Labour's roll of honour: twenty eight and a half rebels

Twenty eight Labour MPs voted against the expansion of Heathrow. I salute them all;

Diane Abbott, Harry Cohen, Jeremy Corbyn, Jim Cousins, Frank Dobson, David Drew, Frank Field, Paul Flynn, Dr Ian Gibson, John Grogan, Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins, Dr Lynne Jones, Peter Kilfoyle, John McDonnell, Andrew Mackinlay, Bob Marshall-Andrews, Michael Meacher, George Mudie, Chris Mullin, Gordon Prentice, Nick Raynsford, Martin Salter, Virendra Sharma, Alan Simpson, Andrew Slaughter, Andrew Smith, and David Taylor.

Special mention also needs to go to anti-expansion Labour MP Martin Linton (pictured) who claims to be a vociferous opponent of Heathrow expansion but accidentally voted for it. It's what I've always said - when Labour do us over it's always partly design and partly utter incompetence.

Never underestimate the ability of well intentioned people to accidentally do completely the wrong thing. Martin, half a salute to you sir.

SNP Budget: a cold shoulder to the poor

As we all know there are only two parties in the Scottish Parliament, the SNP and the Greens and that's the way we like it. I read the papers, they see this situation the same way, crystal clear to us all, I don't care what the Scottish Parliamentary website says about all these MSP from other so called parties.

It's budget time for the Scottish Parliament and the minority SNP government has failed to get enough of the other MSPs to support their proposals which has meant that the two Green MSPs have come under a great deal of scrutiny as they could not vote with the SNP until their ambitious proposals for home insulation across Scotland were met.

The Green amendment, which would cost less than half a percent of the budget, would mean that every household in Scotland would save £340 a year in energy costs for a one-off insulation cost of about £500 per home. There would be a carbon emission reduction of six per cent in Scotland, just from this measure. Classic Green maneuver, trying to tackle poverty and climate change at one and the same time - greedy buggers.

The Telegraph describes the two Green MSP's as people "for whom nobody had ever cast a vote", which is a scandal and I wonder how it was possible to miscount the votes so drastically that two people got elected without a single vote between them, and I thought the House of Lords was corrupt!

Considering they are clearly in Parliament on sufferance why couldn't they just follow the Tories' lead who supported the budget after securing their key demand of cuts in local taxation. That's real green credentials for you.

The Times however puts it this way "the SNP leadership made the mistake of taking [Green MSP] Mr Harvie for granted. They left the last-minute dealing to the last minute, and presumed too much." In other words they thought the Greens would vote for something that they didn't believe in that didn't even have the concessions they were pushing for.

So will the Greens become giant killers, bringing down the entire government for their refusal to commit to home insulation? That's up to the SNP. Do they want to include a measure that helps tackle climate change and poverty or not?

Waves to Adopted Domain, Suitably Despairing and Two Doctors for the inside track.

Progressive London: how big is the tent?

This is my last post on the Progressive London event and I want to chat a little on how we define progressive politics, who we seek alliances with and what should the nature of those alliances be. You see I think some people who didn't come did not come because they looked at the speakers list and thought "Oh hello, X and Y are speaking - it must be rubbish then." I think that approach is mistaken, not that I didn't get a bit of that myself at one point.

Firstly, I think if we're serious about the issues then they have to take priority over tribal, organisational concerns. Obviously if we only say things to get into power then screw alliances as it's only words anyway, but most people are not involved in politics on a purely careerist basis and want to see change that they view as positive. Even Tories.

Probably.

Secondly, if we only talk to our co-thinkers then we develop a language of our own and sect like behaviour. This is something that has, I admit, affected much of the left of the left for many years, the overarching concern to reach ideological purity and the one true path to utopia has put barriers between the activists and many "normal" people.

Not that this is a trait confined to the left. The Tories have suffered from this problem for years since '97 constantly pulled back towards pleasing an outdated, reactionary membership whilst "appealing" to a country that is less racist, less homophobic and less less sexist than it has ever been (I know that's setting the bar low, but go with me). That's why Cameron has put the idea of a Tory election victory back on the map he's talking to us, not them.

It's for that reason that I rather enjoyed mixing with those that I was frankly surprised to be attending this kind of event. I'll even include Harriet Harman in this - no, really. Someone even referred to her as "Comrade Harriet", unfortunately I couldn't see her face at the time, I'm sure it was a study of masterly non-reaction. It was good to hear the mix of policy areas where there was indeed quite a bit of common cause.

Climate change was, of course, high up the agenda and there was a well attended session on Gaza (that I didn't go to). Tackling the problems of recession was consistently framed in terms of limiting the ability of the banks to tear up our economy and how do we protect rights and jobs in difficult economic circumstances. That's right - I didn't hear one person claim the problem was that people weren't spending enough and that we should try to restore their "confidence" and credit cards.

We want a real economy, real public services and genuine community orientated policy - not a fat cat love in. As Eric Hobsbawm pointed out you don't measure a country's success by GDP alone but by the lives of ordinary people.

Some thought that part of the solution is to promote alternative ways of doing the economy. For instance, Jenny Jones thought that whilst we should have a new fares fair campaign we should really be looking towards boosting time banks, community volunteering, unofficial swapping of goods (like freecycle presumably). Big Ken himself said that "there is no route to human happiness through the acquisition of wealth." Personally I think that is a radical statement for a politician to make, some disagree though.

One speaker, from the floor, even demanded that we immediately abolish money. I knew I was in the right place when that happened, although personally that's the kind of policy we need to take several weeks to phase in rather than just going for it in one go - but ok, I'm a moderate.

Others spoke of redefining community and in particular what a "community leader" is. Emphasising trade union and immigrant rights, fighting the demonisation of young people, more localist approaches, tax justice, micro-banking, devolution, combating hate and division, priority of spending away from nukes and towards rebuilding public services, addressing the role of the financial centre - the list of ideas raised goes on.

One speaker talked about how we are not about "saving the capitalists from themselves", but whilst the shopping list looks good - how do we get there? Livingstone pointed out that when Thatcher came to power she knew exactly what she wanted and how she was going to go about it - the left today is not in that position and we have some hard work to do.

