I spent today at the University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Bunso and the nearby Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana. Those who have read my memoir The Catholic Orangemen of Togo and other Conflicts I Have Known will know that rural development in Africa has been the abiding passion of my working life. The good news is that for the first time a paperback edition of The Catholic Orangemen should be out in a week or so.
The abiding impression of today was the extent of local awareness of environmental issues and the need to maintain a fragile but wonderful ecology. This faces enormous challenges. I was intellectually aware of the extent of illegal gold mining in Ghana but unprepared for the evidence of its scale. Rivers that provide the drinking water for millions have been transformed into dead sewers of brown sludge. Having known them as live rivers, I was really shaken.
Ghana is looking to develop its bauxite industry and finally bring its aluminium smelters to life. This will impact the precise area I was visiting and I know from Jamaica that the environmental impact of bauxite mining is hideous. It is perhaps the most destructive of all extractive industries. It is a horrid irony that the bauxite scheme should impact the exact area where local traditional leadership (the Okyenhene) has pioneered environmentalism.
I feel conflicted. Our standard of living in the developed world has been based on the destruction of the forests which we conveniently forget once covered our lands. We wish to keep what remains of wild Africa as untouched as possible, because we know that otherwise it impacts us. But we are not prepared to expend serious resources into raising the standard of living of those who would be denied the immediate material benefits of industrial mining. My instincts are all to oppose the bauxite extraction on environmental grounds. But I am not so intellectually dishonest as to pretend that, with all the pollution and illnesses and destruction, the industry would not bring important wealth and employment. It would. I do not feel morally able to lecture poor communities on why they should remain undeveloped when they are excited by rare hope. I suspect many of you will think I am wrong.
On a more positive note, I was inspired by the commitment of the faculty of the University College, their research interests and their ability to deliver a first class curriculum to the students with minimal resources. It struck me how a major improvement could be made to their efforts by the injection of comparatively modest sums into laboratory equipment, for example. I shall be working on this and in the longer term on developing possible academic collaborations.
I loved the new canopy walk at Bunso built to promote eco-tourism.
It has five of these bridges, all of which are high, and one very high indeed as it crosses a valley. It is a great deal more adventurous than the one at Kakum. And yes, I did cross them all.
I am often very critical of the FCO, so it would be churlish of me not to note that Jon Benjamin leaves Accra this summer after an extremely effective and principled tenure as High Commissioner, including playing an effective and helpful role behind the scenes in the third peaceful transfer of power between political parties since Ghana became a real democracy in 2000. The more so since, most unusually, the UK was acting against the desires of the USA, and I suspect Jon was pivotal in that.
Good news for the children of rich Europeans, the Scottish government will pay for your tuition fees even if it does mean closing a few primary schools and teaching secondary school kids by video link.
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/393563/free-tuition-scotland-extended-2018-intake-eu-students-swinney-says/
Good news for the children of poor Europeans.
Our fellow EUers Sweden and Germany have free education like Scotland. In France it’s very low cost. Scottish students abroad in the EU benefit from all that. Not if Scotland is made to Brexit against our democratic choice. It’ll be the nothing for free philosophy after that in Brexitania.
By the way Fred, that’s Swinney doing his day job,
The majority of EU students studying in Scotland are Irish. A Scottish student studying in Ireland pays £6,290 a year tuition fees.
That’s Swiney selling Scotland down the river and letting down Scotland’s children because Salmond painted himself into a corner.
The Rev, slaps down that unionist fool Kevin Hague, and his silly blog, once and for all, what a clown.
http://wingsoverscotland.com/if-it-hits-you-in-the-eye/#more-92994
I see a lot of name calling and confusing boxes on your Wings site but the truth of the matter simply explained is on Kevin Hague’s blog.
https://chokkablog.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/joan-mcalpine-gers-denier.html
The fact is an independent Scotland would have a huge deficit. That is why the Nationalists, and your Rev. Stewart, are resorting to post fact politics and denying GERS.
GERS are all estimated figures, bar one Hague knows that, yet he persists with his fradulent position.
He’s a laughing stock among indy supporters.
Fred, UK debt is expanding. Therefore, I expect Scotland to pick up more debt. In what way is the UK good for Scotland? The UK hasn’t a hope in hell of balancing its books!
Yep. A lot of the unionist props from indyref1 have gone.
Vote No to stay in the EU.
Vote No to protect the health service.
Vote No for devo max.
And now the GERS figures.
Did you find that secret oil field off the coast of Shetland yet?
fred
Norway found the Johan Sverdrup oil field – one of their very biggest – a few years ago in an area that had been previously explored and thought to have no oil. That’s because Norway invests in exploration, unlike the useless Westminster crew.
Before the referendum Nationalists were stating as fact that there was a secret oil field off the coast of Shetland.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/secret-oilfields-of-scotland?utm_term=.pf7991ZW2#.fsbJJzPZg
So was it true or was it a lie propagated by Nationalists to increase their chances of winning the referendum? Are the secret oil fields there or not?
fred
The oil companies have geological evidence that shows large oil deposits in the Atlantic Margin off Scotland’s west coast. That includes the Faroe – Shetland Basin and the Rockall Basin. It might, experts say, be a greater source of oil than the North Sea. It does need investment in technology and exploration. Not that Westminster have been helpful to the oil companies. Oil’s there all the same.
But the secret oil field all the Nationalists were talking about before the referendum? The one the workers on the oil rig were sent home on full pay and told not to talk to anyone about especially Nationalists? The one the British government were keeping secret till after the referendum because it would finance an independent Scotland?
Does that exist?
Branches.
It was about time someone put Kevin Hague in his place, he’s been spouting nonsense for awhile now.
Though I doubt he has much of a following, except the odd crazy. ?
BTW how did you vote in the EU referendum?
The same as you Fred.
Hague is an emabarrasment Fred, I showed you his tweet where he said he knew he talked nonsense, he wasn’t kidding eh.
I don’t care much for your character assassinations and name calling. I just look at the facts and I don’t see any of those from the Vicar of Bath.
So is it official Scottish Government policy that their own figures are wrong then?
No Fred, you don’t care for character assassination, unless it’s the right type of character.
You’ve posted many a comment in here having a go at the Rev. Now the tables turned, you’re whining about it.
The tables aren’t turned, you are just declaring victory but there is no substance to it whatsoever.
Is it official government policy that their own figures are false?
Tell you what Fred, maybe if you read the link I posted instead of complaining about the deconstruction of the cat food king. Aka Hague, you’d have found the answer to your question.
I looked it, all name calling no facts.
“GERS is indeed compiled and published by Scottish Government statisticians, but they do so on a very tight leash – just as McAlpine had stated, the basis of the figures used in GERS is data supplied by the UK Treasury, something which GERS makes very clear in its own preface.”
http://archive.is/C3p7w#selection-3129.0-3179.3
Fred you’ve been reading the dopey dog food dealer Hague for that long, that you actually believe the wannabe economist.
