Very serious lapse in review of Holocaust denier's book

I was shocked by the fact that a newspaper I write for has given space to a book by a holocaust denier, Nick Kollerstrom.

Just seen this excellent letter in the Star criticising this major lapse.

Very serious lapse in review of Holocaust denier's book

The decision to publish a review of the book by Nicholas Kollerstrom on the attacks in London on July 7 2005 (August 3) must count as one of the most serious lapses of editorial judgement our paper has ever made.

Certainly, I am sure the Star has never previously recommended a book written by a Holocaust denier, who claims that Jews could not have been killed in the main gas chamber at Auschwitz and that they were actually spending their time lounging around a swimming pool on the site.

The review should at least have advised readers that Kollerstrom was stripped of his research fellowship by University College London for expressing these rancid opinions.

Almost as serious is the Star giving house room to deranged conspiracy theories about July 7 2005 or September 11 2001.

It is one thing to argue that the British foreign invasion of Iraq played the major part in driving four deluded young men to commit a dreadful act of terrorism. It is quite another to suggest that the British government instigated these acts themselves.

Not only is there nothing approximating to evidence for this, it is also the case that those propagating such theories generally do so in an anti-semitic context.

There could be no quicker route to political marginalisation for the anti-war movement than to pander to the ravings of lunatics and racists.

In this case, I believe the Star owes its readers an apology and a commitment to tighten up on its book reviewers.

ANDREW MURRAY
London

Greenpeace Wipes It's Soft, Virgin Butt with Canada's Ancient Boreal Forests

I am generally supportive of Greenpeace but Glen Barry is critical of their forest policy in Canada, always worth having a read of his stuff....


Greenpeace Wipes It's Soft, Virgin Butt with Canada's Ancient Boreal Forests

- Against what ecological science tells us is required for global and regional ecological sustainability, Greenpeace Canada endorses continued clearcut of ancient boreal forests for paper products including toilet paper. Nothing to change as ancient boreal forests continues to be clearcut to wipe bottoms, albeit certified by FSC and Greenpeace as "well-managed".

August 6, 2009
By Earth's Newsdesk, a project of Ecological Internet (EI)
http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/
CONTACT: Dr. Glen Barry, glenbarry[at} ecologicalinternet.org

Ecological Internet vigorously condemns Greenpeace Canada's greenwash endorsement of continued Canadian ancient boreal forest logging to make throw away paper items, including toilet paper. Yesterday Greenpeace announced a premature end to its "Kleercut" campaign against Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the maker of Kleenex, Scott and Cottonelle brand paper products, boldly proclaiming "today, ancient forests like the Boreal Forest have won."

Greenpeace's long-standing campaign against "ancient forest crimes" by Kimberly-Clark was suspended on the basis of promises that 40% of its North American tissue fiber will be either recycled or FSC certified by 2011. The company traditionally has used 3 million tones of virgin fibre a year, which will fall to 2.4 million tons if they are successful. This atrociously weak target will legitimize continued destruction of Canada's ancient forest ecosystems for throw away paper products for decades.

"In a world well past its carrying capacity, facing abrupt climate change and species and ecosystem collapse, we call upon Greenpeace to immediately disclose the ecological science that suggests primary and old growth forests can and should continue to be clearcut to wipe our asses," questions Dr. Glen Barry. "It is just like Greenpeace to half carry out a campaign, achieve partial success, claim victory and move onto a more telegenic protest opportunity to fill their coffers."

Ecological Internet calls upon Greenpeace to embrace substance over style (for a change) and immediately disassociate itself from the Forest Stewardship Council's ongoing certification of first time industrial logging of primary forests as being "well-managed" while implying sustainability.

"No one including Greenpeace can tell us how many tens of millions of hectares of primeval forest ecosystems are being destroyed under FSC's certification label for, amongst other things, toilet paper and lawn furniture. Until Greenpeace and friends stop greenwashing FSC ancient forest logging, we call upon committed forest protectors to resign their membership from Greenpeace and other ancient forest logging apologists, and to stop using virgin toilet paper, no matter how sensitive their behinds," explains Dr. Barry.

