Alan Lodge's Blog

Information just in.

http://www.DuckDensity.org.uk

Universities these days are subject to many tests, ratings and measurements … REAs, TQAs … all of these leave out one vital factor, in fact the one most important measure of the quality of a university. What is this elusive measure?

Duck Density :: That’s right, the ultimate mark of a university’s prowess and brilliance is it’s Duck Density. In recognition of this fact, DuckDensity.org.uk has been set up so that those who have the dilemma of where to spend the next three or four years of their life can be truly informed … and so that those who’ve already made the decision can have a bit of fun 😉

I don’t know if this helps …… But

I covered this subject last year. Do check out my FotoBlog at:

Ducks, an exercise in cuteness http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=197220

I didn’t count them though. The bastards kept moving about.

New media sector of the UK’s National Union of Journalists (NUJ), have now got a blog. Check out at:

http://nujnewmedia.blogspot.com

The sector was officially established in April 2005 to provide advice and support for professional journalists working in online publishing or digital media. Join the NUJ community of 35,000 journalists – one of the biggest journalists’ unions in the world.

Rave misery for villagers Cambridge Evening News, UK – 10 May 2005

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/lifestyle/arts_music/news/2005/05/10/055 51a5d-f66d-49cb-bcfc-059c04f130f9.lpf

RAVERS are making weekend nights a misery in a village on the outskirts of Cambridge. Cambridgeshire police said they were aware of the raves.

Insp Paul Ormerod, of the South Cambridgeshire sector, said: “These events are being held on private land, making it a complex issue to deal with.

“We are aware of the on-going problem at the site and have held meetings with other agencies, including the district council and fire service, to try to find out the legality of these evenings.

“We are looking at all options in response to the events, and will be taking positive action in the near future.”

=========================

Police campaign to prevent rave

11 May 2005

www.midweekherald.co.uk

Police are trying to prevent the return of illegal raves to Smeatharpe near Honiton, writes Sally Munro.

This year Police are again part of a South West regional operation warning people not to try and set up illegal raves.

The South West is considered to be one of a number of susceptible areas in the UK for illegal raves.

Operation Pell aims to minimise the disruption to communities by cracking down on illegal festivals.

Insp Norman Amey, in charge of the operation, said: “In previous years we have had problems with people who were unable to buy tickets for Glastonbury, trying to set up alternative sites in our force area.

“The airfield at Smeatharpe has been targeted in the past, and we will be putting a specific operation in place to prevent mass trespass or illegal raves at the site.

“We have the powers to stop these illegal gatherings and to seize equipment, and will do so if necessary to protect the rights and lifestyles of the community, as well as preventing serious injury and hazards to health of those attending.

“Although there is a specific operation for the airfield, we are also aware that this sort of gathering may happen anywhere across the force.”

The public can assist police by reporting any suspicious activity around open land or disused buildings by calling 08452 777444.

=========================

Butterflies Endangered By Psy Trance Hippies

Thousands cause rave woods damage

Tuesday, 17 May, 2005, 11:21 GMT 12:21 UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4554197.stm

The prospect of raves being staged in the Kent countryside is being investigated by police after one event caused damage to ancient woodland.

Kent Police said there was intelligence that other raves were being planned.

A spokesman said: “We’re working on that and we will do everything we can in our powers to stop it.”

=========================

Police Prevent Illegal Rave
12:48 Tuesday 17 May 2005

http://www.clicknewbury.com/zones/news/story/20050517.1248.3.html

Thames Valley Police in West Berkshire prevented a huge rave from going ahead on the Ridgeway this weekend.

More than 90 vehicles with three large sound systems were stopped from entering land near Aldworth after a tip off from an off-duty officer who overheard plans for the rave. The rave was planned for the early hours of last Sunday, 15th May, but officers managed to stop it taking place. Fifty-six officers from Berkshire and Oxfordshire were involved in the operation – mounted under Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which gives officers the authority to turn people away from an illegal gathering such as a rave.

Officers spread out around the area of Streetley, Compton and Aldworth and stopped vehicles as they tried to reach rural land on the Ridgeway throughout the early hours of Sunday.

Supt. Jim Trotman, local police area commander of West Berkshire, said: “From a local police perspective these events cause considerable damage in rural communities. A recent rave near East Hendred caused significant damage to livestock within the West Berkshire part of the Ridgeway and many of the local people I work with complained to me after the event.”

“We, and our partners in the local authority, take the prevention of illegal raves very seriously. This past weekend was just such a time and police officers from across Oxfordshire and Berkshire successfully prevented a convoy of some 90 vehicles with three separate sound systems from setting up a rave on the Ridgeway.”

