Grangemouth Anti-Fracking Protest.

     This afternoon ann arky was at the anti-fracking peaceful protest at Grangemouth. Despite the Baltic weather, it really was wet, windy and foul, there was a fair gathering of people from different political backgrounds, with the usual array of  colourful banners as well as some well wrapped up kids.

     Fracking is another one of those insane ideas that corporations come up with that can make a lot of money for their shareholders, while showing complete disregard for the people that live in the areas affected. The list of problems that flow from fracking is endless, subsidence, earthquakes, toxins finding their way into the water table, rivers and the soil. Drinking water contaminated and the resultant health problems. But still the powers that be will push ahead with the licensing of fracking contracts, even to the extent of trying to bribe some of the local communities with the promise of some of the money from the insane and dangerous scheme coming to them. They would of course, as they are in the pocket of the big corporations, as well has having some of their millions invested in those companies. Let's hope that the anger against fracking grows and grows, until our whisper becomes a roar.

Some PHOTOS:

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

We Are An Image From The Future.

       I can't help but feel for the people of Greece, what has been inflicted on them by the Troika, (EC, European Commission, ECB, European Central Bank, IMF, International Mankind Fuckers), more accurately described as the financial Mafia, is a crime against humanity. Their health service has been trashed, suicides, mental health problems, and substance abuse, have shot up to the stratosphere. Their education system is in a state of collapse, poverty and deprivation is endemic, and homelessness is in epidemic proportions. All this presided over by a cabal of rich, self-centred and corrupt politicians, who always dance to the tune of the financial Mafia.

 Alexis Grigoropoulos.

       Of course it is not all being taken meekly and subserviently by the people of Greece, they continue to fight for the right to dignity and a decent life. This despite being constantly attacked by, what is probably the most brutal police force in Europe. The case of Nikos Romanos epitomises the state brutality under which the people of Greece struggle for dignity. This young man of 21 years at the age of 15, cradled his best friend of the same age, Alexis Grigoropoulos, as he lay dying on the street from a bullet in the chest, from the gun of a member of that brutal police force. Nikos's early youth must have been shaped by this callous act of brutality.

Nikos Romanos after arrest.

      Exactly six years on from that brutal, murderous event on December 6, 2008, Nikos finds himself in prison and on hunger strike, close to death. Acts of solidarity for Nikos take place across Greece, and cities across the world, on a constant bases. If the young Nikos Romanos dies in prison, and with recent reports of his condition pointing to that, it will have been an unnecessary, brutal, callous, vindictive murder, by a brutal callous, vindictive state, that puts its homage to the financial Mafia, above that of the people of Greece. But what will his death mean to the people of Greece, will it finally raise their righteous anger to that point of no return? Their suffering and that of Nikos Romanos, gives them the right to enjoy the ecstasy of their righteous anger.

This from Roar Mag:

      That dystopian future is now. On Saturday, it will be exactly six years since Alexis’ murder — and Alexis’ best friend Nikos Romanos, if he is lucky, will be spending it in hospital. Nikos stopped eating on November 10 in protest against the authorities’ refusal to grant him his legal right to educational furlough. His doctors warn that he is in critical condition and could succumb from heart or kidney failure anytime. The government has given hospital staff the order to force-feed him, but the doctors have refused. As Nikos’ health steadily deteriorates, the streets are becoming ever more combustible — especially in anticipation of the annual commemoration march for Alexis on Saturday.

       On Tuesday night, fierce riots broke out in downtown Athens after more than 10.000 people marched through the city in solidarity with Nikos and four anarchist comrades who recently joined him on his hunger strike. The images of burning cars in Exarchia led many to wonder if a replay of 2008 might be in the cards if the state does not give in to Nikos’ demands soon. Riot police responded with the usual teargas and baton rounds, but what was truly worrisome were later reports that at least 10 detainees had been hospitalized with heavy injuries, including broken limbs and ribs. Two Syriza MPs who rushed to the police headquarters found the sixth floor of the building “covered in blood.”

