I am delighted that a new canpaign has started today against the state enforced child slavery in the uzbek cotton industry, especially as this campaign originates in Germany, where a significant portion of society appears to have finally woken up to the reality of the German government’s appalling complicity in the Nazi style regime and atrocities of Karimov.
However in the UK it remains the case that since the coalition government came to power, there has not been one single government statement on the human rights atrocities in Uzbekistan or – even more damning of our sham democracy – one single statement or question from New Labour.
Shillary has been getting tearful as she speaks in Washington at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Benghazi consulate foul up. She has been paying tribute to all the fallen brave Americans. Also reviewing her great contribution to world peace and keeping America ‘strong and safe’.
The Chairman of the committee is Bob Menendez.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Menendez He is in a powerful position now that Kerry has been appointed to Clinton’s job.
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/01/secretary-of-state-hillary-clinton-to-testify-jan-23-before-house-committee-84359.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/capitolinq/Menendez-leads-hearing-with-Clinton-on-Benghazi.html
@ John Goss,
I loved a bike once too – a grocer’s delivery bicycle, small front wheel, metal carrier basket, no gears, indestructible – what we would call in Scotland a ‘message bike’. I bought it from a scrappie in Nottingham for £2 in 1973, cleaned it up, put my rucksack in the front and cycled to London on it. When I left London a year later, I’d strapped a tent between the bars, then in subsequent journeys, motorbike panniers on the sides to carry my pots and food, a tin box to keep my clothes dry, bed roll behind the saddle.
It evolved into an unstoppable survival machine. I’d choose a direction in the Spring and set off, 30 miles a day, set up camp in the evening, always, rain or shine have a hot meal cooked over an open fire, then off in the morning, pick up casual work where I could, tattie picking, travelled with a fairground once, ride maybe 2 or 3 thousand miles until the Autumn when I’d hole up somewhere I could get casual land work for the winter, Brussels sprouts picking in Evesham, clearing orchards in Kent. For 12 years, that was my life.
Never went too far afield, travelling was an end in itself. spent a couple of summers cycling round Ireland, another in France. Some years, I’d just travel with the free festival scene. The clans would gather at Stonehenge then the motley convoy would make it’s anarchic way from festival to festival around the south of England, hounded by cops, until eventually finishing the year at the mushroom festival, originally held in Wales but latterly on the border near Hay-on-Wye.
I’d still be doing it now, but in 1984, some bugger pinched it from outside a party I was at. I bought an old Morris Traveller instead and then realised that cars got you to your destination so quickly that you had to decide where you were going before you set off. And thus a way of life was lost.
The story of how I was years later re-united with that bike is quite incredible, but I’ve been O/T for long enough.
Keep cycling John Goss we need your tenacity.
Hi Clark – interesting post chap, glad to know your fully revived – that which refreshed you was of course the power of intention sadly only 15% of humans can use it effectively.
Nevermind, I’m ultimately in favour of asteroid mining, but as part of a properly developed space programme wherein spacecraft are built in space rather than launched from Earth’s surface. I agree that now may be too soon. If you’re interested in orbital debris and irresponsible decisions, you may find this interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_West_Ford
At the opposite end of the high/low-tech spectrum, and for those who love bicycles, a look at the Rinky Dink Sound System is rewarding:
http://www.baka.co.uk/rinky/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinky_Dink
Hello Mark Golding; thanks, and best wishes to you.
Sky and the BBC have now stopped transmitting the US senate committee hearing. Why was it thought necessary to cover it and why do they duplicate their broadcasts as they did earlier when Cameron spoke.
Bliar, heavily made up, is speaking to the BBC from Davos! He is very worried and concerned about the effect of Cameron’s EU speech…giving uncertainty to commerce and industry etc and it is not in our national interest to leave the EU. More like it might jeopardize his money making ventures and he will lose any chance he had of assuming the EU presidency.
He seems to have lost a bottom incisor by the looks of it. Cracking up hopefully. Sorry Clark I cannot love him or any other warmonger. Good to see you back btw.
Strike a light. Blair has gone and Clinton is back.
As one who has read this blog almost since it began, and have enjoyed it as a rare pearl of honesty and insight in a desert of mainstream misinformation and trivia, I’ve watched with dismay as it’s gradually been taken over by trolls and those who seem constitutionally incapable of resisting their bait. Not surprisingly, some of the most insightful commentators no longer bother to post here, presumably put off by the interpersonal slanging, willful misunderstandings, and ad hominem attacks, and leaving the field to the trolls and their enablers.
