Monday 29 April 2019

On Censorship Once Again




I woke up this morning to find an e-mail stating my Twitter account had been locked and the account suspended. Apparently I "broke community rules" with one of yesterday's posts on this blog. This was the one in which I attacked and published the so-called manifesto of the white supremacist nutcase who attacked a Synagogue in the states.

It was quite clear that I was doing this to both oppose and expose hate yet this was considered to be "unsuitable" content. I have no idea whether it was banned as a result of a complaint or some algorithm picked it up. It's not as if my Twitter account has much of a readership. In fact it's tiny. I only set it up to replace Google Plus and have not really done much with it except post links to my blog.

A couple of years back Facebook removed one of my posts due to a complaint. I had published an article about FEMEN making one of their topless protests, against Trump as it happens. However it seems the sight of ladies nipples is far to offensive. And yet Facebook then and now continues to host real hate groups and allows graphic videos of violence to be posted.

Recently both Facebook and twitter have been introducing policies to ban hate groups though seemingly only the far-right is their target. Nick Griffin, Britain First and their leaders, the BNP and even Tommy Robinson all had their accounts closed down. Some people cheered at this. I do not there is a problem. Where does this end.

Look at the other end of the political spectrum, Communists and Marxists whose ideology has actually killed more people than the fascists remain unaffected. Some of these groups are riddled with their own forms of hate and racism. Even the Labour Party under Corbyn has developed a problem with anti-Semitism. Should all these organisations have their social media accounts closed?

Then there's the Islamists. Difficult to define a border between very conservative Islamic site and those of so-called extremists. In any case calling for the killing of gays, apostates and infidels is hate speech no? There's plenty of these groups out there. seemingly untouched by either Twitter or Facebook.

Yes some sites that actually advocate murder and killing should be closed but where do you draw the line when it comes to groups that believe in the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism or whatever. This involves violence.

Most revolutions are far from peaceful and the Bolshevik coup d'etat led to the deaths of untold millions first in Russia and then in China let alone other smaller regimes. Marxism is inherently authoritarian and like fascism and even Islamism engages in mass social engineering that leads to the deaths of those who do not conform, obey, fit in, are simply in the way or considered inferior or intellectually dangerous.

Yet Marxists get a free pass as do fundamentalist Islamists. There is a grey line but drawing the "Rubicon" is not easy and the suppression of one persons right to free speech may have unintended effects.

That's what happened to my tweet. In condemning white supremacists and anti-Semitism in an informative way I somehow fell foul of some policy that doesn't fit all. I condemned the criminal and his so-called manifesto.

We need to read the views of those who oppose democracy or worse. Forewarned is forearmed against dictatorship.

Sunday 28 April 2019

John Earnest: A Deranged Manifesto of Hate



Photo: Twitter/TOT Consulting Services

Another killer, this time a 19 year old teenager from the states who attacked a synagogue at the end of Passover with the intention of just killing Jews. John Earnest also claimed to have attacked a Mosque previously. A dangerous man full of hate and white supremacy.

This is just a week on from the Islamist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri-Lanka aimed at Christians by ISIS cells. All over the world extremism is growing both organised and from lone individuals, the latter being the most dangerous of all as they appear out of nowhere just this man who had no previous police record.

Both Islamism and White Supremacism are a major threat in the 21st century and before you read or attempt to read the full manifesto of a Nazi I recommend this article from Maryam Namazie:

Fundamentalism and White Nationalism: The Same, Just Wearing Different Clothes

Please note this is published in the hope that it will expose the irrational hatred that these white supremacists/nationalists or just plain Nazi's hold. It does not make for pleasant reading.

An open letter.

My name is John Earnest and I am a man of European ancestry. The blood that runs in my veins is the same that ran through the English, Nordic, and Irish men of old. I am a descendant of one of the original colonists of Roanoke—John Earnest. What happened to him I do not know, and nor does anyone. But I do know that he left his wife and son, James Earnest, back in England. This son shortly after made the same daring journey across the Atlantic to the New World. From my mother’s side I inherited the blood of very wealthy Yankees—intelligent, resourceful, uncompromising. From my father’s side I inherited the blood of poor Southern farmers—intelligent, musically gifted, self-sufficient. A part of my ancestors lives within me in this very moment. They are the reason that I am who I am. Their acts of bravery, ingenuity, and righteousness live on through me. Truly, I am blessed by God for such a magnificent bloodline.

To my family and friends. I can already hear your voices. “How could you throw your life away? You had everything! You had a loving family. You had great friends. You had a church. You were doing well in nursing school. You could have gone so far in your field of study. You could have made so much money and started a happy family of your own.” I understand why you would ask this. But I pose a question to you now. What value does my life have compared to the entirety of the European race? Is it worth it for me to live a comfortable life at the cost of international Jewry sealing the doom of my race? No. I will not sell my soul by sitting idly by as evil grows. I’d rather die in glory or spend the rest of my life in prison than waste away knowing that I did nothing to stop this evil. It is not in my blood to be a coward. I do not care about the debt-based currency that Jews like to pretend is money. I do not care for the bread and circus that Jewry has used to attempt to pacify my people. I willingly sacrifice my future—the future of having a fulfilling job, a loving wife, and amazing kids. I sacrifice this for the sake of my people. OUR people. I would die a thousand times over to prevent the doomed fate that the Jews have planned for my race.

“How does killing Jews help the European race? The European race is doomed? What are you talking about? These Jews were innocent!” Every Jew is responsible for the meticulously planned genocide of the European race. They act as a unit, and every Jew plays his part to enslave the other races around him—whether consciously or subconsciously. Their crimes are endless. For lying and deceiving the public through their exorbitant role in news media; for using usury and banks to enslave nations in debt and control all finances for the purpose of funding evil; for their role in starting wars on a foundation of lies which have costed millions of lives throughout history; for their role in cultural Marxism and communism; for pushing degenerate propaganda in the form of entertainment; for their role in feminism which has enslaved women in sin; for causing many to fall into sin with their role in peddling pornography; for their role in voting for and funding politicians and organizations who use mass immigration to displace the European race; for their large role in every slave trade for the past two-thousand years; for promoting race mixing; for their cruel and bloody history of genocidal behavior; for their persecution of Christians of old (including the prophets of ancient Israel—Jeremiah, Isaiah, etc.), members of the early church (Stephen—whose death at the hands of the Jews was both heart-wrenching and rage-inducing), Christians of modern-day Syria and Palestine, and Christians in White nations; for their degenerate and abominable practices of sexual perversion and blood libel (you are not forgotten Simon of Trent, the horror that you and countless children have endured at the hands of the Jews will never be forgiven); for not speaking about these crimes; for not attempting to stop the members of their race from committing them. And finally, for their role in the murder of the Son of Man—that is the Christ. Every Jew young and old has contributed to these. For these crimes they deserve nothing but hell.

I will send them there.

“Why are you doing this? Surely killing a fraction of Jews will not solve any problems. Are there not better ways to save the European race?” Yes and no. There are three roles that must be played in this revolution. Those who spread the truth, those who defend the race, and those who continue the race (having children). Where most people misunderstand is that all three of these must be performed by everyone to the best of his ability. There has been little done when it comes to defending the European race. As an individual I can only kill so many Jews. My act of defense is not so much about my high score—that is how many Jews I can ‘Do not pass go, do not collect 200 shekels’ straight to fucking hell. But rather the statement that I made. There is at least one European man alive who is willing to take a stand against the injustice that the Jew has inflicted upon him. That my act will inspire others to take a stand as well. And when this revolution starts gaining traction (if I am not killed) I expect to be freed from prison and continue the fight. I do not seek fame. I do not seek power. I only wish to inspire others and be a soldier that has the honor and privilege of defending his race in its greatest hour of need—and have a family if possible.

