Community radio

December's Chapel Allerton Alliance for Green Socialism meeting was a lively one. Karim, with over 17 years experience as a leading activist in community radio, gave a blow by blow account of his work. He is the driving force behind Genesis FM. This black and Muslim radio station, besides broadcasting a wide range of 'alternative' music, pioneered sharp short news bulletins relevant to the community. Karim described how he would comb a wide rage of media sources and then write the short punchy scripts. The station thrived on its close contact and interactivity with the Chapeltown community.

The knowledge Karim has gained is now feeding back through his promotion company Omega and his role as centre co-ordinator for the Leeds West Indian Centre. One of his 'labour of love' events will be a free multi-church concert at the centre this Christmas.

The exciting new possibilities of digital radio, cable and internet radio stations were bounced between those present. During the extensive discussion Karim explained his philosophy as black first but reaching out to the whole community. It was fundamental to his faith as a Muslim to build bridges with everyone.

The struggle for peace

Wandering through the streets of London on 20 November there was a real feeling of excitement. From Parliament Square to Euston Road every street seemed to have small groups of demonstrators from the Quakers to the Green Party. By the time you reached the assembly point it was impossible to move among the 100,000 plus crowd. This demonstration of overwhelmingly young people was joined, as the afternoon went on, by another 100,000 people who had left work. This huge expression of disgust at the official visit of Bush will have enormous repercussions.

In Leeds for instance the Leeds Coalition Against the War raised and spent over £40,000 on the campaign. Its weekly meetings attract over 30 people and its events many hundreds. Below is an account of their activity from their recent Annual General Meeting.

The officers and activists in this campaign represent the very best in labour movement politics. Their activities are being replicated in town and villages throughout the United Kingdom (and the world). For them and for us Blair's call to move on is pissing in the wind. The war is not over.

The list does include the protests held on the Wednesday of Bush's visits in Leeds which despite terrible weather conditions involved hundreds of people.

Buckingham Palace

The regular Tuesday demonstrations outside the Menwith Hill spy base continue. These are organised by the Campaign Against American Bases. Lindis Percy and Anni Rainbow have sent this extraordinary account of Lindis' climb up the gates of Buckingham Palace. The event was covered by every media organisation in the UK.

At the gates of Buckingham Palace
Monday 17 November 2003
Neither Anni nor Lindis were able to go to the 'Stop the War' demonstration in London on Thursday 20 November in protest at the State visit of George W Bush.
Instead Lindis went down to London on Monday morning. There was no visible security, apart from a few police patrolling in the Mall and the usual police presence at the open gate to Buckingham Palace. At the time the Union Jack was flying above the Palace but later the Royal standard flag replaced it indicating that Elizabeth Windsor was at home.
Contrary to press reports, this was a CAAB protest therefore Lindis wore a CAAB reflector jacket and took with her a US flag (upside down) with the words 'ELIZABETH WINDSOR AND CO......HE'S NOT WELCOME' written on it.
It was raining and there were some tourists about. Lindis climbed to the top of the Main gate and tied on the upside down US flag. It was a very safe protest and at no time was Lindis or anyone else in any danger. A man in the small crowd that had gathered encouraged her to continue climbing and then said 'the police are coming'.
A lone police officer arrived and asked Lindis to get down. She gently declined and said why she was there. Soon several police cars with flashing lights arrived. The area was cordoned off by the police and people were moved back beyond the statue of Victoria.
A senior police officer arrived and urged Lindis to come down, having asked who she was. A fire engine later arrived.
A police 'negotiator' talked to Lindis from inside the Palace courtyard to try to persuade her to come down. She said many times that she would come down in her own time.
Another fire engine arrived with a 'cherry picker' platform and Chris Charney the police 'negotiator' was taken up to Lindis' level. Later he went away and returned with another person (Nigel Truscott) who said he was a friend of Chris' (apparently Nigel was a police officer too).
During the time Lindis was at the top of the gate she had very interesting conversations with the police and police 'negotiators' and generally discussed the issue of the pending visit of George W Bush and the US plans for the world.
At no time was anyone in any danger and Lindis was at pains to try to reassure the police that she was quite safe. It was not necessary to 'cling' on to the gates as reported in the press.
After just over two hours Lindis decided to come down. She untied the flag (no 'ripping' it off) and let it float to the ground. She climbed down and was immediately arrested for 'suspicion of criminal damage' by PC Christadoolu and PC Rose. She did not resist arrest as reported in the press, but said that she understood that she was under arrest, she would walk to the waiting police van and there was no need to forcibly hold her arms. She was however 'assisted' to the van.
Lindis was taken to Charing Cross police station, detained and later released without charge. The arresting officer said that he had also arrested Lindis under s.68 'aggravated trespass' (Criminal Justice and Public Order Act). This Lindis disputes. She is bailed to return to Charing Cross police station on Wednesday 10 December.
It was interesting to see how the press reported this incident. There was no 'breach' of security as there was no visible security. Lindis did not 'storm' the gates. She did not deliberately put on the yellow 'camouflage' reflector jacket to 'merge' in as a contractor who were preparing for this visit and she did not 'rip' the flag off the gate. In fact it was all very peaceful.
Lindis took full responsibility for her actions and was insistent that she came down in her own time and without assistance.
Thank you so much to everyone who sent messages of support. Particular thanks to Anni who as usual dealt with many press enquiries in her unique and superb way.
George W Bush should not have been invited or afforded the pomp and ceremony of a State visit. However this visit did not go all his own way. The world was made more aware that thousands upon thousands of people in the UK are deeply unhappy about the continuing US led occupation of Iraq.
Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy Joint Co-ordinators CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB)
Website: http://www.caab.org.uk
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever does." Margaret Mead

