Sitting here all bunged up , wondering about the forthcoming elections for Police Commisioners. From what I have gathered the Conservative government seems to have made a right shambles of this.
Not sure of the reason, ah yes, the county police authorities made up of elected local authority members are being disbanded., so the Torys want something else in place , whether we like it or not, their version of democracy, force something on us while we're not looking.They like changing things. But what they had not imagined is that most people are are unaware an election is coming, there have been no leaflets through the door,or knocks, and most are totally unaware who is standing. And those that are aware of it , intend ignoring it completely.
After 2 years of Tory rule there are , 28,000 less workers employed in our police forces, than when they first started, and they reckon they are the party of law and order, they just want to have another political quango, where all there mates can go and roost.
The aim of the Police Commisioner is to set the Police budget and policing precept, Commission Police related services within the force area, improve the accountability of the police to the public, (it seems they have their work cut out.) and engage with the public on policy decision. The public does not seem to be clamouring for this sort of change.
It is reckoned too that only 15% of the 40 million adults outside of London eligible to vote will bother. In Wales itself the turnout is expected to be less than 10%. Not an amount to be considered a democratic mandate in my opinion. And a Police Commisioner could get a total of 5 % and still incredibly get elected.This is the process of sham democracy,that we are living under.
A second set of ballot papers in English and Welsh has added £350,000 to the bill, to what is already a high amount in times of austerity, an incredible barmy figure of around £75 miillion. But they've save a bit from not publishing individual manifestos, in case we were interested in what some of the candidates have to say. The message here is, that unless your wealhty enough your message will not get out.
These elections are guaranteed at making Policing political, (it always has been), and I am afraid the Police Commisioners will be left with far more political influence than we realise..
As for the Tories enthusiasm for Commisioners, that worries me, because their ideological bent, gives no two hoots to local democracy or public involvement. The needs of society will still be ignored, so a new Police Commissioner will not make a blind bit of difference.The possibility of corruption and political elites forming too, is a distinct possibility,I do not think it will lead to greater Police accountability. So personally we need to oppose it, so that this government does not think it can inflict policies on us, by the back door on a dishonourable democratic mandate.
So what to do, I humbly recommend, that if you have the urge and feel the need and want to behave like a good citizen,that you should remember too, that all spoilt ballot papers have to be counted, so a simply writing a message on your ballo paper of say A.C.A.B will do the trick, or perhaps that's a little to harsh and you could simply write nothing.
Or perhaps you dont want to engage in any of this Political football at all, these are Police Commisioners who are only taking part in the first place, because of a thirst for power. Remember that there is no requirement for Police Commisioners to be experienced in policing - or in fact anything. It is also by the way, an American idea that might be O.K over there, but what works over there does not always work over here.
A tory policy that in the General Election , the people by a majority did not vote for. Yep I won't be voting.
It's all too much of a mess. I wont be giving their election a sham endorsement. Thats how they keep us in control.
Tuesday 13 November 2012
Monday 12 November 2012
TV = Mind Control
Using fear and the threat of insecurity to manipulate the people, corporate media, in bed with governnment, over the years having become the mouthpiece of government control, unleashes a barrage of propoganda, to arouse the population with a false sense of security that justifies miltary action. This way, debate is silenced and dissent is dissapeared on the airwawaves as once again the corporate media, the gatekeepers of infomation, allow us only to see and hear the point of view they want us to incorporate into our psyche. Voices of reason and of intelligence are ignored, banished from imparting thoughts of wisdom, thus making it virtually impossible for the population to ever know there are other options beside the horror of war.
With corporate anchors, journalists, reporters, commentators and executives pushing into our homes an exclusive pro-war, jingoist viewpoint, blitzkrieging us with their propoganda-laced images and opinion, over months of constant threats of fear and insecurity, denying the public from ever seeing or hearing fruits and realities, it therefore becomes rather easy, with a population addicted to television viewing, to mobilise a nation for war. With the marriage of government and corporate power, truth dissapears just as much as falsly prospers. With both entities profiting from the spoils of war, it is in each other's best interests to work together to disseminate the seeds that will inarioubly spawn the rebirth of a dominant war culture.