“How can you call yourself a Christian and do this? Surely the Bible calls for you to love your enemies?” Firstly, just because someone calls themselves a Christian does not make them one. Plenty of people wrongfully identify with being Christian. Beyond the scope of time the Father and the Son made a covenant in eternity—that the Son would bring a people to Him that He may be glorified through them. I did not choose to be a Christian. The Father chose me. The Son saved me. And the Spirit keeps me. Why me? I do not know. And my answer to loving my enemies? Trust yids and their puppet braindead lemming normalfags to take one quote from the Bible and grossly twist its meaning to serve their own evil purposes—meanwhile ignoring the encompassing history and context of the entire Bible and the wisdom it takes to apply God’s law in a broken world. Is it lawful to let a thief murder my friend instead of killing the thief to prevent the death of my friend? To ask such a question is to answer it. It is not loving towards your friend to let him be murdered. It is not loving towards your enemy—the thief—to let him murder. A child can understand the concept of self-defense. It is unlawful and cowardly to stand on the sidelines as the European people are genocided around you. I did not want to have to kill Jews. But they have given us no other option. I’m just a normal dude who wanted to have a family, help and heal people, and play piano. But the Jew—with his genocidal instincts—is insistent on poking the bear until it tears his head off. The Jew has forced our hand, and our response is completely justified. My God does not take kindly to the destruction of His creation. Especially one of the most beautiful, intelligent, and innovative races that He has created. Least of all at the hands of one of the most ugly, sinful, deceitful, cursed, and corrupt. My God understands why I did what I did.

“When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matthew 27:24-25).

“I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham […] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not” (John 8:37-45).

“For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins away: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9).

“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (Revelation 3:9).

“Hey you, you’re finally awake. You were trying to cross the border right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush. Same as us, and that thief over there.” (I forget where in the Bible this verse comes from, but it’s definitely in there).

To the glow-niggers and Jewed-media reading this. I think it is important for you to know that I did not do this alone. I had the help of a man named Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg. He was kind enough to plan and fund this whole operation—the sly bastard. Apparently, Pewdiepie hates Jews as much as Pajeets. Who would’ve known? Make sure to call me a ‘white supremacist’ and ‘anti-semite’ or whatever bullshit you spew to spook the normalfags. It doesn’t even matter. You’ve been calling every White person alive those names for decades—they’ve lost all their meaning. You’ve socially ostracized every White person. You’ve made it harder and harder for White people to live a normal life. To this I say well done. You are stupid enough to make a White person’s only viable option for survival to kill all of you. Keep doing what you’re doing Jew-media. You’re putting the noose around your own neck. The irony is glorious.

To my brothers in blood. Make sure that my sacrifice was not in vain. Spread this letter, make memes, shitpost, FIGHT BACK, REMEMBER ROBERT BOWERS, REMEMBER BRENTON TARRANT, filter the religious D&C, and filter the schizos who will inevitably call this a ‘false flag.’ Something to note, people grossly overestimate the police’s ability to solve ‘crimes’ such as ‘arson’ and ‘murder.’ Lots of threads about ‘Feds are talking to me guys because I post on 8chan, it’s so spooky’ are ‘organically’ popping up. What a load of shit meant to try to scare the goyim and prevent retaliation. I scorched a mosque in Escondido with gasoline a week after Brenton Tarrant’s sacrifice and they never found shit on me (I didn’t realize sandniggers were sleeping inside though—they woke up and put out the fire pretty much immediately after I drove away which was unfortunate. Also they didn’t report the message I spray-painted on the parking lot. I wrote ‘For Brenton Tarrant -t. /pol/’). It is so easy to log on to Minecraft and get away with burning a synagogue (or mosque) to the ground if you’re smart about it. You can even shoot up a mosque, synagogue, immigration center, traitorous politicians, wealthy Jews in gated communities, Jewish-owned company buildings, etc. and get away with it as well. If your goal is strictly carnage and the highest score—I’d highly recommend you look into flamethrowers (remember kids, napalm is more effective than gasoline if you want Jews to really light up like a menorah). I know you’re out there Fire-anon—make us proud. Don’t leave DNA (use clothes you’ve never worn before and a mask—dispose of these after). Don’t bring any electronics which can be used to track you. Don’t leave a paper trail. Don’t take too long doing it, and never speak of it (all electronics are bugged). Again, I’m talking about Minecraft. You do not have to ‘televise’ like I did and get caught. As more of these happen, we will no longer need to film it. I do believe that it is best at this stage that I make a statement and people know that I did this. We are in the early stages of revolution. We need martyrs. If you don’t want to get caught because you have children who depend on you, you can simply attack a target and then slip back into normal life. Every anon reading this needs to carry out attacks. They won’t find us. They won’t catch us. There are too many of us, and we are smarter than them.

Remember that fear is the only thing holding you back. Fear that you might lose everything in your life. I am a testament to the fact that literally anyone can do this, and this terrifies the Jew. I’m a 19 year old nursing student from the depths of Commiefornia for fuck’s sake. I had my whole life ahead of me. If you told me even 6 months ago that I would do this I would have been surprised. Meme Robert Bowers back and keep up the memes of Brenton Tarrant. Tarrant was a catalyst for me personally. He showed me that it could be done. And that it needed to be done. “WHY WON’T SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING? WHY WON’T SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING? WHY DON’T I DO SOMETHING?”—the most powerful words in his entire manifesto. Any White man—rich or poor, young or old—who is brave enough can take any action he wants against the tyrannical and genocidal Jew. You should be more afraid of losing your entire race than this life you now live. The most dangerous kind of man is not one who has nothing to lose, but one who has everything to lose. Every single White man has everything to lose by doing nothing, and everything to gain by taking action.

Anyone who denounces violent self-defense against the Jew is a coward. He may know the crimes of the Jew, but subconsciously he knows that ACTUALLY taking action would mean sacrificing the bread and circus. It might mean that he won’t live comfortably anymore. This is one of the reasons cowards so shrilly screech that Brenton Tarrant and Robert Bowers were Mossad false flag operations. They can’t fathom that there are brave White men alive who have the willpower and courage it takes to say, “Fuck my life—I’m willing to sacrifice everything for the benefit of my race.” He projects his own cowardice onto the White race. To the coward it is just a hobby. He is a LARPfag and a traitor. Ignore him. He has nothing useful to offer. That or it’s just a Jew shilling, “Don’t oppose us.” Or possibly a schizo boomer off his meds. It’s a shame that Robert Bowers especially got such a bad rap due to the inordinate amount of schizofags and flat-earth-tier-tards on /pol/ right now. Brenton Tarrant inspired me. I hope to inspire many more. To those who are brave—know that your sacrifice is the greatest act of love for your race. Your sacrifice will be remembered. Always.

KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. IT’S FUCKING HAPPENING. McFuggen ebin. :DDD

Lightning round.

“Are you a Trump supporter?”
You mean that Zionist, Jew-loving, anti-White, traitorous cocksucker? Don’t make me laugh.

“Are you affiliated with any political ideology?”
Yes. It’s called not wanting to go extinct.

“Are you a conservative?”
I am not a useless, spineless coward so no—I am not a conservative. Conservative is a misnomer. They conserve nothing. They’ll complain all they want but they won’t take up arms and threaten their government with death (the only thing that works). Ever heard about the Battle of Athens (1946)? Find your balls again you insufferable faggots. If you do not defend your rights you deserve none.

“Are you a terrorist?”
Well, let’s walk through this question together shall we? I’m not wearing the sandnigger equivalent of a durag, my skin isn’t the color of shit, you can’t smell me from across the room, it is socially unacceptable for me to marry my cousins, I do not shout ‘Durka durka mohammed jihad,’ and it doesn’t look like a sadist attempted to play tug-of-war with my nose. So no, I’m not a terrorist.

“Do you feel any remorse for what you did?”
The Jews have depleted our patience and our mercy. I feel no remorse. I only wish I killed more. I am honored to be the one to send these vile anti-humans into the pit of fire—where they shall remain for eternity.

“Do you feel anything but hatred for Jews?”
Disgust. Disgust that a race can become so unrecognizably corrupted that they would commit the most heinous acts that only the most twisted of individuals could put into reality.

“Are you insane/crazy?”
I’ve seen plenty of mentally ill patients. It’s heartbreaking and I know what it looks like. No, I do not have mental illness. However, I know the Jew would love to claim that to discredit me. In his mind you must be insane to oppose him.

“Do you hate all Jews?”
I hate anyone who seeks the destruction of my race. Every Jew currently alive plays a part in the destruction of my race. Does that answer your question?

“Do you hate other races?”
I hate anyone who seeks the destruction of my race. Spics and niggers are useful puppets for the Jew in terms of replacing Whites. Of course, they aren’t intelligent enough to realize that the Jew is using them and they will be enslaved if Europeans are eliminated. Do they actively hate my race? Yes, I hate them. Are they in my nation but do not hate my race? I do not hate them, but they aren’t staying. Are they out of my nation and do not hate my race? Fine by me.

