War And Climate Emergency.

     Yesterday evening, Tuesday, 3rd. December, in Glasgow's dark and cold weather, Scottish CND and Scottish Peace Network held a demonstration at the top of Buchanan Street, against war and all the death, destruction and misery that goes along with this barbaric state action. Among other groups, the Clydeside IWW was there, and some comrades handing out the re-born Glasgow Keelie, now on its third issue.

     At the moment there is a lot of focus on climate emergency, but what should not be forgotten is that the greatest carbon footprint is war and its ancillary support mechanisms. The Pentagon has the world biggest carbon footprint. So when you shout "climate emergency" you must support the anti-war movement. You can't have one without the other. Two aspects of our world that are driving it to extinction are capitalism and war, and states are the guardians of both of these two mechanisms.

     So our lords and masters who are holding "summits" on climate change in Madrid at the moment, are liars, charlatans, weavers of illusions, for they are the very people who instigate, manage and carry out wars, in all parts of the planet. If our aim and desire is to save the planet from unimaginable disaster, we have to take a stand against the various state apparatuses that perpetuate wars. Wars are not accidents or unavoidable circumstances, they are planned and executed by states, and these states are made up of people who have grasped power and use it perpetuate that power.

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

Wars And The Media.

       In the cycle of perpetual wars that we are mired in, we should remember the part the babbling brook of bullshit, our mainstream media, play in manufacturing acceptance of wars and the death and destruction that follows. They are the propaganda mouthpiece of the various states, and by misrepresentation, omitting facts, distorting evidence and ignoring consequences, they create the illusion that it is a "just war", a "noble cause". However, history tells us that it is always a battle of opposing power structures aiming to increase their power and wealth, or hold on to it against a competing power structure.

     In every war, it is the ordinary people that pay the savage price in death and misery of this insanity, while the wealthy and powerful gain the spoils from the slaughter.

     An event well worth making a point to attend is the coming film show and discussion being put on by The Scottish Peace Network, 

         On Wednesday, 31 October, 7 pm, Wellington Church, Glasgow Uni campus, the Scottish Peace Network will be screening a major portion of We Are Many-- a excellent film about the massive, coordinated, worldwide demonstrations on 15 February 2003 to halt plans for a war on Iraq by the US and the UK.
      This film screening and discussion is part of a series of events closing four years of counter-centenary actions and events aimed at telling the truth about the causes and consequences of the First World War.
       The truth then and now is that official lies and media manipulation play a big role in the build up to, and perpetuation of, war.
        Please join us for the film and discussion as we try to stay true to our goals and values: No More Wars. No Justice No Peace.

Visit ann arky's home at radicalglasgow.me.uk

War, The Capitalist Cancer.

 

      A reminder: The next Scottish Peace Network, anti-war vigil, will take place this Thursday, 23rd. March, from 5-6pm at Donald Dewar's statue at the top of Buchanan Street, Glasgow. Spring is around the corner so it is time to get out on the streets to show our opposition to war and militarism.

       People in the developed Western world live under the illusion that we are at peace, and have been since 1945. They wander around their shopping malls, go on holiday, watch the football, take the kids to the park, go for a friendly chat in the pub. All unimaginable luxuries to those who live in a vast swath of our planet where the soil is being watered with the blood of millions of innocent people, men, women, young, old, sick, and infirm. Their lives are being destroyed in what can only be described as World War III. From Afghanistan to Iraq, from Libya, to Yemen, all the world's major military powers are in there, with air-strikes, missiles, heavy artillery, and troops on the ground. The whole area is the battle ground  for the world's imperialist powers as they attempt land grabs, regime changes and resource plunders. We the public are supposed to believe that all this bloody mayhem and wholesale slaughter of innocents, is simple for the benefit of the people of that region. Our leaders preach the lie, "we, the righteous developed world, are slaughtering you and your kids, all for your own good", surely only the most deranged and insane can swallow such a gigantic lie.

