Sid Rawle to be played by Brian Blessed, I wish

Just had this comment, worth sharing

Sad news this. I met Sid when I was a teenager in the 70s and a member of the fledgling Ecology Party, by which time he was already a veteran of the counter-culture. I saw him a number of times afterwards at various green gatherings and Stonehenge festivals. Sid was a significant proponent of much of what we now take for granted, possessed a magnetic personality, was a good orator and an all-round major player. It is perhaps the sign of the times that Sid's demise has made so little stir. Hopefully the passing of time will pave the way for a suitable re-evaluation of the man and his contribution to alternative living. Yes he was a contoversial type and could be a pain in the backside at times, but there's a book/film to be written about the man (I'd get Brian Blessed to play him) and a place for him at top table on the Alternative Mount Olympus.

Respect!

http://pastamanvibration.wordpress.com/

Mapuche hunger strike ends

Meeting at ULU on Mapuche and workers struggles in Chile on tuesday, 7.30PM, many thanks to Permanent Revolution for their good work in solidarity with Chile.


Meeting called by Chilean Ex-political prisoners and Latin American Co-ordination, monday 11th October.

This is the text of the agreement between the Chilean government and the Mapuche prisoners.


[First:] It is public knowledge that the government has promoted legal reforms aimed at modifying the Antiterrorism Law and the norms associated with the trial of civilians in military tribunals.

“This willingness towards change is a part of our government’s agenda and responds to the democratic convictions and principles of our legal system, which are embraced in our Constitution, international legal norms, human rights, and ILO Convention 169, as well as in the recommendations from international organizations.

“Second: As a consequence of the ongoing legal reforms, the government’s understanding of the law now demands that it not pursue the terrorist claims presented under the presidency of Michelle Bachelet. This is the case because, under the new legal framework, the government does not believe that the events for which the Mapuche individuals have been implicated can continue being classified as terrorist acts.

“The government will thus proceed to dismiss all claims for terrorist acts and replace them with claims based on the common penal code. To this end, and for the knowledge of the parties, filings will be made in the appropriate tribunals within the next 5 working days. This decision has been adopted, in the perspective of the executive branch, for State reasons and the common welfare.

“Third: The government will continue to promote in Congress reforms to the Military Justice Code to ensure that civilians will be tried by ordinary courts, thus avoiding double jeopardy, and ensuring the due process rights that are recognized in the Constitution.

“Fourth: With regards to the other issues raised by the Mapuche individuals’ representatives, and to achieve the fulfillment of this agreement, the signatories agree to return to meetings with Monseñor Ricardo Ezzati, who will strengthen his support and commitment to undertake actions with various authorities and entities in order to continue seeking solutions to the diverse issues that are part of the Mapuche cause.

“Fifth: Several hours ago, we communicated this resolution to the representatives of those individuals on hunger strike, individually named in the attached document, who have indicated to us the decision of those represented to end the strike immediately. The government, through the Ministry of Health, commits itself to providing medical support and assistance to the strikers by providing professionals who will oversee their prompt return to health.

“Additionally, we mutually recognize the commitment and concern that the Mapuche individuals and the government of President Sebastian Piñera have demonstrated to resolve this conflict with the assistance of a facilitator from the Catholic Church.

“The parties trust that this will be the start of more appropriate interactions which will form the basis for a new relationship with the Mapuche People.

Concepción, October 1, 2010

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Proposition 23 theme tune

Yes California looks set to support proposition 23, which would outlaw the expansion of renewable energy.

In the 1950s, 60s and 70s the corporate world spent $bns telling us that smoking controls killed

Now the corporations are spending $bns telling us that clean energy is dirty.

Turn your brain off, listen to the big money and set the controls for the heart of the sun.

Indigenous oppose the coup in Ecuador

The indigenous in the Amazon of Ecuador have been in conflict with President Correa.

Nonetheless they strongly reject the coup attempt and have called for support for the democratic process.

This is from the Aidesep website (Peruvian indigenous organisation).

