The Alternative: Focused on the Need to Save Humanity

THE ALTERNATIVE

e-BOOK: COMPLETE JOURNAL

ISBN: 978-0-9555960-1-8 First Edition: 18th June, 2007

Design, Progress Report, & Compilation Copyright Protected. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed for monetary profit. Clipart ICONS provided by: MICROSOFT Ltd.

TO UNDERSTAND this book: read ‘Project it’ TO NAVIGATE: Open ‘BOOKMARKS.’

Further Information: www.the-alternative.org.uk

INTRODUCTION: 1973: (Age 18): My husband disappeared when our child was born (mainly) because we had nowhere to live. The Local Authority labelled me ‘intentionally homeless’ when my (“wealthy,” acrimoniously divorced), parents refused to pay for a room in a Bed & Breakfast hotel, provided by the Homeless Family Unit. For the next 15 years, my child and I, were forced to move more than 250 times from inadequate, temporary, private accommodation in 3 UK cities. I was unable to find and secure decent housing because subsequent Local Authority investigations into my circumstances concluded that I was ‘intentionally homeless’ due to that incorrect label. 1988: I was still homeless. I was walking the streets and almost dead, when a squatter, who I did not know, kindly offered me a room in a big, semi-derelict house in Stamford Hill, north London, used as the local squatters HQ. The floor-boards were rotten, there was a large pile of rubble and soot on the floor where a fireplace had once been. There was no electricity supply. But this was preferable to being outside and unsheltered in the middle of winter. I gratefully accepted the very kind offer. There was a (clean!) mattress on the floor. I just wanted to collapse and die - but not in the gutter. When I opened my eyes again, 5, maybe 6 days later, it was twilight - the room had a weird orange glow due to the street light. I was surprised to see a small group of squatters huddled cross-legged on the floor on the other side of the room, quietly chatting. To be polite (even though I am shy), I got up and went to sit with them. I smoke roll-ups, so when I looked down, I wasn’t surprised to see I was holding a 'Lucky Strike' match box in my hand. But there was only one match left inside. Not wanting to waste this match, to help overcome my embarrassment, I stared at the box for ages, then I started carefully taking it apart, and putting it back together again, using different configurations. Pictures formed in my mind. Because I had trained as a fashion designer, specialising in Trend-forecasting, I realised I was visualising something! So I sat very still and concentrated - until clear images formed. I studied those images. And then I started laughing. The squatters quickly turned their eyes towards me as if I had gone crazy. So I told them what I had just been thinking about. They listened attentively to my explanation concerning how life could be one day (see: Project it / Study a Box). When I had finished speaking, they just looked enquiringly at each other, and then they each indicated their approval, by nodding their head! "Do it for people like us,” one of them said. "Nobody is going to rescue us…" Our eyes met. Their faces spoke a thousand words… They were young (aged approx. 18 – 20 years), yet they looked worldly-wise and so… beautiful. I looked at our dirty jeans - our holey jumpers, the skin on their arms- smeared with grime. I did not know any of these kids, but something happened to me in that room… Call it love, or empathy. I don’t know exactly what it was, but I was over-whelmed by the deepest emotion I have ever felt! I made a solemn oath. I told them I would do everything I could, to help people like them. A few weeks later, I received news that a chance meeting with a solicitor a few months previously, had enabled me to overcome my ‘intentionally homeless’ label. 1989: My child and I were “re-housed.” We moved into a flat, in London… but I did not feel any joy or contentment. My experience of being Homeless for over 15 years had hurt me too deeply to allow me to ‘just forget it.’ I had made a commitment to those who are still suffering, and I fully intend to honour it.

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He looked at it again. “It’s too complicated to patent” he said decisively.

PROGRESS REPORT:

(What did they say to the inventor of the submarine? They told Alexander Bell, the inventor of the telephone, that talking down 2-wires would never work. They said the flying machine would never work. Running the 4-minute mile was said to be ‘an impossible dream’ but more than 700 athletes have now done this…)

1989: “THE YEAR OF INVENTION”: Toshiba held a competition to find the best invention. I could not enter it because I was not under-25 years of age. (Picture: The LOGO used advertise the competition).

to

(“Human progress is about overturning accepted ideas. People were content to light their homes with oil lamps until Edison came along…”)

August 1989: I took the idea to LENTA (the London Enterprise Agency). I explained I had designed a shelter to help the Homeless. I was advised to get a Confidentiality Agreement signed before any disclosure to a possible manufacturer. (I also tried 3 other ‘enterprise’ agencies, none of whom helped me).

Mr. Clifford said: “I’ll tell you something about patent.” He picked up a heavy bundle of folders stuffed full of papers. “Look,” he said “This is a German Patent application. This is an American application. This is the British. All these applications are for the re-design of a handy little metal pipe cutter for the DIY market. Notice how the drawings are all slightly different? See how this clever British chap has worked out how to alter the mechanism, by simply putting in this tiny wheel just here, so the cutter will operate slightly more efficiently? Now, if you had invented a way to make an even better type of metal pipe cutter, I could help you.”

August 1989: I went to a Patent Agent (a firm called Mark & Clarke, in Holborn, London).

Mr. Clifford concluded, by saying: “I don’t want to waste your money. Patent applications go on for years and years. I suppose it is rather a fashionable item… I suggest you Copyright it.” I felt despondent- rejected. Will The Response Always Be: "We don't waste pearls on swine" ?

(Picture: The mess of Building works outside the Patent Agent’s office).

(“You can’t invent a design. You can recognise it, that is, with your blood, and bones, and eyes.”)

But afterwards, when I thought about what he had said, I realised he was saying: No Such Thing Could Be Patented.

Mr. Alan Clifford looked at my design for the basic module. He smiled. (Did he recognise it? Had he seen something like it before? I don’t know). He seemed to like it! He tried to sketch it in his notepad several times- unsuccessfully. Then he suddenly snapped, saying: “How wide is it? How high is it? Will it fit on roads? I bet you haven’t of that!” I said: “It’s like a tube-train” (Thinking: “It’s as broad as it is long?” It could be a foot or so wider, a bit shorter; it needs more head-room for comfort; it would of course have the upstairs deck- as much space inside as a double-decker bus. It’d be great if its size does not have to be restricted to road widths. It’s a sort of the middle-of-the-road thing!) He said: “You obviously haven’t considered road widths.” He sighed heavily. “Sizes could vary” I mumbled.

I then realised Patent would be inappropriate. The whole point of Patenting is to limit production to only licensed manufacturers. Patent would defeat my desire that as many people as humanly possible get involved with the production of Modules. I decided to follow Mr. Clifford’s kind advice. He’s the expert. (“I’ll pay the price and risk my reputation on a hunch.”) 1/9/1989: ‘Project it’ was Copyright protected at Stationers Hall, in London (Registration Number B9/91834373). (The date of its conception was: 18/6/1989). 1

PROGRESS REPORT

I needed to ask him if he could work out the best interlocking technique i.e. “Could you please use your knowledge of Joinery - your carpentry skills… in the quest for something better…” i.e. How should these be shaped? I know they are molded… July 1989: To affect a meeting, I sent Sir Terence “an intriguing letter.” (Not written by me! But by a friend - a journalist). The gist of that letter was: “Would you spend 2 minutes listening to a caveman who has invented bricks without straw?”

I did this to verify the date of its conception and my ownership of the design – and to prevent it being Patented by anybody else. (Some unscrupulous companies actually use patent to stop good inventions coming onto the market). I Hereby Give My Permission: If you like the idea of Modules, please feel free to produce this kind of Module, without payment to me. I took the idea to SHELL UK (see: Modern Building Materials).

THE HIDDEN MEANING: “Are you the WISE man of the woods?” “… ready or not, I’ll give you this world. Nothing could disturb its peace, give you everything you are looking for, and even more…”

I wrote to David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd fame) (their songs impart a genuine desire to help the needy). I was granted an interview, but when I arrived David was not there! His manager- Steve O'Rourke, greeted me. I was dismayed (and shocked by the ton of gold round his neck). I explained my mission: “I’ve designed something to help the Homeless. I need some help getting it off the ground.” Mr. O’Rourke laughed, and asked me: "How much money do you need? £1 million?” Then, without stopping for breath, he said: “How are we going to tell people about it?"

The timing seems very appropriate Everybody is saying: “Go for it!” (but no-one is specifying what ‘it’ is!)

to me.

There is no guarantee that any manufacturer taking up the idea, will use the idea to provide affordable products- there’s always the very real risk a manufacturer will push the price up to make excessive profits so the product becomes something only the wealthy can buy.

My immediate thoughts were: Why TELL people about it? Just make it ASAP! But before I could say a single word, 2 seconds later, I was manoeuvred out of the door and put out onto the street. I wrote to David again. The response: I was given permission to use the words from one of Pink Floyd’s songs to help promote Project it: "… NO MORE TURNING AWAY FROM THE WEARY AND THE DOWN-TRODDEN, AND THE WORDS THEY SAY..."

Modules MUST be AFFORDABLE for those who need a STARTER Home… In a bid to overcome this, I felt it was necessary to set Sir Terence a simple test. Prior to our meeting, I asked him to provide me with a blackboard (to assist me with the presentation of the design), and give me a bowl of lemon mousse (my favourite dessert i.e. to reward me for safely delivering it into safe, capable altruistic, caring hands. That is my task as I perceive it). If these items were provided, I would take this as reassurance of his good faith. And tell him everything I knew.

I took the idea to SIR TERENCE CONRAN because he is someone I greatly admire. As a fledgling designer, naturally I sought the opinion of “a design guru.” I wanted Sir Terence, who is widely respected, to champion it. People would listen to him. Just think what could be achieved if he pioneered Modular Living!

September 1989: Sir Terence granted me an interview. On arrival at his offices (in Docklands), his secretary said: “He’ll see you for 15 minutes.” Uh Oh! The requested items were not provided.

He has what I lack i.e. access to the best design studios, CAD / CAM, a host of manufacturers, retail outlets (High Street stores & a Mail Order catalogue). He offers customers 0% finance. (“His Habitat stores made their name by selling trendy, well designed household items to young couples…”) Sir Terence has so many contacts! A quick chat on the golf course and it could be done! A trusted employee could “just see to it.”

Surprisingly, we enjoyed an instant rapport... Sir Terence was welcoming, friendly! Sincere? Not at all austere. I gave him a copy of my (hand-drawn) design for the basic module. He glanced at it very quickly, smiling (knowingly?) Then he pushed my design aside! He sat back in his chair, and began to talk. He said he had designed a portable accommodation shelter several years previously, after hearing that 2

Would they KNOW HOW to Make BASIC MODULES ?

poor people were ‘living’ inside his discarded wooden packing crates in the Middle East. He said his idea had not worked. Why? He did not elaborate. (I suspect these had been made using the recycled wood).

Sir Terence, still lecturing me, then congratulated me for the work I have done on it, and said I am to be applauded! DOUBLE HORRORS! “Fame is the food dead men eat.” I have been a recluse for many years because I prefer peace. I am not a front man!

Then he said: “You are not the first! They started talking about the need for affordable homes in the 16th Century.” (Oh! Only that long ago?) (Surely this nightmare has been going on for 1,000’s of years! Since man lived in caves, man has wanted to find a better way! We NOW have the opportunity to achieve the very thing man has always desired).

We briefly discussed ‘Vulture Culture’ i.e. about how the market is controlled… EG. UK shops are stocked with tons of clothes etc., all made from Polyester derived from oil. What a waste of resin! (“The man that invents a way to recycle fibres from clothes will make a fortune!”)

Sir Terence reeled off names of ‘famous’ authors who have apparently written books on the subject, none of whom I had heard of. (“He’s full of it, but he knows his stuff.”) Then, he started talking about Prince Charles! He referred to His Royal Highness as: “… the champion of affordable homes.” Panic gripped me. I felt as though I was drowning! Prince Charles is a staunch supporter of traditional architecture- he loathes ugly ‘modern’ architecture. (The Architects debate was in full swing when I met Sir Terence). (Sir Terence did not know I had already written to Prince Charles who, charmingly? had not replied).

Sir Terence then said: “You’ve got to go where the money is.” He suddenly looked tired, sad and defeated. I knew then ‘the money-men’ had got to him. With mounting dismay, I realised I was too late to persuade Sir Terence to follow his heart and stay with his love of DESIGN. (I did not know Sir Terence was heavily involved with Docklands) (see: Docklands). Sir Terence talked, and talked! And I am ashamed to admit- that I fell asleep! (Or did I fall into a coma, suffering paralysis?) (The sun was glaring in through all the glass windows. I had not slept the night before due to a crisis... I had met Steve O’ Rourke in the morning, and to pass the time before this appointment, I had made the error of drinking ½ a glass of wine, instead of eating at lunch-time - I can’t drink alcohol- alcohol always makes me sleepy…) The next thing I can recall was his secretary coming in to complain: “You have spent an hour chatting. Other people are waiting to see you…” I felt heavy-headed. I looked anxiously at Sir Terence. He smiled at me! I inwardly cursed my extreme stupidity. I had wasted this precious time! I had not managed to ask a single question! WE HAD NOT DISCUSSED MODULAR DESIGN!

To quickly change the direction of this conversation, I made a snipey comment about how the architect’s debate is getting us nowhere. Sir Terence laughed! And then he said I “would be a good person to take on the architects”! HORRORS. WAH! I don’t want to take anybody on! I only want this kind of Module to be made QUICKLY! I only want to DESIGN! I know I am being a baby but… WAH! I DON’T WANT TO BE CRUCIFIED! (“It’s a thorny old problem.” “Some are born to it. Some are chosen.” “You make your choices and you have to live with them.”)

Sir Terence walked me to the door. I was ½ way through the door when he promised he would “seriously consider” my project. I sensed I was saying good-bye to a great man, but one who was probably just as confused as I was- but we were on opposite ends of the spectrum. I wanted so much to help him… but all I had managed to do was to give him some drawings, without complete specifications, plus a pathetic model I had madeusing unfired clay (which looked more like Fred Flintstone’s house). (I also left behind some small objects I had made to demonstrate the difficulty I

What chance would I have? I had to leave school at 14! I wouldn’t get a beep in. Only one female Architect managed to speak outshe tried to interject some basic sense into the indifferent debate- by advocating the planting of trees to save people the £20,000 fees paid to landscape architects- who invariably use concrete paving to cover the ground whilst planting poisonous berry bushes. She was silenced by an extremely pompous, older male architect. ATTITUDE: “We know it all.” Ah! I just wonder. 3

PROGRESS REPORT

I can assure you that many, many people have dreamed like you of the mass-produced house and innumerable ideas have been produced from the likes of Buckmaster Fuller to Charles Emmes. Nobody could be anything but impressed by your ingenuity and enthusiasm, but I am afraid your project has 3 insuperable problems:

was having with the interlocking technique (without any explanation as to what these were, he must have thought I was mad? Why didn’t he ask me?) God! How many times have I wanted a proper model of a Module to instantly demonstrate what I am trying to describe? All done to scale etc. A matchbox toy! Sir Terence then told me he was launching a book to promote Hard-wood for DIY projects. He insisted on giving me a complimentary copy (even though I tried to decline the offer because the book was too heavy for me to carry without a real struggle). He told me 10,000 copies of his book were at the printers awaiting distribution.

1. Planning and zoning permissions and building regulations; 2. Cost of land; and 3. Cost of infrastructure i.e. roads, drainage, water, gas, electricity, plus telecom supply. Also the financial institutions are unwilling to lend on anything unconventional, however cheap. The other problem to be faced is the cost of a conventional brick-built house is probably cheaper at this time than any other form of construction. I remain convinced the answer to the conundrum that you pose is the mobile home or common caravan. This is cheap, mobile and gives people a start in the place they want to be. Certainly not ideal, but it could be a lot better with some of your ideas implanted. I am not a defeatist but I am experienced realist. Although I know you will be disappointed and probably wont agree with the problems that I identify. I do hope we might be able to use your talents in the future in some way. Conran Roche is considering a future involvement in Social Housing but probably more from refurbishment and rehabilitating aspect than by new buildings. I am sure your passion could be used to see that our architects and planners think like human beings. I am returning all your material. I am not really used to signing legalistic documents when somebody brings me a project to look at, but let me assure you I will not exploit any of your ideas for low cost housing and I will certainly not pass on any of your ideas to third parties. Let me also tell you I remain an enthusiast for the idea of low cost housing. Best of luck, Yours sincerely, Sir Terence Conran.”

That night, despite lacking sleep (and food) I studied the DIY book. The book had a long list of contributors. There were so many bad designs, I wanted to cry. These people had achieved a “career” but I am (still) unemployed. Frustration welled up inside me. Without thinking, I scrawled comments on “his” DIY book alongside the offending illustrations. EG. No! A child could fall through this ‘banister!’ No! Ceramic tiles on a bathroom floor are slippery! This was very unprofessional of me but then, I am not a professional. All these ‘experts’ ‘at the top,’ LACKING attention to detail! Attention to detail is so important! “The popular use of Hard Wood for DIY.” How ironic. I had designed it to provide an ALTERNATIVE so that RAINFORESTS need no longer be cut down. (How many TONS of wood are rubbished from failed DIY projects?) Once the DIY book went on sale, I felt Sir Terence would not be able to credibly champion it. I sat up all night soul-searching. Sadly, and reluctantly, the next morning I returned “his” DIY book, praying Sir Terence would agree with my comments and change his mind about releasing the DIY book with his name on it. DESIGN REJECTED: 2 days later, Sir Terence Conran sent me a short letter rejecting Project it. He returned my model (broken- not surprisingly), but my design drawings were not returned. I wrote back to protest. I then received another letter, dated 13/9/1989 (and eventually, my drawings).

“NEW HOMES? FORGET it.” Uh? “Something went wrong in our communication but that doesn’t mean I should give up!” “This is not going to be the end of it, this I know. He’s a nice bloke but…” Project it was rejected for invalid reasons.

Amalgamating his letters, this is what Sir Terence wrote: “Dear Gillian, … Life has been particularly busy and stressful.

“YOU KNOW, it DOES DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE.” (“Most people don’t get a second chance to start over.”) 4

½ year profits for the group have fallen from £23 million to £9 million. Habitat is £2.5 million in the red… Storehouse could actually be £500,000 in the red… Last night Sir Terence said: ‘He had planned to retire- it seems an appropriate time to reduce my responsibilities’…”) (Sir Terence then concentrated on restaurants, recommending, I believe, chips cooked in horse’s fat. Yuk).

“Couldn’t we, just for the record, go through it again?” (I am sorry Sir, if this upsets you. It isn’t meant to. I’m just trying to make it work). “Oh, see the light!” “Let’s get it straight. End the confusion.” Insuperable (means: overcome…”) ?

“…

impossible

to

To my complete surprise, on 27/11/1989, the executive director of The Design Museum (set-up by Sir Terence Conran), then wrote to me: “Dear Gillian, Sir Terence Conran asked me to look at your proposals. Let me say at the very beginning that I applaud your energy and initiative. I have been very interested in low cost housing since the beginning of my career. I also have this messianic thing about new materials and systems. Personally, I can think of very little that is more important in the public domain. One of the projects I am considering for the next few years is to build a house of the future,’ partly in response to the Prince of Wales challenge to architects. If I succeed in getting sponsorship, I would certainly like to talk to you about your ideas. In the meantime, best of luck! With best wishes, Stephen Bayley.”

1) UK Planning Permission rules do not ban Modular constructions. Building Regulations (see Chapter 3). 2) it does NOT require traditional infrastructure, or connection to the National Grid. Hasn’t he heard of mobile phones? it would provide an ALTERNATIVE to having crumbling infrastructure + do away with all the problems associated with conventional power (see Chapter 6). 3) Councils used to offer folks 100% mortgages… Bricks are cheaper? Because of the HIGH cost of BRICK-built houses, people need an AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE. The materials and labour would cost ? far less… 4) What is the best way forward? Your answer is: “a MOBILE home i.e. “…the common caravan.” (see Chapter 2). Are you sure? OK. Try moving 250,000 caravans, then get back to me, OK? WAH! it is a mobile home!

(Mr Bayley then left the Design Museum and set-up his own design company called IQ. He then went on to become The Creative Director of London’s Millennium ‘Dome.’)

Conundrum (means: “… a riddle, hard or puzzling question.”) The conundrum begging an answer is: What will move it? Did he understand it? Did Sir Terence think it was a structure made of wood or metal? Don’t we need more variety? “Variety is the spice of life.” “SOME WILL TAKE AN ETERNITY TO BELIEVE it LENDS ITSELF TO EVERYTHING.” (“This bird aint lost its song.”) For a world-class Designer not to be willing to break with convention… there must be something very wrong going on. (A few months after Sir Terence wrote to me, the following news story was released: “CHIEF QUITS: The founder of STOREHOUSE PLC, millionaire designer, Sir Terence Conran, is to take a back seat. Although still chairman, he has not been involved in running the company for 6 months.

(Cartoon: Magazine for Architects, artist & date unknown).

“TOO MANY MEN HAVE FAILED BEFORE.” 5

PROGRESS REPORT

WAH! “… it INTEGRATED BY NOW!”

31/12/2000:

SHOULD

Suddenly (possibly because of Steve O’Rourke’s comment) I had the overwhelming need to find the answers to some very important questions: What is the best material to use? Can it be done? Just what are the pro’s, and the cons? Has it been done before? If so, why didn’t it succeed? What is impeding its progress? What is GOING ON in “the big, bad world?”

BE

They say to despair is a sin. I must be a sinner! I spent the Millennium trying hard not to cry at the sight of the giant TENT erected to herald The New Age! (Yes, I do have a thing about it!) “A monumental reminder of man’s ignorance. A historic event marred by the shallow, spurious Parties.” I was left to struggle with this on my own. I couldn’t stop wondering if only I had done this, or that, maybe things would have turned out differently? Perhaps. Then again, perhaps not.

I decided to do some research. I hadn't done any! (This was necessary for my education). “The truth is out there somewhere…” “If you don’t know what to look for, you look at everything. That’s how Science works. You guess, you make connections, then if it fits, you prove what you guessed in the first place…”

I’ve often wondered- has Sir Terence ever even given it a 2nd thought? Maybe he sussed it after he wrote to me? He’s no fool. And he has had plenty of time to work it out…

1990 – 1991: I studied Desk Top Publishing and put the Design drawings on disc.

Project it was ostracised unjustly. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?" NO it has nothing to do with revenge. The sad truth of this matter is that it should be HELPING PEOPLE, and SAVING LIVES NOW!

1992 - 2005: I tracked Key debates (as well as I could. If I have missed anything vital, please let me know!) For the 1st time ever, I read newspapers. I didn’t buy them- by coincidence I just happened to come across most of the comments and information included in this book. I somehow managed to scribble at the speed of sound; sorting 1,000’s of scraps & notes that filled many carrier bags. I put the bits (of this puzzle) together (thanks to Information Technology IT), somehow sensing this information was going to be needed. My fear: it may continue to be a misunderstood / forgotten / neglected solution. I regard/ed it as ‘insurance’ for human-kind.

Why isn't it? That is what really matters. Most people would have given up after such a stony response, but there was something inside me that would not give up. Yes, I was hurt, but not completely broken. Whilst other people cleverly avoid the issue, manipulating the GENERAL situation to make money out of all the misery and suffering, because of all the troubles I endured (caused by people not behaving honourably), I can’t push it to one side and pretend it doesn’t mean anything! I tried to convince myself that it just isn’t meant to be. But I simply do not believe that. Despite all the putdowns, I still have the utmost confidence and faith in it.

“A BOOK FOR EVERY SUBJECT?” “They are only interested in the sex-lives of butterflies.” 1989 – 2005: I wrote to publishers and literary agents. Some of their comments: “I don’t think we could make your idea work. It’s a novel not enough people would buy.” “We wish you every success placing the work elsewhere.” “Regrettably, it is not quite right for our present list.” “It’s a bit too controversial.” “We only publish famous authors who have had books published before.” “You either have to be famous, or a criminal (infamous) these days to get a book published.” “If it’s about saving the world- we’re not interested.” (I did not describe my book as having anything to do with ‘saving the world.’ Their comment suggests to me other people, with similar concerns had approached them).

I had designed it but even I didn’t fully understand it! When I first visualised it- I could see people at some near future time going in and out of Modules, leading their lives in an everyday kind of happier way- but the rest was blank- how to get it to that moment in time was totally beyond my comprehension. (The difficulties caused by “PRIOR DISCLOSURE”: I just could not think of anywhere else I could go, to enlist help). “Instead of trying to lose myself in bars or movies as most people do…” 6

98% of the publishers I contacted did not reply. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of Democracy, Economic, Environmental, Human Rights, political, Scientific, and Social Justice issues. Whenever possible the contributor’s name has been accredited. My Compilation is not plagiarism- it is artistic licence i.e. by recycling these comments etc., and linking these together to make a historic record… a CLEAR/er picture emerges to help us find our way (i.e. the invaluable potential will not remain lost, confused and disregarded).

I did try Richard Branson, but the Virgin Publishing Group told me: “We don’t publish books about the homeless.” I asked ‘The Big Issue’ magazine to help with publication. They said they were interested, but I would have to pay £10,000 to cover the cost of production. (I don’t have any money. I am not in receipt of a wage or welfare). (That I managed to do this book at all, is thanks to a good friend who supports me).

I hope the originating authors find it in their hearts to forgive me for including their crucial and inspiring work in this journal.

Researching was emotionally gruelling, yet illuminating. I had no pre-conceived idea where my search would lead. I kept expecting to find information that would show it is not feasible, but the reverse has turned out to be true. I discovered: • • • • • • •

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If anything is not in its correct context, the error is entirely mine. My sincere thanks to the Media. Without their skill and diligence, this book would not have been possible. (I hope someone else does the follow-up).

it offers even far greater viability and versatility than I ever imagined it is perfectly feasible... "Where there is a will, there is a way..." there is more than enough reason to do it other people have tried to do something similar- but got the mix wrong... if we manage to get it right, it has the capability to pull us out of the doldrums... it could really help Humanity, advancing man; quite possibly helping to ensure our future survival for 1,000's of centuries... if we don't make it... Catastrophe? That is how important it is!

2001: My much loved Apple Mac (computer) expired. I had to get another (2nd-hand). That computer broke 2 weeks later. The shop, despite the guarantee, refused to do a repair! I managed to get another- an IBM but that meant having to retype my research again! I type only with 2 fingers. SEPT, 2005: I gave my manuscript to a publisher, and paid to have this book printed to avoid heavy editing. After waiting for a year, I realised it wasn’t going to be published (even though I had a 3 month contract). (Delays were caused by competitors trying to put the publisher out of business). So I quickly produced a shorter version, hoping that could be produced quickly. 9 months later, I was still waiting… (My thanks to www.writersworld.co.uk for not giving up!)

I hereby offer (a summary) of my Research as evidence to support the afore-mentioned statement. "FACTS ARE FACTS": My research journal provides indisputable proof that it could be done. Indisputable evidence is required to assist and hopefully finally establish full feasibility for this vital concept.

“…it’s BEEN A LONG TIME COMING!” “… it seems like an eternity…”

This Journal contains crucial (Educational & Reference) information.

Now you know why.

This is a Historic (TRUE) record for CRITICAL REVIEW purposes.

I’m sorry, so very sorry I could not make it happen, and things are this way.

The record of my research contains some Copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorised by the Copyright owner. This material is presented under the provisions of Fair Use.

“… it’s getting there slowly but surely.” “Better late than never.”

"… it is necessary for Social, economic and Environmental reasons." 7

2007: “Global warming, droughts, famines, terrorism. Deep inside, all of us know something’s not quite right…” “Listen to the people – they are fed-up globally.” “… show me heaven, please!”

“WELCOME seekers of TRUTH and WISDOM…” “I can only (try to) guide you…”

COMPLETE RESEARCH JOURNAL MAIN INDEX: CHAPTER 1: UK: EDUCATION (PAGE NUMBER IN BOOK) 10 Preface, Nursery & Primary Education, Playgrounds, School Buildings, Curriculum, Aberrations, Teachers, Truancy, Excluded (from Education), Funding, Master Plan, Choice, Private Education, Higher Education, Sex Education (The Battle of the Sexes), The Breakdown of Family Life, Home Life, The Alienation of Teenagers, Runaways, Children in Care, The Future?, Sin City Victims CHAPTER 2: UK: THE HOMELESS 53 True Charity, Wait for it?, The Homeless with Children, Squatters, New Age Travellers, (1960’s / Hippies), New Age Travellers (Continued), Camping, History of Caravans, USA Trailers, The ‘Modern’ Caravan, Motor Homes, Caravan Holiday Parks, Park Homes, Freedom, Anarchy, Romanies CHAPTER 3: PUBLIC HOUSING 95 Traditional Building Materials: Stone & Quarries, Bricks, Cement / Mortar, Concrete, Breeze Blocks, Glass, Steel, Wood, The Destruction of Forests. Site Safety. Tower Blocks, House Fires, Rotten Housing, Dead End Street, Noise, Maintenance, Roofs, Plumbing, Do it Yourself (DIY), Self-Build, Extensions, Conservatories, Subsidence, Moving, The Boarding House, Private Rented Accommodation, Harassment, Future Developments? Modern Building Materials: UK Building Regulations, Prefabricated Housing. UK Business Parks (Enterprise Zones), Conservation, UK: Conservation Area Regulations, UK: Planning Permission, Property Developers / New Towns, The Architects Debate (A New Vision for Britain: 1989): Summary, Docklands. Cost of Buying A House, Increase in House Building. Public Buildings CHAPTER 4: HEALTH 128 UK: National Health Service (NHS), Health Care in America, Heart Disease, Cancer, Aids (HIV), Mental Illness, Alcohol, Drugs: Marijuana, LSD, Ecstasy, Heroin, Cocaine, Crack. Senior Citizens, The Future? CHAPTER 5: UK: CRIME 205 Do We Need More Police?, Why did you Steal?, “A Murderous Time we’re having,” Guilt, Prison, Women in Prison, Court CHAPTER 6: ENERGY 217 Alternative Energy: Alternative Energy from Sunlight, Experiments, Solar Panels, Solar Technology, Energy Storage, Solar Farms, Laser, Solar Powered Buildings, Alternative Energy: Wind Power, Water Power (Dams, Hydro-Electricity), Wave Power. Desalination, Seawater, Water, Water Shortages, The Future? Human Waste. Static Electricity, Lightning, Electricity, Nuclear Power Oil: Drilling, Oil Spills, Safety of Oil Tankers, Super-Sizing, The Oil Business, Oil Shortage?, UK: Oil, Oil Consumption, Summary. Hydrogen. The Future? (Bio-Mass & Geo-Thermal), Emerging Technologies, Summary CHAPTER 7: TRANSPORT 261 Cars, The Massacre on the Roads, Pollution, The Future?, The Next Big Thing?, USA Cars, Buses, Road Building, Trains, The Future?, Underground Tube Trains, Tunnel Vision, Boats / Ships, Lost At Sea, Boat Design, New Boat Design, Shipping, Amphibious Vehicles, Air Travel, Security, Helicopters (Shall We Make it Float in the Sky?), Hover-Craft. Tourism 8

CHAPTER 8: AGRICULTURE 294 Traditional Farms, Pesticides, Cattle, Abattoirs, Fast Food, Vegetarians, Trade, Alternative Crops, Small Holdings, Allotments, Natural Life, Under the Weather. Fishing, Animal Rights, How Animals Suffer Around the World, Animal Experiments, Zoos, City Farms, The Future? CHAPTER 9: WASTE 317 CHAPTER 10: THE WEATHER 327 (Hurricanes), Sea Walls & National Sea Defence, Flood Guards, How the Weather Affects Our Lives, Storms, Global Warming, Tidal Waves (25/12/2005), Global Warming, The Humbling of America, What’s the Answer? Artic Conditions, Earthquakes, Volcano. Summary CHAPTER 11: UK: POLITICS 380 The Conservative Party, What is the Point of Having a Parliament?, “Bad Policies,” The Inequalities, The Conspiracy Theory, How Do They Get Away With it?, People Said, How it could be made to work by Positive Thinking Politicians, The Media, General Election, The Monarchy CHAPTER 12: FINANCE 419 Cost Is A Determining Factor, The Banks, The Hidden Agenda, Anti-Capitalism, The Economy, New Discoveries, Industry, Happy Days Are Here Again? Europe CHAPTER 13: WAR 444 World War 1, World War 11, Civil Defence / Protection, Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Submarines, The Military, The Future?, Weapons Dealers, The Campaign Against Militarization, The Gulf War (1990), Terrorism CHAPTER 14: INTERNATIONAL STUDY 496 AFRICA: Algeria, Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, Somaliland, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe OTHER COUNTRIES): Afghanistan, Albania, America, Australia, Bangkok, Brazil, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Cambodia, Chile, China, Chezoslovakia, Colombia, Corfu, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dubai, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Holland, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Kurdistan, Libya, Madeira, Maldovia, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri-Lanka, Syria, Sweden, Taiwan, Tenerife, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (former), Summary Borders & Immigration, The Environment, Population Levels, Summary, JOIN The HUMAN Race CHAPTER 15: RELIGION 527 What is the Meaning of Life?, Love, One God, Bible Studies (Moses, Jesus), Historical Significance: The Second Coming Evil, The Church Today (Ghosts), (Angels), The Church Today (Continued). The Holy Land (re: Palestine, Jerusalem, Israel), Lebanon CHAPTER 16: SPACE 661 The Universe, The Space Race, The Future?, The Space Race (Continued). Is there Anybody Out There? Un / Identified Flying Objects (UFO’s) (Avro). The Future? Summary ACTION Check-List 686

COLOUR CODE: GREEN: Highly Intelligent. God / Allah. True. Perfect. Natural. Environment. PINK: “In the pink!” Serenity. BLUE: True. Gentle. Kind. Humane, Human. Calm. Patient. Sad. RED: Uh-Oh! Wrong! Warning! Dangerous! 9

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

1944: “Rab Butler believed in Education for all.” 1970: "Education is better in the UK than anywhere else in the world. Education is ‘free’ - paid for by Taxes. The state is (supposed to be) responsible for your welfare." 1990: “A MODERN education for a MODERN GENERATION?” "We'll teach them everything?" "In England you have to conform to fit in. You can't be yourself." Uh?

PREFACE: NOTE: “… it is the UNDER-CURRENT no-one can quite put their finger on...” You should take a look at this and ask yourself: “What good would it have done?” “What GOOD will it do?” “…I will be thorough. We don’t want any misunderstandings.” “This is for History. “To bring it Home.” "… it's history - as seen by people...” “I don’t want to be locked in the past! We’ve got to get on with life…” (Ah! It’s history and you don’t care anymore?”) “Are YOU willing to throw away the past so history will teach us nothing?” “A fool learns from his own mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” “We can’t change the past but we can remember it.” "Life must be lived forwards, but it needs to understood given the benefit of hindsight.” Hindsight = WISDOM. “Hindsight. A wonderful invention!” “What’s wrong with a bit of reflection?”

THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE CHILD-CARE: Do YOU CARE about children? Do you love to see their HAPPY little smiling faces? If you answer YES the rest of it is easy… it should all come perfectly naturally… HAPPY CHILDREN = Other people are HAPPY! “Make someone HAPPY and you’ll be HAPPY too!” (“… Some find it in their faces of their children, in the deepest friendshipsthose you cherish all your life… it’s a special thing…”) “When a child is born, that child is like a blank piece of paper you write on…” “Children are like lumps of clay. You mold and shape their future…” “Look into all children as vessels to see what each contains.” “I believe children are the future. Show them how to live their lives. Show them all the beauty… Give them a sense of pride. And make it easier…” "Teach your children well - how to protect their health…" “School should be the best years in your life.”

CHAPTER 1: UK: EDUCATION "The aim of Education is the acquisition of knowledge, facts and values." “We need education to learn about the finer things in life.” “With education we can raise the tone of this place.” Education = “You can do something with your life.” “… it will be the making of you.” “Education is the Key to a better life.” "Education is the best way to avert the creation of an underclass." (“It’s just a simple world!”) “It all comes down to education- or lack of it.” “LIFE = it’s a learning journey.” “… it’s a whole learning process.” “… it’s a learning curve!” “… it’s just one of those things you put down to experience.” "KNOWLEDGE = Being in the LIGHT." “Knowledge is strength. Don’t be afraid of intelligence.” “Intelligence is a gift and you use it to benefit for the good of mankind.” "LACK of Knowledge = Being in the Dark.” BOREDOM = “Lack of knowledge.” “Ignorance is evil.” “EVIL means: Wicked. Futile CONFUSION.” “Complacency is evil.” “Discontent and ignorance bring ruin and misery.” “’THE OLD SCHOOL’ said the working class and blacks are too ignorant to learn…" "We'll teach them to respect imperial law." “Dunces & naughty children stand in the corner…” "Educated to suit the master race." "We should educate slaves? You wouldn't know what to do with FREEDOM." "To you we are a low breed who will never be ready." “Sir William Beveridge wanted to get rid of ignorance.”

NURSERY & PRIMARY Education: "Every government says they will provide childcare whilst CLOSING NURSERIES. They never actually provide it." ("The 1st thing Mrs Thatcher did, when she got into power, was scrap free school milk") (needed to make strong bones and teeth…) "Only 1 in 4 children, under 5 years of age has a place in a State nursery school, where they could learn basic skills. 66% of children are denied a place at Nursery school..." (Whitehall figures, June 1993).

"The WOODEN PLAY-HUTS are nearing completion. Work began 4 years ago...” (Strong? Safe? Warm? Dry?) “When something needs to be done QUICKLY…” (Play equipment etc., could easily be fitted inside the Module/s…) “We need something like that here, NOW! Why On Earth can’t we get it?” (“I hope you find a way…”) "...The wooden play-huts were burnt down by arsonists..." “Vandals broke into the play-hut smashed everything…” (“… and THE SOLUTION is…?”) "Wouldn't it give our children a better start in 10

expensive toy and the kids just want to play with the BOX!” (“To a child, it’s a toy…”) PARENT: “The kids are driving me MAD…” “You know what kids are like - drinks get spilled everywhere…” “Kids make a mess - it's so hard to keep this place clean..." “Haven’t I got something better to do than clean up after you all day!?” EXPERT: “It’s not mess. It’s creative learning…” PARENTS: “That’s fine for you to say, but you don’t have to tidy up!” “Charlotte, don’t wipe your hands on the walls! They’ve just been painted!” “Get off the paintwork!“ “Mind the furniture!” “I said get off it! I mean it…” “No! Just leave it. Look at the state of this place!” “Mommy, can you help me? I can’t do this on my own…” (“Come on Mum. Join in with me. Use a gentle hand…” “I need a soft voice…” “Not now dear! I’m too busy…” “TEMPER TANTRUMS …” PARENTS: “Oh, God! Will you shut up? CUT it OUT! Grief! Now he’s hysterical! He’s going mental! Will you STOP SCREAMING?” “STOP it! STOP it! STOP it! I mean it. Do as you’re told, you little beggar. Don’t do it again! Are you listening? Oh! He’s throwing another wobbly now…” (“Words don’t change anything?”) PARENT: “Is it me, or are children screaming a lot more these days?” “I don’t understand it! We’ve tried everything- smacking, putting him in his room. I tell him to calm down but he won’t! He screams for hours, making himself sick. He’s very badly behaved. Nice one minute, nasty the next. We’d like consistent behaviour.” EXPERT: “He hasn’t responded. Very wilful. Very bright child. And articulate. Is a softer regime required? Talking it through with the child? More discipline? A change of diet? What is a correct analysis?” (“Yeh. COM 'on. Talk me through it…”) PARENT: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?” CHILD: “Following in your foot-steps…” EXPERTS: “These are attention seeking tactics…” "Children achieve better results when praised. Praising works better than criticism.” “STAR charts work wonders. Kids love thinking about the stars… Give them an incentive EG. a visit to somewhere they enjoy - the opportunity to earn stars for jobs well done.” “Children love earning (merit) points!” EXPERT: “He wont sleep without a light?… He cries all the time? “Many children are afraid of the dark…” “Children need to be relaxed at bedtime. He’s very active…” “Try telling kids it’ll be OK… speak quietly… to calm…” “Gently negotiate…” PARENT: “We were never taught anything about how to handle kids…” EXPERT: “You’re the adult - you’re going to have to find out the best way…” EXPERT: “Children need a routine. To FEEL SAFE things need to be predictable…” (“Maybe he’s feeling… INSECURE?”)

life?" "Teacher, teacher. I want to know why the sky is blue and white. I know I'm only 3. I know my ABC..." ("… it's as easy to learn as your ABC...") “This kid is way ahead of us…” "These days children are so smart! They are much more advanced than we were at their age..." “They’re as quick as a flash…” "That's EVOLUTION for you..." “Mankindprogrammed by a million years of evolution…” (“We might be on the verge of an evolutionary breakthrough…”) CHILD: "I am at a very IMPRESSIONABLE Age..." EXPERT: “At this age, kids copy everything they hear or see…” “You see the children playing with the wooden construction blocks…” FAVOURITE THING? PARENT: “Kids love bath toys. Plastic things that FLOAT… If it sparkles, it’s cool! A Must-Have.” PARENT: “They soon out-grow plastic ) Wendy houses…” “Can we build a sand castle?”

“… it’s my little plastic castle…” “My kid loves: Bob the Builder. Project: Build it! Bob’s ‘Mobile’ Home, in Sunflower Valley, hooks up... … it features a detachable roof and a fold-down front. Bob's favourite phrases are: "Great work team!" "Can we fix it?" "Let's Get Moving!" “We can build bigger and better” (re: Bob the Builder, BBC, April 2005) (BIGGER is Better !?) A MODERN DOLLS HOUSE: The (plastic) Kaleidoscope Dollhouse (by artist Laurie Simmons and architect Peter Wheelwright) is the house of her dreams and yours. Reminiscent of Gerrit Reitveld's Schroeder House 1925, this interactive set is an

architectural gem with sliding, interchangeable translucent color walls. Playing house with this guarantees either the next Frank Lloyd Wright, or just a kid

with good taste” (ref: www.newyork.urbanbaby.com )

“… it’s like so cool!” PARENT: “Typical! You spend all that money on an 11

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

EXPERT: “Children are very good at sensing things…” “They can always somehow sense when something is wrong - not quite right…” “Oh, I’ll think about it” said a harassed Mumwhose 5 year old junior is still going through ‘the terrible 2’s…” Child Psychologists: “Ignore it (whatever the problem is) and it’ll go away.” PARENT: “Fine in theory but in practice that doesn’t work. Do these people have any children of their own?” PARENTS: “It really gets to me sometimes…” “I miss adult conversation!” “We miss having some QUALITY time together. We don’t get any time…” “Oh, what would I give for 5 minutes to myself!” “Stuck here with the kid/s all day is enough to drive anyone up the wall.” “I am losing the will to live…” “So CRANKY!” “The child does nothing but cry. For my sanity something has to be done. Too bored. Cooped up. Doing my head in. She’s so active, so advanced for her age. She’s just got to get a placement basically…” (What a pity so many parents have to put their lives on hold just because they’ve got children…) HYPER-ACTIVE: “She just shakes her head…” “Over-tired, can’t relax, can’t relate…” “Lots of kids are (frustrated) head-bangers…” (Sitting rocking back & forth, banging their head against the wall…) (“Rocking is thought to be a sign of intelligence…”) “Are children becoming more aggressive? We never used to behave like that!” “Kids these days! Never a please or a thank you! The word ‘SORRY’ would go a long way to help!” (WHO TEACHES them good MANNERS? In Germany, this is given top priority- young children are taught to have good manners in Kindergarten (means: Children’s Garden). In the UK, we only blame the parents / the school / the government for getting it wrong…) EXPERT: “If you want to help children, PRIORITISE!” “There is NO EQUALITY for Nursery education… Everyone agrees Nursery education should be available for all who want it. Research shows this leads to reduced juvenile delinquency” (2/6/1994). “PARENTS ARE HAVING A HELL OF A BATTLE. Be firm, be kind. It’s not easy - he’s just going to have to learn that. It’s getting worse. We need to relieve the anxiety, stress, the focus of this problem”

on their feet and be able to make decisions i.e. Free-Thinkers? re: THE FUTURE: “We can’t Afford Nursery Education on the cheap. We need better paid, fully trained and qualified staff. Nursery education is the introduction… could give children a flying start. We want well run institutions.” “Contracted out support functions?” “The government will go for the cheaper alternative” (re: Campaign for Change, Trades Union Congress, BBC2, 8/9/1994).

“School annexe and Nursery school destroyed by FIRE - arson” (Hackney, 6/10/1994). “Tots had to dive for cover when the ceiling of a playgroup hall came crashing down. Plasterboard, metal brackets and lights smashed to the ground. Incredibly all the heavy debris missed everyone by inches…” (Today, October 1994). “Because the provision of State nurseries is very patchy… children as young as 3 are being made to take academic tests to get a place at independent nursery schools where fees are £5,000 per annum. ‘Weeding out the less able is the fairest way. It’s impossible to do justice across the range’ said a Head mistress. Does this mean we will fail the rest?” (BBC1, 7/3/1995). “Parents promised a Nursery place will be disappointed- a new building due to be completed cannot be finished as the money has run out” (Oxford, BBC1, 6/5/1995).

“In one borough, all State Nursery schools are being privatised. Fees will go up 40%” (June 1995). “A report said there are only child-care places for 1 in 7 children” (3/2/1997). WAITING LISTS: "We don't have waiting lists any more. Too many Mums are on our books needing a place. Parents are really desperate... A lot of mothers would do paid work if given the chance..." “Some Mums hand over most of their salaries to keep a child in private nursery school (cost £140 a week). Child-care experts said there should be more subsidised places" (5/8/1993) "The drive for FREE NURSERY EDUCATION FOR ALL (that want it): Nursery school places could be provided for every 3 year old, according to a report called 'Start Right.' Plans drawn up by an influential think-tank of industrialists, child-care experts and academics, will give fresh impetus to the drive for free Nursery education for all. The scheme will divert cash from universities, colleges and other government departments... Ministers are determined to act on evidence from America that starting school earlier reduces juvenile crime and saves Tax-payers money. John Major sees it as a vote winner and has pledged to introduce Nursery education for all when the country can Afford it. A team from ‘The National Commission on Education’ said if all children start school at 3, this will cost £860 million" (Evening Standard, 18/2/1994) (Using what kind of buildings?)

(The Time and Place, ITV, 8/11/1994).

PARENT: “I’ve told him I’m his friend so he’ll see me in a less harsh light…” EXPERT: “You can’t be a friend and a parent. He needs to respect you. He has to learn to do what he is told, when he is told…” CHILD: “I can’t be friends with my folks, huh?” “I’m not a robot!” Q: Do you want children who can grow up to stand 12

'Pupils are increasingly ‘at risk’ from accidents, crime and child abuse because parents are not at home after school hours' said ‘The National Out of School Alliance,’ which aims to provide work and play-care for children. There has been no improvement since a 1978 study found that 1 in 5 children are left alone all day during holidays, and 1 in 6 left school for an empty home" (1990). "LACK OF PROVISION: 80,000 latch key children go home to an empty house... Parents unable to work... '… it will be good for schools'..." (GMTV,

UK 1996: A VOUCHER SCHEME was introduced whereby working parents with children in private nurseries, or placed with registered child-minders (paying approx. £150 a week for 52 weeks of the year), can claim 80% of this money back from the government. What is the cost of that scheme? CHILD-MINDERS: “Can be very difficult. Some are only in it for the money. Some are crap. Some are lousy time keepers- you can’t rely on them. Some are brilliant. I’ve got to take unpaid leave if no child-care…” “Mommy, I have something to tell you…” “Not now love! I’ve got to go to work…” 1999: “TAX CREDITS received by over 6 million families. Introduced to help poorer communities by the Labour government. A system so difficult to understand. 2 million people over-paid £2.2 BILLION. Causing debt, poverty… Government clawing money back…” (2005). “Children attending Nursery school can ½ the chances of contracting leukaemia. Exposure to common infections strengthens the immune system” (report, BBC, 22/4/2005). “NEW DISCIPLINE TECHNIQUE: The Chill-Out chair, the Work-it-Out chart for when you are naughty, after you have been asked by your parents to do something…” (Super-Nanny, 8/9/2005).

1/3/1993).

"LOCKED OUT KIDS AT RISK MORE than ever before. Drawn into drugs, shop lifting... Kids wander off... densely populated places... Stretched resources..." (London Tonight, 26/7/1993). PLAYGROUNDS: A HARD surface = Many Accidents. “Screams (instead of laughter.”) WAH! “DOWN AND HURT.” “Oh, did you fall over? Never mind. Mummy will kiss / rub it better.” “The STRESS levels experienced by parents!” PARENTS: “For goodness sake! Do be careful.” “Don’t run so fast! You’ll trip! You might BREAK your neck! IF you were on a LAWN you could race more safely…” “You always think it’s not going to happen to you till it does.” “I’m afraid if they don’t listen they will learn the HARD way.” “IF we could get them to WHERE THE GRASS IS GREENER…” (“Skip to it…” “ARE YOU HAVING FUN?”) “IF only children could blossom…” (UK 1995’ish: Indoor Soft Play areas introduced = Foam covered in wipe-clean PVC). PARENTS: “Kids these days seem to think everywhere is a soft play area!” “Of course I want the best for my child…” (“What stopped you dead in your tracks?”) PARENT: “We can’t wrap them in cotton wool! Children have to experience the real world…” “Parents are in 2 minds about it. They don’t know HOW to protect their kids from the every day dangers that surround them.” (“Oh! No. They don’t teach you HOW to protect your child.”) “In 1 week, 3 children have fallen in the playground and broken their arm! There wasn’t a day when the Head teacher wasn’t in the casualty department…” (Too busy to give it another thought?) EXPERT: “A parent’s role is to make sure their world is SAFE. “ EXPERT: “YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE is what you make of it.” “The dreams of children will be easier to fulfil if their loved ones make the path in front of them with kindness, patience,

PRIMARY SCHOOL: “The UK has 180,000 primary schools.” “More and more children are being excluded from primary schools due to disruptive behaviour, smashing State property. These children often come from poor housing, a poor background…” (14/12/1995). "That problem - what to do with kids at weekends?" (“… it would be ideal…” “… it’s something for the kids…” "… it's a kid's thing. Somewhere the children could play safely and have fun - expend energy and not do damage - so we can get some peace...”) The problems with school holidays… “Kids have all summer doing nothing whilst their parents tear their hair out. How do you deal with bored kids for 6 weeks?” “Schools are locked-up during holidays!” (In America, they organise Summer Camps… a week doing this, a week doing that…)

“I wish I could go to school. I’m bored…” "The lack of help for working parents..." “Not many employers are understanding…” “I can't keep taking time off every time my child is ill! I'll lose my job!" “Why not? That’s silly. Haven’t they got kids? Don’t they know what it’s like?” "HOME ALONE: Child left at home alone so Mum could work. Mother put in prison..." LATCH KEY CHILDREN: "GROWING RISK: 13

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

have been lost in 10 years in the Greater London area out of a total of 1,618 - a 16% loss” (23/11/1994). “IF we turned playgrounds into a little bit of the country-side, that is better than the nitty-gritty. The idea is now being considered by 10,000 schools in the UK. Will affect children - how they think about their Environment… Having animals to protect, promotes an atmosphere of caring which results in less bullying and more learning. Stops playtime being boring. This was once a hard playground, a car park. Now grass, individual gardens, ponds. Makes so much difference. Children were getting away from nature. Helps spiritually too…”

understanding and love.” (“… it’s all about making them HAPPY…”) MOTHER: “I don’t know whether I’m coming or going. I’ve got too much to do…” “Just a minute dear… Yes, OK, not now. H’mm. Alright. Maybe later. WE’LL SEE…” (That usually means no). “I haven’t got time for fun and games! Come to think of it, I have no time for anything I want. It’s a puzzle! I live for your smiles - hoping for happiness, but all I seem to get is other people’s troubles!” "KIDS BATTLE: ... children staged a demo at the town hall... making banners and gave councillors a petition. 2 boys urged 'Please keep our playground open.' Last year the Martin Luther King playground was given until March 31st to raise a significant part of the £150,000 needed to replace a building. The playground has raised £55,000 toward the cost. Young protestors sung a song ending: 'You've taken most of what we've got. Remember when you were young? Or have you FORGOT?' Policy-makers took pity on the youngsters- they gave them another 6 months to raise the money" (1990). “Everyone loves parks…” “PARKS MUST BE MADE SAFER: Playgrounds should be a safe haven for children but playgrounds are dangerous, causing broken limbs and fractured skulls. Worst problemunsafe surfaces, the equipment - nuts & bolts. Rubber and bark used to absorb impact - not effective - rubber lifts and bark moves so concrete underneath exposed” (Town Women's Guild report re:

(Country File, BBC1, 8/6/1994).

“30,000 children a year injured in playground accidents. Concrete under play equipment. 1/3rd of equipment is old, dangerous, badly maintained, vandalised. Impact absorbing surfaces and daily checks are needed” (BBC1, 7/7/1994). “Hayley has 50 fractures. She is 4 years old and has brittle bones. She has waited a year for her next operation. She is playing in a concrete playground…” (BBC1, 20/10/1994). “PLAY CUTS PERIL: Children's lives put at risk by play cuts. The consequences of restructuring adventure playgrounds to save £117,000 will mean the closure of 5 playgrounds that help youngsters off the street. A councillor said: ‘We lead the country in play provision. We’ve got to sack 22 play workers…’ Any savings made would be nothing compared to the bill we could face from increased vandalism” (re: Islington, London, 20/10/1994).

“… she died in a tragic playground accident. She fell from a swing. Islington has closed all playgrounds in the borough with hard surfaces…”

Consumer Protection, 22/11/1991).

HOW to TRANSFORM to a place of SAFETY? “BLOOMING IN THE PLAYGROUND: A school in one of London's toughest areas has found a way to defeat the playground bully. Flowers and plants. Like 100's of schools across the country, Winton primary school in Kings Cross, once had a tarmac playground. The rough, unwelcoming surface seemed to be reflected in the children’s behaviour... Bullying was common and every tumble resulted in scrapped knees and damaged egos. Then Headmistress Jane Fulford turned the playground into a GARDEN and now the 300 children play in safety and are less disruptive and violent towards each other... Today, very young children will go from one concrete Environment straight to another… The scheme received enthusiastic support from the council and the Environmental charity 'Learning through Landscapes,' who carried out the 'Greening' of school playgrounds" (Evening Standard, 6/12/1993). "100 SCHOOL PLAYING FIELDS WILL BE SOLD OFF for re-development, (to raise cash for cashstrapped schools)" (14/3/1994) PARENTS SAID: "It's a crying shame. We have no say..." “The British Sports Council said 263 playing fields

(17/3/1995).

“There has been an increase in injuries in playgrounds. Head injuries, children have lost teeth etc. 3,000 studies establish that violence on TV (and violent computer games) leads to increased violent behaviour” (17/3/1995) (“What would you rather watch on TV?” “Something decent?” TEENAGER: “Who needs to watch horror movies? Hey, this is the ‘Land of the living dead’!”) “School playing fields still being sold off” (1999). “WHY DON’T KIDS PLAY OUTSIDE ANY MORE? Children admit they’re too scared to leave the house. They opt to play computer games instead. A parent said she is terrified for the safety of her daughter… Our next generation could be very unhealthy. A blow for the Health Secretary John Reid, who promised ‘a wide range of action’ to combat obesity…” (ref: Report by: ‘The Children's Society,’ Daily Mirror, 3/8/2005).

STATE SCHOOL BUILDINGS: “After the war few new schools were built - most were inherited (from the Victorians)…” 14

experienced than the national average in most subjects" (17/5/1990). "4,000 SMALL COUNTRY SCHOOLS FACE CLOSURE: Under threat. Funding reforms..." "They are closing down the best schools!" (22/6/1990) (WHY? “Something ‘funny’ is going on…” “I think this ‘joke’ has gone on for long enough.” NOTE: What is happening to Villages throughout this journal). “Parents want smaller class sizes” (BBC1,

"State schools are in such A STATE! DISINTEGRATION... DISREPAIR..." So much maintenance required! EG. Flaking Paint, slates & guttering falling off, roof moss, cracked glass- a never-ending list! Portakabinstyle class rooms supported on piles of crumbling concrete… "Backlog of £3 BILLION repairs needed desperately… crumbling old school buildings. Very depressing." "15 years of neglect." “Open drains inside the school…” "… it's just a bug going round school..." (1990). "What an education! School shored (propped) up with wood..." “SKOOL'S FALLING DOWN!" "ROTTING wooden frames, rotting walls." "What a dump." "HORRIBLE buildings! It's not good

22/4/1994).

“1,000’s OF VILLAGE SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY face the AXE due to government cut backs. Surplus places. Rural areas have smallest schools so simplest ‘solution’ is shut lots of them. But to many families this logic is simply not acceptable. A passionate protest. Tearing vital element out of village life. ‘If we don’t keep these places where will we put Nursery education? For most children there’s no choice but travel to nearest urban school by bus or taxi. Is this desirable? Government has failed to answer questions. So what can parents do to keep school within their community? Could parents run the school themselves? In most cases schemes such as this short lived. But there are a few happy endings. A few years ago, at Ticknall school, the parents took over and it now has over 60 pupils and has become a thriving, independent, nonfee paying, person centred, Co-operative. There’s a fortunate combination of teachers who passionately believe in small schools, and parents who want to do much more than occasional fund raising. Some help with the teaching. Every parent can contribute in some way towards the £45,000 needed each year to keep the school going. Parents even run a craft shop at the local stately home - all the profits go to the school. Parents follow a rota working for nothing with the backing of a large number of educationalists… Along similar lines is another pioneering school which only has 13 pupils. They want to set-up a network of schools linked together to share facilities. When village schools close the heart of the community dies. There’s no street lightingso what else do they get from taxes? Unforgivable. A sense of outrage exists” (Country File, BBC1,

enough." EG. "... at Islington's oldest school, a ceiling collapsed. Plaster and debris showered down. If this had happened when children were in there they could have been killed or seriously injured" (3/2/1992).

EG. "A school in Hackney has 250 pupils, a flat roof- a so-called 'Modern' building, which had a life-span of 10 years, when opened - that was 20 years ago. Disgraceful. Classes have to be cancelled when it rains heavily- the roof leaks and the floor becomes too slippery." "It is very difficult to provide a good education when you are continually re-arranging desks to avoid falling water…" EG. "Pupils at a school in Norwich feel like adopting 'Raindrops keep falling on my head' as their school song. The roof leaks. Teachers have 40 buckets to catch the rain water. The Conservative-controlled council are aware of the problem. The school was built in the 1930s with a poorly designed roof, which needs urgent repair. 'It's our priority for next year' said the council..." "Mr. Baldwin, Head of a primary school in Lancashire, said many of his pupils spend their lives tramping between split sites in the rain…" BIG SCHOOLS: "Frightening!" "Can't find my way around." "I feel lost in here." "Can't keep up with the classes." "The thought of going to school makes her ill. She moans 'I can't go'..." "... has to travel miles away to nearest school- a risky journey that takes hours there and back. It's dark by the time she gets back." "A high number of young children have to walk long distances to school, without an adult." "SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL: Pupils from small village schools do better, a Warwick university study has revealed. Children at small village schools are more likely to do well in exams and end up with good jobs. The study will be used to argue that Local Authorities are wrong to close 100's of small village schools throughout Britain. Research found that small schools attracted teachers who were better qualified and more

13/7/1994).

“VILLAGE LIFE UNDER THREAT, eroded by the Church of England, backed by the government. A school is a vital component for village life. In one village, the school had been donated to the village. Parents have fought for 5 years to keep this school open. ‘We don’t want our children to have to be taken by bus to another school miles away.’ £200,000 was raised by local people to run their school and prevent closure, but school gates have been locked and children kept out by the Church of England. The former school lies empty. ‘We can’t 15

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just demand respect old-style. It's not going to be handed to you on a plate..." "I want a well spent life... BUT ... I guess we'll just have to teach them a lesson?" "I am auto-suggestible you know... Stop treating us like juvenile delinquents and then maybe, we'll stop behaving like delinquents?" “It isn’t only us who doesn’t pay attention.” "How can you teach when you have so much to learn? May you burn..." "SCHOOL BLAZE: Fierce blaze caused severe damage at Nightingale School... 4 fire engines, 20 fire-fighters needed" (29/5/1993). "ARSON ATTACK ON 8 SCHOOLS... 1 school 50% destroyed. 'The damage is just awful.' The police do not know the motive" (Manchester, 18/4/1993) ("Obviously, he didn't like school...") “SCHOOL ARSONS: Detectives are investigating suspicious fires at 2 schools in Berkshire, at a school in Maidenhead and at a school in Chippenham” (Evening Standard, 17/5/1994). DESTRUCTION = “What are they thinking of? Not the Lord God Almighty! Maybe what they hate… all the cold…” “So mean! Have you no consideration for others? Q: WHY DID YOU DESTROY? A: “Because you shouted at me.” TEACHER: “But I only shouted at you after you had destroyed!” A: “Because it made me feel better.” TEACHER: “Destroying something made you happy?” (Ah. “You’ve not got it sorted in your head. You’ve not thought it through properly.” Ah! “He needs modification.”) A: “Oh, I don’t know. Let’s just forget anything happened.” TEACHER: “No, it’s not that easy! You need to think about it. You destroy - to make you happy???” Ah! “Do we know the difference between right and wrong?” A: “Well, I’ve got to have something to do… to fiddle with…” TEACHER: “Well, why don’t you CREATE something then?” A: “I don’t know what. Or HOW to.” TEACHER: “Do you want me to make something with you?” A: “Oh, yes please.” (Ah. You wanted some attention… ACTIVE participation!) TEACHER: “What a pity there aren’t many more active community programmes involving school children.” "ASBESTOS SCARE: Vandals broke into a former school containing dangerous asbestos... Failure to carry out urgent works... could pose extremely serious problems" (6/5/1993). "The building of new class rooms has taken all available funds. Teachers have no furniture to put in them…" (May 1993). DELAYS: "Had to put up with DUST, NOISE and

get in.’ The decision to close the school due to government policy. The Church (the Bishop of Guildford) could have worked with the new Trust but they decided not to. They thwarted the project” (Watchdog, BBC1, 21/11/1994) (Why?) OVER-CROWDED: "Class rooms are more overcrowded now they have ever been. In primary schools there are more than a million children in classes of over 30 pupils!" (21/1/1994). "HOW ON EARTH do you manage to look after 44 (screaming) kids? The responsibility! I’m ashamed to admit I'd shut them in a room and hope they get on with it!" “It is necessary for the well being of the country to have small class sizes” (1/6/1995). "THIEVES SMASHED A SCHOOL... causing £1,000's of damage..." "Aggressive behaviour, vandalism in every school..." Rebels without a cause? "I'm having it tough. So can you. We're having a competition to see who'll have a nervous breakdown first." "So I give them a bit of hassle. I am testing you. That's what people do." "It's a crazy game when nothing fits." "FIRE at William Morris school. Most class rooms destroyed. Burnt to the ground. Will have to be rebuilt. 1 in 8 schools likely to be a target for arson" (BBC, 22/3/1993). "At least 3,000 ARSON FIRES IN SCHOOLS EACH YEAR. Same problem in America. Alarming rise in attacks. Taken fire and education chiefs by surprise. Torching costs at least £45 million in the UK. WANTED: Anti-Arson Measures" (Radio, 23/3/1993).

"DISCONTENTED PUPILS: ... 4,000 individuals prosecuted or cautioned each year for fire-raising offences, almost ½ are aged 10 - 16. Cost of £45 million does not include expense of moving pupils to alternative locations. Britain has 25,000 schools- 1 in 8 schools will suffer an arson attack, occurring outside school hours. There are more than 40 attacks a week. 6 out of 10 fires started deliberately. The solution? Clear delineation of boundaries, adequate fencing, security lighting... Automatic devices installed to warn of fire. Neighbourhood Watch schemes” (Reason for attacks? How to prevent?) “When lost working time, rebuilding and other costs are taken into account, the burning of British schools costs Tax-payers approx. £300 million a year i.e. more than treble the annual spending on books and equipment. Other suggestions include: Building better schools, live-in caretakers, more liaisons with fire prevention officers" (Evening Standard, 23/3/1993) ("The devil makes work for idle hands…") ("You'd think kids would have something better to do...") "MALCONTENTS..." KIDS SAID: "Don't you know by now that respect has to be deserved. You don't 16

when youths rode bikes on the (flat?) roof, fires started, trees ripped up… windows daubed with paint and smashed, teachers’ cars habitually broken into, then set on fire. At first, the hooligans saw the fence as a challenge and rammed them with stolen cars which were then set alight… But the fences were not breached. Similar measures now in force across Newcastle. But the city council takes little pleasure in the drastic action to protect pupils and property" (Evening Standard, 31/3/1994) Conservative government schemes spread nationwide… “That fence cost at least £80,000 to put up.” (“Does this encourage more openness?”) "CLASS-ROOM SECURITY: Questions raised about security. 25 years of problems. Can't turn schools into fortresses. Can't lock the school because of fire risk. Intercoms on every door? There have been many incidents..." (28/4/1994). “£19 BILLION TO BE SPENT to repair school buildings… How will this money be raised? Taxpayers should worry” (15/7/1998). PEOPLE SAID: “Use fire retardant buildings, who knows, end result might be less retards? I thought you are on an economy drive! You need to go on a £2 million tour before deciding? You are seeking to promote… This is all a tragedy really. Put the Moody Blues on. We’ll meet again…” “RE-BUILD WORK FIT FOR THE 21st CENTURY = £millions have been allocated… will be spent to fund building projects, replace old buildings and create an Environment suitable for 21st Century learning… The building programme is already underway… ‘it means we will be able to get rid of temporary class rooms’… Our sites will have ‘modern accommodation’…’and provide a quality Environment in which to learn’…” (December, 2004) (What style of ‘new’ buildings have they got planned? More Bricks & Mortar, Wood, Glass and Steel?) (“A good Labour government initiative” = Another missed opportunity?) “MODERNISING SCHOOLS = Investing in infrastructure to create many benefits.” “COLD SNAP: 100’s of schools closed due to deep snow, blizzards. Artic conditions. The cost of heating… B’rrr. Keep warm… somehow… any old how…” (22/2/2005). BUDGET: “£9.4 BILLION to be spent on primary schools by 2008…” (16/3/2005). BRISTOL: “66 primary schools refurbished thanks to Gordon’s Brown’s budget…” (April 2005) (Spent on more carpets and wooden flooring?) Tony Blair visited a newly built school. He looked up at the massive atrium - and seemed to be in shock at the design - the 1st floor balcony with the open glass “banister,” and the long drop down to the ground floor… (2005). PUBLIC MEETING: The Head Master said: “The idea is a better education for our children. £1.1

temporary buildings for 2 years until new (brick) (prize-winning) school could be built. 'Now we've got skylights! We use less electricity on lights!" (May 1993) ("Not all buildings are suitable for skylights...") "THE LAW SAYS HUTS ONLY FIT FOR PIGS AND TEACHING OUR KIDS: The damp creeps up the walls from underneath the floorboards and the roof is caving in. Temporary huts put up 50 years ago to provide a canteen for evacuees during World War 11 (WW11). The huts need to be replaced. A report said teachers have to work in awful conditions... 'Under present health and safety legislation, no other economic activity - except perhaps pig farming - could take place in these buildings.' The pupils were so ashamed of their school they entered a competition to try and win some paint to paint over the cracks - to try and stop the rot - but it will take more than a lick of paint to smarten it up... There is a danger of setting a precedent here- things are bad enough already with having parents and children having to get repairs done by themselves... Local Education Authorities estimate it would cost £4 BILLION to carry out all the necessary repairs to Britain’s 25,000 State schools" (Daily Mirror, 18/1/1994). "BRUTAL LESSON IN POVERTY: Britain's crumbling schools have been dealt a further blow by the Conservative government. Council chiefs want to spend £1.5 Billion as part of a 3-year programme to bring all schools up to scratch... but the government has allocated £50 million. Several areas received only 3% of the cash needed. Deprived inner-city schools fared badly in the cash hand-out..." (Daily Mirror, 18/1/1994). “A SCHOOL PARTIALLY COLLAPSED ruining the new parquet wooden flooring. School now closed. Many schools have problems - leaking roofs, portakabins too hot… New school buildings needed. Central government does not give enough money to allow for repairs” (BBC1, 16/1/1995) Money spent on new carpets for class-rooms! BARRIERS: Government fencing schools in, using steel barricades, arguing this is to stop vandalism. "ARMY CAMP ATMOSPHERE. Oppressive. Drab. Dreary. Mundane. Ugly. FRIGHTENING." (Positive boundaries?) "PRISON GATES KEEP A SCHOOL ‘SAFE’: Towering 8' high reinforced steel fences, topped by lethal spikes! This school has the look of a maximum security prison! Panic buttons fitted inside, linked to an intruder alarm system. The only entrance is locked and protected by video cameras. An entry system is operated from within. This is a primary school... Fortified against youths who make the school a daily target for their vandalism. 'Before the perimeter fences were installed, the school was being systematically dismantled by hooligans' said the Headmaster. Lead stripped off the roof, tiles smashed, internal ceilings damaged 17

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

closed. Dust Suppression = Wetting. Won’t be done continuously. Will residents be able to use their gardens? Liaise with me on a daily basis. Work on site will be Monday – Friday, vehicles arriving 7am, work starting 8am. They might go into weekend working for dangerous occupations i.e. when no children around. The answer is to walk to school, or bring in a traffic warden or possibly close the road for pedestrians and cars. Yes, there will be diesel engines running all the time. I do understand there are domestic properties close by. This is a public service. It’s in your best interests. It’s going to help you…” Me: “You are not getting rid of the dilapidated ‘portakabins’ used by the Junior school (only the portakabins being used as a Nursery)! Where are the Nursery-age children going to be situated? The proposed extension to the Junior school to be linked to the Primary school via a very long tunnel –have you done a time and motion study - will everyone need roller-skates? Have you considered putting a Modular structure between the 2 (old) school buildings- where the Junior school portakabins are, using one end for the infants, the other end for the Juniors replacement class-rooms, with an admin section in the middle, thereby saving the playground?” School Governor: “What is most important is getting the best value for money and the best foundation-building for the children. The best possible Environment. The new Nursery will be in the new building… er, um in the Junior school (not the infant school!) A modular building would be long and thin and wouldn’t last so long. We need the portakabins! Our budget is not finite!” Me: “I also want the best Environment for our children. A modular structure could be Prefabricated and precision-made to any shape, or size - it’s appearance is up to the imagination of the architect. Modular structures using maintenance-free materials - offer less expenditure + a longer life. Modular = Speedy construction, reduced heavy traffic, reduced impact on local residents, pupils, parents and staff. The costs saved by opting for improved thermal performance will enable you to invest in Energy Efficient heating…” The (young) Architect said: “Modular buildings are inappropriate. The old 1970’s styles! This scheme has already been decided upon and is the best option” (May 2005) (see chapter 3) UPDATE: The wooden clad extension, with a sloping asphalt roof, attached to the crumbling 1960’s (temporary?) metal clad (painted brown) school hall is still being built (September, 2006). Lovely? HARD ‘CHOICE’: Old, crumbling, or ‘new’ brick and metal. “SCHOOLS CLOSED due to snow. 450 schools closed in Wales. 2,000 pupils stranded in schools

million has been allocated for a building to join the infant school with the junior school, so we can get rid of the horrible ‘mobile’ existing buildings (mouldy, damp, crumbling 1970’s ‘portakabins.’) This is a Pre-Planning Permission application meeting to discuss the Health & Safety aspects i.e. the hazards. To allay any fears.” The ARCHITECT (privately contracted to the local council) said: “The new building (comprising of 3 additional class-rooms + new admin & dining facilities in the gym / hall, with a large central foyer), will be built over the existing playground. All the kids can share the other (tarmac) playground” (mixing 5 year olds with (often aggressive) 10 year olds – does not work!) “Building Materials = Sympathetic brickwork + different type of brick, painted concrete render & timber, rather than metal clad. A (long) polycarbonate covered walkway (corridor) with steel frame will connect the 2 buildings. Schedule: Work commences November 2005, due to be completed July 2006 = 38 weeks of disruption.” Local Residents said: “We’ve gone through this before. All the banging! We nearly went mad! The mess!” “They didn’t listen to me the last time.” “They cracked my garden wall.” “Couldn’t use of these lorries be minimised? As it is now cars are having to drive on the pavements…” “These plans will reduce parking. Where will parents & staff park? Already a nightmare.” “A child is going to get killed…” “We won’t be able to use our gardens or hang out any washing.” “All the builders swearing!” (Why?) “I’m concerned what noise levels the children will be subjected to.” “Please don’t plant trees! We have to clear the leaves…” The Health & Safety Officer said: “We do understand there are issues. Parts of the site are sloping, access is very tight- limited, so very difficult. This will have to widened. Removing builder’s rubbish also very difficult. Deliveries very difficult. The construction companies these days want to protect their image so they will work with you by using smaller vehicles. Delivery of building materials to the site: How to make this task as safe as possible for pupils, staff & local residents? All the site huts for the builders… all the construction vehicles… all the heavy goods coming in, all the rumbling… Anything damaged will be replaced - that is standard. We won’t use any dangerous building materials. We’ll put up hoarding to stop vandals getting into the site. Vandals will steal anything so we will use massive steel shipping containers to lock everything away. THE DIRTY OPERATIONS: There will be a lot of drainage works for the foundations. Pile Foundations = Bang, Bang, Bang. The banging, the hammering & chipping, the dusty operations will unfortunately disrupt you. Keep your windows 18

in Cornwall- normally schools would close at the 1st sign of snow. The military- squadrons, are helping those trapped without food and drink. Devon: Schools closed. School buses unable to get up the hills” (25/11/2005). “More than 1,100 new schools have been built since Labour came to power in 1997. 27,000 classrooms refurbished or rebuilt. £31 BILLION of investment...” (Daily Mirror, 12/5/2007). “Yes, we think this is a NEW NATIONAL MODEL: Demolish the old school, create a series of small schools to make the transition from Primary to Secondary school easier…” (re: Torquay Community

follow RULES are rewarded…” EXPERT: “Ignoring children is a way of withdrawing love…” Education = How to lay a brick. WAH! "I don't want to be a brick-layer!" JOKE: “Do you like wood work?” “Yes, I would work…” "We should be teaching Navigational skills" said a teacher. "I'd rather give them Astrology…" (June 1990).