“Why so much hatred?”
There is no love without hatred. You cannot love God if you do not hate Satan. You cannot love righteousness if you do not also hate sin. You cannot love your own race if you do not hate those who wish to destroy it. Love and hate are two sides of the same coin. I may be filled with hatred, but I am also filled with love. Most people are empty inside—unspiritual and shameful dopamine fiends devoid of all love, honor, and purpose. I cannot imagine a more pathetic existence.

“Why did you use guns instead of a flamethrower? Wouldn’t a flamethrower have given you a much higher score?”
Yes. I encourage you to use flamethrowers as well as guns. Use what you think would be best in your situation. I used a gun for the same reason that Brenton Tarrant used a gun. In case you haven’t noticed we are running out of time. If this revolution doesn’t happen soon, we won’t have the numbers to win it. The goal is for the US government to start confiscating guns. People will defend their right to own a firearm—civil war has just started. Stop the slow boil of the frog—prevent the Jew from using incrementalism. Make the Jew play all of his cards to make it apparent to more people how their rights are being taken away right before their eyes.

“Did your family cause you to think this way?”
Unfortunately, no. I had to learn what they should have taught me from the beginning.

“Was it your plan to live or die?”
If I die—I die. I do not care if I die, but I will not sin against my God and murder myself. I plan on living (only you know the outcome).

“How long did it take you to plan this attack?”
Four weeks. Four weeks ago, I decided that I was doing this. Four weeks later I did it. I remember a specific moment in time after Brenton Tarrant’s sacrifice that something just clicked in my mind. ‘If I won’t defend my race, how can I expect others to do the same?’ I immediately got to planning, and I never looked back. I never had doubts. I never felt afraid. I never felt anxious—just the occasional nervous excitement.

“Who inspires you?”
Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Martin Luther, Adolf Hitler, Robert Bowers, Brenton Tarrant, Ludwig van Beethoven, Moon Man, and Pink Guy.

“How long have you been playing piano?”
Ever since I was 4. It was my favorite thing to do then. It is my favorite thing to do now. However, killing Jews might change that—I’ll get back to you on that one.

“What is your favorite song to play?”
Scherzo No. 2 by Chopin without a doubt.

To my brothers in Christ of all races. Be strong. Although the Jew who is inspired by demons and Satan will attempt to corrupt your soul with the sin and perversion he spews—remember that you are secure in Christ. Turn away from your sin. Not because it is required for your salvation—for nobody save Christ can merit heaven based on his own works—but rather out of gratitude for the gift of salvation that your God has given you. Always remember that it is God that is keeping you alive and in faith. All sin stems from the arrogant belief that one does not need God. Satan was so prideful that he actually truly believed (that he, a created being) could overthrow the Ancient of Days—the Creator of all in existence. Satan inspired this rebellion among humanity. Christ alone is the only source of life. Know that you are saved in Christ and nothing—not death, nor torture, nor sin—can steal your soul away from God.

To the Jew. Your crimes—innumerable. Your deeds—unacceptable. Your lies—everywhere. The European man will rise up and strike your squalid and parasitic race into the dust. And this time there will be nowhere for you to run.

And last but definitely not least.

To the true anons out there (you know who you are). You are the product of /pol/—the product of unadulterated truth. You are my brothers and the best dudes out there. You are the most honorable men of this age. Despite all odds against you, you not only discovered the truth but also help to spread it. Some of you have been waiting for The Day of the Rope for years. Well, The Day of the Rope is here right now—that is if you have the gnads to keep the ball rolling. Every anon reading this must attack a target while doing his best to avoid getting caught. Every anon must play his part in this revolution and no man can be pulling his punches. This momentum we currently have may very well be the last chance that the European man has to spark a revolution.

Despite this—I’m not worried. I have complete trust and certainty that all of you after reading this will begin planning your attack on the enemy—and you’ll attack again, and again, and again—until either we win, or we die. I know you will do this because you’re true anons. You’re White men. I’m not worried that the whole world is against you. I’m not worried because you are the greatest race that our God has created—it is our duty to keep this world from falling into darkness. White men will not let God’s creation be corrupted and destroyed by the Jew without a fight. Remember your honor White men.

More than anything I wish I could’ve seen your faces and fought alongside with you on the battlefield.

Give them hell for me.

Give. Them. Hell.

—John Earnest

Just plain irrational hate from a very twisted mind.

Sunday Supplement at Howie's Corner

Another anti-Semitic attack in America

The Twin Peaks above Poway in August 2004.
Poway, USA

The breaking news this morning was yet another attack on a Synagogue by a far right bigot which has seen the death and injury of more innocents simply because they were Jews. The attacker had published a "manifesto" on-line which promoted his attention seeking hate.

The Jewish Post  reports

The manifesto contained common far-right catchphrases, including descriptions of an "international Jewry" which is responsible for countless age-old blood libels, including the murder of Christ and alleged control over the media and the economy. This is similar to a trope in the antisemitic book The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Earnest wrote that: "Every Jew young and old has contributed to these. For these crimes they deserve nothing but hell. I will send them there."

He also stated that he hoped to inspire others to commit similar crimes and that he expected to be freed from prison and would "continue the fight." ....


Throughout the manifesto, he also referred to other minorities with racist terms, blaming them for a wide variety of personal complaints as well.

This comes not long after the attacks in Sri Lanka and shows that violent extremist groups are a big danger to every community regardless of religion or none. 

All these terrorists have one thing in common, sheer hate. 

Islamists, Neo-Nazi's and others may say different things but they all lack a respect not just for others but for human life itself.

They say they are fighting for "god" or "race" but all they they achieve is death and misery because most of their adherents are twisted individuals with problems that are exploited by ideologues who are too cowardly to act themselves.

Islamism, Fascism and Communism are all threats to life and liberty wherever these ideologies raise their ugly heads.

Stand against extremism for a pluralist and secular future.

New Tibetan Social Security Cards Prompt Surveillance Fears

Tibet Watch

Privacy fears as Chinese authorities roll out personal social security cards in Tibet

In recent years the Tibetan Autonomous Region’s Human Resources and Social Security Department has introduced a social security card to make access to welfare easier for residents. While the card has been introduced across the People’s Republic of China there are concerns amongst Tibetans because the chip embedded on the card contains the holder’s name, citizenship number, profile photo, social insurance contributions amongst other personal details.

Similar fears have been raised in the past. Between 2012 and 2013, authorities in the TAR rolled out free health services in both rural and urban areas. The scheme involved obtaining DNA samples, facial scans, fingerprints, iris scans, and information about blood types. Free Tibet's research partner Tibet Watch has raised concerns that these records could be used by the ruiling Chinese Communist Party and local authorities in their efforts to monitor Tibetans.

The initial launch of social security cards took place in Nyinchi Prefecture in August 2017 with 450,000 issued in Lhasa shortly after. Residents in areas in eastern Tibet, not covered by the TAR, like Chengdu and Golmud were also given cards between mid-June 2017 and April 2018.

Last year, from 9 September to 4 October officials in the TAR prefecture Lhoka gathered 263,440 pieces of information on social security cards which were issued, of which 73,722 came from online and 189,718 from mobile apps.

This April, authorities of Ngari Prefecture plan to issue 79,000 social security cards.

While these cards are practical for day to day life, for example access to health facilities, fears still remain that they could be used for the purposes of tracking and easily used to cut off social benefits and access to services as a punishment for behaviour that the Chinese Communist Party objects to.

And finally: Music from Nazareth

This week saw the re-release of Nazareth's 1974 album Rampant. Available in the usual multiple formats I chose the grey vinyl version as this was one of the records long gone from my collection. I remember enjoying this as I prepared to leave school that year.

There's some great songs on this album and is the one to own from this band as far as I'm concerned but that may be pure nostalgia on my part.

This song, Silver Dollar Forger is in two parts on the album but here is the single "radio" version that most people from my generation will remember.


Friday 26 April 2019

Change UK Launch Success


Change UK The Independent Group.png


It’s official: nominations for the European elections are now closed and Change UK candidates will be on ballot papers across Britain!

We launched our campaign in Bristol this week. Our candidates come from all walks of life; from different political backgrounds and none.

We are proud to say that we are the genuine remain alliance.

We want you to be the first to see our launch film here.

The Tories and Labour are intent on delivering Brexit. And Nigel Farage is attacking us for wanting you to have your final say in a People’s Vote.

