Say no to sanctions on Israel

Luke Akehurst writes:

This weekend, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, Lisa Nandy MP, called for economic sanctions to be implemented against Israel if it applies sovereignty to/annexes parts of the West Bank. We know that our network includes supporters of Israel with strong views on both sides of the debate about the Israeli proposals but whatever your views on whether Israel is right to consider doing this, we hope you will agree that sanctions are the wrong response, and sign our petition against them: 

https://www.webelieveinisrael.org.uk/no_sanctions

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has condemned the sanctions call as divisive: 

https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/board-president-urges-starmer-to-reject-divisive-nandy-proposal-for-west-bank-goods-ban-1.501077

Our petition reads as follows:

“We the undersigned reject any calls for sanctions on Israel. We have a range of different views on whether it is right for Israel to apply sovereignty to/annex parts of the West Bank but we are united in rejecting calls by UK politicians for sanctions as a response. This would be disproportionate and inappropriate. It would damage the strong diplomatic, security and trade relationship between the UK and Israel. It would not deter Israel from taking the steps it wants to. Sanctions would be acceding to one of the demands of the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign, which is dedicated to destroying Israel through economic pressure. Sanctions are a last resort before military force for tackling armed aggression, not a tool for exerting pressure on an allied, democratic government, however much you disagree with its actions.”

Please sign the petition here: https://www.webelieveinisrael.org.uk/no_sanctions and share it by email, Facebook and Twitter with your friends and family.

Support Labour Against Antisemitism & Labour To Win

The news broke this afternoon that the leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer sacked Rebecca Long-Bailey from the shadow Cabinet for tweeting another antisemitic "blood libel" being promoted by the racist left to drive a wedge between the Black & Jewish communities.

The following statement was issued by Labour Against AntiSemitism:

Rebecca Long-Bailey's Actions Demand a Strong, Swift and Decisive Response

Euan Philipps, spokesperson for Labour Against Antisemitism, said:

“Rebecca Long-Bailey’s decision to promote an interview in which the actor Maxine Peake made an apparently antisemitic statement, and her later response following widespread condemnation, is unacceptable. She should resign from her front bench role as Shadow Education Secretary, and if she refuses to do so Sir Keir Starmer should sack her.

This is not the first time that Ms Long Bailey has faced personal criticism regarding the issue of antisemitism in the Labour Party. In February she reportedly failed to challenge an antisemitic comment in a question posed to her at a leadership campaign event and was accused of being silent during shadow cabinet meeting discussions on antisemitism. There have also been allegations that she failed to support the adoption of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.

The Labour Party is apparently trying to show the Jewish community and the wider electorate that it has moved on from the institutional anti-Jewish racism of the last five years. To prove that there is substance to those efforts, Ms Long-Bailey’s actions demand a strong, swift and decisive response.”

More info: labouragainstas.org.uk

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This swift action helps both restore confidence in both the new Labour leader and illustrate the continuing problem that exists inside the party itself.

A new alliance sponsored by Labour First & Progress has been formed to return Labour to the mainstream.

The success of Labour to Win is going to be crucial to campaigns for moderate candidates at all levels of the party.

Further info/sign up: www.labourtowin.org

Is Labour back on track?

By Rwendland - Own work, CC 

Like many others I stopped supporting or voting for the Labour Party when Jeremy Corbyn and his opportunistic followers took over the Labour Party. The extent of the hate poured towards those who dared to differ was just too much add to that the virulent antisemitism that Corbyn enabled the party crossed the Rubicon into the reams of the unacceptable.

Over the years as an active trade unionist in the (non-affiliated) Civil Service unions I had been an advocate of backing Labour as the only pragmatic and sensible choice against the Conservatives. Once or twice in specific seats I argued for a Lib-Dem vote.  

In the PCS a far-left controlled union the leadership and various factions argued for Respect, the trade Union & Socialist Coalition and denounced Labour at every opportunity. Some of those folk where in or around competing political parties such as the SWP or Socialist Party. 

