August was worst month for US in Iraq http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0907/dailyUpdate.html?s=ent2
The US military says that almost 1,100 soldiers were wounded during the month of August in Iraq, the highest total since the invasion of the country 18 months ago. Attacks on US troops averaged more than 100 a day in August. The Washington Post reports that the figure is a sign of the intensity and duration of the heavy urban fighting in cities like Najaf, Ramadi, Samarra, Falujah and the Sadr City slum section of Baghdad. Most of these cities remain under the control of insurgents despite the transfer of political authority to an interim national government.
"They were doing battlefield urban operations in four places at one time," said Lt. Col. Albert Maas, operations officer for the 2nd Medical Brigade, which oversees US combat hospitals in Iraq. "It's like working in downtown Detroit. You're going literally building to building."
The good news was that combat deaths (66), while the highest total since May, were not climbing as fast as the number of injured. Officials created the reintroduction of "heavy armored" equipment, like Abrams tanks and the Bradley fighting vehicles, for keeping the death toll down despite the intense fighting. There are no official figures available for the number of Iraqi insurgents and civilians killed or hurt.
But as August ends and September begins, the fighting does not seem to have diminshed. The Associated Press reports that Sunday seven US Marines and three Iraqi National Guard troops were killed when a suicide bomber drove up beside two Humvees and detonated his "explosive laden" car nine miles north of Fallujah. The bombing was the largest number of US military personel killed in one attack since May 2 when nine US soldiers were killed in separate mortar attacks and roadside bombings in Baghdad, Ramadi and Kirkuk.
Roadside bombs killed three American soldiers in Baghdad, and a fourth soldier died in a blast near Mosul, the US military said on Tuesday. So far 990 US troops have died in Iraq, while more than 100 other troops from other nations have also died.
Meanwhile, the governor of Baghdad survived an assassination attempt. The BBC reports that 34 people were killed as US forces fought insurgents in Sadr City, the section of Baghdad that is home to the largest contingent of supporters of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Newsday reports on Tuesday that over the weekend Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz, one of the highest-ranking US generals in Iraq, did not dismiss the concept of holding January elections throughout the country while "leaving out any lone rebellious enclave." The Los Angeles Times reports that Lt. Gen. Metz feels fair elections could be held without cities like Fallujah being included.
'We'd have elections before we let one place like Fallujah stop [national] elections,' said Metz, the number two US military official in Iraq. 'The rest of the country can go on about a process that heads right for an election.'
The Times says Metz's statements are the clearest indication yet by any US official of just how "perilious" the security situation in Iraq has become. Officials could stick to their timetables for an election if it bypassed cities like Fallujah and others, but it could "detract from the election's credibility, foment discontent in Iraq, and leave other countries reluctant to acknowledge any government chosen in the vote."
AP notes that Metz also said major US assaults on one or more of these cities controlled by insurgents is likely before any elections would be held in January
Besides these centers of rebellion, large sections of Iraq remain beyond government control and out of reach of elections. These include Sunni Muslim areas north and west of Baghdad and, perhaps, southern Shiite cities like Basra, where sections resist US or British troops. Assaults to retake these areas could be done consecutively or simultaneously, Metz said. He said one or more might be solved through negotiations, with leaders warning that their cities face a devastating US offensive if the insurgents don't stand down.
The Daily Star of Lebanon reports Tuesday on how many Iraqis don't see the interim Iraqi National Assembly as representative of them. The Star says that one of the toughest tasks Iraqi politicians face is changing the attitudes of people "unaccustomed to involvement in governing." But members have already been discussing giving themselves pay raises and immunity from prosecution. They also decided to establish committees on foreign, national, and social affairs; security; education; immigration; economics; and elections.