Who did you think they got the data from? It is HMRC who collect most of the taxes for the Treasury. Did you think the Scottish government made the numbers up?
Are you sure you understand what GERS is and how it works?
I keep asking you if it is official Scottish government policy that the GERS figures are false. That is a crucial question which you keep declining to answer.I know in the past the SNP have been happy to knowingly let their activists spread falsehoods.
Hang on a minute you said this.
“So is it official Scottish Government policy that their own figures are wrong then?”
Now you’re saying this.
“Who did you think they got the data from? It is HMRC who collect most of the taxes for the Treasury. ”
Firstly you’ve tried to blame the GERS guesstimate figures on the Scottish government, when as I’ve said all along the figures are very rough estimates concoted by the Treasury.
Fred don’t take anymore economic lessons from the cat litter kid Kevin Hague. ?
Yes the figures are compiled by the Scottish government and yes they get some of the data used to compile them from the Treasury, they are the only ones who would have data on how much tax is paid by people in Scotland because they collect it.
You still haven’t answered the question, is it official Scottish government policy that the figures are wrong? I keep asking and you keep refusing to answer.
Fred, do you think it is yet registering with the Elite of the S. N. P. that most in Scotland,
do not want yet another once in a life time referendum?
“You still haven’t answered the question, is it official Scottish government policy that the figures are wrong? I keep asking and you keep refusing to answer.”
Probably not, but then it wouldn’t be the thing for the Scottish government to call the Treasury a liar.
Even though they are proven liars as in the case of Sir Nicholas Macpherson, Treasury head who was supposed to oversee that his department was neutral during the 2014 indyref it wasn’t. The Treasury leaked a confidential document to the Telegraph newspaper on Scottish independence.
But the figures point to, 25 out if 26 are guesstimates. Deep down I’m sure the Scottish government know the figures are a wild concoctions.
All statistics are estimates to some extent, they know the range of error for each statistic and they know they know they are more than reliable enough.
But you aren’t interested in facts, all you are interested in is casting doubt on GERS because they don’t say what you want them to say.
Finally, I introduce the testimony of Rev. Stuart Campbell of Bath.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7tlBOcXgAAXVW3.jpg
Game set and match I think 🙂
“All statistics are estimates to some extent, they know the range of error for each statistic and they know they know they are more than reliable enough.”
__________
That may be but to base a country’s economy to a certain extent on 25 out 26 guesstimate figures, then pass them off as true, is ludicrous.
A recent ‘Empire Files’, about the Congo. It’s a very informative 30 minute programme which I include for the Anglo-African Friendship Society on this board…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oi09jv57-4
Yes very interrsting RobG and sad because of the exploitation of people who have nothing.
This is another report on the production of cobalt and the human cost.
http://mediaroots.org/drone-wars-cant-exist-without-decades-long-genocide-in-congo/
Wikipedia’s page – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt
While I have had a productive day in the sunshine in my garden which is full of Spring flowers and blossom, I see the racists and fascists in the majority on here lately were talking to each other on page 2.
Wonder what Craig makes of it?
Sharp Ears.
I’m glad you had a nice day in your garden, very therapeutic indeed.?
Thanks. That’s nice of you.
“very therapeutic indeed.”, etc…. You would think. Especially when therapy is required.
Btw RoS you really seem to have taken to the emoticons like a teenager, of late. 😉
I’m young at heart as they say. ?
I can normally trump you lot in the UK when it comes to good weather; but alas, I tried to do some weeding today and was hindered by heavy rain and really cold temperatures. Unusual for this time of year.
Lots of bees about, though. They probably vote communist, this being France.
Is it true, when it comes to physics, that bees shouldn’t be able to fly?
The petals have already fallen off my camelias. It must be spring.
I wonder what people make of you?
Yoy are presented with facts about aggregate debt which you dismiss with an ad-hominem response.
You bemoan the exploitation of Africa and demand more public services. Never do you acknowledge your own financial and moral bankruptcy. The only way that even lip service can be paid to the provision of public services is through the robbing of the foreign man and taking ponzi economics to levels that could not be envisaged even by a drug induced hallucination.
The really hilarious part of all of this is that the DRC is simply not big enough to satisfy your insatiable sense of entitlement. The only game left in town is Russia – and they just don’t care about your demands. Go anywhere near them and they will kick your ass so hard you will never sit down again.
People like you can’t take a hint and so you will whine and cajole until you push someone over the line from which there can be no retreat. Your fake humanitarianism will kill us all. Most perversely you justify your demands for the end of the world on anti racist and anti fascist grounds. Ah yes the great moralizer whose purity demands the destruction of everything that is, that ever was, and ever could be.
Marine Le Pen urges end to Russia sanctions
Ministry of Truth
RUSSIAN president Vladimir Putin has met FRANCE’s Extreme-Far-Right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen in Moscow, saying she represents a “fast-growing element” of European politics.
Mr Putin defended the meeting – a coup for Marine Le Pen – saying that he was not seeking to influence France’s election.
Ho, ho, ho.
Michael, try to put yourself in the position of Russian and Chinese leaders. They have to deal with a completely demented Frankenstein that thinks it’s ‘exceptional’ and stomps around the world butchering people.
Us Brits have a ‘special relationship’ with that demented Frankenstein.
Nothing the presstitutes tell you is real.
“Frankenstein” – first class metaphor or literary allusion, even. Hope the sun shines for you tomorrow, RobG.
French president’s ex-partner to run for UN development agency post
French Environment Minister Segolene Royal said on Friday that she was running to lead the UN Development Program (UNDP), at a time when the UN could see an abrupt cut in crucial US funding. Royal, the former partner of Socialist President Francois Hollande and mother of his four children, has been a heavyweight in French politics for more than 30 years. “It’s a way of continuing to be useful for the planet in the future, but also to fight against poverty,” she told France 24 television. The current UNDP president Helen Clark, a former New Zealand prime minister, will stand down on April 19. (Reuters)
nice work if u can get it.
Well, the Socialists of Hollande’s party are staring in to the double barrels of a twelve-bore, electoral annihilation,
next time they are up for election, like in the U.K. those that can are scooping up top jobs now, before the Great Reckoning.
Like the Blairites the Hollande followers have been working full time for the destruction of their party and all that it once stood for. It will be mission accomplished when the Socialist party has evaporated and a Clintonite rump headed by Macron and subsidised by the US and Wall st emerges in its place.
Tom Watson would like the same thing to happen in the UK.
As Macron is a banker, was in the government of Francois Hollande, until he deemed it epedient for his own nest-feathering, to start a party of one, I fail to see
how the voters of France, could have the wool pulled down over their eyes, by voting for Macron, it would be as if George Osborne, had departed the Co-government of David Cameron, to set up on his own, then said.
