Warning! - this may make you ill!

Brown welcomes Thatcher to No 10 - Thought she had Alzheimer’s, but I'm sure there will not be any discernable difference.

Brown meets Thatcher:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6993269.stmstm

Maybe other friends will pop along!

Brown is a real sleeze.

Interview with Tony Benn which isn't so bad - kind of an antidote to the doting Maggie pic with Brown.

http://www.socialistreview.org.uk/article.php?articlenumber=10071rg.uk/article.php?articlenumber=10071

Act NOW!

Show solidarity and Support the Fremantle Care Workers

Fremantle is the Aylesbury-based "non-profit" outfit that was handed care of Barnet's elderly by the borough's Tory council. Some "charity" this is, sacking staff if they won't take pay cuts, taking away sick pay and holidays, getting rid of their union rep, and wielding legal threats to stop protest.

The GOOD NEWS is that by the time the legal threat took effect over 8,000 people around the world had already sent messages to Fremantle demanding fair treatment for its workers.

Cut the Carbon March Cardiff today

Saturday 8 September Rali Caerdydd/Cardiff rally with I Count 2:30pm
Cwrdd ar Lwybr y Taf yn Blackwier a cherdded i'r rali yn Cooper's Field (dibynnu ar drwydded)/Meet on the Taff Trail at Blackwier at 2:30pm to walk to the rally in Cooper's Field (subject to licence).
3:30pm Rali a chyngerdd/Rally starts Ffoniwch 029 2084 4646 am fwy o fanylion yn cynnwys man cyfarfod/Please call 029 2084 4646 for more details.

Appearances from Maggot (formerly of Goldie Looking Chain), Beth Elfyn, Radio One's Evening Session DJ, actress Greta Scacchi. Music from: Terra Naomi, folk singer Gwyneth Glyn Speakers: Cut the Carbon marchers, I Count (Stop Climate Chaos), Islamic Relief. Register online now - please let us know you're coming. Order rally posters

No influence for Labour Party members in policy making - nothing new there then!

When does extending party democracy mean exactly the opposite? When New Labour want to curtail members rights and influence even further.

Suggested motion for New Labour CLPs. "We, the undersigned Constituency Labour Party Officers, are alarmed at the proposals in the document 'Extending Party Democracy', that would remove the right of CLP's to send motions to our annual conference. Rank and file Labour Party members must have the right and ability to influence and direct policy within their own party if the party is to have any claim to democratic legitimacy. We have mandated our delegates to oppose any proposals which would threaten this right, and call on all delegates to do the same."

Alarmed at last? Bit late now!
As I pointed out below..
only 30% are delegates or Labour Party Visitors - LP visitors can't go in the main conference hall perhaps because they don't pay enough.
10% elected representatives
20% Media
and 40% exhibitor /Commercial/Corporate the Labour Party boasts so you can feel at home without worrying about pesky real LP members.

Cardiff bus sell out by liberals

Bus service could go private
PLANS have been unveiled which could lead to a sell-off of a slice of Cardiff Bus, netting tens of millions of pounds. more We want better services not worse!
what next .. this is a big mistake - perhaps the councillors who are on the board could have resisted this? Cllr Neale?

Protest planned for NEW Labour conference

Join Maya Evans and John Catt for mass civil disobedience in Bournemouth, outside the New Labour Party Conference, on Sunday 23 September. http://www.u-turnforpeace.org/

Over 100 peace activists from around the UK have pledged to take part in nonviolent civil disobedience outside this year's Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth see ...a sit-down protest in the road leading to the Conference Centre. Brown For further information visit: http://www.u-turnforpeace.org/

I note that new labour state that Deliveries due to security ... all vehicles, including courier deliveries, will need to assemble at the Remote Vehicle Search Site (RVSS) at Kings Park Coach Park (just off Kings Park Drive). We recommend you allow 6 hours to pass through RVSS before your event commences!!! Even protesters don't disrupt air travel or anything for quite that badly.

