tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.comments2024-01-04T19:27:02.335-08:00ZenpoliticsJohn Hilleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10072819649049077782noreply@blogger.comBlogger996125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-44788666242760543512023-11-04T07:08:47.374-07:002023-11-04T07:08:47.374-07:00Well said John..and Of course Lies like that propa...Well said John..and Of course Lies like that propaganda are a War Crim Beautiful Sakurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04489402800308170612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-89754995679519181332023-11-04T07:07:06.529-07:002023-11-04T07:07:06.529-07:00Well said John..and Of course Lies like that propa...Well said John..and Of course Lies like that propaganda are a War Crim Beautiful Sakurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04489402800308170612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-22370885338340153302022-11-29T05:56:15.971-08:002022-11-29T05:56:15.971-08:00Thank you for you effort.
In the above you menti...Thank you for you effort. <br /> In the above you mention 28 billion and behind that you suggest there may be even more wealth. During the period of frenzied mourning I heard various claims about how wealthy these people actually are.One claim stuck in my mind that this hidden wealth amounts to ownership of a sixth of the surface of the globe. Is that even possible? Or am talking fake news?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-75941589230781043662022-09-17T23:41:21.762-07:002022-09-17T23:41:21.762-07:00An excellent article spoilt only by the reference ...An excellent article spoilt only by the reference to the “ Wests proxy war against Russia in Ukraine “ Russia invaded Ukraine : they didn’t have to . The West has politically & militarily benefited from this invasion but blame Putin’s stupidity and imperialist fantasies for this dreadful war Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-45087272489372163612022-08-24T02:12:06.255-07:002022-08-24T02:12:06.255-07:00Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Anon. Yes, it...Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Anon. Yes, it's truly criminal to see the abandonment of struggling people to callous market forces by a ruthless political class in this country of plentiful wealth. The emergency situation faced by cold and hungry people this winter will be matched only by the emergency efforts of the ruling elite in trying to contain public discontent and prevent a major revolt.John Hilleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072819649049077782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-45973356954464762402022-08-23T09:09:01.599-07:002022-08-23T09:09:01.599-07:00There is plenty to agree with here John. The impa...There is plenty to agree with here John. The impact from the wealthy “boys at the top” controlling the trickle down society we live in amounts to nothing more than social harassment of the many. As we now tread water in new-age Thatcherism, whilst the likes of Sunak and co, sit comfortably on their metaphorical yachts, or not so metaphorical yachts; how can we simply accept the injustice thrust upon us. Whilst there are billions of pounds being locked away by the super rich, vast amounts of people will suffer and ultimately perish because they couldn’t lift the temperature in their living room by a few degrees. Despite the flairs being fired, the government sit on their hands and watch those round about them sink.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-87937064111392575772022-04-05T05:37:34.092-07:002022-04-05T05:37:34.092-07:00Thanks John for another thoughtful, well researche...Thanks John for another thoughtful, well researched piece that deserves to be read widely. What an indictment of the BBC and UK corporate media journalists. Philip Knightley saw the writing on the wall & published this in, irony of irony The Guardian 2000.<br /><br /><br />"In fact, I predict that control of war correspondents - both open and covert - will be even tighter, and that this will be accepted by most media groups because in wartime they consider their best commercial and political interests lie in supporting the government of the day." <br /><br />https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/mar/20/mondaymediasection.pressandpublishing<br /><br />Grateful to have people like yourself and independent online journalists who provide an alternative to the official narrative. Hopefully more people beginning to wake up to media manipulation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-16267698362092740932022-03-30T04:03:17.128-07:002022-03-30T04:03:17.128-07:00I suppose I'm biased... because my grandmother...I suppose I'm biased... because my grandmother, who was Austro-Polish was butchered in a bloody pogrom carried out by Ukrainian's allied with the NAZIs in 1944.<br /><br />Imagine my horror to suddenly see a giant portrait of the Stephan Bandera unfurled inside the parliament building, and roads and squares named after him too, and then he becomes an offical hero of the new, re-born, 'democratic' Ukraine! How bizarre and how grotesque is that?