Alan Lodge's Blog

Owen Gibson

Media Guardian Monday January 26, 2004

http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,7521,1130050,00.html

Just 48 hours before Lord Hutton delivers his verdict on the controversy surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly, the BBC has begun an advertising experiment that involves buying up all internet search terms relating to the inquiry.

Despite being one of the main players in the drama, anyone searching for “Hutton inquiry” or “Hutton report” on the UK’s most popular search engine Google is automatically directed to a paid-for link to BBC Online’s own news coverage of the inquiry.

No other news broadcaster or any newspaper has paid Google for this facility, leaving the corporation’s move even more conspicuous.

As one of the chief “interested parties” in the Hutton inquiry into the apparent suicide of Dr Kelly, the move will strike many as worthy of comment, not least because the BBC’s online news pages will not be the most obvious place to go for the most comprehensive coverage, which is bound to include painful criticism of the corporation.

It will also raise questions about the use of licence payers’ money at a time when the corporation faces criticism for spending so much money online from private rivals including the Guardian, the Telegraph and the Times newspapers.

Through Google’s Ad Words service advertisers can bid to buy up search terms that relate to their business. The more they bid, the higher up their link is shown on the right-hand side of the page next to Google’s normal results sorted by relevancy.

The chain of events that led to Dr Kelly’s apparent suicide began with Andrew Gilligan’s report on the Radio 4’s Today programme alleging that the government had “sexed up” an intelligence dossier on Iraq and sparking the corporation’s bitter row with the government.

Despite the sensitive climate surrounding the publication of Lord Hutton’s report, the BBC’s marketing department has decided to focus on the BBC website’s in-depth coverage of the inquiry as part of a drive to attract new users.

The BBC is experimenting for the first time with paid-for search advertising, a relatively new form of new media marketing that has given a fillip to internet companies.

Last week internet giant Yahoo! ascribed most of its 62% rise in profits to its purchase of paid-for search company Overture.

Overture and UK company E-Spotting are the main players, while search giant Google offers its own version through Ad Words. In all cases, advertisers bid for key words but only pay when a searcher clicks on the link.

And because the listing is only displayed when a user searches for a specific term, the medium boasts a much higher “click-through rate” than other forms of online advertising.

The two-week trial will come out of the BBC’s £63.5m annual marketing budget and a BBC spokesman said that, if successful, the trial would be extended. He added that the corporation was bidding on a number of search terms relating to its news and sports coverage in an effort to drive users to in depth content that they might otherwise miss.

“The idea behind it is to attract people that would not normally come to BBC.co.uk and add to our 8.4 million existing monthly users. It’s very cost effective because we’re appealing to people who are already online and looking for information on a specific subject,” said the spokesman.

· To contact the MediaGuardian newsdesk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 7239 9857

http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,7521,1130050,00.html

* * * * * *

Now, as a licence fee payer, I just don’t think that this is a proper use. Especially on this occassion, in that they are a criticised organisation, in the report.

I have just written the following letter in complaint.

I let you know, dear readers, of the reply.

* * * * * *

http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/contactus/form.shtml

Letter of complaint to BBC: Hutton Report / BBC buys Google links

Sir.

I am looking for information, on how i might make a complaint about the BBC, in respect of the item covered in this article.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,7521,1130050,00.html

Hutton report BBC buys up ‘Hutton inquiry’ Google links

Owen Gibson

Monday January 26, 2004

Just 48 hours before Lord Hutton delivers his verdict on the controversy

>>>

The information, contained in the article appears correct, and have just conducted a search for the Hutton Report using Google and am returned lots of BBC links on the subject, when I might have been expecting the Hutton Report itself to be at the top.

Bearing in mind the findings of the report, just published, and that there is much Criticism of the BBC contained therein. It seemed reasonable suppose that a search might have been less partial. I now realise otherwise.

As a licence fee payer, I feel the use of funds to angle my enquiry to your sites, rather that the impartial / original information I was looking for, is an abuse and I would like to make a complaint. I note that other pages, were I might complain, are programme specific. With this in mind, I use this form, and trust that either my comments will be dealt with directly, or, forwarded to those in a position to consider such a complaint.

If neither is true, would you please reply, giving me details of the correct procedure for me to follow?

I thank you for your assistance with this matter.

Alan Lodge

tash@gn.apc.org

* * * *

This the BBC reply, just arrived in.

Dear Mr. Lodge

Thank you for your email. We hope that the information below helps to answer

the points you raise regarding the business relationship between Google and

the BBC, and Google’s search results for the Hutton Report.