Although time is not on our side we can't afford to be miserable and, it seems to me, that when we offer positive action, positive solutions they are met as a breath of fresh air in the context of doom and gloom. I certainly don't have all the answers but this approach - bringing people from different traditions together - has a lot going for it.

People aren't going to give up their own organisations to unite into one grouping - and there's no need for them to do so as long as we're committed to working together where we agree and to try to foster a more mature political culture where the world is not simply divided up into enemies and friends.

Blogging, mildly interesting

I went to a talk by Frank Swain of Science Punk tonight on zines, blogging and making sweet websites. Pretty interesting I thought.

I often don't go to forums on blogging or new media partly because I'm more interested in politics than the specifics of political communication and partly because so often blogging is taken completely out of proportion, portrayed as some kind of magic bullet but with little concrete said that's of practical use.

I liked Frank's approach in that he made it clear that good blogging includes;

1. a lot of work. It isn't a short cut to some well paid career or fame.
2. it's not about competition but cooperation and community.
3. it has to be a labour of love or it isn't worth doing.
4. it should have the do it yourself punk ethic of a fanzine.
5. it should be ad-free.
   

It's that power of community that makes blogging so interesting but also makes success difficult to measure. A site might get huge numbers of hits but this wont necessarily equate with positive influence or a genuine contribution to debate.

Frank used the example that of all the posts he's written the one that has some of the most contributions was where he was debunking a nutty theory that honey and cinnamon could cure anything - which attracted dozens of loons claiming that, in fact, it can cure anything. Yes, lots of hits, lots of visitors - but why on Earth would you want that?

Thankfully I don't have any pretensions about my blogging. I do it because I want to and you might not believe this but when I don't feel like it I just don't blog, and I certainly don't monitor my stats or treat other bloggers like rivals. I should probably be a little more focused about why I blog to turn it into something a bit more substantial but do you know what, I don't want to.

Snippet: Emma Goldman

Browsing for the details of a particular quote I came across this from Emma Goldman which, apparently, is the phrase she actually used which has gone down in history as the "dance" quote.

"I insisted that our Cause could not expect me to become a nun and that the movement should not be turned into a cloister. If it meant that, I did not want it. 'I want freedom, the right to self-expression, everybody's right to beautiful, radiant things.'"

I rather like it.

Cambridge Green Councillor Ejected From University Buildings

This just in on developments in the Cambridge University Occupation;

At 2.10.p.m. today (Tuesday 27th Jan) Cllr. Margaret Wright, who had expressed the Green Party's support for those students occupying the Law Faculty building in the University of Cambridge in solidarity with the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza and with all those seeking peace in the area, was escorted from the Law Faculty Building.

She was responding to an invitation from Cambridge Gaza Solidarity.

When she made a request to speak with these students she was taken to a reception desk by security guards. Here she showed her councillor's ID and University Library card. She was told by the academic secretary to the faculty she could not speak to the students and that she was being 'escorted from the building'.

Once outside she was able to speak to a student representative who was dismayed at her treatment. Cllr. Wright said,

'The University should be proud of students who are opposing injustices committed on a global scale. Cambridge students have a long tradition of such commitment. While I am certain that the University is able to police a peaceful protest on its premises in this manner, I am nevertheless disappointed that it is choosing to do so.'

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Donate to the Gaza DEC appeal.

A rising tide for Gaza

Sometimes when bombing stops the protests die down and the anger settles to a simmer, but for now at least there seems to be an admirable increase in the lengths people are prepared to go to show solidarity with the people of Gaza. This shows an understanding that killed by a missile or killed by starvation and poverty are still both killings.

Not only has there been a rash of university occupations but the BBC offices in Glasgow were occupied last night, followed by those in London earlier today. This new wave of protest has been sparked by the bizarre decision by the BBC that they know better than leading aid agencies whether Gaza is an appropriate place to deliver humanitarian assistance, something even the BBC's own journalists seem to be disputing.

On Saturday there was a demonstration outside the BBC headquarters at which the Green Party's own fashion icon Shahrar Ali delivered an excellent and impassioned speech (below). Disturbingly he also delivers an unexpected song for the crowd, no wonder they're angry. Mind you I'm all for shaking up the format a bit. Expect to see him next on Britain's Got Talent.



Let's make no mistake reports of these protests going out on Al Jazeera and other news channels, let alone the massive increase in profile for the aid campaign that the protests have enabled, are more than symbolic in nature. They are a small but meaningful spark of light in a darkening time.

Local spot: Check out the info on Cambridge uni's soup wars.

Progressive London: power, democracy and the left

One of the key themes of Progressive London was around the nature of the democracy we'd like to see and the relationship the left should take with the rest of the population - specifically the electoral left.

I think this was best summed up in the first session I attended by Lib Dem Assembly Member (!) Mike Tuffrey who explored ideas around whether we're looking to take power, or disperse it. As to whether there were firm suggestions on the balance between empowerment and what I suppose we'd call "good governance" I think there was generally a split between those who thought elected representatives should be more in touch with the electorate and the smaller number of people who promoted the idea of people having a direct say in their communities.

Part of that discussion is, of course, about economic and social exclusion which combines these two related ideas. Council housing may not be participatory democracy but not being crushed by your rent or mortgage certainly puts you in a position to participate. Likewise initiatives like the London Living Wage, turning London into a city of sanctuary for refugees, the sustainable communities act, distribution of information on rights, challenging the monopoly of the right wing press, and a whole host of other issues don't constitute democracy but can help give it meaningful content.

One Labour councillor (Paul Dimoldenburg), describing how ineffectual many of our structures were, highlighted the fact that without money they have no power, and therefore why should people engage with consultations or bodies that, in reality, have no real weight. However, where I'd disagree with his very interesting thoughts, is that essentially representative democracy is a passive relationship, and improvements in transparency and accountability are good - but I'm sure they really deepen the ability for people to run their own society.

