Tuesday, 12 April 2016

Tory leader continues to treat us as idiots.


Tory leader  who looks like a train continues to treat us as idiots, as he tries desperately to react to the public's disgust at his and others tax avoidance and evasion. He has announced that HMRC will be working with the National Crime Agency to lead a wold class task force to investigate allegations of tax dodging and money laundering bought to light by the leak of 11 million  files by a Panama Law firm.
But Cameron in charge does not exactly inspire much confidence - a man who has made a career out of advising people on how to  dodge tax who once publicly stated that the whole concept of tax was ' legalised extortion.' 
And so the story keeps on running, since he has not drawn  a line under the story, we all now know  how much money he has been  making, profits made  and how supposedly bloody transparent he is. Now that we have started we will continue to keep asking much needed questions.  Each day he looks more and  more at unease , the case of Dave a man who looks like a train continuing to treat us all as idiots. We should keep pointing out to him  how big money has continually corrupted and tainted British politics. This is a man who has had the audacity to cut the benefits of disabled people  who cannot dress or look after themselves , while the tax payer continues to  pays him around 53 k a year to help him and his wife (Samantha worth in her own right £29 million ) to dress and look after themselves. David Cameron cannot keep  on treating us as idiots, with added lies and expect the people to continue to trust him. His ethics and morality have now been called into question and it is clear that he is not passing the test as he continues to  be evasive and defensive and his obvious unwillingness to be straight to the public that he supposedly serves . because of this his credibility now lies in shatters as his policies continue to lead to direct cuts in services and benefits that are hurting millions of people right now  in Britain. No wonder that Dennis Skinner had the tenacity to call him ' Dodgy Dave" and did not to withdraw the remark and then subsequently got kicked out for speaking the truth. Thank Dennis.
Yes dodgy Dave by name and nature  I hope that he will continually be given the shunt and shown all the derision that he deserves. Even he admits he could have handled this affair much better, it just shows yet again how his government is run for the privileged few and not for the majority of the population.

Dennis Skinner on dodgy Dave
 


Let us hope that this sorry affair will lead to new rules being put in place , that lead to more openness and transparency that enables the British public to know more about the dubious nature of our leaders business dealings.
Old research also reveals that wealth does not trickle down - it just floods offshore :-- http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jul/21/offshore-wealth-global-economy-tax-havens/
In response to his gaffes a large scale public call for a general election in 2016 is now going viral. British patience has finally reached  its limit. 
It also comes as no surprise to learn that as our Tory Government destroys  our steel industry, that  Margaret Thatcher a political hero  of Cameron's who herself contributed  to the destruction of the coal industry and society as a whole, also benefited from not paying no tax. It has been revealed that her own children will continue  to avoid millions in inheritance tax since  their mothers house in Belgravia, London, was registered  to an offshore trust yet still taxpayers had to fork out for the cost of her funeral  three years ago this month. Has it not always been the case up to now  of one rule for some and a completely different one for the rest of us less fortunate. Sadly tax avoiders  usually need to be pushed before they can change their attitudes.
In the meantime  when Cameron's election leaflet pops through our doors in the next few days printed by a German printing company you can send it back to the following address and the Conservative Party will get the 'bill for the postage.






Join the peoples Assembly on Saturday 16th April.
Time to rise up and revolt.

http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/hhje




Monday, 11 April 2016

Cannabis - Time to change the law.