Firstly, in response to your question about contacting the BBC: the best way

to contact us with general comments and complaints is via our “About the

BBC” site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/contactus/form.shtml . If you believe

that the BBC is in breach of its Producers Guidelines then you may wish to

make a serious complaint. Information on doing so is captured here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/contactus/serious.shtml

The paid-for search to which you refer was a temporary trial which the BBC

undertook from the 13th to the 27th of January. It is worth noting that the

Hutton Report was released after this trial had ended. The endeavour was

purely a marketing tool, and covered a variety of search engines and a

variety of topical subjects – including, for instance, such search terms as

“Elgin Marbles.” The aim of the campaign was purely and simply to encourage

new users to visit www.bbc.co.uk.

The BBC does advertise its programmes and services via a wide variety of

media – for instance poster sites and newspapers/magazines. It does so under

the belief that it is important to let as many licence fee payers as

possible know about the output we are providing for them. Our research shows

that approximately 75% of licence fee payers appreciate being directed to

our services in this manner. This particular campaign was considered to be a

very cost-effective way of alerting new users to the variety of content

featured on BBCi.

These searches present a wide variety of results. Sponsored results are

clearly labelled, and often presented separately from standard results, for

instance in a different part of the page, highlighted in a tinted box. In

this case, the results were literally marked with the word “Sponsored.” It

is our belief that such transparency on the part of the search engines would

make any attempt at “skewing” the results in the manner you describe very

difficult indeed.

We hope that the information above helps to explain the circumstances around

the trial, and our intentions in highlighting our content via these means.

We can assure you that the intent was in no way an attempt to drive users

towards anything less than entirely impartial reporting of the events

covered by the Hutton Report. We would also draw your attention towards the

results of a search using the BBC’s own search engine, which return as the

first result the official website (http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?q=hutton+report&tab=www&go=ho

mepage

Thanks for taking the time to contact us with your feedback. Please rest

assured that we take your comments very seriously indeed, and appreciate

your taking the time to get in touch.

Regards

BBCi Customer Service

Nine Ladies Protest Camp, Derbyshire, Possession Court Order Obtained Thursday 22/01/2004. PAPERS SERVED THIS MORNING (Friday) eviction – imminent!

Background: If Quarrying goes ahead, a 100m deep scar will blight a beautiful, and well loved landscape. The protest camp has been protecting the site since 1999. People are needed urgently to help with defences, and resist the eviction

Monday 19th Jan, Papers were served, and they are in court for posession order on 23rd of Thursday. People urgently needed to sort out defences, and to be there if eviction follows shortly after. Climbers have and are being approached.

New site number – 07005942212 The official nine ladies website has not been updated since August 2003, so use the number above for up to date info.

Postal address:

Nine Ladies Anti-Quarry Campaign,

Lees Road,

Stanton Lees,

Near Matlock,

Derbyshire DE4 2LQ.

Tel: 0700 5942212

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/01/284233.html

It has taken weeks ….. But since the new year, have been going back through my colour work and have tried to make a ‘best edit’ of ‘vehicles’ and ‘vehicle artwork’

I am half way through making a DVD disc of these with a groovy soundtrack.

Have also prepared a gallery, and you’re welcome to brows at:

http://tash.dns2go.com/projects_gallery/Vehicles_Art_Colour/index.htm

’tis a really colourful set.

Political jargon is difficult to understand most of the time, so when I came across this explanation I thought I should pass it on….

FEUDALISM:

You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.

PURE SOCIALISM:

You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else’s cows. You have to take care of all the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.

BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM:

You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else’s cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and as many eggs as the regulations say you should need.

FASCISM:

You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.

PURE COMMUNISM:

You have two cows. Your neighbours help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.

RUSSIAN COMMUNISM:

You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.

DICTATORSHIP:

You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you.

MILITARISM:

You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.

PURE DEMOCRACY:

You have two cows. Your neighbours decide who gets the milk.

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY:

You have two cows. Your neighbours pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY:

The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it. After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures. The press dubs the affair “Cowgate”. The cows are set free.

BRITISH DEMOCRACY:

You have two cows. You feed them sheep brains and they go mad. The government doesn’t do anything.

BUREAUCRACY:

You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. After that it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.

ANARCHY:

You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to kill you and take the cows.

CAPITALISM:

You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.

HONG KONG CAPITALISM:

You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute an debt/equity swap with associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax deduction for keeping five cows. The milk rights of six cows are transferred via a Panamanian intermediary to a Cayman Islands company secretly owned by the majority shareholder, who sells the rights to all seven cows’ milk back to the listed company. The annual report says that the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more.

Meanwhile, you kill the two cows because the Feng Shui is bad.

ENVIRONMENTALISM:

You have two cows. The government bans you from milking or killing them.

TOTALITARIANISM:

You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed.

Milk is banned.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS:

You are associated with (the concept of “ownership” is an outdated symbol of your decadent, warmongering, intolerant past) two differently aged (but no less valuable to society) bovines of nonspecific gender.

COUNTER CULTURE:

Wow, dude, there’s like… these two cows, man. You got to have some of this milk.

