The Votes at 16 Coalition is encouraging people to contribute to the Youth Citizenship Commission consultation on lowering the voting age.
The deadline is Tuesday, the 20th of January.
Young people (aged 16 and 17) can pay tax, but they cannot elect the government that spends their taxes. 16 and 17-year-olds can join the armed forces, but they cannot elect the government that sends them to war. 16 and 17-year olds are real citizens and deserve the vote.
You can visit the Youth Citizenship Commission website here. Tell them why the voting age should be lowered.
A briefing sheet on the consultation, how to respond, and why the voting age should be lowered to 16 can be read here.
If you are from an organisation and would like to respond or join the Votes at 16 Coalition, contact Tom Burke on tburke@crae.org.uk. He can provide further information to help you make a response.
Also read: Coventry looking for delegates to Youth Parliament
13 January 2009
12 January 2009
Coventry Gaza Protest - 12th January, 6pm
The 2nd emergency protest, in solidarity with the people of Gaza, will take place tonight in front of the Council House, here in Coventry. It will be at 6pm.
There may be two sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But only one side has tanks. Only one side has nuclear weapons. Only one side is using white phosphorous. Only one side has imposed a blockade (by air, land and sea) that has turned Gaza into an open-air prison.
I agree with Naomi Klein, in a comment article in the Guardian on the weekend.
People of conscience, all over the world, need to impose broad boycotts and divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era.
Hope to see some of you tonight!
There may be two sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But only one side has tanks. Only one side has nuclear weapons. Only one side is using white phosphorous. Only one side has imposed a blockade (by air, land and sea) that has turned Gaza into an open-air prison.
I agree with Naomi Klein, in a comment article in the Guardian on the weekend.
People of conscience, all over the world, need to impose broad boycotts and divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era.
Hope to see some of you tonight!
The Conservative's Election Fundraiser
The Conservatives are just like you.
Look at their new chief fundraiser, Stanley Fink. He's personally donating £1 million to their party. You've got £1 million to give away to charity ... right?
Fink has homes in France and Spain. He owns hotels, including the Hotel Kilimanjaro in the French ski resort of Courchevel. We all have our own hotels.
Fink is the backer of Key-2 Luxury. Look at their website. You can afford their services.
"I am not obsessed with luxury ... I just have a view that the world is not serving the needs of affluent people properly." - Stanley Fink
The Conservatives are just like you.
Look at their new chief fundraiser, Stanley Fink. He's personally donating £1 million to their party. You've got £1 million to give away to charity ... right?
Fink has homes in France and Spain. He owns hotels, including the Hotel Kilimanjaro in the French ski resort of Courchevel. We all have our own hotels.
Fink is the backer of Key-2 Luxury. Look at their website. You can afford their services.
"I am not obsessed with luxury ... I just have a view that the world is not serving the needs of affluent people properly." - Stanley Fink
The Conservatives are just like you.
1 Billion Worldwide Go Hungry
We have had record harvests worldwide the last two years, but nearly 1 billion people are undernourished.
It's down to the cost of food.
Global wheat and maize prices have more than doubled. Rice prices have tripled. Kenya announced this week a food emergency, where a quarter of their people are under threat.
Part of this is down to a growth in biofuels (it's ominous that Obama is from a corn state). Instead of grain going to food supplies, it is made into fuel. If you fill a petrol tank of a 4x4 with biofuel, that's enough grain to feed one poor person for a year.
Instead of biofuels, we need more electric cars, powered by clean electricity (not electricity from coal-powered stations).
Instead of bailing out banks, perhaps we should use the 43% we own (in the new Lloyds HBOS) and help developing countries with credit, agricultural aid, and food aid.
It's down to the cost of food.
Global wheat and maize prices have more than doubled. Rice prices have tripled. Kenya announced this week a food emergency, where a quarter of their people are under threat.
Part of this is down to a growth in biofuels (it's ominous that Obama is from a corn state). Instead of grain going to food supplies, it is made into fuel. If you fill a petrol tank of a 4x4 with biofuel, that's enough grain to feed one poor person for a year.
Instead of biofuels, we need more electric cars, powered by clean electricity (not electricity from coal-powered stations).
Instead of bailing out banks, perhaps we should use the 43% we own (in the new Lloyds HBOS) and help developing countries with credit, agricultural aid, and food aid.
