UK Newswire Archive
Labor Rights in Occupied Lands: US Busting Labor Unions in Iraq
20-10-2010 17:43
It is only in comic books and Hollywood movies that America's superheroes exist to defend the underdog. In practice, the armies of America have fanned out around the globe to show they are the willing servants of the corporate overdog. As Noam Chomsky writes in his book "Imperial Ambitions"(Metropolitan), "You can almost predict (U.S.) policy by that simple principle: Does it help rich people or does it help the general population? And from that you can virtually deduce what's going to happen." There is no more disgraceful example than Iraq.A Tale of Two Nations: Red Hot France; Tepid Britain
20-10-2010 17:26
France is grinding to a standstill as millions of workers and students erupt in the streets at the government’s prposal to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. Across the Channel, the new Tory Chancellor has announced savage cuts in public expenditures that will slice away more than a million jobs, drive workers out of south east England and doom the country to years of austerity (unequally imposed, bien sur.) Yet the response has been muted.Crude Awakening (Oct 16 2010)
20-10-2010 16:27
On Saturday 16th October, Climate campaigners gave the Oil Industry a Crude Awakening, taking direct action against the industry for its role in exacerbating climate change, as well as its devastating impact on local communities and environments around the world. Three blocs starting from three different places, one mass action - "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty."
Part of the Global Week for Action on Climate Justice. More info:
http://global.climate-justice-action.org/
http://intercontinentalcry.org/global-minga-in-defense-of-mother-earth-october-12-2010/
http://www.crudeawakening.org.uk/
Palestine Today 10 20 2010
20-10-2010 16:22
Social housing cuts while large-landowner benefit-payments are preserved
20-10-2010 16:21
There is no suggestion by the Chancellor or other Government spokespersons of cutting Common Agricultural Payment welfare payments as a contribution to the current austerity savings and there is no mention of such cuts in today’s Spending Review announced by Osborne. Currently, the taxpayer pay £10 billion a year to the EU - of which £3.4 billion comes back mainly to large landowners.BAE Systems protest at Guardian's London Graduate
20-10-2010 15:22
Attempts by the arms giant BAE Systems to recruit graduates to their business were met by a series of forceful but peaceful protests at a major careers fair in central London yesterday afternoon (19 October).
Two weeks after the launch of Campaign Against the Arms Trade's new Ban BAE counter-recruitment campaign, students and anti-arms trade activists kicked off the academic year by taking over a BAE recruitment presentation and staging a die-in at their stall.
The action took place at the Guardian's busy Graduate Fair held at the Business Design Centre in north London and saw 15 young people, including students, CND supporters and Quakers, making a strong but peaceful statement against the unethical activities of BAE – the world's largest arms producer.
There was heavy handed treatment of the protesters by the security services at the event, activist Anna Clark was dragged away by her arms, while at least one other protester was pulled by the feet. It seems as if the security at the fair were expecting protests against BAE, in the afternoon the stall area opposite BAE was occupied not by an exhibiting employer, but two security guards keeping watch.
BAE Systems sells arms to countries the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights report classes as “major countries of concern”. Notable customers include Israel, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Indonesia. BAE arms sales in several countries have been investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and allegations of corruption have dogged the company for years. In March 2010 BAE agreed to pay a $400 million criminal fine to the US Department of Justice.
The company is keen to recruit university graduates, especially in engineering and sciences. Each year they spend thousands of pounds on recruiting staff to research, design, build, market and sell the next generation of killing equipment.
But students are increasingly voicing their distaste for the promotion of careers in the in the arms industry by supposedly ethical organisations, like universities and The Guardian. CAAT has identified over 40 careers events in October and November 2010 where BAE or other arms companies will be present. Student activists are being urged to ensure that BAE is met with campus protests every time it participates in career fairs or other recruitment events.
Hannah Brock, a Quaker, explained, “I was glad to do something public in support of a campaign that makes people contemplate who they give their skills to”.
Hilary Aked, who interrupted the presentation, told Ekklesia that she was motivated by her recent work in Palestine. She pointed out that BAE sell weapons parts to Israeli forces.
“I can see for myself the effects of Israeli military actions, having just returned from Palestine,” she explained, “They're using expensive military equipment to violently suppress peaceful protests”.
Abi Haque, CAAT Universities' Network Co-ordinator says:
"We significantly disrupted the BAE presentation and stall. It was encouraging to see how many students were receptive to our message about BAE and the unethical career choices they offer to graduates. We hope that The Guardian, which has done so much to expose BAE's shady activities, will exclude BAE from future Graduate Fairs."
*Ekklesia article available at http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/13375
*For further information on the Ban BAE Campaign please visit CAAT Universities Network micro-site.