We invite you to join the Christmas event outside Menwith Hill on Tuesday 23 December at 6pm. Those lovable and indefatigable rogues of the Alliance for Green Socialism have promised plenty of seasonal cheer including a repeat of Bush's not for you turkey joke in Iraq.

Support the Campaign Against American Bases. Every Tuesday at 6pm.

The struggle against terrorism: the whole picture.

Repeatedly Bush and Blair make statements on the war against terrorism being a defining modern trend. However it is always focussed on those who threaten western economic interests. Pakistan and Israel are almost never mentioned as exporters of state terrorism.

The capture of the evil Saddam Hussain is presented in the light of the anti-terrorist war. There is talk of him being put on trial for his crimes. However the last thing Bush and Blair want is a serious investigation into how Saddam got to power and who supported him for so long. We wait in vain for the hypocritical MP Ann Clywd to call for the arrests of those supported him in the UK through the genocidal war against Iran.

In the America that Brown and Blair so want us to copy the struggle against terrorism takes on a new meaning with the growth of the extreme right wing militias.

Three people linked to white supremacist and anti-government groups have been recently arrested because of the possibility of them planning terrorist attacks. At least one weapon of mass destruction - a sodium cyanide bomb capable of delivering a deadly gas cloud - has been seized. This is rather more than has been found so far in Iraq.

The investigators have seized at least 100 other bombs, bomb components, machine guns, 500,000 rounds of ammunition and chemical agents. But the government also found some chilling personal documents indicating that unknown co-conspirators may still be free to carry out what appeared to be an advanced plot. And, authorities familiar with the case say more potentially deadly cyanide bombs may be in circulation.

Since arresting the three people in May, federal agents have served hundreds of subpoenas across the country in a domestic terror investigation that made it onto President Bush's daily intelligence briefings and set off national security alarms among the country's most senior counter-terror officials.

One of the suspects arrested, called Krar, has paid no federal income taxes since 1988, and made his living as a travelling arms salesman who pedalled illicit bomb components and other weapons to violent underground anti-government groups across the country.

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, counter-terrorism agencies have been consumed by national efforts to ferret out US-based foreign terrorist cells whose members hail from the Middle East. Federal investigators were not looking for white supremacist groups when they stumbled across Krar by accident. Hundreds of people of non-European origin have been interned in the USA, almost none have charged with terrorist offences. In the UK this pattern of internment without trial has also been followed again with out any evidence of terrorism.

Even in the US some counter-terrorism experts question whether the government might be overlooking dangers closer to home while fighting the War on Terror in the Middle East.

