Currently in light of the Trump presidency, and following yesterdays post am feeling quite numb. But I also realise that we are all now living in days of anxiety, fear and confusion and a period of deep transition. We must continue to bear witness and try to keep hope alive, let love triumph not the forces of racism
and hate, standing up against the forces of the far right and the politics of hate by continuing to build Bridges Not Walls, refusing to accept a world where bigotry and extreme right wing views and language are accepted.
Donald Trump now the leader of the most powerful countries in the
world for at least four years wants you to give up and let him shape the world in his backward vision.For anyone concerned about human rights, the
inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, be under no illusion, poses an acute threat to the global human rights
movement. He’s threatened our planet and he’s
threatened Muslims, women and countless others with his hate filled rhetoric with echos of the 1930's ,and it should be noted that currently the White House has removed its climate change web page, and the healthcare, civil rights and LGBT sections. The election of Donald Trump makes our world an incredibly dangerous
place. If you believe another world is possible,now is not the time to simply sit back and watch the Donald Trump show from
the sidelines, we must continue to resist Trumpism, and combat the conditions that allowed its emergence.
As Donald J. Trump starts his term as 45th President of the United
States, tell him to abandon the hateful rhetoric and promise to stand up
for human rights for everyone in America and around the world.
On 18 January 1981, a fire at a house party in New Cross, South-East
London, led to the deaths of 13 young Black people including Yvonne
Ruddock, who was celebrating her 16th birthday. One of the survivors
later took their own life.
Police declared the fire to be an accident, but to this day many
suspect it was a racist arson attack. The authorities failed to
seriously investigate these claims, despite the fact that racially
abusive letters had been sent to the homeowner, and an incendiary device
found outside the house. The police treated the families of the dead
like suspects, rather than victims, and the Daily Mail falsely
suggested several Black people had been arrested in connection with the
fire.
In the days that followed there was little coverage of the terrible
loss of young life in the newspapers.,The cold silence of the white establishment
conveyed a brutally simple message that the loss of young black lives
was simply unimportant. As Johnny Osbourne sang pointedly ’13 Dead (and Nothing Said)’.
In the aftermath, the community felt a devastating sense of loss.
Sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins, friends,
classmates – all taken away long before their time.
But what compounded the pain was the sense that the community had and
was continuing to be ignored. It is customary for Prime Ministers and
the Crown to acknowledge a mass loss of life by the way of sending a
message of condolence. Yet Margaret Thatcher, after nearly two years in
office at that time, failed to reach out to the community.
Thatcher fostered a hostile environment for the black and minority
ethnic community, and was widely considered to be courting supporters of
the far-right National Front group through the use of anti-immigrant
rhetoric. This was taken further by her minister Jill Knight, who
appeared to condone direct action against parties with sound systems, a
staple of the Black British culture at the time.
The suspicions of foul play were well founded – New Cross was known to many as the race hate capital of Britain.Many other Black homes in the area had been attacked
by supporters of the fascist National Front, and a Black community
centre was burnt down. Almost exactly a decade earlier, white racists
had petrol bombed a Black people’s party in Lewisham, injuring 22
people.
Ever since the ‘Windrush generation’ had been brought to
the country to help rebuild Britain’s post-war economy, they were met
with hostility and violence. The police regularly raided Black meeting
places such as the Mangrove Restauarant,
as well as the annual Notting Hill Carnival. The same year as the New
Cross fire also saw the passing of the British Nationality Act, the last
of a series of immigration laws explicitly targeting people of colour;
tearing apart countless families in the process.
The Prime Minister’s silence propelled the wave of black activism
that had been sparked by the fire, as protestors rallied to the words
'thirteen dead and nothing said' and ‘Here to Stay, Here to Fight’.
The New Cross community demanded answers and, in light of perceived
inaction by the police, hundreds attended a meeting a week after the
fire. There was a strong feeling that the fire had been an attack,
started by a petrol bomb.
Out of the ashes of this terrible tragedy came an unprecedented
political mobilisation led by the families, the New Cross Massacre
Action Committee and the wider black community.
It resulted in the historic ‘Black People’s Day of Action’ on Monday 2
March, 1981, where 15,000 people from all over the country filed by 439
New Cross Road bound for the Houses of Parliament and Fleet Street in peaceful protest, but their march was
disrupted by harsh police tactics and faced relentless attacks from the
right-wing media.