SURREALISM:

You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

So, there’s politics for you…… This is as far as we humans have got. Which do you fancy?

* * * * * *

But Politics is only part of the equation, innit? Religion is important to some. So, I thought I would quote you what a hero of mine, Mr George Melly, has to say on the subject, a few years ago on Radio 4.

George Melly on Religion:

Taoism: shit happens.

Bhuddism: the shit that happens to us is good.

Hinduism: the shit that happens to us has happened before.

Zen: what is the sound of shit happening.

Catholic: the shit that happens to you, you deserve.

Protestantism: the shit that happens to you, why doesn’t it happen to somebody else.

Jewish: why does this shit always happen to me.

Agnostic: I’m not sure I believe in this shit.

Atheist: I don’t believe in any of this shit.

Rastafarian: let’s smoke this shit.

George Melly – Radio 4 August 1995

Heee Hee. Lovely mischievous man!

Bloody heck!

This is getting sooooo Dodge City in these parts. Been happening years in Nottingham, of course, just like any city in the world. But, that don’t stop us getting scared. This was just a few yards down the street from my house. 11:30pm last night.

Many shivers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/3429189.stm

A man is seriously ill in hospital after being shot in the street in Nottingham.

The shooting happened near the Woodborough pub on the junction between Woodborough Road and Manning Street at 2330 GMT on Sunday in St Ann’s.

He was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre and is described as “serious” by police.

It happened almost two years after 16-year-old Brendon Lawrence was shot nearby. His killers are still at large.

The area of St Ann’s has been blighted by gun crime.

A resident recently filmed a gun battle taking place in the streets.

Nottingham police, who have been criticised for not dealing with the problem, introduced regular armed patrols in October 2000.

Police said a detailed forensic examination is taking place at the crime scene.

and ….

Nottingham Evening Post : MAN, 32, SHOT IN STREET

BY SIMON MCGEE AND STEVIE RODEN

16:00 – 26 January 2004

Detectives are hunting two masked men who gunned down a 32-year-old city man in a drive-by shooting.

The victim, who has not been named, was shot at the corner of Woodborough Road and Manning Street near the Woodborough pub in St Ann’s just before 11.30 last night.

A witness told the Post: “This blue van pulled up on the road. A man in the van then fired one shot and drove off. The guy was screaming but he managed to get himself over to a phonebox to call 999.”

The car – a light blue Renault Megane Scenic – crashed just minutes later and the men fled.

The victim is in a stable condition at the QMC.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=66056&command=displayContent&sourceNode=65583&contentPK=8636231

2pm Wednesday 21st January. Court 2. Tower Bridge Magistrates Court, 211 Tooley St, London.

– .

Lambeth Council have summonsed Shane Collins, Cannabis Carnival Licencee and Green Party London Assembly candidate, to Tower Bridge Magistrates Court, 211 Tooley Street, at 2pm Wednesday 21st January 2004..

The charge is over licensing violations at the Cannabis Carnival held on 4th May 2003 at Brockwell Park, Brixton. The Council allege a sound system was turned on 10 minutes after the licence permitting it.

The case has been adjourned from Wednesday 26th November when five Council employees and four festival organisers gave evidence. A charge of selling alcohol after time was dropped.

If the festival is found guilty then Lambeth Council will have succeeded in stopping the march and festival happening in Lambeth. Mr Collins is pleading not guilty.

The free event, which was attended by 10 – 15,000 people, was one of 318 happening on the same day around the world. The organisers will be putting on the 6th annual march next 8th May 2004 and hopefully a free festival as well.

In taking this action the Council are in effect threatening one of the organisers of a free event with imprisonment and stopping the event happening next year in Lambeth whilst attempting to limit the freedoms of a prominent campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis

Shane Collins, Festival Licencee and Green Party London Assembly Candidate said “This was a free event to protest at the continued prohibition of one of natures most useful plants and a call for the huge trade in cannabis to be regulated and legalised. Reclassification will simply ensure the this

trade remains in ‘criminal’ hands where disputes get settled violently and not through the small claims court.. This event is about getting dealers off the streets and into cannabis cafes and separating supply of cannabis from heroin and crack. Scores of people worked, unpaid, for six months to bring this event together. In a sane society we might be applauded, instead the Council is spending taxpayers’ money to prosecute me for our efforts’.

For further information contact Shane Collins 0280 671 5936, 07952 929 710 or shane@gn.apc.org

Notes to the Editor.

1. Maximum sentence for the licensing violations is 6 months prison and £20,000 fine.

2. In 2003 Cannabis Marches took place in 318 cities world wide and are again planned for May 8th 2004.

3. The 1997 UN Drug Report put the trade in illicit drugs as the third largest in the world after oil and arms.

4. We estimate the Court Case is costing Lambeth Council around £30,000.

We are awaiting a more detailed figure from Lambeth Scrutiny Committee.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3420685.stm

Mr Gough has had a long journey to the far north. The man dubbed the naked rambler has finally completed his marathon trek from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Stephen Gough, 44, from Hampshire, finished his walk after seven months, much of which was spent in jail.

