Author: ourbulgarianlife

May Day event organised by Birmingham Trade Union Council and Banner Theatre Around 70 people gathered in Handsworth, Birmingham to marke the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Saltley Gate. Banner Theatre’s production linked the story of 10th February, 1972 with the need for solidarity in the struggle against the breaking up of the NHS, crack down on demonstrations and any resistance to government in the class war it’s stoking up.

When the leaders of governments meet to discuss the Russian v Ukraine Conflict they must agree to impose the same sanctions against Israel for its invasion and occupation of the lands of Palestine and Syria and its ongoing military attacks on the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula and withdraw from all areas it has occupied since 1967. Unless the governments who meet without taking the same sanctions against Israel that it is taking against the Russian Republic it will stand accused of being involved as the mercenaries from 14 Countries who fought against the Soviet Union in and after 1917. Arthur Scargill President National Union of Mineworkers 1982-2002 Leader Socialist Labour Party 24th April 2022

With acknowledgements to the compiler of this as it appears on Facebook

We are witnessing an unprecedented propaganda campaign coordinated by the United States of America, NATO, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Western Powers unlike any propaganda campaign since the Fascist campaign by Germany prior to and including the Second World War. All TV News channels and virtually all newspapers in the UK, USA, EU and all Western countries are subjecting its population to a non-stop 24 hours a day news media seeking to convince people that Russia started the conflict with Ukraine despite clear evidence that the current conflict was started by NATO who, over the past eight years, have been deploying troops in nearly all countries which surround Russia. In 1990 James A Baker, USA Secretary of State, agreed with the then Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev that there would be no expansion by NATO, a promise repeated by the NATO Secretary General in a speech in Brussels on 17 May 1990. Following that agreement the Soviet Union disbanded the Warsaw Pact in March 1991 and the Soviet Union became the Russian Federation. The member states of the former Soviet Union subsequently established independent states on the understanding that they would all conform to the agreement concluded by the United States, the Soviet Union and European Union in 1990 that there would be no expansion of NATO by the former member states of the Warsaw Pact. The Ukraine established an independent state subject to the agreement that it would not apply for or become a member of NATO or the EU. The Ukraine subsequently elected President Leonid Kravchuk. He was succeeded as President by Leonid Kuchma and in 2010 Viktor Yanukovych was elected President but because he conformed to the 1991 agreement was overthrown by a Coup d’état in 2014 and replaced by an unelected Oligarch as “President” to the delight of the USA, Britain, the EU and NATO. Following the Coup d’état two States, Donetsk and Luhansk established independent States following a vote by their citizens in 2014. Since the two independent States were established in 2014 they have been subjected to non-stop attacks by Ukraine using rockets, bombs and shells, yet no Western country has done anything to prevent these attacks, which are in breach of the agreement concluded in 1991 and in breach of the ceasefire agreed in 2014. Indeed, during the past eight years Ukraine has built up its army, navy and air force using soldiers from the U.S., UK and other countries “to train” the Ukrainian army how to use the armaments which the West has been pouring into Ukraine together with mercenaries who have become part of Ukraine’s army, air force and navy. It appears that the unprecedented propaganda has been swallowed hook line and sinker by Britain’s ‘left wing’ political leaders who are weeping at the Russian invasion and occupation of land yet not a whisper has been heard against the neo-fascist Israeli invasion of Palestine and Syria. Israel is bombing Palestinian civilians on an almost daily basis, yet not one suggestion has been made to impose sanctions on Israel. On the contrary the West has imposed sanctions on the victims and continued to support the perpetrators. The hypocrisy of the UK, the USA and EU is beyond belief, not a word is heard of America’s occupation of Cuba which it uses as a “Hell Hole” known as Guantanamo Bay which continues to imprison human beings without charge. Why does the International Court fail to bring the USA and its leaders and the United Kingdom and its former leader Tony Blair to court, for the unlawful invasion of Iraq, on the basis of a lie that it had weapons of mass destruction (a lie which to date has cost the lives of over a million people). Why does the International Court fail to bring the USA to court as a result of its invasion of Libya on the grounds that it wanted regime change an invasion which has resulted in deaths of hundreds of thousands and left Libya in a war torn civil turmoil. Why does the International Court fail to bring the USA and UK to face justice following its invasion of Afghanistan, an invasion which lasted 20 years and resulted in over a half a million deaths plus thousands of young soldiers from America and Britain with thousands more badly disabled? After 20 years of occupation the United States in 2021 ignominiously left Afghanistan defeated and the country left in disarray. In Britain we now face the worst economic crisis since the 1930s and yet we have a government and a Labour Party opposition agreeing to pouring £millions of armaments to Ukraine who are in a conflict which has nothing whatsoever to do with the United Kingdom. The Socialist Labour Party calls for an end to this mad policy and calls for the £250billion, which is spent on armaments and Trident missiles, to be spent on our NHS, Social Services, Care for the elderly’ and the restoration of the Triple Lock for pensioners. We are facing critical austerity and Britain should not be spending all the money it currently expends on the production of armaments, and instead use these monies for the preservation of life. Arthur Scargill President National Union of Mineworkers 1982-2002 and Leader of the Socialist Labour Party 18th April, 2022