It is up to us to continue the Kleercut campaign until primary forest logging ends. This places Greenpeace in strong contention for the upcoming "Forest Greenwash" of the year award.

### MORE ###

The Canadian Boreal Forest is North America’s largest old growth forest, and contains 25% of the world's remaining intact ancient forests. It provides habitat for threatened wildlife such as woodland caribou and a sanctuary for more than one billion migratory birds. It is also the largest terrestrial storehouse of carbon on the planet, storing the equivalent of 27 years worth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In March 2005, Greenpeace stated: "It is an environmental crime that Kimberly-Clark, through its Kleenex toilet paper, facial tissue and napkins, is causing the destruction of one of the planet's remaining ancient forests," said Richard Brooks, Greenpeace Forests Campaigner. "Shoppers need to know that when they choose Kleenex brand products they are participating in the destruction of the Boreal forest, a natural heritage of all Canadians."

"We are calling on store managers to return this evidence of ancient forest crimes to Kimberly-Clark, the makers of Kleenex brand tissue products," added Brooks. "If consumers knew that ancient forests in Northern Ontario were being clearcut to create disposable products that are used once, and then simply thrown away or flushed down the toilet, they would be horrified."

Under the announcement made by Greenpeace, such activities will continue, albeit in a manner certified as "well-managed" by FSC. There is no such thing as ecologically sustainable or even mildly beneficial first time industrial primary forest logging, and Greenpeace should be ashamed of itself for legitimizing the trade. If you support Greenpeace, you support ancient forest logging that endangers our shared being.

### ENDS ###

Vote for Tracy

Derek Wall, former Principal Speaker

“Working with Tracy has been a real pleasure, she is a dedicated individual with an impressive commitment to the Green Party and green politics. I believe her work over the last year has improved the Party’s media work considerably and has put us firmly on course for our best General Election result ever.

“I particularly appreciate the press work she has done in support of vital campaign issues such as the war in Gaza, indigenous peoples support, Latin America solidarity and most recently the Vestas campaign on the Isle of Wight.

“Tracy is pleased to follow up media ideas that members have and works in an open and flexible way. I will be voting for her again this year and look forward to working with her in the future. Please support her, she has already raised the game as far as our media strategy is concerned and it would be a great shame if we changed the external comms post in the run up to a vitally important General Election that should see the election of our first MPs.”

More from Tracy's website here.

Caroline Lucas, Darren Johnson, Joseph Healy, Jean Lambert and many others are backing Tracy Dighton Brown in the election for Green Party Executive External Communications coordinator.

We all appreciate her very hard work promoting the Party and the fact that she is a very good open person to work with.

It would be a great shame if she was not re-elected.

Still musing over the other contested posts, will let you know if and when I have decided who to back.

Inside the Revolution: A Journey into the Heart of Venezuela

Thursday August 20th: London Premiere of Inside the Revolution: A Journey into the Heart of Venezuela (New Documentary on Venezuela)

Alborada presents a screening of the new documentary

Inside the Revolution: A Journey into the Heart of Venezuela (Director Pablo Navarrete, 65min, 2009)

Introduced by the director

Thursday August 20th, 6.30pm-8.30pm, Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS, London - full details below.

Synopsis: February 2009 marked 10 years since Hugo Chavez took office, following a landslide election victory, and launched his revolution to bring radical change to Venezuela. While wildly popular with many in the country, Chavez's policies and his outspoken criticisms of the U.S. government have made him powerful enemies, both at home and abroad, especially in the media. Filmed in Caracas in November 2008, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Chavez's controversial presidency, this feature-length documentary takes a journey into the heart of Venezuela's revolution to listen to the voices of the people driving the process forward.

Event details: 6.30pm-8.30pm, Thursday August 20th (film starts at 7pm)
Khalili Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H OXG. Nearest Tube: Russell Square
£4 suggested donation

::: More info: info[a]alborada.net; www.alborada.net
Watch the documentary's trailer here:
www.youtube.com/alboradafilms

Facebook ‘event’ page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111688852395&ref=mf

Save Vestas Rally this saturday and tomorrow!

