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Rhondda Records is with you every day bringing the news ------- that gives a view of world events different to the mainstream media or social media!
Except Sundays - our day of rest.
Journalist:To end war ------
prosecute UK, US officials
who wage(d) it illegally
October 22nd, 10:12pm (PressTV)
The world must finally put an end to the impunity of war
criminals, by holding US and UK officials responsible
for launching the illegal war on Iraq, done without
the approval of the UN Security Council, and
prosecuting them --- under the Nuremberg
principles, US journalist Don DeBar said.
DeBar made the remarks in an interview with Press TV while
commenting on a report which has revealed that the British
military inquiries into abuse against Iraqi nationals... have
been closed without a single prosecution being brought,
even though the credibility of many "shocking and
shameful incidents" during the war in the Middle
Eastern country, have been confirmed.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement
this week that the Service Police Legacy Investigations,
which was looking at claims of abuse in Iraq, had now
"officially closed its doors."
In March 2003, the US and Britain invaded Iraq in blatant
violation of international law and under the pretext of
finding WMDs; but no such weapons were ever
discovered in Iraq.
More than one million Iraqis were killed - as the result of
the US-led invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq
--- according to the California-based investigative
organization, Project Censored.
The US war in Iraq cost US taxpayers $1.7 trillion with
an additional $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans, expenses that could grow to more than $6 trillion over the next four decades counting interest, according to a study called Costs of War Project --- by the Watson Institute for
International Studies at Brown University.
DeBar told Press TV that the Iraq war
was illegal from the very beginning.
"It is illegal for a nation to make war on another nation if it
does not have the approval of the UN Security Council, if
any of those nations are signatories to the original UN
Charter. And it’s been adopted - that happened with
the US, as a charter member of the UN -- and it was
approved by the US Senate in the 1940s.
Consequently, the US involvement in Iraq from the beginning, and the UK involvement in Iraq from the beginning, was illegal,” he said.
“And under the Nuremberg standards, which would then
apply, each and every death consequent – intentional
or not - to either US or UK military action there, or
condoning of the US action there, by the media
or public officials, or any act facilitating that,
is an individual war crime. And, by the way,
there’s a death penalty for that,” the
journalist noted.
“No one will prosecute these people. That’s why I started
with the word impunity. And we might bookend with that
because that’s the problem. And until the world puts an
end to that impunity, until the world sees the major
contradiction in all international relations, is US,
UK, and EU imperialism, then it’s going to
continue until this eats our species,”
he stated.
A damning White House memo had revealed details of the
so-called “deal in blood” forged by former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush
over the Iraq war.
The document, titled “Secret... Memorandum for the
President”, was sent by then-US Secretary of State
Colin Powell to President Bush on March 28th, 2002, a week before Bush’s summit with Blair at his Crawford ranch in Texas.
The sensational memo, revealed that Blair had agreed to
support the war a year before the invasion even started
while publicly, the British prime minister was working to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
The document also disclosed that Blair agreed to act as a
spin doctor for Bush and convince a skeptical public that
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass
Destruction, which actually did not exist.
In response, Bush would flatter Blair and give the
impression that London was not Washington’s
poodle but an equal partner in the
“special relationship.”
Powell told Bush that Blair “will be with us” on the
Iraq war, and assured the president that “"the UK
will follow our lead in the Middle East."
Blair has always denied the claim that he and Bush
signed a deal “in blood”, at Crawford, to launch a
war against Iraq that began on March 20th, 2003,
that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.
The Powell memo, however, showed how Blair and
Bush secretly prepared the Iraq war plot behind
closed doors at Crawford.
Powell told Bush: “He will present to you the strategic,
tactical and public affairs lines, that he believes will
strengthen global support for our common cause.”
Cuba considers Venezuela’s response
to imperial infamy -----admirable
December 9th, 1:48pm
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Casa de las Americas in Cuba - Abel Prieto,
considered the response of President Nicolas Maduro and
the Venezuelan people to what he called the infamy of
the declining US empire... admirable.
Speaking at the opening of the People’s Assembly for Peace
and Sovereignty of Our America, the Cuban intellectual
expressed his pride..... in the presence of a large
delegation from the island at this meeting.
He stated that the Cuban delegation includes representatives
from all sectors of revolutionary civil society, including the
Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of
Humanity, women, farmers, workers, and the
National Assembly (parliament).
Prieto declared - that the Cuban people have followed this entire
criminal escalation in detail, the lies upon lies, which are used
as a permanent weapon of war to confuse and try to divide
the people of Cuba and Venezuela.
The writer highlighted as admirable ----- the fact that millions of
Venezuelans responded to President Nicolas Maduro’s call to
enlist in the Bolivarian People’s Militias, which reminded him
of Fidel and Raul Castro’s military doctrine ----- of the War of
the Entire People, adopted by President Miguel Duaz-Canel.
“In the Bolivarian Republic --- I have not seen anyone afraid, or
insecure, and the people have responded with great bravery,
firmness, courage, and dignity to the call to battle issued
by the Head of State and the leadership of the United
Socialist Party of Venezuela,” he emphasized.
The Cuban researcher commented that what is at stake
here is not only the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Cuba,
but also the balance of the world, and called for a
The political ecosystem into which the Bolivarian Revolution has
been transformed gives legitimacy to the process in its daily life.
The cognitive and media war against Venezuela prevents, “in a true
crime”, the people of the world from being able to enjoy what a
Revolution like the Bolivarian one means, seeing it in all its
complexity, its contradictions, but also, in its beauty
and organizational capacity.
The level of political participation in Venezuela is stunning, in
a completely dialogic country, which since the arrival of the
Revolution has not stopped dialogue ----- the war against
Nicolás Maduro has been brutal and unjust, because
if ever there was a man completely dedicated to
the revolutionary cause, it has been him.
Unfortunately, the cultural part designed by imperialism in the world - is so powerful.... that it is capable of hiding that, even from its own compatriots ....who live that reality.
The United States Government knows all this, and knows the
vanguard of the PSUV - and the very high cost that it would
mean to confront it, together with the Bolivarian National
Armed Forces ------- in a conflict against our country, beyond military asymmetries.
As Maduro said, when closing the plenary session of the Fifth
Congress, “each aggression of imperialism accelerates our
evolution, makes us stronger, more participatory and
democratic;the more aggression, the more
Revolution; and at maximum pressure,
maximum preparation”.
People hold up a banner as they protest
against Israel at the entrance of the
International Criminal Court
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Iran Continues to Progress ---
despite Challenges: Leader
December 11th, 2:50pm
(al Manar)
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that Iran has
defeated decades of Western pressure, stressing that
the country will continue to progress..... despite the
existing challenges.