AIDESEP, October 1, 2010. The Ecuadorian indigenous movement and its organizations expressed their opposition to actions taken by the national police and army against democracy in the country. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities and Peoples of Ecuador - CONAIE and its subsidiaries ECUARUNARI CONFENIAE, CONAICE have called for an urgent press conference to publicize its position on these facts.

Asencio Faris, leader of the Conferederación Peoples of Kichwa Nationality of Ecuador-ECUARUNARI, rejected versions of the indigenous movement linking the events and said that although they are opponents of the government, but as indigenous movement more than ever to support democracy

He also expressed concern at the insecurity that has gripped major Ecuadorian cities where the robberies are multiplied with the inaction of the police and warned that the situation could lead to death, because many people are trying to approach the police hospital, where President Rafael Correa [was] virtually kidnapped by the police.

ECUARUNARI leader announced that all social sectors are coming together at this time to express their opposition to destabilize democracy, since the police are "only defending the privileges that have been curtailed with the Public Service Act enacted by the government ".

A hospital run by vampires?

Just had this from one of my friends in Donegal, Ireland is in utter crisis, the bank bailout is like a vampire running a hospital.

Banks are being bailout and the Irish economy and society is being destroyed.



Dear friends,

Conor McCabe of Dublin Opinion produces an article in the Irish Left Review,
"This is not the final bill - Things are going to get worse" =>
http://www.irishleftreview.org/2010/10/01/final-bill-worse/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+irishleftreview%2Ffeed+%28Irish+Left+Review%29

His very strong views about the impact of further cutbacks on the economy
are staggering.
Not only that we are hitting towards a downturn spiral of deflation. In my
view, our economy will be further suffering by an expected international
inflation to come after this recession while Ireland will be bound on its
devalued economy and its hampered productivity for at least the coming
decade.

One can argue that deficite spending will even widen the gap between today's
values and future expectations. An interesting but also disillusioning
article can be found at the Swiss IIER website, "Austerity vs. Deficit
Spending - A Catch-22" =>
http://www.iier.ch/content/austerity-vs-deficit-spending-catch-22

One or the other way we are doomed. It is just a matter of quality and
quantity. The actions this government is undertaking are hardly to be made
reversible anymore. They are doing anything possible that their successors
will fail in the same way they have been doing. It's a kind of 'long term
strategy' of Fianna Fail, and the "Greens" are only sitting there and nod
everything through.

While our government is squeezing the last drip of juice out of our
workforce and economy which will cripple us even more, other countries like
Germany are already experiencing an upturn again. This can only widen the
gap between the Euro(pean) countries.

In my view, this government is picking the wrong choice as they have been
doing with all these procedures to 'save the banks' because they were
'system relevant' and 'important for the economy'. A further downturn is
foreseeable, and I can only agree with the author of the article in the
Irish Leftreview. This is not the final bill. Things are going to get worse.

It is up to us to do anything possible to
- get rid of this government
- change our political system towards more power for local elected
parliaments
- encourage people to become more self-reliant in local initiatives
- avoid further exploitation of public goods such as our forestry and our
limited fossil resources for the profit of private investors

I'm sure you would have some own points to add to this list.
In conclusion, there is a lot we can contribute to a better future model of
our society. People are more open now and will become even further receptive
for new ideas, new visions. => http://fisnua.com

Good luck to everyone of you.

Charlie.

EMERGENCY ACTION AGAINST ECUADOR COUP ATTEMPT 6pm FRIDAY 1st October TRAFALGAR SQUARE

News reports:

See Telesur http://www.telesurtv.net/solotexto/index.php

http://www.alborada.net/ecuador-coup-correa-300910

Ecuador President injured in ‘coup’

President Rafael Correa was caught in a tear gas attack as Ecuadoran troops
took over the main international airport in the country’s capital Quito while
police protested in the streets.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/ecuador/8035745/Ecuador-President-injured-in-coup.html

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/09/30/bloomberg1376-L9KNM70UQVI901-54MG1VRUG2KGDAGN97IRSJF130.DTL

SOLIDARITY ACTION IN LONDON

On Thursday evening the Movement of Ecuadorians in the UK (MERU) organized an
emergency protest in Trafalgar Square . Over 50 people, mostly from the Latin
American community, gathered at an hour's notice. The event was supported by
groups of the Coordinadora Latinoamericana including Polo Democratico Colombia
, Rock Around the Blockade, Bolivia Solidarity Campaign and Colombia Solidarity
Campaign as well as members of the Latin American Recognition Campaign and
Unite trade union.

