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.
Anti-corruption protesters, were treated harshly by Russian police, the protesters were demonstrating with regards to corruption, within the government.
It reminds of the extremely violent actions of the British police, during the miners strike. Where protesters were beaten senseless.
Of course that’s by no means a isolated incident. The British police were heavy handed during the G20 conference in Britain.
It would be helpful if I provide the link.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/anticorruption-protests-sweep-russia-alexei-navalny-among-dozens-arrested-20170326-gv6xuc.html
And to prove that RT is not biased in favour of President Putin desspite what some on here believe, they reported it.
https://www.rt.com/news/382342-opposition-protest-russia-police/
The Russian state broadcaster is impartial! This article proves it! Although of course, an equivalent piece criticising the British government would be just more proof of slippery BBC mendacity.
May I suggest you consider, if you can, the possibility that all state media, all corporate media, hell, all media are bias. All claims to impartiality are most likely denial.
Make sure you are not supporting fraudsters in the rush to donate.
JustGiving takes over terror victim fundraising page amid fraud concerns
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/25/justgiving-takes-terror-victim-fundraising-page-amid-fraud-concerns/
Anybody with the skill to investigate already knew that Just Giving take 5%. None of the charity collection sites do anything for free. They did very well out of the GoFundMe Jo Cox fund and so did the White Helmets. They took one third of £1,955,000 minus the GoFundMe commission. Donations are still coming in. Every time her name is mentioned, which is often, and every time Brendan Cox appears in the media, which is frequently, donations arrive.
https://www.gofundme.com/jocox
The British public are easily manipulated by the appropriate propaganda.
That is the mantra in Great Britain. 2017.
[ Mod: Fixed ]
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I don’t know how AND appeared!
EMR4DW — emr4dw.org @EMR4DW
Extremely cost-efficient help for sick/malnourished in Africa.
Craig, this is only tenuously linked to your blog piece but rests on your obvious concern for the welfare and advancement of the African people. I just wanted to flag up a local York charity which is enhancing and saving lives in Africa, by creating digital medical records. It’s the brilliant idea of a local York, very good-hearted retired GP who, in sharp contrast to certain big charity CEOs mentioned in earlier blogs, pays all his own costs to visit eg Uganda to deliver special software and computers, to help doctors and assistants most efficiently enhance and save lives.
I know this doesn’t sound very exciting but the reality is amazing. Imagine our GPs without access to our medical histories. So… if you were able to spread the word about this charity, it would be wonderful, and if your blog viewers feel inclined to help similarly, they can be satisfied they are supporting aid which definitely reaches those who need it.
Thanks.
And this:
At its meeting in Lille, Marine Le Pen promised that the European Union would “die” if she is elected.
“We are going to live through three major events”,
predicted that the polls give tied with Emmanuel Macron in the first round but clearly beaten by him to the second.
The first of these events is “the European Union [which] is going to die because the people do not want it anymore. We are going to change Europe, because the European idea is undermined by those gravediggers that are federalists,
assured Le Pen, preferring the Europe of cooperation.
Marine Le Pen officially advocates, if she comes to power, a six-month negotiation with the European Union to “regain fiscal, territorial, legislative and monetary sovereignty”.
At the end of this period, she would organize a referendum on the exit of the EU, promising to leave the Elysée if the French vote contrary to what she advocated.
So is she actually saying, she’ll give the E.U. six months to come around to her way of thinking, if they do not, she will hold a referendum on FREXIT.
If she does not prevail – she steps down?
Big gambles.
She’s got nothing to lose.
Michael, it’s often a waste of my time to reply, because many of my comments are removed/censored.
If you buy into the con that you live in a free and open society you’ve got another think coming.
Let’s try this link again…
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-facts-about-Pizzagate/
Or maybe this link…
http://evolvepolitics.com/the-tory-election-scandal-is-back-and-it-could-bring-down-the-government/
Or maybe this…
http://theduran.com/busted-wikileaks-exposes-the-cia-meddling-in-frances-elections-in-2012/
I could go on and on.
You DO “go on and on” RobG, and it’s all bullshit from you these days.
I mean “pizzagate” – FFS, have you no respect for your own credibility around here? This amazingly sinister child sex ring, carried out in the (non-existent) basement of a Washington DC based pizza place, and run by the Clintons themselves. You actually believe everything you read these days, I take it?
http://www.snopes.com/pizzagate-conspiracy/
He listens to Richie Allen, a devotee of David Icke, so why would anybody expect him to be in contact with reality? And he sure goes on, and on, and no, ad infinitum.
Sad to see someone lose it like that. You’re new here Zed (and it’s good to see you too!), so it’s only fair to mention that RobG used to be a good guy. Reasonable, at least.
RobG “jumped the shark” a year or so back – became convinced that these various acts of terror were all a government perpetrated fiction. Everyone was in on it – police, media, you, me, every politician in every party, every aspect of every one of the deaths involved – all fake.
