The Guardian writes back: 21st Century Feminism is here...

'That's the kind of feminist resurgence we need'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/24/middle-class-feminism-politics

Attack on Ken Loach in Guardian [Monday 23-August]

I got sent this on facebook by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Haven't yet been able to find the link in the Guardian-please link me if you do...

Tomorrow’s (Monday 23-August) Guardian is going to give space to the Director of the Melbourne International film Festival to attack Ken Loach for taking a stance on Palestine by withdrawing his current film from the Festival there (after it accepted Israeli Government money).

It will be a personal attack with NO mention of the Palestinian appeal for a cultural boycott or the reasons for that appeal.

**Please reply after reading the piece by posting a reply / writing a letter in support of Ken, who has been second to none - in his support for Palestinian human rights.

Lowkey - Stop the War gig in Metro

Isn't he just fabulous. Cheers Lowkey. x

Collective hat-trick on calling MP's to account. Hear Gordon Brown on Vestas & more

Although I didn't get to talk to the brilliant Malalai Joya last night (and therefore complete the hat-trick on questioning MP's this week) comrade Des Mannay, Bolshevik super hero, tackles Gordon bloody Brown and Department of Works and Mensions minister on Vestas occupation, tuition fees, the Welsh Assembly scrapping Tuition Fee Grants and job losses at London Met.

http://mediaweb.musicradio.com/Show.asx?Episode=101402

mediaweb.musicradio.com

Source: mediaweb.musicradio.com

Unfortunately I have no sound on my computer so can't tell you exact;y which minute it starts at so please comment below once you have listened and let us know.

Apparently he is the first person to ask a question, and is referred to as "the gentleman in the yellow shirt".

Des told me this:

It was a bit of a shock, nobody knew who was going to be on the platform on the radio talkshow, until I got there and they announced it. Up until then they just said there would be a 'senior cabinet minister'.

I'm presuming Des was awsome so well done!!!

Press coverage of SOAS 9

by Sadie Robinson

Students and workers at the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) have organised an emergency protest for 8.30am on Monday 15 June to defend cleaners at the site who are facing imminent threat of deportation.

Cleaners at Soas were rounded up by immigration officials at an early morning meeting last Friday.

The raid follows campaigns by the cleaners to win union recognition and the London Living Wage.

Nine of the cleaners were subsequently held, including one woman who is six months pregnant. Their Unison union rep, Sandy Nicoll, said he was prevented from having any contact with them.

By Sunday three had already been deported. Others may be deported on Monday morning.

There is widespread anger and shock at the raid and at the speed with which the workers are being removed from Britain, with no opportunity to challenge the rulings or get legal advice. Many people saw the raid as the “kidnapping” of their fellow workers.

Some 200 students and workers protested outside Soas on Friday evening. “I'm so ashamed of this institution today,” said Sandy. “It's not an accident that immigration raids are taking place in workplaces where cleaners have been organising to win better pay and conditions.

“London can't run without low-paid migrant workers to do work like cleaning – but if they try and fight for rights then they're out.

“Our union met today and unanimously passed a motion to back whatever campaign there is to stop the deportations of these cleaners. The cleaners are an important part of the union.”

Graham Dyer, the UCU union president at Soas, was also at the protest. “I came in this morning to take part in a demonstration to support Stalin (a former worker at Soas who has been victimised by management after organising campaigns to improve workers' rights), only to find that the cleaning staff had been taken by immigration officials.

“The UCU is outraged. It's clear that management have been complicit in allowing immigration officials to come onto our campus.”

Sam, a student at Soas, spoke poignantly to the crowd about the raid. “Just imagine what it's like,” he said. “You get up and go to work expecting to come home later and empty the washing that you've left in the machine, pick up your kids, etc. But no. Instead you get taken away to be deported.

“I'm almost speechless at management’s behaviour.”

PROTEST

Monday 15 June, 8.30am, on the steps if Soas, off Malet Street, central London

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© Socialist Worker (unless otherwise stated). You may republish if you include an active link to the original.

Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn & others letter to Independent, Observer & Sunday Times

(we submitted this letter yesterday but it was not included for submission as far as i can see on the online versions of these three papers)

Stop Racist Deportations at SOAS

We are appalled at the actions of the immigration services, who with the aid of facilities contractors ISS conducted an early morning raid of SOAS recently. Nine cleaners were accused of working without valid documentation and are now being held pending their likely deportation from the UK.

Neither the contractors nor the university authorities had any problem with employing migrant labour with or without valid work permits so long as lecture theatres were cleaned at low rates and ISS were making sufficient profits.

The crime these mainly Latin American workers seem to have committed is to have campaigned for, and won, the London Living Wage and their union rights. In fact ISS had signed a union recognition agreement with Unison last week.