Every good idea seems to turn into its opposite if pushed too far –¬ an idea eloquently expressed by Ken Kesey in Sometimes A Great Notion. Freedom of speech, for example, is something that’s rightly appreciated; but if it’s extended to allow thoughtless personal abuse and mischievous muddying of the waters, then perhaps it’s time for a bit of careful moderation and a few basic rules about what’s acceptable and what isn’t.
Last nights performance by Labours spokesperson for FoI foreign/defence policy here in Britain, Jim Murphy, was very telling.
He was goading DC for the 5000 soldiers that are going to be cut from the armed forces, questioning our resolve in fighting the wars against Muslims.
DC announced this two years ago but Mr. Murphy likes to get a second chomp at the bits.
http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/70337/jim_murphy_defence_redundancies_statement_raised_more_questions_than_answers.html
Yes Folks, that’s what we are engaged in, a war against Muslims which we call Islamist’s and terrorists as we see fit.
Labour has no solution for this country, Milliband’s out right rejection of am referendum today shows that he is politically naive and has no solutions.
Europe needs an elected Commission, a financial transaction tax, agreed on a yearly basis by a EU central bank that sets interest rates for us all determined by countries performances, audited EU accounts before each EU election, a EU peace and defence force replacing NATO, eventually, a reformed agricultural policy with the aim to get farmers off the dole, an economic accessions test for new countries who want to join. Greece, Portugal and Spain will slowly recover, effectively marking a second tier EU already, that has to be put into a memorandum and statutes will have to give countries a choice, to conform to the strict financial guidelines within the EU, or agree to leave, with the EU charging for access, something DC has not considered.
Looking for Independent EU candidates next year? well, stand yourself. here in the eastern region you have some 1.6 million households for a free leaflet drop, that will most likely cost you £5000,-
I’ve got a Dawes bike too John but it is not as well travelled as yours! It was described as a hybrid when I bought it, a cross between a mountain and a town bike.
This is supposed to be Julian in the guise of Dominic Cumberbatch. Any likeness?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2266891/First-look-platinum-blond-Benedict-Cumberbatch-Wikileaks-founder-Julian-Assange.html
Runner77; The free-wheeling nature of Craig’s blog makes registration a less appealing notion.
But, please comment more often to balance the equation. I personally don’t think one can get too much insight.
Jon; Thanks
Nevermind – Murphy speaks from the position of a leading light in Labour Friends of Israel as well as shadow defence spokesman. He stood alongside Blair for the Iraq war too.
Hello Clark. Hard drive went soft on you?
and this from Wikipedia
WikiLeaks
In 2011, The Daily Telegraph published documents,[15] compiled by a senior US official at the US Embassy in London and published by WikiLeaks, it was revealed that throughout 2009, Jim Murphy was in charge of organising a coalition of Unionist parties whose aim was to “block an independence referendum” in Scotland. The documents state:[16] Throughout 2009, UK Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy played a leadership role in organizing the opposition parties, hoping to move Scotland toward implementation of the Calman recommendations as an alternative to an independence referendum, according to Murphy’s advisors, Labour party insiders, and opposition party leaders. First Minister Salmond’s response to independence critics (such as Murphy) has been to accelerate the implementation of the Calman recommendations as soon as possible – “to call the bluff.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/london-wikileaks/8304872/SCOTLAND-INDEPENDENCE-REFERENDUM-NOT-MOVING-FORWARD-IN-JANUARY.html
Just heard it on RT. Julian Assange and Aaron Schwartz communicated for some years, according to Wikileaks.
Just talked to Clark on the bone and he’s on his way to the embassy. I won’t make it to London, running on empty.
I had a trade bike once with a front rack and used it for work. I managed to add a light home made frame and a jockey wheel, about a foot parallel of the back wheel. Used to put my 10ft. extension ladder on to the jokey wheel and tie it to the front carrier, used to get all the gear to paint houses and clean windows and stuff on that. I worked in the Poringland-Bungay-Loddon triangle and without a ladder on the bike, Sometime with it on, I could lift the jokey wheel and run on two wheels although slightly leaning.
That laziness eventually buggered the back hub and gears, but boy was I fit then, that was in the mid eighties.
