3rd week June

Monday, it was the fifth anniversary yesterday of the arrest of the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, whose supposed crime was to argue for secularism, democracy and human rights. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes – a punishment that amounts to death by torture – although only 50 lashes were inflicted on him in the one session. Medical opinion was that he would not survive the remainder of that part of his sentence.

Gunmen have stormed a tourist resort in Mali popular with westerners and two people are dead, the country's security minister has said.

Officials said "suspected jihadists" were behind the assault.

Locals reported hearing shots fired at the luxury destination - Le Campement Kangaba resort in Dougourakoro, to the east of the capital Bamako.

Boris Johnson said in 2009 that safety fears were making the UK safe for ‘extremely stupid people’

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/17/boris-johnson-said-in-2009-that-safety-fears-were-making-the-uk-safe-for-extremely-stupid-people-6716076/#ixzz4kNqI7CVs

"Conservative ministers have repeatedly belittled the role of regulation in keeping people safe, buoyed by a rightwing press that has taken every possible opportunity to denounce a health and safety culture gone mad. Nothing sums this up better than the government’s facile “red tape challenge”, which insisted civil servants find two regulations to scrap for every new one introduced."

What an upside down world, Christiano Ronaldo wants Real Madrid to pay the 13,000,000 euro tax bill being claimed otherwise he'll leave the club. What a piece of excremental exudate.

Just after midnight, a van was driven into The Muslim Welfare House near Finsbury Park mosque, a clutch of buildings behind tall iron gates on Seven Sisters Road, is the headquarters of a network of community centres serving Muslims in England and Wales.

A registered charity, it has 13 employees on its books and had an income in 2016 of £856,000. It offers educational classes, such as skills training and language lessons, youth activities, lectures and religious services.

The north London premises is also a mosque, with more than 2,000 Muslims regularly attending Friday prayers. Up to 800 can squeeze into the main prayer hall, another 1,000 into the youth centre, and there is a separate women’s prayer space.

“The services provided here are much more than a mosque can offer,” Toufik Kacimi, the CEO of the charity, said in an interview earlier this year.

“We have services for children, for youth, services for women - different needs are all tackled with different programmes. It’s not like a mosque where you pray and go home.”

It appears to me a far right extremist, terrorist attack on Muslims, specifically. This cancer is fed by racists, for anyone who might read this unfamiliar with these British Nationalists will include but not exclusively, Britain first, English defence league, National Front and British National Party. Now on the various social media I look at I have seen posts from these scum shared and propagated by people I know, generally after a terrorist outrage committed by ‘Islamic’ terror mongers.  Because of my profession many of these will be nurses, workers in a caring profession I am dumbfounded. The only Muslims these will have met are health professionals or local restaurateurs. Prior to Muslim specific hate, around the time of the EU referendum the vent of their spleens were Eastern Europeans. During the referendum build up ‘foreigners’ were blamed for poor or perceived poor NHS performance, blamed for housing, school, social welfare shortages. This was unchallenged in the interests of balance in the build-up. Scapegoating by the like of Farage, words like ‘control of our borders’ from Johnson, Gove, Fox, Davis, Rees-Mogg et. al. Has given validation, succour and the oxygen of publicity to these far right animals. In complete contrast, an imam prevented the perpetrator receiving a serious beating in order for British justice to take its course.

Tuesday, today Tory party divisions, Mr Hammond the Chancellor of the Exchequer, wants U.K. To remain part of single market and customs union until a full deal is negotiated, this could take years, that will not please the get out at all costs brigade, they're probably worried all the old people who voted to leave will die off, the young who voted to remain will increase, another referendum might be needed, fantastic say I.

Wednesday, Queen’s speech today, very many ensures in it. Little of substance, speaking of governing for all with a consensus, bit of a debate on the radio afterwards, Tory MP reverted to nasty type, their consensus is – you agree with us or nothing – I hope they try, fail and dismally so.