Campaign against Climate Change


Save Vestas Rally

Speakers
include Michael Meacher MP (ex-secretary of Sate for the Environment,
Labour) Jenny Jones, (GLA, Green Party), a speaker from the RMT and
from the Vestas factory.

This Thursday 6th August, 6.30 pm

Outside the Department of Energy and Climate Change, No 3 Whitehall Place
(off Whitehall, Charing Cross tube)

Last
Tuesday 4th the application from the employers for an eviction order
was granted. As we wait to see what will happen to the occupation now
is the time to step up the volume in our demand to keep the factory
open, for Green jobs and a Green Energy revolution.

There will also be a big demonstration in Newport on the Isle of Wight on this Saturday August 8th.

Just
when we need a huge expansion in renewable energy they are closing down
the only wind turbine factory in the UK. The government has spent
billions bailing out the banks, and £2.3 billion in loan guarantees to
support the UK car industry – they can and should step in to save the
infrastructure we are really going to need to save us from climate
catastrophe.

Join the campaign to save Vestas, for Green Jobs
and for the Green Energy Revolution we need to respond to the Climate
Emergency. This is just the start !

The Camp for Climate Action: An Appetiser!

The Camp for Climate Action is returning to London. From 26th August to 2nd September, thousands of people will converge to challenge the economic and political systems that have created financial meltdown and climate chaos. Instead of leaders' false solutions to climate change, the Camp for Climate Action is about ordinary people coming together to build a movement for sustainable living, education and direct action.

Would you like to know more about how the London neighbourhood is preparing for Climate Camp and get involved yourself?

On Sunday 16th August from 2 - 5pm, come along for

* a presentation about how Climate Camp is organised - plus a chance to ask questions
* discussion and planning for the Public Swoop on Wednesday 26 August - the day we'll take the site and set up the Camp
* a choice of hands-on workshops with the groups organising different parts of the London neighbourhood - the kitchen, entertainment, power and more
* a session on direct action - what it is, why we do it, and how to get involved

It'll be a great chance to meet other people who will be at Climate Camp and to make a real contribution to the London neighbourhood even before you get there.

Location: the Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ. (Liverpool St / Adlgate East tube.)

If you'd like to come, please email london@climatecamp.org.uk or feel free just to come along on the day.

dijeron que estaba vacía y la robaron/ They stole everything to pay for their addiction

they say everything is 'vacía' and then steel it (robaron).

A wise individual once noted:

“Even an entire society, a nation, or all simultaneously existing societies taken together, are not the owners of the earth. They are simply its possessors, its beneficiaries, and have to bequeath it in an improved state to succeeding generations as boni patres familias [good heads of the household].”



Un llamamiento a la reflexión y a la acción!
'Vinieron'

Primero vinieron por la tierra de los indígenas,
dijeron que estaba vacía y la robaron,
pero no lo denunciamos porque no eramos indígenas,
y nuestras leyes lo promovieron.

Luego vinieron por el subsuelo de los indígenas,
dijeron que era rico y lo explotaron,
pero no lo denunciamos porque no eramos indígenas,
y nuestra economía lo necesitaba.

Luego vinieron por la cultura de los indígenas,
dijeron que era primitiva y la destruyeron,
pero no lo denunciamos porque no eramos indígenas,
y nuestra propia cultura lo confirmo.

Por último, vinieron por los indígenas mismos,
dijeron que no eran seres reales y los mataron,
pero nosotros seguimos callados porque no eramos indígenas,
y nuestra ciencia lo demostro.

¡Ya basta!
¡Ahora queremos denunciarlo!

James Pliny 2009

N.B:

Este poema se centra en el fracaso de la denuncia del genocidio indígena alrededor del mundo en los últimos 500 años.

Lo publico ahora porque quiero marcar los trágicos sucesos en junio en Amazonas en el norte del Perú.

'Vinieron' es una adaptación de un poema, con mismo título, del pastor alemán Martin Niemoller.