Author: ourbulgarianlife

The true political nature of the European Union is now becoming evident and can be clearly seen in the call by Britain’s Prime Minister for a European Army – a concept first advocated by Adolf Hitler.

Starmer’s call together with his promise of UK troops to assist Ukraine is a betrayal of the British people who voted in 2016 to leave the EU.   At least £15 billion has been spent or committed by the UK to NATO’s war in Ukraine, whilst the Labour Government has taken away the £2 billion that gave our pensioners a winter fuel allowance for nearly 30 years.

Members of the Parliamentary Labour Party who profess to be “Socialists” or even “progressive” should be speaking out against the truly evil concept of a European Army and against Britain’s sending troops to Ukraine.

We urge all in the trade union and Labour Movement who  are  Socialists to pressure Labour MPs into calling for Starmer’s resignation – or his sacking.

Arthur Scargill, James McDaid, John Tyrrell  Socialist Labour Party 20 Februar

53rd anniversary of Saltley Gate 10/2/2025

I was informed today by his son, Graham, that Ken Capstick  whilst on holiday in Bulgaria with his daughter, Julie, was taken ill and following an emergency operation  sadly passed away. I know there will be many messages and expressions of sorrow and shock at the loss of an outstanding trade unionist and Socialist, who continued to fight to the very end of his life for workers’ rights and Socialism. During the railway workers’ strikes of a couple of years ago, Ken and I stood side by side on RMT and ASLEF picket lines.  To mark the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the Battle of Saltley Gate, 1972 – in which Ken fought on the picket lines –  we spoke together.  Only last year, we shared a platform at the major rallies marking the 40th Anniversary of the Miners’ Strike of 1984/1985. Ken was a former Vice-President of the National Union of Mineworkers Yorkshire Area.  He was a leading member and official in the Socialist Labour Party, and since 2017 a Trustee of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.  To every task or role he took on he brought unswerving commitment together with an extraordinary range of skills. Ken and I were comrades and personal friends for over 50 years.  No words can express the sense of loss I feel.  However, his death is a massive loss to the Labour and trade union movement of a man who fought from a young age for trade union rights and a Socialist system of society. I extend my deepest sympathy to Ken’s much-loved children, David, Julie and Graham and his grand-children who were his pride and joy. Arthur Scargill President, National Union of Mineworkers 1982-2002 Leader, Socialist Labour Party 1996-2024

Palestine Support Campaign is just one reliable outlet for genuine Palestine goods.

https://shop.palestinecampaign.org/products/olive-wood-salad-server-set

Olive wood artefacts include jigsaw puzzles.

Crafts people have suffered from attacks from both the Occupation Force and vindictive settlers seizing land and property. Wood carving, textiles, jewellery etc. are just a part of a vibrant arts and craft tradition. It is a great source of gifts.

John Tyrrell, Socialist Labour Party 5.12.2024

SLP 5/12/2024 J.T.