Most of these individuals sans what was left of the SWP and SP flocked to support Corbyn along with large numbers of people who attended demonstrations , shouted a lot, trolled on-line and became members of the party. The General Secretary of PCS Mark Serwotka joined to help "deselect" (purge) MPs whom he labelled as "right-wing" whatever that means in the context of a world revolving around Marxism, Trotskyism and variations thereof.

They made the Labour Party a scary place. Locally i saw a rabid anti-Zionist selected as candidate and the open involvement of the far-left in the form of the Labour Party Marxists. 

I had always planned on becoming active in Labour when I retired but medically enforced retirement aside chose not to because the party under Corbyn was not fit for anything frankly. 

With Starmers ascendancy the left has been engaging in what can only be described as political cannibalism as they all blame each other in addition to the Blairites and Zionists (by which they actually mean Jews) rather than find fault with their own inward looking selves.

They told us to go and join the Tories then got a shock when the "Red Wall" fell to the Conservative Party.  Not just working people but a whole community turned away from Labour. I was part of that. Keeping Labour out of power became a priority for so many former supporters.

Now Kier Starmer has begun to act. And the future looks like it might be bright. I live in hope but the far-left and their hate machine is still there. A hardcore remain and ar active in the constituencies. The there's McCluskey and his Unite union waiting in the wings to pounce.

I'm only one person with a blog but there are others like me. Three Jewish peers have rejoined but the bulk of my community and many others remain to be convinced. For some, if not the majority the break with Labour may be permanent. I hope not because if the Party changes for the better under Starmer than there may be a chance to return to common sense and social democracy.

This country needs a responsible opposition and one that can be trusted if chosen to govern. Labour has begun to take some steps in that direction but there is a long way to go.

Doctor Who: The New Counter-Measures - The Dalek Gambit

In addition to doing regular adventures of Doctor Who featuring various incarnations of the Doctor and/or his companions Big Finish also indulge in a number of other spin-offs. I have treated myself to the first Missy boxed set which was a joy and there is a second on the way but util now had not tried this particular series The Counter-Measures.

Being fascinated by the Daleks I just couldn't resist grabbing a copy The Dalek Gambit which also featured the Movellans with whom the Daleks have been at war for age yet rarely feature in the main canon. Off the top of my head I could only remember them from a Tom Baker adventure Destiny of the Daleks.

Before playing I did momentarily consider waiting and ordering the previous CD as this was a continuation of a story. The Movellans had tried to invade the Earth and had been getting help from various human scientists but had been beaten by the intervention of our team from Counter-Measures and the British Army.

This time as they search the base wrecked in the fighting a new enemy appears killing the human allies of the Movellans. No prizes for guessing who. The battle for the survival of mankind begins..again.

Unlike other spin-off adventures I did find the characters difficult to relate to as I had no previous investment in them.  The story and production values where certainly good enough but as for whether I would collect any more of this series the jury is still out especially as Big Finish already produce so much more.

Available from: www.bigfinish.com

Returning to the fray!

A week is becoming a long time in politics as the world wakes up out of the lock-down.  It's also been a week since I blogged about anything. Retirement it seems agrees with me but I cannot let the world pass by without comment so will start posting once again though it won't be all politics.

The Black Lives Matter movement has come to the fore and with it many broadcasters and other organisations have panicked and begun looking at frankly issues that really do distract from the real issues that BAME folk face. I may have have criticisms of the BLM itself which I will tackle in due course but the attempt to decry Rugby supporters from singing this song is patently ridiculous.

And frankly like the nonsense over Fawlty Towers will simply backfire.

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is a wonderful song which has been covered by so many artists over the years. This one by Ella Eyre seems to be the most recent.

When extremists fuel each other.

