Howie's Corner blocked by Facebook

 

Image: By Time3000

Over the last few months Facebook users have been facing a number of problems caused in the main by the use of algorithms which restrict and censor users without any good reason. One of the problems that I suddenly faced was the imposition on limits on the sharing of posts from this blog.

When I first started using Facebook I was able to share posts with impunity but the algorithm suddenly started restricting me to no more than two which when I was taking an active part in discussions in four Labour Party Discussion groups caused a problem.

Trying to appeal this seemed occasionally to work but after sharing the post about the on-line Labour to Win Rally to just five groups I found not only that post removed as "spam" but a comment using a link on four other posts. Even my single post on John Lennon's new compilation album was removed as spam.

I sent in multiple appeals and other messages to Facebook yesterday but have had no response in the mean time every single post from my blog has now been blocked and removed along with the link on my home page though the comics blog remains unaffected.

Whilst I realise that problems of spamming exist I would hardly think four or five shares really counts as such from a private user. Considering the material Facebook allow on their pages I am understandably vexed. I have no idea if any appeal will now work and have to consider the future.

Despite erratic posting since my illness and retirement this blog has contained not just my opinion pieces and other interests particularly music and the occasional Doctor Who related post I have tried to make Howie's Corner a campaigning blog. Amongst the campaigns I have supported are Free Tibet, Free West Papua and the work Council of Ex Muslims in the UK. 

Howie's Corner has also stood against both political & religious extremism taken part in the fight against antisemitism and is now fighting for the modernisation of the Labour Party. Whilst not a full member I have joined an affiliated organisation the Jewish Labour Movement.

In response to Facebook's actions I have hurriedly set up a new blog to continue my work and will have to consider how both of my sites will work as in recent times the bulk of my readership has come via Facebook but not all. This editorial will appear her and on my new "back-up" site where I will be more careful with sharing as "staggering" shares over the day may allow me to continue my blogs interventions in the on-going debate inside Labour.

Readers can be assured that I will not be silenced by algorithms or anything else and I will continue to campaign on social media for the causes in which I believe through whatever methods are open to me. I maybe physically unable to intervene at meetings and on marches like in my youth but my mind remains intact unlike my body!

Please note: For the time being both blogs will continue to be updated until I make a decision on how to proceed. Howie's Corner has had well over a million reads, small beer perhaps but an audience exists. 

New blog: Howie's Corner Too

For Free Speech and Human Rights!

Howard Fuller

Hawkwind Light Orchestra - Carnivorous

The latest studio album from Hawkwind came out today and it's title is an anagram of coronavirus as the album was recorded during the lock-down and the band put the pandemic down to the human desire to eat flesh. I didn't know Dave Brock and company were vegans but the enclosed booklet directs the reader ro a number of animal rights and vegan websites. 

Whist a supporter of animal rights and believe in the humane treatment of farm animals veganism is not for me even if I were able to eat such a diet (which I'm not able due to medical conditions) I wouldn't as humans are naturally omnivorous. That perhaps we should eat less meat and certainly avoid some species like bats and panagolins the latter of which are in danger of extinction due to the Chinese appetite for these animals which are basically "scaly ant-eaters" is clear I don't think veganism is the answer.

That aside there is of course the music. This is a much gentler version of Hawkwind that that from my youth and I've been a fan for years. Dave Brock continues to produce good listenable and challenging music at the same time. This album is a pleasant follow up to last year's All Aboard the Skylark.

I've actually chosen the penultimate track to feature on tonight's blog and I'm dedicating it to my friend Josh who agrees with my politics but not my musical choices. Can't win 'em all it would seem!

Official website: www.hawkwind.com

Labour to Win Rally Sunday 18th October: Sign Up & Volunteer: Reclaim the Party!

 

Join Stella Creasy MP, Ruth Smeeth and all the NEC Candidates Labour First and Labour to Win are supporting one last time before ballots drop on Sunday 18th October at 7pm, as they make the case for a decent, united Labour Party that's ready for Government. The full list of speakers is as follows:

• Stella Creasy MP Labour and Co-operative MP for Walthamstow
• Ruth Smeeth former MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and Vice-Chair of the Jewish Labour Movement
• Luke Akehurst Secretary of Labour First, former Labour NEC member and candidate for the CLP Section of the NEC
• Johanna Baxter current Labour NEC member and candidate for the CLP Section of the NEC
• Gurinder Singh Josan current Labour NEC member and candidate for the CLP Section of the NEC
• Terry Paul Newham Councillor and Cabinet member, candidate for the CLP section of the NEC
• Michael Payne Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council and the LGA Labour Group, candidate for the CLP section of the NEC
• Shama Tatler Brent Councillor and Cabinet member, candidate for the CLP Section of the NEC
• Alice Perry Local Government NEC representative and candidate for the Local Government NEC Representative
• George Lindars-Hammond Sheffield City Councillor and Cabinet member, candidate for NEC Disabled Members Representative
• Kira Lewis Candidate for NEC Youth Representative.