The Paris and Nice attacks – all faked. The bereaved were all actors, just lies. Only him and some dodgy websites were telling the truth. Everyone else were fools, who are all going to be shot for it in due course – that’s us, too.
Together with every terrorist attack since… the IRA? Who knows. Except RobG of course – he _knows_ the truth – they are _all_ fake. Dead people that never existed, fake funerals, fake people who pretend to have lost somebody.
Either RobG is having us on for a laugh, or he is rather deranged. It is impossible to have a rational conversation with him any more. It’s good sport to take the piss out of him, of course, but I have felt increasingly guilty about doing so of late – there’s obviously something wrong with him.
Paedophilia is an impulsive addictive response in some men to being forced to submit to female/maternal domination.
It would be better if feminists, like Clinton Thatcher and May stayed out of powerful jobs that control politically aspirant men, because they are sometimes unable to deal with the emotions it generates in them. If women are going to exercise power over these deviants called politicians you have to know that the result will be a blow-back attack on the feminine departments of social conditioning.
I’m amazed that the trolls are so lacking in human observation and so eager to arse-lick political correctness that they have failed to observe this psychological phenomenon. Most men are brought up to trust and respect women, so when women choose to work for male allies and adopt a male political/deceitful manipulative role under their tuition and instruction, it takes men very much off their guard and the result is sometimes counter-abuse.
Politics is extremely dirty. The trolls seem to be saying it’s squeaky clean.
Fuck you and your progressive sensibility.
Hey Benny – Did ya know that under Obama the Feds were arresting about 400 people per year for child sex offences. Under Trump they have already detained over 1,500 people on similar charges.
Drain the swamp!! MAGA
Looney: comment when you have a true progressive friend in Putin.
He has a form of respect for women eclipsed only by his love of Gays., but your adulation is misplaced with Trump when you delve into US News you don’t comprehend.
DACA is violated every day on immigrants. The Liar promised only those convicted of crimes would be deported. Unfortunately, they broke the Law by coming to the US. ERGO:criminals
Yeah, just more misogynist bile on this blog. Those damn dominating and unnaturally deceitful women driving men to rape children!
@giyane: That is just outrageous bullshit. You might as well be rush limbaugh. I think it might be you that needs to brush up on human observsation. Do you know any women who agree with your ridiculous notion that paedophilia is their fault? Or do you not give their opinions credence? Are the poor men paedophiles innocent? they’re just lead into it by the pernicious influence of women? I’ve read some interesting comments from you here now and again, but this is disgusting mysogyny and apology for disgusting men. If most men thought like this i’d be all for female domination – as it is such domination is not even close, despite the fantasies of the poor males who feel oppressed because they’re not allowed to be odious to their women.
I thought the usual milo-inspired bullshit strawman-feminism tropes were bad enough and then i read this. You should be ashamed for such shite (if you want to use logic, how did paedophilia exist all through history when women were so very far from dominating men)
^ctd….or, how do you explain greek society – rampant socially accepted paedophilia alongside no rights for women who were kept indoors had no vote and were seen just as breeding machines.
I have to say Glen, I wouldn’t consider Snopes the arbiter of True Facts. Increasingly, one has to use one’s judgement, and read from various sources, some of which might not be so accurate. Personally, I’ve read one or two Snopes ‘debunks’ and left thinking that actually they haven’t debunked anything at all.
Anyhow, the pizzagate stuff isn’t about a single pizza joint in NY. It’s much, much worse. Weiner is already being indicted, and is allegedly singing like a canary. We will see, but if true, it’ll get messy.
Yes, but the worse part for your diatribe is the hacking of Weiner, husband of Hillary confidant Huma Abudin and the Breibart/Trump Bund.
All interconnected to putative left/progressive stupidity, thank you very muck.
I’ve thought the same about some snopes articles, but you don’t need snopes to debunk pizzagate, just a bit of common sense imo. A hundred pieces of tenuous speculation do not add up to solid evidence – there is no solid evidence (unlike say the case of dennis hastert (republican) and jeffery epstein (who both trump and clinton ‘associated’ with)).
I’m open to have my view changed if you can link to some evidence.
Hey, we all know a song about your problem RobG:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANaP26V1tFw
Now we’re talkin’..
https://www.emptywheel.net/2017/03/26/national-enquirers-serial-spy-novel/
So this is what Farage is up to with Trumpy Dumpty…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4350388/Nigel-Farage-s-Bad-Boys-Brexit-look-Calexit.html
“Woodward: Surveillance Report Likely ‘Highly Classified Gossip’ About Trump”
Woodward saying the possible transgressions need to be taken very seriously.
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/03/22/donald-trump-wiretap-surveillance-report-highly-classified-gossip-woodward-nunes
One of the most amazing, truthful 19-minute videos you’ll ever see. Brimming with Wisdom; K at his best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5MR7pBFA0k
K answering the question: What is my ‘self’ and what is its relation to the cosmos?
