Music is an international language. Jazz, in particular, allows everyone to have their say and to be understood by everyone else, regardless of their race or nationality. Jazz is at its best when people listen to each other and contribute their own ideas to something which is a creation of all their efforts - a musical and emotional experience.
In short, jazz is about co-operation and co-operation is the opposite of conflict. If politicians from every country were jazz musicians we would live in a more peaceful and equitable world. Well, in theory, at least!
When a country resorts to violence and destruction, or even just the threat of unleashing such forces upon others, it is a sign of its own failure to resolve crises or to further its own ends in a more grown-up civilised manner. War now is nothing more than mass murder. The vast majority of people who die in wars are civilians, particularly the weak, the infirm, the elderly and the very young. War does not solve problems: it creates new ones.
As a musician who attempts to create new things, I firmly oppose mindless destruction, however glossy and glamorous the weapons of war may appear to others. As a human being who cherishes life, I deplore the killing and maiming of other human beings. And when it is done in my name by my own country, I utterly deplore it and will protest against it however I can.
I have been very lucky to have been able to travel widely and to have lived and worked with people from many other countries.
Co-operation with others from other backgrounds leads to a One World philosophy, which I passionately believe in. We have enough problems in combating global warming and other ecological disasters without wasting valuable resources in nationalistic behaviour at the expense of others. We have no choice left now but to co-operate and find lasting solutions to problems which effect everyone, the world over.
For those who are interested then, here are some links to some
worthwhile organisations, many of which have branches worldwide or useful links:
OXFAM
War on Want
Campaign against the Arms Trade
World Development Movement
Greenpeace
Friends of the Earth
The Carbon Neutral Company
Amnesty
Human Rights Watch
New Internationalist Magazine
Center for Alternative Technology
Stop the War Coalition
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
The We
We, the World
Sustrans
Energy Saving Trust
Flyingfish - links to alternative media
"Security" forces in Syria open fire on protesters. This is an obsenity. And yet the rest of the world does nothing. I call upon the International Criminal Court to declare President Bashar al-Assad a war criminal. Steps should be taken immediately to arrest him in spite of the "cosy" relationship which some countries have with Syria.
See information on Syria from Avaaz
There are lots of things that have not been explained about the attack on the World Trade Center. Was the official version of the events satisfactory to you? If not, read this.
Here is an eye-witness video of the events of 9/11. Warning - this may be distressing to some people.
The terrorist attack on London on 7/7/05 also left a lot of questions unanswered. To find out more and to see what is happening in Britain, watch this video
A video about the Iraq war by US high government and intelligence officers. Uncovered: The Whole Truth Of The Iraq War
Read about what US troops get up to in Iraq in their own words. Is this the way to win hearts and minds?!
The Iraq war was illegal and immoral. The US and UK governments lied in order to justify this attack upon a sovereign country. The real reason for going to war was that the US, backed slavishly by Britain, wanted to get its hands on the oil fields. The cost in human lives in Iraq caused by the war and civil unrest since then has been horrendous. Here is an estimate of the numbers killed.
Find out about the war in Afghanistan: things that the mass media doesn't tell you.
The attacks on Gaza by Israel have been barbaric and I fully condemn them. For decades the treatment of the Palistinias by the Israelis has been despicable, worse than the treatment of the blacks in South Africa in the apartheid era. But the US government, because of the strong blinkered Jewish lobby, refuses to blame the Israelis for the attrocities which they have committed. It is complicit in the attrocities by its unquestioned support for Israel, most notably the supply of armaments to that country which have been put to use in Gaza.
There has been a lot of talk about sanctions against Iran for wanting to build nuclear weapons. But Israel, a terrorist state, has a long-established nuclear armoury and would probably not hesitate to use them. A lot of fuss has been made of the tunnels into Gaza used for smuggling weapons, amongst other things. Well, don't forget that Israel gets its weapons - aircraft and helicopter gun-ships, etc, openly from the EU and the USA. I am not anti-semitic, but I am totally against the actions taken by the Israeli government. For too long the world has been blackmailed into supporting Israel because of the holocaust. The holocaust is over. But the terrorism perpetrated by the Israelis is not. It's time to face reality, even you, Barack Obama. For a first-hand impression what it is like in Gaza, click here or this. Read this for an unsantised version of what is happening, or go to Al-Jazeera for a more accurate picture of what is happening.