Iran commemorated the birth anniversary of Lady Fatima
al-Zahra with nationwide celebrations on Thursday, as
thousands of eulogists gathered at the Imam
Khomeini Hosseiniya in Tehran -- for a
ceremony attended by the Leader
of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Sayyed
Ali Khamenei.
The event, featuring nearly three hours of eulogies, poetry,
and religious recitations, highlighted the revered status
of Lady Fatima Al-Zahraa ....and underscored her
virtues as a model for Muslim society.
Ayatollah Khamenei congratulated the nation on the auspicious
occasion and stressed that the Iranian people have thwarted
long-standing attempts by foreign adversaries to alter the
country’s “religious, historical, and cultural identity.”
He said Iran continues its forward momentum -- despite ongoing
economic challenges and shortages, provided that the country
maintains proper defensive and offensive readiness in the
face of media and psychological campaigns targeting
“minds, hearts, and beliefs.”
He emphasized the spiritual and moral virtues of Lady Fatima
Al-Zahraa and called on society to embody her model in
Highlighting the cultural significance of religious eulogies,
Ayatollah Khamenei described the tradition as a powerful
form of expression --- that reinforces the “literature of
resistance.” He noted, that any idea lacking proper
cultural and literary articulation risks fading, and
argued that eulogists and religious gatherings
have played a critical role in shaping and
transmitting concepts of resistance
across generations.
The Leader defined “national resistance” as the capacity to
withstand various forms of foreign pressure — including
military, economic, political, and media pressures.
He referenced the Western governments’ --- “hype and
psychological warfare,” asserting that such tactics
are aimed at imposing political influence,
controlling natural resources, or
altering nations’ lifestyles
and identities.
Ayatollah Khamenei said global powers have sought for over a
century to reshape Iran’s identity, but the Islamic Revolution
reversed those efforts, and the Iranian people ---- have
continued to resist pressure in the decades since.
He added that the concept of resistance has
expanded beyond Iran...... to other
regional nations.
He warned that today’s confrontation goes beyond military threats,
describing Iran as being in the “centre of a media and propaganda
war.” According to him, adversaries have realized that Iran can
not be subdued militarily and have therefore intensified efforts
through information campaigns. Some parties, he said,
deliberately attempt to create fear by repeatedly
raising .....the possibility of renewed military
conflict — efforts, he insisted, would fail.
Ayatollah Khamenei, identified the primary objective of Iran’s
adversaries as erasing the legacy of the Islamic Revolution
and diminishing the memory of Imam Khomeini. He named
the United States as the central actor in this “broad and
active front,” with certain European governments and
mercenaries operating on its periphery.
He called for a strategic understanding of the enemy’s goals, and
“formation,” urging institutions and cultural actors to focus their
efforts on the areas being targeted — namely Islamic, Shia, and
revolutionary teachings. He described resistance against
Western media warfare as difficult but achievable,
emphasizing the responsibility of eulogists and
religious groups to strengthen young people
against hostile messaging.
The Leader advised eulogists to promote religious knowledge
and lessons from the lives of the Shia Imams, counter
misinformation ----- while exposing adversaries’
weaknesses, and explain Quranic concepts
---- related to personal, social, and
political conduct.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
____________________________________
Tehran slamsUS 'harassment'
of Iranian diplomats to UN
December 11th, 2:04pm
(PressTV)
Iran has condemned the United States for intensifying restrictions
on the Iranian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New
York, stating that Washington’s abuse of its host-country
position ........undermines the UN’s effectiveness
and credibility.
In response to increased pressure on Iranian diplomats at the UN,
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday,
criticizing a pattern of harassment --- designed to disrupt the
normal and lawful functions of Iranian representatives.
“The imposition of extensive restrictions on the residence and
movement of Iranian diplomats, tightening restrictions on
bank accounts, and imposing restrictions on daily
purchases --- are among the pressures and
harassment designed and implemented
with the aim of disrupting the normal
and legal performance of Iranian
diplomats' duties,” the
statement said.
According to the statement, the US decision to prevent three
staff members of Iran’s UN Mission from continuing their
work is - “the culmination of the US's violation of the
law ----- and the host government's obligations.”
Iran condemned the move, stressing that it constitutes a wrongful
and illegal act and a clear, blatant violation of the United States’
obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement ---- a breach
that carries international responsibility for the US government.
Such actions, it said, raise serious questions about the
United States’ suitability to host the UN Headquarters.
The ministry noted that the US measures — based on “false arguments and baseless claims” - not only reflect political
hostility toward the Iranian people but also constitute a
blatant violation of the principles of the UN Charter
and Iran’s sovereign rights.
“The escalation of the US government's abuse of the position
of hosting the UN Secretariat to exert pressure on member
states ---------- is a clear violation of the provisions of the
Headquarters Agreement, especially Section 8,”
it added.
The ministry further noted - that the action “disrupts the
effectiveness and efficiency of this organization, and
also tarnishes the credibility and status of the
Secretary-General as the highest
administrative authority of
this organization.”
The ministry urged the UN Secretary-General to intervene
and prevent further violations of Iran’s legal rights.
It also warned against “the normalization of violations of the
headquarters government's obligations in the event of
indifference on the part of UN member states, and
underlined the need -------- for all responsible
governments ------- to respond to the US
government's violation of its pledge.”
The statement affirmed that Iran will continue its efforts to
defend its sovereign rights and hold the US accountable
for its repeated violations under the
Headquarters Agreement.
In September, Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative
to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, urged UN Secretary-
General Antonio Guterres to take “appropriate” action after
the United States - host country of the UN Headquarters - imposed “illegal” restrictions on the high-ranking
Iranian delegation attending the 80th Session
of the UN General Assembly.
Iravani condemned the US decision to confine the movements of
President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi,
and other delegation members -- to an area of less than half a
mile around UN Headquarters, and to require prior requests
with “appropriate justifications” for any travel outside the
designated zone, saying that these measures violated
Washington’s treaty obligations as host country.
______________________________________
Reuters: Trump Administration in
Advanced Talks to Sanction UN
Palestinian Refugee Agency
(UNRWA)
December 11th, 11:52am
(al Manar)
Reuters has reported that officials in Trump’s administration are
engaged in advanced discussions about imposing “terrorism-
related sanctions” on the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). According to
two sources familiar with the matter, the potential
move --- “raises serious legal and humanitarian
concerns within the U.S State Department.”
The Trump administration has accused the agency of
maintaining ties to Hamas, allegations UNRWA
has repeatedly and vehemently denied.
It remains unclear whether the discussions focus on sanctioning
the entire agency or targeting specific UNRWA officials or
operations. Reuters noted that “U.S. officials do not
appear to have settled on the specific type of
sanctions they might impose.”
One option reportedly under review by State Department officials
is designating UNRWA a “foreign terrorist organization” - a step
that would severely isolate the agency financially. However,
it is uncertain whether this measure is still under
serious consideration.