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: "They are filling their heads with miscellaneous DROSS." "Engaged in irrelevancy." “Imperial gallons of facts poured into them until they are full to the brim.” MOANS. GROANS: “Bad teachers. Know their subject but can’t pass it on…” “You want the best from me? Well, I want the best from you.” “If we can’t do what we like to do, we’ll do what you don’t like. And you’ll find that harder to correct.” “Teachers impede our progress.” “Waste of time, crass projects. Are teachers only here for the easy money?” “Holding students back intellectually. What a load of bloody clap trap.” “Bilge.” “I know! Same thing seems to be happening in every education establishment. Teachers never mention it!” Ah! “The youth know the truth.” "A survey has revealed that young people of today look back on their time at school as LOST YEARS..." "Pupils are to carry on swotting. Exam MISERY is to continue for Britain's children, ruled John MacGregor, Education minister..." (20/8/1990). "The trouble with exams is they test your ability to remember facts temporarily, so that you can recite parrot-fashion, but do not test your intelligence i.e. your ability to put knowledge to GOOD use." INTELLIGENCE = “They don’t show you HOW to use it.” INTELLIGENCE = “Got it on top?” “Exams don’t take into account how much you are distracted by your Environment…” “I CAN’T TAKE THE PRESSURE and it’s beginning to show…” "A boy, 16, found hanged from a kiddies playground slide…" "Lessons made disinteresting." "Most lessons are so BORING!" KIDS MOST COMMONLY USED PHRASE: "I'm BORED." "We're BORED. We need something to do." "OLD SCHOOLS = BORING." "Get your lecture over with..." "They said 'it’s all there in books if you try and find it.' Well I did try but I never found it." "Bright but disruptive children distracting others..." "He who complains the loudest gets all the attention. But when 50% of the class are being 'difficult'..." "Crisis hit schools..." “EDUCATION SYSTEM IN STATE OF EMERGENCY" (4/9/1990) "Isn't there another way?"

College, Radio Gemini, 3/6/2007).

“… this school has their own wind turbine (tall tower, open-blade system). …they are completely selfsufficient for energy… The kids are very happy with it…” (re: a school in Cornwall, radio. 10/6/2007).

NATIONAL CURRICULUM: “WHEN WILL THE NEW WORLD DAWN?” "Are all the children being prepared for The New Age?" “… it means nothing to me…” “When I was at school, I couldn’t see the reason for learning. I wish someone had explained it to me.” “… it must be made clear in Education…” "LESSONS MUST FOLLOW GOVERNMENT POLICIES: Maths and Science dominate 'core' subjects for primary school children" (25/6/1990). Q: What use is maths?” “I really hate maths. Ugh. So boring. Whenever am I going to need all this stuff? A: “One day you might need to know how many grains of sand there are on a beach.” (Or trees to plant…) Parent: “His maths is good. I mean, it’s whether he wants to do it or not…” “She’s only 6 years old. She can’t even read the questions properly!” "A STORM OF PROTEST greeted Education minister, when he told Head teachers he wouldn't drop plans to test 7 year olds. He was shouted at by delegates at the National Association of Head Teachers conference. One teacher said a pilot scheme had reduced many pupils to tears..." (and parents). Tests not done primarily to help kids, only position schools in league tables, introduced by the Conservative Party." ILLITERATE: "We should raise the school leaving age to 18 so than more than 40% of children will know how to read and write" said a Conservative minister (28/6/1990). The Teachers Union said: "Everything may be superb in politician’s heads, but in schools, a nightmare has arrived" (14/8/1990). “… it’s not advisable…” “Huh. We’ll rebel against that!” “CLASS-ROOM WARS”: “… only the kids who 19

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"WHY SO MUCH STRESS?" "Arrested development..." “God! They’re trying to tie us down to a life of slow decay! Steps taken are sleep-walking. We will never reach that dreamed of world. There’s a HUNGER that’s unsatisfied…” (ref: The Division Bell, by Pink Floyd). "... it is not on the curriculum!" “This is England - warts and all. The real world. Real tears” (1970 -1990). 1990: CHILDREN SAID: “We’re not allowed to study our favourite subjects! Supposing I want to study Art, the Humanities and Marine Biology? They won’t let me!" “They’re driving me round the bend…” "I know what I'm good at. They have only to ask. I want to study Nature Conservation. But I'm stuck inside a class room all day doing compulsory maths." "School hours are so long, and home work too much strain. BOREDOM inbetween." "I'm BORED. Bored out of my skull." BORING: “I don’t want to be stuck inside a class room for years. WAH! I want to be out there travelling the Stars…” “They don’t like it when we’re late…” "Botany is not on the curriculum! We've got so far to go... " "Exercise is my favourite subject. We're only given one exercise period a week! I wish..." "For a start, they didn't teach me how to breathe..." ("Breathe deep...") "Self-Defence is not on the curriculum!" BASIC SURVIVAL SKILLS are not on the curriculum. First Aid, How to Grow Food etc. "Teach me to be self-reliant." "We are not taught how to relate..." "Why can't we learn what we want to know? Nothing in the adult world makes any sense!" "I love knowledge. Just make it easy for me!" “Inspire me!” "I'm good at it..." "It's the only thing I want to do." "I'm really into it." "It doesn't frighten or bother me." "Please don't give me a hard time over it..." "I'll do what I like anyway with or without your help or encouragement. But if you don't want trouble, ENCOURAGE it!" "Teachers! Social Workers! They haven't a clue! You don't know what to do about it... Lessons = 2 + 2 = 3! They're being pig-headed about it. They don't want to FREE the slaves. Well, I'm not into EVIL tricks." "I don't want to be institutionalised. This is a competitive institution they say. Well, I don't want to compete. It's not about competition." “SINCE WHEN WAS it A COMPETITON?” “Competition = We’ll kill others. Every time I hear that word ‘competition’ I shudder.” “Competitions all too often bring out the worst in people… taking it too seriously… pushing too hard.” "Don't I want to work hard and be top of the pile? I'd rather people weren't fighting each other! That's MADNESS." “No! I don’t see why I should have to fight. Surely, it’s my Right…” “We’re not

into sweating, slaving, fighting, racing, fretting, confusion, wasting time and minds. Any waste of effort isn’t part of my design…” “We’ll never be able to make a go of it? The winner could be the occasion itself.” "Schools are prisons." "There's a hole in my life. I'm really missing something." "They say don't cry out loud- keep it inside- have some pride. Pull yourself together. Stop snivelling." "How much affection can they ignore?" "I know where I'm going. Do you? I've got my 2 feet on the ground. I know where I'm coming from. Do you?" “They teach you at school to love money.” "They're driving me mad. All this is so irritating. I'm in purgatory!" "You'd have to be desperate to want to go to school these days." EXPERTS: “How much of what you are teaching will be relevant to them in later life? Sadly, very little.” “Everyone needs to learn a TRADE.” (Why don't schools just teach children the trade they want to learn?) SEX education is on the curriculum for all 9 year olds. (When is the best time to educate about sex / Reproduction?) EXPERT: “When the child asks a question. Don’t provide more information than is asked for.” (Continued / Page 23). WORRIED PARENTS: "So many of the children are enthusiastic to learn but they won’t teach them what they want to know." “I wouldn’t mind so much if they were teaching them something decent.” “… it would be educational - it broadens intellectual horizons…” “… it’s progressive…” TEACHER: "CONFORM TO OUR STANDARD. Don't argue! Don't you dare to talk back!" (Ah! Teachers with a negative attitude…) CHILD: "I was accused of being a ring-leader. I am innocent. Please don't take my dreams away!" ("You never know, they might be calling you a ‘radical' one day." i.e. in their eyes, means a criminal). (“There are ‘radicals’ on the hard right, left wing radicals (rebels)…” RADICAL (means: “Getting to the root cause of problems.”) CHILD: "IDEALISM drummed out of my head…" "They force you to do what they want. They say either do this, this way, or you're out! BLACKMAIL!” "Is there some Universal Law that states the government can tell us what to do all whole lives? We should refer the matter to a Higher Authority." "They're wrecking my life." "Life's not fair. Why don't they just let me live? Yes, my head is full of childish fantasies. Science fiction stuff. That's my prerogative. It doesn't do harm. It keeps me focused. I don't need permission!" 20

traditional school Environment? "Do some doodles!" "We're not allowed to! Doodling in class is strictly forbidden.” "How about making a model of something?" "Nah. Don't feel like it.” (Standard JOKE: “You don't look like it.”) "Come on. You don't want to be miserable all your life do you? Maybe one day, you could make a real life one! Maybe you could live in it? It could be your home! Why don't you give it a try? Wouldn't it be great!? Then you could leave this place. Try. You might find you like doing it!" “Why don’t you do a drawing?” “I can’t draw!” “Yes you can do it. Everybody can learn how. Let the pencil do the walking…” (“… it’s a doddle!” Ah! “You’ve no imagination? That’s what it’s for…”) "PLAY WORKS: People just a need a bit of help and support, They don't need to be frightened or bullied into it!" “… it brings boring subjects to life…” “Is it all going in one ear…?” POLITICIAN: “You’re growing up too smart and I don’t like to be irritated…” “Anarchic behaviour must be stamped out at all costs.” (“It seems to me that the harder you try, the more mistakes you make.”) (“It is not hard work that gets GOOD results. “You need to concentrate, be single-minded, conscientious, and have determination. To ENJOY what you do is very important.” “It’s not about hard work. What matters is DEDICATION. It’s all about motivation and belief.” “… it’s going to take energy and vision.” “And a proper diet…” “… it may take courage to do it.”) “Through the eyes of youth, everything is possible!” EXPERT: “We must have highly trained, skilled, qualified researchers and artisans. That’s what we desperately need to go forward.” EXPERT: “Young people need challenging projects that express their idealism.” A BASIC UNDERLYING TREND? “We can’t really go into it. We can’t really get it into much. Told to keep quiet about it.” “It wasn’t ever mentioned.” EXPERT: “Talk it through…” (“… it’s no good moaning- do something about it!”) “Many CRAFT LESSONS have been CUT. Level of ability has dropped considerably” (1991). (“SYNCHRONICITY: Get it right and students will be appreciative and grateful. It will be very fruitful. Have a defined strategy and a clear idea of what you will accomplish. Be educators in a certain way. That is a responsibility. Feel very strongly. Be very aware of that - it’s important. Don’t provide shallow entertainment. Do you want to be victims or principals? You’d better start taking notes…”) (“… it’s for multi-opportunities so you’ll get a lot more good out of it…”) "CASH CUTS DOOM ‘THE FREE SCHOOL’: A

"They're very good at stereo-typing. Trying to make everyone the same as everybody else... That's insane when EVERYONE IS AN INDIVIDUAL." (People have different strengths & weaknesses… that’s why teamwork is so good- other people can fill in the gaps). ("When circumstances conspire against you...") "I've not got a lot to look forward to." "Where's the incentive?" “AHEAD of their TIME? No, these are children of our Times.” HERE'S HOW WE WANT TO DO it: "We need teachers bursting with talent." “We (esp. the older kids), want to have a say in what kind of building we study in…” “No compulsory attendance. We’ll attend because we love going there! We are still taught general knowledge, but much less of this it's put to us in a different kind of way...” “We could have sound-proofed, see-thru booths to assist audio learning...” “There shouldn’t be any HASSLES about joining or leaving classes! Teachers should provide one-to-one or team GUIDANCE...” ”Everyone treated with respect, kindness and courtesy. We learn self-discipline & self control.” “The ideal is NO name calling, hitting, shouting or sarcasm.” “We learn how to study - and our ability to understand the information is tested regularly but informally - through roleplaying / games etc. We are given access to information and equipment we desire, when we desire (if requests are reasonable.”) “Don't make anybody do what they don't want to do!” “Our study centre should be small’ish and situated near our door-step... (so we don’t get lost!)” “We should be encouraged to be athletic all our lives physical activity should not cease when we leave school...” “Isn't this a MORAL proposition? Wouldn’t this teach us how to be more independent? Learn when we want to. Eat when we want to. Work when we want to.” “… it would be more grown up.” "... it is definitely worth getting up in the morning for..." “… woke up this morning feeling fine, with something special on my mind. Something tells me I’m into something good…” (“Let them become the person they’re trying to be.”) “Parents would love it! It’s somewhere for them too.” “LET’S GET it STARTED!” “We’ve worked ‘it’ out - the way we want to go! But they don’t know still! Cor blimey! Are they thick, tricksters or working hand in hand with the government- this fascist system controlling us all? We’d better find out. Till we know, I’m on my own. Can’t say anything to anyone- they might think I’m mad and put me away!” “MAXIMISE POTENTIAL! It broadens the mind…” "Are YOU up for it?" (1990). LEARN BY NATURAL CREATIVITY, in today's 21

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school which allows pupils to select what they want to learn is threatened with closure... 'it is not in a position to offer the National Curriculum.' A worker said 'it will be a great loss. The school was set-up to help people disillusioned by the state-system - the children who come here found they couldn't fit in at state schools.’ Despite pleas, the vote to cut the funding went ahead. The vote was tied 7 - 7. The chairman gave the casting vote. A Labour councillor who voted to keep the school open said 'we have to accept not all children can be pigeonholed and shoved into mainstream schooling'..." ("Being here kept me out of trouble…") "A CAMPAIGN TO BRING BACK THE CANE to discipline children in state schools was launched by Conservative backbench MPs was signed by more than 55 Tories. The use of corporal punishment was abolished 3 years ago by a European court but Conservative MP's believe they have found a way to get around the court decision" (June 1990) "They believe in the rod" i.e. "Give them a bloody ‘good’ thrashing." “Spare the rod and spoil the child” ? EXPERT: “IF YOU PUNISH THEM when they think they have a VALID REASON…” = “We’re screwed!” “The more you try to discipline them, the more they rebel…” “I tell her not to do something and she’ll do it…” TOO MUCH DISCIPLINE = Rebel (i.e. REACTIVE BEHAVIOUR). “We’ll give them some stick…” “CANING is linked to moral health argues a Head teacher who canes children from the age of 5. More and more teachers are calling for the return of the cane… if ‘bad’ deeds go unpunished then that is a bad education. Being nice doesn’t help children.’ But child protection experts believe there are no circumstances in which it would be appropriate for a supervising adult to HIT children. They say ‘it sets a poor example of what is reasonable behaviour in society’…” (Evening Standard, 27/9/1994) (“Any fool can govern with a big stick in his hand but can you inspire?”) “The cane is used against non-conformists…” “We call it insubordination.” (“Maybe you should have a rethink…”) “PROCEEDURAL BREAKDOWNS”: “Every day, kids are losing the battle…” “Hippy kids are given a hard time at school…” “At least the rebels believe in something. No-one else seems to…” “British schools are falling behind schools in Europe. Complaint: New exams only test theoretical skills EG. How do you put an egg box together? Practical skills are being done away with - no craft skills will be taught. Steering Committee: All children must succeed at school. There must be no drop-outs, no failures. Every child in Britain is affected” (Channel 4, 24/10/1991) “Got it up

top?” “TECHNOLOGY TO RELATE MORE STRONGLY TO LIFE. New subject - designing toys for toddlers brain-storming sessions. Complaints: Emphasis not on craft skills but on problem solving. Should be concentrating on making things, practical products- pneumatics, mechanics, electronics made relevant. But there is pressure for more traditional approach…” (BBC1, 17/12/1992). “… it’s not allowed. That’s unjust.” WICKED: (Fashionable Trend): Kids now think it is good to be bad, to be hard… So ‘wicked’ in their vocabulary now means ‘good’ (1990). "Are the government responsible for causing Juvenile Delinquency? Government says that it's rubbish… ” (“Depends if honest mistakes, or not.”) “…The Church says 'system is too competitive too many are youngsters left out.' The Church has an unclear role in education and helping parenting" (ITV, 1/3/1993). "Religion has nothing to do with it. Leave God out of it" some people say. "You need a code to live by." “GOD, that vital code…” "Leaving school without a strong sense of moral values..." "The Church will fill the Gap?" (March 1993)

"Just teach the children the difference between right and wrong. Be firm." “First, do no harm….” “Don’t be easily led. Be tough, not too rough…” ("Ah! They want model behaviour..." “I think it might prove effective…”) "DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD BE DONE BY is the maxim everyone should live by." “You can either spread JOY, or cheek…” Ah! “There’s a higher level and a base level of thought…” Ah! Why do we spend so little time, & attribute little importance to the learning of interpersonal (relationship) skills? “The greatest lesson a parent can teach a child is ideals. If we have no honour we have nothing…” "The 10 Commandments apply to ALL religions a multi-cultural society. Another Commandment to teach is to share fairly" (The Moral Maze, BBC Radio 4, 8/4/1993) “I wish someone had taught me the Golden rules…” "John Patten, the new Conservative Education minister, wants to reduce the syllabus" (8/4/1993). "We need a radical overhaul of the curriculum." "Parents joined the boycott on school tests" (7/5/1993).

"ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) have kitted out a caravan to take round schools to persuade 8 + year olds to go into science when they graduate from school - to join ICI" (BBC Radio 4, 25/5/1993). "SCIENCE COURSES SCRAPPED for 1,000's of pupils because there are not enough qualified 22

teachers." "There are fewer passes in science"

coming here. It gives them a sense of involvement. They can play football, watch TV, even have a disco. If they misbehave, they are not allowed here for a week…” "The tragedy is that no-one really achieves their full potential." “Is genius made or is it something you are born with?” "LAND OF GENIUSES: Experts could produce … child prodigies to order, a child psychologist, Professor

(1993).

"CHAOS and boredom rules English class-rooms. The sensible ones bunk off” (BBC, Radio 4, 25/5/1993). "Exam pressure mounts... 'My son killed himself...' 'Grief and tears'...” (GMTV, May 1993). "Mindless (?) bureaucracy... Mountainous paperwork. National tests are a waste of paper... Ballot papers are being prepared" (April, 1993). “Government tests are about league tables - which school is best. Teachers don’t want that. Schools made to compete.” "They are imposing excessive workloads." "Boxes of test papers remain unused, stored in a cupboard." Example of a test question: "What does ‘Cut and cover’ mean?" (7/6/1993). “… it’s for your own good...” "We are all being sorely tested." ("... it could be your test..." "Put it to the test, then put your mind at rest.") "Ministers have agreed to slim down the curriculum and national tests" (3/8/1993). "A CHANGING EDUCATION SYSTEM = TEACHER TRAINING CUTS!" "Reforms are wrong, unworkable, not properly thought out." "Anger, opposition.” "Minister is not worthy of his high position." "John Patten forced to abandon his speech at the annual Teacher's conference." Speeches: "Substantial sums of public money go into Education budgets every year…" "Teachers expressing a determination to protect children"

Radford, at the University of East London, claimed today.

'Exceptional performance in most fields are as much made by the correct educational regime as by talent' he said. That true genius was born, not made, is a myth. Prodigies arose when children with natural potential were given opportunities and encouragement, high quality early and continuing instruction, frequent and continual opportunity to practice, close association with others in the field, and the experience of being successful...” “I know I’ll understand if I put my mind to it…” “… it’s something to do with the brain…” "... it'll give them a head start." GENIUS = "The capacity for productive reaction against one's training." (Just focus your attention on something…) "A genius uses talent constructively..." The Conservative government said: "We don't want any geniuses..." (“… it doesn’t take a genius to work it out…”) (“Talent is a gift from God. What you do with it, is your gift to God.”) "WORRIED ABOUT YOUR FUTURE?"

(2/6/1993).

(“… it’s so simple a child could do it!”) "The BBC have launched a children’s competition called 'It will never work?' The idea is you send them a drawing of your invention and they'll make it for you!" (4/11/1993) PEOPLE SAID: "They are looking to youth to provide the answer..." "It's not child’s play. There's more to it than that!" “So much is down to parents. If the school doesn’t bring it out in them, then parents have to, by providing equipment etc.” “FAILURE: The provision of suitable amenities for young people. £50 million promised” (18/10/1990). "YOUTH TRAINING CUT: The government plans to cut youth training by 30%. 50 of 176 Information Technology (IT) centres could close as a result - with a loss of 2,700 jobs." "Closure of Youth Clubs…" (“Yeh. There was lots to do at the youth clubs - like play pool. But there aren’t any jobs where you need to be able to play pool…”) “So many kids are in trouble because they’ve got nothing to do.” “You’ve got to have somewhere where the kids can go or they’ll use boredom as an excuse for anti-social behaviour. It seems to me we need a place where you can put kids where they can’t do any damage. Our local Sports & Community Centre is a good place. It has become the heart of the community. The kids love

(Picture: Newspaper advert for a Bank aimed at youngsters, UK, 1990).

"Learning to communicate effectively and accurately, expanding vocabulary would help. We are held back by language difficulties..." "Language support teachers cut" (22/10/1993). "Some pupils are missing out..." "1,000's of schools are not giving enough lessons." "Some teaching is 'downright poor' various reports say." "It is not acceptable for pupils to be shortchanged of education in schools" said J. Major. "The amount of government imposed change is a problem." “Trouble is, you lot want to keep our feet fixed firmly on the ground…” "New disciplinary measures introduced by J. Patten to help schools deal with GENERALLY DISOBEDIENT children EG. increased use of detention" (early 1994) PUNISHMENT = “You're GROUNDED!” “After I told him he was grounded, he just flipped! He put all the windows in. He smashed the windows with a bat…“ "The system is failing 30% of school-age children.” “Exceptionally LOW standards..." 23

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"Not achieving. Each school has until February to come up with a plan to improve standards, or face closure" (3/12/1993). JOKE: "I think we've planned a narrow enough curriculum to breed a new, overwhelmingly stupid bunch of Conservative voters." “RETARDED IQs…” “I ain’t quite as dumb as I seem…” “I just want to learn something…” CAREER “GUIDANCE” = “I want to do something creative with my life...” “It doesn’t pay. Join the Army.” “Look, I accept I need a bit of discipline, but to suggest packing me off… Don’t I get any say in this?” "FROM BAD TO WORSE: Deep cuts in spending on repairs, equipment, staff... are on the way. 4,000 teachers could go. £75 million less to spend on London's schools to 'ensure fairness across the country.' Education in jeopardy. Government is always keen to sacrifice..." (9/11/1993). THE YOUNG BELIEVE: "The party's on the dancefloor. If you find out too late, that's too late. Pump it up..." “When you dance, it’s in your heart and soul. Let’s dance, yeah. There’s a world far away. We can feel a dream. We can never let go…” (“… guilty feet aint got no rhythm…”) "PLASTIC FEVER is a new music group... Songs on their 1st album = The Black Empire, Waiting, Maybe, Overload, No Sense..." (1992). Re: LATEST CRAZES: Some kids believe they should 'Just lose it'…” POPULAR CHILDREN’S PHRASES: "Keep it real!" “… it’s all good!” “Get real!” Also: "Let's get JINKY with it" (see: Jinking page 405) "National tests re-imposed" (March 1994). “The Education Secretary, John Patten, made a passionate plea for children to work harder so they master exams. He believes more can be crammed into a school day. ‘We live in a hard world. We shall flourish only if we educate better than our competitors’ he said…” (Evening Standard, 5/5/1994). “Domestic science cut from the curriculum.” “The needs of bi-lingual children have been ignored… Media studies have been downgraded… Political interference. An advisory group insist teachers should decide what pupils read”

to know about Human Rights and their protection is all the more important” (H. Coynash, Evening Standard, 15/8/1994).

“11+ exams re-imposed” (7/9/1994). “RAISE THE SCHOOL LEAVING AGE urge Headmasters. Force children to stay on another 2 years. Change in the law may make it illegal to employ youngsters under 18. The Advanced certificate for all pupils may sweep away the mass of certificates…” (21/9/1994). “High youth unemployment. The future for kids is bleak unless something crops up. Debate this.” “The future for school leavers would not be bleak if they had something worthwhile to do...” “Technology may be slimmed down for 11 – 13 year olds to 1.5 hours a week. That’s meaningless” (10/11/1994). “STANDARDS HAVE DROPPED…” “Yeah. Tell me about it…” “The government needs to re-introduce Home Economics into the class room. Children are leaving school not knowing how to prepare or cook food” (BBC2, 17/1/1995). “Do the General public know enough about Science and does it matter anyway? They don’t know enough and it does matter. During ‘Science Week’ they hope more people will get a better understanding. Science will exploit it. What is holding it back is the culture in Britain. In Germany, it is given a much higher level of regard. Many 6th form pupils feel science leaves little room for creativity. ‘There are concepts that are hard to grasp’…” (BBC1, 17/3/1995). “There’s so much rivalry!” “There’s a defeated army camp atmosphere about the place. If they could relate their work to something that would make things simpler easier for them to do. We could teach them better. We are not sure how to motivate them better. If they had a sense of achievement…” “I am very upset - the young believe industry is dead in this country! We need more brilliant people to make Britain brilliant again. Children need something safe, creative, educational - in kits…” (said Sir Harvey Jones, ex-Managing director of ICI, June 1995)

CLASS-SIZE: “There will be 4,500 less teachers, with 120,000 more pupils. The average primary class size will be 30 pupils. To save money experienced teachers laid off, replaced by newly qualified teachers” (13/7/1995). “COMPULSORY GAMES: There will be a minimum of 2 hours sport a week” (decided by J. Major). “Dull children…” “SCHOOL FAILURES: Children can now leave school at 14 and get a job if they can find a job. This will help ‘em relate” (July 1995). “CADET SCHEME: Children in State schools will be given MILITARY training to instil discipline. Will learn to handle… FIREARMS! A Conservative

(Evening Standard, 13/5/1994).

“’New’ Curriculum- slimmed down. Teachers still say they want less compulsory lessons, easier assessment methods, less paper-work and fewer competitive games” (5/8/1994). “At ALTERNATIVE games, the emphasis is on participation not perspiration. And each receives a prize - given by the other side. With it, everyone’s a winner!” “Proposed changes to the history syllabus. In the 1980’s, the origin of the UN and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were statutory in the national curriculum. These have now lost their statutory status. The entitlement for young people 24

idea which will cost £100’s of millions. This is seen as making constructive use of their abilities!”

know it’s hard work…” (November, 2005). ‘God’s Module’ song.. (2007, found on www.youtube ).

(January 1996).

T-shirt slogan seen on the streets, UK April 2007:

“The government is instilling more competition amongst schools but not encouraging schools to work together… they each have to try to out-do the other” (1997). “To reduce Homelessness: 15 - 16 year olds at school, are being given a home-pack to teach them that leaving home should be a last resort. 1 in 20 will become Homeless. You have to understand what a home is before you can understand what it is to be Homeless” (9/12/1997). “Teachers accused of filling children’s minds with useless crap” (early 1998). “You got to be cool, hip, relaxed…” (These days kids are putting so much effort into trying to be COOL... this is such a strain on them!) 'SAFE' is a word that features a lot in young people’s conversations. Also the phrases: “Later. Yeah, man. Later…” “… it’s unreal!” “The Labour government rejected a fundamental overhaul of the Education system… Will make exams (based on old, out of date subjects), harder. ‘It’s a bureaucratic cock-up from start to finish’…” (re: the Tomlinson Report, 22/2/2005). “… on average, 3 schools a week are targeted for arson attacks…” (29/3/2005). “At the end of the term I was no wiser…” (April 2005). “When the school had a lot of ‘freedom’ significant numbers of pupils never returned. Now we have a lot more discipline, attendances have improved. Boys and girls separated for recreation & some subjects. More supervision. A class-room code. A Zero-Tolerance approach. (Children / Teenagers) Made to stand facing the wall to nip it in the bud. Students detained. Parents called in. Parents very supportive of ‘new’ regime.” A TEACHER SAID: “I regularly feel unsafe. I’m not in a position to stop it (it means: bad behaviour). Schools are regarded as the enemy. The lack of respect for adults! 99% of teachers have problems nationally. I was warned they are a very spirited group that need sitting on. Children want to leave the class-room whenever they like! They hide under the desks!” PARENT: “Whenever my child refuses to go to school, I always know there is a problem with bullying. I can’t abide bullying…” (Some teachers speaking rudely, disrespectfully, shouting at, talking down… Children copying their attitude). PUPIL: “I’ve got the right to speak up for myself. Don’t talk to me like that either. I’m losing it…” TEACHER: “I’m on the horns of a dilemma…” (Class room Chaos, Channel 5, 27/4/2005). Kids offered money to attend school… “I’ve got too much course work! I’m sick of lectures by geeks who don’t care. I can’t be bothered…” SCHOOL MENTOR: “You shouldn’t be lazy! You are not afraid of putting some effort into it, I hope! I

“WE ARE THE MISFITS.” That’s so sad… ABERRATIONS (Behaviour): “They’ve only got to get in with the wrong company…” “… she bottles everything up inside. She’ll only talk about it when she wants to…” "BOOZE SWILLING PUPILS cannot study properly because of hang-overs, a shock report reveals. The sheer quantity of alcohol being consumed should be a concern to us all" said a Head master. “Give me your dinner money or else…” “Do you suffer from AGGRO-phobia?” “CHILD-LINE reported a dramatic increase in the number of children being bullied, particularly at school" (March 1990). "Child-line has counselled 81,000 children since their launch in 1986... the heartbreak... listening to the tortured stories of youngsters who ring the child abuse hot-line..." "DESPERATE KIDS: Child-line is a national UK service for children in danger / trouble but many who ring are being told: 'Sorry, please try again later.' That means 1,000's of frightened children are turned away without being offered any help or advice" (8/8/1990). “… bullied into feeling unimportant…” UK: SUICIDE: "10 children a year commit suicide due to BULLYING at school. If only teachers would take this seriously" (That's Life, BBC, March 1994) (Don’t we need to learn HOW to defend ourselves?) "Many suffer bullying not only in schools... but by parents, siblings. Bullies and the bullied have a big problem. It's all a matter of knowing how to defend yourself…"“How do you deal with bullies?” “You need strength…” (Karate: Avoid if you’re not into loads of chops and hurt hands…) (Aikido does not focus on striking of one's opponent, but on re-directing their negative energy so you gain control.”) "BULLYING affects 1 in 3 primary school children, 1 in 4 secondary school children. It blights lives of many youngsters... (it means: Bullying). Devastating consequences- they carry the scars because of it. 75% of children are afraid. 'We want them to have the confidence to talk about it. Too many children are living in fear, in silence. Hopefully this campaign will encourage them to speak up about it. Schools are determined to stamp it out" (21/11/2004) (“They’re doing everything to discourage it…”) EXPERT: “BULLYING is found IN ALL ASPECTS of life - in the workplace – EVERYWHERE. Our society is based on BULLYING, but this does not make it right.” "One million children are addicted to gambling on 25

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“I’m all behind it” said Tony Blair. Government is backing the campaign for healthy meals. £10’s of £millions will be spent updating school kitchens and training staff to come up with more interesting meals by 2006” (20/3/2005) Are they just saying this because a General Election is due? Or will it really happen?” “Calls for extra money to be spent on school meals. It can only be implemented by spending more money…” (Average cost of a school meal = 37p. £1 a meal wanted to Afford the ingredients). “An extra £220 million has been agreed…” “… missing the point. The provision of school meals has been privatised. Large companies are making large profits out of providing junk to our children. They always drive the cost down while charging as much as they can get away with. The food may only be worth 37p a portion but parents are charged £1.50- the rest is profits and overheads. Predictably these companies are saying they can improve quality if they get more money…” (Schools could grow fruit and veg using spare school land… the children could grow food as part of their Education. That would be a good way of keeping costs down…) “Children enjoy eating food they have grown...” (“The simple pleasure of growing your own healthy produce! Nothing beats that.” “See! When you try new things, it’s nice!” “Freshness. Freshness! It’ll brighten up your face…”) “School counsellors will sign children off if they are aggressive…” (Where is the logic?) “I was only angry with my teachers because of what was happening to me at home… I took it out on them…” “EMERGENCY APPEAL made for money to keep Child-Line going. Example of why Child-line is needed: ‘I went on holiday with my Dad. He told me to get out. I don’t know where I am” (25/7/2005) (Child-

high-tech ‘fruit’ machines" (8/7/1993). "You've got a chip on your shoulder..." "School dinners are being scrapped in one Conservative controlled borough to keep the PollTax bill down... More than 570,000 children will be told there is nothing on the menu…” (1990). "POOR DIET: Many children are filling up on snacks and unhealthy fast food. Their diet is unhealthy. The World Health Organisation (WHO) wants to improve their diet. The need for fresh fruit and vegetables... Contractors find this difficult..." (2/3/1994). "Locally produced, healthy food could be provided for school dinners..." “Fresh fruit and veg always tastes better…” “Cases of severe malnutrition reported amongst poorer pupils, and cases of old diseases such as TB. Stopping school milk blamed” (14/1/1997). “School kitchens should be used to help feed the poor who can’t Afford fresh fruit and veg” (7/10/1997).

“One school is selling fresh fruit to children instead of crisps etc., as fruit found to improve behaviour and help performance…” (BBC1 SE, June 1999).

“10% of children are emotionally disturbed, 20% of adolescents are mentally ill, 273 in every 100,000 attempt suicide…” (3/2/1999). “… schools under special measures for emotionally disturbed children with behavioural problems…” “THE KIDS ARE HAVING NONE of it: School children have an unacceptably unbalanced diet. Salty, fatty, processed, loads of additives. In the school kitchen, they open box after box… of minced, reconstituted ‘food’ can’t really tell what’s inside. Preferred school dinner is chips or mashed potato ‘smiley faces’ with beef burgers. This diet will not help them concentrate. Totally irresponsible. No fresh fruit or vegetables! Budget only 37p per meal. What can you make with that which the kids will like? There’s a health crisis looming. Kids are so constipated * not passing a stool (doing a poo) for 6 weeks! Cutting out the (artificial) sugary foods, kids more loving & calmer. Getting kids to help cook the food & giving them stickers for trying it works… If the government don’t make changes then they don’t care about our kids” (Jamie Oliver, Channel 4, 23/2/2005) (*Eat fruit! Ah! Fruit speeds evacuation!) “James Oliver shocked the nation by saying: This is the 1st generation of children who are expected to die before their parents…” POLL: Approx. 100,000 people backed the campaign for healthy school meals by voting on Channel 4’s website…” (Charles Clarke, Labour’s Education Secretary agreed to improving quality of children’s school meals, then was immediately reshuffled to another government job…)

line now working with the NSPCC 2006). “BULLYING WRECKS LIVES” (2006).

“School Kids Strap on Stab-Proof Vests as KNIFE CRIME Soars: Every week in London 52 teenagers are victims of knife crime, according to the Metropolitan Police. A child is stabbed to death in Britain every 2 weeks and knife killings outnumber gun homicides 3 to 1, said Norman Brennan, a police officer and director of the Victims of Crime Trust. ‘Knife crime is out of control and kids

carry them like fashion accessories,' Brennan said. … Statistics indicate that more children are reaching for blades as gang culture spreads. Some 42 percent of boys aged between 11 and 16 in statefunded schools admit to having carried a knife, according to the Youth Justice Board, which oversees punishment of child offenders. Some students have brought machetes, combat knives, swords and sharpened screwdrivers to school, 26

children’s bad behaviour, Teacher’s leaders warned” (Evening Standard, 26/7/1994). ("Are teachers (role models) really aware of the need for this thing in society? THE DANGEROUS DOUBLE STANDARD?” “Do you have a no-nonsense approach?” “Do you think you could please re-evaluate it? I’d much appreciate it.”) "It's all go at this end!” "I haven't got time to think about it, never mind do anything about it." “That’ll be the day when people are allowed to do what they like i.e. what they are good / best at.” “It just don’t work out that way. I don’t want to give you false hopes. Oh, darling of mine, I just can’t believe it - oh no.” "Show respect for this school." "Why should I?" "Our traditions go back a long way." "That doesn't make them right - only old-fashioned. Out of date." A TEACHER: “DEAL with it. I said DEAL with it! Did you hear me? Well say something then! Or am I talking to myself?” "3 boys tried to blow up their maths teacher because she was too strict" (8/8/1990). PART-TIME SCHOOLING: Most children will only get part-time schooling by the middle of next decade because of chronic teacher shortages... shortages far worse than officially predicted... 50,000 fewer secondary teachers, 10,000 fewer primary school teachers in 1997, than in 1987. Projections for numbers of pupils- set to increase by more than 500,000 in primary schools in 1991 2000, in secondary schools by 365,000. There are shortages in almost every subject. Unless something is done very soon, there will only be part-time education for the majority of children in our schools. The 3-day week or morning / afternoon education could become a reality…” (report by National

police say…” (ref. www.blomberg.com 22/3/2007) (That would not be happening if Aikido was on the curriculum…) TEACHERS: 1950’S: TEACHERS SAID: "These dirty, disgusting devil children. These louts, misfits. They don't seem to make any effort to fit in." "They've only got themselves to blame." "They're all simple-minded retards." “Little perishers… Are they angels or devils?” 1990’s: TEACHERS SAID: “You’ll do what I say whether you like it or not.” “I’m not cut out for it.” “There’s got to be something they like doing.” “… it might be their forte...” “Stop it! Stop it right now.” "Do it this way, or else. I mean it. Oh! I'm so mad, I could scream." “No slacking!” “I told you he never had it in him…” "I don't want to hear it you'll do as you are told." "Sit down and be quiet." "Stop your agitating. It won’t do any good." “Your attitude really stinks! You wont get very far in life…” "Don't keep going on about it." “Oh, there’s no rest for the wicked…” “I don’t know. She’s got a good head on her shoulders but she won’t use it.” “She’s got a good brain, if only she’d apply it…” "I'm sure it's just a phase..." "Your son will probably grow out of it." "If you don't do it, you'll only regret it for the rest of your life." “You don’t expect their growing-up to go without a glitch but you don’t expect all this drama!” LACK LUSTRE: "I don't know what's gone wrong with the youth of today. I just don’t understand. They’re alive, but brain-dead! So aggressive! No respect for anybody, or anything!" “It’s as if they are numb… in another dimension…” (The twi-light zone?) “They're not inspired..." "Kid's have so much energy! There's nowhere for them to be really active - safely." "The young just want to have fun." "It's amazing with kids. Set them a good example and they follow it." “As soon as you mention HARD work they shy away!" "These children are so battered!" "Kids are giving up." “If their home life was better…” "A professional doesn't cheat." "All I know is they've got to feel they can trust you." "We are criminalising children!" "We had it hard. But these poor kids... They'll really have to go through it..." "We need something more suitable for our needs..." "We owe it to every child to provide the best care we can..." "We can't go on as if nothing has happened! All this irresponsibility and inactivity. It's got to stop!" “Parents must go back to school for lessons on how to bring up their children. Mothers and fathers are failing their children. Too many parents cannot be bothered or are unwilling to admit defeat when attempting to curb their

Assoc. of School Teachers).

"MANY TEACHERS HAVE RESIGNED because of the lack of discipline in schools - are having to teach crowd control. The lack of respect for authority..." (Is it any wonder?) "Teachers spend most of their time containing children..." "No wonder teachers take so much SICK leave." "TEACHER SHORTAGES: 400 teachers every week leaving the profession." "Cutting Education Budgets. 70,000 teachers jobs." "Pay Negotiations = Rights removed." "A recipe for disillusionment and disaster." "TEACHERS REFUSED A PLAN to allow parents to help with teaching of children, arguing theirs is a skilled job..." (1990). “75,000 school governors resigning this year. ‘We are unpaid. Burden is too great’…” (1992). “INCREASING VIOLENCE AGAINST TEACHERS: 1,000's of attacks each year. Confrontations. Every pupil and teacher deserves a safe Environment" (ITN, 24/3/1993). 27

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

truant less?") “Do you mind if I bring it up with your principal?” "£10 million promised to cut truancy from schools truancy seen as a major problem contributing to juvenile crime" (25/2/1993). "Truancy leads to criminal acts" (22/3/1993). HASSLES & HEARTBREAK: The difficulties for transient children... Lack of continuity. 'We want to start a national debate about levels of truancy' said J. Patten. 'We are lucky we've got good home lives but plenty of children can't make it to school...' 'We can't put in any harder effort' say teachers. 'We should do something about it' said a Head teacher. Schools now being ranked by the government according to number of exam passes. 'Parents never mention it.' 'It isn't encouraged'..." (17/11/1993) (In my experience, for what

“Teacher after teacher spoke of stress… The increasing number of violent pupils” (National Union of Teachers conference, 1995) “Children as young as 6 are attacking teachers” (1/6/1995). 2001: TEACHERS SAID: “When something clicks, it’s amazing - it’s wonderful! These are the positive effects of being a teacher. You’ve really come good.” “They are not being intellectually challenged.” “Dull teaching materials. Teachers now can’t pass on their passion.” “The government say they want to know how to bring about a well educated nation. Give the classrooms back to the teachers and the children” (2000). “Kids these days want everything in the height of fashion!” 2005: TEACHERS SAID: “What sort of bubble are you living in?” “She’s in a dream world! Let her grow up like it.” “… it’ll save me a lot of earache!” “There is such a shortage of teachers, parents asked to help. Doesn’t matter if you don’t have any training…” (2005). “At the National teacher’s conference… speaker after speaker complained of pupil’s constant questioning of authority. There is a worrying trend…” (2005) “They are trying to find an answer to it…” (it means: All the problems). (SO MANY PROBLEMS: “There’s no simple answer?”) “Healthy food- fruit and veg, now has to be on the school dinner menu. Children will be taught how to make healthy meals” (ITN, 4/9/2006).

it’s worth, children need something to look forward to everyday to help them want to go to school).

"Many kids are home sick..." “She ran away from school…” “He’s refused to go back to school…” "It's time local communities mobilised to cut truancy' said J. Patten. "It could take the form of a network of schemes in which the whole community could take part." ("Is this a man who knows his onions?") "We've got to get a better partnership between home and school" said Labour (BBC, 26/11/1993) “For many parents school was not a positive reinforcement… so many children truant with their parents’ consent.” “Police patrolling to catch truants, to reduce crime. Parent/s FINED for not stopping truanting” (1998) “It’s such a responsibility to stop them running off…” “We can’t force them…” “10,000 children are not in school…are slipping through the system…” (10/12/2004). “Truants = Fast-tracked... prosecutions. 1 in 10 pupils truanting. 500,000 pupils a day…” “£1 BILLION spent trying to reduce truancy. More pupils than ever are truanting… The Labour government said: “We must stop it as early as we can.” Parents of truants can now be imprisoned. Schools now have a zero-tolerance of bad behaviour. All schools must take a proportion of expelled / excluded pupils. CRITICS SAID: “Could we think of 1st class places to help them get back their lives? A Teen-start programme. There are some very broken children…” (Ignored)

TRUANCY: "If that's how you feel about it, you can keep it." “I’m out of it.” EXPERT: “Bunking off is often a sign the child needs some help…” “Do you want to swing on a star? And be better off than you are? If you don’t want to go to school… would you rather be a mule?” (famous song).

"TRUANCY BLIGHTS INNER-CITY SCHOOLS: 1 in 4 schools experiences serious truancy and bad exam results. A serious truant stays off school for days at a time, or weeks. Selective truants are absent for particular days or lessons. 28% of children obtain no exam passes at all" (BBC Panorama Survey).

“Children are choosing the lessons they attend…” Shock - Horrors! “How dare these upstarts dictate to us!” "MISSING OUT: 200,000 children regularly truant. Called 'Tomorrows Failures' (18/10/1990). "Special police squads are scouring housing estates to round-up truants and vandals"

(January, 2005).

POLL: “71% blamed parents for truancy” (Sky News, 4/2/2005).

When something goes wrong at school, parents told: “It’s the parent’s fault” (March 2005). “556,644 children absent in 2002. 55,000 every day. Until we make teaching relevant and interesting, truancy likely to get worse” (4/2/2006).

(3/12/1992).

KID’S ATTITUDE: “Sick of it all – scratch the surface…” ("Maybe if kids were better motivated they would

EXCLUDED FROM EDUCATION: “Oh no! I’ll lose my head!” 28

disorder (Attention Hyperactivity Deficiency Disorder) (symptoms include inattention, impulsiveness, even violent outbursts). Neuroscientist Professor Rose said he is opposed to the widespread use of drugs to treat children. 'This isn't a brain problem. It is a problem with society. You shouldn't alter a person because they don't fit into society. There are a few cases when the drug Ritalin may be useful but the condition is being blown up into hysterical proportions. This is not the right way to deal with school difficulties. But there is now a vociferous lobby trying to bring the widespread use of the drug into the UK. Professor E. Taylor of the Medical Research Council's Child Psychiatrists Unit in London believes AHDD is caused by a shortage of chemical transmitters in the brain. If not treated with Amphetamines, AHDD can drive sufferers to criminal behaviour, drug addiction, or even violence. USA: Over 1 million people are on Ritalin- the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating charges that children who might need nothing more than counselling are being given heavy doses of Ritalin instead" (The Big Issue, 1994). RITALIN: “Inappropriate. Widely used against school children, drunks, the mentally disturbed. 70 medical Experts questioned safety”

“I’M A REJECT.” "You don't know what it feels like to be DUMPED" shouts an angry teenager. "Leaving me out of it..." "I'm being denied an education. You don't know how much that hurts - to be a nothing!" "You become labourers when you haven't had an education." (Ah!) "My parents were very keen I had an education but I said ‘nah, can't see the point of it.’ Wish I had listened to them now." “TURNED AWAY: Shunted from one school to another... Child may be too bright, emotionally disturbed, maybe nothing done for them so they fall behind... 1,000's of children permanently excluded - having been expelled – ‘kicked’ out of school, now losing out. Out of sight, but not out of our minds... Let down... drift into crime... a lot drop out of society altogether.” “’Oh, help them to be wise’, every mother says and knows.” “Help them find their place so they will be safe!” “Primary school exclusions - doubled to crisis proportions. Secondary school exclusions rising dramatically. Over last 2 years 35 - 50% increase. Current system offers incentive to exclude! Children much more vulnerable than 10 years ago... New, deeply-seated emotional problems... Parents cannot choose school - schools choose pupils. If over subscribed - easy to exclude - block admission to pupils who are not appropriate. 'Our school is distinctive. Our school has values.' Labelled ‘anti-establishment.’ Happening nationwide... On the market looking for somewhere to be educated. Got 9 0rdinary level exam passes but not allowed to do Advanced levels! As money gets tighter - more exclusions... Unlikely to win an Appeal. Exclusions not only the problem of the schools. Lack of provision for children with special needs... A system of fines and rewards might be introduced... Tackle the causes - a lot of schools are trying… Teachers trained in assertive discipline... the carrot and stick approach. The climate looks bleak. Despondency amongst young people. What is the point of education? To learn responsibility is the important thing. To feel they belong. The Education Reform Act has created the problem. The government does not recognise there are losers, only winners. Children feeling isolation, removed from the system - rejected..." (First Sight,

(29/11/2004).

PARENT: “… just about every kid I know has been diagnosed as having AHDD but the truth is they don’t know really know what it is… so they don’t know what to do with them…” "We ignore the growing army of the excluded at our peril" (Panorama, BBC 15/3/1993). "MORE VICTIMS: Youngsters who leave home because of poor exam results are swelling the number of Homeless on London's streets... 'They are frightened of their parents' reaction and take off' said the Metropolitan police's Juvenile Protection Unit..." (29/4/1993). "How could we stop children just up and leaving?" ("Why do they want to?") "… it's not a contest- it's an opportunity to show that we CARE." "SCANDAL OF FORGOTTEN SCHOOL KIDS: THE LOST GENERATION... for whom there is no school place... booted out every year in the UK... many spend 3 years trying to get back into education... a sizeable proportion of pupils disappear from the education system...” (re: Dr. Barnado report, Daily Mirror, 2/3/1994).

"... a high percentage of excluded pupils are black children..." (2/3/1994). "SCHOOLS CLOSED TO CUT EMPTY PLACES:

BBC, 3/12/1992).

BBC Mori POLL: "66,000 CHILDREN are excluded from education…” “It’s been perfectly planned…” (“Have you heard all their lies?”) ”One boy was excluded for having his hair tied in a pony-tail..." (13/8/1993). “PROBLEM CHILDREN: The use of Amphetamines to treat a little diagnosed attention

Education chiefs are to close 100 schools because they say there is room for the pupils in unfilled classes elsewhere. State schools in England and Wales have room to spare for more than 1.3 million pupils. Each empty secondary place costs £300 a year and a primary space £180. Education chiefs have been ordered to save £310 million by shutting under-used schools. J. Patten ruled out reports that he plans to axe 29

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increased adult education fees, without careers services, and the demise of courses" (4/4/1990). "Cash cut schools: Impaired development…" "CUTTING BACK ON EDUCATION IS SILLY. We need to invest in our children. Islington council spends £1,700 per child. Westminster council spends £17,000 per child" said M. Hodge, leader of Islington council. "A place in education is being denied to 1,000's of people due to government cuts. We must find a way of funding it" (20/8/1993). “One school wants £500 million to build a state-ofthe-art sports hall. Will have to sell part of the school building…” (14/7/1994). “There may be 10,000 teachers jobs cut. Protests about budget cuts growing. Councils cannot raise the money themselves” (6/2/1995). “Education budget cuts to fund a Tax cut for the next General Election. Couldn’t a reduction in Tax be got from elsewhere?” (7/2/1995).

1,000 schools by Christmas... but it is known that Warwickshire is discussing plans to shut 50 of their 250 schools" (The Sun, 7/3/1994). “Scientists have discovered one gene causes children to misbehave” (June 1994) (“Couldn’t they isolate genes the size of oranges responsible for causing criminality in politicians?”) “We need something for children even if they fail…” (July 1994). “ADJUSTMENT DISORDER…” “50 pupils a day are being excluded… The Conservatives, if elected, want a massive expansion in special schools for ‘difficult’ children will cost £200 million. ‘School discipline is not an optional extra’ said Michael Howard. These ‘Turn Around’ schools will do random drug testing… Teachers fear these will be privately run boot camps. Conservatives also want ‘excluded without Appeal’ to be introduced” (29/11/2004) “Excluded. There is little help. ‘Very boring with nothing to do.’ More community projects are needed - a back-up service provided by the Local Education Authority” (10/12/2004). “Head teachers must have the right to expel.” “Liberal Democrat’s want positive behaviour plans”

MASTER PLAN: "Schools should be run as businesses and allowed to turn away pupils for any reason they choose" Norman Tebbit told a meeting… HIDDEN AGENDA: TUITION FEES: "Government is making education into a status product. That is, if you want a decent education, but can't Afford it, you'll have to save, hoping you can Afford it later - an established marketing ploy." "We all know what you're up to. The Conservative's agenda is BUILDING CASH..." "WILL EDUCATION BECOME A LUXURY… FOR THE RICH? The Elite? They don't want people to be Educated / people to know too much. Education = Power, in the government's view!" PREDICTED: “Information may become very expensive.”

(pre-election 2005).

PARENT: “What is the point of putting him on the streets when I am trying everything to keep him off the streets?” “I don’t know why he failed - he lacked something…” (OMEGA 3 = Brain food to help kids concentrate better). FUNDING: "How can this country Afford decent Education for those that want it?" "TOTAL EDUCATION BUDGET = £200 BILLION. Has to be agreed with the Defence industry the MILITARY" (1990) (see Chapter 13). "They can't Afford to train you?" "It's all about 'bums on seats.' Establishments get paid according to how many people attend..." (so if I don’t go…) “… the plan to chop £4.6 million from school budgets…" (1990). "Crisis hit schools. Good reform comes from public debate." "We need a long term change in British attitudes. Politicians have to realise offering our children a good education gets votes." "Working with children is very stressful. It's down to the government to provide the money we need to train staff." "We are waiting for a change of government"

CHOICE: "How do we attract children and teachers back? What can we do? We're desperate!" (1990). "One of the government's leading education advisors announced he is quitting his £60,000 a year job as a school chief... He said: 'They must set up a national system of academic, technical and creative schools to give parents more choice'..." (3/12/1992).

"Children are not happy, parents are not happy. Fewer can choose a school despite J. Major's 'Parents Choice' scheme" (24/9/1993). "TO INCREASE CHOICE… the government will allow parents and independent groups to set-up their own schools using public money. Grant maintained schools. Has published guidelines. 15% comes from private funds. Wants industry to become more involved with education. Schools can specialise EG. in technology, Art. 'A gimmick' said Labour. 'Funds should be put in existing schools.' It

(July 1990).

"Government spending cuts could reverse the achievements of 120 years... warning of polarisation of rich and poor. Without more government investment, all education authorities can look forward to is a worsening teacher shortage, bigger classes, disappearing grants, 30

is unlikely that more than a handful will be set-up"

ended. Labour claims the subsidies, which give the opportunity to 30,000 children to be taught at some of the best schools in the country, are a waste of money. The scheme costing £67 million a year, would be phased out but would not affect children already receiving financial help" (so they say, but this not what is happening...) (22/2/1994).

(30/12/1993).

CASH CUTS: Schools are heading for disaster. Schools opting out of Local Authority control are in big trouble... Large number of government grant maintained schools. Not enough money for maintenance (of traditional buildings).” “I think parents would like to see new schools set up, with a greater diversity of what is taught. Market forces will prevail” said John Patten, (22/6/1977). "150,000 children have opted out... More and more children are opting out of the State school system - are being taught at home... 'We were unhappy about it, but the school couldn't do anything about it. The Head master had absolute control over everything...' 'My child lost the desire to learn. One problem after the other. My child was not happy - so decided to opt out...' ..." (10/11/2004). “… the report by the London School of Economics said Mr. Blair’s decade has failed to give parents choice…” (Daily Mirror, 12/5/2007).

HIGHER EDUCATION: "Colleges are big landowners." "COLLEGE BUILDINGS PLIGHT: ... many further education buildings are in an advanced state of disrepair... some require rewiring and need to be tripped of asbestos, as part of a modernisation programme. Nearly 80% of 185 colleges leaders consider their existing accommodation is inadequate... some say there has been little renovation on former school buildings dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Students are working in increasingly cramped conditions, many in temporary buildings and there is a shortage for offices, catering and recreation rooms. Many colleges complained of loose and cracked roof tiling, leaking roofs and said significant improvements needed to be made to comply with health and safety requirements. Most colleges plan to reorganise their sites to make better use of their property. Many hoped to sell land to pay for ‘improvements.’ The Further Education Funding Council for England has commissioned a survey... they plan to spend £17 million on buildings... to begin improvements on what they describe as 'generally poor stock'..." (The Guardian, 9/10/1992). "It's not easy being a student..." "Many students’ halls are in HIGH-RISE blocks..." "The noise! Sound systems, people coming and going..." "He needs somewhere to study..." “Students do better if they have a dedicated study area.” “Can anyone give this poor struggling medical student tips on how to save money on digs?” “TYPICAL STUDENT ACCOMMODATION? Uninspiring.” “The students just want to have some fun…” "… it's taking too long." "Oh! Quick! There's a boy on the roof, going to jump. He thinks he's going to fail his exams..." "Too many overseas people came to England to take advantage of our 'free' education system...” so government introduced charges... used to be 100% student grants available - now even if parents on a low income, unlikely to get a grant... grants frozen so as cost of living rose... Grants minimal to cover travel expenses but not rent. Parents supposed to pay additional costs. "Universities resemble building sites as students are squeezed in to drive down unit costs. Expansion temporarily halted - costs too high.

PRIVATE EDUCATION: "We encourage a family atmosphere. Small classes - maximum 15 pupils. Each is an individual. We see to each others’ needs. Our own sports field, pool, stable. Dilapidated building. Set in nice grounds... Reasonable fees? Fees have to go up to pay for building works EG. needs repointing, windows falling out, ancient wiring... the rooms are cold. Years of damage and neglect. The whole school needs to be modernised..." "Dominated by the old school tie." "I don't want to go to school. I don't want to be so far from home." "You know how much it means to your mother. You don't want to depress her, do you?" "I've always hated what this place stands for privilege... I'd much rather there was equal education for ALL children." "Cost of putting a child through private education on average is £130,000" (2/9/1993). "CANING (corporal punishment) can continue in private schools" (25/3/1993). "LESS protection for children at private schools... Many children are expelled for drug and alcohol related problems. Now shortage of pupils. Head of Westminster Boys school believes counselling would be better than excluding" (November 1993). "Labour are pressing ahead with their plans to stop working class children going to public schools. In a twin assault, Labour are also committed to reviewing Tax breaks given to independent schools under charitable status. The proposals have stunned independent schools, which attacked Labour as a step backwards and warned that children from low-income families would lose out, if government scholarships were 31

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Technology colleges which will study Science, maths and Engineering" (28/1/1994). “Nationally, students mid-term are being told there is a lack of money for Adult education training courses…” (21/3/2005). "COLLEGE BOXES CLEVER to house students. Mass-produced homes hailed as housing for the 21st century have been bought by the University of Wales... the self-contained study-bedrooms cost £6,400 each and 64 modules have been stacked together and encased in brick... to form a hall of residence. The modules, made from a composite of steel and fibre-reinforced cement... measure 20' x 10' x 8.' .... idea conceived by John Prewer, Technical Director at Trinity Modular Technology (TMT of London). He teamed up with building

Government wants students to pay for courses. Students already in debt to pay for living expenses EG. via student (bank) loans. Something must give" (BBC, 23/9/1993). "CAN'T GO TO UNIVERSITY UNLESS YOU GET A MEGA-LOAN…" “Students can get a bank loan - have to pay back, even if something goes wrong...” "Government now plans to Tax income for rest of life at 2% higher rate to repay cost of higher education. Government also considering Taxing former students similarly. Cost approx. £14,000 to be put through university. Fear - will all students be heavily taxed? There is a funding crisis. An alternative is needed…" (Talk Back Radio, 20/8/1993). “I wanted to go to college but it didn’t work out…” "Further Education increased my confidence." "Nice if there was something at the end of it…" “They keep moving the goal posts! Uneducated can’t get a decent job. Educated - they say no job ‘cos you’re not experienced! Well-educated -they say you’re too qualified! What the hell is going on?” "I'm in so heavily in debt! I'm only 20. Christ! Is this how the rest of my life is going to be? Never being free?" Ah! Can’t get started… "I'm on the run from the authorities because I can't Afford to pay back the cost of studying to be a social worker. I qualified but I couldn't get a job. I'm being pursued..." "More than 600 STUDENTS taken to COURT for defaulting on their student loans... Real alarm. Many students feeling the pinch. Government denies loans deter people from higher education" (BBC, 13/10/1993). "BRITISH UNIVERSITIES FACING BANKRUPCY..." “6 million adults need help with literacy. Only 300,000 places available” (1998). "EVENING CLASS FUNDING DRIED UP..." "1/3rd of students drop out from courses said the Audit Commission. Mismatch between students and courses is biggest cause. Colleges accused of not checking suitability simply to fill buildings" (February, definition of an educational 1993) (Their Module…) "More than ½ the students who want to follow ART courses will be disappointed. Cuts in courses. Will have to opt for Science subjects instead. Joy faded. Feel LET DOWN by the system" (BBC,

engineers Ove Arup & Partners, and Styling International,

which fits car interiors, to turn his ideas into reality. Their 1st design was a £23,000 micro flat, envisaged as a pied-a-Terre for business people... but when the university's finance director read about the module... he decided a scaled down version would be perfect for his undergraduates. 'The building trade loves to create products that require lots of maintenance... which is a real problem when housing students’ he said. 'So we looked for a solution... and these fitted the bill.' The students are delighted. 'I love it. It looks small but there's lots of room really. I've got my own shower it's everything I want.' Next year the university intends to buy improved Mk 2 unit that will cost only £5,500 each. Mr. Prewer believes the modules could be slotted into redundant office buildings and used as overflow hotel rooms or bedsits for the Homeless" (The Times, 31/1/1994) (Well, it just goes to show. I am not the only one who believes in solving problems with MODULES. “Let’s see. Could we train a very large team…” "There is going to be a dire shortage of Chemistry graduates... Many students believe more money is to be made by studying Psychology... Universities are closing laboratories" (August, 2004). (My father, R.W. Speke, was a Research Chemist. He took over the Dye-stuffs / Farben division in Germany. His favourite expression was):

"WITH CHEMISTRY, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!" “Unable to spare funding… Architecture courses cut” (December 2004). “Very little is changing in higher education. People from poorer backgrounds are still not going on into higher education. They think it’s not for them. This is a big problem” (19/1/2005). “… the local community is irate at plans for Barratt, to build (traditional) housing on the college site… residents want more green space. Councillors do not support their views…” (9/5/2005). “Tony Blair promised to introduce postponed repayment of loans whilst studying or until earning

25/8/1993).

