Solidarity supports the United Nations Conventions in opposing cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners. We believe the Scottish Government was entirely justified in releasing a dying man, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, so that he could spend his few remaining days with his family in Libya. Not to have done so and to allow him to die in jail would have been seen across the world as cruel and degrading treatment.
This would be our view even if Megrahi were guilty of the monstrous crime of which he was convicted. However, as every person in the legal profession, in politics and the media knows Megrahi did not carry out the Lockerbie bombing. Megrahi was in fact the subject of a massive frameup by the British and US Governments and a grotesque miscarriage of justice by the Scottish judiciary. Ultimately he was, as a loyal Libyan official, sacrificed as a pawn in a geopolitical game - handed to Scotland to end sanctions and released to develop oil.
Thousands March in Defence of Jobs at Johnnie Walker
Sunday, 26 July 2009
They came in their thousands to send a message loud and clear to the bosses at Diageo – No job cuts to pay for corporate greed! The “Striding Forward Together” March and Rally in against the bosses at Diageo’s decision to close the Johnnie Walker plants in Kilmarnock and other operations in Hurlford and Port Dundas galvanised the community who responded in their thousands.
Solidarity members have been out on the streets of Kilmarnock and Glasgow campaigning to save jobs at the threatened Diageo plants in Kilmarnock and Port Dundas.
The ‘Keep Striding Forward’ march and rally will be held in Kilmarnock on Sunday 26 July as part of the Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock campaign. The march will start from the Howard Park at 1pm where there will be musical entertainment from 12pm. The marchers will then head up John Finnie Street and under the arches at the railway station to Hill Street where they will march past the Johnnie Walker factory.
The march will then head to Witch Road, down Dean Lane onto Strawberrybank Road finishing at the Kay Park at approximately 2.30pm with a mass rally.
Solidarity meeting after main rally;
The Portman Hotel, Portland Road,
Kilmarnock KA1 2DL
Main Speakers: Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne and a Jonnie Walker worker.
For more information click on the campaign website here
Solidarity with Vestas Occupiers
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
A group of workers have occupied the Vestas plant on the Isle of Wight.
Their brave stand is in defence of 600 jobs under threat and to keep production going at almost the only British producer of wind turbines. The government says it plans to create a million “green jobs”. Meanwhile, in the real world, this wind turbine factory is being closed and Labour does nothing.
All 600 workers at the factory face redundancy. The factory is the largest employer on the island.
Rush messages of support to 07980 703115 and 07970 739921 and 07733 388888.