The archaism of it all never ceases to amaze me, I wouldn't wish ill on a nonagenarian and I don't, but just because that old lady was born into the right (German of all things) family somehow or another she is declared a religious leader, head of state, has a song asking God to save her, from what I wonder, those beastly unwashed, foreigners, or the ungrateful people her family colonised or enslaved, and to be a people's representative you have to swear an oath to her. You can even get medals from her, member of her empire, order of her empire and commander of her empire, oh well the people seem to like her.

Thursday, wrote the above yesterday, oddly enough one of the younger ‘royals’ is reported to have said that his ilk would not want to be ‘king’ or ‘queen’, but they would because it's their duty. I suppose being a multi-millionaire, land owning posh boy is hard work.

Mrs May has gone to meet EU leaders in Brussels, looks very isolated, I still do not feel sorry for her.

Some of the people, homeless from the Grenfell Tower disaster are to be rehoused nearby in a luxury block, mutterings from luxury residents about the price of their property going down, they say they've worked hard for their status in life, no they're lucky, a road sweeper, refuse collector, healthcare assistant, fruit picker or any other number of occupations I could mention will all have worked hard and will not live in a millionaire pad. It is luck of birth.

Mr Trump has tweeted he does not have any tapes of Mr Comey and him speaking in private. Seems to me it may well mean he does, speaks with forked tongue.

Friday, Mrs May has made a derisory offer to the EU on its citizens, it also seems she blocked a full rights offer by Mr Cameron while she was Home Secretary in the transition from his ‘poorly paid’ government job back to rich boy banking.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/23/brexit-may-blocked-unilateral-offer-for-eu-citizens-rights-last-june?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Gary Haggerty, this piece of excrement will be seen as better than a republican because if the band plays play God Save The Queen, he will stand up and cry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40379903

Special branch, British Government, Army all complicit.

So Glastonbury starts…  Chrissie Hynde in a Motörhead tee shirt.

Kris Kristofersson, it's  not easy to forget his song catalogue, thanks for the memories.

Radiohead on form.

Saturday, a woman called Angela Leadsom told a BBC interviewer that broadcasters should be more patriotic, while being quizzed about her government’s lacklustre, weak, wobbly negotiations with the EU. Sinister is the only word to use. This is the same woman who declared Mrs May couldn't be a good leader as she wasn't a mother (like her) well she's not a good leader but it's nothing to do with fecundity. Seems to be an extremely unpleasant woman.

Monsieur Macron, teamed up with Governor Schwarzenegger speaking into his phone camera, Mr Schwarzenegger said that he and Mr Macron had been "talking about environmental issues and a green future" together.

An environmental message for Mr Trump.

In an unrelated but not dissimilar concept, evolution is being taken out of the education curriculum in Turkey, because of course god made man, then formed woman from a bit of rib, it's not just the DUP living in an ancient story book land.

Glastonbury Foo fighters just about outplayed Mr Corbyn, it seems he had a bigger crowd though.

This week.

The fire and deaths in the Grenfell tower block are unspeakable, if it turns out to be profit over safety, what kind of comment on unfettered capatilism? What profiteer will spend money they're not forced to? Whatever the cause it's the poorest and most vulnerable who are the victims, this wouldn't happen in a multi-storey luxury apartment block. In a quite disgusting aside, 2013 Mr Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson told a rival political an to ‘get stuffed’ when quizzed of the slashing of the fire service budget in London when he was mayor.



Mrs May and Mr Corbyn visited the tragedy site, the difference in approach seemed telling. Corbyn put his arms around someone, a real person, May stood woodenly in the centre of selected emergency staff, flanked by their bosses, I hope she's not that crass, but I'm sure she's that awkward.