Read the full article HERE:

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

Self-Help In The Face Of State Repression.

       We all know that the "Greek experiment", as the financial Mafia call it, has caused the trashing of the living standards of the ordinary people of Greece, has resulted in the vaporisation of incomes, and the disappearance of social services. This has thrown the people of Greece to fall back on their own resolve and imagination, and to come up with new ways of surviving this brutal onslaught on the fabric of their society.

       They have not been idle on that front, co-operatives, self help, squats, and mutual aid schemes, have sprung up across the country, factories have been taken over by the workers, farmers have started dealing direct with the public, rather than the corporations. All this takes place in the face of state repression and police brutality, as the powers that be attempt to hold onto the old exploitative ways of organising society, the last thing they want is that people start to organise society in a way that is most beneficial to the people. Will the new ways sustain themselves, will they grow, will they set an example to the rest of Europe, or will they be viciously destroy by the heavy hand of the state and its masters the corporate world.

          Extract from an interview with Antonio Cuesta Marín, author of the book “Solidarity and Self Organisation in Greece” Taken From X-pressed:

4. To what extent are these initiatives sustainable? Especially those based on solidarity, such as pharmacies, clinics…
     With regards to economics, I think their viability depends on the skills of its members and their ability to work, along with the fact that their ethical principles create a closer proximity to local populations. The sustainability of solidarity projects has other conditional factors: the intervention on pressing problems for the neighbours is based on the collaboration and participation of many people. As far as I know, some initiatives have been modified to better suit real needs but have not disappeared. When one gets to know the level of involvement of many anonymous participants and the original proposals to provide funding to projects, then one can understand that, against all odds, they will go ahead.
5. Does the society know about them, in general? Has there been some sort of public debate on new ways of meeting these needs based on self-organisation? (I mean, by a wide audience, the average Greek).
       My sense is that there are two parallel worlds running, that of institutional politics reproduced by the mainstream media, and that of the reality experienced by the citizens, which is clearly present in any initiative or social group. Of course, the corporate media have not fostered a frank and open discussion on possible alternatives or on the demands of popular movements. They have occasionally mentioned some of the projects but from a humanitarian point of view rather than claim. It is normal; the rationale of these “opinion makers” is embedded into the neoliberal system and will not facilitate any debate contrary to their interests. However, I believe that at the grassroots level there have been channels of communication opened which have helped to transfer information and calls which have worked quite effectively.

Read the full interview HERE:

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

State Brutality.

       The campaign of solidarity with Nikos Romanos is growing in strength and on a wider front as acts of solidarity and support are happening across the globe. His case highlights the vindictiveness of the state apparatus, not just in Greece but in states across the planet, the same brutal repression happens somewhere every day, whether it be Ferguson US, or Athens Greece, it is the same vicious reprisals to keep hold of their authority over us.

Nikos being arrested.

       In the case of Nikos Romanos, some people may not be familiar with the facts behind this case. Behind this vicious brutality of the Greek state, there is a young man who at the age of 15, saw his 15 year old best friend shot and die in the street, at the hands of a thug in a uniform, called a police officer. This after what was a verbal confrontation, the uniformed thug drew his gun and fired to kill the youth. The state shaped Nikos Ramanos's life in a brutal fashion, and the state will willing let him die. This, in what is supposed to be developed, democratic Europe, an illusion that has evaporated like mist in a wind.

Nikos after his arrest, and the photoshop image issued by the police.

       This from Void Network:

       Nikos Romanos was only 15 years old when his name first became known to the Greek public. Romanos was close friend with Alexandros Grigoropoulos, the unarmed pupil who was shot dead by a policeman in the Athens neighborhood of Exarheia. Romanos watched his friend die in front of his eyes after being shot through the heart.

