I am truly appalled that money is being spent on these horrific barbaric weapons that will kill innocent women and children.
What are they? So-called thermobaric weapons, in which combined heat and pressure kill people over a wide area by sucking the air out of lungs and destroying internal organs
Army gets new 'enhanced blast' weapon to fight Taliban Guardian Unlimited
British soldiers in Afghanistan are being supplied with a new "super weapon" to attack Taliban fighters more effectively, defence officials said yesterday. ...
Britain's Thermobaric Secret Wired News -
Six years ago I wrote about Britain's tentative steps towards thermobaric weapons. This type of warhead, which differs from normal explosives in producing a ...
UK to use thermobaric missile in Afghanistan - report
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran - British soldiers in Afghanistan are being supplied with a new "super weapon" to attack Taliban fighters more effectively, it was reported Thursday. ...
Britain's controversial weapons Channel 4 News, "We're actually talking about a new generation of weapon about which very little has been publicly revealed. Because it has a very wide area effect, ...
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
African children enslaved
Britain's Invisible Labor Force: African Children
By Emily Dugan, Independent
Why hasn't the enslavement of African children been prosecuted in UK courts?
By Emily Dugan, Independent
Why hasn't the enslavement of African children been prosecuted in UK courts?
Sold for sex
Guardian In Croydon 84% women sold for sex are were from overseas, most of them trafficked.
Many men consider buying sex as just another form of shopping, but their attitude is fuelling the trafficking of women to work in the trade.
Denise Marshall, chief executive of the Poppy Project, a campaign to get women out of prostitution, says: "Banning ads is a half measure. We need to follow the Swedish model of criminalising the act of buying or attempting to buy sexual services. If you are going to ban ads you are going to have to ban buying."
The Western Mail has adverts for massage thinly disguied adverts of women for asale for sex.
Many men consider buying sex as just another form of shopping, but their attitude is fuelling the trafficking of women to work in the trade.
Denise Marshall, chief executive of the Poppy Project, a campaign to get women out of prostitution, says: "Banning ads is a half measure. We need to follow the Swedish model of criminalising the act of buying or attempting to buy sexual services. If you are going to ban ads you are going to have to ban buying."
The Western Mail has adverts for massage thinly disguied adverts of women for asale for sex.
Sold for sex
In Croydon 84% women sold for sex are were from overseas, most of them trafficked.
Many men consider buying sex as just another form of shopping, but their attitude is fuelling the trafficking of women to work in the trade.
Denise Marshall, chief executive of the Poppy Project, a campaign to get women out of prostitution, says: "Banning ads is a half measure. We need to follow the Swedish model of criminalising the act of buying or attempting to buy sexual services. If you are going to ban ads you are going to have to ban buying."
The Western Mail has adverts for massage thinly disguied adverts of women for asale for sex.
Many men consider buying sex as just another form of shopping, but their attitude is fuelling the trafficking of women to work in the trade.
Denise Marshall, chief executive of the Poppy Project, a campaign to get women out of prostitution, says: "Banning ads is a half measure. We need to follow the Swedish model of criminalising the act of buying or attempting to buy sexual services. If you are going to ban ads you are going to have to ban buying."
The Western Mail has adverts for massage thinly disguied adverts of women for asale for sex.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Campaign against womens cigs!
What do you think of this campaign?
See http://feministing.com/archives/007567.html
See http://feministing.com/archives/007567.html
The Bourne misogyny
Sarah Churchwell: The Bourne Ultimatum and The Matt Damon trilogy obeys the action movie rule: women just stand around looking anxious
How true and of course movies are directed at under 30s mainly, so the role models for young women are so bad, so often!
There are a lot of comments on this in the Guardian on line
This is a spot on article and the result so much vitriol! Strut out the clichés action men. There was also a mention of a feisty woman. I came across this word ‘feisty’ recently to describe strong but powerless women - which of course is the whole point!
How true and of course movies are directed at under 30s mainly, so the role models for young women are so bad, so often!
There are a lot of comments on this in the Guardian on line
This is a spot on article and the result so much vitriol! Strut out the clichés action men. There was also a mention of a feisty woman. I came across this word ‘feisty’ recently to describe strong but powerless women - which of course is the whole point!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Green Party- Real Progress-
Watch the Video - The Green Party's principal speaker Siân Berry looks at
ways to be more green, and actions other political parties are taking to appear more environmentally friendly.
ways to be more green, and actions other political parties are taking to appear more environmentally friendly.
