UK Riots: Some Figures & A Debate

Highest estimated cost of riots: £100m
                  While
Tax avoidance by Vodafone: £6 billion
Tax spent on Libyan intervention: £1 billion
Tax avoidance in 2010 by richest people in the UK: £7 bllion
.Tax payers bill for banking crisis: £131 billion
Tax money spent in Iraqi conflict: £4.5 billion
Tax money spent on Afghan conflict (up until 2007): £7 billion
Total MP expenses bill (2007) £87.6m

Listen to them or they'll loot and be proud

When I first arrived in London years ago,  I lived on East Street, in Elephant  and Castle. A poor deprived area which looked like any street in a refugee camp, youths hanged out on the corners, no schools, no education, no hope and no voice. Knives in their pockets and hoodies covered their heads and foreheads, they stood, stared and threatened. One night on my way back from the supermarket carrying two big bags of shopping, I was followed. I could hear them whispering, I could hear their foot steps and even their breathing. I tried to walk faster but they were younger and walked faster than me, I was scared to death. Knowing that some police men had faced death a few steps ahead several years ago, didn't make the situation any better. I didn't know what to do. One thing was for sure I knew I didn't want to die for some cheese, butter and milk. I dropped the shopping bags on the floor and turned to face them. I don't know where I got my courage from, but I turned and looked at the boys. They were two kids, both white and no more than 13 years of age; they didn't expect my move as much as I didn't; they stopped a few meters away. "What do you want?" I said. They remained silent, they didn't say anything but remained looking. "I have this stupid mobile, some biscuits and chocolate, and an empty wallet, Pick?" I said. A smile appeared on one of the two faces, which made me dance from happiness. Not literally. I knew I was safe, at least safer than one minute earlier. One of them started walking backwards and the smiling one remained looking, I smiled and threw him some tea biscuits, he winked at me and said "cheers, bro". They left happy and I left happier. Since that time I never had any incident in England, not in London and not anywhere else. I felt that there is a bond between these kids and me, I always know how to look at them, when to smile and when not, when to speak to them and when not. I believe that there is a way to talk to these kids. In Canterbury I befriended them, they weren't the politest people you'd ever meet, they didn't smile because gangsters don't. However, they were not criminals, not mobsters and not sick people. They weren't thugs or scumbags as media and politicians are describing them now, they need no plastic bullets, no water cannons, they are not Irish at the end. They are illiterate, they don't know how to communicate with each other, or watch a good film and appreciate it. They want education and clean Media that does not make them out to be jerks and scumbags, a media that does not brainwash them with stupidity, violence and lies.  They want someone to notice them, someone to listen to them and someone that can make their dreams come true. Someone other than Simon Cowell to make them superstars and superheroes, and he didn't. I spoke with them and we did photo shoots together. They all posed the same: like gangsters they weren't, but sadly believed to be. They all read the SUN newspaper for that boob and those two nipples on page three. They knew nothing about politics, but surprisingly enough they knew that Iraq was being attacked then by their government. They were with the Iraqis without questioning their motives.
Why?
 Because they simply hated their governments, those governments who left them on the edge and kept on pushing them slowly so they'd jump into drugs, crime and now riots. And when they do that politicians and police race to say: he had a gun or he was a drug dealer. No one has the courage to stand and say "It's our Responsibility, Neither a Labour member, nor a Tory or a Liberal Democrat.
Why?
 Because they are all partners in this.

A few months ago two dogs died when left by a police handler in the back of a police car. The Police dog handler was prosecuted straight after. Mark Duggan died after being shot by police men in Tottenham, not a word, not a justification to the family. Riots hit England South,  north and center.
 Was it Mark Duggan? was it really him? No it wasn't him. He was just the spark.

It's equality that these marginalized youth are missing.
It's the education that these youth are not given. (17% of the 15 years old are illiterate)
It's the governments that leave teenage women to go and get pregnant, and corporations that encourage them and print a "Happy 30th grandmother" birthday card.
It's those well dressed bankers who loot and steal without questioning
It's those Politicians who steal public money and rule with every little help.
It's those politicians who cut deals with Murdoch then say we didn't.
It's News papers like the Sun and its sisters that say nothing but shit.
It's Tv stations like Sky and programs like "Peter Andre: Here to help"
It's the recession and a greedy capitalist system of ready made food to taste the difference.

These youth are not thugs, not criminals, not mobs, not muppets, not thieves and surely not Scumbags.
They are not after trainers like my friend put it, and not after Plasma screens.
These are youngsters denied their voice, denied hope and education.
No one speaks to them, no one listens to them.

Listen to them, don't imprison them Cameron and above all don't call them names. Otherwise they will loot and they'll be proud of it and there will be no Peter Andre to help.

