Author: ourbulgarianlife

BBC News On 8th Novermber, the Socialist Labour Party asked why all those countries calling for a cease fire and deploring what appeared an unfolding genocide of unparalled magnitude were not taking action. It had been reported that the Royal Jordanian Airforce had parachuted supplies to a besieged hospital in northern Gaza so clearly it is possible. Since that time many nations have supported South Africa’s move to take the matter to the International Criminal Court in an attempt to put a stop the unfolding destruction of Gaza with the mass killing of civilians, the majority of whom are women and children, but the SLP called on other deeply concerned nations to take action in addition to their declared expressions of outrage and horror at what we have been witnessing daily. It continues without an end in sight.

On February 21st Reuters reported that “Britain and Jordan have air-dropped four tonnes of aid including medicines, fuel and food to Tal Al-Hawa Hospital in northern Gaza, Britain’s foreign office said on Wednesday. The U.K.-funded aid was delivered by the Jordanian Air Force again. ‘Thousands of patients will benefit and the fuel will enable this vital hospital to continue its life saving work’ British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement.” “However”, the report continues, “the situation in Gaza is desperate and significantly more aid is needed, and fast. We are calling for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow additional aid into Gaza as quickly as possible and bring hostages home.” We fail to understand why a “humanitarian pause” is asked for rather than demanding an immediate cease fire given that a continuation of the intensity of the destruction would likely annul the purpose of providing aid in the first place. We continue to call on all concerned nations to take urgent action to deliver support to people now dying from hunger, thirst, lack of medical aid reportedly resorting to suicide to end their nightmarish existence. The endless discussions and delay falls into the hands of those expressing their declared intention to destroy life, if not by bombing, the onset of hunger, disease and other means of ending life. Socialist Labour Party 26/2/2024

Russian President Valdimir Putin’s interview with U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson on 11th February, 2024 attracted contrasting responses. Hillary Clinton calling Carson a “useful Idiot” (a phrase reportedly unsed by Lenin!) to a range of comment from noted U.S. commentators wishing to hear directly from the Russian leader. ON WAR AND PEACE IN THE UKRAINE Putin went back centuries before the war begun in 2022. He stated Russia and the Ukraine tried to commence a peace deal in 2022 in Istanbul. This was scuppered by the then U.K. Prime Minister, Boris Johnson rushing to Kyev (Putin named him) to stop President Zelensky proceeding. He said:

“Wouldn’t it be better to come to an agreement with Russia? To agree, understand the situation that is today, understanding that Russia will fight for its interests to the end, and, understanding this, actually return to common sense, start respecting our country, its interests and look for some solutions?” And Russia? “We are ready for this dialogue.” Putin asked why the U.S. wanted to spend hugely arming UKraine for what was comparable to a “civil war”. “Does the United States need this? Why? It is thousands of kilometres away from its territory! Don’t you (i.e. the U.S.) have anthing esle to do? ” He pointed out that Russia had not used tactical nuclear weapons as the West feared. Putin noted that mercenaries from the United States, Poland and Geogia were fighting for Ukraine. RISKS OF GLOBAL WAR NATO’s fears of a global war and nuc feared by the Westlear conflict Putin saw as the West frightening people with “myths of a Russian threat”. Russia had not used tactical nuclear weapons as feared by the West. Russia had no interest in Poland, Latvia or the whole continent of Europe and would not attack unless Russia itself was under attack. ” You don’t need to be some sort of analyst to know that this conradicts common sense – to get involved in some sort of global war. A global was would bring the whole of humanity to the brink of exttinction It is obvious”. The West failed to understand that Russia after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union wanted to be part of the family of so-called “civilised peoples” but that its hopes were spurned as NATO expanded eastwards. “The West” Putin continued ” was more afraid of China than Russia due to its swift economic growth.” THE WORLD, AI AND GENETICS Puting spoke of genetic research and artificial intelligence.saying “geneticists could create a ‘superman’ and Elon Musk had put a chip in a human brain.” Humanity needed to think about what to do about the advances in genetics and artificial intelligence and suggested the nuclear arms control treaties of the Cold War could be a guide. Putin said: “When there arises an understanding that the boundless and uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence or genetics or some other modern trends, cannot be stopped, that these researches will still exist just as it was impossible to hide gunpowder from humanity… when humanity feels a threat to itself, to humanity as a whole, then, it seems to me, there will come a period to negotiate at the inter-state level on how we will regulate this,” ON NORD STREAM Who blew up the pipeline? Mr Putin mentioned the US Central Intelligence Agency. “The CIA has no alibi,” ON U.S. JOURNALIST EVAN GERSHKOVICH Evan Gershkovich, a US citizen, was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on 29 March 2023, in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on charges of espionage that carry up to 20 years in prison. He denies the charges. Putin said Mr Gershkovich was caught “red handed” receiving classified information on behalf of US intelligence. “I do not exclude that the person you mentioned, Mr Gershkovich, may end up back in his homeland. Why not? It makes no sense, more or less, to keep him in jail in Russia. These negotiations are under way.” In return, Moscow wanted Germany to free a Russian citizen who was convicted of the 2019 murder of a Chechen dissident in Berlin. THE NAZI PRESENCE IN UKRAINE TODAY President Putin expressed concern about the presence of Nazis currently active in the Ukraine. Wasn’t this an out dated view? Putin pointed out a recent speech by an elderly Ukrainian to the Canadian Parliament. He was met with a standing ovation by those present, including the Canadian Prime Minister and other senior government figures. Afterwards it was pointed out that the speaker had fought in the second world under Bandera, leader of Nazis in Ukraine who co-operated closely with Hitler’s army in World War II deporting Jewish people and others to the gas chambers. Bandera has become a hero with sections of the Ukrainian people with his picture hanging in the offices of political leaders. Full interview: https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/tucker-carlson-vladimir-putin-interview-1235902906/ Credits, Reuters, R.T.E. Socialist Labour Party 10.2.2024

