UK Newswire Archive
The National Composites Centre, Bristol: A Shining Example of Solar Energy Generation
28-06-2011 10:55
The National Composites Centre (NCC) located in the Bristol and Bath Science Park is opening this summer. The Centre will focus on cutting edge composite technologies nurturing collaborative links between UK universities and industry. The NCC will seek to speed-upinnovative product developments from laboratory to production. The Centre also aims to be a shining example of how industrial facilities can incorporate renewable energy in their construction.
Birmingham - 3rd police custody death in 11 months
28-06-2011 10:53
Demetre Fraser - 31st May 2011Kingsley Burrell - 30th March 2011
Lloyd Butler - 4 August 2011
Mum demands police officers are suspended after son's death
By Trudy Simpson,Voice Online, 23 June 2011
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=20190
rally against torture - trafalgar square - sunday
28-06-2011 09:55
campaigners from london guantanamo campaign and kingston peace council organised a rally in trafalgar sq on sunday afternoon in solidarity with the international day in support for the victims of torture. the rally aimed to raise awareness of torture and the collusion in its practice of states worldwide.
click on image for larger version. all images are 'some rights reserved' - free for credited non-commercial use, otherwise contact author for permission
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the rally attracted a wide range of speakers from many campaigns all linked in the struggle against torture.
after introductions from david harrold of the london guantanamo campaign, the london green mp jean lambert was the first invited speaker, and she talked about uk sales of torture equipment to states with poor human rights records. she said it was time to call for a complete ban.
next was peace activist maya evans, who works with the campaigning group 'justice not vengeance'. she talked of her human rights cases against the uk government. first, with phil shiner, the birmingham rights lawyer, she launched a judicial review into the government's treatment of deportees, and forced a change in procedure so that detainees had to be tracked when deported to suspect states to ensure that they would not be subject to torture. immediately after this ruling, the govt changed the rules on legal aid, preventing activists from bringing cases to judicial review in this way. maya challenged this action too, and the high court overthrew the new rules and castigated the government. maya also mentioned a play currently running at the tricycle theatre which is about baha mousa, the iraqi hotel receptionist beaten to death at the hands of the queen's lancashire regiment.
noah kleunman, who has worked for amnesty international for 50 years, then spoke of how america used 911 to justify torture, but reminded us of the american use of torture both abroad and in US prisons over many years prior. she noted that the abu ghraib guards learnt their dark arts in US prisons. amnesty, she said were currently involved with campaigns relating to US prisoners facing injustice, torture and execution.
andy worthington, author of the 'guantanamo files',and co-director of 'outside the law: stories from guantanamo', described the sanitation of torture in language, with terms such as 'water-boarding', 'enhanced interrogation techniques', and the guantanamo practice of sleep deprivation, waking inmates every two hours and moving them around the camp, sometimes for months, known as the 'frequent flyer programme'. he spoke about how the official line is that these techniques were 'approved by US lawyers' as 'legal', but he made the point that under international law, they are simply not allowed to 'approve' such torture, but that although they should all be prosecuted for doing so, they still continue in their high-profile jobs with impunity.
les levidov spoke about the 'campaign against criminalising communities'. he told us how the government changed the defenition of terrorism in the 2000 bill, and thus excluded the refugee status of many legitimate freedom fighters. as a result MI5 have become even bolder in their use of 'stick and carrot' techniques to turn refugees into informants. a recent example which came to light involved somalian youth workers who were threatened by MI5 agents that unless they informed on the political views of their charges, they would be labelled as terrorists and then deported to somalia. in this case the workers refused to co-operate and went public, exposing the disgusting and unlawful plot, but clearly MI5 believes it can get away with such actions, and who knows how many innocent people have been affected by similar injustices.
russian campaigners from 'speak up' told of their 8 year battle to free russian businessman mikhail khordoskovsky, who is imprisoned, they claim, after a politically motivated trial. some of their supporters were in the square celebrating mikhail's birthday with a banner and balloons.
medical justice founder, dr frank arnold, spoke from personal experience of carrying out more than 500 examinations of torture victims seeking refuge in the uk. he described some of the gruesome noticeable physical and mental signs of torture, but explained that while it's possible to document these things, it is not possible to document the lifelong damage caused. he spoke of how it is absolutely clear that you can make anyone say anything and admit to anything under torture, and that the 'ticking bomb' scenario, often used to justify such acts, is palpable nonsense. he also spoke in solidarity with the bahraini doctors currently in detention for treating protestors injured in the brutal government crackdown (aided by saudi troops), and asked why we are bombing libya but allowing bahrain to do what it wants.