Israel has also been using White Phospherous bombs against the civilian population of Gaza, which is banned under the Geneva Convention - Watch this for the evidence. But what does Israel care about the Geneva Convention or UN resolutions - nothing! (Neither does America when it suits it, as its army also used White Phosphorous bombs in Fallujah)
Here is a list of goods manufactured in Israel. These companies are alleged to support Israel and give them money.
The demonstration on Saturday 24th January in London was directed at the BBC's pro-Israel reporting. The BBC also refuses to broadcast an appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee for humanitarian aid for Gaza. For the situation in Gaza and how to respond, click here . The BBC claims it would damage their impartiality. If you believe that, read this .The BBC has had a long history of distorting, lying and misreporting the news but usually in a subtle way that seems to fool many people. Do not trust the BBC if you want the truth! Click here for more news. At the demonstration on the 3rd January, the police sealed in a contingent of the crowd in an underpass and charged them causing panic. Read this eye-witness report.
Footnote written after the G20 Summit in London, April 4th 2009. The police in London are now employing the tactic of "kettling" which means confining protestors into a sealed-off space. Some protestors recently have been isolated in this way for up to 8 hours without any toilet facilities or food. People who try to leave the cordons off policemen, with their horses and dogs are not allowed and they are photographed and their names and addresses are taken. It seems that the police are trying to prevent the ancient right of protesting by using scare tactics to deter people from going on demonstrations.
With regard to Gaza, there is now a cease fire in place, but it is imperative not to forget what the mass murderers (the govenment and the military) have done, with the backing of nearly the entire population of that country. Shame on you all! It seems that even after the cease-fire was declared the Israeli army kept up their orgy of destruction. Finally on this subject a note of caution.
Footnote: The Foreign Policy of Barack Obama shows there will be no real change in the US's relationship with Israel. Here is an excerpt:
"Support Foreign Assistance to Israel: Barack Obama and Joe Biden have consistently supported foreign assistance to Israel. They defend and support the annual foreign aid package that involves both military and economic assistance to Israel and have advocated increased foreign aid budgets to ensure that these funding priorities are met. They have called for continuing U.S. cooperation with Israel in the development of missile defense systems.
(Including white phosphorous shells?)
June 2th 2010 - the attack by Israel on the Mavi Marmara carrying aid to Gaza since Israel refuses to lift the seige, was illegal since the ship was in international waters. What took place on board is nothing short of murder since several of the passengers were shot in the head at close range. An American citizen, Furkan Dogon, was shot 5 times, in the face, the back of the head, the abdomen and twice in the leg. Why isn't the US Government threatening Israel with prosecution over the murder of one of its citizens and the murder of others, mainly Turkish, citizens? Because the US Government is in the pockets of the powerful US Jewish lobby. So much for an independent US foreign policy.
To find out about the aftermath of the Israel-Lebanon conflict, read this.
One of the features of the Israeli-Lebanon conflict was the large number of cluster bombs dropped. Find out about these horrific weapons which kill civilians long after the conflict is over. How can anyone who calls himself or herself a human being justify manufacturing or using these things. More information on this issue from a former Director of the US Army Depleted Uranium Project. Sign the petition to ban them here.
Don't you just love the way that some people can find new ways to kill people! Click to find out.
The repression by the Burmese government following the peaceful uprising has been brutal. This unelected military government should be forced out of office and the leaders should be put on trial as war criminals.
Read about what things have happened in Burma in this report for December 2007.
The response by the Burmese military junta to the devastating typhoon is a crime that can only be described as genocide - not just my opinion. Here is the latest update of the situation or actions you can take.(May 2008) I simply can't understand why govenments are afraid to deliver aid to the affected areas of Burma without seeking the approval of the illegal military junta. It was the party led by Aung San Suu Kyi that won the election. By going along with the wishes of an illegal repressive bunch of thugs, governments are guilty of appeasment and party to the charge of mass murder, as thousands and thousands of people face imminent death.
To find out which foreign companies have dealings in one way or another with Burma and to apply pressure to them to stop, click here. Since the Burma Campaign UK launched the list 6 years ago, 100 companies have withdrawn from Burma as a result of pressure brought to bear on them, so it's worthwhile writing to them to protest at their business with this cruel and callous regime.
Read the Burma Campaign news briefings and get involved here.
Zimbabwe is another country run by a corrupt repressive government which under President Mugabe refuses to recognise the result of an election and which has been using violence against people who did not vote for the ruling party. Find out more about what is happening in that country here.
Click here to see a video of the rigged Zimbabwe election.
Want to know more about "extraordinary rendition" and other euphemisms for torture carried out by or on behalf of the US government? Watch this. Here is an interesting article about torture in the USA.
