update here
“Defense officials favor forcefully blocking two boats, which a group of U.S.-based activists plan to sail to Gaza ... A position paper by the Foreign Ministry's legal department says Israel has the right to use force against the demonstrators as part of the Oslo Accords ... the Foreign Ministry's paper means that security forces could detain the vessels upon entry to Gaza's territorial waters, arrest the passengers and haul the ship to Israel, where the detainees could be interrogated.”
Even a boat with humanitarian supplies is too much for the Israeli state - also, the above goes to show that the Oslo accords were not worth the paper they were written on. I recall Robert Fisk voicing his objections to Oslo - namely that it does not settle the issues of the right of return, halting the building of settlements, final borders or even control of coast or airspace
Monday, 18 August 2008
Saturday, 16 August 2008
The FreeGaza Boat
www.freegaza.org
A group of courageous individuals has decided to break the blockade of Gaza by boat. They consist of
"We are these human rights observers, aid workers, and journalists. We have years of experience volunteering in Gaza and the West Bank at the invitation of Palestinians. But now, because of the increasing stranglehold of Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine, many of us find it almost impossible to enter Gaza, and an increasing number have been refused entry to Israel and the West Bank as well. Despite the great need for our work, the Israeli Government will not allow us in to do it.
We are of all ages and backgrounds. Back home, we are teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, truck drivers, youth workers, musicians, secretaries, parents, grandparents, lawyers, students, activists, actors, playwrights, politicians, web designers, authors, international training consultants, and we even include a former Hollywood film industry worker, a former Marine, an aviator, and an explorer. We are Italian, Irish, Canadian, Greek, Tunisian, German, Australian, American, English, Scottish, Danish, Israeli, and Palestinian."
Here is a memo from one of the crew, Lauren Booth (Tony Blair's sister-in-law, no less)
Setting Sail, 11am, 13th August
I am typing this bulletin from an internet cafe overlooking the Liberty and the Freegza. Preparations are in full flow to set sail from the harbour in Chania, the tiny port that has made the campaigners feel so welcome. More, so, all on board speak warmly of feeling protected from potentially malicious mischief by the vigilance of locals and visiting supporters. It was stated in several right wing Israeli newspapers last week that government sources there have been putting officials in Greece under pressure. Pressure to find a way to cripple, delay or stop this mission altogether. Regional contacts, (allies in Greece) confirm there is indeed a lot of pressure. However, the Greek people have shown solidarity with the aims of the Freegaza movement and the Greek government cannot ignore such a groundswell of support. The media coverage has all been extremely positive.
Both ships are buzzing with activity. It may be my imagination but the sea air seems filled with the intermingled scents of motor grease and cleaning products. Minor engine problems on the FreeGaza are being remedied by Matthew, the skipper, aided by all those with the technical ability. Stores for a voyage that due to uncertain weather in the stretch between the far end of Crete and Limosol mean this journey will take longer than predicted, are being stowed and refrigerated. I was on deck at five am to stand watch, others were still awake, laughing quietly together, enjoying the dawn. Once again our supporters in the nearby commune helped keep spirits high with guitar strumming (which kept poor Huwaida from getting a decent sleep on deck). Jeff Halper and I were bought coffees, a plate of welcome and delicious vegan food was enthusiastically passed from person to person.
Below decks conditions are being made as pleasant as possible, which explains the smell of cleaning fluid. The aged foam mattresses have sheets on, the fridges filled with essentials like chocolate. No really- this isn't a luxury but (happily) a recognized cure for sea sickness which may be a problem. A cure I will be enthusiastically testing.The new captain of the Liberty who joined yesterday is George, a jolly sailor of 38 from Crete. So will he go with the boats all the way to Gaza?Heading back to the engine room bathed in sweat from his efforts he shouts 'but add this. I think I like very much!' Several fond farewells, first of all from Crete. Goodbye to Marcus from Athens who has been instrumental, essential, to completing this part of the mission to break the siege.And au revoir (not goodbye) to Jeff Halper who looks forward to rejoining the voyage in Cyprus.In Cyprus the unfortunate delays mean that some friends will not be able to stay till the boats arrive in Nicosia. Everyone offers a huge thank you to Ren (US), Monir (US), Rachid (UK) and Michael (UK) return home.You will be missed.
