Who Controls the Drones in my Sky?

The above  gives details  of what promises to be an interesting and exciting event at the Small World Theatre here  in Cardigan, West Wales, starting at 7.00 pm next Saturday.
The evening's performance and debate should proff an interesting follow up to all ho attended a meeting on the subject back last December  in the Theatr Mwladan, and  will tie people in  to later activity in the year such as the 'Drape the Drones' event in September.
This is an issue that has long polarised my local community. Over the years people protesting outside Parc Aberporth against the testing of drones here.
Drones, unmanned surveillance and weapons equipped aerial devices) are being tested in Ceredigion. Small World Theatre posed the question ' Who Controls the sky?'
The event above will be an opportunity for the community to creatively disxcuss this controversial subject and share different views.
It is known that Watchkeeper that has been tested here in West Wales since 2012, using the Israeli  built Hermes 450,  a drone that is expected to now  take a sgnificant role in any future military campaigns. Having clocked uo pver 500 hours of flying time above us in West Wales. It is also significant to report, that they have also been field tested in attacks on Gaza, that have left many Palestinians dead?  Though not necessarily illegal they have  used in breach of what is considered international law.

More details here:-

National Theatre Wales

nice banner that was displayed by Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign at their own 'Fly Kites not Drones event in Bristol at the weekend, that sums up my view on the subject quite well.

http://nationaltheatrewales.org/who-controls-drones-my-sky-0

Lee Scratch Perry says no to Fracking.

Why does it fall to normal  people to provide  the burden of proof that fracking is safe, when for example, all the major British nature agencies have done studies and are against it and we see only an endless flood  of horror stories from every part of the world where this is happening? The word 'regulation' is utterly meaningless to the British public, especially  when big business is involved.
It  is the energy companies who should be  falling over themselves to demonstrate how safe fracking is. They aren't though, and they try to marginalise anyone who rails against it. Public  consultation  is being  bypassed and drilling , and drilling exploration plans being approved via the backdoor.
Fracking isn't a long term solution to our energy problems but it will leave  us with long term EXTREME environmental problems and the energy companies can't prove otherwise.
If anyone can save the world from destroying  itself, it will be the creative minds, the thinkers, the artists and the avant-garde trailblazer that will ultimately bring down the matrix of untruth and set mankind on a lesser destructive and more spiritual path.

Renewal

Happy Spring Equinox
a time of  balance and reassessment.

Early this morning,
the birds sang ,in the garden,
as buds blossomed from the earth,

Still believing in magic,
I rose from my bed of dreams,
followed strands bursting with something
                                                          fresh,                                      
as the wind blew drops of rain,
onto firm roots,the seeds of time,
old anthems and memories were
                                 also renewed.

In these moments of reflection,
and translucent waves,
gave me a chance,
to hold on and breathe.

Steams of pressure,
still choose the direction,
that we may flow,and grow
each in search of different pulses,
another world perhaps?

So Follow threads,
things that change,
as cycles turn, and shift
keep on talking, keep on sharing,
follow reason, that shelters and protects.                                   

BDS Cultural actions that only take a couple of minutes to do

With thanks to activist Tal Shapiro

There's a lot to do but each step takes a minute, so please spare about 10 minutes of your time and add your voice to these wonderful initiatves.

1. Send an email to NBC to cease and desist  rebranding of Israel's illegal excavations in occupied Jerusalem

http://goo.gl/MWVXVd

( Click select this recipient at the bottom and fill out the form)

2. Tell Neil Young to respect Palestinian rights by signing these petitions

http://bit.ly/1bUrdYd,

http://goo.gl/t85dT9

and LIKING the Neil Young, Tell me  Why you Would Play for Apartheid Israel page

https://www.facebook.com/Neil.Young.WhyPlay.Apartheid.Israel


3. Sign  the PACBI petition  to The Rolling Stones

http://goo.gl/DVXD6j

4. Sign the  petition to expel Israel from FIFA World Cup and UEFA EUROPE

http://goo.gl/z5qka8

5.  Tell Justin Timberlake to cancel his concert in apartheid Israel

http://chn.ge/1hDE3hN

6. Tell Justin Bieber that a second gig in Israel is unacceptable

http://chn.ge/1erKCR1

7. Tell Lady Gaga that a third gig in apartheid is appaling

http://chn.ge/1aC22Pw

8. Tell the PIXIES: Hey Pixies, Apartheid Israel is a Debaser of Palestinian  Rights
by liking this page

http://goo.gl/6XZcnN

9. Tell DJ Afrojack that playing for the beneficiaries of apartheid IS a political act

http://goo.gl/R3sqZ2

and sign the petition

http://goo.gl/GgB8WE


10. Tell The Prodigy to Stand up to Israel's Apartheid by LIKING the page

http://goo.gl/mSMCep

you can  also let them  know your thoughts directly on the comment section of their official facebook concert annoncement

http://goo.gl/3w3UAY

11. Get the Byron Writers Festival to honour BDS

http://goo.gl/YsFYAY

12. Tell Natacha Atlas that 'dialogue' can't be done at the barrel of a gun

http://goo.gl/zeKFDM

13. Tell Beyonce to cancel her apartheid gig

http://goo.gl/j9O9Kz

14. SHARE THIS NOTE

AND THANKS

HEDDWCH PEACE

Women of the Working Class ( animated short film to mark the 30th anniversary 0f 1984/85 Miner's Strike)

An animated short film made by young women  from the youth panel at Experience Barnsley Museum to mark the 30th anniversary  of the 1984/85 Miners Strike. The young people re-wrote verses of the song ' Women of the Working Class' that the Women Against Pit Closures used as their anthem on the picket lines. They then recorded their version with some of the original women.