I'd look towards a more participatory solution which often happens through civil society, which is something Green councillor Romayne Phoenix talked about, and is not simply about "them" listening to us but about us making decisions for ourselves. Not that being listened to is a bad thing - half the anger over the Gaza crisis or the third runway came from the idea that people were not represented by their government, or, it turns out our "unbiased" BBC.

Why do so few people take part in consultation exercises? Because they think, often rightly, that they will simply be ignored - that these procedures take place in order to get through decisions that have already been taken - often by unelected officials.

If you counter-pose this to things like the transition towns movement civil society's job is to not wait for the government to green light their ideas but to make things happen for themselves - as Samuel Moncada, the Venezuelan ambassador, said "in Venezuela we're not dreaming, we're doing." That's empowerment, but it requires the ability to actually take part - to understand that we can't have everything done for us.

Eric Hobsbawm was interesting when he discussed the fact that full time politicians, by the nature of their work, become disassociated with those they seek to represent, if they do indeed seek that. But I've always been slightly uneasy about this idea of 'losing touch with the people' because it seems to imply some sort of homogeneity - I mean how can you represent equally the views of the racist and the anti-racist?

One of the refreshing parts of this thread that ran through the day was that there was a light touch to it - without anyone claiming to have all the answers worked out already. It's for that reason that the breadth of the platforms (which did make me wonder sometimes) was a very useful tool in drawing that out.

Of course there were lots of aspects that could have been explored far more thoroughly, in particular the role of trade unions in a democratic society - but as a starting I thought it was a worthwhile enterprise.

Progressive London: general thoughts

After seeing that Harriet Harman, Tessa Jowell and Lembit Opik were going to speak at Progressive London I did have second thoughts about going today but in the end I hauled my aching bones, still bruised from the week's activities, down to Congress House, and I'm very glad that I did.

I'd seen a couple of comments out and about that Progressive London is simply a vehicle to get Ken re-elected as London Mayor. I've got two thoughts about that. Firstly it was clearly much more than that - there is a real attempt to start the journey of setting out a progressive agenda for London and mobilise a broad spectrum of forces around real action, like the London Living Wage. Secondly, anyone on the left who wasn't gutted that Ken lost must be pretty far gone.

We're lucky in London in that we have a system where you can stand your own candidate, call for a second preference for the neo-liberal of your choice and no harm done. In fact, I'd say that the Green's Mayoral candidate probably mobilised more votes for Ken than if we'd stood down to give him a free run. It's not statistically verifiable either way unfortunately - but I know we ended up having to persuade people of the case for voting Livingstone 2.

In short if part of the plan is not kicking the Tories out at the next Mayoral elections whilst, simultaneously, promoting an independent leftist agenda then we're missing a trick. Of course only George Galloway explicitly posed the question in terms of a Livingstone re-election campaign because "I really love Ken Livingstone and have done all my political life", but in general people kept a wary distance from stepping on any toes or confronting organisational differences.

The Green New Deal was either implicitly or explicitly the order of the day and economic justice fused with combating climate change was seen as central to any kind of progressive politics. In the series of very interesting sessions people grappled with ideas around housing, energy, democracy, civil liberties, and more. Whilst the wariness around expressing party political points did make for a little bit of an artificial love in at times (barring the rather misjudged, counter-productive heckling at one point) it was also healthy in the sense that people could genuinely explore points of commonality without the desire to one up for their tribe.

We need more of that I think.

Rooms with such different approaches in them can have an exhilarating air to them. Seeing Eric Hobsbawm watch transfixed at Bonnie Greer's meandering, fascinating insights was just a joy to behold. There were a whole number of Greens on the platforms and, apart from the one I missed (Darren Johnson, sorry) I can say they all accounted for themselves very well.

Whether there can be an ongoing movement that comes out of this initiative, well, I suspect that will be difficult, but if it breeds a willingness for the left, centre left and progressive liberals to work together on common causes, well, that's probably a very refreshing way of going about the business of trying to make the world a better place.

detail to come in the morning...

Cambridge University goes into occupation

Tonight students have occupied buildings at Cambridge University in solidarity with Gaza. This is part of a wave of student occupations sweeping across the country. My man Manos reports;

On the night of the 23rd January about a 100 Cambridge University students gathered to watch John Pilgers' film "Palestine is still the issue". The film is touching, documenting the second Intifada, and the continuing occupation of Palestine.

There was something special in the air: the film was followed by a debate, on what can be done by students in the country to meaningfully react to the situation in Palestine. The debate is still raging around me. It is clear some were already set on a course of action: occupations around the country have been blossoming and a plan is discussed about taking the building and occupying it.

The arguments for and against are still raging: on one hand occupations in other places were successful to get scholarships for Palestinian students – a tangible outcome. On the other hand people voiced concerns that an occupation should be the "last resort", after demands have been put to the University. Practical problems of
advertising the action are also being considered, as well as how to effectively hold the building.

The climate of fear about doing something wrong was slightly comical for such a low key action. People mentioned the threat of being charged with "aggravated trespass" as well as getting in trouble with the University authorities. The discussion calmed those who called the action "extreme" and laughter's were held then the action was liked to "taking hostages".

At the end of about an hour of discussion back an fourth a vote was taken, and a majority decided to take the building for the night, and re-vote on whether to continue with the action tomorrow morning. Teams of people moved swiftly to keep the doors open for access in and out, and others started scouting for toilets and wi-fi access.

People are still arriving from other meetings, others have been dispatched to bring food and blankets. If you always wanted to get involved in actions, your time has come! The occupation is on in the Law faculty building, Sidgwick Site, Cambridge, UK.

Blog of the occupation:
http://cambridgegazasolidarity.blogspot.com

Other occupations include:
LSE, Essex, Warwick, KCL, SOAS, Manchester Met, Oxford, Sussex, Birmingham, Leeds.

Hit and Misc

A few more bits and bobs before getting back to proper blogging;

There's an article at Red Pepper by Rupert Read and myself on the Green New Deal. Jenny Jones on the same subject on CiF.

Are police using form 696 to close garage clubs? In the Guardian.