A group of courageous individuals has decided to break the blockade of Gaza by boat. They consist of
"We are these human rights observers, aid workers, and journalists. We have years of experience volunteering in Gaza and the West Bank at the invitation of Palestinians. But now, because of the increasing stranglehold of Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine, many of us find it almost impossible to enter Gaza, and an increasing number have been refused entry to Israel and the West Bank as well. Despite the great need for our work, the Israeli Government will not allow us in to do it.
We are of all ages and backgrounds. Back home, we are teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, truck drivers, youth workers, musicians, secretaries, parents, grandparents, lawyers, students, activists, actors, playwrights, politicians, web designers, authors, international training consultants, and we even include a former Hollywood film industry worker, a former Marine, an aviator, and an explorer. We are Italian, Irish, Canadian, Greek, Tunisian, German, Australian, American, English, Scottish, Danish, Israeli, and Palestinian."
Here is a memo from one of the crew, Lauren Booth (Tony Blair's sister-in-law, no less)
Setting Sail, 11am, 13th August
I am typing this bulletin from an internet cafe overlooking the Liberty and the Freegza. Preparations are in full flow to set sail from the harbour in Chania, the tiny port that has made the campaigners feel so welcome. More, so, all on board speak warmly of feeling protected from potentially malicious mischief by the vigilance of locals and visiting supporters. It was stated in several right wing Israeli newspapers last week that government sources there have been putting officials in Greece under pressure. Pressure to find a way to cripple, delay or stop this mission altogether. Regional contacts, (allies in Greece) confirm there is indeed a lot of pressure. However, the Greek people have shown solidarity with the aims of the Freegaza movement and the Greek government cannot ignore such a groundswell of support. The media coverage has all been extremely positive.
Both ships are buzzing with activity. It may be my imagination but the sea air seems filled with the intermingled scents of motor grease and cleaning products. Minor engine problems on the FreeGaza are being remedied by Matthew, the skipper, aided by all those with the technical ability. Stores for a voyage that due to uncertain weather in the stretch between the far end of Crete and Limosol mean this journey will take longer than predicted, are being stowed and refrigerated. I was on deck at five am to stand watch, others were still awake, laughing quietly together, enjoying the dawn. Once again our supporters in the nearby commune helped keep spirits high with guitar strumming (which kept poor Huwaida from getting a decent sleep on deck). Jeff Halper and I were bought coffees, a plate of welcome and delicious vegan food was enthusiastically passed from person to person.
Below decks conditions are being made as pleasant as possible, which explains the smell of cleaning fluid. The aged foam mattresses have sheets on, the fridges filled with essentials like chocolate. No really- this isn't a luxury but (happily) a recognized cure for sea sickness which may be a problem. A cure I will be enthusiastically testing.The new captain of the Liberty who joined yesterday is George, a jolly sailor of 38 from Crete. So will he go with the boats all the way to Gaza?Heading back to the engine room bathed in sweat from his efforts he shouts 'but add this. I think I like very much!' Several fond farewells, first of all from Crete. Goodbye to Marcus from Athens who has been instrumental, essential, to completing this part of the mission to break the siege.And au revoir (not goodbye) to Jeff Halper who looks forward to rejoining the voyage in Cyprus.In Cyprus the unfortunate delays mean that some friends will not be able to stay till the boats arrive in Nicosia. Everyone offers a huge thank you to Ren (US), Monir (US), Rachid (UK) and Michael (UK) return home.You will be missed.
Sunday, 20 July 2008
How to Beat a Mining Company - By Jeffrey St. Clair
Link here
"For the time being, eastern Oregon remains free of gaping pits, cyanide ponds and 600-foot tall mounds of crushed rock. The Browns and Tuttle showed that determined opposition and a belief in attacking corporations head on can win the day, as they banished North America’s largest gold mining company from the state of Oregon."