Mr Gough celebrated with a bottle of champagne and said he was looking forward to a good meal and a soft bed before heading home to Hampshire.

The former Royal Marine made the 900-mile journey to question society’s attitude towards the human body.

He was arrested several times, made several court appearances and served two jail sentences on his journey, following complaints from members of the public.

Mr Gough began his crusade to promote the virtues of going naked in June, setting off from Land’s End in England to John O’Groats in Scotland. His route also took him into Wales.

He has spent his time walking, often in near freezing temperatures, wearing only socks, walking boots, his hat and his rucksack.

Mr Gough said it would take time to change people’s minds, but that he hoped the campaign would be successful.

He said: “You plan and look ahead and then when it finally arrives it’s all a bit of a blur, as if it’s not really happening.

“People have been coming down to meet me, taking photographs of me. Someone shook a bottle of champagne all over me.

“I think tonight I’ll have a really big meal because I haven’t really eaten in the last few days. I ran out of food and ended up having to drink out of streams.

“I’ll have to have a think about what I’m going to do next.

“This is just one step in the whole process of making people aware about our bodies because we are so paranoid about them.”

He said he was planning to stay the night in John O’Groats before putting his clothes back on and heading south.

Naked – Campaign to walk naked through Britain

http://www.nakedwalk.alivewww.co.uk

I very much support the activites of these folks. check them out.

and, my own contribution: Naked Rambling on Cubar Edge, Derbyshire Peak District

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=3990

Naked rambler’s ‘freedom of expression’ – BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3064233.stm

and my blog at:

http://tash_lodge.blogspot.com/2003_07_13_tash_lodge_archive.html#105836751897354247

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1121701,00.html

Traveller camp drives away the bailiffs

Steven Morris

Tuesday January 13, 2004

The Guardian

The bailiffs had arrived shortly after first light with orders to evict the group of travellers from land they had been living on for the last three years.

But by yesterday afternoon, the officials had retreated, driven back by burning barricades, trenches filled with flaming rubbish and a human chain which refused to budge.

Day one of “the Battle of Bulkington” ended with the travellers claiming victory over Nuneaton and Bedworth council, which insists they must move.

The travellers bought the plot of land in the north Warwickshire village of Bulkington from a farmer almost three years ago, planning to turn it into a model site complete with its own village green.

Around 20 families moved in but planning permission for a private travellers’ site was refused. Nevertheless, buildings, fences and roads began to appear on the land, which is in the green belt.

More than a year ago the travellers argued their case in the high court. Though they lost they still refused to give up their homes, prompting the council to call in the bailiffs.

But when they arrived the travellers were ready. They set on fire two caravans and an old van which they had parked at the entrance to the site. They also torched rubbish piled into two metre-wide trenches which had been dug around the site. Around 40 men formed a human chain outside the site.

A four-hour standoff, observed by 40 police officers and a number of firefighters, followed before the bailiffs were called off.

The travellers’ spokesman, John Lee, said: “I think we can claim a victory. There is no way we were letting them in. If they had got past us on the gate, they would have been confronted by the women and children. All we want is to protect our homes. Surely the council can work with us to either find us another site or to leave us in peace at this one? We are not asking anyone for money, just for permission to live as we want to.”

Cliff Podona, of the National Travellers’ Group, said: “These people are living on land that is rightfully theirs and will do everything they can to avoid eviction. There are women, children and pensioners on the site who are terrified about what is going on. There are over 40 children enrolled at the local school who will have their education disrupted if they are made to leave.”

But the council said it would continue to try to remove the travellers. Spokesman Tim Norton said the council had received information that the travellers intended to resist the eviction “utilising considerable force”. He added: “Having evaluated the situation it was decided that the eviction should not proceed today. The council remains committed to ending the unlawful development of the gypsy site.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1121701,00.html

At bloody last! this is the first real progress on the subject, in thirty years….

no enough of course, because they still say it is wrong, and against the law.

I say the law is wrong, and criminalizes otherwise, law abiding citizens. This will make no difference to most, since it was / is ignored my users.

The Home Office has started a campaign today, to explain the change in status. You can see what they have to say on a site titled: ‘Talk to Frank’

http://www.talktofrank.com/azofdrugs/C/Cannabis.aspx#reclassified

The Government will reclassify cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug, the new legislation will take effect on 29 January 2004 across the United Kingdom.

Reclassification means the Government acknowledge that cannabis is not as harmful as other Class B substances like Speed. But the supply and possession of cannabis will still be illegal. Penalties for supplying will stay the same (with a maximum of 14 years). The maximum prison sentence for possession will be reduced from five years to two. Fines and other non-custodial sentences like compulsory community service will still apply.