Rob J. Hawkins, SLP South West Region 3/12/2024

A cease fire was called between Israel and Lebanon. May be good news for some but true to fashion it has diverted attention back of Gaza for Israel to finish its intended erasure of Palestine. This is a call to deal with Chevron specifically but it is just one of major organs of Capitalism funding the unending and unspeakable violence including children, women and men with aid workers, jounalist reporting this as key targets. Words are in abundance and ever more images of degradation and suffering shared. World leaders? They make it possible for this to happen in the first place. Now Palestine is alone again after a “cease fire” was announced. It may have stopped in one place, but this was only to intensify the horror in another. We’re left with signing petitions again: https://action.eko.org/a/chevron-stop-fueling-genocide-in-palestine?source=homepage Eko sum up the situation succinctly: We are watching Israel set fire to hospitals, homes, shelters, and nurseries in Gaza, killing tens of thousands of Palestinians and burying countless more under the rubble.  The survivors are being left to die slowly, as Israel continues to cut off access to food, clean water, gas, and medical care to over 2 million people. Chevron is profiting from this violence.  It supplies Israel’s war machine with light and power through its operation and co-ownership of Leviathan and Tamar — two major gas fields off the coast of occupied Palestinian land. Now we are joining Palestinian civil society to call on Chevron to end its support for Israel’s ongoing genocide and systematic violation of Palestinian human rights.  We’ve successfully targeted Chevron before, let’s do it again.    Tell Chevron: stop supporting the genocide in Gaza and divest from Israel’s illegal occupation. Chevron also operates and partially owns the EMG pipeline, which connects Israel and Egypt, passing west of the Gaza shoreline. This pipeline is not under Israeli jurisdiction, and any economic gain in this area without Palestinian agreement is  illegal under international law.  After the International Court of Justice issued its ruling that the Israeli occupation is illegal and that genocide in Gaza is plausible, top legal experts around the world have been warning that companies that are aiding and abetting Israel’s crimes could be held complicit.    We’ve successfully targeted Chevron before.  When the Myanmar military staged a coup in 2021 our community went after Chevron and helped push the company to leave Myanmar.  It took several months of relentless pressure from Ekō and partners. We can do it again.   More Information F­a­c­t S­h­e­e­t­: C­h­e­v­r­o­n F­u­e­l­s I­s­r­a­e­l­i A­p­a­r­t­h­e­i­d a­n­d W­a­r C­r­i­m­e­s Action Center for Corporate Accountability 01 March 2024 Want to Support Palestinian Liberation? Boycott Chevron Truthout 18 August 2024 BDS movement Calls for a Consumer Boycott of Chevron-branded gas stations BNC 30 January 2024 Protesters urge Chevron to divest amid war in Gaza NBC Bay Area 29 May 2024 Top war-crimes court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others in Israel-Hamas fighting AP 21 November 2024 John Tyrrell, Socialist Labour Party 30/11/2024

Hiroshima 1945. An official in Washington is talking about a “nuclear exchange” as if there would be anything left. Western leaders continue to stoke up war with provocation after provocation. They need to TALK – diplomacy has to take the place of continuing aggression. If they don’t there is no tomorrow. In spite of the emerging situation being so critical responses of leaders are escalating conflict and refusing to contemplate diplomacy. The United Kingdom is at the forefront having sent ballistic weapons into Russia. Effectively we are war with Russia. Well are we? How is this so? There is no declaration made public. There has been no discussion in Parliament. The British Prime Minister went to Washington promoting the idea a few weeks ago and was prevented from advancing. We understood the reaction from Russia again made it abundantly clear that a response was already set and that targets were already selected. Biden would not allow it it was reported. Now missiles have been fired into Russia reportedly with a reversal of the U.S. former decision. The U.S. missiles largely failed but damaged a military target. However the British weapons killed people maybe including civilians. We still no nothing. Our leadership remains bent on war. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already stopped diplomacy taking place when he rushed to Kyiv to prevent it. Britain has had an election and a Labour government is in power. The Doomsday Clock stands at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest ever, closer than the Cuban Missile Crisis. This was avoided by leadership action. Now there is no action except doing everything possible to avoid newly elected President Trump being able to stop war. The leadership needs to step up and urgently enter peace talks or go! We have to prevent a nuclear catastrophe and end war right now. John Tyrrell, President, Socialist Labour Party 23/11/2024

2023 ceremony SOCIALIST LABOUR PARTY, EAST MIDLANDS REGION invites you to a Wreath Laying Ceremony on Saturday 14th December at 12.00 noon Speakers: Ken Capstick, Trustee, Miners’ Pension Fund Paul Liversuch, SLP National Executive, E. Midlands Wreath laying ceremony: The Miners’ Statue The Pipe Works Coppice Side, Swadlincote DE11 9AA PLEASE NOTE This will be followed immediately by the meeting and discussion on Ukraine at The Old Post Centre, High Street, Swalincote DE11 0HX at around 12.20pm.