      Not the happiest way to set of into on adulthood, this was a brutalisation by the state machinery of a young man with all the potential of youth, friends and family, beside him. Now some 6 years after that incident, the state is still vindictively brutalising one of our own, with a callousness that defies belief.

       Last spring while in prison, Romanos studied for and took the pan-Hellenic high school exams earning high enough marks to gain a place at a top Athens polytechnic university in business management.
       At the time, the Justice Ministry had praised him and other inmates for their academic success and was to award Romanos a prize of 500 euros. However Romanos refused to attend a ceremony to accept the prize from the Justice Minister, saying that doing so would violate his principles.
      Regardless, at the time the Justice Minister Charalambos Athansiou stated that, “the state does not make distinctions on the issue of studies. He is praiseworthy for following the advice of his teachers and working hard to gain a place at an institution of higher education.” However despite this praise, the door subsequently was shut on Romanos’ putative academic career when the relevant prison council denied his application for prison leave to attend classes.

Read the full article HERE:

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

"Austerity" A Tool In The Class War.

      I have always said that "austerity" is not a necessity, but an ideology, it is the strategy of the rich and powerful in their class war. We, the plebs, are being made to pay for the upkeep of the wealthy, the corporate, and the financial Mafia. They staked their lot in a mad gambling frenzy, and it blew up in their faces. In comes "austerity", of course it only applies to you and I, the plebs. The fat cats are all doing rather well at the moment, more millionaires, increase sales in top-of-the-range cars etc. While you and I see our standard of living edging ever nearer the Dickensian era.

     The phoney chorus coming from our Oxbridge millionaire cabal, sitting in the Westminster Houses of Hypocrisy and Corruption, that we have fixed it and are on the mend, is just hogwash, propaganda. We have had inflicted on us almost 5 years of slashing social services, and now that we are on the mend, there are more and more, vicious cuts coming our way. In this class war, "austerity" is to be the new way of life for us lower orders.

     After the next election, no matter which bunch of privately educated rich parasites get in, their agenda will be this cry of balancing the books, so more cuts to the living standards of the ordinary people. The pattern has been set, sweatshop future awaits you.

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

The Usual Oxbridge Self-centred Hypocrisy.

 

      Just what you expect from an MP, two-faced, money grabbing, hypocrite, Stephen Dorrell, sitting as an MP in a tory government that says it will protect the NHS, while taking a job with a company that wants to plunder out a slice of the NHS for profit. No doubt he'll advise KMPG on how best to go about grabbing a chunk of the NHS, at the cheapest price, and what sections will be the most profitable to the company. He has the inside info and contacts, having been chair of the Health Select Committee for four years. Well, what do you expect from one of the Oxbridge Mafia. 

 This from 38 Degrees:

     Stephen Dorrell MP has just taken a job with KPMG, a private company that wants to bid on a £1 billion NHS contract. [1] But he's refusing to give up his parliamentary seat.
     Mr Dorrell has admitted his new job is “incompatible” with his role as an MP. But he's refusing to step down until May 2015. [2] How can that be ok? Who is his boss for the next 5 months - KPMG or his constituents?
     If thousands of us sign a petition to David Cameron to show our outrage, the weight of public opinion could force the PM to crack down. Please sign now:
http://secure.38degrees.org.uk/dorrell-conflict-of-interest
For four years, Stephen Dorrell MP was the chair of the powerful Health Select committee, helping open the NHS up to privatisation. His new job is with a private company bidding on the NHS.
       Here’s what Chris, one his constituents says:
“Public trust in politicians is currently at an all-time low. Dorrell's action in joining KPMG displays a cynical lack of integrity amongst MPs. This presents a serious conflict of interest and misuse of his privileged position, making him unfit to continue as an MP."
     From campaigning for a law to allow voters to sack rogue MPs, through to fighting to protect our NHS from private healthcare vultures, [3] 38 Degrees members have a history of challenging politicians who act against our democracy. Let’s show David Cameron we’re watching his every move.
    Can you sign the petition asking David Cameron to tell Stephen Dorrell he can't take a job in health privatisation whilst he's still an MP?
http://secure.38degrees.org.uk/dorrell-conflict-of-interest
Thanks for being involved,
Ali, Robin, David and the 38 Degrees team
NOTES:
[1] Daily Telegraph: Stephen Dorrell MP faces calls to resign over conflict of interest:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/11264425/Stephen-Dorrell-MP-faces-calls-to-resign-over-conflict-of-interest.html
[2] Mirror: £1 billion NHS sell-off scandal: Tory MP works for firm targeting huge health service deal:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/1billion-nhs-sell-off-scandal-tory-4724959
[3] 38 Degrees blog - Recall campaign and NHS privatisation vote:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/10/23/recall-mp-debate/ http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/11/20/save-our-nhs/

