As long term readers know, I love the Eurovision Song Contest. It is just so much fun and so resoundingly daft. Graham Norton’s comment last night, “it’s like the gay wedding I’ll never have”, summed it up rather well. We also learnt that Danish humour is impenetrable. Having once spent a week there living with Danish friends, I guess a country that seems to live on raw fish and raw eggs will forever shimmer beyond my comprehension. Like Hamlet’s mind – impossible to understand completely, but marvelous.
I was however saddened by the audience booing of the two young Russian girls. That was really nasty and unfair. They were scarcely more than children, for goodness sake. Putin is not their fault. That booing was an exhibition of racism; nothing else you can call it. If people wanted to make a point, they could have screamed for the Ukrainian girl – they didn’t have to boo the young Russians.
People always complain about political voting, but I think that’s half the fun. I always enjoy the voting far more than most of the singing. Last night, I think, was political voting in a wonderful way. It was a joyful expression of approval for the idea that human beings can and should be what they want to be. It wasn’t the first time either – I remember a similarly gender challenging singer from Israel winning some years ago. What was even better this year, was that another stereotype was also challenged, in that Conchita swept up much support from Eastern as well as Western Europe. Let it be said that she had a damn good song too.
We voted for the Polish girls. I thought the honesty of their approach was brilliant, and reminded me of so many happy days in Warsaw in my youth. Good to see women doing the washing too.*
All in all, great fun and a life-affirming evening. Now to clear away all the mess – why did I stick all those empty Prosecco bottles on the front garden railings?
*Private joke for my friends at Russia Today media (formerly trading as Indymedia).
We have not addressed two very important and acute issues in this lowest ever key EU election, nboth pressing and far more important than party politics.
One is the issue of bees and nicotinoids which have been proven to kill these bees by weakening their immune systems and leading to colony collapse. A minister should stand up and ban the use of these wretched pesticides.
The other issue is still fresh in peoples minds and they are desperate to know how we can bear children with flippers instead of feet, so they can swim, even if they don’t get taught swimming at school, hah hah ha, on an island, you could not make it up.
Rising sea levels are ineviatble and somebody will have to do some precautionary planning very soon.
We do not need a dangerous PWR nuclear industry and future for our children! but we need a Severn, Wash and a Thames barrier with tidal energy schemes and lock systems to safeguard the realm, whatever this fancy notion entails.
and piss on Ms Livni and her ilk.
Correction on Rod Mackenzie. I don’t think he is Australian!
http://www.pfizer.com/research/science_and_technology/meet_our_scientists/rod_mackenzie
No mentions of Dolsten’s nationality in any of the biogs. He did study at the Weizmann Institute in Israel. He grosses $6.5m pa at Pfizer and worked for Astra Zeneca previously.
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=29973055&ticker=PFE
Pfizer are very greedy and very hungry to state the obvious.
UN marked helicopter used by Kiev troops in operations in Eastern Ukraine. According to RT, the UN is investigating possible war crime:
http://rt.com/news/158832-un-ukraine-helicopter-scandal/
Not surprising, then, that they want journalists out of the way!
Why does a scientist’s nationality matter? Your snide allusion to the fact that Mr Dolsten studied at the Weizmann Institute holds no water. Have you studied at a college or university outside your hometown or region? I have and it didn’t make me Scottish or French.
There are enough reasons for people to be concerned about the AZ – Pfizer issue without you degrading the argument with your anti-Israel and anti-Jewish views.
Peacewisher
What about Warren? She talks talk I never thought I’d hear from a US politician? Makes the witch look like green slime potion.
Obama’s field agents Boko Haram have got AfriCom into Nigeria. If black Obama was to be used for African conquest, I ask myself what socialist Warren can be used for? Former Soviet countries or Chinese negotiations. Zollywood has a plan.
Talking of Green, Caroline Lucas’s anti-fracking demonstration makes her the logical choice for all logical people who see water pollution by fracking as a far greater menace than Thatcher’s feeding cows on sheep brains.
That particular item is a Kurdish delicacy, with a strong gamey flavour. My Kurdish language skills are insufficient to explain to my Kurdish hosts the full reasons for my not wanting to eat sheeps brains.