“Vote for George Osborne, you know it makes sense ( for George Osborne)”
No, I expect the scales to fall away from the voters in France, soon.
Well Michael, I hope you’ve purchased your gallon of rough cider, for tomorrow, a sumptuous occasion will, take place in the shape of the 60th anniversay of the Treaty of Rome.
Not even Cruella Deville (Theresa May) and her bungling band of Brexiteers can spoil such an illustrious occasion. Mind you I don’t think she’ll have a invite. Still I’m sure she could look in through the window, from the outside, a position she’ll need to get used to. ?
RoS I expect Saint Theresa May will enjoy being on the outside and pissing into the E.U. tent.
Her hubby is fabulously wealthy, so she does not have to line up another plum job, for when she leaves high office.
Hubby wealthy, oh and don’t we know it, she and her ilk will not suffer one bit when Brexit brings the roof down on the heads of the poor and unemployed.
Remember the Brexiteers won’t be the ones left grasping the sharp end of the stick, when the economy flatlines wages dry up, as more and more and people are left with low paying zero-hours contracts.
RoS
I doubt things for the U.K. will get as bad as Black Tuesday, 1929 CRASH
Michael.
The celebrations are to be held in Rome, one of the most beautiful cities in the world at the Orazi and Curiazi hall of the Capitol.
The architecture and fresco’s alone are breathtaking to say the least, some tent indeed.
It was there that the very birth of the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957.
I’m sure May will be in more illustrious surrounding on Saturday, possibly Tesco’s.
RoS
the E.U. Elite are fiddling while Rome burns, it is speedily moving into The End Game.
It will fall down faster than the walls of Jericho.
Best step into the real world with the rest of the U.K.
don’t be left with your trousers around your ankles,
when the Eurozone implodes RoS.
Michael.
That’s the same old guff you predicted in the Netherlands, and look what happened.
I take it by your latest comments that you’re at least half-way through your gallon of rough cider. ?
“The architecture and fresco’s alone are breathtaking to say the least, some tent indeed.”
And paid for by plundering the whole known world, at the time. Yea right, RoS. You sure are left wing eh? ROFLMAO
“They have pillaged the world. When the land has nothing left for men who ravage everything, they scour the sea. If an enemy is rich, they are greedy; if he is poor, they crave glory. Neither East nor West can sate their appetite. They are the only people on earth to covet wealth and poverty with equal craving. They plunder, they butcher, they ravish, and call it by the lying name of ’empire’. They make a desert and call it ‘peace’.”
Publius Cornelius Tacitus – a historian of the Roman Empire
The sort of thing you keep whining about the British Empire of doing. You just revealed yourself as a two-faced whatever noun you prefer, RoS.
Zed says they have pillaged and plundeed the world referring to the EU nations.
Of course Britain never did entertain such notions. I wonder if Zed, has been at Norton’s rough cider.
Marine Le Pen meets Putin ahead of French presidential election
http://www.france24.com/en/20170324-marine-le-pen-visits-russia-french-presidential-election-putin
If it is false news Rob, its in the French Press.
The French press, and particularly ‘France 24’, are even worse than the anglo-zionist press. It’s all total propaganda bullshit.
If Mélenchon doesn’t walk this, you’ve been had.
As always.
Trump’s claim to fame is balls, but as his claims go..
He didn’t want his Obamacare lite to fail the vote so he pulled it. “Let Obamacare explode I’m moving on to an easier battle’
What a Leader this guy is. He’s like Billy Mumy on Twilight Zone as a child who has superpowers, but lacks any adult skills.
The Art of the Deal my arse…daddy’s money.
Hey Ben…”Away from the numbers, that’s where I want to be”
Trump got $1 million from his Daddy. At minimum estimate he now has $3.5 billion.
Let;s make a deal. I will give you $1,000 and you turn that into $3.5 million, and all you have to do is give me my $1,000 back.
Or could it be…you just aint got what it takes?
I suspect the first £1m is the hardest. Thereafter, it’s much easier.
$1m even… and this was worth a hell of a lot more in the 70s.
Daddy’s money is your problem with Trump?
Holy moly…
I think you mean projection and I wish I could access Trump’s account but could live without His/Your baggage….Putin s too.
Masood was born Adrian Russell Elms in Dartford, Kent on Christmas Day 1964
I wonder what turned him into a monster.
Could it be the body-building drugs?
Tony Blair was born in May 1963. Likewise David Cameron was born in October 1966.
I wonder what turned them into bloodthirsty lunatics?
Might have something to do with the British Establishment, which has been raping and pillaging worldwide for centuries now.
And still it continues.
By the way, where’s all the right wing lunatics? (and I don’t include Michael in that group)
Tony Blair is 63 years old. I very much doubt that he was born in 1963 – or maybe he was and he is the Messiah after all.
“Away from the numbers, is where I am free”
Loony you are, like all of us, entitled to express an opinion (although I’m not sure how much longer this state of affairs will be allowed to continue).
Can you try to precis what you’re saying? Do you think that Blair & Co are not war criminals? Do you think that you don’t live in a total police state? Do you think that this latest total nonsense ‘attack’ in London won’t be used as an excuse to put British ground troops in Syria?
It’s like fecking Play School stuff.
But keep on trembling as you hide under your table.
Tony Blair buys his sister a cottage for £600,000
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tony-blair-buys-his-sister-a-cottage-for-600000-8614124.html
George Osborne becomes Editor of London Evening Standard
because he is not yet as rich as Tony Blair.
Let’s play leap-frog
over the backs of the unemployed, more oysters anyone?
RobG – You can call it an opinion. I call it a fact, that someone who is 63 years old cannot have been born in 1963.
Blair is a war criminal and his continued freedom is a stain on all of us.
We do not live in a police state, and significant freedoms still exist, These freedoms are being eroded but the main problem is one of self censorship, and a population that seems determined to detach itself from reality.
It is likely that the attack in London was real. It should not be used as an excuse to deploy troops to Syria. This may happen, and if it does it will be as a consequence of delusion and an almost rabid fear of reality. This delusion and fear of reality runs deep – it is not confined to the political classes.
I neither tremble nor hide under tables – although I am aware that very little hope remains.
This Jock tried top take the biscuit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-39063473
A businessman travelled around Scotland to register the births of 26 non-existent babies as part of a benefit fraud scheme, a court has heard.
Rory Squirter McWhirter has admitted collecting identity details from people he had deceived into applying for fake jobs at a Glasgow hotel.
He used the details to obtain their marriage certificates before using them to register the fake births.
McWhirter, 29, then used the birth certificates to claim benefits.
He claimed tax credits amounting to £14,222, child benefits of £19,658 and a Sure Start maternity grant of £500.