Demonstration in London on Saturday 3rd February in support of the people of Gazza. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gazza was attended by several hundred thousand people. As a member of the London Region of the Socialist Labour Party  i joined the demonstration from its start at the BBC headquarters in Portland Place until its final destination in Downing Street. The demonstration was a very uplifting event was attended by various Trade Union and political groups. Victory to the Palestine struggle for freedom. Kevin O’Connor London Region Socialist Labour Party

Blinne Ni Ghralaigh’s address on behalf of the South African case on Gaza at the ICJ hearing in the Hague court. Click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDKpuyQDI_ 1/2/2024

https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-rotz-001&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=rotz&param1=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%3D&p=we+are+not+free+until+Palestine+is+free+nelson+manela&type=mdruc23e2fad8884c7e04e98#id=2&vid=465b7fbdc8c3ea2e22013d2765b357ca&action=click Nelson Mandela being questioned by an audience at City College, New York in 1990. He makes it clear that those he had named had fully supported South Africa’s struggle led by the ANC and stood by them as they had him and his Comrades. Now that Palestinians are in desperate need of support in their struggle the South African Government keeps faith with their founding Leader. John Tyrrell, 31/1/2024 https://uk.news.yahoo.com/south-africas-naledi-pandor-speaks-134041521.html Following the hearing at the Hague by the ICJ, South African Minister for Foreign Relations spoke with the press. To South Africa’s great credit they have acted in a world crisis where international law is being ignored. The actions are in accordance with Nelson Mandela’s declaration concerning those struggling for self determination in the face of neocolonial rule characterised by genocide and crimes against humanity.

Image: Etsy 31/1/2024

First the Fascist state of Israel bombed Gaza, then the West Bank, Yemen and now Syria. Who next? Iran, Serbia, Turkey. WE MUST STOP THESE MAD PERSONS OR THEY WILL, INDEED THEY ARE, DRIVING THE WORLD TO NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION. When is the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly going to make clear to these mad men and women of Israel that they must stop the policy of mass slaughter as that pursued by Fascists of Germany against Socialist, Communists and Jews. I remember speaking at a meeting with Pastor Martin Niemoller, whose words are featured on the United States Holocaust Memorial. It’s time the United States President, its Senate and House of Representatives read those historic words and then think why is the USA supporting the mass killings by Israel. “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak ot because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.” For his opposition to the Nazis’ state control of the churches, Niemoller was imprisoned in Sachtenhausen and Dachau concentration camps from 1938 to 1945. He became an anti-war activist and Viec-chair of the War Resistance International for 1966. He was a committed campaigner for Nuclear Disarmament. Arthur Scargill, Socialist Labour Party 19/01/2024

https://www.fox5dc.com/video/1394506 People in the U.K. are suffering at a time when the Tory Government, supported by Starmer’s Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, are providing massive financial assistance to NATO-backed Fascist Ukraine, and togethre with the United States supporting the Fascist State of Israel. Now they have joined the U.S. in attacking the Houthis in the Yemen (whose “crime” is supporting the people of Palestine who are the victims of genocide.) As of today, 14th January, 2024, the U.K. Government has spent, or agreed to spend £6-9 billion pounds supporting these two fascist states, money which should have been provided to our NHS, education, care for our elderly and infirm and on over 9 million unemployed (described as “economically inactive”). People should remember these facts when voting in the forthcoming General Election and when Trade Unionists have to take Industrial Action. We need a Socialist future which would secure for all people the full fruits of their labour by hand or by brain and ensure that the billions currently being “taken” by the Multinationals is used for the benefit of all our people irrespective of Race, Religion or Ethnicity. Socialist Labour Party 14/01/2024