Unison members struck solidly last month in protest at the sacking of cleaner and union activist Jose Stalin Bermudez.

Evidence suggests that SOAS Management colluded with ISS and the immigration services to allow this shameful episode to happen and we believe that the raid took place to send a message to other groups of workers who may have been encouraged by the success of the Living Wage campaigns.

We demand an amnesty for all migrant workers in Britain.

Signed by (incl):

Tony Benn

Jeremy Corbyn MP

John McDonnell MP

Sandy Nicholl SOAS UNISON

Graham Dyer SOAS UNISON

Marya Ahmed SOAS Co-President

Elly James SOAS Women's Officer

Clare Solomon Former SOAS Co-President

James Haywood NUS NEC

Phemie Matheson NUS NEC

Pat Carmody CWU P&B Section Secretary

Schools meant for ‘teaching things’, a minister tells MPs

Read this and other hilarious headlines of the fantastic Financial Times mock-up which was handed out at the demo. Printed on salmon pink paper it was so realistic I actually thought it was the FT!

Read it HERE

Students are revolting: The spirit of '68 is reawakening. Excellent article in the Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/students-are-revolting-the-spirit-of-68-is-reawakening-1604043.html

BBC deny Gaza fundraising appeal in order “to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC’s impartiality'

If you watch BBC at all I'm am sure at times you have come across appeals made by Disaster Emergency committee appeals. They fundraise on behalf of 12 charities and BBC in the past has give peak free air time for DEC to make appeals.

The effects of these appeals are amazing (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/313248.stm) they have been succesful and their appeals generally get brilliant response.
Today I was informed that BBC has broken the 45 year old contract with DEC and will NOT allow them to air for GAZA appeal. This is an outrage! please write to them immediately ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/) or call them on 03700 100 222. 

PLEASE COME TO THE PRTOTEST OUTSIDE THE BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE ON PORTABELLO ROAD 24TH JAN 2PM.

Dear Sir or Madam,

It has been brought to my attention that BBC has denied Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal; free broadcasting time to fundraise for Gaza. I am appalled and frankly disgusted by this decision. It has shocked me to the core that BBC has no human values left at all. With biased pro-Israeli broadcasting that you have shoved in our faces during the conflict, you are now denying 1.5 million Gazans of their chance to rebuild their lives.

May I remind you, which you have clearly forgotten, that like many others who have been complaining, I am too a BBC licence payer, and demand to know the REAL reason that you have denied DEC it’s free broadcasting time to raise money for Gaza.

I have read that DEC’s appeal has been denied by BBC in order “to avoid any risk of compromising public confidence in the BBC’s impartiality in the context of an ongoing news story’ is frankly absurd and meaningless. You have for forty-five years had an agreement with DEC and in the past have aired many appeals (Zimbabwe, tsunami etc.) Now you are breaking this contract because BBC apparently gets to decide who is human and who is worth getting this aid. Frankly, that is NOT for BBC to decide. You claim that you will continue to report on the humanitarian aspects in Gaza, but your reporting has questioned the pro-Israeli stand you have already taken.

BBC are contradicting themselves, by taking this stand it makes it superbly clear that you are supporting Israel and your ‘impartiality’ has already been questioned and is on the verge of deteriorating.

It has become common knowledge that pregnant women giving births during the massacre have not been able gain post pregnancy treatments till this day. Children who have lost limbs or survived close range shootings are sitting in hospitals with infections due medication depletion, families have been torn apart, livelihoods snatched. There is need for immediate medical aid, water, housing and long term aid is further needed and you are concerned with ‘risk’ of compromising public confidence? And so I am dismayed and wonder at what kind of people work at BBC? Obviously they themselves have not been brought up with basic human values.

I will advise you that before you loose all credibility, that BBC needs to reinstate DEC its free fundraising broadcasting time immediately and start to respond to the REAL humanitarian appeal for Gazans. It may come as a surprise to you but the people of Gaza are actually human beings who have been denied nearly every basic human rights by Israel, have been victims of horrendous war crimes committed by Israel and are still suffering from the consequences of the three week massacre.

I demand as a BBC licence payer for you to broadcast DEC’s appeal immediately and to take full responsibility for this cold and callous decision made.

Awaiting your reply

Article in Guardian about student occupations-we're getting there...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jan/23/student-protests-gaza

Israeli TV airs Gaza doctor's pleas after children killed - ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Distressing video of doctor in Gaza on the phone to Israeli television. For subtitles click the triangle button at bottom right of video and press 'cc'.

Letter from Islamic University of Gaza (IUG)

At a meeting at SOAS today we decided to make a wall of stories from Palestine to highlight the atrocities that Israel is commiting against the people of Gaza.

Here is one that i already received this afternoon from someone I met on Flickr (!): Thanks to Dr Habeeb for his quick reply.

