Here in Ghana people are stunned by the announcement that a bond of £3,000 will have to be submitted by visa applicants to the UK, redeemable on return.
It is unpleasant for a nation to be singled out as comprised of particularly untrustworthy individuals against whom special measures are needed. Theresa May appears quite deliberately to be singling out countries whose citizens are normally black or brown – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Nigeria. They are all citizens with extremely close ties to the UK. For example, all of those countries supplied large numbers of men to British armed forces in two World Wars; with little resulting gratitude.
The true level of Britain’s regard for the Commonwealth is disclosed in all its arrogance; citizenship of the Commonwealth countries with the longest link to the UK will become a positive disadvantage in visa application. Israeli settlers living in Occupied Palestine on the West Bank, incidentally, will still be allowed to enter the UK without any visa at all, despite membership of neither Commonwealth nor EU. Paradoxical, isn’t it?
The measure shows the arrogant British disdain for these countries – of which India pre-eminently but also Ghana are fast growing and important trading partners. Undoubtedly Ghana will retaliate with measures which hurt British businesses; many of my good friends are senior Ghanaian politicians, and they are all furious. The rhetoric the British employ about transformation from colonial status to a modern partnership of equals is exposed for the tissue of lies it has always been. This is a straightforward racist measure, aimed at securing the racist vote to the Tories.
Not does it make any sense. If you are intending to enter the UK under false pretences, and have the intent illegally to settle and start a new life there, then £3,000 is scarcely a deterrent given the substantial economic gains you intend to make over the long period you intend to stay. It will rather seem a good investment; people will find the money. The people it will deter are those who never intended to overstay. The extra cash upfront, to the businessman for a business trip, for the student coming to study, for the tourist will drive them to go elsewhere, to the UK’s net loss.
More cruelly it will deter decent middle class people from coming to see grandchildren in the holidays, from going to the niece’s wedding, from going to graduation. Those things will become the prerogative of the wealthy, those with plenty of cash to spare.
This does nothing to deter illegal immigration. It merely demonstrates populist racism, demonstrates contempt for some of the UK’s best-disposed friends, and demonstrates that the government thinks the right to travel is only for the rich. It is contemptible.
Oh, yeah. My post and I forgot the dollar amount. So each of us get 6 pennies.
You wish to undo the result of the billions spent to miseducate the current population of inanely stupid, emotionally retarded simpletons, and morons, whom believe their country is doing “good”, through bombing the world into “democracy”?
This fascist state has been in the making since 1850, and now it has reached its twilight years, and it’s imminent disintegration is so evident.
==========
Ditto, that man, Rusbridger is the presstitute in chief, he would not know the truth, if it were to ware a grass skirt and do the Hula dance on the bridge of his nose.
======
You are taking for granted that they can read the “bill of rights”. However what good do you think would that do?
It’s a joke, Fedup.
Macky,
“(More later as I’m still a bit Bruce-lagged !)”
You don’t fool us for a second with tales of Paris and Bruce etc..
Come on man,it’s OK to admit it…you were really at Glastonbury watching Bruce Forsyth…
:.)
The devil is in the detail.
“a couple of years at most.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-23131123
I don’t think Trident is going anywhere if Scotland goes independent.
So what is the count so far…
Keep the Sovereign as Head of State.
Stay in NATO.
Looking good that Trident stays in Scotland.
Keeping the same currency as the rest of the UK.
What’s the point in Scottish independence ?.
Oh! Now I get it! ROFLMAO
Putin is taking pains to preserve Snowden’s refugee status by undercutting US espionage charges. In the same breath that he admonished good behavior Putin, without taking a personal position, characterized Snowden’s actions in terms of human rights activism, promoting Snowden’s case as a human rights defender.
Even before Snowden applied for asylum, Russia was already providing the sort of administrative assistance stipulated in Chapter V, Article 25 of the 1951 convention, by publicly referring Snowden to the UNHCR, and by meeting multilaterally with prospective transit countries or destinations. Putin knows what he’s doing.
