Glad to see that there will be a gathering tomorrow around 11 at wind rush square in support of those taking strike action. Wind rush square SW2 at 11 tomorrow. Will try and be there.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Ed Miliband
Well the union vote got him elected to be party leader but our great leader is now telling us not to have strike action tomorrow to defend out pensions? Let me get this right, the unions created the labour party to represent them in parliament, they then elect a leader who would not have been in that position had they not voted for him and now he tells us we are wrong? Ah.. wonder what the argument in his favor is now then
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
crisis
The Voulli ton Ellinon (Greek parliament) has started the debate before the vote is taken tomorrow, the government will need 151 votes to push the measures through. The opposition ND (Conservative) are doing their best to ensure that the government loss the vote, and despite the fact that I also reject the austerity measures the truth is the opposition would not have a bloody clue on what to do and how to save the country. It was, after all, during their five years in power that the country was forced into the current position, so the opposition are being totally reckless and irresponsible. The power now rests with the people who have had enough and it looks to me like Greece would take the default road and revert to the old drachma, this of course does not mean immediate salvation as the debts will remain where they are. Bugger knows how we get out of this one now!
crisis
WhatI was in Athens 2 weeks ago on the 20th day of protests. People are constantly on the streets in most major cities protesting against further austerity measures. I had the feeling that the battle in Athens was more of a fight between the capitalist system and ordinary people who are not prepared to take any more.
Monday, June 27, 2011
General strike
People from the south of the country started marching from last week, thousands are walking from the city of Sparta in the Peloponnese towards Athens. More are moving from the northern cities of Macedonia and Thessaloniki towards Athens.
The general strike starts from tomorrow Tuesday the 29th and Wednesday 30. Athens is expected to come to a complete standstill.
The general strike starts from tomorrow Tuesday the 29th and Wednesday 30. Athens is expected to come to a complete standstill.
Tony Blair
Its nothing new and it always seems to happen. We always tend to end up hating those who lead us mainly because they make difficult decisions when in power that we disagree with.
Briefly watched the Andrew Marr programme yesterday morning where Tony Blair was interviewed. You could see that he looked uncomfortable knowing that he is not a very popular man and isn't liked by many people.
I have a slight difficulty with this one as well. I have to confess that I am not too keen on the man as he displayed a huge level of arrogance following the biggest demonstration ever against the war in Iraq. He ignored all those voices and took us into an unpopular war. I don't think history will forgive him for that. But at the same time he did win 3 elections for the Labour party and he was quite dynamic.
Briefly watched the Andrew Marr programme yesterday morning where Tony Blair was interviewed. You could see that he looked uncomfortable knowing that he is not a very popular man and isn't liked by many people.
I have a slight difficulty with this one as well. I have to confess that I am not too keen on the man as he displayed a huge level of arrogance following the biggest demonstration ever against the war in Iraq. He ignored all those voices and took us into an unpopular war. I don't think history will forgive him for that. But at the same time he did win 3 elections for the Labour party and he was quite dynamic.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Greece
There are of course 2 options. One is to go ahead with the austerity measures which will punish the poor in the country and not affect the rich that much and two default.
It is my opinion that George Papandreou will not be able to get enough support in Parliament on Tuesday and win the vote. This is because the people of Greece through PAME ( a TU movement against the cuts) will intensify the rate of protest and more pressure will be put on individual politicians who are members of the PASOK governement to either vote against or abstain, if they don't then they will live to regret their decision. So I am sure that the government will not win the vote and the austerity measures will not be imposed.
If the austerity programme does not go through then the country will be defaulting de facto. Which means that Greece will be leaving the euro and not paying back its debts. This will of course also mean that Portugal and Ireland will try and follow the example which will mean a run on the euro with severe consequences on the world economy. We are, unfortunately, at the start of a major financial disaster... I hope I am wrong.
It is my opinion that George Papandreou will not be able to get enough support in Parliament on Tuesday and win the vote. This is because the people of Greece through PAME ( a TU movement against the cuts) will intensify the rate of protest and more pressure will be put on individual politicians who are members of the PASOK governement to either vote against or abstain, if they don't then they will live to regret their decision. So I am sure that the government will not win the vote and the austerity measures will not be imposed.
If the austerity programme does not go through then the country will be defaulting de facto. Which means that Greece will be leaving the euro and not paying back its debts. This will of course also mean that Portugal and Ireland will try and follow the example which will mean a run on the euro with severe consequences on the world economy. We are, unfortunately, at the start of a major financial disaster... I hope I am wrong.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
EDF
am rather annoyed and others seem to be too with the latest EDF energy advert on national television. The ad tells us how important it is for our lives to be graced by EDF which is great as I am one of their customers but then it goes on to say that the '.. Olympics are 100 years old..' then blah blah blah, this is such a misrepresentation of history as the Olympics are of course 4,500 (approximately) years old and they certainly didn't start in Streatham Hill 100 years ago! It's insulting to the Greeks who are of course the first to head the Olympic parade and of course the games cannot start before the flame is brought over from Olympia not the one in Kensington!!