'This doesn't deserve to be called a National Assembly,' said Sheikh Abdul-Sattar Abdul-Jabbar, a spokesman for the Association of Muslim Scholars, a hard-line Sunni Islamist group opposed to the current political status quo. 'They don't even respect the law that they themselves put in place.' But other Iraqis, even those who say the interim government doesn't represent their interests, said they were more hopeful. 'We have to approve of it because it exists,' said Safa Hossein, 25, a laborer in Adhamiyah, a Sunni stronghold in Baghdad long opposed to the US presence here. 'It's better than nothing, better than being occupied, better than Saddam.'
G8 i just wanted to draw your attention to these imporatnt comments
http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news461.htm
and to this event
http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news459.htm
and see if anyone else is planning on making the journey?
can’t even trust the "liberal" media! Earlier in the year the london crews do a big warehouse party in a disused building in EC1 (city of London).
The Guardian newspaper (a liberal British newspaper) reports it on their website in the crime section, flanked by reports on gang-related shootings, and a serial rapist. (it eventually got moved from the website but probably only because it became old news). most of the article contained old bill and locals complaining about noise and disruption..
However, the former lead singer of the Libertines (a British indie rock band) becomes a heroin addict, commits several criminal acts including burgling his bandmates house and bringing and illegal knife into the country, and articles about hislife end up in the arts section.... this same section also contained an article from some middle class art critic type claiming that graf and urban artists were arrogant conservatives!
whose side are they on? OK a lot of the grauniads stuff is quite good - but they do seem to be dominated by middle class, middle aged university educated types and rather subtly IMO are trying to lead the youth in to become "good wooly liberals" rather than trying to achieve real social change... baaa!
Rave the EU Social Forum This october is the 2nd European Social Forum, a huge gathering of activists and representatives of a wide range of social organisations from across Europe and the World. While clearly such events involve a lot of talking (often in circles) about what should be done rather than doing it, a lot of bicaring not to mention spending a lot of money i do think its vaguely worthwhile on the basis that its a recognition that we may be disperse but we are many and though our goals differ we share a common enemy, to move forward we need to come togther.
As freeparty people we are often considered to be outside of such (perhaps more overtly organised) movements - as people that just want to get fucked at the weekend and will do whatever during the week to get there. As you lot know this isnt the case. the act of doing a party is a dissenting activity. we are a powerful and organised movement. ( - name one company or state institution that could get 10,000 people in one place without one bit advertising as we do for teknivals)
I was at the first Social Forum in Paris last year. On the last day
there was a fat demo ending up in a large square with a load of rigs
on trucks and genereally looking like it was gonna kick off but it
stopped at about 11pm. there was a farely lame punk do at a squat on
the ouitskirts but basically fuckall to do as that too ended early. a
proper party was well needed what with 1000s of activists from all
over europe in one place and well up for it.
Basically this is call to see if anything is happening already in connection to the forum or if anyone is up for doing something. It is good to link the movements and show that yeah we are ravers but were not putting up with the global capitalist onslaught either in short it would be good make our presence known by way of solidarity with the resistence, It could also be a fat party/event.
what do you rekon?
to make love or war Fighting for peace may appear to be an oxymoron however all things of great achievement, value and worth with it's ensuing rewards, come from a struggle to overcome and at a price. The struggle for peace may well require the overthrow of an opressor, it may be paid for in the blood of sons and daughters. Future acts of violence may also be required to protect it.
However if a nation is not prepared to sacrifice and fight to keep/protect the values it holds dear, then can and do it's citizens really appreciate what it is they stand to lose or gain,do they appreciate what it is to have peace? (after many years of civil unrest societies tend to normalise conflict and seek more of the same through lack of any remembered norm). How do they re-learn to be peaceful and then value it enough to fight to keep it (metaphorically or literally)?
Having said that, all nations have a fundamental right to self determination, but in an imperfect world where centuries old conflict (the religion thing)will never go away sometimes you have to fight for your rights lest ye be laid waste by thy own hand.
Nice one John About time someone stood up and said it...to be fair I think there are a lot of other people in the media who share his views and even loath the projects they are working on for the same reasons; but jobs are hard to keep and there is so much competition so they can't afford to speak out..