“This kind of operation is one that takes considerable numbers of officers away from other duties but these raves are unlicensed, rarely have any safety considerations and quite frequently involve large numbers of people disrupting the lives of others. Rural communities need policing as much as their urban counterparts. I have no doubt that where we can we will be seeking to intervene in more raves over the coming summer months. I hope that putting a rather more forthright police case with regard to raves will allow local people to understand that local policing is still very much able to deal with the bigger problems that sometimes beset our more rural communities.”

====================================

Hundreds attend illegal rave

http://new.edp24.co.uk
CAT BARTMAN

23 May 2005 12:53

Hundreds of people descended on Forestry Commission land near Thetford yesterday for an illegal rave.

It comes just a week after four raves were held in the county, stretching police resources.

Last week Norfolk police announced that it was looking at how to deal with illegal raves and ways of working more closely with environmental health officers and local authorities to stop unlicensed events and take action against organisers.

It’s the 20th anniversary of the trashing of my tribe there ‘lest we forget!’

Stonehenge: http://tash.gn.apc.org/stones1.htm
Solstice Ritual: http://tash.gn.apc.org/solst_0.htm
Beanfield: http://tash.gn.apc.org/sh_bean.htm
The Story so far: http://tash.gn.apc.org/history.htm

&

My recent Indymedia posting, about the history of the subject

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/308800.html

This lot gives you some of the background

* * * * * *

But now, news from the last few days ……..

BBC News

Warning over illegal forest raves

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/4574859.stm

Groups planning illegal gatherings in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire, over the bank holiday weekend have been warned they will be “vigorously” dealt with.
Wiltshire police are on standby after receiving reports that rave parties or music festivals are likely to be held.

In previous years, officers have been called to deal with cars being parked illegally throughout the woodland area and loud music being played.

Inspector Jerry Dawson says action will be taken to prevent similar offences.

“We will enforce current legislation vigorously and, with the land owner’s permission, and in consultation with the relevant town or parish councils, we will take positive action,” he said.

* * * * * *

Wlitshire Police Press Release:

23/05/2005 – Savernake forest is no place for a party!

http://www.wiltshire.police.uk/news/newsview.asp?id=704

Wiltshire Police will be paying close attention to Savernake Forest and surrounding area throughout the Bank Holiday weekend after reports of groups aiming to camp out and possibly set up raves or music festivals have been received.

In the past the Savernake Forest has been a target for groups with vehicles being parked throughout the woodland area and loud music annoying residents for miles around. However this year police intend to step in and prevent raves and music festivals from taking place by working in partnership with the The Earl Of Cardigan, local community, Parish Councils, Marlborough Town Council and the Forestry Commission.

Inspector Jerry Dawson, the area commander for Marlborough, has been pleased with the recent success of preventing such illegal Music Festivals, but makes it clear that the Bank Holiday weekend is seen as a potential target that will have dedicated police units on standby throughout. He said:

‘It must be clearly understood by anyone thinking about coming to the area with the intention of setting up a rave or festival that they are not welcome. We will enforce current legislation vigorously and, with the land owner’s permission, and in consultation with the relevant Town or Parish Councils, we will take positive action wherever, and whenever, it is needed to enable the public to enjoy the peaceful environment that Savernake Forest and the surrounding areas offer, in order to prevent any Criminal offences or Anti Social Behaviour from being committed.’

Not up yet, but when we are, it’ll be at:
Nottinghamshire Indymedia http://nottinghamshire.indymedia.org.uk

We have a collective up and running, to make all this happen, and were having regular meetings and all …….

So, if you’d like to be involved with us, please send email to notts@indymedia.org and sign up to the email list for Notts IMC at: http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-nottingham

In the interest of group colaboration, we also maintain wiki pages at: http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/ImcUkNottinghamshire

If you wish to contribute to those pages, you can sign up for your own Indymedia Wiki page.

You will thus have a ‘wiki name’ and password, and this will enable you to not only change your own personal page, but also many other pages on the system, including these pages at ImcUkNottinghamshire

For the Indymedia photographers, have just started a group page at:

http://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/NottsPhoto

So, as you see, plenty going on. ……..

Matthew Tempest and agencies
Wednesday May 25, 2005

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1491895,00.html

The price of an identity card will be higher than previously thought at £93, the Home Office admitted today, as it published a new bill to introduce the controversial scheme.
It also revealed that the biometric technology due to underpin the system was far from failsafe, with even the best form of identification – iris scans – only scoring a 96% success rate.

In documents accompanying the bill, the Home Office admitted that the cost to an individual of the card had risen to £93, as opposed to its previous estimate of £88.

The average annual running cost for issuing the controversial cards alongside passports was put at £584m.
At prime minister’s questions today, Tony Blair challenged the Conservatives to back the scheme, which will initially be voluntary, as it shaped up to be one of the key debates of the new parliament.

The Tories currently oppose the bill, as do the Liberal Democrats and a small minority of Labour backbenchers.