"Conservative MP, J. Patten attacked Student Unions and had eggs thrown at him. He wanted to take control of their funds to stop money being spent on political protests. He backed down after protests in The House of Lords" (January, 1994). "Shortage of sponsors for the 12 new 32

She said: “Let’s take it nice and slow. It’s more than a one night stand…” HE SAID: “What’s wrong with a bit of bump and grind?” “Don’t be snobby about it…” “It’s a sweet little mystery…” “Let me come inside you” (to hell with the need for protection! ) "Playing the Field" = "Bonking anything willing, sewing wild seeds..." (1992). “What’s size got to do with it?” SHE SAID: “They try so hard to convince us they’ve got something big for us, then hold this against us, saying it’s only a small little thing, and blame you…” “How was it for you?” “Did you fake it?” “I never thought it could be this good!” = Perfect sex. “How was it for me? How was it for you? Was it good?” “We’ll talk about it in the morning. I’ve had all I can take. I don’t want to fight. I’m weary to the bones…” … it can’t be helped…” “That’s it then? We’ve had it?” (If only people were less sex-mad. “It’s just a thought. I’ll leave it with you.”) SHE SAID: “I don’t know why I love him so. He started something… It’s just a feeling, that’s all. He takes me in- I’m good enough for him to bonk but that’s as far as it goes- he only wants me for my body! Do you really want to know how I feel inside? My aching heart… I would go blind to make you see…” “I’ll show him how to touch me in a different way…” “Oh no. It mustn’t come to anything.” “Something clicked when he met her but now he’s cheating…” “He has too many lovers.” “He’s offered me $20 to give it to him! Can’t men ever get sex off their minds? They are out of their minds…” “It doesn’t mean anything to him! He hasn’t a care in this world!” USA: “11,000 porn videos released every year…” “He’s probably got 7 other women on his mind…” “What are you looking for? The perfect… woman?” “He’s exchanged me for a younger looking model.” (“… it could redefine the word: ‘playboy’…”) FLIRTING: “Come and get it, no you can’t have it…” DEFENDING A RAPE CHARGE: “She was asking for it! Oh, I’ll never understand women…” “There is no such thing as sexual equality” (1994). “… it’s my fantasy. I’d like to see men bend over backwards trying to reward women for their beauty, their desire for immaculate’ness.” “ANYTHING FOR THE LADIES” ? (“… make a rainbow all around her…”) “I know you deserve something… You’ve been so good to me. I never feel I’m doing enough…” (“You’ve got to do what will make you happy.”) “Girls just wanna have fun/ds.” “… and you thought she had everything she wanted…” Consolation Prize: A bunch of cut flowers. Sighs!

over £15,000 per annum” (pre-Election 2005). SEX EDUCATION: BATTLE OF THE SEXES: “Love me tender, love me true. All my dreams fulfilled…” “None of us are perfect. We all muddle along…” “What’s it to you?” Ah! “What does it matter to you?” “… it’s the gentle-manly thing to do.” “… it’s all you can ask of any man…” HE SAID: “I’m surprised a nice girl like you hasn’t been snapped up. Baby, anything you want, you got it!” “Lean on me when you’re not strong. I’ll help you carry on…” “She gets really touchy about it!” SHE SAID: “It’s a little twinkle in the back of the eyes…” “It’s a really touchy subject…” “It’s strange! It gives me the willies!” “There are men who smile right at you. But don’t be fooled…” “You don’t look as if you’ve got it in you…” “It gives me the creeps…” (“Can you see it in his eyes? See the lies in his eyes? Has he really got it?”) “What really is the apple of their eye?” “Love ‘em and leave ‘em fast?” “How can I know for sure? This will take more than a blood test.” “Check out his personality. Take a long time before deciding. Is this a man you want to spend the rest of your life with?” “Most men only care about themselves…” “If we can’t be friends, how can we be lovers?” (“Has he really got it going on?” “Does he know where it’s at?” “Will he groove it or treat you like a mat?” “Will your sweet dreams be realised, or not?”) “Give me everything I need. Speak the language of love like you know what it means...” “Is it in his eyes or have you been deceived?” “You know what he’s thinking: How am I going to get it?” (“A Man’s Definition of Paradise? Maybe that’s why it’s not moving on?”) “Now that we’ve found LOVE, what are we going to do with it?” “Let’s Do it…” = “Let’s get physical!” = “Turn the lights out baby. Just leave it to me darling. I’ll take care of everything” “It’s nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about sweetheart.” “Will it feel good inside? It’ll be so good to you.” “It’s nothing to be afraid of.” “Leave it up to me, pet…” “Tonight we’re going to make it happen… we’ll put everything else aside…” “Let’s have it away!” “Let’s get excited… We can’t hide it” = “Let’s not think… I know I like it…” “Do you want to have a bit of fun?” = “Groovy” = “It turns me on…” “Let’s get it on!” “It’s a pleasure” = “Ain’t nothing going to stop us now” = “It’s going to be alright…” “I really want it to last.” = 1,000’s of manuals… describing a wide variety of coupling techniques… (all means: “Let’s have sex.”) “Most put their body on display” = “Lust confused with LOVE.” 33

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how to budget and live within her means and how to establish lasting relationships with other adults. If she refuses or neglects to attend the classes, then she would lose her benefit. The Vicar’s outburst comes 2 weeks

“Is this what I really need?” “Flowers cheer me up. SIGH. There should be no wasteland. We should plant flowers…” “WOMEN are like FLOWERS. They bloom and wait for a man to cut them - then they die slowly… in agony...” “Maybe a baby would bring us closer together?” “DOING THE DIRTY”: He said: “She ain’t worth it.” “It’s not enough. I’ll still get bored. When I do, I’ll split and be off - ok?” “Deserting me…” “He walks away from me- his face like a lump of cold stone…” “Alison’s pregnant and her Mum wants nothing to do with it. Silly cow. Alison’s doing my head in. I don’t want my wife to know. Alison’s on the street, living rough, she’s got nowhere to go.” (“She only needs a bit of comfort and support.”) “Let me come with you.” “You can’t. There’s nowhere for you to stay...” “She got pregnant. He threw her out.” “She’s pregnant! Some things can’t wait till the Bank’s interest rate falls…” “Became pregnant. Had complications. Lost her job, and her accommodation, suddenly found she had no money, her man didn’t want to know…” “… she’s just got to roll her sleeves up and get on with it basically...” “Having a child was the best thing that ever happened to me- made me responsible- stopped me going to clubs, getting drunk, going out with lots of boys. My only regret is how cruel people regard us…” “Being a full-time single-parent is exhausting…” “Single-parents include those who have lost a parent through accidents - widows.” “VICAR BRANDS SINGLE MOTHERS AS SPONGERS: A London Vicar who told parishioners to stop giving money to beggars today attacked single mothers. The Rev. Ken Hewitt, 63, branded unmarried women who get themselves pregnant…” (immaculate conception/s?) “… and then demand state hand-outs as ‘selfish and irresponsible.’ He accused them of claiming money for rent, food, baby clothes and then spending the cash on other things. Some women have 7 children by different fathers, and live on taxpayers’ money…” (so many men are abusers of women and children). “The system seems to be saying have as many children as you like and we will pay you more money for every child you bring into this world. We are not helping these women in their moral laxity. It’s like giving money to drug addicts. They need guidance to help them stand on their feet. What message is our welfare system giving? A scheme for women who have children out of wedlock is suggested along these lines: A

after he branded beggars as ‘liars and spongers’…” (Evening Standard, 9/8/1995). (“… it should be encouraged… to help avoid such unfortunate circumstances…”) “PROPOSED CHANGES FOR SINGLE PARENTS: (Copying system in America): Women are told when your child is a few weeks / months old, you have to go out to work – Welfare / support cut. No extra benefit money if you have more than 1 child. Stopping the Rights to Housing” (18/9/1993) (“Single-parents need more HELP, not less!”) “The Arch Bishop of Canterbury said single parents should be helped, not beaten with big sticks.” “We would like to live self-sufficiently but we can’t - we have to depend on ‘Social Security’ for support.” HEART-BREAKING: “America is seriously suggesting that to eradicate ‘the single-parent problem,’ children of single-parents should be forcibly removed and put in State-run workhouses, to save Tax-payers’ money. The cost to keep a child in a State-run institution is, all in all, £1,000 a week. Do you honestly believe this scheme will save any money? Can you really imagine for one minute mothers will allow their children to be taken away from them? Mothers will lay down their lives to stop this from happening.” (Only one parent, twice the love / bond. “… it’s about mothers who want to protect their cubs… No instinct on Earth is stronger than that.”) “If I can’t provide a decent home, I can’t get custody…” “The DHSS rule that women have to live alone with their child/ren to qualify for financial assistance doesn’t help…” Re: CHEATS: “We take all FRAUD very seriously. Even a man working one week whilst claiming (welfare) benefit will be done for defrauding the government.” “But I’m only trying to keep my head above water! Been out of work for so long now. Got to pay off my debts…” CIVIL SERVANT: “I understand your situation but you know it’s wrong. You will have to pay back the money. You will get a prison sentence.” “In the UK, we’ve got so many single parents because there’s no financial incentive for men. A young man, earning little, commits financial suicide by staying with a woman - he knows she will be ‘better looked after’ by the State.” "WANTED: GOOD MEN." “Families need fathers…” “Women need men in so many ways!” “Many men have skipped off leaving their wife with the mortgage debt. Income Support having to pay mortgage interest Tax relief - the need to reduce this...” (October 1993).

person on welfare, having a 2nd child, then if she continues on welfare, she would be obliged to attend classes. She could be taught such elementary matters as

34

socially important / valid. Easy to keep track of so the State gets Taxes. Religious and political manipulation to gain control of the population. Traditionally to marry families – to acquire land - to benefit Fathers - not so much lovers. Daughters are their Father’s property. Marriages arranged as deals / contracts between families. Marriage - there’s supposed to be security in it. Get married to give a child a name.” MODERN INTERPRETATION: “Children would get a name anyway - whose name does not matter.” “Sure, you’re looking for a… marriage… but…” “The highest form of relationship is friendship. (True) Friends help each other to get along. That’s as good as it gets…” “Vow to be friends for life. Make a wish to do it right.” Marriage = “Unity. A socio-economic relationship based on affection.” “If you need to symbolise your love for each other, you could do worse than plant a Tree.” “Shall we seal it with a kiss?” “Let’s Make it Formal” = “Let’s have a wedding.” MARRIAGE means: “I feel connected to another Human Being.” “People get married cos they want to LOVE each other more.” “… it’s not about what we can get only how we can help each other.” “I think marriage is great for those people who want it.” Marriage. You’ve just got to work at it, haven’t you?” “Was it a marriage made in Heaven?” (“Something old, something new, something borrowed…”) “Try to make it easier on her.” “Be just as kind as you can be. Make a rainbow all around her. Take GOOD care of her.” “MAN’S AVOIDANCE OF THE DOMESTIC WORLD: “All is not quite right on the domestic front. Especially in ‘modern’ marriages where both partners have to go out to work” (to make ends meet…) MEN SAID: “It’s women’s work.” “She can do it.” “At least it’s keeping you from walking out of the door. Please don’t leave me girl…” “You know what they say. If you want anything doing properly, do it yourself!” “Women are only good for washing and cooking…” “Domestic work is women's work.” “It’s just a situation inspired by girl’s talk.” “It’s a bitch.” “Look, stop bloody nagging me woman. It means bloody nothing to me. Shut up. Get lost.” “Shut up, Dames. They never live and learn.” “Aw, don’t keep going on about it! I’ve told you. I don’t want to hear it!” “My girl keeps telling me I’m not doing my bit! For God’s sake woman, tell me what is a man supposed to do?” “… when her mind is set on something, nothing will shift her…” WOMEN SAID: “It’s a man’s world. Men are supposed to be the providers…” “A woman couldn’t do this sort of business alone!” “It’s not a job women can do!” (Traditional building work very much a male domain. Women are told to “but-out.”)

“The Child Support Agency was accused of going after fathers who already maintain their wives and children for increased payments instead of chasing fathers who have abandoned children. Outcry from men. Most of money raised by increase of maintenance payments has gone to the Inland Revenue, not to the children…” (2/1/1993). “WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD MEN GONE?” “Father committed suicide…” “Training & return to work schemes are a good idea and we need more of them (to stop the Home Secretary attacking single-parent families)” (6/10/1993).

MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS: “Have to disclose who the father is to claim financial support. Mothers’ whereabouts not kept secret by the Child Support Agency, even if domestic violence is involved…” “Social Security Secretary, Peter Lilley, defended Conservative plans to cut cash Aid to single parent families. He said the growing number of single mothers collecting benefits could not escape public spending cuts. He told Conservatives that families with children were claiming £13 BILLION in benefits a year - a rise of 75% since 1979. ‘Almost all that growth has come from the rapid increase in single-parent families’ he added. ‘There are now almost 1.3 million lone parent families in this country, many of them dependent on Social Security payments… John Redwood claimed too many single women were having babies” (4/7/1993). “BREAKDOWN of Marriages is causing women to be trapped in poverty, forced to ‘live’ on Social Security. Lack of Affordable child care blamed. The New Age man, caring & sharing in the home, is mainly a myth. 85% of single mothers are divorced women, 55% say they would go back to work if child-care problems were solved. All sides say women should be supported to help them make their own living” (BBC1, 31/8/1993). “80% of single parents are divorced women, not teenagers who are having babies on the State to get housing. Their plight is not of their making” (11/10/1993).

“Child Poverty Action Group called for increased State benefits to cut the number of children in poverty” (5/11/1993). “The Conservative’s ultimate ‘solution’ to the single parent problem? Adoption i.e. Children removed from homes the government disapproves of” (13/10/1993). THE BREAKDOWN OF FAMILY LIFE: “I want to marry a light house keeper. Oh! Be a light house keeper do…” (Strange! ‘Light Houses’ are phallic-shaped, HEAVY stone structures…) MARRIAGE = “An institution. An arrangement: A legally binding state. Strongly encouraged (same as home ownership). Idea is to make you more 35

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

here?” “His mother didn’t bring him up right. I’ll have to go through the pain of house training him…” “Can’t we just have a bit of fun once in a while? You know, break the monotonous routine have a laugh - do something different?” “Find an end to all the drudgery?” “What about me? I’m wrecked. No sleep! One child cries, wakes the other child. I spend 24 hours a day cleaning up… It’s crucial this…” She sobbed: “You mean we’ve worked for 14 years and this is all we’ve got to show for it?” “Sense the need in me.” “Men always let what’s good slip through their fingers” ? “FEAR Is The Basis Of Many Relationships”: MEN SAID: “I can take you anytime.” “I’ve got her just where I want her.” (The ball and chain my slave). “I want to be worshipped.” “If you don’t treat me better, there’s no telling what I’ll do.” (“Deep inside he’s hurting.”) WOMEN SAID: “He thinks he’s Mr. Smooth.” “Man, you’re overblown.” “… there’s a million ways you can hurt me…” “Men are so aggressive!” “Some men want to go back in time.” “His ‘solution’ is his fists…” “MEN ARE SO CRUEL. BEASTLY…” “(Some) Men are hedonistic. You’ve got to do as you’re told! Men exaggerate everything. All this VIOLENCE!” “He is a complete CONTROL freak.” “We’ve still got to do what they say…” “Men treat us as a piece of meat.” “Every now and then I get a little bit terrified.” “Many men like to take advantage of women’s vulnerability…” “Most men are beer swilling… football crazy… heavy handed… thugs. He still believes he’s got to bring a dead animal to the table for the kids to eat!” “He can be Heaven and Hell.” “He’s been right off the wall this morning...” “My man’s an animal. He beats me up.” “I never thought he had it in him!” “Their true nature comes out eventually.” “Women are afraid – we don’t like taking chances. We’re not impressed by manly ‘advances’…” “I can’t charge him with assault. I’ll have nowhere to live!” “I really hate life when it all gets on top of me…” “I can’t walk away from it sounds awful doesn’t it?” “Should I walk…” “Leave him? And live on what?” “Hands up all those women who are frightened by (their) man’s unpredictability!” “He promised the world. I didn’t know he meant to destroy it!” “He’s screwed me up.” EXPERT: “Don’t hold it in – that will only screw you up more. Confront it. Say yes, I do have a bee in my bonnet about it. Front it and see what happens.” (“Hopefully it will bring them to their senses.”) 1960’s: The Liberation of Women = “Burn your bra.” And that’s it? “Women want EQUAL Rights & Opportunities, the Right to vote, to be liberated.” “Education is the bridge for women towards independence.” “We want to make our point. We don’t want to beat them. We just want

“Lot’s of women CAN’T do it alone…” “He believes it’s women’s work! It’s as simple as that. It doesn’t matter what I do, or say…” “I can’t help it. It’s not as simple as it looks.” “It’s easier said than done!” “Men are so insensitive about it! Really cutting!” “What do we dislike most about men?” “Complacency and Arrogance.” “I can’t keep up with it. I can’t do it ALL on my own! It all needs sorting. There’s a lot of it to get sorted. It’s all playing on my mind. Stupid isn’t it?” “The girl can’t help it?” “He would do it if it suited him...” “Men just seem to think women can just get on with it!” “It takes 2…” “Why don’t you realise I can’t manage it on my own?” “Men! They haven’t got a clue!” “Oh, it never ends…” “Oh! Stay around. Don’t go away. See it through with me. Let us be friends forever. Stronger, because we’re in love, we’re together…” “Hey, how about it?” “I’m talking about the real thing for which there is no substitute.” “When it’s done, then we’ll be happy, satisfied, but until then… Perhaps it is better to face the problem than run away from it?” “Face reality?” “I keep hoping it’s going to come together. I hope it does.” “We’ve got to find our own style. At the moment, it’s neither here nor there.” “I want a proper life. I don’t want my kids to grow up on the dole - and I don’t see you doing anything about it!” "A House-Wife is tied into domestic slavery? I'm supposed to love cleaning your toilet? If it doesn't get better, WHY BOTHER?" "And he can't work out why she left..." “Men! Huh. They just don’t get it, do they? They just can’t see it.” “Sometimes men are not astute. They can’t see something that’s right under their noses.” “Most men are so selfish I wouldn’t waste my breath on them.” MEN SAID: “Just respect me when I get home, OK?” I’ve had a very HEAVY day.” ” “I’m out at work just to pay the bills. When I come in, I don’t want to find a mess! It’s your job to keep the home together…” “If we don’t have any money, we don’t eat, we can’t pay all these bills. We owe money to… I’ll go and get another job - you go and sit in front of the box as always. It’s all on my shoulders…” (“The pressure on women to work to help pay the mortgage…”) ANGER = “I’m close to losing it.” “Men frequently come home and take out the pressure of work on their wife.” “Men drink because they’ve either got women or money problems.” (“BRAVADO is increased with the number of men, and the amount of alcohol consumed.”) “Every wife worries whether he’s had a hard day or not.” “We know there’ll be a storm tonight.” “Married, mortgaged, worried…” “Don’t hold this against her…” WOMEN SAID: “Do you think I’m happy cooped up 36

you through the maze it would help?” “Yes, I’m sure it would” (California, Channel 5, 20/1/2005). “Happy families? Huh. Show me one.” “Every family has problems…” “You see many grim adults…” “Who do you know who is HAPPY? Everyone is so miserable!” “We’re waiting for a miracle to start.” “Is the marriage irreparable?” “The strain… He / She just needs a bit of… space.” “We’ve broken up and got back together again many times…” “Yeah, but you don’t ever do it, do you? How many times have I asked you? And taken you back? Get off me. I ain’t got time for that now.” “Open up and let me in.” “Sorry mate, you’ll have to do better than that.” “Money is the only thing coming between us.” “We can’t Afford to stay here.” “We split up basically because we couldn’t find anywhere where we could Afford to live.” “We can’t Afford to split up…” “Don’t let it ruin your life...” (“Don’t wish it away!”) “IF you love her, why don’t you show it?” “Go on. Make it up! You never know…” “It could be the making of you.” “Making it up” = A kiss. “We’re back together again. Yeah. We’re working on it.” "We're working it out..." “Can’t we go back to how it was in the beginning?” “Things aren’t how they used to be...” “It didn’t work out, dear.” “We had something special…” “All we do is make up… and break up. When ‘love’ HURTS, it won’t work…” “Love and marriage shouldn’t be such HARD work…” (MARRIAGE: The lack of bonding… coupling problems… Strains, Stresses… Break-ups, Breakdowns, lives cracking… FALLING APART… relationships Failing… Isn’t there a clear link here? “There’s no easy way to understand it” ? “WHY DON’T WE WAKE UP?” “Marriages are breaking up everywhere because it doesn’t mean anything anymore!”) “I’m sorry I hit you. Can I come crawling back?” “Why can’t we patch things up?” “If I don’t have you, I have nothing…” “Has he still got it in him?” “People like this say they’re sorry but they don’t mean it…” “Why are some women BEATEN time and time again by their husband?” (“Stand by your man…”) “In only 1 square mile in Fulham, London, over 800 cases of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE reported attacks against women! On average a woman can be attacked 35 times before she reports beatings to police…” (Evening Standard, 15/10/1994). (Domestic

them to understand…” “Is it getting better?” ”Are there any new men?” SURVEY: “80% of women have to do sexual favours to get men to do house work” (GMTV, 15/4/1994).

“Research shows that men now devote 3.6 seconds more a week helping to do all the house work.” “Man’s got the power. She’s got the need. All you’re really looking for is an even break. He lies right at you. You know you hate this game. You live and love in pain…” “Millions of women face…” “See the sadness in her eyes? Can’t you see what it is they despise?” These arguments are like a disease. The ‘in thing’ these days seems to be hurting each other. Competitive relationships…(“We seem to be doing a lot of that- just snapping…”) “Maybe (some) men don’t want women to be FREE from their (tyrannical) control?” “Women are taking control of their lives so you’d better get used to it.” “Women these days believe it’s much better to be independent – not to be dependent on a man.” “The ideal (partner) is a strong, independent woman with self-esteem who chooses to be with someone, not a donkey who is trained…” (“From caveman into modern man- how?”) “Has he finally wised up?” “Every man knows it’s got to be better.” “MODERN man is becoming more domesticated but only wants to take on the easy house-hold chores. CONSUMER PRESSURE: Women must take the initiative IF they really want things to change, warned ‘The British Lifestyles’ report which examines our way of life” (Mintel, 1990). DREAM: “I want a home with a view. A phone. Shorter working hours. Some time on my own. Oh! Make my dream come true.” “RENOVATE MY FAMILY: “I want to repair our marriage but I don’t know how to do it. He’s put up ‘a wall.’ He’s got a bad back following an accident.” “She’ll never get over it till you do.” “The atmosphere we live in is not positive. It ain’t working. We have no time for romance. I still remember the dreams we had. We’ve been through hard times.” “His wife has become a drill sergeant. Their marriage is a battle ground. They are struggling, in a rut.” EXPERT: “Come up with new dreams. It’s going to be ok- we’ll knock down your family home, cut down the Trees your parents planted - they are in the way” (lots of tears). A large team build a new timber frame house. ‘Bad news - the rain’s coming down. We need a big bubble to cover this space. Can’t use power tools in the rain. Our men are exhausted. Building a roof is always dangerous’…” “Are you going into the new house to repeat the same fights you usually have? If so, that’s unacceptable.” “Do you think if someone led

Violence: see Chapter 5 / Crime).

EXPERT: “Men will misbehave if allowed to. That’s their nature. If the woman stood up for herself a bit more he wouldn’t dare hit her again. He wants her to fight back - to show him she can stand up for herself. If she behaves like a floppy wet MOP, he will wipe the floor with her.” “Poor girl’s married to a no-hoper...” 37

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

(“Women love to be dominated” ? “Some women are bossy, some are submissive…”) EXPERT: “Women should learn to say: ‘No. I don’t want to be with you. Go on, get away. If you can’t stand the heat, get out.’ Teach them that way. Some men only want to tread all over you… You can be much better off doing what you want.” “I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF WOMEN...” “After 6 years of being battered, she fled to a hostel. (Grotty there). She went back to him. Neighbours heard an argument raging and a loud thump. She died after a frenzied attack with hardly an inch of her body not covered in bruises and abrasions. He was jailed for 7 years…” (Islington

dream, really do come true?” “She’s giving me HARD times! She’s taken me to the cleaners financially.” “My ex-wife has robbed me blindtaken the house, the kids… I am unable to support my new wife and kids…” “My marriage broke up. Only one of us could keep the house. I sleep in the car.” “He’s tried going to the council to beg for shelter but they wont have it. He’s homeless and jobless. It’s his own fault, of course. He died as a result.” “We split up. She got the house, I got the mortgage.” “She only married me for my money.” ”She only wants me for my money!” “A hotel is no place to raise kids…” “I never get to see my children!” “We never really talked about it… I’m sorry.” SHE SAID: “You only want to go to your little bit on the side…” “It’s too easy for them to leave - to walk, leaving behind the children.” “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...” “What kind of a life is it when we are chained whilst dogs roam free?” “If a man leaves me, I want to know I can support the children…” “You know what? He ridiculed me too many times. He went too far one day with his constant disapprovals and put-downs…” “I drew a line in the sand and he crossed it…” “Look who is holding the door open now…” “You know, all this is making her miserable…” “You know your father has to work very long hours dear. He hasn’t got the time.” “If you don’t like living here, go and live with your father.” (“Marriage! One way you can secure property without labour.” “Some women only get married to get a pension!”) “Money has got hold of him / her.” "She's got her claws out..." “I don’t like what some women have become. Almost as bad as men! RUTHLESS. HARD…” “What a pity (some) women are becoming what they have been against for years.” “More and more women are paying for sex…” (13/3/1995) (Remember the best things in life are free. “… it can warm long cold nights…”) “Women are the poorest citizens” (2004). CHILD: “My parents have got this love hate thing. Talk about being malicious!” “My parents are MAD! Always fighting - snapping at each other! I hate it. Make them stop!” “Daddy, please stop Mummy crying…” “Now Dad’s not working he’s giving Mum such a HARD time…” “Daddy, please don’t leave…” “I want it back the way it was. You took it away from me…” “I feel sorry for my parents because they can’t do anything about it.” “I want to spend more time with my Dad. Where is he?” “Why can’t I live with you Dad?” “Daddy please come home!” “I just wish people would pull together instead of apart.” “I wish we could ALL feel at home...” “Most children want to mend their family- bring it back together.“ “Did the children understand

Gazette, 27/5/1993).

Police Stations display posters which read: “Domestic Violence. It’s a crime” (UK, 1994). (“Yes, it’s very unfortunate…” “May I be so bold as to mention it? If you are ready to change the world for the better… if you are willing to change… Do it this way…” “JUSTICE FOR BATTERED WOMEN!”) “… She admitted there were many occasions she had to walk the streets with her children because she had nowhere she could safely go…” “THE NEED FOR SAFE REFUGE: “They’re trying to find me a place… so he can’t find me - he’ll KILL us if he does. They don’t hold out much hope of helping me’…” “ARSON ATTACK ON WOMEN’S REFUGE: 26 women and children taken to hospital after a suspected arsonist set fire to the refuge in Laindon, Essex…” (16/6/1993). “He / She deserved it…” (usually said as a threat!) “Do you relate deeply?” MARRIAGE COUNSELLOR: “… it’s NOT ABOUT APORTIONING BLAME.” “It’s never one person’s fault. Blaming is a waste of time. It’s always a case of 6 of one and ½ a dozen of the other…” “It’s so frustrating seeing 2 people who really care but who won’t do anything about it!” “We went to ‘Relate’ for marriage counselling. Waiting lists are so long! Willing to refer us to a private counsellor - costs about £40 an hour. We walked out. We’ve now split… My wife is drinking heavily. She’s looking after the 2 kids…” “’LIFE’ is much TOO HARD these days,’ I hear every mother say…” “Marriage can be HELL if you get it wrong. And then children can be hostages…” “Sad, MESSY, SEPERATIONS…” “You’re not moving your tribe in here! I don’t go along with tribes living on top of each other.” HE SAID: “I’m leaving because it’s something I have to do for me. I’ll have to start again...” “Why does middle-age mean you have to lose everything?” “Where will you find me? Somewhere on the other side of the rainbow, where troubles melt… and dreams you dared to 38

have to win every argument…” “No. No. NO! I’m NOT having it…” “It’s not up for discussion. The subject about it is very definitely CLOSED.” “DISFUNCTIONAL KIDS…” “You crusty, old grumpy…” PARENT: “She wants her own way or she sulks, gets stroppy – goes off into one, spoils things for everybody…” “She’s got no real issues. She’s spoilt…” “They’re not kids - they’re… monsters! I’m seriously vexed! Totally stressed out…” KIDS SAID: “Oh, crap!” “I didn’t ask to be born!” "Do we come from a land of love and plenty?” “Fastidious nurturing? Tender loving care and attention lavished on us?” “No, we're in the city of the rich and powerful." “PLEASE STOP SHOUTING at me!” “My parents are driving me CRAZY. I just wish they’d leave me alone… Just give me a bit of space…” PARENT: “Why are we shouting at you? Because we are paranoid – scared! We want you to be ‘normal’ so you fit in! We know what happens to kids who don’t…” “IF YOU DON’T LISTEN, IF YOU DON’T CARE… it’s your LIFE on the line…” “Carry on the way you’re going, you know it’s only going to end in tears - it always does.” “You abuse everything that's given to you! Don’t you value anything? For 12 years I’ve had to give up my life - I’ve had to sacrifice the things I wanted to achieve… just to put food on the table, a roof over their head. For what? So you can turn around and shout at me?! Treat me like I am the cause of all your misery? What did I ever do that was so wrong? What about ME? My needs? I DON’T CARE ANYMORE! It’s about time I looked after ME.” (“She says she doesn’t care. And so do you. I know both of you do care…”) CHILD (FEELING WORTHLESS): “It’s not my fault you had to give up everything!” PARENT: “It’s not my fault either! I didn’t make the world the way it is.” “I want my children to have a fantastic childhood, but ‘life’ gets in the way…” CHILD: “What have you done to change it, to make it better then?” “What have you done with your life that’s worth boasting about?” PARENT (under pressure): “I DON’T WANT TO TALK about it! I’m up to here with it!” “Stop jabbering and get on with your homework. I haven’t got time for this.” (“It feels like a slap in the face at the moment.”) “I don’t feel at all appreciated!” “Uh-oh. Here comes Little-Miss-Know-it-all. LittleMiss-Perfect…” (“Where does she get it from?”) “Always got an answer for everything, haven’t you?” (“Is that such a bad thing?” ) “Little terrors…” “It’s frightening! They are going to be the next generation of adults…” “… it’s an absurd situation and it’s getting worse. Kids are much more selfish than we ever were…” “God help us when they take over! Won’t be much hope for Humanity then!”

why?” “I never understood anything about it - my parents never explained anything to me.” “How children behave during a separation… they can get torn apart…” “Explain what’s happening. Don’t say ‘it’s finished’ meaning the relationship is over. That’s too hard for the children. Don’t say ‘it’s over.’ Children need to feel their security will stay together. Remain friends. Make this effort.” “The child should be allowed to decide which parent they live with and how often they see the other parent. But keep children away from menace.” “I think people should work harder at it and take more care.” “Care and attention is totally missing from my life” (Kilroy, BBC1, 18/2/1994). HOME LIFE: "TEACH YOUR PARENTS WELL." "The most a child can do is re-educate..." ("The best you can do is spread a little happiness until dreams come true.") PARENT: “You expect a lively, friendly, polite smile, a welcoming greeting, amicable behaviour…” “Put some effort into it!” “Ungrateful BRATS! Spoilt rotten! Look at all these toys! We never had it so good! We lived 7 people to one room with a toilet across the street. If I had dared to speak to my father that way, I wouldn’t be here today - he really would have killed me!” ”When we were young, we were told to lump it…” (“Like it, or lump it” Ah). “I can’t make her understand ‘life’ these days is not a bed of roses…” “Bloody kids. Morons. Little good for nothings! Disobedient, rude, disrespectful, stupid! A waste of time and space! They don’t appear to have a brain cell…” “Age 12 and still won’t flush the loo, or turn a light off! Talk about being lazy…” CHILD: “Yeah. If we could do it in our sleep…” PARENT: “Why don’t you do something useful with your life? Deliver newspapers! Not exciting enough for you? Tough luck…” “I can’t wait till the kids are off my back…” “Brought up on video games. They have no understanding of the real world…” “Kids don’t understand about money…” KIDS SAID: “We don’t understand why there is a need for SO MUCH HASSLE!” “Can’t we work it out - so we can be a family?” “PESTER-POWER”: “The kids seem to be determined to separate Dad from his wallet…” PARENT: “No. You can’t have it. I can’t Afford to buy every little thing your little heart desires…” CHILD: “If it’s only a little thing, why can’t I have it?” PARENT: “Don’t push it!” “Because we can’t Afford it! We’ve got to spend our little bit of money where it matters most. On buying food, paying all the bills…” “If we let them get away with it, they become monsters. You can’t give in to them. You 39

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

CHILD: “Where are we supposed to go? The bike shed? The graveyard? There’s nowhere for us to go! No-one wants us around. It’s not fair! I can’t even invite a friend into the house. You lot are so selfish!” “Everything you say adds up to one big zero…”

(“You can’t put an old head on young shoulders syndrome…” “Every generation of parents worries about how their kids will turn out…”) KIDS SAID: “WE’RE SO MISUNDERSTOOD…” “They label us ‘brats’ but we’re having a very hard time…” “NOT LISTENED TO, feeling over-ruled, upset, anxious…” ON-LOOKERS: “What is wrong with you kids?” “It’s very worrying…” "I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING WRONG, BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING IS…" "At 2am there are lots of children walking the streets! Even 10, 11 years olds. How come?" "Their parents have given up on them." “If you see me walking down the street, and I start to cry, walk on by…” “Don’t worry about it. It will all sort itself out…” "In our hardened hearts..." (1990). “CURFEW imposed to keep children off the streets at night time” (UK, 2003). (“Is stronger bonding needed here?”) “When love is obscure, WE NEED A CURE!” “The curfew is not working…” (2005).

WAH! “I NEED MY OWN SPACE!” (Ah! You don’t want to have to face the grumps every day? Quite right too. No law says you have to). EXPERTS: “Kids just need to know how to ask for it calmly.” “A positive attitude can save your life.” “You’re not strong enough…” TEENAGER: “My parents are always in my face. I just want them to leave me alone. They’re always nagging at me. I’m going seriously nuts…” “I can’t take this pain!” “They’re screwing up my head!”

“NAG, NAG, NAG. This is an ASSAULT! They're on my back all the

THE ALIENATION OF TEENAGERS: "Who am I? What am I? How? Where? Who? When?" What have I got to live for? Does anyone love me? Or want me? What do I care about? How will I cope? Who can I talk to? How am I going to survive? What if… I don’t?” “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” (That is such a difficult question to answer!) ADVICE: “You’ve got to do what is right for you…” “You’ve got what you’re given. It’s all about how you use it…” “I have to race to stay ahead – my time is running out…” “… and I have to battle baffling circumstances…” “Oh, God! What I’m going through!” “…it all suddenly hits you when you are a teenager…” “Their youth comes crashing to a halt…” “Into this world we are thrown like a dog without a bone…” (What a transition! Such a jolt! Heavy to ponder on. Takes a lot of working out.) “You know it’s started when they won’t get up in the mornings…” “It’s probably just her hormones?” “As they become teenagers, you know what it’s like, they just want to chill out somewhere really cool…” (“… it will appeal…” “I know a nice place you could go…” “… it’s a cool, chill-out zone…”) ("Have you got a groovy kind of love?") (“I can’t see it happening…” “There’s a WAR going on here…”) “What are you kids doing here?” “We just want a bit of peace and quiet…” “You can’t stay here. Clear off! We don’t want you lot ‘hanging’ around. Off you go or I’ll call the police…” (“Most are ashamed of the kids.”)

time. I have to leave for my SANITY. They don't like my friends, my hair, my clothes, and my attitude. Huh. I'll see whatever mates I want, when I want." (“My friends pick me up when I’m down…” “My friends lift me, try to fix me, guide me home…” (Ahhh! “You need to have something or somebody you can believe in - a ‘rock’ to cling to in the storm - something to help keep their heads above water, stop them from drowning…”) “… friends are with you through the good and the bad times. That’s what friends are for…” “A friend makes you feel better.” (PROCESS CALLED: “Find out who your friends are.”) (Ah! “You want to do whatever you want? Oh no! What’re you going to take away those blues? Yeh, have fun but…”) "FRUITLESS, DESTRUCTIVE, FUTILE SQUABBLES…" “Pushed around, kicked around…” “They’re giving me a really hard time!” “This is really HEAVY man.” “Just when you need them most…” EXPERT: “He / She is refusing to accept boundaries…” EXPERT: “You can’t choose your children’s friends. Just as you can’t give them a present and then tell them what to with it.” TEEN: “My parents don’t want me to have any freedom! How can I find myself?” EXPERT: “You need to spend some time with yourself away from everything, with nature…” TEEN: “Chance would be a fine thing!” “I’ve thought about it. I’m going to stay true to what I 40

mocking…” “Counter accusations… Insolent compliance…” “Oh! Anything for a quiet life…” ? "My dad's a bully. He's says he doesn't mean it. But whenever he gets another bill, he goes completely mad!" "Mum's too busy worrying about how Dad's going to pay ALL the bills..." "My Dad's too traditional - playing the heavy Victorian patriarch..." "My Dad's a wicked bastard - he beats me up." "My Dad wields a big stick at home - as he does at work. We call him a tyrant." “Mum, is something wrong? What is it?” “I can’t talk about it right now.” “It all got out of hand…” "The Feud could kill us..." EMOTIONAL STARVATION… TEENAGER: "I'm not sure I can take this much longer. I can't wait to leave ‘home.’ I never want to see this place again..." ANGUISH: "You ‘care’ more about property than you care about ME! Your own flesh and blood!" PARENT: "Yes, and that's because this place cost me everything I have, you little shit. We're hard working people." TEENAGER: "Yeah, and you're nurturing hatred about that." “I’m your child… and I’m not worth shit!” “Huh. I put friendship above money.” "My Mum hates me. They blame me because they have to work so hard!" "Momma doesn't understand it." “They say ‘it's not the easiest way to start off life with’! ‘You'll be up against it’..." "This place is a flaming mad house. My Dad's making hard work of it!" “… in this ‘life’ there is no meaning…” “… if I even make a sound…” “I’m treading on egg shells…” YEARNING: "I want my independencesome freedom now. What's wrong with having the best of both worlds? Is it too much to ask for?" “I think it’s a GOOD thing…” "I wish I could… run away?" "Just split man." “If you stay, you’ll only get screwed up.” “Let’s just make a run for it.” "No. If you leave home without ever settling the rift neither you nor your parents will be happy." (“… it’s no good running away from it - it will still be there… You think this thing will go away? Well, it won’t. It will follow you…” ) “There’s no point beating yourself up over it.” "Your parents only want what's best for you." "They've got a very odd way of showing it!" "If you run away you'll only get into trouble. How will you live? By begging?” "Keep on running? What a waste of energy!" “Who is going to support you?” “I JUST NEED TO GET MY HEAD AROUND it.” EXPERT: “That’s what every kid says when they’re in TROUBLE.” (“… in a restless world like this is, love has ended before it’s begun…”) “What are we putting these young folk through?

believe…” “I just want to be me…” EXPERT: “Are you trying to fit your children into the mold you perceive? Your perception of it - of loving & caring…” PARENT: “I’m not interested. I don’t want to know. I can’t Afford to spend any more time dealing with the likes of you - I’ve got better things to do …” “Go to your room! And think about it!” MOAN GROAN. “When she is here she only treats this place like a convenience!” (LOW SELF-ESTEEM): “Look at the state of your room! This place looks like a BOMB has hit it!” (Oh NO! We don’t like to be reminded of THE BLITZ) (see Chapter 13). (Maybe our parents are still traumatised?) PARENTS: “Anyone would think you don’t know any better! What’s wrong with you? I won’t have it! Tidy up this instant! Or GET OUT! I’m sick of the sight of you. You make me sick…” "Think you’re God's gift? You little bleeder..." “Just wait till I get my hands on you.” “I’ll KILL you, you miserable little runt…” (“For them to say this to you they must love you forever.”) "You need a bloody good hiding. Mother. What are we going to do with this weird wolf?" “WHAT TIME DO YOU CALL THIS?” (“TROUBLED YEARS…”) "You're a whore! Whilst you're living in MY HOUSE, you'll do as you're told!" “Cut your hair! Stop slouching…” "I just want Mum and Dad to be proud of me." “I don’t want us to fight anymore...” “There’s nothing certain in this world…” (“If only there wasn’t any doubt…”) WAH! “I need your love. God speed your love to me!” “How can we get Mum and Dad to be real sweet to us?” “They couldn’t care less!” "I wander through the night searching for the words to make it right. I've got to make you see..." (“He / She needs your approval. He / She will live up to your expectations. All he / she lacks is the opportunity…”) “Mom, I’m sorry I’ve been such a nightmare.” “That’s OK. It doesn’t matter… Let’s be honest…” "I'm going down, down, down - getting really depressed. Can't get up in the mornings. I really need to be doing something…" "My Dad says the only way to be respectable is to make loads of money!" "My Dad dictates. Dad wants to fight. Say's he's always right. He wants me to work hard. Say's I should be locked up for wanting a GOOD time!" PARENT: “What are we going to do with Miss it? She says she just wants a fresh start…” "Daddy doesn't understand it. I'm ready for it. Pity he isn't." ALL THE BAD VIBES… “… spiteful contempt, 41

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

Maybe it’s too much, all of this?” EXPERT: “How is all THIS affecting their mental Health?” EXPERT: “At a time like this, COMPASSION is needed.” TEENAGER: “Where is the LOVE when you need it most?” “I find myself on the outside… I won’t apologise…” PARENT: “Are you willing to call a truce? Put it all behind us?” “For a bit of peace and quiet, drop it?” TEENAGER: “I feel I don’t have any Rights in your house…” "Look, I'm ashamed of running away, OK, but I can't just deal with this heavy load on me!” “It's coming for me … and I don't know what it is!” “I’m so scared! Scared. All the time!” “Do you know what I really need?" "Oh! it's not you… I've just got to find out what my dream is..." “Someday, I’ll wish upon a star…” PARENT: “Uh-oh! Here comes little Miss Independent…” TEENAGER: “Is it wrong to be independent? Does it hurt you? Would you rather I was wrapped around your finger, like justice, blowing in the wind? You decide…” (“If there was any justice in this world, it would be here now!”) EXPERT: “… it will help them grow up, give them a sense of responsibility and make them appreciate what you do for them. Learning independence is an important development for kids. It stops them taking things for granted…” EXPERT: “Taking some responsibility for his own life has made him show what he’s made of...” “… it’s character building…” PARENT: “It’s every Mother’s nightmare that she’ll just get a boy-friend and go off with him…” “… it’s for your own protection, believe me…” “They’re not going to allow it sugar…” (means: “They will say we only want it for a love-shack…”) TEENAGER: “You’re messing up my dreams…” “I’ll never mess things up, not if I can help it…” "Click, Click. See you later. Ain’t that better?" (Ah yes! “Break free but do not do away with them from my life…”) PARENT “All I want to do is hold you…” (“If you love something - set it free. If it comes back, it is yours. If it doesn’t - it never was.”) TEENAGER: “Do they think we’ll all fly off? They’re bringing us down!” “WE’LL MEET AGAIN…” “Oh, it’s somewhere only we know…” EXPERT: ”The bottom line is - it’s all about trust…” PARENT: “She only abuses it…” “You can’t trust anyone these days…” TEENAGER: “When I get the opportunity…” "... it would be nice to have a place of my own…” “It would be such a weight off our shoulders if we could act in a responsible way…” “We're going to have it out sooner, or later... or we'll be bickering till hell freezes over!"

(“We don’t really know each other, do we?”) "Hey! Dad, something's happening here and I'm trying to tell you about it. I got to be part of it... Oh, why don't you understand?" "There's A TRANSFORMATION taking place among young people…" PARENT: “You need a 9 – 5 job, with a pension…” "Jobs don't grow on trees, son. Tough, isn't it?" TEENAGER: "I'll wait till 'money' does grow on trees..” "I got it so bad - you don't know how bad I got it. You got it easy! You ‘live’ without a CARE! But you don't know a thing about it. The need is stifling. The sweat is burning me up from the inside. I don't want to be here no more!" "I'll go into the next room and pack my bags. You'll never see me again... except at meal times and odd moments of the day and night for a cup of tea and a bun." WAH! I FEEL SO LONELY!” EXPERT: “People are lonely because they build Walls instead of bridges.” (“Where do all the lonely people belong?”) PARENT: "You'll have to face up to responsibilities when you're grown up - pay a mortgage..." TEENAGER: "Gee, Dad. That doesn't sound like much fun!" PARENT: "Give it up lad. Where's it going to get you?" "You have to do lots of things you don't want to! If you want something in this life you have to work HARD for it - really put your back into it really slave at it, if you are ever going to get anywhere... It's no laughing matter. It's not funny! What is funny about it? You don’t know how we have suffered all these years…" TEENAGER: “How patronising! I’ve watched you all these years, slaving away…” “Yes, you’re right, Dad. It’s no joke.” (Meek compliance, without counter-accusations = An easier ‘life.’) PARENT: “Wipe that silly grin off your face. If you don’t, I’ll do it for you. Slagging me off! Well! I’m NOT having it.” "I'm just trying to explain...” “I don’t care what it is. You’re not having it!” “Daddy, can’t we work it out…” "SHUT UP! Or I'll slaughter you, you little mongrel." TEENAGER: “No, you don’t understand! Please listen to ME…” “Couldn't you at least think about it?" "You try and talk to them about it and they snap your head off!" WAH! “They never listen to ME!” EXPERT: “You need to connect with the kids. You can’t avoid it! When they’re older they may need even more time… sorting out their heads…” ("Who says they suddenly reach a magic age when they suddenly stop needing?") "You have to be there at important moments, like when they're having nightmares, or feeling sick." MOTHER: “I know it’s hard for you.” TEENAGER: “You don’t know anything about it.” MOTHER: “I understand you’re hurt. “You’re my kid 42

such a lonely sound…” EXPERT: “These kids are thrown out of their ‘safe’ Environment into the hub-bub…” “30,000 children a week are at risk of being abused in their homes…” “Shall we stop it now?”

and I’m not having you getting screwed up. But I’m not taking your crap any longer…” SIGH! ”Why don’t we just make the best of it?” (it means: a bad situation). He bursts into tears. “What is it with you?” FRIEND: “How did it go?” MOTHER: “Not very well.” DISFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES… “NOT UNDER MY ROOF: Mother: ‘It’s not my fault! Whatever I do, it’s not enough! Is it something I’ve done? The argument never seems to resolve itself!’ Teen: ‘I know Mum’s only saying it for my benefit but I wish she’d stop treating me like I’m still a child!’ ‘I know my parents only want what’s best for me…’ Mother: ‘I want her to be more responsible… She’s hopeless with money… always having to borrow money. Her job doesn’t pay enough’…” ‘You’re just going to have to get on with it love, I can’t help you now. I’ve got my own life to sort out! Your father and I have got a lot of problems’…” “HOW can we teach them responsibility?” EXPERT: “Don’t expect it to come together overnight!” EXPERT: “You are doing your kids no favours by not allowing them any sense of responsibility.” “It’s about give and take. Teach kids this - and they appreciate what you’ve done for them, and they want to help you…” TEENAGER: “Aren’t I allowed any say about my life?” PARENT: "Don't answer me back! I won’t have it! You snivelling little brat. All you want from me is MONEY!!! Damn and blast you. GET OUT! Go on, piss off. You're not wanted here. You've got no rights. It's MY house, not yours! And don't you ever forget it." "Do yer hear me? It's MA hoose." "I've had it with you..." "I'll whip the skin off your back..." "Don't you get smart with me! You'll live to regret it." (“Will I indeed? Huh. We'll just see about that.”) “GET OUT! Never darken my doorstep again! Mother. Where did we go wrong?" ( Ignore it - it'll go away... it won’t!) “How could she treat us so thoughtlessly? We sacrificed and struggled most of our lives. What did we do that was wrong? We gave her everything money could buy.” (“A decent home is not something money can buy.”) "Don't you dare to ever come back here again or you'll be sorry." “I’ll make you wish you were never born!” “I’ll knock you into tomorrow.” BANG! “I wish I had never had you!” BANG! “I’m sorry! I DIDN’T MEAN it!” PARENT: “You’ve made your bed - now you can lie in it. And find out the hard way what I’ve been telling you all these years is right. Go away. GET LOST!” TEENAGER: “You’re not human!” “Farewell is

(ref: Campaign by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, February 2005).

"PLEASE DON'T LOCK ME OUT! I need a full life! "Aw. Come on, Mum. Get it together..." Mother: “GO! AND GET A LIFE!” Teenager: “I CAN’T! I’m not into clubbing… but if that is all there is…” “There’s panic at the disco…” “Rebellious HELL RAISERS. Into rock, heavy, heavy metal. ‘Live’ for today. Death-wish mentality. Craziness. Seen too many sick movies (nothing better to do). Victims of (bad) (hedonistic) fashion. Hell-bent peer pressure - feel they have to compete… So many kids feeling lost, angry. No hope. No belief in the system. They’ve got to go one better…” PEER-PRESSURE = “I want to connect with them…” “Kids are pushing it to the absolute limit…” “The ways children are winding us up!” “Will you please get my parents off my back? They’re in my face all the time! All this stupid shit…” “I admit I need help with calming down…” “I’M A MESS ‘cos I’ve got nothing to focus on to help improve myself. I can spend all my time doing nothing. Oh please! I need some HELP getting it together. Don’t give up on me…” A TESTING TIME: "What do you do with your daughter when you both want to go separate ways? DUMP her?" "Mom knows best" ? MOTHER: “Our own child needs something we're not giving her... and we don't even know what it is!" "We could make it not so hard for them to go…" (Can't you see the GAP? “… it’s staring us in the face, isn’t it?”) MOTHER: “I am so sick of being blamed, being hurt at every opportunity. My existence is negated. I wish there was some magical thing I could do…” TEENAGER: "Mum will do it for me." ("A mother's love is stronger...") MUM: "Never. Not in a million years. It takes a man to know what's what. I've had a very hard day.” EXPERT: “Your mom gave you a start in life but she doesn't owe you a life." MOTHER: “I’m beyond caring quite honestly.” (“What is getting in the way of you having a little bit of happiness?” “Is happiness wrong?”) TEENAGER: “If the only way to get housing is to have a BABY…” “You can’t have it both ways…” “If you want independence, how is having a baby going to help?” 43

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know what happens to birds that leave the nest too soon." “I love my Mummy and Daddy so much. I’m so scared…” “Mental, verbal and physical abuse…” "Battered, abandoned, threatened..." "Given the royal order of the boot." "Dumped. Cast out like refuse!" "We've been disowned!" "Putting me in the gutter…" "A really BAD, HEAVY situation." “I have no connections…” ANGUISH: "You're the meanest old woman I've ever seen." "Now, I've nowhere to stay. The only thing I wanted was a place of my own!" "My family can't AFFORD to keep me any longer. I haven't a clue what to do." "I get sick, feel lost..." "I'm scared we'll die young, lonely, without ever knowing love..." “Dry your eyes mate. I bet your mother thinks she's the Treasury's Queen. You’ve got to walk away…” “Dry your eyes now. Say, it’s not for me. I’m off…” "UNWANTED. Down. Isolated. Hopeless." "We're just wishing our lives away." "We are heading for something we don't understand - we're frightened." "They've got a heart of stone. They only make you feel bad. I’ve got to walk down the streets feeling all alone." "The tears flow... governed by... each passing... heart..." "He's there now, probably, down among the bed rolls..." (“To justify your lives, come and find me. Look me in the eyes. No excuses. Take me by the hand. You don’t know what you’re guilty of. Isn’t it funny we don’t speak the language of love?”) "LEAVING HOME CAN BE A NIGHTMARE HELL!" “Leaving home is not easy. Where will you live? With your friends? Do they have houses? No! Where will you get the money? What if your family won’t support you?” All put down to bad behaviour, kids’ moods, they’re being difficult, lazy…” EXPERT: "EMOTIONAL SECURITY? Parents often misjudge their children..." EXPERT: "Children who have suffered abuse from their parents often punish themselves for failing to live up to their parents expectations... Children all too often think they are responsible, that they are to blame (for what has gone wrong.”) "As if that isn't bad enough... the children are being blamed for the world's ills!” EXPERT: “… 'It's all your fault.' A guilt trip...” “His parents can’t say it’s all his fault. You need a different parenting role...” EXPERT: "Parents put their children through hell. 'I'm going to kill you.' Lamentable. Parents seem to have so little faith in their own flesh and blood, whilst being so trusting of politicians - those who are responsible for causing the conditions that cause so much heart-break and hardship! Why don't you ‘cripple’ the enemy, not your daughter?"

EXPERT: “You want everything to be there in an instant! But it doesn’t work like that…” “You kids expect everything to be perfect! When it isn’t you take it out on everyone else! You can’t expect your parents to provide your every comfort! When you are ready to deal with it and process it…then you’ll be going home…” (PERFECT means: “As good as it can be.”) EXPERT: “You need a chance of being in a situation whereby you can have responsibility without all their rules & regulations… We need to define a set of ground rules… you all agree to. Then there can’t be any argument. The family need to have fun together.” TEENAGER: “I’m plodding along. I feel shutdown.” “Oh, it’s nothing to do with you. I’ve said it 400 times… Leave me alone.” (Ah! “I want to be alone. You’re crowding me. Just give me some space, OK?”) PARENT: “I feel devalued. It’s hurt my feelings being spoken to like that.” EXPERT: “When your teenager is shouting ‘leave me alone’ withdraw.” EXPERT: “You’ve got to grow up. How are we going to do it?” (They do up the garden shed so her mates can come round). “…Keeping it light defuses the situation…” “YOU’RE IN CHARGE NOW! “…Didn’t she do well!” “The 1st new Home-Rule = Do something the 1st time you are asked to do it!” (But it all goes pear-shaped again…) PARENT: “I don’t know what your problem is!” “Can you help? I’m sure you’ll think of something.” TEENAGER: “I wish I could be a baby again- go back…Wow! I’d find that really exciting?” PARENT: "You've got an answer for everything! Well, I don't want to hear it. No-one wants to hear it. I'm sick of paying for you - all your food, gas, electricity… I'm sick of you. I'm sick and tired of everything in this god-damned world. I just want a bit of peace! I ain’t got time for any of this shit right now." “I’ll teach you about what life feels like when no-one cares. BASH!” “I can’t take it any more.” “THE PARTY IS OVER. GO TO HELL. Go on. Bugger off. Don't talk back! I want you out TONIGHT. Now go. Clear out! Move out immediately - sooner preferably. You've not even got the Rights of a lodger. Yes, I am throwing you out." TEENAGER: “That’s your answer to everything. Chuck it out! Well, thank you very much for helping me get through this. Now I’m just rubbish!” PARENT: "Oh, let them go. Let them get on with it. There's nothing we can do about it. They've got to chase their dreams. They'll grow out of it eventually." “When things go wrong…” "KICKED OUT…" "Physical violence! They threw me out. I was just trying to explain..." "Chucking me before I can fly. I 44

she has grown up into a frightened woman, tortured by feelings of inadequacy. Sadly, you must realise you will never have a relationship with her. And take care. Because of her own twisted psyche, your mother wants to make you miserable and wants to wreck your relationships. Feel sorry for her, love her if you can, but don't let her destroy your life" (Dr. Vernon Coleman, The People 97/1995) SELFISH Petty Jealousy: A KILLER! (“Just remember, you are not her.”) ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: "I've nothing to eat. I'm starving. My ribs stick out. Wear a padded bra they say! They always say it's because you've not grown up right…" "You'll grow into it" they said. "But I never did. I wasn't given the chance to." "Just when will Mummy's curse be over?" “I’LL BE BACK before you know it…” "That's right. And you ain’t got no money. You'll have to come back. And then I'll tell you to pack your bags and not come here no more. I can't AFFORD to keep supporting you. I've got better things to worry about…” "We can't keep bailing you out!" "Always coming round here scrounging for food! What is it this time? You look as if you haven't had a bath for months! When last did you have a square meal? Don't expect me to feed you! Why should I? You're old enough to stand on your own 2 feet." "I'll be back on my feet some day." "If I could just find somewhere to live - get away from what's bothering me, I am sure I could stand on my own feet…" “GET OUT! AND STAY OUT!” "Now you're very much on your own." "That's true." “He only comes here to steal…” “GOD HELP THE OUTCASTS!” BROKEN HOMES, BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS: "How broken affects people in later life…" “Parents are role-models for their children…” "We've got to grow up like them?" “My Dad’s sleeping rough. I don’t want to be like him…” "You're full of doubt we can work it out." POLL: "Not many children want to grow up to be like their parents" (April 1995) “They want us to be like them but times have changed… we are not clones. Today’s challenges are different. We have to be ready to tackle what our parents have refused to acknowledge for years…” "BOOTED OUT KIDS TOP OF THE LIST: ‘Parents kicking out their children cause the most Homelessness’ said Islington council officials, who have found that of 751 Homeless people seeking their help between April and June in 1989, 488 were accepted as being in genuine priority need. Next is applying on grounds of marital violence (76) and relationship breakdown (48)..." (8/2/1990). “Rebel without a clue?”

A MOTHER: "How do you think I feel? Our family is being torn apart. My loyalty is to them, not you." "But it isn't imperially possible" ? "They always ask who is to blame... This will drive you insane." PARENT: (meantime): “Life is hell. He kicks the walls, the doors… He picks fights. He’s 14. He drinks, he smokes, he takes drugs. He swears a lot. He’s got no respect for anybody or anything. I’ve told him I’m going to kick him out if he doesn’t change… He talks back! … He can be a nice kid when he puts his mind to it…” EXPERT: “Are you respecting him?” EXPERT: “Have faith it will work. You’ve invested a lot in your kid/s. It’s too important for you to give up…” EXPERT: “All this is normal family life! Relationships have ups and downs…” PARENT: “If this is ‘normal’ I’d hate to see abnormal!” WAH! “…it’s a CRY FOR THE CHILDREN…" "So many SAD children! So miserable! Tear streaked, dirty little faces, their little frail bodiesscantily dressed - even in winter, no home, no-one to feed or protect them! So desperately unhappy." "Just think how frightened these poor children feel!" "Do it for the children’s sake!" Member Of the Public (MOP): “I can’t be bothered with any of it.” (Ah! “Love don’t live here anymore…it’s gone like yesterday…”) "A child must find his way alone?" "PROBLEM PARENTS:" "HYSTERICAL parents are no good to anyone." "Neglecting, Shouting = Emotional Abuse." "The way some kids are treated! No wonder some of them don't want to go home!" "All she does is shout at her poor kids." “… screaming at their kids as if there’s no tomorrow…” "… It's so hard for parents to get it right..." "I wonder what my Mum thinks about it?" "Go on. Spit it out. Tell your Mum..." (“Yeh. Go on. Spit it out…”) “WHY can’t we do it another way?” “What do I have to do to make you love me? Why don’t you ever put your arms around me? Why aren’t you ever sweet and tender? Why am I not your treasure?” “I’d like a V.I.P area!” LETTER TO A PROBLEM PAGE: "My mother always treats me like dirt. She is charming and polite to strangers but I can never do anything right in her eyes. I try my hardest to please her but my best is never good enough... She constantly tells me I'm a failure..." ANSWER: "You aren't alone. The world is full of mothers who get pleasure out of trying to destroy their children. The type of malignant behaviour is probably the result that your mother was overloaded with impossible amounts of responsibility as a child... because she was made to feel inadequate 45

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work appliances, or desperate…” (2006).

The answer is to send teenagers to a Boot Camp, run by cowboys (to punish them?) (UK & USA, 2004) (WAH! The kids are expected to make all the changes… ) EXPERT: "It’s never too late to rescue children." "2 children committed suicide 'because they couldn't do it'..." (UK, July 1990). “The GOOD dies in our young…” ADVICE: “IF THIS BOTHERS YOU, YOU REALLY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT it!” PARENT: “We all feel terrible about it. But what can we do?” “If we could, don’t you think we would sort this out?” "Why is NOTHING done about it?" EXPERT: “You are taking it far too lightly.” “I wouldn’t dismiss it so lightly!” “Some parents do understand. They just want to know WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?” ”Will the government continue to do nothing?” “The problem has been there right in front of you and you never saw it…” “Are our kids being raised wrong?” “There’s something missing…” ("… it's a living thing, a giving thing. What a terrible thing to lose..." NOW You Know What it is…) “… it should be cut & dried by now. But it’s not, is it?” “Always look on the bright side… Maybe parents would be less irate?” “Wouldn’t it be lovely to say it’s no problem!” (“You could have it so much better…” “You could all be having (good, clean) fun…” “I want it to be a turning point, really…”) “… it’s life-changing stuff this…” “LIGHT UP as if you have a CHOICE.” “If life was less CHAOTIC, wouldn’t this make life easier?”) “These kids are in a terrible situation and it’s going to get tougher...”

manage

anything!

He’s

RUN AWAYS: “… life is more than a string of days for getting through…” “SHE’S LEAVING ‘HOME’ after living alone for so many years… stepping outside she is free… something inside was denied for so many years…” “Why are you running away?” “What choice do I have?” Uncorrupted. Incorruptible. "UNBOUGHT. Nobility. God-Like. Fighting the Good Fight. Having one's heart in the right place. The innocent are taking flight..." “… there’s nothing I want more. You know it’s true. What else can I do? All my hopes… I know. I’ll keep searching… so there it is. I’m going now, so what do you say? I know you’re weary… Couldn’t we find a way to make our love stay?” (Ah! “… it knows we should be together…”) “Don’t leave like this! Love is not something you should throw away!” (“I believe in love! Cos it’s all we’ve got. Loving is simple. It beats greed– the disease. Families Together! Tell someone - that without love I would not be here, I would not believe in me. I believe in love! I believe…” (song by Elton John). “I know I’ll think of you every step of the way. Darling, I will always love you…so good-bye…” “I’ll be coming home one day, you’ll see…” "Will my SPIRIT survive? Absolutely, sir. You want a machine... But I'm not for sale! I want a home and you're flashing lies in my face! I should be like you? I don't want to be like you. Boy, you're out of date. You want cheap thrills... so you come to see me? I love beautiful things. I pass on the atomic and nuclear Age - where nothing makes sense. I have no place in your world of war and bombs. I'll go my own way - deep, wild and torn. Self-respect matters, not money! The people are the warriors. Good people are living all over the world... We are the people to arrest all this suffering for Centuries. I mean to keep this fire in me - our love is so strong... We'll never let it go. The day will come, when we overcome our fear. As the city sleeps, shares its dreams - our memories spill, adding oil as they pour... and the money junky fades away..." (1990). "Natalie ran away to find a taste of freedom. But her dream turned into a terrible nightmare- sleeping rough and living off boiled sweets…" "I ‘slept’ on the streets, in other people's beds you know how things are…" TORMENTED TEENAGER: “ARGH! Wouldn’t it be better than all this fucking about?”(& “screwing around…”) "Got loads of hassle at home - no choice but run away." "Sometimes you have to run away to save

“The problems will get worse as house prices rise… as more young people find they cannot Afford to leave their parents…” “It’s so embarrassing to still be living with my parents!” “I’m back here living with my Mom. How do you think I feel? Truthfully, you’ve got to get me away from here…” (2003). “Living with your Mum is no way to start married life! We can’t go out because we’ve got to save money for the mortgage. We can’t stay in because we make too much noise. What can we do?” (2004). “We’re living with his elderly mother, in her house. We’re desperate to get a place of our own but we’ve no chance…” Parent: “If only I could get away from the noise they are making! I need something for my own sanity and comfort!” “I just want him to have his own base. I think it’s against the natural order of things for him to still be living at home! He doesn’t know how to cook, clean, 46

responsibility of care from the parents?" "System not attuned to targeting care..." "Money is WASTED on stupid projects..." "17 year olds starving - scandalous..." "Social Services won’t help..." "If you open the flood gates... 'it doesn't matter a tinkers’ curse - if you allow it to start, where will it all end?'" (ITV, 23/2/1993). "TIP OF THE ICEBERG: ... 16 - 17 year olds have no Rights. They need help, not punishments! Forced into Homelessness, unable to fend for themselves - a series of welfare benefit cuts. Result: Begging. Sometimes going for days without eating. Starvation Addiction Syndrome widespread even amongst those who are housed... scraping by - very little money after paying bills... The young feel nobody is on their side - their circumstances are against them, their hopes and talents, that society is conspiring against them. Sick, despairing, desperate. 'I wanted to help myself but I've nothing to live for. I nearly went mad. Hospitalisation would be a relief.' Ever increasing debt and interest- spiralling, never ending cycle of poverty and ill health. Can't get on 1st rung of the housing ladder. The need for some support. Pay for electricity but forced to live on white bread. Stark choices. Pay Tax but can't insulate flat. Never buy fresh fruit and veg so eyesight getting worse. Can't pay for treatment, can't buy glasses, can't see properly... seems doomed in all ways. Government failing to make sure people can manage. The possibility of suicide... Youth poverty. Struggling to keep a baby. Many young people will bear these problems for the rest of their lives - will affect the next generation... 'What have we done to deserve a bad life?' 4th or 5th class citizens want to know HOW they are to survive, not get on better. 'I wish I had never been born.' (Channel 4, March 1991) ("A life well spent?") “Any administration that is failing children is destined to go through the window.” Uh? "1 in 7 age 14 - 16 RUN AWAY. 6 times more than previously thought, the Children’s Society reported. Survey shows most end up sleeping rough, are alone, and do not go to agencies for advice. Are detached from their schools" (BBC, 8/12/1993). "WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING? PARENTS ARE HYSTERICAL to know. Parents feel more powerless than ever. An anti-establishment culture. The external pressures make it hard to bring up children. 'They are making us ‘live’ in their world.' 'We can't see any way we can get it.' Children can't do it on their own. They need guidance, boundaries so they can find their independence and emerge into the adult world safely. Children need a set of values. People should be educated to be parents. Have teenagers got it figured out? Most of us think they haven't. Teenagers are misunderstood. Not all teenagers

your life - to survive." "I couldn't get on with my parents. I lived in an old air-raid shelter. Took food discreetly off the land. I hid from my parents - knew this would upset them. I felt I was an animal - hiding, scurrying, scraping an existence. Frightened. Aware you smell. Get filthy. Vicious circle - couldn't get out of it…" “I get real nervous when I don’t have no place to live…” “… it’s going to do my head in…” "Doing a runner... He / She was depressed. Had emotional problems. Had bills couldn't pay. Was in financial difficulty. Serious pressures. He / She was confused. Things got too much for him / her. Had major confrontations with family..." "At 17, I thought I knew it all..." "They never understood. I tried to patch up my broken home... Please forgive me. I never meant to break their hearts…" "Children are looking for the perfect parents." "In all the years I've slept rough... I want to do something before I die. The real thing. The thing you can't think of..." "THE WISH DREAM of the 1960's - it has not gone away..." “Many teenagers want adventure… but few manage to do it… When he left, all he found was a cold corner in a city surrounded by strangers…” UK: "100,000 children go missing each year- 1 every 4 minutes" (18/7/1993) "Every year, 250,000 people go missing. Most will return, but some don't." "To be reported missing, means someone is missing you..." “There are many children who drift off and are not reported as missing...” "How often do the police review 'Gone Missing' files?" "The cost of searching all the boarding houses, the slums - all the possibilities where he / she could go... and get hurt quite badly." "Oh, I'm sorry. We should have done something." "Parents just want to know their child is safe. We've all said things we shouldn't have said. If you have run away, please phone home!" "It's up to the parents to deal with problems in the home" wrote the Daily Express, in response to 'national soul-searching’ provoked by ‘Home Alone’ tragedies and recent murders.” (Ah! They are expecting parents to do it!) "It is unrealistic to put the onus entirely on parents." ADULT: “I wish I’d have had it when I was a kid – it would have kept me off the streets.” "In 30 years, the government has done nothing to improve the situation. Things are as bad now as they ever were." "Many of us fear for the SAFETY of our children we would like to give them more freedom but..." "Easy to become a parent, but what makes a good one?" "It's my biggest regret we never talked more than we did." DEBATE: "Should the State take over 47

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but we haven’t got the budget…” (November, 2005). “In the whole of the UK there are only 10 (safe) beds for run-away children. (3 beds in Scotland, 6 in London, 1 in the south-west). Annually, there are 100,000 runaways. In March 2006, MP’s will put a Bill before Parliament to seek overall funding to stop the funding for these 10 beds being cut”

are rebellious, violent - they are too busy looking for a job. Problems start when there is inadequate supervision. Children need a secure, decent home. 1/3rd of children who call Child-line feel the family is a dangerous place. In an ideal world people would be happy, they would be managing; their health, education and achievements would be good" (A programme to help

(December 2005) (re: The Children's Society www.thechildrens-society.co.uk)

alleviate the Breakdown of Family Life, BBC, 5/1/1994).

“Hello. Can you help? She needs a safe place…” “It does sound like the poor child is in a terrible situation…Have you tried phoning...?” “The Social Services wont help!” “BEEN THERE … DONE THAT…” “The NSPCC are the only agency empowered to oversee the Social Services. The NSPCC has 180 projects nationwide but no children's homes…” “I’m sorry. The NSPCC can only call the Social Services in an Emergency…” “We have to do what the mother wants… even if the mother is in denial…” “We can’t discuss it with you – only the mother. The Data Protection Act…” “I’ve tried 15 UK Agencies set-up to help children in need of protection. Not one will help by providing a SAFE refuge. It annoys me these people are being paid to do a job when they’re not doing it!” “My daughter keeps running off- she’s got psychological problems…” SOCIAL WORKERS: “We don’t think the child has any issues…” “Children's Rights have gone too far… it’s not illegal for them to drink…” “They know how to play the system. They’re only being difficult to get a flat…” “We’ll arrange a meeting… We’ll discuss it next week…” (So many agencies get involved! And still nothing gets done!) “An attractive face… they’re so convincing…” RUN-AWAY: “WAH! I come from a BROKEN home… Now do YOU understand why I need it?” “They’ve let me down so badly. I don’t know who to trust anymore. You know how much I want it all to work out right. Now you’re ignoring me again…” (“Sometimes you’ve got to trust…”) 6 MONTHS LATER, the poor kid is still on the streets… “The meeting was adjourned – no decision was taken…” “THIS IS TORTURE!” (“Everyone sooner or later cracks when being tortured.”) If you dare to openly ask what the hell they are all doing, they conveniently refuse to speak to you. They go into denial! So easy for them to go into denial… to protect themselves! They collude… You are accused of ‘hampering’ ‘interfering’ ‘causing problems’ ‘harassing them!’ ANYTHING, rather than provide the one bit of

"Parents don't want their children to break..." “Parents are going to pieces…” "Up to 100,000 children run away each year. 23% of runaways are from well-off families.” “SECRET HAVEN: Ester Rantzen, who set up Child-line has revealed plans for a 'safe haven,' controversially out of reach of parents and the law, for London's runaway children. Her scheme is for an open house where runaways can seek help, a meal, and a bed without the fear of being reported. She said: 'They need time to think - a cooling off period.'..." (9/7/1993). “Hello. You are through to our Helpline… We can only talk to the child. I understand the child is not allowed to use the telephone - but that’s our policy…” "2 MILLION CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY in Great Britain. 1 in 5" (Social Justice Commission report, 12/12/1993).

“350,000 children, in the UK, are in danger, at risk in their homes…” “100,000 children a year run away, facing Alarming DANGERS on the streets… ‘I walked the streets.’ ‘I slept in a phone box.’ A sordid mix of drugs and crime… Charities have called for a chain of hostels to be built across the country. Pilot schemes come to an end next year. The Children's Society wants something up and running to replace them soon. The need for ALTERNATVES…” (Sky News 27/2/2005). “Social Services can only offer a form of respite to children who have run away and are on the streets because they are physically / beaten… MENTAL CRUELTY is not in our remit. She has to go back ‘home.’ I’m very sorry, my hands are tied… The police will take her back. Our only choice is a place in a ‘secure’ unit. That will take at least a couple of weeks to arrange… But that’s not the answer. ‘Secure Units’ are extremely damaging places (emotionally)... Sending her there would seem like a punishment…” (How can they disregard the child’s mind? The mind and body are connected. Many illnesses are psychosomatic… 2005). SOCIAL WORKER: “We can’t have Homeless children on the streets!” “There are so many children in the same awful circumstances we can’t help!” “Yes, I know, it’s very hard. It’s not at all easy for you. We’ve all gone through it in one way or another. It’s a shame we couldn’t do more

kit! “We’re doing our best to help but the issues are very complicated…” “There is nothing we can do to help. That is our final decision, I’m afraid…” (2006). 48

CHILDREN IN CARE: “I was in financial difficulty…” “She abandoned her kids saying it was all too much for her…” “… it’s not going to be for long. It’s for the best…” Parents with NO ALTERNATIVE, as a last, desperate measure, put their children into the ‘care’ of the Local Authority - because they want to safeguard their child/ren and ensure their protection and well-being… Their parents may be Homeless, jobless, in prison…Other children are removed from their parents for safety reasons EG. “He was beaten to one inch of his life. He’s had a rotten life…” Q: “Why did you assault your child?” A: “I couldn’t see an alternative…” “I snapped!” SOCIAL WORKER: “These kids are damaged. They’re hurting inside…” EG. CHILD: “It must be me. It must be me…” “I’m SORRY! Oh, why is it always me?” ATTITUDE: “… it’s leaving me… in silence…” “God must hate me!” “I’m plagued… by demons…” “Noone ever speaks about the monsters…” “I’ve made myself so sick…” “My heart’s bleeding inside…” CHILD: “I need to speak to someone urgently. I need some help…” RECEPTIONIST: “She’s away on a training course at the moment…” “She’s not in the office today…” “She can’t come and see you. She’s on duty…” “Sorry. He’s in a meeting right now…” “I’ll have to speak to my boss. I’m afraid she’s ‘tied up’ at the moment… No, I can’t reach her…” ("If we lose the time before us...") “BUTTERING THEIR OWN BREAD…” CHILD: “Social workers are useless! All they do is sit around, dunking biscuits!” PARENT: “When I think about how much (public) money they are getting paid…” “They’re very good at passing the buck… and fobbing us off. They should get off their backsides and do something really constructive to help all these poor kids…” A SOCIAL WORKER (on TV) SAID: “The consequences of getting’ it’ wrong are so high, and we have to live with that…” (“ERRORS OF JUDGEMENT COST LIVES. Let’s just make that perfectly clear, alright?” “The wide eyed asleep need to WAKE UP!” “Is it colouring everything?” WAH! “… it’s not even understood by the beautiful and good in this city…”) "450 ‘SECURE’ CHILDRENS’ HOMES CHILDREN HELD UNDER LOCK & KEY: Might damage themselves. 75% have been abused by their parents. Children have developed selfdestructive tendencies - banging their heads against brick walls. Locked in at night. Watched through windows in door. Some do manage to run away. Some disappear. When something goes missing, all the children are regularly strip

searched." EXPERT: "Child abuse has not got worse - is only more talked about..." (Oh really?) "CHILDREN IN CARE PLEAD FOR HELP: Britain's scandal-hit children’s homes... Child-line has revealed that a high proportion of calls come from children in ‘care’..." "The government's definition of a 'correction centre'..." "...they'll be good girls and boys in the memorial homes for colonial wasters of life and limb..." “His father died… he ended up in a council-run ‘care’ home…” "I'm in here because we had to move house. Your life can be turned upside down at a moments notice... I wasn't consulted - I wasn't allowed to have any say in the decision..." "IN ‘CARE’: MASSIVE UNITS!" "We should have smaller units - little homes or something like that" said a child in care. "Constant changing of staff, being moved around again and again - controlled. Feel insecure. Others discuss my life, write long reports about me, make decisions for me. All they say is no, no , no. Does my head in. A lot of messing around. They don't listen to our views. They don't care." "Youngsters needs are being overlooked. Children accused of being difficult, ungrateful...” "Detained in a children’s home... had their bones fractured by government staff. Blamed: Lack of complaints procedure." "Plans said to be for economic reasons. Treatment described as TACTICS NAZIS USED. Campfield House Young Offenders Institution. The use of over-restraint… Supposed to be place where youngsters are trained…" Re: Complaints Procedure: "Kids don't have an avenue." Let down by system supposed to help them. 'It's all to do with funding' they say over and over again. Legislation = No substance. "Hard to accommodate their wishes" said carers. "These difficulties have to be worked out or these children will become adults with problems" (Radio 4, BBC 8/4/1993).