Tension between the community and the police remained high,
particularly amongst young people who felt they were being unfairly
targeted by the police.In April that year, an incident involving a stabbed youth sparked a
riot in Brixton that lasted a weekend and brought the issue of race
relations to the top of the agenda.
To date, no-one has ever been charged with starting the New Cross fire. The police bungled the investigation and no one was arrested or prosecuted which summed up the racist indifference of the state to black communities and sickeningly racist abuse was sent to victims families. The racism behind the tragedy politicised a generation, and continues to shape modern Britain.
Thinking back now perhaps the most appropriate way to remember those
lives cut short so cruelly is to renew a commitment and vigilance to
challenging contemporary racism in all its forms.
Linton Kwesi Johnson’s ‘New Crass Massahkah ’ conveyed in dub poetry perhaps the most enduring and powerful form of historical witness.
New Crass Massahkah - by Linton Kwesi Johnson
first di comin
an di goin
in an out af di pawty
di dubbin
an di rubbin
and di rackin to di riddim
di dancin
and di scankin
an di pawty really swingin
den di crash
an di bang
an di flames staat fit rang
Chelsea Elizabeth Manning, the US army soldier,,one of the most
prominent whistleblowers in modern times who with immense bravery exposed the nature of
modern warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan, and who then went on to pay the
price with a 35-year military prison sentence,will now be released on May 17, instead of remaining in military custody until 2045 as originally sentenced,as a
gift from outgoing President Barack Obama.
This momentous announcement of a commutation that can not be reversed by a future president, that I didn't think was actually going to happen.does not compensate in any way though, for the brutal
treatment Chelsea was illegally subjected to while awaiting trial at the
Quantico Marine Brig , having to spend 7-years
imprisoned for releasing documents that should never have been
classified in the first place, that were clearly in the public interest, that helped shed light on human rights abuses, war crimes, corruption, and government deception. Manning twice attempted suicide last year,also going on a hunger strike which only ended after the
military agreed to provide her with gender transition treatment. at the male military prison where she was being held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as a result of the terrible ordeal that she was forced to endure.
Chelsea lived for four years as a teenager here in Wales. Her Welsh family have
said in a statement that they were "overjoyed", adding that there would
"always be a welcome for her here in Wales". Congratulations Chelsea, and thank you to the to all the people across the country and the world who stood by her in their unrelenting support for her cause. Without them, this day
would not have been possible, this victory is a victory for all who continued to stand with her.For once justice has prevailed. Let us hope that Chelsea, this deeply sensitive intelligent heroic woman, who has inspired millions around the world, now gets the life that she has been denied for years. I cannot wait for the day that she actually walks free.
Death takes us all, we never know when, life is all about letting go,
at moment I feel a presence so deep, a drifting cloud so full of love. In trying difficult circumstances , we have to try and remember we are all the same, we are all exposed, all equal, it’s our individuality that distinguishes
one among others and our inspiring strength that encourages others even
at death, all of us naked none of us safe. We are imprisoned in a world of mortality , and because of this we must fight everyday to give meaning to our lives. At this present time I take comfort in the belief that the soul never dies, it continues to live on after death. The following poem by American modernist poet Marianne Moore I hope helps explore my drifting thoughts deeper.
What are years
What is our innocence,
what is our guilt? All are
naked, none is safe. And whence
is courage: the unanswered question,
the resolute doubt, —
dumbly calling, deafly listening—that
in misfortune, even death,
encourage others
and in its defeat, stirs
the soul to be strong? He
sees deep and is glad, who
accedes to mortality
and in his imprisonment rises
upon himself as
the sea in a chasm, struggling to be
free and unable to be,
in its surrendering
finds its continuing.
So he who strongly feels,
behaves. The very bird,
grown taller as he sings, steels
his form straight up. Though he is captive,
his mighty singing
says, satisfaction is a lowly
thing, how pure a thing is joy.
This is mortality,
this is eternity.
After careful consideration whether to resume this blog after the recent sad loss of my partner, I have decided to continue, I believe it is what the dear one would have wanted. This post then dedicated to her memory.The NHS served her well.
Ever since 1948 the National Health Service has been the envy of the
world. It is the greatest contribution towards social and health
equality. The NHS is an example of how a caring society can create good
and safe care based on social solidarity. The NHS is the best way to
ensure fair access to treatment for the acute or long-term sick, and
those with complex or costly health needs, irrespective of their ability
to pay.