Phil the ex-Frog wrote:
“Funny enough the Reichstag fire was not a false flag. The documents upon which that tale was largely built have long been outed as communist forgeries.”
In other words, the documents “proving” that the Reichstag fire was really started by the Nazis themselves ( and not by a disturbed Communist lone wolf) turned out to be Communist forgeries.
This will surprise no one except Lysias and the American “historian” whose book about the Reichstag fire he was puffing on here.
The book “proved” – on the basis of “documents uncovered in Soviet archives in Moscow” – that the fire was a Nazi false flag.
Mind you, the American “historian” whose work Lysias was peddling is also, it seems, a lawyer, which I suppose has given him much practice in peddling dodgy ideas.
Lysias has also claimed to be a lawyer.
The Financial Times reporting that Hurricane Energy have announced the discovery of a new oil field west of the Shetland Islands.
Got any comments Fred?
Over the last third of a year oil has dropped in price from $57/barrel to barely $50/barrel
The price of oil was at a low of less than $10 a barrel around 1998 and yet a decade later was at an all time high of almost $160 a barrel.
A couple of years ago it was around $30 dollars a barrel and then the price went up again. Oil prices fluctuate. But Norway continues to thrive economically because that mineral rich small nation – of the same population size as Scotland – has control of it’s oil and gas and renewables.
And Norway is not a warmongering nation, which helps.
I don’t think the Shetlands want Scotland to leave the U.K. ?
The majority in the Shetlands don’t want to leave the EU.
56.5% Remain.
Anyone who says “THE Shetlands” knows nothing they are wittering about.
No they haven’t, they have found a column of oil in the Lancaster field, it happens frequently they have exploratory rigs out that find new oil several times a year.
What are you telling me for?
You’re right that I should have said oil find rather than oil field.
I’m telling you fred because you’re always going on about Yessers and our fictitious oil west of the Shetlands.
The secret oil field that would make everyone in an independent Scotland rich that the UK government were covering up?
Sorry to disappoint you, this is good news for the oil industry and if it comes off, they don’t always, will save some jobs but no, this is not it.
Two question should be,
1) how much actual money is the Scottish oil industry currently putting in to the U.K. Economy.
2) what is the break-even price of a barrel of Brent?
Answer to question one is that in the last financial year (2015/16) oil revenues were negative, so worse than none at all.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/26/north-sea-oil-posts-its-first-annual-loss-for-the-taxpayer/
Kempe it’s time to say I love your contributions.
Norway has long had an oil fund to greatly reduce the effects of oil price downturns.
No oil fund was ever set up for Scotland despite requests to Westminster.
Answer to question one is that in the last financial year (2015/16) oil revenues were negative, so worse than none at all.
…. which tells us all we need to know about the deals Westminster struck with the oil companies.
” Norway has long had an oil fund to greatly reduce the effects of oil price downturns. ”
No, Norway has an oil fund to pay for it’s pensions. There was some outcry when the government dipped into it a few years ago and not without good reason.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Pension_Fund_of_Norway
” …. which tells us all we need to know about the deals Westminster struck with the oil companies. ”
Yes of course an independent Scotland could do soooooooo much better. Like tax the oil companies to the point it becomes uneconomic and they close down. Oh hang on no, the SNP’s policy is to reduce corporation taxes.
So, Kempe, the UK govt over the years have managed the oil contracts and revenues to great effect? If they haven’t, why shouldn’t people believe Scotland could do better managing what’s left themselves?
Mad Mel Philips is on the panel for the Question Time Brexit Special tonight.
SCUPPERED
SCOTTISH independence BOMBSHELL: Sturgeon would need to find £1BN A YEAR for EU membership
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/784150/nicola-sturgeon-1-billion-eu-membership-scotland-scottish-independence-holyrood-figures
The bombshell analysis by Scottish Parliament experts blows a hole in the SNP’s economic case for seeking to break up the United Kingdom in another referendum.
And the S. N. P. have still got to find an extra £200000000
to save Police Scotland.
There never was an economic case. An article in The Scotsman today explains what is happening.
You might think the SNP Government must therefore return to its day job, and to some extent it must face the many crises of its own making that surround it, but that is to ignore its very real problem. The SNP behaves like a drug addict: it is hooked on campaigning for independence. It experienced its greatest high in the run-up to the referendum of 2014, but then the supply was suddenly cut off and it has been scrambling to get its regular fix ever since.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/brian-monteith-snp-government-is-turning-on-its-own-figures-1-4403947
Hi Fred, interesting to note that the author of the article you quoted / linked is an ex-MSP of the Conservative party. The Scotsman is also renowned for its dislike of anything SNP, so this article requires 2 pinches of salt. Other than that, I’m sure there’s no intent to be biased or misleading.