The man who threw a shoe at Bush is trying to claim asylum from the Swiss. From the BBC.

An interesting bit of online gadgetry. Why not give the Israeli electoral compass a whirl? As a secular dove it turns out my party is banned from standing, pfft. (via BenSix)

I've said it before and I'll say it again. David Mitchell is a giant among commentators. This time he has a pop at pessimism.

Labourstart is hosting a Labour (as in trade union) website of the year awards. Interesting.

Talking of awards there is also the Observer Ethical Awards. I voted for Mill Road's Arjuna for best local retailer, Green Metropolis as best initiative, online Peter Tatchell in the campaigner section and Caroline Lucas as politician of the year. You may have people you'd like to vote for too.

And finally the BBC has a pop at the Chinese for editing Obama's inauguration speech, is so unfair seeing as they transmitted Hu Jintao's inauguration speech live and in full. Umm... But it's not censorship when we do it!

p.s. I forgot to add that people should check out the new, improved animated Sian Berry on YouTube.

Tony Juniper selected as Cambridge Green Party General Election candidate

Tony Juniper, who was until recently the Director of Friends of the Earth has been selected as the General Election candidate for Cambridge and was endorse by Radiohead star Thom Yorke who said Juniper would be "a great Green Party MP". From the press release;

Tony Juniper has lived in the city for 20 years and has campaigned on green issues for more than 25 years. As Campaigns Director and later Director of Friends of the Earth he led many successful initiatives on a wide range of issues from wildlife protection to organic food and from recycling to fuel poverty. He stepped down from leading Friends of the Earth in July 2008 following the success of the Big Ask campaign which led to the world’s first national legislation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions - the 2008 Climate Change Act.

Tony Juniper said;

“More and more people can see that if we want a sound economy, a fair society and a secure environment, then we need to make important changes. The Green Party is alone in having a manifesto which shows how these changes can be made through due democratic process while at the same time reducing global inequality. The current economic downturn offers great opportunities to put forward the Green agenda.

"I have spent many years influencing politics through campaigning and realise the crucial importance of entering the parliamentary arena. Not only have I seen at first-hand what needs to be done, but I have already spearheaded initiatives that changed legislation through enlisting the support of tens of thousands of citizens.

"The incredible research and technology capacity we already have here in Cambridge can be used to help build a truly green economy. This is already beginning to happen in other countries and we are lagging behind. I want to ensure that Cambridge is at the forefront of this new global green revolution. By electing one of the UK’s first Green MPs, Cambridge can be certain of playing its part.”

Juniper’s selection has been welcomed by Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead, who worked with him from 2005 to secure the world’s first national law on climate change.

Thom Yorke said;

"Tony Juniper has amazing energy and enthusiasm which inspires those around him, including me. He speaks a language that even I can understand when it comes to green issues and I have spent many evenings learning more from him than I can ever learn from books. Most importantly he has a keen understanding of how to change our political future from the inside without compromise, and has accumulated the most breathtaking amount of experience as head of Friends of the Earth UK. He would make a great Green Party MP, our country need people like him as the environment becomes central to UK politics."

Cambridge's Green Party City Councillor, Margaret Wright said,

“I am delighted that Tony Juniper has been selected. He has all the qualities needed to make an excellent MP for the city.”

Dr. Rupert Read, Lead Green Party European Election Candidate in Eastern Region added;

"With Margaret's election in 2008, Cambridge gained its first Green Councillor and the city now looks set for further growth of the Green Party. I am delighted to welcome Tony Juniper to our candidate list, here in East Anglia, and I am hugely encouraged by the prospect of voters in Cambridge being able to vote for Tony to be their representative in Westminster, where his abilities and great experience so clearly belong."

We will extend a hand if you will unclench your fist

OK, I managed not to cry during Obama's inauguration address (pdf) - helped by the fact that as a male it's simply genetically impossible for me to cry unless my football team loses. Apparently.

Anyway, he's been signed in (video) and that's all that counts for now. Nice new Whitehouse website by the way.

The speech got off to a shaky start, what with thanking Mr Bush and everything but seeing as the rest of the speech contained so many coded attacks on his predecessor I'll let that slide.

I recommend reading the whole thing at the link above - but here's my highlights. I wanted to do a bit of a commentary on each part but I'm off to celebrate so don't have time. A jar of homemade chutney to the first person to guess where I almost cried. Remember this is the President of the United States saying these things - compare and contrast to Bush.

"I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition." [JJ - tut]

"That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet." [JJ - the ways we get our energy threaten our planet? He... means... oil... woop!]

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics." [JJ - just as well he thanked Bush earlier then :)]

"In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom." [ JJ - that's right, he's not going to do it for you - in your face playstation generation!]

"We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America." [JJ - it's the market that's fucked, not us. Just saying is all.]

"We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do." [JJ - US President plus renewable technologies = woop woop!]

"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply." [JJ - that's right. The age of pessimism has to die. The age where it's always someone else's fault will kill us if we don't kill it.]

"Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to
extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good." [JJ - The market can't run riot. Are we sure this guy is President?]

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more." [JJ - you hear this Bush? Civil liberties are part of making a better world, not a barrier to it.]

"Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint." [JJ - there are no military solutions, I'm going to do things a different way. Thanks Bush.]

"With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you." [JJ - was anyone expecting him to talk about nuclear disarmament? Cool. And he's banging on about climate change again - he wont shut up about it!]

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter... as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace. To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." [JJ - hold on, did he just say that America has like, atheists and Muslims in it? The fact he choose not to define America as a Christian nation but a nation of many faiths and none, that, my friends is a bit a progress that might go unnoticed.]

"To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it." [JJ - bloody wonderful. The door just opened to a sane foreign policy - let's hope we all step through.]

"In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]." [JJ - revolution! woot! Let's all work really hard because times are really shitty - crowd roars in approval.]

"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations." [JJ - it's up to us all, and future generations are depending on us.]

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Pics: top - Obama takes out the White House trash, below - wordle word cloud of Obama's speech (click to enlarge).

Mission accomplished?

