The pursuit of freedom
Democracy?
Introduction
I've decided to write down all the news stories that hurt my head when read with words like democracy and freedom rattling around up there. I'm sick of reading all of these stories that appear for a few hours and then disappear from the radar to make room for endless NEWS coverage on celebrity, football, political posturing, and just plain bullshit (or PR). My intentions are to compile enough interesting ones to fill a book, get it published, and sit back and wait for someone to help me decide what the answer is, or the question come to think of it. Can it be that I simply misunderstand the word 'democracy'?
I would define democracy (badly I know...) as a system put in place to ensure that the majority are listened to and their views acted upon, the minority given the same rights as the majority regardless of political or religious persuasion (even if they have neither), with their views taken into consideration and incorporated where no major impact is made on the majority, with the rest worked on until compromise is reached. Do unto others as you would have done to you. Do what you want with YOUR body as long as your actions don't harm anyone elses'. All laws and rights should apply equally to every citizen regardless of career choice or family background. All citizens have the same opportunities available to them with regards education, health etc.
Ok, it's basic. It's missing the complexities and loop-holes required by the whole justice industry to make a living. I don't claim to have omitted this information on moral grounds, it's more a case of my limited vocabulary. I've also shoe-horned something into my definition to justify the argument for the end of the prohibition of marijuana, can you spot it?
I don't think I've ever looked at a dictionary's definition of democracy before and, if I have, it's long forgotten. The dictionary I'm looking at now defines democracy as; “The belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves. The government has promised to uphold the principles of democracy. The early 1990s saw the spread of democracy in Eastern Europe”. Hmmm.
It's unlikely that all of these 'stories' will set the heart racing, some are more subtle than others, and some I'm sure have made their way in because I've got a gut-feeling that something's not quite right without having a solid idea what, although I am hoping that as I note down the stories, as some will contradict one another, some will be easily linked together, which will hopefully bring about a sort of closure; in the sense my head will stop hurting, even if nothing actually happens as a result. This is probably as much a way of unravelling and understanding my own anxieties as anything else. It is possible that this is just an exercise to help me cope better with the realities of life rather than my expectations of what life could and would be.
I expect to find a pattern emerge showing the media stirring up trouble where there is none to try keeping the public's attention diverted away from issues that could actually affect them, or the state fellow human beings are being kept in to support our way of life; politicians being slippery and doing all they can to juggle the happiness of big business and keeping the public just content enough to keep their positions of power and privilege; and the big corporations getting away with almost everything whilst the average person receives wide-ranging punishments for all matter of crimes and non-crimes by a class-biased and erratic judicial system. So, no real surprises expected other than a possibility that the regularity of these stories and the consistency of how they're dealt with will spark some life into an apathetic, tabloid driven public. Failing that, you should at least get a giggle out of some of the less tragic tales.
My idea is not for this to be a scientific study of media reporting, rather my view on the skewed way the law works, the politicians and corporations behave, and the media report. I intend on getting the stories from the text services on the BBC, ITV and SKY TV , the main internet news outlets and any newspaper I find lying about, but rarely the headline making stories; more the stories on the pages after the latest news on Posh's new frock, the updates on what the numbers are doing on the computers around the world and why that means people are having to choose between heating, eating and Ronan Keating. I want to look for the stories given a couple of inches in newspapers, stuck amongst the “and finally's...” on the teletext services and the stories on the news websites that suddenly disappear without explanation.
The reason behind my not over-doing the research is I want to take in the news at face value to highlight the effect the current methods of journalism are having on people who don't have the greatest knowledge of politics, history, geography etc, or those who simply don't have the time to have more than a brief look at world events due to their family, social, and work commitments (such as almost everyone I know, myself included). I feel we are giving away too much of our collective power and are being deceived into taking part in a system we wouldn't go along with if we were allowed to understand the details and more to the point, the implications our system has for other people in this country and around the world.
Whilst trying to take in the news as the average man does, I should note that the highest selling daily newspaper is The Sun. As a Liverpool FC fan (amongst other things), I won't be using The Sun here. As much enjoyment as I'd get from exposing their lies and hypocrisy (again and again, relentlessly, until the day Mr Murdoch dissolves his whole media empire and journalists the world over re-discover their freedom, and in some cases integrity – and yes I'm aware he owns Sky Tv), it would be out-weighed considerably by the nausea and self-loathing I'd feel having to read the rag. I honestly wouldn't use it to wipe the hole in my back. There's more of a case for Viz magazine being taken seriously for journalism than The Sun in my book..... (Which this is).
I have no relevant qualifications to write this book. I didn't do badly in school and got my further education in the construction industry and, but for a car crash (of which I was at fault and relatively leniantly punished by the authorities), I'd still be in the industry now. Having spent 18 months (so far) recovering and therefore spending a lot of time at home, I've found myself awake at some ridiculous hours flicking through the teletext scanning the news and views from the public thereon. I've read news stories that have blown my mind only to awake the next day to find no mention on the text, news channels, or newspapers of any consequences or that these things have even happened at all.
I want to be able to quote word for word how these things are reported so I can't go into detail on one of the stories that planted the seed for this book, but the upshot was that Lloyds bank was paying compensation of around £300 million to the USA for allowing transactions to pass through their bank to countries such as Libya and Syria, countries that the Americans have decided no-ones allowed to share with anymore. This comes weeks after the government bailed out the banks and 3 or 4 days before they did it again. And, as I understand it, Lloyds was, at least in part, nationalised. My conclusion of this, and I stand to be corrected, is that the British public gave the American public around £300 million. If the government gives the bank £300 million to stay afloat on behalf of the public, then takes over the bank on behalf of the public, then the bank is sued by the American government on behalf of the American public, we've been fleeced by those in charge of the bank at the time of the dodgy transactions.