<br /><br />I don't think our liberal, democratic, values can survive the era of endless and total war against Russia and China. How can they, when in order to fight these wars public support has to be manufactured by a vast, state-controlled, propaganda effort? In this climate, the war effort, the war reasons, cannot be questioned or examined and dissent, oposition, is outlawed and tantamount to treason. A 'democracy' under these conditions, without a truly free press, is 'just'another casuality of war and rapidly rots away and dies.MichaelKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05367844838471988218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-84924677722720391462022-03-18T11:36:57.634-07:002022-03-18T11:36:57.634-07:00The continuous propaganda assault the Public have ...The continuous propaganda assault the Public have received throughout this 2022 Ukraine War compared to 28 February 1998 - 11 June 1999 Kosovo War, is shamefully, and hypocritically revealing. <br />As the sadly departed Stephen F Cohen feared, they - 'the West' - are guilty of deliberately "criminalizing diplomacy".<br /><br />Since 1945 the USA has got away with its massively 'overwhelming military'[and economic] bullying , until it came up against someone with an equally devastating military power.<br /> <br />Not one mention of an attempted negotiated diplomatic solution like an international conference in an agreed neutral country, with US,UK,France,Russia,China, Japan,India,Pakistan,Brazil,Germany,North Korea,Canada,South Korea,Australia, and others, to not only resolve this Ukraine war, but *more importantly* formulate a new security structure for the entire world, to be signed by them all and legally binding on them all.<br /><br />A new security structure will have be ironed out eventually anyway, if peace is to be ever reached, and maintained. [ Taiwan? Yemen? Israel-Palestine? Syria-Golan Heights? Spratly Islands? etc ] <br />If this is achieved, the necessary attempts to resolve the environmental devastation, and climate change, will at least have some credibility.Pascalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06059053689764678360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-77214330621543085842022-03-05T05:17:15.267-08:002022-03-05T05:17:15.267-08:00Reasoned analyses on the origins of this crisis he...Reasoned analyses on the origins of this crisis here:<br /><br />https://youtu.be/ppD_bhWODDc<br /><br />'doublethink' ?<br /><br />'Official Journal of the European Union COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2022/351 of 1 March 2022' <br />"(10) <br /><br />In view of the gravity of the situation, and in response to Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, it is necessary, consistent with the fundamental rights and freedoms recognised in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, in particular with the right to freedom of expression and information as recognised in Article 11 thereof, to introduce further restrictive measures to urgently suspend the broadcasting activities of such media outlets in the Union, or directed at the Union. These measures should be maintained until the aggression against Ukraine is put to an end, and until the Russian Federation, and its associated media outlets, cease to conduct propaganda actions against the Union and its Member States." <br /><br />https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022D0351&;from=FRPascalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06059053689764678360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-52087767212449168972022-01-24T06:41:44.018-08:002022-01-24T06:41:44.018-08:00An excellent summarry, imo.
This diseased organ ne...An excellent summarry, imo.<br />This diseased organ needs surgery to stop it poisoning political debate and the 'body politic' in general.<br />It will be easier to make a true democracy without this organisation and the notion of a 'balanced'pov that only reinforces English exceptionakism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-7525691227079312952022-01-04T06:36:49.849-08:002022-01-04T06:36:49.849-08:00I don't doubt the genuine desire to protest. B...<br />I don't doubt the genuine desire to protest. But it's remarkable how readily many assume and validate the 'integrity' of the system in making their protest. This is just an encouragement to those who might be under-thinking what we should be protesting about.John Hilleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072819649049077782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-45115260344579316562022-01-04T04:58:51.994-08:002022-01-04T04:58:51.994-08:00But any protest against the knighting of Blair is ...But any protest against the knighting of Blair <i>is</i> a protest against the system that's responsible for it. Surely it's better to protest than not to? I think you're overthinking this.Twirlipnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-37028489563888704532022-01-04T04:24:22.177-08:002022-01-04T04:24:22.177-08:00"Lamentably, such calls only help validate th...<br />"Lamentably, such calls only help validate the Honours system, while lamenting the 'damaged constitution' and showing continued homage to the institution of monarchy. <br />... The argument that Blair's 'recognition' 'makes a mockery' of the honours process is deeply blind-sided, serving to excuse the monarch's central role." - I agree.