This sort of thing will have to stop when you are Independent
or it could break the Bank of Scotland.
I wonder if he is a member of the S. N. P.
The paramount war criminal was born on 6 May 1953.
Oborne on Blair and the NI peace process, Tom Watson and the Tory cover up on election expenses.
‘Sir Patrick’s silence is a mistake
The reaction of Tory chairman Patrick McLoughlin to the Electoral Commission’s record fine on the Conservatives for breaking election spending rules has been disgraceful.
By remaining silent on the issue and ignoring valid criticism, he clearly thinks the controversy will blow over. This is a big mistake. McLoughlin’s failure to react properly sends a message that the Government has something to hide. It also risks damaging Theresa May. For although the election expenses scandal occurred under David Cameron’s leadership, it will erode her hard-won reputation for probity if the Tories now fail to clean it up.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-4347864/Tony-Blair-s-bid-rob-John-Major-brave-legacy.html#
Q What is that all about? Treeza’s ‘hard-won reputation for probity’. Is that when comparing her to Cameron and Osborne?
Tell us RobG, who really started the Vietnam war? Err, wasn’t it your beloved communists in France who refused to give the Vietnamese independence after WW2?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_Independence_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_Vietnam
The Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was written by Hồ Chí Minh, and announced in public at the Ba Đình flower garden (now the Ba Đình Square) on September 2, 1945.
“The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of the French Revolution made in 1791 also states: All men are born free and with equal rights, and must always remain free and have equal rights.
Those are undeniable truths.
Nevertheless, for more than eighty years, the French imperialists, abusing the standard of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, have violated our Fatherland and oppressed our fellow citizens. They have acted contrary to the ideals of humanity and justice.
In the field of politics, they have deprived our people of every democratic liberty.
They have enforced inhuman laws; they have set up three distinct political regimes in the North, Center, and South of Vietnam in order to destroy our national unity and prevent our people from being united.
They have built more prisons than schools. They have mercilessly slaughtered our patriots; they have drowned our uprisings in bloodbaths.
They have fettered public opinion; they have practiced obscurantism against our people.
To weaken our race they have forced us to use opium and alcohol.
In the field of economics, they have fleeced us to the backbone, impoverished our people and devastated our land.
They have robbed us of our rice fields, our mines, our forests, and our raw materials. They have monopolized the issuing of bank notes and the export trade.
They have invented numerous unjustifiable taxes and reduced our people, especially our peasantry, to a state of extreme poverty.
They have hampered the prospering of our national bourgeoisie; they have mercilessly exploited our workers.
In the autumn of 1940, when the Japanese fascists violated Indochina’s territory to establish new bases in their fight against the Allies, the French imperialists went down on their bended knees and handed over our country to them. Thus, from that date, our people were subjected to the double yoke of the French and the Japanese. Their sufferings and miseries increased. The result was that, from the end of last year to the beginning of this year, from Quảng Trị Province to northern Vietnam, more than two million of our fellow citizens died from starvation.”
Keep on telling us about the wonderful “left wing French”, but some of us know different. The left wing French are just like New Labour.
I wonder why the resident “historian” never corrects your historical errors?
Zed.
Thank you for that comment, you are of course correct.
If I recall, Ho Chi Minh’s name means “Bringer of light” or something similar.
I read somewhere he studied in France, and enjoyed going to the cinema to watch Charles Aznavour films.
What also sticks in my mind about Minh, is that he studied under the French legendary cook Escoffier, as a trainee pastry chef in London.
Hey, more mentioning France, from Andre Vltchek, I do enjoy his writings:
http://dissidentvoice.org/2017/03/the-west-is-becoming-irrelevant-the-world-is-laughing/
‘These days, encountering people inhabiting the West is like encountering those zombies who were living in Nazi Germany during WWII. After the war was over, they were street walking for years, at least many of them, repeating the same refrains: “We didn’t know!” “We never realized”.’
Zed.
Yes how we all must yearn for the idyllic days in Western politics, such as when, Woodrow Wilson kept a flock of sheep on the front lawn of the Whitehouse to save grasscutting fees, Wilson then donated the proceeds from the sheep’s wool to the Rec Cross.
Lille shooting: Several injured, including teenage boy, after shooting near Metro station
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/lille-shooting-several-injured-after-mass-shooting-near-metro-station-a3499031.html
get your garden growing, this week get you spuds in, xjit them down to on e shoot and then bury them 3 yo 5 inches deep in well manured/composted soil/ Broccoli, salad leaves and beetroot can also go i. I trust that you have your brexits, oops, onion sets, already in the ground.
Don’t worry, we have all the sympathies on our side, we have suffered so much, aaaaaand, we need to…………… walk away?????
If they develop the bauxite mining then they will kiss goodbye to the eco tourism. Is the mining going to bring in so much more money? and who will then pay for the ill health of the locals? Surely there are other ways of developing the economy than ruining the environment.
I know we did it, but at least some of it was done with an ignorance of the environmental impact, and now there are other methods available; I don’t see that Africa needs to copy our historical development.
If a Scot talked about the English like Michael Norton speaks about the Scots, I would be ashamed.
It’s Hard Node.. To Take
Yes Node, I second that.
I’m not complaining. I think he does Independence more good than harm. But If I was English, I’d ask him to stop embarrassing me.
There still being some demented beings who give credence to the Putin/Trump election nonsense this piece should be of interest:
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2017/03/fool-me-once-crowdstrike-claimed-two-cases-of-russian-hacking-one-has-been-proven-wrong.html#more
At the start of 2016, Pearson announced 4,000 job cuts and also lowered its profit forecast.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39381002
The boss of publisher Pearson saw his pay package rise 20% last year despite the firm sliding to a record loss.
John Fallon made £1.5m in 2016, including a £343,000 bonus, as the company hit certain performance measures.
And who said
“There is no money”?
Let
The Gravy Train – continue
EU summit: Leaders meet for Rome anniversary
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39388818
British Prime Minister Saint Theresa May is not attending the “celebrations”.
She plans to launch the Brexit process on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump has more often been critical of the union, calling Brexit a “good thing”, and predicting more countries will follow suit.
Post from Fred last night
“Finally, I introduce the testimony of Rev. Stuart Campbell of Bath.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7tlBOcXgAAXVW3.jpg
Game set and match I think ?”
Unfortunately for Fred, he didn’t check his sources and has unwittingly become a purveyor of lies – unless he knowingly is a purveyor of lies?
The background to the lie…
http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-liar/
Is nothing beneath these Unionists?
It is looking as if the tweet was a forgery. We don’t know from who or why. The most obvious reason would be an attempt to discredit Kevin Hague.
The most obvious reason would be an attempt to discredit Kevin Hague.