 [Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters]

Israel ambushes Hague over arrest warrants

REUTERS

Israel and Britain moved last night to limit the damage of an Israeli diplomatic ambush that threatened to overshadow the first official visit to the Middle East by William Hague, the Foreign Secretary.

British officials were infuriated yesterday when Mr Hague arrived in the region to be confronted with the news that Israel had unilaterally cancelled a series of high-level "strategic dialogue" meetings between the two countries. The move was a protest against the UK's failure to block arrest warrants being issued against Israeli generals and politicians visiting Britain.

The news of the cancellation was broadcast by Israel Radio yesterday, which cited anonymous sources in Israel's foreign ministry. It was quickly confirmed by the ministry.

British officials were taken by surprise by the move and were particularly disturbed by the cancellation as Mr Hague was intending to announce later this week that the Government would legislate this year to prevent private individuals from issuing arrest warrants. The warrants – which have been issued against Israeli politicians and generals accused of war crimes – have been a source of tension since 2005 when Doron Almog, a retired Israeli major-general, decided not to land at Heathrow after being tipped off that he was facing an arrest warrant from a private prosecution in an English magistrates' court for alleged war crimes.

A number of prominent Israeli figures have subsequently cancelled trips to the UK, including the leader of the opposition, Tzipi Livni, who was a member of the Israeli government when it ordered the military onslaught on Hamas-controlled Gaza in 2008-09.

This week it was disclosed that Israel's Deputy Prime Minister, Dan Meridor, had cancelled a private trip to London after being advised that he could face private proceedings over the interception of a Gaza-bound Turkish vessel in May.

Speaking in Ramallah yesterday after meeting Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr Hague said that the British Government was resolving the warrants issue "in our own Parliament and on our own timetable", adding he would raise the issue with Israel's Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman.

A later joint official statement by Israel and the UK said that both Israel and Britain now looked forward to an "early meeting" of the strategic dialogue. British sources said that the Israeli foreign ministry had indicated to Mr Hague and his entourage that the report was "regrettable" and had "unintended consequences". 

The Independent- Thursday 4th of November

British Taps

Run Cameron Run

 

Someone should tell Cameron to stop running, sit and do some work.

Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Samantha & Samuel, a couple on "Love Lane"

Samantha and Samuel live in a flat on “LOVE LANE”. a tiny street in Canterbury. it happens to be the lane that leads “Donkey” to the pub on the end of this street “The Two Sawyers”. “Donkey” has no idea why the lane is called “Love Lane” or why the pub has to have such a name on the end of such a lane. “Donkey” doesn’t listen to people’s conversations usually, but Samantha and Samuel were really loud .



Samuel : i still don’t get it why water-taps in
england don’t have a mixer for
the hot and cold water?!
Samantha : and what’s strange about this ?
Samuel : don’t you find it strange yourself ??
Samantha : not really !!
Samuel : I mean it’s not strange its just stupid
not to have that fucking mixer.
Samantha : well,u know?
Samuel : wha??
Samantha : you are full of shit!
Samuel : wait wait,there is something lost in
translation here!!!
Samantha : i don’t think so! foreigners aren’t good
at anything but complaining!!! Samuel : you mean that i’m a useless foreigner
then??
Samantha : well, i wasn’t talking about you!!
anyways you seem to be one of them these
days
Samuel : i know that i’m a bloody foreigner and i
will always be,but what i don’t get that
i’m useless !!
Samantha : now you know at least!!
Samuel : i think that i’m useless and thick as
well!!
Samantha : well
Samuel : I didn’t want to know my self that
late...its quiet sad, init??
Samantha : never too late
Samuel : but u know that you were the kingdom...
Samantha : .....that the sun doesn’t set....
Samuel : ...ya!!!! you conquered the world from
far east to far west...
Samantha : from India to the America
Samuel : ...that was your greatest
creation...AMERICA...
Samantha : beside Israel.....i fucking memorized it
by now...
Samuel :i'm glad that you know this now...i feel
better than being useless !!
Samantha : but who gives a fuck??
Samuel : your right who gives a fuck?
Samantha : i'm just fed up from your global
political silly issues !! i just want
to love you without your
complexities...that what i want,i don’t
want to talk about Iraq, Iran, Syria,
states France...don’t want this. i just
wana wake up with u without saying
anything,that what i want...shut up... Samuel : ok
Samantha : tell me now!!
Samuel : ok
Samantha : ya ???
Samuel : ok
Samantha : ok what??you want to wake up with me
without saying anything??
Samuel : honestly??
Samantha : ya
Samuel : no...i don’t want to wake up with you
again...


“Donkey” walked to the pub thinking what was to happen next? he forgot about it after the second pint.