UNRWA has provided essential support to Palestinian refugees
across the Middle East for more than seven decades.
The report follows the Israeli occupation’s implementation of a
decision, effective January 30, to sever ties with the agency.
Under this decision, Israel has prohibited UNRWA from
operating in the occupied Palestinian territories and
suspended all communication between the agency
and Israeli officials.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)
________________________________________
Israeli Enemy Forces Bomb Building,
Strike Home with Drone in
Southern Lebanon
December 11th, 9:51am
(al Manar)
Israeli enemy forces detonated a building under construction
north of Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon and targeted a
house in Adaysah with a quadcopter drone ---- early this
morning, according to Al-Manar TV's correspondent.
In another attack, enemy forces targeted the roof of a building
opposite a spring in the town of Adaysah with an explosive
device dropped from a quadcopter drone.
These attacks came within the context of the ongoing Israeli
aggression in southern Lebanon, where enemy forces resort
to using attack drones and targeted bombings against
civilian buildings and facilities in southern villages
and towns.
These repeated attacks -- over the past few weeks, have caused
widespread damage to property and infrastructure, amid silence
from the committee overseeing the cessation of hostilities and
a lack of effective official Lebanese government action to
curb these violations.
The occupying forces are accused of daily violations of the
ceasefire agreement concluded last November, which
ended a 66-day offensive. During that offensive, the
forces allegedly committed dozens of massacres
against civilians --- and caused massive
destruction..... to public and private
property in Lebanon, particularly
in the south, the Bekaa Valley,
and the southern suburbs
of Beirut.
Source: Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon
_______________________________________
Gazans Endure Their Harshest Night
Yet ------------ in Waterlogged Tents
December 11th, 8:51am
(al Manar)
Rainwater flooded several displacement camps in the Gaza
Strip as Palestine was affected by a deep low-pressure
system expected to continue until Friday evening,
bringing cold weather and a significant drop
in temperatures.
The Palestinian Meteorological Department reported a
noticeable temperature drop on Thursday, leading to
cold, rainy, and windy weather. This has proven
catastrophic for displaced families living in
already dilapidated tents.
Displaced persons in southern Gaza reported rainwater seeping
into and flooding their temporary shelters, causing extensive
damage. They stated that the worn-out tents, offering little
protection from cold or flooding, could not withstand the
ongoing storm.
Civil Defense teams in Khan Younis’ Mawasi area said they
responded to 14 cases of flooded tents since dawn,
evacuating residents to safer locations. Rescue
efforts are focused on pumping water from
camps and relocating some tents to less
flood-prone areas, although.. they are
hampered by limited resources.
Families across multiple areas complained that water inundated
the sleeping quarters --- of children, women, and the elderly,
asserting that existing protective measures in the camps
failed against the storm’s severity.
Video footage showed displaced people desperately trying to
salvage soaked mattresses and blankets - while protecting
children from the cold and floodwaters.
Civil Defense ----- Over 1,000 Flooding
Reports; Urgent Appeal for Caravans
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal stated the
agency has received over 1,000 appeals since dawn on
Wednesday regarding storm-related flooding ----- with
water levels in some shelters exceeding one metre.
In a press statement, he explained that flooding in tents across
the Strip has exacerbated the suffering of residents already
enduring bitter cold without basic protection. Belongings,
clothing, and blankets have been completely
submerged, leaving people with no
alternatives for warmth
or dryness.
Basal stated that the catastrophic conditions have overwhelmed
Gaza’s exhausted service system - which is incapable of coping
with the severe humanitarian escalation expected as the storm
continues. He emphasized - that tents of all origins are unfit for
human habitation, offering no real protection from cold & leaks.
He issued an urgent call -------- for the introduction of caravans as a
temporary solution to rescue hundreds of thousands of displaced
people. These elevated shelters, he stressed, must be equipped
with minimum basic infrastructure: toilets, kitchens, rooms,
and solar power systems to maintain essential services.
Basal urged international organizations and all capable parties
to immediately fulfill their humanitarian responsibilities by
providing relief and alternative housing to protect the
population from continued flooding and cold.
Source: Al-Manar and agencies
___________________________________
US threatens ICC sanctions
over Trump investigations
December 10th, 9:25pm
(PressTV)
The US administration is demanding the International Criminal
Court (ICC) -------- modify its founding statute to prevent any
investigations into President Donald Trump and his top
officials, threatening new US sanctions on the court
if it does not.
A Trump administration official..... speaking anonymously, stated
that new sanctions would be imposed on the ICC if its demands
aren't met. Sanctioning the court would significantly escalate
the US campaign against the ICC.
The US has requested the court to cease investigations into
Israeli leaders regarding the Gaza genocide --- and formally
conclude a probe into US military actions in Afghanistan.
Failure to comply ---- may result in additional sanctions
against ICC officials and potentially the court itself.
ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli minister for military
affairs Yoav Gallant last November for war crimes and
crimes against humanity during the Gaza genocide.
On November 21st, 2024, after investigating war crimes and
crimes against humanity, the ICC issued arrest warrants
for Netanyahu and Gallant ----- for the war crime of
starvation as a method of warfare -- and the
crimes against humanity --- of murder,
persecution - and other inhumane
acts during the Gaza genocide.
The ICC, a permanent war crimes tribunal with 125 member
states, has faced longstanding scorn from US officials who
argue it infringes upon national sovereignty. The Trump
administration fears... that investigations could
escalate... after Trump's presidency ends
in 2029.
In March 2020, ICC prosecutors opened an investigation in
Afghanistan that included possible crimes by US troops.
The court has since deprioritized its investigation
but has not formally concluded it.
The ICC’s deputy prosecutors noted --- they have not received
any requests regarding US actions in Venezuela, where the
US military has conducted strikes against suspected drug
trafficking vessels.
"There is growing concern..... that in 2029 - the ICC will turn
its attention to the president, to the vice president, to the
secretary of war and others --- and pursue prosecutions
against them," the Trump administration official said.
"That is unacceptable, and we will not allow it to happen."
The White House has not yet commented on these developments,
and amending the Rome Statute would require the support of
two-thirds of ratifying countries, making such changes
complex and slow-moving.
The ICC deputy prosecutor has condemned Washington ----- for
imposing punitive measures on the court’s judges for issuing
arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Minister of
Military Affairs, Yoav Gallant, over Israeli warcrimes.
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that
established the ICC in 2002 as a court of last resort,
with the power to prosecute heads of state.
"Amendments to the Rome Statute are within the prerogative of
States Parties," the ICC's public affairs unit, which speaks on
behalf of the court and its presidency, said in response to
Reuters' questions.
Since Israel ---- launched its genocidal assault on Gaza
on October 7th, 2023, it has killed more than 70,000
Palestinians .....and injured over 171,000 others, most of them women and children.