09 January 2009
Faith Leaders Urge Brown On Gaza
A variety of faith leaders (Jewish, Muslim, a C of E bishop, Baptist and Methodist) are calling for an immediate ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza, and for Gordon Brown to take further action to end the suffering of "the powerless and the vulnerable" ... Rabbi Danny Rich, chief executive of Liberal Judaism, said:
"I am convinced that the continuing violence in the region will exacerbate tensions, nurture hatred, and make more difficult a peaceful resolution which is in the interests of both the Palestinian people and the State of Israel. I believe that, in accordance with my Jewish teaching and humanitarian instinct, the appropriate reaction is to call for an immediate ceasefire which may prevent further tragedy engulfing the Palestinian civilian population and save injury and worse to both Israelis in uniform and their fellow citizens in their homes.""I am comforted by my confidence and hope that in time the Israeli and Palestinian peoples will have the opportunity to fulfil the Micah 4:4 vision of a land and two states 'where every person shall sit under the vine or the fig tree and no one shall disturb the other.' I am aware that my actions may be misinterpreted and misused by those who have no real interest in supporting peace in the region and would deny the right of the State of Israel to exist, and by those who, fearful of anti-Semitism and anti Israel activity, believe that this is a time for the British Jewish community to speak with one voice."
"I have only gone public with these serious reservations done so after much prayer, reflection and thought. And because I do not wish Israel’s relationship with the EU to be damaged."
08 January 2009
Coventry Coaches To London Gaza Protest
For the Gaza demonstration in London on Saturday:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=62&Content_ID=374
There are seats on coaches going from Coventry.
You will need to contact Andy Pettit, the convenor of Coventry Stop The War. His email is apettit@macunlimited.net, and his phone number is 07732 030231.
The London demo will be for 1230pm on Saturday, so the coaches will depart earlier. I don't know exactly when, but Andy will, and they're from Coventry Pool Meadow.
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=62&Content_ID=374
There are seats on coaches going from Coventry.
You will need to contact Andy Pettit, the convenor of Coventry Stop The War. His email is apettit@macunlimited.net, and his phone number is 07732 030231.
The London demo will be for 1230pm on Saturday, so the coaches will depart earlier. I don't know exactly when, but Andy will, and they're from Coventry Pool Meadow.
Gas Crisis Continues In Eastern Europe
12 countries received no Russian gas at all yesterday. They were: Austria, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bosnia, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Turkey.
France, Italy, Germany and Poland said their supply from Russia was markedly down.
Slovakia becomes the 2nd country (after Bulgaria) to float the idea of starting a nuclear reactor shut down as part of their EU accession agreement. They may restart a 440 MW unit at Jaslovske Bohunice. The Slovak PM, Robert Fico, said: "If Slovakia remains hostage to a dispute between Russia and Ukraine in the following days, and if non-standard measures have to be taken, then I can imagine restarting Jaslovske Bohunice as a non-standard measure."
France, Italy, Germany and Poland said their supply from Russia was markedly down.
Slovakia becomes the 2nd country (after Bulgaria) to float the idea of starting a nuclear reactor shut down as part of their EU accession agreement. They may restart a 440 MW unit at Jaslovske Bohunice. The Slovak PM, Robert Fico, said: "If Slovakia remains hostage to a dispute between Russia and Ukraine in the following days, and if non-standard measures have to be taken, then I can imagine restarting Jaslovske Bohunice as a non-standard measure."
Israel Could Force Even More Extremism
Israel's actions against Gaza could easily prove counter-productive, i.e. they could strengthen/add credibility to Hamas in both Gaza and the West Bank, or it could lead to Palestinians turning to more extreme Salafist movements to oppose Israel:
Seamus Milne (The Guardian):
"Among Palestinians, [the war] is undermining Mahmoud Abbas - whose presidential term runs out tomorrow - and his Fatah movement, while increasing support for Hamas in the West Bank, where US-trained and EU-financed security forces have now arrested hundreds of activists and banned Hamas demonstrations. It is also strengthening those inside Fatah who want to break with the western-enforced schism between the two wings of Palestinian politics. Hussam Khader, a West Bank "Young Guard" Fatah leader, is one of those now demanding direct unity negotiations with Hamas, and for the Fatah-linked Al-Aqsa Brigades to fight alongside Hamas against Israel's onslaught."
Seamus Milne (The Guardian):
"Among Palestinians, [the war] is undermining Mahmoud Abbas - whose presidential term runs out tomorrow - and his Fatah movement, while increasing support for Hamas in the West Bank, where US-trained and EU-financed security forces have now arrested hundreds of activists and banned Hamas demonstrations. It is also strengthening those inside Fatah who want to break with the western-enforced schism between the two wings of Palestinian politics. Hussam Khader, a West Bank "Young Guard" Fatah leader, is one of those now demanding direct unity negotiations with Hamas, and for the Fatah-linked Al-Aqsa Brigades to fight alongside Hamas against Israel's onslaught."