Did you know that only 30% are delegates or Labour Party Visitors - LP visitors can't go in the main conference hall perhapsbecause they don't pay enough.
10% elected representatives
20% Media
and 40% exhibitor /Commercial/Corporate
the Labour Party boasts so you can feel at home without worrying about pesky real LP members. No need to wonder any more why the hall is so full of 'happy' members ..because it isn't. Does anyone need to wonder why people are cynical about the political parties? Politicians want to involve the public ..it might be useful to have a conference where members, while there still are any, get to attend.

If you really want into the New labour Conference you can have a stand for minimum of £3,500 up to £13,500 and you get 10 conference passes for that, a relaxation zone and complimentary refreshments and wow - best stand awards. Love the competitiveness! Plus you could have a banner above for only £850 or £1000 for a big one.

Or you could sponsor conference events:• Annual Conference Dinner This unique and exclusive event offers a relaxed environment for guests including supporters and business people, who enjoy an entertaining evening with a special appearance by a guest speaker. ..who could that be? So egalatarian!

If they make money from dodgy firms at theis event its fine, no need to declare it! wouldn't influence policy a bit not even if it was property developers for example - The hire of conference exhibition space represents a commercial service at a fair market value and is therefore not required to be disclosed under the PPERA. - The Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act - Liberals on PPERA

The International Reception is one of the main events at conference runs the blurb. It is traditionally attended by all international visitors and past speakers and guests have included the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Secretary of State for International Development and Party Chair. This event is very informal and offers sponsors an ideal opportunity for networking and meeting new people. Prominent onsite branding including:• stair risers• banner sites• outdoor advertising sites. All prices vary. ...also offer exciting sponsorship packages throughout the year. ..Gala Dinner, regarded asthe party’s flagship fundraising event, is held in a prestigious central London location.. uck,uck, uck...

Petition to save trees in Penylan

31 July residents of Penylan were sent a letter from Cardiff Council informing them without consultation about their plans to remove 8 Crab-apple trees. The trees in question are in fact actually cherry trees and the beautiful blossom in Spring calls into question how 'diseased' as claimed by the Council they really are.
With each tree being 50 years old the felling would mean the destruction in one year of 400 years of tree growth.
Please sign our petition and send the link to anyone you may think would beinterested in supporting a worthy cause
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/penylan-trees
Further information
http://www.penylan-trees.co.uk/

Facebook group (you need to have a Facebook account to access this)http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5136685997

Background - Friday August 24IC Wales features the article 'Trees are healthy, so please don’t fell them'.
find out more at IC Wales

Fat Cats Protection League

The Fat Cats Protection League
Posted: 04 Sep 2007 04:16 AM CDT
Wherever you hear the words “free market”, you’ll find massive state handouts to corporations
Monn ..from Monbiot

Largest coporations pay no tax

It was revealed last week that one third of the UK’s 700 largest corporations avoid paying any tax at all. Not only do they avoid tax bills at home, but many also dodge them in developing countries, depriving those countries of a staggering £250 billion annually. Join our call to the prime minister and demand an end to corporate tax dodging now. Once you have done that, play our new tax dodge game and put an end to corporate fat cats running off with the public’s money.

Take Action! Email Gordon Brown:Send an email to Gordon Brown to demand that he take action to stop corporate tax dodging.

Penatagon 'three day blitz' plan for Iran

How frightening and alarming is this?
Pentagon 'three-day blitz' plan for Iran 02 Sep 2007 The Pentagon has drawn up plans for massive airstrikes against 1,200 targets in Iran, designed to annihilate the Iranians’ military capability in three days, according to a national security expert. Alexis Debat, director of terrorism and national security at the Nixon Center, said last week that US military planners were not preparing for "pinprick strikes" against Iran’s nuclear facilities. "They’re about taking out the entire Iranian military," he said.

Will President Bush bomb Iran?

Poll: 71% of Israelis want U.S. to strike Iran if talks fail 18 May 2007 Fully 71 percent of Israelis believe that the United States should launch a military attack on Iran if diplomatic efforts fail to halt Tehran's nuclear program, according to a new poll.