I'd disagree about Banzai though - that can be quite funny and I don't find it racist or anything like that (its intended as a satire of Japanese TV); and I do have oriental ancestry! (I am one of the few people who can tell that Bert Kwouks "Engrish" accent is South Chinese rather than Japanese :D )
Quote:
BBC's Humphrys slates reality TV
By Darren Waters
BBC News Online entertainment staff in Edinburgh
BBC Radio 4 news presenter John Humphrys has attacked British reality television as "seedy, cynical and harmful" to society.
Humphrys, who presents the Today programme, told an audience of media executives at the Edinburgh Television Festival on Friday night that "some of our worst television is indeed indefensible".
Humphrys is known for his tough-talking style
He called for greater regulation of terrestrial television and even possible government intervention to ensure standards are maintained.
The three-day festival is host to the most important figures in British television, and features talks and seminars given by the heads of Channel 4, Five, Sky and the BBC.
Humphrys used the prestigious McTaggart lecture to say reality TV "eroded the distinction between the public and the private, which is a profoundly important aspect of our culture".
He called Channel 4's hit show Big Brother "damaging" and said the most recent show had "bequeathed us a legacy; the way to get ratings is to get evil".
Reality TV turns human beings into freaks for us to gawp at
John Humphrys
People who wanted to watch reality television could do so on subscription channels but society should "limit the harm" by stronger regulation of commercial channels by the government, he said.
The Cardiff-born presenter said TV was now "a battle between people who are concerned about society and those whose overwhelming interest is simply to make programmes that make money".
Humphrys also warned that news coverage of politics should not be made "more fun" in an attempt to boost public interest.
The quality of the best television is not just as good as it ever was, I suspect... some of it is even better
John Humphrys
He said he disagreed with the former BBC director general Greg Dyke who said it was the broadcaster's job to make politics less boring by making the coverage less boring.
"We shouldn't be trying to lure [viewers and listeners] into politics by pretending that it's just another game show.
"Greg got it wrong," he said.
And as the presenter on Radio 4 when Andrew Gilligan's news report into the government's Iraq dossier unleashed a storm of controversy, he said news needed "more, not less in-depth interviewing of politicians".
I've been reminded that television... can help maintain the momentum that takes us from barbarity to civilisation
John Humphrys
In a thinly-veiled dig at the BBC's measures taken since the Hutton report criticised the BBC's approach to news, he said mistakes would always be made "however many notes we take and however many people we send back to college".
He told the conference he has not watched television for the last five years, but said he had based his opinions on watching programmes sent to him by executives as examples of the best of the medium.
He praised programmes such as Channel 4's Operatunity and the BBC's Life of Mammals, saying he had been "informed, entertained and deeply moved by some of what I've seen".
Operatunity's winners were Denise Leigh and Jane Gilchrist [R]
"I've been reminded that television... can help maintain the momentum that takes us from barbarity to civilisation".
But he said a "vast amount of the rest is simply mediocre" and did not tell the audience if his recent viewing would mean he would become a regular viewer again.
The veteran broadcaster expressed incredulity that programmes such as Your Face or Mine, The Pilot Show, Banzai and Nip/Tuck were considered quality television.
Examples of good television "cannot pay the dues of the bad when the bad is indefensible", he added.
I'm personally profoundly relieved that the BBC has avoided the worst excesses of reality television
John Humphrys
And television was "more aggressive and confrontational" and "vulgar and obsessed with sex" than he remembered.
He warned that such television could "coarsen" and "brutalise" and said the level of aggression he found in soaps "fits my definition of harmful - especially given that they're broadcast pre-watershed".
He also admitted that the BBC produced its share of rubbish and quality programmes - the corporation's responsibilities were greater than they have ever been, he added.