"Permission granted for FORCIBLE RESTRAINT to be used against difficult to control children- to stop them running away" (28/4/1993) (What are they running away from?) EXPERT: “Restraining children does not alleviate the problem - this makes them want to get away from you, makes them feel unloved, unwanted, swept under the carpet…” “80% OF CHILDREN IN ‘CARE’ OF LOCAL AUTHORITY ARE ABUSED sexually, physically, mentally, by other children and staff supposed to look after them" (BBC, 13/5/1992). “Children are on drugs, using alcohol, sniffing substances…” (“Ah! It’s so hard to gloss over…”) "60,000 CHILDREN IN LOCAL AUTHORITY ‘CARE’ HOMES. ¾ of children have no 49

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with reality. Parents’ burden over-loaded. 'We cannot take our eyes off him for a second.' Constant danger... the windows... Unable to differentiate what is safe and what isn't. 'Denis's accommodation is unsuitable... but so is all the other accommodation on offer..." (Radio 4, BBC 8/4/1993) "UNMANAGEABLE: He draws on the walls, throws food everywhere, has tantrum after tantrum. We can't cope. Freddy is a natural house wrecker..." "Statistics published the National Children Home's charity show Britain's children live in greater poverty and will die younger than many of their European counterparts. Britain has more youngsters in need... The report attacks the government who signed a UN convention on Children’s Rights saying the government has failed to recognise 'the Right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual and social development.' Every day 13 more London children are put on the Local Authority 'at risk’ registers... Britain also has far more young people in custody than European partners. More than 23% of prisoners are under 20. The NCH fact file makes 50 recommendations including the setting-up of a Children’s Rights Commissioner" (Evening Standard, 24/6/1992). “The human spirit needs to be nourished by friends, family – the simplest things. The joy of life! This is what we have forgotten…” "CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING: Stanley Wilson, a great Socialist, started a home for sad children who lost everything during WW11. 'We don't withhold from the children - they've suffered enough' he said. 'Nor do we punish or have regulations. We didn't have children of our own instead, we were honoured to know and care for 250 children'..." (Ah! “The secret is not to be hard.”) “Children are as good as gold.” "HOME is what you make it." “I had to leave my job at the ‘secure unit.’ I couldn’t endure the emotional upheaval. The things that go on in those places! I could tell you some stories that would make your hair stand on end…” “No, please don’t tell me! I’d rather not go there…” “Most of the are children in here are criminals, and some have murdered…” “An investigation is being launched into children in need of special care being DUMPED in ‘care homes’ in areas far from their family…” (February,

qualifications. ¼ of people in prison were in a Local Authority ‘care’ home" (4/5/1993). "... the disturbance is the 2nd this month. Another home was closed when youngsters ran riot, smashing furniture and breaking windows" (23/3/1993).

"’CARE’ HOMES OUT OF CONTROL: Investigated by the Evening Standard... Complacent social workers... Parents not satisfied children are safe... these people need more care... Are subject to abuse... Council's failure to hold an investigation. The government promised a full inquiry" (re: Islington, BBC, 28/7/1993).

"PRIVATISE CHILDRENS SECURE UNITS?: "Make money out of locking up children? Meetings run by accountants? Make a profit out of children’s misery? 'I don't see what's wrong with making a profit. Homes are run at a loss.' ‘We are failing children lamentably. If we leave it to politicians they will make a hash of it. Instead, reduce the cost of it, and raise standards’…" (ref. Conservative government, 16/8/1993).

"Children in ‘care’ are being SHUNTED FROM PLACE TO PLACE because of a lack of resources. Agencies accused of not tackling the root causes of their problems" (Greater London Radio, 15/12/1993) “They get bounced from foster carer to foster carer…” “I don’t want to work for the Social Services any more. They haven’t got their priorities right…” “How did I feel being a foster carer? There was no support. I was accused of caring too much! All I got was forms to fill in. And no apologies…” “Britain has a shortage of good foster carers…” "RIOT: Pupils at a school for children in care ran riot causing £70,000 of damage. Squads of police went in as 30 children - many of whom have a parent in jail - rampaged. The children smashed desks, chairs and windows and started small fires. 19 children were arrested." "MUCH PUNISHMENT TAKES PLACE: Britain should follow the rest of Europe and move away from physical punishment of children. A reward system works best. Corporal punishment is ritualistic, medieval and humiliating. A normal loving family Environment involves discipline – (lightly) smacking the child sensibly. Another way to punish a child is deprive them of the thing they love the most..." (Debate, March 1994) “A softer more caring and considerate regime wouldn’t hurt.” "ARSON PROBE: ... a suspicious fire swept through a council owned children’s home..."

2005) Then all the agencies have to travel there for regular meetings…

(20/12/1993).

“Kent has so many children in council care they are at CRISIS point…” (June, 2005). SHOCKING: CHILDREN’S JAILS: … 32,000 children are held in Young Offenders Institutions. Lord Carlile said a child abuse inquiry would normally be triggered if children elsewhere

UK: "15,000 CHILDREN NEED ADOPTING: An adoption agency 'Parents for Children' believes every child has the right to a family life - but is fighting for survival... they used to receive government funds..." AUTISM = "Absorption in fantasy, lack of contact 50

hoodlums from birth, a range of social services, health visitors etc. No new money for this- will be shifted from elsewhere. Children may be removed from (alcoholic / single) parents. Protest: ‘A child going through the ‘care’ system is a bruised child’…” (BBC, 31/9/2006).

were treated the way they are in… Secure Training Centres and Local Authority secure children's ‘homes.’ Recommended: Routine strip-searching of children should end. Strip searches have nothing to do with searching for anything or for securityonly demoralising. Use of hand-cuffs is unacceptable. The use of physical force to control children should be severely restricted. … evidence some staff would "bait" children into situations that would lead to them being restrained for the adult's "own gratification"… 5 staff against one child… Physical force was used against youngsters 15,512 times during a 21-month period in England and Wales. Gareth, who weighed just 7 stone, died after being restrained by 3 members of staff at the privately-run Rainsbrook secure training centre 4 days in to his sentence… the closed environment of custodial centres… holding children for dubious reasons… The QC, a former MP said responsibility for under-18s in custody should be taken away from the prisons minister and handed to the Children's minister. His year-long inquiry, commissioned by ‘The Howard League for Penal Reform’… made 45 recommendations…’My team of expert advisers shared my shock at some of the practices we witnessed… If children in custody are expected to learn to behave well, they have to be treated well and the staff and various authorities have to set the very highest standards. The rule of law and protection of Human Rights should apply to all children equally, regardless of whether they are detained in custody or in the community…” (ITN & Channel 4, 16/2/2006). “WAH! YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT it’s LIKE!” SOCIAL WORKER: “Yes, I do know. Are you purposefully trying to get yourself thrown out? Now go to your room, stop snivelling or go and ‘play’ with the traffic! I wash my hands of them” (2005) = Growth in Self-Harming. Children are cutting themselves! “What’s the matter with her? We don’t know. We don’t understand it. What’s the answer?” SECURE ? “The system is screwed up” said a social worker. We’re not allowed to lock the door to stop them absconding...” “You’re going to end up as a statistic!” (2006). WAH! So many kids in need! And all you want is the money! ARGH to politics…

“SIN CITY” VICTIMS: “PUT IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION: 1/3rd of the youngsters who are attracted by the bright lights in the city... end up Homeless… are approached for PROSTITUTION and forced to beg on the streets - the vast majority of them raising less than £5 a day, a survey by the charity Centrepoint reveals... The government's determination to end 'benefit culture' has caused 'street culture' which is far more dangerous. ¾ of youngsters arrive in London from areas suffering high unemployment. ½ had been in council ‘care,’ leaving to try and find work and excitement - instead they end up in a poverty trap. The perils facing them grow more dangerous every day. To change the system, the Government could help them get a home which will help them get employment. Centrepoint helps approx. 1,500 youngsters a year. Those sleeping rough went up from 53% to 78% in 1987" (1989). "... became withdrawn, sulky. Was badly abused. Wanted to run away - hated the world. ½ starved, in rags, a skivvy..." “You have now arrived at a very, very bad placewhere the sights are horrible, the people are horrible. I hope YOU DON’T ever go there…” "THE PIMP offers the GIRL a room - somewhere to stay. ‘A bit of refuge.’ The girl takes up the offer reluctantly, hoping, naively, there'll be no price attached. She may be locked in, then forced to deal with clients, to pay the rent on the room. She may be left to die alone." "I wanted to get away from home. A man said if I stripped - he'd help me out. When I couldn't pay the rent, I'd pose..." "Using persuasion. Young girls ain’t got no chances. I can't share the pretences - there's nothing wrong." "The growing trade in child pornography. Snuff videos. Children killed whilst being filmed. Price (of film) paid depends on race - on colour and age of child. Gang raped before being murdered." "Vice squads can't keep up..." (July 1990). "HOMELESS CHILDREN PREYED UPON (stalked) BY PAEDAFILES..." (1990). "One of the grimmest side-effects of Homelessness has been the growth in the RENT BOYS trade. The need for money means that many, who are corruptible, are prepared to accept offers from older men. Some are befriended, introduced to drugs and homosexual prostitution rings... There is always the possibility of violence but even if they are attacked they are unwilling to go to the police.

THE FUTURE? “To Hell With it?” “It’s so awful to look after children… Don’t have any? Develop other forms of surrogacy to ‘liberate.’ Children brought up entirely by the State system? (God forbid!) Parents merely visit once a week for an hour?” “A dysfunctional person costs Tax-Payers £25,000 a year. Officially, there are 1.3 million dysfunctional people in Britain. Tony Blair’s ‘thing’ is social exclusion- how to deal with (cure?) (His) Solution? A new computer to pinpoint future 51

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The 2nd risk is the almost certain exposure to Aids (HIV)..." "GET ME OFF THE STREETS! I want a place to stay. Make my day!" "WAH! I wanna go home. I haven't got a home but that don't stop me wanting one..." THE (infamous) DENIS NILSEN MURDERS: "... he had a history of mental instability – he went into the army, learnt how to dissect using a knife... he joined the police... corpses fascinated him... he resigned... then worked at a Job centre... Neilsen EXPLOITED the situation facing the Homeless... he murdered 13 young drifters - luring them easily... He looked for would-be suicides who were wondering how they could survive another day - who were looking for the chance of a meal, a bed for the night... Gruesome… His state of mind was questioned. He admitted he enjoyed killing. He proved he was capable of planning. Clearly he had a personality disorder. The word 'substantial' was questioned in the Homicide Act…Neilson pleaded 'diminished responsibility' thus reducing his crime... (If Neilsen’s cold bloodied behaviour (blood lust) is not defined as INSANE, what is?) BORDERLINE DISORDER: After hearing all the gory details, the Judge expressed impatience with the professional jargon... Neilson was given 'life' (maximum 25 years.”) "The defendant shows signs of 'clearly' defined mental diseases Schizophrenia i.e. hallucinations, hearing voices from God, persecutory delusions, or mania..." Uh? BORDERLINE means: Frontier, barrier or division between anything doubtful, verging on madness.” (“Know your borderline… There are many different types of borderline disorders - look them up in a medical text-book.”) “MY POST MORTEM? Not the 1st time this has happened. And this won’t be the last.” "Not much of a world for the young to inherit…”

52

poor to Afford even basic essentials. They only have a few £'s a week to ‘live’ on. Small amounts of money from begging are not enough for a bed at night." "I'm barely surviving..." “The tramp with plastic bags over his shoes…” “If you were in my shoes…” “If you don’t clean up you can stay on your own for as long as you like!” "Tired and misplaced...” “I’ve got a hole in my soul. They ain’t got nothing to fix that.” ("Wishing things could be different...") “Where is the so-called ‘safety net’? I can’t find it!” SOD'S LAW: "Where can you go when you are destitute? The workhouse? Horrible there. Couldn't be worse. Make you ill. You'll die of consumption..." “… it’s raining again…Too bad you’re losing a friend…” STREET 'LIFE' = "THE WIND CHILL at night... The cold is a killer. Stay conscious or you become a corpse." "I wish I had a place where I could dry out…" "Soup? Soup? Soup every day? I need good, solid food." "There's a rumble in my tummy..." "I can't manage on that." "He ran on an empty stomach..." “Have YOU seen the old man in the closed down market? Have YOU seen the old girl who walks the streets… dirt in her hair, carrying her home in 2 plastic bags… the world doesn’t care… In our winter city, the rain cries a little pity… Oh, let me take you by the hand, I’ll show you something to make you change YOUR mind…” (FOLK song: THE

CHAPTER 2: UK: THE HOMELESS: (TRUE CHARITY: "Looking after the weak and sick is the duty and obligation of the well nourished, the well housed and the well clothed. In the New Testament, we are urged to practice charity - to comfort the sick, to visit prisoners, to clothe the naked and feed the hungry.") "We are called Human." "Fellow creatures." HUMAN BEING (means: Showing sympathy, kindness or understanding. The Gentler emotions.") "You are the ones who suffer most. Yours is a story untold." HUMAN BEINGS = AN ENDANGERED SPECIES! "...THE DRIFTER. He is looking for the most excellent place of all..." "FLAT BROKE: "I can't Afford the rent for a bloody flat. I ain’t got enough money for a house..." "I was staying with friends, but it's easy to outstay your welcome." "It hurts too much to stay around when the magic's gone..." “This house aint a home…” "I have to find something. I don't know what it is, but when I find it, I'll know." "Me? Oh, I'm looking for a new life..." ("… it's a new address for this young man." "… it's a new start!”) "It'll keep me happy!" THE TRAMP: (A Hobo. A migratory worker: "Britain used to have special accommodations for tramps- they could go from one place to another, always finding a place to stay...") (A good example of a tramp is: "Charlie Chaplin the world's most lovable tramp...") "A tramp is a person who counts riches by what he hasn't got. The birds and Sun greet him. His Freedom is his happiness." "Sleeping out under the stars! I prefer it. Makes me feel really happy!" "To sleep under the stars. The sky is one roof that will never collapse on you. It's the one roof you know will still be there in the morning when you wake." (Ah! you want to be certain, as sure as the sun rising in the East...”) "… it's the way I want to live..." "To me it's not a remote dream." "… it's where I long to be." "I still believe it's going to happen." "I feel like it's a part of me - it goes deep, deep." "GIVE ME LIBERTY! or GIVE ME LIFE!” "I can't be chained to a ‘life.’" "I don't want a sheltered ‘life’!" "Settle down? I couldn't! I'd go mad staying in one place!" "In my heart, it will remain. When I love, it is forever. The pity is you keep making me feel as far away from my destiny as I ever conceived I would get. I'll go by the way I feel about things - my sense of smell." "Nobody is going to take away my Freedom. You can't deny me this feeling..." "… it's all I want." "… it's my life. It's my life! Do you understand?" "ALMOST FREE!" "These days, many are too

STREETS OF LONDON, by Ralph McTell).

(OLD FOLK SAYING: “When it rains, God is crying…”) "A WINTER'S TALE: ... When his parents died, Terence took to the road... He is 50. He has camped on Hampstead Heath, in London for 14 years. .... He does not drink alcohol. ... He explains there are 3 kinds of people who sleep rough: There's the camping type who is in-between digs, there's the sort from whom no explanation is forthcoming, there's the sort who is scared the house will tumble down - they are afraid cracks will appear in the walls - the cracking theme is evoked repeatedly... Terence has a Mac, some blankets, but most importantly, he lies on plastic bags, which are put underneath if the ground is wet... He says he is in this situation because he cannot accept society as you know it... Whilst the problem of Homelessness persists all year long, the coming of spring means the political issue of down and outs reverts to the back burner" (Time Out magazine, 3/4/1985).

“HELP ME MAKE it THROUGH THE NIGHT! It’s so sad to be left out in the cold…” 53

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"Thamesreach- an agency that provides aid and advice to people on the street, reported 'callousness' at a hospital... a Homeless man who had taken an overdose was taken in for treatment but was merely dumped back on the street by security guards... 'We fear for the back street Homeless. The public can be less than generous'..." (3/4/1985). NIGHT SHELTERS: "... we are finding significant numbers don't want to sleep in Night Shelters - for very good reason: watery soup, going there can give you lice, you can't sleep for all the coughing and snoring... The worrying part is that people disappear. People die here. There are some very passive, extremely withdrawn people out there the vulnerable ones who never go near a soup van, who run away from the main groupings, who hide themselves away..." “I’m so embarrassed…” “My whole world is just me and this dog…” "Society is creating a swarm of jobless, Homeless, young, unable to Afford habitable lodgings, who have to keep on the move.“ WAH! “WHY is my world being turned upside down?” “My memory is all I have left now…” “'Charity' is the Victorian ‘solution’ to society's cast-offs. It is in this direction the government are aiming... Plans are going ahead for the progressive closure of ‘resettlement’ units which offer ‘instant Emergency shelter’ for 3,000 Homeless people each month... the government wants to hive off the responsibility... The government will not release the funds to do a proper job..." (3/4/1985) "We are 52nd class citizens..." 1986: "No-one is being taken off the waiting list in Camden" said a Housing Officer. AID WORKERS ADVISED: "If asked to give money- buy the Homeless a hot cup of tea or a meal, to stop them starving and freezing to death." "The Homeless are 150% more at risk of disease, accident, hypothermia, premature death... These people need clean, warm, dry shelter..." "COLD DAYS, DARK NIGHTS…" A sign on the make-shift 'door' of a cardboard-box (situated under the Queen Elizabeth Hall, in London) said: "1987 IS ‘THE YEAR OF THE HOMELESS’! Do YOU CARE? CAN YOU HELP?" "God be with you" said visiting Christian workers, as they drove off in a taxi... (“The Good Shepherd will leave his flock to save, and carry, the ‘lost sheep’…”) “… it’s RIGHT UP MY STREET!” A few portakabin-style temporary shelters are sited behind London’s Highbury Underground-train station, provided by St. Mungo’s to help a few Homeless people… 1987: A plastic-coated, NICE, NEW, white (flimsy) tent - made in sections, joined together… with

plastic windows, was put on a bridge, to provide a temporary restaurant, for an Exhibition hall, on London’s South Bank:

THE HOMELESS SAID: “I need something like that! Something that helps move me… I believe in style.” “They aren’t strong enough to help me…” "It's hard finding anywhere to live around here... the general situation..." 'The alternative’ is to ‘sleep’ in doorways. Many Homeless people had to do that after the trees crashed down during the 1987 hurricane. SCENE: A PARK (called ‘Canada Walk.’ This park was given to ‘The People to commemorate The War of Liberation.’ Situated in Lincoln’s Inn Fields- a central London square, near The Royal Courts of Justice i.e. “Britain's Most Social Extreme.”)

(Picture: The park hut commandeered by the Homeless).

1987: at least 50 Homeless people 'live' here (in this park), in a 'cardboard city.’ The Homeless are woken at 4.20am by porters from nearby offices. 'You have to leave now, before the Judges arrive...' …OFFICE WORKERS, who just want to enjoy lunch in the park, said: 'All these camps shouldn't be here! They leave their filth here! Terrible!’ ‘Go to Buckingham Palace and sleep out there!’ ‘You should be in hostels.’ ‘Do you want to be on welfare all your life?’ ‘You ‘live’ in a cardboard box! Do you suffer delusions?’ THE HOMELESS said: ‘I want to stop the rot, get back on my feet, form some sort of a base. I'm out of work at the moment.’ ‘Nowadays, everything is too easy? Huh, I'd rather go back to the STONE AGE…’ ‘My friends and I like to work on a FREE exchange basis, with no strings attached...’ ‘We need a real home, not one stuck in the DARK Ages.’ ‘Yeh. I used to believe in magic, but now I'm not quite sure why.’ The Homeless have a few funny, but mostly really sad experiences. EG. 54

someone gives a Homeless youth an old tent. ‘It's really quite clean…’ ‘Here's a vacancy!’ he said to his mates…” (ref. Extract: Documentary, Fields Apart,

shape, line with a plastic sheet - flap that under, and over the top… and sides… = A plastic… Sanctuary! (well, it is sort of, until the plastic sheet blows off…) NOTE: Plastic is liked / favoured / used extensively by the Homeless. (It’s LOGICAL! It all looks very... sane.) "I like it. I like it. I like it." "Now that's what I like! SPEED. I'm a very fast mover…" A Little Joke: "I'll be there in a Jiffy..." (i.e. one of

Viewpoint, Channel 4).

The Homeless frequently DISCUSS it: “Oh! We’ve been through it a million times…” "When you need a light, in the middle of the night..." "It's 3am. The rain's bucketing down... you’re cold, your cardboard box has a leak..." ("That won’t keep you warm on a wet night!" "Winter winds will be much colder..." "I know you suffer from the cold dreadfully...") “I’ll be a much deeper shade of blue…” (“… Deep in the night, don’t you hope you’ll find your way?”) Survival Instinct = Adapting to circumstances. ART = Being inventive.

those round, plastic squirty lemon-juice containers).

"I like things simple - simplified. Know what I mean?" "I need it. I need it like this..." "I'll tell it, speak it. I'll think it, breathe it and live it. I'll reflect so all souls can see it. I'll know my song well before I start singing..." WAH! "WE WANT A STYLE OF OUR OWN!" "I'm heading towards my Phoenix…" "Stay with it. We’ve got to make something of our lives..." "… it's better than death - slow suicide, broken romance, lost friends..." “… it’s not so bad. It’s not so bad. It’s not so bad.” "Have a heart for the arts..." ("It could be worse. ‘Tis known by the name of perseverance in a good cause, obstinacy in a bad.") "Just give me some place I can go... Soon it'll be Spring... " "My name is Summer." "Reckon we can survive about another 4 months if the good weather holds up..." "My name's Destiny." "We dream where the Sun don't shine..." "We got our own way of talking. Don't YOU hear?" "You can go right along this line and you'll find brains - clever people!" ("They discussed this matter with such theoretical and practical knowledge, their instructor was afraid he had been born on a different planet.") “Where is the catch in it?” "I tell you man, it's the only fool-proof system..." (“… although it’s not fools I worry about...”) "We can re-arrange our world." “It would be a completely new start for us…” “… it’s a life changing opportunity.” "It means liberty today! Everyone should have one." "You could have happiness - everything, IF YOU just let it be." "… it's absolutely enchanting." "It'll be so easy - it's a true love, made in Heaven." "Why shouldn't life be this good?" "I wish I had it now." "Will YOU help me? Will YOU help our dull lives? Will YOU help me find Heaven and Peace? There are not many smiling faces here." "It's where I'll find my Heaven." "I want it and I think it's pathetic that they say we can't have it." "They only want emptiness inside us. That isn't right. They're pretending not to

OUTSIDER ARTS: = Improvise! "It's worth a try." "We are searching for... Try!" “Give it a go!” "Make the most of it!" EXAMPLES of something to SHELTER in, created BY THE HOMELESS: The 'Bud Wrapper' or 'Coffin': A large, oblong, cardboard box, laid on the ground, on a plastic sheet– that is flapped over the top... ("No! I'm not ashamed of it! You don't know what it is to be poor. Being poor is extremely unpleasant. Always cold. A life-time of being cold, never well fed. Always outside, looking in...." "It might be low, but there's nothing common about it!" “Think it over.” "I'll sleep on it..." "It'll all make sense in the morning, you'll see..." "… it's my small survival place, y'know?" "I think it's going to be better the second time around…" = The Cardboard Castle: Stand the cardboard up. Stack against a tree, lean against a wall - prop-up with a length of wood, to stop it blowing away. Sleep curled up inside, on a plastic sheet. "… it's my pride and joy." … it's better than going without! Surely to God, it's better than nothing! It's better to try than do nothing. It has to be worth something!" "There is always hope." (Hope, for what?) (“Is the idea gradually beginning to dawn?”) "It's a damp night. Of course, I'd rather have one..." (Ah! “They can see the light…”) ("My name is Thunderbolt & Lightening...") "… it will help us!" "… it'll save our ass!" "… it's got my attention!" "Home in on it!" "… it's my GUIDING LIGHT!" ("… it's easy when you know how...") A bit Better: Stack plastic bread crates into a box 55

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know the difference…” "… it heralds the change. Never give up the dream for a GOOD FUTURE." "It's just a dream you can't twist round your finger." "It's the one thing they can't take away - just remember." “Is it ONLY a dream?” "Understand it, so we can say it's a fine life! It's something we have wanted for years!" "YOU could have happiness- everything, if you just let it be." "The cold, suffering discrimination, isolated from the community / society, are startled YOU fail to see your FAILINGS in political matters that affect THE PEOPLE in general- that affects religious and moral issues. It gets our vote. We're proud of it. It's good stuff. And we're looking forward to having it for the rest of our lives." "… it's my rightful place." "I can't do without it. It's the real thing." "Our purpose for living is to find Perfection. Let it shine forth!" "Please say the right words." "CHANGE your mind." "… it shouldn't be imposed. If it helps me walk down the street and feel safe, I'm in favour of it." "It will be an incredible achievement!" "It will help other people..." "We will be very thankful for it." "Some would say it's a real treasure." "I will treasure it and make it last - it's all I really need." "Some say it's overdue." "I've examined this issue in triple cut..." "We're looking at you from the bottom up. Do you need someone to rescue you? I'll rise to the occasion - I can offer you so much. I'm going to share with you..." "A prophet could do all the administration."

WAH! “How Long must we WAIT for it?” “It’s all about timing.” "Timing is everything." "They're taking their time about it!" “It should only take 2 ticks…” “Don’t be long about it.” “How long does it take?” "How long will it take?" "You expect same day service when you break-down in the middle of nowhere." "Don't take all day about it!" "We're in limbo." "There isn't a whole heap I can do about it." ("At this stage it is all about COURAGE and BELIEF and the ABILITY TO OVERCOME difficult conditions.") "WE'VE BEEN HURTING FOR SO LONG..." “I’ve been waiting all my life…” PRAYER: "Good shepherd. I am a ‘lost sheep.’ I pray that you might find me so I may return to your flock..." "The prayer for salvation keeps me going…" "We've got nothing left but faith." “… it will happen IF we wait long enough… for the truth to happen… and when it does, I hope it happens for us…” "It's HARD waiting!" “We’ll just have to wait no matter how long it takes.” "MAKE it SNAPPY!" "… it's coming together, slowly... it will be here. Yes it will, better than before." “… it is getting there, slowly, but surely.” "JUST BE QUICK about it." "Is it ready yet? How much longer will it take?" “It is a matter of LIFE AND DEATH…” "The problems are urgent and pressing. Get a result, man." "Don't wait till Christmas! Do it NOW!" “I’m sorry if I’m being impatient. I’ll see it clearly someday soon. It can’t be much longer. It must come someday soon. Sorry to pressure you but…” "The hungry can't wait!" WAH! “I DON’T want to die!” "Hurry it along." “YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE.” "You shouldn't rush it. It has to go at its own pace." “It can’t be rushed.” (“I’m not rushing it. We don’t want any misunderstandings.” “It is going at its own speed.”. “People on major work will not rush to publish until they are sure of their results.”) "… it's going to take time and patience. A lot of thought goes into it.” “… it's a craft. Takes some time to learn." “You can’t rush art… to turn it into something beautiful…” (Ah! Yes! Perfection!) "Stick with it no matter how long it takes." “… it’ll be worth the wait.” "I can wait maybe another hour." "We can make it. We can make it. Just HANG ON!" (“When the days and nights are long, and you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, HOLD ON. Don’t let yourself go! Because everybody cries. Everybody hurts, sometimes. Sometimes, everything is wrong. If you are thinking of letting go, HOLD ON.

WAIT FOR it?: RESPONSE FROM THE AUTHORITIES: “It’s SELFISH TIME NOW. YOU CAN WAIT FOR THE SHOW to begin.” "They don't acknowledge many of the Homeless people and unemployed have dropped out of society because we disapprove of the way things are done." EG. "I don't want to get involved - too much fighting." "What hasn't been acknowledged is that just maybe, the Homeless know some of the answers - that there are options we're not looking at..." “WE’RE WAITING…” (“What are they waiting for?”) “WAIT FOR it…” (“… it’s something to get them started for a long time.” “… it’s somewhere you can begin…”) “I hope it wont be very long…” 56

‘Shelter’ raised £2,933.351 in 1988 via public donations… Shelter owns 45 shops, 32 Housing Aid offices, 3 main offices…” (Cost to acquire & upkeep?) “Shelter live on grants- and only act as a pressure group to Local Authorities to try and get them to implement legislation they should implement..." BUT "Shelter is weak. Emasculated. Got no real power." "Is the money raised by Shelter used to provide Affordable homes?" "Grimethorpe Tenants Housing Co-operative needed help with their struggle to purchase houses British Coal were selling off. Shelter gave £100 to help the co-op survive." "… Lenin remained stationery. We still haven't been able to help him…." "Liverpool Emergency Accommodation project - providing desperately needed short term accommodation for Homeless young people… Shelter gave £250…" In Shelter's campaign called: 'Lifting the Roof on Homelessness' Shelter argue: "What most people want is to be home owners... Encouraging ownership is thought to be the goal of our national housing policy: It leads to improved conditions and wider choice... Finding solutions to housing problems is difficult... There has never been greater demand for our help...." COMPLAINT: “Shelter don't help get you a house. They only advocate more of the same old crap…” "Too scared they'll lose their jobs if we got somewhere to call home?" 1990: "Staff at Shelter resigning." (Ah! INADEQUATE… SHELTER…) (One good way Shelter could help the Homeless would be to provide an accurate statistical and geographical, analysis of how many people are Homeless. The list should include all kinds of Homeless people, including ALL the Hidden Homeless). “The average charity spends 30 – 75% on administration.” “One case worker earns £13,000 per annum…” (1989). Finsbury Park (not a tourist hot-spot) London 1989: Approx. 60 Homeless men and women trying to survive in cardboard boxes, and begging. One is partially disabled, another is totally blind and uses a white stick, another is on crutches... All look old. When you give them money they say: "Thank you, God bless you. You're very kind." They 'sleep' sprawled out on the pavements, ‘crashed’ against walls - wherever they can - outside the filthy public toilets, by the entrance gates to the park - a shock for the families who use the park... Many of the Homeless are banned from going in the shops. I’ve often seen them, holding each other up, singing songs to cheer themselves and passers-by. At night they all have a terribly sad, defeated look. 2 of the women cry if you even look at them. They are so terribly tired, dirty, battered, sore, cold, grieving...

HOLD ON!” (song by REM.) (“A few seconds on the rack to a TORTURED man can seem like an eternity…” "17 seconds is a measure of time…") "I'm still holding on..." “I can’t wait much longer!” "I can’t WAIT!" "I can't make it." “You only have to look at me to know every word is true…” “That’s it. I’ve had it. I can’t hold on any longer…” “It might come tomorrow.” “Tomorrow? It’ll take that long?” “Tomorrow never comes…” “Just WHEN will the New World Dawn?” ("Why wait any longer for the new world to begin?") “WHY are we waiting?” THE FUTURE = “… it’s coming on…” 1988: Mother Theresa (bless her) asked Mrs Thatcher to Help the Homeless. Help was refused. Mother Theresa had a heart attack... (Mother Theresa was known as the ‘Saint to the Gutters’ for her work in Calcutta). Mother Theresa said: “People are lonely because they build Walls instead of bridges.” (Mother Theresa died 5th September, 1997).

"Crowded afternoon - not much room in the city. Some just want a laugh, some just want to be free..." "He uses space with minimum waste…" i.e. The Homeless try to hold onto just a few cherished goods: The Homeless dismantle their makeshift shelter every day, packing it all up neatly, sometimes putting it into supermarket trolleys, or simply leaving their bedding folded neatly under a park bench… (The Homeless are known for: "Hiding their proverbial light under a bush...") "Who's nicked his blanket?" "STIFF LITTER LAWS INTRODUCED: "DIRTY LONDON: 47% of Overseas visitors think there is too much litter on London's streets, 26% identifying a serious litter problem in Underground stations but ¾ felt there were no significant rubbish problems in the parks…" (Evening Standard re: Tourist Board annual survey., 28/12/1989).

"CRISIS FOR THE HOMELESS: ... latest statistics show the London borough of Enfield, with 822 Homeless in priority need, has the 4th biggest Homeless problem of the 19 boroughs - Brent, Ealing and Greenwich have more..." (15/6/1989). "WE SEE AN INCREASING NUMBER OF BEGGARS and we increasingly pass them by, not just because we have become immune to the sight of them, but because we don't want to acknowledge that we live in a society which lets this happen, and which might allow Homelessness to happen to us. Moreover, we have grown used to blaming people for their own economic and psychological predicament" (1989) We are becoming Hardened! HARD! "THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS = The (UK) organisation called 57

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into a hostel..." "HOSTELS WHERE DIRT & DEGRADATION IS STANDARD:" The last rung on the ladder... before going into a cardboard box = A ‘Resettlement’ Unit...” "... there's lots of forms to fill in... if people can't read or write..." “On arrival - shower, checked for infestation - a very degrading process…”

It’s as if they know they have no chance of ever making it... “WE’VE GOT TO STAY ALIVE… somehow… we’ve got to make it… I refuse… to give up… or give in…” "NO COMFORT. Only strife. Always having to move and going nowhere…" "Same old story everywhere - move on, you're not wanted here..." "When I die, I’m going to HEAVEN. I know because I’ve done my time in HELL." “In Heaven, you aren’t on the outside with your nose pressed against the cold window…” "Stop the Suffering! Combat Cruelty!" DO YOU PREFER CARING or CRUELTY? HEATED ARGUMENTS: "It's all very well for you fat members to sit over there laughing about the Homeless" said a very angry MP. "Do you realise that over 70% of my constituents come and see me because of Housing problems?" "The Homeless are only in Labour boroughs" said a Conservative MP (still sniggering) (In the House,

"Are you just itching to get on with it?" “… Always watching your only belongings - usually only a plastic bag or worn clothes... A maze of corridors, grime and grease smeared... 120 men ‘sleep’ in one dorm... hostel normally always full 80 long term 'residents... Short staffed due to cuts... Running costs enormous, for the building, administration - cheaper to send the Homeless to Malta! They had run out of sheets... We sleep in our clothes, guarding belongings.. " "... blackened pillows, smelly blankets, windows locked..." "... holes in the ceilings, plaster falling off the walls, the lockers shattered, holes and big stains in the mattresses..." "... the piles of dust..." "I couldn't stay in that filth. I'd rather sleep out..." “I just need to have some space… to BREATHE! I just need some time alone…” "I only use this place to wash...” “… dirty towels, dirty razors in the corner..." "The conditions are really SPARTAN. The smell stays with you..." "Don't stay here too long blokes settle in and never get moving again..." "A condemned cell atmosphere about the place." "NOBODY HOME. I've got a little book with my poems in. I’ve got a bag with my toothbrush and comb in. When I'm good they sometimes throw a little bone in. I got elastic bands holding my shoes on. I've got swollen hands blues..." ("Rave on John Dunne...") "... there's no privacy... herded in with people I don't like..." "I don't want to sleep with anybody! I wouldn't sleep with my own mother…" "Look, when I want a character assassin, I phone my mother..." "Hostels dehumanise people." "Children are going to learn all the tricks from nutters." "... many inmates are drunk..." "TERRORISED…" (So many horrifying stories about violence...) "I was beaten up in a hostel had my eyes super-glued and I’ve been thrown out of a hostel." "Hostel proprietor hit me, called the

25/4/1990).

COVENT GARDEN, London: A Homeless gentleman was wandering around the edge of a large street cafe, looking for some left-over food. He was wearing an old pin-striped suit. He saw me looking at him, so he hobbled over to me. He started laughing and then crying "Do you know why I think it is funny?” he asked. “It's because I used to be a bastard too." I gave him some money. He gently put his hand on my shoulder and asked: "Do you understand? Do YOU? Do you want to know the truth? They're all CHICKEN! 900 million people are starving in the world! We should ALL ‘fight’ for love." The (fat) cafe owner rushed over and pushed him away viciously. "Go on, go away! I've told you repeatedly not to come round here. Push off! Clear off!" he said. I protested. "He's only trying to talk to me! It's none of your business. I want to talk to him!" But the café owner continued to push him further away. 2 security men and 3 police-men arrived. They physically dragged him away… (April 1990) (“The LACK of COMPASSION!”) "Thatcher's sucking up all our insides." "WHAT WILL HOMES in the 1990's BE MADE OF?" “Cardboard.” “I need something decent to get me on my feet!” "BLOW FOR THE HOMELESS: Housing chiefs were given a £5 million boost to help the Homeless... but the government kept control of spending; all sorts of restrictions imposed... has to seek government approval for any scheme the money is spent on... will have to be spent on repairs of empty council and Housing Association properties..." (April, 1990). "There is NO ALTERNATIVE" ? 'Good-bye freedom' he says, as he leaves to go 58

"CHARITY CHECKS: ... 500 charities were removed from the register because they were wound-up or ceased trading... the Commission received over 1,000 complaints alleging deliberate fraud, mal-administration or fundraising abuse... compounded by inadequate financial records. 'It is crazy we do not expect the same financial standards from charities as we do from companies.' The Charity Commissioners who supervise charities are run on a pittance… are struggling to catch up with their work, and need help - mostly from the law..." (1990). “There are 200 charities in London for the Homeless and 600 nationwide…” “Where Does All The Money Go?” That question still remains unanswered. "HOMELESSNESS MAKES BIG PROFITS FOR SOME..." “Pop singer Phil Collins released a record called 'But Seriously' ‘to raise money for the Homeless.’ At concerts, buckets went round for the audience to fill with cash... ‘But Seriously’ was top of the charts in 11 countries... more than 11 million copies were sold...” (“Before this record was released, Phil had made £70 million, but he only had 4 houses and £25 million left...") Phil said: "... a lot of reviewers criticised me for writing about the Homeless. They said I was cashing in on their plight and that I couldn't really understand their problems because I have no money worries. I was really angry over those remarks… but fortunately... it is an amazing achievement..." The Devil's Rejects said: "Sorry Phil, but we don't understand the words..." "… it's just got to make sense in my head." “WHAT ARE THESE HUGE AMOUNTS OF CASH SPENT ON?” "More futile gestures?" EG. THE BUY-A-BRICK APPEAL Advert: “Buy a brick and save a life." "CITIZENS DESPAIR..." "No-one is interested in the real needs of the Homeless" ? “Blame THE SYSTEM" ? "Do YOU blame the government for the (dense as a brick) mess?” ("DON’T BLAME the Homeless! The HOMELESS are the GOOD Guys!") “Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) a charity, now evicting people from hostel so they can turn the building into a hotel. Residents locked out with no explanation.” “The idea was to house those in greatest need” (28/8/1990). "HOMELESSNESS AROUND THE WORLD HAS HIT RECORD LEVELS..." "London councils have dealt with 126,240 Homeless house-holds last year, up 10,000... Housing charities say the real figure is double this. Many Homeless single (and old) people (many with children) etc., are not included in

police, I was fined £250! When I couldn't pay, I had to spend 3 weeks in jail, when I came out, I'd lost everything…" "Staff don't want to know. They take my money off me…" "Staff made improper advances towards the young boys... nothing was ever proved..." “Hostel closed down…” "I've gone all round the Homeless hostels. They wouldn't accept me..." "Hostel only has 12 places..." "Only allowed to stay 2 nights..." "After 8 weeks, put back on streets again..." "Hostel due to close. 'Can you get me into another hostel? I don't want to go on the streets, no more. I'm Homeless - I'm registered disabled..." "Staff inundated with referrals. 'We have to turn them away..." "Dr. M. Hall, in Oxford, believes 90% of those living apart from society want to be re-connected as soon as possible. They did not choose to be alone and adrift. The solution to Homelessness is homes, simple as that.' 'The ‘loner,’ should he want to escape from his isolation, needs 3 things: Money, shelter and one meaningful relationship with another human being'..." (1989). “THE COLD, CRUEL WORLD…” "After a 3 year study, the (Conservative) government has decided no changes are needed to the system that deals with the Homeless" (20/11/1989).

"THATCHER'S BRITAIN": "It's a scandal. But what can we do about it?" CHRISTMAS SHELTER: "The Sunday Times gave the organisation ‘CRISIS’ £250,000 for their appeal…the result of a 7 week campaign... '… a generous response to this important social issue. We are delighted'... 600 Homeless people got an evening meal... 70 patients a day dealt with, a few injured people put in B & B, 800 items of clothing given out. Hot showers were available. The shelter closed on 2nd January..." "Crisis says they have now raised enough money to support 47 long-term schemes…” (Hostels?) “COD FROM GOD: Vicarage-door beggars will be handed fish and chip vouchers instead of money, by the Rev. in Newbury, Berks." ("God bless ya Governor..." "Jesus fed 5,000...") "You're a poor risk, a sad loser. Still, what else can we do?" ‘CHARITABLE’ DONATION: "Tesco, the giant food chain, made £190 million profit... and donated oats and a load of pork pies to help the Homeless…" “THE CHARITABLE HEART of Britain IS STILL BEATING FIRMLY: A record 168,710 charities were registered in England and Wales last year, more than 4,000 new ones. The strongest growth was in charities concerned with care of the physically and mentally ill and those offering relief for the deprived. In the field of poverty, there were charities for the relief of street children... " 59

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the problem... and has been widely viewed as grossly inadequate..." (24/2/1990). INADEQUATE ‘SOLUTIONS.’ "Files full of complaints..." “As a matter of urgency we are considering what further comprehensive action we need to take to alleviate the problem...” said Mr. Spicer. “The break-up of family life is one of the most important reasons for Homelessness. Part of the answer is to ensure as many young people as possible stayed closer to the family home until they had adequate accommodation and adequate means to support it…” “Would Mr. Spicer consider allowing Local Authorities to start spending capital receipts on housing the Homeless?” Mr Spicer said this was an international problem and the government was looking at one of the causes... He agreed it is a matter for the government to make sure there is adequate accommodation for the Homeless.” “Another Conservative minister, John Marshall, said 1,000s of jobs are available with accommodation, which employers had difficulty filling... did this not mean most of the Homeless were 'malingerers’?” “Richard Tracey, Conservative MP, said the problem would be alleviated if London boroughs collected the £5 million rent arrears owed to them... Mr. Spicer said he was right - that some properties are vacant 'is a national scandal'..."

official figures." "Officially, 136,000 people are without a home in London" (1990). "GONE PAST CRISIS POINT. Something must be done!" (22/2/1990). "This is a rotten way to live. No fun at all. Not for anyone." "DRAGGED FROM PILLAR TO POST…" "Tossing and turning all night..." "TORMENTED! I feel so let down…" "SOMETHING'S GOING WRONG... but we don't know what it is!" "OUTCASTS: "There's an army of Homeless peoplevulnerable groups, ‘sleeping’ in cardboard boxes... There are makeshift villages - slightly safer than street sleeping... You can find them lining sub-ways, in Charing Cross, near the Royal Festival Hall..." UNDERNEATH THE railway ARCHES: Huddled in wet sleeping bags, old tramps - too afraid to drop off, chat to keep themselves awake: "They wrote us off years ago... The love is always empty." "They said: ‘The Homeless need a Bridge’! Yes. A bridge - to see them from childhood, to adulthood... Yes, the situation if anything is going to get worse for people before it can get any better." (NOTE: We’ve now gone from needing ‘a safety net’ to ‘a bridge’). "Arches are quite nice to look at arches create quite a cosy look to the place." "Yeh, Bart, know what you mean. Pity the old bricks are crumbling though. Look at that crack over there. See all the water running through? Tut. Wonder how much longer will these old bridges hold up? I wonder what the cost of replacing them is? Do you think they ever will replace them? Or do you think they'll just keep on patching them up a bit? You know, arch design is quite interesting... I've got quite a good idea for a new style…” (People in the ‘university of life’ have a different way of assessing things). "... Evicted from under the bridges..."

(9/3/1990).

"They're filling my mind with more useless crap!" "BULLIED OUT OF THEIR BELIEF..." “There is deep unhappiness and a sense of injustice…” "HELP IS ON THE WAY..." "KNOCK AND WAIT…" "Another advice service is being set-up ‘to help prevent and relieve Homelessness’... cost approx. £1 million... with the help of Shelter, SHAC and the Nat. Assoc. of Citizens Advice Bureaus... to advise on the dangers of leaving home...” THE HOMELESS SAID: "They offer the usual excuses…" EG. "I'm very busy right now… I haven't got the time…" "The person you need to speak to isn't here." "You'll have to wait. Could take all day. Are you sure you want to wait?" "You'll have to come back again tomorrow. We’re up to our eyes in it..." "Are you from this area? No? Then you've no right to be here. That's the rules. I understand you've had to move around. But you've got to provide proof you've lived in the same area for at least 3 years to get on the waiting list. I can give you a list of hostels, but they're probably full..." "Have you got an appointment?" "She's out to lunch. Shall I give her a message?" THE HOMELESS SAID: "Surreal. They're giving

('Underneath the Arches' the play was showing at the Prince of Wales Theatre). Prince Charles, when asked what he

thought about the Homeless problem said: "It is a social problem, not a political problem." Uh? "London is facing an EMERGENCY. The number of Homeless people has reached frightening proportions..." TRICK OR TREAT? "135,000 house-holds were officially recognised as Homeless in 1988, double the 1979 figure. Councils cannot meet the crisis. One million council homes sold- not one council has replaced lost housing stock. As property speculators sit on their £millions, building workers are laid off and brick makers are closing their plants. Indebtedness for millions of people deepens, conditions for council tenants worsen and housing stock deteriorates. There are fewer examples of madness in the market place. ...The £250 million promised to restore empty council houses for London's Homeless will hardly touch 60

on the streets is not glamorous! They say we like this life-style! I'd rather be living it up in a hotel.' Is there a re-occurring problem? 'Yes. Since the 1980's it can be traced…’ ‘Some young people don't understand the system...’ ‘We have the most generous housing benefit system anywhere in the world' said Mr. Spicer. 'I tried to get welfare benefit but Section 4 means you have to go on a training course which is low paid and you can't Afford to get housing. Without help to get a deposit, unable to get benefit. You're filthy, so can't get a job.' 'Rates of benefit are so low...' 'The poverty trap forces people to take low-paid jobs...' The government say they have helped the Homeless! £250 million set aside for next 2 years. 'Our publicity campaign to tell people to stay at home, warns them of unhappiness should they become Homeless.' 'I can never go back...' 'The government has put us on the streets.' 'The government does not understand they cannot go back home.' 'DEEP UNHAPPINESS.' 'Children now leaving home at 13 and 14! This is new, not natural - something is going on.' ‘People choose to sleep rough rather than ‘the alternatives’ of going ‘home.’ 'It's wrong for people to start off life on benefits' said Mr. Spicer, quoting Beveridge. 'Leaving home is a natural transition' said Shelter. 'They'll leave home between 16 - 25 depending on their maturity and circumstances. I do see that as a Right.' 'There are scores of housing agencies advising young people. We have a massive HOSTEL programme... to persuade them not to leave, grants to voluntary organisations…' 'The UK has the HIGHEST rate of Homelessness in Europe' said Shelter. 'That's not true. Look at America!' said Mr. Spicer. 'Where is the £250 million going to be spent?' (Question unanswered). 'An enormous reduction in house building last 10 years. The private sector is very worried about this need a weak link in the chain. There has to be money to buy land, we have to build more Affordable homes... Trouble is people just fall through the hole.' 'A lot of people are in physical danger having a lot of trouble. Very real problems. Once they find themselves in terrible conditions, how do we help them avoid crime?' 'Whatever we do, we mustn't encourage people to come to the cities. 150,000 people have done just that. The trouble is the market rents.' 'Places now really difficult to stay in... not safe to live in... housing has declined.' 'It's happening in most metropolitan cities. An extremely unfortunate position for youngsters.' '1 in 20 people are struggling to keep a roof over their head. That's 3 million people in Britain.' 'What chance do people see of keeping a roof over their head for life? None. It's very degrading. It takes the life out of you" (DEF 2. BBC, 25/4/1990) (Play Spot the Balls Up). Meantime... "The government only pretend to care."

me advice just when I want to live making my OWN decisions!” "We don't need you to explain it to us!" WAH! “I got enough sermons from my Dad, OK? I need HELP, not a sermon.” "Don’t give me any lectures. I'm just not in the mood." “HELP ME!” "I'm pissed off with begging for a place to stay from people who don't want me." “WAH! I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK to that place!” "I've been advised not to leave home! They are still trying to get my blood out of the carpet..." “Are the government seriously suggesting we should go back to, or stay with violent parents?” "How I wish we could turn the clock back..." "Don't give us this crap! The authorities should accept some relationships break down and are beyond repair. It's as if society has such great faith in cosy get-togethers... that society simply won’t accept those who say there is no cosy get-together for them..." "People get bored with their parents that's human nature." "Society is obsessed with this thing called 'normality'..." “We’ve got to pretend it’s all going naturally - pretty normal, that we’re happy?” "Why do they always assume we want the same life-style as our parents? "Just who I am supposed to be? I got to help society move on. All this indecision is bothering me..." “… it's the way I want to live..." "You won’t turn back to even see what's gone wrong and you expect all of us to go back ‘home’? You don't know what you're talking about." "Torture is their plan. 40 years they've had to plan…" "Waffle, waffle, waffle. They're just playing for time." "Yeah, and whilst they're delaying - we'll be dying by the thousand…" “GO HOME? HOME? I haven’t got a home! I’ve got nothing. Nothing! I’m never going back. What have I got to go back for?” “You can’t lose what you never had.” "THIS ISN'T JUSTICE!" "They'll throw me back into the children’s home…" "I VANISH in DESPERATION…" "Come back again if it’s a problem…” ("It will be.") STREET WISE: "Do it, and be done with me!" “If you won’t share, you’ll be stuck with me.” "Who causes more Homelessness? Conservative or Labour?” “Who cares? Just get me off the streets!" THE ADVICE CENTRE SAID: "Children can't Afford to buy property!" "I get so depressed sometimes. I really do wish we could do something better to help all these kids…" "… He just broods... His home was everything... He's so terribly unhappy..." "Life's too complicated for kids these days…" DOCUMENTARY: "WORDS APART: "Tonight, more than 5,000 young people will sleep in shop door-ways, in car parks, under fly-overs, bridges... The government do not understand it. Are they Homeless because they get a kick out of it? ‘Living 61

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("I'm sure the debate about it will go on in your homes…") “I got it so bad. You don’t know how good you’ve got it. The cold is biting. I don’t want to be here no more. You don’t want to be in my shoes…” ("Send me a beacon to bring me home.") "HOMELESSNESS CONTINUES TO RISE by 20%..." "We're just lost souls swimming round in a fish bowl year after year, running over the same old ground..." “Was I born for this?” PEOPLE SAID: "The government are completely out of touch with public opinion." “The government haven't the slightest conception of what they are dealing with." "Look, if you want these kids off your back... they need their own place." "GIVE THEM A HOME OF THEIR OWN. It's the only connection they feel." "The agencies set up to help the Homeless place much emphasis on 'go back to your parents' to discharge their obligation... How can you live with an ogre who won’t even talk reasonably to you? Who locks you out? Who thrashes you? Who shouts repeatedly that they wish they had never had you?" "When told to return 'home' the Homeless scream, moan, and fight. It's so awful… the advice workers throw the Homeless out of their offices... Only a small minority will manage somehow to steer their way through this minefield..." “I, who have nothing…” "Wont you please, please help me?” "If there wasn't a shortage of decent (Affordable) accommodation, people wouldn't beg..." "Show me the way to go home, I'm lost and all alone." "Just give me the basic facts." "Just give it to me straight." “I’m looking for somewhere where the food is cheap, the people are friendly and the wages are fair. Is there anywhere like that?” “No. Not any more.” "KNOCK ON WOOD SYNDROME:" "I feel I'm not getting anywhere - I'm only going round and round in circles." "I'm walking the streets... no energy to do anything. I sit down every so often. I feel really ill…” "Can I have ½ a sausage for £1?" "No you can't." “Being on a diet all your life isn't nice. How can I get a drink? Maybe I've got a vitamin deficiency?" "By the time I get to Phoenix..." "Brother, can you spare some food and wine?" "Everywhere I go, I get slandered. I hear words I don't hear in the Bible." "I'd rather be dressed in rags than be like them - they are more concerned about possessions, about keeping up appearances than the truth." "My clothes are dirty but my hands are clean." "There are some things worse than going hungry - selling your soul to the Devil, for example."

"WE JUDGE PEOPLE BY THEIR APPEARANCE." "Image is everything." “Appearances can be deceptive. Somebody could be a cold bloodied killer, but if they have nice clothes and smell of after-shave, we accept and instantly respect them. But we turn a blind eye and shun the person who may have a heart of pure gold and a long list of enviable qualifications, simply because he or she wears an old coat and their shoes are dirty...“ ("…it might make them socially acceptable.") "I'm not serving him. He's dirty. You'll have to wait. Get it yourself." "Filthy vagabond! ‘The great unwashed’! Ugh. Makes me feel quite sick to look at him." "I wish he'd go away. He's putting me off my meal." (Ah! Do you prefer to make small talk… about the weather?) "Oh no. We don't talk about anything about nasty!" STARVING TO DEATH ON THE STREETS OF LONDON…” "... ill, cold, dirty, and starving. I'll never get the chance to vote..." "I hate the rich. The rich are the scum in every country of the Earth. Of course I don't mind if they're genuine..." "Having NO FOOD makes me feel quite ill... Been wearing the same clothes for 3 weeks now! I just can't go on this way... I'm going to be dead on the corner - lying in the street... You collapse thinking I can't do it. It hurts real bad..." "More than once he experienced crawling self-hatred. Bad habits. His classic fear? Failure, after so many years trying..." "Been on my own such a long time - can't take any more." ("He used to sleep on the sofa downstairs...") "All I want is a bit of peace and quiet..." “I’ve hungered for your love… yes, all the time…” “I’m broken. No hope’s left in sight…” "I'm taking the dive ‘cos you can't help the slide..." (“Our day will come…”) "I wouldn't treat a dog this way!" PASSERS-BY: "What a disgrace! Quite offensive. He should be locked up." "He must be mad." "He's drunk of course." "Can't you do something!?" "Oh, look! There's a man in great pain - they're ignoring him. He's torn his heart out. Same as I saw yesterday..." "There's an old man on the pavement. I think he's dead. (A common sight). Nobody has called an ambulance. He's only an old tramp..." "Is he really dead?" ("To bring the dead back to life, blow on the embers - few are wholly dead.”) ("Do you believe in the unconscious? Where there is life there is hope? If you haven't got hope... you're dead.") "LONERS ARE NOT UNFORTUNATE, they are not competing enough. Down and outs are lazy and inadequate. The Homeless are simply incapable of using their own boot-straps as an elevatory mechanism” said the Conservative government. (As a direct result, insulting the 62

Homeless became all the rage). Yet another negative seed sown by the Conservative government. "We need to get tougher…" (“Lordy, lordy. Give us strength. We’re going to need it.”) “God! Why don’t you get in my life?” "AN ANCIENT SADNESS:” "For Christ's sake, I've been on this road for such a long, long time... I'm begging you..." ("You only beg as a very last resort.") ("Will those who beg win the Holy war?" “Don’t you understand? It means the world to him.”) "Oh! Help me. Help me, please!" "If you fed my heart, that would be true love." "What more can you possibly want from me?" "I'm breathing like a dying man." "Will you smile in reassurance? Will you send me packing, if I show my weak side to you? What will you do?" "Take a hike. Get lost!" ("I did that yesterday.") "Oh, look. He's begging for it!" (“What’s it to you?”) “We’re out to enjoy ourselves.” (“That’s easy for you to say. It’s not your life put on hold…”) “So? What do you want me to do about it?” “Bring it down.” "Let's do the dirty…" "A lot of ‘people’ go past spitting and kicking at the poor beggars." "This is for calling me a bum! I'll kill you. This is for... He knocked him out. After that he went a little strange." (Brain damage). "BATTERED AND BEWILDERED…" "He had scar tissue all round his brain, from being beat so many times." "At least I didn't kill him when I hit him." “He’s a low life. He had it coming to him…” ("Keeping me down. I'm a nobody. Keeping me from what's mine...") "They poured petrol over him... set him alight..." MORAL SQUALOR: “He was a kind old tramp, known to the locals for years. A friendly soul who always waved hello. He never did any harm… the yobs came one night…” "40 WATCH MURDER IN THE STREET: A ‘Gentle Giant' was battered to death by 2 teenagers- as more than 40 people stood and watched. Hadyn Rees, 49, 16 stone, 6' 3" was beaten about the head with pieces of wood. Customers in a restaurant and wine bar looked on horrified, but did nothing. A detective said: 'I suppose that is today's society..." “No pity in your eyes = No love in your heart.” WARNING! HUMANS are becoming IN-HUMAN! "Scotland Yard is clamping down on beggars in the streets. Observation posts set up to watch the Homeless - there have been cases of beggars turning nasty when refused money and help. Most have now known the power of the law... they are searched, and charged..." (26/6/1990).

"BATTERED AND BEWILDERED…" MOP (member of the public): "I feel guilty about the number of beggars - the way the government is trying to sweep them under the carpet. The government are dealing with the symptoms, but not the cause..." “Sweeping the dirt under the carpet never works.” Oxford: "CRISIS! So many single, Homeless, mentally ill people on the streets! Old managers coming up for retirement still think they can deal with the problem by giving them a crust of bread and pushing them off to the workhouse..." (1990). “I’m at the end of my rope (tether)…” "Stiff and sore joints, muscular pains, backache, cramp..." "The walking wounded..." "Try The Salvation Army?” "Compulsory tambourine bashing?" "I've cut myself off. I'm too embarrassed about the state I'm in..." EMOTIONAL & PHYSICAL STARVATION… "I can't take him in! He doesn't look very well. He needs a doctor…" "Come away! Poverty is catching." "His kind are scum." "Don't touch him! He's bound to have all sorts of diseases. You never know what you might catch…" "THE CRISIS DEEPENS..." "WHY DO MOST PEOPLE NOT GIVE BEGGARS MONEY?" "It's not that we don't want to. We pay taxes so we shouldn't have to! The government should provide for these people, using taxpayers money." "The government have told people not to give beggars money." THE HOMELESS BEG: "Can you please spare a little change?" (Does this mean NOTHING to YOU? Are the Homeless only asking for a bit of cash ? And / or a change of policy & attitude? (”… it’s just a little change… as true as it can be…”) "CHANGE is inevitable- but what kind of change?" “Oh, I want to change it all…” “I’m not into small change…” (“… it’s been a long time coming but I know change is going to come.”) THE ATTITUDE of the DESTITUTE before DYING on the streets: "I'm DYING for it." "I'm prepared to sacrifice myself - just like Jesus did, to show you the errors of their ways. What else can I do given my circumstances, if I want to remain true?" ("He would, by denial, reveal the depth of his strongest, truest nature." ) "Will YOU just look at the State we're in?" "You are watching our world GO." “TIME IS RUNNING OUT!” "We're the last few survivors..." "Let me tell you my story, before I grow too old... Tell the locals. I had to sell my house. A good Captain can sometimes fall asleep. I got children here to feed. I got people back home who depend on me. If you run with the hope, tell my wife. Tell 63

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the world it’s something to rely on, something to believe in…” "But no-one could hear him…" "Go home. Piss off." "Did we come so far, for this?" "It's like talking to a brick wall!" “SYMPATHY! Where have you gone?” “You try to explain to them and they’re having none of it…” “I close my eyes. I can see just a little bit of it. Oh! Bring it close to me. Oh, I’m on my way back home… it makes me feel at home…” "One by one, these people slip away, they ‘kiss the ground’ - they die." "Has anybody seen my old friends Abraham and John? They freed a lot of people..." "Heroes live where you and I could only hope to be..." "... it was lying in the gutter, 20 years abused, just another broken heart…" (“… couldn’t you have given just a bit of love…” “He’d come such a long way…” “He was such a long way from home…”) "People just can't take 'life' on the streets…" "We die by the roadside…" "Kind, good natured, beaten-up..." "Walking around in wet clothes... no loving Environment to be ill in... He got hit by a car...” Verdict: Death by misadventure." “WHO CARES?” "There are 2 types of people in this world: Those who care, and those who do not care." "TEEN-AGE VAGRANCY in London: Begging is a crime. Law being used as a substitute for helping the Homeless. The archaic law, dating back to 1824, states: 'Every person seen wandering should be regarded as a rogue.' The Conservative government brought the law out of mothballs... We are imposing court charges against people who have no home, no money, nowhere to go, who are ‘sleeping’ outside... Arrests rocketing. Put in cells. Told to pay £50! If you can't pay, bound over... SHOCKING. A horrible experience. These people are begging for a bit of food, to survive! A vicious circle. When they have a criminal record, even harder to get a job or accommodation... Could you imagine how this must feel if this happened to YOU? The Home Office refused to repeal the Act... MP's, the Church, the legal profession all campaigning to get the law abolished... The urgency of this problem... they say it's all part of their policy to get these people to ‘go home’... 1,000s of commuters walk past the beggars... the fear of aggression... How can anyone be expected to endure these conditions? Criminalising poor beggars is a criminal act of injustice. No ALTERNATIVE - there are no houses...” (World In Action, ITV, 14/5/1990). "They’re feeding me to the lions." “DARK DAYS”: "Up to 60 people a week are jailed or fined under the Vagrancy law. People who are Homeless are not criminals. But they face ONE

fundamental problem – THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOMES." "The police are a hard shoulder to cry on." "The night dark and thick..." "WHEN DANGER IS YOUR SLEEPING PARTNER: ...at mid-night, this car park is a dormitory for many of London's Homeless... Contrary to popular belief, the people who sleep here are not happy to be here... Undesirables wander through armed with iron bars and bricks, looking for trouble... Police patrol once a night... 'I am a carpenter... I came here but couldn't get any work. Even the YMCA costs £17 a night...' Generator's hum incessantly as water seeps through cracks in the walls - the harsh yellow light always burns in the basement - the regulars get used to it, for it enables them to see the faces of those who enter the car park... Sleep deprivation. 'There is a stench about this place and I hate it...' The smell of rotten food and excrement hits you as soon as you enter the car park... 'The police came in the morning and found the guy covered in blood. Nobody knew who he was'..." "DANGER. TOO MUCH PAIN!" "Of this I want to be free." "HOMELESS ON THE MOVE AS CRISIS DEEPENS: The poor are heading towards leafy heights... but Camden has cut their budget for helping the Homeless by £6 million... Cases of aggravated begging... Police say we are in unchartered territory... Police have to react to nuisance complaints... There could be a rise in tension... A bleak picture was painted by all those involved with Homeless people... Rate of Homelessness increased by 200%. Camden can supply 1,500 units to help the Homeless but that still leaves 2,200 people in temporary accommodation... Supply does not keep up with demand. Camden has asked for £260 million from the Dept. of the Environment, to renovate empty properties... but despite being such a stressed borough had not received this. Housing Associations are already over-spending and Local Authorities are being put in an impossible situation..." (18/5/1990). "Lack of self-esteem. Wasn't valuable enough to his parents. He can't make choices. He's unpredictable. He may feel violent..." "Salvation Army workers attacked... 5 teams of volunteers which make early morning soup runs for Homeless people have been suspended... Captain C. King said the team was avoiding the area after a group of Homeless youths pushed several female workers against a van..." ("… it might help them gain self-respect.") "Hostels are to be set-up in church halls and disused hospital buildings... will be rudimentary... but they should at least provide the Homeless with some protection from violent 64

recently will have noticed the increase in the number of Homeless people being had up for begging or obstruction… 'Operation Burlington': Cops nicked 100s of 'vagrants' during the spring / summer - cleaning up the West End for the tourist season. But when they have nowhere to go, especially when places like the Belgrave Hospital, (squatted last year as a crash pad for the Homeless) get evicted, they drift back, in greater numbers" (Autognome, October 1990). “No-one answers the Emergency help-line…” Ragged Youth's Plea (written on a tatty bit of cardboard): "Sick, hungry, no bed, no dole. Please help!" (London, 1991). “Bruce House needs extensive renovation. Ideal development site. Could be sold for £millions. Policy of running it down. Had 600 beds for the Homeless. Now only 60 beds, at a time when the government trying to get beds for the Homeless. No money to do it up. Fears it could be closed. Only a bit of money needed. Housing groups outraged. It could be turned into private flats" (3/1/1991). 1992: (Continued / Lincolns Inn Fields): "... numbers grown. Now 200 Homeless people in the park. Cold, wet, disorientated, forlorn... He’s rigged up a sheet of plastic - a makeshift tent - with really big holes, very draughty, but dry… Passersby complain: "They are trying to make us feel guilty! Drunk at 8am! They've probably got more money than I've got!" "They don't want our help. All the abuse!" "I don't like glue-sniffers or scroungers. Gives me the hump we're paying for their alcohol." "We are shocked!” "It's criminal! It's cold outside." "But if we gave them money, they'd only spend it on drink, not accommodation..." (Where can you find a bed for the night for 50p?) ("Too many are feeling the strain.") “… Ultimatum issued to the Homeless: "Clear up ‘the Field,’ or face legal action." The park has got to be cleared of 'tenants.' ‘We have NO ALTERNATIVE but go to court.’ Some of the finest legal brains -v- the council. HOMELESS MAN: ‘I BELIEVE IN THE LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE. I trust Homeless people - they've done me a lot of favours. We're like one big happy family on the streets, but officials! I wouldn't trust them! We're not nasty people! They don't know reality these people. I don't sit and criticise their homes. Rich people don't want us here. They don't understand it. Homelessness can happen to anyone.’ HOMELESS MAN: ‘There's 197 million square miles on this planet... I don't want to talk about it anymore. I try not to be threatening...’ He confronted a representative of the council: ‘…‘Kill’ the Antichrist! We're going to do it to survive. You ought to be destroyed by the Almighty God... Run away! That's what cowards

drunks and kerb-crawlers... There is no easy answer... but it must be addressed urgently... Helping the younger Homeless in the longer term will require considerably more imaginative effort. Help the young get flats..." (18/6/1990). "I'm feeling rough. They say I got brains. I keep looking for a place to be where I wont get left behind. You’ve got to show me by treating me right. Show me by not wasting my time…" “MOVES TO CLEAR STREETS OF CARDBOARD CITIES: The growing ranks are an embarrassment to the government. Police given new powers to force Homeless people into temporary hostels. No enthusiasm for the scheme amongst the Homeless. There is little choice. 'What is needed is permanent homes. These people need some security.' Labour said: 'Revoke catch 22 - the Social Security law so people can get rent in advance.' Clearing cardboard cities described as a 'first-rate initiative.' Going to extend scheme nationwide" (18/6/1990) ("Restrain them to impress the tourists.") "I wasn't made for these times…" "Nothing ever came easy, huh?" "I'm still waiting…" "When you are without knowledge of your ‘sin,’ you go dancing through doorways with a crazy balance…" ("… it's going round and round my brain...") "He's just another Human Being - like you or me. He's tired, he's probably had too much alcohol. He just needs a rest..." "Now the government is planning to spend £millions setting-up special hostels aimed at housing up to 3,000 vagrants and helping them work" (The Sun, 19/6/1990) (“Clearing beggars off the streets and putting them into the workhouse is nothing new…”) The government failed to ask the Homeless what they are looking for! "HELP THE POOR,” SAID THE RICH: The GAP between rich and poor is too great. Even the rich AGREE. Most people believe the poor need nearly 2/3rd more welfare benefit money, according to a survey of 2,700 Londoners, by the Low Pay Unit. In a report, they say almost 1/3rd of Londoners are around the poverty level set by the government….” (2/7/1990).