Carers UK presses for anti-discrimination legislation for carers
Carers suffer all kinds of discrimination - at work, in the way that services are delivered and in health. Carers UK is putting evidence before the Government's review of equality legislation and calling for a new duty on public bodies to promote equality between carers and people without caring responsibilites. They have already sucessfully campaigned fo this right in Northern Ireland.
Unfortunately, the Government's consultation document reveals they don't think that carers are discriminated against, so we must make a strong case. The consultation closes on 3 September. So you still have the opportunity to respond and write to your MP and AM.
You can read the consultation document at the Communities and Local Government website. more...
If you would like to respond to the consultation you can email kate.hepher@communities.gsi.gov.uk
For more information on Carers Wales
Unfortunately, the Government's consultation document reveals they don't think that carers are discriminated against, so we must make a strong case. The consultation closes on 3 September. So you still have the opportunity to respond and write to your MP and AM.
You can read the consultation document at the Communities and Local Government website. more...
If you would like to respond to the consultation you can email kate.hepher@communities.gsi.gov.uk
For more information on Carers Wales
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Duty to recycle! Public attitudes and behaviours towards the environment
80% people believe they have a "duty" to recycle
Energy EfficiencyThe extent of the green revolution in Britain's households will be revealed today with figures showing that more than 80 per cent of people believe they have a "duty" to recycle household waste.Findings, to be published by the Office of National Statistics, show a dramatic increase in the number of people who say they have at least one energy-saving light bulb in their homes. The survey found that 81 per cent
of people say they have at least one low-energy light bulb at home compared to just over 30 per cent a few years ago.Independent 14th August 2007Buy a little green bag as above ..only £4.00
Public attitudes and behaviours toward the environment When asked for their attitudes about recycling, 81 per cent strongly agreed or tended to agree that “people have a duty to recycle”. Approximately two thirds strongly agreed or tended to agree that “Waste not want not” sums up their general approach to life”.When 
presented with a list of actions that could be seen as environmentally friendly, 26 per cent said that they always or often “use their own shopping bags”. However, a greater proportion, 37 per cent, said that they never do this. The smallest proportion, 3 per cent, said that they always or often “do not buy something because it has too much packaging”. Fifty-nine per cent said that they never do this.
Make your own bag!!
presented with a list of actions that could be seen as environmentally friendly, 26 per cent said that they always or often “use their own shopping bags”. However, a greater proportion, 37 per cent, said that they never do this. The smallest proportion, 3 per cent, said that they always or often “do not buy something because it has too much packaging”. Fifty-nine per cent said that they never do this.Make your own bag!!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Jailing prostitutes helps no one
Jailing prostitutes helps no one in the The Observer August 12
"The Criminal Justice Bill that will go before Parliament when it reconvenes threatens to turn the clock back. It will give magistrates the power to jail prostitutes for three days if they fail to attend mandatory counselling. Encouraging rehabilitation is admirable, but to work, it requires real resources, in particular, treatment for drug addiction....Using the threat of prison as an incentive undermines good intentions. Jail won't cure drug addiction and it certainly won't give women a route out of prostitution."
Prostitution in Sweden is technically illegal, since it is a crime to purchase the service. Sweden considers prostitution a form of violence against women so the crime does not lie in the prostitute selling sexual services, but in the customer's buying of such services.
"It often takes many years after a law is enacted until the norm expressed in that particular law is firmly inscribed in a society. The Law in Sweden has been in effect for 5 years. During that time, street prostitution has declined in all parts of the country,and the majority of the prostitution buyers have disappeared. Service providers and the police maintain that the law also functions as a deterrent for men who use women in brothels, at porn clubs,and through escort agencies."
From: The Swedish Law That Prohibits the Purchase of Sexual Services Best Practices for Prevention of Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings GUNILLA EKBERG Ministry of Industry, Employment, and Communications
Quite right so why aren't we looking and learning from Sweden - best practise and what works?
From http://www.justicewomen.com/cj_sweden.html
In just five years Sweden dramatically reduced the number of its women in prostitution. In the capital city of Stockholm the number of women in street prostitution has been reduced by two thirds, and the number of johns has been reduced by 80%. There are other major Swedish cities where street prostitution has all but disappeared. Gone too, for the most part, are the renowned Swedish brothels and massage parlors which proliferated during the last three decades of the twentieth century when prostitution in Sweden was legal.In addition, the number of foreign women now being trafficked into Sweden for sex is nil.
