« October 2004 | Main | December 2004 »
November 30, 2004
Microsoft PowerPoint
No software programme produces such banal results as Microsoft PowerPoint. Edward Tufte, the guru of visual/graphical communication, has written a pamphlet called ‘The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint’ taking apart and exposing its boring, Stalinist tendencies! I was amused to also see that Adam Shostack has ‘done’ Hamlet in 13 PowerPoint slides.
www.homeport.org/~adam/hamlet.htm
www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/powerpoint
office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010857971033.aspx
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:50 AM | TrackBack
November 29, 2004
WiFi in libraries
The British Library now has 802.11 WiFi, wireless internet access. WiFi has been around since 1999, so the British Library is hardly blazing any trails, but this is progress of a kind.
Previously library users had to leave and go to a nearby internet cafe if they wish to google or send email. Now they can stay at their desks working with internet as well as library resources.
The British Library are making ridiculous charges: GBP 4.50 for an hour, or 35 for a monthly pass for using wireless. In fact wireless is very cheap to install. One wireless access point costing about GBP 50 has a range of about 150 feet and can be used by up to 50 computers.
I visited the Callander library yesterday. I think they had three PCs with internet access. They were all being used and there was a booking list. Apparently many local people are coming in to the library when they are having problems connecting at home. The library should get WiFi and encourage people to bring laptops in. This will be ten or twenty times cheaper than buying a new computer and enable many more people to use their internet connection.
We need WiFi in all public libraries - and many other public areas!
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4020241.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:15 AM | TrackBack
November 28, 2004
Scotland's prison population
Kenny MacAskill (SNP) on imprisonment:
“Society must be protected from dangerous offenders. However, in Scotland far too many people are in prison for minor offences and fine defaults. Locking them up neither addresses reform or rehabilitation nor is it cost effective. It costs the taxpayer more than 30,000 pounds per annum. Community based disposals for minor offences are not simply better but cheaper.”
Why is it so difficult to arrange community service sentences in Scotland? Surely this is an area where we have to learn from other countries that have a more advanced system of justice.
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2638
Posted by Simon Holledge at 03:26 AM | TrackBack
November 27, 2004
Holyrood: officials blameless
Once again we have an inquiry which finds that no-one has done anything wrong.
Alistair Macdonald, directed by the Scottish Executive to look at the actions of civil servants following the Fraser report on the building of the Scottish Parliament, has found ‘errors’ but no wrongdoing.
I don’t understand this. How exactly is it possible to run 380 million pounds over budget on a project and then exonerate everybody involved from any kind of blame?
Perhaps protecting officials and politicians is more important than protecting the public? But isn’t there a word for this? I think it’s corruption.
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1356822004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 02:40 AM | TrackBack
November 26, 2004
Newsprint on the way out
New studies in America suggest that the shift from reading newsprint to reading online is happening faster than anticipated, especially in the 18 to 34 demographic.
The Online Publishers Association found that this age group were “more apt to log on to the internet (46 percent) than watch TV (35 percent), read a book (7 percent), turn on a radio (3 percent), read a newspaper (also 3 percent) or flip through a magazine (less than 1 percent)”.
www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,65813,00.html/wn_ascii
Posted by Simon Holledge at 05:28 PM | TrackBack
November 25, 2004
Rob Roy's birthplace sold
Further to the story on November 19, Rob Roy’s birthplace has been sold for 475,000 pounds to a private bidder.
Richard Lochhead said: “This sale was carried out without enough time for the issue to be debated or for the public to have any say in the future of a site they own”.
What are our priorities here? How can we spend 430 million on Holyrood and not be able to forego half a million to maintain public ownership of an important heritage site?
Shame on the Scottish Executive!
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2636
www.clangregor.org/glengyle-house/
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:58 AM | TrackBack
November 24, 2004
Impeach Blair Website restored
The hosting company of the Impeach Blair website closed the site down yesterday and deleted the database of petition signatories. It’s now up again on another server and they are asking us to sign the online petition again.
The original address was impeachblair.org, the new one is impeachblair.net.
Does anyone know what exactly has been going on?
Posted by Simon Holledge at 08:48 PM | TrackBack
Blair impeachment: a mass movement?
Twenty-three MPs have now initiated the Commons procedure for the Prime Minister to be impeached for misleading parliament over the reasons for invading Iraq.