@Runner77 – good comment.
Cameron has ensured that everyone disgruntled with Europe will be inclined to vote for him in 2015, just so they’ll get the referendum. It all depends on how that referendum is set up – if it’s simply a majority of votes cast to decide, then we’ll almost certainly be voting “out”.
If it’s set up so that the majority (or even, say, 40%) of those eligible to vote need to cast an “out”, then it’s probably not going to happen. Cameron doesn’t strike me as a huge Euro-sceptic, his Dem mates certainly wouldn’t like it.
Of course he’ll also want to assure Obama not to worry – he’ll carry on being his ambassador to Europe – this is just a cynical election ploy to appease his swivel-eyed little Englanders (who would like nothing better than to see more wars between European countries).
Margo on Medialens, who is a good contributor from South Africa, put up this photo when someone else suggested that P Harry’s mother would be turning in her grave.
http://www.topsecretwriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/dianalandmines.jpg
Apparently there is a Pt 2 of his interview to come. BBC even transmitted live coverage of his outfit arriving back at Brize Norton. They go to Wattisham for debriefing having been in Akrotiri for R&R. No R%R for those he hunted in Afghanistan.
http://www.heart.co.uk/suffolk/news/local/wattisham-prince-harrys-commanding-officer-talks-a/
….this is just a cynical election ploy to appease his swivel-eyed little Englanders (who would like nothing better than to see more wars between European countries). GlennUK
Yes like our friend Liam Fox who was shown grinning from ear to ear this morning.
LiamFoxMP Dr Liam Fox MP
Delighted by commitment to seek end of ‘ever closer union’ and now the country WILL have a say under a future Conservative government.
https://mobile.twitter.com/LiamFoxMP
About nine hours ago
Now, where is Werritty?
Menendez who I mentioned earlier, the new chairman of the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, is a supporter of \Israel and will support action against Iran if they develop nuclear weapons.
LIVINGSTON — Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and his Republican opponent, Joe Kyrillos, both pledged strong support for Israel and tough action against Iran if it comes close to developing a nuclear weapon at a Jewish forum in Livingston last night.
“Since I was elected to the Senate, I believe Isreal has had no better friend in the United States Senate than I have been, no greater ally,” said Menendez, a seven-year incumbent who noted he authored sanctions against Iran’s economy which he called the “most crippling in history.”
/..
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/10/menendez_kyrillos_both_declare.html
@ Glenn_uk (17h54) : I would agree with most of that post, and especially its second paragraph.
Re. the first para, a nudge in the right direction (which for Cameron is staying in, as Glenn correctly states) can be affected by the exact phrasing on the question, whicn despite what some people appear to think, will consist of more words than just “Should the UK remain a member of the EU”. The phrasing will surely include a reference to the “renegotiation” which will have taken place, and this is turn brings us to the point that it will be crucial how the government characterizes the outcome of that negotiation. Taking 1975 as a precedent (negotiation outcome far beneath what was initially presented as being the UK’s demands, but that outcome nevertheless endorsed by the govt.) and Cameron’s basic attitude, I suspect that the outcome – whatever it is – will, with suitable spin and massaging, be presented as meeting the UK demands.
Re. the third paragraph, I’ve often wondered what makes the little Englanders tick. Lord Stanley Kalms, Nick Budgen, all those people – do they really have the UK’s interests more at heart than pro-membership people? Are they more ‘patriotic’? More attached to ‘liberty’? I find it difficult to believe. Perhaps you’re right and they would actually prefer there to be no EU at all (rather than just wishing the UK out)….
Announcement from Habbabkuk ! I think I owe Glenn_uk a further response to his posts on how to judge a country ‘civilised’. And I should be quite happy to give my views on Israel/Palestine as he requested (although I fear that they will be neither brilliant or original). But I will return to these two topics perhaps tomorrow; I have to fly to Jerusalem later this evening to get instructions from my bosses on another matter (ARE YOU LISTENING, KAREL ?).
A brief comment on Mary’s post at 18h17, above, and through this, perhaps, a hint as to why I occasionally have to chastise her (BTW, let’s get rid of this idea that I pounce on her all the time – I comment on probably not more than 1 in 10 of her posts).
