John's Free Lunch

I've Moved To WordPress

2007-06-07T12:22:00.000Z

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.

2007-06-04T21:50:00.000Z

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

2007-05-27T11:56:00.000Z

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

2007-05-21T22:08:00.000Z

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.

2007-05-21T13:09:00.000Z

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

2007-05-15T23:38:00.000Z

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...

2007-05-10T18:28:00.000Z

"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

2007-05-01T16:03:00.000Z

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?

2007-04-29T19:22:00.000Z

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.

2007-04-29T15:59:00.000Z

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/

US School Shootings.

2007-04-18T18:55:00.000Z

As an outsider looking in, the mass killings that have just taken place at a college in Virginia, USA, are just stunning, unbelievable. That this could happen again is just incomprehensible to me.
Why can this happen?
Certainly, the gun control laws in America need to be reformed in some way. It just should not be possible for a known 'disturbed' person to purchase a weapon and ammunition in twenty minutes flat. End of.
But there is more. As Michael Moore's documentary 'Bowling for Columbine' shows, there is the same availability of guns in Canada as in the US, but vastly different gun crime statistics. Canadians, apparently, can get hold of a gun just as easily as Americans, yet they don't seem to have the habit of blasting holes in one another as their neighbours do. Why is this so?

There could be several reasons.
As Michael Moore, amongst others has suggested, it could have something to do with the American national posture as defined by it's last several governments. Since the second world war, America has bestrode the globe like a bully, using it's overwhelming firepower in a long sequence of military actions against weaker and smaller states. The American people have been on the recieving end of a barrage of propoganda by governments and the military/industrial complex, for decades, justifying this overwhelming use of force abroad.
Is it totally surprising that an over-assertive and violent state breeds the odd over-assertive and violent individual?
In a great many Hollywood movies, the violent and aggressive male is often the central character - knee deep in blood, saving the day with his heart of gold....
Non-violence, compassion, understanding, accomodation, these are the ways of the effiminate, or the cissy to our errant cousins. Complex disagreements are reduced, to simple 'good vs evil' nonsense, or shouted down altogether.
The national character is of win-at-all-costs, for to lose is to fail. And failure sucks, because that means poverty.

And to be poor in America is to be desperate indeed. Despite it being the richest and most powerful nation the world has ever seen, it has frightful levels of poverty. At least 36 million people live in poverty in America, according to this - http://www.peacetakescourage.com/American_Poverty.html

But what I really wanted to talk about was drugs.
According to http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5686225 , the lad who killed 32 people in Virginia this week was on anti-depressents. Many American children, and increasingly UK and European children, are on prescribed medication for one reason or another. I recall reading of one such drug, for attention disorders, which gave a kid a "laser-like" attention in class!
Michael Moore was interviewed recently and has said that prescription medication is one area he did not explore in Bowling for Columbine. http://www.drugawareness.org/home.html Apparently, both the Columbine killers were on a drug called LUVOX....

A further sad aspect to this, is that no-one seems that surprised by it. Is the American model now seen as so debauched and far gone, that these sort of things are almost inevitable?

Instead of medicating their citizens, the American establishment should think about the reasons why people are in need of medication in the first place!

RIP Kurt Vonnegut

2007-04-14T16:15:00.000Z

It was with great sadness that I learned of the death this week of Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favourite writers.
As well as being the author of many a wonderful novel, he was also an activist in the Humanist movement, I believe being it's President at one point. His stories were often inspired by his puzzlement over the behaviour, or misbehaviour, of the human beings he shared the planet with. These stories have in turn made me laugh out loud on trains, and weep on buses.
So it goes.
He once wrote a note to Trident Ploughshares to decline an invitation to join us on an action.

"You of Trident Ploughshares 2000 are the shock troops of the sane in the war against insanity. I am honored by your invitation to be on the front lines with you at faslane on Saint Valentines' day, and especially in a year so full of zeros . . a blank slate. Yours will be among the very first messages to end its blankness, and with this oldie but goodie: Thou shalt not kill."
Sorry I can't be there. Pax Vobiscum Kurt Vonnegut"

Pax Vobiscum to you, Mr Vonnegut. Peace be with you.