For those over 18, most offences of cannabis possession are likely to result in a warning and confiscation of the drug. But you could be arrested if you smoke in a public place, near a place where there are children e.g a school, or where public order is at risk. Those who repeatedly commit offences will be arrested and will be prosecuted.

If you are under 18, and it’s your first offence of cannabis possession you will normally be arrested, taken to the police station and given a warning or a reprimand.

If it’s not your first offence, you will be given either a final warning or you will be charged. If you have been given a warning in the past and you get caught again you’ll most likely be charged. When you get a warning you are referred to the local Youth Offending team (YOT).

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND STUFF……

Well dear readers, sorry for not having posted much of late here.

Haven’t had a great deal to say!

Then, been away for a bit, photographing mountains, winter sun and snow etc ….

Then the machine was fucked for a bit. No bloody help locally, but doing my best.

Then, have only just leared, how to present pictures and soundtrack as MPEG-2 file. These then play on DVD players, with some quality. So, the entire computing power of the machine, has been turned to make a set of shows, featuring the best of my work.

Sometimes, if I try to enything else with the computer, while it is doing those, then everything crashes, and all has to start again.

Some of the shows, took 3 to 5 days processing to make, so just descided to let it do that, and nothing else.

So, there you are.

This is what it is all about. Read the paper, and be very frightened!

http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/reports/ccbill/pdf/compaper.pdf

Sweeping new emergency laws to counter UK terror.

By Andy McSmith, Political Editor

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=3D466424

Sweeping measures to deal with terrorist attacks and other emergencies are to be announced this week, giving the Government power to over-ride civil liberties in times of crisis, and evacuate threatened areas, restrict people’s movements and confiscate property.

The Civil Contingencies Bill, which covers every kind of disaster from terrorism to the weather, will be the biggest shake-up of emergency laws since the early part of the last century, replacing legislation which saw the UK through a world war and the IRA bombing campaign.

Some of the proposals in the draft version of the Bill, drawn up in the summer, have alarmed civil rights activists, notably a clause that gives the Government the power to suspend parts or all of the Human Rights Act without a vote by MPs.

Once an emergency has been proclaimed by the Queen, the Government can order the destruction of property, order people to evacuate an area or ban them from travelling, and “prohibit assemblies of specified kinds” and “other specified activities”.

If these rules had been in force during the Iraq war, critics say, they cou ld have been used to to ban street demonstrations, making anyone who travelled to protest guilty of a criminal offence. After a major terrorist attack, forums made up of local councils, the emergency services and utility companies would be put in charge of trying to get shattered communities back together.

Other measures will be welcomed as a timely reaction to last week’s carnage in Istanbul, where 57 people were killed and hundreds injured by suicide bombers.

David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, defended government actions saying: “While we must be vigilant, and of course defend our own staff and those using the consulates and embassies, we also have to exercise a degree of common sense . It is very good intelligence that actually saves you in the end, not massive concrete blocks around every piece of British territory abroad.”

The US already has the Patriot Act, rushed through Congress after the 11 September attacks, which has been criticised for its effect on civil liberties. Such fears will have been heightened yesterday by General Tommy Franks, who commanded the coalition troops in Iraq and who has become the first high-ranking US official to talk openly about scrapping the Constitution in the wake of a major terrorist attack.

“The worst thing that could happen is if terrorists acquire and then use a biological, chemical or nuclear weapon that inflicts heavy casualties,” he warned.

The effect of an attack on that scale could be to provoke Americans to “question our own Constitution and to begin to militarise our country in order to avoid a repeat of another mass, casualty-producing event – which in fact, then begins to unravel the fabric of our Constitution,” he said.

The Civil Contingencies Bill, which is being handled by the Cabinet Office minister Douglas Alexander, will be announced in Wednesday’s Queen’s Speech . More details will be made public on Friday, when a committee off MPs and peers publish their conclusions after four months examining the proposals.

Civil liberties groups have been alarmed by the Cabinet Office’s sweeping definition of an “emergency” and the powers it confers. It is defined as an y event that represents a serious threat to the welfare of the population, th e environment, political or economic stability or security of any part of the UK. This includes wars, floods, a breakdown of power supplies, outbreaks of animal diseases or any situation that “causes or may cause disruption of the activities of Her Majesty’s Government”.

Gareth Crossman of Liberty said: “We are not saying that the Government shouldn’t have powers to deal with civil emergencies, or that they shouldn’t be brought up to date, but we are concerned that they have been extremely

broadly drawn.”

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=3D466424

A report from the front !!!! I don’t do ‘social photography’ either, does the following tail, give any idea why??? 🙂

-) Let me tell you about my last experience, for an Art Ed friend, who wanted reportage-style for her wedding to a publisher at a certain large East Midlands company.