The reintroduction of the bill – which was a central plank of Labour’s manifesto – was greeted by dismay from civil liberty campaigners, but received a guarded welcome from employers.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said: “The horrendous economic costs of the ID card scheme are clear, the social costs will be with us for decades.

“Parliament must reject this rehashed ID card Bill, a scheme more about political machismo than rational policy.”

John Cridland, the deputy director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, gave it cautious backing, but said: “Companies want more information on the national identity registry and serious questions remain unanswered.

“What types of data will be stored? How will the government assure accuracy and integrity?”

The results of the pilot project testing the technology on 10,000 volunteers showed it took an average of just under eight minutes per person to be scanned, but a marked range in the success rates of the various identification techniques.

The facial verification system, which measures the distance between a person’s features, was the least successful technology.

Success rates were 69% for a representative sample of 2,000 people and 48% in a sample of 750 disabled people. Fingerprint verification was successful in 81% of the representative sample and 80% among the disabled group. Iris verification was a success in 96% overall and 91% among the disabled volunteers, the results showed.

Home Office minister Tony McNulty acknowledged there would be some “teething problems” with the biometric cards.

But he told the BBC: “I would hope, and I think we will, secure the bill.” He said it was “in essence” the same bill as the one introduced into the last parliament.

Mr McNulty refused to comment on the overall costs, saying: “The more we release about the details of the set-up costs the more the entire procurement process can be couched in terms far more favourable to those doing the bidding.”

One of the top civil servants on the ID cards project, Stephen Harrison, told the BBC: “We are following the best practice of not publishing our best estimate of the set-up costs.

“For reasons of commercial sensitivity we think it is inappropriate to publish them at this stage.”

Only 19 Labour rebels voted against ID cards last time round, although the No2ID campaign hopes that up to 80 could be persuaded to vote against it this time.

Whether that will overturn Labour’s new 67-seat majority will depend on whether the Tories stick to their line of opposing the measures. The Conservative leader, Michael Howard, is personally in favour of ID cards, having considered introducing them himself as home secretary in the 1990s, while shadow home secretary David Davis is against.

Mr Davis has written to the Home Office setting out a series of objections on the grounds of cost and technology, and challenging Mr Clarke to prove the case for ID cards.

The Liberal Democrats are opposed on both principle and cost grounds, as is the Scottish National party.

Originally the Home Office told the home affairs select committee the cost of introduction would be between £1.3bn and £3.1bn. Recent estimates range up to £5bn, and the government has a poor track record in major IT investments, such as the child support agency, the Swanick air traffic control centre and the criminal records bureau.

Wartime identity papers in Britain were abolished in 1953. The current scheme would be phased in from 2007-08 and though they will initially be voluntary the Home Office hopes to later persuade parliament to make them compulsory – possibly from as early as 2010.

So, here we go round again…… just published by the government today. Much the same as the last time round.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/009/2006009.htm

This is the PDF of the Bill
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/009/2006009.pdf

Explainatory Notes, Statewatch

http://www.statewatch.org/news/2005/may/uk-ID-CARD-Bill-expl.pdf

Ho hummmm………..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4577087.stm

The government’s latest plans for compulsory identity cards are set to be unveiled by Charles Clarke.

The home secretary said he accepted genuine worries had been raised about the previous bill, which was dropped ahead of the general election.

The Conservatives say they will oppose the introduction of the controversial cards unless ministers “conclusively prove” they are needed.

The Lib Dems oppose the plans and some Labour MPs have civil liberties fears.

Mr Clarke will unveil the latest ID Cards Bill in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

The Home Office has estimated that ID theft costs Britain £1.3bn a year.

Earlier this week, Mr Clarke urged Labour MPs opposed to the scheme to examine proposed “safeguards” in the bill.

He also offered to meet critics to discuss their concerns, which are centred on civil liberty issues.

He promised that information held on people through the cards would not be “substantial”.

“I believe it is critically important that we do tackle the issues of identity fraud,” he said.

“What I hope is that we can have a rational discussion about the various issues.”

The Conservatives initially voted for the ID card legislation in the last Parliament but abstained in the key Commons vote, saying the plans had to pass five tests.

The tests included issues connected to the technology and a call for the bill to “clearly define” the purpose of the cards.

‘Fundamental change’

Mr Clarke said the new legislation answered concerns raised by shadow home secretary David Davis.

He urged the Tories to shed the “fig-leaf” of opposition that it had put up to cover repeated shifts in its stance on the measure.

Mr Davis, however, stood by the actions of the Tories and said he could not currently recommend his party supported the bill.

“On an issue of this importance, one that represents such a fundamental change in the relationship between the citizen and the state, the government must make the case and conclusively prove the need for such a change,” he said.