In light of Howard Marks's passing this great advocate for the legislation of cannabis, is it not time to change the law. It is a fact that 45% of us here in Britain have tried it, and a majority of 47% currently support its legislation. As seen in the Independent newspaper on Saturday.
Is it not time that the UK reformed its cannabis policy speak out about its continual prohibition and offer direct comparisons how UK citizens are treated unfairly compared to our equals in Spain,  Uruguay, Canada, Jamaica, and a growing number of US states. 
At the moment Cannabis consumption, possession and supply are currently illegal under current UK legislation. Possessing or cultivating any form of cannabis  without a home office licence, anywhere in the UK is prohibitive. I personally believe the law to be an arse, surely now is the time for change. The war on drugs costly, stupid and counter-productive.
Up to £900 million could be raised annually through  the taxation of the regulated cannabis market, which demonstrates a  potential  revenue that at the very least deserves further investigation, it could be such a good thing as our economy because it certainly needs all the help it needs.
This combined with  much evidence  in the safety and efficiency of cannabis  for medical relief, that helps  people enormously suffering  from Alzheimers, cancer, chronic pain, Chrones disease and multiple sclerosis.
We should rage  against its continual suppression, the criminalisation of people, simply because of their use of it. The country is awash with booze that personally has not served me too well, at least with  the use of cannabis I have been at least able to feel some benefits, especially in relation to ongoing depression issues.
It would be a step in the right direction because at the moment  so many creative people stuck in prison for no reason, apart from  being caught in possession of an innocent herb, at the at the end of the day our current  drug policies have made things even more bad, since  more dangerous drugs are available on the market than weed unregulated that makes a mockery of our current drug laws.
I would add that I personally believe that cannabis has the capability to heal the world, which makes it an  incredible commodity.
Many people still using it for pleasure, as part of an essential lifestyle decision, prohibition has not curbed its use one iota , in fact I would argue that in a sense it has made it more popular  which makes it more appealing in the sense of a 'forbidden fruit' especially to youth. 
Legalise, regulate it and tax it now , let society as a whole profit from its use instead of criminal gangs.  The benefits of marijuana as effective treatment alternatives are plain to see, not only to individuals but to society as a whole.
It would ultimately would contribute to reduced crime and the protection of our civil liberties. It is so necessary and the only way forward , I hope that Mr Howard Marks as he moves skywards would agree with my words. Who the hell are the legislators who can tell me or you what I  or you can or cannot do with our own minds and bodies. 



Goodbye Mr Nice aka Howard Marks ( 13/8/45 - 10/4/16)


Sad to hear that Howard Marks - A.K.A Mr Nice - has  passed away of  inoperable  cancer at the age of 70. The father of four  was born in Kenfig Hill, Wales in 1945  and went on to study at Oxford University at Balliol college where he took nuclear  physics, and later got  post graduate  qualifications in philosopy  he was also a fluent Welsh speaker and practicing Bhuddist.
As a drug smuggler he found infamy however, asnd was sentenced  to 25 years inprisonment , realeased on parole in 1995 for good behaviour.
In his 1996 autobiography Mr Nice he wrote with humour and unashamed bravado  about his life and the sheer scale of his daily deeds and escapades involving a whole  host of characters ranging from the C.I.A. M.I.6.  the P.L..O. the I.R.A to the mafia.
Mr Nice was one  of 43 aliases  he used  which struck  a chord in the public imagination.



A man I was fortunate to meet, at a speaking tour and remember rushing up to him at Hay -on - wye  one year in order for him to sign some king size rizlas of mine, and amiable friendly bloke I could not   hope to have encountered. Mischeivious twiknling eyes and warm handshake
On his release he became a notable campaigner  for the legislation of cannabis and toured a comedy show, a man regarded as a true  modern day folk hero, counter cultural  icon and loveable rogue. A  life spent indulging in all things good, friendship, laughter music and of course drugs.
A man of very few regrets he will be remembered with fondness. He certainly lived quite a life.
Reflecting  on his crimes he said " Smuggling cannabis was a wonderful way of living -  perpetual  culture shock, absurd amounts of money,  and the comforing knowledge of getting so  many people stoned."
Still passionate about the issue he stood for Parliament on four seperate occassions on the single issue of the legislation of cannabis.
He had completed eight cycles of chemotherapy  and had initially responded well, but alas his condition finally succumbed. He died  surrounded by loving family members at his Bridgend  home  in the early hours of Sunday.
One of his last acts was to set up  the Mr Nice foundation, to ensure causes dear to him continue to get support. It is still outrageous that after his death  the innocent little drug that is cannabis is still illegal, and that the war on drugs is still not succeeding. Let us hope that in the coming years, legislation is finally achieved,  that it becomes controlled and sanitised .
Howard Marks, Mr Nice, R.I.P keep on rolling deep. Hashes to ashes. 
Stoned immaculate. Do not go gentle into that good night.