Oh dear now she's even worse, been told to get out and meet people, seems incapable, since then there has been a meeting organised at 10 Downing Street in order for residents to state their cases. Two rags masquerading as newspapers one blamed the EU, the Sun was reported to have impersonated a relative to try to speak to one of the casualties in hospital, which they have since denied, there however a track record.
Two soldiers killed in a tank accident at Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire Wales, shell blew up inside the tank, a terrible tragedy for their families, they were just doing their jobs. Does bring me back to a social thought, the wasteful death of these soldiers in a machine, the money spent on which could better spent of safe accommodation/homes for the vulnerable and forgotten.

https://www.thecanary.co/2017/06/13/theresa-may-hoping-nobody-see-northern-ireland-document-written-cabinet-minister/

The above is of course taken from a socialist publication, but Mr Gove has not denied anything. The British government will always side with their natural colonial allies.
To sum up the 6 counties, from my point of view. A quick anecdote, for father’s day, my late dad moved from Ireland in the 1950’s from Waterford, Eire, met my mum, from Donegal, Eire in London and the rest as they say is history. My parents moved to S Wales to live and work, my, dad built a decent business, became part of the establishment, even joined, with my uncle, the TA, army reserve. He got to know many people in this part of the world, as a staunch Catholic his (and my mum’s) politics were very conservative. His circle here in the U.K. included many he would never have known back in Ireland. Many were Protestant clergymen. Every summer we would go back to Donegal, one time my grandfather’s favourite chair had broken and my dad was to fix it for him, one of my dad’s clergymen contacts here in the UK had a relation in Belfast who could supply the part needed to fix said chair. Off dad went to Belfast city, met up with the supplier, spoke about their mutual friends, my dad spoke about the TA, was saying all the right things, supplier found the part for the chair tucked away, was pleased to be able to help a mutual friend. Dad then set about paying, at a good discount too. He opened his overcoat to get his wallet, revealing a small pin with a very recognisable Catholic emblem- a sacred heart- a sign of the temperance Pioneer movement, he had signed the pledge never to drink alcohol, supplier saw the pin and sent my dad packing, he would not then serve him. Now my dad because of his religion, where he lived and how he lived, had no reason to indoctrinate me in anything other than Catholicism, certainly not antiestablishmentism, he read the Daily Express, voted Conservative, hated Communism to the extent of seeing facist Spain as sort of OK because it was Catholic, but he still told me this account. I know it's true because it rings true and it is also a reflection of the fear Northern Unionists held of Catholics, Ireland and the Pope in Rome, which Gove distilled in his tome.

Tim Farron resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrat party, he's an evangelical Christian, faced inquisition over his personal beliefs, found including compatibility with these and being a political party leader, to qualify that a liberal values political party, it is a boon if you’re a Republican in the USA, or Democratic Unionist in the 6 counties.

Finally for this week
Meadows are disappearing 7.5 million acres already, why can't human beings disappear.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/habitats/lowland-meadows

Morning after

Having seen some of the ‘comments’ on social media concerning Diane Abbott, it has reinforced quite how unpleasant this election campaign has been. A few points occurred to me, stating my interest I am a member of and will vote for the Green Party. That considered, on Diane Abbott how many of the vituperative comments are from people who understand illness and the effect it has? If any of the people commenting are health professionals words fail me, other than a biblical let those without sin cast the first stone, and a not so biblical people in glass houses… The world is ‘burning’ people are starving, there have been terror attacks in Tehran, recently in Pakistan, London and Manchester and the ‘populist’ press (the owners of which pay little or no tax here) spouts its diatribe feeding the jingoists, xenophobes and outright racists, I cannot understand someone I know ‘liking’ Tommy Robinson (well known British racist) or whatever he calls himself now, the EDL, the Welsh defence league of all things, Britain First and the various other manifestations of bile. Back to Diane Abbott, I wonder how many of those jumping on the bandwagon of abuse have had periods of illness which kept them away from work, had bad days at the office or made mistakes, I wonder how high the dudgeon would be if they were publicly humiliated, I suspect I know the answer.

