UK Newswire Archive
March 26th Demo: Where do we go from here?
26-03-2011 09:16
What do we do after today's march. What is behing the cuts and the drive to war? Why Labour is not an alternative.M26 @dvice- Free Manning! End the War/s Save Billions...Spend it on Useful Stuff
26-03-2011 06:47
How can you incite people to resist the exploitative war making state, when you haven't looked after the ones who you incited last time and are presently being tortured and facing possible execution or a probable life time in jail??????? Good fkn question, I reckon?End the War! Free Julian Assange and Bradley Manning! Cut the Crap! MilibRand really?? As we say in OZ, "Labor Party, same shit different flies!"
The world is waking...
26-03-2011 06:44
The world is waking, outside my windowBella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
Drags my senses into the sunlight
For there are things that I must do
Helen Caldicott on the Nuclear Disaster in Japan
26-03-2011 04:42
World-famous anti-nuclear campaigner and physician Dr. Helen Caldicott in a major interview on the multiple reactor accident at Fukushima Japan. How to read through media misinformation, what this means for the nuke industry, including Europe, which may be severely damaged by a similar accident (or even radioactive pollution from "normal" operation of these plants. A historic interview.InfoUsurpa 28th March - 3rd April 2011
26-03-2011 00:22
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English for speakers of other languages ESOL Rally
25-03-2011 23:27
Thursday 24th March 2011
At 3.30pm staff and students of courses for 'English for speakers of other languages' gathered in the Market Square for a protest rally.
At 3.30pm staff and students of courses for 'English for speakers of other languages' gathered in the Market Square for a protest rally.
The government are preparing to cut much of this service. Even stranger, it had ealier pronounced that it expected imigrants to this country to have some ability with the english language as a condition of citizenship. Further, there is obviously a requirement for anyone seeking work here, to be able to speak english. Not very joined-up thinking ...... me thinks!
Earlier in the day, there had been another rally on an educational / cuts issue. Many had attended both since there are overlaps with how all these educators are being treated. Many students came to both events to support their teachers.
University and College Union Strike & Rally
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1073
******
Action for ESOL Press Release
Rally to Defend ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) March 24, 3.30pm, Market Square
ESOL Cuts Will Devastate Language Education, says Action for ESOL
ESOL teachers and students are campaigning to defend ESOL programmes. They are warning that Government cuts in ESOL funding will devastate language provision for people who don’t speak English as their first language.
Currently, ESOL classes are free to students in receipt of a range of benefits, including Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credits, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Benefit. Others pay subsidised fees for classes.
But the government has proposed cuts amounting to 50% over 3 years. From September 2011, only those getting JSA and some receiving the new Employment Support Allowance, will be entitled to free classes. The cost of classes is also expected to rise to around £900.
In Nottingham, 76% of students do not receive JSA or ESA and are currently studying on free courses or paying subsidised fee rates. They will be expected to pay fees for the first time or fees that are 50% to 66% higher than before. This includes people in low waged employment, spouses of people receiving benefit and asylum seekers who have £35 to £39 a week to live on.
Campaigners warn that this will price many students out of learning English.
Campaigners have argued that these new measures discriminate in particular against women, who make up over half of current ESOL students in Nottingham. They argue further that it will make it more difficult for those who don’t speak English as their first language to find sustainable employment, access services, support their children in schools or to participate in society. They point out that many migrants bring important skills and experience to the UK and are keen to contribute to the society.
As a result of these cuts, the government will have to pay more for interpreters, whilst non-English speakers will find themselves caught in a trap of low-waged, insecure work.
Campaigners are angry that the Government has not carried out a credible assessment of the impact of these proposals, and the likely effects on individuals and the wider community. Rather, the Government seems to have the view that migrants simply come to the UK, learn the language and go home.
A spokesperson for Action for ESOL said:
“It is not easy to join ESOL classes and learning a new language is always difficult for adults. There are strict residency rules to meet before a person can join a class. Many may then wait months because there are not enough classes. Many juggle class times with long unsocial or irregular work hours. Many people on low wages may struggle with the current fee rates.