How did this happen? Sweden's Groundbreaking 1999 Legislation
In 1999, after years of research and study, Sweden passed legislation that a) criminalizes the buying of sex, and b) decriminalizes the selling of sex. The novel rationale behind this legislation is clearly stated in the government's literature on the law:
"In Sweden prostitution is regarded as an aspect of male violence against women and children. It is officially acknowledged as a form of exploitation of women and children and constitutes a significant social problem... gender equality will remain unattainable so long as men buy, sell and exploit women and children by prostituting them."
In order to see prostitutes as victims of male coercion and violence it requires that a government first switch from seeing prostitution from the male point of view to the female point of view. And most, if not virtually all, countries of the world still see prostitution and every other issue from a predominantly male point of view.
Legalised prostitution doesn't work. At the end of the 1990s, while Germany as well as Belgium and the Netherlands legalised prostitution, Sweden adopted a "hard" line and made the purchase of sex a punishable offence. Nowadays Sweden is regarded as a shining example, the newspaper writes. "There are around 400,000 prostitutes in Germany today. Their legalisation was intended to combat discrimination, however so far there has been no major improvement in their situation.
"The Criminal Justice Bill that will go before Parliament when it reconvenes threatens to turn the clock back. It will give magistrates the power to jail prostitutes for three days if they fail to attend mandatory counselling. Encouraging rehabilitation is admirable, but to work, it requires real resources, in particular, treatment for drug addiction....Using the threat of prison as an incentive undermines good intentions. Jail won't cure drug addiction and it certainly won't give women a route out of prostitution."
Prostitution in Sweden is technically illegal, since it is a crime to purchase the service. Sweden considers prostitution a form of violence against women so the crime does not lie in the prostitute selling sexual services, but in the customer's buying of such services.
"It often takes many years after a law is enacted until the norm expressed in that particular law is firmly inscribed in a society. The Law in Sweden has been in effect for 5 years. During that time, street prostitution has declined in all parts of the country,and the majority of the prostitution buyers have disappeared. Service providers and the police maintain that the law also functions as a deterrent for men who use women in brothels, at porn clubs,and through escort agencies."
From: The Swedish Law That Prohibits the Purchase of Sexual Services Best Practices for Prevention of Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings GUNILLA EKBERG Ministry of Industry, Employment, and Communications
Quite right so why aren't we looking and learning from Sweden - best practise and what works?
From http://www.justicewomen.com/cj_sweden.html
In just five years Sweden dramatically reduced the number of its women in prostitution. In the capital city of Stockholm the number of women in street prostitution has been reduced by two thirds, and the number of johns has been reduced by 80%. There are other major Swedish cities where street prostitution has all but disappeared. Gone too, for the most part, are the renowned Swedish brothels and massage parlors which proliferated during the last three decades of the twentieth century when prostitution in Sweden was legal.In addition, the number of foreign women now being trafficked into Sweden for sex is nil.
How did this happen? Sweden's Groundbreaking 1999 Legislation
In 1999, after years of research and study, Sweden passed legislation that a) criminalizes the buying of sex, and b) decriminalizes the selling of sex. The novel rationale behind this legislation is clearly stated in the government's literature on the law:
"In Sweden prostitution is regarded as an aspect of male violence against women and children. It is officially acknowledged as a form of exploitation of women and children and constitutes a significant social problem... gender equality will remain unattainable so long as men buy, sell and exploit women and children by prostituting them."
In order to see prostitutes as victims of male coercion and violence it requires that a government first switch from seeing prostitution from the male point of view to the female point of view. And most, if not virtually all, countries of the world still see prostitution and every other issue from a predominantly male point of view.
Legalised prostitution doesn't work. At the end of the 1990s, while Germany as well as Belgium and the Netherlands legalised prostitution, Sweden adopted a "hard" line and made the purchase of sex a punishable offence. Nowadays Sweden is regarded as a shining example, the newspaper writes. "There are around 400,000 prostitutes in Germany today. Their legalisation was intended to combat discrimination, however so far there has been no major improvement in their situation.
New Labour abandon Eisteddfod
In the western mail there is a story about WELSH New Labour decision not to take on a stand at this year’s National Eisteddfod because last year its stand was “vandalised” by Welsh language activists. Nonsense - it is due to the fact that there are not enough activists or even paid employees of the labour party or ams or mps to staff it. Mmm...“We have taken the decision this year, however, to look again at how we are represented at the many significant shows across Wales.