20 people at an indoor party to be illegal! As part of the Anti-Social behaviour bill, the house of Lords last night passed an ammendment to the CJA (remember that?!) which does the following:
* Reduces the legal definition of a "rave" to be 20, not 100 people
* makes indoor raves illegal
* stops organisers moving on to second sites
The legal bumpf at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200203/ldbills/108/03108.46-49.html#j6666
and the Hansard debate at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds03/text/31007-33.htm
Somebody better qualified than me can work out the legal & procedural nicities of this, but it doesnt look good.
Good news from Russia From http://www.bellona.no
All nuclear powered lighthouses to be removed by 2005
Murmansk authorities are removing lighthouses run on radioactive strontium-90 batteries and replacing them with modern solar energy lighthouses, NTV reported.
2004-08-20 15:16
The strontium batteries will be transported with helicopters to the storage facility in Murmansk and then further by railway to the Mayak reprocessing plant in the South Ural. All the strontium lighthouses (about 500) along the coast of the Kola Peninsula are to be removed this year before polar night comes. The radioactive lighthouses could pose a major security threat if falling in the hands of terrorists. Norwegian authorities are financing the new solar lighthouses. The price of each solar panel lighthouse is about $34,200.
totally disengaged well i feel totally disengaged from the democratic process..
europe and all that
i've lived in loads of countries, have been an 'activist' and stuff.
is it just me, or is voting a load of crap? made me feel shitty anyway
Blunkett charges innocent prisoners David Blunkett wants to charge people who have spent time in prison,and have been freed as their conviction was unsafe,for their board and lodging....more here
Britain’s youths are "completely out of control"… Blunkett to detail five-year strategy
http://www.epolitix.com/
The home secretary is today set to detail how he intends to reduce crime by 15 per cent over the coming five years.
Following the spending review, David Blunkett is likely to detail a significant increase in street patrol officers.
The additional spending handed out by the chancellor will be used to cut nearly 900,000 offences in England and Wales.
With the support of the prime minister Blunkett is set to get tough on yob culture - with an assault on anti-social behaviour and drink related crime.
In a bid to signal the government's determination to tackle the yob culture Tony Blair said: "People do not want to return to old prejudices and to ugly discrimination. But they do want rules...where those who play by the rules are those who don't get punished."
Speaking to a Sunday newspaper the home secretary said he wanted to crack down on the "thuggery" associated with binge drinking.
Under the government's plans, the number of civilian police wardens will be increased to 20,000.
Ministers will also commit to the retention of the current 138,000 police officers.
The five-year plan, to be detailed in the Commons this afternoon, will also increase spending on youth projects in a bid to get young people off the streets.
Blunkett has echoed the remarks of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens, who recently warned about "feral children".
The home secretary told the Observer that some of Britain's youths are "completely out of control".
New measures to combat the drugs menace will also be detailed by the home secretary.
The government believes the links between drugs and crime make it essential that a major funding boost is awarded to successful drug rehabilitation programmes.
Blunkett may also use his Commons statement and five year plan to detail proposals to establish the Serious and Organised Crime Agency - which will bring together the National Crime Squad, National Criminal Intelligence Service and elements of Customs and Excise.
Welsh ID card trial launched http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3567684.stm
"Shoppers in Swansea will this week join a trial of a high-tech ID card that could become compulsory under Home Office plans.
Volunteers are being asked to have fingerprints, irises, and facial details recorded as part of the UK Passport Service (UKPS) trial.
The experiment aims to weed out problems and get public feedback before the planned introduction date of 2007.
The mobile unit will be based at the Asda store in Morriston for the week.
The trial site being launched in Swansea today is a vital part of this, laying the foundations for a robust and effective national identity card scheme
Home Office Minister Des Browne
It is the only Welsh trial as the UK Passport Service looks for 10,000 volunteers across the UK over six months.
Volunteers will get a demonstrator "smart card" containing their details on an electronic chip.
It is planned to include biometrics (facial features) in passports and to build a base for the national compulsory identity cards scheme.
There are objections to national ID cards among some.
