Colludo - Whodunnit to the World's Poor?
The World Trade Organisation conference at Cancun saw a major upset for the US and the European Union. A block of less developed nations lead by Brazil, India and China prevented the normal passing of the one-sided rules. These effectively led in the past to the opening up of markets without any real concessions from the US and Europe.
Marlene Barratt, Head of Campaign Communications for the World Development Movement, was in the thick of the exciting events in Cancun. At Leeds Civic Hall she gave the background on the campaigning in the run-up to the conference. She passed on the excitement and flavor of the lobbying and demonstrations. Marlene as representative from an important NGO was on the inside of the negotiations. She showed it was possible for a relatively small number of well-informed and dedicated people to be able to help the less developed nations against the US and EU. The World Development movement was also able to play an important role in lobbying the UK government.
The interesting meeting was rounded off by local WDM activists playing out a new and improved game of "Colludo", with Reverend Blair, Professor Kohler (IMF) and Colonel Wolfenson (World Bank). This, in a good-humored way, brought home how the "big" players exploited the poor of the world.
What is happening in Iraq?
Some critics of the invasion and occupation of Iraq warned of the dangers of the US getting bogged down in a Vietnam situation. They were laughed out of court. The responses ran along the lines of:
- Where is the jungle?
- Saddam Hussain is hated
- Etc.
Of course it was the politics of oppression and legitimacy that in the end drove the US out. There is no jungle in Saigon
Every day the attacks on the occupying forces in Iraq have grown. The US are now claiming they are being orchestrated by forces still loyal to Saddam Hussain supported by foreign anti-US elements. These deaths in Iraq have led to growing disillusionment in US.
Bush, faced with his looming presidential election, now realises he has to stop the US deaths in Iraq. He has begun to put a lot of effort into building a puppet army in order to cut the number of US soldiers on the ground. However he also feels the need to bring Syria and Iran to heel. They in turn (as my previous columns have explained) know that the longer the instability in Iraq lasts the longer they can avoid direct attacks from the US. This has become an increasingly dangerous spiral.
The recent emergency Bush-Brenner talks have underlined the White House's growing desperation. After the recent elections in Japan there is no longer going to be a Japanese troop contingent and it is unlikely that South Korean one will now go. There is no coalition of the willing. Only the US and the UK and a few bribed hangers-on.
One major problem is that the Iraqis and most of the world see the invasion as illegal. The failure to involve the United Nations has undermined any moral and political superiority in the campaign to rid Iraq of the evil Saddam Hussain. When Blair says we should let the arguments about the invasion go and get on with reconstructing the country he is trying to bury the questions of law and legitimacy. But without these questions being tackled there will be no peace or democracy in Iraq.
The newspapers in the UK are writing completely schizophrenic accounts of Iraq. They run stories about the growing attacks on the occupation forces and in the same issue a few pages later run accounts of the growing normalisation of the country.
They are currently doing the same over the Royal family. They attack those servants who have exposed the Windsor's bizarre and nasty lifestyle, some almost calling for the former servants to be beheaded. And yet they run editorials and articles saying the monarchy could be finished in a few weeks.
Perhaps the visit by Bush to see the Queen and Blair will mean the end of all of them
The Law and Leeds Labour Party
I have received information from over half a dozen sources that New Labour's selection of candidates to fight the vital 2004 elections has stalled. Apparently one disgruntled Councillor has threatened legal action after being kept off the panel from which the New Labour Councillors are chosen. At Whinmoor for instance the selection meeting had to be abandoned.
Existing Councillors were excluded from the Panel if they broke the whip. However, on appeal they were allowed back unless they had "offended" more than twice. This caught the hardworking and principled University Ward councillor Patrick Hall who was removed. However this does seem to have been the reason why the Councillor taking legal action was removed. The exclusion seems all the more strange as New Labour is struggling hard to find 99 credible candidates for the all-out 2004 elections in Leeds. My old friend George Mudie, the MP for East Leeds, has been so worried he has been encouraging former councillors who have retired to the Alderman benches to put up for the panel.