"For the time being, eastern Oregon remains free of gaping pits, cyanide ponds and 600-foot tall mounds of crushed rock. The Browns and Tuttle showed that determined opposition and a belief in attacking corporations head on can win the day, as they banished North America’s largest gold mining company from the state of Oregon."
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Choice and Responsibility
I've often wondered about those who willingly join their own national army, particularly in first-world countries. What motivates them exactly? A desire to "serve" their country, or perhaps because of poor job/economic prospects otherwise,or maybe because of a streak of violence or thuggery in their character, which would flourish in such a work environment.
There was a recent flurry of reports in the UK media mourning the death of the UK's first female soldier, on duty in Afghanistan, with various outlets glorifying her as a hero who had fallen while doing her duty for Queen and country. I wonder, do these soldiers really know what they are fighting for? Are they aware of the local complexities of the lands they are posted to? Are their goals clear in their minds?
Or maybe, perhaps, they are just following the orders of their superiors and hoping for the best, or attempting to put a positive spin on it, or at least convince themselves of the necessity of what they are doing?
If a young English teenager from a council estate enlists in the army, he could get sent to Afganistan. Would he be aware of the writings of a Greek historian, writing before the birth of Christ, that the inhabitants of what is now Afghanistan were " the bravest of all the peoples of the Indus"? Does he know that Alexander the Great got an arrow in his leg when attempting to cross the Khyber pass? Or of Genghis Khan's failure to capture this area? Or of the failure of Imperial
Britain to subjugate this area in the past?
If you are joining an army, you are basically involved in the business of killing people. You had better be sure that you are fighting in a good cause, otherwise you are basically a murderer. That may sound a tad simple, say if you are fighting against odious Taliban on the ground, but if fighting them is pointlessly
perpetuating strife and bloodshed in the surrounding area, then the result is the same (although aircraft pilots who jettison "smart bombs" and end up incinerating women and children at weddings could easily be classed as murderers).
The point is that if you have decided to become a soldier and are going to be engaged in actions with potentially
devastating consequences, on personal and national levels (be it families losing loved ones or a whole society facing
collapse), then you had better be well-informed. It is all very well mourning the dead soldiers, but at the end of the day, the soldiers have made their choice, and this choice carries consequences, whether the soldier is aware of them or
not. If you are engaged in actions which are causing great suffering and pain to others, don't be surprised if they fight back. Saying that you were only following orders is no excuse. Either way, you are harming others, nomatter how "nice" a person you may be outside of your line of work.
These soldiers are being sent out to fight and kill by their superiors in the army and government. For their cause to be just, their superiors' intentions have to be good, seeing as in modern armies, orders are followed to the letter. If an
army is sent abroad to another country merely to expand economic or political interests, by politicians who do not care how many innocents die in the process, then the soldiers of that army are no better than mercenaries. I would add that in many ways the nature of modern warfare itself is inherently immoral, but that is a point for another time.
(This applies to the armies of developing countries as well. The conduct of the Lebanese army in the destruction of Nahr Al-Bared springs to mind.)
There was a recent flurry of reports in the UK media mourning the death of the UK's first female soldier, on duty in Afghanistan, with various outlets glorifying her as a hero who had fallen while doing her duty for Queen and country. I wonder, do these soldiers really know what they are fighting for? Are they aware of the local complexities of the lands they are posted to? Are their goals clear in their minds?
Or maybe, perhaps, they are just following the orders of their superiors and hoping for the best, or attempting to put a positive spin on it, or at least convince themselves of the necessity of what they are doing?
If a young English teenager from a council estate enlists in the army, he could get sent to Afganistan. Would he be aware of the writings of a Greek historian, writing before the birth of Christ, that the inhabitants of what is now Afghanistan were " the bravest of all the peoples of the Indus"? Does he know that Alexander the Great got an arrow in his leg when attempting to cross the Khyber pass? Or of Genghis Khan's failure to capture this area? Or of the failure of Imperial
Britain to subjugate this area in the past?
