Walmart Workers Ask For Basic Rights, Walmart Calls Riot Police
I suggest shoppers across the world boycott all Walmart stores and subsidiaries like ASDA in the UK
About 650 people protested a major Walmart distribution center Monday in Elwood, Illinois, the Chicago Tribute reports.
At Walmart contractor Roadlink, workers have been on strike since mid-September, claiming unsafe working conditions and unfair wages. From the movement’s website:
No one should come to work and endure extreme temperatures, inhale dust and chemical residue, and lift thousands of boxes weighing up to 250lbs with no support. Workers never know how long the work day will be- sometimes its two hours, sometimes its 16 hours. Injuries are common, as is discrimination against women and illegal retaliation against workers who speak up for better treatment.
Reports from the protest vary, but photos show riot police restraining some protesters with zip-ties. The rally had apparently been declared an “unlawful assembly.”
Photo by @daneyvilla.
View original post 18 more words
SLUTWALK LONDON – A personal account
This interesting article brings the personal and the political together.
On 24 January 2011, a Toronto police officer gave a talk on crime prevention. When speaking about rape, he uttered the now infamous words, “Women should avoid dressing like sluts.” Enraged at his words and the culture of victim-blaming it reflected, Canadians marched to let everyone know that women’s clothes were not responsible for rape; rapists were. Although it was a Canadian police officer who had made those comments, the rape culture that gave rise to the sentiment was not confined to Canada. Women from around the world recognised it, shared their outrage, and have joined in the movement, with Slutwalk protest rallies popping up in more than 40 countries so far.
From the start, Slutwalk has been controversial, even among feminists. Some seek to reclaim the word ‘slut’, to redefine it to mean a sexually liberated woman, instead of a judgmental term used to cast aspersions on the morality…
View original post 953 more words
EQUAL BUT DIFFERENT
DO YOU BELIEVE IN EQUALITY?
Nowadays we talk about ‘equality’ and ‘everyone being born equal’, but what exactly do we mean?
We speak of ‘equality of opportunity’ and ‘equality under the law’ but if we are unsure about the concept of ‘equality’ in the first place then these phrases don’t mean a whole lot.
People have said to me, “But humans are different, so how can they be equal?” or “We have to have difference – it’s just natural” and “I’d hate it if everybody was the same…”
These arguments are mistaking ‘Equality’ for ‘similarity’ or ‘sameness’. This kind of mistaken thinking is often a cover for discriminatory practices.
These arguments take the form of;
Women are different to men, so they shouldn’t earn as much as males,
or
Black folk are different to Europeans so it’s alright to enslave them.
But different doesn’t mean inferior.
Obviously there are differences between people, but there is no intrinsic reason why that should preclude equality.
Equality means everyone has the same right of respect from other individuals and to be treated fairly by social institutions.
Equality means we all have the same right to self-expression, self-determination and the chance to live and grow. Clearly there is a long way to go to achieve this.
What we are saying can be summed up by the phrase, “Equal but different…”
Click here to listen to the brilliant Au Pairs sing about this idea.
Our diversity is our strength, not an opportunity to discriminate against others.
Although the majority of us live in modern societies that claim to be democracies, there are plenty of old ideas still circulating that hark back to the pre-democratic systems that promoted inequality.
These hierarchical systems of social organisation are the biggest obstacles to developing truly modern societies where everyone has an equal stake and input into all aspects of life.
It’s worth briefly examining the ideas that were used to justify inequality in the past.
(Latin; scala naturae, literally “ladder or stairway of nature”) was a concept derived from Plato and Aristotle and developed more fully in Neoplatonism.
The Chain charts a fixed hierarchical structure of all matter and life.
The chain starts from God and progresses downward to angels, demons, fallen and renegade angels, stars, the Moon, kings, princes, nobles, men, wild animals, domesticated animals, trees, other plants, precious stones, precious metals, and other minerals.
Each link in the chain could be divided further into its component parts.
In medieval feudal society, the king was at the top, succeeded by the aristocratic lords, next came the merchants and then the peasants below them.
Solidifying the king’s position at the top of humanity’s social order is the doctrine of the Divine right of Kings.
In the family, the father was considered head of the household; below him came his wife; below her, their children.
This mistaken notion that some are more important than others underpins racist and sexist thinking, and that some nations can dominate other countries.
While there are small differences between people of various races, there is more divergence within each race than with other races.
However, there are marked differences between the sexes – this is called Sexual Dimorphism.
Men and women have different bodies statistically, meaning men tend to be taller and heavier with more muscle than women. However individuals may not display these attributes – some women are taller than some men for instance.
Crucially, modern research points to differences in brain organisation and processing systems, and I think this is really important.
Men and women think differently yet this isn’t taken into account in education and other aspects of life.
In my next post I will examine these differences in more detail.