Critics of the measure have said that it is a ‘publicity stunt’. It’s not. It’s a valid procedure when an individual minister is required to answer charges in person. Blair was at the heart of all the decision making relating to the war - in Washington, Westminster and Whitehall. Involvement of the cabinet and parliament was limited. Only Blair knows the time period and extent of British participation in war plans. For that reason impeachment is more appropriate than the limited enquiries into aspects of the background to the war, none of which were focused on the role of the Prime Minister.
Impeachment is not likely to succeed In the absence of Liberal Democrat support, and it may not even be debated in the commons, but I hope it will become the focus of a movement outside parliament to hold the Prime Minister to account for the war.
Perhaps at the next election we will be able to vote for ‘pro-impeachment’ candidates?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4037375.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:30 AM | TrackBack
November 23, 2004
Moving to Callander I
Today we went to Callander to collect the keys of the cottage where we will be living for the next six months or so. We will be moving everything from Edinburgh to Callander by the end of the month! The M9 motorway is direct and apparently in good repair: we can do the journey in a relaxed 75 minutes.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 05:54 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 22, 2004
Not proven
Allan Massie has an interesting article in the Scotsman about the Scottish ‘bastard verdict’ - ‘not proven’.
Michael McMahon MSP intends to bring in a private member’s bill to abolish it, however perhaps it could be retained to (occasionally) keep open the possibility of a re-trial based on new evidence.
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1341552004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:36 PM | TrackBack
November 21, 2004
Iraq: the Blair Body Count
The Labour government are claiming that only that 4,000 civilians have been killed in the Iraq War. The information was given to Alex Salmond in response to a parliamentary question.
How did they arrive at this figure?
The Iraq Body Count (IBC) site (21 November) indicates 14,454 to 16,604 civilian deaths. Based on carefully collected official and media reports, The IBC figure is regarded as a minimum.
The field survey published by The Lancet, which didn’t include Fallujah, suggested that there were more than 100,000 probable deaths, including combatants but also large numbers of civilians randomly killed in bombing.
Who produced the figure released by the government? The Ministry of Defence? Do they really think anyone will believe them?
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2622
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:45 PM | TrackBack
November 20, 2004
Carbon tax in Japan
The Japanese Environment Ministry is hoping to introduce a carbon tax, aimed at limiting emissions of carbon dioxide, in January 2006. This would be a tax on fossil fuel processors and importers, as well as consumers,
www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20041106a2.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:44 AM | TrackBack
November 19, 2004
Saving Rob Roy's birthplace
Scottish Water intend to sell Glengyle House, the birthplace of Rob Roy MacGregor. Richard Lochhead has laid a motion before Parliament to oppose this. He said:
“Scottish Water’s decision to sell off a piece of Scottish history to the highest bidder is disgraceful. The birthplace of one of Scotland’s most famous men should not be sold off without an agreement as to what the site will be used for. It would be a tragedy if Rob Roy’s birthplace was auctioned as there has been no debate about the new use for this publicly owned asset… . . Scottish Water has already allowed the site to become rundown and we need to step in to ensure that this piece of Scottish heritage is preserved.”
Perhaps Glengyle House should be restored and opened to the public as a visitors centre for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park? I see that the house is at the western end of Loch Katrine. Could the road access be improved?
This case highlights the need for a effective procedure for intervention when land and buildings of national importance come on the open market. This could be similar to the system whereby the state is given the opportunity of buying important paintings and other moveable works of art before they are auctioned.
Public bodies should also be required to maintain and not neglect heritage sites in their ownership. There is not much point in having a listing system for buildings if it is disregarded.
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2617
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4025559.stm
www.clangregor.org/glengyle-house/
Posted by Simon Holledge at 02:50 AM | TrackBack
November 18, 2004
Salmond wrongfooted
Alex Salmond is a fine leader, who has made a strong, forthright stand against the Iraq War, which is much to his credit. So I was disappointed to see him publicly wrongfooted by the Labour Party over expenses.
At the time of the SNP leadership election, Salmond was criticized - in my view unrealistically - for proposing to lead the party from Westminster. It seems he is now trying to fulfill his promises to Scotland but shuttling continuously between London and Edinburgh. His Westminster allowances were not designed for that purpose, hence the problems.
But is really necessary to do all that travelling? Surely the SNP can set up video-conferencing? All you need is a couple of large displays (the larger the better), two cameras, two computers and a broadband connection. You can use the screen to display split-screen video as well as documents, so you can have a discussion with two or three colleagues while working (for example) on a press statement.