As a Fulbright scholar and professor of American literature at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), I have always preferred to keep silent about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I always felt that it was my mission to preach love and peaceful coexistence. However, Israel's massive offensive against the Gaza Strip has spurred me to speak out.

Last night, during the second night of Israel's unprecedented attack on Gaza, I was awakened by the deafening sound of intensive bombardment. When I learned that Israel had bombed my university with American-made F-16s, I realized that its "target bank" had gone bankrupt. Of course Israeli politicians and generals would claim that
IUG is a Hamas stronghold and that it preaches terrorism.

As an independent professor, not affiliated with any political party, I can say that IUG is an academic institution which embraces a wide spectrum of political affinities. I see it as prestigious university which encourages liberalism and free thought. This personal point view might seem to be biased; therefore, I would invite
anyone who would doubt about my assertions to browse IUG's website and research its history. They would learn about its membership in various international academic
institutions, the active role its professors play in scholarly research as well as prizes and research grants they have received.

Why would Israel bomb a university? Israel did not only target my university last night. It also bombed mosques, pharmacies and homes. In Jabaliya refugee camp Israeli
bombs killed four little girls, sisters from the Balousha family. In Rafah they killed three brothers, aged 6, 12 and 14. They also killed a mother, along with her one-year-old child from the Kishko family in Gaza City.

These acts made me reflect on some of the commandments given by God to the "Chosen People:" Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. No one could be chosen by God to annex the land of other people and kill them. Israel made these ethical choices by itself. Israel itself chose to wage its wars to eliminate the indigenous people of Palestine.

Dr. Akram Habeeb is Assistant Professor of American Literature at the Islamic University of Gaza.

CNN Finally Confirms Israel Broke Ceasefire First

Live link-up to Gaza this Wednesday 4pm

At SOAS we are holding a meeting with big speakers and also a live link-up to someone in Gaza.

I will fill in the details a bit later.

Watch it LIVE at http://www.qik.com/solomonsmindfield

I suggest that you have a little look at  the site first to get used to it a bit before we broadcast.

 

Warnings from facebook about Stop the War group

I have received FOUR messages today warning me that my account will be disabled if i continue to abuse facebook-i ahven't even posted any pics to this group...people in palestine have also received the same msg this morning.

HAVE YOU TOO? plesae comment below if you have...

You uploaded a picture to the event "ISRAEL INVADES GAZA - EMERGENCY PROTESTS" that violates our Terms of Use, and this picture has been removed. Facebook does not allow photos that attack an individual or group, or that contain nudity, drug use, violence, or other violations of the Terms of Use. These policies are designed to ensure Facebook remains a safe, secure and trusted environment for all users, including the many children who use the site.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can visit our FAQ page athttp://www.facebook.com/help.php?topic=wphotos.

The Facebook Team

Please Read This!
Warning! Your account could be disabled.

Your behaviour indicates that you may be in violation of Facebook's Terms of Use. Continued misuse of Facebook's features could result in your account being suspended. If you have any questions or concerns, you can visit our FAQ page.

Large demonstrations around Britain against Israel’s massacre in Gaza online only

I have four essays to do so really havent got time to write anymore from yesterday. Here is a great report from Socialist Worker:

"There have been angry demonstrations across Britain this Saturday against Israel’s horrific bombing of the Palestinians in Gaza.

By far the largest was in London, which was attended by more than 60,000 people (though the police gave an implausible estimate of 12,000).

Many people travelled to London from around the country. For instance there were 20 coaches from Birmingham.

A quick look at local Stop the War banners showed how far afield protesters had travelled from – they included Brent in west London, Southend, Selly Oak in Birmingham and Derby.

And there were delegations and banners from many other groups, good examples being the lecturers UCU union and Jews for Justice for Palestinians.

One demonstrator, Andre from Southend, said it was her first demonstration. She told Socialist Worker, “The news kept saying that Hamas was sending out rockets, but it never asked why. It made me so angry. It seems like Western leaders don’t want to know.”

Sieneen, a student in Leeds, said, “The US and Israel always talk about human rights and democracy. The US and Britain used these ideas to attack Iraq and Afghanistan.

"But there are no human rights in Gaza. Its good that there aren’t just Middle Eastern people here, because this is about human rights and that affects everyone.”

As the march surged past Downing Street many protesters hurled shoes at the gates in a symbolic echo of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George Bush.

Protesters were furious at the failure of Western leaders to condemn Israel. They chanted, "Shame on you, have my shoe."

A rally in a packed Trafalgar Square heard speakers including Jeremy Corbyn MP, Tony Benn, comedian Alexei Sayle and singer Annie Lennox.

After the rally several thousand people set out to march on the Israeli embassy in High Street Kensington.

Police diverted them into an underpass, where they were confronted by riot police.