Our country deserves so much better than this broken politics. But we need your help to change it.

We’ll be in touch shortly about how you can get involved to campaign for our European election candidates.

We don’t have the resources of the main parties, but we do have the enthusiasm of so many people who want to choose a future for Britain that is open and diverse, not isolated from our European friends.

Please become a full supporter by clicking the button below, to help our brilliant candidates, hold rallies and events, and get our message out there:

We are for a People’s Vote. We are campaigning to remain.

And the public deserve this chance to have their final say

Click here to Support

Wednesday 24 April 2019

When a Labour MP wallows in his own bigotry.

Official portrait of Grahame Morris.jpg
Photo: By Chris McAndrew - UK Parliament,

Many people will have seen the disgusting tweet by Labour MP Grahame Morris who claimed a video showed Israeli (IDF) soldiers beating up a Palestinian child. In fact it was a film of Guatemalan soldiers from the eighties. It's not the first time the anti-Semites -Zionists have posted false pictures or information on the internet. It won't be the last.

Morris posted a mealy mouthed totally insincere apology that should have led to him being suspended or preferably expelled from the Labour Party. But as usual Corbyn ignores such inconveniences since he's proved himself to be no better.

Tom Watson MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party issued the following statement:

“Following a number of complaints relating to the distribution of fake news by a Labour Party member, and the amplification of the misinformation by my colleague Grahame Morris MP, I shared the concerns with the chief whip and general secretary of the Labour Party.

Disciplinary matters are in their hands but I am sure they are in no doubt of the offence caused.

I understand after a couple of attempts, Mr Morris has now made a full apology.

Once again, I advise all Labour Party members, no matter what their status, to observe the social media code in our rule book and to exercise tolerance and respect in their public discussions”


Sorry but this is NOT a full apology:


























Labour Against Anti-Semitism also commented:

Euan Philipps, spokesperson for Labour Against Antisemitism:

“Grahame Morris MP’s tweet was highly offensive.

Firstly, it wrongly claimed footage of Guatemalan soldiers physically abusing children was in fact the Israel Defence Force – then, despite having his error pointed out (including by the IDF itself), Mr Morris refused to delete the tweet.

Secondly, his tweet also included the retweet of Rachael Swindon, a twitter account that has been censured for promoting antisemitic Rothschild conspiracy theories.

Thirdly, Mr Morris’s tweet also carried inaccuracies about the strength of the IDF, a blatant misrepresentation of the Israeli military and an exaggeration of its defensive capabilities.

And fourthly, by saying “May God forgive them”, he appears to have invoked the Easter blood libel.

We understand that Mr Morris has now apologised for sharing the footage – but he should have apologised and removed his tweet as soon as his error was pointed out. His delayed actions look insincere and forced.

This is not the first time that Mr Morris has been criticised for seemingly promoting antisemitic views. In 2014 he provoked anger when he appeared to compare Israeli villagers to Nazi’s, and in the same year equated Israeli soldiers with ISIS terrorists and tweeted a prominent pro-Israel activist, Andrea Fagerbakke, “just tell your bosses you have done your work and reflect on my TL :justice for #Palestine”.

We welcome Tom Watson’s reporting of this to the Chief Whip and the General Secretary, and what should be a swift suspension of Mr Morris from the Labour Party. However, we wonder why Jeremy Corbyn hasn’t taken any action himself and removed the party whip? Following the lack of disciplinary action over the comments made by Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon last week, and now this, it appears Jeremy Corbyn has given up any pretence on taking a strong line on antisemitism within his own PLP.”

Renew Party & Change UK working together


Change UK The Independent Group.png


The launch of the Change UK European election campaign in Bristol yesterday was a welcome sight for all of us fed up of the way politics are being conducted in this country. Most people, myself included are exasperated as both the Conservative and Labour Parties have abandoned reason for the ideologues of left and right.

We face a crisis as we leave Europe and regardless of the outcome Labour and the Tories have shown that they are incapable of acting in the interests of the country or the British people.

The foundation of Change UK whilst still very much in it's infancy has begun the process of establishing something new, something modern with a mission to create a new politics.















A small but useful start has been made by co-operating with the Renew Party who issued the following statement:

The Renew Party was delighted to announce that a number of its candidates will be running under the Change UK banner in the upcoming European elections on May 23rd. Renew leader Annabel Mullin (London), June Davies (Wales), Heather Astbury (Scotland) and Joshua Malkin (Yorkshire and the Humber) will all be standing next month.

Renew’s brilliant shortlist of candidates across the country will help to shore up the pro-European vote in opposition to the Brexit-supporting parties, whilst providing a strong platform for future electoral successes.


























Renew leader and candidate for London, Annabel Mullin, said:

“In working with our friends at Change UK, Renew has proven that we are prepared to do politics differently. All pro-European voices must leave tribal party loyalties behind if our vote is to be as strong as possible in May. Now is the time to be working together. With this alliance, we are doing just that.


Ordinary people doing extraordinary things is the future of politics. We’re proud to be at the forefront of that revolution with Change UK.

Tuesday 23 April 2019

Left and right - Why Can’t We Be friends?


Guest Post by Adrian Morgan

Just after the 2016 US election, a survey was carried out by American group “Public Religion Research Institute. Their poll*** revealed that 24% of Democrats had blocked or unfollowed someone for their views, compared to 9% of Republicans who had acted similarly. Though figures on defriendings and blockings in the UK after the Brexit referendum are not available, I was shocked to find myself blocked on the morning of the result by a friend who had been the first to visit me in hospital after surgery, who would travel 50 miles with her husband to visit and have meals at my home. Several others who were “of the left” defriended me.

The U.S. election provoked divisions on mainstream media and a political schism, and similarly Brexit has divided the United Kingdom in ways that may never be healed. Even the Mother of Parliaments appears to be denying the implementation of a democratic mandate (to leave the EU). In America, the liberal elite from the East and West Coast have continued to maintain that Trump’s victory was gained illegally, much as Remainers maintain that illegal funding of advertising and misleading adverts led to the Brexit result. For the most part American and UK politics have been binary, pitting the “left” against the “right.” But why have post-2016 schisms been so severe?

For at least 15 years the left (far more so than the right) in the USA and Britain has made a point of deliberately blacklisting and smearing those who have the audacity to not echo their own sanctimonious brand of politics. Bodies like the Southern Poverty Law Centre, Media Matters, Think Progress in the USA, and Spinwatch, Powerbase, Stand up to Hate and Hope not Hate in the UK have specialised in naming and shaming figures on the right who are seen as “enemies”, sometimes falsely. SPLC smeared various figures, including Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Maajid Mawaz, a moderate Muslim in the UK, as “anti-Muslim Extremists”” in a document entitled “A Journalist’s Manual: Field Guide to Anti-Muslim Extremists”. Maajid gained an apology and settlement from SPLC, but Ayaan Hirsi Ali received no suchapology https://www.splcenter.org/news/2018/06/18/splc-statement-regarding-maajid-nawaz-and-quilliam-foundation Why are elements of the left so censorious of those whose opinions differ?

I think that is because they take a position - on social and political issues - of "moral certainty." And as their views on such things are morally certain, they assume any other opinions lack any justifiable rationale, and thus should be swept aside to make room for their own "moral dominance."

In the real world, people can assume completely rational positions without having to subsume them to the idealism of moralists. But the notion of the left's preachers is that the leftist view is always on the side of emancipation of the oppressed and an idealised view of progress - the corollary of this is that they have to trade in notions of labelling people into groups who are "oppressed" and those who are "privileged."

Thus "identity politics" and the notion of "intersectionality" has become all-pervasive in modern discourse. The social has become the political, and there is an "order of importance" in the identities who should be treated as "victims" and those who are seen as having more inherent privilege - a bit like the PEMDAS (also called BODMAS) order of operations in mathematics. And in the way that operations contained within Parentheses are treated as having more weight than Exponents/Orders, then in leftist reasoning identities and causes are also ranked by order. Those people or causes that deal with victimhood or disadvantage automatically trump those that are seen as having privilege or even pre-existence. The "new" is favoured over the "traditional" - even when the new has never been tested.

And though such principles can wreak havoc upon existing beliefs, no-one likes to mention how this support for "minorities with victimhood" is arbitrary and ultimately keeps minorities unable to ever be seen as deserving of the "progress" that the left-liberal likes to believe in. Those who are black - or BAME - are always treated as disadvantaged and thus they are never seen as being able to have progress. And those who witter on - as Owen Jones does - about minorities and injustice cannot see how stifling to progress their attitudes are.



