Thursday 13 August 2015
Never give up hope ( for the children of Gaza and Palestine)
(despite my partner currently being very ill in hospital I can never give up hope)
The two pictures included here are of Children playing on the beach in Gaza and on the streets of Palestine.
There are close to 800,000 children currently living in Gaza, they make up more than half the population.
Despite the heartbreak they have suffered, it is amazing that these children can still find time to play, smile and flash peace signs despite of the terror and hatred that no child should ever have to face. They and the people of Gaza, continue to give us hope and will be forever remembered for their courage and resilience theyhave shown the world in the most trying of times.
Increasingly isolated by a blockade that prevents anyone rebuilding their homes and their lives.
They remind me, that we should never give up hope.
Hope and Play is an organisation that helps to provide the children in occupied Palestinian territories and refugee camps the chance to play, live and learn.
You will find a link here:- http://www.hopeandplay.org/
Tuesday 11 August 2015
We need to talk about Jeremy
Today is the last chance to vote for Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party, a person that I believe to be one of the most honest people to have emerged in Britains frontline politics. A hard working, conscientious M.P, veteran trade unionist and anti-war activist, a figure of the real proper left.
A strong voice in opposing Tory austerity, the 2003 Iraq war, freedom for the Palestinian people, supporting my views of hope, strongly supporting the causes of the environment, peace and social justice.
constantly standing against the senseless wastes of human life that have plagued this country. Genuinely saying it how it is.
It is only £3 to sign up as a supporter, or free if you are a unison or unite member. We should not believe the media's relentless attacks on Jeremy, they are not watching out for us, Jeremy is a threat to the elite and needs all the support he can get.
On the other hand I have long believed the Labour Party to be dead, so will not be rushing to rejoin, I left in the 1980's as they were expelling friends and comrades from it's ranks, and turning into New Labour, under the treacherous direction of the likes of Tony Blair, and that spineless traitor Neil Kinnock.
If Jeremy changes the Labour Party's direction, turns it into a fighting party again, defending the poor, the weak and vulnerable that will be good. If he enables us to keep challenging the status quo, then all will not be lost, if he allows us to keep saying no to austerity , by spreading good words of solidarity and hope, that fuel our rightful anger, then possibly all will not be lost. Hopefully Jeremy will allow us to restore some faith, in our minds and hearts.
We must start building alternatives, build a strong social movement , that changes society into a force of good and change, instead of one that is cruel and divided.
Good luck Jeremy Corbyn.
Saturday 8 August 2015
Gaza Art: Remembering 400 dead children
Palestinian artist Majdal Nateel, painted the following images to commemorate 400 of the children who died in Gaza last summer - but she is not even permitted to leave Gaza to see them currently on display in London's King Cross, after they were bought back by the journalist Jon Snow last month.
Powerful stuff drawn on cement bag fragments, used to to deliver limited supplies of cement to families whose homes were bombed. Imaging the dreams and aspirations of the children who died. Ongoing restrictions of cement and other materials means that many children who survived the conflict are still without homes.l I hope the people of the UK will get to see these pictures and understand the terrible suffering that Israel has inflicted on innocent children.
The artist Majdal Nateel is 29. the mother of two young daughters, and lives in Gaza city. This exhibition gives her a rare chance to showcase her work outside Gaza. Respect to Jon Snow for bringing them over.
Friday 7 August 2015
Si Mohammed Bel Hassan el Soudani - B, 1959, Rec. by Paul Bowles
In my opinion, a rather wonderful musical interval.
Bye for now..... heddwch/peace.
Thursday 6 August 2015
Remembering Hiroshima
70 years ago today at 8.15, August 6th, 1945, the city of Hiroshima was destroyed with an atomic bomb. In a matter of a few minutes, hundreds of thousands of innocent people lost their lives in this cowardly attack. Three days later the city of Nagasaki met the same fate. Combined it resulted in the deaths of over 400,000 people.
Today I cry, no more Hiroshimas, no more Nagasakis, Ban nuclear weapons.
As people across Wales and all over the world will be remembering this devastation.
Sending clear messages to the Welsh government and to governments across the world that nuclear weapons are not needed, here, or anywhere. We should remember that it is a crime to prepare for mass murder. Trident is a crime, it is a criminal weapon.
It should be unthinkable today that the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki should ever be repeated. Let us remember today, and continue on our journey today towards peaceful change.
Lets forever give peace a chance.
Heddwch/peace.
Wednesday 5 August 2015
No time for tears
another poem for my dear Jane.
holding on, not letting go.
No times for tears, they can wait,
because under it's weight you can sink,
time now to muster some strength,
allow friends to release silent prayers,
powerful chants, in times of distress,
to lend a hand, of faithfulness,
to break down and open doors of light.
The brilliance of friendship,
in this present time is good,
stitches together the continuity of hope,
sprinkles some light among the branches,
into this distracting world of thought,
giving comfort to current spaces of meaning ,
a friendly pulse, a force of good in time's struggle.
Solidarity is love, gives us strength,
let 's keep on delivering, it's message,
allow it to run free,
pumping adrenalin into the veins,
of all those still grappling,
allow it to rescue and restore,
all vestiges of hope.
When then sun goes down,
and the night is long,
solidarity's breath is the master of dreams,
gives us love, harbours strength ,
so keep it protected, with all your hearts,
allow it's presence, to light the world with change,
to serve and protect every persistent day.
Tuesday 4 August 2015
Solidarity with humanity.