Critics fear it might cause friction among ethnic minorities and set back race relations.
There are other fears that the cards might drive illegal immigrants into hiding.
Civil liberties campaigners say thousands of ordinary people could be criminalised if they refused to own the cards.
Home Office Minister Des Browne said those taking part in the Swansea trial would be playing an important role.
"Identity crime is a growing threat to all countries," he said.
"It costs the UK £1.3 billion a year, and facilitates organised crime, illegal immigration, benefit fraud, illegal working and terrorism.
"Only by planning ahead and taking steps now can we ensure that in the years to come we will be able to take on the increasingly sophisticated methods used by criminals.
"The government is to introduce a compulsory national UK identity card scheme to help tackle organised crime and protect the identities of British citizens.
"Using cutting-edge technology, the cards will link individuals' unique biometric data, such as iris scans, to a secure national database.
"The trial site being launched in Swansea is a vital part of this, laying the foundations for a robust and effective national identity card scheme."
BIOMETRIC PILOT SCHEMES
Target of 10,000 volunteers
No figures yet, but more than 16,000 have shown an interest
All details are destroyed and feedback anonymous
Aims to identify any practical difficulties and give a cost projection of full scheme
Current cost predicted £1.3bn to £3.1bn"
I dind't realise this was starting yet - I've obviously been walking around with my eyes closed!
schnews.co.uk – TALIBANISH TALIBANISH
http://www.schnews.co.uk/
Friday 18th June 2004
Due to a lack of news getting through to that far corner of the earth-Avon and Somerset, the police force in their wisdom have failed to react to hordes of testerone up males pouring out on to the streets of every major town beating each other to death and drowning each other in puke. They have also not heard of the carnage, torture of innocent people, mutilation of children and the on going mass slaughter of civilians that is being carried out throughout the world by our government in a misguided notion of ‘freedom’.
At least someone in this country is getting real, all these paranoid MPs harping on about the threat of terrorism, gun crimes and inner city violence; bloody ‘lefties’ scaremongering over racial attacks, Islamaphobia and deaths in police custody, when the real threat to our freedom and livelihood is carried out according to Superintendent Adrian Coombs of the Avon and Somerset police, by people dancing - bastards! There also seems a worry that these ‘dancy’ people, who apparently stay up all night in their drug crazed stupors, are secretly plotting the overthrow of our democratically rejected government and have more friends that the police themselves. Old Coombsy baby, not to be outdone who stresses that he can dance with the best of them – it’s just that no one has asked him - believes that previous laws which stated that there needed to be at least a hundred people gathered in an open space for the old ‘bacon troupe’ to take action, has now been changed to just twenty, even if that’s inside a dodgy old warehouse. This is good news for all those sad people out there who have birthday parties and less than twenty people turn up. ‘It’s the law mate, I would have invited more, you know how it is?’
Yet, this is only half of it. Old Superintendent Adrian Coombs, which could be abbreviated as ‘SAC’ if only, has had a rethink, and thought that those sad people with less than twenty friends may also be, not only smiling in the face of the law, but actually having the audacity to have a good time. And Public Assembly is no longer 20 people, but can be comprised of just two people! Two people! What kind of party’s that! Maybe the sought Coombsy would invite his mates too. ‘Yeah, you know, I would come, it’s just that I’ve got to watch some paint dry-sorry!’ And of course it would be against the law. The next policeman’s Ball, lets all turn up and arrest the bastards.
The force is believed to be one of the first in the country to adopt the new legislation under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 making Avon and Somerset a non smiling zone. This is England’s answer to China’s ‘One Child Policy’ the ‘One Mate Policy’ of Somerset, you are only allowed another mate under exceptional circumstances, and the circumstances are, you have to reek of bacon. Operational planning head, (if only the party scene had one of them) Super Coombsy, stated,
“In the past we’ve had a situation where officers realised they could do little until a rave had been going on for some time, meaning serious disruption to both local people and officers.”