It is designed to manipulate and control at once, transformeing the population into a sedentary herd of sheeple who never question what is told them. Over the years millions of civilians have used this most dangerous drug to escape lives of frustration, unhappiness, deperation, depression and loneliness, never realising that with every hour they watch, with every show they are glued to, with every channel they surf their minds are turned to mush becomming conduits of ignorance, molded into muscles in deperate need of gossip and sensationism, no longer thinking for itself.
The Establishment has perfected its machination of propoganda, creating the realities it wants into society, forming whatever truth that will be of the greatest benefit, not to society, but to itself. Whatever reality it wants to create and disseminate is quickly absorbed by a population eager to feed of the mammary glands of television. The Establishment, the corporate world and government have for years told us how and what to think, how to act, who to obey and where to follow, condemning our minds to obedience, our lives to conformism and silent acquiescence.
It doesn't have to be like this though, change the media, change the people. There are many alternative media sources growing all around. Blogging for instance, facebook, yes twitter. Still not taken completely seriously, it is ostraciced and marginalised, but increasingly people are looking for new ways of seeing , and for spreading their messages of social justice and ideas that they control themselves. Unfortuately the internet is not free yet either, with many forces out their attempting forms of censorship.I personally use rather too much of both. But what would happen if we all simultaneously turned of our televisions, wow that would be amazing, We would become the news, make it, rather than be mere spectators, that are ignored daily anyway. Oh, what time is now on?
Disposable Heroes of Hypocricy - Television the Drug of the Nation.
Sunday 11 November 2012
Harriet Avery Gaul (1886-?) - The War Wife (a song)
,
lest we forget
American, writer, married commposer Harvey Bartlett Gaul . Authorof Five Nights at the Five Pines ( 1922),( Vamp till Ready, a Comedy of the Depression (1932), and with Ruby Eiseman, John Alfred Breashear, Scientist and Humanitarian, 1840-1920 (1940)
The War Wife (a song)
You left me lad with a heart of stone.
Where are you boy?
You march with flags while I stumble alone,
Where, where are you boy?
Will you ne'er come back through the long dead years.
Where are you boy?
The song of war is the sound of tearsm where, where are you boy?
Where are you boy?
My life grows dark with the redd'ning sun,
My day is nigh and my travail done.
Will you hear our child when the fight is won.
Where are you boy?
Reprinted from
My Country is the Whole World
An Anthology of Women's Work on Peace and War
Cambidge Women's Peace Collective
1984.
Friday 9 November 2012
Horizon (for Robert Chrysler 21/10/67 - 4/09/12)
I have been using social media and blogging since June 2009. Every so often I have made connections that greatly influence my thoughts and my perceptions of certain realities, and how I view the world.
Robert Chrysler was one of these. He befriended me on facebook back in April 2010, possibly because he identified with someone who shared a poetic pulse, I can never be sure.I began to admire his posts immensely, his outsider edge and his obvious love of freedom, connecting the obvious, to the rather arcane with a strong surrealist bent. I never met him and it is not a long time to have had an acquaintance, but it was a connection I valued.,
'Robert Chrysler He said of himself ' is an inspired subway ranter from Toronto, Canada. He enjoys challenging capitalist property, trying to figure out what the post structuralists are going on about, and dreams of someday living in a tree.'
I looked forward to hearing his voice....then recently notced that his daily facebook pages had drifted away. I looked at his profile 2 days ago and was shocked and deeply saddened to find he had suddenly passed away on the 4th of October.
His thoughts always invigorating and stimulating, I discovered too how long this great man had spent on journeys of difficulty and hardship. There were battles with drugs and homelessness, yet he never seemed to have lost his sense of humour, and a thirst for something new, a hunger too for social justice.