At a time when people should be rising up in solidarity about the rotten establishment, the reckless bankers, the corrupt politicians, and the greedy, people are pointing the finger of blame at those that don't deserve to be attacked, people like the unemployed, the underpaid, and currently receiving much vitriol migrants.
The language of racism and xenophobia on full display, politicians daily speaking and inflaming the situation, with voices completely devoid of compassion, using the language of division and hate on those most undeserving. The spectre of fascism, once again is on open display across Europe .
The freedom of movement is a universal right recognised by international law, but politicians, apart from a few do not seem to be taking this right seriously.
The crisis in Calais happening right now is a humanitarian crisis, people fleeing injustices in desperation, we should not be blaming them, or treating them like criminals, or as less than human, we should be treating them with tolerance and dignity, offering them our hands of friendship.
It is not by chance that so many desperate people try to enter the UK, as well as other rich countries, we must remember that in their own homelands, they do not even have the basic conditions that dives them a means of survival. At the end of the day , they have no choice to try and escape, and try to reach Europe every day.
Collectively we must oppose migrant detention and removal measures to protect these people's human rights. The continual struggle of migrants, which they have determined for themselves, must be supported against the daily oppression that they face. It should encourage us to be more more active, to give solidarity with all struggling migrants everywhere.
David Cameron should be condemned for playing politics with the situation in Calais, trying to whip up fear and hostility to those that are seeking refuge, start looking for a more humanitarian solution to the situation. In the meantime there are thousands of people across the continent who are filling the void left by politicians, urging them to take responsibility and solidarity in taking in more migrants. We should also be following the example of other countries, with a reasonable response, take Sweden for example, who are currently allowing anyone from Syria into their country, who last year alone accepted 30,000 asylum seekers, compared to the UK's meagre pathetic 10,000.
Europe must belong to everyone, not just profiteers, we must continue to protect desperate people trying to flee imperialist wars, repression and poverty, following dangerous routes across land and sea.
No one is illegal, but solidarity is love.
Sunday 2 August 2015
When the siege is broken; A poem for Gaza
One year after the 2014 war that killed more than 2,000 Palestinians and destroyed thousands of homes, people in Gaza are still struggling to survive under awful living conditions and a crippling blockade.
A place of daily struggle for the 1.6 million living here under Israeli siege, in the tiny Gaza strip, one of the most densely populated paces on the planet, that has since 2007 suffered under the brutal Israel Land, air and sea blockade.
After the latest assault, entire neighbourhoods are inaccessible, medical and medical disposables in shortage. The blockade has caused increased unemployment, loss of agricultural land, decline in incomes from fishing due to restrictions imposed by the Israeli Navy and daily problems obtaining raw materials, and everyday manufactured products. With health impaired by a population impoverished, together with psychological problems, caused by the ordeal of confinement, to this open prison.
Lifting the blockade would enable Gaza to trade again. And if this happened the economy could grow by almost $4 billion. Local businesses and farmers could earn decent livings again. People could afford to feed their families and put their children through school or college and get access to safe water. We must be able to give some hope of a better future for the people of Gaza, it is more than enough time that they are given their dignity back to be allowed an economic life that has been denied to them for years, to be allowed to travel and trade again.
Yes it is more than time that the blockade is lifted, for people to be connected with friends and family in the West Bank again, the blockade of human rights and international law, an obstacle to freedom and peace.
The following a poem, that looks forward to a time when the siege and blockade is over.
When the siege is broken
From a dream within a dream,
freedom's breath kept calling,
the degradation just had to end,
a change needed to be delivered,
between the wall and sea,
the keys of promise allowed to return,
allow the struggling bird, to trace some light.
The future blossoms again,
green on the land,the dawn wakes to song,
instead of the rattle of gunfire and missiles,
the morning moves with softness,
as cypresses sway, under the shade of oak trees,
jasmines scent floats, the smell of oranges,
sweet on the breeze.
Beyond the rubble of the past,
children play in jubilation,
farmers toil in the afternoon sun,
the fruit of their soil alive again,
a paradise is regained from oppression,
though weeping tears will never cease,
olive branches now glisten with hope,
fishermen go far out to cast their nets,
smiling sharing salted bread,
to bring back home a rich harvest.
Safe from captivity, no longer in a living hell,
hearts again, existing in peace,
the dream continues,
lights a path away from the dark,
as speakers ring out, a familiar call for prayer,
a conflagration of new beginnings,
returns some mercy.
poem written last week before I became aware of extent of my partners illness, a cause that we both share together.
Thursday 30 July 2015
Holding on
a poem, written for my wonderful friend, soul mate, partner, Jane, currently seriously ill in hospital.
Holding on
We break, get torn,
this makes our living spaces so blue,
so we fall apart, to start again,
to shake dark shadows of our skin,
wait for calming thoughts to return,
to burn bright again,
feel the tug of another's heart,
holding on and not letting go,
souls are strong, the wind can't blow them away,
still like air, the morning she rises,
with touch and breath, smiles again,
by moonflowers and sunflowers,
we will continue to walk and talk,
allow our nights and days,
to be imbued with love.
Wednesday 29 July 2015
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
" Love is not a victory march, it's cold and it's broken.
Hallelujah."
I have returned sooner than expected, time on my hand's,
for Alison Croydon ( Ali) my beloved cousin, who is being laid to rest today,
aged 58, R.I..P.
Dear soul,
Stonehenge veteran,
intrepid traveller ,
inner and beyond,
we light a brief candle,
both ends burning,
as we remember,
and her journey continues,
hallelujah
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