All links and summaries to articles below are available here:

New Labour Opposition seek popularity from those who care little for the environmenty

disgrace -Re-open St Mary St now, says opposition Sep 1 2007 by David James, South Wales Echo

THE leading opposition group on Cardiff council today demanded immediate changes to the “ill-thought-out” St Mary Street traffic ban.

Cardiff council’s Labour leader, John Sheppard, said the ban was “badly-timed, ill-thought-out and has been the subject of inadequate consultation”.

He demanded an urgent review and called for the bottom end of St Mary Street to be re-opened to reduce traffic through Grangetown and provide a better link between the city centre and the Bay.

He said: “Cardiff shopping centre is already under tremendous pressure from the major disruption caused by the new St David’s 2 development. The number of shoppers using Cardiff is significantly down and retailers are feeling the squeeze.

Help! First woman Tory MP in Wales predicted

VJust what weneed another preachy demon like Anne Widdicome who has just had a TV series in which she wags her finger at everybody from a hoody to prositutes and shrieks things like -why are you doing this - you need your bottom smacked. She will have a new friend if Brecon and Radnorshire vote for the wrong person!

WALES will have its first Tory female MP if Suzy Davies makes history and seizes Brecon and Radnorshire from the Liberal Democrats at the next general election. The newly-selected candidate has already turned her guns on the Lib-Dems for their role in the failed attempt to form a coalition with the Tories and Plaid Cymru. The Conservatives have been encouraged by a poll analysis which predicts the constituency would turn blue if an election were held tomorrow.
It has just dawned on Ms Davies that, if she is elected, a woman will have broken into the ranks of Welsh Tory MPs. She last night said, “I didn’t realise that until yesterday. I have never found being female a problem, no matter what walk of life I’ve been in.” _ I presume she has just been beamed down form another planet.
Story from David Williamson, Western Mail

Do US plans herald a new cold war? 3rd Sept Temple of Pewace Cardiff

CND Cymru - campaign for nuclear disarmament - yr ymgyrch dros ddiarfogi niwclear

US Activist Speaking Tour of Wales - Do US Plans Herald a new Cold War?

Bruce Gagnon, co-ordinator of the Global Network against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, is visiting Wales from the USA this week to speak in Cardiff, Bridgend and Aberystwyth about the dangerous and provocative US plans for National Missile Defence (NMD) in Europe.

Bruce is highly respected in both academic and radical circles in the USA. Raised in a conservative home, he joined the US Air force before 'changing his mind' to become a full time campaigner for peace and justice. He says that "The role of the US in the new corporate world order is going to be to 'export security'. The Pentagon will send our kids off to foreign lands to
suppress opposition to corporate globalization."

Peace and justice groups from nine European countries earlier this year agreed strategies and joint campaigns to oppose US plans for National Missile Defence. The US plans are to use radars to detect incoming missiles, and interceptor missiles to shoot them down. While the US claims this as 'defensive', it will allow the US to attack others without fear of retaliation. The proposal adds to global instability and tension with Russia and has led to a new nuclear arms race. And it may well lead to a new Cold War.

Britain already hosts NMD bases at Fylingdales and Menwith Hill in Yorkshire, without public or parliamentary consultation. Now, the US wants bases in Poland and the Czech Republic. This has caused considerable concern not only to Russia, but also to the populations of Poland, the Czech
Republic and across Europe.

Bruce Gagnon asks: "How will we ever end America's addiction to war and violence as long as our communities are dependent on military spending for jobs? We must work to convert the military industrial complex to sustainable technologies."

CND Cymru National Secretary Jill Gough welcomed anyone interested to come along to hear Bruce Gagnon this week. She said:"True security means ensuring adequate, food, education, shelter and human rights for everyone in the world; it means developing human understanding at home and abroad. "

"As with plans to build a 'Military Academy' in South Wales at St Athan, US National Missile 'Defense' plans have nothing to do with protecting people and their environment from future threats. Both may actually increase threats from terrorism. Despite this, the Welsh Assembly Government has blindly welcomed the increasing militarisation plans for Wales, the dangerous US National Missile 'Defense' plans develop apace and the British Government works towards the replacement of the British Trident nuclear weapons system."