____________________________________
New panel with pro-Israel ties
------- to oversee UK case on
Palestine Action: Report
November 27th, 7:28pm
(PressTV)
Police officers address demonstrators at a protest against
the ban on Palestine Action outside the UK Home Office in London, November 24, 2025. (Photo by Shutterstock)
A new report says a British judge set to decide whether the UK’s
proscription of Palestine Action is lawful has been abruptly
replaced by a panel ---- that includes a judge with long-
standing ties to Israel, leading to accusations
of a “stitch-up.”
The Electronic Intifada reported on Thursday --- that High Court
Judge Victoria Sharp, who has well-documented connections
to pro-Israel lobbying networks in Britain, will now lead the
newly appointed panel overseeing the case.
Before the change, High Court Justice Martin Chamberlain, an
expert on free speech law.... had been scheduled to rule on
whether to overturn the British government’s designation:
of Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organization. But last
Wednesday ----- he was abruptly replaced by a 3-judge
panel, comprised of Victoria Sharp, Karen Steyn and Jonathan Swift.
Victoria Sharp’s appointment to the panel is drawing
particular scrutiny ------- due to her family and
professional links to pro-Israel networks.
Her twin brother, Richard Sharp, sits on the board of trustees
of the charity One Million Mentors, alongside Trevor Chinn,
a major British funder of pro-Israel groups.
Richard Sharp is also a former chair of the BBC. When he
was appointed in 2021, the broadcaster noted: that
“Sharp’s heritage is Jewish and he is considered
by those who know him, broadly pro-Israel. He
has a twin sister, Victoria, who is a
senior judge.”
He resigned from the BBC in 2023 ------ after breaching
public appointments rules by failing to disclose his
involvement in facilitating a £1 million loan to
then prime minister Boris Johnson.
Victoria Sharp’s own professional background has also come
under the spotlight. As a barrister in the 1980s, she was
instructed by the law firm, Mischon de Reya --- which
later represented the Israeli regime - and a number
of pro-Israel groups, in legal efforts to challenge
boycotts of Israel in the UK.
She has also been reported to have served as one of the
“principal advisers” to media tycoon Robert Maxwell,
later revealed to have acted as a spy for Israel.
Chinn, a longtime figure in pro-Israel advocacy, has
backed groups such as Labour Friends of Israel.
After the Labour Party took office last year, an analysis
by Declassified UK, found that half of Prime Minister
Keir Starmer’s cabinet had received funding from
Israel-aligned donors - with Chinn - among the
most prominent.
“I’ve spent my entire life --- working for Israel,” Chinn said
during a meeting in 2013. In January, he was awarded
the Medal of Honour by the Israeli president for his
“contribution to Israel and the Jewish people.”
Although the last-minute replacement of Chamberlain
was unusual within the British legal system, it was
not without precedent.
A similar switch occurred earlier this year - in the case
brought by the Palestinian human rights organisation
al-Haq, which challenged the British government
--------- over its role in exporting F-35 bomber
components to Israel.
In that case, Karen Steyn --- was one of two judges who
stepped in to replace Chamberlain, and she ultimately
ruled in Israel’s favour.
On 10 June 2022, Swift ruled in favour of the UK Government
that the deportation flights of unsuccessful asylum seekers
in the UK to Rwanda ----- should be allowed to proceed, as there was ''material public interest'' in doing so.
He added in his ruling, that the risk posed to
refugees was "in the realms of speculation".
On 8 June 2023, Swift ruled in favour of the UK Government ------ and rejected the appeal of Julian Assange's legal team.
Meanwhile, campaigners were once again arrested
this week.. for holding signs expressing support
for Palestine Action.
Palestine Action has focused much of its campaign
on Elbit Systems UK --- Israel’s largest weapons
manufacturer, which it accuses of supplying
weapons to the Israeli military during the
regime’s genocidal war on Gaza.
In July, the UN human rights chief sharply criticized
Britain’s ban on the activist group, calling it a
“disturbing” misuse of the UK’s counter
terrorism laws ---- and urging the
government ---- to reverse
the decision.
Today, December 11th, (OS), in 1858,
Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko,
director, writer, pedagogue,
playwright, producer, and
theatre administrator,
is born.
Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko - founded the Moscow
Art Theatre with his colleague, Konstantin Stanislavski, in 1898.
He was born in Kutaisi Governorate (currently Georgia) of the Russian Empire. His mother was Armenian. His father came
from the nobility of Chernigov Governorate and served in
the Caucasus as a lieutenant colonel.
The boy was five years old when his father passed away. His
mother and her six children moved to Tiflis. The boys were
admitted to the local grammar school.
Vladimir joined the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of
Moscow University where a scholarship was provided
for natives of the Caucasus.
Truth be told, physics and mathematics did not fascinate the
young man. He switched to the Faculty of Law but soon quit
the University to focus on the theatre, his greatest passion.
Vladimir became fond of the stage back in Tiflis during his
childhood. He never missed a single performance at the
summer theatre near his home. No wonder that he
soon composed plays and staged them in his
theatre set up on the windowsill. He also
tried acting at an amateur club.
When in Moscow, he attended the Maly Theatre regularly.
When he was 19 years old, his articles about the situation
in provincial theatres and reviews of stage performances
in the capital were published in Moscow newspapers.
The young theatre critic took a stand against the clichés,
conventions, and unnecessary sentimentality...... that
thrived on the Russian theatre stage at that time.
Furthermore, Mr. Nemirovich-Danchenko decided to write plays
about the most burning issues of the time. He wrote his first
play "Rosehip" at the age of 23. It was staged in the Maly
Theatre right away. Then... he wrote stories and novels.
Almost all of his works were produced on the theatre
stage as plays.
Being a young journalist, Mr. Nemirovich-Danchenko met
Anton Chekhov, for whom he had extremely high regard.
In 1891, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko began teaching at
the Moscow Philharmonic Society School (today's Russian
Institute of Theatre Arts or GITIS). Many prominent actors
-to-be, including Ivan Moskvin, Olga Knipper-Chekhova,
and Vsevolod Meyerhold, were among his students.
Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko saw his mission - in teaching them
"the living person’s theatre", that is the theatre of life, rather than conservative acting. His training program emphasized several
important qualities to be developed in students, such as
expressiveness of the face, body, and natural grace;
the beauty and power of the voice, the skills to
master it; artistic taste, rich imagination,
absence of triviality; power and the
vibrancy of the temperament.
Having thoroughly explored the theatre by then,
he was aware - that it was decades behind
contemporary literature and needed to
be reformed. Yet where to find such
a theatre? The only way was to establish it.
So, on June 21st, 1897, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko wrote
a few phrases.. on his business card, "I will be at the Slavic
Bazaar restaurant at one o'clock. Can we meet there? Or
please notify me of the place and time, at the address
provided." The meeting lasted 10 hours and was the day ---- when a new era of Russian theatre began!
Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko and Konstantin Stanislavski
"We didn't argue, even once. Our programs fused or complemented
one another," recalled Konstantin Stanislavski. Their minutes of
the meeting had a special emphasis, "We are establishing a
people's theatre." Their names became connected
- from that moment on.
The Moscow Art Theatre was founded in 1898. First of all, it
is associated with Anton Chekhov, and "The Seagull". Mr.
Nemirovich-Danchenko... believed this play would be a
new dawn for the theatrical stage, "a triumph of art".
Just its production had to be "skillful and not trivial".
And after all, he turned out to be completely right! Anton Chekhov
was in Yalta when he received a telegram, "The success is
enormous! We go wild with happiness!" The grateful
writer gave Mr. Nemirovich-Danchenko a gold key
chain engraved --- "You brought my Seagull to life. Thank you!"
All subsequent plays by Anton Chekhov -- were staged at the
Moscow Art Theatre as well. Later, works by Maxim Gorky,
Alexander Blok, Leo Tolstoy, and Leonid Andreev -- were
added to the repertoire. "This theatre, is your honour,"
Anton Chekhov wrote to Mr. Nemirovich-Danchenko.
Since 1940, Mr. Nemirovich-Danchenko was chairman of
the Committee for Stalin Prizes in Literature and Art
and received two Stalin Prizes as well - in 1942
and 1943.
During the Great Patriotic War, he was pondering how to
preserve what he and Stanislavsky had built. Even on
the day of his death, April 25, 1943, he was writing
memoirs and planning a new theatrical season.
The day after his death.... the Council of People's Commissars
(Sovnarkom), issued a special resolution on perpetuating the
memory of the theatrical figure, including the establishment
of the Nemirovich-Danchenko Studio School at the Moscow
Art Theatre. He came up with the idea of setting up such
a theatre school, just a month before he passed away.
This was the artistic legacy of the famous director
and teacher.
"Theatre should be the embodiment of
people's spiritual life, the department
of public education."
"Creativity is possible only in Russia,
America is to sell,and Europe is to
have a vacation."
Israeli universities -------- face
growing academic isolation
despite Gaza ceasefire,
report says
November 25th, 8:39am (PressTV)
The academic boycott of Israeli universities in Europe has
doubled, even after the Gaza ceasefire aimed at ending
the occupying regime’s genocidal war against the
besieged Gaza Strip.... a move that further
isolates Tel Aviv --- in global higher
education, a new report says.
The Academic Boycott of Israel Monitoring Team, created by
the Committee of University Presidents in Tel Aviv, said in a
report on Monday that academic boycotts targeting the
regime have surged, with around 1,000 cases
reported in Europe by November.
It stressed that Israel’s negative image, which has persisted even
after the ceasefire over the genocidal war against Gaza -- is “so
deeply entrenched that political moves alone are not enough
to shift public perception.”
Contrary to expectations that the boycott would ease following the
ceasefire, the report notes that “the opposite occurred,” with
institutions and individual academics more frequently
filing boycott cases.
The monitoring team, whose report was published by The Marker,
the economic version of the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz ---- also
warned that this expanding boycott could isolate Israeli higher
education significantly and pose a long-term strategic threat
to its international standing.
The report further identified concrete consequences for the move,
including a drop in EU Horizon Europe research grants for Israeli
scholars, exclusion from international cooperation projects,
and a breakdown in collaborative programs.
The Association of University Heads in Israel has reportedly
recorded over 1,000 incidents of academic boycotts over
the last two years, three times the total as of a year ago.
According to the report, 57 percent of cases involve individual
researchers (mainly being excluded from research groups),
22 percent are institutional severances, seven percent
are from professional associations, and 14 percent
relate to halted student exchanges or
postdoctoral partnerships.
It also said that this crippling boycott trend --- is unlikely to reverse
soon without “major regional and geopolitical changes,” warning
that sustained isolation of Israeli academia may continue.
The boycott movement “will accompany Israeli academia for
a long time and will not ease without major regional and
geopolitical changes,” the report noted.
Israel has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians, most of them women
and children, and injured over 170,900 others in Gaza since
October 7, 2023, according to Gaza's Health Ministry,
when it launched a brutal war against the
Palestinian territory.
Despite a ceasefire announced in October,
Israel continues to target Gaza -------
in violation of the agreement.
Hamas has urged the guarantors of the ceasefire, namely Qatar,
Turkey, Egypt, and the United States, to press Israel to abide
by the deal ---- and stop its attacks on Gaza.
The world and her daughter are calling for a boycott of the genocidal colonial apartheid state of Israel.
Place yourself on the right side of joy and sorrow by joining the world's boycott - say ''no'' to evil!
Keir Hardie - Britain's first Labour MP - opposedWorld War One.
His namesake is stammering his way in the opposite direction.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
ROGER WATERS TO MUSICIANS:- "BOYCOTT ISRAEL"
Roger Waters formerly of Pink Floyd, in an open letter, calls on his fellow musicians --- to boycott the Zionist Israeli regime and follow the example of the cultural boycott against the ex S. African Apartheid regime.
“Given the inability or unwillingness of our governments [to act] …. I write to you now, my brothers and sisters … to ask you to join with me, & thousands of other artists around the world, to declare a cultural boycott on Israel,” Roger Waters says in his letter.
Waters says the Zionist regime has been found guilty of major breaches of human rights and international law by international organizations, UN officials and the International Court of Justice.
He touches on two such cases, saying the regime has been identified as perpetrating the “crime of Apartheid”, including in a statement on March 9th, 2012 by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the “crime of ethnic cleansing” including in East Jerusalem (al-Quds).
Waters adds that he has been a member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against the Israeli regime’s occupation of the Palestinian lands and Tel Aviv’s violations of Palestinian human rights for 7 years, and now wants other musicians to also join the anti-Israeli front.
“Please join me and all our brothers and sisters in global civil society in proclaiming our rejection of Apartheid in Israel & occupied Palestine, by pledging not to perform or exhibit in Israel or accept any award or funding from any institution linked to the government of Israel, until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights.”
The former Pink Floyd Musician also says he has recently faced a boycott by the US media after his November 29th, 2012 address at the UN on behalf of the Russell Tribunal.
In the address, he sought accountability for the Zionist regime’s violations of the international law and the lack of United Nations resolve that prevents the Palestinian people from achieving their inalienable rights, especially the right of self-determination.
____________________
AT THE FACTORY
Tickets from
www.wegottickets.com/thefactory
www.ticketweb.co.uk
browse venues in Wales
www.ticketlineuk.com
02920 230130
Cash tickets from:
The Factory, Porth Instrumental Music, Penygraig Spillers Records, Cardiff
Indulge in a delicious cake and a cup of tea while enjoying music and sing-along songs from fantastic Welsh musicians.
