Here in Ghana people are stunned by the announcement that a bond of £3,000 will have to be submitted by visa applicants to the UK, redeemable on return.
It is unpleasant for a nation to be singled out as comprised of particularly untrustworthy individuals against whom special measures are needed. Theresa May appears quite deliberately to be singling out countries whose citizens are normally black or brown – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Nigeria. They are all citizens with extremely close ties to the UK. For example, all of those countries supplied large numbers of men to British armed forces in two World Wars; with little resulting gratitude.
The true level of Britain’s regard for the Commonwealth is disclosed in all its arrogance; citizenship of the Commonwealth countries with the longest link to the UK will become a positive disadvantage in visa application. Israeli settlers living in Occupied Palestine on the West Bank, incidentally, will still be allowed to enter the UK without any visa at all, despite membership of neither Commonwealth nor EU. Paradoxical, isn’t it?
The measure shows the arrogant British disdain for these countries – of which India pre-eminently but also Ghana are fast growing and important trading partners. Undoubtedly Ghana will retaliate with measures which hurt British businesses; many of my good friends are senior Ghanaian politicians, and they are all furious. The rhetoric the British employ about transformation from colonial status to a modern partnership of equals is exposed for the tissue of lies it has always been. This is a straightforward racist measure, aimed at securing the racist vote to the Tories.
Not does it make any sense. If you are intending to enter the UK under false pretences, and have the intent illegally to settle and start a new life there, then £3,000 is scarcely a deterrent given the substantial economic gains you intend to make over the long period you intend to stay. It will rather seem a good investment; people will find the money. The people it will deter are those who never intended to overstay. The extra cash upfront, to the businessman for a business trip, for the student coming to study, for the tourist will drive them to go elsewhere, to the UK’s net loss.
More cruelly it will deter decent middle class people from coming to see grandchildren in the holidays, from going to the niece’s wedding, from going to graduation. Those things will become the prerogative of the wealthy, those with plenty of cash to spare.
This does nothing to deter illegal immigration. It merely demonstrates populist racism, demonstrates contempt for some of the UK’s best-disposed friends, and demonstrates that the government thinks the right to travel is only for the rich. It is contemptible.
For Habby and the sock puppet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DQnS18EeWM
Dreoilin: I don’t get it. I only read this blog and virtually never post but what have you got against “Mary”? What am I missing? I see the clear “attack squad” (some more disguised than others) and then I see you? Can’t figure it out.
Are they really **THAT ANNOYING** you can’t shutup about the posts?
Hunter..you were such a bastard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr6YnnVeKDI
This requires a break in the revelry..
What the Fuck?
“Earlier, Morales told Russian media his country would “debate and consider” granting political asylum to Snowden “if there were a request.”
Bolivia is one of 21 nations to which Snowden had applied for asylum, according to the anti-secrecy WikiLeaks website.
“Bolivia is there to shield the denounced, whether it is espionage or control. In either case, we are here to assist,” Morales told Russia’s state-run RT television in comments translated by the channel from Spanish.
Choquehuanca said Morales’s plane had been scheduled to refuel in Portugal, but both France and Portugal denied overflight.
“Inexplicably we were informed (by Lisbon) that the overflight and landing permission had been cancelled,” the top diplomat said.
The plane was re-routed to include a stop in Spain’s Canary islands, but France then refused to allow overflight of its territory, Choquehuanca said.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j_xUcVPWE_-TCaS8UFxcr_JZOQwA
Portugal denied…fuck the porgies.
France denies…fuck the frogs.
Puzzled Reader
Strange, I’ve seen that “avatar” before … 🙂
Great Piece Here By Felicity Arbuthnot
It seems however, the Washington and Whitehall regimes remain increasingly disconnected from reality. In spite of the plethora of gruesome images circulating on the internet of grinning terrorists holding up severed heads, cannibalizing body organs and summarily executing, they are to provide further arms to insurgency’s Hannibal Lecters. This, also regardless of the fact that Riad al-Assad, founder of the so-called “Free Syrian Army” is quoted as saying that suicide bombing is: “ an integral part of revolutionary action, of Free Syrian Army action.”