We are calling on the Government to rethink this disastrous policy. It will leave many people without the opportunity to learn English. It contradicts every statement the government has made about the importance of migrants learning English”
ESOL teachers and students have declared 24th March to be a Day of Action to protest against the Government’s policies on ESOL. In Nottingham there will be a public meeting in the Market Square at 3.30pm. Students, friends and tutors will use placards and speakers to demonstrate the importance of English classes. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
The national Action for ESOL petition will be handed in to 10 Downing St at 1.30pm. You can sign it at www.gopetition.com/petitions/defend-esol.html
Notes for the Editor:
1. The Government’s new policy is outlined in Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth and Skills for Sustainable Growth Strategy published by BIS
2. Action for ESOL is a national campaign alliance, and includes the lecturers’ union, UCU, the Refugee Council, the National Association for Teachers of English and Community Languages to Adults, trade unions and other organisations.
3. In Nottingham it is estimated that there are around 3000 to 3,500 ESOL learners in addition to 800 people currently waiting to join classes.
Contact: Fiona Vale / Amy Gittins, 0115 978 0942, Fiona@begin.org.uk (Nottingham)
Rebecca Galbraith, 0797 1719 797, rebecca.galbraith@yahoo.co.uk (national)
******
English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/ImprovingYourSkills/DG_10037499
&&&&&&&&&
earlier on Thursday, another education cuts issue:
University and College Union Strike & Rally
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/1073
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
the masks have fallen - British funds to the Libyan "rebels"
25-03-2011 23:16
He added that many countries have agreed to provide credit backed by the Libyan sovereign fund, and the British government has also agreed to give the rebels access to 1.4 billion dinars ($1.1 billion) that London did not send to Gadhafi.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The puppet show in Libya has been set - here are the actors..
http://garizo.blogspot.com/2011/03/puppet-show-in-libya-has-been-set-here.html
Rights court clears Italy over death of G8 demonstrator
25-03-2011 22:56
The European Court of Human Rights Thursday cleared Italy of any
responsibility for
the death of a demonstrator during the G8 summit in Genoa in 2001.
Full article | 1 addition | 1 comment
Undercover cop in Globalise Resistance 2001-2005
25-03-2011 22:54
"A blunder by an undercover policeman has revealed how the Metropolitan Police spied on the private lives of members of an anti-capitalist group".BBC story below from Newsnight complete with usual tosh. Can't imagine what you could glean about anti-capitalism from the SWP-front Globalise Resistance which sought to try to lead the post-Seattle movement but failed spectacularly.
Kurdish young activist in imminent danger of execution by Iran-Islamic regime
25-03-2011 22:39
The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that a local Kurdish newspaper in Iraq is citing reliable sources as it reports that Shirkou Moarefi is set to be executed on May 1, International Workers Day.
The Libyan League for Human Rights at the European Union
25-03-2011 22:30
University and College Union Strike & Rally
25-03-2011 22:24
Thursday 24th March 2011
At 11.00am, members of the University and College Union gathered in market Square for a rally.
At 11.00am, members of the University and College Union gathered in market Square for a rally.
They were on strike, to draw attention to to changes in their pensions and working coditions.
UCU said :
The university employers had to get back round the table and negotiate with UCU in an escalating row over pensions.
UCU members in around 500 universities and colleges have been on strike in the culmination of a week of action that has seen five strike days. UCU members in 67 universities across the UK started the action last week opposing changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension.
The union says it is willing to clear its diary to talk to the employers and has invited them for talks through the arbitration service ACAS. However, despite pressure from the National Union of Students who has supported UCU's strike action, the employers' representatives, the Employers Pension Forum (EPF), are still refusing to talk to the union.