The morning of  9^thJune felt far better than a morning about a year ago, It seemed a real possibility that Hope reared it's head. Young people came out to vote, the complacency of the older has reaped it's reward. I wish that Sinn Fein could move somewhat and take seats even to further the ambition of an united Ireland,  but I know an oath of allegiance to the queen of England is out of the question.

Mrs May, like Mr Cameron gambled with the country for her own ends, and wrecked it.

Mr Corbyn managed well despite concerted efforts of newspapers, radio stations and television channels.

Caroline Lucas was re-elected well, which is a triumph.

If I was to guess, there will be another election in October or November, this seems likely, there is the possibility of another eu referendum, Scottish independence seems off the cards for a while.

I think at the core of the all this is that young people saw the damage of not voting in the eu referendum, Mr Corbyn appealed to them and they voted. Work hard and we can get more young people out.

I will still get my Irish Passport, but the possibility of a decent relationship with Europe is now here.

A look at the map of Northern Ireland now and in the past is thought provoking. Unionism shrinking?

Green Sinn Fein, Red DUP, Pink Independent 2017 UK General election

The DUP can see this as well as I can, so they now think they have a strong hand (red hand!).

Then add up the possibilities, Mrs May and her 318 MPs plus the 10 DUP will give her the numbers, so that's where she has gone. Ah the DUP, climate change, women's rights, LBGT rights, creationism, what the people in Ireland have known will now astonish those who have moved on to live in the 21^st century.

Over the weekend there have been movements, Mr Michael Gove an enemy of the environment has been appointed to run to the self same department. Mrs May stood and brazened her situation, it seems she has apologised to her back benchers, apologised to the members of her party who lost their jobs (she did this after being prompted) but neglected the wider public. She has now put off the queen’s speech as the DUP and her haven't reached an agreement yet, with the orange marching season soon perhaps she can declare Catholic churches or nationalist areas legitimate targets as enemies of the state that'll fix it.

Theresa May has appointed a justice secretary who has consistently voted against LGBT rights.

 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/06/12/theresa-may-appoints-anti-lgbt-justice-secretary-in-the-middle-of-dup-negotiations/?utm_source=MOBT&utm_medium=Twittermob&Twittermob&utm_campaign=PNMOBT

Mr Hunt remains in charge of the NHS, this is Mrs May saying to the NHS I couldn’t give a sh*t about you, she has not got the wit, humility or advisers to realise all this will bite back.

Change

Time for a change, My nurse registration is now lapsed, there is a general election here, Mr Trump has erected his middle finger to the world and in a few months I'll be out of my 6th decade and dandering into my 7th. Last summer after the UK voted and about 52% of those who voted exercised an anti-immigrant muscle, despite what the apologists say. Based on that last summer's "will of the people" exercise I felt the need to fight back. To fight back against the likes of Messrs Johnson, Gove,    Duncan-Smith, Farage, Fox et al.  this was reinforced by the barely credible election of Mr Trump in the USA. To fight back against the people typified by the low life who in the days after the EU referendum told a doctor in Morriston Hospital
   f@@k off back I voted to get rid of you lot
To fight back against the No Blacks, No Dogs No Irish of 50's and 60's Britain which is rearing is ugly head again.

So I've changed the name to My Week.

My week feels summed up by a media war against Mr Corbin. My dread, probably with some justification is that voters take their lead from the particularly, in Britain, virulent not to say rabid right wing press. I am not a Labour party member, I'm a member of the Green Party.
So some headlines this week included

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4567742/Jeremy-Corbyn-humiliated-calamitous-TV-debate.html
14 hours ago - Pacifist Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was heckled by a live TV audience as he repeatedly ducked questions about his ... MailOnline US - news, sport, celebrity, science and health stories.


About a man who said he would not want to press the button for nuclear Armageddon.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40128431

About a man who would.
Make your own mind up.