Meanwhile, less than a month after the murder of a soldier in London’s Woolwich by wanna be jihadists (with reported relationship with hard drugs) Britain’s increasingly rudderless ship of state allows entry to a controversial Saudi preacher, Muhamed Al Arefe, alleged to have made anti-Shia and anti-Semitic exhortations and who argues that a husband: “may use beatings to discipline his wife” as long as he beats her “lightly.”(i)
Informed friends from the Middle East charge bluntly that he recruits jihadists, as last week in visits Riyadh and Cairo. One added: “David Cameron may as well stand at the gate (of the Mosque) and hand out arms for the ‘good freedom fighters’ who will be heading to Syria after hearing Arefe’s sickening lies, sectarian incitement and calls for jihad against the ‘infidel regime.’ “
AND in the same Piece This
British-Libyan arms dealer Abdul Basit Haroun – who was a property developer in Manchester, UK for twenty years, until 2011 – has told Reuters that weapons are reaching Syria not alone by numerous flights, but on ships, concealed amongst humanitarian aid. Haroun has claimed that the authorities know about the shipment: “everybody knows.”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/afghanistan-iraq-libya-and-now-syria-chear-leading-another-blood-bath-in-the-name-of-peace/5340148
Ben,
Wikileaks tweets
https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/352183163256184833
If indeed a Presidential plane was diverted for the reasons given then we really are not in Kansas anymore.
Since the Guardian published the death toll of children killed in the Syria conflict in April 2013, the figure I have received in June from a survey conducted within Syria’s hospitals surveys was close on 7,000. The number of children maimed and disabled was around 18,000.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/13/death-toll-syrian-conflict-93000
Why did this British coalition including the LibDems who weeped over Iraq’s war casualties all of a sudden decide that Syria had to be destabilized and its government overthrown by subterfuge in late 2011.
Did the British people know that our secret service and Special Forces were engaged in the logistics of more than 160 military cargo flights by Jordanian, Saudi and Qatari military-style cargo planes landing at Esenboga Airport near Ankara, and, to a lesser degree, at other Turkish and Jordanian airports?
Did the BBC report that?
Did the British people know that MI6, SAS mercenaries and Turkish government officials have helped the Arab governments shop for weapons, including a large procurement from Croatia, and have vetted rebel commanders and groups at secret locations, one of which is known to me, to determine who should receive the weapons as they arrive?
My friend ex SAS has logged Jordanian cargo planes for rebels working in southern Syria and for re-transfer to Turkey for rebels groups operating from there. This information is explosive and will be revealed to the British public at the right time.
Did we not learn from the Iraq massacre?
With help from the British public this database and evidence will be sent to the U.N.
Declaration:
“The United Kingdom understands the term “the established framework of international law”, used in article 8 (2) (b) and (e), to include customary international law as established by State practice and opinio iuris. In that context the United Kingdom confirms and draws to the attention of the Court its views as expressed, inter alia, in its statements made on ratification of relevant instruments of international law, including the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12th August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I) of 8th June 1977.”
“I’m beginning to see how this Prism/NSA malarky really works…”
All info is power; all those institutes like the UN, and those various Human Rights organizations, that appear less than useless, there’s the main reason, they’ve all been hobbled.
(Notice that a certain hypocritical clown doesn’t like being called a clown, maybe if he stop clowning around, he wouldn’t get called a clown !)
Ben,
Here’s Clapton’s idol…enjoy ;.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXXkD7Dvq_E
Jives; I call your Freddie and raise you another Clapton idol, Albert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKY8KIt9kqc
Click your heels, Anon. We must create our own reality.
Yet another nomination for Bradley Manning, laureate Mairead Maguire, nominates Bradley Manning For Nobel Peace Prize
“I recently visited Syria, where I met a few of the millions of refugees and internally displaced people whose lives have been torn apart by the ongoing conflict in that country. I learned from those I spoke to, both within the government and in opposition groups, that while there is a legitimate and long-overdue movement for peace and non-violent reform in Syria, the worst acts of violence are being perpetrated by outside groups. Extremist groups from around the world have converged upon Syria, bent on turning this conflict into one of ideological hatred ”
http://stopwar.org.uk/index.php/usa-war-on-terror/2566-why-theres-no-one-more-deserving-of-the-nobel-peace-prize-than-bradley-manning
Ben,
Cheers muchly for the HST link…i’ll look forward to watching that…
Ahhh Albert King…another Master!
:.)
To mold a new reality. Closer to the heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quBCjo2rUZg
“And the men who hold high places…”
Who cares
Might as well have this one as well. Google/NSA/GCHQ/5EYES/YOUTUBE suggested it to me next https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tq-UsaRchI
A wee change of Styles For the music dudes Here
Hawaiian Gentle GIANT Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo`ole’s Sings Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Such a beautiful Beautiful Voice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_DKWlrA24k
There’s another video of this song by IZ..that’s heading towards 85 million views
Thanks to all for the musical interlude.. I will conclude this nights entertainment with some wise words of redemption, even for those who may not deserve it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AOUzlFdzes
g’nite all.