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

To Watch Your Friend Die On The Street!!

      Another report on Nikos Ramanos, on hunger strike since 10/11/2014 and the massive support he has from the people of Athens. What effect does it have on you if at the age of 15, you see your best friend shot by a police officer and watch him die there on the street?

 

This from Xpressed:

      Tuesday December 2, 10,000 – 15,000 people marched in solidarity with anarchist hunger striker Nikos Romanos.
     Romanos has been on hunger strike since 10/11/2014 fighting for his right to furloughs. He is entitled to these furloughs in order to be able to attend classes at the University School in which he was accepted after successfully sitting the national exams from inside the prison.
     Nikos Romanos has been in prison since February 2013 when he was arrested for armed robbery along with Dimitris-Andreas Bourzoukos, Yiannis Michailidis and Dimitris Politis. They were all so badly beaten and tortured by the police that their photos were photoshopped before being released to the press.
     Yiannis Michailidis has been on hunger strike since November 17 while Dimitris-Andreas Bourzoukos and Dimitris Politis also went on hunger strike on December 1 in solidarity with their comrade.
Nikos Romanos is also the best friend of Alexis Grigoropoulos who was killed by the police on December 6, 2008 sparking massive riots in Greece. He was there during the murder and he saw his friend die in front of him when they were both 15 years old.
      The solidarity demo ended in riots in Exarchia. 31 people were detained, 12 of which were finally arrested and charged. Many of them were severely beaten by the police. Syriza MPs that visited the Police HQ report that there was blood on the floors.
     You can read Nikos Romanos’ letter declaring his hunger strike here. Nikos Romanos’ second letter from hospital, after the news broke out about the rejection of his demand for leave, here.

Photos HERE:

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

One Million, So Far, Say No To TTIP.

      The clandestine negotiations going on behind closed doors in the marble halls of power, between governments and the corporate world are being slowly pushed,  little by little into the open. I am of course, referring to the anti-democracy agreement TTIP. This planned take over by the powerful corporations, which will leave us totally at the mercy of CEO profit junkies and boardroom parasites. They and they alone will decide what is to be privately owned and what unprofitable scarps can be left in public hands. They see the NHS as a wonderful opportunity of an assets that can be plundered and sections spread among their corporate buddies. Education should be privatised to allow our kids to be profit producers for greedy shareholders. This is what TTIP is all about, and it has to be stopped. We are pushing them but not enough, the effort to get this out in the open and seen for what it is, has to be more than doubled.

This from World Development Movement:   

     One million voices are now raised against TTIP throughout Europe!

     Having been refused permission to start a European Citizen's Initiative in September, campaigning organisations the length and breadth of the continent started their own self-organised petition and have reached a million signatures today. That's in less than three months.

       It is apparent the supporters of TTIP are rattled. David Cameron repeats the claims that TTIP will add £10 billion to the UK’s economy and says it is time “we start taking on some of the opponents of this deal and exposing some of the arguments against.”