      In keeping with this insanity, the Israeli government has stated that it will, "without hesitation" destroy Syria's air defence system, it it again launches them against Israeli air-strikes on Syrian territory. There has been no reaction to this swashbuckling bully-boy statement, yet imagine the reaction if say, France stated that it would "without hesitation" destroy Spain's air defence system if it again used them against French planes bombing Spain!!! This is the irrational, insane double standards that our warring imperial masters use on a daily basis.

      All wars, world or pygmy, are just the manifestation of the powerful, taking control of the weak for the gain of the powerful, supported by a tsunami of lying propaganda. The people are merely the duped cannon-fodder, who pay with their blood, but never receive the "spoils of war".

      Wars are no longer "declared", they are now part and parcel of our imperial masters way of life, a world of continuous wars that shape all our lives, that dominate our economy, and stunt the lives of all of us in one way or another. The rich countries starve their children to pay for the slaughter of other children, that is the nature of the society we tolerate. Since war and all its attendant horrors are creating poverty, misery and death world wide, we should never let these facts stray from our minds and continually work to put an end to this madness. 

     To this end the Scottish Peace Network hold a monthly anti-war vigil at the Donald Dewar Statue at the top of Buchanan Street Glasgow. The militarists must be challenged, their lies must be exposed, join the vigil to help raise that anti-war voice.

     A reminder: The next Scottish Peace Network vigil will take place this Thursday, 23rd. March, from 5-6pm at Donald Dewar's statue at the top of Buchanan Street, Glasgow. Spring is around the corner so it is time to get out on the streets to show our opposition to war and militarism.

      Why not join them, bring your voice, show support for all those millions suffering on the imperialist battlefields across the globe, shout for an end to the squandering of billions of pounds worth of resources on a war economy, resources that could be spent to make this world a better place for our kids.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Defending The Rich With The Blood Of The Poor.

 

        As Syria explodes and Libya convulses and Iraq bleeds, all due to the military adventures of the various imperialists of this world, and the UK is spending more than some small countries entire GDP, on nuclear weapons, it is all the more important that we stand up and resist the continued drive for militarism as an answer to the world's problems.

An appeal from The Scottish Peace Network:

    Two events coming up organised by the Scottish Peace Network:

       On Thursday, October 27, we will hold our monthly vigil at Dewar's statue on Buchanan Street from 5-6pm. We will have a banner, placards and a flyer.
        By coincidence, this Thursday the UN General Assembly will vote on a motion to establish a conference in 2017 to negotiate a treaty banning all nuclear weapons. I am afraid it will take more than a UN resolution to overcome the Pentagon and the military-industrial complex, but a UN vote promoting a ban on all nuclear weapons provides us with an opportunity to raise this critical issue.
       So join us on the vigil and we will bring placards calling for a ban on nuclear weapons.
      2. On Saturday, October 29, the Peace Network will set up a stall from 12-2 on Buchanan Street in front of where Borders bookstore was located and opposite to the TGIF restaurant. We will have white poppies to distribute for a donation and a flyer explaining the history of the white poppy.
       Come along and help us with the stall. This will be a good time to talk to people about peace issues and the need to resist militarism.

 

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Stand Up For Peace.

      With what can be called world war III going on in the Middle East, we should never lose sight of the fact that with all the imperialist powers involved, there is every possibility of it spiralling out to a wider area covering countries beyond the Middle East. There is no guarantee that the bloodshed, death, devastation and misery, will be contained to that particular region, those involved will up the ante if they feel they are losing ground to their opposing imperial powers. There is too much oil and gas involved for the power mongers to walk away.
     With that in mind we should continually keep raising our voices against the militarist basis of the system we live under. We must make it clear to the powers that be that we will not tolerate this world based on military might and power.