Saturday, 9 April 2016

Zounds - Subvert



Some musical respite, dedicated to all those whistleblowers that keep on exposing illegal and unethical acts. And to those currently  blocking Whitehall, because Cameron must go. Good luck to all those that hit back against a not fit for purpose government. Songs of freedom will continue to roar, signifying the soul of solidarity.  Standing strong, spouting subversion, spreading salvation supplements. Blistering  blossoms of the heart, releasing compassion and realization, sweeping away the veils of injustice, absorbing  and reflecting the  mirror of our souls. Often silenced swept under carpets, a mass that refuses to be kept hidden, with wild abandon, keeps awakening.

Friday, 8 April 2016

Time for David Cameron to go.







I would like to say that this is unbelievable, but at the end of the day they are all the same lying bastards. Since the beginning of the week we now know much more about David Cameron's financial affairs, after pressure he has now reluctantly admitted to owning a stake in an offshore business owned by his late father, as named in the recent Panama leak.
Currently bleating on about how it was all above board - oh the poor thing apparently paid his tax on it, and sold his stake for a measly £30,000  before taking office. Just a matter of loose change for somebody  prepared to rob of others far more deserving than he could ever be.
Thankfully not a lot of people agree with his bluster at the moment, after  lying and deceiving the British public for years, his lies over profiting from tax avoidance just a tip of the iceberg, many people now simply have had enough and are now currently calling for his resignation, but this man has no respect, so it is not very unlikely he will do the decent thing, so  perhaps he will need an extra shove or two.
This man's credibility now lies in complete  shatters, lets hope we follow Iceland's example and show him the doorstep , but we are  witnessing a British Prime Minister  who would not understand  truth, if it gave him a severe kick in the head, a morally corrupt individual, but I would remind you  that this is what Tory's seem to be to me most of the time. So a case of business as usual then.
Iceland though proudly would not put up with their crooked Prime Minister so neither should we, so I will be supporting the call today for this liar and hypocrite  to resign, a man who has benefitted from offshore tax havens while over the years has lectured us about how morally wrong it is. He is currently trending across social media and this time it does not involve farm animals,  I wonder what his dad would say, oh hang on probably  something like this " Hey kid, set up an offshore company, avoid your taxes and sing the Panamanian National Anthem." hey he might decided to do the decent thing,  even then though he will probably try to blame someone else,   " Oi Jeremy Corbyn, it was your bloody  fault." I can hear him fecklessly saying.
Yes we're all in it together,  but how the hell have we ever put our trust in someone  whose entire lifestyle has been paid for, from fee paying education, university, even his first forays into work, paid for by his fathers wealth gained from offshore trusts. I will return to an old catchphrase yes the mind truly boggles.   
What is incredible as well is that MPs have already snubbed a 190,000 strong petition calling for no confidence in him  because his policies have been causing such  devastation to the poorest in society for the past  five years, at end of day displays their arrogance too. 
Like the worlds rich and powerful  though, he plays by a different set of rules. At the end of the day it's plain to see that  he is a money driven lying sanctimonious piece of  **** what other  qualities would we expect , well done to all those who voted him into power , but an excuse  I can find, in the fact that he lied to get in and thus manipulated the public, oh eck the list  goes on an on, good luck to those who get rid of him,  for many taxpayers faith in the system is already tested, and  no longer actually have any faith left in their leader, surely now it is time for Cameron to go. Fingers crossed. It would be truly wonderful 3 years after Margaret Thatcher's death that he is finally hoisted by his own greedy damaging petard.




Thursday, 7 April 2016

Another world is possible. ( a poem)


( A poem that arrived earlier as I drifted between cynicism and pessimism.)

Another world is possible.

As they sell our dreams down the river,
For tiny crocks of silver and gold,
Remember another world is possible,
Waiting patiently for you right now,
A brand new system, another way,
With precision will repair the faultlines,
Wash away the corporate stains,
Rid us of  greedy capitalist contamination,
Beyond Panama, the rich will no longer gain,
Across the globe reconciliation coming,
To strengthen paths, release equity on earth.
The tears of the needy and oppressed replaced,
Injustice crushed, victims again to smile,
Carefully we can mend and rearrange,
Planting seeds of opportunity and hope, 
Piece by piece push things back together,
Replace the current walls of division,
Love across nations forever reborn,
Where no one waits for a return to war,
Another world is possible, 
Unstoppable and unavoidable,
A fairy tale of precious attainability,
To be reached and seized right now.