Putin’s prissy adherence to international law is putting Snowden out of reach of the US. The USG is dimly aware that it has been outmaneuvered. That’s why Obama had to publicly disclaim any threat of force.
“UN Special Rapporteur Anand Grover on Fukushima: A Stunning Report Brushed Aside by the Japanese Government”
http://japanfocus.org/events/view/184
BBC Patten to resign. Only joking. He should resign. Have you heard that £25m has gone to 150 ex employees over three years?
http://news.sky.com/story/1110234/bbc-boss-received-800000-in-final-year
Entwistle £800k
Thomson £860k
Absolute outrage.
‘undercutting US Espionage charges…”
Cogg; Espionage is a mitigating factor in determining Snowdens status wrt UN charter?
Why is no one else on this interesting segue?
Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning are included in the list of twelve true American patriots nominated here.
Twelve True Patriots for July 4
by Bill Quigley / July 1st, 2013
On July 4, 1776, over fifty people signed the Declaration of Independence. They were openly resisting the legal authority of the King of England. Thousands joined them. They were outlaws. They were breaking the laws of England and risked capture, prison and even death for their belief in independence, equality, unalienable rights, and liberty. They were far from perfect as slavery, the slaughter and removal of Native Americans and the exclusion of women demonstrated. But they did resist their globally powerful government.
Who are the true patriots of today? Not the flag-wrapped politicians who send other people’s children off to be killed or disabled in wars to make the world safe for big businesses. Not the flag-waving profiteers who view their successes as their due. Not the crowds who chant USA, USA, USA, upon learning of death of Osama bin Laden. Not the religious hypocrites who worship this nation and its flag as yet another one of their gods.
/..
http://dissidentvoice.org/2013/07/twelve-true-patriots-for-july-4/
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
I should cocoa too, Human Rights is yet another weapons system that is used by the Western actors in general against their targeted victims in the third world. As in case of any weapons system it is tucked away safe from the reach of the plebeians whom in case of having access to it and mastering it, could render these susceptible to ideas beyond their station.
Just to let everyone know that this Thursday (the glorious 4th July) is Independence from America Day. In the light of the Edward Snowden revelations it is even more important that people make their presence felt outside Menwith Hill this year. Bob Cryer M. P. was whistle-blowing about this US interception station more than twenty years ago (and still whistle-blowing 17 days before his untimely death in a car “accident” in April of 1994). It is fitting that Bob Cryer’s accusations have been verified by Edward Snowden (and others). The thrust of Bob’s argument was “Why do we (the UK) have a US telecommunications’ tapping station in the middle of one of our National Parks without parliamentary consent?” Not only was it a valid argument then, it is a valid argument now. I do not recall any M.P. asking this question since, at least not enough to make the press. World, this is your wake-up call. America hates you! Make your voices heard.
http://www.caab.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/july4th-20132.jpg
Doubtless US bullying is behind this.
Several Iranian TV channels removed from western satellites
1 July 2013, 10:28 (GMT+05:00)
Some Western satellite companies have taken a number of Iranian channels off the air, Press TV reported.
The satellite companies Hotbird 13-B, Eutelsat 25-C, Eutelsat 21-B, Eutelsat 8-West-A, Intelsat 20, Galaxy 19, and Optus D-2 pulled the plug on the Islamic Republic of Iran’s English news channel Press TV on Monday.
Iran’s Spanish-language channel Hispan TV was removed from satellites Eutelsat 8-West-A, Eutelsat 7-West-A, and Intelsat 21. Eutelsat 8-West-A also removed Arabic news channel al-Alam.
Iran’s general entertainment television network iFilm — which broadcasts in both English and Arabic –was also taken off the air by Eutelsat 21-B, Eutelsat 25-C, Hotbird 13-B, Eutelsat 7-West-A, Intelsat 20, and Optus D-2.
Broadcasting of another Iranian channel, called al-Kawthar, was stopped by Eutelsat 8-West-A, Eutelsat 7-West-A, and Galaxy 19.
Earlier, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) called on the United States and Intelsat to suspend their decision on taking Iranian channels off the air.