Both Israeli forces and Hamas fighters have called a ceasefire and let's all hope that it can last. But the scale of the carnage is so high it is difficult to see where reconstruction is to begin, let alone how the psychological wounds can be healed.

The BBC assessed the damaged caused over the last few weeks; They put the figures at more than 1,300 Palestinians killed, thirteen Israeli deaths, more than 4,000 buildings destroyed in Gaza, more than 20,000 severely damaged, and tens of thousands of Gazans are now homeless.

This bombardment and invasion has scarred a generation and levelled the infrastructure of Gaza. Israel's claims to be targeting military targets were flimsy lies from the very start when they targeted a traffic police graduation ceremony. One in three of the dead are children.

It looks like they've succeeded in closing down the tunnels that were flouting the blockade bringing in food, medicines and other goods that would not have been available had those tunnels not existed. Israel's objectives of collective punishment on the people of Gaza have been met. The immiseration of the Gazans is complete and what's left of Hamas and the state are left to pick up the pieces under the glare of international censure.

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You might like to contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza via the Islamic Relief Fund.

A Misc Mash

A few things I'd like to highlight whilst I think of them;

This Saturday (24th Jan) there are a number of things you might like to get up to politics wise.

• If you're further up England than I am there is the Convention of the Left recall conference in Manchester that I suspect will be well worth going to.
  
  
• Alternatively if you're in London you have a choice between the Gaza protest and Progressive London which has a whole host of speakers ranging from excellent, to interesting, to why the fuck are they speaking. You pays your money, you takes your choice.
  
  
• Alternatively you might like to help out in Stoke Newington where the Greens are having their last weekend push in what appears to be a very successful by-election campaign. Make no mistakes a world where Matt Hanley was a councillor would be one on the verge of Olympian strides forwards. More info here. Please help if you can and it certainly does not have to be on the Saturday (election day is the 29th).
  

Further ahead there is the Convention of Modern Liberty (28th Feb.) which is taking place all over the country and has an ongoing online presence in the Carnival of Modern Liberty which, I think, it would be good for bloggers to get involved with.

Talking of Carnivals there's an attempt to get the Carnival of Socialism up and running again. There are a couple of volunteers already and a few people who haven't quite picked a date yet. If you want to get involved just pop over and put yourself forward for an edition of the CofS by adding a comment.

And lastly there are new/upgraded websites for Cambridge Green Party, Sian Berry, Red Pepper, The Morning Star, and lastly my rarely updated twitter, all of which deserve continuous attention. Night and day people, night - and - day.

The hands that picked cotton now pick Presidents

The whole pomp around ushering in the new President has begun and by the end of Tuesday we'll be bidding a fond farewell to our favourite Sith Lord Bush and welcoming in the head of the Jedi Council, Barry. I intend to cry at the appropriate moment and a pox on anyone who sports a dry eye with anything remotely resembling cynicism.

Not everyone on the left will be welcoming in the President however. Sadly few of them will be expressing themselves as humorously as the Weekly Worker front page this week (pictured). Soon Obama will be being held responsible for every storm, war, bust bank and racist cop that happens under his watch and he's already been seen as complicit in the Gaza crisis and he's not even got the keys to the White House yet.

I think people need to remember - he's only the President and he's never promised to sort out the world's problems single handedly. Never.

It seems to me that some on the left have mistaken his supporters enthusiasm with Obama's own understanding of his capability to change the world. He understands that climate change wont be addressed without creating a movement on the ground and if the world's population sits back and thinks Barry's going to sort it all out for them then it's not Obama's failure but theirs. He's been pretty open about what's needed.

We have reached an historic opening. The government in the USA has been been a force for, well, evil in the world for a long time now. Pestilence, starvation and war have been actively promoted and approved by Presidential decree, now there is an opportunity to start turning that around. Starting from the assumption that Obama will be identical to Bush lacks a certain sense of perspective.

Obama's team is head and shoulders above anything Bush or Clinton before him assembled and on climate change in particular he looks set to reverse eight years of obstructionism and oilocracy. On Israel and Palestine the left have done nothing but denounce Obama but the objective facts are that the next few years *could* see a massive leap forwards in the region that would have been unthinkable under Bush. Are we going to help make that happen?

I'm deliberately holding back on commenting on Obama too much until he's got at least a month or two of Presidential power under his belt. Partly because the speculation overdrive has largely tended to be reaffirmations of the commentator's previously held beliefs - and I've wanted to avoid repeating that cycle. Also I'm holding off because I want to cleanse my palette a bit after the very long Presidential elections.

When he's in the wrong, and he will be many times, I want to be able to say it loud and clear without feeling the need to justify my support for him. When he's right I want to feel that I'm not just waving a flag for the guy but have made a real assessment. I know some people have decided to get their disillusion in early (and frankly I treat with skepticism anyone who claims to be disillusioned in Obama before he's even President, twits the lot of them).

The opportunity is there and we have to seize it with both hands. One of the greatest barriers to a sane policy on climate change, the economy and global conflict has just been removed. They say all political careers end in failure, but when Bush goes we all win! It's my opinion that this is not the moment to prepare the case for how disappointing Obama is, but to help build a series of movements that constructively address the fundamental problems the world faces.

Sometimes those movements will need to oppose Obama tooth and nail, sometimes they'll need to fight for influence and sometimes we will need to reinforce, enthusiastically, his administration's policies. We have to be able to do that in an open way, without the sectional impulse to always claim we know better - even at the price of distancing ourselves from the very people we have to win to active involvement in campaigning work.

No one will sort the world's problems out for us. Not Obama, not Superman, not Nick Clegg, not Ed Miliband and not Caroline Lucas - they're all busy playing poker with each other anyway. It's us or no one and, no matter how tempting it is, if we allow ourselves to fall back on relying on or blaming the great and the good we've abdicated our responsibilities and left our parsnips well and truly unbuttered.

We love the Lambert

It appears to be a "we love Jean Lambert" day on the net today 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and quite right too - she's ace. As one of two Green MEPs she has consistently proven how much a hard working, progressive politician really can achieve. If she has a flaw it's that she's far too modest to crow and so doesn't have the profile that she deserves. Matt Selwood does a good job at briefly summarising her achievements here.