Paul Liversuch, SLP National Executive Member in the East Midlands, met with the new Labour Member of Parliament for South Derbyshire, Samantha Niblett. The subject was on care for those with conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease which is a great concern for Paul having had personal experience of giving care. It lasted for an hour. Paul made it clear that it cannot go on like this anymore. It’s a crmbling services and needs Government intervention. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/news-and-media/behind-closed-doors Paul Liversuch. SLP East Midlands Region 19/11/2024

SUPPORT CUBA Havana, Cuba, 2012. Picture John Tyrrell The United States have occupied Part of Cuba and used it as a prison camp for people from many lands and it has imposed sanctions on its mainland against the will of it’s people. It is currently undergoing power cuts, food restrictions and constant infiltration by the CIA. It’s time for China and all other countries who believe in saving lives as opposed to destroying lives to help the Communist State of Cuba – not by resolutions or discussion but by practical help. Help by trade but more important help by donating all the essential items that they need . Help by building more Hydroelectric Plants from areas like the Sierra Maestra Mountains, help by supplying Oil, Gas, Coal, and Fuel Plants which can produce electricity cleanly, above all fund Oil and Gas plants in the sea which lay off its coast. Demonstrate the hypocrisy of the United States who occupy lands all over the world that Socialism can and will defeat Capitalism. Help it use its Solar Power and its Geothermal Power and show to the all of South America Countries that the future belongs to them. Arthur Scargill President National Union of Mineworkers 1982 – 2002. Deputy President Socialist Labour Party 31/10/2024 The Socialist Labour Party had two delegations to Cuba in 2008 and 2012. As President Obama observed while the U.S. exported armies, Cuba sent doctors and teachers to countries where there was need. While resources are scarcethanks to sanctions imposed by the United States, Cuba shares its resources widely. 2008 Santa Clara where Che Guevara Mausoleum is. Statue of Che with details of events in Cuban revolution. Reception at Street Party. Education in Cuba, Santa Clara. At Conference Marxism in the 21st Century in Havana. Lily Mcleod, John Mcleod, John Tyrrell, Shangara Bhatoe and Sheera Johal. 2012 Havana, Medical care. John Mcleod and Andrew Jordan left, Heads of Health Centre centre, Shangara Bhatoe and John Tyrrell right.

Why do politicians seek to justify terminating the winter allowance by reference to a £20 billion black hole when they know that the cost of of winter payment is only £2 billion? The bloody hypocrites have paid or pledged £12.5 billion to Ukraine and £3.3 billion to Israel to slaughter over a million Palestinian people? Israel are today’s fascists who are guilty of war crimes and genocide. Arthur Scargill, Socialist Labour Party 21/10/2024

Arthur Scargill, then Leader of the National UnIon of Mineworkers supports the Timex Workers’ Strike in Dundee on 17th May, 1993. He was invited as a speaker and is shown here alongside Alex Salmond who died yesterday at the age of 69. In earlier years Salmond was regarded as a firebrand. Socialist Labour Party 13/10.2024

FIRST IT WAS IRAQ, GAZA, WEST BANK AND LIBYA. NOW ITS YEMEN, LEBANON AND IRAN – WHO NEXT? THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND HIS VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS BOTH SUPPORT THE FASCIST STATE OF ISRAEL AND NETANYAHU, ITS MAD PRIME MINISTER WHO IS DETERMINED TO ELIMINATE ALL PALESTINIAN PEOPLE FROM LAND WHICH ISRAEL OCCUPIES UNLAWFULLY. It’s time that the 143 countries who are members of the United Nations are prepared to fight the Fascists of Israel who have unlawfully occupied Palestinian land and even allowed, nay encouraged “Settlers“ to drive out Palestinian people at the point of a gun from the land in which they were born. There comes a point when these Fascist forces are driven out. If the Americans can take the world to war in Iraq based on a lie, then the United Nations and the Arab world can fight against an oppressor whose policies may well drive the world into a Nuclear Holocaust Arthur Scargill President National Union of Mineworkers 1982-2002 Deputy Leader Socialist Labour Party 1.10.2024