     To that end the Scottish Peace Network in conjunction with others, holds a monthly vigil, in Buchanan Street Glasgow, against the militaristic nature of our society.
       August vigil will be held this Thursday August 25th. at the Donald Dewar statue at the top of Buchanan Street Glasgow, from 5pm-6pm. The weather is set to be fine so no excuse, turn up and raise your voice for peace and an end to this ruthless slaughter in the name of power. 

Thursday, 25th. August,
5pm to 6pm,
Donald Dewar Statue,
Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

 

Let's Cut The Bloody Claws Of Militarism.

        With the UK among the Western imperialists, who are eagerly involved in sticking their blooded hands in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, by means of aerial bombings and “special forces” and “training personnel” on the ground, it is now more important than ever that we keep up a continuous anti-war presence. Our lords and masters would love to keep their brutal involvement in these imperialist resource grabs, out of public scrutiny. With the establishments mouth-piece, that babbling brook of bullshit, the mainstream media, ever pushing in our faces, the splits in the Labour party, and the horrors/benefits of Brexit, it is up to us to stand up and point the finger at the savagery being heap on the lives of the civilian population in these countries, all in the defence of corporatism. 

       There will be the usual monthly vigil for peace and against militarism, on Thursday evening 28th. July. It will be held at the top of Buchanan Street at the Donald Dewar statue, 5pm.

Thursday 28th. July
From 5pm.
Donald Dewar statue
Top of Buchanan Street Glasgow.
         Please come along and support the drive for peace and an end to militarism. There will be placards, but bring what you would expect to find at a rally for world peace. 

Let’s Make That Stand

Come rise with me

here, take my hand

it’s time my brothers

to make that stand,/p>

we’ve bought this world/p>

with blood and tears

shed by our kin

through countless years.

Put an end to war

it’s time for peace

man killing man

has to cease.

No more poverty

in a sea of wealth

all men equal

in a new commonwealth.

Let’s never again kneel

let’s stand up tall

claim what’s ours

justice for all.

 

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

 

 

 

Trident No More.

An appeal from The Scottish Peace Network. Please share widely.

 TRIDENT NO MORE :

 

Flash-demos across Scotland 16th July

       David Cameron has announced MPs will vote on whether to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system on Monday 18th July. This in spite of the fact that he has resigned and a new Prime Minister is yet to be elected and that the country is still reeling from the Brexit decision. No doubt these things have lead to this rush to squeeze a vote on Trident in before the summer recess but a selfish desire to unite the Tories and split Labour is no reason to take such an important and expensive decision in haste. People across Scotland will be braced for yet another decision by Westminster politicians to be imposed on us. But it must be challenged and not swept away from public scrutiny or media attention. We won’t be silenced!
         The Scrap Trident Coalition message is TRIDENT NO MORE so help to send it out from every town & city across Scotland on Saturday July 16th. Gather together at noon for an hour or longer to say it loudly and clearly. Local action everywhere can speak louder than mass demos in cites (they can be good too!)
        Some locations have already decided on a place to meet. Check the Scrap Trident.org website as we add more. If your community is not on the list please contact us and suggest a location. We need everyone working together, from local CND, SNP, Green, Scottish Labour, SSP, Yes groups, Radical Independence, Women for Independence, faith communities and trade unions, not forgetting MPs, MSPs and Councillors to have a huge turnout across the country.
       Please JOIN and SHARE the Facebook event widely to insure as many people as possible come out.
          Scrap Trident media group will do national press and communications work (and we are asking The Proclaimers to help out) and please ask if you need help with the really valuable local media work contacting local papers and radio. On the Saturday we need people to take - and tweet and post - photos and also to share them to the Scrap Trident Facebook, Twitter and other platforms. Please Use the Hashtags #TridentNoMore and secondly #ScrapTrident. We have support from The Proclaimers who wrote 'A Letter To America' … ' Bathgate no more, Linwood no more, Methil no more, Irvine no more.' This time, it's TRIDENT NO MORE!
         There are also plans underway for a Scottish contingent to go to the CND lobby of parliament on 13 July. 12noon – 6pm. Houses of Parliament. http://www.cnduk.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2434&Itemid=26 Scotland is supporting the lobby with representation from every constituency in the form of a written submission to all Scottish MPS. You can make an appointment with your MP via: http://act.cnduk.org/lobby/95 (not essential  but strongly advised in case your MP is busy). During the Lobby, CND will be in Room W2 between 12 & 6pm for leaflets & support before you meet your MP. Scottish materials will also be available there.
At 6pm there'll be a Stop Trident public meeting in Committee Room 10, House of Commons.
         For more info if you are planning to go to this or want your message to your MP to go with the Scottish delegation contact Janet Fenton - janetscotlands4peace@yahoo.co.uk