The Socialist Labour Party has signed the document supporting South Africa’s action in challenging the Israel Government’s continuing onslaughter on Gaza. This is in the light of failure of the United Kingdom Government and other leaders to back a call for a Cease Fire calling an immediate halt to continued bombing of civilians, causing wiespread death and destruction, along with withholding essentials for life: food, water, power, medicine and shelter included. Not only are powerful nations watching evident Genocide unfold, they are continuing to add to the conflict with the United States and United Kingdom bombing Yemen, another country that has endured years of suffering from the high tech apparatus available to wealthy nations. Neocolonialism continues apace with priority given to accumulating wealth over human life. PLEASE NOTE: THIS LETTER IS ONLY FOR ORGANIZATIONS, MOVEMENTS, UNIONS AND OTHER GROUPS, NOT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SIGN. THANK YOU! A note for organizations: On December 30, a group of organizations including the Black Alliance for Peace, the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation, Popular Resistance, CODEPINK, Progressive International, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), the National Lawyers Guild, Samidoun, Veterans for Peace, Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (US Section), World Beyond War, The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Center (CMMLK) Cuba, Project Enduring Peace, and others met urgently to support efforts to end the genocide of Palestinians. While there are many legal and human rights-focused groups working to end genocide using various legal interventions, we saw a need to build organizational support by human rights, anti-colonial, anti-imperialist and other groups as a way to increase public pressure. We invite your organization to sign this open letter calling for nations to submit Declarations of Intervention to the International Court of Justice in support of South Africa’s excellent case invoking the Genocide Convention against Israel. Such Declarations can be submitted at any time and will increase the likelihood that a finding of the crime of genocide by the Court is backed up by enforcement. At present, we are gathering organizational (not individual) endorsements. We urge you to share this internally with organizations that may be supportive of this effort. Once we have gathered a significant number of endorsements, the letter will be published. We appreciate your endorsement and any support you can provide to gather as many signing organizations as possible. SIGN-ON LETTER TEXT: We, the undersigned organizations, commend South Africa on its Application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) invoking the Genocide Convention against Israel. We now urge other countries to reinforce this strongly worded and well-argued complaint by immediately filing a Declaration of Intervention with the ICJ, also called the World Court.Many countries have rightly expressed their horror at the State of Israel’s genocidal actions, war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed against Palestinians. Israeli Occupying Forces have bombed hospitals, residences, United Nations refugee centers, schools, places of worship and escape routes, killing and injuring tens of thousands of Palestinians since October 7, 2023. More than half of the dead are women and children. Israeli leaders have made brazenly genocidal statements openly declaring their intention to permanently and completely displace Palestinians from their own land. South Africa is correct in charging that under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Israel’s actions “are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent … to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group.” Parties to the Genocide Convention are obliged to act to prevent genocide; therefore, action must be immediate. A Declaration of Intervention filed with the ICJ in support of the South African case against Israel is one way to ensure that all acts of genocide are stopped and those responsible are held accountable. Israel’s killing, injuring, traumatizing, and displacing large numbers of Palestinians and denying water, food, medicine, and fuel to an occupied population meet the criteria for the crime of genocide. If a majority of the world’s nations call for a ceasefire, yet fail to press for prosecution of Israel – what is to stop Israel from ethnically cleansing all Palestinians? For that matter, what is to stop other nations from repeating a horror of this magnitude?We urge national governments to immediately file a Declaration of Intervention in support of the South African case against Israel at the International Court of Justice to stop the killing in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Resources: Here is an example of a Declaration of Intervention by the Maldives in the Myanmar case. There are many other examples. See no 1232 Socialist Labour Party 13/01/2023

Picture of action from The Irish News Scargill refuses to cross Junior Doctors’ picket line Arthur Scargill, Socialist Labour Party member and former President of the National Union of Mineworkers, demonstrated his support for England’s junior doctors’ strike by cancelling an appointment at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital on Monday, 8 January, the penultimate day of their current strike action. He says “I feel that all trade unions and their members should give full support to the junior doctors in their fight for a decent wage and working conditions:  their pay claim represents a fraction of the salaries paid to heads of hospital Trusts – and 70% less than Members of Parliament receive”. When Arthur contacted the hospital  explain why he couldn’t attend today, the Admissions Officer to whom he spoke said she understood his principled position and provided him with a new appointment date. (8 January 2024)