There's lots of questions need to be asked about this, such as why, although there was a crime comitted, there are no signs of convictions or any rich guys' front doors being kicked in by a large group of men in riot gear with angry dogs at 6 in the morning? Why is it front page news when the government gives billions to several banks, yet nowhere to be seen when one of these banks simply passes the cash straight off to America? And why do I keep suggesting actual money or something of value is being exchanged or handed over, when the whole thing is numbers being moved around on a computer screen which looks terribly complicated? Maybe it's best we just trust them to get on with it?
A few months before this, there were complaints coming from certain quarters about the millions sent in aid to India (Big country with some very poor people who can't speak English, most of whom aren't even white, and wear funny head-gear etc) yet there hasn't been a squeak from seemingly anyone about the similarly large amount given to America (Big country where most speak a form of English, wear similar clothes, listen to similar music, wear the same bling etc), you see where I'm coming from. Not that this one story set me off, this is merely the straw that broke the camel's back.
Recently, tucked away on the “And finally...” page of ITV text, in between the snow-boarding squirrels and the 100 year old woman who's started every day with a tot of whiskey and finished every day having smoked 20 cigarettes for as long as she can remember, I read the headline “Babysitter Puts Foot In It”. There followed a suitably whimsical tale from the U.S of a 4 year old having his foot stood on accidentally by his babysitter and, in return, shooting the babysitter..... TWICE! Don't get me wrong, I'm happy the babysitter lived but it begs the question why are we hearing about this at all? There are billions of people the world over who's tragedies and tales of hope are going unheard in this country, in fact there's plenty of these stories on our own doorsteps that go unreported unless your doorstep is in, or within spitting distance of, London. The media seem to think we're incapable of feeling empathy towards someone who couldn't be a clone of ourselves or someone we know. Worse than that, we let them.
I hope this book is ripped apart by people who know what they're talking about, I'm shipped off for some much needed psychiatric help, my 'collection' dismissed as a scrapbook of unconnected paranoid ramblings by a northern nutcase, and some honest explanations given to remove the confusion prevalent amongst more people than would admit to it. I concede I have a somewhat bleak outlook on life but would love nothing more than to be proved wrong, which I have been on many occasions by random acts of kindness by strangers, but if someone could convince me that this system isn't actually all that bad and people aren't getting a bad deal, I'd be happier.
The problem is finding someone who know's enough of what's going on behind the scenes who can be trusted to give us nothing more than facts. Not spin (lies) nor sexed up dossiers (lies) nor PR (more lies) – just facts, in a language the majority can understand, so the majority can then make informed decisions. Honestly, it's like they don't want us to understand sometimes. But that wouldn't be democratic by anyone's definition.
Chapter 1
23/01/09
“BBC Defends Gaza Appeal Decision
The BBC has defended a decision not to air a TV fund-raising appeal for Gaza, saying it wanted to avoid compromising public confidence in its impartiality. It said a decision was taken with other broadcasters not to show the Disasters Emergency Committee crisis appeal on any network in the UK. A corporation statement added there were also doubts about “the delivery of aid in a volatile situation”. DEC said there was “clear evidence” the British public wanted to help” BBC Text -UK Reports
“UN 'Shocked' By Gaza Destruction
The UN's humanitarian chief has told the BBC the situation in Gaza after a three-week Israeli offensive against Hamas was worse than he anticipated. Sir John Holmes, who visited Gaza on Thursday (yesterday) said he was shocked by “the systematic nature of the destruction”. He said that the territory's economic activity had been set back by years. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Ehud Olmert is reported to have placed his justice minister in charge of defending Israel against any accustaions of war crimes.” BBC Text – World Reports
“Rwanda
The Rwandan army has detained DR Congo rebel leader Laurent Nkunda after he resisted arrest by a joint Rwandan-Congolese force. Rwandan and Congolese troops converged on his stronghold in the town of Bunagana. But he resisted arrest and fled further south and into Rwanda. A Spokesman for the joint force did not clarify why the ethnic Tutsi rebel boss was the original arrest bid was made” ITV Text – World news round-up
“NEWS Congo crisis Appeal
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes by the violence in the Democartic Republic of Congo. Horrific attacks on civilians are occuring daily and a humanitarian crisis is worsening. The Disasters Emergency committee, on behalf of the UK's best-known aid charities, has issued an urgent appeal for cash to help the innocent victims. You can make a donation now by phoning 0370 60 60 900. You need a credit or debit card ready. The line's open 24 hours a day. Keep trying if it's busy. Or send a cheque payable to DEC Congo Crisis to DEC Congo (DR) Crisis Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA, or pay into any high street bank. Donations can also be made via the internet at dec.org.uk” ITV Text – News
“Defence Company Wins £200m Deal
An east Belfast defence company has won a £200m Ministry of Dfence contract. Thales Air Defence, formerly Shorts Missile Systems, will supply part of the Startstreak missile system to the MoD until 2020. Economy Minister Arlene Foster said the deal would “generate significant additional value and se it continue to provide high quality employment”. The company, part of French defence company Thales, employs more than 500 people at its Belfast plant.” BBC Text – UK Regions
“Grenade Found At Primary School
A live grenade has been detontated at a school in north Devon after being discovered in the grounds by a workman. Bomb disposal experts were called out to Bishops Tawton Primary School, Barnstaple, at midday following the discovery. Police also attended and advised pupils and staff to remain indoors while the grenade was taken to a safe place and detonated during the afternoon. It is not known how the grenade ended up in the school's grounds. BBC Text – UK Regions
“Kidney cancer drugs to be funded