      Cameron is right to be wary. After supporting a secretive and shadowy process, the campaign is forcing the negotiations, partially at least, into the cold light of day. Awareness is rising and opposition is appearing everywhere, geographically and across political viewpoints.

      The very fact the negotiation process is in secret has rung alarm bells. Experience of other trade and investment deals, including their impact on job losses and benefits for corporations, has rung further bells. The lack of evidence for the economic promises has fed the distrust, discontent and ultimately the opposition to the trade deal.

      The petition will continue. It is a brilliant indication of the strength of opposition across Europe. Alongside lobbying and protests, it is one of the many tools we will deploy to ensure TTIP does not become a reality.

    If you haven't already, please take action at www.wdm.org.uk/ttip and share the link with your friends. Let's make the petition even stronger.

Best wishes,

Guy Taylor
Trade campaigner

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

Solidarity With Nikos Romanos.

      Where else, in Europe. other than Athens, would you see such a large night protest in solidarity with an anarchist prisoner. details of the prisoner, Nikos Romanos HERE:

More demonstrations in support of Nikos Romanos HERE:   and HERE:

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

Flaming Water Taps And Methane Rivers = Big Profits.

       The Chancellor's autumn budget statement makes it obvious that they are going to start pushing hard on fracking. His promise of money from fracking to bribe communities to accept the unacceptable, tells us it is going ahead against any opposition. The companies involved in fracking, are rather secretive about the cocktail of toxic chemicals that goes into the process, but more and more details come out as the process gains momentum. In fracking areas in America, in some cases you can set fire to the water from your tap, but the corporate world see fracking as the new oil boom, and they are going at it hell for leather. This despite the mounting evidence of the damage to people and the environment. More studies are now being done as the type of chemicals being used is becoming better known. One recent study from the National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, (ACS) comes up with some very frightening facts. One of the many toxic chemicals used in fracking, and there are many, is ethylbenzene, and their report states, "Five gallons of ethylbenzene can pollute a billion gallons of water."

This from Truth Out:

     Perhaps the most comprehensive look to date at fracking chemicals was presented in August at the National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

     William Stringfellow, a professor in environmental engineering at the University of the Pacific, lead author of the report, said he conducted the review of fracking contents to help resolve the public debate over the controversial drilling practice.

    Fracking involves injecting water with a mix of chemical additives into rock formations deep underground to promote the release of oil and gas. It has led to a natural gas boom in the United States, but it has also stimulated major opposition and troubling reports of contaminated well water, as well as increased air pollution near drill sites.

     The team of scientists presenting this work said that out of nearly 200 commonly used compounds, there's very little known about the potential health risks of about one-third. However, they concluded eight of the known compounds are toxic to mammals. Chemicals such as corrosion inhibitors and biocides are being used in "reasonably high concentrations that potentially could have adverse effects," said Stringfellow.

     "Biocides are inherently toxic by design," he told Truthout. "They need to be evaluated even if used in small amounts because of their toxicity."

Read the full article HERE:

 

        Recent tests in Australia on areas where there is fracking reveals that much more methane is bubbling up through the soil and rivers than was first stated, with the usual health and environment dangers.
     Big business never looks at the dangers to people or the environment when it pursues profits, any restrain or modification to their methods, is forced on them by public opinion and public pressure. The dangers of fracking will be ignored as the corporate greed merchants try to squeeze as quickly as possible every last drop of profit before the dangers become more widely known. Poisoning the soil and water table with carcinogenic chemicals is acceptable to big business, it is unacceptable to all of us, it is only our power that will stop this insanity.

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

Dave Douglass In Glasgow, On The Miners Strike.

       On the 24th. September, 2014, in Glasgow, to mark the 30 anniversary of the 1984/85 miners strike, Dave Douglass was invited to give a talk on that momentous class struggle. The event was co-sponsored by Clydeside IWW, Spirit of Revolt, Glasgow Anarchist Collective, Radical Independent Bookfair, and Glasgow Anarchist Federation. The event proved to be very interesting, informative, and well attended. For those who missed it, they can now see the event on video, thanks to Bob at City Strolls.