"The most important thing I learned on Tralfamadore was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past, so it is very silly for people to cry at his funeral. All moments, past, present and future, always have existed, always will exist."

Trident Ploughshares Blockade at Aldermaston.

2007-04-13T19:39:00.000Z

Earlier this week I was at the Atomic Weapons Establishment(A.W.E.) at Aldermaston in leafy Berkshire, in order to take part in a non-violent blockade organised by Trident Ploughshares.

About 10 of us set out on the Monday for Reading, where we would be staying the night. We arrived late in the evening, thanks to the Easter holiday traffic, to find some 50-60 odd activists all hard at work plotting, scheming and rehearsing for the following days actions. After a hastily devoured meal, we got ourselves organised, and assumed roles for the blockade. After planning to get myself arrested, I found that it would be impractical as I was the only designated driver for the minibus we had hired! I had to contend myself with the role of getaway driver!

The Police were outside when we awoke, and they followed us closely as soon as we left. Sure enough, within about 15 minutes we got the flashing-blue-light treatment and were pulled over. This was not good news, as I had in my bus the arrestables for the boilerhouse gate, who were sitting in the back nursing an arsenal of lock-on tubes! A Policeman beckoned me out of the bus. He informed me that under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act, he was entitled to pull over "any car, at any time, for any reason". I do not recall him explaining his particular reason. Fortunately they did not search the bus, and the Police allowed me on my way after taking my details and checking my documents. He asked where I was going, as if he did not know, and when I told him I was going to Aldermaston to take part in a peaceful demonstration against illegal nuclear weapons, he said 'so long as it isn't violent'. And thus began this Officer's education in the non-violent principles inherent in Trident Ploughshares actions.

Anyway, we got to Aldermaston with the Police still on our tail like a smell you can't shake. With the Police so close, the original plan of stopping at the gates to allow those blocking to hop out and lock-on was likely to be thwarted as soon as attempted. Plan B was hastily conceived on an Esso forecourt under the watchful eye of the Thames Valley Constabulary. We pulled out and headed for the Boilerhouse Gate. As we approached, we noticed that some of our colleagues were already there making a vivid, and colourful presence with banners and music. Traffic was slowing, and the Police were still behind us. Thirty yards or so from the gate, I stopped, and out jumped the brave S, to stand in the road in front of the Police car, arms out-stretched like Jesus, allowing me to nip on nearer the gates to dump my other passengers and cargo unimpeded. And as you can see from the photo above, it worked a treat. It took me an hour to walk back after I had found somewhere to park the bus! Still, it gave me a chance to check out the scenery, and see the traffic chaos that the actions at our gate, and elsewhere at other gates, was causing. A lot of people work at Aldermaston it seems, certainly a great deal of construction work is going on. And was going on long before the parliamentary vote on Trident replacement took place.

I believe 14 people were arrested during the actions on Tuesday. All of whom will take to court the argument that they are acting to prevent crime, not cause it. This blog salutes them.

Apart from delays, little actual harm came to the dastardly activities beyond the electric fences of Aldermaston nuclear weapons factory. But we made some ripples, we publicised the issue, and raised awareness, and that will have to do for now, until we have enough numbers to shut these places for good.
They are preparing for horrific crimes at Aldermaston, and we the people have a right, if not a duty, to try and stop them. They are after all our government, representing us. And if we do nothing, they will drag us with them into barbarity and genocide.

This action was one of a hundred ways you can protest against possession of nuclear weapons, but by god, it has to be the most fun! And the most inspiring and invigourating. Almost without fail, the most interesting and jolly-well-decent people I meet, are anti-nuclear activists. It is always a pleasure to spend time with such sincere and honest souls, to compare notes, to exchange tips, tales and jokes, to create music, share food, and make contacts.
Sure beats sitting at home writing letters, or indignant emails and blogs!

Iran and the UK Marines and Sailors.

2007-04-08T16:46:00.000Z

I have not posted for a wee while, though I am sure no-one has missed me!