The Welsh health minister has announced kidney cancer patients in Wales will be able to receive four life-prolonging drugs on the NHS. Edward Hart has told all 22 Welsh local health boards to fund the drugs, although they have not yet been approved for use here or in England> It is thought prescribing the drugs Sutent, Nexavar, Avastin and Torisel will cost £600 a week per patient. There has been a long campaign by patients for NHS funding for the drugs.” BBC Text – UK Regions
“Travellers should accept responsibility
In the 21st Century it's time the law was changed to end the nonsense of rights for travellers and squatters, who happily ignore the more inconvenent aspects and responsibilities of modern life. They should be invited to join the real world, pool their resources to purchase land, and develop it. If their roving spirit persists, they could arrange timeshares with fellow travellers. R C, Old coulsdon, Surrey – ITV Text Airtime
26/01/09
“BBC boss defends Gaza stance
BBC director general Mark Thompson has stood firm against calls to broadcast an emergency appeal for Gaza. Mr Thompson said the decision not to broadcast the appeal for the Disaster Emergency Committee is in line with the BBC's approach to impartiality. “We worry about being seen to endorse something with could give people the impression that we were backing one side.” Mr Thompson said.” ITV Text
“Sky joins Gaza appeal ban
Sky News has announced that it is refusing to broadcast an emergency appeal for Gaza. The broadcaster said it has informed the Disaster Emergency Committee, an umbrella oranisation of 13 aid agencies, of it's decision. John Ryley, head of Sky news, said “Our commitment as journalists is to cover all sides of the story with uncompromising objectivity.” ITV Text
Chapter 2
I'm feeling ecstatic. I Know it's an artificially achieved high confidence level that will probably disperse at some time leaving a lesser, hopefully not too different, feeling – but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I watched a film over the weekend which is the second installment of something enlightening enough, but this has the potential to................. I don't have the words. I watched 'Zeitgeist Addendum' again today, taking in a few more of the details I missed first time around. I plan on watching it many more times.
I never had much confidence in the system, but I've never been able to find the words to adequately describe why; which was as much to do with feeling embarrassment at expressing myself for fear of mockery and/or rejection etc as anything else. We all feel embarrassment on some level for varying reasons which, by the very root cause of embarrassment (not wanting to be too different or 'wrong') and the realisation that everyone has felt it or is feeling it, is ridiculous. This film is changing that for me. I'm not going to say I'm suddenly free of my anxieties, but I can see a completely possible alternative way to life. I can only see myself getting better as the indoctrination is shaken off and I find ways to shape my own future, without the chains of servitude (they're still there regardless of the fact that they haven't been tugged on for a few years) to a system I have no faith in.
I now know why the media report certain things and not others. I know why the country I was born in and others like it are at war. I know why children are stabbing and shooting each other (and it's nothing to do with having their toes stepped on). I know why they haven't cured cancer. I know why the roadworks haven't been finished yet. I know why this country accepts immigration and why that gets under certain people's noses. I know why some people don't like the nomadic way of life, and why those travellers travel. I know why marijuana is kept away from the masses. I know these things because of a film I watched. I also know that this is no longer a book.
The End.......
27/01/09
“Absent parents may lose passports
Absent parents who do not pay child support could have their passports and driving licences seized without having to be taken to court. The deepartment of work and pensions said the proposals contained in the welfare reform bill would be a “last resort” if other sanctions failed. Latest estimates suggest absent parents owe nearly £4bn in inpaid maintenance. But opponents say the government's plans could lead to breaches of parents' civil rights.” BBC Text
“Obama aims for oil independence
President Barack Obama has called for the US to become energy independent, saying its reliance on foreign oil and global warming posed threats. Outlining his energy priorities, he said the country would not be held “hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming planet”. He called for greater fuel efficiency and an “energy economy” aimed at creating millions of jobs. He also ordered a review of whether states can set car emmsion standards.” BBC Text
“390,000 to access child database
A child protection database containing the contact details for all under 18 year olds in England will be accessible to 390,00 staff, say ministers. The ContactPpoint database is intended to improve information sharing between professionals working with children. Children's Minister Baroness Morgan said parents would not be allowed to remove their children from the list. The conservatives attacked the £224m database as “another expensive data disaster waiting to happen.” BBC Text – UK Stories
“Liberia worms trigger emergency
Liberia's president has declared a state of emergency in response to a plague of crop-destroying army worms. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said all possible resources would be used to fight the insects, that have spread to next-door Guinea and are nearing Sierra Leone. Liberia has already appealed for international help to carry out aerial spraying against the insects. The bugs, which can grow up to 5cm (2in) in length, are among the world's most destructive agricultural pests. BBC Text – World Reports
“Lords lobbyists scrutinised
The influence of lobbyists in the House of Lords will come under increasing scrutiny later as inquiries continue into the cash-for-influence row. Lords leader Baroness Royall has launched two parliamentary probes into claims four labour peers were ready to change legislation for money. Lord Truscott, Lord Moonia, Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Snape strenuously deny any wrongdoing.” ITV Text
“Hackers steal details
Hackers have stolen the personal details of millions of job seekers in one of the biggest cases of data theft in Britain, it has emerged. Recruitment giant Monster said hackers hold confidential information contained on its database, including passwords, phone numbers and email addresses. It is thought 4.5 million people are registered with monster.co.uk and could be affected by the breach.” ITV Text
“Animals...