And ultimately, following the Trotskyite notion of perpetual revolution, even if progress and emancipation (of the sort favoured by traditional socialists like William Morris, George Bernard Shaw, Annie Besant, the Fabians, etc) happens, and one creates an idealised and balanced society, it must all be thrown down to stop bourgeois complacency arriving.

And thus - groups that are constantly viewed as the beloved "victims" of the left are always thrown under the bus as a new "victimhood" is identified. In 1977, the Socialist Worker wrote about how women and gay people and black people were oppressed, but soon they found a new "victim" in Islam and Muslims, and at one of the first anti-Iraq War demos in London, SWP members urged women to wear headscarves in solidarity with their Muslim "sisters." Adopting Islam as a "victimhood" cause - despite its scriptural tenets of not approving of women's full equality and gay people being a threat, those two groups (women and gay people) were instantly disenfranchised. And just as Gerry Healy of the WRP did, Comrade Delta of the SWP was sexually abusing young women recruits and then mounting attacks upon their integrity if they spoke out.

And nowadays, the cultural Marxists in the LGB "community" have co-opted transsexuals into the gay/lesbian umbrella group, even though transsexuals whose notions of gender identity have little in common with gays or lesbians, who do not have any problems with their natural born gender. And so we get tits like Owen Jones wittering on about the LGBT grouping as if it is a real thing, and he has the chutzpah to say gay people should be standing behind Muslims, even though most Muslims regard gay people as sinners who have no place in Islam.



The saddest aspect of the left seeking for new groups to uphold as the latest "victims" in the wheel of privilege and oppression is the notion that children are treated as being "transgender" as young as five - and even at the Tavistock, resigned clinic workers have claimed that children even as young as THREE are treated as transgendered. The disabled are treated as victims by the left, but are never offered real rights, and autistic children are being encouraged to think that they are "in the wrong gendered body" too, in some schools. Many women, lesbians and gay males feel that the current drive to encourage gender change is erasing their own identity because of the actions of a few transactivists - while many transsexuals who went through surgery are also marginalised because of the sudden prevalence of transactivists who were born male, fancy women, still have male genitals, but define themselves as lesbian.

The Utopian aims of the left have moved far away from benign socialism. They have created social warfare, and it is now getting harder - even from the left - to know who is the most deserving victims any more, because the politics of identity are not the politics of unity and collectivism any longer. The modern leftists - and the modern left-liberals - have sown more division in society than any other group in recent history. The social progress that was happening in the 1960s and 1970s has become a free-for-all of sectarianism and social competition and resentments and - ultimatelty - chaos.
______________________________________________

* Jones, Robert P., and Daniel Cox. “‘Merry Christmas’ vs. ‘Happy Holidays’: Republicans and Democrats are Polar Opposites.” PRRI. 2016. http://www.prri.org/research/poll-post-election-holiday-war-christmas/

Monday 22 April 2019

The "whataboutery" of the "left"


One of the targeted churches in Sri-Lanka (Photo: By Bernard Gagnon)

As reports arrived on the mass bombings and murders in Sri Lanka yesterday the mainstream media did their best to not attribute blame to any particular group especially as no-one had taken responsibility for these criminal acts. Hundreds of peaceful worshippers killed and injured in their places of prayers. Tourists blown apart at breakfast. These foul acts have no justification whatsoever.

It was left to just one news agency yesterday to suggest who the culprits were. Ironically it was Arab News who reported: 

As the attacks were happening news broke that the country’s police chief had made a nationwide alert 10 days before the attacks that suicide bombers had planned to hit “prominent churches,” according to a document seen by AFP.

Police chief Pujuth Jayasundara sent an intelligence warning to top officers on April 11 setting out the threat.

“A foreign intelligence agency has reported that the NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama’ath) is planning to carry out suicide attacks targeting prominent churches as well as the Indian high commission in Colombo,” said the alert.

The NTJ is a radical Muslim group in Sri Lanka that came to notice last year when it was linked to the vandalization of Buddhist statues.

Today The New York Times reports:

Officials on Monday said a little-known Islamist group that promotes a terrorist ideology in South Asia was responsible for the attacks.

The group, National Thowheeth Jama’ath, had a reputation for vandalizing Buddhist statues but little history of carrying out terrorist attacks.

Rajitha Senaratne, the health minister, called the group “a local organization” and said the suicide bombers appeared to be Sri Lankan citizens. “All are locals,” he said at a news conference on Monday.

But, he added, “there was an international network without which these attacks could not have succeeded.”

No one has publicly claimed responsibility for the bombings.

A forensic analysis of body parts found at six sites determined that seven suicide bombers conducted attacks at three churches and three hotels, according to The Associated Press. Most attacks were carried out by single bombers, but two men targeted the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo. Two other bombings at a guesthouse and at the suspects’ apparent safe house remain under investigation.

Sri Lanka does not have much history of Islamist terrorism. The country is predominantly Buddhist, with significant Hindu, Muslim and Christian minorities.

The latter is true of course. With the long running civil war with the Tamils and extremists active in the Buddhist community there has been an open door for Islamists to organise and pick soft targets.

Christians.

Across Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan the Philippines and China Christians have been persecuted on a scale that has been ignored by the establishment and the many so-called "solidarity" movements that exist in Western societies. It's all about the misnamed "Islamophobia" that so many particularly on the left constantly bang on about.

The case of Asia Bibi saw the cowardice of the West and the ignorance of the left exposed. An innocent woman facing the death penalty over some barbaric blasphemy law. The left ignored it almost completely. Not a word from Socialist Worker, Stop the War or the myriad of organisations that would mobilise on the slightest pretext to defend perceived slights against Muslims.

Our governments hardly set a good example but it seems that to raise the plight of Christians across the world as I do regularly on Facebook discussion group pages immediately sees accusations not just of "Islamophobia" (and I admit freely to fearing the rise of Islamic movements) but also of adopting an "alt-right" agenda. The latter shouldn't have caught me by surprise but it did.

On posts I raised the cry from even some moderate left-wingers was what about Muslims and how more Muslims are killed in terrorist acts than any other. the fact is that most of these attacks are carried out by Muslims on oth sides of the Sunni/Shia divide. In all countries under Islamic rule except maybe Morocco Christians are third class citizens after male Muslims and their women who have less rights under Sharia than men.

Persecution has led to to the burning of some 900 churches in Northern Nigeria, mob attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt. No churches being allowed in places like Saudi Arabia who deny the existence of Christianity in their country despite an estimated two to three Million living there. The kidnapping of Christian girls and women being forcefully converted and married to Muslim men. The list is endless.

An estimated 345 Christians are killed every day around the world for their faith.

It's ignored by far too many.

The adoption of Islamophilia by the left in particular is one of the reasons they fail to recognise that most of the "left" is infected with anti-Semitism. The number of times I have seen the comrades use the allegations of "Islamophoia" inside the Conservative Party to deflect from the debate over anti-Semitism inside Labour simply disgusts me.

The left lost it's way over Salman Rushdie. They abandoned the traditional secularism of the left in favour of an anti-imperialist alliance with Islam. Christians and Jews are an inconvenience to the comrades.

It's time for a new movement to fight for human rights and take head on the barbarity of Sharia of the Islamic dictatorships and terrorist groups like Iran and Hamas that are favoured y the "comrades".

The left can no longer be trusted with our futures.

Saturday 20 April 2019

Easter Interlude: Bananarama's new single!



I have to admit to a guilty pleasure. I'm a Bananarama fan. I just like them and have ever since they came on stage as guests of the Fun Boy Three way back when at the Hammersmith Palais. The venue is sadly no longer with us and I thought the girls had finally given up.

Then along comes a single by the remaining two original members Sarah Dallin and Karen Woodward. Pretty good it is to. So much mainstream popular music these days is impossible to sing-along-to but this is what used to make pop music fun.

There's an album due out today as well. Ordered on vinyl as is my preferred format.

Just enjoy.



Go to: www.bananarama.co.uk for more!

Friday 19 April 2019

Say No to Terrorism: In Memory of Lyra McKee

I woke up to the news that not only had there been rioting in Derry last night but that a 29 year old journalist had been shot by the terrorists of the the so-called "Real IRA". There can can be no excuses for bringing guns or violence back to the streets of Northern Ireland. None whatsoever.