He pointed to “extreme doubts” raised by experts about the viability of the technology and asked why the bill was being pushed through while those questions were unanswered.

“The database is the thing that makes this a change of relationship between the individual and the state. And they have no answer as to how they are going to protect that database,” said Mr Davis.

“Your only answer to this was: other people are doing the same thing. Well, I have to say that is a pretty weak answer on something as important as this.”

Chance of defeat

Liberal Democrat spokesman Mark Oaten accused the Tories of “sitting on the fence” over the issue.

“If they were to have the courage to come off that fence and to join with the Liberal Democrats, and I hope many on the Labour back benches, who share this view, we could defeat the ID card scheme,” he said.

Senior backbencher Gwyneth Dunwoody said some Labour MPs were uneasy about the scheme.

“The history of police forces or governments holding every element of information about people’s lives is not that they are always used responsibly, but used in some instances by governments for the worst possible reasons,” she said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4577087.stm

http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com

The net’s ability to link people who share a common interest – but who will never meet – is unparalleled. And that’s true even for fans of… biscuits? The internet and snack foods have a lot in common.

Both are used to fill idle time, are usually enjoyed sitting down and are often accompanied by a beverage.

And there must be many people who enjoy both a snack and a surf simultaneously, indeed, one can enhance the enjoyment of the other.

One of the most comprehensive biscuit sites online is nicecupofteaandasitdown.com which was set up two years ago by Stuart Payne.

The BBC give them a mention at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2950274.stm

I recommend you take a peek, having made a nice cup of tea of course ….. 🙂

Two people, John and Kathleen McCarthy died tragically last night in a fire on the threatened with eviction site, Dale Farm.

Early this morning a fire swept through the McCarthys chalet killing both John and Kathleen McCarthy and destroying three adjacent caravans. Luckily the children sleeping in a caravan next to the chalet escaped. The residents of Dale Farm in Wickford, Essex, battled the fire, using up all their water before the fire service arrived but were unable to save the McCarthys. The cause of the fire is as yet unknown.

Dale Farm is the largest site in the country and is facing eviction due to lack of planning permission, part of a campaign of persecution of Gypsy and Traveller people. Essex council has another week before it makes its decision whether to go ahead with eviction and ignore human rights law and the needs of the children and sick who live on the site and attend local schools and hospitals. John and Kathleen were at the forefront of the campaign to save their homes. Last Saturday the site marched to Basildon council offices, mostly attended by the women and children. Kathleen was a vital part of the demonstration and in other ways tried to save her home.

Now not only are a thousand people facing the loss of their homes and a brutal eviction by bailiffs Constant and Co, they are also mourning their kin. All our sympathies go out to Dale Farm in this terrible time.

In solidarity. If you would like to help save Dale Farm please contact:

info@travellersupport.org.uk
www.travellersupport.org.uk

On friday afternoon, the residence of Sneinton and surrounding areas of Nottingham, came to protest against an Incinerators expansion plans. The company Waste Recycling Group Ltd [WRG], are preparing a planning application for expansion, and in support of this, had organised an exhibition at The Masson Suite in Nottingham County Football Club. We went along to see it, and to make our feelings known.

People protested at the entrance to the club in Meadow Lane. Banners held, leaflets handed out, and a discussion held with the organisers of the exhibition, from the plant.

Pictures of the events on my FotoBlog at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=442687

**********

This is Nottingham Against Incineration and Landfill [NAIL] case against the proposed expansion.

Nottingham’s Eastcroft municipal incinerator is proposing to expand its facility, please support our campaign to prevent the expansion of this unnecessary, highly polluting, poorly regulated plant.

Our Labour City Council is supporting the expansion that will see other people’s waste being imported from the surroundings counties, to be incinerated in Nottingham to pollute our air. At NAIL we want our City to enter into the 21st Century and put incineration in the past, where it belongs.

We are campaigning to get our City Council to stop supporting the incinerator, oppose the expansion plans and end its contract with Waste Recycling Group and improve on its appallingly low recycling rate of 9 only %.

We must end the madness of incineration and the continued pollution of our most precious resource, air the substance of life.

We have a right to breath air free of dust, heavy metals, chemicals and substances that we know are highly poisonous and cause cancer.

Incinerators do NOT destroy waste, it is one of the fundamental principles of science that matter can never be destroyed; it can only ever be transformed. Incinerators basically turn rubbish into ash, gases and particulate matter. These gases and the poisons are spewed into the atmosphere, to the air, which we breathe. Eventually they fall to earth where we consume the poisons through our food.

Incinerators DO NOT destroy waste, our rubbish still exists we may see less of it, but we’re inhaling and eating it instead.

Why should the expansion be stopped.