In 1958 The Americans intervened in Lebanon because they claimed it looked as though Lebanon was moving towards establishing a Communist Country.  In 1958 there was an International Youth Conference and Arthur Scargill made a speech condemning America for interference in a Country because they believed they were strong enough to instruct any Country to do as they were told. Scargill’s speech was welcomed by the Soviet Union, China and Hungary who all invited Arthur to visit their Countries at the conclusion of the Youth Conference and expand on his speech. Today there is no doubt that the Americans are repeating their 1958 involvement and their hypocrisy by supporting the Fascist State of Israel who have unlawfully occupied Gaza, the West Bank, sections of Palestine and encouraged Settlers to force out Palestinians from their homes, occupy parts of Egypt and Syria and provided the Israel with arms and billions of dollars in breach of United Nations decisions. At the same time they condemned Russia for intervening in the Ukraine whose rulers staged a Coup d’Etat in 2014 and overthrew a democratically elected government and President. Not satisfied with that they say nothing about the  ” Government of Ukraine ” banning political parties and trade union leaders. In addition the Americans chose to ignore an agreement between the USA Secretary of State and President who accepted that if the Soviet was to accept the renunciation of Germany. NATO would not seek or accept any of the Warsaw Pact Countries into membership of NATO. On top of all this NATO and the United States of America are supplying arms and together with nearly 50 other countries are procuring billions of dollars and sophisticated technology which could lead all people’s into Nuclear Annihilation.  We must stop these madmen including the British Government who should use the billions to restore the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners which the 1997 Labour  Government introduced.  Arthur Scargill  President  National Union of Mineworkers  1982 to 2000 President International Energy and Mineworkers 1996    Deputy Leader Socialist Labour Party  Further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_Lebanon_crisis

Chris Butler, SLP Yorkshire Region 19/9/2024

To my knowledge since the end of WWII the world has came close to nuclear war and consequently the end of almost all life on the planet on several occasions. On at least two occurrences this was due to mistaken warning signals received by early warning detection systems which were recognised just in time. On three occasions we know of the move to the highest state of nuclear alert happened deliberately. Most well known was over the Cuban missiles crisis. US President Kennedy took the world to the brink to the extent that people all over the world went to sleep on the night of 27 October 1962 not knowing if they would ever wake up again. At two other times there was similar threat – during the 1973 Arab – Israeli war and in 1983 when the Warsaw Pact feared a NATO war game was real and the prelude to an all out attack. In these latter two cases as with the accidental scenarios we found out only much later how close we came to oblivion. Just this past week the Starmer led UK government threatened Russia with giving Ukraine Storm Shadow missiles that could target and hit major Russian cities like the capital Moscow and St. Petersburg. These missiles can only be programmed, operated and targeted with NATO personnel and US/NATO satellite systems. Russian President Putin made clear in a statement that there would be a serious response by Russia. Information is coming into the public domain that this response would have meant direct targeting of sites in Britain that produce these missiles. The escalation from this to all out nuclear war would have been rapid. It appears now that despite on going bellicose rhetoric emanating from the likes of Starmer and Lammy that saner voices – probably in the US – have prevailed and that the warmongering proposal to send such threatening weaponry to the reactionary regime in Ukraine has been withdrawn. We should be thankful for that if true. The issue remains however that this war must end. There need to be serious peace negotiations that recognise the legitimate concerns of Russia. The Minsk Accords have gone thanks to western meddling and with them the best chance Ukraine had for maintaining its post-1991 borders. But peace is the imperative, an end to the killing and an end to the threat of world wide war. James McDaid, Leaders, Socialist Labour Party. 18/9/2024

Reuters Sir Keir Starmer is seeking support from the United States to permit Ukraine to use long range missiles to attack Russian towns and cities particularly in the Kursk area of Russia, yet he says not a word about the Fascist Government of Israel who have unlawfully occupied Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem and large areas of Palestine land since 1967. Israel is guilty of Genocide according to the United Nations, the International Court of Justice and countries all over the world. I call on Starmer to seek support from the United States and all countries who have condemned Israeli aggression and its genocide to permit the Governments of Gaza and the West Bank to use long range missiles against the fascist government of Israel unless israel agrees to withdraw all its troops and “settlers” from the lands of Palestine. Arthur Scargill, President National Union of Mineworkers 1982-2002 Deputy Leader Socialist Labour Party 14/9/2024