Anyway, I have just found out that the UK marines and sailors that were captured by Iran, and released unharmed, have been allowed by the MOD to sell their stories to the press!
One has to wonder why?
Well, no doubt one big reason is control. The stories of these military personnel would have come out sooner or later. As far as the MOD is concerned, these stories are better controlled while these people are still in the military. In fact, they near as damn it say so themselves in the linked article to the Plymouth Evening Herald.

A statement from the MoD said: "It was clear that the stories they had to tell were likely to have emerged via family and friends regardless of any decision the Navy took.
"It was therefore decided to grant permission to speak to the media to those personnel that sought it, in order to ensure that the Navy and the MoD had sight of what they were going to say as well as providing proper media support to the sailors and Marines...

Unforgiveable Betrayal.

2006-12-19T22:51:00.000Z

I read in today's paper that at the inquest into the death of Sgt Steven Roberts - the 1st UK soldier killed in Iraq, the coroner has found that the Army's "unforgiveable and inexusable" failure to provide basic pieces of equipment contributed greatly to his untimely death.

"To send soldiers into a combat zone without the appropriate basic equipment is, in my view, unforgiveable and inexcusable and represents a breach of trust that the soldiers have in those in government."
Verdict of Coroner.

Sgt Roberts was killed by not-so-friendly fire from a Challenger tank. He had given his own body armour to another after being told to by a senior officer. It is reported that when he died he was clad in "makeshift armour... made by stuffing pieces of padding into his fatigues and sticking them together with black masking tape."
If I were a soldier, this would be enough for me to desert.
Sadly, Sgt Roberts was only one of the first of a great many unforgiveable and inexusable deaths.
Blair should be swinging from a tree for his crimes. But the rest of his life in bars will suffice.

Smash the BNP?

2006-11-20T23:24:00.000Z

I'm bothered this evening by something I read earlier on Indymedia UK. In an article entitled "BNP Paper Stall Smashed", there is a report of some self-styled anti-fascists using violence to stop the BNP selling newspapers and handing out leaflets in Selby, Yorkshire.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/11/356362.html?c=on#comments
Is violence, or "extreme prejudice" as the author of the article calls it, the answer to the BNP?
Personally, I think not.
In recent years, the BNP have tried to change their image, ditching the skinheads and jackboots, for pin-stripe suits and 'electoral respectability', whatever the hell that is? My concern is that violence against the BNP gives them a victim status that they do not deserve, allowing them to claim 'martyrdom' and greater public support, while simultaneously casting those opposed to fascism as the 'thugs'. No doubt many a left-hating tabloid would have a field day doing just that. I can just see the Daily Mail waxing lyrical about the "new nazis" of the militant left! It would be a mistake, in my humble opinion, for the left to pick up the discarded jackboots of the BNP.

Another concern is that of increasing the cycle of violence. It does not take a great leap of imagination to think how the BNP would exact it's revenge on those who would smash up their stalls etc. Will this only lead to the hospitalisation of anarchists, socialists, and other left-wingers in return? I will most likely be involved in the running of a stall this weekend, for Plymouth CND. I hope the actions of some anti-fascists in Selby does not lead to the legitimisation of political violence in general. A movement born of violence will be a violent movement. And as a man of peace, I do not wish to be part of a violent movement.

I have always felt that the hateful and racist policies of the BNP, or any other bunch of right-wing nut-jobs, can be easily defeated with a calculater and an etch-a-sketch. The BNP will be defeated once and for all, once the ideology has been exposed and dissected for the worthless trash it is. If we cannot beat the BNP in straight debate, then we really are in a fine pickle!

My educated guess is that many, if not most BNP voters, and possibly even rank and file members, are not natural fascists or racists, but members of the working class disillusioned, quite rightly, and registering their anger, with the main political parties, in particular the Labour Party. And if these BNP members and voters are fascists, they will have been turned that way because of a system that dissed 'em.
The Left has to get out there, and tackle this disillusionment. Win, in the common vernacular, the "hearts and minds" of those flirting with the BNP. It should be easy. A little flexing of our intellectual muscle, as opposed to our fists. Fighting fire with fire will only see us get burnt. Let us not become what we despise.
"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless whether the destruction is wrought in the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of democracy and freedom?" -Gandhi
Peace, Love, Freedom, and Tolerance
John

White Poppy, Not with Pride.