A giant dome containing an African ecosystem is to be constructed as part of a £225m transformation of Chester zoo” ITV Text – Home news in brief
“Rail...
A freight train transporting oil and diesel has derailed and caught fire near stewarton in Ayrshire” ITV Text – Home news in brief
“USA...
New York Federal Reserve Bank chief Timothy Geithner has been sworn in as treasury secretary. President Barack Obama attended the ceremony.” ITV Text – World news round-up
“Sri Lanka...
About 300 civilians have been wounded and scores are feared to have been killed by shells fired into a “safe zone” for ethnic Tamil civilians.” ITV Text – World news round-up
“Hate mailers target Sir David
Sir David Attenborough receives hate mail from viewers for not crediting God in his nature programmes. “They tell me to burn in hell and good riddance,” Sir David said during an interview with the Radio Times about his latest documentary on Charles Darwin and natural selection. Sir David said “They always mean beautiful things like hummingbirds. I always reply by saying that I think of a little child in East Africa with a worm burrowing through his eyeball. “The worm cannot live in any other way”. I find that hard to reconcile with the notion of a divine and benevolent creator.” Sky Text – Showbiz
All of this news around and the 24 hour news channels are focussing on an “investigation” into hedge fund executives by MPs. The BBC anchor woman just said that this investigation “affects us all”. No, it doesn't. Nothing will be achieved in the financial institutions by MPs who have self preservation at the top of their priorities – Turkeys wouldn't vote for christmas afterall.
As I write, the breaking news banner is running on BBC News 24. An Israeli soldier has been killed. As an after-thought the anchor added that a palestinian farmer had also been killed in the exchange. So much for impartiality in their reporting. Had there been impartiality surely the breaking news would be about the death of a palestinian civilian farmer rather than the soldier. Don't get me wrong, it's tragic that anyone is dying over there, but a farmer has no choice and, unless they've drafted, the Israeli soldier does have a choice. What's worse is that it seems the people of both countries want an end to all this, but as usual, the argument lies with those in power and this means that poor people will have to join the army to 'defend' their country and beliefs. I realise the offence the phrase causes but “the lunatics have taken over the asylum” seems to fit perfectly. I also consider myself (as well as everyone else) a lunatic on some level, so I'm not worried too much about offence on this one.
I had a phone call yesterday from Barclays offering me a personal accident insurance plan. I told him I had a personal accident 18 months ago and have been skint since, but I'm surviving and have been relatively happy. The money wouldn't make me any happier and I doubt it'd be worth another accident anyway. He was very confused and the call was ended pleasantly without me resorting to shouting and swearing at them which would've been my response had they called last week.
It's now been over an hour since the breaking news came through about the 2 deaths on the Gaza-Israeli border. They're now reporting that an Israeli soldier has died and 3 other soldiers injured. The BBC presenters make no mention of the murdered Palestinian civilian.
“Israeli soldier killed near Gaza
An Israeli soldier has been killed and three others injured in an attack on their patrol near the border with Gaza. Israel's army said an explosive device was detonated next to the patrol. Israeli troops crossed into Gaza as helicopters hovered overhead firing machine guns. One palestinian has been killed, Gaza medics said. The Israeli death is the first since Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Israel declared ceasefires after a three-week Israeli offensive against Gaza.” BBC Text
So the Palestinian has been killed, but we won't be mentioning that unless you go looking for it. We'll take the Israeli army's word as gospel, but cast doubt over the word of medical staff in Gaza. Impartiality? My arse.
Politics: Every now and then I move all the furniture around. At some point, every room gets the treatment; sofas put against different walls (not different as in walls made out of fog or anything silly like that), the tv stuck in the opposite corner of the room, trip to the shop for more extension leads to feed the insatiable appetite of the ganger-iathon that lives somewhere in our house; stepping into the light (that's been left on.... Again) only briefly to scour the house, his prey; the lonely, unloved, forgotten, distance-shortening splitters of power.... Anyway...
Eventually, after being pushed and dragged many miles from one side of the room and back, and back again, and again... the back of the wardrobe starts to show signs of failure, shitting it's contents out the back and leaving a right mess. A look at the bed shows it's seen better days. The slats are knackered. It's trying to support me, but ultimately, it's doing me more harm than good. If I'm getting a new bed and wardrobe, the bedside tables' gonna have to go, I'm not hanging on to old broken shit just because it's got some stuff in it I don't want anyone to know about.
When it gets to the stage when all the old broken stuff is out, it dawns on me that there's not much left so maybe it's time to change the whole thing. After a while your realise that the job's worth doing properly – swapping kanckered furniture from one room with the kanckered furniture of another room may make things look better for a short while, but it's only a matter of time before the wardrobe relieves itself of it's heavy burden, and no amount of fung-shui-ery will make it work as well again. No matter how many times I've painted, I can still see the patches in the wall where I didn't sand down the polyfilla enough, or where the bloke that lived here before me had concreted in the vents to try and cut down the draft in the rooms – it needs digging out and filling with something more suitable.
It's hard (for me) to imagine what to do at this point. I lack the creativity and imagination to make the house look and feel better. I look to people who's judgement I trust, people who have shown they know what they're doing, taking advice from as many sources as possible, and transform a house into my home.
Ok, I got lost somewhere there. Maybe that's the point, too complicated. Maybe it's more like farming. Politics is shit, politicians the spreaders.