Chris Nineham of Stop the War, said, "There was absolute pandemonium and people were falling over from the force of the police attacks.

"The police forced us to go down a tunnel where we were met by three or four ranks of riot officers who then charged at us at least three times using their riot sticks to attack people."

One protester with his head still bleeding told Socialist Worker, “I was marching at the front in the tunnel when suddenly the riot police charged at us.

“Several people tried to get out of the way, and there were some women who were stood to the side, but the police battered them with shields.”

"I have never seen such irresponsible 
behaviour by the police on a demonstration," said Andrew 
Burgin of the Stop the War Coalition, in a press release after the incident.

Still up to 5,000 people made it to the embassy in High Street Kensington where they held a noisy and angry protest.

There were demonstrations in towns and cities all over Britain.

Up to 2,500 marched through Glasgow in a young, noisy and militant protest. Speakers at the rally included Fatima Hillou, who survived the Sabra and Shatilla massacres during Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Another 1,000 marched in Edinburgh.

About 300 people joined a demonstration in Swansea that included a mock funeral with small coffins to represent the children who have died in Israel’s bombing.

There were demonstrations of at least 2,000 in both Bradford and Manchester. A 1,000 people rallied in Leeds.

Up to 500 marched through the centre of Portsmouth, distributing leaflets for the boycott Israeli goods campaign.

On the same evening as hundreds of thousands have marched in cities across the world in solidarity with the Palestinians, Israel launched a bloody ground invasion of Gaza.

Israel's attacks have already fuelled anger among ordinary people and its latest move will only increase this. We will need further, bigger and more militant protests to end Israel's attack on Gaza.

The following should be read alongside this article: 
» Stop Israel’s terror in Gaza
» Eyewitness in Gaza: ‘Can you hear the noise? The Israelis are bombing again’
» Opposition to war remains a powerful force in the world
» Gaza: a new flashpoint in the ‘war on terror’
» Hamas: the changing face of the Palestinian resistance
» Palestine’s long torment
» Egyptians rage at hated regime
» Israel’s bloody assault on Gaza fuels protests across the world
» Demonstrations called around country against Israel bombing Gaza
» New demonstrations called as Israel moves tanks into Gaza
» Video of London march for Gaza, 3 January 2009

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Help from fellow bloggers and/or IT savvy people please...

Sign yourself up to Jaiku if you want to kept up-to-date  with political activity for FREE. Or keep checking my blog. I'm off to the Israeli Embassy again now but will send updates via Jaiku which is located towards the bottom of my page. 

We have found a service, www.Qik.com that allows users to send images and videos directly to my blog from on-the-road but need a decent phone - any suggestions?

Sat 27-12-08 - Egyptian demonstration in support of Gaza

From 3Arabawy Flickr account. (photos are available for download under a Creative Commons license.

Angry Iraqi throws shoes at President Bush in Baghdad

Object to being objects

A protest by 40 women and men outside the School of Oriental and African Studies’ (Soas) heats of the Miss University of London Beauty Pageant has caused a furore across the media.

Most of the opposition to our protest has come from liberals who believe that beauty contests are just a “bit of fun” in our “post-feminist” society.

But our position is strengthened by what has been a rolling back in the rights of women to walk down the street, or through campus, without the fear of being judged on their looks.

We have had comments such as, “You’re just jealous because you don’t look like these women – you would be OK if you put on a bit of lipstick,” to “If you don’t like being judged by your looks why don’t you wear a burkha?”

There have been even worse remarks, such as “women fantasise about being raped”.

This uncovers the terrible reality behind the seemingly benign arguments.

Women continue to face oppression in our society, with lower pay than men, worse job opportunities and the burden of childcare. We do not believe that women are being forced to enter these contests but how free is their choice?

There is a bombardment from the media and advertising about how a woman should act, dress and think. Because of this it is no surprise that 63 percent of young women would rather be a glamour model than a doctor or a lawyer.

We are told that being paraded round like a prize bull in a beauty pageant is the sort of liberation that women have fought for.

We also wonder how the contestants felt when men shouted that they should work in a brothel? With the introduction of top-up fees, some women students can see the exploitative glamour industry as an opportunity to make a bit of cash to help them through university.

What message does this send to our younger generation? That in order to feel valued you have to devalue yourself? We want a society that does not judge and then rank us on anything, let alone on the narrow stereotype of what it is to be beautiful.

We were told by a man – ironically in a class on feminism – that we should stop telling people what to think.

But by speaking out we are challenging the dominant ideas in society and making people question them.

This is exactly what we aim for. Why should we be silenced? We object to being objects and we are going to continue shouting.

We urge everyone to support the campaign against these degrading pageants by signing the petition, details of which can be found at » www.solomonsmindfield.net

Elly James, Soas students union women’s officer

Clare Solomon, Central London

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