For me Jean (pictured right with two top notch Greens Ute Michel and Sharar Ali) has a commitment to trade union and workers' rights and her consistent support for asylum seekers in this country which places her in the very best part of the Green Party. It's just extra icing on the cake that she's a very nice person to boot (which I think is a political comment although I'm sure not everyone will agree on that).

As I tried to show in November, when you combine the d'Hondt system with political realities the likelihood is that Jean will be fighting for the final slot in direct contention with the BNP. Unless we see a massive spurt in support (and perhaps I'm a pessimist but I'm looking for a modest increase) the fact that there is one less place on the list this time round should cause a ripple of concern.

When it comes down to it I don't want to see the most progressive MEP we have replaced with the most reactionary. I think that would be a step backwards.

The Euro elections are not far away now (June) and the hard work of getting Jean re-elected already began months ago, but now's the time to think about what you can do to help that campaign if you live in or near London.

Matt suggests that people join the facebook supporters group, helping out with the Hackney by election taking place, or make an online donation to get the ball rolling. These all seem like excellent suggestions. I'd also suggest using her blog and website to keep in touch with what you can do on the ground to ensure that we keep the fascists from making further gains in London by trumping them with a formidable Green campaign.

John McDonnell's Heathrow protest

The government has approved a new runway. Not everyone is happy, including me. The BBC reports;

John McDonnell, the Labour backbencher who represents the constituency in which Heathrow is situated, has been suspended from the Commons after disrupting a debate on expansion of the airport.

Following Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon's announcement that the government has decided to approve a new Heathrow runway, Mr McDonnell MP for Hayes and Harlington picked up the Commons mace.

TV pictures of the Commons chamber were cut during Mr McDonnell's protest.

Excellent stuff, although as a rather straight laced and old school socialist (the best kind I might add) he didn't seize the opportunity of twirling the mace around his head with a blood curdling roar, although he did say the government decision was a "disgrace". Bloody good show.

Watch his interview here which contains footage of his protest (although the cameras were turned off after they realised something was happening).... Even better (from Iain, who's not impressed) there's footage of his pre-protest rant.

Parliamentary debate on Gaza

I don't know much about Labour MP Gerald Kaufman but I was very struck with his comments on Gaza when I heard his question to the foreign secretary in the House of Commons on Monday. It went like this;

"In congratulating my right hon. Friend on steering resolution 1860 through the United Nations Security Council, may I ask him what the international reaction would be if Hamas had slaughtered nearly 900 Israelis and subjected nearly 1.5 million Israelis to degradation and deprivation? Is it not an incontrovertible fact that Olmert, Livni and Barak are mass-murderers and war criminals— [ Interruption. ] Yes. And they bring shame on the Jewish people whose star of David they use as a flag in Gaza, but whose ethos and morals go completely against what this Israeli Government are doing."

Which seems like extremely strong language for someone who I'd always taken to be a reasonably placid Labour MP. Clearly I'd misjudged him.

The fuller debate is worth reading, as much for what is not said as for what is. Other items of note for me would be the Lib Dem MP Edward Davey's call for an arms embargo against Israel, backed up by Labour's Peter Kilfoyle who notes with distaste the "cosy consensus" between Labour and Tory front benches.

I'll also quote George Galloway's contribution;

The Foreign Secretary is not in favour of the isolation of Israel but he was in favour of the isolation of the Government elected in Palestine, in the only free parliamentary election ever held in any Arab country, because the people voted the wrong way. He joined the siege of the Hamas Government and helped create the desperation that led to the barrage of rockets—largely ineffectual, as he has conceded. Action speaks louder than words. The resolution he boasts of drafting is an ineffectual section 6—

The speaker of the House then interrupted him and told him to ask a question rather than make a speech.

I will, Mr. Speaker. Why will the Government not recall our ambassador from Tel Aviv, ask the Israeli ambassador to leave, and, above all, stop selling British weapons to the mass-murderers who are taking so many lives and limbs in Palestine today?

Miliband didn't really say why he wouldn't, but he did say that wasn't going to happen. You can watch the entire thing from BBC Parliament here;



One other note, from the European Parliament this time. The BBC are wandering about seeing what MEPs do at the moment. One small part of their report (again from Monday) runs like this;

Victory for the Greens!

Group leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit has just succeeded in getting a resolution on Gaza. After a fiery speech from the floor of the chamber (never thought I'd be writing that), MEPs voted by 105 to 86 for a resolution to be passed on the situation there. The Parliament is due to debate the issue on Wednesday but there were no plans for a resolution to be issued.

The Greens want the resolution to condemn Israel and call for an immediate ceasefire on both sides, although that may be watered down by the time an agreement has been reached with the other groups - that's how it works out here.

The Socialist group wants to model any resolution on the UN's recent statement, but the Greens want to go much further, including possible trade sanctions and a halt to plans to officially upgrade the EU's relations with Israel.

Should be interesting to see who wins.

Indeed it will. I don't monitor the goings on in the European Parliament very much (I'm sure you all do and are putting me to shame) so it's good that whenever I do hear something it's always in the context of the Greens having done something I thoroughly approve of.

The secret of financial success? Give people the finger.

Yet another vacuous study coming to bizarre, unhelpful, pointless, unsupported conclusions that we can't do anything about. The papers report that tax payers' money has been spent studying the fingers of city financiers. Those with the longest ring fingers are the most successful it seems, which is naturally down to surplus testosterone turning an ordinary arsehole into an alpha arsehole of the most gargantuan proportions.

Quite how scientifically valid this research is when it results from the examination of forty four, count them forty four, city gents and their whithered grasping claws, I'm not sure. It seems a rather small sample size to start making wide pronouncements on the genetic secrets of fiscal probity over the whole of mankind.

The researchers say baldly; "Our model suggests a roughly even split between the contributions of biology and experience; biology in this case being the organising effects of pre-natal androgens on an individual's body, brain and behaviour." Right, OK, so you've just sorted out the entire nature nurture debate right there have you? It's about equal is it? Sure, I'll remember that bit of stunning evidence for future reference.