Socialist Alliance RIP perhaps

On 30th November Galloway, Salma Yacoob (with Monbiot but works closely with the Socialist Workers Party), German (SWP), Rees (SWP), Linda Smith (London FBU) and Ken Loach (close to the International Socialist Group, now SWP fellow travellers) met to draw up a political statement for an organisation called RESPECT Unity. This is expected to be endorsed by Monbiot, Crow, Serwotka and possibly the Communist Party of Britain and the Morning Star. RESPECT will be an individual membership organisation and will be launched at a rally on the 25th January. Its aim is to contest the Euro elections in England and the London Regional Assembly. The purpose is to achieve the SWP's aim of eliminating political discussion, as they and the big 'names' will dominate the project. They have called a conference of their members to ensure they are kept in line. A small number are unhappy over what they see as liquidating the SWP. However given that the 100 strong national committee will meet before the conference the event will be more of a rally than a serious discussion.

After the Socialist Party left the Socialist Alliance the organisation fell completely into the hands of the SWP. They have then tried to turn the organisation into a SWP front like the Anti Nazi League and Globalise Resistance. The SWP has had problems with this project as all the independents and the organisations involved with the exception of the International Socialist Group (ISG) believe in having their say. Alan Thornett of the ISG recommended acceptance of Respect as the result of a phone call with Ken Loach without having read the founding document. The SWP leadership have a pathological hatred of independent political thought.

The Socialist Alliance Executive was kept completely in the dark about the discussions with Galloway and Monbiot. Even the Executive member responsible for external relations was not informed. They were given 24 hours to sign up to RESPECT. Only four opposed. By the time SA Conference meets on the 13 March it will be all over. And the bonus for the SWP is that will be no more unpleasant discussions on politics.

Fortunately for those who want a serious alternative to these undemocratic shenanigans the Alliance for Green Socialism has taken the lead in organising a number of fruitful discussions over a real alternative to Blairism in the forthcoming Euro elections. A number of important allies have provisionally agreed on the development of an alternative Socialist Green list and others are still to be discussed with. The membership of the AGS has responded enthusiastically to the financial appeal from its National Committee to fight the elections.

Snippets

George Mudie and the top up fees

George Mudie, the tough MP for East Leeds, has become the unofficial whip for those rebel Labour MPs who are opposing the government attempts to raise university fees. Given George's experience in the Whip Office and his take-no-prisoners approach the general feeling in Leeds is that the Government should give up now and cut its losses. There is no way they can win against George.

George has also shown his touch with popular issues by taking up the Alliance for Green Socialism's call for the removal of Ridsdale as Chair of Education Leeds. He also supports the call for Leeds City Council to take back its education from the arms-length company. And his comments on the other arm's lengths companies running Leeds housing are unprintable in a column read by many young people.

Lord Mayor Taggart and the Library

Because of his extensive engagements abroad and around Leeds, Taggart the Lord Mayor will be unable to attend the celebrations marking the 100th year of Chapel Allerton Library on 28 January 2004. He is sending his deputy. This doesn't represent a break from tradition. He has visited the library in his own ward fewer than eight times over the last 20 years.

Rumour suggests the staff will be dressing in period costume rather than the usual jeans and T-shirt, so it might be worth a visit,

Yorkshire CND

Yorkshire CND's AGM saw them tighten up their rules to stop passing parties from easily taking them over. They also were treated to two excellent presentations on Iraq and Palestine. Karl Dallas, the legendary folksinger and peace activist, entertained and educated with his songs and experiences of both places.

Fabian Hamilton and peace

Fabian Hamilton, the MP for Leeds North East, discussed with a large good-natured audience his continuing opposition to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. However he was unable to answer questions over the cost of the war and its implications for taxpayers. This lack of interest hopefully doesn't indicate that he hopes to put his rebellion behind him and return to supporting Blair.

Scottish Socialist Party

For many on the left in England the Scottish Socialist Party has become the model for the open left political party they want. However, despite recently recruiting a prominent member of the Scottish Nationalist Party, they are not without their problems. One of my dear friends was telling in his area that the Socialist Workers Party and to a lesser extent the Socialist Party are only give lip service to building the organisation. They constantly criticise, do not respond to positive initiatives and their main purpose seems to be to make recruits. The successor to the Socialist Alliance will have to tackle these problems from day one.

-- Half-Celestial Khan

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issue 67 * thursday, december 18th, 2003

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