"THE ‘GREAT’ DIVIDE..." A deliberate ploy? (EG. “When subjects have nothing left to yield they can be dispensed with altogether…”) (EG. “No Competition – that’s how I like it.”) Do the government know their policies are inflicting GENOCIDE on ordinary people? (“Ignorance is NO excuse...") "This nation looks after animals better than they do their own kind!" "They've built nice cosy shelters for bats..." (“I’m not the jealous type, but…”) "When you're feeling out of it..." "FOR CRYING OUT LOUD: "Anyone who has been in court 65

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do. Who's your boss? Reply: ‘Don't know. Speak to our Press office.’ HOMELESS MAN: ‘The Town Hall is a nice place to hide while you evict the Homeless... I need to talk to him on national TV. The ‘dosser’ against the professional arse-hole. Let's see what people think. They want to erase a minority group of people. We were born here, but we can't get a thing! These people need to re-establish their lives!’ HOMELESS MAN: ‘The government doesn't give a damn about our situation.’ Tent city was evicted...” (Steel was used to barricade the park; making the park look like a prison) (Extracts: Viewpoint, Channel 4, 1992). “THE ‘UNDESIRABLES’...” = "We're the good and ‘mad,’ the lost, and the lonely." "Plans to convert an old people’s home (called Meadowcroft) into a hostel... are being finalised... was going to be sold but proposal to sell the building scrapped because of the state of the property market... will temporarily house up to 100 people..." "An arsonist has wrecked efforts to rescue (a few) Homeless families... fire caused £200,000 damage, will take months to repair... the fire exposed dangerous blue asbestos..." "Single parents, women in need of a safe refuge (away from men), single men EG. with drug-related problems, alcoholics and the mentally ill... all put under one roof, with frequent disastrous consequences... There are iron bars at the windows, that bend - there have been break-ins. Victims of thefts denied compensation... Security camera in reception - no film inside..." ("... it doesn't have to be the same as this....") (UPDATE: “… only 2 out of the 12 women in here with me ended up keeping their kids- the kids were taken into care because their Mum’s were so mashed…”) "TRENCH FOOT: A condition suffered by WW1 troops, is inflicting youngsters living rough in London. This is only one of the many health risks the Homeless face... some have arrived at hostels after living for months in rain sodden shoes and soaked clothing... Many have flu and severe chest ailments requiring hospital treatment... Others have contracted food poisoning from living off scraps of food in bins... Some hostels are so bad, wild horses will not drag the Homeless in... the filthy conditions, the threat of violence... stories of drug-taking and unsafe conditions frighten youngsters... The government's ‘Rough Sleeping Initiative’: £96 million spent to ensure standards in hostels are upheld, to build and refurbish hostels has helped the numbers sleeping rough dropped from 3,000 to 500 in London. Funding cuts... It is vital funding continues..." (13/10/1992). “THE UNDER-CLASS:” Shocking! 7,500 Homeless people turned away from hostels

every month..." "HOMELESSNESS HAS BECOME AN EPIDEMIC. The government claim they care about the Homeless, but then say it is not for central government to generate the growth in the Housing sector which the Homeless so desperately need! Then the government say they will ‘bring in special measures to prevent local government from generating growth’! How much potential is being wasted in shop doorways? How many opportunities could have grown - could still grow - out of the people who have no home of their own and hence no opportunity? The opportunity to own a home and pass it on is one of the most important Rights an individual has in a free society. A Right to Clean, Decent, Affordable Housing should be Guaranteed, and if all else fails, it is incumbent on the government to safeguard that Right..." (SPEECH by Glenda Jackson MP, House of Commons, 20/11/1992).

"DYING FOR A HOME: Officially, 670 people died sleeping rough last year. Under-nourished, and alone. Homeless. Died before they could get housing. The deaths could have been prevented... 234 suicides.... Frail old people rummaging through dustbins... Badly assaulted - died... Horrific murders - 7% of deaths fall into this category... 40% are caused by drinking themselves to death. 40% of deaths are alcohol related hypothermia. EG. Man found under a bush, in snow, frozen to death. Rejected, despised, but all are people... They've got to live somewhere. 'None of us can get proper hot food, heating, light...’ Health neglected till it became an Emergency... 15% of Homeless men have TB (consumption)... existence breeds despair... 'He walked down the stairs from the night shelter, straight into the river Thames. It was all over very quickly.' Their neglect is obvious. Nowhere to go. 'No-one housed him even though he was dying.' No likely help on streets for at least another 3 years! So many people waiting! This Christmas, how many more will be dying for a home?" (ITV, 10/12/1992) “Now I’m really blue…” NOT ONE Government minister is ACCOUNTABLE! "DOWN AND OUTS begin a desperate race for ‘shelter’ at 5pm - there is a rush to see who can occupy doorways in which to huddle to have somewhere to toss and turn all night..." "You can see the ‘results’ of your policies every day in Britain as people huddle in doorways and go into subways to BEG for some KIND of SUPPORT their government NOT give them!" ("Better to be spoilt for choice, than only have a desperate choice.") "DYING ON THE STREETS: 200 people die each year (in London) according to the charity 'Crisis.' The shocking toll among 2,000 down and outs sleeping rough was announced as charities brace 66

and bathrooms... What do you want? Paradise on this Earth?” (World In Action, Channel 4, 5/4/1993) YES! YES! YES! (”Cheer up! It's better than the usual hand-out.”) "HOMELESS FORCED OFF THE STREETS: "Further persuasion, not coercion, is our strategy.' Numbers down by ½. Hostels only option. Dangerous places. 'New hostels are very different to old hostels. Behind these is ‘permanent’ housing' (flats). Not tackling causes of Homelessness. 'We are interested in those that don't want to sleep rough.' Mr. M. Gottlieb wants a law to ban rough sleeping…" (16/6/1993) (Mr. Gottlieb introduced hosing pavements down with water during the winter to stop the Homeless sleeping near his restaurant.) "They're charging me £2 for a sausage now..." "I just need to get some money..." "Hey, look at me. I'm starving away..." "I don't think we can make an Emergency payment..." "WAIT for it, WAIT for it..." "3 people seriously ill in hospital after series of stabbings at a Social Services hostel..." (Enfield,

themselves for the winter freeze. ¼ of those who died took their own lives and were in their mid-30's. There is a major killer on the streets Homelessness. The report called 'SICK TO DEATH OF HOMELESSNESS' shows Homelessness does not only ruin lives - 2 out of 3 deaths could have been prevented if the victims had lived in proper housing and had good health care. The report highlights the desperation many down and outs face as they try to fend for themselves... The statistics were compiled after an examination of coroners’ records..." (10/12/1992). "I'm dossing down outside 'Centrepoint, ‘the charity for the Homeless.’ Been here for months..." "I'm sick to death of BAD governments..." "130,000 Homeless people in London" (Shelter statistic, 29/3/1993) ("You've got it all figured out?") "1 person in 30 is Homeless." SLEEP TORTURE: "Surely, I should be entitled to a decent night's sleep?" “They’re always pushing us around!” "GIVE ME SHELTER!" Channel 4 TV's 'Season on Homelessness' (Right of Reply) said: "Let us know what you make of it. With your views, it will be possible" (27/3/1993). "Arlington House: (in North London). Built 1904... for 1,000 working men - a common lodging house. Caters for all sorts… Penniless, had a mental breakdown… One resident is 93. 'Came here to get a fresh start.' In 1980s was filthy, dark, smelly. Now decorated... Most of the men are alone. 'I haven't made one friend here.' Broken men. 'I'd sooner be in hell than in here.' No opportunity to put down any roots... 'What did we get for Christmas? Tree lights that blink! What's so wonderful about that? I haven't got a home. Don't preach at me about Jesus!' Suicides badly upset everyone in the building... Under-funded. No resources. Many are psychiatric patients turfed out of institutions. 'There's no legislation that covers these people, no committees are working to make it better. 'Decent Housing should be Available for Everyone.'” “No effort will be spared” said a government minister...” Support Network = Social Workers: an in-house team to advise about drink related problems. 'We can refer them to a GP and if it gets really bad they have to be admitted.' Lack of sound-proofing... 'I hear voices...’ ‘I itch all over!' The doctor said this is quite common. '… it's in the blood.' 'I've never felt at home anywhere - choices are a doorway, a church, a hostel, an off-licence, a (barren) park… I can't find any support.' 'I might get re-housed'…” ‘It would help them do something for themselves. And be so much easier to cope with when you are in your own space..’. Hard to get self-contained space... Shared toilets

21/6/1993).

"According to a report by the Housing minister, Sir George Young... a government drive has cut the number of London's Homeless: The Rough Sleepers Initiative claims to have reduced the figure from 1,000 to 358 in less than 3 years. Funded by a £96 million grant... an extra £86 million is set aside to continue the programme until 1996. Additionally, £20 million to provide psychiatric help... “ “Strange! Whilst they are supposed to be helping the Homeless, there are actually more of the Homeless…” “… the charity 'Centrepoint' is not satisfied with the accuracy of the statistics. 'The Homeless population is quite mobile. As people move around it would be quite difficult to establish definite figures.' ‘We are very glad the government has invested this money, but we would be happier if it was spread around, outside London...' Since the Social Security Act, 1986, which withdrew Welfare benefit payments to 16 - 18 year olds, there has been a massive increase in the numbers of Homeless youngsters.” Terry Dicks (Conservative MP) said: 'I see no reason for cardboard city to exist. Most of the people there are beggars and tinkers. There are people who come to London expecting tax-payers to provide a home for them. They should go back where they come from. This sort of behaviour should be stamped out'..." (7/7/1993). “GO BACK to ‘your’ homes.” “Terrific.” “Yes, but you lot are the dregs… you don’t matter. I know this world is cruel and wicked but what ALTERNATIVE is there?” "REHABILITATION in the NEXT DECADE? Homes will be built for 67

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The Dept. of Health is refusing to meet the cost. There are an estimated 8,000 Homeless people on the streets of London. Centrepoint said: 'What we see on the streets is there are some people who need more than a roof over their heads. It would not take a big cut in funding to tip the most vulnerable people out of hostels.'..." (4/11/1993) (“They always pick on the weakest – those least able to ‘fight’ back…”) "5 empty buildings have been made available for rough sleepers in London for use during the winterkitted out by the construction industry through their charitable organisation called 'Crash.' Gifts from contractors, assisted by 15 building materials producers and builders merchants - will provide 327 beds, with additional Emergency spaces during severe weather. Last year, Crash gave shelter to more than 1,500 people" (Evening Standard, 9/12/1993) (Businesses off-set charitable costs against Tax, so it is worth their while to do this - they don’t lose out.) "Homeless people are sleeping in cardboard boxes, in 'the Bull Ring', in London... because they have NO choice. Hostels are FULL. Very cold, very wet conditions... EMERGENCY ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN. 3 years ago, the government promised 750 new homes for people with mental health problems. Not one, to date, has been provided!" (Greater London Radio, 15/12/1993). "NOTHING has CHANGED in 60 YEARS since George Orwell wrote 'Down and Out in Paris.... Now I understand why some people prefer the street... Hostels are full to overflowing... Uncleaned. Smelly dirty carpets. Battered, broken furniture. Lots of noise, shouting... Like a barracks. Can be hell in here. Oppressive system forces people to leave. Stinks of charity. Are treated like children.. Sleeping in a doorway easier... Salvation Army hospices worse than lodging houses. 'I don't want a house or flat.' Days spent in search of warmth and food. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is an effect - not a cause... their future is BLEAK"

you one day, if you survive that long! Ha, ha." "Ashamed to face us? Penniless! I presume he died?" ("I'm watching you from where shadows fall, dreaming of that New World.") "Let me talk to the hard rock pavement moving by..." It’s not hard to fall…” “Life taught me to die.” “Homelessness in seaside (coastal) resorts is a serious problem. 5 times the rate of Homelessness. Many seaside hotels have high number of Homeless. Some have to walk the streets - trying to stay awake all night; some are sleeping in cars..." (Shelter report, 27/7/1993).

SPEECH: "The LIVING DEAD who beg on our streets. Scourge of the capital's pavements…” (What? Really dangerous pavements – all cracked, full of pot-holes blight poor neighbourhoods…) “A new breed of violent criminal called 'The Taxmen' rule the beggars on the streets, with a knife and a boot, systematically stripping the Homeless of their begging proceeds... Subject to unremitting police surveillance... Police arrested 705 beggars in this area last year... police found a number of convicted rapists, burglars and prison escapees from all over Britain trying to disappear into the anonymity of street life... 75% of 1st time offender beggars are let off with a warning to encourage them to seek charitable help. 'I believe it is an evolving society. We are left with people who cannot adapt to real society, and those who won’t..." (6/8/1993). "NUMBER OF HOMELESS COULD BE HIGHER: An unrecognised army of people are sleeping rough or in hostels... doctors claim the current figures are unreliable. In Westminster, the study, published by the BMJ, suggests there are 5,000 Homeless people... about 1/3rd have mental health problems. This does not apply just to London but to many inner city areas" (1993) (Still obsessed with figures!) "Despite 'colossal' funds spent on the Rough Sleepers Initiative (£96 million for 3 years, £86 million for next 3 years), the problem still persists. Funding is ending on 11 hostels, meaning these will close, resulting in the loss of 600 beds. With the number of temporary places falling, patients being released into the community and houses being repossessed, no wonder there are so many people sleeping rough!" (1/11/1993). "HOMELESS SUFFER AS MINISTERS WRANGLE: 100s of hostel beds for the mentally ill, drug addicts, alcoholics and young Homeless people are set to disappear across London as ministers wrangle over who should pick up the bill... J. Gummer believes the Dept. of Environment should no longer pay the £10 million allowance given to registered care homes, because it is a Community Care issue and not his responsibility.

(20/12/1993).

"CHRISTMAS SHELTERS CLOSED… the Homeless went back to sleeping on the streets, their condition deteriorating..." (30/12/1993) “The Homeless don't just need shelter for Christmas you know...” “What do you suppose he’s wishing for?” “I don’t know, but I hope he gets it.” (“… it would be a very good Christmas present.”) "Please, I beg you, I implore you, please spare just a little change..." “GOVERNMENT INTRODUCING NEW… LAW AGAINST BEGGING: This law is not a solution. You are not dealing with WHY they have insufficient money - why they are on the streets..." (21/12/1994).

(“When a man has lost everything, he needs a 68

circumstances that leaves them on the fringe of society. Many trapped for years… Their dilemma not recognised as a priority by policy-makers…”

philosophy to see him through.” “WHEN will the philosophy to be able to take care of yourself come into prevalence?”) "Canterbury have introduced a scheme whereby food vouchers are given to the Homeless - food provided by a day centre..." "WE DON'T WANT HAND-OUTS..." "People who are on the streets can change their lives - with help" (said Dr. Kilroy Silk, 21/12/1994). “The GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED… the law for care of people on the streets: EMERGENCY ACCOMODATION does NOT have to be provided.” Protest: “The government should be doing more, not less!" (25/2/1994) (“… it should be mandatory!” “You should be able to walk right in…”) “Let’s turn around, go backwards! Yeah. Now it’s so much clearer?” “I’m not sure these ‘people’ understand. Will they remember me at night? Will they be smiling when we are left swimming, holding our breath?” “THE PEOPLE DESERVE SOMETHING so much better. The government has FAILED them.” COLD COMFORT: "A plaque honouring the tramp, Lenny Lewington, who froze to death in January, age 83, is being placed on the bridge he slept under at Reading" (The Sun, 2/4/1994). “SHELTER’S NEW ROLE = a Key role in shaping… house building. ‘Friends of the Earth’ criticised Shelter for being duped by big business / large construction firms who only want executive homes. Should Shelter focus on the need for more Social Housing? £3.5 BILLION a year is needed + an adequate supply of good quality, Affordable housing that’s sustainable that has proper infrastructure around it” (19/1/2005). “Many people believe the crisis of rough sleepers has been done away with. The Key to solve this is to prevent Homelessness…” “No, it’s not all going very well. They say ‘it’s only a lunatic fringe element that want it.’ Are they insane?” "I have MERCY! Do YOU?" “David Gilmour sold one of his houses and gave £3 million to the charity ‘Crisis,’ who hope to build a village for 400 residents. Crisis still needs £50 million” (21/5/2003) (Affordable?) “HEALTH CARE and other street services WITHDRAWN from rough sleepers in Westminster to FORCE them into hostels. Those who remain on streets reported to police. RAPID ACTION TEAMS WILL OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY… to ‘persuade’ people not to sleep rough. The Salvation Army warned people will become more excluded” (31/7/2003). “Do YOU have any MORAL misgivings about what is happening?” “An invisible city of excluded, vulnerable Homeless people exists today trapped in

(Crisis report, 2004).

“The government estimates 508 people are sleeping rough in rural England but one worker estimates there are 150 rough sleepers just in Cornwall… sleeping in barns, hedges, garages and woods… But the government still maintain there is not a problem” (21/12/2004). “The Millennium Dome (tent) opened at Christmas for 1 week organised by the charity, Crisis. 1,500 Homeless people in London were given temporary accommodation. 4,500 volunteers were needed behind the scenes to prepare and dismantle temporary hostels” (2005). “A Homeless man was found outside the Town Hall, on the steps, frozen to death…” (reported by a weather forecaster, 31/12/2005).

“YOUNG HOMELESS: Around 250,000 people under-25 are sleeping rough, research from the BBC showed yesterday. Campaigners called on the government to do more to help- but a spokesman denied the figure was so high” (Daily Mirror, 11/11,2006). HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN: 1960's: "What's it all about, Alfie?" “Gimme shelter! It’s just a shout away…” “GENERATIONS LOST…” 1966: "CATHY COME HOME shocked the nation... A pregnant woman, with 3 children evicted onto the streets by a private land-lord who said children would ruin his property... 'I want to live in something good.' ... But until the government accepts there is a crisis..." 1970’s - : “The families with children, accepted as Homeless by their Local Authority, are regarded as ‘ fortunate.’ They are put on the Waiting list and provided, in the meantime, with Bed and Breakfast (B & B) in 'budget' hotel accommodation.” "HEART-BREAK HOTEL:... the room is bare apart from a single bed, a table and chair, clothes soak in the hand basin. This bleak room is their 'home.' ... Homelessness has proved to be BIG BUSINESS for the owners of this 350 room hotel... the overcrowded conditions are a health hazard... scabies outbreak... ... isolation... Noise levels severe... hard to sleep. Nowhere to keep food - food gets stolen... the stove (for 20 families) doesn't work nowhere for kids to play... Since 1979, the numbers of people ‘living’ in places such as these have doubled... government expenditure on housing cut by 80%... The average length of stay here is 18 months - 3 years" (Extracts: Article, Time Out magazine, 28/4/1983).

"SIGN on the door says: NO COMPANY ALLOWED:” "The walls of this hotel are paper thin. I wish I couldn't hear a thing." "The place smells horrible. Can't open the window - so stuffy in 69

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Bayswater) received £250 million from council budgets to temporarily accommodate Homeless families for one year. Spiralling Homelessness... soon there will be no spaces left in B & B’s... Already councils are turning away people legally entitled to be housed" (Assoc. of London Authorities,

here, I've got a permanent head-ache." "I'm in the basement. No windows! Always dark. No natural light. Have to keep the meter fed with shillings." "We have to sleep in the same bed as the children." "This is the 11th room they've put us in." "I don't know this area. I feel lost. I'm so miserable I could die." "Getting out of here would be a very heavy burden off my soul." "I can't remember when I last smiled." "No Nursery place, so I can't get a job." "I can't live like this! I hate this place. It's driving me crazy." "I can't live up to the image of the loving Madonna. I'm an angel being torn apart." "The city lights tell me there are no stars." "What to do? What to do?" "I want to find out what it’s all about." "… it'll be alright Mummy. Don't worry." "Homeless families given an 'eating allowance' but as no cooking in most B & B's, you have to eat out so allowance barely lasts 3 days." "We can't get to use the bathroom - is used by 20 other families." "Our stuff's been put in storage, paid for by the council. We're trying to survive by living out of black bags." "It's written on the walls in this hotel, you go Heaven once you've been through HELL." THE SECOND GENERATION OF HOMELESS YOUNGSTERS... "My generation will put it right..." 1976: “You’ve got to take the 1st offer of housing.” “But I don’t want to live in another borough…” “They’ve put me in SHORT LIFE housing! This place is going to be demolished to make way for a shopping centre…” "Hackney council have run out of money... are selling 350 council-owned houses a month to meet Homeless families hotel bills. Council houses sold off to private developers...” BEHIND THE SCENES: Families, with children the 'statutory Homeless' are being evicted from Homeless Family Emergency accommodation 1,000's of people put out on the streets, with no prior warning. When the Homeless Family Unit (HFU) refuses to pay the bill – out - you and your kid/s - go! June 1989: Another borough – the council are selling off publicly owned assets to the highest bidders… (GRADUALLY, bit by bit, THEY ARE SELLING THE NATION'S ASSETS!") "Councils have NO CHOICE but use B & B HOTELS... 100’s of children are missing school... Many women in Homeless family hotels suffer sexual harassment... Most family B & B’s are unhygienic fire traps which have already claimed lives…” 1986: “Over 6,000 families in these cramped, depressing rooms…” 1988: “11,270 families were living this way... The expensive insanity of B & B... one hotelier (in

1989).Authorities, 1989).

"WAITING LIST FREEZE: ... we recognise the problems caused to 100’s of existing tenants in desperate need of transfers... this will shatter their re-housing hopes... but increasing allocations to Homeless families will only be a temporary measure... this is ‘emergency action’ to avoid a huge increase in the number of people going into B & B... blaming the government's short sightedness for the plight of the Homeless... the government are content to sit back and blame councils..." (14/6/1990) “OPERATION FOG: We already know there are few homes becoming available. This will set tenants against the Homeless, not the council...") "A NATIONAL EMERGENCY: 7,000 children are in B & B in London, facing malnourishment and psychological damage... protests outside the Dept. of Environment. SLOGAN: ‘CHILDREN NEED HOMES’…" (2/7/1990). "CATHY STILL HAS NOWHERE TO LIVE... Diabolical... The 'Cathy Come Home' documentary led to the formation of the charity 'Shelter.' But cuts continued. Chance of licking the housing crisis lost. Nothing really changed... How to communicate with bureaucracy? There should only be one side: Fair HOUSING FOR ALL. 'They are being weaned off the drug of dependency' said a housing minister. The separation of ‘sheep and goats.’ 'Go somewhere else.' 'All we have is arguments, pressure.' ... it could be a significant leap to help first-time home buyers... Why must we live in higher densities? Only the state can Afford to build houses at a price people can Afford... In the old system, government used to care. An iron philosophy? It's closing time... It's never seen as a Human Right. There are 22 million houses in Britain. The population is 55 million… Officially, 1 million people accepted as Homeless. We've got to build homes again for people who want to help themselves..." (Jeremy Sandford, BBC, 9/7/1990). "THE DISPOSESSED: "... there are 6,500 people registered on (this) waiting list we cannot house. Council has a commitment to the Homeless. 4,465 applied to Westminster council for accommodation. ... 3041 people were rejected as not assessed to be in priority need. A priority Group = Disabled or pregnant... That means if you are mentally ill, if you have Aids, you have children, are long-term Homeless... You do NOT qualify! ... 'On your way' say the police. 'Nice country to live in, isn't it?'..." (Channel 4, 30/11/1992). 70

forced to accept private tenancies of as little as 6 months. It doesn’t matter that one of the fastest growing causes of Homelessness is eviction from privately rented accommodation. Nor does it matter that private tenants may be harassed, live in the worst conditions without adequate fire precautions or pay high market, poverty-trap rents. Is this really what the Homeless deserve? Of course, this accommodation is only temporary, so after about 6 months or so, families will be back on the streets again, so they can re-apply for another 6 month stint in temporary shelter. Watch out Sir George, it could be a Homeless child you step over next time you go to the opera. But then they are only queue jumpers, aren’t they?” (letter by

CAUGHT IN THE POVERTY TRAP: "A new report says 43,000 children are living in temporary accommodation- living out of a suitcase, in and out of B & B, affecting their health and education. Local Authorities should be allowed to use their assets to build low-cost accommodation" (BBC, 27/5/1993). "3 Homeless families are challenging the council's housing policy in a High Court action. Forced to accept a squalid private let away from their family... They need council accommodation... in the long term B & B costs more than the cost of building a house..." (17/12/1994). “HOUSING SYSTEM BENEFITS FRAUDSTERS: ... Genuine Homeless people go without, are systematically abused... The law isn't working. Millions of fiddles. Queue jumping. Fraud is rife. Housing Act encourages people to lie to try and get priority need... System too harsh. 'You are not entitled to it.' Fraud costs £millions... Many people / families (still living at parents or friends house) not recognised as Homeless. There's no ALTERNATIVE but to go through the Homeless system..." (Channel 4, 31/3/1993). “SINGLE MOTHERS WILL NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED PRIORITY FOR HOUSING following accusations they are jumping the Waiting list” (Capital Radio, 18/1/1994). “Single-parents and Homeless families will no longer go to the top of the Housing list, nor will they be entitled to a permanent home, only a temporary ‘home’ (i.e. B & B) new rules declare. Much harder proposals than expected. We could soon see families sleeping in shop doorways. Chronic shortage of housing blamed” (BBC1, 20/1/1994) (“If this is their idea of being selfsupporting…”) “Homeless people with children will face a life of hardship and misery ‘to make a more just society.’ These people will be starved to death to save government money.” “ANOTHER ASSAULT ON THE HOMELESS: Government proposals to remove the Rights to permanent Housing from Homeless families do not only affect single parents - they hit every Homeless family in Britain, including those on council Waiting lists. By defining a family as Homeless only if the family is living on the streets, Sir George Young has revealed the real purpose of these ‘reforms’ - to change what Homelessness means, so that the government’s appalling record on housing disappears like magic. The record shows the number of homes available to rent (both public & private) has shrunk by 1.5 million & Homelessness has doubled since the Conservative government came into power in 1979. The thrust of the proposals is that families must be without shelter before they can ask for Emergency housing. IF accepted, Homeless families will be placed in short term hostels or

Michael Burrell, Kings Cross Homeless Project + 19 other Homeless Projects, Evening Standard, 25/1/1994).

“These proposals will have a DISASTROUS effect back to the days of women and children on the street. Most Conservative & Labour councils are opposed to this! They want to cut the Housing Benefit bill… People need homes. How can you set one group against another? Wales: Housing Associations building 4,000 new homes. 60,000 people on Waiting lists. Not meeting demand…” “By the time they have investigated your circumstances, you’ll be on the streets and Homeless. A classic old trick of blaming the victim…” “Government persecuting women and children to draw attention away from themselves.” "The number of Homeless house-holds have doubled" (11/4/1994). “VINDICTIVE LEGISLATION: There is overwhelming opposition to government proposals. There are over 400,000 Homeless in Britain. Priority - to get a home of their own. Tired, sick, bored of ‘living’ in hostels. ‘We need to restart. We don’t want to end in the gutter again.’ 9,000 responses received by government, even Tory John Gummer opposes families having to move around. Government may scrap plans” (BBC1, 19/4/1994) Plan not scrapped… “Officially, 100,000 children are in B & B accommodation. Average length of stay 267 days. Costing £500 million. 380,000 people are Homeless” (Shelter report, 29/9/1999). “THE DICK WHITTINGTON EFFECT: Have to stay in local borough (to qualify for B & B). The government should regard the Homeless as a national problem. Families in the South East could move to places where properties are available (EG. The North - where there are desolate streets of derelict terraces awaiting demolition, in highunemployment black-spots?) The cost to keep per person in B & B is £30,000 per annum. Local Authorities are FULL- cannot accommodate any more in B & B’s…” (Kilroy, BBC1, 3/12/2001). “I don’t seem to fit in anywhere…” 71

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“THE HIDDEN HOMELESS. You can’t see them but they are still there. The problem has NOT gone away. 100,000 families are officially Homeless. Number has doubled last 7 years. (The Labour) Government has pledged £150 million… but this is a drop in the Ocean - and will not solve the problem” (13/12/2004). “STUPID & DODGY”: “This is not a ‘Cathy Come Home’ situation” said John Prescott. The government are trying re-define what Homeless means” (17/12/2004). “Hostel ‘clients’ moved into privately rented housing… Desperate people threaten self-harm, suicide… The government’s relentless financial squeeze on hostels in the name of economic efficiency… closure proposals… Kids bullied out of family homes… women fleeing violence… drug and alcohol casualties who can’t cope…”

unusable when closed by the authorities. The sight of such wanton destruction shocked the dismayed squatters who then had the awful task of telling the people with children there was nowhere for them to live… 1977: SNOW is an information service for squatters... SNOW produce the legal notices squatters pin on doors to inform people that entry into a squatted property is illegal under Section 6 of the Criminal Law Act ..” 1983: Housing London's Homeless. Squatters have an ACTIVE network. Squatter’s groups know what's going on locally… The squatters, bless their hearts, go out everyday on foot, on bicycles, watching out for council-owned (empty) property in the process of being boarded-up… keeping careful lists. Homeless people ask the squatters to help, usually as a last resort, rather than face being on the streets. EG. the elderly, students, singleparents, single people, ex-convicts- anyone rejected by the housing departments. 'There are so many down-trodden people who the State does not help.' These poor people are invariably cold, starving - having not eaten sometimes for a week, exhausted, penniless and almost heartbroken. The squatters welcome them into their squats - warm them with hot drinks, meals and friendly chats. Then the squatters go out and try to find them shelter - risking a jail sentence by opening derelict council buildings for them, just so these poor souls have some place to call home. The squatters even negotiate with the councils to ensure the elderly have a few blankets, a heater, and some food… These squatters ask for nothing in return. I wonder over the years, how many lives did these kind squatters save? Human KINDNESS. Getting to be a rarity these days. 1985: HOMELESS STUDENTS: "Squatting is booming. The Advisory Service for Squatters estimate there are approx. 24,000 squatted properties in London - 48,000 nationally - 40% up on 2 years ago..." 1986: CRISIS. I JUST WANT A HOME! " “We only occupy empty council or Housing Association property. Housing stock is diminishing. We believe it is criminal social housing is left to stand empty when people need a home…” SQUATTERS SAID: “We only occupy empty council or Housing Association property. Housing stock is diminishing. We believe it is criminal social housing is left to stand empty when people need a home…” "I'm going to spend my whole life making the time right."

(16/12/2004).

SQUATTERS: LONG HISTORY: 1946: "WW11 aggravated bad housing conditions which had remained unaltered for 100 years. We were told we were the backbone of the country. We were given all sorts of promises but we were pushed from pillar to post. Usual houses short to come by. Live like a gipsy, look like a gipsy. Squatting began. Army huts taken over, viewed as OK, but not private property. We were not acting in self-interest but our squatting forced the temperature of house building. We were helping others in times of dire crisis. Taking law into their own hands. Complaints of: 'Hot Air & No ACTION.' 4 people living in 1 room. Squatters water & electricity cut off. Squatters found guilty in court. But squatters drew attention to Housing Crisis…" "OUT BUT NOT DOWN... Squatters moving on…" “WE ARE LOST PEOPLE WITH NOWHERE TO GO…" 1976: HOMELESS FAMILIES CAN’T EVEN GET TEMPORARY HOMES: EG. Cornwall Terrace, Nr. Baker St, London: Whole row of empty houses squatted by families with young children. Approx. 500 people living there. Suddenly evicted by police. (Eviction shown on TV news). "... it’s cold when you're in a storm, there's nothing you can do or say, you've just got to leave, get away..." "HELP ME if you can, I'm feeling DOWN. HELP ME!” To try and help all the Homeless families asking them for help, a group of squatters in Tufnell Park (London) used crowbars and opened up a boarded (abandoned) Victorian maternity hospital - only to find everything inside had been ruined- concrete poured down the toilets - all the plumbing apparatus trashed, gas and electricity connections ripped out. The building was deliberately made

 "I love helping my fellow man." ("Why wait any longer for the world to begin?") 72

("A squatter’s only crime is to be born 150 years ahead of his time.") ("Let's say he came back too soon. He was starving in some deep mystery?") "I keep looking for a place to be. Where there are people I won’t leave behind." CO-OP PLAN FOR EMPTY COUNCIL PROPERTIES: "London's growing army of squatters are trying to hammer out a deal with the Local Authorities to avoid the constant fear of eviction, and instead, to begin some kind of cooperative venture… to share sub-standard housing... SQUATTERS want a BETTER deal FOR THE HOMELESS from THE COUNCIL: Squatters’ leaders bombarded a Town Hall for 5 days... The squatters have come up with a 5-point peace plan... to stop councils taking tough legal measures against squatters, squatters’ groups want to be told which properties are on the let-able or un-let-able lists - anything un-let-able can be squatted until allocated, if the squatters live responsibly, they will be considered for housing. Squatters say this will reduce Homelessness, fill empty properties and bring in council rents. Once properties habited, this would deter vandals and thieves, they would stave off damp and decay and would halt the blight on many estates... in many cases squatters try to make the place as pleasant to live in as possible... " (Time Out magazine, 1985) (Their plan was not accepted). "The folk-singer, pushed to one side…" "More than 100 students in London could be forced to give up their courses simply because they can't find a place to live... the London Student's organisation say that 2,500 students are sleeping on floors, and approx. 40 from 6 colleges are squatting the empty university building at Gower St in an attempt to provoke official action... meanwhile, a 230 bed hostel - a wing of Bedford college may be sold off to a private USA school" (1985). 1986: The squatters are producing a magazine called 'Crowbar' with interesting articles etc. One of their most memorable piece of artwork was headed: “A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME... when it's a commodity, when it's the land-lords, when it's a bureaucrats’ problem, when it's the councils, when it's a profession, when it's a political decision..." 1986: Dear Tenant, This letter is to remind you that squatting is one solution to the growing housing problems... a solution for people who have been on council Waiting lists for years without getting anywhere... There are 4,500 empty council properties just in Hackney, while 500 people are kept in B & B at a cost of £4 million a year... the council say they are aiding the Homeless but mostly they are aiding Homelessness... While the rich build luxury homes in the borough, the Homeless get nothing... we are not ‘Junkies and dole scroungers’ - we are not a race apart... we are

normal people who just want a roof over our heads... If we are denied a home we should do it for ourselves...Squatters do not steal people’s homes - the council do enough of that... squatting is a symptom of the lack of proper homes... the only way to end squatting is to provide decent homes for all..." (circular produced by the Stamford Hill Squatters Group, as a protest - on the Stamford Hill estate, in North London, approx. ½ the flats are empty…) 1987: SNOW - the collective called ‘Squatting against Homelessness,’ was evicted from the Old Kent Road, in London.

1988: SQUATTERS TRYING TO PROVIDE CHILD CARE: "Lambeth is famous for a lack of child-care. Our ex-squatted crèche was evicted 4 times from 4 different places over 1½ years... During our campaign, Lambeth council had a luxury day nursery unused for 2 years, which cost £300,000 to build and equip & £60,000 for a private security company to patrol... This empty nursery has now been squatted by CAP (The Cultural Awareness Programme) who are now making full use of it. The intentions are to have a crèche, an after school group, a place to learn languages and history - as a centre for people mainly of African descent. CAP is self-funded…" “COUNCIL LABELLED 'VANDALS:' Workmen paid £680 a week to make empty council property in Camden uninhabitable - ripping out toilets, sinks, disconnecting mains services... 'So vindictive and nasty'..." “EVICTED BY THE HEAVIES…” "... building companies etc are regularly hired to illegally evict squatters, damage their property and threaten violence..." "One group of squatters, fearing illegal eviction fitted a Claxton on the roof… The local community who had benefited from the squatters’ presence - the squatters were pleasant and well liked, agreed to stand in front of the squat when the Claxton sounded. The police were filmed smashing everything. When the police left, to their surprise they were met by practically the whole community!” (The film was shown on TV). "DON'T ASK US WHAT WE THINK!” “BIG BROTHER CAN GO TO HELL!” “Angry squatters disrupted meetings at the town hall for the 3rd time in 3 weeks... Council leaders and the Housing Committee were barracked with jeers of 'Yuppie Socialists' and 'Class Traitors.' Paper missiles were thrown during the protests at moves to evict them from council (owned / managed) flats and houses - a cost-cutting measure to make these properties (supposedly) available to families in B & B’s. Police moved in to clear the public gallery, so that decisions about rent rises could be taken" (Hackney re: Stamford Hill estate, 16/10/1987).

"SIEGE: Squatters turned the Stamford Hill estate 73

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empty properties. The Sultan has 10 empty houses in the UK." "Prince Charles is said to own 600 houses and flats, over 200 are thought to be empty.” "Can't Get A Job. Can't Get any dole Money. No Wage Increases. Constant Rising Prices and TERRIBLE HOUSING CONDITIONS!" "PROVOKED THEY HAVE BEEN..." "Trouble stewing...." "We are the dead." "We are not dead yet." "THE END FOR SQUATTERS:... thought to number more than 130,000 in London... some Local Authorities have faced a constant battle to keep premises free of the nuisance. Sweeping new powers to clear squatters from empty buildings... squatters will not be entitled to witness any court hearings..." (14/11/1993). "Council squat-busters go into action… 2 days after The Possession notice is served..." HOW THE SYSTEM CHANGES PEOPLE: Squatters said: "WAIT TO START A REVOLUTION? "What do YOU say? Blood must flow?" "One day, everyone will be number one. Until that day, whatever needs to be done..." "We will not participate in deception." "There are definitely NO National Front members amongst us! We are very anti-right wing." "With or without you, in our own sweet way..." "Disturbances / Riots throughout the British Isles..." “Hitting-back at stupid councils." Squatters covered their faces during battles with police. BEHIND THE MASK?: "I'm leaving this GHETTO..."

into a no-go area for police as they prepared to resist mass evictions... about 250 protestors overturned giant rubbish bins and lorry-sized skips... the evictions were condemned by The Hackney Housing Action Group. The council's housing policy is designed to set one group of people against the other" (11/3/1988). "We know from long experience we can't actually resist evictions but it helps to quell our anger doing stuff like this." "With mass evictions in some boroughs, there are more people on the streets, and some of them are getting a little pissed off..." “VOIDS SCANDAL: Local Authorities own 100,700 empty homes, government departments own 35,100 empty properties (the Ministry of Defence owns 13,000 homes that are not being used), there are 589,000 empty private properties, (94,000 in London), Housing Associations have 21,800 empty homes..." (1990). "We've been DEBASED!" "TOLD TO LIVE IN A CAR: A living hell: A family with 3 young children were kicked out of their council house for £1,000 rent arrears... Now their car is their 'home.' 'I don't want our family to split up.' The children live on fryups made by Mum on a portable gas stove and wash in public toilets. The council's housing officer said: 'The family are intentionally Homeless.' Karen said: 'I am desperate to get a proper roof over the children’s heads'..." (Daily Mirror, 13/6/1990).

"PLAY I SPY": "The council are trying to get tenants to inform them when squatters move into an empty, disused council property... Camden has so many empty properties standing idle it is madness to evict more people..." (5/9/1990). 1990: PLANS TO MAKE SQUATTING ILLEGAL: Squatters actively campaigned for no new laws against squatting. The threat to criminalise the Homeless! The trespass laws which in effect illegalise squatting… A squatter’s main protection is that squatting is not an illegal act...” "EVICTIONS must be made FASTER" said Mr. K. Baker (Conservative Party chairman). "Make it an offence to occupy empty property. All suffer from squatters." POLITICIAN: "Squatters are getting something for nothing! Squatters cause enormous criminal damage! Squatting is theft from the council!" SQUATTER: "We should have a flexible approach. Homeless people should be able to commandeer a property left empty for more than 3 years." “Give us a chance! We'll do it ourselves." "We have rebuilt this place! When we leave ‘people’ will come to trash it!" "Wrecking places is the antithesis of squatting!" "...it should be made a criminal offence to leave property empty for more than 3 years" (15/10/1991). "The Sultan of Brunei was accused of being heartless for evicting squatters from one of his

"If you need another type of love, I'll wear a MASK for you. You'll strike me down in anger, but here I am - I'm the man for you... But if you want to take me for a ride, you know you can. The chain's too tight. The beast won’t go to sleep. The promises I made you, I can't keep. I fall at your feet and howl like a wolf on heat. I've practiced every night. Now I'm ready. I can't forget. That's how I want it. I've got this mind that runs on memory. I've loved it all my life. Well, now it's Father's day - and everyone's wounded... Remember me? I used to live for music. I brought your groceries in..." (song by Leonard Cohen).

("The man she wanted all her life - his life was hanging by a thread, his muscles numbered..." "She counted all the battles… A woman's education is not clear. She gives her soul in empty rooms..." "He offered her an orgy in a room in return for her womb, instead of a passage to the Moon. He offered bloody rituals and none of them were true...") “NOTHING ever REALLY CHANGES…” "EVERYBODY KNOWS … they'll never find a CURE... the poor stay poor... Everybody knows you're in trouble... it's written in the 74

Scriptures... it's written in blood… I walked into this empty church - the sweetest voice I ever heard whispered to my soul- I don't need to be forgiven, for loving you so much. YOU stand on the other side of the river. I don't know how the river got so wide... all the bridges are burning that we might have crossed... They're moving us tomorrow... to the tower off the track..." (song by Leonard Cohen) In other

have NO Right to Safe, Decent, Secure, permanent Housing?" "Ferocious rationing due to the lack of Affordable homes..." "What one wants is an imaginative, positive solution!" (Greater

words? "SAVE ME!” "The Home Office has issued a NEWS RELEASE that will have enormous implications. Government plans to criminalise squatting will leave 50,000 people, 1/3rd of them families, under the threat of immediate Homelessness. Home secretary, Michael Howard, announced that squatters who refuse to leave within 24 hours of being served with an eviction notice will face arrest. This was met with fury by Homeless organisations, London councils, and concern from the police who will have to enforce the law. The proposal, part of the Criminal Justice Bill... The government are ignoring the causes of Homelessness and are using squatters as a political football... The real crime is not 50,000 squatters, it is the 864,000 empty properties in the UK. The government is the most inefficient land-lord of all, with 12,000 empty properties... This new law will bring the already over-pressed housing system to breaking point... The new law will also mean it will be easier for private landlords to evict tenants... Once again, the government have ignored warnings from the police, Housing groups and organisations to help the Homeless. In so doing, this will increase the ‘criminal’ population, with social implications that will come back to haunt the government... The new law will deprive many of what little shelter they have, and the new law will criminalise the Homeless" (9/11/1993) ("... it is not a political football...") CONFRONTATIONS: WAH! "Who else would put up with all the cockroaches? This situation is a nightmare!" "I can't go and live in a squat no-one else wants, I can't live in a cardboard box in a park, I can't break down in a lay-by. Where can I live?" "I don't want to die on any cold pavement. I want to end my life in a green valley, with just blue sky to look at." "Do I have to spend the remainder of my years in the gutter? Why can't I use my talents to help others?" DEBATE: "Where are all the evicted people supposed to go?" "We are excluded from housing!" "It's a myth that squatters break into private ordinary people’s houses." "Making Homeless, most needy people deliberately Homeless again, through no fault of their own, is DISGUSTING." "Kids wallowing in squalor! This is disturbing. (I don't mean these people are disturbed...") "Are the government saying people

12/12/1993).

London Radio, 18/11/1993).

Stamford Hill Estate: "The police (armed with riot shields, helmets, flail batons...) evicted 150 squatters - who left peacefully. Some will miss out on having a nice Christmas" (local newspaper report, THE REAL STORY: "EVICTED BY BUILDERS, Heavies hired by the council, who turned up with no warning while we were out, smashed down doors, took our personal belongings - putting these into rubbish skips, taking anything valuable - stealing these, they towed away our vehicles. When we arrived back, the flats were boarded up. Our pets were also missing! No-one at the council knew anything about this of course. This happened in mid-winter. With frozen hands and feet, and nowhere to go, we tried to open another squat… but we couldn't…” "THE FORCED MARCH OF ‘THE CONVOY’: “The only thing we could do is walk away…”

"There's lots of room in the gutter…" “We walked 20 miles a day, carrying what we have left..." “We struggled… really, really struggled… just to stay alive...” “… songs helped to keep us going…” (EG. “When you walk through a ‘storm,’ hold your head up high…” " … there is nothing left to lose. All my friends have gone. There's no work here any more. I know I hate to leave this land I love, that it's going to be lonely on the Freedom road, but I've got to keep on going until I hold that promised land in the palm of my hand. There's a new tomorrow waiting that's all shiny and new. We will see we are not alone in the Heavens, out there on the Freedom road..." "…We're singing in the rain..." "… Walk on, walk on, with HOPE in your heart, and you'll never walk alone..." "How many roads does a young man have to walk down, before he can find his way home? The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind..." "I want it so fine. I want to be where stars shine...") “We need to find a better place...” "But the further we walked, the heavier our load became..." "Here we are, dropping down in pain, watched by 75

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the police. I'd like to stay awake but only the police are getting paid overtime."

bones..." "The Sun went down..." “These words were ringing in my head”: "The Lord’s my shepherd… He lead'eth me. He makes me down to lie in pastures green… Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale, yet will I fear no ill. For thou art with me… My soul He does restore again. And me to walk doth make, within the paths of righteousness,.. for His name’s sake… GOODNESS AND MERCY ALL MY LIFE shall surely follow me… and in God’s house, forever more, my dwelling place shall be…” ("When you need a light, in the night...") "We set up a make-shift camp, using what little we have, on wasteland, in the pouring wet..." BENDERS: “We make ‘shelters’ by bending long, thin twigs, covered in holey clothes and a few blankets…” "Our chances of survival are slender." "We only have a light diet." "Give us this day, our daily bread. For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful..." “We make our own bread…” (on the camp fire). DURING THE LONG NIGHT: "I believe I have seen the face of the risen Lord..." Then: "DAWN… RAIDS by police… Grim scenes...”"TAKEN BY SUPRISE..." "Bloody hippies. Take that!" "Hey! Go easy, man! There are children here!" "God! They're trying to kill us!" "Ow! They'll KILL us if they can!" st (see: Video of June 1 , 1984 evictions

"If politicians are so ‘good,’ how can they cause us to ‘live’ like this?" "They've not even got sensitivity!" "Unbiased treatment by the police?" "It isn't only the lonely who know this isn't right." "STOP these experiments in ‘animal’ terror.” "UNDER CONSTANT THREAT…" "As an agent of Her Majesty's Government... you trespassers must give up this ground. Clear off! Or else!" "Off balanced, Levin did not know what to say. Trespassing made him uneasy..." “A few local residents complained to the police, that we shouldn't be allowed to walk past their property…” (Ah! “You just don’t love enough…”) “… others brought us food..." (thinking: “… it’s your generation WHO WILL HAVE TO SAVE THE PLANET because we’ve made such a mess of it!”) THE SQUATTERS SAID: "I'm pissed off with begging for a place to stay from people who don't want me. God, give me somewhere to go where I do not have to continually justify myself!" "It's so depressing. We're living in a world of fools, always breaking us down!" “Do YOU know what you’re kicking away? Everything we do is for FREE!” "Something's got to give, sooner or later…" "It's no good pretending things are alright, when they aren't. They really aren't." "We all ‘live’ like ants. The Queen is our only superstar. There's no real love here…” "You’re holding my heart in the palm of your hand. You're burning my body to fill in the time." "Got to keep up with the Jones's? I'm not one of them." "LOSERS. There's only losers in this game." "I'm not playing their game no more..." "… it's the only way to be. I can't be chained to a life!" "They make everybody work so hard for everything. We are ‘all slaves to the system’?” "I'm not part of your system feeding off flesh and

from Bean field, www.youtube.com ).

"WE'LL DIE. WE'LL DIE. WE'LL DIE."

“Benders and vans confiscated...” 1986: "The police have taken everything we've got, again. What do we do now?" "They are still taking us for the same old clowns!" "HOW DO WE DANCE WITH THIS FIRE? We are lost. We are freaks. We are crippled. We are weak. We are… the true answer to the world…" (song by: New Model Army).

76

What is happening to them (and all that they love) is bewildering…” "I ain’t got no money, I ain’t got no land." "I feel left out. Where's my share? I want my share." (THESE ARE: "Your New Generation Shoppers...") "ANCIENT MAN: Once Upon A Time, a man lived in the heat of the city. An ancient man, with ancient ways. He was Eco-wise to cholesterol shops and micro-biotic veg. He hated tap water and carbon air. But he was everywhere, on every street and highway and open space... He was an ancient man with ‘modern’ ways. He fought the demise of living every way. Every step with his feet... Searching for solace in the traffic of the city... His hands natural instruments of melody, flapped the polluted air, but the birds have long since flown to Freedom... On street corners he stares at the ‘landscape’ blocking the Sun. When he tries to sing, he recoils in mid-verse. The pollen count is high today. An ancient man, with ‘modern’ ways..." (song composed by ARTEC students, London

"Oh! HOW WE DANCED WITH THIS FIRE, cos it's all that we know..." ("I believe we felt our way from another world...") "Jesus, Jesus. What's it all about?" "We are GENTLE FOLK. Tender. Naturally sweet. We wouldn't hurt a fly…" "WHY do THEY TREAT us this way?" (“You've lost the plot!”) "WE ARE THE DEVIL'S REJECTS…” "HOW can WE be STRONGER? I've often wondered..." "You know, the way things are going, they're going to crucify me…" "Notice how when we move around we lose everything?" "What we need is not 'security,' it is more than a loan, and a law..." "They say ‘you can't change anything.’ They want you to get out of LOVE…" "Love, free as running water. Free as you and me. That's the way it's got to be..." "If we had love before, we can love again." ("… it is in my heart, it's in my soul, it's in every school boy's dreams...") "We've got far to go…" "Without a home, we won’t get far. We can't hang onto a dream. If there's no place, not even a star we can get to. It seems so far away, light years away..." "… it takes a while, and I know it…" "THESE GUIDING LIGHTS, slipping away..." "These are the ones with the best ideas..." CAPITALIST: “Dreams don’t put food on the table.” “Ideas are 10 a penny…” (“Ah! But a good idea is priceless.”) "I'm the man who walks as though he's dead." "CAN’T carry-on this way…" (re: Stoney Cross, UK., June 1986. Photos kindly supplied

1991).

“Our HAPPINESS… Misunderstood…” "THE ANNUAL PROBLEM? New Age travellers moving on... in search of... FREEDOM…" ‘NEW AGE’ CHAOS: "500 'hippies' set up camp in Hungerford... the advance guard of the mid-summer trek… Police served notices under the Public Order Act... violence flared during eviction...” (24/4/1990). "20,000 fans arrived for an illegal 'free' music festival in the Malvern Hills... ‘The Hippy’ ‘Invasion.’ Police told to introduce tougher laws. Farmers opposed to New Age Travellers. There are no toilets - will have to use fields. Annual cat and mouse game. Local opposition. Travellers have nowhere to go... Police used force..." (27/5/1992). ______________________________________ Just what does HIPPY mean? The 1960's: “… something’s gotta hold of my heart…” “… and now for something completely different…” The “in thing” really “hip” = “LOVE, PEACE and UNDERSTANDING, man.” The DREAM: “Men don't want to fight! We believe in tenderness, sweetness. We don't want to become robots! = ‘Drop-out’ (of suburban mediocrity…) Meditate (to find your true self.) “At Our Centre Is Peace.” Change, create! Expand your consciousness. 'We love you.' We'll show you where it's at’ = The coming together of 'tribes' for a 'love-in' - a major ‘Groove.’ = “Gentle people, with flowers in their hair. There’s a whole generation, with a new explanation…” ‘The Flower Children’: Spread Happiness, Joy! = ‘FLOWER POWER’ = Grow Crops EG. Sunflowers to combat Environmental problems (Sunflowers = Oil…) (Hippies started the movement - a campaign -

by: ‘Fred Rabbit.’)

NEW AGE TRAVELLERS: (New Age: see Chapter 15).

Many (evicted) squatters joined the (convoy of) New Age Travellers. "Knocking around with the travellers…” “They're OK. Warm hearted. Welcoming. Genuine..." ”These unassuming people make us feel wanted, liked, LOVED, happier. The NEW AGE TRAVELLERS are actually exceptionally KIND, CARING and HONEST HUMAN BEINGS. But man- they’re SUFFERING really, really terribly! 77

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"NOT SO NEW AGE: ... people descended to pitch camp... if the BBC had described them as 'vagrants' fewer people would have flocked to join them... Loud noise, excrement, rubbish, broken glass... Spare a thought for the people who live here!" "HIPPIES MAKE PLACE LOOK LIKE BEIRUT: ... hippy travellers 'terrorised' residents... (hippies) fired distress flares at a police helicopter... A pall of smoke from a forest of fires... Where cows and sheep have grazed for centuries, there was a motley collection of caravans, coaches, cars, ambulances, buses, fire engines, tents and tepees. The chaos was not confined to the camp site..." "They come round here in their rust buckets on wheels, using our gardens as toilets..." Travellers said: "We take all the blame!" “We get lots of free insults!” “This is a disaster…” "None of this is going my way.” ("Wild boys never lose it?" Do the Residents understand your plight?) "More clashes with police in full riot gear... Motorway across 2 counties blocked when a convoy came to a standstill..." "750 police, from 6 counties, advanced at a cost of £250,000. New Age Travellers gave Nazi-style salutes to the police and fighting broke out. 'You beat up little children!' Then police closed roads - towed away vehicles - remaining people put on a pointless route…" ("The joy of the mobile home! You used to be able to stop anywhere…") ("Britain will only have a revolution if they ban caravanning and car-boot sales" said Victoria Wood, comedienne) ("Our last little bits of Freedom...") "Some people believe there is A Hidden Agenda to make all travelling simply impossible... driving a different way of life out of existence... The notso hidden statements of politicians past and present: EG. Mrs Thatcher said, June 1986: "I am only too delighted to make life as difficult as possible for such things as Hippy Convoys." (“This government is obsessed with controlling the population...") EG. "The Conservative conference, October 1992, announced tough new rules affecting New Age Travellers: 'Most people were sickened, as I was, by the sight of these spongers descending like locusts, demanding benefits with menaces. We are not in the business of subsidising scroungers' said Peter Lilley, Social Services Secretary. 'I am closing down ‘the-something-for nothing’ society'..." (I can hear you now saying: “They did the right thing. Bloody scroungers…”) THE ONLY WAY TO BE FREE IS TO PLANT... Hate ? “The only way to break free is to love…” DOCUMENTARY: "NEIGHBOURS: Bristol has terrible problems. What do you think will happen if

giving away free Sunflower seeds). “… it just started silently and grew…” “The best things in life are FREE!” (Protestors hold flowers- offer flowers to the police and soldiers etc., who perhaps don’t understand the significance, or the significance is ignored). “Don’t criticise what you can’t understand cos times are changing…” (1960’s SONGS: "BORN FREE, AS FREE AS THE WIND BLOWS, AS FREE AS THE GRASS GROWS, BORN FREE... TO FOLLOW YOUR HEART... LIVE FREE, AND BEAUTY SURROUNDS YOU, THE WORLD WILL ASTOUND YOU..." “I feel free…” “We are stardust, we are golden and we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden…” “JOY TO THE WORLD…” "This world is like a great big onion…” (i.e. when cut, we cry…) "If there’s anything that you need, if there’s anything that you want, I'd send it along, if I were you, with love, from me to you. It'll keep you satisfied..." "… I don't care too much about money - money can't buy me love. Say you don't need diamond rings, and I'll be satisfied..." “We’ll get along in blue jeans…” "We can work it out. Life is too short…” "We've got to Get it Together, now! YOU know that it's right… There's something in the air… The revolution is here..." (Thunderclap Newman). “We’re going to shout it to the top…” “10,000 are whispering and no-one’s listening. Some hard rains are going to fall…” "Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to wait so long? If we could live together in the kind of world where we belong? If we could spend happy times together! We could hope and pray it might come true. It seems the more we talk about it, the worst it seems to live without it..." “Hey I’m spaced-out, man.” “Unfortunately THE HIPPY MOVEMENT degenerated into chaos...” IT Magazine: Mainly about drugs? EXPERT: “The 1960s were sort of a test to see how much ‘anarchy’ the system could take… Hippy (i.e. HAPPY) communes… Actually, the system backed off…” EXPERT: “Back in the days of the swinging 60’s life was simple, the hippies were young as they frolicked in the fields and long hair wasn’t just for students. The far off time that was the year 2000 held the promise of being a magical epoch of flying… cars?” ______________________________________ MEANTIME: "... there ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby..." Estimated: “3,900 people are living in recycled, old buses…” (Jeremy Sandford, BBC, 9/7/1990). 78

meeting. Comments will be passed on. 'Officers are investigating it.' Consultants brought in - cost a lot of money. Another councillor leaves. 'Run away! sir.' The National Romany Association said: 'It's not helpful if we end arguing.' Councillor's attitudes bad. 15 pitches = 75 travellers. Once sites found- no longer a harassment policy - then it's designated. You may move in, but you cannot move out!‘ 'I hope it will be agreed we do full consultations.' Travellers not told what sites are where. 'It won’t happen in Avon' said a councillor. 'If only 15 places, what will we do?' 'Comments from travellers very important. A Report - we will take note of that. We need a survey of travellers. We need a definition. Numbers vague... If we evict them, moving them on, it's somebody else’s problem. Problem not addressed by government. Are New Age Travellers drop outs, moving out of houses - to improve their status, their quality of life? Historically, so did Irish travellers. Their reasons are their own. The numbers of New Age travellers are escalating, increasing many fold, and will continue to do so under the current economic climate...' 'Obviously this site is totally inadequate.' Tax-payers angry at misspending of their money. 'People are getting pissed off at the system... these people need a home, that's all it really is. You still run! We all want the same but still you run away! Give them somewhere decent to live so we don't have to put up with this, for Christ's sake.' Bitter feud. Councillors walk away, saying nothing! 'We're plonked here.' 'Property prices devalued - can't sell - view of caravans unappealing.' 'I don't like looking at a housing estate' said a caravan dweller. 'Making us depressed. We can't live our lives the way we want to. In this day and age, in this country we should be free to, but we can't!' Patchway has been a temporary site for 17 years. 'Why can't you find them somewhere to live, where they want to be, so WE would not have this confrontation with people WE do not want to alienate, but we have to because they are constantly on our backs, with a council we have to constantly fight because they don't listen to what we want them to do?' 'We do have several sites in rural areas, but MPs want sites to be in urban areas. We are looking at sites in both areas.' The delays lead to more HASSLE for everybody arguments. 'All the piles of rubbish - broken cars. The bricks through my windows. We don't want them here. They are vagrants who take, take, and give nothing back. They take drugs! I don't want it. I pay my

sites are not provided? THE NEED TO HELP residents and travellers. People need to accept that concept. There's outcry. 'We are going to try and do something about it. We are restricted by Acts of government. We have to go through Planning procedures. It takes time but hopefully, in next couple of years, sites will be here.' Avon has only provided one site. Now squatters in caravans on council- owned land. Deep puddles... Is the site suitable? 'We'd like proper flush toilets. Chemical loos leaking - dangerous for children. They haven't emptied the toilets for 2 months! Causing rats.' … 30 vehicles arrive, spreading mud over the highway - dangerous - an offence. Travellers warned… The council wants to erect a HIGH WIRE fence to protect neighbours gardens but this would not make their lives more tolerable. But the fence is built to contain the situation. The fence is a 2-way barrier. 'Our quality of life has deteriorated since the travellers arrived.' General attitude of the travellers is good but the seriousness of the circumstances... Things get worse as more travellers arrive... broken glass... Despite the 12' high fence, children climb, get over the top… 'Why can't the police do something about it?' 'One of the agencies should address this situation...' 'The issues are not simple. Would YOU like to live in a caravan here for 7 days a week?' 'No, I wouldn't!' 10 children in one caravan – that is too big to go on road. 'Where could they move to? Away from the housing estates and pylons?' 'We'll go to court to decide.' 'Why don't you go to a proper mobile home site?” “Because there isn't one!” Not all travellers are the same. Some are dirty, some are clean... but they all need somewhere to live. 'No hot water - how are we supposed to keep clean?' 'People say we don't pay our way. What have we got to pay for? I wouldn't mind paying my way.' A MEETING is arranged to air views. ‘It will be unstructured.’ 'Make a request and we will consider it. Is it for their benefit or ours?' asks the council. ‘The New Age Travellers are a new group. Does the 1968 Act cover them?' 'We need the backing of the National organisations who understand what we are trying to do.’ Avon (county) is aiming to have 100 spaces / pitches for caravans... viewed with suspicion by travellers. 'We don't need site wardens to run our lives! There's no play areas for our children! Sites look like prison camps! Sites should be a pleasant Environment. We haven't found a site without a massive fence! The integration of people into the community must be the thing they - the council, aim at.' A councillor replies, saying he has to leave the 79

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rates. I'm entitled to know what's going on. You tell us a pack of lies. How many more lies are there?' 'It worries me people can get so steamed up and irrational over an encampment. If it's a large and unpleasant one, one can understand. 200 - 300 people are very angry at us - I'm frightened - what makes people react this way?' 'It's not something of our making' said a Liberal Democrat 'I don't want to make the situation worse, but ignoring it, it will get worse.' Somehow, they cannot make that rational step to do something about the mess that surrounds the area... travellers will continue to ‘live’ on an Emergency encampment basis. Trouble is, noone stands up for them, no backing, and no-one wants them, and that is the wrong attitude. New Age Travellers are Human Beings, who have feelings. The towns are really bad. People are either going to have to somehow get a roof over their heads, live in squalor, or wait for the council to do it for them, that's how it's going to be in this country" (Cutting Edge, Channel 4, 4/5/1992) ("Who could be so callous to turn them away because they're not wearing diamonds?") IN DIRE STRAITS: "Travellers site attacked in Manchester. 2 men hurt. I woman had a miscarriage" (24/6/1992) ("If it happens, it could be a God-send to some people.") "POLICE TACTICS: Code Name: OPERATION NOMAD: … have succeeded in preventing the travellers camping on private and common land"

respecting other people's property if denied the Freedom of Choice, the Right of Movement, the Right to Peaceful Assembly, to Social Security these do appear to be becoming less and less available to our minority group..." "We are leading independent lives.” "Hard to make a living - so we have to claim dole, but we are saving the government the cost of having to pay us Housing Benefit." "Society as a whole was greedy enough to take all the common land away from people, greedy enough to swallow all the land we could have parked on. They say we shouldn't ask for something back! The waste-land is not being used..." "I see some of your vans have windmills on the roof - for an Alternative Energy supply?" “Yeh. They should get hip to the silicone chip..." ("Hey! We might just be needed after all!” "We communicate effectively, inter-act effectively... We have an ALTERNATIVE life-style... not an ideal life-style, not as nice a life-style as we would really like it to be - we can only improvise... but this has given us great ideas how we would like it to be…" "... it is WHERE I'LL FIND MY HEAVEN.") (“… it's better than sleeping in a van.”) "Many of us are artists, who prefer the greenery of the country..." (Ah! Now I understand why they say “an artist is worth more dead than alive.”) ______________________________________ (DOCUMENTARY: "… it's a NEW ART: Diversification is a good thing. This is an important cultural era. Defying the various categories... the dictates of the media... The concept of Unity… The rigid dogma of the Western mind, the boxing in... Maybe if other people would champion a new mold? Art does not prohibit the imagination..." "Friendship, trust all come into it..." "It's a very dynamic process." "With collaboration – success!" "You might be surprised at the power of people around you." "Make it better than the last one." "The important thing is that it is a good product." "Establish a funky stronghold..." "You need to create a buzzing atmosphere. You need certain skills..." "Follow the banality of industry? Don't become obsessive about ownership. Be more concerned about doing GOOD. Do it because you love it." "Don't let devious cynics mess you up.") (STREET-WISE CRED: "Make it like you mean it, make it like a work of art. Baby Jesus had it strapped to his heart." "Give me things put together with love." "You should always be working out how to perfect it." "We think it will always be magical.") (POPULAR SONG: "HEY! WE'RE HEADING FOR THE FUTURE. Give us some room. We’ve got to build the New World. We got to do it now. We

(1/6/1993).

(Moving Around = "We can't control the buggers.” “The Conservatives scheme to deal with the problem of New Age Travellers is to bring in new trespass laws." "Aim of strengthened powers is to stop people coming together in large numbers..." ("MP's can still come together.") PROTEST: "The police only have one vision. Food for themselves, today." "There should be a law to protect people like us." "They could do a special deal for us." "There's nothing wrong with wanting to have a good time like simple folks used to have many moons ago..." (“Communities used to be so colourful and cheerful…”) "DO people have the RIGHT to an ALTERNATIVE LIFE-STYLE? "TRAVELLERS LOSE COURT BATTLE: NewAge Travellers lost their High Court battle to force Local Authorities to provide them with camp sites. The Judge upheld the decision of 3 Authorities... that travellers did not come within the definition of gipsy" (3/11/1993). "WE have NO CHOICE..." (“What came first? The hammer or the anvil?”) "We have no opportunity to get work" say New-Age Travellers. "How can you exercise Rights, 80

"They are primitive? Is that why you want to criminalise travellers so much?" "Do you despise them because they want to get away from mortgages (traditional?!) living? Is that what owners are afraid of?" "What is the terrible threat?" "Overgrown sense of fear... Formal society cannot eliminate an alternative life-style. Can a fine balance be obtained?" (Heart of the Matter, BBC, 20/6/1993) (ONE SIDE too money orientated, Greedy, Selfish! The OTHER SIDE completely the opposite...) DOCUMENTARY: “WHO ARE THE NEW AGE TRAVELLERS? ‘… We are living like this because we wish to live as cheaply as possible - in a way that does not use too much fossil fuel.’ ‘We are not middle-class drop-outs. Most of us are trying to get out of being Homeless EG. out of B & B. There is no other way to get out of that. Many of us would like to buy a piece of land and settle down. But planners say definitely not. Police now have the powers to take our 'homes' (vans) away from us! This is ruining the lives of our children who might have no home when they come home from school. I might not be able to get my kids back!’ ‘They might take me away from my Mum.’ Powers are used as a sledge-hammer to hurt those who do not rent a home or buy a house. ‘We are caught in a no-win situation. Society saying we have to conform to the middle-class idyll. They are being intolerant’…” (16/3/1994) ("… it's us against Hitler's regime. Whoever said Hitler is dead, must be joking.") “Although their living quarters are unusual, they are certainly not alone in eschewing bricks and mortar. As house prices have spiralled higher and higher, more and more people have been forced out of the mainstream housing market and are having to find ‘alternative forms of housing’…” (The Telegraph, 26/2/2005). “WE’RE ALL TRAVELLING LIFE’S HIGHWAY…” (Let Me Ask You Now: Do YOU want to stop the New-Age… its growth & development? Very exciting innovations that should be LIBERATING for us ALL? Will you give it YOUR permission?) "One day, the residents will say: 'Life without you isn't worth the trouble... Can't you see, we are lost without your love. We are like a ship, without a wheel'..." “One day, the people who’ll surround it, will see the benefit of it and why the hell it means so much to you and me…” "One day, we'll get to that place we just want to be, but until that day baby, tramps like us were born to run..." "The highways are jammed with sad heroes just like us." "Trouble is, we're dreaming our lives away..." “There’s a place for us. We’ve just got to find it…” (It’s found you!) (“Now take me by the hand and lead me to your promised land… You use the language of God. Now know God loves you. It’s

got to do it right. It's got to last a long, long time. I'll show you HOW. Hey! We're heading for a new place. We got to take a long ride. Time won’t wait around forever. Let's build it together. You lean on me. I'll lean on you. The future's now. The future's ours. COM ‘on now!") ______________________________________"… it's not going to go away because the government don't like it." LABELLED 'THE TRAVELLING SCROUNGER.' (“Labels tend to stick.”) "Their dogs roam free and attack sheep! They occupy land that is not theirs" complained a farmer. "Locals don't like 1,000s of people descending on them - hence road blocks..." "We are no longer in a society that allows people to do their own thing, encroaching on others" said the Land Owners Association. "People have the right to pursue an alternative life-style but with the duties and responsibilities that go with them. A lot of these people do not show any effort to contribute to the system at all, they have no road tax - some do seasonal work but most don't. Most want their children to be educated but without the inconvenience of having to pay for it! Open space should be used to grow food on, not park on. Land in Britain is not a shared asset! Virtually every piece of land is owned privately and is somebody’s property." ("... it takes LOVE, over GOLD…") ("... you're so full of fear. They keep you doped with religion, sex and TV. You think you're so ‘classless and free’ but you're still peasants as far as I can see. There's room at the top they're telling you still, but first you must learn to smile as you kill if you want to be like the..." Song, by John Lennon). ("IMAGINE there's no (divided) countries. It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for… You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one… IMAGINE no possessions - I wonder if you can? No need for greed or hunger. A brotherhood of man..." song by John Lennon, Voted: The Hero of the Working Class). ‘A common value between New Age Travellers is almost anarchist. They do not claim they own the land. They believe they BELONG to the land. A theological, scriptural connotation. The Psalms: 'The Earth belongs to the Lord and all that in there is.' A reaction to materialistic society in which we live. I see it as a prophetic message. Get back to base. What are the true values of life?" (re: Speech by: "Rev. David Penney, the Director of Social Responsibility, Diocese of Salisbury).