<br /><br />I would not be surprised if this was a deliberate, calculated act, to distract/reinforce the cultural hegemonic anachronism that is royalty, and its excreta of nobility/aristocracy.<br />This opening of the 'royal Overton window' could well be self-serving artifice to elicit subliminal kowtowing. Pascalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06059053689764678360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-55457936142834206162021-10-21T00:43:25.029-07:002021-10-21T00:43:25.029-07:00Well done... A watch of honour and defiance... My ...Well done... A watch of honour and defiance... My wish is for defence of Palestinian homes and property to grow; that the tide is rightly turned and, the usurpers of Palestine are chased out of every corner of Palestine.. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16554451245154404798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-73682814270498112762021-09-09T11:07:53.957-07:002021-09-09T11:07:53.957-07:00Mix stringent tribalism, religion,endemic corrupti...Mix stringent tribalism, religion,endemic corruption and international power politics and you have a long lasting mess.<br />Thank you John for the many Links which I will work my way through... but, though I value much of Jonathon Cook's writings, one phrase he used in your Link summed up the almost childish simplicity that many try to reduce complex, multifaceted problems:<br /><br />" Afghans are no different from the rest of us." <br /><br />Similar nonsensical thinking got us into 'Operation Enduring Freedom' on 7th October 2001.Pascalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06059053689764678360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-15934206333560124982021-08-10T09:48:35.125-07:002021-08-10T09:48:35.125-07:00I applaud your tenacity John, but -as you probabl...I applaud your tenacity John, but -as you probably know - you are battling against an arm of 'the machine'. Salmond - avoided the pokey - and Craig Murray - in the pokey - should have made 'the machine' visible to everyone.<br /><br />Try getting any responsibility or action from "Ofcom" on why people can telephone you and display any 'caller I.D.' they wish, and they simply answer with the Douglas Adam's "somebody else's problem" routine. <br /><br />Here is Colin Tregear, Complaints Director at the BBC Complaints Unit, circa 2013:<br />https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:yJpVWlI3Bu4J:https://www.allabouttrans.org.uk/interaction-colin-tregear-bbc-complaints-director/+&cd=13&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk<br /><br />Below applies equally worldwide:<br />https://i1.wp.com/24.media.tumblr.com/9ffef0e8f0173e3ae0f0e0613eab2453/tumblr_n2nc27vO7Z1r55d2io1_500.jpg<br /> Pascalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06059053689764678360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-4487173333116738412021-06-08T20:02:17.448-07:002021-06-08T20:02:17.448-07:00Good luck if you are trying to find the truth or ...Good luck if you are trying to find the truth or falsehood in what Johnson and Cummings (and numerous others) claim.<br /> I find it suspicious in this R2P inspired (and increasingly vaccinated) Western world, that a waiver of the so-called Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)for the currently administered covid vaccines has failed to be 'actioned' to prevent a biological "genocide", and the potential long drawn out 'variants' danger from the longer this pandemic goes on.Pascalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06059053689764678360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-78105964773946290422021-05-13T11:56:29.872-07:002021-05-13T11:56:29.872-07:00John
The media blackout was a disgrace, likewise ...John<br /><br />The media blackout was a disgrace, likewise the comments by Black and McDonald, that is the new Scotland we face. I can't remember a time when the blogging community and those who actually believe in independence being attacked by the same side and now Stuart being of the scene for a while we are at our lowest ebb. I am glad that Alba will continue and hope that they can continue to build, they are a party that will be in serious need once Sturgeon and her gender warriors let everyone down again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-22945000690233044432021-04-20T08:41:09.284-07:002021-04-20T08:41:09.284-07:00In 1922 New Yorker Walter Lippmann said that ...In 1922 New Yorker Walter Lippmann said that mass man functioned as a "bewildered herd" who must be governed by "a specialized class whose interests reach beyond the locality." Lippmann has been called "Father of Modern Journalism".<br />How to 'unbewilder' people is a large and vexing question.