A great intellect, who came along and inspired, so thanks Robert R.I.P, you have taken me places where it will take a lifetime to look.
Here are some links to his writings, that give an insight to his great mind.
http://www.fullofcrow.com/prate/2009/11/robert-chrysler/
http://www.ditchpoetry.com/robertchrysler.htm
http://balloonpoetry.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/3-poems-by-robert-chrysler.html
An interview with him here.
http://www.ditchpoetry.com/Robert%20Chrysler%20Interview.pdf
This is something I wrote the other night.
Horizon.
We follow echoes
and make connections,
follow paths back and forth
swaying slightly,listen to distant
lulling waves,
blossoms become dreams.
Outsider winds
gravitate through portal windows,
urgent smiles fall out of
subterranean tunnels,
make contact, out of view
Our hungry reflections criss cross,
on journeys where we grow
planting seeds , tableaus of love
humming through the darkness,
when often the sky gets too bright
into the air voices drift,
call out in a world of international paths
we share things,bringing the outside in,
conjure magic,release waking steam
through chasms of anchorage,
we touch the edge of horizons path
as our wings keep moving,
our reckless fingers flutter
as we dive for breath,
beneath our dirty fingernails
and chaos bubbles,
releases the warmth of fiery flame,
in the end the sky closes in
but the river keeps on flowing.
Robert Chrysler was one of these. He befriended me on facebook back in April 2010, possibly because he identified with someone who shared a poetic pulse, I can never be sure.I began to admire his posts immensely, his outsider edge and his obvious love of freedom, connecting the obvious, to the rather arcane with a strong surrealist bent. I never met him and it is not a long time to have had an acquaintance, but it was a connection I valued.,
'Robert Chrysler He said of himself ' is an inspired subway ranter from Toronto, Canada. He enjoys challenging capitalist property, trying to figure out what the post structuralists are going on about, and dreams of someday living in a tree.'
I looked forward to hearing his voice....then recently notced that his daily facebook pages had drifted away. I looked at his profile 2 days ago and was shocked and deeply saddened to find he had suddenly passed away on the 4th of October.
His thoughts always invigorating and stimulating, I discovered too how long this great man had spent on journeys of difficulty and hardship. There were battles with drugs and homelessness, yet he never seemed to have lost his sense of humour, and a thirst for something new, a hunger too for social justice.
A great intellect, who came along and inspired, so thanks Robert R.I.P, you have taken me places where it will take a lifetime to look.
Here are some links to his writings, that give an insight to his great mind.
http://www.fullofcrow.com/prate/2009/11/robert-chrysler/
http://www.ditchpoetry.com/robertchrysler.htm
http://balloonpoetry.blogspot.com.au/2009/08/3-poems-by-robert-chrysler.html
An interview with him here.
http://www.ditchpoetry.com/Robert%20Chrysler%20Interview.pdf
This is something I wrote the other night.
Horizon.
We follow echoes
and make connections,
follow paths back and forth
swaying slightly,listen to distant
lulling waves,
blossoms become dreams.
Outsider winds
gravitate through portal windows,
urgent smiles fall out of
subterranean tunnels,
make contact, out of view
Our hungry reflections criss cross,
on journeys where we grow
planting seeds , tableaus of love
humming through the darkness,
when often the sky gets too bright
into the air voices drift,
call out in a world of international paths
we share things,bringing the outside in,
conjure magic,release waking steam
through chasms of anchorage,
we touch the edge of horizons path
as our wings keep moving,
our reckless fingers flutter
as we dive for breath,
beneath our dirty fingernails
and chaos bubbles,
releases the warmth of fiery flame,
in the end the sky closes in
but the river keeps on flowing.