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

Glasgow Needs More Public Spaces.

       The Glasgow City Council are elected on the principle that they work for the people of Glasgow, however, they seem to get the idea that they are the overlords of the people, and keep coming up with ideas that the people don't want. The only way to stop this is for the people to tell they council what they want and what they don't want. The latest grandiose idea from the Council is to take what is a well used public space, and turn it into another private commercial area. We need more public spaces in the city, not less, the Buchanan steps at the top of Buchanan Street is a well used meeting place, chatting place, rallying place, meditating place, sitting people watching place, and whatever. It may not have been intended for any of these purposes when it was built, but it has filled the bill in all of them and more, the people have made it so. Let's keep that space public, open and accessible to all. 

This from 38 Degrees:

      The iconic steps up to the Royal Concert Hall are under threat - a private company wants to demolish them. [1] The steps are well loved, and used by people across the city, from workers on their lunch breaks to political protesters during the referendum.
      Glasgow City Council could make a decision any day now - so we need to act fast. Together, we need to pressure our local councillors. If they hear from thousands of local people who want the steps to stay, they could be forced to leave them well alone.
       Can you email your local councillors now, telling them to save the steps?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/steps-speak
       Already over 12,000 of us have signed the petition to save the steps. [2] Many Glaswegians are outraged about the idea to remove such a well-used and well-loved landmark. [3] A huge people-powered petition, as well as hearing directly from thousands of us, could be enough to save them.
       Together 38 Degrees members are protecting our public spaces - just last week a petition signed by over 5,000 of us pushed Glasgow Council to hold off on their plan to sell off Barrowland Park. [4] Let’s keep standing up for our community spaces.
       Can you email your local councillors now, telling them to save the steps?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/steps-speak

Thanks for being involved,
Jen, Amy, Elizabeth, Robin & the 38 Degrees team

      PS: Ben and Stephen, 38 Degrees members in Glasgow, are holding a rally on Saturday 6th December, 2pm at the Steps (top of Buchanan Street), with a line-up of musicians and speakers. Will you come along and show your support?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/glasgow-steps-event

      PPS: If there’s another issue in Glasgow you care about, you can start your own campaign here:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/scotland-cby

NOTES:
[1]Evening Times: Land to be snapped up for expanded Buchanan Galleries:
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/land-to-be-snapped-up-for-expanded-galleries-175657n.24989503
[2] Campaigns By You: ‘Save the Steps’ Petition:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-steps
[3] STV Glasgow: Glasgwegians hit out over plans to scrap concert hall steps:
http://glasgow.stv.tv/articles/297738-call-to-save-iconic-glasgow-royal-concert-hall-steps/
[4] STV Glasgow: The Barrowland Park and Album Pathway will not move in 2015, say Glasgow City Council:
http://glasgow.stv.tv/articles/301160-glasgows-barrowland-park-and-album-pathway-wont-be-moved-in-2015/

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

Who Has Been Having A Wee Bit On The Side?

       Oh dear, the recent discovery of Richard III's crumpled bones has brought a skeleton out of the cupboard, no pun intended. It appears that the long line from him to the present monarch, may not be quite as it is put to us, throwing a shadow over the legitimacy of the present monarch. It seems that one of our previous royals has been having a wee bit on the side, therefore breaking the line, and the legitimacy of the following “heirs”. Why this should be a surprise baffles me, as the so called royals, through history, are well known to keep an extra bed companion to break the boredom in the bedroom. What angers me more is not that infidelity runs in their life style, it is the fact that we may have been paying through the nose to keep this family in unbelievable luxury, on a false claim. At the moment it is speculation based on a small piece of scientific evidence, but I think it should be pursued with vigour, to help us balance the budget. If it proves to be the case that the present monarch's legitimacy is flawed, then they should be housed in the nearest housing estate and told to sign on, and take their place in some workfare scheme. 