Nottingham City has one of the lowest recycling rates in the country, only 9%. Instead of increasing this to a more acceptable level, it is proposed to increase the incineration rate by building a third line and importing other people’s waste! Proposals could mean that waste is imported in Nottingham from Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and incinerated in Nottingham to poison the residents of Nottingham.

Incinerators are highly polluting and poorly regulated.

They contribute to global warming.

They produce ‘Acid Rain’ gases.

Other wastes include toxic heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium, tin, and other poisons such as PCB’s and Dioxins, which are extremely cancerous.

The most poisonous substances, such as PCB’s and Dioxins are only spot measured twice a year, so the overall discharged levels are estimated levels.

Traffic delivering rubbish to the plant and removing ash will increase by 50 % leading to local disturbance and pollution.

The incinerator costs Nottingham’s Council Tax payers around a £1,000,000 per year.

Much of what the incinerator burns waste, which could otherwise be recycled, thereby reducing pollution & employing more people.

The current plant regularly breaches its authorised emission levels.

Recycling paper uses 67% less energy than manufacturing it from raw wood pulp.

Recycling 1 aluminium drink can save enough energy to run a TV for 5 hours.

Did you know?

Most of Nottingham City’s waste is incinerated, NOT recycled.
The proposed expansion will lead to industrial waste being imported from the surrounding area.
Manufacturing paper from recycled material not only save forests, but uses a third of the energy requirements than manufacturing it from wood pulp.
Up to 80 % of household waste can be recycled.
The City Council is losing £1 million per year of your money as a result of its heating contract with the incinerator
A British study of municipal incinerators published in 2000 found that children living within 5km of an incinerator had twice the rate of leukaemia and cancers of other children.
The Sint Niklaas incinerator in Belgium met E.U safety limits but was shown to cause a 480% increase in cancer amongst local residents and shortened life spans by 12 years – it was shut down.

Nottingham Against Incineration and Landfill [NAIL]
0845 458 2813
email: mail@nail.uk.net
web: http://www.nail.uk.net

Nottingham Friends of the Earth http://nottfoe.gn.apc.org/index.htm

Waste Recycling Group Ltd. Eastcroft Incinerator http://www.wrg.co.uk/eastcroft

Rosie Cowan
Friday May 20, 2005
The Guardian

http://society.guardian.co.uk/drugsandalcohol/story/0,8150,1488170,00.html

Cannabis should not be upgraded again, and if it is, fixed penalty fines should be issued for the possession of small amounts, Britain’s top policeman said yesterday.

Sir Ian Blair, the Scotland Yard commissioner, said it was a waste of his officers’ time spending hours dealing with possession offences when prosecutors and courts did not act on them.

If the government reverses the downgrading of the drug, as it is currently considering, then he would push hard for fixed penalty notices, although he refused to be drawn on what he considered an appropriate fine.

David Blunkett reclassified cannabis from Class B to Class C in January last year. While possession is still illegal, those caught with small amounts are not normally arrested, but have the drug confiscated and receive a formal warning.

But his successor, Charles Clarke, has asked the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs to investigate whether cannabis use contributes to long-term mental health problems.

Mr Clarke is also considering whether stronger “skunk” varieties of the drug should carry more severe penalties. However, Sir Ian argued that such a move would be “impractical”.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/drugsandalcohol/story/0,8150,1488170,00.html

Gosh, it’s happened, and on national tv news!

For some time now, I’ve been telling people of the advantages of recording police conversations at ‘situations’ on a mobile phone, to your voice bank. In the past, I’ve done recordings with a tape recorder. However, if discovered duringa subesequent search, you may be assaulted, and the device taken from you.

With a mobile however, information has already been transmitted. Most folks don’t realise this possibility. It is thus heartening the a 16 year old youth had the gumption to do this. The officer, well, banged to rights ……!

Police chief condemns ‘race slur’
BBC Thursday, 19 May, 2005, 17:56 GMT 18:56 UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4563821.stm

Britain’s top police officer has said one of his constables behaved “outrageously” if claims he racially abused a Kurdish teenager are true.

Met Police chief Sir Ian Blair said Pc David Yates, 26, could be sacked within weeks if the allegations are proved.

The boy recorded what seemed to be Pc Yates making threats and swearing while arresting him for a public order offence in Paddington in February.

West London Youth Court dismissed his case after hearing the tape on 13 May.

The boy made the recording by activating his mobile phone’s record device as he was being put into a police van.

A two-and-a-half minute tape of an exchange with Pc Yates, a Territorial Support Group officer based at Paddington Green police station, was played to the court.

On the tape, the officer appears to swear repeatedly, accuse the boy of being a robber and rapist, and threaten to “smash your Arab face in”.
Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Britain’s most senior officer, confirmed an investigation was under way.

He said he did not wish to prejudice the investigation but added: “On what I have read and heard, the behaviour alleged is outrageous.