I will be running a much more detailed story if the action is proceeded with. I will also be detailing the legal actions of former members of Leeds North East Labour Party if Ken Livingstone is allowed back early into his natural New Labour home.
Chapel Allerton Bonfire party
Bliar and the Burning Bush
Once again those sociable socialists from the Alliance for Green Socialism showed how much they could enjoy themselves. Their party with delicious food was enjoyed by all. This year John did particularly well with both the bonfire and fireworks. The impromptu guys made by irrepressible Mike Davies of war criminals Bush and Blair were burnt to loud cheers.
Chapel Allerton AGS meeting
This lively and friendly gathering had two speakers from the Communication Workers Union about export of jobs abroad. The CWU has been running a campaign using a pink elephant to draw attention to the loss of unionised British Telecom call centre jobs to India and other low-waged economies. The speakers stressed that they were not against workers from India but they had to defend the conditions and wages of their members. It was important to build links with unions in India to prevent the bosses from playing one set of workers against another.
One member of the AGS branch raised the soul-destroying nature of call centre work, which lead to a very high turnover of staff. Another pointed that taking some kinds of personal data outside of the EU broke the law.
The discussion was very lively and continued over a number of drinks at the Three Hulatts.
The AGS also held a successful meeting on European policy at the Moortown-Roundhay branch. It took the form of debate between Malcolm Christie and Mike Davies over the Euro and the European constitution. This debate will be held throughout the AGS in the coming months.
Leeds Jamaica Society
Jamaica House in Leeds saw the launch of a brilliant new book charting the history of Jamaicans in Leeds.
A Journey Through our History: the Story of the Jamaican People in Leeds and the Work of the Jamaica Society (Leeds). ISBN 0-9546279-0-3. Published by the Jamaica Society (Leeds)
The book was well written by Melody Walker. However many members of the community contributed including my young friends Garnet Dore, Marcia Brown, Jenny Eugene and Khadijah Ibrahiim.
I recommend you go out and get this book, at once.
The event saw a rare visit to Chapeltown by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Neil Taggart. His speech praised Chapeltown for adding to the cultural life of the city. He also made what must have been the weakest and most veiled attacked on the racist British National Party, not even daring to mention them by name.
Jamaica House was decorated with photographs and art covering the development of the Jamaican community. One object on show was Roy Mitchell's hot water bottle, which was essential to see him through the cold Leeds winters. Poems were read and a number of speeches outlining the background of the book and its importance were made. Copies were presented and signed and then a traditional West Indian supper was held. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and real privilege to be there.
Leeds-Hebron Friendship Link
The new officers of the Link have kick-started a number of ideas to develop the friendship between the citizens of Hebron and those of Leeds. Over the next few months there will be a number of hopefully mutual visits. There will also be various fundraising events for the needy in Hebron.
Members of the Link also took part in the protests on the Briggate over the illegal apartheid wall fencing in the Palestinians. Supporters of the Leeds Stop the War Coalition prepared a large banner representing the wall and showing its effects on the lives of people in Palestine. There was considerable support from passers-by. The York Palestinian Solidarity Committee had a stall, which did considerable business.
Lawnswood School
Lawnswood School in Leeds has had a magnificent new arts extension. Unfortunately this is being paid for under the discredited Private Finance Initiative. The children of the present pupils will still be paying for the school for many years into the future.
However the current "owners" of the property want an immediate return on their "investment" as well as bleeding future taxpayers. They are now charging community groups £60 a session for use of the premises. One of the groups who previously enjoyed free use as part of Leeds City Council's support of democracy has been Weetwood Labour Party. In fact many members of Weetwood Labour Party voluntarily serve on the Board of Governors of the School. So when the charge for £60 came through did they decide to fight it? No, instead they retreated to a nearby community centre. Such is the real fighting spirit of New Labour.
-- Half-Celestial Khan