Ticket information:
The Cultural Services Booking & Information Line:
08000 147 111 or book online at
www.rct-arts.co.ukÂÂ
*************************************************
Mid Rhondda Modelling Club...
7pm - 9pm
Tonyrefail Comprehensive School Mid Rhondda Modelling Club
has been running for over 30 years.
We meet on a regular basis
& enjoy making models for display.
We encourage both Gentlemen
and Ladies to attend, and also young people aged 12+.
However, Young people under 16, must be accompanied by an adult.
Ticket information
£1 contribution every week. Under 16's free
Telephone Mr. Davies on 01443 686658
************************************************
Comedy In The Laughter Lounge
The Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy.
COMEDY IN THE LAUGHTER LOUNGE
Join us once a month in the intimate setting of the Laughter Lounge for some top notch comedy with some of the biggest and brightest rising comedians on the circuit.
Laugh? You'll snort like a pig!
Hilarious - TimeOut.
www.rct-arts.co.uk
Rhondda Records exists to express the Rhondda's vision --- when it was confident, powerful, caring, and socialist.
A Rhondda very aware of the media's poisonous tricks -- how they con working class people into attacking each other, or racial groups, or, often, even their best allies and friends... instead of seeing their real enemies:--- an elite who hate the very idea that working people can think, create, or achieve a fairer society.
Thatcher said her proudest achievement was Blair and New Labour - who parachuted in careerists and expenses fiddlers - to stop local Labour members having a say, and who made genuine socialist MPs leave the Labour party in disgust and many members and voters to despair... and the young to stop voting.
Jeremy Corbyn was always attacked because he was trying to reverse all that New Labour corruption --- that's why membership was flooding in all over the UK.
______________________________________
Get Involved!
– If you feel you’ve been ‘purged’, take this online survey:
– Request all your own data that the Labour Party holds on you:
http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/privacy
_______________________________________
IF - YOU THINK you HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY BARRED:
“Any member who is suspended & intends to appeal the decision should throw in a ‘Subject Access Request in accordance with the Data Protection Act’ --- for ALL data that the Labour Party hold on them.
The Labour Party are Data Controllers and therefore have to, by law, provide you with all material/information they hold on you.”
If anyone is in contact with anyone who was barred from voting --- please can you pass this info on:
The Labour leadership election was under the jurisdiction of the electoral reform services.
If you were unfairly deprived of your vote you can call them on 0208 365 8909 and lodge your complaint, and inform them of your Data Protection request.
https://www.electoralreform.co.uk
The notification letters barring new members did not give a clear reason, or information on how to appeal, so Vox Political suggests that anyone in this situation, could also contact Liz Davies here: http://www.whycantivote.com
She is a barrister --- who can advise members on what to do.
**************************************
PONCY LABOUR MPS PROBLEM?
A huge drop in working-class Labour MPs, caused a massive drop in support among voters with similar backgrounds, reveals research seeking to explain why support has dwindled in the party’s heartlands.
The study says past leaders like Kinnock and Blair made a concerted effort to pick “more and more middle-class candidates to run for office, during the 80s and 90s, as part of an effort to rebrand” -- which had initial successes at the ballot box.
But this “conscious electoral strategy” stored up problems, as working-class voters who initially, just didn’t vote in response, now seek an alternative.
The solution?Trust each constituency to put forward its own candidates, and don't impose ‘party-approved’ choices who can't do the job.
Now, unfortunately, there are "entryist" MPs who, for decades, have been groomed by CIA cold war relic organisations -- like the Atlantic Council -- and are now trying to misdirect the Labour Party towards cuts, a militarised police, and a US war agenda... - and their anti-Corbyn slant is hobbling Labour.
‘How Can I Deselect My Labour MP?’ A Short Guide to Reselection and Democratic Accountability by Eric Sim, excellent free advice here:
http://novaramedia.com/2016/07/13/how-can-i- deselect-my-labour-mp-a-short-guide-to- reselection-and-democratic-accountability/ CHRIS BRYANT - SUPPORT THE MEMBERS' LEADERSHIP CHOICE & POLICIES - OR GO!
Chris Bryant, the Rhondda's dodgy MP, was on TV -- as soon as the PLP coup started -- telling us that Jeremy MUST go, because it was the ONLY way to act in the Labour Party's interest...
Chris Bryant's voting record: from TheyWorkForYou.com
On Tuition Fees:
On 27 Jan 2004: Chris Bryant voted in favour of university tuition fees increasing from £1,125 per year, to up to £3,000 per year.
On 31 Mar 2004: Chris Bryant voted to allow university tuition fees to increase from £1,125 per year, to up to £3,000 per year.
On 31 Mar 2004: Chris Bryant voted for the introduction of variable university tuition fees (top-up fees) of up to £3,000 per year in place of the previous fixed fee of £1,250 per year.
On 31 Mar 2004: Chris Bryant voted to allow university tuition fees to increase from £1,125 per year to up to £3,000 per year, and to make other changes to higher education funding and regulation arrangements.
On 14 Sep 2004: Chris Bryant voted against: the immediate abolition of all tuition fees, the re-introduction of maintenance grants of up to £2,000 for students from low-income homes, and changes to the country's higher education system.
On 14 Sep 2004: Chris Bryant voted to reject the Liberal Democrat policy of abolition of tuition fees.
On 25 May 2016: Chris Bryant was absent for a vote on Queen's Speech - Forcing Schools to Become Academies - Further Rises in University Tuition Fees
On Human Rights:
Consistently voted for introducing ID cards
Almost always voted for requiring the mass retention of information about communications
Generally voted for mass surveillance of people’s communications and activities
On the Environment:
Generally voted against greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas
On Special Interests:
Almost always voted against limits on success fees paid to lawyers in no-win no fee cases
Generally voted against a statutory register of lobbyists
On War or Peace:
Generally voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas
Consistently voted for the Iraq war
Consistently voted against an investigation into the Iraq war
Generally voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system
On 2 Dec 2015: Voted to support UK airstrikes in Syria [without UN authorisation]
On 2 Dec 2015: Voted to support UK airstrikes in Syria [without UN authorisation]
On Independence:
Generally voted for more EU integration
____________________________
Chris Bryant Labour MP From Wikipedia
(aka 1962-1986: Mr Christopher John Bryant 1986-1991: The Reverend Christopher John Bryant, 1991-2001: Mr Christopher John Bryant, 2001-: Mr Christopher John Bryant MP.)
Born in Cardiff, to a Scottish mother & a Welsh father, Bryant grew up in Cardiff, Wales (where his father worked for 5 years), and Cheltenham.
He was educated at Cheltenham College, an independent school for boys in the spa town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, where he was captain of the school swimming team, and Mansfield College at the University of Oxford, where he graduated in 1983, with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English. This was later promoted to a Master of Arts degree (MA (Oxon)), as per tradition.