Introduction
I've decided to write down all the news stories that hurt my head when read with words like democracy and freedom rattling around up there. I'm sick of reading all of these stories that appear for a few hours and then disappear from the radar to make room for endless NEWS coverage on celebrity, football, political posturing, and just plain bullshit (or PR). My intentions are to compile enough interesting ones to fill a book, get it published, and sit back and wait for someone to help me decide what the answer is, or the question come to think of it. Can it be that I simply misunderstand the word 'democracy'?
I would define democracy (badly I know...) as a system put in place to ensure that the majority are listened to and their views acted upon, the minority given the same rights as the majority regardless of political or religious persuasion (even if they have neither), with their views taken into consideration and incorporated where no major impact is made on the majority, with the rest worked on until compromise is reached. Do unto others as you would have done to you. Do what you want with YOUR body as long as your actions don't harm anyone elses'. All laws and rights should apply equally to every citizen regardless of career choice or family background. All citizens have the same opportunities available to them with regards education, health etc.
Ok, it's basic. It's missing the complexities and loop-holes required by the whole justice industry to make a living. I don't claim to have omitted this information on moral grounds, it's more a case of my limited vocabulary. I've also shoe-horned something into my definition to justify the argument for the end of the prohibition of marijuana, can you spot it?
I don't think I've ever looked at a dictionary's definition of democracy before and, if I have, it's long forgotten. The dictionary I'm looking at now defines democracy as; “The belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves. The government has promised to uphold the principles of democracy. The early 1990s saw the spread of democracy in Eastern Europe”. Hmmm.
It's unlikely that all of these 'stories' will set the heart racing, some are more subtle than others, and some I'm sure have made their way in because I've got a gut-feeling that something's not quite right without having a solid idea what, although I am hoping that as I note down the stories, as some will contradict one another, some will be easily linked together, which will hopefully bring about a sort of closure; in the sense my head will stop hurting, even if nothing actually happens as a result. This is probably as much a way of unravelling and understanding my own anxieties as anything else. It is possible that this is just an exercise to help me cope better with the realities of life rather than my expectations of what life could and would be.
I expect to find a pattern emerge showing the media stirring up trouble where there is none to try keeping the public's attention diverted away from issues that could actually affect them, or the state fellow human beings are being kept in to support our way of life; politicians being slippery and doing all they can to juggle the happiness of big business and keeping the public just content enough to keep their positions of power and privilege; and the big corporations getting away with almost everything whilst the average person receives wide-ranging punishments for all matter of crimes and non-crimes by a class-biased and erratic judicial system. So, no real surprises expected other than a possibility that the regularity of these stories and the consistency of how they're dealt with will spark some life into an apathetic, tabloid driven public. Failing that, you should at least get a giggle out of some of the less tragic tales.
My idea is not for this to be a scientific study of media reporting, rather my view on the skewed way the law works, the politicians and corporations behave, and the media report. I intend on getting the stories from the text services on the BBC, ITV and SKY TV , the main internet news outlets and any newspaper I find lying about, but rarely the headline making stories; more the stories on the pages after the latest news on Posh's new frock, the updates on what the numbers are doing on the computers around the world and why that means people are having to choose between heating, eating and Ronan Keating. I want to look for the stories given a couple of inches in newspapers, stuck amongst the “and finally's...” on the teletext services and the stories on the news websites that suddenly disappear without explanation.
The reason behind my not over-doing the research is I want to take in the news at face value to highlight the effect the current methods of journalism are having on people who don't have the greatest knowledge of politics, history, geography etc, or those who simply don't have the time to have more than a brief look at world events due to their family, social, and work commitments (such as almost everyone I know, myself included). I feel we are giving away too much of our collective power and are being deceived into taking part in a system we wouldn't go along with if we were allowed to understand the details and more to the point, the implications our system has for other people in this country and around the world.
Whilst trying to take in the news as the average man does, I should note that the highest selling daily newspaper is The Sun. As a Liverpool FC fan (amongst other things), I won't be using The Sun here. As much enjoyment as I'd get from exposing their lies and hypocrisy (again and again, relentlessly, until the day Mr Murdoch dissolves his whole media empire and journalists the world over re-discover their freedom, and in some cases integrity – and yes I'm aware he owns Sky Tv), it would be out-weighed considerably by the nausea and self-loathing I'd feel having to read the rag. I honestly wouldn't use it to wipe the hole in my back. There's more of a case for Viz magazine being taken seriously for journalism than The Sun in my book..... (Which this is).
I have no relevant qualifications to write this book. I didn't do badly in school and got my further education in the construction industry and, but for a car crash (of which I was at fault and relatively leniantly punished by the authorities), I'd still be in the industry now. Having spent 18 months (so far) recovering and therefore spending a lot of time at home, I've found myself awake at some ridiculous hours flicking through the teletext scanning the news and views from the public thereon. I've read news stories that have blown my mind only to awake the next day to find no mention on the text, news channels, or newspapers of any consequences or that these things have even happened at all.
I want to be able to quote word for word how these things are reported so I can't go into detail on one of the stories that planted the seed for this book, but the upshot was that Lloyds bank was paying compensation of around £300 million to the USA for allowing transactions to pass through their bank to countries such as Libya and Syria, countries that the Americans have decided no-ones allowed to share with anymore. This comes weeks after the government bailed out the banks and 3 or 4 days before they did it again. And, as I understand it, Lloyds was, at least in part, nationalised. My conclusion of this, and I stand to be corrected, is that the British public gave the American public around £300 million. If the government gives the bank £300 million to stay afloat on behalf of the public, then takes over the bank on behalf of the public, then the bank is sued by the American government on behalf of the American public, we've been fleeced by those in charge of the bank at the time of the dodgy transactions.
