Daily Archives: 17 October 2023

Morning Star : Over Palestine, it is time to stand up to Starmer – or face another era of war

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https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/over-palestine-it-is-time-to-stand-up-to-starmer-or-face-another-era-of-war

Palestinians evacuate a child after an Israeli air strike on Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, October 17, 2023

SOCIALISTS had limited expectations of New Labour when it won in 1997. But they did not anticipate Tony Blair’s bloody record in foreign policy, expressed above all in the word which will haunt him to his grave — Iraq.

International affairs were scarcely on the political radar in the years before the Blair landslide.

Labour supporters today have no such excuse. It is now clear that any government led by Sir Keir Starmer will be in the vanguard of international aggression and will be marked by the same indifference to international law and insouciance regarding war crimes as characterised the Blair administration.

Starmer himself has put the question beyond doubt with his comments regarding the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

He signalled his firm approval of the Israeli decision to cut off supplies of water, food and power to the besieged millions living in the Gaza Strip. He was indifferent to the fact that such collective punishment drives a coach and horses through international law.

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Labour leader Keir Starmer (centre) with then US secretary of state Mike Pompeo (R) and then US ambassador to Britain, Woody Johnson, in London, 21 July 2020.
Labour leader Keir Starmer (centre) with then US secretary of state Mike Pompeo (R) and then US ambassador to Britain,
Woody Johnson, in London, 21 July 2020. (Photo: US State Department)

https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/over-palestine-it-is-time-to-stand-up-to-starmer-or-face-another-era-of-war

Continue ReadingMorning Star : Over Palestine, it is time to stand up to Starmer – or face another era of war

‘There should be no hierarchy when it comes to the killing of civilians’

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Campaigners slam Western governments for continuing to arm Israel as Palestinians in Gaza search desperately for food, water and shelter amid the bombs

Campaigners block the road in East London outside the DSEI arms fair Photo: @CAATuk / Twitter
Campaigners block the road in East London outside the DSEI arms fair Photo: @CAATuk / Twitter

ACTIVISTS have slammed the scheduled visit of United States President Joe Biden to Israel on Wednesday as the relentless bombardment of Gaza leaves Palestinians searching desperately for food, water and shelter.

The visit was announced just as Iran issued a stern warning to the Israelis that it may intervene in the conflict.

Israel bombed areas of southern Gaza where it had previously told Palestinians to flee, killing dozens of people on Tuesday.

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British companies provide 15 per cent of the components for the F-35 stealth combat aircraft that Israel is currently using in the bombardment of Gaza, in contracts worth £336 million, Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) said.

The group is demanding the government revoke all licences for arms exports and is backing calls from Palestine trade unions for workers to refuse to build or export weapons to Israel.

CAAT’s Emily Apple said: “There should be no hierarchy when it comes to the killing of civilians.

“However, in continuing to arm Israel, this government is showing that it does not value Palestinian lives.

“Through its arms sales, and particularly through the supply of components for the F-35s, the UK is complicit in war crimes in Gaza.

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https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/there-should-be-no-hierarchy-when-it-comes-to-the-killing-of-civilians

Continue Reading‘There should be no hierarchy when it comes to the killing of civilians’

“Oily money out” : Greta Thunberg and 20 others arrested at London protest

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/greta-thunberg-and-20-others-arrested-in-protest-against-fossil-fuel-leaders-meeting

CLIMATE activist Greta Thunberg was arrested along with 20 other protesters outside a central London hotel today in an action to disrupt the Energy Intelligence Forum.

The InterContinental London hotel near Hyde Park was hosting the heads of major oil and gas companies at the event.

Fossil Free London, which organised the protest, hit out at the companies for deliberately slowing the global energy transition to renewables in order to make more profits.

The group highlighted how this year’s United Nations climate conference president is also the chief executive of an oil company.

Dozens of protesters blocked Hamilton Place at both ends with banners and pink umbrellas with eyes painted on, chanting: “Oily money out” and “Cancel the conference.”

Greenpeace activists abseiled down from the roof of the hotel to unfurl a banner reading: “Make big oil pay.”

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later: A detailed, informative article: Oily Money Out: Greta Thunberg arrested at oil conference protest in London

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Britain’s energy crisis ‘growing by the week,’ campaigners warn

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Image of cash and pre-payment meter key
Image of cash and pre-payment meter key

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/britain-energy-crisis-growing-by-the-week-campaigners-warn

New research shows household debt has hit five-year high

BRITAIN’S energy crisis is “growing by the week,” campaigners warned today after research found that household debt has hit a five-year high of £216 as winter approaches.

The number of homes already owing money to their energy provider is up 11 per cent on last year, according to a survey by comparison website Uswitch.

Of those in arrears on their gas and electricity bills, 40 per cent say their debt is higher than last year and 28 per cent believe their position is about the same as 12 months ago.

Almost one in seven say they have gone from being in credit a year ago to owing money now.

More than half of households are worried about how they will pay their energy bills this winter and 49 per cent say they will wear extra layers of clothing at home so that they can manage with less heating.

And 25 per cent say they will not turning their heating at all, even when it is cold.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/britain-energy-crisis-growing-by-the-week-campaigners-warn

Continue ReadingBritain’s energy crisis ‘growing by the week,’ campaigners warn