If you are joining an army, you are basically involved in the business of killing people. You had better be sure that you are fighting in a good cause, otherwise you are basically a murderer. That may sound a tad simple, say if you are fighting against odious Taliban on the ground, but if fighting them is pointlessly
perpetuating strife and bloodshed in the surrounding area, then the result is the same (although aircraft pilots who jettison "smart bombs" and end up incinerating women and children at weddings could easily be classed as murderers).
The point is that if you have decided to become a soldier and are going to be engaged in actions with potentially
devastating consequences, on personal and national levels (be it families losing loved ones or a whole society facing
collapse), then you had better be well-informed. It is all very well mourning the dead soldiers, but at the end of the day, the soldiers have made their choice, and this choice carries consequences, whether the soldier is aware of them or
not. If you are engaged in actions which are causing great suffering and pain to others, don't be surprised if they fight back. Saying that you were only following orders is no excuse. Either way, you are harming others, nomatter how "nice" a person you may be outside of your line of work.
These soldiers are being sent out to fight and kill by their superiors in the army and government. For their cause to be just, their superiors' intentions have to be good, seeing as in modern armies, orders are followed to the letter. If an
army is sent abroad to another country merely to expand economic or political interests, by politicians who do not care how many innocents die in the process, then the soldiers of that army are no better than mercenaries. I would add that in many ways the nature of modern warfare itself is inherently immoral, but that is a point for another time.
(This applies to the armies of developing countries as well. The conduct of the Lebanese army in the destruction of Nahr Al-Bared springs to mind.)
Thursday, 10 July 2008
'This is like apartheid': ANC veterans visit West Bank
Article here
"The daily indignity to which the Palestinian population is subjected far outstrips the apartheid regime. And the effectiveness with which the bureaucracy implements the repressive measures far exceed that of the apartheid regime."
"The daily indignity to which the Palestinian population is subjected far outstrips the apartheid regime. And the effectiveness with which the bureaucracy implements the repressive measures far exceed that of the apartheid regime."
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
The theft of Iraq
The US's real aims for Iraq
"The Bush administration's top benchmark, the Iraqi oil law, remains off the statute books, five deadlines and two years since its first draft. Yet the Iraqi cabinet keeps threatening to pass it, despite the lack of a parliamentary majority backing it.
The law would allow regions, represented by sectarian elites originally empowered in 2003, to sign their own contracts, create their own oil laws and develop their own industries, without democratic oversight. This, critics say, could lead to the break-up of the country and create new sectarian, economic and political facts on the ground. One Iraqi oil company manager previously employed by Shell told me, "I see the future of Iraq as the United Arab Emirates... separate states."
Link here
"The Bush administration's top benchmark, the Iraqi oil law, remains off the statute books, five deadlines and two years since its first draft. Yet the Iraqi cabinet keeps threatening to pass it, despite the lack of a parliamentary majority backing it.
The law would allow regions, represented by sectarian elites originally empowered in 2003, to sign their own contracts, create their own oil laws and develop their own industries, without democratic oversight. This, critics say, could lead to the break-up of the country and create new sectarian, economic and political facts on the ground. One Iraqi oil company manager previously employed by Shell told me, "I see the future of Iraq as the United Arab Emirates... separate states."
Link here
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Monday, 23 June 2008
Why was an off-duty policeman encouraging demonstrators to take on his on-duty colleagues?
Via Lenin's Tomb
This chap wasn't really the sort you'd expect to see shouting abuse at police officers at an anti-war demo. He was, after all, a policeman himself - and a high-ranking one at that.
Stop The War has organised about 20 marches in the past, all of which have been peaceful. This is the first where there has been violence.
I cannot say this man was responsible for the trouble, but I saw him try his best to urge the crowd forward.
This chap wasn't really the sort you'd expect to see shouting abuse at police officers at an anti-war demo. He was, after all, a policeman himself - and a high-ranking one at that.
Stop The War has organised about 20 marches in the past, all of which have been peaceful. This is the first where there has been violence.
I cannot say this man was responsible for the trouble, but I saw him try his best to urge the crowd forward.