But if the NHS was a car dashboard, every single warning light would be flashing at the moment after more than 20 NHS trusts across England declared black alerts in the last week, meaning
they can no longer guarantee patient safety. Even here in Wales, where the issue is devolved,Labour's 'modernisation' of the NHS in Wales in the Welsh assembly has led to the downgrading of
maternity units, A&E departments and the loss of 2,000 hospital
beds. This means reduced access to health care for many in Wales,
especially for those without a car, the elderly, disabled people and
some of the poorest communities with the furthest to travel. Staff working on the frontlines are feeling the impact, leaving many demoralised and combined with a neglect in funding, this has led to the neglect of people. All across social media, we can
hear daily live reports from front line NHS staff struggling to save lives in
the face of the government’s reckless under-funding and
under-resourcing of the service.Because of this the system isn't at breaking point, it's actually beyond that.As the chairman of the BMA ( British Medical Association), Mark Porter, recently said: “The intervention
from the Red Cross highlights the enormous pressure the NHS is facing as
conditions in hospitals across the country are reaching a dangerous
level. The government should be ashamed that it has got the point where
volunteers have been necessary to ease the burden.”
But how does the Government in westminster under Theresa May respond to this tragic situation, well as per bloody usual they simply use the 'blame'
game to shed their own responsibility, and as every day goes by it becomes clearer that Theresa May and co have no flipping idea how to
respond adequately to the present crisis. The 'crisis' in the NHS is not
the fault of A&E departments,patients lazy GP practices or incompetent
Nurses, it is an entirely manufactured crisis that has resulted in unnecessary pain, suffering and even death, and is what happens when you under-fund a service, increase
workloads to breaking point, refuse to meet ever increasing demand, make
people spend more time doing paperwork than they actually spend face to
face with patients, make training harder and harder to get in to and
make roles post training so unattractive that nobody wants to do them.This combined with creeping privatisation by the Conservatives by stealth of health services over recent
years has led to the pursuit of profit being introduced to this
cherished institution despite the repeated failures and costs of private provision.
There is also a shortage of 20,000 NHS nurses. Pressure on staff means
tired health workers, threatening patient safety, and instead of helping to recruit more the Tories have scrapped bursaries for student nurses, making them pay for their training!The workload remains constant and extreme. Missing food for a whole shift 10 hour is not uncommon, nor is finishing 2-3 hours late.Newly qualified junior doctors look after up to 100 patients the end result unable to provide proper care to each individual.One in ten hospital beds are occupied by patients who can't be released because of cuts to social care. This means operations are cancelled, causing patients to be seen in private hospitals, costing the NHS. Theresa May's demands for yet more austerity in the NHS represent a real risk to the safety of patients and the service. The Governments latest plans for Sustainability and Transformation plans are in in reality just a smokescreen for further cuts and it's latest instrument of privatisation. Doctors up and down the country are bloody angry too with the Prime Minister's demands to open seven days a week, with some claiming they will quit the health service alltogether.Anyway there are simply not enough GP's in the UK to enable this that could guarantee peoples safety.The Royal College of General Practitioners says 600 practices - with
75% of GPs in these aged over 55 - are at risk of closure by 2020. This
will result in a shortage of 10,000 GPs in the next four years.Yet patients are already struggling to get appointments. Many end up in hospital A&E departments, suffering long waits,this I fear is only going to get worse. Despite
all this terrible news I
can reliably report that the caring spirit is still well and
truly alive throughout the NHS.After my loved one and my father were
both admitted to hospital recently, all I ever witnessed were NHS
staff working beyond the call of duty with such dedication, despite all the pressures and obstacles placed in their way. I passionately believe, that in this time of crisis, the NHS must remain a publicly funded service, free at the point of need and accountable to us the tax payer. Theresa May simply cannot be trusted with it.The NHS is the single greatest achievement of working class people. We cannot simply sit by and allow it to be undermined and ultimately destroyed. Please consider signing the following two petitions and share. Our NHS is not for sale and must be kept in public hands.
Jane Elizabeh Husband my beautiful partner of Seabrook House, Cwmins, St Dogmaels who
passed away peacefully att her home on Sunday January 8th, 2017 aged 56 years, funeral will be held at Narberth Crematorium on Thursday 19th January
at 11.30am. Family Flowers only, Donations instead to Paul Sartori
Enquiries to Colin Phillips and Daughters Funeral Directors.
This is the most difficult post I've ever written, probably one of my shortest, but it is with great sadness I must release the news that my lover and partner,the blessed mighty furbster Jane Husband has passed away after a long courageous battle with cancer.