RSVP now using the button below:

RSVP for Eve of Poll Rally

With voting opening in just 4 days time, we've been blown away by your support for our NEC candidates, Luke Akehurst, Johanna Baxter, Gurinder Singh Josan, Terry Paul, Michael Payne and Shama Tatler. But to get elected, they're going to have to overcome a huge and extremely well funded Momentum phone banking and social media targeting operation.

To win, we're going to need your help to contact all of our supporters and get out our vote. If you're interested in phoning our supporters on behalf of the candidates, please get in touch with Lloyd Duddridge, the Labour to Win National Organiser using the button below.

Volunteer to phonebank

Nathan Burns
Organiser, Labour First

John Lennon - Gimme Some Truth (Deluxe Edition)

Yesterday would have been John Lennon's 80th Birthday. Today is my 63rd birthday and National Album Day so what better way to celebrate than with the new John Lennon compilation Gimme Some Truth which is available in a variety of formats including a deluxe 2 CD version which I chose. 

There are 36 tracks on this album which is playing as I type these words. I'm not going to attempt a review of the great man's work but imply recommend that if you want a good collection of Lennon's output then this really is the dogs bollocks as they say.

The album begins with Instant Karma from 1970 so I though I'd share that video.

Heavy Metal deployed as a weapon of war

One of the stranger stories in the media today was the news that Azerbaijan had made use of local heavy metal musicians as part of their war against Armenia. The New York Post reported

The Azerbaijan military has released a bizarre heavy metal music video touting their war weapons and featuring lot of explosions amid a violent dispute with its neighbour Armenia.

The guitar-shredding propaganda tune “Atəş”— or “Fire” — was performed by a group of local heavy metal rockers dressed in combat uniforms....

It’s performed by the local musicians Ceyhun Zeynalov and Narmin Karimbayova, backed by the Nur Group

Sadly the continuing conflict over land led to "dozens" of deaths when fighting broke out last weekend.

Of course the military use of Heavy metal is not new. The American military used it against General Manuel Noriega in Panama. The BBC wrote of the events in 1989:

The repressive military leader had holed himself up in the Vatican's embassy in Panama City, after President George Bush Senior invaded Panama.

Noriega was facing a US indictment for drug-trafficking, as well as claims he had rigged the 1989 election.

The embassy was surrounded by US troops, but he refused to give himself up.

The US army decided to use psychological warfare - by blasting a wall of sound non-stop outside. A fleet of Humvees mounted with loudspeakers rolled in, and rock music rolled out.

In the case Noriega surrendered though the Vatican (unsurprisingly) complained and the music stopped after three days. Apparently the playlist used by the US troops is available on You Tube. 

AC/DC - New Single out today and album due next month!

At long last some new music from one of the worlds top rock and roll bands. The new AC/DC single Shot in the Dark was released at 5AM this morning and is posted here along with the news that their new album Power Up will be released in multiple formats on November 13th.

Available from: pwrup.acdc.com

Colombia: Support miners striking against the 'death shift' at Cerrejón

Once again, a company has taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to attack workers' rights.

This time, it's coal miners in Colombia who have had to go on strike.

Workers at the Cerrejón coal mine are in the middle of bitter dispute with three multinational mining companies, Anglo American, BHP and Glencore.

When the pandemic broke out back in February the union, in good faith, withdrew its list of demands and suspended collective bargaining negotiations.

When negotiations resumed in July, the company refused to respond to the union proposals, and instead demanded concessions in rights and benefits. Then the company unilaterally announced a radical shift change roster, without consulting the union and in violation of Colombian law. The new shift roster, which workers call the 'death shift' will lead to the loss of 2,500 direct and indirect jobs, will require workers to work an additional 72 days a year for the same wage, will cause turmoil in workers' family lives and will lead to an increase in fatigue and thus an increase in accidents. The company has boycotted the government labour ministry’s facilitation to end the strike, now in its fourth week.

The union in Colombia and IndustriALL global union have a launched an online campaign on LabourStart in support of the miners. 

Please take a moment to show your support - click here.

And please don't forget our campaign in support of miners in Ukraine, who have taken their fight for justice underground - into the mines. 

Learn more and show your support here.

Eric Lee