Have people, including the media, forgotten that the elected President of Ukraine was overthrown by a Coup D’etat in 2014 and replaced by an unelected Oligarch as “President” to the delight of the USA, Britain, the EU and NATO. Have the media, politicians and others forgotten the unlawful invasion of Grenada which led to the murder of Maurice Bishop or the unlawful invasion of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan which led to the occupation of these Countries by the United States. In Iraq alone nearly half a million lost their lives, many young men from Britain. Have the media and the “left-wing” political leaders forgotten that currently the State of Israel continue to invade and occupy Palestinian and Syrian lands with hardly a whimper from many who call themselves “Left”, and the on-going occupation of part of Cuba on which the U.S. established a hell-hole called Guantanamo Bay. We in the Socialist Labour Party do not support any Capitalist Country but understand the difference between nations particularly when both sides claim the right to that land which had been one country for over a hundred years, as in the case of Ukraine and Russia. We are tired of listening to British “left” leaders and peace campaigners protest together with forces who hate Socialism whist forgetting or ignoring that Britain has unlawfully occupied Ireland for over 700 years and continues to occupy part of that country today. The Chinese understand the situation in the dispute involving Russia and Ukraine and refuse to regard Russia’s action as an invasion. They noted that negotiations must involve the guarantee that Ukraine agreed: it would not be part of NATO or the European Union. Both have been sending arms to Ukraine and continue to do so. The Chinese understand the situation in the dispute involving Russia. They know that the United States has threatened that if China takes back Taiwan into China it will face the USA and most probably Britain. The solution to the conflict can be resolved quickly, but only if Ukraine confirm its previous agreement with Russia that Ukraine will not join NATO or the EU or allow any NATO or USA bases to be allowed on Ukrainian soil. Arthur Scargiil, Leader, Socialist Labour Party, John Tyrrell, President, Socialist Labour Party

What are British people doing fighting as part of the Ukrainian Army? The one British person who surrendered to the Russians said he and his unit had to surrender. This leads one to question “How many British People are involved as Mercenaries in or along side of the Ukrainian Army, and are they supported by the British Government (that is when they are not attending unlawful Parties!)? Arthur Scargill 15/4/2022

Emmanuel Macron believes that making charges against those in conflict in Ukraine is not helped by bringing charges against them. In the situation where virtually all main players are banging the drums of war he declines to be drawn into agreeing Biden’s charge of genocide. Once again it appears the western press is reluctant to give ensure we are allowed to read about important news stories that are accurate and factual. Who else is giving peace a chance? Socialist Labour Party 13/4/2022

Today there are report that the Ukrainian opposition leader is under arrest. Why are the main western media not publishing this? Arthur Scargill 13/4/2022