07 January 2009
Gaza And Young Muslims In Britain
The Young Muslim Advisory Group was set up last October by Hazel Blears and Ed Balls. It was designed to "work directly with Government to help deepen its engagement with young Muslims. The advisors will talk to ministers and policymakers first hand about the issues affecting their day to day lives."
Now, the twenty-two young people who make up the group have written to Gordon Brown:
"As a group we have defined ‘violent extremism' as being the indiscriminate killing of innocent people, wherever and by whoever this is perpetrated. With over 450 innocent Palesinians killed in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli government, the British government must see this as an act of ‘state terrorism', and as a form of ‘violent extremism' it must be clearly condemned. By not doing so we are in grave danger of sending a message to the youth of today that the mass murder of civilians can be justified if the right grievances are cited."
Now, the twenty-two young people who make up the group have written to Gordon Brown:
"As a group we have defined ‘violent extremism' as being the indiscriminate killing of innocent people, wherever and by whoever this is perpetrated. With over 450 innocent Palesinians killed in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli government, the British government must see this as an act of ‘state terrorism', and as a form of ‘violent extremism' it must be clearly condemned. By not doing so we are in grave danger of sending a message to the youth of today that the mass murder of civilians can be justified if the right grievances are cited."
Nuclear News
- Bulgaria wants to restart a nuclear reactor deemed unsafe by the EU. Shutting down reactors three and four at Kozloduy was part of the EU accession agreement by Bulgaria. With the gas shutdown from Russia/Ukraine, and entire towns running out of gas in the middle of winter, Bulgaria wants to restart reactor 3.
- 14 years of liquid radioactive waste leaks in Essex!
- I'm surprised this wasn't bigger news, considering everyone's so keen on nuclear. Areva NP will now control the largest uranium mine in Africa (and the second largest in the world). It's a joint venture with the Niger goverment (2/3 Areva, 1/3 Niger). Mining will begin in 2012, and it will make Niger the world's 2nd largest uranium producer (Canada is 1st).
- 14 years of liquid radioactive waste leaks in Essex!
- I'm surprised this wasn't bigger news, considering everyone's so keen on nuclear. Areva NP will now control the largest uranium mine in Africa (and the second largest in the world). It's a joint venture with the Niger goverment (2/3 Areva, 1/3 Niger). Mining will begin in 2012, and it will make Niger the world's 2nd largest uranium producer (Canada is 1st).
06 January 2009
Gaza Update - Evening 6th January
- You can donate to Islamic Relief's emergency efforts here. Their initial fundraising target of $3 million was met. However, due to the ongoing crisis and severe need of further funds, the Appeal has been raised to $10 Million.
- Mainstream media reports continue to portray that Israel is just as under threat as Gaza. During the six-month ceasefire by Hamas, Israel did not open crossings to Gaza. They did not extend the truce to the West Bank. Israel proceeded to tighten the siege of Gaza, repeatedly cutting electricity and water supplies. Hundreds of hospital patients died as "collateral damage" of this siege. At the height of the 2nd Intifada, 1000 Palestinians were killed, with 400 Israelis dying. Now, we have a situation where 500 Palestinians can be killed, and a dozen Israeli civilians die, plus 3-4 more IDF troops killed by friendly fire, and this can be portrayed as an equal battle.
- Patrick Scott's comment (#7) (he's referred to the 3rd Jan demo in London):
"I was on the march from Trafalgar Square to the Israeli embassy which in my estimation was at least 90% Muslim, the marchers were relatively young and included quite a few families with children. The 'traditional' left was grossly underrepresented on the march. Maybe this was because many left activists simply simply saw this as just another march and simply adjourned to the pub after the rally at Trafalgar Square. Not good enough under the circumstances."
- Haaretz:
"While the Palestinian Authority is busy trying to score divisive political points by condemning Hamas and cracking down on solidarity demonstrations in the West Bank, outrage and despair prevail among Palestinians. Palestinian youth clashed with soldiers at checkpoints across the West Bank and mass demonstrations were held in PA-controlled Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Nablus, calling for unified resistance to Israeli violence. There were also sporadic riots in East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the PA has been doing everything in its power to stand in the way of Palestinian community action. But there is a general will to resist and there is popular sentiment among Palestinians that President Mahmoud Abbas is a collaborator with Israel who has achieved little for them."
"A colleague from Ni'lin summed up the possibility of an infant Intifada blooming against the will of the PA, saying: "You see that we have no problem confronting the fourth largest army in the world, you think we're really that concerned about the PA."
