'pension, sick pay and the same holiday entitlements as any other University of London employee' Are these really 'basic human rights'? Like freedom of movement, expression, life, and liberty?

I'm not questioning that they are deserved, just wether they are 'basic human rights'?

When we live in a country that "legally" takes peoples property from them and uses it to murder people in other countries, that prevents people traveling freely without let or hinderance and that uses stolen resources to prevent free expression, I think we really need to question our understanding or 'basic human rights'.

Speaking as a life-long Anarchist, I can honestly say that I'm sick to the back teeth of the "helpful" comments offered by Anarchists in criticism of people and of campaigns that do more than they do. Since ZERO anarchists bothered to turn-up for this demo (other than myself that is) I'd question whether your perception of what people do or don't "need" to question in this context is remotely relevant?

Yes the concept of human "rights" can be said to be flawed, but yes the concept is also a useful short-hand and a means of communicating complex ideas to people who are a bit politically green... is however taking the time to split hairs about that question on Indymedia really a productive use of your time, or would a better use of your time have been to have got up off your fucking arse and actually bothered to attend the fucking demo?

As it happens part of the reason for posting an ad for this demo on Indymedia was to see whether doing so would make ANY appreciable difference to the numbers of people attending (in comparison to the numbers attending thru Facebook) - as a means of testing how much influence Indymedia actually has.... and I won't insult your intelligence by even bothering to announce what that exercise proved beyond all doubt

>> Speaking as a life-long Anarchist, I can honestly say that I'm sick to the back teeth of the "helpful" comments offered by Anarchists in criticism of people and of campaigns that do more than they do. Since ZERO anarchists bothered to turn-up for this demo (other than myself that is) I'd question whether your perception of what people do or don't "need" to question in this context is remotely relevant?

Its a free country and people have the right, the basic human right, to comment as they feel without your kind telling them what they can and can't do with intimidating paraphrases of what you are sick of. Don't like it? Tough. Move to a country where they clamp down on free speech if you don't like what you see here. This is England.


>> Yes the concept of human "rights" can be said to be flawed,
No it's not. Its pretty fucking clear in the law. The confusion is that you are attempting to twist it into something it is not.


>> but yes the concept is also a useful short-hand and a means of communicating complex ideas to people who are a bit politically green...

So thats a 'no' then. They arn't 'basic human rights' then. Like when someone says "racist" when it actually isn't racist and thus just piss everyone off so the next person that says racist gets ignored.


>> is however taking the time to split hairs about that question on Indymedia really a productive use of your time,

Actually it is. Obviously you look like a laughing stock like that woman years ago who spent your kids benefits on taking them to mcdonalds under the excuse that they had a right to eat mcdonalds. horse shit


>> or would a better use of your time have been to have got up off your fucking arse and actually bothered to attend the fucking demo?

Maybe you should use your time and get off your arse rather than typing bollox here and wasting my time disputing it.


>> As it happens part of the reason for posting an ad for this demo on Indymedia was to see whether doing so would make ANY appreciable difference to the numbers of people attending (in comparison to the numbers attending thru Facebook) - as a means of testing how much influence Indymedia actually has.... and I won't insult your intelligence by even bothering to announce what that exercise proved beyond all doubt

Well, boo hoo. Why anyone would turn up to a demo on 'basic human rights' being holidays etc is beyond me. Excuse me if I was too busy doing something important like saving people's lives.

are the rights that (some) employees get.

Human Rights are indeed different - see for example the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:  http://www.buzzle.com/articles/list-of-human-rights.html

Rights are pretty meaningless unless there is a body that will make sure they are enforced. The neo-liberals are demolishing Employment Rights all the time.