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Bill Presses Iraq To Recognize Israel
Via Angry Arab
"Washington - To the many challenges facing the fledgling Iraqi government, Congress may soon add this: Recognize the State of Israel and establish diplomatic ties with Jerusalem, or else risk losing some of the billions in aid that Baghdad receives from the United States.
Well, at least US parliament has its priorities straight.
"Washington - To the many challenges facing the fledgling Iraqi government, Congress may soon add this: Recognize the State of Israel and establish diplomatic ties with Jerusalem, or else risk losing some of the billions in aid that Baghdad receives from the United States.
A nonbinding resolution demanding Iraqi recognition of Israel was introduced June 5 in the House of Representatives and has already gained the support of more than 60 congressmen, including several leaders of the Foreign Relations Committee.
The resolution puts Congress far out in front of the Israeli government and the White House, both of which to date have refrained from raising the issue. An Israeli source said that while Jerusalem expects every United Nations member state to recognize Israel’s right to exist and would like to have full diplomatic ties with all Arab states, the issue of Iraq “was not on the agenda” at present.
Congressional involvement in establishing Iraqi-Israeli ties came about in large part through serendipity. Rep. Alcee Hastings, a Florida Democrat and a strong supporter of Israel, joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on a visit last month to mark the country’s 60th anniversary. The congressional group left Israel for a day trip to Iraq, at the end of which it returned to Tel Aviv from Baghdad.
“As we got on the C-130 taking us back, we were advised we’d need to land in Amman, Jordan, touch down and then take off again to Israel,” Hastings told the Forward after returning to Washington.
The reason for the brief landing was diplomatic: Iraq, like most other Arab countries, does not allow direct flights to Israel.
“This offended me deeply,” Hastings said, adding that he had encountered a similar problem in the past, when traveling to Libya from Israel.
Upon returning to the United States, the Florida congressman drafted a resolution calling on Iraq to change its stance toward Israel, starting with official recognition of the Jewish state.
“Although the United States has provided Iraq with almost $50 billion in security and economic assistance to date, none of which has been repaid, the government of Iraq refuses to recognize the existence of Israel, the most reliable ally of the United States in the Middle East region,” the introduced resolution states. The resolution also calls on the White House to “use its influence to persuade Iraq and other countries with which the United States has diplomatic relations to recognize the right of Israel to exist and to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.”
While the current resolution is nonbinding, Hastings said he also would consider “more substantive” measures if Iraq does not change its approach to Israel. Such measures, he said, could include attaching the demand for recognition and diplomatic ties to one of the major funding bills.
The Bush administration, according to congressional staff members, has not yet provided lawmakers with its view on the proposed resolution. Historically, the State Department and White House have tended to oppose congressional legislation perceived as constraining the administration’s ability to determine foreign policy.
An Israeli official said that Jerusalem had not requested Hastings’s congressional resolution and had not raised the issue in talks with members of Congress. According to a congressional staff member, pro-Israel lobbyists on Capitol Hill were also not involved in the initiative.
A spokeswoman for the Iraqi Embassy in Washington did not comment on the congressional resolution.
On June 10, Hastings began seeking co-sponsors for his proposed resolution. By the end of the day, nearly five dozen lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, had signed on. Many of them, according to Hastings, were surprised to learn that Iraq does not recognize Israel.
Critics of the resolution, for their part, argue that it would be counterproductive and would only undermine efforts to strengthen the central Iraqi government led by Nouri al-Maliki.
“From all the Arab countries who do not have ties with Israel, Iraq is the last one we should be asking to do this,” said political scientist Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat chair for peace and development at the University of Maryland. “Iraq is the most vulnerable of all Arab states.”
But the situation in Baghdad notwithstanding, Hastings believes that the Iraqi government should be called to task.
“Right is right and wrong is wrong,” the Florida congressman said. “And this is just not right.”
Well, at least US parliament has its priorities straight.
Bush: Critics Of Gitmo, Abu Ghraib And Rendition Are ‘Slandering America’
Big Mouth/Small Brain strikes (out) again.
from ThinkProgress
"During an interview with President Bush on Britain’s Sky News yesterday, Sky political editor Adam Boulton noted that while Bush talks “a lot about freedom,” there are many who say that some of the Bush administration’s torture and detention policies represent “the complete opposite of freedom.” But Bush quickly snapped back, saying those criticizing his policies are slandering America:
BOULTON: There are those who would say look, lets take Guantanamo Bay, and Abu Ghraib, and rendition and all those things and to them that is the complete opposite of freedom.
