Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:44:44 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/ PostNuke Powered Site en-us http://www.roystpierre.com/images/roy.jpg http://www.roystpierre.com/ jules@spiraltek.co.uk http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=47 I expect anything of Governments, I didn’t trust John F Kennedy or expect anything from Labour in ’97. Wilson’s Labour Government sowed my mistrust when it brought in a Commonwealth Immigrants Act that was even more draconian that the one proposed by the Tories, just to win an election (how little changes).However two items from history I’ve just heard about have left even me rather gobsmacked.The first, part of Britain’s secret shameful history, was the subject of a pamphlet by Phil Kaiserman, a British soldier who was sent to Vietnam in October 1945, the second NASA’s ‘Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Cassini Mission’. They show how cynical and cavalier governments and government agencies can be. Click below to read on… Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:44:44 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=46 Non-Aligned Countries Endorse Venezuelan Proposal for Alternative World MediaLast week, Non-aligned countries agreed to construct a world system of news, radio, and information-sharing to connect and represent countries in the Global South. Mérida, July 5, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- At the 7th Conference of Information Ministers of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries held in Venezuela’s Margarita Island last week, more than 80 country delegations endorsed Venezuela’s proposal to create an alternative worldwide media network. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:02:31 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=45 The True Role of Immigrants Open letter from President Evo Morales re the EU “return directive” Up to the end of the Second World War, Europe was a continent of emigrants. Thousands of Europeans left for the Americas to colonize, escape from hunger, financial crisis, war, totalitarian governments and the persecution of ethnic minorities. Today, I am following with concern the process of the “return directive”. The text, agreed on 5 June by the Interior Ministers of 27 countries of the European Union, has to be voted on in the European Parliament on June 18th. I feel that it drastically worsens the conditions of detention and deportation for undocumented immigrants, regardless of how long they have spent in a EU country, their work situation, their family ties, how much they want to and have been able to integrate. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:57:50 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=44 Interesting reasoning about Climate Change, action and inaction - worth a watch and pass on: click here Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:57:59 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=43 What is so shocking about adverts for escorts in local papers? Why does Harriet Harman want to clamp down on the safer ways women have found to work? Following the tragic Ipswich murders, we called together a Safety First Coalition of nurses, doctors, church people, probation officers, anti-poverty campaigners, sex workers and others, to ensure that women are not repeatedly placed in danger. We believe that there can be no protection while sex workers are being hounded, and campaign for prostitution to be decriminalised and for proper economic alternatives for women who want to get out of prostitution. Whatever people may think about sex work, women’s safety must be the priority. Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:55:28 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=42 Thank you for reporting [October PN] my acquittal, alongside David King, Rob Clohesey, Steve Barnes and Brian Barlow, of charges under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (now the subject of government consultation). Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:49:41 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=41 Alex Salmond has made a major bid to win international backing for his government's campaign to rid Scotland of nuclear weapons, the Sunday Herald revealed. The First Minister has written to over 180 countries highlighting the nation's opposition to the deployment of Trident nuclear warheads on the Clyde, and his determination to try and block the UK government's decision to replace Trident over the next few decades. click here for more on this story Below is the full text of the letter from First Minister Alex Salmond sent to 122 parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on 15 October 2007: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:00:18 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=40 Dear friends, I have won Indefinite Leave to Remain for myself and my three year old daughter! I was at the Crossroads Women’s Centre, where I volunteer, when my lawyer called. My heart sank. Usually my lawyer has nothing but bad news for me. When he told me I had won I couldn’t believe my ears. I thought he must be speaking about another person. I couldn’t sleep at all that night. I stared at the ceiling with my daughter lying beside me. Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:07:18 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=39 Presumably people protest against nuclear weapons because they have the potential not only to kill vast numbers of people but also animals and the environment. Cars are the same except that their threat is realised daily. Not only do cars kill vast numbers of people and animals (100,000 foxes p.a. in the UK for example), but they poison the environment, and contribute hugely to global warming. So obviously people who care about the environment (like anti nuclear protesters) don't drive cars, because it’s much simpler to address one's own polluting habits than to persuade the Government to stop its nuclear disgracefulness. Well I assume that’s true. Is it? If it’s not & you who read this are anti-nuclear and still drive a car then give it up now. No need to hold debates. No need to discuss targets for reduction. Just give it up. Walking and Cycling are decent ways to get about. "It didn't take a war to fuel this bike" The alternative for individual transport to walking and cycling is the car. Drivers' demand for petrol and biofuel is causing untold misery and death worldwide. - Simon Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:59:07 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=38 