This comes just 24 hours after the visit by divisive American politician Nancy Pelosi. Her remarks about the threat to US trade if there's a hard border were less than helpful and frankly explosive given the current impasse in Ulster politics let alone the divisions over Brexit.

The victim was not just a journalist but a campaigner for Gay & Lesbian rights in a community where both hard line Catholics and Protestants still rail against homosexuality.

The following video which lasts just 11 minutes is a fitting tribute to a woman who stood to bridge gaps between people. Lyra McKee preached tolerance.

The shooter stood for hate.

There must be no return to violence.


Wednesday 17 April 2019

Late Night Musical Interlude with Alan Parsons

It's been a while since I heard anything new by Alan Parsons so when playing one of his old albums, a rather warped and scratchy copy of Sterotomey from 1984 I just happened to google the man and his band to discover that there is a new album out in just two days!

I found some of the tracks on You Tube of which this is one. A pleasant number it has to be said but if the tracks I played are representative of his music these days it's less progressive and more easy listening. For me the jury is still out on whether this is worth purchasing.

I leave it to you to decide.



Go to: alanparsons.com

Tuesday 16 April 2019

Greek trade unionists attacked by Stalinist thugs.

GSEE 100 years
EUTC Press Release:

International union deeply concerned at violence against Greek trade union

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have expressed deep concern over a campaign of violence against the Greek national trade union GSEE, perpetrated by a minority Stalinist faction which is attempting to disrupt the GSEE’s work.

A series of attacks on the GSEE and a number of its structures culminated in an invasion at around 3am on 4 April by some 200 thugs of the Rhodes hotel where GSEE delegates were assembled for the GSEE’s 37th national conference where elections were due to take place. This caused the second postponement of the conference, after the first attempt to hold it on 15 March in Kalamata was also blocked by the minority group, PAME*.

The ITUC and ETUC condemn any and all violent attacks on trade unionists, which constitute a severe violation of the right to freedom of association and are anathema to the very principles of trade unionism.

We call on the Greek government to ensure that trade unions can operate in full freedom from physical violence and threats, including by fulfilling its responsibility to ensure public safety. The actions of the minority faction have meant that the GSEE has not been able to fulfil its obligations under its Constitution, necessitating the placement of the organisation under administration. This administration should respect the democratic mandate of the elected leadership of the GSEE and ensure that the organisation is able to continue its activities including the holding of democratic elections, without external interference.

Howie adds:

Πανεργατικό Αγωνιστικό Μέτωπο (Π.Α.ΜΕ.)

PAME is the All Workers Militant Front and associated with the ultra-Stalinist Communist Party of Greece. They are deeply sectarian towards other trade unions and the European Trade Union Confederation:

"Capitalists’ forces, Social democracy and Opportunism are coordinated through the mechanisms of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC-CES) and of ITUC-CSI. These organizations work for and work with Capitalism."

PAME sees rivals as class enemies in a classic "third period" analysis:

"The provocative intervention ofITUC-ETUC on the internal affairs of the Greek trade union movement is based only on their aim to maintain in the General Confederation of Greek Workers a leadership with practices of trade union mafia! A leadership that supported the anti-workers’measures and protected the multinationals of Greece against the unions and trade unionists who are really fighting for the interests of the workers. In their blind attempt to attack the militant, real workers’ trade unions in Greece, they did not even keep any pretexts."

Kke.svg

The KKE (Greek Communist Party is a very old fashioned "Marxist-Leninist" party. Even their social attitudes hark back to a more repressive era. When they opposed same-sex marriage their opposition was surmised thus:

Rights and obligations arise within marriage, which is the legal expression of the social relations of the family. It includes social protection of children, who are biologically the result of sexual relations between a man and a woman.

With the formation of a socialist-communist society, a new type of partnership will undoubtedly be formed—a relatively stable heterosexual relationship and reproduction.

Charming people it would seem but unlike it's British equivalent is a large party with firm roots in Greek communities with a large trade union arm in the form of PAME. Currently they have 15 MPs in the Greek Parliament and even send two to the European Parliament. The danger of violence from this organisation is real.

Democracy and freedom of organisation would need to be defended against both the KKE and New Dawn. The far-right and far-left are a joint threat that must be forever watched and combated wherever they rear their ugly heads.

Monday 15 April 2019

New Party, New Alliances

Change.org UK

The Electoral Commission accepted the registration of Change UK as a political party today. At last the work can begin to establish a new movement to change British politics. There is room for working with the Liberal Democrats but this needs to kept to an electoral arrangement to allow Change UK to establish it's own profile in the coming months.

The party is preparing to fight the European elections and there are a lot of people who are looking for a serious pro-European party. I'm neutral on the subject having got bored of the whole Brexit debacle but there is a constituency out there that Change UK is a part of. Most of it's supporters are pro-Europe and I'm certainly not going to rock the boat over this when there's so much other stuff I can help with.

Renew Party logo.png
Image: By Source, Fair use.

Building new alliances is a key to creating something new and it was announced today that the small but growing Renew Party have agreed to an alliance. The press release states:

Renew Party moves to support The Independent Group

Monday 15 April 2019: The Independent Group and Renew reached a joint agreement that Renew will support The Independent Group at the European elections.

Renew have said that they welcome the opportunity to give their support, backing and friendship to The Independent Group. Renew have therefore begun preparations to wind up operations as soon as the Electoral Commission gives ‘Change UK - The Independent Group’ the all-clear to run in the elections. Renew looks forward to this new chapter as an integral part of an exciting new pro-EU venture.

The Independent Group acknowledges the worthwhile and meaningful endeavours of Renew, and the hard work and dedication of their board members, staff, regional coordinators, policy working groups, supporters and candidates since inception.

Forming a new pro-EU party, particularly during the last two years, has clearly been arduous and challenging, and The Independent Group acknowledges the energy and ambition of Renew in standing up for decent values and honesty in political and public life.

Given the urgency of preparing for European elections, TIG is grateful for Renew’s pragmatic and generous approach in cooperating under shared values, interests and ideas. The Independent Group has welcomed applications for MEP candidacy from Renew approved candidates.

Commenting on Renew’s decision to support The Independent Group, Interim Leader of The Independent Group, Heidi Allen MP, said:

“I take my hat off to the Renew party who have worked incredibly hard to achieve what many would consider to be an impossible feat, a party born not out of Westminster but in the country. Their values mirror the collaborative approach in The Independent Group, so I am pleased we are working together in the national interest.

“Both Renew and The Independent Group have said that British politics is broken and it needs to change. We are looking forward to working together with them and their supporters in order to change British politics and make the positive case for Britain’s membership of the European Union.”

Annabel Mullin, leader of Renew, said:

“In keeping with Renew’s commitment to honest, open and practical politics, we are happy to be working with The Independent Group. Due to the Brexit threat, it is essential that the pro-European vote is not split on May 23rd. This strategic move will ensure that voters are presented with a clear, pro-European choice at the ballot box.

“I know that Renew’s work at the grassroots levels can help The Independent Group’s established MPs build a better political system. Renew was founded in order to change the conversation on political reform and provide millions of disenfranchised voters with a voice. We can now do that with The Independent Group, who can provide invaluable expertise and leadership at this crucial time.

“I hope this move will provide a platform for doing politics differently.”

This is a welcome move and I would also like to see Change UK co-operate with The Women's Party. The need for wider co-operation can only strengthen a new politics so desperately needed in this country.

Sunday 14 April 2019

The Sunday Supplement at Howie's Corner

National Secular Society


NSS urges support for teachers amid anti-LGBT protests and threats

The religiously-inspired campaign against LGBT-inclusive education is escalating and spreading. Reports now suggest intolerant parents and campaigners are targeting schools in several cities and towns across England. Teachers are being intimidated and threatened. Several schools have already suspended lessons in response to protests.

We think teachers working to promote equality need support. So this week we've asked the government to outline the steps it's taking to support the teachers affected by the anti-LGBT campaign. We've also asked it to look again at its draft guidance on relationships and sex education to make it clear that religious parents don't have a veto over what gets taught.

You can help us to make this case - please consider using our template letter to write to your MP. Thank you.

Read more: Here


Center for Human Rights in Iran


Anti-Compulsory Hijab Protester, Mother in Widely Shared Tehran Metro Video Both Arrested


Activist Yasaman Aryani was arrested in Tehran on April 10, 2019, after appearing in a widely shared video of women peacefully protesting Iran’s compulsory hijab law in a Tehran Metro train on March 8, International Women’s Day.