Birmingham’s Poor Feel Benefit Cuts
While we’e talking about the rich and poor, read how Birmingham’s poor are being treated by the worst UK government ever
Midland Heart, one of the regions largest social landlords, say their customers
Generally feel dismayed and negative. They are unhappy and unenthusiastic about the changes to the benefits system and afraid that they will be unable to live on reduced benefits
From April 2011 the rate for Local Housing Allowance (LHA), which replaces Housing Benefit, restricts claimants to the cheapest 30% of the private rented market. This does not take into account the substantial number of landlords who will not take welfare claimants, with “No DSS” a common feature in house letting adverts. Giving Hope, Changing Lives – a social inclusion process led by the Bishop…
View original post 1,188 more words
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
I’ve felt since I was old enough to understand life that being wealthy was wrong.
Hence I’ve always identified with the Robin Hoods rather than the robbing bastards.
Which side are YOU on?
Please read for details on how to support these people
Settler’s Vehicle Rams Child In Bethlehem
How long can these injustices continue?
Thursday September 13, 2012 04:09 by Saed Bannoura – IMEMC & Agencies
A Palestinian child was seriously injured after being hit by a settlers’ vehicle as she was walking home from school in Tiqoua’ village, near the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
File – Settler’s Vehicles Hitting Children In Jerusalem – AFP Photo – ILIA YEFIMOVICH
Medical sources reported that the child was identified as Hayat Mohammad Suleiman, 8 years old. She was walking back home from school on the main road that is also used by Israeli settlers living in illegal Israeli settlements in the area.
The sources added that an Israeli ambulance arrived at the scene and moved the child to Hadassah Israeli Hospital in Jerusalem.
Last month, an Israeli settler driving in Jaber Neighborhood, in the southern West Bank of Hebron, hit a Palestinian child then drove off in what appears to be a ramming attack, medical…
View original post 119 more words
Excellent writing on a crucial issue – a must read!
Last night, I attended a public debate hosted by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, on the rights of anti-abortion protestors to campaign outside abortion clinics. The pro-choice half of the panel consisted of Ann Furedi, chief executive of BPAS, and Sarah Ditum, a writer and journalist. The opposing half consisted of Andrea Minichiello Williams, founder of Christian Concern, and Max Wind-Cowie, a writer with centre-right political beliefs.
Both Ann and Sarah gave excellent speeches. While fully supporting the notion of freedom of speech as essential to the exchange of ideas, they argued that freedom of speech does not extend to the right to bully, harass, and intimidate. As Ann asserts, “It is not a kind of charter that allows you to say anything you want, to anyone you want, at any time you want, in any place you want.” And you can be sure that when anti-abortion protestors camp outside…
View original post 1,383 more words
FOR SALE: THE AMERICAN DREAM
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/sale-american-dream/
A short documentary made by Aljazeera showing the human cost of the housing crisis on America’s poor – mostly black and brown families who were conned into subprime mortgages and renters who come home to find the locks have been changed and they’re homeless.
This powerful little film follows social activists who are trying to fight back and clean up some empty properties to rehouse the millions without a roof over their heads.
As the social activist said, “We could have bailed out the banks or the people – but we bailed out the banks…”
It should be upsetting to see folk lose their homes, but the rich don’t care, and Obama didn’t care enough to actually do anything.
But this is the future for the UK, Spain, Italy and the rest of Europe and much of the world if we don’t change the system – it’s time to wake up from the nightmare of the American Dream…
The men are all showing their dick(ybows) and are fully dressed.
Eat the rich – unless you’re a vegetarian…
Go women!
This video says about itself:
The Women of Tahrir
This short film seeks to highlight the powerful role women played in making the Egyptian revolution of January 25th [2011] possible.
From Aswat Masriya (Cairo, Egypt):
Egypt: Women’s Movement Calls for Anti-Harassment March
By Omnaya Talal, 6 September 2012
A new Egyptian women’s movement announced that it will begin its activities by organizing an anti-harassment march that calls for a law that criminalizes the use of violence against women.
The movement, that goes by the name “The Egyptian Women’s Front”, has garnered the support of many political parties including Tagamoa, Al-Wafd, the Nasserist, Egyptian Democratic, Free Egyptians, Popular Coalition and Al-Ghad parties.
The movement also garnered the support of the women rights coalition, the Creativity Front and a number of organizations dedicated to women rights and young movements and initiatives.
One of the founders, Hoda Badran, said that there has…
View original post 113 more words
INTELLECTUAL CHARLATANS & ACADEMIC WITCH-HUNTERS
Two interesting, but separate issues here – Criticism of Racist Israel and the sense or nonsense of postmodern writings around gender – a very good article
Kabul attack on female actors leaves survivors facing more ‘punishment’
Awful attacks on Afghani women
Today the Democrats in convention claimed that so-called Jerusalem (Al-Quds) was the capital of Israel, but it isn’t. There are so many reports here and so many are heartbreaking – how long will the world let this abuse of the Palestinian people continue?