He has the Nationalists well and truly sussed and that’s all that matters. Like compulsive gamblers addicted to the thrill, can’t turn their back on it just living for the next referendum, the euphoria of optimism followed by the despair of defeat then all they live for is doing it again.
Take a look back at this blog the night before the referendum and the morning after and see for yourself.
“….and that’s all that matters.” No pinch of salt for you then, Fred. SNP-bad, “….and that’s all that matters.”
fred
Brian Monteith was prominent in the ultra-Thatcherite Federation of Conservative Students. He successfully led a campaign to have the student body at Heriot Watt University taken out of the NUS.
Monteith set up public relations firm Leith Communications which, according to his Wikipedia entry, later went bust owing £50 000 to creditors.
Monteith then became a Tory MSP. In 2005 the Conservative Party withdrew the whip from him after he had been found to be briefing the media against Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie.
He’s just the sort that pro-independence supporters are happy to call an opponent.
Do independence supporters get issued with a manual which says “1) Attack the person never the issues” ?
Hi Fred, what issues are you addressing at 14:49?
That figure has come from the SNP, not the EU. The true figure would probably be much higher than that.
Does this mean that federal union with Ireland is the only way in which Scotland can secede from the UK but nevertheless remain in the EU?
We can already see this in the latest skirmish around the economic case for independence, something that is widely acknowledged amongst many nationalists as beyond resuscitation. The reason for this is simple: from the SNP Government’s own figures were Scotland to be independent it would have the poorest public finances in the developed world, far worse than Greece and the worst in the OECD. If Scotland had voted for independence in September 2014 and Alex Salmond had met his breathless timetable of breaking from the UK by March 2016 the country would have been bust. It would have required to be saved by an IMF loan for which the price would be public sector austerity delivering mass unemployment and large civil unrest.
Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/brian-monteith-snp-government-is-turning-on-its-own-figures-1-4403947
As oil is now old hat, this is good news for the future U.K. Economy.
http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/revealed-the-huge-area-of-cornwall-which-could-be-mined-for-70bn-energy-metal/story-30073404-detail/story.html
A “significant” number of jobs could be created as Cornwall takes the lead in the market of the wonder metal lithium, dubbed ‘white petroleum’ or ‘white gold’ which experts believe could replace fossil fuels in cars.
The development in Cornwall will give the UK access to its own supply of the element, the market for which is expected to quadruple to $70billion by 2020.
Mr. Musk has built his Gigafactory in Nevada to produce the Lithium-ion batteries, the Lithium, will be mined, nearby.
He is looking to build another gigafactory in Europe, close to a source of Lithium.
Hurricane makes ‘largest undeveloped’ oil find in UK waters
4 minutes ago Ministry of Truth
From the section NE Scotland, Orkney & Shetland
Two alternate directors represent Kerogen Capital who own 29.54% of the equity.
https://www.hurricaneenergy.com/about-us/the-board
https://www.hurricaneenergy.com/investors/aim-rule-26
Based in Hong Kong.
I see the name Cuadrilla on this page. Fracking.
See all the inter connections.
https://www.crunchbase.com/person/roy-franklin#/entity
‘Kerogen Capital is an independent private equity fund manager specialising in the international oil and gas sector.’
It is reported that during the recent visit of Merkel to Washington Donald Trump handed her a bill for $375 billion for missing German contributions to NATO. If paid, then this bill will have the effect of transferring money out of a creditor nation.
Whilst the proposed mechanism is the work of Donald Trump the idea of Germany transferring “surplus money” away from itself is not an original Trump idea. Indeed this kind of solution was extensively argued for by many people, in particular the BBC in the form of its then economic correspondent Stephanie Flanders.
With regard to this particular issue is there any reason why people are so ill disposed toward Trump and yet do not display the same kind of enmity toward Ms. Flanders?
A sort of “wealth Tax”?
Silver spoons in Bullingdon mouths turned to gold.
Cameron aide’s uber ‘cover up’: Downing Street accused of withholding emails about its secret campaign to help online taxi firm
The ex-PM allegedly told aides to lobby Boris Johnson against curbs to Uber
No 10 adviser swapped emails with senior staff working for then London mayor
Downing Street had failed to divulge details of the alleged lobbying operation
Transport for London officials released the details of the correspondence
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4351418/Cameron-aide-s-uber-cover-up.html
and several sub headings.
The emails No10 said didn’t exist
Revolving door access to Downing Street
Was a deal done at Sexy Fish restaurant?
Whetstone is married to Steve Hilton, Cameron’s ex spin doctor. She worked for Google before going to Uber.
Who has a £500m investment in Uber? Why. Blackrock.
Who is paying Gideon £650k pa for a few days work a year for financial advice? Why. Blackrock.
Who will report this is depth? Not the Evening Standard whose new editor is Gideon.
YCNMIU. A stench. Inquiry demanded. Don’t hold your breath.
