UK UK Newswire Archive
CSO Castillo - about us
21-12-2011 13:51
two months at the Castillo!
21-12-2011 13:47
All UK Anti-Austerity Campaigns Proven RIght!!
21-12-2011 12:55
An investigation by the Public Accounts Committee has calculated there is £25 BILLION in outstanding corporate tax, which is bigger than the UK budget deficit for 2002. This report vindicates UK Uncut, Occupy groups and anti-austerity protests, and in terms of the movement breaking-out of its cultural ghetto and linking with mass culture, the most important lesson for radicals is that there is outrage about this "from across the political spectrum", with even the right-wing Daily Telegraph admitting that "Conservatives should support left-wing campaign groups when they’re in the right"...
In what is arguably the most important domestic news report of 2011 (and possibly 2012) "allegations about tax avoidance in the highest echelons of the corporate world have been vindicated in a Commons report". The sheer scale of corporate crime will come as no surprise to most ordinary people, but it is very important in PR terms that claims made from within protest culture have been corroborated by an investigation from within the very heart of the political establishment.
An investigation by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons has vindicated claims by UK Uncut, calculating there is £25 BILLION in outstanding corporate tax which Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs has failed to collect. The report details "specific and systemic failures" by HMRC and states that "senior HMRC officials were not prepared to cooperate with our inquiry" - in other words it's obvious the HMRC are deliberately failing to tax the hyper-rich.??This £25 billion is bigger than the entire UK budget deficit for 2002, is only slightly below the £30 billion deficit of 2006, and is equivalent to £1,000 for every UK family or 6% off basic income tax. This £25 billion is THEFT, because the likes of Vodafone and Goldman Sachs derive huge financial benefits from the education and health-care that British taxpayers provide for their employees, and from taxpayers funding the infrastructure that helps these corporations trade profitably, yet corporations avoid paying for the services that help keep them rich, while jobs, services, pensions, health-care and education are STOLEN from the taxpayers who've funded them, in order to pay back for all this lost revenue. As such this report vindicates UK Uncut and all Occupy groups, all anti-austerity protests, and everyone who campaigns against traitors like Nick Clegg using the deficit as an excuse to turn every single British university into a private school.
In terms of the protest movement breaking-out of its cultural ghetto and linking-up with mass culture, the most important lesson for radical groups is that there is "widespread outrage" about this report "from across the political spectrum" with "union leaders joining forces with right-wing pressure groups like the Tax Payers Alliance to back the findings", and even right-wing papers like The Daily Telegraph stating this is "outrageous" and that "Conservatives should support left-wing campaign groups when they’re in the right".
There are 2 ways that radical groups can respond to encouragement like this however. The first way is to make political capital out increasing popular anger at the grand-theft capitalism that's robbing us all. The 2nd is to make loud displays of violent radicalism which will seduce a tiny minority while successfully convincing everyone else that radicals are still best avoided.
http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2011/12/20/uk-uncut-vindicated-commons-report-backs-protest-group
Here's ANOTHER BILLION the government don't need to cut from public services...
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-2066529/Super-rich-dodge-stamp-duty-families-pay-tens-thousands.html
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100125290/in-praise-of-uk-uncut/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Brighton Squatters Resist Eviction Attempt
21-12-2011 11:29
Squatters in Brighton have succesfuly defended themselves against a violent eviction attempt by High Court Balliffs this morning (21/12/11)Hasbara Strategy to Campaigns Pursuing an end to Israeli Apartheid
21-12-2011 09:25
16-19 Dec: 4 days of solidarity with Bradley Manning in Wales
21-12-2011 00:02
We marked the start of Bradley Manning's pre-trial hearing and his 24th birthday in Wales with four days of solidarity action: in Wrexham on Friday morning and in Cardiff on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
All UK Anti-Austerity Campaigns Proven RIght!!
20-12-2011 23:21
An investigation by the Public Accounts Committee has calculated there is £25 BILLION in outstanding corporate tax, which is bigger than the UK budget deficit for 2002. This report vindicates UK Uncut, Occupy groups and anti-austerity protests, and in terms of the movement breaking-out of its cultural ghetto and linking with mass culture, the most important lesson for radicals is that there is outrage about this "from across the political spectrum", with even the right-wing Daily Telegraph admitting that "Conservatives should support left-wing campaign groups when they’re in the right".....Occupy liberates abandoned Old St magistrate court
20-12-2011 20:55
As the LSX occupation prepares to present its case at the High Court yesterday, members of Occupy London alongside a group of military veterans – Occupy Veterans – have liberated a disused court house in London’s East End. The opening of Occupy London’s fourth occupation, will see the movement conducting “trials of the one per cent” in an abandoned magistrate’s court building which has lain empty since 1996, despite its prime location and grade II listing. [1]
The occupation of the Old Street Magistrate’s Court (335-337 Old Street, London Borough of Hackney), now renamed Occupy Justice, took place early on Tuesday morning. It was opened by Occupy London supporters and Occupy Veterans coming together led by the Occupy London’s ‘Tank of Ideas’, the movement’s armoured peace vehicle.