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Tuesday, 5 April 2016

Palestinian Children's Day



Today marks Palestinian Children's Day as called for by the late PLO chairman Yasser Arafat 11 years ago.
Not actually a day of celebration however but serves to mark the horrific treatment of Palestinian children by the occupying Israeli authorities. Daily children detained, by Israel forces isolated, threatened and terrorised, forced to admit to crimes that they never did. Many left traumatised, from which some never actually recover. 
In 1989 a UN Convention was made on the tights of the child. It stipulated that  children have the right to the best possible health, clean water and the right to play. "Children should not  be arrested, detained, imprisoned only as a last resort for the shortest time possible. They must be treated  with respect and care and kept in contact with their family." it read.
In 1990 Israel signed this convention, making it responsible  to guarantee these rights to Palestinian children in the occupied territories. Sadly since then this  UN Childrens rights declaration has been constantly violated and the  the rights of the child not recognised.
Children  under the age of 18 make up almost 2 million of  a total 4.29 million Palestinian population in the West Bank and the Gaza strip.
Israel currently holds around 6,900 Palestinians as political  prisoners, among them include  470 children. Most of the cases involving children, involve stone throwing, a minor action when one considers  that when these incidents do occur, it is against one of  the most powerful armies in the world, committing violent incursions into towns and villages. The crime of stone throwing could lead to an eventual prison sentence of twenty years imprisonment.
Also because of grinding poverty, and lack of education many children  forced to work on the street, as vendors or porters in busy towns. Economic stress on families means children are increasingly forced to work to earn extra income , often absent or dropping out of school as a result. Schooling and education badly effected remaining often incomplete or interrupted. In addition after recent conflicts many hospitals and clinics were destroyed thus depriving children of their right to health.
While children should enjoy the highest forms of protection according to human rights, international law and regulation, even in times of war or armed conflict - Israel  continues to violate the rights of Palestinian children everyday. Observance of Children's day in Palestine helps attract  international attention to the problems faced  by children currently living under occupation.  The vulnerabilty  of the Palestinian child is unfortunately. more acute than ever, continuing to face poverty, violence, and threats to basic rights . In Gaza , the main source of drinking water continues to be safe, as a result childrens health is put at risk.
This sad reality all  denies the Palestinian child the joy of living an innocent childhood .  The Palestinian child lives a life unlike any other child, symbolising the life of suffering under occupation, that  destroys their dreams as well as their well- being,  let us hope that in the future conditions of freedom and dignity are restored, that give opportunities to grow, in a healthy normal way in what has up to the present day been  denied to them, let's hope rain down.





Monday, 4 April 2016

Gaza fishing zone officially extended.


The decision to extend the fishing zone of some parts of the Gaza coast, to 9 nautical miles instead of  6, has to be welcomed, but does not go far enough. This all took effect early on Sunday morning, the Palestinian Civil  administration have announced.
As part of Israels illegal  blockade  of the coastal enclave since 2005, Palestinian fishermen have been required to  work  within a limited 'designated fishing zone " often having to endure Israeli forces  opening fire, when posing no threat whatsoever, just doing their job in  order to secure a living. Since December 2015, Israeli occupation forces have killed one fisherman, injured 17 and arrested 63,  confiscated 19 fishing boats and destroying  fishing equipment on 12 ocassions, harassed by Israeli  gunboats,  often fishermen have been taken to Israeli  ports blindfolded and handcuffed and questioned under aggressive interrogation techniques. The Israeli navy frequently targets fishing boats in Gaza's territorial waters, even while on shore , on n Saturday Israeli naval boats fired several ive rounds and shells on Palestinian fishing boats, near the Rafah shore.
 All this has had long term impact on the Gazan fishermans ability to feed their families. Because up to now most of the fish was at least  nine miles at sea , it has been a daily struggle to make a living with 90% relying on International Aid.
Around 4,000 fishermen work in Gaza more than half of them who live below the poverty line.  For any chance of their livelihood  being protected their must be an immediate end to the blockade and restrictions that prevent civilians like this providing for their families. This would mean further loosening the restrictions to 20 miles  as laid down by the Oslo peace accords of the 1990's. The restrictions still too narrow to provide for the people of the impoverished Gaza strip. Hopefully now the fishing zone has been expanded it should now result in a bigger catch in these deeper waters, where fish are more abundant.
More than 200 fishing boats headed out from Gazas port on Sunday night  catching  on average 8 kilograms (17 bs) each, including red mullet, grouper, sea bream and some small rays.