The Coordinadora urges all supporters to spread the word in this emergency and
join the Ecuadorian community at their rally on Friday, 1st October 6pm
Trafalgar Square .

Austerity cuts battle a fight we must win

Politics is about power. Not the power of swapping one party for another but the art of making fundamental change.

Effective political leaders do not simply win an election but uses electoral power to shape society. In 1945 - while I of course don't defend its pro-US foreign policy - the Labour government of Clement Attlee changed Britain for the better.

The creation of the NHS, the expansion of the welfare state and the building of hundreds of thousands of council houses were just some of its many achievements.

Now fast forward to 1979. Margaret Thatcher won the general election and ushered in a right-wing revolution. She destroyed the trade unions outside of the public sector, started a trend towards privatisation and outsourcing, dramatically weakened local government and freed finance capital so it could profit from esoteric and exploitative practices.

There should be no doubt that the present government has similar ambitions to fundamentally change Britain. While its liberal politics rejects the shrill homophobia and other petty prejudices of Thatcher, David Cameron and Nick Clegg want to create a more market-based Britain just as Thatcher did.

The deficit provides an excuse for massively rolling back the state and outsourcing the entire British economy. The effects will be brutal but neoliberals Cameron and Clegg worship the market and are closely allied to the City of London.

Forget the mock outrage of the Daily Mail in response to Vince Cable's attacks on the banks - he was the court jester put in place to keep a nervous party on board. While the government would like a stable banking sector the bigger goal is an assault on public-sector spending.

Above all, cuts are being justified by the deficit. On the face of it this is economically illiterate. Britain has had far greater debt in the past - one thinks again of the 1940s when Attlee's government spent more money to create a more just society. Likewise, cuts will slow or reverse economic activity reducing tax revenues and making things worse.

Economic insanity is trumped by more fundamental considerations - utter stupidity is not an obvious feature of the British right in government. The deficit is a means to legitimise policies based on the desire to dismantle what little is left of the Atlee legacy.

Naomi Klein's book The Shock Doctrine could read as a manifesto for Cameron and Clegg. Klein starts with the overthrow of the socialist government of Allende in Chile in 1973 to describe how a crisis is used to justify intensified capitalism - in the 1970s, as Pinochet's government killed and tortured opponents, the "Chicago Boys" such as monetarist guru Milton Friedman flew into Santiago with their neoliberal blueprints.

Britain's current deficit was created by the billions of pounds needed to bail out the banks that had crashed because of the fundamental contradictions in global capitalism, triggered by regulatory failure. The deficit is now being used to cut, privatise and outsource on a massive scale - a failure of capitalism is being used to strategically extend the rule of capital.

The Con-Dem's ambition is to take five years to cut so fundamentally that they cannot be reversed. Massive public-sector cuts are intended to destroy public-sector trade unions so that politics can be permanently shifted right.

It is hoped that if the pain can be introduced swiftly, "reform" of the electoral system together with a continuing partnership with the Liberal Democrats can be used to cement a permanent rightwing, neoliberal politics. From "free schools" to the "decentralisation" of the NHS to an assault on the BBC, Cameron and Clegg believe clever tactics can be used to shove society in their desired direction.

The fight against the cuts is a life or death struggle for the left in Britain. I would urge all readers of the Morning Star to support the Coalition of Resistance and to build a fight for the survival of the NHS, free education, pensions and the other services under threat.

We need to build solidarity for unions taking action against the cuts like many of us did for the miners' strike in the 1980s. We need to create and sustain local anti-cuts networks. We need to build for the Coalition of Resistance national conference on November 27 in Camden, London (www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk).


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