– 0800 start: shots of the groom drinking a quarter-pint glass of brandy, while he gets dressed. Pissed witless by 0830

– 1100 : wedding itself passes off without incident at registry office, chaos outside afterwards as bride does her pieces at drunk new husband. Puzzled looks from many who know her as a serious drinker who has twice busted her leg when falling down.

– 1200 : groom adjourns to mens’ room at reception hotel, where he munches a piece of hash big enough to fell a horse, and does a couple of lines of coke, all off camera. I only hear about it when…

– 1300 : luncheon speeches. Mayhem and consternation among bride’s family as swaying, ashen groom begins ‘I would like to shayy that I have never done so much drugs…’. He goes on to explain how he and the bride hardly know each other but, on the positive side, may grow to love each other in time. Bride, who’s now arseholed herself, bursts into tears, father tries

to calm her down. Somehow order is restored, telegrams read, and gifts opened. One turns out to be a full bondage set, chains, handcuffs, bullwhip, studded leather mask, basque, belts, restraints. (Aunties now on verge of coronary arrest. They don’t know that the bride has previous, having cuffed the groom to a bed and gone out shopping, met a friend and

forgotten about him for 7hrs). Groom says something to Bride, who storms out and is not seen again. Guests adjourn to bar, commence therapeutic drinking.

– 1800: journo guest eats goldfish from the hotel’s fishtank, for a bet

– 2300: decorated-to-the-point-of-vandalism groom’s car placed on bricks, to prevent him trying to drive. Which is unlikely on all fours.

– 2330: I flee the scene, terrified of a predatory woman guest who seems to have decided I’m ‘giving her a lift home’ in the Biblical sense.

Three weeks later, just after I delivered a bunch of prints and the bill, the groom left his wife for another man.

I never did get paid. She’d suffered enough without me hassling her for money for a reminder of her spectacularly disastrous, humiliating, life-ruining special day.

(Still bitter & twisted after doing one “journo” wedding)

I DON’T do weddings 🙂

http://www.freebeagles.org

Have discovered this resource to share with you:

They say-

“Welcome to freeB.E.A.G.L.E.S. legal resource centre for UK political activists

Anyone who tries to bring about change for the better is going to come into contact with the law. This is inevitable, but it is nothing to be intimidated by. You have the right to protest and to be heard. In this website we provide materials to introduce you to your legal rights, and to what to expect if you are misfortunate to run into trouble with the law.

It is important to know your rights and to stand up for them to prevent them being taken from you. Often the police and others will use intimidation and ignorance to suppress those who want to change the status quo for the better. By being informed you help yourself and your movement.

This website is created by activists for activists. Though it has a bias towards animal rights activities, it is equally applicable to human rights and environmental activists. If you see any errors, or would like to see anything included, or have links to suggest, please let us know by dropping an email to info@freebeagles.org ”

There page of relevant article is especially to be checked out:

http://www.freebeagles.org/articles.html

‘No-Bush’ demo in Nottingham in Market Square. Starting with a public trial of this bloke for crimes at 12:00 noon and at 5pm, a sit-down and march around town.

A trial of President GW. Bush, was held in the Market Square, Nottingham this afternoon. Hundreds turned out in the city centre, to demonstrate dis-pleasure at this mans activities, and to hold him to account! The jury heard the evidence presented, that he was general bad-hat. He was found guilty.

Later, many more turned out, heard speeches and then went of for a march around town to gather yet more support and show our feelings for this visit and policy.

This was what we did in Nottingham, a small part of the international effort.

Here is a selection of photos, describing the day …..

On Indymedia at:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/11/281074.html

& on my FotoPages Blog at:

http://tashcamuk.fotopages.com/?entry=18191

more ‘stop the war’ work at:

http://tash.dns2go.com/stopwar.htm

The Freelance is the bulletin of London Freelance Branch of the National Union of Journalists. These are some of the articles the newsletter has run about difficulties faced by reporters on demonstrations, and what can be done about them. They link to more. All reflect personal views.

http://www.londonfreelance.org/fl/r2r.html

* * * * * *

Difficulty in taking photographs: http://tash.gn.apc.org/photo_difficult.htm

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

Assorted Legal Hassle: http://tash.gn.apc.org/legal_assortment.htm

&&&

This site is to keep to up with the mans’ itinerary … Help us track George W. Bush across London!

&&&

the ‘main’ UK National Demonstration Thursday 20th November

http://www.stopwar.org.uk

Assemble 2pm at Malet Street, Central London (nearest tubes: Goodge Street, Russell Square and Euston/Euston Sq). March to Trafalgar Square where a statue of George Bush will be pulled down. This event will continue until 7pm to allow for people coming from work.