simar kuar ('TARAN' - trauma rehab network) made a heartfelt plea over an appalling case in india. in 1991 professor davinderpal singh bhullar began to investigate why 42 students at his college had gone missing after being taken in by punjab police. his journey of discovery led him to become an activist and dissident, and in 1995, after intimidation and harrassment, he applied for asylum in germany, but courts there stated he was in no danger and returned him to india where he has now been imprisoned for 16 years, 8 of them in solitary confinement. the german courts reversed their decision too late for the doctor back in india, and after a confession, signed with a thumbprint and extracted under torture, he now faces the death penalty, the first in india's supreme court history where an execution is going ahead despite a split judgement. more info at www.thejournal.ie/calls-for-india-to-cancel-first-hangings-since-2004-146395-May2011/
another speaker from 'justice for aafia' told the harrowing story of dr aafia siddiqui who is facing 86 yrs in prison in america, after spending time under torture at bagram. accused of assaulting and attempting to shoot guards, her case contains lots of inconsistencies, and one of her sons seems to have been murdered by US personnel.
naomi colvin spoke on behalf of the bradley manning campaign, outlining the terrible conditions he has been held in, and the current campaign to get justice for a man who should never have been in iraq in the first place.
huci ozdemir spoke on behalf of the 'international committee against disappearances' which campaigns about this special form of violence that some states use, and which began out of the campaign to find out what happened to turkish revolutionary hasan ocak. ICAD now organises conferences in the countries where disappearances still occur.
maria gallestegui spoke on behalf of 'peace strike' in parliament square, and she urged people to use the coming strikes on june 30th to protest against the government's use of public money to fund their illegal wars. she asked everybody to just stop on thursday - no travelling, no working, no shopping - send a message to the government by shutting trade and normal society down.
finally, ray silk, spoke about the campaign to free guantanamo prisoner shaker aamer who is a uk citizen still held there. he told of the legal wrangles between different authorities, and the dodgy guantanamo inquiry held partly in secret. he described how currently the US won't allow a consular visit, but our govt doesn't seem concerned at this denial of justice to their citizen. he reminded us of the annual 4th july protest 4-6 outside US embassy, and also spoke of an apparent call from the 'stop the war coalition' to begin a permanent peace protest in trafalgar square from the 8th october.
the afternoon finished with a poem read by mr. qavi who is a well-known figure among peace activists.
although the actual turnout was poor, it was a very hot afternoon, and plenty of people passed through trafalgar square, often stopping to listen to the speakers, and picking up leaflets from the table. it was also an opportunity for many of the represented groups to network and to feel less alone in their individual struggles.
torture is banned absolutely under international law. it is always illegal. the united nations convention against torture became law in 1987, and also bans acts that facilitate torture, such as extradition or returning a person to a country where they are at risk, or even refuelling a boat or plane used to carry out such renditions. torture is so heinous that it is considered a crime against humanity.
despite all this, not only does the use of torture appear to have risen worldwide in recent history, but also western "democratic" states have been found to be involved. the UK intelligence services have been proven to have been involved in torture of british nationals abroad, especially in pakistan, and of course in iraq, and it still takes part in 'deportation with assurances', sending people to their country of origin, where they are clearly at risk.
legal aid cuts are causing more and more asylum seekers to return to the torture they are fleeing. it is time to hunt down the perpetrators and the sick politicians who collude in facilitating torture - they should all be tried and prosecuted.
'this is a day on which we pay our respects to those who have endured the unimaginable. this is an occasion for the world to speak up against the unspeakable' - kofi annan, former UN sec general
'a sad chapter in america's history' - barak obama, speaking about guantanamo during his presidential campaign
J30 Action in Wales
28-06-2011 08:15
Hot on the heels of Greece's 48 hour General Strike against Austerity, Britain's JUNE 30 DAY OF ACTION may well turn out to be a vital step forward in the mass fight against the cuts. Hundreds of thousands of workers will be involved in strike action from several unions.Staying Human: Preparing to Sail to Gaza
28-06-2011 07:53
Last week, newly-arrived in Athens as part of the US Boat to Gaza project, our team of activists gathered for nonviolence training. We are here to sail to Gaza, in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, in our ship, "The Audacity of Hope."Disorder and Anarchism today
28-06-2011 01:48
Though anarchism is now topical take a moment to see what it may be. Anarchism may be disorder, in fact it should be so that we are released from endless suffering and destruction.30 June, Public Meeting, Brighton: Solidarity with Whistle-blowers
27-06-2011 21:43
Public rally in support of victims of torture: 26 June (report and pictures)
27-06-2011 19:17
Calais: Africa House *evicted*, 'Global House' under threat
27-06-2011 17:09
'The only democracy in the Middle East' : Report this and get a 10 year ban
27-06-2011 11:32
Strathclyde University students go into occupation against savage course cuts
27-06-2011 10:37
Strathclyde students have just gone into occupation of their university. They are occupying against the cutting of four departments which were ruthlessly voted through by the senate last week. They need the support of every Glasgow anti-cuts activist to make this a success. Come down to the Graham Hills building and show them support.Anti-cuts campaigners support striking unions
27-06-2011 09:55
Anti-cuts group Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS) will be supporting union members striking in defence of their pensions on June 30th.
On June 30th anything up to 750,000 members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), National Union of Teachers (NUT), Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) and University and Colleges Union (UCU) will take part in coordinated strike action.