The new residents, who include members of Occupy Veterans – a group of former and active-duty servicemen and women drawn from the 99 per cent – have pledged to maintain a residence at the courthouse, to take good care of the building and to provide daytime use of the facilities for Occupy London to put the one per cent on trial. The residents have already spoken with the various stakeholders of the building and are looking to develop an open dialogue.
This fourth occupation joins the existing OccupyLSX camp by St Paul’s Cathedral, the Finsbury Square occupation and the Bank of Ideas, the abandoned multi million pound office complex of UBS on Sun Street, which Occupy London liberated in an act of ‘public reposession’ – now a thriving arts and community centre.
The one per cent on trial at Occupy Justice
Working with solicitors to construct cases based on English law, Occupy Justice will provide a much needed space to bring a sense of accountability to those whose actions have been in contravention of the public interest. These will not be show trials, but public airings of wrongdoing perpetuated by those in positions of authority. Occupy London will work hard to present solid legal arguments for scrutiny in the court of public opinion.
Initial cases will be announced shortly against those who have tanked the global economy, slashed Britain’s social services, stripped people of their civil rights and repeatedly lied the nation into war. It is expected that most cases will be heard in absentia.
Adam Fitzmaurice, Occupy London supporter and new resident of Occupy Justice said that the intention is to put the building back into public service, to satisfy a need for justice that the relevant authorites have so far been unable to meet: “The government has been unable – or more likely, unwilling – to bring those responsible for the worst economic disaster since the 1930s to justice, so the people have to assume those roles.”
“The way UBS owned Sun Street Properties has behaved towards the Bank of Ideas, with blatant disregard for fair procedure, shows how many of the most powerful financial institutions behave as if they were above the law. Occupy Justice are going to redress that balance. Unlike UBS, we’ll afford our defendants due process, but we do intend to hold people to account.”
Joe Glenton, a member of Occupy Veterans and former Lance Corporal who served with the Royal Logistics corps in Afghanistan explained: “Many people join the military to see justice spread throughout the world, but the reality doesn’t always match up to the promise. In theUK, the courts are meant to serve the people, but here too it feels like the courts are never allowed to hear charges against the one per cent. That’s why Occupy Veterans has come together to march in solidarity with Occupy London, and the wider global Occupy movement, in the aim of achieving justice, as well as a more just society, for all.”
Notes
[1] http://www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2005/050224/10/
Open Letter To Occupy London from 2 Working Class Old Buggers
20-12-2011 19:14
Urgent!! - Iraqi Government's 31st December Illegal Deadline For Forcible Closure Of Camp Ashraf
20-12-2011 18:04
The Iraqi government intends to close down Camp Ashraf, home to 3400 Iranian dissidents, by 31st December 2011. This is in direct contravention to the residents' rights as protected persons under the Geneva Convention. Previous attacks by Iraqi forces at the behest of the Iranian regime have resulted in the death and injury of hundreds of people. This next imminent attack will be the worst to date, if it is not prevented.A Working Class Alternative to Public Service Pension Cuts
20-12-2011 18:00
Anti-War Resister Fr. Martin Newell was released from Pentonville today.
20-12-2011 16:41
Fr. Martin Newell was released from Pentonville / London today after serving a sentence for cutting into Northwood Headquarters on the "Feast of Innocents" 2008Northwood Headquarters in resistance to the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan.
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo...s.htm
Solidarity with Bradley Manning at NSA Menwith Hill, N Yorks.
20-12-2011 15:25
Another paedo cop is jailed
20-12-2011 14:55
Former police inspector, Russell Dew, pleaded guilty to sexually touching a 13 year old girl and has been imprisoned for 6 years. He joins other officers such as Sergeant Darren Dearling on the sexual offenders register. Dew committed the offences whilst a serving police officer in Newark last year. In a sick twist he helped set up a centre for victims of abuse in Croydon.
It is natural that, when given a position of power over others as all police officers are, that many will abuse that power for personal gain. It is also natural that individuals who want to have power over others will join the police force in order to get that power. From administering beatings to intimidating photographers to lying through their teeth, abuses of power are rife within the police force and many officers clearly believe that they are above the law.
As long as we have a police force we will have predatory, abusive cops. No reforms will change that.
Palestine Today 12 20 2011
20-12-2011 14:19
Interview Mick Napier: "Everyone can help Welcome to Palestine 2012"
20-12-2011 13:29
University of Birmingham threatens BUCU right to strike
20-12-2011 12:48
Following the November 30 strike, BUCU were sent a confidential document by UoB HR which threatens BUCU through claims that members behaved unlawfully and/or unreasonably during the picketing on 30th November."Battle in Seattle" film at Bank of Ideas this Saturday 24th December
20-12-2011 11:14
The Bank of Ideas in Sun Street, Hackney will be showing the film Battle in Seattle on Saturday the 24th of December at 8pm about the November 1999 mass protest against the World Trade Organisation conference in Seattle which kicked off the global anti-capitalist movement,Tuesday - dawn raid on Tahrir Square
20-12-2011 06:32
EGYPTIAN police and soldiers fired weapons and used batons and teargas for a fifth day on Tuesday in the latest security operation to clear Cairo's central Tahrir Square of opponents of army rule.