- Robert Fisk talks about the possiblity of UN peacekeepers:
"The Palestinians have been trying to internationalise their conflict with the Israelis ever since Yasser Arafat pleaded for UN forces to protect the Palestinians after the failure of the Oslo agreement. Always the Israelis have refused ... which "frontier" would the UN then patrol? The UN border of the 1940s, the pre-1967 ceasefire lines – in which a pre-annexed East Jerusalem belonged to the Arabs – or the post-1967 border in which Israel claimed "annexed" Jerusalem, or the massive walled "frontier" which now bites deeply into yet more Palestinian territory – illegally in international law? And would the UN also have to "observe" the equally illegal Jewish settlements built on Arab land within the West Bank ... The UN could place some international troops around Gaza. But it would only be a matter of time before they would be required around the West Bank. That would be a Palestinian dream – and, for those Israelis who wish to continue their expansion into Palestinian land – a nightmare."
- Mainstream media reports continue to portray that Israel is just as under threat as Gaza. During the six-month ceasefire by Hamas, Israel did not open crossings to Gaza. They did not extend the truce to the West Bank. Israel proceeded to tighten the siege of Gaza, repeatedly cutting electricity and water supplies. Hundreds of hospital patients died as "collateral damage" of this siege. At the height of the 2nd Intifada, 1000 Palestinians were killed, with 400 Israelis dying. Now, we have a situation where 500 Palestinians can be killed, and a dozen Israeli civilians die, plus 3-4 more IDF troops killed by friendly fire, and this can be portrayed as an equal battle.
- Patrick Scott's comment (#7) (he's referred to the 3rd Jan demo in London):
"I was on the march from Trafalgar Square to the Israeli embassy which in my estimation was at least 90% Muslim, the marchers were relatively young and included quite a few families with children. The 'traditional' left was grossly underrepresented on the march. Maybe this was because many left activists simply simply saw this as just another march and simply adjourned to the pub after the rally at Trafalgar Square. Not good enough under the circumstances."
- Haaretz:
"While the Palestinian Authority is busy trying to score divisive political points by condemning Hamas and cracking down on solidarity demonstrations in the West Bank, outrage and despair prevail among Palestinians. Palestinian youth clashed with soldiers at checkpoints across the West Bank and mass demonstrations were held in PA-controlled Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Nablus, calling for unified resistance to Israeli violence. There were also sporadic riots in East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the PA has been doing everything in its power to stand in the way of Palestinian community action. But there is a general will to resist and there is popular sentiment among Palestinians that President Mahmoud Abbas is a collaborator with Israel who has achieved little for them."
"A colleague from Ni'lin summed up the possibility of an infant Intifada blooming against the will of the PA, saying: "You see that we have no problem confronting the fourth largest army in the world, you think we're really that concerned about the PA."
- Robert Fisk talks about the possiblity of UN peacekeepers:
"The Palestinians have been trying to internationalise their conflict with the Israelis ever since Yasser Arafat pleaded for UN forces to protect the Palestinians after the failure of the Oslo agreement. Always the Israelis have refused ... which "frontier" would the UN then patrol? The UN border of the 1940s, the pre-1967 ceasefire lines – in which a pre-annexed East Jerusalem belonged to the Arabs – or the post-1967 border in which Israel claimed "annexed" Jerusalem, or the massive walled "frontier" which now bites deeply into yet more Palestinian territory – illegally in international law? And would the UN also have to "observe" the equally illegal Jewish settlements built on Arab land within the West Bank ... The UN could place some international troops around Gaza. But it would only be a matter of time before they would be required around the West Bank. That would be a Palestinian dream – and, for those Israelis who wish to continue their expansion into Palestinian land – a nightmare."
Weekly Gaza Protests In Coventry
The protest last night in Coventry attracted 150 people. I've been dreadfully ill (since New Years Eve), so I wasn't able to go. There will be another protest in Coventry next Monday (at 6pm), and a national demo this coming Saturday in London.
You can find out more information about next Monday on Facebook (the Socialist Party has set up an events page for the next demo).
If you have photos from last night, or want to write a brief (50-100 words) impression of what you thought, please send them along: sgredding2003@yahoo.co.uk.
Here is one from Roy Sandison, with the Rugby Green Party:
You can find out more information about next Monday on Facebook (the Socialist Party has set up an events page for the next demo).
If you have photos from last night, or want to write a brief (50-100 words) impression of what you thought, please send them along: sgredding2003@yahoo.co.uk.
Here is one from Roy Sandison, with the Rugby Green Party:
05 January 2009
Israeli Conscientious Objectors
"I believe in service to the society I am part of, and that is precisely why I refuse to take part in the war crimes committed by my country. Violence will not bring any kind of solution, and I shall not commit violence, come what may." - Omer Goldman, 19, Tel Aviv
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