Do SNP HQ know about video-conferencing?
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=324&id=1271232004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 03:20 PM | TrackBack
November 17, 2004
The 'special relationship' with the USA
There was a discussion on another blog about the ‘special relationship and what we get out of it’. Here are my 2 cents worth on this subject:
“There are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, only permanent interests” Palmerston. Blair ignores this by clinging to the Bush government. In time he will be seen as one of the weakest of our prime ministers.
Geopolitics, history and common sense all indicate that a dominant power chooses its own policies without being influenced by the special wishes of others - however friendly. We should not expect favours from the Americans, it simply doesn’t work like that.
Britain should decide what it wants and then try to make alliances around those objectives. For example, if it wants more action on climate control it should get together with other countries that are looking for the same thing.
Historically Britain has almost always been against a dominant power: against the France of Louis XIV and Napoleon, the Germany of Hitler etc. That is the way that we have maximized our influence as a relatively small country.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:34 PM | TrackBack
November 16, 2004
Science versus Bush
Wired News has an important article on US scientists opposing the US government on a whole range of issues: stem cell research, ciimate change, renewable energy, and the the teaching of ‘intelligent design’ (i.e. creationism) rather than evolution in schools.
Some individual states are battling against the religious conservatism of the federal government, notably California with its strong support for stem cell research, but it looks like a tough four more years for the American scientific community.
www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,65693,00.html/wn_ascii
Posted by Simon Holledge at 05:27 PM | TrackBack
November 15, 2004
Hurrah for Bhutan!
Bhutan is the first country in the world to ban the sale of tobacco. (I was about to write smoking, but apparently there is a lot of cannabis there.) Anyway it’s a splendid achievement for this small, remote, Himalayan country.
Could we do the same thing in Scotland? I mean start banning smoking on small, remote, scenic islands in order to get publicity. If people in the States or Europe read that Colonsay or Rum have outlawed tobacco it would surely give a great fillip to local tourism.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4012639.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:34 PM | TrackBack
November 14, 2004
Denial statement for politicians in trouble
The personal and private lives of politicians should remain just that - personal and private. Like the rest of us they have their ups and downs and have to work out their problems. It can’t be pleasant or helpful to have a couple of tabloids on your back while you are trying to do this. So I was dismayed to see Boris Johnson fired as Shadow Minister for the Arts after (or rather before) being given the sunday newspaper treatment.
Michael Howard has claimed that it was the quality of the denial rather than the (purported) offence that was the issue, so I offer the following all-purpose denial statement to future politicians in similar trouble.
STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE RT HON FRITZ SMITH MP
I understand that stories about me have been published in the Sunday Piffle. I don’t actually read this publication, though I bear it no particular ill will. The Sunday Piffle sometimes fulfills a useful role. I recognize that it must be tough to have to sell yesterday’s print news in today’s dynamic world. Doubtless the newspaper will not survive for long, but I would hate to do anything to hasten its departure.
As I have said before, I never comment on stories about my private life. I neither confirm nor deny claims which appear in the media. Nor do I take legal action against those who make allegations, as that only gives them greater circulation. On this occasion, I have not read the article or articles in question, and have absolutely no comment to make about their veracity.
As Member of Parliament for [Haddock and Sleaze], I am always available at any time to discuss issues that affect my constituents, or my party, or questions of major national importance.
Aside from political matters, I am also delighted to talk in public about [stamp-collecting, pot-holing or cats]. I have no special interest in, or knowledge of, other subjects and regret I have nothing to say about them.
Thank you and good evening.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:19 PM | TrackBack
November 13, 2004
32 Pro-war Scottish MPs
Thirty-two Scottish MPs voted for the Iraq War on 18 March 2003. Their names are listed below. These men and women are responsible for our Iraq war policy. If they (and their English friends) had not voted for the war, we would not be in Iraq now.
Some are ministers or would-be ministers, some are MPs who have never voted against their party ever (i.e. just lobby fodder). As far as I know none of them have since repudiated the war or shown any remorse for it.
These pro-War MPs should be targeted during the next general election. I hope the anti-war parties will cooperate in getting them voted out, if necessary by supporting a single anti-war candidate and withdrawing others likely to come third or fourth in the contest.