In addition to this the news reports forget to record how much misery the chill touch of these long fingered misanthropes has caused, nor do they venture an opinion on whether their criminal psychosis has impacted on their general well being as well as their off shore bank accounts and tax dodging trust funds, because none of that is "success". All you need to remember is testosterone = finger = money = success.

I mean obviously these people have finished curing cancer, fixing the hole in the Ozone layer, perfecting renewable energies and so on, so in their spare time they've taken it on themselves to gaze longingly into the eyes of these most bloated plutocrats for the opportunity of holding their hands, all under the thinly veiled ruse of scientific research. Question the nature of the city? That's not science, science is just there to tell you why these people are so wonderfully rich.

If only these Cambridge researchers would come round my gaff. I have a finger for them. Two in fact.

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Finger watch; How long is his finger? Or his? Or theirs? Or his? How long was his? Where do they put their fingers? Where did he put his? Oh no - everyone's fingers are shortening!

Be one of Hanley's Heroes

A quick call to arms from Matt Hanley, heed him my friends, heed him well.

Just 17 short days left to go until D Day, and the Stoke Newington Central campaign is reaching critical mass. But we still need as much help as possible.

Stoke Newington has the 3rd highest Green vote in London, and Hackney North and Stoke Newington is the 2nd best Green Parliamentary constituency in the capital.

Plus, if Jean Lambert is going to be re-elected in June, then it is crucial that we get out the Green vote out in Hackney. We can gather so many more Euro votes with another Green councillor, or even with a brilliant display and a much higher raised profile for Hackney Greens in the area.

We need more bodies to canvass the good people of Stoke Newington. As well as the regular weekend activities, Hackney Greens are also canvassing weekday afternoon and evenings. If you can spare any time over the next few weeks, weekends or, preferably, week days, please please give myself or Chris Heaton a call and come down to Hackney to help out.

We can promise you a good time in Hackney, fed and watered, and a much sought after invite to an almighty post-election party around our gaff!

My number: 020 7812 9063
email: matt.hanley@greenparty.org.uk

Chris Heaton: 07525 713 126
email: hgpadmin@heatopher.me.uk

See you all soon.

Matt Hanley
2009 Candidate for Stoke Newington Central
Hackney Green Party

www.hanleyforhackney.org.uk
www.hackney.greenparty.org.uk
www.greenparty.org.uk

020 7812 9063
07766 592 126

Israel bans Arab parties taking part in forthcoming election

The United Arab List and the Balad, who between them have seven out of 120 MPs in Knesset, have both been banned from taking part in Israel's forthcoming election on the basis that they "did not recognise Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state", which flies in the face of both organisations' long standing advocacy of the two state solution.

The head of the UAL, Ahmed Tibi (pictured), told the BBC that "This racist government want us out of the Knesset during the war on Gaza... They are accusing us of supporting the terror while they are killing children in Gaza." Tibi added that he thought the right wing Parliamentary Parties "are willing to see the Knesset without Arabs and want to see the country without Arabs."

In fact both Arab parties are not being banned because they oppose Israel's existence, which they don't, but because they oppose Israel's bloody offensive in Gaza, Operation Cast Lead.

Haaretz thought the idea of banning the parties "reflects a dangerous level of shortsightedness and narrow-mindedness... Israel has a clear interest in not pushing these representatives out, forcing them to create an independent political system."

This is completely true. Just as the Gaza offensive will create far more terrorists than it suppresses, banning Israeli Arabs any democratic avenues will only encourage them to take undemocratic ones. Somehow it starts to make you wonder whether Israel's stated aims and their real aims are, actually, not quite the same.

Our future raghead of state?

I've just been listening to Radio Four discuss whether or not the word Paki is racist or not. Well, duh. There were a couple of comments that sometimes it can depend on the context, which is obviously true, but then no attempt to discuss the context of the debate.

Yes, Prince Harry called a fellow army cadet his "little paki friend" on his home video (see highlights here). The army says its OK, the guy in question (Capt. Ahmed Raza Khan) wasn't offended, it was an in-joke between them and he has made no complaint.

Seeing as there's absolutely no way he could have heard what Harry said it's not entirely surprising that he didn't complain. It's reasonably difficult to make complaints about things you don't know have happened, and considering that he is a serving officer in Pakistan's armed forces it seems pretty unlikely that he'll ever make one even if he felt that way inclined - although that hasn't stopped his father speaking out.

But rather than umm and ah about whether paki can be a term of endearment wouldn't it be instructive to consider that in the same video our dear Prince describes another colleague as "looking like a raghead".

A palace statement has claimed that this was simply a reference to the Taliban and al-Qaida - which is simply not true, and shows how much they think of our intelligence if they think we'll fall for that one. It is not a term to describe enemy combatants alone, it's a term that is widely used in the forces to describe and dehumanise Arabs. Just as the use of the term "gook" fed into the arbitrary violence of the Vietnam conflict "raghead" bolsters the ability to shrug off whatever harm is inflicted upon the inhabitants of countries you're occupying at any given time.

When you send young men abroad where they may be called upon to kill people of another colour it is useful for the army to encourage a certain amount of robust language that strips those who are to be murdered or mistreated of their worth. War is a messy business and racism greases the wheels somewhat. That doesn't make the racism more acceptable - it helps show these wars for what they are and should reinforce our opposition to them.

Do I care that a toff officer employs racist language and thinks it's funny? Umm... I'm not particularly excised by it to be honest, although it can be useful to have high profile instances that demonstrate racism is not a working class prerogative. I am irritated however by the weasel words being used to justify Harry's puerile racism. Why can't these people just call a spade a spade - or then again maybe that's the problem.

Gaza demo report

Just want to write a cheap and cheerful report on the demo in London today and I'll fill in the blanks later.

It seemed big to me, well over 50,000 people turning out on a very cold day (it didn't snow the whole time though) to protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. I heard the organisers claimed over 100,000 - that's too many I think, but that should not detract from the fact that there was a very strong turn out.