After completing his first degree, Bryant began training to be a priest in the Church of England at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, in Oxfordshire. There, he obtained a degree in theology.
Although a member of the Conservative Party, and an elected office-holder in the Oxford University Conservative Association, he joined the Labour Party in 1986, after leaving Oxford.
He was ordained deacon in 1986 and priest in 1987. He served as a Curate at the Church of All Saints, High Wycombe, from 1986 to 1989; then as a Youth Chaplain in Peterborough, as well as travelling in Latin America.
In 1991 Bryant left the ordained ministry, after deciding that being gay and being a priest, were incompatible. Statements made by Richard Harries, then Bishop of Oxford, also influenced his decision.
After leaving the priesthood in 1991, Bryant worked as the election agent to the Holborn and St Pancras Constituency Labour Party, where he helped Frank Dobson hold his seat in the 1992 general election.
From 1993, he was Local Government officer for the Labour Party; he lived in Hackney and was elected to Hackney Borough Council in 1993, serving until 1998. He became Chair of the Christian Socialist Movement.
He is both a member of the Labour Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Palestine & the Middle East. From 1994 to 1996 he was London manager of the leader-grooming "charity", Common Purpose.
He was Labour candidate for Wycombe, in the 1997 general election (he lost by 2,370 votes), and Head of European Affairs for the BBC, from 1998.
His selection for the very safe Labour seat of Rhondda, South Wales in 2000, shocked many people given Bryant's background – gay, an ex- Anglican vicar, and someone who was a Tory, while studying at Oxford, and a member now, of the Henry Jackson Society 'think tank' --- described by The Guardian newspaper as 'neoconservative'. It is pro-US, pro-NATO and pro-military intervention, as well as being fundamentally anti-socialist.
Fifty-two people applied for the candidature and a local councillor was hot favourite to win, before Bryant was parachuted in.
In 2004, a photograph of Mr Bryant in his underpants, which he had posted to a gay dating website, was published in 'papers.
When an interviewer suggested he was a 'disgrace to the Rhondda', he replied: "They can't get rid of me."
His pay, allowances and some expenses:
The basic annual salary for an MP, from April 1st, 2016 is £74,962. MPs also get expenses: to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, having some- where to live in London, plus, in their constituency and travelling between Parliament and their constituency.
His MP's expenses story:
Chris Bryant changed second home twice to claim £20,000: the deputy leader of the House of Commons, "flipped" his second home twice, in 2 years, allowing him to claim almost £20,000 for renovations and fees.
Chris Bryant, MP for the Rhondda, split over £92,000 of expenses between 3 properties in Wales and London --- within five years.
In 2004, he attempted to claim £58,000 to overhaul his second home in Wales, after allegedly complaining that properties in his constituency were "terrace or mine owners' houses".
Mr Bryant, a former Church of England clergyman, wanted the money for a new bathroom & kitchen, and to demolish his conservatory. He'd bought the detached house for £97,500, under a year earlier.
He submitted a claim to the Commons fees office for £58,493.26 --- almost 3 times the annual maximum. He noted that the claim exceeded his allowance.
His alleged justification was disclosed... in correspondence between Commons officials. By email, an official wrote: "He had problems finding a suitable property because in the Rhondda there is a choice mainly of terraced property or mine owners' houses." When approached by the Daily Telegraph, Mr Bryant said: "I have never said or thought anything of the sort".
In all, he successfully claimed over £13,000 for renovations, repairs & appliances, in 2004. Along with other bills, his annual claim was £20,902.
In April 2005, he flipped his expenses to his flat in west London, which he bought for £400,000 in April 2002. He also claimed £630 a month for mortgage interest, along with other bills. After claiming over £3,600 over 3 months, he sold the flat in July 2005 for £477,000.
Mr Bryant used his profits to buy a more expensive flat in west London, which was valued at £670,000. He immediately flipped his second home expenses there, claiming almost £6,400 in stamp duty, legal fees and mortgage fees, incurred in the purchase.
He then began claiming interest of £1,000 a month on the mortgage. He also claimed a further £6,000 a year for the flat's service charge and ground rent.
In all, he claimed £92, 415 in second home expenses, from 2004 to 2009.
Mr Bryant said at the time: "I moved flat in London, so as to be closer to Parliament."
Research by Channel 4 News in 2015 found that at least 46 MPs had this kind of system in place – a move one Labour backbencher described as “a new fiddle”. Channel 4 reported then:
“Our investigation found that many of the MPs bought their London properties with the help of the taxpayer, when a previous expenses system allowed them to claim back mortgage payments. But when those claims were banned, following the expenses scandal, they switched to letting out their properties, in some cases for up to £3,000 a month. They then started claiming expenses for rent and hotels in the capital.”
Among those identified was Chris Bryant, shadow leader of the House of Commons. He had already bought a penthouse in London back in 2005 and claimed around £1,000 a month in mortgage claims under the old system.
But after the expenses scandal, he started renting the property out. It’s since been advertised by estate agents as having a private lift and a porter, with rent at about £3,000 a month. Meanwhile, Bryant moved into a new flat;- claiming his own rent on expenses.
Russian/Scottish scientists hail long-range secure quantum communication system.
A group of scientists from ITMO University in Saint Petersburg, Russia, has developed a new approach to constructing quantum communication systems for secure data exchange.
The experimental device based on the results of the research is capable of transmitting single-photon quantum signals across distances of 250 klmtrs or more, which is on par with its cutting edge analogues, the ITMO press-service says.
"Now researchers are on a mission -- to create a fully-fledged quantum cryptographic system, that will generate & distribute quantum keys and transmit useful data simultaneously", ITMO says.
Information security is becoming more and more of a critical issue not only for large companies, banks and defense enterprises but even for small businesses and individual users.
But the data encryption algorithms we currently use for protecting our data are imperfect - in the long-term, their logic can be cracked. Regardless of how complex and intricate the algorithm is, getting around it, is just a matter of time.
Unlike algorithm-based encryption, systems that protect information, by making use of fundamental laws of quantum physics, can make data transmission totally immune to hacker attacks, in the future.
Information in a quantum channel is carried by single photons that change irreversibly if an eavesdropper tries to intercept them. The legitimate users will instantly know about any kind of intervention.
Researchers at the Quantum Information Centre of the International Institute of Photonics and Optical Information Technology at ITMO Uni., Russia, along with their colleagues from the Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, have devised a new way to generate and distribute, quantum bits.
This makes it possible to share quantum signals --- via optical fibres --- 250 kilometres in distance.
"To transmit quantum signals, we use the so- called side frequencies," says Artur Gleim, head of the Quantum Information Centre, at ITMO University,
"This unique approach gives us a number of advantages -- such as a considerable simplification of the device architecture and the large pass-through capacity of the quantum channel. In terms of bit rate and operating distances, our system is comparable to absolute champions in the field of quantum communications."