That racism exists within a large layer of policing in the United States goes without saying. The recent arrest and subsequent killing of George Floyd should indeed result in the prosecution of those involved. That racism remains endemic in wider American society is also a fact that I would not question. Racism exists in every society and has done so throughout history.

That Black Lives Matter have a genuine point to make is clear. The next step is how these problems should be dealt with. In America the protests really got out of hand with looting and the subsequent murder of a former black policeman by rioters. of course the majority of those who protest both in the USA and here do not use such violence.

However there are those amongst them who will and those whose political agendas do try to hijack legitimate concerns. The recent toppling of the statue in Bristol has opened a Pandoras Box of problems that will not easily be resolved.

It's not the particular statue that is the problem but the method by which it was removed. The unidentified group of activists who took it upon themselves acted not just outside the law but in a way that has begun a backlash against the movements legitimate concerns.

Indeed discussions about statues have moved into areas that will simply fuel division. 

Ghandi is a hero of the Indian community but had anti-black attitudes that were common in his time. Churchill the ultimate British icon has a flawed history but without him where would be today. The best response to his critics is to remind them to look at the other guy.

Most figures both in history have flaws. Few are without sin. 

Examine George Floyd the death of whom has caused the current controversy. This man was indeed a career criminal who once held a gun to the stomach of a pregnant Hispanic woman. Hardly a role model though the way he was killed was equally unacceptable.

On the other side so-called "patriots" rallied to the defence of Churchill. What he would have made of these fools using Nazi salutes probably result in the use of two fingers more in the Agincourt style. 

Of course we are living in a period where extremism is once again rotting our political system. 

TV executives react with fear of being demonised by censoring programmes as a result of these protests. A process seen in the way the Universities caved in to the demands of the ever offended woke. Trans-activists censored women for demanding their sex-based rights. JK Rowling amongst those told to "suck their lady dicks". Appalling. Yet the woke extremists ignore such extreme misogyny.

Whether it be the ranks of the Socialist Workers Party, Momentum, the EDL or Britain First. The extremists hijack the political agenda and make rational political discourse impossible. 

And finally in case if you are wondering whether the photo at the top of this page is photo-shopped it isn't. This was the meeting of the American Nazi Party with The black nationalist Nation of Islam, the latter still exists spreading poisonous hate even to this day.

Go to: nationalpost.com

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. 

Marx must come down! A racist!

Photo: Loz Pycock

All these comrades ranting about statues had better check their back yards before shouting down. The man who inspired a movement that ended up murdering millions because no one could ever get his so-called socialism to work was a racist. 
Evidence:

"The Jewish nigger Lassalle who, I’m glad to say, is leaving at the end of this week, has happily lost another 5,000 talers in an ill-judged speculation. The chap would sooner throw money down the drain than lend it to a ‘friend’, even though his interest and capital were guaranteed. In this he bases himself on the view that he ought to live the life of a Jewish baron, or Jew created a baron (no doubt by the countess). Just imagine!"

"One of our nigger’s great discoveries — which, however, he only confides to his ‘closest friends’ — is that the Pelasgians were of Semitic descent. The main evidence: in the Book of Maccabbees, the Jews send emissaries to solicit the help of Greece on grounds of kinship. Furthermore, an Etruscan inscription has been found in Perugia, and this was simultaneously deciphered by Hofrat Stucker in Berlin and an Italian, and both independently converted the Etruscan into the Hebrew alphabet."
 

(Marx to Engels: 30th July 1862)  

Of course Marx won't be torn down and the communists would defend their flawed mentor. But perhaps people in glass houses....... 

Oh and just as an aside Trotsky was into blood-sports if you are a vegetarian/vegan/animal rights activist.

Strawbs - Heartbreak Hill Album Re-Released

The Strawbs were a band that found fame in the early seventies with three charting singles the most famous of which is probably Part Of The Union sung by old trade unionists like me to this day though Lay Down comes a close second. 