Thursday 8 November 2012
John Cooper Clarke - The New Assassin
SKIP THE ROADBLOCK HERE SHE COMES
GET A LOAD OF THE PRETTY BLUE GUN
ANY SLICK TRICK UNDER THE SUN
SHE'LL DO IT IF IT ISN'T DONE
SHE MADE ARRANGEMENTS SHE COULDN'T COME
SHE DRESSES LIKE A SECRETARY AND LIVES LIKE A NUN
YOUR CRIME IS THE RADIANT PASSION
IT'S TIME FOR THE NEW ASSASSIN
COOL KILLER TOP OF THE CLASS
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHATTERPROOF GLASS
WORKS AS FAST AS THE CAMERAS FLASH
WITH THE CYANIDE CIGARETTES AND THE CS GAS
IT'S HER JOB - DOESN'T BAT AN EYELASH
SHE'S WORKING FOR THE PERISHING MASS
THE BREADLINE'S BACK IN FASHION
IT'S TIME FOR THE NEW ASSASSIN
A MELODY PLAYED ON A HAND GRENADE
FROM THE RIFLE RANGE IN THE GREEN ARCADE
AS THE RAIN FELL DOWN ON THE BIG PARADE
MESSED UP THE MOTORCADE - MUCKED UP THE MASQUERADE
SECRET WEAPONS BECOME DISPLAYED
IN THE HANDS OF HALF A DOZEN AIDES
JUST FOUR MEN AND A COUPLE OF GAY BLADES
SHANTUNG SUITS AND SHATTERPROOF SHADES
SHOOT UP ANYBODY WHO HAPPENS TO BE PASSING
EVERYBODY BUT THE NEW ASSASSIN
ONE LINK IN THE HUMAN CHAIN
IN THE CITY WHERE IT ALWAYS RAINS
NO PROFIT OR PERSONAL GAIN
ARE THE SILENT RULES IN A LONESOME GAME
ONE FACE IN A PURPLE FRAME
A BLACK BORDER ROUND THE NAME
CHALK MARKS AROUND A BLOOD STAIN
THIN BLUE LINE RED LIGHT FLASHING
IT'S TIME FOR THE NEW ASSASSIN
WHAT TIME DID YOU SEE IT HAPPEN
IT'S TIME FOR THE NEW ASSASSIN
From :-
Zip Style Method, 1982, ( a teifidancer essential )
Wednesday 7 November 2012
95th Anniversary of the Bolshevilk Revolution
" Not by compromise with the propertied classes, or with the other political leaders, not by concilating the old Government mechanism, did the Bolsheviks conquer the power. Nor by the organised violence of a small clique. If the masses all over Russia had not been ready for insurrection it must have failed. The only reason for Bolshevik success lay in their accomplishing the vast and simple desires of the most profound strata of the people, calling them to the work of tearing down and destroyng the old, and afterwards in the smoke of falling ruins, cooperating with them to erect the frame-work of the new"
- John Reed
10 days that shook the World
1922.
Emma Goldman noted that it was 'a tragic fact that all revolutions have sprung from the loins of war. Instead of translating the revolution into social gains the people have usually been forced to defend themselves against warring parties.... It seems nothing great is born without pain and travail.'
from Vision on Fire, pages 218-222.
Celebration of the Bolshevik Revolution
on 95th anniversary of Red October
Song written by Woody Guthrie, sung by Billy Bragg
Russian Revolution 1917
Down with all forms of tyranny, exploitation and oppression. Class war does exist. There simpy is a ruling class and a working class.
Glorious story of October 1917 Revolution
(Soviet Propoganda film)
95th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution
It is perhaps ironic that one day after the dismal election of 2012 we are celebrating the 95th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. There could hardly be a starker contrast. In one case, the working class is presented with a choice between two representatives of the bourgeoiie, each of which is pledged to continue the assault on living standards and democratic rights that have marked the decade since 9/11. As long as the two parties of the bourgeoisie continue to define political life, there is no future.
http://forum.permanent-revolution.org/2012/11/95th-anniversary-of-russian-revolution.html
' There are decades when nothing happens, and then
there are week when decades happen.'
- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Tuesday 6 November 2012
Support for disabled Protestor staging vigil and hunger strike outside Atos Offices in Cardiff.
A man stopped of his benefit after falling victim to the dreaded work capability Assesments has announced he will end his hunger strike outside the Cardiff offices of Atos Healthcare, however a week long vigil will continue.
Christos Palmer who has both mental and physical health problems , including depression, hopes the protest will highlight the suffering of disabled people caused by this cruel heartless government. ATOS is the controversial French company that carries out the controversial work Capability Assessments on behalf of the government.It has been the subject of widespread condemnation from disability charities and the British Medical Association has called for the assessments to be scrapped completely. The firm has been accused of target chasing for cutting the amount of people found eligible for benefits.Doin this, in a thirst for profit way. I know of people whose G.Ps valuable medical opinions have been simply tossed aside, because ATOS sure do not.
Christos's actions can only be commended, its cold and windy out their on the streets and deserves all the support that can be mustered. He represents all of us faced with this terrible situation. A company being used by this government to wage war against societies most vulnerable. Welfare is now being torn from those, who most deserve it.
He and his supporters have been gathering at St Agnes Road, Cardiff from 9a.m to 4.p.m , all this week until the 9th of November.
all are welcome to go and join them . Their is a facebook group too that you can go to and leave messages of support
.https://www.facebook.com/events/430345053681756/
A spokesperson from Disabled People Against Cuts in Cardiff http://www.dpac.uk.net/2012/11/disabled-protestor-to-stage-vigil-hunger-strike-outside-of-atos-offices-in-cardiff/ said,
" While we support the protest aims we are extremely concerned about Christos's physical and mental well being. He often suffersfrom extreme fatigue and is housebound on some days. That somebody so unwell has been driven to this shows the desperation that the sick and disabled are being driven to by this government. We are urging him to end his hunger strike."
Sunday 4 November 2012
Bill Hicks (14/12/61 -26/2/94) - It's Just A Ride
One of my favourite comedians, still relevant, still pushing buttons,his ride was a life lived without fear. An anti war, pro smoker, who waged war against corporate America and its bastions of mainstream media.As well as being a brilliant stand up comedian, social critic, satirist and musician he attacked the complaceny of our so called consensus realities, through laughter he made unacceptable ideas seem irresistable, cutting through bullshit with bullets of joy.Raging hard against the injustices of life.
Nearly 20 years after his death, his reputation just grows and grows.You can get more from him over here. Lovely documentary about him from the BBC, that old institution that we used to trust so much.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010j56z
"The world is like a ride at an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it, you think it's real, because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round and it has thrills and chills and it's very brightly colored and it's very loud. And it's fun, for a while.
Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: 'Is this real? Or is this just a ride?' And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and they say 'Hey! Don't worry, don't be afraid -- ever -- because... this is just a ride.' And we kill those people.
'Shut him up! We have a lot invested in this ride! Shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry; look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real.'
It's just a ride.
But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that -- ever notice that? -- and we let the demons run amok. But it doesn't matter, because... it's just a ride, and we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort. No worry. No job. No savings and money. Just a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your door, buy bigger guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one.
Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, into a better ride:
Take all that money we spend on weapons and defense each year and, instead, spend it feeding, clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would do many times over -- not one human being excluded -- and we can explore space together, both inner and outer, forever. In peace.
- Bill Hicks
Friday 2 November 2012
95th anniversary of the Balfour declaration.
The Balfour Declaration (1917), which is named after Arthur James Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary during the Word War 1, was the one of key developments in the early stages of the twentieth Century that influenced the Jewish communities of the world to believe that Great Britan would support the creation of a jewish state in the Middle East. The ramifications would be seen up until the present day.