"Hippies don't want to live conventionally." "Should we all be the same?" (“Hitler wanted everyone to be the same…”) "It will matter if these people vanish. It mattered terribly what happened to the (Native American) Indians!" 81

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TORTURE…” “I wish I had a warmer sleeping bag…” “Snuggle up and share some bodily warmth…” “Pumped up beds. Yeh, I’ll go for that...” "Missing girl, found dead in a tent. Hypothermia blamed" (1992). "MY ‘HOME’ IN A TENT: Phyllis became Homeless after she was evicted for rent arrears on her Milton Keynes development corporation house. The debt mounted after her husband was unemployed for 3 years. The council told Phyllis: 'You are on your own.' Now she has to live in a tent with her 3 children, aged 8, 5 and 3..." (Daily

calling you to help work it out at the speed of light.”) “FOR THE GOOD LIFE…” “SET THEM FREE. SET THEM FREE!” "Will the traveller remain? He says: 'FREEDOM. Have no fear.' He may lose. He doesn't want to fade away." “Make (ageing) hippies really Happy…” ("Will they find their way home? The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind...") CAMPING: “The call of the Great Outdoors!” “The freedom to come and go!” "Is this a suitable investment? A Tent = Ropes, clips, pegs, bungees and gizmos- hopefully all the bits will be there. Quite hard to put up, especially in a wind, or the dark. "The sooner it goes up, the sooner you get out of the rain." “Fiddlesticks, I give up! Can you do it for me, please?” “You’d think someone would come and help us.” “It took a lot longer than I thought.” (Ah! How long can you stick it?) Trip over tent pegs… “It was too windy to put the tent up.” “I wouldn’t like to be stuck in that tent in a gale!” “First, the main tent pole bends…” The stitched up... flaps… “Damn thing blew away! Oh! What a RIP OFF!” Modern styles of tent are lightweight, ultra-Flatpack, & Pop-Up i.e. has flexible ‘ribs’ (which twist). “How strong is this?” The tent will still be SHORTLIFE. “You need to find a safe place… to camp.” “NO CAMPING ALLOWED!” “Pitch fees…” Don’t put your tent on a hill, or at the bottom of a hill (the water runs down…) Avoid mud fields! Put the tent on the ground, which may be wet. What happens if it rains? “You get wet. And very uncomfortable!” “Oh! Everything’s wet!” "WELCOME TO CAMP CRAP…" “And just where am I supposed to go to the toilet?” “The toilet and washing facilities are disgusting. So cold at night…” “Tents are neither safe or secure. No guarantee of no creepy-crawlies…” “Why is my tent full of mosquitoes?” “This place is crawling with ants!” “What’s to stop a snake crawling in here? Or any other animal that wants to get in?” Avoid wild animals - how? “I hope I don't get run over… by those elephants…” JOKE: “Don’t go camping in the hunting season. Your arms might be mistaken for antlers.” "… Prowler attacked sleeping boy in tent... 'a sickening attack'…” (5/8/1993). “Do you really want to camp in November? When it’s snowing?” Cook outside. “I’m so cold, so cold!” “… use a little gas stove- if you can’t get that going…” “I’m covered in frost! I can’t sleep! This is ridiculous. Been woken 8 times already. This is

Mirror, 20/4/1990).

“Huh. I can’t stand up straight! I have to do everything with a permanent stoop…” “You’re ‘living’ in a tent! How LOW can you get? You need serious help.” UK: “Estimated: 900 families are living in tents... EG. ‘Tepee Valley,’ in Wales: A hippy commune. No legal water supply. Police frequently raid…” (Jeremy Sandford, BBC, 9/7/1990).

“Think of a bad night at Glastonbury, crawling in the mud…” EG. “A WASH OUT: … the Glastonbury music festival event was thrown into chaos… 100’s of 1,000’s of campers sheltered in tents and caravans as lightning flashed around the giant site… the downpour of rain… turned the camping areas into a muddy swamp… the unlucky late arrivals had to try to pitch their tent in the storm… tents were washed away… fields were flooded… the fans were drenched…” (“… wealthy music fans are paying £1,000s to stay in 2 new luxury camps - in palatial motor-homes… nearby 50 large 5-star tents were snapped up for £6,000 each… TOO OLD FOR MUD: … the wealthy entrepreneurs get proper toilets and showers… are warm and dry… Justin said: ‘My motor-home is a God-send.’ Mr Leigh said: ‘I wouldn’t have thought there would have been a need for this 10 years ago, but as it’s grown I guess there’s a need for these facilities’…”) (BBC, 26/6/2005).

“Are you an unhappy camper?” “I haven’t been camping in 20 years. I won’t go camping for another 20 years.” “I will endeavour to forget this ‘holiday’ like the pain of childbirth. I twitch now when I think of that tent…” “The memory of it still lingers…” “After one day of camping, he abandoned his holiday…” “We came here to please the children but a week of the outdoor life almost cost our marriage…” “We vowed never to go camping again.” “Sorry, I like home comforts…” (Ah! Are you seeking something better than camping?) “Camping can be great fun when it’s warm and dry…” “Terrified campers fled parched woodland - a blazing forest fire… A high risk of more forest fires…” (France, 6/8/2005). 82

road shocks + strains, stresses imposed…” “Freedom from LEAKS is a principle point as caravans are kept outdoors permanently…” AMATEUR CARAVAN BUILDING: … If a man wishes to build his own caravan other caravanners will understand his desire… but he must expect to be paid in pleasure and not in savings… It is necessary to understand shock absorbers… Far from easy to ensure joints will not work loose… Not something that can be safely undertaken with ordinary knowledge of joinery… The wiring system… is a job for an electrician… The braking system on a caravan is really very complicated…” TOWING: “When it’s all going downhill…”

CARAVANS: (Caravan: Traditionally a term for crossing the desert). CARAVAN = "… it's a favourite dream. Escape the bustle. Your own home. It's in just the place you want. It's ready for whenever you want to get away for a refreshing break..." “Oh! The convenience of owning a mobile home!” (Brief) History of Caravanning: (Ref: ‘The Caravan Manual’ printed 1930’s).

“The SHAPES do not vary enormously… …

“… Remember, you are pulling weight - you cannot cut corners… Many roads are cambered which causes the caravan to lean… Beware if roads are greasy… Beware of the car receiving a shock from behind… If snaking starts… Beware descending hills… let the brakes cool… Encountering a hill you cannot climb… It is difficult to over-take… The loss of power due to extreme over-heating… Re-starting on a hill - a passing vehicle may stop to help you - the passengers can lend man power… Some caravans have a pitching motion or are very nose heavy… Reversing can be a tricky business… For many reasons… a caravan will be unsteady on tow and in some cases cause actual danger… Advice: Carry a good hemp tow rope… plus a complete set of ice chains…”

most are the standard ‘slug’ shape…” “The roof is domed like buses (and trains)…”

“The Jockey Wheel: To assist in man-handling the van - to push or pull…” LACK OF INSULATION: “…On the cold glass windows, clouded with moisture…” (in winter much moisture builds up, and streams down, forming puddles on the inner seal/s and sill/s causing fungicidal growth… (a health hazard). (The humidity is caused by breathing, cooking etc). TO STOP CONDENSATION: “Ventilate via an open flap” (not practical due to heat loss). “Or construct the caravan, or adapt the walls & roof so they keep the inside warm no matter how cold outdoors i.e. line the caravan with 3-ply wood creating an air cavity- the larger this is, the more efficient. Sealed? But wood will not keep in good condition if damp + if damp penetrates into the cavity - cannot easily be dried out. Red cedar wood is an effective insulator used extensively in house & shed building, and this is 5 times more efficient than brick. British caravans used to be panelled in hardwood for strength. The insulator needs to be much thicker than the usual ply. Or use insulation board? Covered with leather cloth? Expensive caravans have 3 layers of this. This is the cheapest method. Also, add Alfol: Aluminium foil - used crumpled, not flat. Or bitumen between strong paper with metalised surface (used in USA models). Or felt, Kapok blankets EG. Tropal, or

“The Curves = Streamlining…”

The SHELL = A wood frame (add panels…) “The tools needed to build a caravan are very costly for a single body style. Car manufacturers can Afford these.” “METAL (i.e. steel and aluminium welded) panelled caravans are EXPENSIVE to make and repair. “The Galvanised STEEL type had no drawbacks except their WEIGHT.” (Galvanised means: No rust). The WEIGHT is Important - and it must be uniformly supported. Lightweight materials are essential & must provide STRENGTH to resist 83

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Glass Silk, or Cork (not good on curved walls) or Linovent (bitumen with cork granules.” “A wise caravanner would not have wood in his home…” Uh? (The contradiction!) “For about £250 there is a wide range of reliable 4berth models with cavity walls and generous equipment which can be used comfortably all year round… there is still some choice in doublepanelled models which are recommended for caravanning at different seasons, since the cavity walls keep the van temperature even in cold or hot weather… The standard models below £175 have simpler equipment and cheaper body construction… Towards the bottom of the price range for rigid caravans at about £85, sizes may be reduced to 9 or 10ft… with the cheapest vans you cannot expect perfectly stopped seams and many coats of paint… ” “COLDNESS AT FLOOR LEVEL: Caused by cold air underneath and warm air inside rising. SOLUTION? Cavity floors tried by amateur enthusiasts not successful. Use carpets + rugs.”

caravan sides. These are not lighter than the smallest rigid vans, the gains from the folding constructions being principally a lowered centre of gravity for towing and smaller bulk when stored.” (The sleeping trailer is a recent development taking the form of a rigid body van just large enough to sleep 2 persons with or without folding extensions of canvas. The tent trailer has a box body with a collapsible tent top; it is in effect a tent with the floor raised off the ground… these offer the certainty of a dry bed…”) BY 1930: “Caravans have been used for relief ambulances, Red Cross stations, touring dental clinics to remote villages, an Emergency telephone exchange, a mobile post office, canteens, for film location work, exploration, homes, offices…” BULKY & HEAVY

For Hot water: A big, heavy, metal, Gas (naked flame) boiler. “Caravans Cannot Be EASILY Distributed world-wide to Help Relieve the Housing shortage.” “The caravan is the only form of (rigid) housing immediately ready for occupation for the family evacuated from the danger zone that is capable of being immediately moved if the danger zone shifts…” (“Any sign of violence obviously we’d all rather be a thousand miles away…”) “A small, press-button portable electricity generator…” USA: TRAILERS: “The 1st high-gloss trailer was the Curtiss Aerocar, built 1919 for a largely imaginary customer, the millionaire trailer traveller (the stove unfolded from the recesses of the trunk) … by the late 1930s, the Curtiss dream trailer went out of production.” “The 1st trailer organization, ‘The Tin Can Tourists,’ was formed in 1919 when a group of angry Floridians showed up to drive campers out of the playground of the nation's elite. Tin Canners, the locals said, came to the State with "one shirt and one $20 bill, and they don't change either all

“THE NON-RIGID CARAVAN: Apart from normal rigid caravans there are various types of trailer which offer cheaper forms of caravanning. There are folding caravans with a rigid roof and rigid 84

trailer parks. A park in Virginia… one of the world's largest = 2,300 trailers squeezed onto 290 acres…” 1940’S: “DEFENCE HOUSING FOR WAR WORKERS… intended as slum clearance… privately built, mortgages arranged. Price range $4,000 - $4,500, rental $40 a month…” “With the advent of the Cold War, the government became one of the trailer industry's best customers… manufacturers argued that the trailer was the perfect dwelling place for areas adjacent to nuclear test sites. According to one article, a trailer would roll with the shock wave from a blast rather than falling to pieces. Surprisingly, the author was sort of right: An Airstream was parked close to ground zero for the 1955 Operation Cue test. It survived with only a broken window...”

winter." But by the mid-'30s the organization's membership was 250,000 strong and had bought land for permanent camps. They wound up being courted by the very people who'd thrown them out less than a decade earlier.” “… to tap into the pioneer spirit… Arthur Sherman…started building the 1st massproduced trailers in 1929. (His initial inspiration was a family vacation disaster involving a torrential Midwestern summer rainstorm and an expensive pop-up tent that would not pop). He called his company ‘Covered Wagon.’ Sherman's trailers… dominated the industry for years.” “Trailers, a mix ‘of the aeroplane, automobile and house in construction and engineering,’ according to Trailer Topics magazine, seemed like the perfect new item for the '30s, which was a good time for hybrids, generally. In pulp magazines, steely-eyed men in jumpsuits gazed out across cities wrapped in silver, skies filled with cars that flew…” PREDICTED: In 1936, the beginning of the trailer's boom years, economist Roger Babson predicted that ½ the country would be living in a mobile home by the 1950s. People would be driven to them, he said, by the same things that always drove Americans onward: hatred of the tax man and love of freedom. … 1,000’s of people turned out to trade shows to see the newest Rollalongs, Kits, Airstreams…” “… the number of trailer manufacturers in the '30s: Approx. 2,000. This includes commercial manufacturers like Palace, Schult Trailers, and Airstream, which are still in operation… doesn't include the 1,000’s who built their own, using plans from Popular Home Craft… “ “J. Roy Hunt… cleverly combined the car and the bachelor pad: Miss Sheila held a television, a radio, and all the comforts of home you could wedge onto a Ford chassis.” “Early on, one of the trailer's main selling points was its status as a social leveller… they were supposed to be a kind of egalitarian leisure utopia, a place where itinerant millionaires, movie stars, and "just plain old folks" could sit happily side by side. Obviously, this utopian vision did not take hold. By 1943, the term ‘trailer trash’ made its 1st print appearance…” “Almost as soon as long-term trailer dwellers became common, towns fought to keep them out, or at least on the fringes, away from the "normal" houses. After all, even fans like Fortune writer Gilbert Seldes admitted that trailers were popular with "pitchmen, vaudeville troupes, circus people"—hardly who you'd want for neighbours. But when World War II came, everything changed. Defence plants opened, towns abruptly doubled or tripled in size, and even "regular" people lived in

(Picture: Rusting

Trailers)

1952: “The 19’ TALL ‘Space Queen’ mobile home made its debut to camping-crazy American families. Its tendency to flip over in high winds kept demand down and so this was only produced for one year…” (Strange! They can make double-decker buses, coaches, trains, planes and boats… but they can’t make a satisfactory double-decker mobile home!?) 1972: The Rapid City Flood Disaster: … a grassy flood plain… heavy rains triggered rock avalanches… many (flimsy / plywood?) homes not bolted down to the (concrete) foundations simply floated away… many bodies found in the debris… Trailer parks are particularly vulnerable to floods…” “A burning house trailer fire…” 1992: “Hurricane Andrew: Florida: 137,000 homes damaged or destroyed- many (flimsy) trailer homes…”

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a trail of disaster... a devastated caravan park..."

THE ‘MODERN’ CARAVAN: “… it’s the freedom to go anywhere, any time that is particularly attractive… Owning a caravan is like having a 2nd home with an ever-changing view…” (The desire to live self-sufficiently, with little expenditure also comes into it…) A ‘MODERN’ CARAVAN is a thin metal (tin) box. The metal rusts, corrodes, dents, crushes, holes easily. Metal FATIGUE is a common sight EG. around the door. (Areas used most frequently EG. the floor near the door, are not made from strengthened material). PAINTED EXTERIOR: The paint scratches, flakes, blisters, bubbles exposing RUST. (CHIPS on everything!) Are Caravans Attractive? Caravans remind me of fridges - ‘White Goods’! I don't like the colours either, do you? WHY are caravans Only Available in: White, Off-White, “Dove Grey,” Beige & Cream, or Sludge Green?

"HEART BREAKING. TOO MUCH OF A WORRY." Caravans are built to ‘satisfy’ road conditions. UNDERGEAR: Caravans are HEAVY due to the chassis, axle, tyres… "Caravans are (still) a nightmare to tow." “Drivers are supposed to keep their speed down, but many don't…” “Very dangerous towing a caravan in cross winds... the caravan weaves from side to side...” Caravans BLOW OVER / OVER-TURN easily. “The same ACCIDENTS happen year after year with caravans...” “You can always tell when the holiday season has started. The roads are jammed because another caravan has overturned…” JOKE: “There are aliens here and they all tow caravans.” (UK: 1992: Average ‘medium size‘ touring caravan = 22' x 7' x 6' (wheel base span). A ‘Large’ 3 bed measures 37' x 12' - is "too big to go on the road" i.e. towed. Has to be transported i.e. is delivered on the back of a lorry i.e. is a static, ‘permanently’ sited caravan. Cost: £15,138.66). SITING = PLONKED: When the ground is not level - have to use bricks to level it out and balance the caravan! The manufactured support legs = “Tin pot” anodized Jack Legs, made of thin metal, possibly painted, more than likely rusting! PUSH POWER: "It's hard when you're pushing and shoving it around." “Push, shove, can't we rise above?” ELECTRICITY HOOK-UP: Connect to mains electricity when sited (metered supply), (not always available). NO PRE-INSTALLED SAFE ENERGY SYSTEM: “That’s a BIG PAIN!” KNOWN HAZARD: = The use of naked flames... If no electricity EG. during power cuts, have to use (matches &) CANDLES. (“Takes 2 hours to heat water over a candle to make a cup of tea…” “I hope you like iced tea…”) You could power appliances by running your car battery down. A ‘PORTABLE’ Electricity Generator = HEAVY, BIG, LUMP OF METAL. Cumbersome. Unpleasant: Incessant loud hum / Noise. Petrol

A GOOD Investment? “A new caravan is the same as a car - will depreciate in value by 25% in the 1st year - as soon as it goes on the road.” Average LIFE EXPECTANCY: Maximum 10 year manufacturers warranty? “Life span depends on the WEATHER.” INTENDED USE: Cheap accommodation for a SUMMER HOLIDAY i.e. for occasional, recreational use. Suitable for use in WINTER? NO! Caravans are very COLD in WINTER. “I’ve got goose-pimples on my goose-pimples!” “It’s a full-time job just trying not to freeze…” “The ice is on the inside of the windows!” “… colder inside than out!” “I’m FREEZING!” (These days a very thin wood frame. No insulation? Or insulation provided by polystyrene?) Homeless people have to endure a HARD SUBEXISTENCE in caravans for many YEARS. (I feel sorry for anyone who has to stay in a caravan for more than a couple of days. The novelty-factor of such ‘a cosy little place’ soon wears off. I crave something solid, something warmer, durable, protective and secure-feeling, to make me feel less… rattled!) UK: 1988: "Approx. 32,000 people are caravan dwellers." ("Live in a caravan? I'm sure we could do better than that!") BIG PROBLEM: Caravans are NOT WATER-TIGHT. The GAP around the door… "In a few storm-wracked hours, 86

striped tent… (to co-ordinate with old men’s pyjamas?) LACK OF PRIVACY: "I don't mind communal living, but having to share..." NON-EXISTENT SOUND PROOFING: “The sound of heavy snoring made me spend the night in the (smelly) shower…” Who can sleep when seagulls parade on the tin roof? (Ah! The need to stop creatures nesting on my roof! Slippery, slopes, nothing protruding, no ledges… A loudspeaker system?) “DO I PRAY FOR PEACE? Walk on the flooreverything- the whole structure rattles, bounces, vibrates… Ever heard the sound of little feet in a caravan? Try living with 4 kids in a caravan then you’ll know- it won’t take long to get through to you…” CABIN FEVER: After a short while, people SCREAM at each other! People fall to pieces… The Strain… “GET ME OUT OF HERE!” Enthusiastic members of the Caravan Club re: INTERIORS: "Most are deceptive. They look small from the outside but are quite roomy inside!" “Come on in! It’s bigger than it looks…” "Amazing how big it is inside! Thought it would be really cramped! There's room for a food-bar, a cocktail bar stocked with lots of glasses, a table, with seats, a kitchen, a mini-bath, a double bed, with plenty of headroom. It's all kitted out. Lots of storage space. It may not be as big as Alton Towers for thrills and spills, but it's safe, quiet and accessible. Thank heavens, it does live up to childhood fantasies. People will think this is really great." EXPERTS: “The interiors work the same as yacht cabins…” “… The other brilliant thing - is that the interior kit is really good… It is usually lightweight, collapsible for easy packing and often has several different functions. Caravans have storage solutions most house make-over TV shows would ‘die’ for: Secret compartments, clever shelves, miniature kitchens… In fact, modern caravans seem like Dr. Who’s Tardis… It is this increasing luxury which is behind the caravanning boom…” (Advert: “IDEAL FOR MOBILE HOMES: The TTI Cyclo- Jet Stream oven made of plastic aerospace polymer - as used in nose cones in missiles. Won’t shatter. Won’t burn you if you accidentally touch. Cooks food without oil. Is a fast microwave. Is truly portable, lightweight. Is 8 appliances in one. Self-cleans with a little soap & water” (costs same as a conventional oven) (NBC Super Channel, December 1994). The STEP/s UP into the caravan = A SAFE SET OF (RETRACTABLE) STEPS are not supplied as standard. Make Your Own! Make-do! NOT SUITABLE FOR THE LESS-ABLE BODIED: (UK: 1970: “61,000 homes with wheel-chair

driven - smelly fumes, smoky (cough, cough…) Many caravanners (have to) use BOTTLED GAS (i.e. naked flames) for cooking & heating. This is not convenient! Cylinders are HEAVY. The gas is smelly (this alone makes windows stream with the condensation), and costly as the gas is quickly depleted. SAFETY: Pressurised gas is HIGHLY Flammable and Explosive. During a fire, the gas bottles, made of thick, HEAVY metal, hurtle through the air… (“Propane gas burns at 2,000 degrees.”) The RISK of Gas Leaks… The gas is often connected via hoses which are easy to cut / snag, the rubber corrodes with age. A draught can blow the flames out… GAS Fumes! Carbon monoxide poisoning. Do not block air vents = Icy cold draughts. Therefore, impossible to ventilate and keep warm. (New Trend: Muggers / Thieves “…putting gas into ventilation vents to drug occupants to rob them during the night” France, 2003). Some caravanners have wood-burning stoves. The very real risk of fire... Steam from cooking etc causes condensation droplets to form on the cold metal (unpadded) ceilings- water droplets drip down onto you all night so you can't sleep. HIGHLY FLAMMABLE CONTENTS: “Carefully selected by in-house designers”: Chip-wood kitchen units, “attractive” (imitation mahogany or oak) veneer (coated plywood) panelling used extensively throughout the interior EG. on the door (the only exit), the pelmets for the “plush” curtains. The soft furnishings: Invariably stomach-churning, old-fashioned, absolutely ghastly, hideous, repulsive, garish, multi or puce coloured velveteen’s… (The lack of appeal for young people!) (And then there are the carpets which smell). (Manufacturers are so behind the times!) The Heavy use of wood! HEAVY WOOD wardrobes, and beds (in MOBILE homes! Staggering oversights…) HARD KNOCKS: Fitted furniture with sharp corners / edges. Chipboard cupboard doors (open outwards when space is confined, rather than glide…) & drawers open in transit... (the kitchen doors fall off! “I don’t even want to fix you!”) (“You’re not supposed to be inside the caravan during transit but many people find this preferable to being squashed in the car…”) Tables, benches / bunks etc., screwed down… can’t be moved / repositioned. WAH! “I need decent storage space!” Glass light shades! Dull lights! INFLEXIBLE! Everything is a problem even if you are a standard size! CRAMPED LIVING SPACE: “The caravan sleeps up to 6 people…” "If you don't mind being badly squashed..." This is SPACE AGE? TO EXPAND: Bed-space expanded by means of a 87

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toilet, shower. Awning. Extractor fan. Satellite TV. Wheel levelling blocks and chocks. Gas & elec heating. New tyres, battery and exhaust. £18,500.” EG. “Talbot Rambler 1990: 62,000 miles, 3-way fridge. Blown air heating. Shower room. Cassette toilet. New curtains. Separate battery system. £7,995.” EG.“ Hobby 750 Fiat Ducacto 2.8 turbo diesel. High Spec German motor-home, ideal for longterm touring. Left hand drive. Twin rear axles (i.e. double wheels on rear). 4500 gross weight. Sleeps 4. Fixed rear bed. Shower. Thetford toilet. Awning. Safari room. Twin solar panels. Power inverter. Blinds. Front screens. Heski roof light. Gas air central heating. 3 burner hob, oven & grill, fridge. 2 leisure batteries. Drivers and passengers swivel seats. Removable steering wheel. Reversing camera. Scorpion alarm. £28,950.” EG. “ACE Napoli 2004 Fiat Ducato… 4 berth, 1,800 miles. Rear lounge. Space heater. Has reversing sensors… Save £5,500 on new price. Under warranty. £24,750.” EG. “Renault Campervan: Petrol. 2 single berths + 1 double. Regularly serviced, MOT & Tax. Done 72,000 miles…£4,650.” EG. “25FT Foster and Day coach built camper. On Ford transit. 5/6 berth. £10,500 or nearest offer.” “Why are there so many 2nd-hand camper vans for sale?” “Well, they obviously found what they had bought wasn’t good enough…” Maybe mobile homes in the future will be a blend ? USA 2004: “Recreational Vehicles (RV’s) BIG (petrol driven) Motor Homes with every MOD CON. There are 12,208 RV parks. New sites added daily…” “Com 'on. Slow coach!”

access are needed.” “By 1986, only 8,500 have been provided.") Doorways too narrow for a push chair… IMPOSSIBLE TO SECURE: Caravans are very easy to get into- thin, flimsy doors… (Pathetic!) a blow with a hammer will do the trick. “Take it easy!” “Child kidnapped through a caravan window…” (13/8/1990).

Black Rubber Seals around the windows…Put on the outside? (“Rubber goes porous in Sunlight…”) (Rubber seals glued… glue gets wet, seals fall off… (Some caravans have aluminium window frames… and Grey (yeuch!) tinted windows (made of glass or plastic). Lower cost caravans do not have secondary or double glazing. The FROST effect on the ‘bathroom' window. Anybody passing can still see in esp. when the light is on - I daren’t strip to wash… that freezing blast of cold air from that gaping hole (near the floor needed to vent the toilet!) “Why are so many 2nd-hand caravans for sale? Our council has removed everyone’s right to park their ‘van in their front garden and just about everywhere else” (Comment posted on Ebay, January 2006).

“… he has to sell 66 caravans a month to break even. He’s selling 30… (re: Sales & visitors:) ‘The Caravan Show’ was a lot quieter than we hoped for…” (‘Badger or Bust,’ Sky 11, 20/5/2007). "The reality? The sad, bitter irony? "This (toy) does not satisfy." If YOU were given the CHOICE, would you prefer to live in a caravan or something MODERN avoiding the SCRAPHEAP ? “Everyone loves caravans!” Far from it! MOTOR-HOMES: Motorised caravans: UK: 1993: Cost New approx. £22,000. Hardly any space inside. You may have to duck frequently - hence stoop. Some storage on roof. Ladder on back (fixed in one position). Brakes operated via the cab. These are a lot more fun… if they could just get the concept right… "TOUGH NEW PARKING LAWS TO HIT CAMPER VANS: A change in the law enables councils to create and enforce stronger parking restrictions"

CARAVAN / HOLIDAY PARKS: ADVERTS: “Free brochures. 24 hour brochure order hotline…” “New models on display. For sale, for hire. Good, used ones cost even less when you buy. Reasonable price. Special discounts. No hidden extras.” “… Compared to conventional homes, it is remarkably good value. Because it is a holiday home, many parks allow you to hire it out to other people when you're not using it and to help you pay for it….” “Additional Expenditure: Pitch Fees, transport and site costs - pay separately for electric hookup…” “… water connected via a hose. Free ample hot water. Superb facilities…” “Self catering. Well stocked shop. Supermarket and cafe across the road. Delicious food to satisfy all appetites. Fast food. Licensed shop and take-away. Dishwashing room. 2 laundrettes. Hairdressing

(23/4/1994).

ADVERTS FOR 2ND-HAND MOTOR-HOMES in my local paper, April 2005:

EG. “Elldis Autostratus Motor-home: 4 berth, flush 88

room. Sauna. Swimming pool/s. Safe bathing. Free admission. Information room…” (“It all sounds very convenient, doesn’t it!”) “Family owned parks. Un-commercialised. Family run. It's a family business. Beautifully kept. Cleanliness assured...” (Wood) “Cabins of various design. Plenty of room. Fitted out to a high standard. Luxurious lounges, built-in kitchens - some with microwaves, modern bath and shower room. Own toilet. Every convenience and detail taken care of. Fully furnished. Fully equipped. Bed linen provided. Iron, ironing board…” “Outstanding Environment Award. Warm Welcome Award… Area of outstanding beauty… Panoramic views… Beautiful scenery… Well positioned. Ideal centre. Local attractions… Nestling... Natural surroundings… For the nature lover… A naturalist’s paradise… Tranquil... A park for peace lovers… Pitches backing onto hedges... For the discerning camper. Suits all generations. Something for everyone…” “Small, secluded park. 36 caravans set in 2.5 acres of mown lawns and natural unspoilt woodland...” “68 caravans on the park. Enjoy real freedom. Care-free… Secluded… Surrounded by forest. Abundance of trees and shrubs. Surrounded by trees offering shelter. Landscaped paddocks… Part of a farm. Offers children the delight of farm animals. Peacefully relaxed. It's the perfect base. All homes have their own garden, with patio table and chairs. Superb facilities all within easy walking distance. Quiet walks. A quiet friendly park maintained to a high standard by resident owners…” “Suitable for children. Children welcome. No fruit machines. No bars or clubs. Stylish club. Family area. Recreation area provided. Under 5's play area. Playhouse. Games room. Small play park. Fish ponds. For health and fitness... Clay pigeon shoots… Volley ball and badminton. Table tennis. All-weather tennis…” “Dogs not admitted but Dogs on lead allowed” (Extracts: 'The Freedom Brochure'

wonderful healthy place where children can smell and touch animals, and feel at home...” “… it’s a garden paradise.”) PARK HOMES: (should that read: Parked Homes?) A “low cost” home intended as summer holiday chalets but often occupied permanently by elderly people. Planning rules vary. Paper thin walls (made from what?) (sectioned concrete?) Little or no insulation. Average size = A single garage. Only one-storey. Often no room for a bath, only a shower. (“But women can’t manage with only a shower!”) “Landscaped” means: A patch of grass – you put potted plants to hide the unsightly Gap underneath the chalet. There may be hard-standing for a car. Parks owned privately. A weekly ground rent is paid towards site maintenance… UK: “… 250,000 residents of Park Homes…” (2005).

“… measures are being instituted to stop park owners from pushing home owners into selling their homes to the park owners at derisory prices for resale at massive ones. The age of park homes is no longer to be used as an excuse for insistence on the removal of them and their owners from parks… might take some time to become effective… Park homes are more fragile than brick-and-mortar dwellings. An unlucky buyer could find life on a park a nightmare instead of a dream… they might find themselves still paying in 2015 for homes burnt down or destroyed in floods years before… The President of the Park Homes Advisory Service advises potential buyers to postpone investing their savings until the whole set-up has been radically reformed. Better safe than sorry - and broke” (Herald Express, 27/4/2005). A 2nd hand Park Home, approx. 40 years old, in need of a heating system, internal & external redecoration and substantial repair is on the market for £52,000. A newer model, also needing repair and a bathroom, on the same bit of land, is for sale costing £110,000 (UK: 2005).

1992, produced by the ‘Caravan Holiday Home Campaign,’ UK):

FREEDOM: “… don’t be alarmed by my fields and my forests they’re only waiting for you to share…” "The best things in life are were FREE." (“If I could get it to where the grass is greener, to where people could feel happier with their freedom…”) "Every slave cries 'Liberty! Freedom Forever'..." “I’m waiting to be free. A free man.” “I just can’t wait to be Free…” (“… it’s a song that’s as old as time…”) “Throughout our civilisations people have fought for this. All those people… so willing to die for it. Why is it so important?” FREEDOM. What is it? “Freedom is a Right. Not a privilege.” “In our

Average COST of a caravan park holiday: UK: “£750 per week in high season for a caravan sleeping 4 people.” “A slightly more top-of-the-range model: £1,000 per week” (2003) "You can stay in a hotel for less than that!" "I see it's brought the colour back to your cheeks!" “There are now 1.6 million caravanners in the UK. Caravan sites have never been so well laid out, with the top end of the market providing hard standing, clean toilet and shower blocks…” (The Daily Telegraph, 24/4/2004).

"Set it free!" “… it sounds like an excuse for one long holiday…” ("… it will be one long vacation." "… it will be a 89

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hearts and minds we need to be free…” “You don’t really appreciate freedom until you’re fighting for it.” "Freedom concerns all individuals." FREEDOM IS: “Absence of Slave Status.” “The Freedom not to be ill used.” (“… it is your chance for freedom- escape…”) (“It is something to help ease your struggle… to be FREE.”) ( “… it is what we have wanted for a life-time to see. Don’t let it be in vain, I beg you…” “Being surrounded by beauty, what more could a man want?”) FREEDOM IS: “The condition of being exempt from a defect, burden etc.” “The Freedom of Nothing to Worry About.” ("If you don't do it, you'll regret it!") constraints, “Freedom from unnecessary unreasonable dictates.” (“A world without walls, fences and boundaries. Is this where you want to be?” “Oh! it’s so much more than a fantasy…”) “To be Unrestricted - To have Personal or Civic Liberty. The Freedom to Come and Go!” (“Shed all the baggage that’s been weighing you down = You’re Free!” “Chain my heart to this fable till you make it real.”) “Freedom from Fear and want.” “To have Freedom of Speech. Freedom to choose a religion. Free to be seen and heard!” “The Freedom to choose how you live your life i.e. to take important decisions that affect your life, Or the life of your family - children etc. EG. Freedom to elect which school, which hospital, which shop, which path you choose...” “The freedom to use your own mind to influence how you live your life…” “The Freedom to make it your home. It is your home.” (“If you love something, set it free…”) “The freedom to make imaginative use of interior space. The freedom to move to a bigger or smaller place.” "Life is for living, not being miserable." “… it’s not a matter of you versus me…” "People need something to enjoy. The freedom to express how they feel inside - to have the chance to make their life worth-while. (That's why some people drink alcohol - because instead of freedom they have a rotten job and life). In England, you are almost there - free. Dancing and drinking is not life - just an expression of life. Life is about things that matter.” “Something in the heart of me is telling me, it’s time…” “I just need somebody to help…” “GOOD BYE OLD WORLD. HELLO FREEDOM. Is it as simple as that?” (“You just need to believe…”) “Sing me a sweet song - remind me of the truth. It’s there under the veils of the imperfect mystery. It’ll only be true when we can see it, feel it, we’ll know by its smell…” “The only thing better than perfect is Freedom.” “Take me there. Let’s get there this time…” FREEDOM! FREEDOM! FREEDOM! “… some day, we will all be free…”

WAH! “It’s just out of reach…” "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves" (said Abraham Lincoln). “To gain your freedom, you have to give it.” “A little bit of freedom is all we lack…” ANARCHY: Anarchy literally means: "Without Governments." “Therefore governments deliberately CONFUSE the word - associating anarchy with utter lawlessness / mayhem / disorder.” “Anarchy is an IDEAL. An ideal vision for a BETTER world. An idealist is one who has vision and works- strives, prays and lives towards it.” “Anarchists believe the cause of all violence is the submission of one person's will to another... Ironically, we are the most PEACEFUL people, and we ABHOR violence of ALL types. So please stop giving anarchy a bad name." (It was anarchists who conceived the Internet). The Anarchists Symbol = A Bird... Flying... Free... "WE CARE!” Anarchists write “I LOVE YOU” on pavements etc., to CHEER the poor downtrodden… “Freedom is scary”? "Intellect working under freedom achieves increasing law and order" (said Buckle, in 1857).

Anarchist Slogan: "Be your own leader" i.e. Achieve Independence! Don’t follow self-serving (bad) masters. The power of self determination. i.e. Self-Governing. “All people have to face making a choice selecting one act or wish above another. The Conservative may pick traditional values as his 1st choice. The Liberal - justice. The Socialist - equality. The Communist - the rule of the working class. The Fascist - race and labour discipline. What is so different about the anarchist? It is that he or she places the word 'FREEDOM' at the top of their list.. Anarchists like all other people vary in their motives, concepts, and their methods... their backgrounds differ, their intellectual and political pedigree also differ... But what do anarchists have in common? A very strong desire for Freedom. Freedom to overcome the traditional prejudices that have enslaved Mankind since earliest times... The anarchist wishes to be neither slave nor pet. Anarchists are the common people's jesters. These creatures may irritate us but anarchists are a builtin fail-safe BRAKING system in politics. It is at least truth seeking... In a world that imposes more and more restraints on the freedom of individuals, the anarchist dream may perform a useful function - bringing a form of stability through hope of better times to come. If people are obsessed with Freedom, could it be that perhaps they do not have enough? Too many laws reduce the authority of law. Therein lies the 90

folly of most governments" (wrote Axel Ney Hoch, 1980) (“When there are too many people involved with it, who don’t know what’s going on with it…” “THEY WIN THE GROSS INCOMPETENCY AWARD…” “You don’t have to be a genius to know you attract more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.” Q: “Why do anarcgists wear black? Is it because they are ‘the great unwashed’?” A: Maybe they’re depressed? “They’ve got us dangling on a string…” (‘FREEDOM’ = “Give ‘em enough rope and they’ll hang themselves.”) WARNING: “Anarchy means: Abolish All laws. In other words: ‘Do what thou wilt.’ The law of Satanists. Used by (some) punk rockers and Heavy Metal followers...”

OUTCASTS. Jesus was an outcast…” “Gipsies are not asking for wealth, power or glory…” All they ask for is help for all the poor people - the children of God...” 1932: "Something must be done!" (said Edward V111). "Hitler tracked down and killed 600,000 Gypsies…" “…. it’s such a shame. We’re the lost people. All we’ve got is each other…” "Gypsies, tramps and thieves they call us! Men came from the town - killed my brother. Burnt down our caravan. The same everywhere. Is there no end to it?” ("Oh, baby, you're obsolete! Out of style..." … it's a mere technicality…") “Drop in demand for gipsy labour. Farm work in rural areas no longer exists. Gypsies need a NEW economic basis…” "There's no good will any more. These days all people want is money." DISCRIMINATION: Sign On The Door says: “NO TRAVELLERS ALLOWED.” “Children won’t play with me because our way of life is different… I’m going to pray to Jesus to make it alright…” “I'm proud we are Romanies. Our traditions go back centuries. What have they to be proud of? Nothing." "TRAVELLERS NEED SITES: There are approx. 3,500 – 4,000 caravan sites in UK for travellers each has 8 - 35 pitches. Travellers do pay rent. These are council owned and privately owned. Sites not meeting demand… There are approx. 100,000 travellers in the UK. Land is available, land is ‘Affordable’ BUT Local Authorities exempt themselves from provision. Travellers want sufficient permanent sites” (1990) (“The

ROMANIES: (“NOMADIC people, originated in India; appeared in Europe in the 15th Century…") “Romany is a word Gypsies use to describe themselves.” (means: “The People.”) Gypsies also called 'Travellers.' ‘The travelling folk.’

Traditionally, a wooden caravan or wagon pulled by a horse. A gentle pace. Horse has to have gentle, docile nature. Sights and sounds exhilarating. See much more going gently. Independent. Most people friendly towards you. This is really good fun. It's in the blood..." "A LIFE OUT IN THE OPEN, IN THE FRESH AIR!" (These people prefer NATURAL open spaces. What does that tell you?) “They want to be as fresh as a good day in Spring…” “The open air is good for your soul…” “You’ve got to have a little charm around you…” "… it was a warm and friendly way of life. Earthly. Travelling in the garden of England…" (“England is a beautiful country - so many winding, green, leafy country lanes. They don’t have those in America…”) USA: 1883: "If they (the unemployed) want to live like Gypsies - let 'em keep rolling…" "You must join the ranks of the industrious. You will be colonised." COMMON MISBELIEF: "Travellers are not people. Gypsies are low lifes." GYPSIES SAID: “I PRAY TO GOD. HELP THE

Romany Institute tries to help travellers deal with planning permission, Appeals etc.”)

“We want proper integration.” “THE LOCAL AUTHORITY RECIPE: Find a spot in the middle of nowhere. Build one toilet. Throw in a few travellers. Add water (if available). Leave to set(tle). A REAL RECIPE FOR DISASTER.” EYE-SORES: SITES = A bit of rough ground. Caravans put ad hoc on mud, concrete, tarmac. Pot-holes, puddles, pools of blackened oil…

Sites sectioned off with barbed wire, metal corrugate, crumbling brick walls. Lots of rubble lying around (for children to throw). Gas cylinders 91

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everywhere. "Has the car battery gone flat again?" Noisy old generators. Lots of broken engine parts, rusting. Heaps of smelly rubbish councils refuse to remove this. Water usually supplied by hose-pipes. No baths or showers. NO TREES! Hardly a blade of grass! "Have YOU ever tried keeping clean without water?" "You can't ‘live’ like this and come up smelling of roses." "She'll carry the stain for the rest of her life." "She'll scrub up alright." WAH! "SAD AS A GIPSY…" "… Roof's leaking and the wind's howling. Kids are crying - the sheets are too cold. Woke this morning, my hands were frozen tried to fix the fire but the damn thing's too old. Winter's coming, and it's going to be cold. The wife's expecting - I hope she can wait..." "Stop going on at me." "It's all too much for him…" “Oh, why don’t you put a sock in it?” "PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS. All due to a LOVE that's OVERDUE. You can solve problems with a love that's true. You got problems, I got problems, all day through…" “Could YOU stand ‘living’ in scrap heaps, day and night - all through the winter? Well, could you?” "You'd better do something! I can't take ‘living’ in this dump much longer." "How much longer can we stomach this?" “I think my heart will break… I refuse to give up …” CRIMINALISED: “Some councils operate a nonharassment policy of illegal gipsy sites. 'Stay here a while. Keep things in order.' Police use Public order and various Bye laws to force people to move on.” (‘FAIR’GROUNDS legally rent sites all over the country & go on tour with their caravans…) “It DON’T ever WORK OUT…” “They’re chucking us off this dump again! The best dump we’ve had for ages. We’ve got so much trouble. Always trouble for ages. They’ll send us packing…” “They won’t let us stay in any one place…” "When it's something you want real bad...” “If you want to know about love and devotion, speak to a gipsy.” "Shall I tell you your fortune? It is BAD Luck to DEFY A DREAM.” THE CURSE of on the Traveller = "There's NO certain peace. The desire to keep moving, got a hold on me. And it won’t let me be. This old tired heart aches. Such a long way from home. The craving for refuge... Always wanting to sell up. But always wanting to buy. So, till the road leads somewhere..." "An 18 month old girl was run over and killed by her father outside their caravan home. Little Lisa Morgan had crawled under the wheels of her Dad's truck. Lisa was crushed as he reversed his pick-up on a gypsy caravan site in Bucks..." (9/10/1990). “… it’s TIME TO FACE THE TRUTH…” (“…it’s no

sacrifice. No sacrifice at all. Cold, cold hearts, some things are better than just passing through…”) ("Whatever happened to wishes on stars?" “I had a dream I could fly anywhere…" “I think about it every night and day…” “Starry, starry night… colours of an ever-changing hue… Now I understand… but they will not listen…” "Just go with it. I swear it's as sweet as honey. It'll help you relax. It will make sweetness of you too. It'll make the place a paradise.”) "SETTLE DOWN GYPSIES: Gypsies staying on a bit of land are fighting eviction by the council under The Caravan Site Act 1968. The Act is out of date because conditions have changed. Magistrates heard that many of the gypsies want to lead settled lives... The gypsies (now) want nothing more than to be left alone..." (28/6/1990) “Gypsies don’t get on well with stone walls…” “YOU want to be nailed down? We're all being screwed!" "They're as hard as nails." "YOU can FOOL some of THE PEOPLE, some of the time, but you can't fool ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL the time..." "They'll never know the pain they've caused." DOCUMENTARY: "WE'RE BEING STONE WALLED: Gypsies protested at Parliament.. Government trying to get rid of gypsies. 'They're trying to get rid of us one way or the other, trying to force us into (traditional) housing, making it unbearable on the road.' Some have little sympathy for their plight. 'Hangers-on, spongers, don't bring their children up properly' said a minister. 'Ethnic cleansing.' 'They don't have a place in society.' Is this the end of the road for gypsies? COMMON COMPLAINTS: ‘Caravans... We don't feel safe with them around.’ ‘These people can do what they like.' Travellers have nowhere else to go. Moved on, constantly persecuted. 'What Right have you to be here?' 'We can't vanish!' 'We can't go to school because they move us on.' Regular clashes, repeated all over the country. Tough new laws to stop ‘illegal camping’... changes to a way of life - the way these people have lived for 1,000's of years! Accused of trespass, the council evicts. 'See you in court - again.' Over 10,000 travellers... Police can confiscate vehicles. Law has strong support. 'A scourge on society should be banished- get what they deserve.' ... Gypsies can't comply. Recipe for conflict. They leave, the ground churned up by tyres, the piles of rubbish will cost £20,000 to clear. 'I feel sorry for gypsies. They don't deliberately provoke. Desperate need for sites. Shortage causes fights.' Council fails to provide sites because of stiff opposition to caravans - nobody wants to live next-door to a caravan site. Many managed sites are falling apart, lacking regeneration funds. No duty to provide. Long awaited improvements to upgrade sites now in jeopardy... 100's of Planning Permission cases rejected, to 92

locations should be found elsewhere... they will protest... 2003: Local council granted government cash to set up 2 sites, but applications refused by Development Control Committee... Devon has approx. 3,000 Gypsies and travellers... the majority are law-abiding. Approx. 200 people a year stop at unauthorised encampments... the cost for cleaning up an unauthorised site is up to £5,000... 'The alternative is to do nothing. Unauthorised sites will continue to spring up, causing disputes, unhappiness and cost to the public purse'..." (BBC,

people who bought their own sites. All Appeals turned down... 100's of acres could be available but local football clubs and horse-riders dead against caravans... Why should gypsies be forced to give up their way of life? Attitudes getting much harder. 'We don't like encampments.' Confrontations won’t help anybody. Where do we go from here?" (ITV, 19/3/1993). “Michael Howard, Home Secretary, removed the obligation for Local Authorities to provide sites…” “There are approx. 37.2 million adult Gipsies in the world… suffering prejudice, discrimination, intolerance…” (2004). (NOTE: Around the world, SYSTEMATIC DESTRUCTION of NOMADS is taking place. The onslaught of capitalism… Nomads are people who have always lived for FREE.) "VILLAGERS HELD TO RANSOM: ... Farmers wanting the best price for land, so using auctions. Local people fearing caravans moving onto these fields, are clubbing together and are being forced to pay high prices for this land as they try to outbid gypsies, who need land to live on..." (Daily

21/11/2004).

“TRAVELLING LIGHT: An ALTERNATIVE ENERGY Initiative: Due to the large number of requests for funding to provide travellers with solar panels and other forms of Alternative Energy, the Trustees will be launching a one-off Alternative Energy Initiative called ‘Travelling Light’ which will provide 100 free kits (made up of a solar panel, inverter and battery) to travellers throughout the UK” Comic Relief, BBC, 2004). "Michael Howard, Tory leader, pledged, if his Party is elected, the Conservatives would ensure planning laws are enforced consistently. He said the problem was made worse by Tony Blair's Human Rights Act. He said there are 'one set of planning laws for most of us' and a 'completely different set' for a small group of travellers who abuse the system. He spoke of the increasing anger at apparent abuses of the planning system by travellers..." (BBC, 21/11/2004). “PLANS FOR SITES TO BE DROPPED… Conservatives have called for plans to build sites in Devon to be withdrawn following opposition. ‘There are many misperceptions concerning how these people live… There is clearly an issue here that needs tackling’ said a Devon councillor…” (BBC,

Mail, 30/10/2004).

"You got to STOP these nasty things you do." “I NEVER CEASE TO WONDER at THE CRUELTY in this world…” "Shame most folks are too stuck in their brainless conventions to see the CON trick government are putting on them. Sad, they hate those barely clinging to life, to their freedom. Sad, so few will know a true home." "Paradise is a great big parking lot" said the winner of the Cynic of the Year Award. "MP's said councils should provide sites for travellers. This is the only way to resolve disputes." "... Just because we have a society that doesn't want to live in bricks and mortar doesn't mean we can't accommodate them within the planning system..." "... changes may mean easier eviction from sites... pointless - they'll just have to move onto another illegal site... Children won’t get an education..." (8/11/2004) (“Do you think it might make them think again?") "A NATIONAL PROBLEM: Cambridge: Travellers Appealing using Human Rights Act... Evictions wide-spread, using police and bailiffs... Children crying, people screaming, protestors dragged through the mud... Very harrowing scenes. Can't stay on their own land!" TAX-PAYER: "The Authorities want legalised sites so the council can charge rent - at the moment the travellers move around so the council can't go after them for any of the standard stuff like car tax, parking fines, Council Tax, like we have to pay..." "NO ROOM HERE." "Plans for 4 small transit sites proposed by Devon county council... needed to help bring problems of unauthorised sites under control... But people living nearby say more suitable

8/12/2004)

“My responsibility is to the land-owners…” (“No. It’s to the country…”) “…HANGING IN THE BALANCE: ‘Don’t these people with homes and jobs ever give a thought to these people who are Human Beings? Give them a chance… Gipsies are HUNTED by the police everywhere we go! We’re not even allowed to stop on the road-side…” said a gipsy. RESIDENTS COMPLAIN: ‘We would all like to expand our homes, build an extension, live in this field - but we’re not allowed to.’ (Nor are gipsies). ‘I live 500 yards from this field. The caravans will devalue property.’ RESIDENT’S PROTEST slogan: ‘Why not use brown field sites?’ Many travellers angry saying actions against them are Racist. Protestors angry they were not allowed to speak at the ‘public meeting’…” (BBC, 9/12/2004) (“They are all busy saying ‘not in my backyard’…”) “Travellers are a growing community…” “WILL THE TRAVELLERS BE ALLOWED TO STAY? The gipsies moved onto the Minety site in 93

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caravans…” “NEW POWERS TO EVICT gipsies from camps come into force today, granted by J. Prescott, Britain's (Labour Party) deputy Prime Minister. ’We can take ‘emergency actions’ but not against people who are living in their sole residence. The new powers are as good as useless. We have to find a solution because there is no ALTERNATIVE.’ The thorny question of where to put travellers remains unsolved” (ITV, 8/3/2005). The council said: “We are considering all (?) options i.e. is it necessary to put extra boulders, metal posts & fences placed over site entrances, to keep travellers out?” (Western Morning News,

having bought the land. Within days, drives were laid, water pipes and electricity were installed. Fences divided the plots up, and made a permanent enclosed space for the families. A retrospective planning application was made…” (Planning Committees hate retrospective applications). “Local residents screamed blue murder… the council rejected the application. Then a Judge refused to allow their eviction on Human Rights grounds… leading to a protest on his own lawn. Matter given to the deputy Prime Minister, J. Prescott, to solve. His eventual decision will be very important… Local Authorities are ‘shifting the problem’ rather than solving it. ‘This is more or less their last chance. They have spent money on the land because they want to settle but protect their way of life. Education is important to these people. There are men there who have never learned to read or write and they don’t want that for their children. You can’t go to school if you are parked on the road-side. No doctor will come out to you’ said the Gipsy Council. One council cannot solve a national situation on their own. The government is very well aware of these problems. The location of the Minety site, next to a junction on the M4 motorway the noise is deafening! The site itself is small, but obvious attempts are being made by the travellers to make something of it, including the starting of little gardens or patios. Local campaigners against the gipsies have raised £11,000 for a legal fighting fund. A campaigner said: ‘These people just act like they are privileged…’ A young gipsy said he was ashamed by ‘the unfinished nature of the site,’ explaining the council’s enforcement notice meant that works had to be left incomplete” (BBC, 2/2/2005). “PITCH BATTLES ACROSS THE COUNTRY: The gipsies own the land but they are not allowed to stay. Evicted by the police using force. ‘We need understanding – help!” Both are in short supply. Bailiffs arrive at dawn. Children, old men, heavily pregnant women man-handled, dragged - put out on the streets. Costing Taxpayers” (How much?) “Planning permission granted for a (profitmaking) holiday park but when travellers put their caravans on the site, permission refused. ‘OK for a business-man, not a gipsy.’ Having bad effect on health - the stress, the depressions. Councils and residents adamant. ‘They have to go.’ ‘We just want to be left in peace in our own home.’ 10,000 families in England BLIGHTED. ‘Can’t educate a child when on the road. 2 days this school, 2 days that school.’ The onus is on the government to change the law to provide sites but that won’t happen as it is not popular with voters” (Newsnight, BBC2, 3/2/2005). “Gipsies are buying houses with land. They are not living in the houses but are using the land to live in August 2003,

16/4/2005).

WAH! “What about standards of Human Decency?” “God, show them mercy, when nobody else will… God, I hope the Angels bless them. God, help my people! I thought we all are the children of God…” “A man is trying to set-up a private permanent traveller’s site (to make a profit). This will be the 1st in the country with clean shower and toilet blocks and will lead the way” (Radio Devon, July, 2005) (“… it remains to be seen if this trend will continue.”) “SITE PLANS: … (the) council is to apply for government money to set up transit sites for gipsies and travellers. No location has yet been found, but councillors want to ensure they obtain a share of the cash on offer from the office of the deputy Prime minister. Whitehall is prepared to give 100% grants to establish long and short-term sites, to try and combat a nation-wide shortage… The new Regulations on site provision are complicated… it will take a nation-wide survey to discover exactly what facilities are needed… The council has a duty under the 2004 Housing Act to do a needs survey. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act required Local Authorities to provide alternative sites to control unauthorised encampments. Under Human Rights legislation, gipsies and travellers have Equal Rights with residents” (Herald Express, 1/2/2006). ("When you no longer enjoy what you are doing, that's the time to change.") ("Yesterday's gone. Now all I want is a smile...")

94

(Not to be confused with: The 3rd Eye, situated invisibly in the centre of your forehead - used to tune into “the other side” i.e. your imagination and spirit. Close your eyes – you can ‘see’ the Universe… ‘See’ through this eye… to centre / balance you - and your perceptions). ______________________________________

CHAPTER 3: PUBLIC HOUSING “The need for a SAFE place to live.” Criteria to Help You Choose: TRADITIONAL BUILDING MATERIALS: KNOWN HAZARDS / PROBLEMS: (“Tradition is the cornerstone of our society…") Traditional building materials are VERY HEAVY... (HEAVY means: "Having weight, DIFFICULT to lift or move, burdensome, serious, dull, forceful, violent, distressing, sad, gloomy, lethargic, clumsy, oppressive, thundery, villainous, pompous...") “Do WE have a towering realisation that the weight of building materials really matters?” "Are we doomed to a HEAVY life before we start?" ("When you are not beneath this load...")

“THE WORLD’S LARGEST BLOCK was a mined slab of quarried stone measuring 68' by 14' weighing 1,590 tons in the Lebanon" (Reference: The Guinness Book of Records).

1989: UK: Building Industry ADVERT: “We put back more than we take out.” (That is not true). “… they buy the land cheaply… they blow it up, break it down, slice it…” “They blast stone in the ground so machines can lift the stones – BIG blocks. The stone then carved by big noisy machines. And then heavy slabs are used for external cladding on big buildings…” QUARRIES: From 1906 to mid-1969 the total excavation had been 2,445 million long tons over an area of 2.08 square miles to a depth of 2,280 ft. …28 tons of explosives were used daily. The average daily extraction of 1% ore is 96,000 tons and 225,000 tons of overburden” (Ref: The Guinness

STONE BLOCKS: Masonry: The HARD WAY: “All HEAVY work.” “HARD LABOUR. Much energy required to cut and lift - a SLOW process. HIGH construction costs. Labour intensive.” “This will take a lot of effort.” “Expend toil.” “This takes time to build.” Very COSTLY! “These BLOCKS COST THE EARTH…” “Pieces of rock detached from the Earth’s crust, usable in building and road making, or as a missile. Hard, rigid, Refusing response or recognition…” “A HARD surface.” “The Great Pyramid of Cheops contains approx. 2.5 million blocks of limestone and has a total weight of approx, 6 million tons. Some of the blocks weigh 15 tons apiece…" (Ref.: The Guinness

Book of Records).

“Largest stone quarry planned - will be visible from (outer) space. Will take away the mountain-side. To provide hardcore for new motor-ways. Will bring up to 100 jobs. The SUPER-QUARRY plan is dividing the community. Compensation will provide 1 penny for every ton removed” (re: Outer Hebrides, BBC1, 11/10/1994). “Stone extracted using BLASTING… Now quarries using CUTTING… MINING UNDERGROUND! ENVIRONMENTAL RAPE. Huge scars left behind…” (2004). HARDCORE: "The world's largest artificial dump comprises: 42 million tons of crushed ore or rock waste; a volume 6 times that of the Great Pyramid” (Ref: The Guinness Book of Records) Q: "What happens to all the rubble and debris put in builders skips?" A: "This is used to make ‘hardcore mountains’ i.e. real Mountains are replaced with SPOIL HEAPS.” (i.e. They Are Destroying: “God’s

Book of Records).

Pyramids = Tombs. Also called: 'Death Houses.' ______________________________________ Q: WHY DID THEY BUILD THE PYRAMIDS? A: To be an Ever-lasting REMINDER to the World? i.e. CLAW your way to the top and you’ll find there’s NO room for more than one ‘person.’ i.e. A Pyramid system can wipe out the rulers. And cause the downfall of the people. Also: See these (you can’t miss them!) and acknowledge the pitiful suffering of all the poor slaves who perished. WARNING! We now have a Pyramid system whereby all the people at the bottom of the heap, are scrambling to reach the top. (SYMBOL: “The All seeing Eye: Believed to be the eye of Lucifer. Those who claim control of it have control of world finances. Used in divination, curses, psychic control - all corruption/s are worked through this emblem. EG. The Illuminati - the basis for the(ir) ‘New’ World Order...”) (Also

Holy Mountains”) “Stone can CRACK, crumble, spoil, COLLAPSE, SLUMP. Bits can fall off.” Falling debris / rubble kills and injures. “Sticks and stones may break my bones…” “This is beyond repair.” “And another one bites the dust…” “Difficult to stop water penetration, DAMP. Rising damp.” “This place is COLD & HARD to heat.” “Stone discolours, attracts fungi growth. Is HARD to clean - have to BLAST with sand & water = Put

known as the eye of Horus – the Egyptian symbol for a god…”) 95

CHAPTER 3: ARCHITECTURE / Traditional

up scaffolding - large heavy planks of wood, lots of metal poles, hassle, mess etc.” “A city of cold stone wears you down to the bone.” “HEARTS OF STONE…” “Faces of cold stone…” “This huge place is eating me up!” “I don’t like old places. They give me the creeps.” “Old-fashioned, heavy, solid, dark, dank, dismal.” “So draughty!” “Crumbling - their condition continues to deteriorate.” “Oh! The Burden. I just can’t seem to find the cash to fix this.”

difficult to maintain…” Should disaster loom, brick built structures cannot be moved out of the way. Obviously, bricks do not float… CEMENT / MORTAR: Cement = “Paste. A mortar of calcinated (acidic) lime and clay. Is mixed with water and sand, for sticking things together.” “Powdery substance. Crumbles.” “Digging for chalk for the cement has turned green hills into grey, dusty eye-sores.” “High Temperature kilns used in cement industry - plastic ‘waste’ is used as fuel for cement kilns. Doesn’t meet ‘strict’ emissions standards - gives off poisonous dioxins” (BBC1,

BRICKS: “BLESS these walls, sturdy and STRONG, KEEPING OUT want, TROUBLE and sin…” BUILT TO LAST: “A 13th Century chateau in France had walls over 22.5ft in thickness - levelled to the foundations by the Germans in 1917. The walls of Babylon north of Iraq built 600 BC were up to 85ft in thickness…” (Ref.: Guinness Book of Records). During EARTHQUAKES, brick houses shift on their foundations… crack, crumble and can crush anyone unfortunate enough to be caught unaware…” (BRICKWORKS: “The largest in the world is the London Brick Company, established 1898. In 1974, site covered 221 acres, producing 17,000,000 bricks every week” (Ref.: Guinness Book of Records). "Clay quarried… kneaded, moulded to make a rectangular block, measuring roughly 9” x 4” x 3.” (Could be baked by the Sun) or fired in FURNACES- kilns to 1200 degrees C. Left outside to cool for 3 days…” “Bricks will build a better London?” UK: "The mix re-defined to increase profits by 60%...” (1990) (reducing strength?) Walls built by layer, with cement joins… The costs of putting the bricks together to make one wall… “One square metre = 60 bricks.” “One House = 26,000 – 100,000 bricks. Average cost at least 8p each brick…” (1990). “Because of the poor insulation qualities, an additional wall becomes necessary to help sound-proofing and to stop the house becoming too cold…” “How much does one brick weigh?” Bricks are HEAVY. FAST CONSTRUCTION? “Builder, John Evans, 46, balanced 36 bricks on his head, then carried them up a 12ft ladder to set a world record in Derby” (11/6/1993) SLOW! LABORIOUS. CRIPPLING! (Advert for A BIGGER BUILDING BLOCK: "When you build a wall, the time you save is directionally proportional to the size of building block you use..." UK: 1989). Much fuel is needed for transportation. “The bricks have gone soft.- they need repointing…” CONCLUSION: “Brick houses are HARD and COSTLY to construct, expensive to heat, and

13/6/1995).

CONCRETE: (“Concrete was invented by the Romans.”) “3 parts sand, 2 parts grit, 1 part cement + water = Concrete.” “… forms into a solid mass, solidifies when dry. EXPERT: “Not possible to guarantee consistency or performance of the mix, actual strength or water resistance, as too many variants possible - British Construction industry argues they can now control. Concrete can be made too powdery or dry… with too many air bubbles, reducing strength and life…” (1990). HEAVY! A crushing weight. A COLD, HARD surface. Requires TONS of water to make. Requires HEAVY machinery to mix, lift and transport. “Mixing / Laying cement. Back breaking work. “Ugh, I’m really feeling it now…” “In traditional house building concrete is laid to make sure the ground is solid and level…” (Ballast means: “Stabilise…” In foundations, for increased bulk and weight, transported gravel or stones are loaded into the mix.) EXPERT: "You need men committed to what they are doing - according to the book. Or DEFECTS EG. Bond at joint faulty, hairline cracks, deep cracks, surface voids, irregularities, leakage stains, skimpy pour - too sandy… Concern ability of the materials to withstand stress. If you put something up, you want it to stay… Pre-stressed concrete - more complicated. More things that could be done badly EG. Forms could lack rigidity to prevent displacements, inserts installed off anchorages, ducts improperly secured before the pour, crumbling, weakened bonds, future fracture lines, debris, water seepage, slippage, no bond at all…” (EXPERT: Re: Reinforcing Steels: “All the things that could go wrong! EG. Steel with grease, or too much rust, or mill scale. Bad welds. Lack of dowels. Under-sized bars. Brittle tie wire. Un-staggered splices in adjoining bars. Voids under and around 96

reinforcing, erosion…") CONCRETE CANCER: Concrete can soak up water, can become water logged, damp in foundations etc. Structural problems - very costly - a terrible problem. Rising damp and mould - common problems.” “Damp air corrodes concrete.” Concrete DEGRADES, pits, crumbles - from the bottom, top or middle, cracks. Caves-in. “VAPOURS can seep through hairline cracks…” (“Because Robert McAlpine had a thing about concrete…”) “The 1960s and 1970s saw the construction of 1,000s of new council homes in cities, most of them large concrete system built estates and tower blocks. Many soon developed faults, became havens for crime and vandalism, and are now UNPOPULAR places to live.” “… Concrete estates - an attempt by politicians to ‘modernise’ - brutal and inhuman…” "Nationwide scares. Faulty batches. Sold over unidentified period, not covered by warranty, causing alarm to architects and contractors..."

blocks! Why? That’s Illogical!” “Yes, but cheap to build with.” HOT Countries: Use blocks with holes in (holes used for plumbing pipes & ventilation) (positioned with holes facing in & outward) are used as a complete wall. UK: Uses softer, lighter (white) blocks as an inner wall (to reduce building costs) with facia bricks outside. Blocks cut to size with a hand saw. (For Party walls, to minimise sound penetration, heavier concrete blocks have to be used). 1980’s: “The latest world-wide trend in house building is to slap breeze blocks together, quickly slap a (thin) coat of render over and charge the same as if the building is made of (more expensive) bricks.” EXPERT: “Sometimes formations are not staggered to spread the load. The skills Gap… Structurally useless. But you don’t know as the walls are rendered. The whole lot will come crashing down…” GLASS: “A transparent, lustrous, HARD, BRITTLE material.” “Silicon dioxide. Made by fusing sand with soda or potash, or both, and other ingredients… Molten Glass = Sand heated up… melted… The furnaces use a lot of energy, and that costs a lot of money. Glass is not considered to be a solid - is a liquid (is amorphous…) (“Has confused atoms…”) Very high temperatures needed to make new glass EG. For computer screens, so glass won’t sag, drop or lose shape. Could last a very long time - providing no ACCIDENT occurs…” 1992: "A GLASS cinema will replace one ‘cardboard city’... Hi-tech, ½ round. Cost £8 million..." (“Shaped, curved glass is very expensive.”) “GLASS CONSCIOUSNESS”: The weight of Glass? Glass is very HEAVY. “A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER”: Glass can splinter, crack, or be broken quite easily. EXPERT: "The only way a manufacturer can test the performance of glass is to smash each piece and judge how the pieces broke. Same applies to toughened glass." "No such thing as glass that won’t break. Would have to be very thick and therefore very, very heavy." “Does GLASS shatter? Is the Pope Catholic?” “Glass is not strong - a vibration can make glass shatter. So can noise. A bang can break glass.” “THE PAINS OF GLASS: Glass CUTS same as a knife. Very sharp edges. Lacerations. “CUTS both ways.” Loss of LIFE AND LIMB.” Severs limbs / arteries. “Hurts like Hell!” “If overheated, glass EXPLODES...” “Glass blows in, glass blows out.” “Jagged SPEARS of GLASS.” “Flying glass is equivalent to SHRAPNEL. Shards.” “A Horror Classic.” "Destruction all around..." "Cost of repairs? Cost of what cannot be repaired?"

(U.K.1989).

“… fear of bridges cracking up…” (London, May 1990). “A scenario for the future might be, as the Earth’s temperature increases, a bug eats the lime in concrete… 1,000s of buildings have to be blown up” (Tomorrows World, BBC1, 7/7/1995). “Homes made of pre-cast reinforced concrete (PRC) were declared ‘defective’ under the 1986 UK Housing Act… 1,000’s of owners are trapped unable to get a mortgage. Can get a costly Refurbishment i.e. putting a skin of bricks around the property and reproofing, but government grants ended in 1984…” (Daily Mirror, 7/9/2005). “STUPID ARCHITECTS! They are not thinking of the future - only build, get tourists in, fill the blocks, make money…” “They’re still carving out hillsides for concrete housing! MASSIVE conurbations! So many being constructed in semi-desert regions. Only ½ finished! No men working on them! Why? It’s too HOT!” “Of course, the heat does NOT help when laying concrete. The top crust dries / forms too quickly – the water, instead of floating to the top, cannot evaporate - the mix remains wet i.e. semi-solid, underneath…” BREEZE BLOCKS: One block roughly the size of 8 bricks. Colour: Mainly grey. HEAVY. Not strong. Crumbly. Very little strength. Insulating. Porous / NOT good weathering qualities: Have to screed with cement (render) exterior (inside plastered). These BLOCK the breeze as their name suggests… “So many desert regions use breeze 97

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"LIVES CUT short..." “Badly cut-up.” “Picture their PAIN...” "VICTIMS of glass, your FEELINGS will matter soon, I hope." PLATE GLASS: Thicker, and HEAVIER! Used to provide large picture windows, see-through doors, panel/s, enclose, GLAZE LARGE AREAS EG. walls of TOWER Blocks i.e. Floor to Ceiling GLASS windows! SKYWALL: “GLASS has become the favoured material for MANY buildings, and is known as: "a cheap filler" meaning: Put up a framework, use Glass as cladding. GLASS can be detached from moorings and FALL OFF…" Re: Earthquakes: ("I feel the Earth move under my feet...” EARTH QUAKE = “The buildings shake violently, the buildings sway, huge chunks of concrete and bricks fall, glass shatters…”) “This could be a potential death trap.” "TALL buildings are designed so GLASS / outside & inside claddings FALL OFF i.e. hopefully leaving steels upright – TO (avoid ‘THE DOMINO EFFECT’ and) SPEED REBUILDING." (“Something tells me, you'll never win.") “Engineers rely on statistics and prayer.” ("They'll learn how to do it properly, one day...") "Architects shouldn't design buildings that kill people!" ("Do you wish you could make it right?") "... it's make, or break." "The next Quake... could take the cake..." Glass Buildings = Soul-Less. A glassy look… “Some people like big glass windows!” “We fit glass windows because we don’t know any better.” "DANGER. HUGE GLASS PANELS used to build the spectacular roofs of many shopping malls have become potential time bombs because of undetected flaws that can make them suddenly explode. Atrium panels in at least 8 British malls have exploded because of internal flaws showering shoppers with razor sharp fragments of glass. In the worst case - at the Glades shopping centre in Bromley, 6 shoppers were injured when a glass screen above an entrance shattered in high winds. At Lakeside, in Thurrock, 3 roof panels fractured and collapsed, one into a restaurant packed with customers. ‘The developers have had to fit wire mesh to shield people from falling shards” (re: Report in the construction journal ‘New

children hurting themselves EG. with furniture made from glass EG. Coffee tables. Doesn’t cost much to buy. This could be used by businesses to save money in the long-run and adequately protect the public… but safety film over glass is not the answer” (That’s Life, BBC1, 8/5/1993) Glass does still break… WIND SHIELD / SCREEN / Laminated Glass: “Stretched / strained glass in 3 different layers. Has semi-visible lines of weaknesses - will break into small pieces under impact, to reduce dangers but still cuts & hurts badly. Some windscreen glass has layer of glue in middle- small particles adhere to glue, so don’t fall away. You’d still get cut but not so badly. Made to protect eyes?“ “… a brick fell from a builder’s skip - smashed through her windscreen. They’re still picking bits of glass out of her ear…” “… the windscreen smashed - bits of glass flew into his eye…” EXPERT: “Skill of manufacturing very good really - wouldn’t sever a limb - may get a lot of nasty scratches. Bounces off body rather than penetrates. Windscreen glass not used in side or back windows of cars - cheaper glass is used. I don’t know if windscreen glass is used in train windows. After a train crash you usually see large shards of glass, capable of severing limbs and arteries…” (1993). "Today’s glass is high in silica. Glass is damaged by pollution, corrosion, Environmental stress" (Tomorrows World, BBC1, 1/10/1993) (“Silica dust can cause cancer if inhaled.”)