According to Robert Collins, research associate at the Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, and one of the authors of the study, this may become a pivotal point for the whole field of quantum communication and cryptography:
"Down the track, this new approach can enable smooth coexistence of numerous data streams with different wavelengths in one single optical cable. On top of it, these quantum streams can be fed into the already existing fibre optic lines --- along with conventional communications."
The research paper is published in the Optics Express journal.
Scottish universities are to be congratulated for their strong & growing links with Chinese and Russian universities....
What a shame, that Wales is lying low --- with academics too scared to break from US military research.
KILLING THE ELDERLY BY CLOSING CARE HOMES
Did you know that each time a local authority
closes a care home for the elderly, within 8
months, around half the residents are dead?
Campaigners liken the cuts and their effect to euthanasia of the UK's elderly. What to do?
We can start by urging our MPs to sign EDM 2251:
EDM 2251: The contents
This House notes with deep concern the worsening crisis for elderly care as growing numbers of local authority and private care homes face closure
Acknowledges concerns that the loss of elderly people's care homes causes fear, anxiety and, in many cases, a higher mortality rate, when vulnerable, elderly people are forced to leave their homes
Further notes that the Southern Cross crisis will increase needs for local authority care
And therefore calls on the government to hold a public inquiry into the deaths after closures, of local authority care homes, and impose a moratorium on the closure of local authority care homes, until that inquiry publishes its results, to ensure that vulnerable, elderly people's lives are not put at further risk.
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MAKING THE CONNECTION IN WALES
Households across three more English areas will be able to access superfast broadband in the latest phase of a Government scheme to connect rural homes and businesses.
The £50 million funding package for Devon and Somerset (£30 million), Norfolk (£15 million) and Wiltshire (£4 million) will aid the roll- out of superfast broadband services unable to be reached by the market alone.
Areas will also receive financial support from their local authorities and private investors, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport says.
So it's Broadband Heaven for England...
and crapola for Wales' broadband - the
slowest, worst Broadband in the UK !!!
Lib Dems in Scotland might have received a pummeling for Clegg and his betrayals, yet, in Scotland, their campaign centred on it becoming the "most connected country in Europe," to massively boost their economy.
In Wales, which political party is now willing to put into practice scientists' recommendations: that Wales' hilly topography requires establishing
free 'wireless' broadband?
It could connect the people of Rhondda and the world, boosting Wales' economic regeneration, like no other move.Wireless technology is now supplying free broadband to an entire island off New Zealand's coast.
Come on; if New Zealand can do it - so can we !!!
Western China has embraced "green-mode development" - with painful changes from which, Wales could well learn.
Eastern China has seen fast growth and urban mess. The West, a mining and agricultural area, has not.
Xi'an Chan-ba Ecological District, is a model for reclaiming old mining areas.
It took six hard years, but now Xi'an is showing the world how best to change, by turning a badly polluted rubbish landfill site, into an all new environment-friendly development.
As China's economic focus moves from east to west, it's using the lessons learned during 30 or more years of rapid industrial development.
The green way for China's west, is to combine green industrialization & green urbanization.
The western region's strategy is to adopt effective energy-saving and environmental protection technologies... AND to extend its industry through science and products unique to China's West, together with strong vertical growth in agriculture and all its ancilliary economic & professional spin-offs.
In undertaking this industrial revolution, the western region will keep a sharp eye out - to avoid all polluting non-sustainable industries.
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A BIG DROP OF HONEY !!!
Spring is beekeeping and honey-processing season in Yunnan province, in China.
Waves of bees flit across vast fields of flowers.
Local beekeepers and many from other places, such as Sichuan and Fujian provinces - set up their base in tents among the rapeseed farms.
The 430,000 hectares of rapeseed blooms in Luoping attract myriads of bees, which produce 15 - 20 million tons of honey a year.
Local people now look to brand their county as a honey production base & increase sales to outside markets.
Luoping Tianyuanmiyu Bee Industry Co Chair, Zhu Hongkun, founded his enterprise in 2009.
It mainly produces honey, propolis and propolis powder.
His company works with 270 plus beekeepers, who each earn 80,000 yuan a year on average.
Some earn 200,000 yuan annually, Zhu says.
Who says beauty endowed by nature isn't worth a fortune?
The whole of the uplands of south Wales could be as beautiful & productive, if used wisely!
CHINA's PREMIER POINTS WAY FORWARD
As the Tories threaten a "bonfire of the Quangos", perhaps Wales should take note. Now extracting all our mineral wealth has been stopped (apart from sand and rock) we find ourselves "in" the 1st World of the UK, but with a 3rd World economy, only just kept going by quangos which promise much... but deliver little... and rely on weak public support.
We could WAKE UP & understand that we either do something, or stay as begging bowl cases.
China's premier points the way forward for Wales:
"Industrial restructuring is the key... only by developing energy-efficient, indigenous innovative and high value added products can our companies and economy, achieve sustainable development."
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WHILE FRANCE, GREECE, IRELAND, ETC, STRUGGLE TO STOP THE PENSION AGE RISING HIGHER AND HIGHER...
An online survey on qq.com, a popular Chinese news portal, finds that 91% of its over 800,000 respondents, are against raising the current official Chinese retirement age.
745,123 of those surveyed say they oppose raising retirement ages -- 72,456 support it.
China's scholars & the public have been debating whether to raise the retirement age, for the past few years, but the issue rose to prominence after remarks by an official.
Wang Xiaochu, the official vice minister of the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security, said at a press conference that the government was "studying the matter"...
The retirement age in China is generally set at 60 for men and 50-55 for women.
Wow! Bet you didn't know that !!!
FARMING AND SCIENCE COULD REGENERATE WALES
A new UN General Assembly report warns "vast areas" of cultivated land are lost each year, and that this could lead to unrest.
The report says up to 30 million hectares, an area the size of Italy, is lost each year to environmental degradation, industry & urbanization - the growth of cities - and all because of speculative building and greed.
The UN special rapporteur Olivier De Schutter, gives the example of eastern Africa, where the amount of cultivated land has declined by half --- in just one generation! "
As rural populations grow and competition with large industrial units increases, plots cultivated by smallholders are shrinking year after year," says De Schutter.
"Farmers are often relegated to soils that are arid, hilly or without irrigation."
The UN officer also mentions India as another example, where the average landholding fell from 2.6 hectares in 1960 to 1.4 hectares in 2000. A cut of nearly half in 40 years!
He says 500 million small farmers suffer from hunger, partly because their right to land is being violated. The expert warns of the devastating consequences, as foreign investors compete for larger and larger areas of the world's land for "their" agriculture.
Rhondda Records says Wales could rebuild its new economy by basing it on a fresh approach to high-value added products, using science and agriculture... such as the Altzeim project in Gwent.