It was good (and useful) that Mary should remind us of where the horrible Liam Fox stands on Europe. And it was also good (and useful), in fact, that through her post Mary reminds us that the horrible Liam Fox, although no longer on the front bench, is still in politics….and therefore still a potential menace for the future).
But then, to my mind at least, Mary spoils it all (well, not all, of course, but quite a bit of it) by her ending : “Now, where is Werrity?”. What does that add to her up-to-then useful post? I’m probably completely mistaken, but this could be read as a sly little reference to the talk at the time of a possible homosexual relationship between the two. And that has little to do with the essential horrible-ness of Liam Fox, whether in general or in relation to his position on the EU.
(BTW, I am not homosexual, so the above thought does not flow from a personal sensitivity).
Glenn – “this is just a cynical election ploy to appease his swivel-eyed little Englanders (who would like nothing better than to see more wars between European countries).”
Really? Why is it swivel-eyed or Little Englander-ish to oppose EU membership? You’ve gone for two really cheap and pathetic insults there, but by your own reckoning the majority us wants out, so you’ve only revealed your contempt for the democratic will of the British people.
As for your second, even more pathetic and baseless assertion, have you got any evidence for this? Seems to me some of the pro-EU contributors here are a little short of arguments, so they resort to insult of the “swivel-eyed loonies” vein.
Come on fellas, let’s have some decent arguments in favour.
People occasionally post poetry on this blog, but being ‘political’ poetry it’s usually noy much good.
So I thought I’d share with you this rather beautiful poem by the late poetess Sophia de Mello Breyner. It’s called “When” and was written in 1947.
“When my body decays and I am dead,
The garden, sky and sea will endure,
And the four seasons, then
As now, will dance at my door.
Others will walk in the orchard
Where in April I often went.
Sunsets will linger over the ocean
And others will love the things I loved.
There’ll be the same sparkle and feasting,
There’ll be the same garden at my door,
And the same golden hair of the forest,
As if I had never died.”
I must rush to the defence of Glenn_uk (hope I’m not mowering your standing on this blog with all this agreement and civility!), who has been vilely attacked by someone calling himself Giles.
Let’s be clear, firstly, that we’re talking about decision makers, opinion formers, and suchlike, and not the man in the street. The man in the street is easily led astray…or whipped up. And before some of you protest and say “oh, how patronising you are and what contempt you show for the ordinary man”, don’t forget that you would certainly NOT protest if I made the same comment in relation to domestic politics.
So, bearing in mind the category of persons we’re talking about, I feel that the label “Little Englanders” is bang on. We are talking about people who hawk the idea (which they are intelligent enough not to believe themselves) that everything in the UK is better than elswhere…and that the rest of Europe is united in a plot to do down the UK. And it is this latter paranoia which justifies the use by Glenn of the expression “swivel-eyed”, with its connotations of insanity.
And speaking of insanity, was it not John Major, peace be upon him, who once said that whenever the Maastricht rebels were particularly active he had this vision of the men in flapping white coats coming along to take them away?
If not insanity, or at least an obsession, what could be the motivation of those people? Any suggestions?
Clark at 9.43 – Nice to see you’re back. Lovely post. Sounds a bit like Tom Campbell, whose trilogy took up my whole summer and from which I’m still reeling.
I certainly don’t believe the rest of Europe is engaged in a plot to do down the UK, and nor do I believe that everything in the UK is better than elsewhere. I merely wish to see decisions affecting Britain made in this country.
Now, those arguments in favour….
For those who don’t know, ‘Where is Werritty’ is a running joke on this site since Craig first outed Fox, Gould and Werritty and all the others who support the ‘state’ of Israel after which Werritty was not heard of again. It has nothing to do with suggestions of homosexuality. It is because Werritty has disappeared, not off the face of the earth presumably, but off the ‘face’ of the internet.
Pathetic little dig.
I think the insinuations here of Adam Werrity’s possible sexual proclivities, whether or not he’s homosexual, are wholly inconsequential floss that has nothing to do with the substantial case of his unprecedented access to all areas.
Proof it, Habbakuk, or, like you so easily recant, pipe down, there’s a good chap.
“A brief comment on Mary’s post at 18h17, above, and through this, perhaps, a hint as to why I occasionally have to chastise her ”
What an arrogant little prick you are.
You are the lowest of the low, I wipe better than you off the bottom of my boots, you ain’t in any position to chastise anyone Sunshine.
Now pack it in or I’ll get insulting.