UCU said the day had been a huge success and apologised again to students who had seen their studies disrupted. The union said it shared students' frustrations and urged them to keep putting the pressure on EPF to join the union for talks.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The action we have seen today across the country has been quite magnificent. The support of students for our action has left the employers looking isolated and foolish. We share students' frustrations that today's action was forced upon us by the intransigence of the employers. We have no interest in their reasons for refusing to talk to us so far, we just want them to change their mind and start talking to us now. This dispute can go nowhere unless we start talking.'
http://www.ucu.org.uk
earlier action:
Demo by University & College Union, derecognised at Nottingham Trent University
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/10/410112.html
UCU derecognised at Nottingham Trent University as Parky installed as Chancellor
http://nottinghamshire.indymedia.org.uk/2008/11/412825.html
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
Tell me, who is the terrorist?!
25-03-2011 21:38
Legal Advice Lines / Bust Card For Tomorrow 26th March
25-03-2011 20:57
Print off and keep with you on tomorrows march / occupations.
Evening Standard put demonise militant anti-cuts protesters
25-03-2011 20:29
The Evening Standard has put out a story calling activists who want to do more than just march from A to B extremists who are out to cause chaos in central London. This is far from the truth. A number of militant anti-cuts groups plan to carry out non violent protests during and after the main TUC demo.Notts Arms Dealer Back in Spotlight
25-03-2011 20:24
The repression of pro-democracy protests in countries such as Libya and Bahrain has refocused attention on the arms trade. The issue was even covered by the BBC’s One Show which did a report on arms dealers in Nottingham. This included a section on Lenton-based Heckler & Koch.
On the newswire: One Show reports on Notts arms companies | Nottingham arms company linked to Gaddafi | Demos continue at Heckler&Koch weapons HQ in Nttm
Previous features: Middle East dictatorships armed by H&K | Nottingham anti-arms trade activist convicted | Direct action shuts down H&K | Shut Down H&K Goes to Church | Campaigning against Heckler & Koch Weapons in Germany and the UK | Campaign Against Nottingham Arms Manufacturer Enters New Phase | From weapons to wars to refugees | The Arms Trade: From Nottingham to Georgia | Protesters Return to Nottingham Weapons Manufacturer | Protesters Target Nottingham Weapons Manufacturers
H&K is one of the world’s largest producers of small arms including assault rifles, submachine guns and grenade launchers. The company has a history of evading arms embargoes in order to supply weapons to repressive regimes and conflict zones. Millions of H&K guns are in use in over 90 countries, and have caused an estimated 1.5 million deaths.
Among those countries is Libya. According to Jane’s Infantry Weapons, Libya’s armed forces are still equipped with Heckler & Koch G3 rifles. The Libyan government bought these rifles from the Greek state manufacturer, which was in turn licensed by Heckler & Koch. This is an arrangement that H&K has used many times in order to evade export restrictions. A recent video even showed Saif al-Gaddafi (son of Muammar Gaddafi) holding a Heckler and Koch G36 assault rifle in the air, as he told a crowd of supporters that “weapons are on the way.”
While Libya has attracted much of the attention and is now the target of military intervention, it is not alone in repressing pro-democracy protesters. The regime in Bahrain has also been shooting pro-democracy demonstrators. Bahraini forces are equipped with the more up-to-date MP5 submachine gun. This weapon is also used by the armed forces of Egypt, Jordan and Morocco, all of which have seen pro-democracy demonstrations recently. Jordanian forces are also armed with Heckler & Koch’s modern G36 assault rifle.
H&K’s office in Lenton is responsible for “international customer sales” and has been the target of protests since 2007. Despite the attention it has received, H&K is not the only arms dealer in Nottingham, as the extensive list produced by Notts Anti-Militarism as part of its"map of militarism" attests. How many others have sold weapons or equipment to other repressive regimes in the region isn't clear.
Updates from the streets tomorrow
25-03-2011 20:11
Last Hours will be doing the usual updates from the streets tomorrow. We aren't announcing where we will be starting from (for obvious reasons) but will do so at the first possible chance.Support For Ed Woollard - 26/03/11
25-03-2011 19:53
Show your support for a victim of politicised sentencingUKBA Charter flights / Frontex Charter flights
25-03-2011 19:34
European/UK deportation machineMedicalise the personality of "difficult" prisoners and prolong their imprisonme
25-03-2011 19:31
By John Bowden, HMP Edinburgh