There's lots of questions need to be asked about this, such as why, although there was a crime comitted, there are no signs of convictions or any rich guys' front doors being kicked in by a large group of men in riot gear with angry dogs at 6 in the morning? Why is it front page news when the government gives billions to several banks, yet nowhere to be seen when one of these banks simply passes the cash straight off to America? And why do I keep suggesting actual money or something of value is being exchanged or handed over, when the whole thing is numbers being moved around on a computer screen which looks terribly complicated? Maybe it's best we just trust them to get on with it?
A few months before this, there were complaints coming from certain quarters about the millions sent in aid to India (Big country with some very poor people who can't speak English, most of whom aren't even white, and wear funny head-gear etc) yet there hasn't been a squeak from seemingly anyone about the similarly large amount given to America (Big country where most speak a form of English, wear similar clothes, listen to similar music, wear the same bling etc), you see where I'm coming from. Not that this one story set me off, this is merely the straw that broke the camel's back.
Recently, tucked away on the “And finally...” page of ITV text, in between the snow-boarding squirrels and the 100 year old woman who's started every day with a tot of whiskey and finished every day having smoked 20 cigarettes for as long as she can remember, I read the headline “Babysitter Puts Foot In It”. There followed a suitably whimsical tale from the U.S of a 4 year old having his foot stood on accidentally by his babysitter and, in return, shooting the babysitter..... TWICE! Don't get me wrong, I'm happy the babysitter lived but it begs the question why are we hearing about this at all? There are billions of people the world over who's tragedies and tales of hope are going unheard in this country, in fact there's plenty of these stories on our own doorsteps that go unreported unless your doorstep is in, or within spitting distance of, London. The media seem to think we're incapable of feeling empathy towards someone who couldn't be a clone of ourselves or someone we know. Worse than that, we let them.
I hope this book is ripped apart by people who know what they're talking about, I'm shipped off for some much needed psychiatric help, my 'collection' dismissed as a scrapbook of unconnected paranoid ramblings by a northern nutcase, and some honest explanations given to remove the confusion prevalent amongst more people than would admit to it. I concede I have a somewhat bleak outlook on life but would love nothing more than to be proved wrong, which I have been on many occasions by random acts of kindness by strangers, but if someone could convince me that this system isn't actually all that bad and people aren't getting a bad deal, I'd be happier.
The problem is finding someone who know's enough of what's going on behind the scenes who can be trusted to give us nothing more than facts. Not spin (lies) nor sexed up dossiers (lies) nor PR (more lies) – just facts, in a language the majority can understand, so the majority can then make informed decisions. Honestly, it's like they don't want us to understand sometimes. But that wouldn't be democratic by anyone's definition.
Chapter 1
23/01/09
“BBC Defends Gaza Appeal Decision
The BBC has defended a decision not to air a TV fund-raising appeal for Gaza, saying it wanted to avoid compromising public confidence in its impartiality. It said a decision was taken with other broadcasters not to show the Disasters Emergency Committee crisis appeal on any network in the UK. A corporation statement added there were also doubts about “the delivery of aid in a volatile situation”. DEC said there was “clear evidence” the British public wanted to help” BBC Text -UK Reports
“UN 'Shocked' By Gaza Destruction
The UN's humanitarian chief has told the BBC the situation in Gaza after a three-week Israeli offensive against Hamas was worse than he anticipated. Sir John Holmes, who visited Gaza on Thursday (yesterday) said he was shocked by “the systematic nature of the destruction”. He said that the territory's economic activity had been set back by years. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Ehud Olmert is reported to have placed his justice minister in charge of defending Israel against any accustaions of war crimes.” BBC Text – World Reports
“Rwanda
The Rwandan army has detained DR Congo rebel leader Laurent Nkunda after he resisted arrest by a joint Rwandan-Congolese force. Rwandan and Congolese troops converged on his stronghold in the town of Bunagana. But he resisted arrest and fled further south and into Rwanda. A Spokesman for the joint force did not clarify why the ethnic Tutsi rebel boss was the original arrest bid was made” ITV Text – World news round-up
“NEWS Congo crisis Appeal
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes by the violence in the Democartic Republic of Congo. Horrific attacks on civilians are occuring daily and a humanitarian crisis is worsening. The Disasters Emergency committee, on behalf of the UK's best-known aid charities, has issued an urgent appeal for cash to help the innocent victims. You can make a donation now by phoning 0370 60 60 900. You need a credit or debit card ready. The line's open 24 hours a day. Keep trying if it's busy. Or send a cheque payable to DEC Congo Crisis to DEC Congo (DR) Crisis Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA, or pay into any high street bank. Donations can also be made via the internet at dec.org.uk” ITV Text – News
“Defence Company Wins £200m Deal
An east Belfast defence company has won a £200m Ministry of Dfence contract. Thales Air Defence, formerly Shorts Missile Systems, will supply part of the Startstreak missile system to the MoD until 2020. Economy Minister Arlene Foster said the deal would “generate significant additional value and se it continue to provide high quality employment”. The company, part of French defence company Thales, employs more than 500 people at its Belfast plant.” BBC Text – UK Regions
“Grenade Found At Primary School
A live grenade has been detontated at a school in north Devon after being discovered in the grounds by a workman. Bomb disposal experts were called out to Bishops Tawton Primary School, Barnstaple, at midday following the discovery. Police also attended and advised pupils and staff to remain indoors while the grenade was taken to a safe place and detonated during the afternoon. It is not known how the grenade ended up in the school's grounds. BBC Text – UK Regions
“Kidney cancer drugs to be funded
