07-02-2009 16:15
"From time to time in human history there occur events of a truly seismic significance, events that mark a turning point between one epoch and the next, when one orthodoxy is overthrown and another takes its place ... There is a sense that we are now living through just such a time: barely a decade into the new millennium, barely 20 years since the end of the Cold War and barely 30 years since the triumph of neo-liberalism-that particular brand of free-market fundamentalism, extreme capitalism and excessive greed which became the economic orthodoxy of our time ... The global crisis ... has called into question the prevailing neo-liberal economic orthodoxy of the past 30 years-the orthodoxy that has underpinned the national and global regulatory frameworks that have so spectacularly failed to prevent the economic mayhem which has now been visited upon us".
Those words, said in the past week, came from a Labour Prime Minister-not ours, I regret, but Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister.
We need a crusade of popular social democracy
My Lords, I, too, congratulate my dear and noble friend Lord Eatwell on initiating this debate and I also congratulate him on his speech. I start, as he did, with a quote."From time to time in human history there occur events of a truly seismic significance, events that mark a turning point between one epoch and the next, when one orthodoxy is overthrown and another takes its place ... There is a sense that we are now living through just such a time: barely a decade into the new millennium, barely 20 years since the end of the Cold War and barely 30 years since the triumph of neo-liberalism-that particular brand of free-market fundamentalism, extreme capitalism and excessive greed which became the economic orthodoxy of our time ... The global crisis ... has called into question the prevailing neo-liberal economic orthodoxy of the past 30 years-the orthodoxy that has underpinned the national and global regulatory frameworks that have so spectacularly failed to prevent the economic mayhem which has now been visited upon us".
Those words, said in the past week, came from a Labour Prime Minister-not ours, I regret, but Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister.
[Full Story | 2 comments ]
05-02-2009 20:28
If the Pope Changes His Mind…
Does that mean he's imperfect? Or that God is imperfect? We've all probably addressed the issue of whether an omnipotent being can change its mind about something, but let's get down to Earth for a moment and address the issue of whether Catholics or anyone should give any respect or deference to a religious idol in the flesh who claims to be the spokesperson for God, but who, from generation to generation, and even within the same tenure, changes his mind on issues due to political and public pressure. In other words, the Pope is and should be treated only as the equivalent of a Prime Minister of a tiny little, but very influential, country tucked away in Rome. So, why do people give him so much credit where it's clearly not due?[Full Story ]
05-02-2009 19:34
Affectionate racism?
Having flicked on the TV over breakfast this morning, I was subjected to the somewhat absurd spectacle of BBC 1 controller Jay Hunt debating the meaning of the word "golliwog", and whether or not it's racist, with the morning news presenters.T he reason for this, of course, was the row over Carol Thatcher's sacking from The One Show for using the word to describe a black tennis player off-air. Hunt pulled out the dictionary definition, which was similar to this definition I just found online – "A doll fashioned in grotesque caricature of a Black male", so any argument for it not being racist was quickly put to bed (and if you want any further evidence, the fourth Google result for "golliwog" involves the BNP trying to argue that banning golliwog dolls is political correctness gone mad).[Full Story | 7 comments ]
05-02-2009 12:18
Christian Voice Loses ASA Case
A week after the Advertising Standards Authority ruled in favour of the Atheist Bus Campaign adverts rather than the complainants (who included Christian Voice), they have stated that Christian Voice is no longer allowed to run adverts making unsubstantiated claims against the HPV vaccine, which protects young girls from cervical cancer.[Full Story ]
05-02-2009 12:14
Serge Trifkovic, BNP Councillor, and Scientific Racialists to Discuss Preserving
Among the slew of anti-Muslim screeds published in recenty years, one of the more prominent was The Sword of the Prophet, by Serge Trifkovic. Despite Trifokovic's dubious background as a former spokesman for Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic (although he also spoke against Slobodan Milsoevic), he was embraced by American conservatives - paleo and neo - as yet another expert who dared to tell ``the truth'' about Muslims and Islams.[Full Story | 1 comment ]
04-02-2009 21:56
War on Bankers - Snowball fights theory and practice
As someone who has never really been entranced by the internal combustion engine fad that has swept through the world in recent decades, I tend to walk most places. However, given the snow on the ground today, I, along with many others, was presented with a number of ethical and practical issues; namely, how to deal with snowballs.[Full Story | 3 comments ]
24-11-2008 15:24
Pro-market. Anti-capitalist. What to do?
On the day that capitalisms greatest current asset- that of Citigroup- has had to be nationalized by the US government, the following is a backgrounder on such current events that finishes with a request for answers to an important question.[Full Story | 2 comments ]
21-11-2008 00:47
Thursday 20th November saw the grand opening of muTATE BRITAIN, the largest non-corporate art space in London, located in a disused warehouse on Curtain Rd, Shoreditch.
Forget Tate Britain, muTATE BRITAIN has landed, all 4 storeys of it.
And you heard it here first...
muTATE Britain has landed..