They have their own bonkers political agendas, one of which is whether to build a medieval ditch/rampart against Qaida in neighbouring Syria. Darlings, they have UK passports. They are coming in by plane. [sheepbrains]
On topic!
Beard shaved in Eurovision protest
A Russian blogger has shaved off his beard in protest that a drag act from Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest. http://home.bt.com/news/oddnews/beard-shaved-in-eurovision-protest-11363901673895
I don’t know the source of ‘BT News’ but they had to get a dig in at President Putin.
Mary 14 May, 2014 – 7:54 am
Thanks for the John Pilger link. Thank God for sensible and honest journalists. This is from the article.
‘The name of “our” enemy has changed over the years, from communism to Islamism, but generally it is any society independent of western power and occupying strategically useful or resource-rich territory, or merely offering an alternative to US domination. The leaders of these obstructive nations are usually violently shoved aside, such as the democrats Muhammad Mossedeq in Iran, Arbenz in Guatemala and Salvador Allende in Chile, or they are murdered like Patrice Lumumba in the Democratic Republic of Congo. All are subjected to a western media campaign of vilification – think Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez, now Vladimir Putin.”‘
Craig knows Pilger is an honest guy and not one whose eyes have had the wool pulled down over them. We all want our country to be portrayed in a favourable light. But if we have to stoop to support a western-funded fascist spearhead of thuggish megalomaniacs who have overthrown an elected government, then my back, for one, is too sore to bend down in support of these clients.
@ 11.08am
Makes a big difference. Wheels within wheels you know?
Israel are big pharmaceutical manufacturers especially of generic products.
Teva is one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teva_Pharmaceutical_Industries
Read about its founder Mr Hurvitz. Always a scandal with the money cf Olmert.
http://www.answers.com/topic/teva-pharmaceutical-industries-ltd
PS ‘Mick’@ 11.08am I note you do not comment on the visit of Ms Livni the war criminal to these shores or on the abolition of the law of universal jurisdiction by this Israel loving government as outlined by Ba’al Zevul. Cat got your tongue?
~~~
Yes John. Thank God for John Pilger.
14 May 2014
Please read this article prepared by Harriet Sherwood and published in the Guardian on May 13, 2014. The article is about the UK awarding ‘special mission’ status to Tzipi Livni, Israel’s justice minister, and thus a diplomatic immunity to protect her against prosecution ahead of a planned visit to the UK.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and Hickman and Rose have been prosecuting Livni before the British courts for years on the grounds alleged war crimes against Palestinian civilians and their property during the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip 2008-2009, codenamed operation “Cast Lead”. The article includes important information and quotations said by lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, condemning the UK’s position and how it failed to fulfill its legal obligations to prosecute war criminals.
In 2009, Livni cancelled a visit to the UK after PCHR and its partners had obtained an arrest warrant from the court. However, Livni could visit the UK in 2011, when the British government awarded her a diplomatic immunity as well.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/13/israel-tzipi-livni-diplomatic-immunity-uk
~~
http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/
“Craig knows Pilger is an honest guy”
And that black is white etc. etc.
Must be lunchtime ESLO! 🙂
Why does a scientist’s nationality matter? Your snide allusion to the fact that Mr Dolsten studied at the Weizmann Institute holds no water. Have you studied at a college or university outside your hometown or region? I have and it didn’t make me Scottish or French.
There are enough reasons for people to be concerned about the AZ – Pfizer issue without you degrading the argument with your anti-Israel and anti-Jewish views.
Well, yes, though I’m not watching Mary at the moment. But how splendidly your observation chimes with a piece in today’s Grauniad, also re. AstroZeneca/Pfizer…
The only guarantee that the Scotland-born Read (of Pfizer – BZ)was prepared to give was that 20% of the R&D workforce would be based in Britain for the next five years… (Print edition, P6)
Now why was it important that we know that Read is, er, ‘Scotland-born’? Maybe he can’t be described as Scottish for some reason? But why not simply omit his nationality, as the same piece did with all the other named participants, Adrian Bailey, David Cameron (silver spoon-born?), Vince Cable, Brian Binley, Pascal Soriot, Paul Nurse and Chuka Umunna? Iz it coz he iz EVIL?