Balfour sent an official letter declaring the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the area known as "Palestine" to Baron Walter Rothschild (the 2nd Baron Rothschild), a leader of the British Jewish community, who accepted it on behalf of Great Britain and Ireland.
The immortal words of the letter said the following:
" His Majesty's Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by jews in any other country."
The Original Letter of the Balfour Declaration
Zionism is the belief in the establishment of a national homeland for the jewish people in their ancestral Biblical homeland. The word "Zionism" comes from Zion which is also called Jerusalem.
The letter was also incorporated into the league of Nations Mandate for Palestine, becomming further enshrined in international law.
In another letter Balfour sent, after the WW1 had ended, he answered some of the critics of the Declaration who said that it was not right for England to "impose" Zionism on the local Arab indigeneous population he said.
" I do not think that Zionism will hurt the Arabs, but they will never say they want it......Whatever be the future of Palestine, it is not now an 'independent nation' nor is it yet on the way to become one......If Zionism is to influence the Jewish problem throughout the world Palestine must be made available for the largest number of Jewish immigrants."
The rest is history and started a series of events that led to the foundation of the State of Israel and what is now to the occupation against the people in Gaza, and the continual violations in the West Bank, the illegal settlement activities in occupied Jerusalem, and the attempt to force the Palestinians out of their lands. Before we celebrate Happy Balfour Day we should remember this. I personally reckon that Balfour would be turning in his grave at the histiorical injustices carried out in his name.
1948
With the Balfour Declaration, Britain, because yes it was us, unleashed a series of events in Palestine that have caused enormous suffering and loss to the Palestinian people.It is unnacceptable too, that today, 65 years after the partition of Palestine, the UK has recognised the state of Israel but not the state of Palestine. The occupation of the Palestinian territories is not just illegal but brutal.
Consequently occupation always generates resistance. Britains history in all this narrative is shameful, but the present day atrocities lay at the door of only one nation. End the Occupation, end the problems in my humble opinion.
Let us remember too, that it is the policies of Israel today, that are themselves an insult and a threat to Jews everywhere. The leaders of Israel were never satisfied with what they eventually got in 1948. They unfortunately set their sights much wider. And to this day carry out policies of expansion and domination in acts of provocation.
Until measures are made by Israel to improve the standard of living, and bring economic prosperity to the Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Bringing some chord of social justice, and recognition of the Palestinians identity , and stolen land given back to them,and an end to their continuing use of apartheid practices., their will be no peace. That is Balfours tragic legacy.
Thursday 1 November 2012
Djamila Bouhired ( b.1935) Revolutionary and Icon.
In memory of the Algerian Revolution, 1st 1953, Djamila Bouhired is a leading Algerian heroine and revolutionary,
She fought in the war of national liberation 1954 -1982, and has worked as a vocal activist in the movement for womens rights in Independent Algeria. She joined the Algerian National Liberation Front ( FLN) while a student activist to fight for Independence from France. She and other women played a critical role during the battle for Algeria, which began on September 1956. She assisted the FLN leader, Saaadi Yacef, in recruiting young muslims from the capital who could pass as Europeans. Dressed as Frenchwomen she and two other female militants placed concealed bombs in the European sections of Algeria. Two exploded, causing civilian casualties, her bomb failed to detonate.These actions must be remembered in the context of the daily oppression that theAlgerians recieved at the time. This event and others unleashed the Battle of Algiers, which raged until 1957, when she was arrested, imprisoned and subjected to appalling torture. In July she was sentenced to death by the guillotine after a trial deemed a travesty of justice. However she became a cause celebre because of international media coverage of the French army's systematic use of torture, and she was eventually released.
She continued to be actively involved in feminist politics, advocating fundamental transformations in the legal, political abnd social status of Algerias women roviding a new generation with a role model of an active anti-colonial fighter.
Further Reading
The Wretched of the Earth - Franz Fanon
(Penguin, 1967)
My Battle of Algiers - Ted Morgan
(Smithosian Books)
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