2006-11-07T23:50:00.000Z

I shall not be wearing my poppy with pride this week. It will be worn with a degree of solemnity. Anger, shame, and regret. And it shall be white.

The 11th hour of the 11th day, on the 11th month, will mark another anniversary of Armistice Day, the end of World War 1. This was a truly dreadful war, a war that should never have happened, that took the lives of millions, touching quite possibly every single family in Europe. When I see a poppy, I think of Flanders Field, or the Somme. Total slaughter, needless and disgusting. Born, not from the need to preserve freedom or country, but to preserve the wealth and power of the few. Millions, mere pawns to be sacrificed.
Anger, shame, regret.
We need to remember, so that we don't fall for it again, and again, and again.

An example of concern amongst the wider public was shown by a letter in the Evesham Advertiser in November 1930, which responded to a remark by the Bishop of Durham that Armistice Day celebrations should cease: '...their main tendency is to perpetuate the war spirit, which ever renders the coming of permanent peace impossible. The establishment of this day and the erection of memorials was a grave error...for these have fastened the system of armed defence upon one and all firmer than ever; for right through Europe...the man who has borne arms is memorialised and praised as never before and what man praises today he will practise tomorrow so that to honour war is, of necessity, to ensure its coming in all its horrors...It is the living we should consider first; we should remember the young amongst us, whose bodies...will lie out upon the battlefields of Europe in 'the next war' which is said to be coming, and for which the Armistice Day celebrations and the memorials are simply paving the way. They are the sign and symbol that war shall be, and prevent altogether the dawning of that brighter and better day when war shall be no more.'

Members of the 1929-31 Labour Government were also unhappy about the ceremony. Alfred Salter MP recalled in 1936: 'I was Chairman of the Parliamentary Peace Committee, and took a deputation to see the then Minister of War. We asked him if he would exercise his influence...to turn the November 11 Armistice service into a peace and memorial service...His official adviser from the War Office jumped up and said, "Impossible! Unthinkable! It would be opposed by the highest authorities!...We get more recruits for the Army in the fortnight following the Armistice ceremony than in any other time of the year."'

In 1931, however, the Daily Herald headlined 'The Empire's Armistice Call: There shall be no more war', and went on, 'Never again! That will be the vow in every sane mind throughout the British Empire today.' Hannen Swaffer asked: 'Now that Economy has come, will they really cut down those health services...Why don't we do something to stop the next war?' Two years later the first recorded alternative wreath was laid at Cambridge War Memorial, by the Cambridge Student Anti-War Movement, with the inscription: 'To the dead and wounded of all nations, victims of a war they did not make, from those who are determined to prevent all similar crimes of imperialism.'

Cheers for the link gorgeous girlfriend!
Peace Out.
http://www.ppu.org.uk/poppy/new/tx_swimming.html
http://www.whitepoppy.org.uk/
Get a white poppy, you know it makes sense.

Flying Gas-Chambers

2006-11-05T16:47:00.000Z

Let's talk nuclear bombs. Let's talk about the criminal conspiracy to commit genocide that is the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system.
Britains Trident submarine fleet is coming to the end of it's operational life, and the question of "replacement" is to be decided during this parliament. Already Phony Bliar and Gordon Brown-nose have spoken out in favour of a new generation of nuclear weapons. They have said there will be a debate, but those of us that take an interest in these things are pretty sure that the decision has already been made, and just awaits a rubber stamp from those sheep we call Members of Parliament, the same people that voted for the war in Iraq. This is why I think that it is a mistake for CND to campaign for a parliamentary debate and vote in the House of Commons. The House of Commons is distinctly lacking in judgement, not to mention morality. The House of Commons is where the turkeys vote, without fail, for Christmas!