Giuliani 5 lies
Wayne Barrett of the Village Voice that shows Giuliani for the fabulist he is. Surprised there were only five lies. Rudy was responsible for more people dying that day than would have been necessary had he done a damn thing to prepare for terrorism before 9/11.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Valleys mam..
a comment from Valleys Mam said...
I notice that you list women bloggers in Wales
I have been blogging for three months but I note you have not included me is there a reason for that .
I am female resident in the Valleys and Welsh My blog is a mix of political and items of interest I have a link to u on it -it would be good if you returned the link
I feel queasy about the title Valleys Mam....doesn't exactly portray a feminist perspective. Sounds more blokish. I think women in the 'valleys' are already viewed negatively by cardiff folk.
TRICKERY, DECEIT, MANIPULATION
TRICKERY, DECEIT, MANIPULATION
From The Evening Standard - 30/07/2007
Revealed: the story behind one of London's Revealed: the story behind one of London's most controversial new developments BY ANDREW GILLIGAN
KEY PLAYER IN THE LOBBYING INDUSTRY
FROM its headquarters in Mayfair, PPS has become the key player in a little-known corner of the PR industry - the branch that specialises in winning developers planning permission for unpopular schemes.
Local protesters, residents' groups and even council planners may never have heard of PPS but PPS knows all about them. Its 60 staff act as the public face of controversial developments, and run a sophisticated war machine to get those developments past the objectors.
The company was founded 17 years ago by Stephen Byfield, a former staffer for a Labour MP, and Charles St George, an ex-Tory councillor. Its client list reads like a roll-call of the development industry: volume housebuilders, such as Barratt, Wimpey, and Taylor Woodrow; big retailers; quarry owners; and power stations.
Mr St George, now the company's director of special projects, lives on a country estate in Somerset and is described by PPS as having 'expertise in just about everything'.
Mr Byfield remains the managing director of PPS and is heavily involved in BAA's hugely controversial project to expand Stansted Airport.
See also previous post on PPs and Rhrodris ex spindoctor from PPS Cathy Owens. Leighton Andrews relations with the company.
See zoominfo
'The company was founded 17 years ago by Stephen Byfield, a former staffer for a Labour MP, and Charles St George, an ex-Tory councillor. ..'
Current projects include consultation with local residents for the proposed development of a new south stand at Twickenham for client the Rugby Football Union, while others retaining the agency on similar briefs are National Car Parks and Lattice Properties.
From The Evening Standard - 30/07/2007
Revealed: the story behind one of London's Revealed: the story behind one of London's most controversial new developments BY ANDREW GILLIGAN
KEY PLAYER IN THE LOBBYING INDUSTRY
FROM its headquarters in Mayfair, PPS has become the key player in a little-known corner of the PR industry - the branch that specialises in winning developers planning permission for unpopular schemes.
Local protesters, residents' groups and even council planners may never have heard of PPS but PPS knows all about them. Its 60 staff act as the public face of controversial developments, and run a sophisticated war machine to get those developments past the objectors.
The company was founded 17 years ago by Stephen Byfield, a former staffer for a Labour MP, and Charles St George, an ex-Tory councillor. Its client list reads like a roll-call of the development industry: volume housebuilders, such as Barratt, Wimpey, and Taylor Woodrow; big retailers; quarry owners; and power stations.
Mr St George, now the company's director of special projects, lives on a country estate in Somerset and is described by PPS as having 'expertise in just about everything'.
Mr Byfield remains the managing director of PPS and is heavily involved in BAA's hugely controversial project to expand Stansted Airport.
See also previous post on PPs and Rhrodris ex spindoctor from PPS Cathy Owens. Leighton Andrews relations with the company.
See zoominfo
'The company was founded 17 years ago by Stephen Byfield, a former staffer for a Labour MP, and Charles St George, an ex-Tory councillor. ..'
Current projects include consultation with local residents for the proposed development of a new south stand at Twickenham for client the Rugby Football Union, while others retaining the agency on similar briefs are National Car Parks and Lattice Properties.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Robots to Kill with!
Not in my name - Robots deployed in Iraq battlefield Times of India - India A US division of British defence company QinetiQ has admitted that the 3rd Infantry Division, based south of Baghdad, has purchased three Talon Sword robots ... The robots are armed with M240 machine guns or .50 calibre rifles. Soldiers operate the robots with a specially modified laptop, complete with joystick controls and a 'kill button' that terminates its functions if it goes awry.