Route: Malet St – Russell Square – Southampton Row – Kingsway – Aldwych – Waterloo Bridge – York Road – Westminster Bridge – Parliament Square – Whitehall – Trafalgar Square. [MAP]

If there is only one STOP BU$H event that you can make – this is the one.

http://www.stopwar.org.uk

“Public order situations” can be difficult. Especially if you’re a photographer, and the only place you can do it from is in the thick of it: often sandwiched between police officers, who just want everyone to go away (or stay put, depending on their orders) and protesters, some not seeing a difference between press and police photographers.

The NUJ has held a series of meetings with the Metropolitan Police to see how things can be improved. On 5 November (at 8am!) General Secretary Jeremy Dear, with LFB members Molly Cooper, Jess Hurd, Paul Mattsson and I met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter, Commander Mike Messenger and press officer Anna DeVries.

A particular issue is that the union consistently gets reports of police officers failing, or refusing, to recognise the Press Card or appearing not to be aware of the system for verifying cards using a PIN. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) will, we heard, soon circulate guidelines and publicity about the press card to police stations.

The Met agreed to look at ways in which the union can be involved in briefings before major events, and at least at ways of making sure that the needs of journalists are mentioned at these.

Andy Trotter said that the problem of journalists being held in pens with protesters will “perhaps be a decreasing issue”. Asked what a journalist who needs to get through a police line should do, he said: “Get to the cordon and talk to a supervisor – the sergeant or inspector – look for stripes and pips”.

If you can’t do that, call the Met Department of Public Affairs 24-hour number: 020 7230 2171.

The force will also look at ways that these issues can be raised in Public Order training. We hope to arrange a visit by members to the new Gravesend training centre.

Of course, problems are as likely to arise in the course of normal policing or outside London as they are in major events in the Met area. We hope to arrange a meeting with ACPO to begin to deal with these issues more generally.

We need to hear how these things are playing out on the streets. If you are obstructed – or assisted – by police, please don’t just shrug, but go to http://www.londonfreelance.org/policingto log a brief report, as soon as possible after the event. Mike.

http://www.barewitness.org/images/nogmambush/index.html

16th November 2003, London: Protest group barewitness.org pulled off its most daring demonstration so far, when a group of it’s members stripped naked in Parliament Square and spelt out a stark message for Tony Blair and George Bush on the grass in front of Westminster Palace; NO GM AMBUSH.

The US administration recently lodged an official complaint against the EU with the World Trade Organisation, claiming that the current ban on the import of GM foods, and the commercial growing of GM crops is a violation of international trade law.

“Having contaminated their own food chain, and their own continent with GM crops, they are now looking increasingly isolated in the global market place” claimed Mr Grenville. “North American farmers are currently losing more than $600M per year in former exports to the EU, because Europeans no longer trust their food. The only way out for Bush and his Biotech friends is to forcibly bring Europe down to the same level using WTO regulations – this amounts to a GM Ambush!”

“From every angle the government has looked, farm trials, economic, scientific, public debate, the same message, ‘NO GM’ ,has come back. What part of NO GM does Blair not understand?” said Grenville

“Likewise the public now know they were deceived about the war,” said Grenville. We believe there is a much bigger hidden agenda beneath this so called “war on terror”. Bush’s dangerous adventures are the start of a long and protracted 21st Century war over the world’s remaining major oil reserves.

If Bush redirected his multi billion dollar war chest to developing alternative renewable sources of energy, and promoting peace instead of fear, then we could start to build the sustainable future that is essential to the survival of our species on this planet. This would also undermine any support that terrorists currently enjoy”.

When challenged about the risqué nature of this most recent form of protest, Grenville retorts; “Nudity and Art, and Art and Politics have always enjoyed close associations. Bare Witness merely blends the three together in a way that enables people to convey their message in an eye catching and peaceful way.

http://www.barewitness.org/images/nogmambush/index.html

SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER

SHEFFIELD: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/11/280177.html Sheffield and Yorkshire Demonstration in Sheffield against the war criminals Bush and Blair,in conjuction with anti-war protests across Europe.

SUNDAY 16 NOVEMBER

London: Morning: Bare Witness invite you to spell out NO GM AMBUSH on Sunday morning 16th November in central London.

London: Screening of “Born on The 4th of July” introduced by Ron Kovic at the Prince Charles Cinema,

TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER

LONDON: March the day Bush arrives in the UK: assemble 6pm Lincolns Inn Fields, Holborn tube.Route to include ExxonMobil to US Embassy

WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER

Cambridge: Wednesday the 19th there will be a Protest rally at 6:00pm

in the Market square in Cambridge. http://www.camswc.eu.org

Sheffield: Wednesday 19th November Stop Bush! End the Occupations! Dinnertime protest against the visit of George Bush, Further protest planned for after work, student protests happening all day.12pm and 5pm at the Town Hall/Peace Gardens. http://www.sheffieldagainstwar.org.uk/groups/).

London: 11am Alternative state procession. Assemble at Jubilee gardens, South bank.

London: 11am School students rally. Parliament Sq.