The Welsh health minister has announced kidney cancer patients in Wales will be able to receive four life-prolonging drugs on the NHS. Edward Hart has told all 22 Welsh local health boards to fund the drugs, although they have not yet been approved for use here or in England> It is thought prescribing the drugs Sutent, Nexavar, Avastin and Torisel will cost £600 a week per patient. There has been a long campaign by patients for NHS funding for the drugs.” BBC Text – UK Regions
“Travellers should accept responsibility
In the 21st Century it's time the law was changed to end the nonsense of rights for travellers and squatters, who happily ignore the more inconvenent aspects and responsibilities of modern life. They should be invited to join the real world, pool their resources to purchase land, and develop it. If their roving spirit persists, they could arrange timeshares with fellow travellers. R C, Old coulsdon, Surrey – ITV Text Airtime
26/01/09
“BBC boss defends Gaza stance
BBC director general Mark Thompson has stood firm against calls to broadcast an emergency appeal for Gaza. Mr Thompson said the decision not to broadcast the appeal for the Disaster Emergency Committee is in line with the BBC's approach to impartiality. “We worry about being seen to endorse something with could give people the impression that we were backing one side.” Mr Thompson said.” ITV Text
“Sky joins Gaza appeal ban
Sky News has announced that it is refusing to broadcast an emergency appeal for Gaza. The broadcaster said it has informed the Disaster Emergency Committee, an umbrella oranisation of 13 aid agencies, of it's decision. John Ryley, head of Sky news, said “Our commitment as journalists is to cover all sides of the story with uncompromising objectivity.” ITV Text
Chapter 2
I'm feeling ecstatic. I Know it's an artificially achieved high confidence level that will probably disperse at some time leaving a lesser, hopefully not too different, feeling – but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I watched a film over the weekend which is the second installment of something enlightening enough, but this has the potential to................. I don't have the words. I watched 'Zeitgeist Addendum' again today, taking in a few more of the details I missed first time around. I plan on watching it many more times.
I never had much confidence in the system, but I've never been able to find the words to adequately describe why; which was as much to do with feeling embarrassment at expressing myself for fear of mockery and/or rejection etc as anything else. We all feel embarrassment on some level for varying reasons which, by the very root cause of embarrassment (not wanting to be too different or 'wrong') and the realisation that everyone has felt it or is feeling it, is ridiculous. This film is changing that for me. I'm not going to say I'm suddenly free of my anxieties, but I can see a completely possible alternative way to life. I can only see myself getting better as the indoctrination is shaken off and I find ways to shape my own future, without the chains of servitude (they're still there regardless of the fact that they haven't been tugged on for a few years) to a system I have no faith in.
I now know why the media report certain things and not others. I know why the country I was born in and others like it are at war. I know why children are stabbing and shooting each other (and it's nothing to do with having their toes stepped on). I know why they haven't cured cancer. I know why the roadworks haven't been finished yet. I know why this country accepts immigration and why that gets under certain people's noses. I know why some people don't like the nomadic way of life, and why those travellers travel. I know why marijuana is kept away from the masses. I know these things because of a film I watched. I also know that this is no longer a book.
The End.......
27/01/09
“Absent parents may lose passports
Absent parents who do not pay child support could have their passports and driving licences seized without having to be taken to court. The deepartment of work and pensions said the proposals contained in the welfare reform bill would be a “last resort” if other sanctions failed. Latest estimates suggest absent parents owe nearly £4bn in inpaid maintenance. But opponents say the government's plans could lead to breaches of parents' civil rights.” BBC Text
“Obama aims for oil independence
President Barack Obama has called for the US to become energy independent, saying its reliance on foreign oil and global warming posed threats. Outlining his energy priorities, he said the country would not be held “hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming planet”. He called for greater fuel efficiency and an “energy economy” aimed at creating millions of jobs. He also ordered a review of whether states can set car emmsion standards.” BBC Text
“390,000 to access child database
A child protection database containing the contact details for all under 18 year olds in England will be accessible to 390,00 staff, say ministers. The ContactPpoint database is intended to improve information sharing between professionals working with children. Children's Minister Baroness Morgan said parents would not be allowed to remove their children from the list. The conservatives attacked the £224m database as “another expensive data disaster waiting to happen.” BBC Text – UK Stories
“Liberia worms trigger emergency
Liberia's president has declared a state of emergency in response to a plague of crop-destroying army worms. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said all possible resources would be used to fight the insects, that have spread to next-door Guinea and are nearing Sierra Leone. Liberia has already appealed for international help to carry out aerial spraying against the insects. The bugs, which can grow up to 5cm (2in) in length, are among the world's most destructive agricultural pests. BBC Text – World Reports
“Lords lobbyists scrutinised
The influence of lobbyists in the House of Lords will come under increasing scrutiny later as inquiries continue into the cash-for-influence row. Lords leader Baroness Royall has launched two parliamentary probes into claims four labour peers were ready to change legislation for money. Lord Truscott, Lord Moonia, Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Snape strenuously deny any wrongdoing.” ITV Text
“Hackers steal details
Hackers have stolen the personal details of millions of job seekers in one of the biggest cases of data theft in Britain, it has emerged. Recruitment giant Monster said hackers hold confidential information contained on its database, including passwords, phone numbers and email addresses. It is thought 4.5 million people are registered with monster.co.uk and could be affected by the breach.” ITV Text
“Animals...