Just a game to some.
Frightening, terrifying glimpse of the future with militarism. Are there robots to raise children, bury the dead and rebuild what has been destroyed?
Just a game to some.
Frightening, terrifying glimpse of the future with militarism. Are there robots to raise children, bury the dead and rebuild what has been destroyed?
Monday, August 6, 2007
Welsh Tory defects to Labour
A Welsh Tory has defected to the Labour Party or rather New Labour party ?
Is there a difference?
Is there a difference?
Breasts ..Thats what they're for!
This is a postcard sent from Norway. The Stavanger chapter of Ammehjelpen had the picture taken by a local photographer for the ad. Helsekost means "healthfood" and Gode råd om amming means "Good advice on Breastfeeding." This picture was shown as a slide before every feature length film in the cinemas of Stavanger in 1994 as an ad for the Ammehjelpen services in that city. Check out their Web site for breastfeeding information in Norweigian. You can also order cards or T-shirts (I have one. It's great!) at http://www.ammehjelpen.no/ or email Rachel at mailto:newman@globalserve.net for more information.
80% of women breast feed in Norway.
Boycott Nestle Campaign
80% of women breast feed in Norway.
Boycott Nestle Campaign
Smartass idiot Brendan O Neill from Spiked has a go at breast feeding campaigners. Any opportunity to mention Katie Price, also known as
In the current issue of the celebrity magazine OK!, Jordan can clearly be seen feeding her three-week-old daughter, Princess Tiaamii, (poor child to be given a name like that) from a bottle which says ‘SMA’ on it, SMA being one of the leading manufacturers of formula milk for babies.. A headline in yesterday’s Independent on Sunday put it: ‘Breastfeeding lobby criticises
Protect
Watch the film and play the game to protect Little Jack.
Action: July - September 2007 In the
According to the Government's own survey, 34% of mothers incorrectly believe that infant formula is the same or almost the same as breastfeeding (ref: Myths stop mothers giving their babies the best start in life). An independent survey found more than a third of mothers thought formula was 'as good' or 'better than' breastmilk (ref: UNICEF/NCT survey). Companies promote their products with 'closer to breastmilk' and other claims that are not permitted under existing regulations.
I think a mother has a right to accurate information about infant feeding free from commercial pressure and she should be supported to breastfeed as long as she wishes A broad coalition of
A great cartoon giving more information has been produced by coalition members the National Childbirth Trust, UNICEF and Save the Children. Watch the cartoon, play the game to help protect babies, then send a message to the Health Minister, Alan Johnson MP.
Find the cartoon and information about other action you can take at :http://www.babymilkaction.org/action/ukaction07.html
Nestle Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 1963 - contact details here. For suggested letter - click here. Send a message calling on the Governmentto strengthen the law.
Sign up to the Breastfeeding Manifesto campaign.
Join Baby Milk Action or buy something to help fund the campaign - we receive no funding for UK work at present
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Rhrodri Morgan to step down as first minister as early as soon as early 2008
There is not always a link to an article on the web. This is from Tribune Magazine and I gave a link to that.Scanned the article!
Friday, August 3, 2007
Rhrodri Morgan to step down as First Minister
I read in the Tribune (3rd Aug 2007) that Rhrodri is planning to step down as soon as early next year. Tony Heath writes "with the historic Labour/Plaid Cymru coalition in place and in power in the Welsh Assembly, Rhrodri Morgan has told friends he is to step down as First Minister and Labour Leader - possibly as early as next year. Mr Morgan who is 68 next month, said before the elections in May that he would probably stand down in 2009. But his recent health scare - he had keyhole surgery ...... - has made him think of bringing that date forward."
He speculates about the successor citing Carwyn Jones as the favourite. I think Jane Davidson is likely to be a favourite. I can't find any odds on line yet!
His wife Julie Morgan MP has, I believe, been reselected as the candidate for Cardiff North for New Labour at the next election which could as soon as early next year. Either she doesn't plan to spend much time with Rhrodri or she doesn't expect to win!
OK gwe
He speculates about the successor citing Carwyn Jones as the favourite. I think Jane Davidson is likely to be a favourite. I can't find any odds on line yet!
His wife Julie Morgan MP has, I believe, been reselected as the candidate for Cardiff North for New Labour at the next election which could as soon as early next year. Either she doesn't plan to spend much time with Rhrodri or she doesn't expect to win!
OK gwe
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