UK Culture Newswire Archive
Chinese New Year celebrations in Beeston - 28th January
13-01-2006 16:49
Once again the popular and successful Chinese New Year celebration events are taking place in Beeston and at the Lakeside Arts Centre on the 28th and 29th January consecutively. The events have been organised by Broxtowe Borough Council in conjunction with Broxtowe College, Lakeside Arts Centre (Nottingham University) and Nottingham City Council to bring an exciting new programme of events to celebrate the year of the dog.Protest at nazi Griffin's trial on Monday
13-01-2006 00:24
Let's all go to Leeds on Monday and cheer the judges onrioting breaks at out rampART
12-01-2006 16:06
Tonight (thursday) the free weekly cinema at the rampART is showing films related to the french riots.During the last few weeks these riots have been used to fuel race hatred by nationalist and other right wing scum in the hope of gaining power and influence for their fascist agenda.
In France, Le Pen's Front National party has been milking the situation for all it's worth and apparently gaining support. Opinion poll commissioned by the newspaper Le Monde, suggest that only 39 percent of the French now believe that the views of the Front National party, are "unacceptable." That suggests up to 61 percent, now see Le Pen as a legitimate political candidate, along with his policies of compulsory mass expulsion of immigrants, including children born in France.
Moreover, the ideas and resentments that underpin Le Pen's message have become widespread. Nearly three out of four (73%) declared that "the traditional values of France are not adequately protected." while almost two out of three (63%), said that there are too many immigrants in France.
Le Monde also reported another poll organized by France's National Commission for the Rights of Man. It was accompanied by a confidential report to the Minister of the Interior, noting that "the word 'racist' has been liberated." Indeed it appears that the word is no longer used with shame in France. The poll found that 33% of French adults used the word 'racist' to describe themselves (in rural districts the percentage is even higher at 48%!). In the same poll a year ago, only 25 percent would call themselves 'racist.'
The poll showed that the public acceptance of racist attitudes is strongest among men, the elderly, skilled workers, small business people, company heads and workers. The report concludes that, "the end of the taboo against racism is confirmed by the finding that 63 percent of respondents said that certain behavior (by immigrants) can justify racist reactions."
Slightly less than the previous poll, this one reported that 56% thought that there were too many immigrants in France - even immigrants saying the same apparently! France has the highest proportion of immigrants in Europe with some 10 percent of the population, mostly of Islamic backgrounds in North Africa.
Racism appears to be making gains around Europe. In Belgium, the successor to the Vlaams Blok party (a party banned two years ago for it's 'extremism'), has 18% of the vote and is the second largest party in the Flemish parliament. It is also the largest party on Antwerp city where 'Mohammed' is now the most common name in new registrations of births.
http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20051218-092936-9999r In the UK, the British Nazi Party have also been striving to gain support for their fascist agenda by capitalising on peoples fear after the french riots.
http://www.bnp.org.uk/columnists/brimstone2.php?leeId=66 All over the internet you can find right wing websites exploiting stories of gang rape of white women by muslims men in order to fuel the race hate that gives them power. Where the riots in france really race riots by terrorist inspired muslim youth or simply a class issue of alienation, discrimination and poverty? Whatever the answer that fact remains that tensions are growing as the cap between the haves and have nots widens under global capitalism and as the worlds finite resources are squandered at an ever increasing pace.
Manchester Zinefest
12-01-2006 15:25
ZINEFEST - a celebration of zines and DIY writing and artwork.Saturday February 11, 2006
The Basement, 24 Lever St. off Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester
12 noon onwards
14th January Benefit Gig in Matilda: Independent Beats
11-01-2006 12:49
Benefit for an Independent Media Centre at the World Social Forum in BamakoIn January 2006 activists from all over Africa and Europe will get together in Bamako for the first World Social Forum (WSF) to be held on African Soil.
Newbury 1997: 'Reunion Rampage' (old pics)
11-01-2006 12:19
Between one and two thousand people turned up for the 'reunion rampage' which was billed as a commemoration and fence decorating rally. It was a very cold and misty day as people gathered at Newbury train station before marching towards the construction route at Middle Oak.
I remember so many people being shocked at the destruction - for many this was their first visit since the work had started and the months of evictions.
My memory is a little hazy, but at the compound near the Middle Oak people were lining up along the fence. Then suddenly to our right there was a hole - the fence had been cut. About twenty people stormed through followed by a few more, running into the mists, into the murk. I remember looking back expecting to see hundreds, but there was no one. There was a lot of shouting however. Some police had steamed in to try and block the hole. Security were now advancing from out of the mists in front of us, and then there were mounted police coming at the gallop bearing down onto the crowd by the hole in the fence - this was just well over the top, dangerous and provocative.
Those inside the compound were shouting to the others - "come on!". Then another part of the fence started to go - people were literally pulling it apart. More scuffles as police tried to push people back - but soon the tide of people was unstoppable and they streamed into the construction site.
