Poem about Iraq
A poem about Iraq in 2003 Tony Blair’s visit to Southern Iraq early in 2003. He explained the wisdom of the war. MY POEM A Message from Tony Blair to the People of Iraq (Written a few days after the start of the attacks by US and UK forces, March 2003. It has been claimed […]
Britain’s shameful bombing of Iraq
Britain’s shameful bombing of Iraq Twenty years ago Britain and the US indulged in a ruthless and immense bombing campaign against Iraq, a country which did not threaten us. This act was therefore a blatant war crime and the people who initiated it were, by definition, war criminals – most notably Bush and Blair. It […]
Why the French pay much less for their energy
Why the French pay much less for their energy Energy costs so much more in the UK as compared with France How Macron protected electricity consumers “In France, President Emmanuel Macron’s government responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by imposing a tariff “shield” for consumers, limiting energy companies to a 4% rise in 2022 followed […]
The case against spending more on defence
The case against spending more on defence Don’t give more money to this man. Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence In the face of underpayment of staff in UK caring professions, and the destruction of the NHS by not addressing staff shortages, I have been shocked by the way the government is hugely increasing […]
UK gives disproportionate amounts of military aid to Ukraine
UK gives disproportionate amounts of military aid to Ukraine Shouldn’t other European countries be giving more? See this Government account of our spending: – Web link below “Who is providing military assistance? The US is the largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine, having committed $30 billion since the start of the Biden administration. $29.3 […]
French nuclear giant makes huge loss
French nuclear giant makes its worst ever loss. Nuclear power stations go off line. BBC report “EDF’s nuclear output in France fell by 30% to its lowest since 1988 as more than half of its 56 ageing nuclear power stations went offline for repairs, which had been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. “ How […]
Anniversary of amazing day of anti-war demonstrations
Anniversary of amazing day of anti-war demonstrations Last week saw the 20th anniversary of an extraordinary and unique day in world history, 15 February 2003. It was the day when tens of millions of people marched in 780 cities around the world in protest against the proposed war by Britain and America, against Iraq. Julie […]
Arms spending 4 – Public service workers Nil
Arms spending 4 – Public service workers Nil Ambulance drivers’, nurses, and other public service workers pay demands are described as “unaffordable”. Yet spending on arms has consistently gone above inflation and even this has been added to. Biggest increase in defence spending for 30 years, way above commitments in the rest of Europe. ● […]
Big increase in arms spending
Increase spending for NHS or more for war? Media neglect of astonishing increase in arms spending Shouldn’t the BBC and other media be exploring this issue? Spending increases in defence while cuts or inadequate increases everywhere else. Could we have a bit more balance in reviewing where cuts might be made? There was a glaring enormous […]
Where to cut government spending
Where to cut government spending It’s easy to find half the money needed to plug the current government cash shortage. Cut that whopping increase in arms spending November 2020 – what happened On 19th of November 2020 the government announced the largest military spending budget for 30 years, giving the UK the biggest defence/arms spending budget in Europe. This amounted to […]
Military boom time
Boom in Military Spending BRITISH PUBLIC might question vast increase in arms spending Today, 20 October 2022, Liz Truss, UK Prime Minister, has resigned and the British Government is in a feverish condition following a couple of weeks of disastrous policy decisions and U-turns. The newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, has said […]
Nuclear power – the costs that should concern us
The costs of nuclear power that the UK government doesn’t consider or reveal to the public Radio-active, toxic waste Nuclear power generation creates vast quantities of cancer-causing radioactive waste which remains highly dangerous and radioactive for many generations to come, in fact for thousands of years. This nuclear waste presents environmental problems and costs which […]
Vietnam veteran’s song.