Petition to abolish nuclear weapons.
Find out about things the US government would prefer you not to know - what is being done in your name.
US secretly developing biological weapons
There is so much hypocrasy and so many double standards with regard to nuclear weapons. The major nuclear weapon states have reacted hysterically to Iran manufacturing nuclear weapons and to North Korea testing a nuclear weapon. However under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty all nuclear weapon states have agreed to get rid of these weapons. (See the IPPNW Statement.)
Instead of disarming, the nuclear weapon states have upgraded their weapons or are in the process of doing so. The United Nations Security Council (or should that be the United States Council of Lapdogs) has now imposed sanctions on Iran and there is a build-up of American and British naval forces in the area. Does this mean that a conflict there is on the cards? All it needs is a pretext which could easily be found in this volatile area. Don't let the buggers start another war! More information and petition here.
Here's something easy you can do - sign the World Court Declaration against nuclear weapons.
The line between using nuclear weapons and not doing so has become very blurred. You don't need to detonate an atomic bomb to create some of the same effects. In Iraq, the US military has used depleted uranium shells which cause cancer. So much for the morality of Western Governments!
In fact, governments world-wide have failed to bring security to the world's population, failed to provide enough resources to rid the world of preventable diseases which kill many thousands of people, failed to do anything about the yawning gap between rich and poor countries and failed to do anything drastic about global warming. Furthermore, when governments make a big thing about responding to an international emergency, they often fail to honour what they have pledged, as shown in this article about the 2004 tsunami. Don't leave it up to power-hungry, corrupt governments with short-term nationalistic interests to change matters. Get stuck in and do something about these issues yourself.
Wikileaks has shown the world how corrupt governments are, how they say one thing and do another, and what they would do to anyone trying to expose their sordid little intrigues. Shooting the messanger is an old old ploy. Who would have thought that in these days, members of the American Republican party, and probably some in the Democratic Party too, would like to have Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, executed for treason. The ones who ought to be removed from power and put in a secure place where they can't harm anyone else are the very people who are up in arms against Wikileaks.
For legal reasons, I can't say boycott Amazon.com which has removed the site from its servers, but I advise everyone to think twice about using their site. Also, you may try and find an alternative to Paypal which has frozen the accounts of Wikipedia. I have closed my account with them, as you can see on the Information Page. It has now been confirmed that Paypal's action occured after invention by the US State Department.
I notice that in the country which boasts about being the Land of the Free, students at Columbia University have been forbidden from looking at Wikipedia and they have been warned that if they do it could affect their future job prospects. Members of the US Airforce have also been banned from reading the Guardian and the New York Times in which the leaks have been printed. So, how does this seem to people in other countries which America has berated so much for their lack of freedoms?
The internet is not and should not be owned or controlled by any government! I read that Visa has dropped Wikipedia as a customer. I have written to the Cooperative Bank which has an ethical stance to enquire why it uses Visa, which is used also by the Klu Klux Klan and the racist British National Party, for people's debit and credit accounts. Other people in the Uk may wish to do this too.
The driving force behind the attacks on Wikipedia seem to be emanating from Joe Lieberman, chairman of the Senate homeland security committee in the USA who is exerting pressure on companies to sever links with Wikipedia. HE and the rest of the ruling elite are the true enemies of the people - the present day Stalinists! I also have an inkling that what Lieberman is doing is against international law. Can anyone pursue this matter? Incidentally, Lieberman has in the past launched partisan attacks on President Obama, questioning his patriotism and fitness to lead. He was a thorn in the side of the President with regard to health reform, possibly because he has obtained money from the health industry, he wanted the Iraq war to continue and is an outspoken supporter of the US-Israel relationship. The US Attorney-General, Eric Holder, has announced a raft of measures to prosecute the founder of Wikileaks. So who does Eric Holder think he is? God? The whole thing makes Hitler's propoganda campaign seem rather tame. I am opposed to any individuals or organisations which seek to control the free flow of information.
Some other opponents of Wikipedia: Republican Senator Mike Huckabee, who has called for Assange to be excecuted and Sarah Palin, who has called for him to be "hunted down" (both in the running for the President next time round - remember this when the time comes). Kathleen McFarland, who served in the Pentagon under the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations has stated: "Let's charge him and try him for treason. If he is found guilty, he should be executed." It's extreme views like this that gives America a bad name. But it's not just Americans. Tom Flanagan, a senior advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, said that Assange should be assassinated. Isn't it time that these people grew up!