Irene Adams (Paisley North)
Douglas Alexander (Paisley South)
Gordon Brown (Dunfermline East)
Desmond Browne (Kilmarnock & Loudoun)
David Cairns (Greenock & Inverclyde)
Lynda Clark (Edinburgh Pentlands)
Alistair Darling (Edinburgh Central)
Brian Donohoe (Cunninghame South) *
Peter Duncan (Galloway & Upper Nithsdale/Conservative)
George Foulkes (Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley)
Nigel Griffiths (Edinburgh South)
Tom Harris (Glasgow Cathcart)
Adam Ingram (East Kilbride)
Eric Joyce (Falkirk West)
Helen Liddell (Airdrie & Shotts)
Tom McAvoy (Glasgow Rutherglen)
Calum Macdonald (Western Isles)
John MacDougall (Fife Central)
John McFall (Dumbarton)
Anne McGuire (Stirling)
Rosemary McKenna (Cumbernauld & Kilsyth)
Lewis Moonie (Kirkcaldy)
Jim Murphy (Eastwood)
Martin O’Neill (Ochil )
Anne Picking (East Lothian)
John Reid (Hamilton North & Bellshill)
Ernie Ross (Dundee West)
Frank Roy (Motherwell & Wishaw)
Jim Sheridan (Renfrewshire West)
Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West)
David Stewart (Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber)
Brian Wilson (Cunninghame North)
- Brian Donohoe (Cunninghame South) voted against the government on Iraq on 26 February 2003 (Division 96) however he supported the war on 18 March 2003.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 06:10 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Jemima Speed and visa renewal charges
The SNP have taken up the case of the young Australian, Jemima Speed, who has been refused permission to stay in Scotland by the Home Office, but unfortunately they still haven’t looked at the issue of the proposed steep increase in visa renewal fees, especially for foreign students (Skakagrall, 26 October 2004).
The SNP need to tackle this problem systematically, not just highlight the odd personal case for a splash on a newspaper.
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2595
Posted by Simon Holledge at 05:56 PM | TrackBack
'Labour's Big Lie'
The SNP have produced an analysis of unemployment in Scotland showing that “the Executive’s unemployment statistics are a massive under-statement of joblessness”.
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2594
/news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=324&id=1304872004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:19 AM | TrackBack
November 12, 2004
Sorry Everybody website
When it comes to people to people communication, only the internet really hits the mark:
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:04 AM | TrackBack
November 11, 2004
Smoking ban announced 2.
More on the smoking ban.
Jack McConnell: “A comprehensive ban will be a clear signal that Scotland has changed. It will reduce smoking, save lives and help transform our national health. It will be easier to enforce and simpler to understand than other options that would fall short of that.”
This time he has got it absolutely right!
I hope the SNP and the other parties will back this 100 percent. No other political initiative can achieve so much so easily, and have such a positive influence on our lives, as this one: improving the social environment and health, while raising the image of Scotland in the wider world.
The ban will demonstrate that devolution does work in Scotland.
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1302702004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:30 PM | TrackBack
The Vietnamization of Iraq
Iraq had little in common with Vietnam, but the style of American politics and warfare is turning it more and more into that kind of conflict.
Democracy cannot be enforced through the barrel of a gun. Forcing people to take part in political processes leads to the creation of a dictatorship. Once the killing starts, positions become entrenched and people are no longer interested in voting against each other. One side has to seize power. This is what happened in Vietnam. That is what is happening in Iraq.
Robin Cook claimed yesterday that the problems in Falluja dated back to the month after the US-led coalition had invaded Iraq: “A number of parents complained their school had been occupied by the American military and 20 of the [unarmed] protestors were shot dead … From then on the heavy-handed operations in Iraq have bred resistance and these operations will increase the resistance again… This really has got to be the end of the strategy of trying to pacify Iraq by bombing it.”
The Americans have the firepower to destroy Fallujah several times over, but they don’t have the ability, the necessary local knowledge and intelligence, to do anything positive there - and that includes capturing real terrorists.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3998425.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:59 AM | TrackBack
Edinburgh Airport rail link
A proposed rail link from the capital to Edinburgh Airport is the subject of a new consultation. Estimated at 500 million pounds (compared to GBP 140 million for a similar link to Glasgow Airport) this project would involve constructing a tunnel to an underground station at the airport terminal.
The airport is also to be connected by tramlines. The Greens have suggested, perhaps not unreasonably, that the airport does not need both forms of transport, though the routes would (presumably) be different, and most airports in the world are served by more than one form of public transport.