Guardian. It has been discovered that in Ireland Apple had been underpaying tax between 2003 and 2014. As a result Apple has been ordered to pay 13 bn euros plus 1.2 billion bn in interest, a total of 14.3 billion euros to the Irish State This decision begs the question “ How much tax has Apple and other International conglomerates have been paying in tax in the United Kingdom? “ According to TaxWatch’s analysis Seven large tech groups estimated to have dodged £2bn in UK tax in 2021 in which case why has the Government not sought to recover this £2 billion plus interest particularly as it is more than enough to pay the full Winter Payments to pensioners, Winter Fuel payments which were introduced by Gordon Brown as Labour Party Chancellor in 1997 and regarding as binding by six Governments until 2024 Arthur Scargill President National Union of Mineworkers 1982-2002 Deputy Leader Socialist Labour Party 12/9/2024

Posted 9/11/2024 (9th September, 2024) – from F.B. post The Israel occupation forces have systematically struck areas already designated as “humanitarian safe zones” during its one-year genocide in Gaza, including Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis   At least  40 Palestinians have been killed  and more than 65 others injured in Israeli airstrikes that targeted a tent encampment located in Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza strip on Tuesday, September 10. The heavy aerial assault also created two massive, nine-meter deep craters, which has led  many to allege  that Israel used US-manufactured 2,000 pound bombs in the attack. Although Al-Mawasi area was already designated as a “humanitarian safe zone” by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), it has been subjected to deadly attacks by Israeli warplanes more than once during the last several months. According to  Anadolu  News Agency, the Israeli military have committed  5 massacres in Al-Mawasi , killing at least 217 Palestinian people between May and September 2024. Palestine Solidarity Campaign, September 2024 Cease Fire in Palestine and Ukraine NOW. Every day that goes by and the talking goes on falls into the hands of the oppressors who have made no secret of their intentions to remove Palestinians from their homeland by one means or another regardless of international law and rulings by the United Nations intend to prevent genocide and provide necessities for life and well being in Gaza and now other parts of Palestine in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The United Kingdom has been called the most prominent Cheer Leader in support of United States Foreign policy of providing arms to others to avoid entering fights involving their own army, which by all accounts is not in any condition to succeed in overcoming forces that it has ranged against itself. The creation of enemies has been carried out by continuing foreign policy which seeks to dominate others by force while deliberately refusing to solve problems by diplomatic means. This has been achieved by creating false narratives whcih bare little or no relation to actuality. The leaders of the U.S. CIA and British MI6 appeared on television to tell how Russia was losing the war in Ukraine when it has been clear that the Ukrainian army is desperately short of fighting men and women. They continue to make a case for the Ukraine to become a member of NATO which Russia has made clear since the end of the Soviet era would be an intolerable threat to Russia’s sovereignty. The United States stated this exact position in its Munroe Doctrine over 100 years ago. Both conflicts in Palestine and Ukraine have no strategy or plan to end while in both cases people are dying at alarming rates. Two more countries are being destroyed as the United States and western backers continue to keep White colonial domination alive while Israel has seized on the opportunity of attempting to involve the United States in wide spread war threatening a nuclear confrontation. The far right Zionist administration led by Banjamin Netanyahu have shown determination to keep the “war” going until its objectives have succeeded. This includes defeating Hamas, labelled as “terrorist” by the U.S. and western governments and creating a Jewish state in greater Israel. Although this appears to be self-defeating and the means of achieving this, if not the ideal, is widely opposed by the the Israeli people themselves. Many Jewish people world wide are dismayed that Zionism is conflated with Judaism and have been prominent in world wide demonstrations in support of a cease fire and peaceful solution to the conflict. John Tyrrell, President, Socialist Labour Party 11/9/2024