Her mother, Monireh Arabshahi, was detained the following day after she inquired about her daughter, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned.

They are both being held in the Vozara Detention Center based on a complaint by the judiciary’s Islamic Guidance branch, according to news reports.

Aryani, 23, and her mother can be seen in the video with their hair uncovered, distributing flowers to passengers on a Tehran metro train while saying they look forward to the day that Iranian women will be allowed to choose whether to wear a hijab or not.

A source with detailed knowledge of the cases informed CHRI that unidentified security forces raided the Aryani family home during the early evening of April 10, arresting her and confiscating her laptop, mobile phone and other personal belongings.

The arrest was initially confirmed by Fars news, which has ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

On April 11, US-based Iranian journalist and women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad tweeted: “Today, Iranians authorities arrested this mother. Her name is Monireh Arabshahi, her crime is to support #WhiteWednesday & handout flowers to women who wear hijab alongside her daughter #YasamanAryani. Now mother & daughter are in jail. Be their voices. They are not criminals.”

The tweet included a video message from Arabshahi saying her daughter “is neither a terrorist nor an embezzler.”

On April 8, two days before her arrest, Aryani revealed she had been suspended and cut from the cast of a play, “Actors’ Studio,” which opened at Malek Theater in Tehran on April 11 without her.

Aryani has publicly supported women’s rights in Iran and has advocated peacefully rejecting Iran’s compulsory hijab law. She has also posted numerous photos and video clips of herself walking without a hijab in the streets of Tehran.

She is currently awaiting a decision on her appeal against the one-year prison sentence she was issued by Branch 28 of the revolutionary court for taking part in mass protests against Iran’s economic problems in August 2018.

In a video message posted on YouTube on November 1, 2018, Aryani’s mother said: “To the men in power I say, enough. You have arrested enough innocent young people. Why don’t you go after those who fooled the people with their false promises and delivered nothing? Why don’t you go after those who have embezzled billions? Why don’t you go after those agents who beat our children black and blue with electric batons and clubs?”

More on Iran at: iranhumanrights.org

New Music: Erdling

The German Dark Metal" band Erdling have released their new single, We Are Midgard.

Erdling are Neill Freiwald (vocals/programming), Neno Knucke (guitar) and Christian Eichlinger (drums).

Friday 12 April 2019

Comedy on a Friday: Rowan & Martin's Laugh In

From the sixties comes this wacky American comedy show that introduced me to the delightful Goldie Hawn. I used to love this show. 

Anyway here's a snippet for your entertainment.

Thursday 11 April 2019

I read the news today

I cheered as they carted off Julian Assage this morning not just because the man is finally  going to have to face up to the consequences of his actions but also because the lead story wasn't about Brexit. Indeed with the tumbling of Omar al-Bashir a wanted war criminal in the Sudan I felt a sigh of relief.

Heading to Waitrose for a paper I  looked in disbelief at the British papers. I just didn't want to read more about Brexit now my mind had been taken elsewhere so for the first time in my life I picked up the International edition of The New York Times.

Stories ranged from the Chinese lobbying the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation to downplay the issue of the persecution of Muslim Uighurs and others in China. Amazing how investment and other inducives made the collection of Muslim champions praise China for "providing care to it's Muslim citizens". I despair....

We were also treated to news that the lead singer of Portishead (remember them) has produced a piece of classical music in which she sings in Polish. Quite a feat it would appear as her coach says even Poles find their language difficult to sing. Apparently.

Couldn't quite get away with Brexit there was a piece about old compo which contained the observation by Glen O'Hara a historian at Oxford

"Corbynism depends on a moral claim to be above normal politics. As soon as you get your hands dirty with normal compromise Corbynism fails"

And that children is why Uncle Compo will never achieve anything.

Then of course there was culture. In this case reporting about Coronation Street which is going all Midsomer as (shock horror) the programme is far too white and a black family is moving in. And guess what one of the kids is going to come out as gay.

Diversity has finally reached the cobbled streets of Weatherfield.

Wednesday 10 April 2019

Labour Representation Committee go full Strasserite



News of yet another Labour party member being suspended for anti-Semitism this morning. The Times (£) reports:

Harry Virco, a candidate in next month’s local elections for Fylde borough council in Lancashire, wrote on Twitter last year: “Has Israel & the Jewish people learned nothing from their persecution under Hitler? Yes they have! They now know how to persecute other people & especially children.”

In January he wrote: “Israel is turning itself into a Neo-natzi state.” In June 2017 he shared an article with the comment: “Disgusting pair Murdoch/Rothschild Israel Exposed Secretly Paying Syrian ‘Rebels’ to Protect Rothschild Murdoch Oil”. The Rothschild family regularly feature in antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Labour has also re-instead a really nasty individual who besides posting similar material (and worse) a certain Pam Bromley went even further in her deranged outlook.

"Ms Bromley also claimed that the Manchester Arena terror attacks were orchestrated by Theresa May as a "handy excuse to squash Jeremy Corbyn’s growing support." (www.lancs.live)

Labour Representation Committee

Of course none of this seems to be newsworthy these days as there are thousands of such reports from the ranks of Corbyn's "new, kinder, gentler" Labour party (no laughing at the back), but the recent decision of the Jewish Labour Movement to pass a motion of no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn has made the Labour Representation Committee reach for it's brown shirts...

....it is not at all clear who the JLM will actually work for in elections. Their statement makes it clear that they want the Tories to win and carry on like a wrecking ball as they have been doing.

The JLM is a small organisation. It is believed to have a few hundred members, a tiny percentage of Labour’s total membership of half a million. But they can do harm far beyond their numbers. Their resolution is intended to feed the allegations of ‘institutional antisemitism’ against Labour, and as such has been eagerly gobbled up by the Tory press.

The author, one Mick Brookes uses the extreme website run by one Asa Winstanley to make a really neo-fascist conspiracy theory:

According to the Electronic Intifada the JLM was revived in 2015 specifically to combat Jeremy Corbyn, a longstanding supporter of the Palestinian cause. The article points the finger at Israeli intelligence in helping to refound the dormant JLM, an explanation confirmed by the Al Jazeera‘s documentary The Lobby. It is not antisemitism in Britain, but opposition to policies carried out by the state of Israel that they see as the enemy. In response Asa Winstanley, the author of the article, has been suspended from the Labour Party.

Winstanley (who no one seemed to know was a member until recently has been suspended for anti-Semitism. He is a very unpleasant individual and the website he runs is virtually genocidal toward Israel. Not really an individual who belongs anywhere in rational politics. the BNP was obviously too small for him to spread his hate.

The LRC contains in it's leadership one John McDonnell who has admitted there is an anti-Semitism problem and has continually promised to "deal with it". Not that the party has. It's just lip service.

Meanwhile his mate Mick Brooks (remember that name for the future) conjures up Nazi imagery with his comment:

The JLM is an affiliated organisation to the Labour Party. As such it can and does send delegates to local Parties. Yet it is campaigning to make a Labour government impossible! They are stabbing us in the back. That is insupportable. The JLM must be disaffiliated from Labour as soon as possible.

Where have I heard that expression before.... answers on a postcard to the NSAP LRC. 

Sunday 7 April 2019

Sunday Supplement at Howie's Corner

West Papua: The forgotten conflict:

Report from: Free West Papua Campaign


A delegation from Front Line Defenders, a human rights monitoring group, has reported that over 30,000 people have been displaced, healthcare facilities burned and Papuans deeply traumatised by Indonesian military operations in Nduga, West Papua.

The Nduga Case Investigation Team from Front Line Defenders, which included respected human rights advocate, Theo Hasegem, and Father John Djonga, gathered extensive information on the human rights and humanitarian crisis in the region, reporting it to the Amnesty International office in Jakarta on Friday March 29.

The Investigation Team estimated that over 32,000 people have been internally displaced as a result of the operations, and schools have closed as a result. Mr Hasegem reported that, ‘Some civilians even died while in refugee camps’.

The Indonesian Military has been undertaking operations in Nduga since December 2018

The conditions for internally displaced persons are reportedly poor, with mothers being forced to give birth without adequate healthcare facilities and children and elderly Papuans lacking food and water.