https://youtu.be/W6lmXoBRi1A Still feeling the hurt all these years after the end of the Vietnam War, 1975, over 45 years ago. PTSD doesn’t just go away. Veteran, Jack Murphy’s recent song on YouTube 58,000 Americans were killed in the war. The total death toll: 3 Million. There are a number of powerful poems by Vietnam veterans […]
UK Care Crisis deepens – brilliantly explored in BBC programmes with Ed Balls
A care worker in the BBC programme Crisis is not too strong a word to apply to care of the elderly in care homes and those living in their own homes with care assistance. Currently a million people are suffering with dementia in the UK and numbers are increasing. Today’s move (11 November) by the […]
GETTING REAL ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
I had an email from Greta Thunberg on Monday 1 November 2021 She told me that ”the planet is screaming for help”. And “We are catastrophically far from the crucial goal of 1.5°C.” Words like screaming and catastrophe are not scientific or measured and do nothing to encourage sensible discussion or practical solutions to the […]
The Fenland floods of 1947 – My memory of a natural disaster – and video
Do the media mislead young about climate change? – My experience of extreme weather Young people who learn about natural disasters from the media may get an impression that things have never been so bad and are getting worse and worse all the time. It’s natural to be worried. There are always terrible things happening […]
A flawed leader of a flawed country, Colin Powell, Former US Secretary of State, died 18 October 2021
Colin Powell, Former US Secretary of State, died 18 October 2021, age 84. Giving false evidence to the UN On 5 February 2003 Colin Powell was the man who sold the “evidence” of the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to the gullible statesmen and politicians in the UN. Their response gave the go-ahead to the […]
Blair and Brown on BBC2 – Will the truth come out?
Blair and Brown, 5 part BBC2 Documentary started Mon 4 October 2021, 9pm This could be an interesting series about these brilliant and eloquent politicians. People will never forget the audacity of Blair and his colleagues in ignoring the biggest and worldwide demonstrations of opposition to the war against Iraq, or the worldwide disbelief in […]
The Law Against Wars – the basic law that all citizens, journalists and politicians should know
Nuremberg war crimes trials, 1945 – a warning to others “To initiate a war of aggression ….. is the supreme international crime, only different from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of all the others” – Declaration of the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, 1945 “To initiate a war of […]
Afghanistan, 20-years of disaster created by America and Britain
Afghanistan, 20-years of disaster created by America and Britain Taking on Afghanistan in 2001 was an unnecessary and calamitous war on one of the poorest, most dysfunctional countries in the world. It was started, we were told, to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban and thus prevent terrorism. After 20 years of occupation by mainly American […]
World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day Suicide, not covid, is the biggest killer of under 35 year olds in the UK Friday 10th September is World Suicide Prevention Day – an annual awareness day that highlights the important work that people, organisations and charities are undertaking globally, to prevent suicide. PAPYRUS is one of these organisations which […]
Where has the money gone? Aid budget cut funds arms spending
Where has the money gone? Aid budget cut funds arms spending Cash shortage isn’t just because of covid. – Biggest arms spending budget for 30 years The UK now has the biggest defence/arms spending budget in Europe. On 19th of November 2020 the government announced the largest military spending budget for 30 years. This amounted […]
I’ve just been censored by facebook
It’s surprising to find censorship from facebook when facebook is dedicated to the free expression of opinions. I suspect there are people in facebook who don’t want certain views and facts to be widely presented. ON THIS PAGE What I said that Facebook would not allow me to post How The Times described the situation […]
The line Joe Biden is taking towards Israel shames America
The line Joe Biden is taking towards Israel shames America Joe Biden repeatedly states that Israel has the right to self defence, a statement which is literally true but designed to be misleading and is therefore dishonest. In fact the opposite is true. Biden suggests that the aggressor, Israel, is the victim in this Israel/Palestine […]
Save the Children plead on behalf of the children of Gaza and Israel
Save the Children plead on behalf of the children of Gaza and Israel In the last week, at least 58 children in the enclave territory and two children in southern Israel have been killed. “How many more families need to lose loved ones before the international community takes action? Where can children run to when […]
Worldwide protests against Israeli bombing of Gaza
Worldwide protests against Israeli bombing of Gaza It’s unlikely that UK mainstream media has reported protests from around the world against Israel’s bombing. Picture taken in Paris 16 May 2021. Cities where protests criticised Israeli bombing include: Al Aqabah; Algiers; Amman; Ankara; Athens; Auckland; Baghdad; Basrah; Beirut; Benslimane; Bergen; Berlin; Birmingham; Boston; Bradford; Brighton; Bristol; […]