At the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, building work is already taking place, and nuclear scientists are being recruited, despite the fact that Mr Blair says that "no decision" has been taken. Yeah, right. It is obvious, that without a concerted effort, a new generation of nuclear weapons will be presented as a fait accompli before too long. There are a great many reasons why this is bad news for us all.

It is estimated that a new generation of nuclear weapons will cost the UK tax-payer somewhere in the region of £76 billion! This is, according to a recent article in the Guardian, about the same as an effective fight against climate change would cost.
http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,1939422,00.html
It is said by many that climate change is the single biggest challenge facing mankind today, and recent reports reckon that the cost of replacing Trident "could almost guarantee emission reductions from 150m tonnes of carbon a year today to the necessary level of around 60m tonnes by 2030."
Mutually Assured Destruction is not going to "deter" Mother Nature. The increasingly hostile climate is something that we need to fight against as a planet, and not as a plethora of armed and hostile nation states.

The other supposed challenge we face, is the threat of "terrorism". No amount of nuclear bombs could prevent the 9/11 atrocities, nor any such future outrage. No 'death-loving terrorist' is going to be detterred from their deeds by the threat of nuclear annihilation.
Indeed, in October 2005, Tony Blair also came to this conclusion, "I do not think that anyone pretends that the independent nuclear deterrent is a defence against terrorism".

Also, according to the government’s Strategic Defence Review 1998, "there is today no military threat to the United Kingdom or Western Europe. Nor do we foresee the re-emergence of such a threat". This is reiterated by a Defence Select Commitee Inquiry, "Witnesses to our inquiry did not believe that the UK currently faces a direct or impending military threat from any of the established nuclear weapon states".
Before his mind was warped by ambition and power, Gordon Brown was once quoted as saying that Trident was "unacceptably expensive, economically wasteful, and militarily unsound".
He could have added counter-productive, immoral and illegal.

To my mind anyway, the immorality of being prepared to use what someone once termed "flying gas-chambers" is clear. Nuclear weapons kill indiscriminately, and have no place in a society proclaiming itself "civilised". They are, in fact, the ultimate terrorist suicide bomb. For what is terrorism? According to my dictionary, it is the threat or use of violence in pursuit of a political aim. Nuclear bombs are literally terrifying. Mutually Assured Destruction is suicide on a massive scale.
The International Criminal Court also decreed in 1996 that "the use of nuclear weapons would generally run contrary to International Humanitarian Law". Nuclear bombs cannot be used without causing untold harm to innocent non-combatants, and are therefore illegal under International Covenents that the UK is signatory to.
Replacing, or upgrading Trident would also be a clear breach, both materially and in spirit, of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that the UK is also a signatory of. Under the terms of the N.P.T. all nuclear weapons states are under an obligation to pursue, "in good faith" the "elimination of nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament". Moreover, in 2000, the UK and the four other declared nuclear weapon states signed a final document giving "an unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals".

Nuclear weapons are also counter-productive, for, if the UK envisages at least another 50 years of British security being based on threatening other populations with mass destruction, then we encourage other states to do the same, and thus paradoxically we increase our security risk rather than decrease it. This was succinctly explained by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat, "If some nations — including the most powerful militarily — say that they need nuclear weapons for their security, then such security cannot be denied to other countries which really feel insecure. Proliferation of nuclear weapons is the logical conclusion of this nuclear policy’.
The truth of this argument can now easily be seen by recent developments with Iran, and North Korea. Other countries will likely follow suite, either inspired by our rhetoric of "nukes guarantee security", or scared by our complete disregard for International obligations. Not to mention our war-mongering against defence-less countries, like Iraq.
The more countries have nuclear weapons, the more likely that they will be used, whether by accident or design.