"Planes use plastic for (inner) windows as lighter." “Does this cause such dangerous shards?” “No.” “GLASS SCARE: 3 windows in a British Airways Concorde shattered as the plane flew at twice the speed of sound. 2 outer panels broke at 57,000 ft on a check flight after maintenance. A 3rd window was found to be cracked when the plane landed” The Sun, 12/8/1994). Waterloo Station: "... 100 tons of plate glass to provide a roof..." (May 1993) “The new Waterloo train station, with a massive glass roof won an award for architecture” (October, 1994). “… 17 commuters narrowly escaped death or serious injury when a 17ft long iron rod plunged like a spear through the Glass roof at Westminster station. Passengers were also showered with glass shards and building rubble…” (31/10/1994). SMASHING: “Glass is the most vulnerable part of a house” said a burglar.

Builder’…” Evening Standard, 12/2/1993).

“Would a layer of ‘sticky-back’ plastic, speciallymade for the purpose, reduce dangers of ‘flying shards’?” “Yes. Put on the inside of the window makes glass laminate. Stops pieces of glass flying. Holds glass together. Can be punched through. Useful for increased security and to stop 98

When people do not get enough light - the effect on the pineal gland is to release melatonin; this can make people drowsy, and if they can't sleep, they become depressed. The way we design houses now - the conventional design has hardly changed since medieval times – and is geared to pre-industrial society when people worked outdoors... Human physiology is set up to work outside, and our glands geared to outside light. Now we work inside, we need to compensate for the loss of light..." “PRIVA-LIGHT: Now you see me, now you don’t (with the flick of a switch). 2 sheets of… Glass, with liquid crystal in-between. Can be bent, shaped. Ideal for security panels. Discovered by an experimental physicist - a nut and bolt man”

Glass frequently smashed by thieves and vandals... Why don’t they use Anti-Vandal plastic? British Telecom has started using low quality plastic - i.e. is not scratch-proof - to replace smashed glass panels in phone boxes, but people are pinching the new panels…” (April 1993) STREET-WISE: ("… it has MAJOR ADVANTAGES. To name but a few... you can count (depend) on it. It won’t let you or me down, not ever. Why trust anything less? It won’t break like glass...") (ADVERT: “…it could be worth investigating…” (re: BT’s ‘Share Flotation offer, 1993). SHOP FRONTS MADE OF GLASS: The RISK to passers-by… the RISK OF EXPLOSIONS… the need for PROTECTION against riot, STORM DAMAGE… EG. “A car smashed through the shop window could have killed people…” Shop-Keeper: “Replace with plastic? Wouldn’t work. Too expensive. Don’t like plastic. Not necessary chances of same accident happening again are small” (UK, 1993). “HEAT LOSS THROUGH GLASS: ENERGY CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY: A thermal image photo taken from an aircraft - an infra-red image which measures heat emissions - shows a factory pouring heat into the atmosphere - wasting precious energy and money, sending bills soaring through the roof… The factory - one of dozens of buildings which shows up in an Arial energyefficiency survey by Ealing council. Many of the worst offenders are domestic properties, where improvements can be made much more quickly and cheaply than in factories and offices. The photo shocked technical manager, Dr. K. Wood, who said the company had spent more than £1 million on roof insulation. A 2-hour video also identified heat loss from schools, hospitals… The Assoc. of Energy Conservation said at least 90% of house-holds about 19 million - are not Energy efficient. ‘Improving the thermal efficiency of British housing would greatly increase the standard of living of 1/3rd of the population, achieving a payback in 4 years…” (Evening Standard, 31/1/1994) GLOBAL Warming (heat loss through roofs & GLASS…) "People who live in GLASS HOUSES..." "We live in houses with brick walls, slate roofs, and small windows - everything conspiring to keep out the light... and let out the warmth... so... the 'house of the future, said architect R. Spence... must be made of... Glass. His own glass house... is dazzlingly light... but this does not go far enough... in his ideal home, technology would ensure the house wraps itself up at night - insulating louvers swivel, shut, and keep the heat in, and out when there is a heat wave... He has reached this conclusion after following research into: SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER: (SAD):

(Eureka, BBC1, 13/7/1995).

“Self-cleaning glass…” ? “It’s covered in a film…” STEEL: “Malleable alloy of iron and carbon, tempered to differing degrees of HARDNESS. INFLEXIBLY SEVERE. COLD. Largely used for weapons, tools, machinery, construction rods, support girders - beams, supporting joists of floors, walls, latticed, forming a span of bridge, roof etc. VERY HEAVY! Very heavy machinery needed to lift, transport etc EG. Cranes. Steel can twist, bend, crack, be uprooted, knocked over… CORROSION: Steel rusts in contact with air and water (caused by oxidation, corroding of the metal); impaired state, blight, loss of quality, efficiency, old-age. (Thin Ferro-chromium alloys are used for stainless steel cutlery etc). “RUST NEVER SLEEPS: Steel girders and bolts often start to rust before being concreted over.” “Is Iron Oxide paint toxic?” “Yes.” “Galvanised steel does not rust but is easy to Dent.” ”High carbon steels have great tensile strength, but are HARD & BRITTLE.” “A small percentage of other elements are found in steel EG. Silicon… forming a slag, then the carbon is burnt off, passing off as CO2…” “The steel used for ordinary construction work is pig iron. High grade steel is produced in electric furnaces…” (Ref. Materials & Structures by E.H. Salmon). "British Steel accused of operating a cartel (illegal price fixing), with 15 other manufacturers. Fixing prices of steel beams used for construction at artificially high level. Facing a £24 million fine for breaking European competition rules… Amount of fine is ½ their annual income. Job losses may be unavoidable. The other manufacturers also face fines. Industry being asked to cut back extra capacity. British Steel may appeal…" (BBC1, 15/2/1994). 99

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wood to build our house, the worm is already in the wood" (said Goethe). Death-Watch Beetle: A grub which burrows deeply into structural timber and makes a ticking noise, thought to foretell death." “TERMITES can cause more devastation than man.” “In the USA, homes have to be inspected for termite infestation before they can be sold…” (25/10/1994) “Termites EAT wood. If house made of wood products… they’ll eat it till completely destroyed. Nests can be controlled but not destroyed - deadly poisons used - costs £100’s. Colonies are spreading as temperatures are increasing” UK: “The 1st termite infestation found in Britain was unearthed at a property in a north Devon village by timber preservation workers. An 18 inch piece of wood had more than 1,000 of the destructive pests” (Watchdog, BBC1, 30/4/1998). “The majority of houses in Britain are timber framed…” “WOODEN FRAME CONSTRUCTION: When pine and spruce used to be plentiful, bark used for insulation. When the bottom plank rots, a new plank is slotted in… Medieval houses - ½ timber houses - secured with joints with wooden pegs. Assembly technique used for 600 years. Most people - the poor, lived in tiny cottages too flimsy to survive. The pioneer’s log cabin… openings for windows and doors cut out of the solid wall. For a tight fit, square pegs were inserted into round holes. Gaps between logs filled with clay. A house used to cost £30. Thick coating of mud inside for fire-proofing. Built FREE-standing against a brick wall… Wood inspired symbolic respect in Japan wood is a sacred element. Architecture echoes the skill of their carpenters. Great beams tend to impress, intimidate. Sliding doors, little furniture on the floor - design influenced by religious considerations. The role of the veranda (partially roofed & enclosed) is to bridge the interior and exterior. The goose-neck joint is one of their specialities… Like medieval houses in Britain, Japanese timber frame houses pre-fabricated in the carpenters’ workshop before being assembled on site. Carpentry skills changed with the screw, power tools, nails… The growth of mail order pattern books. An 8-room house could be built for $1,500…” Building Sites, BBC2, 1994) “I’d love to live in a log cabin…” FINLAND: “80% of houses are made of wood. Why? 75% of Finland is forest. Wood at the heart of their culture and economy. Forests managed sustainably (?) Using a mechanical monster, takes approx. 30 seconds to chop the tree. HOUSES in KIT form. Why from Finland? Trees VERY OLD. Very old = Tightly packed, very strong timber. Timber cut, pre-drilled (for electrics so you can’t change your mind where sockets & switches are going to be put). Timber sawed with precision in

“STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING and think about it.” “Our ancestors lived WITHOUT ANY METAL. They were very sophisticated. They didn’t eke out a living on the edge. They had it sussed artistically and spiritually. (They were expert trackers… huntergatherers - who treated everything, especially the animals, with the greatest reverence. They had an incredible knowledge of nature…) Just 2 generations ago, people had skills - survival crafts that are being lost today but are going to be needed to help us survive in the future…” (re: Stonehenge Man, Ray Mears, BBC2, 27/2/2005).

WOOD: “Wood is a fibrous substance…” A HOUSE MADE OF STICKS has to resist: "I'll huff and I'll puff. And I'll blow your house down..." TIMBER CUT TO SIZE: Wood is FLAMMABLE, especially when cut thin. And then wood is not strong. Timber splinters, rots (wet rot, dry rot), splits, cracks, bends, warps… Finishes fade, discolour, scratch, chip, flake, peel... “He’s going hard at it, using his wood tools…” UK: 1988: "800 accidents a year involving chain saws." "Everything from cut fingers to fatalities." EG. “SAW DEATH HORROR: Lecturer, George Ankers, 36, bled to death after he chopped through a limb while cutting firewood with a circular saw. He died before help could arrive. The injury was so severe he could only have survived if the accident had happened in an operating theatre. His distraught wife told the inquest the blood gushing from his severed leg sounded like water pouring from a hose-pipe” (Today, 15/1/1993). EG. “A father was killed when he fell into a highpowered circular saw as he cut logs for his central heating burner. Friends tried to save the truck driver and DIY fanatic from becoming entangled… They said a log flew up and hit him, knocking him sideways into the saw” (Daily Mirror, 18/1/1994) ("Yes. HOW you do things matters a lot.") (MDF: Modified Fibre Board: Looks like board - is recycled wood made into sawdust, mixed with resin. Some believe this is the material of the future. Has NOT got 0% spread of flame but satisfies Regulations because MDF takes 20 minutes to burn” (UK, 1993) “Have to use a face-mask when cutting MDF due to carcinogens…” “I’ve now been burnt where I was cut.”) (“A saw mill in Northern Ireland specialise in soft woods such as spruce for packing cases. 150 tons of sawdust waste every day. Recycled for fuel, chipboard - or burnt as waste. 1,000s of tons! But, by working with a German company, a new type of saw has been developed. All the power is in the machinery. This took them 7 years to develop. Now there’s no sawdust” Tomorrows World, BBC1, 1990).

“WOODWORM can reduce beams to sawdust.” "When this timber cart trundles down the road, with 100

a factory - a family-owned company. A week later arrives in UK on a juggernaut lorry. Your house is delivered just like that! The whole house - every surface is made of timber. The walls made of logs. Super-insulated roof & walls = a timber board, thin plastic sheeting, cavity filled with recycled newspaper fibres - this is ‘sustainable’; do not catch fire / these help to prevent fire; these are blown in, + air gap, + exterior & interior wooden cladding boards.” (The risk of FIRE in an allwooden house not mentioned!) “The Kit costs £53,000. He has to lay in a concrete foundation, then 98 concrete piers + a damp-proof membrane (a thick plastic sheet). If the piers are in the right place… should take 3 weeks till we get the roof on. A giant KIT house - so many pieces! Blocks. All coded, batched according to size. not lay-out. Pieces 1, 2, 3 & 10 are missing… this is A1, B1… I’m confused! Pieces nailed together. ‘I’m in my element.’ (He makes wooden furniture for a living. His wife is having to be the bread-winner - running a business, do the school run and feed the builders whilst he is doing this). 3 piers are in the wrong place! (Rather than add new piers to support joints, the discrepancy is ignored). ‘This building method is so simple - 2 grooves, 2 tongues, tied together.’ (i.e. Bashed with a hammer). ‘This is such a quick process…’ They are desperate to get the roof on before the Autumn rains. (None of the timber is weather-proofed / tanalised). Doing 12 hours work a day. The pressure’s on to get the house water-tight. Spirits are flagging. He’s driving them so hard they never get a day off. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. The light is going… The timber will contract so you have to allow for that… The rains and storms have discoloured the colour of the stacked pile of timber for the interior. Takes them 1 week to only move the wood! To protect the exterior wood from the elements - several coats of varnish - this will have to be done for the life of the house (which is how long?) Wood has to be sanded before painting. Very time consuming. Daunting. A huge house. By December, only 1 coat of varnish on - will have to do. Now windows going in - £9,000 worth of high-tech triple glazing requiring specialist fitting + a hand-driven fork lift. Some rooms have under-floor heating. The woodburning stove will heat the whole house using local coppiced timber. The house takes 7 months to almost finish. Looks like a ranch. Such a high ceiling! ‘All this came from one renewable sustainable source - TREES!’ But the Finnish system is hard work - non-stop toil. Final cost (excluding land) £120,000 (due to the cost of bathrooms, kitchen etc). ‘I’ve done something for my children. We were living in a wooden shack.’ ‘It’s clean, crisp. Now our lives are going to be easier.’ ‘It’s a natural building. It’s got integrity’…” (Grand

EACH HOUSE BUILT = A MOUNTAIN OF WOOD. ______________________________________ Re: Trees: GOD said: "It is called THE TREE OF LIFE... ... those keeping fast hold of it are to be called happy... God's wisdom founded the earth and fixed it so cloudy skies kept dripping down light rain. May the trees not get away from your sight. Safeguard practical wisdom and they will prove to be life to your soul. You will walk in security, when you lie down you will feel no dread. You will not need to be afraid of any storm upon the wicked..." INTERPRETED AS: "I walk with the Lord of dreams sheltered by His path..." “Tree Spirits: Some people believe trees have souls or that trees house the souls of Gods.” "Lord of the forest. Lord of souls. Precious gifts I bring you..." "Trees are spiritual things. In olden days, trees worshipped - celebrations and festivals. Considered bad luck to chop a tree down." "Trees thought to be a good-luck charm..." “The magic is in the trees, in the air… Can’t you feel it?” ENCHANTING! "Trees said to be like Human Beings..." “Love will never die while there is a tree.” “When trees were plentiful, the Oxygen was rich…” ______________________________________ DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS: "A tree could live to be 1,000 years old..." “Trees are some of the longest surviving occupants of our planet. Some British Yews are 8,000 years old…” “Trees occupying considerable tracts of ground…” "Trees regarded as an abundant, cheap, effective building material - you needed shelter, so you went and chopped a few trees down..." "Forests are PARADISE to all creatures that live in them." “Trees and animals exist in their own Right. We should RESPECT that.” “Trees provide HOSPICE. An hospitable place to rest.” "A man wandered onto a mountain. What sort of tree is that? A tree 1,000 people can sit under. U’hm. Lovely timber. It will do very well. H'mm. Jolly good." TREES = Finders Keepers ? "It used to be the case that stealing land reserved for deer was a crime..." “There are 1,000s of different kind of trees. The sort used to make buildings has a large trunk.” ”Old trees are rare because of the tendency to fell more mature specimens…”

Designs, Channel 4, 27/4/2005). 101

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doors, windows, coffins and plywood. The aftermath, death, flood and famine." "ARCHITECTS ARE TO BLAME: For a profession responsible for the improvement of man’s physical Environment, what justification can architecture give for perpetuating man's greatest folly - the irreversible destruction of tropical rainforests? The importance of these areas cannot be overstressed. Covering only 7% of the world's surface, they contain 50% of our flora and fauna; a natural richness that yields many of our important medicines and foods. They are home to many tribes who are now forcibly removed or killed. With them disappears the knowledge of how to utilise this plethora of plant species. Tropical rainforests prevent soil erosion and thus protect the watershed on which 1 BILLION people depend. They influence regional climate. The devastating results of deforestation are all too clear to see in countries such as Bangladesh, India and Ethiopia. The effect on Global climate is unclear, but as forest is being irrevocably destroyed at a rate of 100 acres per minute, we should have the answer to this by the year 2000. The causes of deforestation are complex but 70% is attributable to the logging of tropical hardwood in an unsustainable manner, using bad forestry methods. Despite this, architects still consider tropical hardwood a valid design material! Its qualities and uses glossily presented in trade literature. This rich and important ecosystem is thus converted into hardwood doors, windows, skirtings, (wooden) mouldings and even toilet seats. A millennium of life sacrificed for maybe 100 years of utility. With the ever increasing media coverage and public concern being shown on this subject and with the publication of the Friends of the Earth ‘The Good Wood Guide’, architects can no longer hide behind a veil of ignorance. Perhaps they suffer from plain indifference?” (M. Martin, RIBA, (“INDIFFERENCE is a terrible July 1988) DISEASE.”) "A GREEN GUIDE listing the Health Hazards and Environmental impact of more than 4,000 building materials has been produced by the Friends of the Earth Trust" (1990). ADVICE: ”If you see a tree being poisoned / strangled by ivy, save the Tree's life – KILL the ivy" (1990) (advised to just cut the vine) (will keep coming back. Tree surgeons know how to kill ivy permanently). THE IVY LEAGUE = NEW JOBS! All those creepers & suckers need to be got rid off… “TREES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL, so why are they left to strangle to death with ivy? After spending 100 years in bloom, it seems a pity they get strangled and it’s probably dangerous when the trees fall over. Why aren’t unemployed people offered the job of saving them?” (Mrs. J. Hurford, The

“Forest, track, road, town, city... That's how it generally goes..." "The most powerful land clearer is the 125 ton Le Tourneau electric tree crusher built in 1964. 72' long and can clear 4 acres an hour" (Mr. Tourneau's Book is called: 'Mover of Men and Mountains.')

UK: 1973: "Wood and board prices have soared astronomically - costs have more than doubled in the last year or so. Wood is expensive to make furniture. Always consider a cheap ALTERNATIVE to wood. Supplies slowly being restricted..." (Prices rose but no shortage of timber visible. UK timber yards are stacked high...) “Countries not (money) rich want to exploit natural wealth - so they open the forest/s up build a road through, attack forest in a BIG way…” "Forests have large populations of small creatures - 6,000 rare species destroyed, lost each year." “Troops with heavy machinery - Earth diggers, chain saws - destruction for miles where few had gone before. Trees worth money…” “140 different trees are at risk of extinction.” "Are we as thick as two short planks?" “MAN IS DESTROYING NATURE!” Trees = A Rapidly Thinning Playground." “Do you remember the Cherry tree that used to be in the market square?” "Where once fields of flowers were green, now a single flower grows..." “… Felling Trees destroys other Trees and animals - accidental damage. Not carefully done. Other people follow - trying for luck and fortune. TIMBER HOUSES! The timber comes from 1,000s of forests and trees…” “90 MILLION TREES cut down every year to satisfy the UK’s demand for paper and card” (ME Magazine, 12/2/1990).

“Destruction of RAINForests: In 25 years, could KILL us ALL. We really must do something about it. We are turning land into DESERT for paper and wood. Soon there’ll be NO TREES left! Cannot be replaced. Our Grand-children will not have any forests! We are going into suicide! Northern EUROPE: Forests being cut to make paper. Remaining forests are mainly Pine. Answer is to recycle paper” (see Chapter 9 / Waste & HEMP). "WE ARE DOOMED DUE TO GREED…" "Wholesale destruction for hardwood floors, 102

People, 14/8/1994).

communal houses have now gone... Many 1,000’S of people killed during the destruction. The land is wrecked. A battle ground. Nothing will ever grow here again” (Earth Watch, BBC, 29/1/1990). “VAST ARMY OF PROSPECTORS: The Roraima territory belonged to the Yanomami Indians South America’s largest tribe of forest Indians but now murder most foul is afoot here. GENOCIDE: There are reports of Yanomami children being shot out of the trees and adults killed by armed gold prospectors. The Brazilian government has been accused of genocide for failing to protect the Indians from the despoliation of their homeland. 40,000 – 60,000 prospectors are estimated to be trying their luck. A greater threat is the arrival of white man’s diseases EG. Malaria. The hospital run by the National Indian Institute is short of funding. Many there are suffering from Malaria and other diseases which have developed since the invasion - Hepatitis, TB, diarrhoea etc and various digestive maladies caused by fish poisoned with mercury which polluted the rivers. The hospital resembles a zoo where humans gaze on humans. The Yanomami look like a defeated people stripped of dignity and self-respect. The government and business leaders said the closure of gold fields would trigger civil disorder! ‘The Indians’ very existence is in danger - they have no voice, no-one to articulate their cause’ said the Church, but the Church is not against the gold prospectors - ‘many of them are good people desperate, poor, and exploited too.’ The Church is defending the defenceless against powerful commercial interests - the multi-national companies. ‘The multi-nationals want us out, so they can take over and if they do their tractors and excavators will really damage the Environment and the Indians.’ 150 airstrips in the mining area. The prospectors have extracted (stolen) all the available gold. ‘Brazil is controlled by a rich oligarchy of a maximum 5% of the population, the rest of us are plebs.’ 1989: A Presidential decree demarcated the Yanomami territory into 19 separate and discontinuous areas - islands in effect. 5 Chiefs went to Brasilia to protest that even these zones were being violated by gold lust. The Chiefs returned muttering bitterly about forked tongues. The population has seen their territories shrinking and culture eroded ever since the gold rush began. The Yanomami seemed doomed to become a lost tribe. In Boa Vista ‘the new gold state’ there is no sign of the poverty that inflicts Latin America but there is hyper-inflation. The miners measure their earnings in gold. A monthly average ranges from 150,000 – 300,000 cruzados - a lot compared with Brazil’s minimum wage of 1,300 cruzados (about £26.50). The gold prospectors will survive, but the same

UK: Approx. 50% of the remaining few trees are being strangled with poison ivy. No agreement between various agencies - ‘English Nature’ and ‘The National Trust’ both say ivy does not harm trees! Councils Argue: “Funds should be used for more important projects” (2004). “DESTRUCTION OF TREES = A DEAD LOSS”: “The Amazon Rain-Forest is disappearing at 1 acre per second – will be GONE in 20 years…” (1989).

BRAZIL = “60% of the world’s RAINFORESTS…” “Brazil. 20 years of dictatorship…” “LAND FEUDS: “Some Brazilians now rich, owning yachts, but many millions in terrible poverty as a result. No running water, no houses - Homeless. Stage 1: Government actually helped them! Gave them money and some land! Go build your own! A dream come true! But they were not used to farming… The insects! Had to (?) clear trees before they could live on the land. Millions of hectares destroyed by settlers seeking a new life. Soil now no good for growing crops. With forest/s gone, soil dries up in the Sun. Weeds grow. Crops fail. So they get fed-up, move on, repeat same process elsewhere… a nightmare a disaster. Stage 2: They sold larger plots to ‘developers’ who clear land for ‘improvement.’ ‘No time to lose!’ Used to clear Trees: A single match. Millions of TREES burnt every year - simply going up in smoke! When the forest dies, the animals die too. Cattle ranching is biggest destroyer. Beef is big business. But grass gets poorer in quality - so they move on, repeating the process… The burning of so many TREES produces Carbon Dioxide… MINING is another activity affecting Rainforests. Valuable minerals - iron ore, tin - all necessary to bring money into the country. Miners need houses - so build another road, clear more land… Build a railway - 2,000 meters of track a day. All at the expense of the living forest/s. Wood turned into charcoal for cheap fuel. Iron ore smelting in furnaces… One hour uses 4 tons of TREES! The smoke! All causing more POLLUTION- making ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ worse. The idea to generate ‘cheap’ electricity: One Dam cost $5 BILLION. Water held back. Flooded the forest. Now rotting vegetation poisoning the water. Fish not fit to eat. Water has become very acid. Animals totally helpless - many drown in the lake. Rough treatment if rescued. Millions have perished. Electricity promised. Up go the pylons spreading across the country where the trees were. Money does not always improve the standard of life. People did not get electricity. The tribes beautiful 103

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forecast cannot be made about the Indians” (The

area, the police beat squatters, tying their hands behind their backs. A rope is put round their necks. Then they are hung up on a large wooden Cross. ‘See the bullet holes, where they shot him?’ the people lament. Squatters block the airstrip to stop ranchers and gunmen flying in again. All we lack is a land agency title for all of us. The ranch they’ve won is divided into small holdings. The murderers of the squatters still not brought to justice… Near the 4th largest Dam in the world - which turned forests into graveyards, submerging a whole town, the police receive news another squatter has been assassinated. The police go but find the dead man is not a squatter. A witness said: ‘The man turned up, asked him for his gun. He said he did not have a gun for killing. The man shot him, saying he was a squatter.’ The man’s body is quickly buried - top soil shovelled over him. Police believe action was to panic squatters. The squatters were panicked. The next day, they took off - into an ambush. Children had their heads blown off. Multiple projectiles were the cause of death. The remaining survivors fled. One father an old man, said: ‘My God. I will die at the hands of these assassins.’ He shouted: ‘Take ME, not my child.’ But they killed him too - they tried to run for their lives. The father said: ‘WHAT EVIL!’ just before he died. ‘For the 4th time we come on this part of the road to bury our dead.’ One man at a meeting defended the squatters - he was later assassinated. Children slaughtered, women raped. Undeclared war goes on everyday. 50 workers and Union leaders killed. In actual fact, the statistic is 154 rural workers and leaders. ‘From this forest, we heard shots. Hiding behind a tree stump, they had killed him. They tore out his eyes! 2 gunmen withdrew. I saw them.’ 2 ranchers were accused - brothers. ‘You saw the whole massacre.’ ‘I have nothing to do with this conflict.’ The police exhume the body of a squatter to do a post mortem. ‘Do you really expect me to prove who killed him?’ ‘Yes. I want to put the assassin in jail.’ … The squatters smash one of the ranches, leaving a notice: ‘You think we are frightened of you.’ Then, at the sawmill, gunmen kill a man and child. A woman helper at the ranch explains: ‘Every night the gunmen went, armed, to where the squatters were. They said there will be war on squatters.’ ‘Squatters say gunmen are hired at the town’s gun shop. During the police enquiry, ranchers still at liberty! ‘He has papers, so we can’t touch him.’ The squatters said: ‘The question in our hearts and mouths is what’s being done to punish the gunmen? The land-owners? Nothing! Only a genuine land Reform will end this violence.’ The ranchers hold ‘cowboy festivals’ to collect more money for themselves, tormenting baby bulls in the cruellest of ways. A speaker, using

Times, 27/1/1990).

(“GOLD-DIGGERS are out for everything they can get. They have no scruples at all - less than admirable traits.” “You know what men are during TREASURE HUNTS…”) “KILLING FOR LAND: After 20 years of Dictatorship frustrating Democracy, Brazil has 1st Election. The Key issue? Land Feuds. The Eastern border: … a road through - along coast, produced most violent area of rural Brazil. The forests cleared - large government subsidies, for profit not what was produced. One ranch has 34,000 acres - over 1/3rd for cattle. Surrounding forest un-cleared. Squatters - the landless poor lived there before the ranchers arrived. Ranchers now say squatters must leave the forests. Many sending their families away (1977). Deadline set. The ranchers protect their property using hired gunmen. Squatters claim gunmen set fire to their houses. 20 homes burnt. ‘We are going to stay, nowhere else to go. We can’t move on - if we enter another tribe’s land, they will kill us.’ So they try to defend their Rights. Brazil law says they can stay if they occupied the land for more than 1 year. Squatters want to stay on the right side of the law. In desperation, they cut down a wooden bridge so bull-dozers can’t get through - to stop ranchers clearing their part of the forests. The people who lived by the roadside have gone - frightened ranchers will get them. The squatters go to the local town to get protection for their homes. The Ministry of Reform: ‘Land-owners protected by the police, courts and judges, because they have a government certificate. The squatters have minimal ‘rights.’ Ranchers strip land. They move away to well guarded condominiums. Argument unfair. Only 1% of the population own land. Some have squatted land for 40 years. But the police order them out. One morning, the Sun barely visible due to smog from burning TREES… the squatters try to recover the corpse of a murdered squatter. ‘The greatest treachery! He only went to buy kerosene and sugar. They surrounded him. They shot him. He was my companion.’ There’s no-one to appeal to. ‘We told police 7 days ago. The police wouldn’t even send a car.’ 10 million people willing to die for land. Sad, if only because the soil is so impoverished - for this, they risk their lives. One of the squatter’s leaders was beaten to death. ‘They ordered him killed.’ ‘I won’t leave’ he’d said. ‘He died for us.’ Afterwards, his son, with the squatters, patrolled their patch believing the situation was working against the ranchers. ‘If they come and pass by here, our plan is to shoot them.’ Men in ranches did not come out for 5 weeks. Then, the gunmen slipped out down to the river. A squatter’s victory! Unusual for squatters to win any land. In another 104

(10/5/1990).

a microphone declared: ‘The squatters are a danger. They are invaders. There’s no time to lose. We must make our class supreme. We must act.’ Ranchers now suspected of shooting people in authority. After visiting the morgue, the Secretary of State became agitated: ‘I am most indignant at this violence.’ ‘Punishment, punishment’ the people chanted. Outrage spread abroad. 1,000 murders. Only 3 gunmen convicted but none of those who commissioned the murders. At the ELECTION: 100s of 1,000s of people massed in valleys to the left. Their candidate - Lula. His father driven off the land. ‘I commit myself to carry out land Reform. It’s capable of improving lives very quickly. 1st, punish those responsible for the butchery. 2nd, allocate land to end rural violence. Let this be a warning to all Brazil. We must convict these criminals.’ Valleys to the right attracted less people from the cities. They fear Lula’s Reforms. Election day more like a carnival. Many of Lula’s supporters thought he would win. Lula got a majority in all the big cities but this not enough to win over the Conservative interior. Lula lost by 5%. The people now sing, in Prayer: ‘Without hate, malice or avarice, exploitation of the poor by the powerful. It will be so beautiful to hear this song sung again in the Kingdom of the People.’ Ranchers building a gun range for target practice. 2 years later, the case against them still has not come to court. Amnesty International confirmed this is the case. ‘It will probably go on people preferring to die rather than leave, like the 1,000s before them. They are driven deeper and deeper into the forest that bore them” (ITV, 30/1/1990) “Why do conservatives want to crucify people?” Re: LAND REFORM: the Law of Moses in the Bible… a system exists whereby every family in the community owns a share of the land. This share of land is owned by them perpetually and could not be sold. Time was divided up into 7 day; 7 month; 7 year and (7x7=) 49 year periods. At the end of the 49th year began the 50th or Jubilee year, which was a total reset of the system. The land which belongs to each family could be leased out, but only for one of these periods, then the lease could be renewed or annulled. i.e., the land was returned to its rightful owner who had the choice of either leasing it again for another period or keeping it for himself to use. This system prohibited the charging of interest on any loans and prevented any person or group of persons from amassing large amounts of wealth at the expense of others. It also had provisions built into it to prevent people who had foolishly or mistakenly lost their share of wealth and had nothing, from starving or being driven to crime to survive” (ref: summary by Matt Pye, 28/3/2007). “… a health programme to immunise Yanomami Indians remains paralysed due to lack of funds”

Brazil: “4.5 million land-owners. 12 million rural families have no land. 11,000 workers killed in the struggle for land. ‘No-one can agree. No-one actually opposes Reforms, but nothing happens.’ It could take another 10 years to end land monopoly. Origins of the problem are not new. 1985: Politicians made speeches about ‘greater social harmony’ proposing an end to poverty and hunger. 1964: Land-less workers leapt into politics. A plan, unique in our history. ‘It was promised to land-less families.’ 2,000 conflicting land claims. 14 years of negotiations! Newspapers promised concessions. But 1,500 Homeless families simply could not wait any longer. They occupied a ranch. ‘We were in a difficult situation. The boss took most of our harvest, but we couldn’t plant the land anymore. How would you feel about losing YOUR home?’ A squatters’ camp - many police patrol the low-level wood and metal huts - makeshift arrangements put on dirt. 8,000 people live here - mainly women and children. Transport is provided by cart & horse or home-made peddle scooters. ‘After months of fruitless negotiations, 50 families set-up camp in a car park. ‘We’re here to put on pressure so they solve our problems faster! 79,000 acres due to us.’ ‘It’s hard - our children have nowhere to play. Sometimes we feel like giving up but we think it’s only by fighting we’ll get anywhere.’ They sing songs to cheer each other. ‘Children unite! We shall overcome. Unity is strength. We have the right to land.’ 4 months later… Prayers still repeated every night. ‘We’re together - it’s good. We’re fighting for a good cause to help our poor comrades. We in the country will collaborate with our friends in the city.’ 7 months on… there’s no settlement on offer. A lot of discussion among the people. ‘We will march through the state and the towns to appeal to the government.’ They ask squatters: ‘Do you approve or not?’ Greenery is hope. They march 300 miles nuns join in. The pilgrims’ numbers multiplied en route. These are people clamouring for justice. ‘We’ll stop Brazil.’ The march takes 28 days. Their last supper is loaves of bread. A bystander said: ‘I was so moved to see them marching!’ The march has brought solidarity. They wait for a concrete reply. Heads of families say ‘we feel very needy. People are badly housed and fed. Government should show concern for our situation. We have to convince them. We hope for an audience with the President.’ In a Democracy, every citizen has the Right of Appeal in a court of law. People, not on the march, came and said ‘don’t give up!’ The squatters decided to lie down in a main square by the government offices till they settle the dispute. 10 months now… Occupation of camps still considered illegal. ‘We were used to eating 105

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600 Homeless families camped on the roadside. ‘We work land collectively. At harvest time we pay our debts to the Bank. We’re forming a group. We are constantly aware of our brothers who have no land. We support others.’ 1986: The land-owner paid compensation for the farm. Property redistributed to settlers or squatters. ‘Now we can begin to plant.’ ‘We have a different organisation. ‘Land here can only support 250 – 300 families. Women said: ‘We see Land-Reform as the number 1 priority. It is our duty to strive for Justice.’ Out of 5,000 Homeless families, only 400 given land, so another 400 occupied another farm. It has become the HQ of hope and despair. 1987: A truck smashed into a demonstration - many protestors were run over - crushed. An inquiry launched. An accident? ‘Rose is dead. She was torn to pieces.’ The squatters carried her body and laid her on the grass at the edge of the road. ‘We’ve suffered enough’ the people cried. ‘I hope my son grows up. It won’t be in vain. He’ll have a better life’…”

greens and vegetables. Now our children are ill. On rich farms they only grow grass! Nothing to eat! We often wonder if we’ll go back to the land. We want to help others to organise - people are losing their land. I don’t like living in the town. Lots of people do not want to migrate to the city. I’d like all women to be more active - work on the land.’ ‘I am shocked. I can hardly believe it - they’ve told us to go back.’ They sing songs in defiance of troops. ‘The troops know we have no weapons. We are here to carry out a mission.’ ‘I gave them no cause to hit me - the soldiers think we are animals! God is good. We’ll win yet.’ Troops charged with batons, causing much bloodshed. The President was in the old military government. At another camp: ‘We’re in a state of siege!’ Squatters guard the perimeter fence in a hopeless effort to keep the troops out. The soldiers parade through the squatters on horses. ‘I shall keep fighting for food.’ The troop’s leader addresses the squatters: ‘Until you say who is your representative…’ A woman speaks out: ‘Our ‘weapon’ is our mouth - our words.’ The land-less show their ‘weapons’ to the media - garden rakes. The Church and artists send help: ‘We support you.’ ‘Our need for land won’t wait. Those ministers talk of love at Christmas. Love, of Jesus! There are over 12.5 million Homeless in Brazil. We learnt you had to fight to get a future for our children. People we’ve never seen before are our brothers now. We’re going to form a new society. We’ll go on till we have an answer. We’ll fight as long as we have the strength.’ (She does not look very strong at all). The Confrontation: The squatters decide to occupy other farms to plant crops. Confrontation a part of everyday life. Armed soldiers decide to attack. Beating the people. ‘Has this happened in any other country?’ an angry woman asked. ‘We didn’t steal! We are here to work with our hands.’ Another woman, holding a small infant, screamed: ‘We have to take hold of God’s hand. We want land to feed our children. They’ve put up a barrier. They draw blood! God must hear what I’m saying. He rules the Earth!‘ Another woman said: ‘We are at an impasse. We hope they do what we say - not only when they want our vote. We’ll fight till we get it - the promised land.’ The State decide to end the squatters to ‘protect’ the rest - to defend their property. The people burned effigies of ministers. The pilgrims went in a religious procession, carrying with them a large wooden cross. ‘They killed Christians and they’re still killing Christians!’ The DREAM: ‘We’ll plant crops, have animals, raise chickens. People would pay less. The dream gives people life.’ The dream has come true on one farm won when

(In Memory of Rose, Women Call the Shots, Channel 4, 12/3/1990).

“… Basically, in the Law of Moses, in the Bible, a system exists where every family in the community owns a share of the land. This share of land is owned by them perpetually and could not be sold. Time was divided up into 7 day; 7 month; 7 year and (7x7=) 49 year periods. At the end of the 49th year began the 50th or Jubilee year, which was a total reset of the system. The land which belongs to each family could be leased out, but only for one of these periods, then the lease could be renewed or annulled. I.e., the land was returned to its rightful owner and he had the choice of either leasing it again for another period or keeping it for himself to use. This system prohibited the charging of interest on any loans and prevented any person or group of persons from amassing large amounts of wealth at the expense of others. It also had provisions built into it to prevent people who had foolishly or mistakenly lost their share of wealth and had nothing, from starving or being driven to crime to survive” (ref. comment provided by: Matt Pye).

“They're going to flatten us, smash us - our homes - everything. Turn us out onto the streets. Homes we built with our hands! We're going to be redeveloped in concrete'..." (Venezuela’s Environment Ministry reported): “A serious escalation of the destruction of the Amazon’s largest Indian group is taking place. Their report suggests that 9,000 Yanomami may be killed by the contamination of rivers by nitric acid and mercury, and that 1/5th of the Amazon Basin has been contaminated. The Yanomami are being decimated by diseases, including Aids, and are subject to sexual abuse and the forcible seizure of their shelters and land” (July 1990). **** "Since (natural) Anti-leukaemia drugs **** were ‘discovered’ when scientists talked to forest tribes, 90 entire Forests have been wiped out…" “Every minute 60 acres of forest are 106

furniture. Fears for the future of this tree species. May become a protected tree. Some government’s want this but the British government likely to argue fiercely to continue heavy logging” (Newsround,

destroyed…” “43,000 acres disappear each day. 4 million tribes-people used to live there - made homeless & land-less…” "½ THE RAINFORESTS HAVE GONE ! Brazil's rate of destruction has halved. Government's incentives to destroy have dropped. Maybe these people could do something else?" (18/10/1990). “The Yanomami live in 100’s of small villages, grouped by families… in one large communal dwelling; a disc-shaped structure with an open-air central plaza - an earthly version of their God’s abode… They tend gardens in harmony with the forest…” (and like to wear MODERN flip-flops!) "To tribes, the Rainforest is their Cathedral…" “Your hand of ‘friendship’ brings a sickness – starvation - a disease. We were kind and decent. We dressed in our native dress. We were proud. Before you came, my people respected the Law. We respected the Land. Suddenly we have become ‘the thief.’ Go away and leave us in peace. You say your god is better than our God. If you know a better God, bring Him here to us.” "The Yanomami’ in Brazil have been promised a park to live in, having lost 2/3rd of their land, after living in the forests peacefully for 10,000 years…” (20/11/1991). “This century has seen the destruction of most of South America’s Indian cultures. On average over 80% of each of these communities dies within the 1st 100 years of contact - almost all these lives are claimed by Western contact…” (re: The

BBC1, 4/11/1994).

“The Grass Roots movement needs public support. The community needs to invest in local communities… needs to discuss priorities. Town councils must make things happen. Residents meetings… The poor are isolated, only the elite are favoured. It’s not only about discussion - giving voice and power to citizens whose Rights have been denied. It’s about forming a partnership with government. We need a dignified life without the need to steal or sleep on the streets. You have to believe in the people… The growth of the Socialist Workers in Brazil - an organisation to bridge the gap between the rich and poor, and ensure everyone has a say in how the nation is governed…” (Critical Eye, Channel 4, 10/11/1994). Brazil: “Classical, conventional development created misery for the majority. Dramatic drop in living standards. 4/5th of forests destroyed” (re: the Debt Repayment Crisis, BBC2, 25/1/1995).

Brazil: “Road developers want to build a motorway straight through the heart of the remaining rainforest. Scheme called ‘the Highway from Hell.’ Many are opposed” (Newsround, BBC1, 5/4/1995).

EXPLOITATION: "Forests chopped in Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Amazon. New Guinea, Venezuela, Australia..." Thailand: “6 million people now landless due to deforestation - wood needed to build new houses and farms. Government and industry NOT Replacing Trees - many were over 100 years old. Shell argue they can only re-plant cleared land. Government has insufficient man-power to stop illegal felling. Villagers who complained have been murdered - others told to keep quiet. The TREES provided ECOLOGICAL BALANCE - Trees created rainfall. Now land dried out - other regions flooded. New wooden houses have water right up to their door. Remaining protected areas now greatly at risk. Squatters traditionally looked after the forests. The squatters say they have lived there caring for the forest for 3 generations. In many areas the situation has gone beyond the control of the law” (1990). "TRYING TO RE-GROW A RAIN-FOREST: Deep scars. Urgent. Reforestation project. Spread seeds of native trees from the air. Scientists make seeds heavier using a gel coat with water and nutriments, so they will grow. 1 in every 1,000 seeds grow. An encouraging result (?) This tree is going to be 5 metres tall. It is hoped the area will be green again. International co-operation is

Yanomami in Venezuela, Channel 4, 2/6/1994).

“TOMORROW’S SLUMS: "... because building materials are so expensive... many self-built slums are left leaking, unfinished, to be washed down the hill any time.." South Amazon: “World’s largest forest. Giant trees. 400 metres high. 250 years old. Magnificent. Takes a few seconds to cut each down. Forest size of 30 football pitches destroyed every minute. Rainforests cover only 7% of the Earth’s land surface. Mining for aluminium cans etc. All vegetation has to be destroyed for open cast mining. The trees are not used for building cracked in the heat of the Sun. Such awful devastation. We have to identify which new trees we want for Reforestation. This tree could take 100 years before producing fruit….” “Brazil will always be the land where nuts come from?” “An Indian tribe, undiscovered 12 years ago, sold their mahogany trees to get street lighting – and are now replacing their leaf houses with houses that ‘won’t rot away.’ This was opposed not done by voluntary agreement…” “Takes ½ a century to grow a mahogany tree. ½ of Brazil’s mahogany is sent to the UK to make 107

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Here’s a picture of a house they are building:

needed" (BBC, 22/3/1990) Let's hope they don't run out of seeds! “SPONTANEOUS REGENERATION”: Much better to give every person 5 seeds to grow in their backyard. With nurturing, the trees when they are 1/3rd grown could then be planted by the community who could continue to water and feed them when necessary. “Trees that were 400 years old…” Madagascar: “STUMPED: Forests burnt to make grass-land for cattle. Poverty is worsening. It will be a painful transition. The need for an ALTERNATIVE lifestyle is apparent. Industrialists move in - mining for titanium. The beauty of the land is further threatened. Mines cut through forests. The wildlife will get in the way. Many species are unknown to science…” (ITV, 13/11/1991). Canberra: “The federal government has given the timber industry permission to log a further 60 hectares of National Estate forests in South East New South Wales, and promised to bring forward a decision on the industry’s long term future. The Conservation movement condemned the government saying they had given in to the timber industry” (Southern Cross, 24/9/1990).

L@@K AT THE HUGE TIMBER FRAME! STICK BUILT: (Oh! My gosh!) HOW MANY TREES have they used? 60? To make ONE House! ? “2 armies of 800 people work 24/7 for 3 days to construct 2 houses. ‘We cut down TREES, to give it a 2nd life. We do THIS in Jesus’s name. To our Father - glory. God wants us to do this.’ Unfortunately, there is no cost solution arranging the trucking in of 3,000 different pieces of timber..." (11/8/1990). “I’m a lumberjack, and I’m OK” ? "No-one can agree. No-one that matters actually opposes. So nothing happens." 1990: "87% OF THE RAINFORESTS HAVE GONE..." “Does anyone care about it?” “The whole of the UK was once covered by forests - massive trees much larger than any that live today…” “England has the reputation abroad as a green and pleasant land…” "Britain now has the unhealthiest trees in the whole of Western Europe. 1 in 4 is badly damaged by pollution and insects. Damaged trees lose leaves - can’t feed or breathe properly - they die. A terrible picture is emerging in East Europe: 2 out of 3 trees are damaged in the Soviet Union. 1 in 3 in Chezoslovakia. More action called for to clean up our air" (re: United Nations report, BBC1, 30/8/1990). “Bring the country to the town.” “GO GREEN!” = PLANT TREES NOW! (Ignored). “Planting Trees = Long Term Development. “There are only so many trees, and trees take such a long time to grow…” “Growth rates vary with altitude, soil type and density of tree cover…” Q: "How long does it take for an acorn to grow?" A: "Well, let’s put it this way: When the tree is big and wide, the planter has died." “It can take 4 years for a tree to grow 11 inches.” Which species grow quickly?

“A HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHE IS LOOMING…” "Trees are not replaced on a one to one basis..." “They are supposed to replace every tree cut down with 3 saplings but the soil is too poor. They don’t grow.” "Every 30 minutes, ½ a million trees in the Rain Forest will be destroyed." "For God's sake. YOU have to understand..." "RAIN FORESTS ABSORB CARBON DIOXIDE AND PRODUCE THE OXYGEN ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE." (“Photosynthesis balances CO2.”) "Re-establish love for trees. Change the person inside you." UK: "Maybe you should complain to your branch manager?" Lots of jokes going round EG. ("If Jesus were alive today, he might be able to regain the ashes for us. Now that really would be a miracle.") ("Maybe governments don't like Trees… because they know fresh air makes you feel good…") "FORESTS are being destroyed at a rate of 100 acres per minute..." "THE ‘GREAT’ TREE MASSACRE..." “HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: 450 groups across America, using volunteer labour... Community groups brought together to provide low cost, high quality homes for people in need. ‘RESURGANCE! We will end poverty. How can we go wrong?’…”

(I posted that question on ‘Friends of the Earth’s website, in 2005. No replies!) (“The world’s fastest growing plant is Giant Bamboo growing 80 cm a day, to 35m high.”)

UK: "They are still chopping down trees to make 108

fence posts etc! They keep coming here in their lorries to take trees..." "Are you lumbering…" 1991: “Tree roots are undermining properties. Solution? Get rid of tree/s (?) Go to the council, to Town Planning, to an Aborculturist, Tree growing expert, to the Tree Officer who all say trees along roads are NOT protected by the ‘Tree Protection Act’ - only some very special trees are protected. Trees have to be declared of ‘special interest’ to be protected. End the mutilation of trees. Avoid excessive pruning i.e. removing all the foliage the greenery.” Governments could put TREE PROTECTION ORDERS on the remaining TREES & SAPLINGS! “They say the trees are causing the buildings to subside, they have to chop the trees down.” (“Can’t you come up with any better ideas?) DOCUMENTARY: “Man is violating his fundamental principles. There will come new diseases for which there is no cure. Man must look after all that is natural - the plants, the animals, the water, the air, the stones. Everything planted must be blessed and helped to grow - this is why we are Guardians. Guardians of all things. The Guardians are sick. The Guardians need help, to save them from mutilation. We see the Earth as decaying. We must get governments to help communities. Both sides are part of the integration- both sides are responsible for the harmony. Taking out one side UNBALANCES the fundamental energy. All sides are integrated to make a whole. Our lakes - drained to make a power station! The EARTH is being made WEAKER. The EARTH IS IN DANGER. The HEART OF THE WORLD IS DYING. Unless we do something, the world is coming to an END. No more water is being produced. The Tundra is drying out – is now yellow - should be GREEN! No snow to drain into lakes, to make rivers! Plant life is too dry!” (re: The KOGI, TV 1991). ADVICE: “DIY uses a lot of timber. Boycott hardwoods from Rainforests. Customers can make companies change their mind.” “UNLESS ACTION IS TAKEN TO SAVE OUR REMAINING FORESTS, THE TREES WILL BE GONE BY 2025. People are urged to write to Banks asking them to cancel 3rd World debt” (ITN, 5.30am

control. Axed to make parquet flooring for Europe. Machinery also causing ground damage. Forests opened up for roads, railways. Virgin forests now threatened by more new roads. Small farms burnt. All needs come from the forest - food, medicine, furniture… SOON, FORESTS WILL BE GONE! An endless stream of logs? The World Bank’s plan is to increase Exploitation! Less than 10% of people are interested in Conservation. CUT & RUN, devastate, clear out, to make bigger profits - more money. Less investment. Whole region devastated…” (This Week, ITN, 3/11/1991) ("Did they plan the destruction behind locked doors?" “They haven’t thought this through, have they?” “NO Rainforests = Lots of commodities will disappear…”) “DON’T WAIT for Government Action. Population pressure - gather like-minded friends to help. You’ve got to stand up for what you believe in even if there’s very little hope. Plant a tree. Think twice about it. Trees are replaced by noise pollution. Write (send lots of emails) to the European Commission, Friends of the Earth…” (Go Wild, ITV, 21/11/1991).

(Nobody bothers to water the trees during hot weather!) UK: “Prince Charles congratulated the dedication of gardeners and foresters for their care of Britain's trees. As patron of the National Trust’s Tree Disaster appeal, he described how he visited the South East decimated by ferocious winds of up 100 mph and had witnessed ‘appalling scenes of devastation.’ An estimated 15 million trees were toppled in the storm of 1987. Insurance firms paid out £1.2 Billion. In January 1990, winds up to 100 mph (again) felled millions of trees, including saplings planted after the earlier storm. ‘At the time it seemed impossible the Trust would have the resources to recover - a public appeal raised nearly £2 million. Thanks to the efforts of foresters and gardeners an enormous amount of work has been carried out” (Evening Standard, 7/5/1992). (After each storm, men with chainsaws cut up the uprooted trees…) EXPERT: “Uprooted trees can be replanted, just as any other plant…” “BYE BYE USSR: 5 million cubic metres of forest cut in one USSR region every year. At this rate devastation in 7 years.” “Wood is not used SENSIBLY - is burnt as fuel cellulose produces chlorine gas - very dangerous. Sometimes, the trees get thrown into the rivers - this pollutes the water, kills the fish… Timber exported. The more we exploit, the more harm we do.” “Britain and Siberia have signed a £2.6 Billion deal to cut down a forest 3 times the size of Yorkshire. Britain will supply the technical knowhow to build houses and roads in the Soviet republic. The Russians know how to cut down

news, 28/9/1991).

“RAINFORESTS DISAPPEARING VERY QUICKLY. Question of Aid for re-foresting. World Bank holding a crisis meeting. AFRICA = THE WORLD’S 2ND LUNG. Rainforests retreated before last Ice Age. Now in retreat again. Destruction creeping south and east. Chainsaws, logging mills. TREES = Only way of making money to save the economy from debt. CAMEROON: They want to become leading exporter of timber to the West. Will trees be replanted? Oldest timber. Government cannot 109

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they can reproduce. The report’s findings confirm the worst fears of Environmentalists. The report tells the story of an Ecological catastrophe in the making. It is time the timber trade faced responsibilities and realised it is impossible to continue this rate of destruction. The timber companies do not want data in the report to be published as this could have an adverse effect on trade” (The Guardian, 29/3/1993) (I believe you’re going to need ALTERNATIVE employment!) “TIME IS TICKING AWAY!” Re: The need to save the Rainforests and halt Global Warming, John Major said: "It is a huge task - too huge for governments alone." A minister, in response said: "A change in our life-styles is desired - but what changes? We must ask ourselves isn't there a better way we could all live our lives?"

trees. The profits from world-wide sales will be split between the 2 countries. Harvesters promise to replace every tree.” “Attitude is very irresponsible. There is Ecological concern all over the world. The problem cannot be solved?” “RUSSIA is selling (military) tanks to forestry firms. Tanks will pull up Trees” (1992) WAH! "25,000 species of plants under threat of extinction from destruction of rain forests" (1992). GREENPEACE SLOGAN: "THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE." "An internal policy decision was taken by Greenpeace not to inform the public in Europe about the destruction of the Rain Forests" (Why?) (GREEN.... PEACE… Do you get it now?) “THE URBAN FOREST: Dear to people’s hearts? ‘They’re a nuisance. Causing damage. Pulling down the wall. Should be cut. Cut it down. Too high. Very dangerous.’ (Actually causing minor inconvenience). ‘Blocking Sunlight.’ Gradually, these older established trees are being phased out - cut down, replaced with smaller trees. ‘I want them out. Garage attacked by roots.’ ‘I don’t want the trees to go! I don’t believe they’ve reached the end of their life span.’ People butchering trees - severe, heavy pruning vandalism. Legalised vandalism. Trees used to absorb pollutants. Trees threatened by development. Wooden stakes used to support new trees - put in too close, too tight - damages tree. A wild tree tightly bound. Ground concreted, paved over roots, walled in, caged - simply can’t grow. No way tree can get water. Roots coming to surface to find water. Paving stones lifted someone could trip. Authority liable for accidents. ‘We will repair.’ They put on more paving stones! Trees dying as a consequence. This was once a forest. Ask yourself now, how many trees are there? Transplanting semi-mature trees = Less risk of vandalism. To protect trees each person could adopt a tree?” (Fragile Earth, Channel 4, 28/2/1993). America: “One man is sitting it out in an old tree he’s been there for 10 days. Tree was to be chopped for a housing project. All the other trees have gone” (February 1993). UK: “Dutch Elm disease killed 85% of the Elm trees. Now disease is back to claim the rest” (April 1993). “THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT is backing the international timber trade in suppressing a report showing that 100’s of tree species face extinction due to excess logging. The report by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre lists 304 species so exploited they are considered threatened at Global level. A total of 1,868 species were identified as involved in the timber trade, being imported to Britain and Europe from Africa and Asia. Of these 190 were recorded as threatened in 2 or more countries and 304 Globally, meaning these trees have a 1 in 10 chance of becoming extinct. Many species are being felled faster than

(Rio, 1993).

UK: “Deadly virus / fungus is attacking 1,000s of trees in Kent. Spreading rapidly. Large numbers have already fallen. Strikes rapidly & devastatingly. Fear of epidemic. Scientists trying to halt believe disease is water borne. Could affect other wild-life. Outbreak has wreaked havoc” (BBC, 27/6/1993). “A Country-side Commission report said London needs more trees if London is to remain green. People are choosing small trees. As old trees affected by pollution etc., so they will disappear. A tree planting programme has started” (BBC1, 27/6/1993).

EXPERT: “Hug a tree to avoid stress” (7/12/1993). UK: “CHOP, CHOP, CHOP. Don’t chop our trees! ‘Teams of fellers wielding the axe in a leafy street, are barking up the wrong tree,’ said an irate resident. ‘They are cutting the trees so that all you get left is a 30ft stump sticking in the air.’ By the time 6 trees have been extensively pruned, he had had enough. He warned that if they continued to lop branches so savagely they would find him wrapped around a tree. Haringay council said they were not destroying the trees but ‘thinning and reducing the trees by 30%.’ ‘We have to handle a growing number of insurance claims because of subsidence and damage to property’ said a spokeswoman” (Islington Gazette, 27/5/1993). "MONEY LENDERS ARE STILL CAUSING DESTRUCTION: Have you heard of those highfinance Foreign Aid packages to 'Conserve' Rainforests'? Most of the time all they are conserving is business as usual. We are now losing forests at a rate 50% faster than 10 years ago - an area larger than England and Wales is lost at a staggering pace - faster than an acre per second... 1/5th of human induced emissions of Carbon Dioxide arise from Tropical Deforestation. Clearing forests releases the Gas and absent ones are not there to reabsorb the 110

diseased trees. Many had brown or yellowing leaves, or none at all. They looked as if they were suffering from lack of water.’ Fungus is… threatening 800,000 Plane trees…” (Evening Standard,

Gas. Exactly how fast the world’s species are becoming extinct can’t be known since most species aren’t known - a good guess would be more than 50 a day. Impacts on people living in and near the forests continue to be quite dreadful. Many tribal forest-dwellers face cultural and physical extinction. The MAIN Causes: UNSUSTAINABLE LOGGING, MINING for gold etc., conversion of forests to cash-crop plantations, and flooding them for huge DAM projects. Politicians have been under increased pressure to deliver solutions. So far, they have delivered mainly Aid. International Aid for Environment projects has mushroomed. Legions of £multi-million ‘green-funding’ mechanisms litter the development circuit - their objective is spending Tax-payers’ money on 'sustainable development.' So why is the rate of loss still increasing? 1980: The Aid agencies went ‘green’ but that seems to have had very little effect on the Environmental quality of many of their projects EG. Britain's Overseas Development Administration (ODA) still funds logging projects! There is no such thing as ‘sustainable’ logging! Forestry programmes concentrate on commercial timber exploitation, rather than sustainable use of forests on behalf of local people. The World Bank persists in setting the scene for forest destruction. A convincing body of evidence suggests the organisation’s main priority - lending money to make money - has not changed" (BBC Wildlife magazine,

31/8/1994).

"The consumer can protect the remaining world's forests by NOT buying timber. The latest Royal ‘Green’ household policy is only to buy timber from ‘renewable’ forests. Imported American Indian forest timber passes this criteria! Labels on wood to advise consumers are however mostly meaningless. It’s the good will and conscience of the consumer that will save the forests.” Prince Charles expressed ‘overwhelming despair at the rate of the destruction’…” (17/3/1994). “The British are very slow at complaining…” "... maybe we would if we had a viable ALTERNATIVE..." "Trouble with this country, there's so much dithering about..." "We're superfools." "Britain has lost 45% of ancient woodland in the past 50 years - a rate of loss greater than that of the Brazilian forests. London has lost 18% of its woodland" (11/4/1994). "AT LOGGERHEADS: ... moves by land-owners to win EEC support for tree planting on set aside land have met with a splintered reaction from top Euro-crats in Brussels. A hard fought campaign by the Country Landowners Association... who said that Refusal to make tree planting grants to farmers was damaging efforts to establish new woodlands in the UK. The EEC directorate argue that British farmers are reluctant to take land out of arable production. The RULES do not allow for TREE planting...” (22/4/1994). UK: “10s of 1,000s of Alder trees are affected by a disease which stops leaf growth and rots bark” (Country File, BBC1, 25/5/1994) "UK now only has 10% of forests left..." 1994: "We need the remaining forests. The TREES ACT AS OUR LUNGS, removing poisonous carbon dioxide from the air and replacing this CO2, with OXYGEN, so that we can Breathe. THE WORLD ONLY HAS ONE LUNG LEFT. We have already destroyed our other lung." STOP THE DESTRUCTION! “Why don’t you plant trees?” “There’s no money in it.” UNFORGIVEABLE! "We'll have a GRAVE, not a New World..." "Home is where the heart is." Is your heart made of wood? "Are you wooden?” "A CHRISTMAS TREE takes approx. 9 years to grow. Most are chopped and cannot live without roots. Carnage. 50 MILLION TREES are chopped down every Christmas.” “250,000 trees chopped to make Christmas cards every year…” WHEN will YOU STOP Killing… to make ‘a living’ ?

August 1993).

UK: “The Forestry Commission own 3 million acres of woodland. This will not be privatised” (ITV, 18/5/1994). Then: “The Forestry Commission were criticised for planting large blocks of dense forest which alters the look of the landscape…” “There is very little remaining natural woodland in Scotland” (June 1993). “1000s of trees on Hampstead Heath in London to be cut down to improve the view (!) (i.e. cannot clearly see the High-Rise city skyline) and improve undergrowth. Poison put on roots! Up to 50% will be felled - if not all the trees which is their favoured plan. Area gives a bit of respite. It’s bliss not being able to see all these new buildings” (BBC1, 12/8/1994).

UK: “DESPAIR OVER YOUNG TREES DYING: Delicate young trees are being slowly strangled to death due to carelessness and neglect. 10s of 1,000s of saplings are having their life blood squeezed out because nobody is adjusting or loosening their ‘ties.’ …Lack of maintenance in London was seriously worsening the problem of strangulation. Experts believe 30% - 50% of new saplings die within 2 to 3 years from ill-health and vandalism. A GP discovered that 25% of young trees around her home in Kent were dead or dying. ‘We found it very upsetting seeing so many sick and 111

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"Work out how many trees YOU have used, and replant NOW!" (“The average UK family uses 6 trees a year in paper…”) One single garage A-frame roof = 4 Trees! “TO HELP STOP US SUFFOCATING… Indonesia has planted 9 million trees…” (TV advert, May 1994)

something about it then. “The oldest rainforest in the world - Australia’s forest is threatened by logging, new roads…” (The Big Trip, BBC2, 19/10/1994).

“FOREST FIRES sweeping popular tourist resorts in Spain. More than 1 million hectares of forest destroyed. Cause: Soaring temperatures…”

“In London’s Docklands, trees are dead or dying, poisoned by an overdose of weed killer which filtered through the soil slowly destroying the roots and delicate membranes. A landscape gardener said the product had been recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture” (Evening Standard,

(10/8/1994).

14/10/1994).

“A new link between car exhaust fumes and damage to London’s trees has been made by a scientist. Air pollution affects growth patterns, which may explain an apparent decline in the health of some broad leaf species. This can also alter the time the trees bud” (Evening Standard,

UK: “…’I could have cried’… Residents are mourning the loss of a 100 year old Lime tree which was suddenly chopped down. The tree was axed because of its proximity to a medical centre being built nearby. The tree had no sign of disease. Islington council gave permission for it to be chopped down” (Islington Gazette, 20/10/1994). “BUILDING BOOM BRINGS NEW THREAT TO TREES: Green open spaces in London and the trees on them are being threatened by developers. As a national TREE Awareness campaign is launched today, Estates Gazette said there is demand for 8 million square ft of new office space and every available site will come under scrutiny. The London Ecology Unit fears councils will face pressure to sell land…” (Evening

(Are they still there now?)

8/9/1994).

“REFORESTATION PROGRAMME: Seedlings from forest taken to a tree nursery. Over 70 species - being added to all the time. Got to be tough to survive. Trees planted 2 metres apart. Same type of trees not put next to each other. Most varieties seeded by wind, birds. Growth rate depends on quality of soil. Planting new trees will take a very long time and is so very important so whole cycle can begin again… Small steps taken but in the right direction” (Blue Peter, BBC2,

Standard, 23/11/1994).

16/9/1994).

UK: “Furniture shop fire. Fire was so huge there was a fear the whole city could be engulfed! 200 fire-crew fought the blaze. So much water was needed, river water had to be used…” (19/1/1995). “In the Scottish Highlands, pine forests replaced by grazing sheep.” “I have this longing to see and smell apple trees, green leaves, a bubbling brook… I think I’m dying inside until…” Chezoslovakia: “FIR TREE forests are being killed by acid rain - devastation, Environmental disaster. 300 square miles of land turned into a desert. Dirty air causing illnesses, premature births. Coal burning power stations blamed”

“TREE WATCH: Many of London’s street trees are shedding leaves - the cause is not just the change of seasons but a range of problems from pollution to vandalism. The trees which line the highways are the legacy of our far-sighted fore-fathers, whose vision was of a city shaded by greenery. ‘Trees are living, breathing things, and just like humans they suffer from illness, stress and damage. It is really up to the public; either we ignore the symptoms or we can start planning for the future. We can help by adopting a neighbourhood tree and reporting any problems’ said the London Tree Officers Assoc. Trees have been fatally damaged when streets dug up to accommodate the needs of electricity, water, gas and telecom… mature trees have had their roots entombed in concrete… Trees threatened with the axe to make way for new link roads…”

(BBC1, 6/1/1997).

Indonesia: “Flames lit by greed, spread by drought. Land cleared of forests. Now SMOG. No Sun for 3 months! Only 50% visibility. Surgical masks not adequate protection from carcinogenic hydro-carbons. Here, the Earth’s lungs have gone! Forests here disappearing faster than in the Amazon. ‘Bob’ Hasan, the President, has projects EG. A pulp factory, clearing 1 million hectares of forest to make rice fields (on peat which is too salty to work). ‘Business as usual’ attitude. People badly affected by smog but have no voice or power. ‘We need an accountable government.’ Copying Britain where 97% of the forests have gone - a big mistake” (Newsnight,

(Evening Standard, 26/9/1994).

“BLESSED ARE THE PEACE-MAKERS.” “Let your love shine like a mountain stream. Let your love grow. Let your love SHINE and you’ll know what I mean…” “LEAVES: A rich resource. Should be kept for fertiliser. Most gardeners burn leaves and throw the ashes away. Trees need to reclaim most of the nutrients lost by recycling the decomposing leaves.” “LEAVES are beautiful things producing our Oxygen. We should respect that.” “DO YOU LIKE TREES?” “YES” shouted the audience (Scolfield’s Quest, ITV, 16/10/1994) Do

BBC2, 1/10/1997).

“Britain's last remaining 2% of ancient oak forest is likely to be sold to timber merchants who argue 112

legally protected by any preservation order and could be cut…” (9/5/2005). EXPERT: “You can buy French oak railway sleepers for £25. What a bargain! Ideal for making planting tubs” (March 2005) What a waste, what a waste, what a waste. EXPERT: “At the moment everyone’s buying hardwood flooring… but things change…” (UK,

they will merely thin out forests. Wood is destined to be sold in Germany” (Channel 4, 1/8/1997). “The world’s forests will have gone in 50 years. Needs of farmers put above the Environment…” (8/10/1997).

“Man continues the destruction of the rainforests for farming. Logging - Sierra Leone has now lost nearly all forests…” (1998). UK: “Forestry Commission being privatised. Forests gradually being sold off - no longer open to the public. Taken over by aggressive management for pheasant shooting… We’re heading for disaster…” (Out & About, 13/6/1998). “1.5 million trees still being chopped every year to make junk mail” (1999). “DON’T PANIC. GROW TREES!” India: "... in one region they are working on a micro-climate project - are going to bring down the temperature by using wasted spaces for a massive plantation of trees... Impetus from US Agency for International Development" (2001). UK: “Latest ‘must-have’ trend is decking for gardens… using hardwood timber to match the hardwood garden furniture now available in many styles.” “Decking should last 20 years.” ADVERT: “30% discount on all hardwood floors and decking. Huge stocks. Free delivery…” UK: "EUROFOREST are removing healthy trees, to sell - this has nothing to do with managing forests, only making profits..." USA: "Only has 15% of forests left. G. W. Bush is pushing for some of the largest logging projects whilst dismantling critical forest protection laws that took decades to put in place" (2003 - 4). (“Turn over a new leaf…”) "One (African) woman… so concerned about the loss of trees, planted 3 million trees (& won the Nobel? prize) (October 2004). UK: “WOODLAND WARS: Only 2% of ancient woodland left. Lost to quarries, roads, housing, airports… These trees will be bull-dozed because we need crushed rock to maintain hospital buildings etc. 350 remaining sites under threat. Irreplaceable. These are our Rainforests. Economy or Environment? Forests should have absolute Protection” (BBC, 9/12/2004). “60% of tropical rainforests are gone…” (February,

March 2005).

“… the wood comes from the USA to make furniture in this huge factory in Taiwan, then it goes back to America… it’s cheaper to do it this way…” “27,000 Trees a DAY still being chopped down” (November 2005).

"With a bit of luck, touch wood..." a table or chair? “This happy-go-lucky attitude filled me with foreboding…” You should be able to reach out and touch a LIVING TREE! “We are down to our last breathable dregs of polluted air…” (2006). "There's death in the air. Those who survive sing a desperate hymn. Pray God owes you one final request..." “A World Wildlife Fund report out today states we have only 5 years to save the Planet – to stop deforestation…” (Palm radio, 15/5/2007). SCENARIO?: "What's happened?" "THE TREES have died, that's what's happened. We didn't do anything about it!" "Ashes to ashes... dust to dust..." "You always want what you haven't got..." WHEN ALL THE TREES HAVE GONE, how will we survive? "Autumn trees were once paved with gold. Now they bid you a sad farewell…" “We’ll disappear into thin air…” “… take away that sad word ‘good-bye.’ Bring back the JOY in this life…” “Say ‘we need trees’ again…”

SITE SAFETY: "We were asked why Architects designed buildings using building materials - blocks that weighed 93lbs, when the laying of such blocks was injurious to the health of the bricklayer... ... it is a question of saving money on site..." “HARD WORK NEVER KILLED ANYONE” ? UK: 1987-1988: "157 people were killed and 17,000 people injured on construction sites…" "3 deaths a week..." EG. "3 more construction workers died today... Tons of rubble fell on them... an inquest decided they were victims of unlawful killing... the men responsible had no understanding of the dangers involved..." 1990: "Real men are no longer judged by how much they can sweat." "10,000 people seriously injured in construction every year…" "We kill and injure more people than all the other

2005).

“I knew they were destroying Rainforests but I’m amazed by the sheer scale of the destruction! ALL the trees have gone - chopped down to make way for cattle - for beef-burgers!” “78 million acres of Rainforest are destroyed every year - land the size of Poland…” (The Independent, 10/7/2004).