BUSH: Of course, if you want to slander America."
Click here to see the interview video (fast forward to 15:50)
On another note, I saw President-in-chief at a press conference with British PM Gordon Brown. While I cannot remember it exactly word for word, but when Bush was asked about his achievements in office, he said that one of them was "a multi-lateralism, committed to solving problems with diplomacy"
from ThinkProgress
"During an interview with President Bush on Britain’s Sky News yesterday, Sky political editor Adam Boulton noted that while Bush talks “a lot about freedom,” there are many who say that some of the Bush administration’s torture and detention policies represent “the complete opposite of freedom.” But Bush quickly snapped back, saying those criticizing his policies are slandering America:
BOULTON: There are those who would say look, lets take Guantanamo Bay, and Abu Ghraib, and rendition and all those things and to them that is the complete opposite of freedom.
BUSH: Of course, if you want to slander America."
Click here to see the interview video (fast forward to 15:50)
On another note, I saw President-in-chief at a press conference with British PM Gordon Brown. While I cannot remember it exactly word for word, but when Bush was asked about his achievements in office, he said that one of them was "a multi-lateralism, committed to solving problems with diplomacy"
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Report: Demonstration against George W Bush - London 15 June 2008
15 June 2008
Today's demonstration was planned to coincide with Bush coming to 10 Downing Street to have dinner with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Unfortunately, we were banned from having the demonstration outside 10 Downing street itself, and had to have it initially in Parliament Square (opposite the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben). Even at 5:00pm on the dot, the square was packed with people from all walks of life, from the Catholic monk to the anarchists and socialists, university students, the hijab-clad Muslims to the ordinary Englishman/woman - As well as a lot of Somalis, protesting against US bombs dropped on Somalia and its complicity with Ethiopia in invading their country (It's reassuring thats it's not just me getting angry in front of my computer when surfing the news websites) - It seems that the US will extend its war on terror wherever its interests are threatened or they a see an opportunity to extend them further
Speeches from old stalwarts like Tony Benn (a supremely principled left-wing former MP and government minister) and George Galloway, as well as the organisers of the event were all inspiring. Then came Brian Haw - This guy has been maintaining a 24-hr vigil in Parliament Square protesting against the war on terror in all its locations over the world, at least until the UK police came and took away all his placards on some ridiculous pretext (Parliament actually passed some law to this effect - obviously their priorities are straight) - A devout Christian (not like bastards like Bush and Blair) whose hat is covered with many badges, including one which reads "keep my Muslim neighbour SAFE".
The organisers then (after the PA system broke down!) said that we are to peacefully march towards the police cordon placed at Parliament Street (which has Downing Street to its left after 200-300 yards) and try to make our way through - Of course there were over a hundred policeman - ordinary policeman, riot police, police on horseback as well as more than 10 large police vans blocking our way. All this while the butcher of humanity is having tea and cakes not far away. What is particularly galling is that the spineless UK parliament just passed a law not 2 days ago deciding that people under suspicion of "terrorism" can be held for up to 42 days without evidence before they can be released, and here we cannot get through to legitimately protest against a warmonger.
Some of the more rowdy youth were shouting and making lots of noise out front right in front of the police cordon, trying to pressure them to let us through - some chucked placards at them and even managed to steal some of the metal barriers and push them through the crowd - Unfortunately the police were brandishing their nightsticks and metal batons (these batons can make dents in walls with but a gentle tap - I've seen them do that with my own eyes - imagine what it can do to your head) - it got a bit tense at certain times, pushing and pulling between the police and the demonstrators - we started to sit on the ground so as not to give them the excuse not to rush us, especially after they got the riot police to stand at the front of the cordon.
Various chants included
- Whose streets? OUR streets!
- Do your job! Arrest George Bush!
- Shame on you!