In Nottingham, strikers will meet up at the Forest Recreation Ground at 11am and march down Mansfield Road for a carnival event at Trinity Square. Later there will be a further meeting and debate in the Albert Hall.
Campaigners from Notts SOS will be visiting pickets in the morning and taking an active part in marches and rallies.
Claire Taylor from Notts SOS said, "Workers already facing job cuts, pay freezes and attacks on their terms and conditions are now seeing their pensions slashed. They are angry and with good reason."
Rosemary Muge from the campaign said, "The government expect ordinary people to pay for a crisis caused by the banks. The government are slashing jobs and pensions at the same time that bankers bailed out by the taxpayer are receiving obscene bonuses."
Notes for editors
Notts SOS was launched on 29th September 2010. They oppose cuts to services, job losses and cuts in benefits and aim to support workers organisations, service users, community groups in fighting cuts in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire. They hope to inspire confidence to think, meet and act. And to be inspired.
ENDS
Demetre Fraser: Outrage at new death in West Midlands Police custody
27-06-2011 09:03
Demetre Fraser a 21 year old black man is from Peckham south east London and represents the second highly suspicious death in the custody and care of West Midlands Police force following on from the controversial death of Kingsley Burrell. The recent deaths in police custody of Smiley Culture aka David Emmanuel, Kingsley Burrell and now Demetre will inflame police community tensions, already stretched to breaking point.
Support Julian Assange at the High Court, 12 & 13 July
27-06-2011 08:44
Julian Assange needs your support from 9am on 12 & 13 July at the High Court in London, where his appeal against extradition to Sweden will be heard.
Free Assange! End the Wars! Public Meeting 9 July
27-06-2011 08:04
Which side are you on? Anarchist Solidarity statement about Jock Palfreeman
26-06-2011 22:57
...NATO: Invasion of Libya
26-06-2011 22:00
On BitCoin, A Digital Currency
26-06-2011 21:55
A short piece about BitCoins a digital currency and it's social impact. And some genuine alternatives to the currency we presently use.
I recently attended the wonderful, inspiring, and slightly intoxicating BarnCamp. For those unaware, Barncamp is a “an ad-hoc gathering … a healthy take on technology, both new media and alternative, with a mix of free software, alternative use of technology for activism” [http://is.gd/azm4kX]
One of the workshops I attended was on the subject of Bitcoin. The distributed digital currency. I won’t attempt to explain its mechanics as this has already been attempted here [http://www.weusecoins.com]
Bitcoin has made the news several times recently, once for its use on the digital black market site Silkroad. The authorities were alarmed and the media keen to sensationalise because Silkroad offered to traders Illegal drugs and dubious services. [http://is.gd/u7UMGU]
More recenlty the hacktivist group Lulzsec have been implicated in an attack to the Bitcoin econony through the digital currency exchange [name here]. By selling a massive holding of Bticoins at a hugley deflated price they managed to crash the market completely [http://is.gd/m1OLfP]
However none of this explains my frustrations with the enthusiasm that it was met with at Barncamp. Its was certainly appropriate to discuss it, distributed technolgies its fascinating and can benifit activism greatly. Here are the political arguements that were put forward;
- Bitcoin through a distributed system takes the power and control of our money away from the banks and places into our control
Its true passing money into the banks centralised control to do whatever they want with is harmful to society. Since the most recent banking crisis the banks have only become more powerful mainly because of ours and particulary the governments slavish belief in the banking system and the financial ‘industry’.
- Through this same system, BitCoin transactions are anonymised
Yes the transactions are. Ironcially those using massive server farms to generate BitCoins en-masse may attract the same attention as hydroponic cannabis farms in lofts spitting out a big red heat map. And whilst the transaction may be anonymised you still need to receive the services purchased.
- It gives us the power to generate currency and put it directly into our pockets (or digital wallets)
Now I should be clear on this point, BitCoin generation will only continue whilst a cap has not been reached. Up to this point though, those massive server farms churning through BitCoin transactions will far overtake your conscientious computer user running a low-power netbook. Bitcoin favours those with greater computing power (and therefore more ‘analogue’ currency to purchase, power, and maintain that hardware).
My main grievance with Bitcoin, for eveything that it achieves to decentralise and anonymalise, it is still another monetary system. And I passionately belive we don’t need another monetary system. idealogically to have one at all is deeply harmful to society.
As far as alternative money systems are concerned the Transition Town project has spawned some great local currency which enocurages shoppers to use local services. This in turn achieves the Transition aims of reducing carbon as the shopper doesn’t travel to an out of town supermarket.
What about skills-based exchange. One example; The Freeconomy Community, made famous by Mark Boyle (The moneyless man), promotes trading of services based on your current need without requiring a syncronous exchange. The concept of ‘paying it forward’ expects that you offer when your skills when you can but not at the point of exchange.
#J30 Actions Across the UK
26-06-2011 21:35
Following is a list of actions sent out from http://www.demotix.com/ for the June 20th strike. Note the publishing page now has a "J30 Strike" topic and there is an archive here http:/ http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2011/j30/