…. er, no. The most obvious reason would be an attempt to discredit Stuart Campbell.
Most UK and US High Commissions and embassies I have visited seem to have better security than Westminster had on the day. That surprises me.
Further, we are fortunate that this attack didn’t happen at a hotel (a la Bombay), concert hall or cinema. Think of it, how exposed we are. And reflect and congratulate our security services for keeping us safe, rather than (some folks) constantly deriding the good work they are surely doing quietly. Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have got until it’s gone.
Just look at the concerted effort of the MSM today. Do not tell me it is not orchestrated.
Police race to unravel past of London killer
Police search secret texts of killer
Portrait of the killer
I dream of killing. I want blood.
Google threatened with terror web law
Ugly face of a snivelling coward
Revealed the middle class jihadi
My husband the psychopath
etc
http://news.sky.com/story/saturdays-national-newspaper-front-pages-10812965
This is two and a half days on from the incident.
You seem to be part of it, but while we are on the subject has it now turned into an attempt to lower Kent property prices?
You missed “Lose weight to beat dementia” probably highly relevant advice to some of the elderly keyboard bound obsessives here.
Nice ones^^
On a more serious note, it would appear that more than just the security services (to whom credit due for Craig to claim that it’s riskier to die in one’s bath-tub), it appears that it’s social and mental health services that missed this murderer-terrorist in their nets. Of course not all, far from it, are prone to physical bloody violence at large, but this objecting commenter should seriously consider a self-referral. Especially if they think that they can get away with driving while groggy, not paying their parking ticket and then accusing the German retailer of being Little Hitlers.
Craig and his remarks about people with tendencies to shout in the supermarket aisles being given oxygen here comes to mind. Very accommodative, but abuse of this blog nevertheless.
Paul Kavanagh has a simply outstanding new post about GERS on his Wee Ginger Dug blog.
GERS has no credibility now.
If you don’t mind I’ll listen to the experts.
GERS stands in the way of independence so the Nationalists try to discredit GERS.
That is how they work.
Is that ‘experts’ like Kevin Hague? He certainly appears to have skills in creating false tweets, for the lazy or unassuming to pick up as ‘facts’.
JOML.
I noticed that Fred didn’t challenge your posts at 07.55am and 07.57am.
He has a habit of running for cover when caught out. ?
Remember those photoshopped Banksys you posted links to as genuine?
I don’t think for one moment Kevin Hague forged the tweet. He was sent it in an email and had no reason to suspect it was forged when he put it on twitter. It looks like he was had.
JOML.
What did I say, Fred’s got an excuse for just about everything, if it doesn’t fit his narrative, it’s not true.
“Is that ‘experts’ like Kevin Hague? He certainly appears to have skills in creating false tweets, for the lazy or unassuming to pick up as ‘facts’.”
It seems the tweet originated in a Wings parody account.
https://twitter.com/WingsScotland__
Are you suggesting that account is owned by Kevin Hague?
I’m suggesting that any journalist worth their salt would check their sources before going public.
That isn’t what you said. You accused Kevin Hague of forgery.
JOML.
It’s highly offensive and outright embarrassing, for the BBC, that they intend to get Hague, and a real economist Murphy to discuss GERS on a radio show.
If I were Mr Murphy I’d decline the invitation, I can see no valid reason why Mr Murphy would wish to debate economics, with a amateur blogger, who has no real grasp of GERS whatsoever.
No, Fred, I said, “He certainly appears to have skills in creating false tweets, for the lazy or unassuming to pick up as ‘facts’.”
GERS did stand in the way of independence in 2014 because the figures were widely believed.
This time GERS has been subjected to proper scrutiny and has been justifiably discredited.
Discredited by who? Have the Scottish government claimed the figures aren’t reliable? Has any authoritative body?
Fred.
Hague’s old school teacher commented over on Wings, about Hague, lets just say it’s not very complimentary.
Boy the Nats are as determined to discredit Kevin Hague as they are to discredit GERS.
The SNP themselves will not say GERS is not reliable. This leaves them to quote all the parts which are to their advantage while their zoomers claim the parts which aren’t are worthless.
Branches only a quarter of Scots trust Westminster’s government to do its best for Scotland.
It’s moving in the right direction, hopefully it will equate to votes, in the next indyref.
http://www.thenational.scot/news/15181110.Only_a_quarter_of_Scots_trust_UK_Government_to_do_best_for_Scotland__survey_finds/
Yes RoS
Another of the results in the survey was on the question of which government should have the greater say in running Scotland.
75% for the Scottish Government.
14% for the UK Government.
Julian Assange on what appears to be the German DW’s Arabic service? Mostly in Arabic, JA at around 22m talking about cyber and nuclear weapons, the CIA and Syria:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k_H9LMRyyQ
https://twitter.com/julianassange
Assange certainly won’t be soaking up the sun today, but he’s razor sharp nevertheless. His drive and persistence is to be acknowledged. Not sure what happened to the never-give-up Hillary, as Trump described her. I thank the good people of America every day for having banished this Deplorable of Deplorables.
PS Has Assange burnt his boats with Craig, or maybe I shouldn’t be asking?
Sadly, the woman on University Challenge, accused of being the ‘perfect woman’ turns out to be a fifth-wave feminist. Give me Pamela Anderson anytime, she’s all growed-up, as the American Dennis the Menace would say.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/university-challenge-contestant-cant-believe-called-perfect/
As is my friend Dolly Parton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzHDNEyPX64
Poor boy; what good is all your digging, gardening and (not) grounding? Try, as they fashionably call, mindfulness.
This sounds like 20th century Japan’s copper mines all over again. I recently came across Kenneth Strong’s biography of Tanaka Shozo, Japan’s first environmentalist. Gave up his life to help the peasants whose land was poisoned by the copper mining industry. Amazing story of bravery and stubbornness, to not back down when confronted with all the forces of industry, progress, law, and corporate interests. I think it’s out of print but you can find reasonably priced copies from secondhand-dealers: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Ox_Against_the_Storm.html?id=I3c0AAAAMAAJ
Preview of the above book, referring to the toxic floods of 1897: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=oeOOAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA82&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false
Michael Heseltine has said:
“Britain leaving the EU is similar to like letting the Nazis win the Second World World.”
Is there any truth in that statement?
http://www.thenational.scot/news/15181134.EU_chief_Jean_Claude_Juncker_blasts_Theresa_May_and_David_Cameron_over_Brexit/?ref=mr&lp=2
Well it implies the Nazis are in control of the EU and UK leaving leaves them in control?
Dave.
Yes I thought that too, a bit over the top don’t you think?
Alcyone.
So you don’t think it’s a tad harsh that Heseltine, appears to suggest that the EU are the Nazi’s and that Britain by leaving the EU, is in effect allowing the (Nazi’s) the EU to win the war?