“What I have asked for is that, if the evidence stacks up, then we will put the officer on a fast track procedure out of the force.

“On what I am hearing, that behaviour is totally contrary to the values of the Metropolitan Police and I do not need this man in the organisation.”

Earlier, District Judge David Simpson had directed that the tape should be sent to the Met commissioner as well as to the director of public prosecutions.

He said criminal proceedings against the officer could be considered.

He told the court: “There’s a lot of talk about respect and the lack of it. Respect is not something you get by putting on a uniform.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it will be investigating the claims.

IPCC Commissioner Deborah Glass said the group would not prejudge the outcome.

“Our investigators are meeting the Metropolitan Police Service… so they can get the evidence gathered so far,” she said.

Scotland Yard has confirmed a 26-year-old constable has been suspended, pending an investigation into allegations of racial harassment.

Listen to the recording:

either go to the news items page,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4563821.stm

or, direct link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news_web/audio/9012da68000cfe0/bb/09012da68000d311_bb_16x9.asx

Mark Honigsbaum
Wednesday May 18, 2005
The Guardian

http://society.guardian.co.uk/drugsandalcohol/comment/0,8146,1486466,00.html

The Aztecs referred to them as “the flesh of the gods”. Lewis Carroll based whole passages of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on them. And the Glastonbury organisers have found that, unlike Ecstasy, “shrooms” (as the psychedelic fungi sold across the country are known) do not fill the medical tent with dehydrated zombies.
Indeed, magic mushrooms seem to have no adverse health consequences (unless you take them while operating heavy machinery). Which makes it curious, as Alice might have put it, that next month’s Glastonbury will be the last where devotees can journey to the spirit world without fear of ending up in a prison cell.

The reason is that some time this summer – the Home Office won’t specify – magic mushrooms, hitherto illegal only when dried or otherwise prepared, will, thanks to clause 21 of the new Drugs Act, be illegal in their fresh state – and classified as a class A drug alongside heroin and crack.

Clause 21 was rushed through by the last Labour government in what critics saw as a blatant attempt to appear tough on drugs. But the legislation is so flawed it could even see Her Majesty banged up at her own pleasure for permitting psycilocybe mushrooms to flourish at Windsor and Balmoral.

The government made no reference to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), the body that is meeting tomorrow to reconsider the downgrading of cannabis to class C. This raises two points: first, in the case of cannabis, but not magic mushrooms, the government has been willing to defer to the ACMD not once but twice; second, while it has been careful to be seen responding to concerns about the dangers of criminalising cannabis, it has acted in precisely the opposite fashion with mushrooms.

Indeed, as groups such as Release and Transform argued during the act’s hasty passage through parliament, the main effect of clause 21 will be to criminalise a trade that, on current evidence, poses little danger to anyone.

“If you have mental health problems then using a hallucinogen or any recreational drug is a bad idea,” says Steve Rolles of Transform. “But what about the majority of people who do not have mental health problems? It’s like banning peanut butter because a tiny minority of people are allergic to it.”

Magic mushrooms have a long and noble history of ritualistic use – rock paintings in Tassili, Algeria, dating back 8,000 years depict dancing shamans with what seem to be toadstools sprouting from their heads.

According to Simon Powell, author of a new book on magic mushrooms, the first westerner to study mushrooms found the experience as different from alcohol “as night and day”. “How do you tell a man who has been born blind what seeing is like?” asked the New York banker-turned-ethnomycologist Gordon Wasson, after a visit to a Mexican shaman in 1955.

Thanks to the ingenuity of Dutch mycologists, fresh shrooms are now as ubiquitous as incense and patchouli oil. But an unlicensed trade via festivals, market stalls and internet outlets nudging £10m a year is not a form of anarchy New Labour could tolerate. Hence the remarks of the Home Office minister Caroline Flint during the act’s committee stage that mushroom users were vulnerable to “self-harm” and LSD-style “flashbacks”.

In fact, as Brian Iddon, an organic chemist and the only committee member qualified to give a scientific view, told Flint, mushrooms are psychedelics, not hallucinogens, and cannot be compared to LSD. And he could find no evidence that mushrooms were addictive or harmful.

Indeed, the act has missed the one shroom that can be dangerous. Fly agaric, the toadstool that inspired Carroll, is poisonous in high doses, but botched drafting means that it has been left out of the reclassification.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/drugsandalcohol/comment/0,8146,1486466,00.html

Information just in.

http://www.DuckDensity.org.uk

Universities these days are subject to many tests, ratings and measurements … REAs, TQAs … all of these leave out one vital factor, in fact the one most important measure of the quality of a university. What is this elusive measure?