At first security and police tried to push people away from the machinery, there were scuffles and arrests, but in the end all of the machinery were occupied with people sitting and standing ontop of them.
The site was fully occupied for what seemed like ages. A huge tall crane was scaled by several people as the entire site was taken over. The tree at middle oak became an impromptu social centre. People were drumming and sharing food, talking over old times, remembering the beautiful countryside that had been destoryed.
Some went further than others. As time wore on the machinery was getting a pounding. Hydraulic cables were cut and instrument panels smashed. Later as darkness approached the portacabin offices which had been occupied were set alight, as was some of the plant machinery. I remember many a heated discussion taking place, many people disagreed with burning the machinery, but understood the anger that drove people to do it. The Newbury bypass battle had seen endless property damage, with machinery put out of action, sand in fuel tanks, things smashed and so on, but some thought the burning was in a different class. Many were pleased to see it happen, others worried it would look bad in the press. It was a real mix of emotions, many of them raw.
Either way with darkness now replacing the eerie fog light, and bright orange flames licking the night, people soon began to stream away from the site. Job done, in one way or another.
See end for more reports and links.
Sweden reheated; Police is telling lies says Chancellor of Justice
11-01-2006 08:18
Swedish people legal protection is in danger, when policemen are telling lies. Lambertz told on Saturday on a radio interview, that he believes innocent people beign jailed into Swedish jails.Celtic Nations Tour 2006
11-01-2006 02:01
Celtic-American rap anarchist Emcee Lynx is now booking shows for his first international tour (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galacia, Euzkadi, Spain, and England) this summer.The QUICKTIME REPORT 11/1/06 - SEE and LISTEN GLOBALLY!
10-01-2006 23:02
AADHIKAR DAILY WORLD COMMENTARY
10-01-2006 17:43
Just as George Galloway MP who unseat a 'Blair Babe' on 5 May 2005 gets himself entangled in another row over British media bias against him, we focus on how open is the lack of care ion the British 'mainstream news rooms' about what they want to say against Galloway. The DAILY MAIL is as inaccurate as Channel4 news online. And they don't seem to care how many facts they get wrong when publishing against George Galaloway !Mindwalk 26: Torture For Profit
10-01-2006 06:48
Much resepect to David Letterman, aka The Big Guy. Followed by a taste of a 1973 Watergate hearing and a 60 Minutes story on the CIA's practice of "Rendition", covert kidnapping using private jets. Finally, Lewis Black to bring a positive and uplifting finale.Books for Prisoners
09-01-2006 10:43
Donate books to your friendly town police station‘STOP THE DAMS!’ international benefit gig in Iceland.
09-01-2006 01:22
An awesome mega-benefit gig for the fight against the Kárahnjúkar dams and the aluminium corporate invasion into Iceland was played to a bursting stadium in Reykjavik last night (7 January.) Björk, Zeena Parkins, Sigur Ros, Ghostigital, Damon Albarn, Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan, Mugison and Mum were amongst the artists that performed at the gig.Making flags and decor for this months Critical Mass
08-01-2006 14:51
ASBO website:
http://asbo.squat.net The Critical Mass will take place on Friday 27th January, meeting 5.30pm at the Savoy Cinema, Derby Road.
Previous article on Notts Indymedia about the Critical Mass:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/10/326823.html Bare-Back Mountain, analysis of sexual minstrelsy
07-01-2006 22:08
In fact, “Brokeback Mountain” is like Vaudeville where whites wore black face. Hollywood makes gays “acceptable” to the mainstream by ensuring only heterosexual actors play gay characters.Full article | 1 addition | 3 comments
Newbury Bypass Ten Years On - (10yrs since work started - reunion)
07-01-2006 20:48
It's ten years on Monday since the destruction of around 10,000 trees began in ernest, or rather should have done - back then protestors scored an early victory by blockading the entrance to the security compound with scaffolding tripods, thus ensuring no vehicles could leave. The start of work heralded the most full-on phase of the '3rd Battle of Newbury', Britain's biggest ever road protest, which saw over thirty different tree camps set up to oppose the road and around one thousand arrests.
Asylum America: Bush’s Charade
07-01-2006 04:06
Pat Robertson, noted American Christian fundamentalist and mental deficient, claims that Ariel Sharon is being punished by God for “dividing” Israel. Pat Robertson remains in ‘care’ and is happy to reside in the most affluent psychiatric institution in the world, the USA!Polish school attempts to crush nonconformism
06-01-2006 21:43
In line with other repression by president Kaczynski, a local schoolin Lublin, Poland, is likely to expel student Krzysztof Kowalik for
sporting a radical hairstyle. Your fax/email support in a few quick,
polite sentences would greatly be appreciated by young activists in
Poland.
Full article | 2 additions | 8 comments
Graffiti Jam 14th Jan!
05-01-2006 23:04
you are invited to the first u.k.
"SPECIAL GRAFFITI SANDWICH JAM"
a paint splash fun fest in oxford on
sat 14th. & sun 15th. Jan 06