If rail and tram are both environmentally clean, would this not be just a case of considering the likely costs alongside the numbers of travellers expected to use the airport?
thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1292712004
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3988805.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3968175.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:15 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 10, 2004
Smoking ban announced 1.
The proposed smoking ban in enclosed public places was announced in Holyrood today. It may not be implemented until the spring of 2006, but should be comprehensive.
Bill O’Neill, Scottish secretary of the British Medical Association, said: “Devolution has provided us with an opportunity to lead the rest of the UK in developing this vital piece of public health legislation.”
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3996587.stm
news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1300042004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:47 PM | TrackBack
November 09, 2004
Two-thirds of Britons against the war
Populus polled the following question for the Times (November 5-7):
“Thinking about the build-up to the war in Iraq and everything that has happened since, was taking military action the right thing to do, or the wrong thing to do?”
Some 31 percent of Britons answered it was ‘the right thing to do’ (in support of the war), 57 percent said it was ‘the wrong thing to do’, and 13 percent didn’t know.
Support for the war has fallen steadily since June 2003.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 09:08 PM | TrackBack
The battle for Fallujah: freedom fighters and terrorists
The BBC have a reporter in Fallujah (‘Watching tragedy engulf my city’). He reports:
“I was with some of the Falluja fighters earlier. They looked tired - but their spirits were high and they were singing. Recently, many Iraqis from other parts of the country have been joining the local men against the Americans.”
Blair apparently believes that the Fallujans are fighting against democracy not against an army of occupation. This will no doubt delight the American government, but it might surprise the Fallujans. He said:
“Defeat of terrorism in Iraq is defeat for this new and virulent form of global terrorism everywhere.”
During and after the Second World War, we regarded the anti-fascist resistance in France, Yugoslavia, Greece and China etc. as heroic. Now I suppose they would be regarded as terrorists.
The form that resistance can take varies from ‘Ghandian’ non-violence to the abhorrent tactics of the suicide bomber and hostage taker. The latter are horrible and must be opposed in every possible way, but the freedom fighter defending his own city or village is a different matter. We should be trying to talk to him.
The danger now is that the action in Fallujah, ordered by a Shiite prime minister against a Sunni population, will not lead to a peaceful election in which political adversaries can agree to a peaceful system of resolving differences, but to civil war.
The events in Iraq underline the urgency of impeaching Blair, otherwise there may be even worse to follow.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3996111.stm
www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1346750,00.html
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3993277.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 03:31 PM | TrackBack
November 08, 2004
Fallujah and the Black Watch
The Black Watch are well-known in America. Dean Rusk specifically mentioned the regiment when the American Government asked for a British force to take part in the Vietnam war. Harold Wilson refused.
Tony Blair didn’t refuse. The Black Watch are now participants in what the US Marines are describing as their biggest battle since Hue (1968). The Black Watch are not peace keeping, they are supporting an aggressive operation which will involve the deaths of many innocent people - as well as some of the Scottish soldiers themselves.
The Black Watch should not be taking part in this.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3994027.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3989639.stml
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3987641.stm
www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1345991,00.html
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2586
Posted by Simon Holledge at 06:11 PM | TrackBack
November 07, 2004
Another wind farm - Dalmellington
There are plans to build another wind farm. This time at Dalmellington on the East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway border. If approved this would produce 300 megawatts of electricity from 100 turbines - starting in 2007.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3972861.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 08:53 PM | TrackBack
November 06, 2004
Major wind farm for Lewis
There are plans to build a 702-megawatt wind farm on Lewis. A total of 234 turbines would supply energy to about half a million homes (1.1 million people) as well has creating about 300 jobs. It is claimed that this will be the world’s largest onshore wind farm. Despite the size of the project Lewis Wind Power claim minimal adverse effects on wildlife or the landscape.
The Scottish Executive will approve the project (or otherwise) during 2005.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3980233.stm
www.amec.com/news/mediareleasedetails.asp?Pageid=876&MediaID=960
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:47 PM | TrackBack
November 05, 2004
Supporting the United Blue States of America
According to an interview in the Times, Blair has said that European leaders are in a “state of denial” over the US election: “America has spoken. The rest of the world should listen.”
Well I have been listening. I’ve been listening to all my American friends, ‘proud citizens of the United Blue States of America’ (as one put it), all of whom have been, without exception, devastated by what was happened. The America we know, the America that we are in contact with, does not support Bush.
