Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk
Sunday 2 May 2021
Keelie 18.
Thursday 29 April 2021
Blood Red Bread.
Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk
Wednesday 28 April 2021
Our Daily Bread!
Still more photos from the Glasgow Keelie's International Workers Memorial Day event on Glasgow Green, April 28th. 2021.
Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk
Expensive Bread.
More photos from Glasgow Keelie's International Workers Memorial Day display on Glasgow Green on April 28th. 2021.
Visit ann arky's home at htttps://radicalglasgow.me.uk
Price of Bread.
The whole display created considerable interest from those walking on the green, and shocked many of them at this relentless waste of human life for profit. The display will remain on the Green's common drying green until Sunday, so why not take a stroll in Glasgow Green and take a look at this catalogue that shows what some people have to pay in this economic system to put food on the table.
Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk
Friday 2 April 2021
April Keelie.
The April issue of the Glasgow Keelie is now on line, this is a must read, covering climate change, pollution of our coasts, migrants, workers deaths from corporate negligence, and much much more Please read and spread far and wide, it is a pocket rocket of information that should be more widely known.
Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk
Thursday 4 March 2021
Keelie 16.
Once again the wee pocket rocket of radical criticism and info, the Glasgow Keelie is out, its new March edition, issue No.16. now available. Info on the 1911 Singer strike, plight of migrants and asylum seekers, the world's biggest workers strike, and much, much more. Always a valuable and enjoyable read, spread the word, The Glasgow Keelie, make it your paper, send in you stories, grips and criticisms of this system of corruption and inequality that we live under.
Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.ukWednesday 3 February 2021
Gallus Glasgow.
The Glasgow Keelie group are a bunch of beavers, each month they turn out a wee gem packed with information gained through a critical eye. Always well worth a read and always worth spreading around. So now Glasgow Keelie 15 is up there ready to be read and be enjoyed, have a look and let's know what you think, and of course spread the word.
Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.ukWednesday 13 January 2021
Your Thoughts?
Keelie 14:
The Urge to Self-Destructis Not a Creative Act
It is no accident that two-thirds of drug deaths were born in the period 1966 to 1985.De--industrialization and a decline in the typical job opportunities for school-leavers without qualifications drove many to seek escape and construct a new harsh self-destructive culture. 1979 witnessed the Tory Government that brought Thatcher and her cronies to power. The Blair Government acted to accelerate globalisation and market forces. 'Lame Duck' industries were obliterated, some like the Miners through confrontation, but more usually by jobs being exported to countries by Multinationals with lower wage costs and social security. It is also no coincidence that after urban riots in the early to mid-80s, when collective resistance was a possibility that supplies of street heroin increased at affordable prices. Throughout history, people have been drawn to experience substances and out of body experiences. The Late 60s glamourised recreational drugs like LSD and Marijuana as pathways to self-exploration & enhanced consciousness. From a communal experience it has become an individualised or sub-group expression of alienation. Males are brought up to act ‘tough' not share feelings, and drugs and alcohol are escapes from hurt and confusion. It is a challenge that those with radical politics are not meeting. This is especially true in housing schemes where anonymity is more difficult with sectarian or drug dealers attacks more likely. There are exceptions, as with the motorway protests in Pollok in the 90s, the Independence referendum five years back, but it can quickly dissipate. A culture of education, resistance and local agitation is largely absent. Living Rent is a cause of hope, such as in The Wyndford in Maryhill
Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow,me,uk
Wednesday 6 January 2021
Keelie 14.
The Glasgow Keelie jumps into 2021 with its latest issue, No.14, and as usual it carries a punch and variety of subject matter. This pocket rocket of criticism and information is a must read, read it and spread the word, it's your paper Glasgwegians. However it might be a local paper but the info is of interest to all who wish to see through the smoke and mirrors of this society.
Read the latest issue HEREVisit ann arky's home at https://radicalglashow.me.uk
Friday 1 January 2021
Desperation!!
Joe Fitzpatrick sacked as Public Health Minister by the SNP Government had a poisoned chalice. It is doubtful his successor can make much of a difference. A major onslaught on the criminal gangs manufacturing street valium could have an impact. But for how long? The same might be said for the Drug advocacy industry, what lasting impact on harm reduction can we point to? Help with mental health from groups like SAMH are an exception.