-F**k the police!
Then, riot police approached from George Street to our left side from a fair distance - They looked fairly intimidating, walking all dressed in black like SS stormtroopers - Whether it was because Dubya Bush was leaving from behind them or to intimidate us, I don't know. Regardless, we approached them head on and stood in their faces, not to be threatened or scared by them.
It was at that point that the tension broke through - when someone was arrested, we crowded round them, at which point the police rushed us and started roughly pushing people out of the way, waving their nightsticks about like idiots, so we all ran for it so as not to get caught in it - only to come straight back and stand in their faces to show them we were not afraid of them (this happened quite a few times) - I've never had to run from the police before, but there's a first time for everything
It seems we got on the news: (reported on the 10pm news on BBC )
From the Guardian - apparently 1,200 police were needed to police our ickle demonstration! all this while those hands dripping with the blood of children were eating sandwiches in 10 Downing Street
A few points
- While the police had cameramen filming the demonstrators, innumerable demonstrators were filming and photographing the policemen at all times, especially when they were arresting people. It seems this technology has put more power back in the hands of the people (Like when those criminal settlers were recently caught on video beating up innocent Palestinians)
- While pressurizing the police at marches like this may be all well and good, but I wonder if writing a letter to your MP may be much more effective - I do wonder if they were too rowdy today as well
- It makes you admire all the more demonstrators in, say, Egypt who have to face a thuggish and corrupt police without a free press and independent judiciary to back them up like in the UK
Song of the day: Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the name of
"F**k you, I won't do what you tell me!"
Today's demonstration was planned to coincide with Bush coming to 10 Downing Street to have dinner with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Unfortunately, we were banned from having the demonstration outside 10 Downing street itself, and had to have it initially in Parliament Square (opposite the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben). Even at 5:00pm on the dot, the square was packed with people from all walks of life, from the Catholic monk to the anarchists and socialists, university students, the hijab-clad Muslims to the ordinary Englishman/woman - As well as a lot of Somalis, protesting against US bombs dropped on Somalia and its complicity with Ethiopia in invading their country (It's reassuring thats it's not just me getting angry in front of my computer when surfing the news websites) - It seems that the US will extend its war on terror wherever its interests are threatened or they a see an opportunity to extend them further
Speeches from old stalwarts like Tony Benn (a supremely principled left-wing former MP and government minister) and George Galloway, as well as the organisers of the event were all inspiring. Then came Brian Haw - This guy has been maintaining a 24-hr vigil in Parliament Square protesting against the war on terror in all its locations over the world, at least until the UK police came and took away all his placards on some ridiculous pretext (Parliament actually passed some law to this effect - obviously their priorities are straight) - A devout Christian (not like bastards like Bush and Blair) whose hat is covered with many badges, including one which reads "keep my Muslim neighbour SAFE".
The organisers then (after the PA system broke down!) said that we are to peacefully march towards the police cordon placed at Parliament Street (which has Downing Street to its left after 200-300 yards) and try to make our way through - Of course there were over a hundred policeman - ordinary policeman, riot police, police on horseback as well as more than 10 large police vans blocking our way. All this while the butcher of humanity is having tea and cakes not far away. What is particularly galling is that the spineless UK parliament just passed a law not 2 days ago deciding that people under suspicion of "terrorism" can be held for up to 42 days without evidence before they can be released, and here we cannot get through to legitimately protest against a warmonger.
Some of the more rowdy youth were shouting and making lots of noise out front right in front of the police cordon, trying to pressure them to let us through - some chucked placards at them and even managed to steal some of the metal barriers and push them through the crowd - Unfortunately the police were brandishing their nightsticks and metal batons (these batons can make dents in walls with but a gentle tap - I've seen them do that with my own eyes - imagine what it can do to your head) - it got a bit tense at certain times, pushing and pulling between the police and the demonstrators - we started to sit on the ground so as not to give them the excuse not to rush us, especially after they got the riot police to stand at the front of the cordon.
Various chants included
- Whose streets? OUR streets!
- Do your job! Arrest George Bush!
- Shame on you!
-F**k the police!