Here was I, thinking that many EU laws ECHR and all, were set out to protect human rights and values.
I don’t expect a compos mentis reply from you, going by your comment above.
ECHR not an EU law. Council of Europe which to the best if my knowledge we’re not leaving.
Outburst says more about Heseltine than anything else.
Well he may not have meant it quite like that, but it does fit with the Yes Minister sketch when Humphrey told the Minister “we only joined to wreck it” as part of a long standing, but outdated, policy of opposing a United Europe. Hence ‘UK’ formed alliances against Spain, France and Germany (twice) to stop them being in control of a ‘united Europe’. That was from the outside, but when the situation changed UK joined to prevent it from the inside – and it worked. It was the UK policy of an expanding EU with ill-suited countries joining the Euro that has wrecked it.
As a good European I voted Brexit to save the EU from us, because the EU needs to be less imperial and downsize to survive.
You describe anyone here as ramblings? Boy, or should I say Old Man, you need to get a long hard look at the mirror!
Btw, have you watched the great late renowned respected, Bernard Levin’s interview of J Krishnamurti:
Your half-hour investment in time will pay you back in spades, well not you with an unimaginative name like that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bJ0W-BfEc0
Now get serious.
Thoughts from the Moon. Plus watch the video if you’re curious about why we are a Type Zero Global Civilisation. Come to this blog if you want regular proof.
Astronaut who walked on the moon: ‘why I know aliens haven’t visited Earth’
http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/space/astronaut-who-walked-on-the-moon-why-i-know-aliens-havent-visited-earth/news-story/cf021030a1a1b21d712512eb118d6b61
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbJ-dSVwi-A
The Proposed British Bill of Rights is a proposal of the Conservative Government, included in their 2015 election manifesto, to replace the Human Rights Act 1998 with a new piece of primary legislation.
The Human Rights Act 1998 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom which received Royal Assent on 9 November 1998, and mostly came into force on 2 October 2000.
Its aim was to incorporate into UK law the rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Act makes a remedy for breach of a Convention right available in UK courts, without the need to go to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Act_1998
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposed_British_Bill_of_Rights
Structure of the Act
The Human Rights Act places a duty on all courts and tribunals in the United Kingdom to interpret legislation so far as possible in a way compatible with the rights laid down in the European Convention on Human Rights (section 3(1)). Where this is not possible, the court may issue a “declaration of incompatibility”. The declaration does not invalidate the legislation, but permits the amendment of the legislation by a special fast-track procedure under section 10 of the Act. As of August 2006, 20 declarations had been made, of which six were overturned on appeal.
The Human Rights Act applies to all public bodies within the United Kingdom, including central government, local authorities, and bodies exercising public functions. However, it does not include Parliament when it is acting in its legislative capacities.
Section 3[edit]
Main article: Section 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998
Section 3 is a particularly wide provision that requires courts to interpret both primary and subordinate legislation so that their provisions are compatible with the articles of the European Convention of Human Rights which are also part of the Human Rights Act.[4] This interpretation goes far beyond normal statutory interpretation,[4] and includes past and future legislation, therefore preventing the Human Rights Act from being impliedly repealed.[5] Courts have applied this through three forms of interpretation: “reading in”, inserting words where there are none in a statute; “reading out”, where words are omitted from a statute; and “reading down”, where a particular meaning is chosen to be in compliance.[6] They do not interpret a statute so as to give it a meaning that would conflict with legislative intent, and courts have been reluctant in particular to “read out” provisions for this reason. If it is not possible to so interpret, they may issue a declaration of incompatibility under section 4.[7]
Sections 4 and 10[edit]
Main article: Sections 4 and 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998
Sections 4 and 10 allows courts to issue a declaration of incompatibility where it is impossible to use section 3 to interpret primary or subordinate legislation to be compatible with the articles of the European Convention of Human Rights, which are also part of the Human Rights Act.[8] In these cases, interpretation to comply may conflict with legislative intent.[9] It is considered a measure of last resort. A range of superior courts can issue a declaration of incompatibility.[8]
A declaration of incompatibility is not binding on the parties to the proceedings in which it is made,[8] nor can a declaration invalidate legislation.[10] Section 4 therefore achieves its aim through political rather than legal means.
Section 10 gives a government minister the power to make a “remedial order” in response to either
a declaration of incompatibility, from which there is no possibility of appeal,[11] or
a ruling of the European Court of Human Rights
A remedial order may “make such amendments to the legislation as [the Minister] considers necessary to remove the incompatibility”.[12] Remedial orders do not require full legislative approval,[10] but must be approved by resolutions of each House of Parliament. In especially urgent cases, Parliamentary approval may be retroactive.[13]
Remedial orders may have retroactive effect, but no one may be guilty of a criminal offence solely as the result of the retroactive effect of a remedial order.[14]
Section 10 has been used to make small adjustments to bring legislation into line with Convention rights although entirely new pieces of legislation are sometimes necessary.[15]
As of December 2014, 29 declarations of incompatibility have been issued, of which[16]
8 have been struck down on appeal
1 is pending appeal, as of December 2014
16 have been remedied through the ordinary legislative process (including amendment or repeal of the offending legislation).
3 have been addressed through remedial orders
1 has not been remedied.
The one case not to have been remedied, as of December 2014, is Smith v. Scott, concerning the right of serving prisoners to vote in the UK.[16]
Sections 6 to 9[edit]
Although the Act, by its own terms, applies only to public bodies, it has had increasing influence on private law litigation between individual citizens leading some academics (source?) to state that it has horizontal effect (as in disputes between citizens) as well as vertical effect (as in disputes between the state and citizens). This is because section 6(1) of the Human Rights Act defines courts and tribunals as public bodies. That means their judgments must comply with human rights obligations of the state, whether a dispute is between the state and citizens, or between citizens, except in cases of declarations of incompatibility. Therefore, judges have a duty to act in compatibility with the Convention even when an action is a private one between two citizens.
The way that public duty is exercised in private law was dealt with in a June 2016 decision McDonald v McDonald & Ors [2016] UKSC 28 (15 June 2016) where the UK Supreme Court firstly considered the question “… whether a court, when entertaining a claim for possession by a private sector owner against a residential occupier, should be required to consider the proportionality of evicting the occupier, in the light of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights”
The Supreme Court decided (paragraph 46) that “there are many cases where the court can be required to balance conflicting Convention rights of two parties, eg where a person is seeking to rely on her article 8 rights to restrain a newspaper from publishing an article which breaches her privacy, and where the newspaper relies on article 10. But such disputes arise not from contractual arrangements made between two private parties, but tortious or quasi-tortious relationships, where the legislature has expressly, impliedly or through inaction, left it to the courts to carry out the balancing exercise”.