The animated film is part of an exhibition Coal Not Dole:Women Against Pit Closures, held at Experience Barnsley Museum in Barnsley Toen Hall from 3 March to 1 June 2014.

More information here:-

http://experience-barnsley.com/

As many mining families faced increasing hardship, the Women from traditional working class backgrounds, found new roles to take on, finding themselves at the heart of the struggle. They set up Soup kitchens in pit village communities, raising money,organisng demonstrations, speaking at rallies, standing shoulder to shoulder with the miners, as well as raising and supporing their families becomming committed political ctivists  in their own right. Proudly providing backbones of solidarity, many   joined the picket lines, risking arrest or injury as miners clashed with Thatcher's boys in blue.
Thatcher had naively thought  that the women  would get the men back to work,  but in fact it had the opposite effect, it galvanised them with a strong will and determination, turned them into a mighty force.  
For all the great hardships that were suffered many positive resulted in the outcome of the strike. It provided new opportuities for them to flourish.
For many the impact of  the strike on their lives would change their worlds forever. Finding inner confidences that would carry them with strength.
These  are the unsong heroines of the bitter 1984/85 battle to save Britains pits from closure. We should not forget them.

Click on picture below to enlarge

 

I'd Rather Be Dancing (Rachel Corrie's Song). By Jim Page

Today I remember Rachel Corrie, as I do every year, with the Jim Page song ' I'd rather be dancing' based on  letters she wrote  home before the Israeli army crushed her to death on Gaza on 15/3/03. She was a 23 year old American Peace activist  who was killed  by an American built Caterpillar bulldozer, when she was protecting the home of Samir Nasrali's a Palestinian doctors' home from  being demolished, for many people  she is considered to be a hero and martyr. She had the courage to resist.
To this day the Gaza strip is still besieged. Violations of international law continue, as the Israeli government continues to disregard human rights.

http://rachelcorriefoundation.org

Lyrics:-

You know I was always the one
I could never stand idly by
and watch while the bullets  beat up the waeker ones
I had  to do something to try
and I never gave up on people
that we could  be better somehow
morality's compass, you gave it to me
I still follow it now.

Wel. I couldn't stop thinking about it
I couldn't get it out of my mind
the pictures, the stories, the plight of the people
in occupied Palestine
how my government makes me complicit
with the political aid  that they send
so I packed up my bags and I headed to Rafa
to work with the ISM *

and I'd rather be dancing, dancing and falling in love
but if I can just watch from a distance  then what am I made of

mama these people are so goot to me
they treat me like one  of their own
they feed me and see to my needs
and let me sleep in their home
papa their lives are so hard
the gun shots night
the road blocks, the strip searches, the humiliations
papa it just isn't right

I feel my privilege around me
It's there in my American face
I could wave my passport around like a flag
and I would be safe in this place
for these child soldiers of Israel
they look like the boys back home
and if it wasn't for American money
they'd have to leave these people alone


and I'd rather be dancing dancing to Pat Benator
but somebody has to do something about it and here we are

the tractors are coming today
they're like tanks with bulldozer blades
the name on the side says Caterpillar
that means they're American made
well I am American  too
and I'll  be where everybody can see
so if they want  to run over these houses today
they're gonna have to run over me

it's dangerous taking a stand
but its dangerous running away
sometimes you have to face  up to the danger
there is just no other way
for there are such beautiful  dreams
I have seen the eyes of a child
and I can make a difference
then I think my life is worthwhile

and I'd rather be dancing, but instead i'm saying goodbye
but we'll meet again when its over, don't cry

and I'd rather be dancing, and surely we'd all rather be
and one day we'll dance in a world that's peaceful and free.

* International Solidarity Movement

http://palsolidarity.org/

Dare to be a Daniel (for Tony Benn 3/4/25 -14/3/14)

Dare to be a Daniel, was the title chosen by Tony Benn for his early memoir, the first lines of the following poem are from an old salvation Army hymn that had been sung to him by his parents. I try to keep faith, dare to be different. 

Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone,
Dare to have a purpose firm,
And dare to let it know.

Dare to stand with the voiceless,
the occupied daily denied,
stand shoulder to shoulder,
with  devoted  words of meaning,
committed breaths carrying no fear.

Seed the earth with love,
persistent grains of freedoms cry,
move forward with language of hope,
in blazing movements of united flow.

Seek out the hallmarks of truth and justice,
drink from the vessels of life,
keep faith as our changeless songs hum out,
in fearless cry, together we right their wrongs.

On the breeze, our voices lift,
for tomorrows bright sun to shine again,
leave footprints by rivers' waves of friendliness,
in flows of solidarity and stealth.

Dare to dream, forever speak your truth

be strident in your belief and strength

do not let paths of injustice, halter voice

dare to be Daniel, for the many not the few.