Trumpy Dumpty with a gun to his head.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/samfellman/the-trump-administration-is-silent-hours-after-russia?utm_term=.yt4aYXwA6#.fyDrOLjWP
Theresa May addressing the staff at the Department for International Development offices in East Kilbride during her visit to Scotland.
Many hundreds of people work in that place but she was only speaking in a wee room to what looked looked like two or three dozen.
On Wednesday, Article 50 will be triggered and HMS Brexitania, will start circling the sink hole.
But today Theresa May was in Scotland, and she said this.
“Leaving the European Union will be an opportunity to strengthen the ties between the nations of the United Kingdom.”
What she means by that, is she’s strengthening Westminster’s domination over the Home nations, by collecting and keeping all the powers brought back from the EU to Britain.
Oh she’ll wax lyrical about passing on some of those powers to the devolved parliaments and assemblies, but in reality, it will be a power grab by her government, that will bring the other home nations to heel.
The unelected prime minister Theresa May, as I said, is in Scotland today to have discussions with a REAL elected FM, in the shape of Nicola Sturgeon, she (Sturgeon) was elected on a percentage of the vote, that May can only dream about.
Anyway the main jist of the meeting in my opinion is, May will whisper sweet nothings and false promises into the ear of Sturgeon, over Brexit. Sturgeon would be wise not too heed them.
Sturgeon surely must ignore May’s enticements and tomorrow push through the vote in Holyrood, along with the backing of the Greens, to hold another indyref.
Sturgeon must also set the date, and even more importantly the criteria of the vote.
There’s still time for Scotland to man the life boats, before HMS Brexitania disappears down the plug hole of splendid isolationism forever.
Would suggest that Sturgeon’s troubles lie not with May but with her own people, who show no great enthusiasm for leaving the UK (and that’s before the SNP has annouced its currency “plans”). A new referendum would most likely lead to another no vote and therefore it is unlikely that Sturgeon will actually call one.
And you base your claims (excluding currency) on what exactly?
Opinion polls. No great post-Brexit surge.
Opinion polls, vary, and at this early stage they cannot really be said, to be reliable.
If I recall the 2014 indyref correctly, the Yes camp, began on a base support of around 25% or there abouts, but by the time of the September vote it had reached the mid 40’s.
Indeed a week or so before the vote on independence one poll had Yes on over 50% of the vote.
The wild card this time around, that didn’t exist last time is Brexit, and what kind of deal May can barter. Brexit might not figure just now in the opinion polls, but it will nearer the time, May’s deal will be a crucial factor in the indy vote.
Enthusiasm. Have you been studying the Scots for a long time, or is this a recent interest?
MJ
Whether a second independence referendum would lead to another No vote or not, the material point about having another one is that Scotland voted to stay in the EU. Scotland did not agree to having no veto on Brexit.
Our rural communities, our rural transport infrastructure, our free health care Scottish NHS staffing levels and our world admired universities’ research projects would all be adversely affected by not being in the European Union.
And all that is even before we consider what the effects of being out the EU single market will have on Scottish businesses.
You see no widespread enthusiasm among Scots for leaving the UK. Others see no widespread enthusiasm among Scots for leaving the EU. We didn’t vote to leave and so it logically follows that the democratic anomaly be resolved by means of an independence referendum.
If you really think No will win again and want it to then why are you bothered by the idea of indyref2?
If David Cameron had wanted to much to keep the land of his ancestors in the UK then he would have been better to lead a pro-EU information campaign for the people of England instead of calling an EU referendum.
Those of us of the pro-independence persuasion see no great enthusiasm in Scotland for the somewhat shrill and quasi-demented children’s crusade of red white and blue brexit and empire 2.0.
Scotland hasn’t held a referendum on remaining in Europe. Britain held a referendum and Britain voted to leave.
Scotland did hold a referendum on whether to remain in the UK and voted to remain.
Ah but we might have voted to leave the UK, if we’d have known we were going to be dragged out of the EU.
A definitive majority of Scots want to remain in the EU.
And your reply would be, ah, but a definitive amount of Scots also voted to remain in the UK.
Yes but the Scots would’ve probably preempted the first poser, if they knew in advance the second poser.
I remember after the independence referendum this blog was littered with people claiming the vote was rigged. There were links to dodgy youtube videos, claims of postal votes being hijacked, Nationalists were doing all they could to avoid having to accept the result of the referendum.
After the Europe referendum not a squeak, Nationalists accept the result without question.
Why do you think that is?
If Scottish voters are forced to go through, yet another, once in a life time Independence Referendum, who will pay?
“After the Europe referendum not a squeak, Nationalists accept the result without question.”
______
I’ll take a wild stab at this one Fred, but, could it be because those who support Scottish independence knew, it would likely trigger a second indyref, ergo why complain.
Seems plausable to me.