See what you are doing out there, hiding in your derelict warehouses in the midst of some rundown industrial estate, you are forcing the Somerset police, who are busily sorting out serious crime in their tea rooms, to come out in the middle of the night when all ‘decent’ taxpaying types are in bed, and with sirens blaring, turn the devil worshipper’s music off and make those drug induced, drunk individuals drive home. This is about on par with throwing thousands of testeroned up males onto the street at the same time. It is no wonder that these same people came up with the idea of invading Iraq to stop uprisings being put down by force and innocent people being tortured. Can you see a pattern developing here?
Lucky for us the Somerset police will now be able to stop those past outrageous incidents of loved up individuals dancing in fields and smiling away in dusty old empty warehouses. Or will they? Lets face it we’ve all been here before, but be aware those party putter oners as this new legislation applies inside as well and anyone who is moved on faces arrest if they try to start up another gathering within 24 hours. So to recap, you can only have a party if you are alone, not playing music, and you are not inside or outside-no problem!
* Despite the best efforts of the authorities, free parties still happen up and down the country every week. Go to www.partyvibe.com/freeparties.htm for a list of phone numbers and websites.
‘Rave’ to disrupt city traffic 'Rave' (Reclaim the Streets) set to disrupt city traffic
http://news.scotsman.com/
AN anarchists’ march is set to bring major disruption to the Capital this weekend.
Hundreds of people are expected to take part in Reclaim the Streets, a demonstration which will culminate in an on-street "rave".
Participants aim to bring the city centre to a standstill in their attempt to "reclaim" the streets.
The group is scheduled to meet at noon tomorrow at Bristo Square and Festival Square before they begin their march. Organisers have refused to reveal which route they plan to follow.
The march will take place at the same time as thousands of people are expected to gather in the Grassmarket area of the city for a free Mardi Gras-style party.
The organisation claims it does not intend its protest to disrupt traffic, but says it is simply claiming back space it is entitled to use. But on their website they describe vehicles as "those evil machines called cars that pollute the atmosphere and rob people of their right to walk freely on the streets".
A spokesman from the AA attacked the plans, saying: "Groups like this are always going to be a minority. The vast majority of Scots understand the benefits cars bring them. The protest is not going to change people’s minds. It will just be an inconvenience to everyone." Although traffic chaos is possible, Lothian Buses hopes to continue running its services as usual. A spokesman said: "The extent of disruption is unclear, but we will be doing whatever we can to run as normal a service as possible."
The protest will be taking place at the same time as an afternoon-long Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival event in the Grassmarket.
"Reclaim the Streets" is a worldwide movement which has been organising similar street parties since 1995.
Beginning in London, it has since spread all over the globe, with parties being held from Sydney to San Francisco.
The first Reclaim the Streets party in Edinburgh was held in 1997. Around 200 demonstrators blockaded the Grassmarket
and danced in the street, before police moved in to break them up.
In 2000 and 2001, the movement staged carnival processions throughout the streets of the city.
Although these processions remained fairly peaceful, a few arrests were made and there were several "tense" moments between the police and party-goers.
This year, the police are unsure about the route the revellers are going to take as the organisers have refused to communicate their plans or to ask permission from the council to stage the event.
A police spokesman said: "We are aware of the possibility of this march taking place, but it has not been authorised. The organisers should discuss their plans with us to avoid disrupting the lives of other people. However, we will have planned an appropriate number of officers to be available should any incidents occur."
The Reclaim The Streets movement rarely asks for authorisation for its street parties. The main group involved in organising the procession are known as the "Edinburgh Cider Punx".
As well as targeting traffic pollution, they will be protesting against the Festival, which they describe as: "A festival for the rich where the poor, working-class and homeless are pushed away."
The organisation of the street party also coincides with the recent announcement that the 2005 G8 summit is to be held not far from Edinburgh at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire.
It is possible the party may also be used to protest against this decision.
The organisers are hoping for a colourful event, with people invited to bring flags and music.
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