*For questions concerning the CAAT Universities network email Abi Haque, CAAT's Universities' Network Co-ordinator or call 020 7281 0297.
*For information on CAAT please email CAAT Media Co-ordinator Kaye Stearman or ring 020 7281 0297 / 07990 673 232.
Czech Court Gives Record Sentence for Racial Crime
20-10-2010 15:17
A court in the northeastern Czech city of Ostrava Wednesday gave the country’s longest-ever sentence for a racial crime, finding four Czech neo-Nazi sympathizers guilty of setting fire to a Roma family’s house, in which a two-year-old girl suffered severe burns.Why are Brighton and Hove Tory, Freemason councillors, so shy?
20-10-2010 14:00
The Tory Freemason councillors of Brighton and Hove are very shy about their property and business interests. They do their utmost to hide these from the public. They are assisted by the council in doing this. What have they got to hide?An interview with a "Lebanese Christian" about Hezbollah-Christian relations
20-10-2010 13:41
BAE Systems protest at Guardian's London Graduate Fair
20-10-2010 13:12
Major cuts throughout Britain’s National Health Service
20-10-2010 13:02
Major cuts are being made in health care, many of them the result of measures put in place under the previous Labour government of Gordon Brown. People are being denied essential treatments, condemning many to unnecessary suffering and even death.Full article | 1 addition | 1 comment
Tory multimillionaire witch-hunts welfare claimants
20-10-2010 12:50
Britain’s Chancellor George Osborne has announced legislation that will penalise and force into destitution hundreds of thousands of the poorest people in Britain, who are dependent on welfare benefits.BNP chooses Derbyshire for annual conference
20-10-2010 12:48
The British National Party (BNP) has confirmed it will hold its annual conference in South Derbyshire.We're all in this together .... Allegedly !
20-10-2010 12:23
Britain's government unveils the harshest cuts for decades today, slashing billions of pounds in public spending and axing half a million jobs in a bid to tackle a record deficit.
Oxford Citizens Protest Cuts on Carfax Tower
20-10-2010 10:51
Baliff Bashing
20-10-2010 10:24
A violent tool of the state and capitalism, bailiffs are a tool on the poor and as such deserve to be treated with fury and contempt. And last night they were.
M.A Julius and Co. of New Basford, Nottingham were paid a visit last night. Their windows were smashed and messages were left, "Fuck the Rich", "Leave our homes alone" and "Fuck Bailiffs" were painted on the walls of their offices.
This was in solidarity with all of those, including ourselves who have had the indignity from being evicted from homes because the system we live in rewards the selfish greed of the privileged few and punishes the excluded and marginalised. As the cuts come more and more people will struggle to cope, and more and more will be put into debt, and more and more will have their doors broken down by agents of the capitalism. This action is a sign that their will be retaliation, that the controllers of capital and their stooges will not have it all their own way.
Smash the rich and fuck capital.
Anti Cuts Demonstrations This Week
20-10-2010 10:22
Were all in this togetherOn the day that the Con-Dem Chancellor George Osborne announces the results of a ‘spending review’ designed to cut £83 billion from public services, we need to show our opposition in Bristol on the 20th with people gathering in the city centre at 5pm to respond to the cuts. But most importantly is the demo on the 23rd of October where people throughout the South West will gather together in Bristol to show their opposition to the cuts, meet at Castlepark at 11am. Osborne is wielding the axe but it hasn't fallen yet, we need to show our opposition to the biggest fundamental attack on the social fabric of UK. In France they have began the fight back and now it's our turn. These cuts will be disastrous for the South West, with public services being decimated, the most disadvantaged people being attacked all to pay off a debt which is none of our doing. There will be national demonstrations this week and the South West needs to show in solidarity with other campaigns that we don't agree, want or accept these cuts and we will resist them. We need to show we are all in this together and together we will stand.
Osborne is wielding the axe but it hasn't fallen yet, we need to show our opposition to the biggest fundamental attack on the social fabric of UK. In France they have began the fight back and now it's our turn. These cuts will be disastrous for the South West, with public services being decimated, the most disadvantaged people being attacked all to pay off a debt which is none of our doing. There will be national demonstrations this week and the South West needs to show in solidarity with other campaigns that we don't agree, want or accept these cuts and we will resist them. We need to show we are all in this together and together we will stand.
Bristol Demo Details:
20th October: There will be a gathering in the centre of Bristol in response to the announcement of the cuts at 5pm on Wednesday. Meet in the Centre opposite the Hippodrome with banners and placards
23rd October: Meet at Castlepark at 11am for start of March. There has been a huge effort for the demonstration and rally on Saturday: lots of leafleting (15000), meetings, an advert on the Evening Post's website. Coaches are coming from around the South West. Please persuade as many workmates, friends, neighbours, relatives, etc. to come and make this a really big protest.