Kool Anon… One Last Chooon Ben My fave Rush Track, Mystic rhythms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reciD1vMCgQ
Snowden Safe from Asylum in Ireland.
“Taoiseach Enda Kenny has confirmed to the Dáil that Mr Snowden has sought asylum in Ireland, but that only applications made within the country can be considered.
Mr Kenny said that if a valid application is received, it will be processed in the normal way.
He confirmed that Mr Snowden has written to the Irish Embassy in Moscow seeking asylum, but that such applications are not accepted from people who are outside the country.”
From RTE: http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0702/460034-edward-snowden/
I would have really feared for him had asylum appeared to be offered by such a poodle.
I want to say thanks to Shannonwatch and all who sail in her.
Here’s Christy Moore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QYF4WI9Gl8
“…The sound of forbidden words becomes a scream,
Voices of anger, Victims of history,
Plundered and set aside, grown fat on swallowed pride..”
@Ben. 11 57pm
Thanks for the latest find at Bakersfield Beds. Were they the first multi-hued soul band?
And Clapton. What a guitarist!
Goodnight all.
Wikileaks now suggesting NATO order against President of Bolivia’s plane forcing it to make unscheduled landing
https://twitter.com/wikileaks
.
plus, there are reports of 13 kidnappings, including an elected legislator, & one killing since July 1:
Report: “1790 Palestinians Kidnapped, 16 Killed, In First Half of 2013”
http://www.imemc.org/article/65762
Anon; I’ve just posted the following to all the blogs I comment on including Politico. It is important that this not escape the 24-hr news cycle. The more bandwidth the better.
from your Yahoo link..
“”We don’t know who invented this lie. We want to denounce to the international community this injustice with the plane of President Evo Morales,” Choquehuanca said from La Paz. Morales had earlier met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit of major gas exporters in the Kremlin.”
Portugal and Frane’s refusal to allow flyover in response to a rumor, is something I’m very interested to hear more about.
How The President’s plane was diverted
http://www.flightradar24.com/2013-07-02/16:35/FAB1http://www.flightradar24.com/201
URL got corrupted. Try http://www.flightradar24.com/2013-07-02/16:35/FAB1
Should work
Some people forget their keys or phone whilst others forget something rather larger…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/02/james-clapper-senate-erroneous#start-of-comments
Part 2. Doctors to act as invoice clerks for the Border Agency.
July 3, 2013 12:01 am
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/be125594-e337-11e2-bd87-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2XxTknCPe
Non-EU migrants to face £200 healthcare entry fee
Meanwhile the national health service which our fathers and grandfathers founded is going down the drain. The plan to ‘destabilize, demoralize and destroy’ is working nicely for the unmandated ConDems.
eg
Tameside hospital’s key staff
Hospital’s chief executive of 15 years and medical director told to go by local GP-led clinical commissioning group
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jul/02/tameside-hospital-key-staff
Verdict on Tameside hospital: long waits, few staff, overcrowding
Standards of patient care have come in for severe criticism as two independent reviews found scenes of chaos in the A&E unit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jul/02/nhs-hospitals
Hunt is coming on Sky News at 7.10 if anyone is interested.
“International justice is central to foreign policy. It is essential for securing the rights of individuals and states, and for securing peace and reconciliation. Through the International Criminal Court, and the other international courts and tribunals, we are working to make clear that those responsible for the worst crimes will be held to account and that perpetrators, including political leaders, will not enjoy impunity, and providing a fair hearing for both victims and accused. Our support to these institutions is an important element in our strategy to reduce conflict, promote stability and strengthen the rules based international system.”
From Hague’s Written Statement on UK Support and Funding for International Justice.
No irony ref Syria.
No irony either ref his decision to welcome Benny Gantz to these shores who. if this country still supported the principle of universal jurisdiction, would have his collar felt on arrival at Heathrow for crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Gantz
Benny’s ‘Pillar of Defense’ Gaza November 2012.
Sadly, Jenny Tonge’s husband died a few days ago. They both looked after their grandchildren after their daughter was killed by accidental electrocution. Jenny was betrayed by the Liberal Democrats when Clegg removed her as health spokesperson in the Lords for speaking out against Israel’s crimes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Tonge,_Baroness_Tonge