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Democracy Via The Bomb And The Bullet!!!!

       Despite Glasgow's lousy, cold, hailstones and windy weather, a brave and dedicated bunch from the Scottish Peace Network, held their monthly anti-war vigil at the top of Buchanan Street, at the Donald Dewar statue, Wednesday evening, 5pm-6pm. Practically the whole of the Middle East, as far up as Afghanistan, is mired in blood, death and destruction, mainly thanks to the kindness of Western imperialism doing its utmost to introduce them to Western democracy (dominating them to the benefit of Western imperialism) via the bomb and the bullet. Also, the burning desire of the Cameron cabal to resurrect the Libyan slaughter by more bombing and ground troops, means that such protests/vigils are more important now than ever before. 

       We must raise our voices ever louder, against this continuous slaughter of ordinary people. Those who die in this Western imperialist desire for oil and gas, are the bus drivers, teachers, shop keepers, taxi drivers, plumbers, the young, the elderly and the infirm, of those unfortunate countries. The ordinary people are always the ones that pay in wars, the powerful and wealthy reap the plunder.

    

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Wars Make Money For The Rich.

 

         With the Cameron cabal following in the footsteps of their imperial ancestors, and hoping to renew the bombing of Libya, in an attempt to set up a compliant, puppet government, in that part of the oil rich world, it is important that we raise, even louder, our voices against all military adventurism. In all these imperialist adventures of "bring democracy" to a country via the bomb and the bullet, it is the ordinary people who die in their thousands, while the corporate world that grows fat on the looted assets.

 This from The Scottish Peace Network:

        The next monthly vigil, sponsored by the Scottish Peace Network, will take place on Wednesday, April 27, from, 5 to 6pm at Dewar's statue on Buchanan Street. We will be protesting the bombing of Iraq and Syria, also against the renewed threat of UK bombing Libya, and weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and urging everyone to resist militarism.
        We have placards, a banner and flyers. Feel free to bring your own placards. Please share through your circles and networks.

   Hope to see everyone there.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

War Is The Poor Killing The Poor, Ordered By The Rich.

        As collapsing capitalism blunders on with its “endless wars” policy, in an attempt to revive its failing, brutal system of profitable exploitation, more and more people are seeing wars for what they are. Gone are the illusions of defending democracy, fighting terrorism, and the host of other phoney propaganda spouted by the various states, it is now accepted that wars are capitalisms way of defending and expanding the various imperialist powers' assets. States are the opposing corporate world's hit men. 

       We are seeing more and more people taking a stand against this slaughter of the innocent, this stand has many strands. Here in Scotland, The Scottish Peace Network, a coalition of peace and anti-militarist organisations, is attempting to give a public face to this growing anti-war movement. They are organising a open gathering at the Donald Dewar statue at the top of Buchanan Street Glasgow, on Wednesday, March 16th at 6:30pm. The main theme will be. “stop the bombing of Syria and Iraq” and oppose militarism. Everybody is welcome, please come along, even for a short period, to show your anger and disgust at this continual destruction and waste of human life. Bring banners, placards and leaflets if you can, but please bring yourself. The idea is to make this a monthly event, to continually raise awareness of our country's militarist stance, with your help this will happen. 