They did however release a large number of albums over the years and in particular had a Prog Rock edge that still appeals. Cherry Records has remastered and re-released a couple of albums by the Strawbs of which this, Heartbreak Hill is the better (in my opinion) though the other is good if you can stretch to buying both.

Heartbreak Hotel is in itself a bit of an oddity. Originally recorded in 1978 it didn't see release until 1995 due to record deals and management problems apparently.

I've posted the title track which is a beautiful piece of music from an album that never charted. perhaps this new release will grab the attention of not just old fans but new ones as well. 

Available from: www.cherryred.co.uk

Official website: www.strawbsweb.co.uk

Within Temptation - Entertain You (New Single)

It's Friday night or so I'm told. At may age one day is just like another especially when locked-down but back in the day I'd be out rock n' rolling so here for you is the new single Entertain You from the Dutch band Within Temptation.

It's available now for download (not my thing) but I'll be waiting for the new album when that is announced!

Official website: www.within-temptation.com

Black West Papuan Lives Matter - Help Free Buchtar!

Message from the Free West Papua Campaign:

From Minneapolis to West Papua, Black people are fighting against racism and discrimination. The powers that be want to stop them.

Buchtar Tabuni, one of the most prominent leaders inside West Papua, is facing 17 years in prison for standing up against racism and defending the Black Melanesian people of West Papua.

We need your help. Before sentencing, let the Indonesian State hear a chorus of global solidarity:

• Contact your MPs or political representatives: ask them to raise Buchtar's case with your government and parliament;

• Release statements of solidarity from any organisations you are involved in;

• Post pictures on social media holding signs in solidarity with Buchtar.

Now is the crucial moment. One of West Papua's most effective organisers could be consigned to prison for the better part of his life – and we need to act.

Buchtar was kidnapped at his home in September last year by armed Indonesian troops and flown to East Kalimantan, far from his family, friends and legal advisers.

He was charged with 'treason' during the massive 2019 West Papua Uprising, when hundreds of thousands of Papuans came out to struggle against the racism they face every day. 

As Benny Wenda has said, 'West Papuans are not being killed for what we have done. We are being killed for who we are.'

Buchtar is Deputy Chair of the Legislative Council of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, and Chair of the National Parliament of West Papua. His prominence is the real reason he is being persecuted.

Together, we can help get Buchtar out of prison and back to the heart of West Papuan independence movement. Free Buchtar!

Contact: www.freewestpapua.org

The fragility of civilisation

As the world emerges from the lock-down I am reminded of a question posed by a You Gov survey which posed the question of how I saw the world being after the crisis was over. Would it be better, worse or the same. The answer I gave was that nothing would change and as events evolve around me I think that was the correct answer.

China is rattling it's new found military prowess and I don't just mean in the continuing subjugation of Tibet but has pushed into India and threatens Taiwan which the comrades still think is part of their empire. 

More to the point despite the lock-downs and restrictions demonstrations and riots have broken out in the USA after the actions of a policeman led to the death of yet another black man. The video was disturbing. Criminal he may be but this was not policing this was brutal.  That this caused a reaction in the black community is not surprising.

Despite a black man becoming President of the United States the racial tension that exists in American society is much more fragile than we in Europe appreciate. Racism exists everywhere to one degree or another in every society. Discrimination and ethnic rivalry is probably as much a cause of global conflict as religion even in these modern times.

The USA is seen as the richest and most developed country on the planet yet there are so many with so little and in particular racism against Blacks has long outlived slavery on a scale that it is difficult for us to imagine. 

That the Americans need to get a grip on themselves goes without saying. However the legitimate protests soon turned into rioting and looting as political activists were joined by thieves and chancers. The destruction of the property and in one case life of the innocent is not going to resolve or justify the actions of a rogue cop.

What emerges from these events that despite all our advances, all our science. philosophy and centres of learning the civilised veneer under which we live is easily broken. It began with hoarding as the pandemic began. It ended with riots and destruction.  

Humanity still has a long journey in front of itself.