ITSO director general José Manuel Do Rosario Toscano asked both Intelsat and the US to hold talks with Iran on the issue.
http://www.azernews.az/region/56088.html
Mr Snowden’s reported request for political asylum in Russia – if true – would appear to indicate that the option of asylum in Ecuador is no longer on the table and that President Correa’s fine, defiant words of only a day or two ago were just that.
The following conclusions, given in decreasing order of importance, would seem to be in order :
1/. If I were Julian Assange, I would be a worried man
2/. If I were a defender of human rights defenders I would welcome President Putin into my ranks
3/ If I had been one of the Eminences who had elevated President Correa to hero status on this blog, I would now be looking around hastily for a new hero.
@Fedup 6 14pm
“Funny how Cuba with its little economy can………export Surgeons, Doctors, Nurses, and medicine to poorer nations, whilst our political leadership is the first to export weapons…”
Just listen to how Cuban humanitarian interventions have leaked into contemporary african music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldLO4LwNLHY
Now that’s what I call a contribution!
@Ben. If you’re around. Happy Hour’s early tonight.
Serious nonpolitical crimes invalidate refugee status. Espionage, the USG’s charge, may be a serious crime, but it has a strong whiff of politics – the first trick you learn in Tinhorn Dictatoring 101 is to blame dissent on foreign subversion.
The US shot itself in the foot when it impulsively took a swing at Snowden with Beria’s favorite bat. Now Snowden looks like America’s Scharansky and Obama looks like America’s Brezhnev. And Putin’s eating it up with a spoon, mmmmm!
“Who are the true patriots of today? Not the flag-wrapped politicians who send other people’s children off to be killed or disabled in wars to make the world safe for big businesses. Not the flag-waving profiteers who view their successes as their due. Not the crowds who chant USA, USA, USA, upon learning of death of Osama bin Laden. Not the religious hypocrites who worship this nation and its flag as yet another one of their gods.”
(posted at 21h34 today)
__________________
OK, now you’ve told us, at length, who the true patriots of today are NOT, could we please be told who they ARE?
@Fedup 6 14pm
“Funny how Cuba with its little economy can………export Surgeons, Doctors, Nurses, and medicine to poorer nations, whilst our political leadership is the first to export weapons…”
Just listen to how Cuban humanitarian interventions have leaked into contemporary african music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldLO4LwNLHY
Now that’s what I call a contribution!
@Ben. If you’re around. Happy Hour’s early tonight.
…………………
Jon. email address changed cos I can’t get it accepted . Keep getting message. “Duplicate comment detected; it looks as though you’ve already said that!
Damn. If I had somehow worked two-edged swords into that second paragraph I would have hit the trifecta of mixed metaphors.
Cogg; We live in interesting times. Any insights on just who is running the US show-and-tell?
Surely Obama has to show his authoritarian six-pack, just as bare shirted Putin. Please tell me it’s Kerry. I really think Obama doesn’t want Snowden back. It’s a further fuster-cluck to his shredded civil rights bona fides.
WTF?
Apologies for the duplicate post folks.
Strangeness here tonight.
Kibo; Happy hour is earlier? Oh goody.
“Come on man,it’s OK to admit it…you were really at Glastonbury watching Bruce Forsyth…”
And what exactly would be the problem with that, both the Bruces are living legends !! 😉
Actually I wanted to say a few words about the concert; spending over 3 hours with thousands of happy people, who with beautiful smiles lightening up their faces, was simply wonderful in itself, the fantastic music & incredible performances of both the Boss & the band, were just icings on the cake !
As I gazed at some of the Star & Stripes fluttering around the stadium, I was struck by the poignant thought that the US, has, and can contribute some much good & joy to the rest of the world, yet all this is washed away by the endless oceans of blood resulting from it’s non-stop aggression against the developing World; and for what ?, ultimately for the US rich elite to continue their opulent lifestyles, especially to drive those massively thirsty giant cars on the cheapest petrol possible; and indeed if you ever catch one of these people in a frank mood, as I have, they will be honest & tell that yes, this is indeed the bottom line; honesty is indeed a very fine virtue, but would you be comfortable letting such a persons into your personal circle, and introduce to your family & friends ?