On 9 October 1967 the US government ordered the assassination of Che Guevera. Che had been wounded and captured the day before by US trained Bolivian soldiers. Following discussions between the CIA and the Bolivian military junta in La Paz, Che was executed. A Bolivian Sergeant, Mario Terán, carried out the task. After his death, Che Guevera’s body was flown to Vallegrande to be photographed in the laundry house of the town’s small hospital. Sergeant Terán spent the following decades hiding in fear of realiation. He developed cataracts in both eyes and became virtually blind. Today the same hospital in Vallegrande serves as a base for some 20 Cuban doctors who provide free medical assistance to the local population uder Cuba’s programme of medical assistance to Bolivia. Amazingly the same man who killed Che, Sergeant Mario Terán, has had his sight restored by Cuban ophthalmic surgeon’s working in La Paz as part of the sight-saving programme ‘Operacíon Miraglo’ – CUBA SÍ, MAGAZINE OF THE CUBA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:33:35 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=37 An engineering student has donated money he was awarded as a prize by BAE Systems to CAAT [Campaign Against the Arms Trade]. The student at Loughborough University was awarded the prize for being the “most improved student”, but he was also a most concerned student about the millions accepted from BAE by his university. He said: “The influence of BAE over the course was pretty heavy, the steering committee was BAE dominated, the studies were often BAE oriented. Engineers can do a lot more with their skills than just help the arms trade”. – PRIVATE EYE, 14/9/07 The owner of a hardware company has admitted to defrauding the Pentagon out of more than $20m, in one case charging almost £1m for shipping two washers costing 19 cents. Over nearly 10 years the firm exploited an automatic shipping payment system designed to speed up shipments to US forces overseas. – GUARDIAN UNLIMITED 17/8/07 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:31:00 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=36 Stop the War President Tony Benn has delivered a letter to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to make clear why our Troops Out demonstration at Parliament on Monday 8 October will take place, despite the ban by the government and police. It is essential that the voice of the antiwar majority in this country is present at Parliament when Gordon Brown makes his long awaited statement on Iraq. That is why we are asking every anti war activist to sign the letter protesting against the ban, to join the demonstration on October 8 and to do everything possible to publicise the protest. (Sign here: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/) For Tony Benn's letter, click the link below - 'read the full story' Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:21:36 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=35 Please support pacifist Gwyn Gwyntopher: Pacifist Gwyn Gwyntopher, (66) was standing at Custom House DLR, by the Excel Centre, where the DSEi arms fair was going on, about 1.30pm Thursday 13/9/07. Her back was visible to arms traders waiting to go and sell more means of killing people. The poster on her back said. "Remember the victims of the arms trade." She was arrested by Transport Police and handcuffed. She was then dragged along the ground to the lift. In considerable pain she appealed to the police to take the handcuffs off. They declined. When her husband Chris Gwyntopher came up the stairs to find out what had happened to her she appealed to him to get the police to remove the handcuffs. He tried to persuade the officers to do so, pointing out that she would not harm anybody and would not seek to run away. They refused and pulled him away from her. Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:12:48 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=33 Another great piece of successful campaigning from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade. Gordon Brown has announced that he will shut DESO, the Defence Export Services Organisation, the arms marketing unit funded by public money. For more click here Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:19:59 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=32 Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) success: Reed Elsevier to stop organising arms fairs It was announced on Friday 1st June that Reed Elsevier will pull out of the arms trade and will no longer organise arms fairs around the world. The decision follows a high-profile campaign, coordinated by CAAT, which highlighted the incompatibility of Reed's involvement in the arms trade and their position as the number one publisher of medical and science journals and other publications. CAAT welcomes the decision and applauds the board of Reed Elsevier for recognising the concerns of its stakeholders. The decision shows that the arms trade is an abhorrent activity and that it has no place within a reputable business. In a statement, Chief Executive of Reed Elsevier Sir Crispin Davis, said "it has become increasingly clear that growing numbers of important customers and authors have very real concerns about our involvement in the defence exhibitions business. We have listened closely to these concerns and this has led us to conclude that the defence shows are no longer compatible with Reed Elsevier's position as a leading publisher of scientific, medical, legal and business content." Click here for more about CAAT and Reed Elsevier's press release . Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:21:52 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=31 15 June 2007 THE Scottish parliament last night called on the UK Government to scrap plans to replace Trident. SNP, Lib Dem, Green and some Labour MSPs joined forces to send a clear message to Prime Minister Tony Blair. Tories opposed the call, while most Labour MSPs abstained. In the vote, 71 MSPs called for Trident to be scrapped, 16 opposed the call and 39 abstained. Three did not vote. Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:59:20 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=30 Heard about the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill? Tedium personified by the sound of it. In fact concealed under this yawn inducing title is possibly the biggest goosestep towards a totally authoritarian society the Blair oligarchy has yet dared to take. It’s been dubbed the “Abolition of Parliament Act” by radical firebrands The Times. For more, to go to Schnews, the Save Parliament website and the LibertyCentral site   For the outcome of this story, click here Fri, 24 Mar 2006 16:26:32 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=29 Six students and graduates were taken to court by their own university after taking part in a peaceful demonstration against multinational corporations meeting at the university in September 2004. Found guilty in the Magistrate's Court, their retrial/appeal will take place from Monday 13th March at Lancaster Crown Court (behind the castle). It is expeced to take three to five days. Because it is a retrial the six are once again facing the possibility of imprisonment for their 3 minute demonstration. As one signer of their petition notes, 'Appalled that such an event should have been held in a building named after the founder of Quakerism. Absolutely unbelievable that University administrators could have been so crass and insensitive. The protetstors were clearly acting in the spirit of George Fox - it is not they who should be in the dock!' Please visit their website and sign the petition. 20/2/06   Sat, 18 Feb 2006 21:29:55 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=28 Kate Hudson's report makes interesting reading. N.B.Days in latest order so read from the bottom up if you want a chronological report 15/2/06 Sat, 11 Feb 2006 17:45:36 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=27 Excellent news from Dublin.(7/11/05) Before the illegal invasion & bombing of Iraq, five members of the pacifist Catholic Worker movement made their way into Shannon Airport and non-violently disarmed a U.S. navy war plane in the early hours of February 3rd. 2003. There first trial in March this year collapsed on the 6th day when the judge declared a mistrial. On the 8th day of their retrial(Nov 7th) this retrial collapsed: "The CW5's 2 main statutory defences to the charges were ruled out as 'inadmissible' this morning by Judge Donagh McDonagh, who was then rather suddenly forced to 'pull the plug' and send the jury home after his relationship with a certain Mr. Bush was revealed to the Court by defence counsel." For more info go to indymedia & peaceontrial Thu, 10 Nov 2005 20:30:14 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=26 e-mail from Global Women's Strike, 2 August, 2005, 'Join us on the Community Anti-War Picket & Open Mic, organised by the GlobalWomen's Strike, every Wednesday 5.30-7pm, on Parliament Square. Since February 2003, our continuing demonstration has been protesting EVERYWEDNESDAY against the war in Iraq and all wars. The new legislation (Serious Organised Crime & Police Act) aimed at removing Brian Haw who has been living in the Square for four years, and our picket there for two and a half years, came into force on 1st August. Some people have already been arrested for defying the ban which criminalises peaceful protest in and around the Square. Police can now impose draconian conditions on protests including: when and where it can take place; how long it can last; how many people can attend; how much noise can be made; and the number and size of banners and placards used. But last Friday, Brian Haw won in court again. The judges ruled that the Act does not cover 'continuing' protests such as Brian's, but only those starting after 1st August. We are also a "continuing" demonstration and that therefore we are also entitled to continue our protest. We are also entitled to visit Brian and support his efforts. Join us and Brian in Parliament Square this [& every] Wednesday as usual.' One in the eye for Tony & co with their constant attemps to restrict civil liberties. Tue, 02 Aug 2005 20:50:07 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=25 The presentation of the results of the Trawden Forest Community Consultation, the first stage in formulating a parish plan, was held at Trawden Community Centre on Saturday, April 18th. The main concerns were facilities for young people, road safety and the environment. Tucked away among the forty or so questions in the questionnaire circulated to every household was this one: Would you support the reopening of the Colne-Skipton Railway line? 83.6% said yes (292 – yes, 41 no), which I think is a pretty good response seeing that we are 2.5 miles from the railway & that (except for hardy walkers) would necessitate a bus or car journey to access it. The questionnaire was distributed to 1061 households in Trawden, Wycollar, Winewall & Cottontree & had an excellent reponse rate: 33% Sun, 17 Apr 2005 15:05:16 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=24 The traffic-slowing measures introduced for safety reasons onto the Danehouse Road in Burnley are a nightmare to some and an exercise in defensive driving to the rest of us who drive along it at some altitude of wakefulness. If the thing is left as it is - a sort of twisted serpent that has escaped off a badly drawn "Snakes and Ladders" board then there is going to be inevitably an incidence of road rage with tragic consequences for someone. As a sort of exercise in experimental modernity the area is having money thrown at it. I hope that some of it is spent on devising somthing suitably less than subtle as a reward for the present traffic planners. - Bren. Sun, 17 Apr 2005 14:30:47 +0100 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=23 Statement by the Prime Minister Office of the Prime Minister of Canada February 24, 2005 Ottawa, Ontario We had an extensive discussion led by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and National Defence, concerning the invitation to participate in the evolution of the proposed ballistic missile defence system. It is in respect of that discussion that we are announcing today that Canada will not take part in the proposed ballistic missile defence system. Mon, 28 Feb 2005 13:13:35 +0000 http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=22 Summary response to the government consultation paper on prostitution by the English Collective of Prostitutes The report hides the impact of the prostitution laws on women’s and children’s safety, protection and welfare, and makes way for more criminalisation. The English Collective of Prostitutes and the International Prostitutes Collective invite you to an International Conference on prostitution Saturday 4 December 9.30 -6 pm St Mary's Church, Somers Town, Eversholt St. London NW1 (Corner of Aldenham St. & Eversholt St. Undergrounds Mornington Crescent & Euston) Fully wheelchair accessible. Refreshments Entrance: institutions £30; high waged £10; waged £3-£5; unwaged £3 NO BAD WOMEN, NO BAD CHILDREN, JUST BAD LAWS Thu, 25 Nov 2004 20:30:50 +0000