Thursday 20th November saw the grand opening of muTATE BRITAIN, the largest non-corporate art space in London, located in a disused warehouse on Curtain Rd, Shoreditch. Forget Tate Britain, muTATE BRITAIN has landed, all 4 storeys of it.
And you heard it here first...
[Full Story | 3 additions | 4 comments ]
05-11-2008 12:53
A benefit gig for the IWW - the militant, radical grassroots union for all workers - is being held on Friday 7th November. All proceeds go to IWW workplace organising.
Bands include
>>PJ & Gabi
>>Apologies I Have None
>>Beginning of the End
>> with more TBC.
IWW Punk Benefit Gig - London - Friday 7 Nov
A benefit gig for the IWW - the militant, radical grassroots union for all workers - is being held on Friday 7th November. All proceeds go to IWW workplace organising. Bands include
>>PJ & Gabi
>>Apologies I Have None
>>Beginning of the End
>> with more TBC.
[Full Story | 1 comment ]
05-09-2008 11:50
Just a quick update on our fundraising, our mates in Brighton are putting on a big benefit night for us on the 19th sept, to help us get some much needed funds for the potential trip to Kurdistan in northern Iraq in October...
Benefit for Circus2Iraq, 19th Sept, Brighton.
Hi all!Just a quick update on our fundraising, our mates in Brighton are putting on a big benefit night for us on the 19th sept, to help us get some much needed funds for the potential trip to Kurdistan in northern Iraq in October...
[Full Story ]
23-08-2008 09:58
National Green Day UK - Sept 28th - in the parks
Cannabis Campaigners from around the UK will gather in parks to draw attention to 80 years of unjust, unsound and ineffective cannabis prohibition, on Sunday Sept 28th.[Full Story ]
03-07-2008 21:21
88 London Road Social Centre Eviction
At 7am this morning the anarchist social centre at 88 London Road, Brighton was forcibly evicted, despite resistance. The Victorian church had been occupied since the Squatting Days of Action in April. The space was intialy opened as part of a two day international event, committed to creating autonumous spaces and highlighting the importance of squatting and global networking.[Full Story | 1 comment ]
12-05-2008 14:04
Squatters resist Church eviction
"As we forgive those who trespass against us"[Full Story | 2 additions | 2 comments ]
06-05-2008 10:58
Against the increasing proliferation of dams in Patagonia but trying to build up new autonomous farms and communities.
Mapuche Woman coming to London
Against the increasing proliferation of dams in Patagonia but trying to build up new autonomous farms and communities.
[Full Story ]
04-05-2008 10:36
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v7269605SMXaBTD7
Short film of Brighton temporary autonomous art
Check out http://www.veoh.com/videos/v7269605SMXaBTD7
[Full Story ]
14-04-2008 11:48
Squat days of action summary...
The following is an attempt at a non comprehensive summary of the actions, demonstrations, gatherings and various initiatives that happen during the days of action for squats and autonomous spaces. The summary was created from reports on the IMC UK newswire and english language reports posted to the April2008 website.
Note: A more comprehensive summary now exists on the April2008 website..[Full Story | 1 comment ]
09-04-2008 23:22
The 50km, four lane stretch includes a huge, 53 acre interchange, with two massive orbits and 10 flyover bridges, the construction has already diverted gabhra rivers historical waterways, and heavy machinery have bulldozed ancient tombs and graves within the sacred valley.
Solidarity with Tara in Ireland.
A group of us from Brighton went over to Ireland recently to support the Irish protesters attempt, to halt the work on the M3 Motorway.The 50km, four lane stretch includes a huge, 53 acre interchange, with two massive orbits and 10 flyover bridges, the construction has already diverted gabhra rivers historical waterways, and heavy machinery have bulldozed ancient tombs and graves within the sacred valley.
[Full Story | 3 comments ]
28-03-2008 20:25
Here's an interview with Professor George Eogan, on top of the Rath Lugh Monument, which is one of the seven ancient forts that was used to protect Tara throughout the centuries in Ireland.
Interviews from the top of Rath Lugh (March 2008)
Here's an interview with Professor George Eogan, on top of the Rath Lugh Monument, which is one of the seven ancient forts that was used to protect Tara throughout the centuries in Ireland.
[Full Story ]
27-03-2008 12:08
New Brighton 'On the Verge' screening
The Smash EDO film ‘On the Verge’ will be screened for free on Wednesday the 2 April at The Friends’ Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton. The film will start at 19.30 and will be followed by speakers and a Q&A.[Full Story ]
19-03-2008 17:27
Police Censorship of Smash Edo film goes Nationwide
Police have intervened across the country to censor 'On the Verge' an independent documentary about a campaign to shut down a Brighton weapons manufacturer. So far establishments in Southampton, Chichester and Bath and Oxford as well as Brighton have come under police pressure to cancel film showings. In Brighton police intervened to prevent a showing at the Duke of York's Cinema.[Full Story | 1 addition | 9 comments ]