Saturday, 31 March 2012
Canada's seals
The Canadian government is encouraging the slaughter of Canada's seals, and baby seals, at that? It's true. Earlier this month, the Canadian government set the seal hunt quota to 400,000 seals in order to push the sale of seal products. Tell the Canadian government to end the seal hunt now! The Canadian government's logic is extremely backwards. They should be working to end this incredibly inhumane tradition that allows the clubbing young seals, nearly all of which are less than 3 months old, to death. Worse, the seal hunt couldn't survive economically on its own; the Canadian government is using taxpayer money to subsidize the industry!
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Lambeth NUT strike action
Outside Lambeth Town Hall..
Lambeth Unison activists joined in with NUT strikers yesterday in solidarity and to support the action taken by teachers against the severe cuts imposed on the pension scheme. It was a great sunny day and everyone outside the town hall steps was determoned to continue the fight. Was good to see the unions stand together!
Spanish general strike - Nosotros Estamos Preparados
Trades Unions in Spain have mobilised and got all who work in the public sector out in a general strike which follows the strikes that have already taken place in Greece and Portugal last week.
The walkout is in protest at changes to labour laws and the introduction of severe austerity measures that are hitting hard the poor and those out of work.
The Spanish government, is struggling to satisfy the fiscal requirements of EU and international investors while avoiding the fate of Greece, Ireland and Portugal, which were all forced to accept a bailout with harsh conditions.
The New PM, Mariano Rajoy, passed a decree on workers' rights limiting workers rights and making it cheaper and easier for companies concerned about their own productivity to lay off people, cut wages and modify other employment conditions.
Spain's unemployment rate is nearly 23%, higher than that of Greece and Portugal and the highest in the euro zone.nearly 50% among young people.
The walkout is in protest at changes to labour laws and the introduction of severe austerity measures that are hitting hard the poor and those out of work.
The Spanish government, is struggling to satisfy the fiscal requirements of EU and international investors while avoiding the fate of Greece, Ireland and Portugal, which were all forced to accept a bailout with harsh conditions.
The New PM, Mariano Rajoy, passed a decree on workers' rights limiting workers rights and making it cheaper and easier for companies concerned about their own productivity to lay off people, cut wages and modify other employment conditions.
Spain's unemployment rate is nearly 23%, higher than that of Greece and Portugal and the highest in the euro zone.nearly 50% among young people.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
The Sumatran tiger
The Sumatran tiger is in danger of becoming extinct. This native Indonesian tiger is threatened by deforestation and the loss of thick plantation near the ground.How many more species must be destroyed before humanity steps in? » With less than 30 percent of the Sumatran tigers' habitat located in protected areas, these tigers' chance of survival is dwindling as more and more forests and plantations in Indonesia are being cleared. There are only approximately 400 Sumatran tigers left on the planet. If Indonesia will not step up to protect them, what is next for these gorgeous and precious animals?
The least Indonesia can do is to start protecting the habitats that these tigers need to survive.
The least Indonesia can do is to start protecting the habitats that these tigers need to survive.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Solidarity with the teachers and lecturers
Solidarity with the teachers and lecturers
Support the pensions fightProtest on Wednesday 28 March, Assemble: 11am, Malet Street, W1
– March to Education Secretary Michael Gove’s office, Westminster
Support the pensions fightProtest on Wednesday 28 March, Assemble: 11am, Malet Street, W1
Support the pensions fightProtest on Wednesday 28 March, Assemble: 11am, Malet Street, W1
– March to Education Secretary Michael Gove’s office, Westminster
Support the pensions fightProtest on Wednesday 28 March, Assemble: 11am, Malet Street, W1
Monday, 26 March 2012
Port workers in New Zeland
The International Transport Workers' Federation is calling for global solidarity with port workers in New Zealand.
All they're asking you to do is take 30 seconds and send off your message to the Mayor of Auckland. They are convinced that if he gets enough messages, he'll intervene, replace members of the port's board who have pushed for the lock-out of workers, and move to resolve the dispute.
Click here to send your message.
Every message send increases the chances that this will happen, and that workers will be able to go back to their jobs.
Please forward this message to your fellow union members. Let's build this campaign!
Thanks.
All they're asking you to do is take 30 seconds and send off your message to the Mayor of Auckland. They are convinced that if he gets enough messages, he'll intervene, replace members of the port's board who have pushed for the lock-out of workers, and move to resolve the dispute.
Click here to send your message.
Every message send increases the chances that this will happen, and that workers will be able to go back to their jobs.
Please forward this message to your fellow union members. Let's build this campaign!
Thanks.
Is there a need for an MP of Greek origin?
Attended a meeting on Saturday to mark the setting up of the Greek community support unit supported by LGR and other community groups http://www.greeksupportunit.blogspot.co.uk/
One of the topics of discussion was the mobilisation on political lines of the Greek speaking community in London and the need to have an MP of Greek origin as many see this as a desirable objective. Many other communities have already achieved this.
A number of those attending were under the impression that Andreas Adonis, now known as Lord Adonis, was the first MP of Greek origin in this country and of course that isn't true. Adonis was active in the Labour party and the Labour constituency in Islington North but was not an MP. He was in Blair's cabinet but was not an MP.
My argument has always been that a community or a campaign group does not necessarily have to have an MP to be effective as there are many other ways to represent those who need support without getting involved with Parliamentary procedures. But I now accept that the argument is in favor of the community having a representative in the House of Commons that can clearly speak for them. The community has of course got more than 23 Councillors mainly in the north London areas and the Leader of Merton Council is of course of Greek origin.
So looking at who is around and who is capable of doing what I would say that the real candidates are currently two. Peter Droussiotis ( President of the Greek Federation) and Cllr Alambritis, Leader of Merton Council, both of them are of course Labour party supporters. MEP Gianakoudaki is also an existing Euro MEP (Tory) for north London but does not aspire to be an MP and has not, to my knowledge, been involved with Greek community issues.
I am hoping that the work of organising this endeavour will start shortly and I will be meeting with those who either wish to work towards promoting this idea or those who want to have a further discussion but the time tables are rather short and the objective will be to have someone in place for the next election which could be as early as in two years time?
One of the topics of discussion was the mobilisation on political lines of the Greek speaking community in London and the need to have an MP of Greek origin as many see this as a desirable objective. Many other communities have already achieved this.
A number of those attending were under the impression that Andreas Adonis, now known as Lord Adonis, was the first MP of Greek origin in this country and of course that isn't true. Adonis was active in the Labour party and the Labour constituency in Islington North but was not an MP. He was in Blair's cabinet but was not an MP.
My argument has always been that a community or a campaign group does not necessarily have to have an MP to be effective as there are many other ways to represent those who need support without getting involved with Parliamentary procedures. But I now accept that the argument is in favor of the community having a representative in the House of Commons that can clearly speak for them. The community has of course got more than 23 Councillors mainly in the north London areas and the Leader of Merton Council is of course of Greek origin.
So looking at who is around and who is capable of doing what I would say that the real candidates are currently two. Peter Droussiotis ( President of the Greek Federation) and Cllr Alambritis, Leader of Merton Council, both of them are of course Labour party supporters. MEP Gianakoudaki is also an existing Euro MEP (Tory) for north London but does not aspire to be an MP and has not, to my knowledge, been involved with Greek community issues.
I am hoping that the work of organising this endeavour will start shortly and I will be meeting with those who either wish to work towards promoting this idea or those who want to have a further discussion but the time tables are rather short and the objective will be to have someone in place for the next election which could be as early as in two years time?
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