<br /><br />I watched Iain Dale's shameful ad hominem interview with Salmond on Leading 'Britain's Conversation'!!? and what a vacuous, gossip led charade thrust on the captive Salmond. <br /><br />There is some interesting background and insights on what could happen IF a new Scottish Referendum on independence was a threat to the establishment:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0RVMcZ98mU&t=5397s&ab_channel=BlavatnikSchoolofGovernmentPascalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06059053689764678360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-16837638467495537472021-04-02T15:38:18.484-07:002021-04-02T15:38:18.484-07:00Some further insights into the 'breaking of gl...Some further insights into the 'breaking of glass ceilings' and the propaganda of 'diversity' in sanitising institutions of militarism and violence. <br /><br />https://twitter.com/nato/status/1366355680681209859?s=21<br /><br />https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1161922627172653<br /><br />https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/02/how-women-took-over-the-military-industrial-complex-1049860John Hilleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072819649049077782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-39742931099903078162021-04-02T15:31:49.195-07:002021-04-02T15:31:49.195-07:00Thanks, Anon. Some very pertinent issues and point...Thanks, Anon. Some very pertinent issues and points for discussion there. These are indeed serious forms of exploitation and commodification, all part of capitalism's relentless reduction of everything to profit and, ultimately, the violent pursuit of it. As well as the learned behaviour from what's being portrayed, the marketisation of such degradation is a form of violence in itself. <br /><br />I've also seen and read Hedges on this subject. Well worth consulting. <br /><br />It's a discussion, of course, that extends out much more widely again to gratuitous media, film and other cultural presentations of war, militarism and violence. John Hilleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072819649049077782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-74403545956034790542021-04-02T11:09:35.612-07:002021-04-02T11:09:35.612-07:00Hi John, A lot to take in, unravel and digest the...<br />Hi John, A lot to take in, unravel and digest there, not an easy read but an essential one. I would add the role of pornography to the discussion which in recent years has become a huge industry and an accepted part of neoliberal capitalist culture with widespread influence on film, TV, music and video games, fashion and advertising. Pornography objectifies and commodifies women and commonly uses violence against women.Research shows that children and young people, boys and girls are viewing pornography on line and are likely to believe that the degradation of women is a normal part of sexual relations between men and women. <br /><br />Chris Hedges has extensively researched the 'industry' which in his words "champions a world devoid of compassion, empathy and love. It eroticizes hypermasculine power that carries out the abuse, degradation, humiliation and torture of women whose personalities have been removed, whose only desire is to debase themselves in the service of male lust." <br /><br />https://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/02/16/pornography-what-end-world-looks<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-26481145209800334722021-04-01T13:26:50.086-07:002021-04-01T13:26:50.086-07:00Thanks for your valued comments. It is, of course,...Thanks for your valued comments. It is, of course, a vast and complex subject, with equally challenging thoughts on what might constitute meaningful 'resolutions'. This is just a small effort to think about the actual systems/institutions that harbour and generate violence, how that violence becomes socialised, and the 'evolutionary' nature of our social relationships, development, and behavioural receptiveness to that violence. It becomes 'learned' and 'normalised' behaviour in the sense of our conditioned acceptance and resignation to the multiple forms of violence that capitalism, militarism and political authority inflict on society. And the kind of 'law and order' type 'conversations' we tend to have on violence serve only to obscure and protect those bigger systemic/institutional forces driving such violence.<br />John Hilleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072819649049077782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1725411122663433189.post-66275730932510219742021-04-01T10:25:30.228-07:002021-04-01T10:25:30.228-07:00A fascinating analysis.
Violence, and not just mal...A fascinating analysis.<br />Violence, and not just male violence, I think has become 'normalised' by many different routes; some violence was in the past necessary for survival and food, and as such became 'integrated' with our cultures through word of mouth then written/painting(religious writings), them radio,movies, TV and internet; some violent tendencies may come from our genes/biochemistry, as some 'instinctive' reactions can be/seem violent, and how 'the animal cycle'/sexuality is involved along with this might be as difficult to determine as the nature/nurture debate. Weapons of war and violence are ugly allies.(Bounty and The Beast)..."the much more challenging task lies in our ability to address those questions against the social, economic and political institutions of power which serve to harbour and promote such violence." <br />John Hilley:"Much is made of 'learned behaviour' in fostering childhood and longer human development" <br />Apart from 'instinct'/genetically inherited, how much do you think of our behaviour is not 'learned'?Pascalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06059053689764678360noreply@blogger.com