Yes, that’s right, Fred – but the Brexit vote highlighted very clearly that Scotland is currently not in control of their destiny. The issue here is that a significant number of people aren’t happy about this, hence the surge in people voting for parties who support independence. Democracy in action.
Hi fred. When you’ve repeated that comment a hundred times I’ll send you a prize. Should be quite soon, so keep it up.
Hi Iain, sounds like you have a problem with me telling the truth.
There has been much discussion, on police and firearms, since last Wednesday’s event in London. Every media channel, hack with a blog and newspaper columnist has had their say, and in a democracy, rightly so.
I for one do not want armed police roaming the streets of Scotland. One just has to gaze across the pond, to the land of the free, to see that US police officers, (in some states) now look more like combat troops, fearsome in appearance, and intimidating, which would cause trepidation, in the average soul, to approach them for the merest enquiry.
All that before I even mention the number of innocent people that have been shot and killed into the bargain, by police in the US.
Back home there is a place for weapons on the police force, armed response vehicles used by the police are common, and can be on a scene, in Scotland anyway in minutes. However London is a much larger metropolis, and therefore I understand the need for armed police.
I do however feel, that particular mood, is missing in Scotland, in my opinion no one wants to see police officers in Scotland, walking around with Glock handguns or MP5 machine guns.
We must not let our adversaries, use our politicians to constrain our freedoms. Armed police on the streets of Scotland, would be in my opinion, the first step on a long dark road.
Scottish police have just been authorised to carry holstered handguns while on routine patrol. Since 2014, I believe. They’re ahead of you on that road.
Snippet:
https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/ex-cop-slams-officers-dundee-sainsburys-armed/
And the Enemy’s MoD Police have also taken to visiting civvy areas armed.
Baal.
Yes I recall that but I also recall that police Scotland did a U-turn after public criticism, indeed I think the debacle cost Sir Stephen House his position as Chief Constable.
“Armed police officers will only be deployed to incidents involving firearms or where there is a “threat to life” following a climbdown by Scotland’s chief constable.”
Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/police-scotland-u-turn-on-armed-police-patrols-1-3559413
I don’t see the bobbies on the beat carrying side arms either, before the uproar, the trial had officers carrying handguns openly in side holsters. They arrived at trivial complaints in schools and MacDonalds armed, which left people feeling intimidated.
However, I think there’s at 300 armed police officers constantly on duty at anyone time in Scotland.
There is absolutely no case for arming regular police men, would it have stopped this incident? Nope would it have made things more dangerous for bystanders – yes.
Things are fine as they are, there is little you can do to prevent nutters.
Shatnersrug.
Indeed, I agree with you, information is now the best weapon of defence.
Which brings me to my comment at 16.44pm, in which the security services are asking for more access in cybers space.
As I said it’s a controversial subject, a fine line between getting that vital information that could prevent a tragedy, and intrusions of privacy.
What currency will an Independent SCOTLAND use,
which face will be on your ten pound notes, will it be Sturgeon?
Hi Michael, I believe I already responded to you on this matter a while back and you accepted that my response was credible. Why repeat the question ad nauseam?
It is not me, I’m English, you have to convince the good people of SCOTLAND
of a sound economic case for leaving the U.K.
There are so many questions but so few answers, from the S. N. P.
In the interim, Scotland will use the pound, until it floats its own currency.
Gasps and cries of you can’t use our pound, will be met with, legally there’s nothing to stop Scotland using the pound unofficially.
Well according to Lord King, the ex-governor of the Bank of England.
https://stv.tv/news/politics/1346145-independent-scotland-can-use-the-pound-unofficially-says-former-bank-chief/
Now Michael maybe you’ll stop asking the same inane question time after time. Or does the rough cider compel you to do so.
I think it is quite important, for the S. N. P. to be specific on their economic expectations for an Independent Scotland, you would not want the good people of SCOTLAND to have the wool pulled over their eyes?
You mean like the vast uncertainty that Brexit poses. David Davis when questioned on Brexit, by Hilary Benn at a Q&A session on Brexit, couldn’t answer any questions with certainty.
Infact, Davis said if the committee could give him a YEAR, he might have some answers – now that’s what I call great uncertainty.
“The British government is attempting to “use” the Westminster attack to gain unnecessary and intrusive surveillance powers, the Ministry of Defense (MoD)’s former cybersecurity chief has warned.”
“Govt’s sweeping spying powers face a court challenge.”
“Major General Jonathan Straw says ministers are trying to use the terrorist incident last Wednesday to push for handing security services more powers, despite the weak case for it.”
https://www.rt.com/uk/382425-terrorism-whatsapp-encryption-westminster/
Do we agree with Major-General Straw?
Is the security services requests for unfetted access in cyberspace warranted? Or is it merely another attempted to infinge on our privacy?
There are more questions than answers, such as what the security services would do on discovering important and sensitive data, in a whole range of fields from personal to fiscal data.