Duck Density :: That’s right, the ultimate mark of a university’s prowess and brilliance is it’s Duck Density. In recognition of this fact, DuckDensity.org.uk has been set up so that those who have the dilemma of where to spend the next three or four years of their life can be truly informed … and so that those who’ve already made the decision can have a bit of fun 😉

I don’t know if this helps …… But

I covered this subject last year. Do check out my FotoBlog at:

Ducks, an exercise in cuteness http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=197220

I didn’t count them though. The bastards kept moving about.

Nottinghamshire now has its own Indymedia Collective! Various people have been active in the setting up of an Independent Media Centre (IMC) in Nottingham and the wider county.

The local IMC will consist of an interactive open publishing website, film showings and interactive workshops within our communities. Fundraising events, concerts, a community radio station, and weekly print-out are amongst many ideas.

So photographers, filmmakers, DJ’s, writers, reporters, musicians, artists, sound engineers, visual artists, people with technical skills, and anyone interested; get involved!

Please contact us at: notts-imc@riseup.net

http://nottinghamshire.indymedia.org.uk

creativity
community
website
culture
news
print
skill sharing
film
art
passion
radio
confidence
dissent

Think globally – Act locally!

PDF version of the exhibition pages, can be downloaded for printing from Indymedia UK at:

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/05/310947.html

“…a summer ball on friday for all the ethical and community groups around Notts. We thought it be a great opportunity to get everyone together and celebrate the campaigning and projects achieved so far and get everyone excited for those yet to come. We had done our best to organise a cool night that would cater for everyone’s interest and we had come up with an evening of live music & performance arts.

Crystal Ball was an amazing night of delicious Food by Veggies (all veggie and vegan), great music from the people who organise Demo Club including Jazz, acoustic and others as well as a film area, dance performances and even a Bush & Blair casino!! Held at the Marcus Garvey Centre on Lenton Boulevard (between Ilkeston Rd and Derby Road) from 8pm til 2am.
Dress worldly and wonderful.

Nottingham Student Peace Movement / People & Planet: sunspm@gwmail.nottingham.ac.uk

http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/~nspm

More Piccys of the event at: http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=429683

*******

Trade Justice believe everyone has the right to feed their families, make a decent living and protect their environment.But the rich and powerful are pursuing trade policies that put profits before the needs of people and the planet.

Earlier entry on Indymedia at:

UK Indymedia 2005 Make Poverty History, Drop the Debt Event, Piccys from Nottingham

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/309317.html

To end poverty and protect the environment we need Trade Justice not free trade.

The UK Government should:
Fight to ensure that governments, particularly in poor countries, can choose the best solutions to end poverty and protect the environment.
End export subsidies that damage the livelihoods of poor communities around the world.
Make laws that stop big business profiting at the expense of people and the environment.

http://www.makepovertyhistory.org

http://www.tjm.org.uk

This is getting bloody ridiculous!

Here is the latest example of policemen, using law in a silly way. Sometime this is done thoughtlessly, sometimes it is done with the agenda of what some of us have taken to call “Media Management”.

At the end of this latest report, I have included a great pile of links, that i’ve just scared up in less that five mins, from my bookmarks. I have hundreds like this!

It is for this reason, that I’ve been pressuring the NUJ and various police forces, to adopt what have become know as the “Staffordshire Guidelines” [with ammendments], to clue police officers and photographers as to what each can reasonable do, in this country now.

Years go by, meeting are being had, apparently. But things remain the same.

******

Terror laws used on photographer
Sunday, 1 May, 2005, 13:41 GMT 14:41 UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4503711.stm

A freelance photographer has said he was stopped and searched under anti-terrorism laws after taking pictures of the Houses of Parliament.
Lawrence White, from Notting Hill, west London, was told to move on or face arrest after the police officers searched his pockets and camera bag.

Civil liberties campaigners said it shows anti-terrorism powers are being used to intimidate the public.

People may be asked to move as part of security patrols, Scotland Yard said.

Mr White has written a letter of complaint about the matter to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.

Police powers

He said: “I was taking a few shots of the Houses of Parliament from the Albert Embankment on the other side of the Thames.”

“I asked four officers if I could photograph them in front of the Houses of Parliament, but they said ‘No, we’re on anti-terrorist duty’.”

He said as he walked away and took a few more shots one of the officers walked up to him and said “I want to search you under suspicion of being a terrorist”.

Mr White said the officer cited Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which gives police powers to stop and search anyone if they suspect them of being involved in terrorism.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of civil rights group Liberty, said the act was “overly-broad” and one of the worst examples of “blank cheque” police powers.