Ditto the same for Great Britain, the West in general, and even for Israel, so much more to offer the world apart from death & destruction, yet all the positives are swept away by torrents of blood & gore, all in order to enrich the greedy elites.
Maybe I’m rambling, but just blame it on boogie, blame it on the music, and blame it on the Boss !
@jon. 9 42pm
Re Menwyth Hill question in Parliament: “I do not recall any M.P. asking this question since.”
Maybe they didn’t want their cars overturned on the M1.
Who? Evidently nobody. The USG is floundering. Bush purged the top echelons at State and installed CIA detailees and Zionazi arms dealers. Obama promoted them, and now they have no one who knows what’s in the treaties that they signed. (Unless maybe Marc Grossman can tell them what the NPT says.) Now somebody invokes the law and the USG is flummoxed. All the “Hero! Traitor!” perseveration is a last-ditch effort to keep domestic public opinion from seeing what a laughingstock the US government has become. Legitimacy, down the toilet. Responsible sovereignty, down the toilet.
“down the toilet.’
Good news/bad news. The way tiny HK duped them was my first clue. It’s a shame the Great Experiment had to be left with ‘He who must be obeyed’. I think it all began with the Petrodollar, but it also has to do with a superior attitude, not just wrt the World, but the constituencies.
@Macky 10 13pm
“…even for Israel, so much more to offer the world apart from death & destruction…”
Idan Raichels musical collaborations for example. Fusing Jewish and Arab musical artists and styles. Sharing album proceeds with the nonprofit organization Search for Common Ground, which works to transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and towards collaborative problem solving.
From Wikipedia: “SFCG’s mission of transforming the way the world deals with conflict is best captured by their motto “understanding the differences, acting on commonalities”. According to their guiding philosophy, conflict is a natural part of life, and improving the ability to transform conflict into a source of growth and progress will have a profound impact on how well people are able to deal with each issue they face.
SFCG believes “peace is a process, not an event”. They work with long-term commitments in each country they serve and become immersed into local cultures.”
Warms the heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYYYctLmnt4&list=RD02WDpUlvF0-Dg
Good Piece here on the u.s Disgusting Dastardly manouvers in causing the Libya,and Syrian carnage
Qatar: US Proxy in America’s Terror War in Syria
The NYT cites a “Western diplomat” (anonymous of course) who states that Qatar: “punch immensely above their weight,… They keep everyone off-balance by not being in anyone’s pocket… Their influence comes partly from being unpredictable,” Again, this seems to be a desired caveat to remove culpability from Western actors, and is highly likely the same “source” that provided the leak on Qatar’s covert actions.
What is counterintuitive to the theory that Qatar acts of its own accord in such instance; is the fact that Qatar’s military and intelligence apparatus is entirely built and run by the United States. Qatar and the US have held an intimate relationship on all things military since the early 90′s. Qatar is also the Forward Operations center of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), and the US Combined Air Operation Center (CAOC). The US enjoys the luxury of the use of three airbases in the tiny nation of Qatar, one of which (Al Udeid) is the prime location of Qatari arms flights to Syria.
Considering this close military relationship; it would be foolish to believe the United States would be unaware of Qatari covert activity, particularly when one also considers the broad and global spying and SIGINT powers we now all know the Pentagon, and US government have at their disposal. It should also be noted that Doha acts as a primary base in the region for US diplomacy, as the Taliban can happily attest to.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/qatar-us-proxy-in-americas-terror-war-in-syria/5341204
No it all began with the Spanish American war, that was soon followed with the Philippines war. Those sponsors of violence and plunder set the standard for the mess that is manifest today.
It is really funny to read through the Declaration of the Universal Human Rights, and to find the many articles that Cameron, and Obama governments have disregarded and flouted, yet the same chaps have the temerity of hectoring others on their none adherence to the same convention.