Remember Egypt’s dead

The death toll in Egypt during the 18 day revolution is around 300. Yesterday in Trafalgar Sq there was a minute silence to remember the martyrs. This website is sad and poignant to look at as it lists some of the dead. Ordinary people, many young (some children) with ordinary jobs. Some carry pictures showing smiley happy faces. Just ordinary people who were fighting for a better life for all. We should remember these heroic and brave people.

Assange should face his accusers

I haven’t been watching the Assange case that much lately but this caught my eye from Geoffey Robinson.

“In so far as Mr Assange held her arms and there was a forceful spreading of her legs, there’s no allegation that this was without her consent,” he said.

“Sexual encounters have their ups and downs, their ebbs and flows. What may be unwanted one moment can with further empathy become desired. These complex human interactions are not criminal in this country.”

The argument that Assange used the weight of his body to pin her down “describes what is usually termed the missionary position,” he said.

Reading the above made me feel uncomfortable. Firstly, it comes across as mealy-mouthed but more importantly is Robinson seemingly suggesting you can have non-consensual sex and that it’s part of life? What has the “missionary position” got to do with it? Yes, the mechanics is where a man is on top of a woman. But a man can, precisely, use his weight to pin down the woman. This seems to me to be a thing that you decide in court: was Assange deliberately using his weight to force the woman into sex or not?

Who knows as this is about Assange fighting the extradition charges to Sweden. Regarding this case there is so much of the unknown as the actual allegations have not been tested in court.

Assange argued, when he left court:

“We have not been able to present my side of the story. I have never been able to present my side of the story.”

Well, the remedy for that is for him to face his accusers, have his day in court where he will be able to present his side of the story.

See Cath Elliott’s post as well.

18 days which shook the world

Chest infection or no chest infection… it wasn’t going to stop me from attending Egypt: global day of action at Trafalgar Square. Armed with antibiotics and painkillers I set off. It was wonderful, lively and had such a celebratory atmosphere. Revolution in Egypt. There was such a mood of jubilance and good cheer. I ended up chatting to an Egyptian man living in London, animated by the victory and excited by the future (but he was also worried about what could happen). There were lots of people with children, listening to the speakers, as well as chanting. I kinda got caught up in the vibe and felt very positive and emotional, the collective spirit of defiance. The people of Egypt lead a revolution and it was time to celebrate, heroes of our time. Speakers from Egypt and Tunisia appeared on the platform speaking about the actions in Algeria and Yemen. Revolutions have a tendency to be contagious.

Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty gave that a speech that was streamed to the Egyptians in Tahrir Square. I must confess that I haven’t felt as optimistic as this for, well a very long time. Let’s not forget people within a space of 18 days overthrew a dictator, who could have predicted this!

But let us not forget the man who provided the catalyst for the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and further uprisings in the Middle East. Mohamed Bouazizi had experienced humiliation and abuse at the ends of the Tunisian state which ended tragically with his suicide. He sparked a global rebellion where people stood up against oppression and repression. The atmosphere in London was vibrant, the freedom of the Egyptians was translated in Trafalgar Square. While standing around watching this carnival atmosphere, a woman I knew vaguely came running up to me laughing, threw her arms around and before I could say, “chest infection” she kissed me telling me she just had to do it “on a day like this”… That really summed it for me.

On a separate but linked issue, two things that struck me today. I witnessed a woman asking an Egyptian man how to pronounce the Arabic slogans, he helped her with the slogans as she wanted to join in the celebrations. At the end of the rally, a group of Egyptians, joined by many others, danced and sang and chanted. People stood around clapping and dancing around. A woman standing behind me said that David Cameron had been going on about the failure of multiculturalism had failed then “how would he explain this” as she pointed to the crowds of people dancing! Indeed I thought.

Watching this made me feel included and part of a vibrant and diverse society, not a monoculture society. There have been some piss-poor articles about multiculturalism (like this one) yet some thoughtful and good ones like this one. British culture’s history includes colonialism and imperialism (Cameron doubtlessly has no problems with that). And the irony of Trafalgar Square witness to a celebration of resistance by Egyptians under the shadow of Nelson’s Column. Nelson’s battle with the French known as the Battle of the Nile in 1798.

For me today was a day of victory and celebration as an internationalist.

From Trafalgar Square to Tahrir Square

Some pictures from today at Trafalgar Square for the Global Day of Action for Egypt. I will write more and put up some videos later.

Egypt: Power to the people!!

I am watching wonderful and optimistic scenes on television of brave and cheering Egyptians in Tahrir Square. Eighteen days that shook the world where ordinary Egyptians faced down oppression and now Mubarak has GONE….. scuttled off to Sharm el-Sheikh. The Egyptian people have come so far and an example for us all! Never give up!!