 

Could this be the country's biggest benefit cheat scandal

 

       Of course in the sane world, we all know that nobody has the legitimacy to rule over anybody, the whole idea of a monarchy belongs to some medieval power game, and has no place in any modern civilised country. However since we will never be given the opportunity to vote them out, this line of their legitimacy could be one way of showing them to the nearest job centre. 

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

 

Nuclear, The Certain Death Machine.

      Here in Glasgow, we have nuclear weapons on our doorstep, both in storage and on submarines based at Faslane. An accident at any one of these points would be catastrophic for the surrounding area, Glasgow included. What happens when a nuclear power station has a major accident. Chernobyl in Ukraine was on such accident, it happened in 1986, that was twenty eight years ago, and to this day, the area is still left uninhabitable. They are still recording birth defects and deaths from such diseases as cancer, from the disaster.

Then there is Fukushima, that disaster happened more than three and a half years ago, but still the problem can't be solved.

British Researcher Blasts U.N. Report on Fukushima Cancer Risk As Unscientific

Plan C Also Failed In Plugging Reactor 2 Trench…Now What?

TEPCO to bury Fukushima plant trench with concrete to control radioactive water

Fukushima £11bn cleanup progresses, but there is no cause for optimism

Trace Amounts Of Fukushima Radioactivity Detected Off U.S. West Coast

In Hard-Hit Okawa, Life Remains A Struggle After 3/11

      It is clear to anybody with with any knowledge of mechanics, electronics or engineering, that this go wrong. That being the case, there is no such thing as safe nuclear, the possibilities of catastrophic results in a nuclear accident make it a no-no to any sane person.

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

Down Is Up, And Bad Is Good.

 

       Remember all those news clips of the nut-cases punching and head-butting their way trough the throngs to get their hands on a TV/camera/kettle or whatever? It was Black Friday when the retail greed merchants were supposed to show us how prosperous we were by displaying mind blowing figures of how much better off we are because we all spent so much more than last year. Well I haven't seen the UK figures, but in the US it was a bit of a flop. Though that doesn't stop the propaganda merchants from turn a minus into a positive. In this crazy world of spin they can make you believe, (if you're daft enough) that down is up, and bad is good.

 This from ZeroHedge:

      Finally, what we said earlier about a surge in online sales, well forget it - it was a lie based on the now traditional skewed perspectives from a few self-servcing industry organizations:

     Despite many retailers offering the same discounts on the Web as they offered in stores, the Internet didn’t attract more shoppers or more spending than last year. Online sales accounted for 42% of sales racked up over the four-day period, the same percentage as last year, though up from 26% in 2006, the trade group said.

    In fact, it was worse: "Shoppers spent an average $159.55 online, down 10.2% from $177.67 last year."

But the propaganda piece de resistance is without doubt the following:

    “A highly competitive environment, early promotions and the ability to shop 24/7 online all contributed to the shift witnessed this weekend,” Mr. Shay said.

     So to summarize: holiday sales plunged, and Americans refused to shop because the economy is "stronger than ever" and because Americans have the option of shopping whenever, which is why they didn't shop in the first place. That, and of course plunging gasoline prices leading to... plunging retail sales, just as all the economists "correctly" predicted.

Goebbels approves.

 

Read the full article HERE:

 

 

       Sounds as if the American boom, is more American doom. The simple reason of course, is that in America, like the rest of the world, poverty is growing among the majority. Across the globe, wealth is being sucked up to that small bunch of parasites that control the financial Mafia and the corporate beast. It will continue to do so until we the ordinary people put a stop to it, by destroying capitalism and creating community based structures that see to the needs of all our people. Don't expect the vampire squids and parasites to do the changing for us, they'll willingly suck you to death, without an after thought.

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