In the wake of the Stern Review (published 30 Oct 2006) the threat posed by climate change has risen rapidly up the agenda of all the establishment political parties. Or so it appears from the rhetoric!
The problem is that whilst more and more mainstream politicians are talking the talk, they are not walking the walk. They cannot imagine solutions outside the context of an expanding global economy, based entirely on the proposition that the accumulation and concentration of wealth by the tiny minority who control the world's powerful multinational corporations is somehow good for the whole of humanity.
So when these apparent converts to the cause of environmental responsibility, speak of the dire consequences of uncontrolled and devastating climate change they do so with blinkers and earplugs firmly in place. How else can they welcome the latest airport expansion or new motorway on a Tuesday and talk about climate change on a Thursday ?
Solidarity condemns moves by Nationalist MSP Roseanna Cunningham, to table amendments today which could effectively block gay couples from adopting children. In an argument that claims the moral high-ground, Cunningham argues that moves to allow the Bill to proceed would be ‘against nature’s design’. Solidarity believes that the rights of children to have their needs met far outweigh the outdated and inaccurate perceptions of a politician whose agenda is clearly driven by their own personal or religious or moral beliefs.
Cunningham is correct in that there are ‘serious issues’ surrounding this debate. These serious issues are around whether two people (sexual orientation should not be a factor considered relevant) are able to provide a loving, safe, stable environment in which a child may thrive. Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne said:
“During wars, whole generations of children have been raised in homes where two women manage the household – mothers and grandmothers, aunts, sisters – all have worked efficiently as a family unit, producing well adjusted and well cared for children. It is a nonsense to argue that what those two women may have done in their sexual lives should have any bearing on the well being of the children in the household. As adults, our sex lives remain apart from our children’s frame of reference – as should always be the case. Personal and deeply private matters such as these should not form part of the equation when assessing a couple’s ability to care for a child, who, if we are honest, has most probably been damaged either in the home of natural parents, or in being part of the care system.”
Solidarity MSP Rosemary Byrne today lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for support for the unfairpak demo against HBOS on Monday 11th September. Byrne and her party have been active supporters of Farepak victims and the campaign group since the start and last week, Suzy Hall, who leads the unfairpak campaign, praised the Solidarity Co-Convenor’s contribution to the debate in parliament on the issue, describing it as “fantastic”. Solidarity members in the Lothians have been building for the demo and produced thousands of leaflets for Suzy and the campaign, the Solidarity action has inspired other parties in the parliament to get behind the campaign and take similar actions. The South of Scotland MSP said:
“I want all MSPs and all parties to give full support to this demo, HBOS must accept their responsibilities in this matter and assist in compensation for the theft of money from hard-working families at Christmas”
Suzy Hall of unfairpak will be a guest on Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan’s talk107 radio show “Sunday Morning With Citizen Tommy” this week in an attempt to increase support for the demo the following day. The Glasgow MSP for Scotland’s fastest growing political party said:
“I am honoured that Suzy has agreed to come on the show, she is a fine example of a real working class campaigner and fighter.”
Rosemary Byrne and Tommy Sheridan, Co-Convenors of Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement unveiled their own “mini-budget” in response to Gordon Brown fiddling with taxes while Baghdad burns. In 2003 Brown, when asked how much the war in Iraq would cost, replied “as much as it takes. Solidarity calls on him to apply the same principle to the war on poverty.
South of Scotland MSP Byrne challenged Brown to stand by his own beliefs and invest in education and young people:
“In 1993, in his book “Where There’s Greed” Gordon Brown claimed that the Tories decision to abolish benefits for 16-18 year olds was directly responsible for a rise in youth crime and inner city riots. Now that he has been in charge of our country’s purse strings for almost ten years it is time he stood by that and re-introduced equality for young adults in the benefits system. Brown, like me and other politicians, went to university at a time when students could claim housing benefit, income support during summer and Christmas breaks and a full maintenance grant. Yet, he has joined with the Tories in closing that door to students today. It is time to invest in our futures by re-establishing free education for all.”
Glasgow MSP Sheridan pointed Gordon Brown in the direction of where his money for investment might be:
“In an answer to a question in the commons recently, the New Labour Government revealed that cost of replacing and maintaining Trident for 30 years would be at least £76 Billion. The people of Britain deserve the choice to decide whether they want that money spent on weapons of mass destruction, or spent on a decent pension, a decent minimum wage and investment in good quality social housing to rent.
“Brown today has unveiled a new batch of “green” taxes. In Solidarity we also want to see green taxes. We call on Brown to increase taxes for Sir Philip Green and his fellow billionaires, to redistribute to the poor of the UK in the form of wages, benefits and pensions.”
Solidarity mini-budget:
Scrap trident with no replacement. Tax the Rich. Re-introduce benefits for 16-18 year olds Re-introduce free education for all with full student grants A pension of £200 per week for all pensioners A minimum wage of £8 per hour Build 250,000 new houses for rent at affordable rates. Rent breaks and benefits for those returning to work.
Dundee Anti-Terror Unit is Based on a Dodgy Dossier
Wednesday, 06 December 2006
Craig Murray, a former student at Dundee University who served for two years as Britain's ambassador to Uzbekistan, will be speaking today at a meeting hosted by Dundee Trades Union Council. It is expected that he will be highlighting the complicity of the British government and British security services in torture and human rights abuses in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in the world.
The visit comes as controversy continues to grow over the activities of Tayside's anti-terror police. There is particular concern over the possibility that intelligence gathered by a Tayside anti-terror unit could be shared with agencies in countries where human rights abuses are commonplace.
Officers of the unit have also been accused of displaying Islamophobic attitudes – a charge that Tayside Police has not yet responded to. Assurances given recently to Dundee students about the unit's activities on campus have done little to allay fears.
A police document released to SACC under Freedom of Information legislation, and now made widely available for the first time, suggests that Dundee has been singled out for this sort of policing on the basis of a widely discredited academic report. Civil liberties campaigners are calling for the unit to be disbanded.
Events Calendar
So when these apparent converts to the cause of environmental responsibility, speak of the dire consequences of uncontrolled and devastating climate change they do so with blinkers and earplugs firmly in place. How else can they welcome the latest airport expansion or new motorway on a Tuesday and talk about climate change on a Thursday ?