       Another aspect of the state's love and need of war, is its attempt to send its military representatives into our schools, especially the schools in the more deprived areas. With their glossy pictures and fancy uniforms and talk of free travel, adventure and training, they hope to mesmerise the young susceptible kids, kids whose potential is already being stunted by their environment, into believing this is a career choice. There are no photos of the maimed and dead soldiers, there are no facts about the young lives destroyed by the trauma of war, no mention about the suicides of ex-soldiers, no discussion about the ex-soldiers who end up in prison and/or homeless.
     This is an insidious and callous recruiting exercise by the state, of our poorest and most vulnerable young people, to fill the ever increasing gap in the needs of their imperialist war machine. We have to put an end to this sweeping up of our young to be sacrificed on the altar of capitalist's wars. 

Challenging Military Visits to Schools in Scotland.
March,15th. At 6:00pm
STUC in Glasgow Scotland.
       This public meeting at Glasgow's Scotland Trade Union Congress (STUC) from 7-9pm on Tuesday 15 March is to raise awareness about a petition to scrutinise Armed Forces visits to schools in Scotland.

        Another strand of this world wide disgust at the the endless war policies of the world's powers is A World Beyond War who are organising a global campaign against the destructive waste of the world's military spending.
        World Beyond War encourages everyone to take part in the Global Day of Action on Military Spending (actually multiple days: April 5 - 18, and in the United States April 16-18 in particular).
       Resources for planning a World Beyond War event are here, including a Prezi and a Powerpoint that make it easy.
        Upcoming events all over the world are here. To tell us about more events we should be listing contact Sandra Osei at Soseitwumasi@gmail.com. For help planning your event, contact Bob Fantina at wbwcanada@gmail.com.
        And here's something to celebrate:
Japan PM suspends work on U.S. base on Okinawa.

Sign the Declaration of Peace.

Join us on Facebook and Twitter.    

       Ordinary people don't want to kill ordinary people, which is the basic essence of war. So why tolerate it, why take part in it? War is the poor killing the poor, ordered by the rich. There are a myriad of avenues to suit everybody to take a stand against this insanity. A world without war is possible. 

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Walk of Pride, To Mark 1915 Rent Strike Victory.

       The Glasgow 1915 rent strike was a tremendous victory for working class solidarity. It forced the government to bring in the rent restriction act, freezing all rents in the UK until six months after the war. Only by their determined and heroic stand was this achieved. It wasn't compassion from the landlords, it wasn't concern for the welfare of the people by the government, it was co-operation and solidarity between the local women of the districts of Clydeside, and the men in the shipyards and factories that brought this struggle to an historic victory. 

Photo from www.leftcom.org
 

      A date for your diary to mark this wonderful victory and display of solidarity and determination. Organised by the Scottish Peace Network, and Clydeside branch of the Industrial Workers of The World.  

      In conjunction with this event, Spirit of Revolt is holding an exhibition In the Mitchell Library foyer, From November 2nd. to November 28th. The main theme of which will be the Rent Strike, 100 years on. There will also be a tribute to Joe Hill, marking the centenary of his murder by the US state, along side a display on the Peace Movement.
Two events not to be missed.

Tuesday, 17 November
    Walk of Pride, starting 12 pm, Dewar's statue, proceeding to the City Chambers
       A tribute to radical Glasgow on the 100th anniversary of the rent strikes and mass march of 1915.
      To honour the tens of thousands of Clydeside women and shipyard workers who united to defeat the rent rises; and to affirm the rent strike as a tool of struggle throughout the world.
      In conjunction with Spirit of Revolt's November archival exhibition at the Mitchell Library, The Glasgow Rent Strike:100 Years On; the Scottish Peace Network's Counter-Centenary Project; and the ongoing work of the Clydeside Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World