Therefore, in cases “where the parties are in a contractual relationship in respect of which the legislature has prescribed how their respective Convention rights are to be respected” then the Court decided, as set out in paragraph 59 “In these circumstances, while we accept that the Strasbourg court jurisprudence relied on by the appellant does provide some support for the notion that article 8 was engaged when Judge Corrie was asked to make an order for possession against her, there is no support for the proposition that the judge could be required to consider the proportionality of the order which he would have made under the provisions of the 1980 and 1988 Acts. Accordingly, for the reasons set out in paras 40-46 above, we would dismiss this appeal on the first issue.”
Paragraph 40 supposed that “… it is not open to the tenant to contend that article 8 could justify a different order from that which is mandated by the contractual relationship between the parties, at least where, as here, there are legislative provisions which the democratically elected legislature has decided properly balance the competing interests of private sector landlords and residential tenants.”
The duty of state judges to apply Convention rights to disputes between citizens is therefore about determining relationships between them, and applying domestic legislation accordingly. If the duty is carried out then it’s likely there is Article 6 compliance.
Section 7 limits a right to bring proceedings under section 6 only to victims (or potential victims) of the unlawful act of the public authority.
Section 8 provides a right for a court to make any remedy they consider just and appropriate. A remedy under the Act is therefore not limited to a Declaration of incompatibility possibly taking into account the equitable maxim Equity delights to do justice and not by halves.
Section 9 provides a right to challenge the compliance of judicial acts made by the UK, but only by exercising a right of appeal as set out by the Access to Justice Act 1999 (although not precluding a right to judicial review). For example, whether a judicial act properly applies legislation, or not.
Other Sections[edit]
Section 8 says that UK judges can grant any remedy that is considered just and appropriate.
A cut and paste extravaganza, come back Sharp Ears, and save us all from this epic Iliad from Alycone.
And just think of it: MI5 tried to fix up Khalid Masond as the the mass murderer of the al-Hillis et al., but he had an alibi.
Just couldn’t pass up informing this lunatic asylum of this apparent fact, but don’t plan on my visiting again.
Well hello there Trowbridge, you’ve been quiet of late, I trust you’re well?
It’s more the mods deleting posts, and Khalid’s last name is spelled Masood.
Been quite well Ros, thanks for noticing, and your concern.
The latest London fiasco reminds me of July 2005 where MI5 hoped to make out in aggressive Operation Crevice, involving that scumbag Gould, that they were mass killers, and they were so pissed off by it that they beoame some.
Yes I concur with RoS Trowbridge.
We are few. They are many.
Also missing John Goss. He hasn’t been around for a long time on here. Hope he’s OK. Probably got fed up with the insults such as being called ‘goose’ by you know who. It’s all so puerile and nasty.
Please propagate this petition. A few weeks ago, people were being vetted at Leeds ‘Uni’, as they attempted to enter – to hear Craig Murray. And he was too. He had to give a summary of his speech to the AUTHORITIES.
‘Jo Johnson and Steve Smith – cancel your trip to Israel
Exeter Palestine Action
We, the undersigned, are disappointed at reports that the British Universities Minister Jo Johnson, and the Vice-Chancellor of Exeter University Sir Steve Smith, are leading a delegation to Israel in May.
The ethical guidelines of the University of Exeter state that the University should not invest in “actions that undermine community cohesion, threaten international stability or breach international law”; to “underpin our external affairs with ethical considerations”; and to promote “the observance of the rule of law”. All of these accounts are incompatible with a delegation to Israel.
Sir Steve Smith has said that the trip will be a “show of support for academic links with Israel”. This is problematic on many levels.
According to the website of the Palestinian Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, Israeli academic institutions are deeply involved in the oppression of the Palestinians, and in practices considered illegal under international law. Tel Aviv University, for instance, has been involved in developing weapon systems and doctrines which have led to the deaths of thousands of civilians in Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is built partly on illegally occupied land in East Jerusalem. Human Rights Watch has found evidence of racial discrimination against Palestinians in the Israeli education system.
Israel has also worked systematically to undermine Palestinian universities and deny Palestinian students their education. The Right to Education campaign at Birzeit University has found that Israeli soldiers have repeatedly raided university campuses, destroying and confiscating university property, detained students for long periods of time, and prevented students from attending classes through the system of military checkpoints. The Islamic University of Gaza (pictured) was bombed by the Israeli military (more than 200 targets hit in 24 hours) on August 2nd 2014.
Britain supported UN Security Council resolution 2334 condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank in December 2016. It is, however, highly likely that as part of the visit to Israel, Minister Johnson, Vice-Chancellor Smith and others would be taken onto illegally occupied land, including East Jerusalem.
Steve Smith has claimed that he was a member of the anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s. One of the foremost campaigners against apartheid in South Africa is Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who has said “[The Palestinians’] humiliation is familiar to all black South Africans who were corralled and harassed and insulted and assaulted by the security forces of the apartheid government.” Earlier this month, the UN released a report accusing Israel of apartheid practices against the Palestinian people.
We the undersigned ask Steve Smith, Jo Johnson and all who have been invited to take part in this delegation to listen to their consciences, and to be on the right side of history. We ask them to follow the university of Exeter ethical guidelines and the call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions issued by Palestinians under occupation, and ask them to demonstrate their commitment to justice by cancelling their visit.
http://www.change.org/p/jo-johnson-minister-for-universities-and-science-jo-johnson-and-steve-smith-cancel-your-trip-to-israel
Signed
Signed.
Why would Exeter Uni, want to have educational ties with the oppressive apartheid military regime of Israel? All they’ll succeed in doing is blackening the uni’s name.
UN Security Council resolution 2334 says everything. There is little need to feed professional protesters who are not constructive and part of the problem and are destined to achieve zilch.
This funding started by Muslims United for London in aid of the Westminster attack victims is far more worthy and pragmatic:
The attack on Westminster
At around 2:40 pm on the 22nd of March, an attacker drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and then stabbed a police officer within the grounds of the Houses of Parliament. At least 4 people have been killed, including officer PC Keith Palmer, and about 40 were wounded (BBC News). The alleged attacker, apparently a British citizen, has been shot and killed by police. A full investigation has been launched.
I was a witness to the attack, having entered Portcullis house less than 10 minutes from when it occurred. Barricaded in an office for nearly 4 hours while events unfolded outside me, I was shocked to see the injuries and loss of life outside my window. I reflected on what it means to be a born-and-bred Londoner and found myself proud of how security and medical services responded, how ordinary passers-by offered first aid, and what our Parliament means to me, an institution that is the oldest of its kind in the world and how, regardless of our critiques of government policies or political parties, remains an institution that reflects how the will of the people can be expressed with civility and dignity.