Opinion poll after opinion poll has shown that the majority of people in the UK are in favour of nuclear disarmament, but yet the politicians in this so-called democracy pay no mind. It is highly unlikely that the government will do the right and decent thing, and consign the UK's nuclear monstrosities to the dustbin of history.
That is why I have concluded that it is incumbent on us, the electorate, the citizens of this nation, to force the government to bend to reason and logic, to sanity.
There are groups that are attempting this as we speak, groups like Trident Ploughshares and BlocktheBuilders. I support their efforts completely. BlocktheBuilders in particular, exist to attempt to prevent the building work for the next generation of nukes at AWE Aldermaston, using Non-Violent Direct Action. They deserve our support, and they need our help. A certain Martin Luther King once said something like, "I wondered why someone didn't do something to advance Peace. And then I realised, I AM someone".
http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk/
http://www.aldermaston.net/campaigns/tng
We CAN make a difference!
Let's roll.

Murder Polis!

2006-11-02T18:59:00.000Z

There has been another fatal shooting by the Metropolitan Police today. It is also said that the officer involved was also involved in the Stockwell shooting. Stockwell, lest we forget, is the name of the tube station where a completely innocent man, Jean Charles de Menezes, was shot half a dozen or more times in the head, at point-blank range. No one has been held to account for this outrage.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6108530.stm

This recent shooting was apparently in response to an armed robbery. Police spokesmen are saying it was a 'kill or be killed' situation. But let us recall the lies and distortions issued by these same "spokes-people" in the wake of the killing at Stockwell. Jean Charles was "running" from Police, he was wearing "bulky clothing", all the rest of the misinformation put out in the immedate aftermath of Stockwell. One thing the Police are very good at, is covering their own asses.
No doubt we will hear more in coming days and weeks.
According to BBC Radio 4, the Metropolitan Police have only been involved in three fatal shootings in the last few years, and this one officer has been involved in two of them. Bad luck? Bad training? Bad judgement? Bad intention? All of the above?
It seems this officer only returned to duty in July, after a long lay-off and inquiry following the Stockwell incident. Some "security consultant" on Radio 4 expressed surprise that the officer in question would want to return to duty after such an ordeal. I share his surprise. Surprise he wanted back, and amazement he was allowed.
This officer took part in the brutal murder of Jean Charles de Menezes. And then he returned to work. Maybe he thinks he can get away with it.....? Certainly, he will be aware, like the rest of us, that his political bosses have been getting away with murder, for years, in Iraq.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4158832.stm
http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

Trick or Treat?

2006-10-31T17:37:00.000Z

Halloween is here again. Not that it has ever done anything for me, or anyone else it seems.
Last night, my mum said how she was gonna sit in darkness all night, in order to try and trick the trick or treaters. This morning, and it wasn't through choice - I couldn't avoid it - I saw on the way out to work that GMTV had a poll running which was asking if trick or treating should be banned. Apparently 95% of responses indicated yes.
And then this afternoon, while servicing a Glowworm Fuelsaver Complheat, the owner was telling me his misgivings about Halloween, and letting his kids go trick or treating. His daughter was desperate to go do it, and I could see he really didn't want to let her. The street outside was full of garishly dressed kids brandishing knives and pumpkins.
To me it's a tedious, and strangely sinister, waste of time and energy.
Why not get the kids to do good-deeds for old folk, on May Day? Instead of trying to scare old people into giving them sweets in cold and dark October.

Every day brings a trick or treat for me at the moment. Mostly tricks mind you lol, but I'll save them for another time. Tonight though, I am hoping for a treat. A football treat. And because it's Halloween, it must be Ipswich.
Yes, tonight, after 3 years or so living down here, I am going to my very first ever match at Home Park, Plymouth Argyle vs. Ipswich Town. Chelsea vs. Barcelona is on TV tonight, and I hope I've picked the right game! I am taking my gorgeous girlfriend with me, so that she can't say I don't take her anywhere! The tickets cost, wait for it, TWENTY FOUR POUNDS EACH!
My first wage was 11 pounds!
Jings, ah must be getting old.

Isn't Technology Wonderful?