آخر الأخبار والتحديثات
Sept 6, 2012 | 23928 Days Since Al-Nakba & Gaza has been under siege for 1912 days
For news of previous news days | Daily News Overviews
Follow on Twitterfor more live updates
NEW REPORT
Published by Adalah, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel and Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights | June 26, 2012
“On Torture” is an edited volume of essays by Palestinian, Israeli and international legal and medical experts and practitioners based on presentations that they gave during a workshop held in Jerusalem in April 2011 entitled, “Securing Accountability for Torture and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment (CIDT) in Israel: New Trends and Comparative Lessons”.
Continuous updates..
Ismael Haniyeh’s Letter To the Bradley Manning Peace Camp at the Democratic Party Convention in North Carolina |Read more…
How to deal with Zionism: Oppose – Expose – Dispose ~ by @docjazzmusic
http://wp.me/p16sn9-q61
View original post 1,567 more words
How to buy DOG Sharon: The Future is Female
DOG Sharon: The Future is Female!
Available as a paperback and ebook at Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com
A thrilling story of love, courage and humour with a crucial
message of hope and change for the entire planet.
Available as a paperback and ebook at Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com
abortion, birth, DOG Sharon: The Future is Female, feminine, feminism, feminist, religious satire, reproduction, satire, stop, stop giving birth, symbol, Venus, women
Birmingham – from Workshop of the World to Workfare of the Wankers
This weekend, Boycott Workfare are organising days of national action against workfare, and in Birmingham we’ll be taking part on Friday, with a lunchtime demonstration outside InTraining, one of the workfare profiteers, whose failure to help jobseekers led to one contacting us with his story, which you can read here.
With workfare schemes being expanded, and a new scheme being piloted in London, forcing school leavers to do a 3 month forced work placement as soon as they sign on, it is important that we show and build resistance to these schemes which force unemployed and disabled people into unsuitable work placements that threatens paid jobs and fails to help jobseekers into work.
You can read more about workfare and why we support the Boycott Workfare campaign in this post
Friday 7th September
12noon – 1pm
InTraining
4 Norton Street, Hockley, B18 5RQ
Accessibility information: The nearest…
View original post 300 more words
The Bollocks Book for Girls and Boys!
More bad news about modern Britain…
Thanks to Dear Kitty. Some blog for her dedication and work x
This video is called Pupils speak out about UK child poverty.
From daily News Line in Britain:
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Parents going hungry! – to help feed their children
THE parents of Britain’s poorest children are going hungry so that their children have some food on the table.
Both parents and children are missing regular hot meals, unable to afford warm coats and new shoes and suffering enormous emotional strain, according to a new report from the Child Poverty Action Group.
‘Child Poverty 2012: It Shouldn’t Happen Here‘ reveals the extent to which poverty is blighting young lives.
One in eight of the poorest children in the UK go without at least one hot meal a day and one in ten of the UK’s poorest parents cut back on food to make sure their children have enough to eat, the report reveals.
The survey…
View original post 320 more words
GREECE TODAY UK TOMORROW?
Hands up who can remember their fathers working Saturday mornings? I’m 54 and can just recall those days. Well folks – that’s what your political masters have in store for all you naughty lazy people – and you can forget the Minimum Wage as well.
So to all those who parrot the government’s lies about ‘Austerity’ and ‘We’re all in this together’ bollocks – do you now see that you were used? Used as working people have always been used – in wars, coalmines, factories, offices and brothels.
I can understand the bosses and billionaires saying it – understand but not condone – because they benefit from your stupidity, from your ignorance.
But in an age where we can all find out about history, science, politics and technology there’s no excuse for being ignorant.
So who wants to bring more children into a world like this? Perhaps you think it will be different for your kids – tell me how. Perhaps you think children will somehow make you ‘whole’ – they don’t. Did you make your parents whole? Of course not.
Every extra person is an additional load on the planet’s resources.
But wait, I hear folk thinking – there’s plenty of space for more people – if we all lived closer together, or, or…
And don’t bother looking to religions for an answer because they’re part of the problem – a massive part – following these fools will make things worse. For you, me and all the kids who are hungry, thirsty and have no hope of a decent life.
So take a look at yourself and ask – am I part of the solution or part of the problem? There’s no time to sit on the fence – we’ve reached the tipping point and there’s no going back.
Do something about it – before it’s too late.
GREECE’S eurozone creditors are demanding that the government in Athens introduce a six-day working week as part of the stiff terms for the country’s second bailout.
The demand is contained in a leaked letter from the “troika” of the country’s lenders, the European commission, European Central Bank, and International Monetary Fund. In the letter, the officials policing Greece’s compliance with the austerity package imposed in return for the bailout insist on radical labour market reforms, from minimum wages to overtime limits to flexible working hours, that are likely to worsen the standoff between the government and organised labour in Greece.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/sep/04/eurozone-six-day-week-greece
Again, this is not satire…
DOG Sharon 