   




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NHS - Nye Bevan speaks about the National Health Service


Not too keen on  on politicians round here, very sceptical of most of them, but every so often I am reminded of one or two that sound a bit like human beings.
Nye Bevan  was one of the most important ministers of the post-war Labour Government and the chief architect of the NHS. He was born on 15 November 1897 in Tredegar in Wales. His father was a miner from  a poor working class family in which Bevan  gained first hand experiences of the problems  of poverty and disease. He was a rebel with many causes but is remembered mostly as the architect of the National Health Service which he bought to Parliament while he was Minister for Health in 1948.
He remembered how I he had witnessed families with dreaded sickness  who could not afford to pay doctors bills. In his home town of Tredegar  there existed a working mens medical aid society which was to serve him inspiration. He envigaged an NHS with comprehensive provision was on patient need, not wealth. Never one to back off from a fight , he bullied and cajoled , reasoned and argued until  Health care free at the point of delivery was to become a right instead of a luxury. The NHS would  come to be regarded as one of the best and comprehensive healthcare systems in the world, a jewel in the Crown for the Post Second World War Labour Government.  
And despite some faults Nye Bevan hated the bloody Tories with a passion, and helped make the biggest improvements to the quality of life for the average British person on living memory, so I respect him for this.
We should continue to defend the NHS with all our might, keep resisting the Tories agenda pushing some of us into semi starvation , both physically and socially as they keep  punishing the most vulnerable and hardest hit revealing themselves to be the bullies that they are.
I am reminded that my quality of life owes more to a deadman than a whole Tory Government ever could. So thank you Nye Bevan/
Respect to the junior doctors angry with the government for trying to fuck them over as the Tory's try to sell of the NHS piece by piece into eventual total ownership.

NHS - Nye Bevan speaks about the National Health Service

from Peoples History Museum , Manchester




Friday, 1 April 2016

Crabb must Go


If Stephen Crabb M.P  for Preseli Pembrokeshire and the now secretary of state of work and pensions,  has not done the right thing before 2nd April and resigned as Mencap patron, I will be catching the bus tomorrow to attend a demonstration, join people gathering to urge him that he resigns his post. After all Stephen Crabb is a man who has constantly voted in favor of  every cut to disability benefits, for the Bedroom Tax, and the Benefit Gap. Not much record of voting for fairness in any guise.
More than 10,000 people have already signed an online petition calling  on his role at Pembrokeshire Mencap. The petition says " 

You've recent vote in the House of Commons for disabled people to lose £30 per week of Employment Support Allowance shows that you have no compassion or understanding of the needs of the most vulnerable and disabled members of our society."

you can sign it here;

Please :-

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stephen-crabb-resign-as-  

I personally find it incomprehensible how the good people voted for him in the first place, and that Mencap could consider a man with  suspect views on homosexuality,  who supported  CARE, Christian organisation called CARE, that claimed hoosexuality was a disorder that so called right thinking people like themselves could cure, and recently declared  also that he is now an expert off suffering, especially of those that are currenty  suffering from parkinsons, motor neurone disease and other delibitating illnesses who he now expects to be looking for work.
continues to personally endorse and represent damaging Tory policies that will keep hurting the hardest hit and the most vulnerable. Causing  further unnecessary pain and distress.
I can  see no reason that MENCAP should still want him as their representative. Currently taking some of his own constituents through the courts because of the bedroom tax. Never once rebelled against any of the vicious cuts that were delivered by his predecessor. Who likes to talk about his roots of  being bought up on a council estatem about his own hardships, but for some reason instead of reflecting on this, seems intent on carrying on implementing cruel benefit sanctions. MENCAP still apparently have still not listened to the many voices that have replied to them, because they are not comfortable with the charities connection with Mr Crabb, which leaves many thinking they should  look at their own priorities and motives.
Join Pembrokeshire Peoples Against Austerity tomorrow if you can outside Stephen Crabb's offices  in Haverfordwest , tomorrow in support of  the most vulnerable and those in need of most support. 

More details here :-

https://www.facebook.com/events/1037182496327308/  





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