But what will happen now with the process of democracy and transition of power?

Viva la revolucion!

More randoms around London

Nothing changes……

Fighting words it seems from shadow work and pensions Liam Byrne (who took over from useless Douglas Alexander)

“By the end of the parliament, the government will have slashed the support for families with children by nearly £3.4bn. Let me ask you, what kind of government takes £1bn more of children than bankers?”

Though there is an almighty sting attached to this as there’s throwaway remarks such as “workers not shirkers”…. Or the reference shirkers, could mean….bankers? Possibly not as Byrne doesn’t want to go too far in his criticism of the financial system.

But what’s even worse…..

“Byrne is prepared to accept more than three-quarters of £3.4bn in welfare savings next year in two areas. First, principled savings designed to increase incentives for work – Labour will accept limiting ESA payments, replacement for Incapacity Benefit, but Byrne wants it limited after two years, rather than one. Second, burden-sharing savings which spread the making of savings around the system – including accepting indexation of welfare payments from RPI to CPI, though for three years only, and not permanently.”

Furthermore

“He is prepared to work constructively with Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary: “We support the principles of Universal Credit because it advances the revolution we pioneered with tax credits, to make sure work pays . It’s why I say that we support the principles new Work Programme which advances the revolution of the Flexible New Deal. And its why I say this morning that if the government’s new contracts are delivering and offering value for money, we will not cancel them if we are elected in 2015.”

So it seems Byrne is showing just how right-wing Labour still is. Another thing, just who is this “squeezed middle”? It’s not specifically the middle class it defines the working class… and for any shadow minister worth his or her salt the utterance of the “working class” would never pass their lips. Keep it vague, keep it “squeezed middle”… Also what about the people squeezed at the bottom, what about their needs? Byrne is nothing more than a divide and rule merchant: tell the working poor to blame the unemployed. If someone loses their job then it is their fecklessness that causes hardship to people still struggling to get a job according to the blairite/condem mantra that we get shoved down our throats. Blame those poorer than yourself not the the bosses and their casino capitalism.

That is the message of “Colleague” Byrne.

A fair contribution to society?

Whatta tiny tiny bank levy.

In return offshoring continues, speculative investment continues, corporation tax to be cut, no cap on your bonus, quantitive easing if things look like going south again. Looks like all the chaps will be pleased with David and George. BTW stretch limos recently spotted on Farringdon Road dropping off those who are celebrating an excellent bonus season…. So much for the bank and this levy making a ”fair contribution” to society….

See as well a damp squib.

Update: Who’d have believed it, eh…. 50% of Tory funds come from the financial sector….

More guff from the Tories on the institution of marriage

“What seems to be forgotten is that the point of marriage is love, commitment and creating a safe environment in which to bring up a family. None of those costs more than the price of a marriage licence.”

Addressing family policy in general, Mr Duncan Smith said successive governments had “shied away” from talking about the benefits of marriage but the days the subject was seen a “no-go area” were over.

While politicians should not “moralise” or engage in “finger wagging” over the issue, he said ministers had a duty to remove any barriers to help the large number of people who aspired to a long-term commitment with their partner – whether in the form of marriage or civil partnerships.

He said the government was looking “very hard” at how to tackle disincentives to marriage in the benefits system.

So here’s Iain Duncan-Smith banging on about the sanctity of marriage. Tax incentives to swing voters, perchance, based on a moralistic ideology, they may think there’s a demographic to be exploited. But this will create inequalities, marriage at the apex of the hierarchy of relationships. There is about social moulding and control. Also this connects with the reactionary Big Society, next will the Tories be emphasising the need of the Church to regain power and control as the secular state withers away?

Choice isn’t important nor integral in this neoliberal Big Con of a Society! You don’t corral people into marriage, you don’t say one form of relationship has more credence over another . Give people a proper standard of living and let them make up their minds about relationships, kids and families. Treat people equally as opposed to giving tax breaks to married couples.

Lilies and cuts

Just recovering from a cold, hacking cough and croaky voice….just feeling a sniffy snoring snotty zombie! My immune system still doesn’t seem to be working properly (GP said anxiety and depression can compromise it…). Oh well, once back into fitness mode will write some posts anyway, in the meantime, here are some lilies (get well present).

Oh, and bloody unbelievable …. Hammersmith and Fulham (the flagship of the Big Society Big Con) selling off its buildings, Lambeth Council voted through a cuts budget (4 libraries are up for the axe!), Manchester City Council are looking to make £110m worth of cuts! In my own stomping ground…true blue Bromley… they want to make around £41m cuts (and incidentally chief executive, Doug “value for money” Patterson earns £185,000 while council workers will be facing redundancy notices… He’s all heart that man!)