I’m sure the business community will look upon this as a further attempted intrusion, that could seriously undemine there businesses.
But playing devils advocate for a moment, real time discoveries in cyber space could thwart attacks that could lead to civilian deaths. It’s a controversial, and thin line between, intrusion, and protection. One that will be, in my opinion argued over for decades to come.
Just in case the constant drumbeat of the demented democrats is beginning to deaden brains this is a reminder that the “Putin Done It!” story is not only innocent of any evidentiary foundations but that the people concocting fake evidence are about as trustworthy as the CIA, and much less open to scrutiny;
https://off-guardian.org/2017/03/27/crowdstrike-how-the-guardian-delivers-its-fake-news/
There are people making a fat living off Russophobia but for some of them it is a matter of keeping up the good work of Operation Barbarossa>
Christia Freeland, for example, the Canadian Foreign Minister, and heir presumptive to the Trudeau crown, is a lifelong Nazi sympathiser, a fellow traveller in the caravan which set up Auschwitz and worked/starved millions of elsaved prisoners to death. The ‘threat’ of Le Pen taking over in France is as nothing compared with that of Freeland-who openly champions Ukraine’s neo-nazis and supports Ukraine’s admission to NATO.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/03/27/nazi-heritage-the-strange-saga-of-chrystia-freelands-ukrainian-grandfather/
Well said bevin…Here is some more on the ‘ Putin did it ‘ Crap –
The continuous anti-Russian propaganda issuing from Washington, NATO and the despicable Western presstitutes has the purpose of orchestrating a Russian Threat and preventing a reduction of tensions between the nuclear powers. The demonization of Russia’s president and the clearly false charges against Russia, such as interference in the US presidential election, invasion of Ukraine, reconstruction of the Soviet empire—are understood by the Russians as a propaganda campaign to prepare Western populations for a pre-emptive nuclear attack on Russia. The conventional NATO forces conducting military exercises and deployed on Russia’s border are understood by the Russians as being too small and lacking in strength to be of any consequence. They are merely an orchestration to emphasize the Russian Threat for insouciant Western populations. The Russian government understands that all of this is preparation for an attack on Russia. Just as Saddam Hussein, Gadaffi, and Assad were demonized by US government officials, now it is Putin. The dangerous situation could not be more obvious.
The Day Earth Was Murdered
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46738.htm
She is older than Trudeau, how long will she have to wait as “heir presumptive”?
And the reports of recent demonstrations I saw were about alleged corrruption by Medvedev
She won’t be waiting. She didn’t wait to knife Dion and she won’t hesitate when the chance to do the same to Trudeau arises. Sex is more material than age in this case.
Economy of The United Kingdom, not doing too badly, since the Brexit Referendum.
Ministry of Truth
One of the largest investors in the UK has committed £5bn of new money to invest in transport, property and digital technology.
The Middle Eastern state of Qatar said that it was optimistic about the future of the British economy.
It made it clear that the UK leaving the European Union had little bearing on its decision.
Qatar has already invested £40bn in the UK – it owns Harrods and a 95% stake in the Shard in London.
It also has a stake in Canary Wharf in the capital’s Docklands, as well as an interest in the Milford Haven liquefied natural gas terminal in South Wales.
Michael.
You do know your beloved benefactors Qatar pratice’s Sharia Law, and that stoning and flogging are common place. Britain has also sold million of pounds worth of arms to the oppressive regime. The UN Convention on Torture are also concerned about practices in Qatar – as are Human Rights Watch.
Strange Michael, how you vehemently oppose foreigners from entering Britain, but you have no problem whatsoever bragging about their investments, even if that investment comes from an oppressive country, where Sharia Law, is the law of the land.
No RoS, I do not want Sharia Law for The United Kingdom.
I was just pointing out that the world’s fifth largest economy, is ticking along nicely.
And I Michael, am just pointing out what a hypocrite you are.
He’s missed out most of the QIA’s investments in this country.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_Investment_Authority#Investments
Not forgetting that monstrosity, Irvine Sellars’ Shard.
The developer of The Shard says London “owes a debt” to Qatar after London’s new skyscraper was officially inaugurated. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/constructionandproperty/9379526/The-Shard-developer-says-London-owes-a-debt-to-Qatar.html
“Economy of The United Kingdom, not doing too badly, since the Brexit Referendum.
Ministry of Truth”
Meanwhile in the real world how are the British people doing? Are wages rising? Is there a growing sense of security, of faith in the future among them? Are living standards improving? Are people working fewer hours? Is the housing situation satisfactory? Can young people start families and set up homes? Is personal debt falling? Are there any signs at all that the real economy is not worse than it has been since the 1930s?
As to the kleptocrats from Qatar, the money they have invested is stolen, as is that of the Russian oligarchs and the Saud family- they regard the UK as a tax haven in which they will be protected from their victims when justice catches up with them.