*********

some previous examples

Terrorism fear derails train-spotters
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2943304.stm

Redeye – Terrorism Act affects photographers [Heysham Port]
http://www.redeye.org.uk/redeye/newsdetail.asp?uvarNewsid=95

An encounter with the police, again [what are you taking pictures of then
http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=3902

Photography, Security and Jumpin Jaks 16May04
http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=110150

Guardian – Keep power and sewage plants secret, media told
http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1312489,00.html

Ladders and Shadows, Colwick Oil Instalation
http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=228563

Police own up to snappers’ wrongful arrest
http://media.gn.apc.org/fl/0201r2r.html

Police Harrasment & Censorship Obstruct Reporting – Paul Stewart pdf [page12]
http://www.ioj.co.uk/documents/Journal10.pdf

BJP – Crash Scene Report [Berkshire Train Crash]
http://db.riskwaters.com/public/showPage.html?page=201186
http://db.riskwaters.com/public/showPage.html?page=199377

Photo-Journalist ‘Hassle’ list
http://tash.gn.apc.org/journo_hassle.htm

A Right to Report?
http://media.gn.apc.org/fl/r2r.html

But onwards, with a smile!
[but with ever gritted teeth]

Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell is where most of the Reservists and TA’s being sent to Iraq are mustered. The Blair Government orders these troops to fight an illegal, unjust and murderous war. Many tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed as a result of the invasion of Iraq.

Nottingham Stop the War Coalition picketed the main entrance of Chetwynd Barracks so as to reach out to service personnel and their families. We wanted to persuade them not to support the war in Iraq. They have a legal right to become conscientious objectors.

2.00 p.m Assembled at the car park in the shopping area on Nottingham Road. Then we marched up Swiney Way to the main entrance of Chetwynd Barracks. Banners erected, speeches made.

My Pictures of the evnet, on my FotoBlog at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=423605

************

Chetwynd Barracks were first picketed, shortly after the start of the war. Check out my earlier entry at:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/03/57570.html &

Chetwynd Barracks http://tash.dns2go.com/xtra/chetwynd_barracks/index.htm

this is an action, continued from yesterdays Anti-War Critical Mass Bike About in Nottingham City, please check out report / piccys at:

http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/310149.html

also ……..>>

‘Direct links’ to the coverage of these issues:

StopWar Main Page http://tash.dns2go.com/stopwar.htm
London Demo http://tash.dns2go.com/xtra/stopthewar_feb03/index.htm
Nottingham Demos http://tash.dns2go.com/xtra/stopwar_nttm/index.htm
Chetwynd Barracks http://tash.dns2go.com/xtra/chetwynd_barracks/index.htm
Menwith Hill ‘Foil the Base’ http://tash.dns2go.com/xtra/menwith_hill/index.htm
Nottingham Anti-war graffiti http://tash.dns2go.com/xtra/nottingham_graffiti/index.htm
Photoshop Gallery http://tash.dns2go.com/stopwar_photoshop.htm
‘Streaming’ Shows http://tash.dns2go.com/stopwar_show.htm
London Demo [with soundtrack] http://tash.dns2go.com/RAMfiles/stopthewar_1_320x240.ram
Web-Galleries [10sec change] http://tash.dns2go.com/slide_shows.htm

[long links, make sure you include all of ’em!]

*********

Nottingham Stop the War at: http://www.nottmagainstwar.org.uk

Critcal Mass is a regular event. The meeting point is the Savoy cinema on Derby Road in Lenton on the last Friday of every month now at 5.30pm. We even got a police helicopter, to look over us, for our safety you understand ……

The ride lasts no more than a couple of hours (depending on the weather!) and usually ends in a conveniently placed pub for more drinks.

Most all, they are peaceful, safe and fun!

“We are not blocking the traffic – We are Traffic!”

Piccys of the event at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=422787

You can see more piccys of an earlier Critical Mass in Nottingham at:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305420.html

*********

What’s it all about?

Critical Mass is often described as an ‘unorganised coincidence’. It happens when a lot of cyclists happen to be in the same place at the same time and decide to cycle the same way together for a while.

What’s the purpose?

“Everyday, all over the world, people are resisting the problem culture of the car by getting on their bikes and riding, instead of driving.

Critical Mass is a celebration of the alternatives to cars, pollution, accidents and the loss of public spaces and freedoms.

Not an organisation or group, but an idea or tactic, Critical Mass allows people to reclaim cities with their bikes, just by getting together and out-numbering the cars on the road”

What happens on a Critical Mass?

Each one is different and they follow no set route, with the direction being spontaneously chosen as people cycle along. Anyone is free to join or leave the ride as it pedals along.

See also http://www.critical-mass.org

******

Actually, while we’re on the subject, please check out:

World Naked Bike Ride – 11 June 2005 – various UK locations

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/310011.html

On Saturday the 11th of June 2005, many UK cyclists will participate in the second annual World Naked Bike Ride! This bike ride protests against oil dependency and celebrates the power and individuality of our bodies.

http://worldnakedbikeride.org/uk

I hope it’s going to be a nice, warm day …….