of "sabotage"!!!

On her website, a new comment has appeared with regard to Saturday's debacle. Incredibly, she accuses us of persecuting her! As if it was us who attacked her as she took part in a procession! She also makes up some fantastical story about a shop refusing to serve myself and Mark because of our "nazism". Truly the workings of a delusional mind. What actually happened, was that after our group had removed ourselves from the Parade due to Sandra's harrassment, we planned to go for a drink in the Barbican. While Peter, Ian, and young Marc went into town in search of a cash-machine, Mark and I went to the nearby Spar to get cigarrettes and some chocolate. While we were waiting outside the Spar for the rest to appear, Sandra came striding across the road shouting about "Nazi's", "stalking", and "persecution". She accused of us stalking her, of mounting a "campaign of hate" against her, and various other allegations too silly to mention. She then, rather shamefully, started ridiculing Mark's mental health, and his bi-polar condition. No-one overheard Mark or myself "abusing", "degrading", or "petrifying" Sandra, because this did not happen. It was Sandra who was engaged in these acts, while Mark and I refused to lower ourselves by retorting to her poisonous and hate-filled vitriol. After she left, we went back into the shop for more chocolate. The shop assistants served us with no problems.

Sandra's behaviour on Saturday was nothing short of shameful. Fortunately, a good portion of the march had already been completed by our group before this sordid episode transpired, and her actions did not ruin an otherwise excellent day.

There is one part of her recent web-comment that is accurate, I did take video footage of Sandra losing the plot and calling all and sundry "Nazi's", not to mention her nasty verbal attack on Mark. If I can figure out how to post it, I will in due course. Until then, anyone wishing to view Sandra's mad behaviour can email me and I will send the clip as an attachment.
Peace

Bayeaux Tapestry

Through a website I visit, I came across this fantastic new plaything,

a make your own Bayeux tapestry!

http://www.adgame-wonderland.de/type/bayeux.php

I made this tonight and it gave me a good chuckle.

(just in case anyone does not get it, it is inspired by the film Deliverance)

"squeal like a pig, boy!"

What Is Right For The Country...

"But I ask you to accept one thing. Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right. I may have been wrong. That's your call. But believe one thing if nothing else. I did what I thought was right for our country."

These were the words of Tony Blair in his speech today, announcing that he is stepping down as the UK's Prime Minister on the 27th of June. No doubt these words are a great comfort to the millions dead or displaced in Iraq, and all the armed forces and their relatives who have also suffered in Iraq.

These words also, might have been the words of David Keogh and Leo O'Connor, who have just recently been found guilty of breaching the Official Secret's Act. David Keogh, a civil servant, thought he was doing the "right thing" when he leaked a copy of a secret memo detailing talks between Blair and George W Bush about the war in Iraq to Mr O'Connor, a researcher for the Labour MP Anthony Clarke. Mr Keogh had hoped details of the memo would make it into the public domain in order to help expose Bush as a "madman". It has been suggested that the memo details Bush's enthusiasm for bombing the offices of Al Jazeera, which would be proof of a pre-meditated war-crime.

You'd think, considering everything, it would be Keogh and O'Connor who would be getting the plaudits for doing what they "thought best for the country". But no, for trying to expose the genocidal and murderous impulses of those waging war in the name of our "great nation", they are to be imprisoned. They have been found guilty of trying to do "the right thing for the country". The Prosecution argued that -

"the unauthorised disclosure of information in this case is likely to prejudice the capability of the armed forces either to carry out their tasks or lead to the loss of life or the possibility of loss of life or injury."

In this crazed through-the-looking-glass world we live in, it is Blair getting the applause, for doing what he 'thought' was right. Somehow his actions did not "lead to the loss of life or the possibility of loss of life or injury".

He stood shoulder to shoulder with Bush, and invaded a sovereign nation illegally, against the wishes of hundreds of millions around the world, and Iraq has paid a terrible price for this decision. Hundreds of thousands are dead and continue to die, and the Middle East is more inflamed than it has been in decades. Yet Blair can go at the time of his on choosing, paying no penalty for his decisions, while being cheered to the rafters by his sycophantic supporters.

Blair's mea culpa - "I did what I thought right" - would probably find an echo with the Stalins, Hitlers, Pinochets, and Pol Pots of this world. He is hardly going to say anything else now, is he?