"We must say no to NMD, no to a new nuclear arms race, no to militarisation
and no to a new Cold War."
Bruce Gagnon Speaking Tour of Britain [Welsh section] Monday 3rd September Temple of Peace Cardiff hosted by Cynefin y Werin (Common Ground) contact George Crabb
georgecrabb@ybontfaen.freeserve.co.uk 01446 7744 52

Tuesday 4th September Bridgend - Quaker Meeting House contact: Pete Thompson petethommo@gn.apc.org Wednesday 5th September Aberystwyth/Aberystwyth Peace and Justice Network contact: Lotte Reimer lotte.reimer@btinternet.com 01970 610 185

Thursday 6th September Oswestry/Oswestry Coalition for Peace contact: Margaret Clarke mgt2800@hotmail.com

Holy standards

Inquisition 2008: Candidates Get Grilled by the Media's Holy Standards
By Rob Boston, Church & State Magazine
Presidential candidates are getting barraged by the media on questions about their prayers, their sins, and their beliefs on religious doctrine --

Spare us -it will happen here next - we don't want 'happy clappies' or 'holy joes'! Do we?

Whistle blowers treated like terrorists!

Whistleblowers Treated Like Terrorists

Source: Associated Press, August 26, 2007
"One after another, the men and women who have stepped forward to report corruption in the massive effort to rebuild Iraq have been vilified, fired and demoted. Or worse," reports Deborah Hastings. For reporting illegal arms sales, Navy veteran Donald Vance and a colleague say they were subjected to physical and mental interrogation tactics "reserved for terrorists and so-called enemy combatants."

The Rip-off in Iraq: You Will Not Believe How Low the War Profiteers Have Gone

redistribution of death and wealth..

The Rip-off in Iraq: You Will Not Believe How Low the War Profiteers Have Gone
By Matt Taibbi, RollingStone.com

In Iraq, private contractors are guaranteed huge profits no matter how badly they fuck things up. Read more »

Row over War on Want Israel Campaign

war on Want under attack .. read this story
Row over War on Want Israel campaign
Human rights and poverty relief charity War on Want has accused "politically motivated lobbyists" of abusing Charity Commission complaints procedures to prevent the organisation from defending Palestinians' human rights.

Lee Scott, Conservative MP for Ilford North, complained to the regulator about the charity’s online Palestine guide, which describes itself as a “guide for boycott, divestment and sanctions” against Israel. Scott denied that the motivation for his letter was political. “War on Want is a registered charity,” he told Third Sector. “As such, it shouldn’t involve itself in political matters, and this is a political matter. This is not something that a charity that wants to help people should be doing.”

However, John Hilary, campaigns and policy director at War and Want, dismissed Scott’s concerns as “misguided” and said the MP’s complaint was part of an ongoing strategy by a highly organised pro-Israel lobby to disrupt the charity’s Palestie campaigns by complaining about them to the regulator.“

..He also said War on Want had not heard from the commission following complaints made in June of last year about two leaflets the charity produced as part of its Palestine campaign. A spokeswoman of the commission confirmed that those complaints had also surrounded the “inappropriate nature” of political campaigning.

Outrage as serial abuser escapes jail because he is "a man of faith"

A predatory paedophile walked free from court yesterday after admitting a string of sex attacks on children, including an 18-month-old baby. Michael Porter, 38, used his trusted position as a prominent Jehovah's Witness to prey on youngsters, many of them children of members of the church.In court he pleaded guilty to 24 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency over 15 years. But at Bristol crown court Judge Tom Crowther handed him a three-year community rehabilitation order after hearing he had undergone therapy and, according to the BBC, after being impressed that Porter was "a man of faith".

Full details of the case.Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: "The fact that this man escaped a jail term because the judge took into account that he was 'a man of faith' is a disgraceful abuse of the law. What if he had been an atheist? Would that have meant he went straight to jail? You cannot have a legal system that favours people because they claim to be religious. This is a very disturbing development."
http://www.secularism.org.uk/

We should be calling paedophiles - child rapists - people who rape and sexually attack children -as this is what they are. It some how seems so much less to call them paedophiles.