The military operations, the Investigation Team stated, have been accompanied by assassination of civilian Papuans. Two school children, for example, were shot dead by Indonesian security forces in the Mbua district. According to the team, it is likely that ‘military forces dropped bombs using helicopters during air attacks in a number of districts’. Thirty-four schools have reportedly been damaged by the Indonesian military, and the Sion GKI church has been converted into a military barracks.

Father John Djonga called for Indonesia to allow access to media and humanitarian organisations to West Papua, and for a UN human rights mission to be granted access. In January 2019, the ULMWP Chairman, Benny Wenda, met with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who promised to try and visit West Papua.

The Investigation Team will submit their findings to Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).

The investigation is the latest documentation of the horror of Indonesia’s military occupation of West Papua.

The team reported in detail on the distribution of the 32,000 internally-displaced persons.

Doctor Who's Missy returns on audio

Missy Series 01

One of the most memorable new characters in Doctor Who was the transformation of the Master into Missy played by the wonderful Michelle Gomez. Last time we saw her she and her future self appear to have killed each other unable to regenerate. I'm sure they'll find a way to bring her back. No one really dies in Doctor Who.

Meanwhile we face a year without any new Doctor Who so given that I needed a fix I turned to Big Finish who during the years the Doctor was not on our screens produced regular adventures of the programme using original actors on audio. This allowed them to create a whole canon for the Eighth Doctor with some new companions and villains plus a couple of oldies to.

Other doctors that regularly appeared were Peter Davidson, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy. Their  current catalogue even brings Tom Baker back on board and there are adventures by companions both past and present including Missy.

A five CD set with a four story season arrived in the post yesterday. I have only listened to the first one and am very impressed. Sentenced to imprisonment by these bat-like wardens for a crime against them she has yet to commit Missy finds herself in Victorian London unable to use technology and has to get a job.

Enter the Governess and Missy's search for magic, a way out her jailers have overlooked? Ten out of ten. Can't wait to listen to the other three! The fifth CD is a "behind the scenes" feature.

More info on Missy and other Doctor Who releases at: www.bigfinish.com

New Music from Rotting Christ

Rotting Christ are a Greek death metal band who have been around since the late eighties and I probably picked last up an album in the nineties. So it's been a while until I got hold of their latest release The Heretics which I picked up a couple of weeks back in vinyl format. Odiously you can get CD's and downloads but I like listening to music on my old fashioned mono retro record player!

The lead track In the name of God has been released on video with this sinister animation which will set the scene for those of you not familiar with the band.



More info at: www.rotting-christ.com

Saturday 6 April 2019

Newcastle Today: National Quidditch Championships

QPL logo.png
Photo: By Jack Lennard

Waking up early this morning I switched on the radio to listen to the news. They must have been talking about Brexit because I manged to fall asleep. I woke again to listen to Saturday Live on Radio 4 which isn't normally on my schedule but amongst the stories they covered was the National Quidditch Championships which take place in Newcastle this weekend.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Book Cover.jpg

Yes you heard right. That's the wizards game played on flying broomsticks from the world of Harry Potter. Of course the broomsticks don't fly the player just run around the pitch with a broom between their legs chasing a ball. Sounds bloody dangerous to me but hey it's a free country and rugby is just as if not more physically demanding.

There is actually a League with some 17 teams in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.













Apparently JK Rowling has ignored any copyright issues and politely turned down invitations to matches and tournaments. Sometimes fans go maybe a little too far perhaps. I certainly know they do at Comic Conventions which is why I generally avoid those.

Still good luck to all the teams this weekend I'm sure you'll all have fun. If you are interested they are live streaming their matches on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/QuidditchUK

Friday 5 April 2019

Benny Hill - Wondergran Meets Dracula

It's Friday night and time to relax with a bit of politically incorrect comedy. A man who needs no introduction the late, great Benny Hill from 1979.

Thursday 4 April 2019

Against the stream

The news that our politicians in the Mother of Parliaments has been able to reach agreement on one thing over Brexit after two years of negotiation and debate is that they don't want a "no-deal" exit. Even that was with with just one vote. No matter what one thinks of Brexit it has to happen as that was the decision of the electorate in the first "peoples vote".

I voted remain and think leaving will be a disastrous backwards move but my view lost and frankly that's something I have to accept. I don't have to like it but that's democracy.  Still enough of Brexit you are going to get plenty of that elsewhere and frankly I can't be bothered much about it these days.

Meanwhile society is facing other issues amongst which I take strong but I think balanced views though the accusations thrown against me have been legion recently. According to my critics I'm a racist Islamophobic, transphobic TERF.

I am an atheist and a fairly militant secularist who believes in the complete separation of religion and the state. We have seen in recent months how religion when implemented through the state leads to such inhumane injustices. It's called Sharia Law which discriminates against women, gays and Christians amongst others to enforce the will of what they call "Allah" but in reality is nothing more than redneck clerics hanging on to power through superstitious nonsense in the Koran.

The recent plight of Asia Bibi, the poor Christian woman facing the death penalty for alleged blasphemy disgusted or should have disgusted civilised observers everywhere. However much of the world remained cowardly silent because after all no-one wants to be called Islamophobic or upset the supposed religion of peace.

Even now as the Shit of Brunei introduces stoning of gays and adulterers (the latter seemingly overlooked by many) along with other equally barbaric and inhuman laws in the name of some invisible friend should be condemned by all.

Sadly even a seemingly normal moderator of a Facebook group who claimed to have been to Brunei said the report I put up about the stonings from a Gay newspaper site was and I quote "horseshit". It's now all over the media and the Shah defends his brutality as the will of "God".  I asked the Moderator to apologise. I'm still waiting.....

There's been no demo outside the Brunei Embassy over this, certainly not to my knowledge. The usual suspects remain surprisingly quiet as they did over Asia Bibi. I think Islam is barbaric and Sharia inhumane. I don't believe all Muslims are, in fact I have often argued those most oppressed by Islam are Muslims themselves as freedom is an anathema to their holy book. Question or leave the perfect religion and they face ostracising or worse death.

Yet I'm the bigot the extremist, the Islamophobe.

Then there is all this business about Transphobia. Until the sudden demand by trans-men for the right to "self ID" as women regardless of any safeguards and be able therefore to be treated as legally women using women's spaces I hadn't taken much notice of this small phenomenon. However the aggression employed by the current wave of trans activists against women was disturbing in itself.

I have never understood why the "T"was added to the LGB as being transsexual is not a sexual orientation it's something completely different. The Lesbian section of the LGBT has been adversely affected by this with the movement splitting as indeed have lots of feminists who take umbrage with the undermining of their hard won sex based rights.

One thing I had not known was that something 80% of trans-men do not have the operation. I can hardly define them as women even if they wear a dress. They are to me just transvestites. I wish them no ill but they cannot and should not be allowed into women's spaces.

I also find it odd that they call lesbians who refuse to sleep with then "transphobes". I have not heard anything so ridiculous in my life. Oh wait I have. During lengthy debates on two Facebook pages yesterday I was told that trans men have periods. Utter tosh. These people said it with a straight face as if undeniable fact. It is because of this nonsense and the censorship of the trans-lobby that I side with the women.

The no platforming of feminist speakers, stopping of of women's meetings, attacks on Universities to prevent research into the whole trans-issue and those that are badly affected by choices (does happen) and the bulling and threats to women by trans-men is a disgrace.

Before this cross-dressers, transvestites and even trans-men were broadly accepted. I know society isn't perfect but most people didn't care until now. Self ID is not enough. Women's rights are not for surrender. Call me a TERF I don't care.

Then there's the thorny issue of immigration. I believe in immigration controls. We have a right to decide who comes and lives in this country. Those who arrive are welcome, but you live by our laws, our values. No Sharia courts, No FGM, forced marriages etc. otherwise fine.

There have to be limits. Yes I think our laws are too soft and some people should not be allowed to continue to live here. Serious or career criminals should be deported after their sentences.

This is a view I have held for years I do not think it is unreasonable. Controlled immigration is fine and immigrants bring much of value to this country but it is something that needs to be reformed and controlled better.

Of course the moment anyone says they favour immigration controls the shouts of racist can be heard from the Socialist Worker types hanging around on street corners. I don't care.

The terms Islamophobe, Transphobe, TERF and sometimes even racist are used to to suppress debate. I'm not intolerant nor a racist but I do have views that sections of the left and the identity politics brigade do not like. My message to them is I simply don't care.

It is they who are the real bigots