A giant dome containing an African ecosystem is to be constructed as part of a £225m transformation of Chester zoo” ITV Text – Home news in brief
“Rail...
A freight train transporting oil and diesel has derailed and caught fire near stewarton in Ayrshire” ITV Text – Home news in brief
“USA...
New York Federal Reserve Bank chief Timothy Geithner has been sworn in as treasury secretary. President Barack Obama attended the ceremony.” ITV Text – World news round-up
“Sri Lanka...
About 300 civilians have been wounded and scores are feared to have been killed by shells fired into a “safe zone” for ethnic Tamil civilians.” ITV Text – World news round-up
“Hate mailers target Sir David
Sir David Attenborough receives hate mail from viewers for not crediting God in his nature programmes. “They tell me to burn in hell and good riddance,” Sir David said during an interview with the Radio Times about his latest documentary on Charles Darwin and natural selection. Sir David said “They always mean beautiful things like hummingbirds. I always reply by saying that I think of a little child in East Africa with a worm burrowing through his eyeball. “The worm cannot live in any other way”. I find that hard to reconcile with the notion of a divine and benevolent creator.” Sky Text – Showbiz
All of this news around and the 24 hour news channels are focussing on an “investigation” into hedge fund executives by MPs. The BBC anchor woman just said that this investigation “affects us all”. No, it doesn't. Nothing will be achieved in the financial institutions by MPs who have self preservation at the top of their priorities – Turkeys wouldn't vote for christmas afterall.
As I write, the breaking news banner is running on BBC News 24. An Israeli soldier has been killed. As an after-thought the anchor added that a palestinian farmer had also been killed in the exchange. So much for impartiality in their reporting. Had there been impartiality surely the breaking news would be about the death of a palestinian civilian farmer rather than the soldier. Don't get me wrong, it's tragic that anyone is dying over there, but a farmer has no choice and, unless they've drafted, the Israeli soldier does have a choice. What's worse is that it seems the people of both countries want an end to all this, but as usual, the argument lies with those in power and this means that poor people will have to join the army to 'defend' their country and beliefs. I realise the offence the phrase causes but “the lunatics have taken over the asylum” seems to fit perfectly. I also consider myself (as well as everyone else) a lunatic on some level, so I'm not worried too much about offence on this one.
I had a phone call yesterday from Barclays offering me a personal accident insurance plan. I told him I had a personal accident 18 months ago and have been skint since, but I'm surviving and have been relatively happy. The money wouldn't make me any happier and I doubt it'd be worth another accident anyway. He was very confused and the call was ended pleasantly without me resorting to shouting and swearing at them which would've been my response had they called last week.
It's now been over an hour since the breaking news came through about the 2 deaths on the Gaza-Israeli border. They're now reporting that an Israeli soldier has died and 3 other soldiers injured. The BBC presenters make no mention of the murdered Palestinian civilian.
“Israeli soldier killed near Gaza
An Israeli soldier has been killed and three others injured in an attack on their patrol near the border with Gaza. Israel's army said an explosive device was detonated next to the patrol. Israeli troops crossed into Gaza as helicopters hovered overhead firing machine guns. One palestinian has been killed, Gaza medics said. The Israeli death is the first since Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Israel declared ceasefires after a three-week Israeli offensive against Gaza.” BBC Text
So the Palestinian has been killed, but we won't be mentioning that unless you go looking for it. We'll take the Israeli army's word as gospel, but cast doubt over the word of medical staff in Gaza. Impartiality? My arse.
Politics: Every now and then I move all the furniture around. At some point, every room gets the treatment; sofas put against different walls (not different as in walls made out of fog or anything silly like that), the tv stuck in the opposite corner of the room, trip to the shop for more extension leads to feed the insatiable appetite of the ganger-iathon that lives somewhere in our house; stepping into the light (that's been left on.... Again) only briefly to scour the house, his prey; the lonely, unloved, forgotten, distance-shortening splitters of power.... Anyway...
Eventually, after being pushed and dragged many miles from one side of the room and back, and back again, and again... the back of the wardrobe starts to show signs of failure, shitting it's contents out the back and leaving a right mess. A look at the bed shows it's seen better days. The slats are knackered. It's trying to support me, but ultimately, it's doing me more harm than good. If I'm getting a new bed and wardrobe, the bedside tables' gonna have to go, I'm not hanging on to old broken shit just because it's got some stuff in it I don't want anyone to know about.
When it gets to the stage when all the old broken stuff is out, it dawns on me that there's not much left so maybe it's time to change the whole thing. After a while your realise that the job's worth doing properly – swapping kanckered furniture from one room with the kanckered furniture of another room may make things look better for a short while, but it's only a matter of time before the wardrobe relieves itself of it's heavy burden, and no amount of fung-shui-ery will make it work as well again. No matter how many times I've painted, I can still see the patches in the wall where I didn't sand down the polyfilla enough, or where the bloke that lived here before me had concreted in the vents to try and cut down the draft in the rooms – it needs digging out and filling with something more suitable.
It's hard (for me) to imagine what to do at this point. I lack the creativity and imagination to make the house look and feel better. I look to people who's judgement I trust, people who have shown they know what they're doing, taking advice from as many sources as possible, and transform a house into my home.
Ok, I got lost somewhere there. Maybe that's the point, too complicated. Maybe it's more like farming. Politics is shit, politicians the spreaders.
posted by Anfield1 at 4:42 pm
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