It was also pretty angry and one of the liveliest demonstrations I've ever been on. I early on had a conversation with someone about whether there would be anti-semitic chants or placards so I kept my eyes peeled and didn't see a one.

In fact I've been on Palestine protests before and the use of the swastika in conjunction with the Israeli flag (which in my view is stupid, offensive and lazy - although not anti-semitic in itself) has been something that always crops up. This time I only spotted this twice, which is a welcome development if it means this particular use of symbolism is dying out.

We (the Greens) had some placards and leaflets, although I still think we need to get better at organising this sort of thing so more people can lend a hand as I think a lot of the work fell on a few shoulders. Personally I gave out approximately a bazzillion leaflets, partly as a misjudgement on my part picking up so many that meant it was almost going home time when I finally got rid of my last one. But I done my duty Sarge! Not a single one binned.

There were two flash points that I remember.

Firstly there was the point where a side road could have led to the back of the Israeli embassy. The police had locked the gates and had a team of cops lined up to prevent people taking that route. A crowd quickly gathered when we reached that point and that crowd became more aggressive and angry as time went on.

There was quite a bit of shoe throwing and people (young nibble people) climbed up on the walls around the gate and led chants against the Israeli actions. There was flag burning (which produce loads of smoke) and someone told me they were also burning shoes although I didn't see this and frankly I'm really sure it makes sense - but there was a column of smoke after a bit! There was also the throwing of red paint and a number of the police were splashed by this.

It was then that some sort of flare or firework was let off towards the police with an almighty bang. It is my understanding that the police don't like to have explosives fired in their direction and reinforcements soon arrived. To be honest that moment was a turning point for this flash point as a large number of people moved on at that point as we were nowhere near the end of the march and people probably didn't fancy getting shot at (or whatever people imagined might happen).

The second flash point was at the end at the nearest point to embassy where the crowd gathered. The policing at this point seemed pretty restrained although I'm sure the size of the crowd had more than a little to do with that. I went for a coffee at one point with the infamous stroppy (it was very cold in our defence) and when we returned there was a fair deal of thrown objects, the horses were drawing up and the police were bringing in the tall shields in preparation for hemming the remaining part of the demo in.

Having seen this before I stood outside the ring of police not wanting to get boxed in for hours. It looked like a classic standoff and it seemed unlikely that the protest was going to be able to make any more kind of headway although they were making the point that we are angry very, very clearly. We stood there for a while without much movement and although I think things would have got more hairy later on it was at this point I decided to get the train back.

All in all it was rather exciting and I'm very much taken with flag burning. Let's do this more on other kinds of demos. The level of protests, particularly local protests has been extremely inspiring, I'm pessimistic about how much they are achieving, but I know for a brief time I feel like I've done something - although I accept this may well be a false feeling.

Further reports from London by Harpy, Sunny, Septicisle, Lenin, Daily Quail, Fridge Magnet, Blue Meanie, Vicky, David Rosenberg, Socialist Worker, Permanent Revolution, BBC, Cardiff CAAT, Indymedia, Stephen Glenn, Liam, Ed Rooksby, Pics from Paddy one of which I've pinched.

And the Edinburgh demo from Cat, and BBC, and Indymedia, Belfast from BBC, Sheffield from Indymedia, Athens from Indymedia,

Quick and dirty

Another short post I'm afraid.

Africa takes to the streets over Israel Gaza crisis.

Obama adminstration prepared to talk to Hamas.

I wonder if that means they'll take up Raul's offer too then?

Beau Bo D'Or cartoons his thoughts on Gaza.

The excellent statement put out by London MEP Jean Lambert.

See you all on Saturday I hope.

Cambridge's Howarth promoted to shadow justice secretary

David Howarth, my MP, has been promoted in Nick Clegg's pre-election reshuffle to the position of shadow justice spokesman - a pretty lofty position for someone who's only been an MP for three and a bit years.

I've always liked Mr Howarth who is extremely personable and he rather surprised me when, as Lib-Dem energy spokesman, his performance was well above my cynically low expectations.

Howarth, who was taught law at Yale and Cambridge, has been a consistent opponent of ID cards and has a very good record more generally. I wont say I have no disagreements with him, because I do but to be honest they don't come up very often.

Not that I voted for him, nor will I any time soon - but Clegg has in my opinion made a very wise choice in this particular pick.

Congratulations on the promotion DH, best of luck in your new job.

Snippet: Birthday wishes

Two sets of birthday wishes.

First to Justin - who is having his fourth anniversary of blogging at the glorious Chicken Yoghurt. My hat is well and truly off to you sir.

Secondly Happy Birthday Nick Clegg. As a birthday treat I just thought I'd say well done for your call to stop arming Israel. Here's a sample;

The past two weeks have been a telling indictment of the international community. We have an outgoing US president sanctioning Israel's military response and an aching silence from the president-elect. We have a European Union encumbered by clumsy decision-making and confused messages.

And at home we have a prime minister talking like an accountant about aid earmarked for Gaza without once saying anything meaningful about the conflict's origins. Gordon Brown, like Tony Blair, has made British foreign policy effectively subservient to Washington. But waiting for a change of heart in Washington is intolerable given the human cost.

...

Brown must also halt Britain's arms exports to Israel, and persuade our EU counterparts to do the same. The government's own figures show Britain is selling more and more weapons to Israel, despite the questions about the country's use of force. In 2007, our government approved £6m of arms exports. In 2008, it licensed sales 12 times as fast: £20m in the first three months alone.

It's nice to be able to say something nice about him for once - keep up the good work!

Terrorist odd one out competition

All of the following casualties were injured by the Israeli Defence Force. Can you spot which one is the odd one out?

Terrorist 1

Terrorist 2

Terrorist 3

Terrorist 4

If you opted for terrorist number four, the IDF man hit by friendly fire, you'd be wrong, it was of course a trick question. There is no odd one out, they're all terrorists - to suggest otherwise might hurt someone's feelings, and at a time like this hurt feelings really are the most important thing to avoid.