A number of people who were at Saltley in 1972 have been invited to the meeting and will speak about their experiences. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are updating their digital collection and will film people from BIrmingham asking what the event on 10th February, 1972 meant to them. Banner Theatre will be performing in the following locations subject to confirmation. 30 April Bolton 1st May Band
1 May BTUC Saltley Gate Production – Birmingham. See above.
3 May Southampton.
10 May Coventry?
14 May East Riding and Hull
?? May/June Blackburn
8 July Durham Gala ? TBC
15 July Tolpuddle
?? September – Worcester TBC
17 Nov. Carlisle
18/19 November Dumfries More in the pipeline! The Battle of Saltley Gate and other Banner Theatre productions can be booked in locations across the U.K.

Dave Rogers Banner Theatre
Email: rogersbanner@gmail.com
Telephone: 0121 523 6581

Mobile: 0787 8848 695
websites: Banner Theatre: www.bannertheatre.co.uk

Commentary: Statement on the Ukrainian by Arthur Scargill, the current leader of the Socialist Labour Party (SLP), perhaps the only large left-wing organization in Britain that had taken a clear position in favor of Brexit (see also the joint T. Fotopoulos speech at a SLP event in favor of BREXIT) and historical leader of the miners, who were bloodied by Thatcher to introduce neoliberal globalization in England (but also in Europe as a whole). Just as all those who are supposed to be in the interest of the people should argue, so does Scargill take a clear stand against the Transnational Elite, represented by its organs (NATO, EU), showing that it is their own aggression that is responsible for the current conflict. In a bid to end the Putin-dominated regime once and for all, they overthrew the Yanukovych government in 2014, installed Nazi Ukrainians in power to purge pro-Russians in the east, and militarized Ukrainian-based territory. relevant statements by Secretary of State Victoria Newland) and military exercises (see post by J. Payat, then US Ambassador to Ukraine, from 2015 on US and Ukrainian military military exercises). Today, in a regime of complete anti-Russian hysteria, with propaganda having reached unprecedented levels, we are called upon more urgently than ever to choose between globalization or national sovereignty. And as Scargill puts it, it’s time to show that “we are opposed to globalization.” Statement by Arthur Scargill, 15.03.2022 The revelation that Ukraine had set up a military base near the border with Poland and that Ukraine and NATO had conducted joint military exercises in recent years shows that Ukraine acted in breach of the agreement with Russia that it would not join the NATO or the EU. The hysteria in NATO and the EU and the accumulation of military equipment before Russia acts and the billions of dollars / pounds and other currencies of NATO and EU countries show me that the current conflict between the two capitalist countries started with NATO and European Union. It is time for the Socialists to make it clear that we are opposed to globalization and that the expansion of the United States and NATO is not done on our behalf. This conflict can end today, provided that Ukraine abides by the 2014 agreement and states that it will not or will not seek to join NATO or the European Union and will not allow NATO or the United States to have bases on Ukrainian territory. Listening to the comments of the US generals, watching on TV the statements of NATO and the British government, and observing what is generally said in the media, that is, that the Russian side in the conflict in Ukraine has swamped, shows how stupid they are and will they had to bow their heads in shame. The Russian military has been in Ukraine for less than three weeks and has surrounded major cities, ports and airports. Compare that to the three-year invasion of Korea by the United States and Britain, where they lost and after a ceasefire the United States is actually still at war 72 years later. The US invasion of Vietnam in 1954 lasted 21 years, a war that the US lost in 1975 and: The US-British invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 lasted 20 years and ended in a disgraceful defeat for America and Britain in 2021, yet despite these defeats, the generals who led them have the audacity to criticize from above. to the Russian generals who defeated the fascists at Leningrad, Moscow, Stalingrad and the tank battle at Kursk in the 1940-1945 war, and then liberated Ukraine. It is time to tell the Ukrainian government to abide by the agreement in 2014 and to pledge not to join or seek to join the European Union or NATO and not to allow NATO, the EU or the US to have bases on Ukrainian soil.