London: 12pm Street party, Central London, location yet to be

announced. campaigns@younggreens.org.uk

London: 1pm O-I-L Womens peace picnic. Top end, Trafalgar Sq.

London: 3pm Tea party at Buckingham palace.

London: 4.30pm Picket of the Esso building, Aldwich.

THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER

London: 1pm: outside the Odeon, Marble Arch. From there a silent ‘Dharma-Yatra-style’ walk to Buckingham Palace where we will sit and meditate. 07810 822786 FOR MORE INFO.

National Demonstration in London, March is from Malet Street, Central London to Trafalgar Square where a statue of George Bush will be pulled down.

Cambridge Stop the War Coalition is organising coach transport leaving Cambridge at 12:00 noon. Tickets are £5/£10 unwaged/waged http://www.camswc.eu.org Sheffield STWC also organising coaches: PLEASE RING TO BOOK 07761 471 441 and please leave your name and a contact number. Tickets will be priced £20 adult, £15 student, £10 unwaged. Assemble Paternoster Row at 7:30am. Other coaches from Sheffield University.

Mass walkout from schools in London (and elsewhere): already 4 schools in Bromley…

FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER

Guantanamo Bay Protest Friday 21st November, 11am Outside the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square. Nearest tube: Bond Street. Also on Friday will be the LAAW National Day of Action on the 21st November to launch investigation of war crimes by Tony Blair PM.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/11/280113.html

NYTimes Article By Warren Hoge – Published: November 6, 2003

LONDON, Nov. 5 – President Bush, who has been shielded from protests in recent travels, arrives in Britain on a state visit in two weeks, and the police here are weighing how to control promised street demonstrations without resorting to crowd control measures that could be seen as curbing free expression.

“There will be substantial demonstrations over President Bush’s visit – as much as 50,000 to 60,000 people,” Sir John Stevens, the Scotland Yard chief, told the Police Complaints Authority. “Apart from ensuring his safety, which is our primary concern, we have to ensure the demonstrations are allowed to take place in the normal way we do in this democracy.” Mr. Bush is the least popular American president in memory with Britons, and Prime Minister Tony Blair has been castigated by critics as the president’s poodle” for being Mr. Bush’s loyal ally and fighting an unpopular United States-led war in Iraq.

“A central problem for Bush in Britain is that while he is greeted with wary respect at 10 Downing Street, his unilateralism and folksy Texas style don’t go down well with the chattering classes, who regard him as exceedingly dangerous and something of a buffoon,” said Anthony King, professor of government at Essex University.

Mr. King said that while Mr. Bush profits from appearing with Mr. Blair, the president’s presence is a liability for Mr. Blair.

“Bush’s visit will remind people, and not just the members of the chattering classes, of what Blair has done that they dislike most,” he said, “namely, joining the United States in the war in Iraq.”

On his recent visit to Australia, another ally of the United States during the Iraqi war, Mr. Bush left after 21 hours and was whisked down roads clear of ordinary people. He avoided Sydney, where tens of thousands had come out to protest the war earlier this year, in favor of Canberra, the less contentious capital city.

The visit to London is certain to meet protests from militants representing a wide range of causes, who are expected to congregate here. “Many groups and activists are uniting to make London inhospitable for Bush,” the Web site for Global Resistance predicts. “We need to make the place as unwelcome as possible.”

The London police were harshly criticized in 1999 when they cracked down on actions against the visiting Chinese president, Jiang Zemin, and a Scotland Yard spokesman said that in light of that episode, the police were now being counseled to make sure policing was “appropriate, relevant and proportionate”

Ghada Razuki, spokeswoman for the Stop the War Coalition, said that while the police were restricting access to the government center, they were raising no objections to plans for large street protests and a demonstration in London’s traditional forum of dissent, Trafalgar Square. “The police have said to us directly that it is our democratic right to march, and that they want to uphold that,” Ms. Razuki said. During Mr. Bush’s trip to Asia in October, both the agenda and the security arrangements assured that he saw few protesters. He met Indonesian leaders on Bali, a Hindu-dominated resort island where anti-American feeling does not run as high as in Jakarta, the capital of what is the world’s most populous Muslim nation. In Manila, demonstrators were kept far from Mr. Bush and his arrival at the Philippine Congress was delayed until a large crowd could be dispersed.

In Britain, Mr. Bush will travel by helicopter and limousine and is unlikely to confront protesters personally, but their presence will be far more visible than on his Asian swing.

“We want to make sure that the biggest photo opportunities are ones of streets filled with protesters,” Ms. Razuki said.

Mr. Bush will arrive in London the evening of Nov. 18 and begin the public part of his state visit the next morning with a formal reception followed by a speech in an as yet undisclosed public hall in London before an audience of dignitaries. The queen will give a banquet in his honor at Buckingham Palace that night. He will leave on Nov. 21 after meetings with Mr. Blair.