Ba’al Zevul
“This appears to be the relevant Act – if I’m wrong, I’d welcome correction WITH REFERENCES.”
________________
It is.
But your comment would have gained if you had bothered to mention the following:
1/. Section 153 does NOT prevent the prosecution in the UK of people alleged to have committed the listed offences overseas. What is does do is to remove the possibility for PRIVATE individuals to cause (with the help of a friendly magistrate) arrest warrants to be issued; henceforth, the issue of arrest warrants for the alleged offences is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The aim is to prevent trial and/or vexatious action on the part of any Tom Dick or Harry with an axe to grind.
There is any number of alleged (and lesser) offences for which the issuance of arrest warrants is solely in the power of the public authorities (eg police) and not private individuals. Example : dangerous driving.
2/. Contrary to the impression you seek to give, the Act apploes to everyone and not only alleged Israeli offenders.
3/. Contrary to what you appear to be claiming, the change in the law intiruced by that Act does NOT contravene the UK’s obligations under any body of international law to which the UK is a signatory party.
Hope that helps.
“the issue of arrest warrants for the alleged offences is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The aim is to prevent trial and/or vexatious action ..”
should read
“the issuance of arrest warrants for the alleged offences is a matter for the Director of Public Proecutions. The aim is to prevent trivial and/or vexatious action..”
Mary
“You are correct Ba’al about the abolition of universal jurisdiction being ‘slipped’ into police legislation. ‘Slippery’ people these Tory Zionists.”
________________
As I’ve pointed out, Mary, the Act cited by Ba’al does NOT abolish universal jurisdiction.
It removes the power to cause the issuance of arrest warrants from the man in the street and puts it in the hands of the DPP.
Mick (to Mother Mary)
“Why does a scientist’s nationality matter? Your snide allusion to the fact that Mr Dolsten studied at the Weizmann Institute holds no water. Have you studied at a college or university outside your hometown or region? I have and it didn’t make me Scottish or French.
There are enough reasons for people to be concerned about the AZ – Pfizer issue without you degrading the argument with your anti-Israel and anti-Jewish views.”
____________________
That’s par for the course with Mary, I’m afraid. The prejudice will out.
@Guano: But Indian Mangos are banned!
Mary
PS ‘Mick’@ 11.08am I note you do not comment on the visit of Ms Livni the war criminal to these shores or on the abolition of the law of universal jurisdiction by this Israel loving government as outlined by Ba’al Zevul. Cat got your tongue?
_______________
You’ve said it again and so I’ll have to correct you again : universal jurisdiction has NOT been abolished in the UK.
As to the “war criminal” Mrs Livni, that’s only your opinion. As far as I know, she has not been indicted anywhere except on various blogs (and perhaps self-appointed “Tribunals” without any standing whatsoever)
Mr Goss
“Must be lunchtime ESLO! :)”
________________
Yes, perhaps ESLO holds down a regular job and posts in his own free time – unlike, it seems, quite a few of the Eminences here.
Breakfast time in sunny, far-off California – but where’s the Gadfly?
Has he flown into a carnivorous plant?
@Guano: Never heard of Warren, and not sure who you mean by “the witch”. I need some educating regarding US Democrat politicians. The only one I liked the sound of was called Dennis.
Reference the Guardian article by Harriet Sherwood.
The many ‘wars’ since WWII and which are mostly down to the US/UK/Is/NATO axis, will explode onwards into infinity until war criminals (of which Blair, Cameron, Hague are among hundreds) are brought to the bar and imprisoned when guilty. Livni is in that category whether convicted or not and we know that none of them are convicted or will be in the future.
The bronzed but raddled Blair gives a lesson to fellow psychopaths as he hops from one country to another in his utterly dishonest journeys. ‘My lack of insight into my evil and my chutzpah render me immune in the hobbled realm of international law.’
The revocation of the 1957 Geneva Conventions Act was caused by a malign conspiracy arising from a request MADE BY Livni.