Full Story | Bristol Rally Against the Cuts | Bristol & District Anti Cuts Demo | Cutz: This week in Bristol & Beyond | The Cuts and the Financial Crisis - What the fuck happened? (blogger.com) | Where did our money go? (neweconomics.org) |
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The Con-Dem government of millionaires, supported by the media, says ‘there is no alternative’ to massive cutbacks at the expense of working people to pay the debts of a bankrupt system.
They tell us ‘we are all in it together’ as they plan cuts in jobs, pay, pensions, benefits, and public services that will hit the poor ten times harder than the rich. If they want cuts, let them cut bank profits and bonuses. If they want to pay off debt, let them tax the rich and big business. If they say we can’t afford the NHS, let them axe Trident and withdraw from Afghanistan.
The cuts they plan will plunge us into a slump. Cuts in the public sector destroy jobs in the private sector. Cuts on the scale of the 1930s will produce unemployment on the scale of the 1930s. What we need is massive investment to create jobs, regenerate the economy, and provide the goods and services people need. In particular, we need massive investment in renewable energy and public transport to begin the transition to a green economy.
More information about the cuts
http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-18087-f0.pdf (cuts leaflet)
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Countering-the-cuts-myths
http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=466 (interesting link to why this debt is not that bad)
http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=1382 (want to know the truth about Camerons Heritage)
This is a brilliant analysis of what's going on by David Harvey and why we should all be anti capitalists and is good entertainment check out some of the other animated talks on the right hand side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOP2V_np2c0&feature=play...edded
Yorkshire Anti-Cuts Rally: Sheffield 23 Oct now with added feeder march
20-10-2010 09:58
major TUC organised rally but now with added feeder march from SWP led Right To Work network from Sheffield uni...Anti cuts Demonstrations this week
20-10-2010 08:22
Were all in this togetherOn the day that the Con-Dem Chancellor George Osborne announces the results of a ‘spending review’ designed to cut £83 billion from public services, we need to show our opposition in Bristol on the 20th with people gathering in the city centre at 5pm to respond to the cuts. But most importantly is the demo on the 23rd of October where people throughout the South West will gather together in Bristol to show their opposition to the cuts, meet at Castlepark at 11am. Osborne is wielding the axe but it hasn't fallen yet, we need to show our opposition to the biggest fundamental attack on the social fabric of UK. In France they have began the fight back and now it's our turn. These cuts will be disastrous for the South West, with public services being decimated, the most disadvantaged people being attacked all to pay off a debt which is none of our doing. There will be national demonstrations this week and the South West needs to show in solidarity with other campaigns that we don't agree, want or accept these cuts and we will resist them. We need to show we are all in this together and together we will stand.
The Con-Dem government of millionaires, supported by the media, says ‘there is no alternative’ to massive cutbacks at the expense of working people to pay the debts of a bankrupt system.
They tell us ‘we are all in it together’ as they plan cuts in jobs, pay, pensions, benefits, and public services that will hit the poor ten times harder than the rich. If they want cuts, let them cut bank profits and bonuses. If they want to pay off debt, let them tax the rich and big business. If they say we can’t afford the NHS, let them axe Trident and withdraw from Afghanistan.
The cuts they plan will plunge us into a slump. Cuts in the public sector destroy jobs in the private sector. Cuts on the scale of the 1930s will produce unemployment on the scale of the 1930s. What we need is massive investment to create jobs, regenerate the economy, and provide the goods and services people need. In particular, we need massive investment in renewable energy and public transport to begin the transition to a green economy.
Bristol Demo Details:
20th October:
There will be a gathering in the centre of Bristol in response to the announcement of the cuts at 5pm on Wednesday. Meet in the Centre opposite the Hippodrome with banners and placards
23rd October
Meet at Castlepark at 11am for start of March.
There has been a huge effort for the demonstration and rally on Saturday: lots of leafleting (15000), meetings, an advert on the Evening Post's website. Coaches are coming from around the South West. Please persuade as many workmates, friends, neighbours, relatives, etc. to come and make this a really big protest.
More information about the cuts
http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-18087-f0.pdf (cuts leaflet)
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Countering-the-cuts-myths
http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=466 (interesting link to why this debt is not that bad)
http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=1382 (want to know the truth about Camerons Heritage)
This is a brilliant analysis of what's going on by David Harvey and why we should all be anti capitalists and is good entertainment check out some of the other animated talks on the right hand side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOP2V_np2c0&feature=play...edded