While details of the victims are still emerging, I have been in touch with networks within British Muslim communities and can assure you that we all stand with fellow Londoners during these difficult times and want to extend our support by raising funds to help with the immediate, short-term needs of the victims and their families. While no amount of money will bring back lives lost or take away from the pain the victims and their families are going through, we hope to lessen their burden in some way as citizens, Londoners, and human beings.
A statement from the Mayor
“London is the greatest city in the world, and we stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and our way of life. We always have and we always will. Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism. There will be additional armed and unarmed police officers on our streets from tonight in order to keep Londoners, and all those visiting our city, safe”
– Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
A call to the community
Though this is a Muslim-led campaign, we welcome our friends of other faiths and none to also contribute. We ask particularly that British Muslims, mosques, Imams, leaders, and groups endorse and promote this initiative. For media inquiries please email [email protected].
How funds will be distributed
Thank you for considering supporting the victims and the families of victims of this tragic attack through this fundraiser. We will ensure that 100% of funds collected through this campaign will go to the victims and the families of the victims most affected by the tragic events that unfolded on March 22, 2017. We are coordinating with City Hall (the Mayor’s office), hospitals, the Met Police Foundation (who have coordinated efforts for funds to be raised on behalf of PC Keith Palmer) and others to ensure that the funds go where they are needed.
https://www.launchgood.com/project/muslims_united_for_london#/
Signed. Thanks for the added incentive, Alcyone.
Wasn’t it Algeria that became a massive exporter of bauxite by oversize French rail wagons?
The colonial system never re-imburses a country for its mineral resources properly. It never compensates for the pollution, the destruction of the environment, the lives lost through unsafe working practises. It never re-instates the natural ecological order as prescribed in the opening contracts, because the business is by that time sold on.
All that is left from colonial plunder is festering resentment and radicalisation. It never makes sense to destroy natural beauty for the benefit of developed nations at the prices set by the developed nations. Drought and soil-erosion follows de-forestation. Followed by debt to global banking institutions.
As to one nutter running over people in London, is Mrs May so absolutely bereft of ideas as to how to run a country in the chaos her party has created by hard Brexit, that a whole week has to be devoted to the road rage of one person in London? In 1970 a Chinese man drove his car into my granny’s railings in Pimlico. It might have reached a local rag, but I doubt it reached the national press.
Only because the UK has participated in the murder and destruction of 10s of millions of Muslims in my lifetime does the reverse logic kick in that they were all road rage knife maniacs. It’s not logic, it’s panic.
At most, one individual person who happens to be a Muslim makes a wild gesture of defiance against 100s of years of repeated colonial destruction. Oh, that proves that we colonisers and destroyers were in the right all along….
May is not the only one bereft of ideas: this blog has been infested by racists for whom every ‘terrorist’ attack is a holiday-a festival to be celebrated.
Meanwhile, in the real world, there is no doubt whatever that this attack was directly inspired by the ‘success’ that British backed militias, such as ISIS and Al Nusra have had in carrying out their reign of terror in Syria and Iraq.
Without the backing and assistance in every form of the ‘west’ and the inspiration derived from the Saudi attacks (actually supervised by NATO personnel) on Yemen, these sad refugees from hope and reality would not have reached the conclusion that the only muslim acceptable to the UK’s Establishment is a wahhabi slave willing to blow himself up in a crowd of working people.
Those who call these attacks “false flag’ events delude themselves, they are exactly what they appear to be and they are inseparable from the conscious policies of the class ruling the ‘west.’
Happily reality is sinking in beyond the imperialist heartland:
http://dissidentvoice.org/2017/03/the-west-is-becoming-irrelevant-the-world-is-laughing/#more-66673
Bevin.
George Galloway interviewed Peter Ford, on Sputnik this morning, it was fascinating.
Ford attributed the mess in Syria and the region in general to a Sunni, Shia war. Backed predominately by the the wealthy Sunni Saudi Arabia.
Ford did add that the West’s interventions in the shape of regime and attempted regime changes, greatly complicated matters.
Ford gave a prime example of the Sunni, Shia, war in the shape of the constant demonisation of Iran, by the West and Saudi Arabia-Iran being mainly Shia. Yemen is more evenly divided down the middle, with Sunni, having a slightly larger denomination.
Both Galloway and Ford, concur that Wahhabist attacks backed by Saudia Arabia, and others? Is the main cause for the conntinued fighting and destabilisation of Libya and Iraq.
I can’t seem to find a link to it yet.
Anyone who thinks that this Tory government and its predecessor New Labour governments have not been engaged good old-fashioned plundering colonialism, please consider the 2 most outrageous statements in parliament ever made in the last 30 years. The first is the criminal lying by Tony Blair that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction pointed to the UK, justifying the illegal invasion of 2003, the second is the statement by Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary supporting Al Qaida and Islamic State in their destruction of Syria, temporarily brought under control by Russian bombing.
My stomach literally heaves at senior leaders of the United Kingdom placing responsibility for the destruction of Iraq and Syria onto my shoulders as elected MPs. Some statements are despicable, but have to be tolerated, but others just create a kind of involuntary retch, through their sheer , brazen arrogance.
The US could never have invaded and, in its mind, conquered Iraq without the lies of Blair at the parliamentary Westminster despatch box. The armies of Saddam Hussain have become the armies of the Daesh, because the tin-pot despots shoe-horned in to Saddam’s place, Barzani in Kurdistan and Maliki in Baghdad have placed the entire wealth of Iraq at the feet of USUKIS invaders. Billions of dollars of oil are pumped out of Iraq and all the money is either back-channelled into the despots bank accounts or given directly to the colonisers to pay for their mistakes in Thatcherite banking gambling.
The fact that Cameron has now been exonerated by the Brexit referendum from his war crimes in Libya and Syria leads Boris Johnson to think that he too can openly support terror against the Syrian people in the certain knowledge that when Mrs May C***s up the Brexit negotiations, he will be whitewashed by the democratic process as Blair and Brown and Hague and Cameron have all been before him.
The terms imposed on Saddam Hussain for the extraction of oil were 2% to Iraq, 98% to USUKIS.
The terms imposed on Iraq now are 0% to Iraq, all the revenues have been squandered in buying arms which were stolen by the USUKIS forces or on paying USUKIS for defending Iraq from USUKIS’ own proxy terrorists Al Qaida and Daesh, 100% to USUKIS. Given the absolute enourmity of the theft and affliction meted onto the Muslim populations of Iraq and Syria, how difficult do you think it might be to fire up the dormant vestigial anger of a Caribbean Muslim from the stock of the African slave trade?
Craig says he would insult Blair if he saw him in the street. If I saw either of those Tory ponces May or Johnson in the face I would personally find it impossible to restrain myself from hitting both of them for their utterly shameless continuation of pre-mordial oppression and their refusal to learn from 2 world wars what the rest of the country has learned which is that colonisation by this country has to end.