Make Schools Secular

Welsh parliamentarian wants multi-faith assemblies in schools

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Peter Black has called for the Welsh Assembly to reconsider the requirement for schools in the country to hold an act of Christian worship and to make assemblies "multi-faith."Writing on his website in response to a humanist group, Mr Black says: "The present requirement for schools to provide a daily act of what is interpreted as Christian worship for all pupils as enshrined in the 1944 Education Act is not a practical possibility for most schools and does not fit with the cultural, religious and ethnic make-up of modern 21st Century Britain. We have to recognise that pupils live and work side by side with others of all religions and cultures and we should amend the duty on schools to use morning assemblies and lessons to help youngsters understand, appreciate and benefit from the diverse society they live in. "In many schools there is no suitable hall or room capable of accommodating the whole school with the result that most headteachers stagger assemblies and interpret the requirement as providing an act of Christian worship at least once a week. Because of the diverse nature of their pupils many are able to opt out of these assemblies and do so, thus defeating the purpose of them. A multi-faith assembly staggered over the week or one focussed on educating children about the differences between all faiths and none would benefit everybody and lead to better tolerance and understanding within our society. If at all possible the Welsh Assembly should review the present legal requirement and seek to amend it to accommodate these views."

Responding to this in the Western Mail, Saleem Kidwai, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, welcomed the suggestion that different faiths could contribute to assemblies, and was adamant that religion should not be banished from the educational system. He said, "I'm a product myself of a Catholic school."

Brian Cainen, secretary of the West Glamorgan Humanist Group, which approached Mr Black, believes a distinctively Christian assembly is divisive. He said, "You've got Christians, Muslims and Jews being divided up. I do think education is about enthusing people and giving them space for philosophical thought and discussion is very important."

The Rev Aled Edwards, chief executive of Cytûn (Churches Together in Wales), said, "The balance struck with the legislation is the right one where required to broadly reflect the Christian tradition." However, he stressed it was the responsibility of faith communities and schools to pass on their beliefs. Schools, he said, should "create an ambience where young people think through their own values and faith background."

Colin Hart, director of the right-wing Christian Institute, also defended the status quo. "The biggest danger is the curriculum squeeze on religious education. That's why it's important it's still legally required."Stephen Green, founder of the extremist group Christian Voice – notorious for its opposition to Jerry Springer: The Opera – does not want Islamic teachings in schools. He said, "Much as it must irritate the secularists, Wales is still part of a Christian United Kingdom."

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said, "The legal requirement for schools to have daily collective worship is contained in primary legislation. There are no regulation-making powers available to the Assembly Government to change or amend this legislation. Collective worship and religious education in maintained schools without a religious character must be broadly Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of other principle religions represented in Great Britain."

Keith Porteous Wood, Executive Director of the National Secular Society, said: "These exchanges illustrate perfectly why religious practices and RE should be taken out of school life. They encourage division and have no purpose other than to try to indoctrinate children into one particular religion. This is not a legitimate function of the state. As minority religions become more vocal and assertive, this will become an increasing bone of contention. We need to make schools into neutral secular spaces where religious proselytisers play no part."

Hilary - shame on you!

Flash! Hillary's a girl WorldNetDaily,
Now, feminists everywhere are making excuses for her. Can they really eat all the words they dished out in their PC lectures over the last three or four ...

Don't make me laugh Guardian Unlimited, UK -
It is often said that feminists can't take a compliment. They can't fit into size zero jeans, either, and probably can't even cook. ...WAGs
I agree with Decca - I would rather, on balance, be humourless than vacuous.
I would rather, on balance, be humourless than vacuous.

Should have some comments here from Ordovicius, Chanticleer, komerad, Laban, Green Arrow, Christopher Glamorgan, Gwe, Freedaspeech, Valleys Mam.

What do you think of Hilary letting the side down? Isn't Deccas article spot on?