And so, as Keogh and O'Connor slip into their jail cells, Blair heads into the sunset. Three men bound by a war and the decisions of their conscience. Doesn't seem right, does it?

No wonder Blair thinks this is a "great country"! It is, quite literally, the one that has let him away with murder.

Blair speech in full - http://politics.guardian.co.uk/tonyblair/story/0,,2076754,00.htmlKeogh, O'Connor case - http://politics.guardian.co.uk/media/story/0,,2075820,00.html

Like A Puppet On A String

I had to laugh today when I read that young Arthur Batchelor, one of the sailors captured by Iranian forces a few weeks ago, could not return to his ship HMS Cornwall as planned, because he had "lost his passport".
You have got to feel a little sorry for this poor lad, he's had a rough time of it of late!

To begin with he is dispatched to participate in an unpopular, unwinnable, immoral, and completely illegal war. Then the poor boy is sent on a 'routine' boarding operation, physically nearer Iran than Iraq. Thanks to the wisdom of his commanders, he finds himself part of a group that ends up in disputed waters with no helicopter support, and easy prey for Iranian border guards.
The poor wee lamb then spent about 3 weeks enjoying the hospitality of the Iranians. Sadly for him, the Iranians did not provide him with facilities to match those at Abhu Graib, Bagram Air Base, or Guantanamo Bay. No orange jump suits or electrodes for our Arthur. They made him eat naan bread, play chess and ping-pong, forced him to be measured up for a suit, and gave him gifts. They also blindfolded him, and most heinously, took away his i-pod. To add insult to injury, he then had his neck "flicked" by a guard. Oh, and an Iranian guard said he looked like Mr Bean.
Ah, for the comforts of Gitmo, eh?
After surviving that ordeal, young Arthur returned home to be "debriefed" by the UK's Ministry of Defence. (At least the Iranians let him keep his briefs...)
The MOD decided to let Arthur and his compatriots sell 'their' stories to the press for a few gold coins, and then swiftly changed their minds, hanging him out to dry. Then the paparazzi plaster pictures of him, having a laugh about the ordeal with his mates in a nightclub, all over the country.

In the matter of a short month or two, the boy has went from poorly paid cannon-fodder, to heroic hostage, through wealthy celebrity, a Tarzan, and now on to national disgrace.

One can imagine that the last few weeks have been a bit of a steep learning curve for him. Possibly he has learnt that the establishment he is meant to serve so dutifully, is not so worthy of loyalty after all?

If I were him, I think I'd 'lose' my passport too.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_headline=arthur-s-my-tarzan&method=full&objectid=18854854&siteid=89520-name_page.html

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=449887&in_page_id=1770&in_page_id=1770&expand=true

Splitting the Union?

This Thursday, Scottish voters will be going to the polls to elect a new administration for the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. And for the first time in their history, the Scottish National Party(SNP) look set to win the largest share of the vote, and control the levers of power in Scotland.

I think it is fascinating how this has come about, when one considers there is no great enthusiasm in Scotland for independence, the SNP's raison detre.

According to a poll cited in today's Independent on Sunday, only about 22% of Scots favour splitting from the Union, though it seems twice that number are prepared to vote SNP anyway.
I believe the vote in Scotland is more about the murderous disgrace that is the Labour Party, than about the convincing arguments of the SNP.

Not that long ago, it was often said that a monkey could get elected in Scotland if it wore a red rosette. The Labour party would have to do something really bad to lose that level of support.
And by god, it has.

I have never been a supporter of independence, but I wish the SNP every success in this election.

For me, this election is about Iraq, and Trident.
Scotland, as part of the UK plc, plays a big part in the genocidal policies emanating from Westminster, it is home to the barbaric and obscene Trident nuclear arsenal, and it has many soldiers fulfilling dubious service in British uniform abroad. We could do the whole world a favour by putting a spanner in this works.

Anything that can halt or derail the murderous path that Great Britain is embarked upon is fine by me. If it can be done through ballot and referendum, so much the better!

One Million Blogs For Peace.

While looking for blogs for peace today, I stumbled upon an initiative called "One Million Blogs For Peace".
The rather obvious idea, is to get one million bloggers to agree with their pledge, which states -

"I believe in the immediate withdrawal of all foreign combat troops from the nation of Iraq. I believe in using my blog, in whole or in part, as a tool toward this end."

Hell yeah, count me in.

Feel free to join up too - http://bluepyramid.org/peace/