This beautiful musician, gardener, book lover, music aficionada,peace campaigner, nature loving, feline admirer, friend of social justice, touched the hearts
and minds of many, with her love, compassion and understanding.Never passive though, carried so much strength, ... cheers to her mum and dad and reg the crow.
May this
star forever shine brightly, her light forever remains.This wonderful ,
beautiful spirit, captured entirely what is good about humanity. RIP
dearest beloved Jane thank you so much for sharing your love. xxxx
RIP
dearest beloved Jane.
Flower of Grace
Thank you kindly, farewell beloved on every morning of the future we will feel your spirit and know that you will understand as you sit there on your cloud watching gardens below bloom again the seasons will thank you
your beauty will never dim
words ever clear, vision bright
as we continue to fight through life
remembering all the happy times we shared my thinking will be warmed by thoughts of a rare beauty in peace and total harmony.
Love you, Dave Rendle, teifidancer, Aberteifi/Cardigan, 9/1/17
One of the worlds wealthiest stores was the scene of protest yesterday in a row over tips.
Workers at Harrod's 16 restaurants claim department store bosses keep up to 75 percent of the service charge on each bill. They say the current system means staff are missing out on up to £5,000 a year.
Between 50 and 100 demonstrators led by the union United Voices of the World, which represents some of the west London store’s waiters and kitchen staff, brought Brompton Road almost to a standstill blocking doorways and roads and setting off smoke bombs at Harrods in protest against the store's policy of stealing workers tips collected at its cafes and restaurants.Furious protesters also chanted and slipped notes into pockets, bags and boxes of goods being sold in the store.Campaigners also held up banners which read: “Stop stealing our tips” and “Harrods tips are not for profit”.It led to two people being subsequently arrested.
Mr Petros Elia, UVW general secretary, says “Harrods is showing complete
disdain for its low paid staff while profiting off their backs.” Staff are rightly angry that, despite the fact that the
store has registered massive, record-breaking profits and its owners,
the Qatari royal family, have paid themselves a whopping £100 million
dividend, they’ve seen their share of the service charge go down.”
Elia also points out that most diners assume their tips
are a reward for good service. “Harrods is also exploiting the good will
of its customers, most of whom will logically assume that their tips go
to waiters and kitchen staff.”
“Taking away any percentage of the service
charge, which customers think is going to the waiters, is unacceptable.
Taking up to 75% is an utter disgrace. “
That 75% means that every year the Qatari royal family, which owns
Harrods, is taking up to £5,000 worth of tips from every chef, waiter
and porter. Famous worldwide Harrods, had record profits in 2016 of £168m. There is no excuse for Harrods, (not the only ones in the hospitality industry incidentally that carry out this practice.) to keep any of the service charge for themselves.
It is about time that this practice of keeping part or hole tips and service charges is
outlawed, as the staff are underpaid, robbed and the guests are lied to. Justice to all those working in hospitality industry currently being ripped off and Harrods stop stealing your waiters tips.
Here are two poems from the pen of one of my favourite poets Idris Davies, who was born on this day, January 6th 1905, in Rhymney. His writings in English and Welsh reflected the idealism
and protest of people during a time of great economic, social religious change. In books like The Angry Summer and Gwalia Deserta, Idris Davies did
more than just write poetry, he captured the essential dignity of the
working man and woman. No other writer has ever come close to
expressing the sadness and the depression of the Welsh valleys at that
particular moment in time.
Many of his poems were full of anger and rage that release his strong socialist faith, but was more than capable of releasing poems of great tenderness and comfort as the following two examples prove. Enjoy.
I have written about him in a little bit more detail here earlier, he remains a huge influence on me :- Idris Davies -Poet of the people
From The Collected Poems of Idris Davies, edited by Islwyn Jenkins, published by Gwasg Gomer., 1972
THE HEART OF A DREAMER
I broke my heart in five pieces
And buried a part by the sea
And I hid a part in the mountains
And the third in the root of a tree,
And the fourth I gave to a singer
Who share his wild ecstasy,
But the best I gave to a woman
Who gave all her heart to me.
LOVE LASTS LONGER
Love lasts longer than theroses,
Love is warmer thanthe wine,
Love is wilder than the whirlwind,
And O that love were mine !
Love is older than the mountains,
Love is fresher than the ides,
Love is sweeter than the lilies,
And O that love were mine!
Love is stronger than the granite,
Love is gentler than a sigh,
Love is richer than the rubies,
And O that love were mine!
Love lasts longer than the roses,
And O that love were mine...