If you can't get Wikileaks in your browser, Try copying and pasting this
http://88.80.13.160/
or this
http://213.251.145.96/
or look at the Guardian newspaper website: www.guardian.co.uk for an analysis of the leaked cables
...and don't forget to pass this information on to other people!
There is talk of the US extraditing Julian Assange to face charges of espionage. The Espionage Act came into force during the First World War and was specifically designed to clamp down on American dissent against US involvement in the war. Many pacifists and left-wing activists were imprisoned and some died in prison. It was a very dark period in American history. It had nothing to do with actual espionage as existing laws already covered this.
Charging Julian Assange of Espionage must NOT be allowed to happen. If it does it will be a heavy blow for freedom of speech, freedom of the internet, and for democracy as such in every country. Anyone in future could face the risk of being prosecuted by the US authorities for criticising their govenment. The media will cowtow by self-censorship as well as by pressure from government sources. And businesses will fear government actions against them. A frightening future for the whole world.
Adopting green alternatives is not only good for the environment, it's cheaper in the long run, healthier and more fun. Think about getting a solar radio (I recommend the Freeplay radio which is solar and wind-up and is now less than £40). Or a solar charger for re-charging mobiles, cameras and i-pods (I recommend the Freeloader at less than £30). Or how about the Trevor Bayliss's Eco Media-Player which includes an mp3 player, radio, recorder, photo-viewer, and a video-clip viewer and is powered by wind-up or you can use a USB port. Look these up on Google.
For those with a bit of money to spend, look into a solar panel
Other things to think about include: walking.
Even small changes make a big difference. If every household in the USA replaced just one traditional light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFI), it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road. Talking about cars, don't forget to give a lift to someone else if you're going to the same place.
And don't forget to think about alternatives to flying, since aircraft are major polluters. If you do have to fly, you can at least think of planting a tree to soak up some of the carbon emissions.
The unfairness of global trading is highly complex, but you can get up-to-date articles about it on all the development charities websites as well as in magazines such as New Internationalist.
To find out more about fair trade and to do something about it, click here. This is an excellent easy-to-read and understandable website run by OXFAM.
If you live in the EU, you can send an email to Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor and current holder of the EU Presidency, to show your concern at proposals which would force 75 countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region to accept unfair trade agreements with the EU. Click here. There are also other campaigns you can get involved with at this website. Here is an example:
A predatory commercial company seeking to scavenge a staggering 55 million dollars from Zambia after buying up a bad debt of 3.3 million dollars has been reluctantly awarded an estimated 15 million dollars by a British court.
The judge was unable to dismiss the whole claim but it is clear that while the actions of Donegal International were not strictly illegal, they were immoral. When a country is as poor as Zambia, in desperate need of money to pay for basic services like health and education, it is outrageous to pursue an inflated claim for a debt that should have been written off years ago. Donegal should not take the money.
In the 1970s, Zambia borrowed money from wealthier governments, including 15 million dollars from Romania in 1979, to buy things like agricultural machinery and vehicles. By the 1990s, because of crushing poverty it was unable to repay these debts and became eligible for the process to qualify for debt relief, and began negotiating with its creditors about partial payment of old, bad debts.
In 1999, as Zambia was trying to negotiate paying back part of the debt they owed to Romania, Donegal swooped in and bought up the debt - originally worth 15 million dollars - for a knockdown price of 3.3 million dollars. They have been suing Zambia for the full amount of the debt. But that's not all. They sued for interest and costs, making a staggering total of 55 million dollars!
These rich pickings might be just business to Donegal International. But for Zambia, it represents vitally needed doctors, nurses and hospitals.
Bad timing?
Donegal International launched proceedings against the Republic of Zambia in the British Courts in March 2005. What makes this case so unfair, is that Donegal sued just one month before Zambia finally qualified for debt relief after it had spent years struggling to meet the stringent economic conditions needed to qualify for debt .
If Donegal had been awarded the full 55 million dollars, Zambia would have lost the equivalent of more than six months of its annual health budget. Even payment of the reduced award, will have a serious impact on Zambia’s poorest people.
Donegal need to do the right thing and not take the money. You can help by emailing the vultures. Click here.
Finally, look out for FAIR TRADE items in supermarkets to do your bit. There are also several organisations such as Traidcraft which sell goods which give manufacturers a fair deal for their goods.
If you have to buy a present for someone who doesn't want anything or need anything in particular? Then, have a look at the OXFAM Unwrapped catalogue. This is also available from OXFAM in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It's such a good idea.