2006-10-30T18:04:00.000Z

I've been tweaking the page a wee bit today. I noticed that the settings would not allow anonymous comment from anyone that may happen past. This has been rectified, along with a few other minor adjustments.
Well, it's Monday, and it's 2 minutes past six in the evening, no matter what the clock on this site tries to tell you! I was amazed to see yesterdays quick blog recorded as being done at something like quarter to two in the morning(!?), when the truth of the matter is that it was posted at about 9 or 10am. I am not particularly technologically minded, so it will probably take me weeks before I figure out what the hell is going on here.

I read in the news today that War on Want is accusing the UK government of trying to "privatise the war in Iraq", through the increased use of private mercenaries. There are more private, so-called 'security personnel' in Iraq today than there are regular UK soldiers. They are reportedly immune from prosecution, unlike UK soldiers, and can act with complete impunity. One of the companies involved has seen it's annual turnover jump from something in the hundred's of thousands, to something in the tens of millions, purely from it's contracts in Iraq.
War on Want's campaigns director, John Hilary, said: "There are genuine worries that the Government is trying to privatise the Iraq conflict. The occupation of Iraq has allowed British mercenaries to reap huge profits. But the Government has failed to enact laws to punish their human rights abuses, including firing on Iraqi civilians.
"How can Tony Blair hope to restore peace and security in Iraq while allowing mercenary armies to operate completely outside the law?"
See The Independent, 30th October 2006, and
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3699957.stm

Also in the news today, well probably not if you rely on the Sun, or somesuch, was a report on the allegation that the Israeli government authorised the use of a Uranium Bomb during their depraved flattening of Lebanon. The UN is launching an investigation into the claims, which no doubt will be strangled at birth by the Security Council. Welcome to the nuclear age....

The Agony of Sunday Working

2006-10-29T09:44:00.000Z

Ouch, it is Sunday morning, hello world! Don't forget to put yer clocks back!
Sadly I have to do some work today, work I really should have finished months ago. I put a central heating boiler into my Aunt's house earlier in the year, along with a couple of radiators to keep the chill off, and was supposed to go back in a week or two to finish it off. But time travels slowly in Devon, and I am just getting around to it today! It's odd how I am pretty diligent with regard to doing jobs for complete strangers, but when it comes to jobs in the house, or for the family, I can put it off, and put it off, and put it off.

Still, I suppose it will keep me out of mischief for a while. Thankfully I do not have any kind of hangover from last night's visit to the pub. With my gorgeous girlfriend, and my wee cousin in tow, a few gentle hours were spent in the Railway Inn, Saltash. The lager was rather lame, but the company made up for it. I miss going to pubs, it is something I used to do a great deal once upon a time.
I met some interesting characters last night, and one in particular deserves a mention. I can't recall his name, but as soon as he heard my thick Scottish brogue he began regaling me with tales of his adventures in Scotland in the dim and distant. He asked if I had ever worked in Faslane, the Base for the UK's nuclear weapons. He seemes nonplussed when I showed him my hat with it's plethora of CND badges, anti-war badges, and white Peace Poppy. Apparently he used to work on nuclear submarines, and had spent some considerable time in the Middle East. I don't half meet them when I go out!
Anyway, he went on to tell me that the only reason he worked on nuclear subs, and in the war industry in general, was because "it was a job". He took pains to tell me that the most rewarding job he had ever had, was when he worked in a factory making toilet paper. At least, he told me, this was "something useful and productive". He seemed to have great respect for the politics of the anti-war, anti-nuclear crowd. All in all, he seemes like a pretty decent chap. That'll be one less person giving the finger, or shouting "get a job" at the next demonstration/vigil/action in Plymouth.
Slowly, slowly, catchy monkey.
Peace
John

My First Ever Blog, And Nothing To Say

2006-10-28T17:46:00.000Z

So, this is blogging then? Please forgive me for not posting anything witty, interesting, or profound at the moment. I have just spent ages looking for a suitable blog site before settling here. I've just noticed actually that this site is owned by Google, who have been in the news recently for not very good reasons, d'oh! Still, my thinking was, if it's good enough for Felicity Arbuthnot, then it'll be good enough for me.
Anyway, this is a Free Lunch For All, because there IS such a thing, contrary to so-called popular wisdom.
Take care fur noo
John