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1344813_1,00.html
Posted by Simon Holledge at 02:34 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 04, 2004
Are we living in Britain or Guam?
Reading about the collective depression that has blanketed the British Isles with the defeat of John Kerry, makes me wonder whether we are much better off than Guam, the US territory which is not allowed to vote in an American election.
Do we really have to put ourselves in this position? We didn’t vote for Bush, so why should we accept his leadership? Why should we defer to a political group that has an ideology closer to UKip and the BNP than the Tories?
Britain doesn’t have much power for good in the world, but we shouldn’t contribute to the pain and suffering of others. We must have an ethical foreign policy. The idea that we can somehow share in, and influence, American power is a delusion. British action in Iraq has resulted in lives being lost, not lives being saved.
The people of Guam have to accept Bush whether they like it or not, but why should we? Britain should be independent, just as Scotland should be independent.
There will be a general election here next year. We should be determined to succeed where the American Democrats failed - by voting out all the war-supporting politicians!
www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1342798,00.html
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2571
Posted by Simon Holledge at 12:04 PM | TrackBack
November 03, 2004
US Election
10.54 am It increasingly looks as though Bush has won Ohio and therefore the election. The White House chief of state has just claimed victory. Ohio (20 votes), New Mexico (5 votes) and Iowa (7 votes) have still not been called. Bush has 254 electoral votes to Kerry’s 252.
I stayed up until 5 am, got up again at about 8.30, and then again at 10. At first it looked good for the Democrats. The turnout was huge: 115 million voters, 10 million up on 2000. It was widely hoped and assumed that new voters meant Kerry voters, but this morning we know that this was not the case. (It is probable that the Republicans have won votes on the social issues, gay marriage, abortion and stem cell research.)
America is polarized in every way. Even the map is no longer a patchwork of contrasting colours. One large red Republican area is consolidated in the centre with two blue blocks of states, one in the north-east and one on the Pacific.
What would a Bush victory mean for the transatlantic relationship? Britain has nothing to gain from a ‘special relationship’ with the conservative American hinterland. We don’t share their religion. We don’t share their social values or their political beliefs. Our future lies with Europe.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:54 AM | TrackBack
November 02, 2004
Labour relax carbon dioxide controls
Back in September, Blair and Howard both emphasized the importance of doing something about climate change. There was the usual talk about ‘British initiatives’ for the benefit of British voters who like to be told about Britain leading the world (normally spuriously) in one progressive field or another.
Unfortunately at the end of last month Environment secretary Margaret Beckett announced relaxation of the curbs on carbon dioxide emissions which are part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, beginning on 1 January 2005. The limit will now be 756 million tonnes (over the next three years) instead of the 736 million tonnes originally announced in May.
Meanwhile there is more news today about ‘irreversible change’ in the Arctic. The region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. In the words of Nicola Saltman of the WWF, “The big melt has begun”.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3651052.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3958557.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3645772.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3975805.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:50 PM | TrackBack
November 01, 2004
One day before the US Election
The US election remains on a knife edge, but the latest predictions favour Kerry 298 to 231.
According to the analysis of the polls on Electoral-Vote.com, Kerry could lose Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado and Hawaii and still win the election providing he holds Pennsylvania and Ohio. Alternatively he would still win if he gained Florida and lost either (but not both!) Pennsylvania or Ohio.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 08:52 PM | TrackBack
The number of deaths in Iraq 2
Alex Salmond is pursuing the question of the Iraqi death toll with admirable tenacity - in complete contrast to the weakness now being demonstrated by the Liberal Democrats. He writes:
“It is a disgrace that the Government appear to have no idea about the numbers of civilian casualties. That kind of moral ambivalence at the very heart of government reflects the way in which they have carried out the war in Iraq.”
www.snp.org/index_hires.php?pageName=news/newsdetail.php?newsID=2567
Posted by Simon Holledge at 05:02 PM | TrackBack
Tramspotting
Judging by the number of comments, the proposed new Edinburgh trams are the most popular topic on The Skakagrall.
A one day conference entitled ‘Tramspotting’ will be held at the Ster Century Cinema, Leith on 26 November, from 10 am to 3.30 pm.
It is organized by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. The meeting “will cover transport and environmental issues, sustainability, urban design, linkage, demographics … 4 architects will present design concepts for micro-development sites around selected tram stops.”
The bad news is that it costs GBP 70.50 to attend!