Quakers call for end to violence in Palestine
Quakers call for end to violence in Palestine 11 May 2021 Paul Parker describes some of the things done by Israelis over 7 decades which are against international law. Paul Parker, Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain said: “Our Quaker testimonies to peace and equality compel us, once again, to speak out on this issue. […]
My MPs unsatisfactory reply about Palestinian/Israeli conflict – my response
My MPs unsatisfactory reply about Palestinian/Israeli conflict – my response My email13 MayAndrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs Dear AndrewI am very disappointed by your response to my email about the eruption of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. What about the Palestinians?What stands out is the fact that you didn’t mention the Palestinians once. This […]
Protests around the world condemn Israeli action
Protests around the world condemn Israeli action Protests in cities around the world condemn Israeli action as the outrages escalate. The demonstration in New York is shown here. What is Israel hoping to achieve? Israel appears to be trying to destroy social control in Gaza. Hamas today, 12 May 2021, claimed that Israeli airstrikes had […]
Email to MP: Stop arms sales to Israel. Condemn Israeli aggression
12 May 2021 Andrew Griffith MP, Arundel and South Downs Dear Andrew Griffith On Monday night Israel carried out airstrikes that are reported to have killed 24 people including at least 9 children. The air strikes follow several days of attacks by Israeli police and settlers on Palestinians in Jerusalem, injuring over 300 people. This morning I heard on the radio that […]
Palestinians suffer once again at the hands of one of the most militarised states in the world
Tuesday 11 May 2021 Britain should halt the sale of our British arms to Israel and unequivocally condemn Israeli abuses and provocations. I have written to my MP today and urge readers to write to their MPs. See my separate post to read what I said to him. Last night’s airstrikes Air strikes by Israeli […]
For and against nuclear weapons – emails, mine and my MP
For and against nuclear weapons – emails, mine and my MP Andrew Griffith MP, writes in favour of nuclear weapons Dear David, Thank you for contacting me about the UK’s nuclear stockpile. The fundamental purpose of our nuclear weapons is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression. A minimum, credible, independent nuclear deterrent assigned […]
Britain’s international reputation – With more nuclear weapons Britain breaks a solemn treaty agreement
Britain’s international reputation – With more nuclear weapons Britain breaks a solemn treaty agreement “Instead of a stockpile of no more than 180 warheads by the mid-2020s, the UK will now increase its overall stockpile to no more than 260 warheads.”Statement found in Integrated Review 2021, House of Commons Library Summary, 17 March 2021. Setting […]
Important and fascinating book about Iraq
Iraq, its breakup and exploitation by Western powers, is described in this important and fascinating book by Riad El Taher, O Daughter of Babylon. Riad El-Taher, born in Iraq tells the story of his remarkable life: how he came to Britain as a teenager and trained as an engineer and worked for a number of […]
Are aircraft carriers useful in a war situation? Expert opinion.
Are aircraft carriers useful in a war situation? Expert opinion Aircraft carriers of some of the biggest ships ever built and are therefore very impressive, as well as being extremely expensive to build and operate. Here is expert opinion on the usefulness of aircraft carriers in the first Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, 1990-1991. “Little […]
Billions for more weapons – why?
Billions for more weapons – why? More of this? What are the problems that this is a solution to? Britain’s defence budget is is in the wrong hands Britain is planning the largest military spending budget for 30 years. This amounts to a £16.5 billion increase above the Conservative manifesto commitment over four years. (New […]
Rocketing arms spending leaves little for nurses
Rocketing arms spending leaves little for nurses’ pay The UK will have the biggest defence budget in Europe On 19th of November last year the UK government announced the largest military spending budget for 30 years. This amounted to a £16.5 billion increase above the manifesto commitment over four years.On existing forecasts, this is an […]
Wildlife endangered by planned nuclear power station, Sizewell C
Wildlife endangered by planned nuclear power station, Sizewell C On the Suffolk coast is an exceptional wildlife habitat that is threatened by a planned new nuclear power station called Sizewell C. Wildlife experts in this video explain what could be lost if the planned nuclear power station goes ahead. Ben McFarland, Head of Conservation at […]
Starmer joins Tories in wasting billions on shameful Trident nuclear weapons
Today (26 February 2021)the Labour party announced support for the Conservative policy of spending billions on nuclear weapons, the Trident nuclear missile. TRIDENT IS A LONG TERM EXPENSE COSTING BILLIONS FOR DECADES TO COME The country is facing huge economic problems, so why plan to spend billions on an outdated weapon that had its time […]