The former ITALIAN Prime Minster Enrico Letta has declared “if Marine Le Pen wins, Europe is over”.
I think that is essentially true.
The European Union would no doubt then be over, but I don’t think that would mean that Europe would be over.
“Prime Minister Theresa May announced a counter-terrorism training exercise in Scotland to strengthen the UK’s response to a terrorist attack.”
https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/PM+announces+major+counterterrorism+training+exercise+in+Scotland+27032017161500?open
I find even thought of this so called terrorism exercise extremely alarming. It was only about two-weeks ago, a similar terrorism exercise took place in London.
Last Wednesday, a terrorist event occurred, in near enough the same location as the exercise took place.
Except that it was 5 miles away in Docklands and a completely different scenario.
Very comforting to know that the security services are so well prepared. That’s what they are there for.
By Craig’s logic that very few people have died in terror attacks in the UK since 7/7, and that it’s riskier to die in your bathtub, should the security services develop a new cell to rescue PubicofScotland from his bathtub?
The low no. of actual attacks and victims since 7/7 tells me that the security services are doing a great job of nipping things in the bud. That’s a good thing and I congratulate them for that.
“The low no. of actual attacks and victims since 7/7 tells me that the security services are doing a great job of nipping things in the bud. That’s a good thing and I congratulate them for that…”
Your file is being updated, with immediate effect. A Promotion Board will be convened, soonest, to look into your case. In the meantime please accept the sincere thanks of decent people everywhere for your pointed analysis of the situation. The Birthday Honours List will soon be upon us.
Yours Sincerely, Cheltenham.
Not forgetting:
Peter Power’s terrrrr exercise on the day
https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Peter_Power
The killing of Jean Charles de Menezes on 22nd July 2005
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Jean_Charles_de_Menezes
We await the arrival of Miss Cressida Dick at Scotland Yard. Hogan-Howe left on 22nd February, ie over a month ago. Why the delay and the interregnum during which the Westminster attack took place? This does not seem to have been managed very well by Treeza.
One billion barrels of oil found 60 miles west of Shetland.
Previous total 25 million barrels.
Free gas,electricity,petrol and diesel for the people of Scotland, and England et al can pay for it.
Nae chance of Independence now!!!
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/27/jeff-sessions-says-hell-punish-sanctuaries-cities/
The tribalism is one thing, but finance is everything.
How is one meant to Enjoy a Beautiful Clyde Sunset..When –
Thousands of navy, air force and army personnel have arrived for the operation which runs until April 6. A similar exercise will be held in the autumn – polluting the Clyde and the surrounding seas with their filthy weaponry and deranged insensibilities…
Wish they would fuck off the lot of them.
you have my deepest sympathies Brian, the negative side to having a deep water system with direct access to the North, West and South, infested by the worst kind of indiscriminate weaponry mankind ever let loose, but, also, a grand asset for Scotland which could see the precious breeding waters of the North sea and Atlantic, as well as the Southern Irish waters be policed by a EU Peace and Defence Navy in future, a far bigger asset than the UK could ever make of it.
I mean, if its a going concern soon, its definitely a key to some EU door and a strategic, fairly easy protectable military asset for any power, they would be prepared to pay for with the UK as a partner.
As long as they don’t build apartment blocks across the estuary to attract those who love the estuary life and views, that would be the death nail, a constant impact rather than the occasional manoeuvring, I’m prepared to argue for dark glasses this time round…..;)
Thank you Nevermind
I even had the misfortune to see a nuke sub.. And a Too Low, flying bomber plane .
er erre ar the CND @Life after Trident conference a few weeks ago.. it seem there would be More jobs in the area without the WMD’s
I Would like to Show you the Clyde Sometime.. Yir good Lady seen some of the area.
But I would not like you to see it like this –
http://www.konbini.com/en/inspiration/freak-rains-see-the-arid-california-desert-covered-in-colourful-flowers/
P.S i have Found your Birthday Present 🙂
Oopps
That was for Ben over at Sqounk
Nevermind ..The Clyde I drove past this area tonight But we DON’T want this –
https://socialscreen.co.uk/films/benchmark-6
Amen.
Don’t despair. Things are really happening at the moment.
The most important thing is to not get angry/violent, thus giving the psychos in authority the excuse they are looking for.
These total vermin will be brought to justice via peaceful means.
Otherwise we’re as bad as them.
Lots of military ‘exercises’ along the Russian border as well. I don’t know if this is Trump’s doing, a legacy of Obama , or if senior military brass are going rogue – but it’s disturbing.
I strongly suspect that the neocons have gone native, and their military stooges are sabre-rattling without full approval from the Whitehouse. However, if this is the case, Trump has to fire them, or it’s on him. Hard to really say these days, as I’ve thought for quite some time that the POTUS isn’t really in charge these days. Nuland thinks Cheney is in charge. I can believe it, too.