Prolonged drug use is like a slow car crash. The average drug user is in his mid twenties, but may not seek help until their mid 30s. Chances are by mid 40s, dead or severely damaged, physically and mentally. Only a minority rebuild their lives. It is not as if drug use is less throughout Europe but different drugs produce less deaths, although they may be implicated in, for example the mental health psychosis. For example, France has the highest percentage of the population aged 15-64 to have used drugs, mostly recreationally. 45% Cannabis in all it's variants. The Scandanavian countries, & Estonia have a higher minority drawn to 'hard drugs' but Scotland is in a league of it's own.
92% of Scotland's drug deaths involve users supplementing heroin or methadone with an illicit drug. The active ingredient of street valium, however adulterated, is Etizolam, which is 10 times stronger than Diazapam and most other Benxodiazepine tablets. Nicknamed by the tabloids as the “blue plague” the problem is Scotland wide, not just in parts of Glasgow or Dundee. But already other substances are in the pipeline, like Flualprazolam. Europe wide, 71% seizures are for Cannabis, with only 10% Cocaine and Heroin 5%, and less for street valium.
That Scotland has a problem that is in a “league of it's own” is undeniable. It might surprise you to find out Sweden is the next worse. But at 81 per million, that is slight compared with 229 here. That meant 1,264 deaths in 2019, rising 7% from 2018's previous 'high'! 69% are Male but the numbers of women dying are rising. The age bands which are now most at risk because of there are those born between 1976-85, ahead of the 1966-75. You might expect Cities with areas of multiple deprivation in England & Wales to be just as bad but Manchester, with twice the England average has 91 deaths per million.
That is not to say that the greatest number of deaths come from those in 'disadvantaged' neighbourhoods but that there is a (not so) 'Bonnie Scotland' effect sub-culture which is perpetuated by the gangsters, who historically have their friends amongst the Police & legal profession. As the film “Battle of Algiers” showed, and for example the experience of Militant, and later the SSP in North Pollok in the period 1995-2005 showed, the pedlars are an obstacle to political change.
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/nrs-visual/ve/drug-related-deaths-19-info.pdf
https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/attachments/12056/3.2%20Andy%20McAuley_DRD_NPS%20Benzo.pptx.pdf
https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/topic-overviews/content/faq-drug-overdose-deaths-in-europe_en quote from 2018:
“Scotland with a population of 5.5 million reports a similar number of overdose deaths as Germany does that has a population of 83 million. Most cases in Scotland are associated with opioids (9 in 10) and benzodiazepines (7 in 10) but almost all 85% involve more than one drug. Recent increases are primarily seen in the 35–44 and 45–54 age groups.”
The Urge to Self-Destruct is not a Creative Urge
It is no accident that two-thirds of drug deaths were born in the period 1966 to 1985. De-industrialization and a decline in the typical job opportunities for school-leavers without qualifications drove many to seek escape & construct a new harsh self-destructive culture. 1979 witnessed the Tory Government that brought Thatcher & her cronies to power.
The Blair Government acted to accelerate globalisation & market forces. 'Lame Duck' industries were obliterated, some like the Miners through confrontation, but more usually by jobs being exported to countries by Multinationals with lower wage costs & social security. It is also no coincidence that after urban riots in the early to mid 80s, when collective resistance was a possibility that supplies of street heroin increased at affordable prices.
Throughout history, people have been drawn to experience substances & out of body experiences. The Late 60s glamourised recreational drugs like LSD & Marijuana as pathways to self-exploration & enhanced consciousness. From a communal experience it has become an individualised or sub group expression of alienation . Males are brought up to act “tough' not share feelings, and drugs & alcohol are escapes from hurt & confusion.
It is a challenge that those with radical politics are not meeting. This is especially true in housing schemes where anonymity is more difficult with sectarian or drug dealer attacks more likely. There are exceptions, as with the motorway protests in Pollok in the 90s, the Independence referendum 5 years back, but it can quickly dissipate. A culture of education, resistance and local agitation is largely absent. Living Rent is a cause of hope, such as in The Wyndford in Maryhill.
Where there is hope, education & a sense of an alternative, the urge to self-destruct, will have less appeal.
In case you think Alcohol is missed check out https://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/alcohol-information/alcohol-facts-and-figures/
https://www.scotpho.org.uk/behaviour/drugs/data/health-harm