Then, riot police approached from George Street to our left side from a fair distance - They looked fairly intimidating, walking all dressed in black like SS stormtroopers - Whether it was because Dubya Bush was leaving from behind them or to intimidate us, I don't know. Regardless, we approached them head on and stood in their faces, not to be threatened or scared by them.
It was at that point that the tension broke through - when someone was arrested, we crowded round them, at which point the police rushed us and started roughly pushing people out of the way, waving their nightsticks about like idiots, so we all ran for it so as not to get caught in it - only to come straight back and stand in their faces to show them we were not afraid of them (this happened quite a few times) - I've never had to run from the police before, but there's a first time for everything
It seems we got on the news: (reported on the 10pm news on BBC )
From the Guardian - apparently 1,200 police were needed to police our ickle demonstration! all this while those hands dripping with the blood of children were eating sandwiches in 10 Downing Street
A few points
- While the police had cameramen filming the demonstrators, innumerable demonstrators were filming and photographing the policemen at all times, especially when they were arresting people. It seems this technology has put more power back in the hands of the people (Like when those criminal settlers were recently caught on video beating up innocent Palestinians)
- While pressurizing the police at marches like this may be all well and good, but I wonder if writing a letter to your MP may be much more effective - I do wonder if they were too rowdy today as well
- It makes you admire all the more demonstrators in, say, Egypt who have to face a thuggish and corrupt police without a free press and independent judiciary to back them up like in the UK
Song of the day: Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the name of
"F**k you, I won't do what you tell me!"
I am not moderate
Khalil Gibran
" The man who enjoys neither hostility to evil nor support of what is good, will not know how to destroy what is evil in himself nor safeguard what is good.
I love him who was crucified by the moderates. When he bent his head and closed his eyes, certain among them said, as though comforted: 'At last this dangerous extremist is no more'
And I love those who have been sacrificed by fire, excecuted by the guillotine for a thought that invaded their heads and enflamed their hearts.
I love you, O extremists, you who are nourished by unfathomable ardours. Each time I raise my glass, it is your blood and your tears that I am drinking.
And each time I look through my window at the sky, it is your faces that I see.
And when a storm rises, it is your singing and your praises that I hear"
" The man who enjoys neither hostility to evil nor support of what is good, will not know how to destroy what is evil in himself nor safeguard what is good.
I love him who was crucified by the moderates. When he bent his head and closed his eyes, certain among them said, as though comforted: 'At last this dangerous extremist is no more'
And I love those who have been sacrificed by fire, excecuted by the guillotine for a thought that invaded their heads and enflamed their hearts.
I love you, O extremists, you who are nourished by unfathomable ardours. Each time I raise my glass, it is your blood and your tears that I am drinking.
And each time I look through my window at the sky, it is your faces that I see.
And when a storm rises, it is your singing and your praises that I hear"
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Friday, 28 March 2008
Curse them
Who are these fuckers? where did they come from? what do they hope to achieve by killing a bishop? Ever since the American invasion and the inevitable resultant chaos and collapse of Iraqi society, any person's most murderous and psychotic tendencies can be expressed to the full - be it in the form of a sectarian militia member / double-digit IQ suicide bomber or a criminal in search of easy money ( The lines between these two different types is very blurry in my opinion).
Now a 2,000 year old Christian community is facing the threat of extinction, fleeing to neighbouring countries away from their ancient home. Thanks to the filthy vermin trash in thrall to their egos, brandishing their guns and weapons, barely above an animal state, and also thanks to the American Imperium, a "Christian" country fully engaged in the destruction of the cradle of Semitic Monotheism to which it likes to think is its own, be it the land of Abraham, Jesus or Moses.
Now a 2,000 year old Christian community is facing the threat of extinction, fleeing to neighbouring countries away from their ancient home. Thanks to the filthy vermin trash in thrall to their egos, brandishing their guns and weapons, barely above an animal state, and also thanks to the American Imperium, a "Christian" country fully engaged in the destruction of the cradle of Semitic Monotheism to which it likes to think is its own, be it the land of Abraham, Jesus or Moses.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)