In reading the piece I noted these words in my mind:-
a. “Since the visit meets all the essential elements for a special mission, and for avoidance of any doubt on the matter, the FCO has confirmed consent to the visit as a special mission,” the FCO said.
“….. the Foreign Office minister, Mark Simmonds, said: “In view of the confidentiality of diplomatic exchanges, we have no plans to publish further details about requests that have been granted or refused.” Applications took into consideration the “obligations incumbent upon the UK under customary international law and our policy of ending impunity for the most serious of international crimes and a commitment to the protection of human rights,” he added.
c. “……. when I became prime minister, I legislated to change it. My country is open to you and you are welcome to visit any time.”
We should know the detailed basis of all these assertions as Mr Slaughter has said.
a. For instance – what is a special mission, and these elements? What is the legal basis for the immunity arising from this and which is consonant with Geneva Convention IV?
b. Simmonds I have spoken of before in reference his non declaration to the House of income of £50k pa from Circle Health. So his credentials are plain to see.
‘obligations incumbent upon the UK under customary international law’ sound like FCO lies/flannel and possibly capable of challenge.
c. This surely can be the basis of any challenge. One favoured entity is being promised, outside of any law, immunity in passage through the UK. And to a person who has not been ‘elected’ to government as far as I know.
What is she here for, who is she seeing and why?
PS I have no cat and my tongue is not forked like that of others who visit this blog for their own (or another entity’s) purpose.
“But until now much of this was in the realm of hearsay and general wishful thinking. After all, surely it is “ridiculous” that a country can seriously contemplate to exist outside the ideological and religious confines of the Petrodollar… because if one can do it, all can do it, and next thing you know the US has hyperinflation, social collapse, civil war and all those other features prominently featured in other socialist banana republics like Venezuela which alas do not have a global reserve currency to kick around.
Or so the Keynesian economists, aka tenured priests of said Petrodollar religion, would demand that the world believe.
However, as much as it may trouble the statists to read, Russia is actively pushing on with plans to put the US dollar in the rearview mirror and replace it with a dollar-free system. Or, as it is called in Russia, a “de-dollarized” world.”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-13/russia-holds-de-dollarization-meeting-china-iran-willing-drop-usd-bilateral-trade
Putin plays chess too, Obama.
Eurovision is such fun. Pity we always seem to come near the bottom these days, in terms of points awarded. Nothing to do with wars, we have been involved with like Iraq and Afghanistan then?
Rory Stewart has become the Chair of the Defence Select Committee. An interesting character, who has a ‘forensic approach’. Personally, if I had a vote, it would have been for Bob Stewart. A throughly decent and likeable character, with a great sense of humour and popular with Tory activists on the ground.
What on earth has Jack Straw’s son (PPC), been up to?!
‘Rory Stewart has become the Chair of the Defence Select Committee. An interesting character, who has a ‘forensic approach’. Personally, if I had a vote, it would have been for Bob Stewart. A throughly decent and likeable character, with a great sense of humour and popular with Tory activists on the ground.’
LOL Is that a wind up?
Well what do think Mary? Lol..
“Yes, perhaps ESLO holds down a regular job and posts in his own free time – unlike, it seems, quite a few of the Eminences here.”
He used to comment all through the day. Check! 🙂
surely it is “ridiculous” that a country can seriously contemplate to exist outside the ideological and religious confines of the Petrodollar… because if one can do it, all can do it, and next thing you know the US has hyperinflation, social collapse, civil war and all those other features prominently featured in other socialist banana republics like Venezuela which alas do not have a global reserve currency to kick around.
Ben, Ben…The least-publicised reason for ‘our’ sudden interest in Iraq was Saddam’s notion of selling his oil in some other currency. The petrodollar has replaced God in the newt-like brains of your leaders. They’ll bite off their own heads to keep it. (A consummation devoutly to be wished for)
Things are happening in Ukraine which are not being reported here, like a helicopter with UN logo firing weapons at pro-Russian checkpoints. The United Nations is not too pleased. Also, as did the Yanks in Iraq, the Ukrainian armed forces and mercenaries are deliberately targeting journalists reporting their atrocities.
Crimea has got no water since Ukraine stopped the supply. I missed that too.