Will someone in EDF go and change the content of the ad please? It is incorrect, next you know we will be seeing a remake of Troy with a Costa cafe on the beach? Get it right or don't bother!!
Will someone in EDF go and change the content of the ad please? It is incorrect, next you know we will be seeing a remake of Troy with a Costa cafe on the beach? Get it right or don't bother!!
local government conference
The annual conference which takes place in Manchester this year has started with calls by the local government conference 9Sunday and Monday before main conference) for industrial action to defend workers pension rights.
In debates that were characterised by determination, speaker after speaker emphasised the need to "build for an historic victory", with head of local government Heather Wakefield telling delegates that the union would be "in UNISON in unison".
Ms Wakefield condemned government Danny Alexander as a "thieving tomcat" after he spoke out on Friday, pre-empting the result of ongoing negotiations between the government and unions, and she urged activists to make sure that any strike ballot would be won "with the sort of majority that leaves this government in no doubt".
In debates that were characterised by determination, speaker after speaker emphasised the need to "build for an historic victory", with head of local government Heather Wakefield telling delegates that the union would be "in UNISON in unison".
Ms Wakefield condemned government Danny Alexander as a "thieving tomcat" after he spoke out on Friday, pre-empting the result of ongoing negotiations between the government and unions, and she urged activists to make sure that any strike ballot would be won "with the sort of majority that leaves this government in no doubt".
Greek crisis
The Socialist government (Labour type of socialist) of Greece has survived the vote of confidence last night with just 155 votes. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to jump through the next fence by next Tuesday when the country is required to pas the austerity measures.
The vast majority of the Greek population are against paying for the mistakes made by bankers and other financial institutions. There were huge demonstrations also in all the major cities of Spain yesterday and the day before, the Spanish people are also fighting against severe austerity measures.
The vast majority of the Greek population are against paying for the mistakes made by bankers and other financial institutions. There were huge demonstrations also in all the major cities of Spain yesterday and the day before, the Spanish people are also fighting against severe austerity measures.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Greec crisis
The Socialist government (Labour type of socialist) of Greece has survived the vote of confidence last night with just 155 votes. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to jump through the next fence by next Tuesday when the country is required to pas the austerity measures.
The vast majority of the Greek population are against paying for the mistakes made by bankers and other financial institutions. There were huge demonstrations also in all the major cities of Spain yesterday and the day before, the Spanish people are also fighting against severe austerity measures.
The vast majority of the Greek population are against paying for the mistakes made by bankers and other financial institutions. There were huge demonstrations also in all the major cities of Spain yesterday and the day before, the Spanish people are also fighting against severe austerity measures.
NUT Strike
Great news that the NUT are taking industrial action on the 30 of June but have been approached by several Unison member I know who work in schools and asked whether they will be right in refusing to cross an NUT picket line at their school? I think the answer is that they are within their rights not to do so but can someone from the NEC clarify this? I have send this message to Jon and John who are now both on the NEC and will see what their answer is if any.
Europe
have of course supported the Euro project as long as I remember and since the days when I was an undergraduate student.
I have always been in favour of a united Europe a Federation that would not depend on the USA for support. Europe has suffered as a result of nationalism and tribal wars for centuries so a united continent would stop that. That's where my support comes from.
But I think that the project has been pushed too hard without preparation and much thought. Especially in the area to do with finances. You cannot have a common currency between states that have fundamentally different methods and systems of collecting revenue and you definitely cannot have a common currency area where there is no central bank with the power to determine financial policy. If you don't have these central controls then you allow for a situation like the current one with Greece, Ireland, Spain and Portugal, so I have no idea why this crisis was not anticipated and measures were not put in place?
I have always been in favour of a united Europe a Federation that would not depend on the USA for support. Europe has suffered as a result of nationalism and tribal wars for centuries so a united continent would stop that. That's where my support comes from.
But I think that the project has been pushed too hard without preparation and much thought. Especially in the area to do with finances. You cannot have a common currency between states that have fundamentally different methods and systems of collecting revenue and you definitely cannot have a common currency area where there is no central bank with the power to determine financial policy. If you don't have these central controls then you allow for a situation like the current one with Greece, Ireland, Spain and Portugal, so I have no idea why this crisis was not anticipated and measures were not put in place?
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