“Canada & USA have been at logger heads for a long time - haggling over subsidies re: logging agreements…” (Sky news, 25/2/2005). UK: “TO MAKE WAY FOR UNSUITABLE HOUSING… residents are fuming after trees were cut down… The council said the trees were not 113

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heavy industries put together" admitted the building industry (UK, 1993). "Back pain costs Britain £3 BILLION a year, and 50 million working days lost." “There’s only so much a person can take before their back breaks...” (“Osteoarthritis: Wearing down of cartilage. Causes excruciating pain…”) “… he’s got a plastic knee now. He’s disabled…”

it." "I hate it in here." "I can hear him coughing 100 floors above me." "I'll chuck myself off the balcony if I don't get re-housed." "After all that hassle moving in here, the only way I'll get out of here is when they carry me out in a wooden box." “The only good thing about being so high up is the view… of other tower blocks…” “I feel so far from nature…” "He jumped?" "He thought he could fly... He wanted to fly but..." "He was pushed!" 1974: THE TOWERING INFERNO: “A blockbuster film made 1974, about a stupidly high skyscraper, a GLASS TOWER, 120 storeys high. Lots of rich people go there for a party, the tower catches fire…” The TOWER = “A monument to all the bull-shit in the world..." WARNING MESSAGE: "One day, 10,000 people will die in a tower block...” THE FIRE DEPT SAID: “We can only deal with fire if buildings are kept to 7 storeys maximum'..." "Don't use the lifts in the event of fire!" “HOW CAN WE GET THEM DOWN? All those people, stuck up there..." “Put a ladder up to reach up there? With the risk of all that glass exploding out? Never.” “A giant inflatable helterskelter? Air drop parachutes?” “OK then. What’s the ALTERNATIVE?” (You need an elevator…something that can rise to the occasion. “You raise me up…” “H’mm. Ah! I’m actually excited by this prospect. I really am!”) “A ROBOT has been developed that will (slowly) climb up walls that could help if the building is on fire” (California, BBC TV, 31/7/2005). "1,000s of CRUMBLING HIGH-RISE UNITS. When no work, no money available to maintain property." "39,000 complaints from one tower block in London about cockroaches. Only way to get rid of them? Dynamite." "ARSON attacks in tower blocks are on the increase. There's a cycle of violence..." (1/3/1992) (They’ve seen the link…) "Architects ‘dream,’ tenant’s nightmare. Good riddance. Glasgow is getting rid of 2 blocks. Totalitarian Architecture. Tenants voted with their feet, couldn't wait to leave" (28/4/1993). "CRIME is up in tower blocks..." "MUGGING in tower blocks... frenzied attacks..." "A housing estate with the worst record in the UK for racial violence is being axed from a government inner-city regeneration programme... a £50 million housing programme... money would have been used to replace the highrise blocks with houses for 1,500 residents... money will go instead to another estate (Stonebridge)... the estate would have been taken over by a Housing Action Trust (HAT), which would have organised the reconstruction... The tenants could then have voted to return to council control, or run the estate as a Co-operative, or allow a private land-lord to

A Typical Building Site:

(Photo: The Whittington Hospital, London, 1989).

UK: “100 children a year killed on building sites” (29/3/2005).

"It's having houses built by men, I believe that makes all the work and trouble" (said H.G. Wells). “All this DIRTY work as if there’s no ALTERNATIVE…” “Bozo. Don’t know you’re out of style.” NEW RULES ON DESIGN SAFETY: "Strict new regulations could become law... The Health and Safety Commission Regulations would oblige architects to design buildings so they can be built, maintained and demolished safely..."

SAFE means: “Predictable, secure, untroubled by danger, or fear, impregnable, reliable, certain not to fail- give way, fortify..." DEDUCTIVE LOGIC: Traditional building materials are UNAFFORDABLE. “That’s my theory and I’m sticking with it.” TOWER BLOCKS (Brief History): (“Le Corbusier – the Grand-Father of modern design… loved for curvy concrete structures – raised and supported on columns…) His designs copied by lesser talented architects, gave birth to the loathed 1960’s tower blocks…” HIGH-RISE BUILDING SYNDROME: "I hate heights." "I'm always afraid my kids will fall..." "Such a long way to fall." "The fucking lift's not working again! Now would you just credit it?" "How the hell am I supposed to climb up all them stairs with the pushchair and me shopping?" “I’ll break my neck on those stairs!” "The council's having a laugh, at our expense." "I don't know what they think they're playing at, but I'm sick of 114

oversee them... People's hopes were aroused... the HAT proposal took 18 months and cost £200,000... The Environment Dept., said there was not enough money to meet all demands under the programme..." (5/8/1993). ("Can you tell me what is safe, secure and economic?" "England's fate hinges on it.") "HIGH-RISE OWNERS: ... the council right-to-buy scheme... a London borough has been accused of abandoning families who bought high-rise flats... a £7.4 million deal excludes more than ½ the borough's ex-council flat owners. 'We have been blatantly conned.' ... Families who live in blocks more than 4-storeys high will not be included in the transfer to the private sector... Lenders reluctant to give mortgages for High-rise council properties, leaving owners unable to move... the Council of Mortgage Lenders asked to drop the ban..." (19/7/1993) "70,000 people who bought their high-rise flat who are unable to sell... council told they must give mortgages" (14/12/1994). DESPAIR: "Prince Charles delivered one of his most damning indictments yet on the breakdown of society... describing the anarchy and lawlessness of inner-city children... young people living on soul-less housing estates had a feeling of hopelessness and alienation, were prone to racial tension, crime, drug abuse, and unemployment. 'The very fabric of society starts to get eaten away.' ... Architectural and urban decline... children are not designed to live in tower blocks, where there is no framework of order, together with a sense of isolation from the rest of society... He warned any solution to the problems of inner cities could not come from government alone, but had to be based on participation by the community... He urged a partnership approach by public and private sectors... in many parts people were coming together, determined to put the soul back into their local society and create a future for the community..." (26/10/1993). "SEEDY these days means: SQUALID." “How to end… urban sprawl?” "A nursery lost their high court battle to stay open were providing only safe place to play for children from top floors of tower block..." (October,

The stench of burnt wood! Intense heat. "A fire burning out of control can double in size every minute. The heat hot enough to bend steel..." TERRIFYING: "... Flames erupted, spread so quickly! Today’s homes are so dangerous - full of electrical gadgets... Fumes - 2 gulps and you could be unconscious. Victims badly burnt. Smoke so thick you can't see anything. Terrible! You've got a maximum 2 minutes approx. to get out.” "Fire swept through the home..." "There was no external fire escape! I didn't want to melt. The window frames and the floor were on fire. I jumped, broke many bones..." GONERS: "They've gone! 4 people in a few minutes. Terrible!" "She died in absolute agony..." “FIRE! The children are burnt. The house is gone…” "Despite the desperate attempts of neighbours..." "How did it start? Wiring?" "How the hell do I know?" "25,000 fires a year start with cooking.” WAH! 'I don't want anyone else to go through this. I want something done about it.'..." "It took hold so quickly! How? The contents were highly flammable. Ceiling voids. Lack of sprinklers. The answer is to create compartments that can be contained." 1992: "ARSON ATTACKS: 40% of all fires in Britain are started deliberately. 2,000 people die each year." “These kids love playing with fire! I don’t know where they get it from - it’s not from us!” ("If only all the arsonists would run out of matches…" "They're making a bonfire of the rules…" (see: UK Building Regulations). 1993: UK: "60,000 fires in homes every year. More than 600 people died. 75,000 injuries." FIRE FIGHTERS STRIKE: "It's quite obvious we've not got it. We're going to fight for it" said a fireman. "The fire brigade's not a special case! The nurses want it, the doctors want it! But we're only giving them a 1% pay increase..." said a Tory. (it = money). "Growing anger. A lot of people are dissatisfied. Another conflict" (17/3/1993) ("... the debate about it is simmering on the back burner...") "Britain is at the bottom of the league in fire prevention in Europe" (26/5/1993). "The Emergency services are stretched to the limit (breaking point)…” “A block of flats are on fire…”

1993).

"I am very mindful that people who are living in tower blocks, are the HOSTAGES of bad government." (“The government could announce an amnesty relieving harsh Capital punishments, life-terms…”)

ROTTEN HOUSING: “THE CONCRETE JUNGLE”: "World-wide: HUGE BLOCKS. Everywhere... identical HORRIBLE BLOCKS... "Ailing GREY BLOCKS, rotting, infected by some insidious wasting disease..." "In a state of serious decay..." "What a dump!" “Shoddy, substandard, so poor, rundown." 25 million people trapped here? "I'm feeling off colour…"

HOUSE FIRES: 1991: UK: 64,000 house fires. 610 people died in them" HORRIFIC! "Your house can burn down in the time it takes to phone the fire brigade." "Your house reduced to a shell..." 115

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(“When it's a complete unknown...") CITIES are TERRIBLY OVER-CROWDED: = HELL (on earth). (Over-crowding is assessed by how many people per room, not how many people per plot - in a square mile). (I know a good way to reduce over-crowding…) "Most people live in houses over 60 years old. 75% of people have low incomes. Millions of homes are substandard... as the housing stock ages and building techniques prove defective...” (1987). "£11 Billion cut in investment for housing in London over last 10 years" (1989) "Some things never change, eh?" "INHUMAN PLANNING: Many 'modern' housing estates... everyone convinced there is something wrong with the buildings. Brick built. Culprit? The space between the buildings. People avoid too much isolated space or if too built up. More open space could be the answer" (5/5/1993) ("There's too many empty spaces between people...") "We need to house a lot of people quickly... Factory-made houses can be just as good as production-line cars = Industrially built... concrete blocks... a utopian vision, of high units with nothing in-between, quickly became SLUMS. 'We were condemned.' A failure only 4 years later. People were not happy. Most awful blocks. One example of what is wrong with housing... 'We've got together to make sure they don't experiment like this with anyone else.' 'The community works well if they have a common interest.'... Cheaper to demolish and start again... " (re: Hulme, Manchester,

banging and crashing, every sound travelling through the walls and floors…” "His toilet leaked through my ceiling!" "Uh Oh! There's another crack in the ceiling..." “Filthy corridors, strong smell of urine and rubbish - the smell of Humanity! Disgusting.” “I FEEL like a Homeless person…” "Couldn't relax, couldn't relate…" "I'm too afraid to go out." “Rusty pipes. Ceilings falling down. Hot water heating not working…” "This is neither cheap or cheerful." "So damp in here we're growing mushrooms!" "This estate is a HELL-hole. Should have been condemned years ago." "What is there that couldn't be improved?" “These places are a health risk, and should be closed down." "Every block is infested with cockroaches. You turn the light on and they scurry away all over the place. They're in the food cupboards, on the cooker... They are so disgusting. Yuk, makes my flesh crawl..." "Even the rats have asked for a transfer!" "It ain’t like it's supposed to be." Deficient. "This puts a lot of people in very desperate situations." "Reduced living standards..." "The SHORTAGE of DECENT housing, and prospects...” Demoralised. "All the people are BREAKING... The language they use!" A RISING TIDE OF COMPLAINTS:

"... it's just not good enough..." "We're housed... but not OK. Housed but with no direction… They never understood this was no good. We can't carry on with this on our shoulders.” "We're not going to sit in silence. Oh woe, woe, woe. We're going to try and understand it, ‘cos here ‘life’ gets harder every day..." "I hear Freedom call. Tear down these walls. It won’t be long - we'll be in a better place. Speak out loud. It won’t be long..." "All we need is some kind of ACTION PLAN..." ("A HOME is supposed to be a LIFE SUPPORT system, isn't it?" "I guess it depends what is on the top of your list of priorities...") "Britain's housing is crumbling... estimated repair bill over £54 Billion. Britain is not a poor nation but too little money is spent on housing..." (1990).

UK, 29/5/1993).

"Could we be heading for the biggest HOUSING CRISIS we've had for years? Many houses unfit. 1 in 4 fails to meet the government's (low) standard. Many houses showing their age. In only one borough, 1,000s of homes unfit to live in. The problem can only be solved with government and private money. That's not likely to happen in a recession" (21/6/1993). "ON VERGE OF COLLAPSE: ...a series of surveys… Nationally 7.5 million are unfit to live in (7.4%). A quarter of the homes in London need serious renovation, with structural problems, poor ventilation, heating, water and sanitation... The definition 'UNFIT' is based on inadequate levels of stability, disrepair, dampness etc. ... The fall in availability of improvement grants... The government's plans to change the rules for renovation grants... The slump in the housing market discourages people from maintaining their property... The situation will be worsened... The national bill for next year must be cut... " (23/6/1993). COMMON COMPLAINTS: "Council accommodation the size of rabbit hutches, in rundown areas..." "This ain’t no dream house." “A miserable sub-existence. NO PEACE! Doors

(Cartoon: Architects magazine: Artist unknown. 1980’s?) 116

would be reducing the poverty that forces women onto the streets. In particular, re-instating Housing Benefit for the under-18’s” (early December, 2004) “There are so many prostitutes…”

(I've got a plan..." "Of course, it's not everyone's cup of tea..." The money saved by providing a lowcost ALTERNATIVE = Money to improve existing desirable traditional housing?) BOXING in the 20TH Century = "There's always a winner and a sore loser. You have to fight till you can't get up." “Boxed-in badly.” “Boxing shouldn't be bruising!" (“… it’s a contender…”) "See and understand the wounds they suffer..." HOW POOR HOUSING AFFECTS WOMEN: "… Women have relied on council housing - councils housed more women than men because women could not Afford to buy a home on their income alone. Many women rely on state welfare benefits or maintenance payments from estranged partners…" "We're so hard up." "This ain’t no stairway to Heaven. One slip down these stairs is enough to scare the pants off you..." "Pokey and grimey." "Gone to rack and ruin." Grotty. Shabby. Not at all chic… "This is hardly Paradise." "I would love to have a garden. If I had one, I would take great pride in it. It's not too much to ask for, is it?" "All I want is a patch of grass, some flowers... a SAFE place where my children can play..." "Sometimes when it all gets on top of me, I go to the bus-stop and weep..." "Is the slump over yet?" "The House of Pain." "Gruelling." “I hate this God-forsaken house! I can’t manage… This is killing us!” "This'll be the ruin of us." "I'm walking out of this house. I've had enough! I can't take it anymore." "If one thing doesn't get you, another thing will." “I just can’t hack it anymore!” (Add your comments here..................................) "No chance of honest toil. They diddle, they cheat all to try and survive, to eke out a living on ‘Social Security’..." "You never know what's around the next corner..." "Pimps, prostitutes, weirdo men hovering round, perverts, crazed thugs... " "Kerb crawling is a real danger..." ("Men who hover around are always a risk to females / families.") (“… he hovered around just to make sure she was safe…”) "900 girls stand on the street corners in the UK plying the oldest trade (for money). Will they willingly be herded into zones? Where will the legalised zones be?” “Police videoing scantily dressed girls, instead of removing them from the streets - will do this until a solution is found..." (re: TV debate to legalise prostitution, 4/10/1991) (“… it’s happy, it’s cheerful, it would brighten any dull corner…) “Most women get into the sex trade due to suffering abuse. They don’t like themselves. They have a sense of worthlessness…” “She’s a knockaround girl…” "We have to pay the rent man." "A girl's gotta eat." "What's wrong with making him pay for it?" (“Prostitutes sell sex rather than plastic containers. Prostitutes are fallen angels.") “Legalising prostitution is one possibility. What would be better

(2005).

(Cutting Corners: SAVES TIME, but can compromise SAFETY!) SAFE AS HOUSES? UK: "Every year 2.5 million accidents in the home - many involve children." UNHAPPY: "... Most people complain about the LACK OF DURABILITY:” "It’s broken again! I don't believe it! Oh! They don’t make things like they used to. I LIKE things that ARE built to LAST.” “Nothing lasts anymore.” “Sometimes things don’t last as long as you’d like them to - this hurts.” “Everything has a life-span. Starts off new, breaks down - has to be patched up, then scrapped.” “If only the corners were reinforced, the handles made stronger. If only these didn’t keep breaking...” “I’ve lived here for 6 years and this is the 4th washing machine I’ve had to buy!” “Not built to last. Tested to make sure they do break down, just after the guarantee, if any, expires! Very annoying!” "It's broken. Crappy thing!" "This takes over our lives." "WAH! I want something to last a lifetime." "I want to organise my life so I live independently - everything has to last." "I've got a very long list of things that need fixing." "Those 'little' jobs around the house? A modern, exciting life-style? Hardly." "I'm gutted. We worked so hard to pay for this and it didn't get us anywhere…" (“Ah! You don’t feel happy when things let you down?” “When you know what it is you really want to do, when you make up your mind, there will be no stopping you. But what has been stopping you all this time?”) “A big complaint is that complaints never get anywhere…” "Mrs Thatcher came here and agreed the conditions are terrible but nothing’s been done." "Talk to Walls." "Ow! That HURTS. Do you think people really like banging their heads against brick walls?" "They've fobbed me off, again." "No-one at the council wants to know anything about it!" "We've got to show the council they can't get away with it!" OUTSTANDING REPAIRS: "The council's up to their ears in repairs!" "There's a lot of people before you, you know! You've been allocated a number. If you haven't heard by the end of next week, call back.." “YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A QUEUE. Please hold on.” UK: 1989: “Things are actually getting worse. Fed-up with queuing, waiting to pay? Advice: COMPLAIN! Say: Provide the service we want.’ ‘Be Bold’…” THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SAID: "All I get is people’s constant complaints. If it were up to me, I'd let them have what they want, but I can't, so 117

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hoping to get a home with a garden, in a safe area where the kids can play…” “You know what they’re like down at the council. You’re only a number, held in a queue. When you do get through, they’re so rude to you! They treat you like shit! I can’t be bothered chasing them - what’s the point? They haven’t got any properties available…” (2000). COUNCIL HOUSING ALLOCATIONS: ‘NEW’ SYSTEM: “So now I’m supposed to compete for points against other bidders when you advertise the odd available hovel in the newspaper? You ‘people’ are pathetic…” (2004). ("Considering their circumstances, these people seem remarkably sane. These people have endured the most profound agony and suffering. I ask you to give them leave so they may recover...”) "NEW HOMES = LET THERE BE LIGHT!" Of course, it’s not compulsory. You still want bricks? The best of luck to you. May you always be happy. The idea is just to INCREASE CHOICE ! “It’s just a little change… true as it can be… not unexpectedly… it’s small to say the least… but we all are a little scared… will it be just the same? How can be sure?”

there, that's it, and all about it. I've done all I can. I don't want to hear another word said about it, OK?" "I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do about it, OK? Don't give me a hard time over it! It's not my bloody fault! I don't make the bloody rules..." PEOPLE SAID: "ANYONE WITH AN HEART WOULD KNOW HOW TO LOVE US!" “They keep bouncing us around - saying ‘it’s not down to them.’ They’re passing the buck all the time!” "Council repairs. Can't do. No money. Staff Shortages. So frustrating.” “The council will do it up lovely? Yeh right…” (The Conservative government allowed council tenants to buy their council house - so councils could avoid the hefty cost of repairs?) "RENTS ROCKET: 100s of 1,000s of council tenants face hefty rent increases, M. Spicer, Housing minister said yesterday. The Shadow Housing minister told the conference of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy: 'This is crazy.

Council tenants and Housing Association tenants are now having to pay very high rents and in many cases this amounts to 40% of their income'..." (8/6/1900) "GLOOM, GLOOM..." "MAXIMUM RENTS ACHIEVED..." “How does this help people on low incomes? NEEDED: New Initiatives. If given the chance, most people would like to do something...” “The residents want one thing, the administration another... Very heated discussions... System designed to trap people. We must get to the nitty-gritty... If we're going to do it, do it right... People should not live in fear. People are not happy in public housing (i.e. homes owned by the government). Make it safe. People want to be able to control their own destiny. You've got to persevere to make it right.... Shockingly bad conditions... It is something we should do now. It is certainly worth an attempt... If people treated like trash, they behave like trash..." (1991). WAITING LISTS: “Did I fill in the right forms? You didn’t send me any!” “You’ve taken my name off the register? Do you have any idea what I had to go through to just get my name put on the register? All the letters and forms that had to be completed, processed, approved…” “My MP wrote to you 3 years ago saying I have priority need because of Domestic Violence, with medical grounds. I’m TOP of the waiting list. If I can’t get a transfer, who is being housed?” “WAH! HOW MUCH LONGER am I going to be kept in this dump?” “After waiting 5 years, you’ve offered us a grotty, filthy dirty, tiny flat - that’s much smaller than the one I’m living in, and you say I’ve got to take it? The whole point of this transfer is to get a bigger place now I’ve got three kids…” “Go and live in it whether I like it or not? If it’s my dream… I’ve got to weigh up the pros and cons first… WAH! I’m still

DEAD END STREET: “… where nothing ever changes…” "I look out of my rabbit hutch, what do I see?" "Mounting levels of FRUSTRATION..." "Most places ‘round here are shit-holes." 1992: "Is this a home, or a prison?" "Life's too hard." "Would YOU be seen dead here?" "Should we wait for walls to crack?" "WALLS, WALLS, WALLS. We've paid with our lives. Fuck this. There's NO purity. Only bribery, slaves and fucking FEAR! What we do is all the same. Walls, walls, walls..." (WALLS are MAN-MADE. HOW Shelters are made, is man’s CHOICE!) ANCIENT SAYING: “If a house destroys that which we love, we will destroy the house, brick by brick, until only the wind remains..." Many youngsters feel isolated... no money, nowhere to go... kicking their heels... ADULTS SAID: "Rotten kids!” “Go on. Clear off" "Get lost." "Don't want them sort hanging around here. You never know what'll get nicked." "Haven't they got anything better to do? You wouldn't think they've got a decent home between them." Go on! Sling your hook. Don't give me dirty looks! I'll give you the back of my hand. Cheeky blighters!" "Oh, there's no telling them these days. Kids! Huh, who'd 'ave 'em? Kids don't listen to a word you say!" “I don't know what's gone wrong with kids these days. I simply do not understand it!" “SOD THEM!” KIDS SAID: "We're put in a different class altogether, disregarded..." "I didn't ask to be born." "I hate life." 118

on this estate are no different to anywhere else..."

= Strong GANG culture... "Kids rattling and cracking windows, shaking the house to the foundations…” (NOTHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO DO? "Talk it through. It's better than sitting doing nothing. Making your dreams a reality..." "I think you'd enjoy it." "Success breeds success…") "SERIOUS RIOTING on housing estate called 'Wood End'... gangs throwing stones..." (12/5/1992). (The ‘Guardian Angels,’ a group from America offered to help by patrolling estates in Britain. Authorities Fear: Could be a vigilante group? Their Offer rejected. (Kick-boxing became all the rage… “The need the think outside of the box…”) "People on housing estates too scared to tackle VANDALISM after attack on man who died trying to stop vandals." "... furious tenants barracked council chiefs who promised to finance security patrols on one estate... and a week later changed their minds. The council said: 'It would be irresponsible of us put our money into sticky-plaster remedies at the expense of other tenants..." (Hackney, UK, 9/2/1994) (What? Whose money are you spending?) "Everybody is Searching for Easy Street. It ain’t so easy to find." ESTATES UNDER ATTACK: "... a worried police force... 'We are going to burn your house, kill your whole family.' Intimidation... every day, petty racial abuse is a big problem... Under siege of racists throwing stones at house... 'We're taking it very seriously, there's no doubt about that. We will evict people" said the police. 'They don't know what it's like, do they?' Panic buttons, security cameras installed where incidents occurring... houses spray-painted... neighbours won’t act as witness... Racism breaks families..." (7/4/1994). "Man killed - was found covered in white paint paint poured all over his head…" 1993: THE NO-GO ESTATES: "In many cities now there are no-go areas for the police. The police realised if they walk there they run the risk of being knifed (cut). Street people join together to deal with what they call: ‘ROARING FACISM.’ Children deal with over-zealous disciplinarians EG. the police, by gesticulating i.e. putting their finger under their nose, saluting Hitler.” "... those people who live in run-down areas have something to be angry about..." "Drug-plagued estates - Junkies in stair wells, leaving their needles everywhere...” “CRACK DEALERS... the dismal atmosphere of inner-city neglect... no delivery man is safe..." "Police no longer patrol... the kids take the wheels off their cars, set fire to their cars, launch attacks on the police... kids just run off - place is like a warren..." "The no-go zones were drawn up by the police. 'We didn't want to do it, but we had no choice.' The people

(18/1/1993).

"… Last night I heard the screams behind a wall. For me it won’t do no good to call the police. They always come too late, if they come at all. Last night, I didn't get any sleep..." "You try to hide behind paranoid eyes, you fix your grin and try to hide, hide, hide..." (songs). "The police? They don't do nuffing! If you phone the police, you're in big trouble. They don't like people who grass them up..." (“You don’t seem to know the meaning…”) (“Life! Do you get confused by it? It’s the little things in life that make life worthwhile. You being happy- that’s what it’s about.” “It’s all about YOU.”) "2nd night of violence on a Lincolnshire housing estate..." (5/6/1993). "The gangs TERRORISE the notorious estate... criminal damage, assaulting other tenants, breaking into other flats... high rates of robbery, burglary, vandalism... restraint injunctions served... case adjourned... could not be proceeded against as he is only 14 years old... council will execute eviction notices served on families of ring-leaders of the gangs... broken tenancy agreements..." (13/5/1993). NOISE: “Chipboard is used for sound-proofing between floors…” “New party walls have to be built from concrete blocks…” "There is nothing like PROBLEM neighbours for lowering property prices... 88,263 COMPLAINTS last year... usual trouble is noise... dozens of people end up in hospital after taking the law into their own hands” (UK, 1993). "120,000 complaints about noise... Pet Hates: Loud music, screaming children, DIY tools (hammers, power drills etc), house parties, sirens, alarm bells, car tyres screeching, horns... Irate residents are fed up... " (9/8/1993). "Noisy places, noisy people." "Most people do not complain for fear of being victimised / harassed." FIENDS: "Neighbours at WAR.. This is TORTURE... Noise driving me crazy... I feel trapped. No-one can do anything about it! Confrontations... Call the Police? No powers to deal with it. Rests with Environment Health officers. Understaffed, over-stretched - can only take action if nuisance evidence gathered over period of time… fines imposed, equipment confiscated, threaten or impose 6 month prison sentence. Most complaints at night - few councils operate a night service... Noise can lead to depression, suicide, murder. Noise = A blunt instrument. "It's up to the council to decide" said the Environment minister. Bitter, long, drawn out 119

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advertised as capable of hiding cracks. ATTITUDE: "There's nothing wrong, carry on." "The illusion creates pleasure..." "Yeh, cover over the defects, man. That'll really help sell the joint.” "There cannot be hope for the future whilst we are trying to paper over cracks pretending nothing has happened." EXPERT: “Why have horrible wall-paper and risk buyers not liking it?” “I’m not a fan of textured ceilings. Unfortunately every ceiling in this house…” “Papering round corners. Tempers flare…” "The plaster keeps coming off the walls. I don't know how to plaster! Costs a fortune to bring someone in..."“Plastering: Very difficult to do, to get all smooth and straight.” “I know. That’s why you pay me to come and do the plastering.” “WOBBLY WALLS:” “There’s hardly any mortar left between the old bricks! This whole stack could fall down!” “What A STATE! We’ve certainly got our work cut out!” “Everything you touch in this old house crumbles away…” “There’s no point getting upset about it. We’ve just got to get on with it…” “The builder has disappeared! He’s not answering his phone…” “If you are having a lot of work done on your house, you might need to consider ALTERNATIVE accommodation…” "OLD-fashioned values. OK, till things go wrong." “COST TO REPAIR COUNCIL HOUSES: £10 BILLION. Cost to repair houses in the private sector twice that…” (Kilroy, BBC1, 3/12/2001). "How to save a fortune in home improvement?" "… it pays for itself" means: “… it could knock a few bob off insurance policies. You’ll only need one insurance policy... Ask a decorator for a quote for repainting a house x 10 years. Let's see… how much you'll save on petrol…”

disputes... People have to leave their homes... Mediation often ineffective..." (20/7/1993). “I can’t be doing with it. All this screaming. Families these days are full volume, at fever pitch…” "Noise patrols FAIL to stop the MENANCE... People don't communicate!" (28/7/1993). "120,000 complaints about noise in England and Wales last year... In Scotland, sound insulation tests are carried out... builders have to comply with Regulations... The world is becoming increasingly noisy" (22/9/1993). UK: “4.8 million people suffer from Tinnitus – persistent noise EG. ringing in the ear, caused by damage to the delicate hair cells. Causes depression, lack of concentration and in some cases suicide…” (March 2005). “NOISE IS THE IMPORTANT FACTOR RUINING OUR LIVES. Traffic, aeroplanes, road works. You can’t escape it. The noisiest places are the most congested and heavily populated. Citizens want noise reduction” (ITN, 11/8/2005). “There’ll be a hush all over the world…” MAINTAINANCE: EXPERT: “Before buying a property, take a long hard look, and consider all the downsides.” “The work’s never ending! A nightmare!” “A bottomless pit.” EG. “ROT caused by DAMP… called ‘Dry Rot’… is a fungus… also called ‘House Cancer.’ Can be devastating. Spreads through walls, floors, ceilings. Can attack house next-door… You treat your house, but can spread back again…” DECORATING: "We've been meaning to decorate for years - somehow we just never got around to doing it…" “It’s a waste of time, if you ask me.” SHE SAID: "He sits there, like some big greedy over-weight lump, farting for England, making my sitting-room smell, he watches foot-ball non-stop, won’t shift his arse from the armchair, and then he has the audacity to shout 'Goal!' when his team scores. One of these days, I'll tell him where he can stick his bloody goal..." "I am going on about it, ‘cos I want it done NOW, OK?" "Blimey. No need to shout, love!" “Should we repair the car or the house? We can’t Afford to do both…” "There's got to be more to life than decorating! Decorating is OK, if you've got nothing important to do, but oh! isn't this exhausting! The cost of all that clobber! Oh, it's never ending!" “Paint hides a multitude of sins…” “When you use paint you are actually coating with plastic…” “Painting walls, doors, ceilings always brings me out in spots.” "She wants me to paint the whole house! When I do, she tells me she wants to move - the house is too small." “Painting walls is about as exciting as watching paint dry…” 1980's: A thick, rubbery paint introduced -

ROOFS: FLIMSY: Traditionally roofs collapse, cave-in and blow off… A gust of wind can easily rip roof tiles off. “Don't go outside! The SLATE could cut your head off…" “Tiles go porous.” “…moss growth weakens the effectiveness…” “Nails rot...” “The mould on this wall is probably a sign the roof is leaking. The tiles could have slipped, some could just be missing. You may need a new roof! Can’t tell till I get up there…” “These tiles are too heavy- you’ll have to strengthen the timbers…” "The roof's been leaking…can't Afford to fix - will get worse. Ceilings all need replacing. (Gives new definition to bed wetting). The rafters got all wet and rotten. The main supports are rotting. The floorboards have gone...” “I hope our roof does blow off in a storm - as long as nobody gets killed…” “… he fell off the roof…” ADVERT FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY: “We’ve seen it all…” 120

“Could you please do something about it? He can’t manage without it! It should have been done by now…” “Fractured pipes…” EG. “An upstairs pipe leaked for 6 hours. 3 floors drenched. Took 3 months for everything to dry out. The loss adjuster didn’t know what to make of it all. Yeh. Go figure…” “The rules state a toilet waste / slurry pipe must have an air vent = a pipe sticking up from the roof by at least 18 inches to release any methane gas. Doesn’t look very nice…” “Do you want to fit a sewage shredder?” “Ugh! I don’t even want to think about it!” “The sanitary engineer always takes an interminable time.” “God! Why do they make these baths so bloody heavy?” “Has your floor been reinforced?” “I’m sorry. But this won’t fit up these stairs…” “Was your head screwed on when you chose this piece of Victoriana?” “He had just fitted the new bath when he dropped his hammer… Seeing the bath cracked, nearly broke his heart…” “Her bath overflowed through my ceiling…” “Washing machines frequently break down, flooding the place out.” “I’ll get it fixed tomorrow…” STOP COCKS: “Oh, they’ve put these in a silly place! You’ll never be able to turn these off in an emergency.” “Good God. This is ridiculous!” “If you want to change their position, this whole wall is going to have to come down.” “I’ll leave them where they are. You never know…” “Turn off the mains inlet into the house?” “I don’t want to do that causes an air lock - a bugger to blow out… Oh, I’ll have to do that.” “ROGUES! Cowboys. Emergency repair men. You won’t know you’ve been ripped off till you get the bill. A trail of misery. Over-charging. Shoddy work. A costly exercise. We get a mountain of complaints. Fleeced for clearing blocked drains most common domestic problem. Tricks used by the trade… ‘Whew! Who did this job?’ Bills often fixed according to the size of the house. Pump problems - pump jammed. Faulty valves. Did unnecessary work to charge more. You don’t need any qualifications to become a rich plumber” (Watchdog, BBC1, 6/2/1995) .“Call out charges, hourly charges, parts & labour bills… Then the cost of tidying up, repairing damage done… “No matter how many times I go to buy all the bits, I always find, right in the middle of a job, I’m missing something…” “I’m just popping out. Be gone for about ½ an hour…” “I’m paying him by the hour, not the job- a big mistake…” A typical ‘Work’man: “Are they still working in the bathroom?” “No, one’s gone to the van - I think he’s still here but I can’t see him. He’s been gone ages! One’s gone to the newsagents. The other’s gone for his lunch (at 10am)…” “The plumber’s stuck on another job - says he can’t make it tomorrow.”

THE HIGH COST of a ‘NEW’ traditional ROOF: All that work, hassle & WOOD = Dead space in the eaves… "SHODDY BUILDING WORK... new roofs blown off 3 blocks of flats... 54 families made homeless, freezing chances of 2,300 on waiting list... ... the lightweight, Seamless aluminium roofs put on to replace the reinforced-glass fibre Resiform in late 1960's... Other blocks examined, roofs now weighed down with sand-bags... CONCLUSION: ‘We are dealing with Kit construction buildings which have proved disastrous in legal and construction terms’..." (19/3/1990). “The old ROOF came off… Plastic sheeting is the latest stop-gap material…” “You can raise a traditional roof to vastly increase habitable space, but this is enormously expensive…” (ALTERNATIVELY, you just might, one day, be able - at the same time, to fit a much more Affordable molded ONE-PIECE roof onto a traditional house – thereby having a SUPERSTRONG roof that provides adequate protection. Ah! Yes. The roof over your head could be FUN…) PLUMBING: CONVENTIONAL PLUMBING = “Copper welded. Standard end fitting. Different sizes of copper pipe, with ring of solder, some with slide-on notch fitting.” “Pipes with sections to go round corners…” “Combination joints…” “Conventional plumbing system can be very noisy. You can always tell a poorly designed house by the amount of noise the plumbing makes.” “I can’t sleep. Someone is running a bath in the middle of the night…” “Plumbers make the most money.” “I’ll get it fixed tomorrow…” GRUMBLES: “HELL. WHY do they put these where you can’t easily reach them? Pipes sunk in walls, boilers in tight cupboards…”“What a job!” “Hard to lay pipes in a solid concrete floor…” “Pipes have to be lagged to stop water freezing up.” “Don’t stand on the floor! You’ll go right through the ceiling! Stay on the joists!” “This job is nearly impossible!” “The water tank in old houses placed in the roof space. Theory was they would burst in a fire and put the fire out. Doesn’t work but they still do this.” “Trouble is, in these old houses, when something goes wrong, all HELL breaks loose…” “… all the floorboards have to come up. No hot water…” “Awkward, difficult, time consuming, aggravating, costly…” “Things aren’t as flexible as they used to be...” “THE IDEAL plumbing system - SIMPLE, QUICK, EASY ASSEMBLY for (central heating) radiators can be removed, add onto system easily, has been invented. Idea patented, but NOT marketed…” “I’ve been getting a lot of bills from the plumber.” 121

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“Look, can you do it, or not? Oh, I might as well do it myself. How do I start?” “I know you can buy these cheaper elsewhere, but I only guarantee my work if I fit stuff I supply…” “I can’t think of anything else now except freezing baths. Takes 10 hours to run. It should only take 2 minutes. Go for it!” “This shower unit makes so much noise! Can’t you do something?” “The taps have seized.” “Lever taps are much better. But cost twice as much.” “Took 3 men most of the day to change bloody set of taps!” “I can’t reach the taps love. You won’t be able to change them...” 1995: “U-bends under sinks etc., are now made out of really cheap, shoddy plastic. A bit of pressure on the screw joint, this splinters and leaks. Of all the things to make that should be as robust as possible - are subject to hygieneconscious people scrubbing, getting clogged… after 6 months or so, you need a new U-bend. Crazy!” “The sink leaked for 2 years. The council wouldn’t repair it. Leak ruined my carpets. I got into debt replacing them…” “LATEST CRAZE: Plastic pipes (made in Germany) which push-join using solvent which melts to form a solid airtight weld. Is quick but more expensive than copper!” “Are you a plumber?” “No, I’m a carpenter but with this mob you have to do everything.” “That hardly inspires confidence.” “Will you fix my garbage disposal?” “I know what women with clogged plumbing need… She wants me to see to her plumbing! Heh heh… Are you using me?” “We’ve got mistakes we’ve copied from time. We’ve got mistakes they didn’t used to have…” “CHANGE WE MUST.” “Those old hot water cylinders that heat up all the water - which may or may not be used…” 2001: Combi(nation) GAS boilers save energy, by simply heating the water when you turn on the tap…” UK Government grants to persuade everyone to install a new Gas boiler…even though UK gas supply running out… “I don’t want pipes running all around the room above the skirting boards! They’re ugly. They trap dust, attract spiders. Hard to decorate behind. The dog chews them and the kids stand on them…” “The Regulations now state…” “The Regulations are stupid!” (2005). WORLD CLASS = Universal Size (with as few restrictions as possible, please).

ingenuity. Homes in need of repair. Dark, dingy. No money to spare. Amateur jobs - can’t Afford professionals...” "Oh! There's never a man about when you need one…" HIGH ceilings… “The dust, the dirt, the spiders, the cobwebs, the draughts …” ACCIDENTS: “Many people FALL OFF ladders…” “Head injuries, broken bones, fatalities…” UK: “… 48,000 people attended hospital due to falling off freestanding ladders…” (BBC, 8/1/2002). “BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS…” "Back to the days of the workhouse." “There’s a baby on the way, I’m expected to look after 3 kids, do the decorating, cook Christmas lunch and be a wage-earner. I’m sorry! I can’t do it!” WAH! “I CAN’T do it!” “There’s no such word as can’t…” "I'll be dead on my feet." "I'm not a bleeding octopus you know." “I couldn’t do it for love or money!” “She can’t do all this HEAVY work!” "There are some things the gentler sex should not have to do..." TYPICAL FEMALE: “I didn’t go to Havard to spend my life doing up this shack! WAH! I am NOT interested in HOW it works! I only want it to work...” “If I knew HOW to do it, I’d do it.” “Only 5% of women regard DIY as their hobby” (2004).

“PROFESSIONAL FEES are very expensive. The more you can do yourself the better… BUT they could get it done in a fraction of the time…” "There are catalogues of ‘Really Useful’ Tools, Nifty Gadgets, Hi-Tech Thingamajigs and Crafty Geegaws." “You need a different tool for every different task.” "A list of tools and materials longer than your arm..." "You'll need to take out a mortgage just to buy those..." “HELLS BELLS”: Can anyone tell me why the bells are ringing? (Maths: “Number of times a quantity multiplied.”) ALL the power tools! Electric wallpaper strippers, electric drills, electric saws, electric sanders, electric cement mixers… THE COST! “£40 BILLION is spent on renovation goods every year in the UK. £10 BILLION on hardware, paint, brushes & building products. £30 BiILLION on décor, kitchens & gardening products or appliances” (Manchester Online, 19/10/2004). HAZARDVILLE: “Don’t worry love! I’ll have this job finished before you know it...” “DIY for many people spells DANGER, disaster…” “I’m getting really annoyed. If I smash my knuckles with that bloody hammer once more, I won’t be able to hold my rage…” “Uh-Oh! The pressure is beginning to show.” “People FIGHT all the time. All the tension, aggravation…” “DIY can turn the most mild mannered person into a raving monster.” EG. “My wife and kids are taking me for all I’ve got!

DO it YOURSELF: SHACKING UP: “DIY really started in the 1950’s. We wanted shapes our parents didn’t have. Painting, covering up. Made do and mend. Applied 122

facts. The plaster is all shot. All the damp. The ceilings are sagging. They really let their heart rule their head when they bought this pile of…” “People NEED HELP! If they could ‘Do it’ by themselves, they would have, a long time ago!” “I can’t be bothered to read the instructions…” “Scientists have come up with the ultimate FOOL-PROOF FLAT-PACK- a furniture kit, with microchips that talk to you!” (BBC, 23/2/2002). “Get it into FOCUS.”

Should I shoot them now?” (‘Relaxation’ Technique: “Lie down, close your eyes, breathe slowly and think: Let it Go. Let it all Go.”) “ACCIDENTS do happen. Paint gets spilled on the carpet…” “Loose floorboards - will take more than a screw…” “Tiles have a traditional look.” “I’m stuck in here cleaning the grout…” “Are you still at it?” “We laid the tiled floor then had to take the tiles all up again…” "Is your Father tired of doing all that DIY work?" “No dear. Complaining is all part of the fun of it.” “I’m not doing this for the fun of it, you know!” “That’s it. I give up. Don’t try to talk me out of it.” “We get 1,000s of letters from people saying they don’t have the time for DIY…” (DIY SOS, BBC1) (S.O.S. means: “Save Our Souls.”) “My husband’s useless. It’s a skilled job!” “Everything he touches gets worse…” “When DIY is more like Destroy it Yourself...” “All the mistakes! A very painful experience…” “Householders spend £850 million every year calling in professionals to repair damage caused by DIY DISASTERS” (BBC, 23/8/2002). “All the ½ finished jobs! I can’t use the kitchen, the bathroom is a nightmare, the stairs are dangerous, the hall is frighteningly off-putting, the kid’s bedrooms aren’t fit to sleep or play in, and I can’t abide being in the living room since he took the ceiling down and lifted the old floor up…” (Glue sniffing… caught on, big time…) “All the DIY stopped due to ill health…” “Architect’s Estimate to do up a Period Property = £500 a square metre…” (Relocation Relocation, Channel 4, 20/42005) (an estimate is non-binding. A quote is a fixed price). EXPERT: “People always under-estimate how much these jobs are going to cost…” “Riddled with Rot. Some people never learn…” OLD Adage in the Building Trade: “There’s always surprises round the corner.” “This cost double my budget. Now I owe money to the tax man as well and I have no idea how to pay his bill…” “We’ve mortgaged, re-mortgaged, our credit cards are up to the hilt. My husband is working, I’m working and we still can’t Afford to buy food! We are living off what we can grow in a poly-tunnel…” “All these rotten floorboards, joists, (support) beams, doors, frames… Horrendous! Death watch beetles even in the walls! Scary. Our budget has gone through the roof! ALL the WOOD has to be replaced. To replace one small house with new oak COSTS… £50,000!” "With oak beams costing £8 a foot, one ceiling cost £5,000..." EXPERT: “There’s a HELL of a LOT of TIMBERS need REPLACING! The house is rotten, falling apart. All the joists, floors - everything! A labour of love. Miles off budget! It’s time they started facing

SELF BUILD: “… it’s his pride and joy. He built the house himself just the way he wanted it…” “… it was a real labour of love…” “D. H. Lawrence spoke of the dignity of a man building his house for himself and his dependents. In many countries of the world, the majority of houses are still owner built. Not so in Britain where a succession of Regulations make it almost impossible for a man to do what his ancestors did. Other forms of adequate but substandard housing are caravans & boats. Here again, an intolerable number of Regulations gravely hamper a lot of those who would like to live in them…” ( ‘Down & Out in Britain,’ by Jeremy Sandford, 1971).

"What? Do you mean I could 'build something with my hands?' " ("Build something you can hold onto..." “You don’t have to do it yourself…”) “We would like something we could do together…” 1985: "There has been a BIG BANG in self-build..." “Where will we get the money?” “WHO will be our FINANCIAL saviour?” “Can you do me A REALLY BIG FAVOUR?” "… father's help is indispensable." "I hope he's got wallet-bearing hips." "A bottomless wallet also helps." “I don’t mind hiring a professional IF they listen to our opinions…” “NONE OF THE BANKS WILL LEND on an unconventional / experimental design…” "The Heritage style is very popular…" "Once you have found and organised payment for your site - not easy to do - you launch into about 6 months of paper-work, having plans drawn for you, obtaining Planning and Building consent, making arrangements for finance, insurance and about 1,000 other things..." Self-build? "Ask Joyce and Mickey who's their favourite bricky!" Ah! “Pay someone else to do it! DFY: Done For You.” “LONG & SLOW: This is the only way we can get a house. Took 3 years to find a plot of land, nearly 3 years to get Planning consent, then clear and level the land, pour the concrete… 5 months on, not much progress- the building is still far from being water-tight… ‘How can I do this and still 123

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significant difference to a small but committed group... ‘Self’-build will never be a speedy solution but it is increasingly being seen as a remedy for the housing problems of low income people...” Uh? “… schemes benefit the Local Authority and selfbuild properties can be re-let. Otherwise unusable sites are now utilised... Schemes can be completed in groups or by individuals... The need for selfbuilders without traditional building skills to participate in schemes..." "I reject the role, the routine, the monotony. I can't be doing with it. I've got better things to do with my time…" “We HAVE TO do things the HARD way? Where is the LOGIC in that?” "Oh, it would be such a RELIEF if someone came up with an answer to it!” "Give US Something To Believe In." Q: "What stops the aching?" A: "People who CARE."

earn money? I have to pay back the loan…’ ‘We have to rope in all our friends to help…’ 10 months later, the building work is still not getting there…” ("Did you make good use of natural light?") “I am trying very hard not to dwell on it.” “With all these overheads, we’re running out of money…” "Sink micro-bore piles, linked by reinforced ground beams...” “The pressure is piling on. Such a worry…” “We'll need assistance to erect the WOODEN frames. Can you help? We will try and arrange some accommodation for you..." "Many ‘self’-builders have to buy and live in caravans whilst they try to assess what their dream traditionally-built home will cost. Many of these people have children...” “Drag it out for a couple of years. You know what builders are like…” “This place is a money pit!” “… it wasn’t supposed to be this way! We’re supposed to be together, not in this mess!” “This has been an 8 year nightmare - going through a lot of shit - emotional destruction.” UK: "By 1988, over 12,000 families have built their own house..." "They all have one thing in common. They are good at making things happen..." 1989: (Because there’s no alternative) “… TIMBER FRAMED HOUSES are becoming INCREASINGLY POPULAR in Britain. …the house owner sees TIMBER as a traditional, attractive and renewable resource..." “We also want a new, hand-crafted oak kitchen…” "The lavish use of WOOD inside and out...” ADVERT: “… A comprehensive range of HARDWOODS suitable for everything from staircases to fireplaces... Easily saleable to that sector of the market which is not satisfied with the uniform design of many new houses in the UK..." "Supposing I want to change the lay-out?" "The ELECTRICIAN says the real art to his job is The Timing. He agrees the outlet positions with the architect, waits for the building to dry out and gets in there quick before the plasterers. If they get it wrong, he has to cut great chunks out of the plaster. He likes doing that - it’s a very satisfying part of the job…" “It was an incredible struggle to make this house into a home…” “It was a lot harder than we thought it would be.” “He built his own house- which burnt down. No insurance as income too low to Afford. 20 years later the 2nd house he has built is still not finished…” "More PRECISE solutions are needed for URGENT accommodation problems." "I want something PRACTICAL!" "Er, I need living space QUICKLY!" “Self’-build will never be the answer to the Homeless nationally, but self-build could make a

EXTENSIONS: “A loft conversion, for an old Aunt?” “We need something more… appropriate.” “I want something quickly…” (Ah! Move into this shell, outgrow it, move into that shell… like little sea creatures…) “If you require additional living space, you can build an extension onto the back of your house, maybe without Planning Permission, unless you live in a Conservation area…” VALUE FOR MONEY: “An extension can cost a lot. TIMBER rafters, batons, joists, roofing felt, tiles. 100s of pieces…” “FLAT ROOFS - always a problem. May last 20 years if you’re lucky.” “Add on waterproof membranes - expensive!” “Mine blew away!” “A WATER-PROOF JOINT = However the roof is constructed, the joint between the existing building and the new building has to be made weather-proof. This is a frequent source of trouble. A waterproof junction is made using a ‘flashing’ strip made of lead, zinc or aluminium alloy materials that are soft, easily bent, which overlaps…” FAVOURITE BUILDER’S SAYING: “It’s really no problem.” “Call the builders in, will always take longer than they say.” “I can’t find anybody to dig the foundations…”“The cost of building the foundation!” “Extending your home can be a nightmare. All too often professional advice is sought too late i.e. when problems with the builder arise. His standard of workmanship maybe poor, the cost of the work extensive, or perhaps there are delays finishing the project. Often the builder is uncooperative…” “THE BUILDING PROCESS IS COMPLICATED and complex. An initial appraisal may involve preliminary enquiries at the Local Authority 124

Far from happy.” “… We had to go up on the roof ourselves to put the cover on…” “Builders! When they are here, they traipse through the house. The whole house has been affected. We had no idea this was going to be so traumatic. We may have to go to court. They say we owe them money!” "Don't upset the builders! They can get very nasty, cause lots of problems, hassles, costly legal battles..." "Gang-handed." “The cost of putting all his work right! Plus all the legal costs…” “Can the Master Builders Federation prevent this sort of terrible condition? They take complaints very seriously. ‘The ceiling collapsed. I heard a giant crashing noise everywhere. Joists cut through. The bathroom floor fell through. Badly bodged work. Partly collapsed structure. Work still not finished! We couldn’t stand any more.’ The MBF said: ‘We have learnt. We have now changed procedures. Now we strongly advise to get a surveyor first.’ The MBF are not a consumer Watchdog. Their badge won’t protect you. ‘We can’t put a price tag on what we went through’…” (That’s Life, BBC2, 13/5/1990). “NEVER pay upfront. You’ll never get your money back if this goes wrong. Make them build ½, then your bank pays them when job done satisfactorily.” “Many mistakes are made that are hard to correct if the building inspector finds the job has been done all wrong…” THE BUILDING INSPECTOR SAID: “People want to cut corners to save money but I say no, knock it all down and start again. I won’t let them and I get slated for it! People really resent the council’s role. They think the council is the Gestapo.” 1989: A well-known UK High Street Bank is charging 24.4% interest for a ‘Home Improvement’ loan! “ROOM FOR A CHANGE: Today’s houses are rarely designed to take extensions and those people who build them often find the result unsatisfactory and uneconomical’ claims Peter Bolger. His company, Home-Lodge, started 5 years ago, have developed a TIMBER-framed FREE-standing Extension. He now offers 8 designs ranging from 12 x 12’ for £8,850, to 12 x 30’ which is fully fitted for £25.500. Prices include delivery, on site assembly, lighting, heating, internal & external decoration, carpets & blinds. With the number of people working from home steadily rising, the demand for extra space or simply extra accommodation or leisure space increases”

regarding statutory requirements. Then, approximate costs and the timetable for completion of works. This may be followed by carrying out a measured survey of the existing building and producing a survey drawing. Then full working drawings and submit applications for plans, Building Regulations approval and other statutory consents. Then prepare a specification of works to be carried out by a Chartered Building Surveyor. The client is given advice on any defects and consequential liability for remedial works under the terms of the contract…”

CONSERVATORIES: UK1990: “BIG SALES DRIVE in conservatories…” Made with toughened Safety glass. Lots of durable, weather-proof, white UPVC. The Roof = Twin wall polycarbonate - a tough yet durable insulator ‘Easy Assembly.’ ‘Clear Assembly instructions.’ (Can take 2 men 48 hours just to understand how to make the bolts work). Also available: Hardwood panels. Malaysian timber. Hard or soft wood. Pre-treated. All with 7 day free delivery. Project finance available. ‘Most people value the Affordable aspect’ said a salesman. “Oh, this is nice. What do you use it for? Sitting in. How typically British!” A very basic, very small Conservatory costs £999, excluding cost of groundwork, the dwarf wall & assembly / construction (1989). “SELF-ASSEMBLY KITS. So many to choose from? Why don’t they do any in Green… “TO DO A DIY EXTENSION - you manage the project, you supervise workers - don’t sub-contract. You conceptualise what you want - do a basic drawing, check this with a surveyor, get a professional drawing, liaise with the Planning Dept., you get Permission, you lay-in drains, you get the concrete floor done - correctly sized for the bricklayer. Order made-to-measure windows. Organise wiring, and dry- lining walls with plaster-board, then the plasterer. This will save you ½ the cost of getting a builder to do the whole job for you.” “HORROR STORIES. CATASTROPHIES.” “The WIND GUSTS IN. We’ve got a sheet of polythene over the gaping hole in the wall. The rain comes in, down the sides…” "It's so draughty in here!" "There's a gale blowing through... In one side, out the other." “We tried to stop the water with tarpaulins and black dustbin bags. Howling wind! Then air filled with soot. A hole in the ceiling. A huge lump fell off - missed me by inches! House looked a terrible mess. The cracks appeared first. The roof started dripping - sagging, pushing the walls out. We paid £21,000 and had to throw the builders out…” “Rain streamed in doing the most terrible damage. Had to cover everything with plastic. The water leaking in smelled foul. The water still drips in the bathroom...” “I’m crying now.

(Hampstead & Highgate Express, 26/9/1993).

“I still would rather have something light, more practical… and fun.” "A ROUGH BUSINESS: ... 60,000 complaints re: home improvements EG. slipshod construction work. 'We were left with a hole, exposed to the elements. No extension!' The constant hassle! 125

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discover cracking - the new insurer is unlikely to pay out for problems that occurred before the new policy starts. This is particularly relevant to buyers who do not insure the property through the same insurance company as the vendor. Check your policy includes subsidence cover -

An absolute nightmare! A tirade of angry customers... Rogue operators... licensing them might be the only answer" (20/12/1993). EXPERT: “If you need more space, buy a shed!”

the escalating cost to insurers could cause them to withdraw automatically – house-holders could be asked to pay an additional premium if they want subsidence protection” (1990). EXPERT: “The 1976 heat-wave / drought caused enormous damage to houses built on clay which dried and cracked, causing movement in the foundations - cracks in walls, lintels… trees sucked the water out of the clay which shrank causing movement. If trees had been watered this may not have happened.” “Clay - in some areas - already 2” cracks appearing…” (May 1990). NOW FLOODING: “THE FOUNDATIONS LEAK.” “We’re taking in water!” “A flood of problems.” “A filthy base.” “Damp, fusty smell.” “My damp patches need looking at.” “RISING DAMP.” “Risk of rotten timbers. Rot.” “Our bedroom, meant for 1, sleeps 3, and is now so damp we’re growing mushrooms. Taken 5 years for an inspector to call. They’ve still done nothing!” “Extensive Excavations Required. We will have to make good the damage done.” “Surveyors cover themselves by reporting ‘foundations could not be accessed for inspection’ - so can’t say if foundations have gone or not. Only houses with cellars have visible foundations” (?) Foundations can go at any time this is the risk you take when buying a house…” "Subsidence affects 30,000 UK homes every year. Warnings of worse to come" (15/8/1990). “100s of 1,000s of claims 1975 - 1995. In total over 400,000 instances of alleged subsidence damage occurred, which cost the insurance industry about £4.5 Billion; this was, of course paid indirectly by householders through increased premiums… By 1992, insurers were paying £1 Billion on subsidence claims and over 500,000 houses per year were being underpinned… The public were the principal victims of ‘subsidence hysteria.’ … financial and insurance considerations took precedence over the common-sense technical approach to the problem”

SUBSIDENCE: SETTLEMENT: “Have you the story about that man who built a house on sand?” EXPERT: “If soil slipping, best not to use heavy foundations...” “THAT SINKING FEELING…” “The house is sinking!” “I don’t understand it. The rain caused mud… Oh, why can’t they build the way it’s meant to be, without this sort of thing happening?” “Subsidence effects on buildings are by no means an unknown phenomenon. Buildings have been falling down or becoming seriously damaged for 100s of years…” “CRACKING UP: This summer’s drought has given many house-owners, and their insurance companies, that sinking feeling again. After a sizzling summer and shrivelling property prices, prepare for a sinking house. ‘Most at risk are properties built on clay soil for those with shallow foundations’ said the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Most of London is built on clay and potential casualties are Victorian terraces, many of which sit on foundations of less than 18in. Post-1965 houses should be safe from movement if foundations extend at least 3ft into the earth. Building an extension may disrupt subsoil and trees planted within 30ft are other causes of movement. Tell-tale signs are cracking walls, leaking drains and warped door frames. The most vulnerable are the corners of windows and doors. Subsidence often develops slowly - measure cracks every month to check if cracks are widening - don’t panic if cracks are less than ¼ inch. New cracks should be clean inside. Repair work ranges from ‘cosmetic stitching’ of brickwork, to expensive underpinning that may force you to vacate the property for several (up to 24) months. Buyers are encouraged to get a structural survey - but precautionary advice is not guaranteed protection. The 1976 heat wave cost the insurance industry £60 million, a 10-fold increase on the previous year. Each subsidence claim can amount to £30,000. Insurers try to wriggle out of paying. Insurance companies will certainly Refuse liability if the structural fault predates the inception of the building policy unfortunately this is not an exact science. Surveyors are unlikely to make on-the-spot judgements - tests can last many months before the severity of the movement is diagnosed. The insurance company may dispute the extent of movement - you will have to pay for a structural engineer for a definite opinion - a preliminary investigation could cost £300. Problems can also

(Building Control magazine, May 1995).

(Some people are buying houses that have subsidence problems, for a knock-down price, knowing when they are underpinned they are much stronger – then if no movement recorded for 2 years, they resell for a huge profit). A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER SAID: “They used to build shallow foundations, so if there was any movement the whole house moved in one piece this wasn’t so bad. So what if you ended 1ft further down the hill after 25 years? With deeper foundations, houses tend to crack apart” (1995).

occur if you switch insurance companies and then 126

We never seem to reach our potential." "We only have the knowledge our lives hopes will be unfulfilled." "WAH! I want something MODERN!" "I really hate being tied down - being tied to a flat, to a place. I'm miserable, really miserable. I want to travel and have a roof over my head - a roof I can Afford." "IF ONLY WE COULD MOVE THE FLAT!”

“These days structural engineers, surveyors etc., are paranoid about any tree/s growing within 18ft of the property. They usually recommend severe pruning of the tree/s or removal - cutting the tree/s down. The problem is that tree roots infest the underground drains, break the foundation walls, cause ground heave, cracked concrete, bricks…” (BUT… NO TREES = “Landslip…”) “There is a 10mm BULGE in the flank wall. Your choice is: Strapping: (wafer thin metal strips nailed to joists). Recommended to stop the wall falling outwards. If that should happen the cost to repair/replace the wall will be very expensive.”. Or: Metal rods put through the walls of the house, with bolts that tighten - to pull structure into place / back together again. You end up with several, highly visible, large crosses stuck on exterior wall/s...” “We’ve discovered another HORROR! The walls are ALL bulging out. The house could collapse! This is not what we wanted…” They now make ‘Plastic Padding’ (a putty) to fill in holes, repair cracks - in lots of things. “We can easily fill the crack/s with Resin. Resin is very strong! The repair will probably outlast the house!” chuckled a highly respected builder. (Ah yes! RESIN BONDING is a very effective way to fix Gaps…)

Do you need telescopic, bionic legs to extend?

“… it’s a… flying HOUSE?” “IN YOUR DREAMS!” “Don’t be silly. If houses could fly - we’d all want one!” “I don’t think that’s true. Plenty of people are perfectly happy with their lot.” "You can always hear me singing this song: 'Show me the way to go home...' " “Moving is such a pain!” “MOVING TOOK A LOT LONGER than we expected…” “I need something mobile, something practical. Not a heavy suitcase!” "I'd like to live somewhere quieter…" "I want to live somewhere bigger but cheaper. My room's the size of a shoe box." "The kitchen's too small. The bedroom's not big." "I'm sick of masquerading." "Find out what it means to me!" "In my dream house, children and adults could share the joys alike." "I'd like a hobby room, nothing very big. Just something cosy..." "Oh, life could be so much easier..." THE GROWTH OF MOBILES = “You can Talk: Telecoms via satellites. Confusing contracts apply.” “HELLO? I can’t hear you! Can you hear me? I’ve lost the signal. You’re breaking up!” “Er, hello? What did you just say? We’ve lost the link…” “My battery’s dying!” MOBILE TECHNOLOGY = “Multi-media on the move…” “No! Don’t put me on hold! I’m paying a fortune every minute…” A Typical KID These Days: Doesn’t care about their life - so long as they can play with their mobile…(phone)” (UK: 2003). “QUICKLY MOVING ON…” "Business is down by 60% since 1988 when 2 million moved (to another) house. Only 1 million people moved (to another) house in 1992…" (16/8/1993). “Britons spent over £10.6 BILLION moving house - before moving, on solicitors fees - ½ the amount was spent on Stamp Duty (Tax)…” (Woolwich Survey,

MOVING: “Moving house is the most STRESSFUL thing we do.” "All the packing, goods going into storage, all the arrangements one has to make to get a new life! Stamina needed and lots of money to pay all the bills..." FRUSTRATED because you want to MOVE? "Are you going to have to WAIT?" "THE BETRAYAL OF THE MODERNISTS": UK: "THE NATIONAL MOBILITY SCHEME: ... agreed between most public authorities i.e. local councils... to help their existing tenants, those high on the Waiting lists... and other people with a pressing need, who want to move to another area... if your application is accepted... the authority may make an offer, decide to consider your application later, or refuse to accept it... you should try and find accommodation in the interim..." 1993: The Tenants Exchange Scheme: Totally INADEQUATE. There are LONG lists (kept by every UK council) of people desperate to move, change their circumstances and improve their quality of life. EG. "I want to move, for the sake of my kids." “I’m doing everything I can think of to get out of here. I’ve got to do it. I’ve promised myself I will do it. I just don’t know how.” "My dad's lived here so long, he's got woodworm…" "All this is killing me." "The same repetitive crap. Same old routine, year after year. I want to do something different!" "We need a break from the old routine.

9/6/2005).

THE BOARDING HOUSE: "Bedbugs in old houses - common." 127

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"This room is for one thing only - sleeping in." "Bed-sitter people look back and lament, another day’s useless energy spent..." "The drabness of their skin has the texture only nourishment can restore." UK: 1986: ‘NEW’ BOARD & LODGINGS REGULATIONS…” "Will this mean I can stop moving around?" “… if you are under 25... you may be limited in how long you can stay... you will have to find a room within the new price limit- this may be very difficult... you may not get enough allowance to pay for accommodation..." "I feel like a Frisbee, tossed from place to place!" "I've tried so hard to settle down." "I'm looking for Mercy Street. I think they've moved the sign." "If it was warm, comfortable, if there was plenty of food, I'd stick around." “Can’t put down roots…” “We’ve got to move on and move on. Won’t you take me to funky town?” “I want a sense of belonging to something…” "I'm stuck. Can't Afford to leave. Can't Afford to stay." "They have to leave anyway …" "Why is this place still open? It's falling apart. It's filthy! Grimy. Blimey. They should pull these down, not re-let them!" "Refurbished. Looks good, but for how long?" "Houses divided into multiple occupancy rarely work." "Made my life untenable." "Anti-Social Hell-Raisers in situ..." "The border from hell keeps his door locked, the music on loud, eats all your food, doesn't pay his way and refuses to leave!" WAH! I WANT TO LIVE SOMEWHERE QUIET!” UK: "(At least) 2.6 million people live in bed-sits, flat-lets, shared houses, lodgings, hostels and bed & breakfast hotels" (1990).

that are unfit for habitation, 45,000 have no bathroom or toilet....” “SQUALOR FOR HIGH RENT: Christmas: "All the water pipes froze. The drains, the toilet froze. The dripping taps caused the bath and the sinks to turn into blocks of solid ice. A pipe burst upstairs - the water saturated everything - the water cascaded downstairs... The landlord came to fix it and used putty to repair the pipe... putty doesn't work… The windows fall off if they are opened..." "Why did I leave my first tenancy? I had it in my head all the time…" “My last tenant said he sensed bad spirits…” “I don’t blame him. I’m only here because of horrible circumstances. How can I relax in these conditions? All I want is an ordinary life…”"… through the graves the wind is blowing. Here I became an old woman." "The London HOUSING MARKET: How I ‘love’ it. You try the ads - get round there - they say the flat's taken but we've got somewhere else - described as ‘luxury!’ I'd hate to see squalor. This yuppie wants £80 a week for a tiny room at the top of the house! He’s having a laugh!" 1990: "A single room in Highgate let for a rent of £160 per week. An apartment on the Isle of Dogs in Docklands £260 a week..." "The only place I can Afford to rent is miles from anywhere." “Paying all this rent is draining me. Paying Rent = Dead money.” "Paying rent all your life you've got nothing to show for it..." “Their rent is £240 a week! For a one-bedroom flat! They’re only a young married couple with a baby… So go on unemployment - no incentive to work. They can’t make ends meet…” Land-Ladies ADVICE: "Renting is the ideal thing to do. But not buy. It's a risky business. All the liabilities nothing ties you down more than buying a property. Leasehold means more problems - no control of service charge…" "The State system can make people lazy... The healthy way is obviously to say ‘Go For it!’" "Councils do as they please... they set the maximum rent they will pay for Housing Benefit below market rent level... so you can't Afford to get privately rented accommodation..." (“Please don’t put your life in their hands…”) “INFLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENTS: If you have savings, you are not entitled to receive help paying for rent. You may not be eligible for ‘Income Support’ or ‘Family Credit’ (welfare benefits). An enormous problem. Small amounts of money count as income…" "If you get an ‘Enterprise Allowance,’ they stop your ‘personal living allowance’ and ‘Housing Benefit’..." "Land-lords sucker the system..." "... land-lords specialise in the Social Security (welfare benefit) market because they can be sure unemployed claimants will not query rent levels while the cash

PRIVATE RENTED ACCOMODATION: “You mean I have to take strangers in because I’m so poor?” "Rent my place out? Tenants don't look after the place…" "It's not easy being a landlord - tenants smash, destroy (and steal) property..." "Many land-lords do not want DHSS claimants with children... they believe they are a lower class of tenant who will damage their property..." "LANDLORDS have a long hard day - are victims of tenants who are busy ruining his carpets. Obstructions seem to be made just to aggravate him. They take in room mates who make lots of noise. They block the hall and use the bathroom all night. He is regarded as the wart of the end of everyone's nose." “She owes me money for back rent…” “He left without paying…” “… He was really nasty. When I asked to leave my premises, he got all threatening…” “… She left taking all my furniture with her!” 1987: “90,000 tenants in privately rented houses 128

are (at least) 6 million mortgage phobics…” (UK,

flows in from the public purse..." "HOUSING BENEFIT BARONS:... they have spotted the trend and loop-holes... a property millionaire... provides scores of rented rooms to (welfare) benefit claimants... he is letting out 1,000s of rooms for £100 a week each... with an annual turnover of £3 million. Almost £2 million of that comes from the Taxpayer." "Councils do not bargain with land-lords..." "Councils have little incentive to keep budget in check..." "... one run down house in Tottenham has 5 rooms all let for £90 a week. On a house worth £100,000 his annual income from the state is £20,000 a year." "WHY SHOULD WE CARE what the rent is? It doesn't matter because the council are paying." "The landlord is free to charge as much as the authorities are prepared to condone." "The bill for Housing Benefit is set to rise further, because the Conservative government abolished rent regulation, allowing prices to rise to market levels... This is causing grave disquiet..." (The Times, 1989) "So many are trying to screw the State..." "Any moves to end ‘Housing Benefit’ would be disastrous..." “We don’t discuss it…” "REVIVAL PLAN: ... at the turn of the century, private rented accommodation totalled 90% of accommodation in Britain. Today that figure is 7%.

30/7/2005).

HARASSMENT: (PREDICTED: The next phase of our civilisation will be CANNABALISM" 1975). "FEELING SECURE IN YOUR OWN HOME IS VERY IMPORTANT... and so is knowing where to go for help if you need it." "We should fear PERSECUTION…" THE LAND-LORD SAID: "I can make life extremely unpleasant for you." “I don’t like evicting pregnant women but that goes with the job…” "There's no sentiment in business." (“They openly admit they don't care!”) "He's never satisfied with what he's got." "I need your rooms, flats, houses! I'm on a TREASURE HUNT! And this ain’t no fairy tale." "There's plenty of profits in this game." "Fie, fo, fi, fum. I smell the blood of an English man." SCANDAL: "Peter Rachman is a name synonymous with all that is worst in a land-lord and despicable in a man..." PROCESS CALLED: "If the caps fits, try it on." PROFITEERING: "Harassment is the traditional way of getting people to move out of property usually so the rent can be put up, or house sold for profit. Ha bloody ha." EG. "Landlord gets Planning Permission for new development. Tenant made to leave. NOT awarded damages, compensation for loss of their home or provided with ALTERNATIVE accommodation. This happens all the time." "One favourite ploy is the land-lord will say he wants you out to make room for his relative." “There’ll be no room for you here now. I’m getting in a better class of tenant.” "… Their axe is made of gold…" (Ah! No-one could say you haven’t kept up with the payments… things like that…”) "Everyone these days is corrupt - just depends at what level you are immersed." "EVICTION FEAR: "Harassment takes place when a land-lord tries to get you out of the home you are occupying without going through the correct legal procedure EG. Putting the rent up. Refusing you full access to your letting by changing locks, throwing your possessions into the street etc. Stopping you having guests. Constant visits from your land-lord or landlords agent - visits late at night, or without warning. Entering your home when you are not there. Allowing the property to get into such a bad state of repair that it is dangerous or uncomfortable for you to stay there. Refusing to do repairs, or starting building works and leaving them unfinished. Sending builders in at unsocial hours etc. Removing or restricting services such as hot water, or failing to pay bills so that services are cut off. Offering you money to leave, threatening you,

(30% in France and America. 40% in Germany).

Hostility has contributed overwhelmingly towards creating 600,000 empty private houses in Britain today. The collapse of the private rented sector was tragic for single people who traditionally depended on it. There were signs the 1988 Housing Act was bringing life back into private rented housing" said Mr. Spicer… wants to speed up his plan to give more confidence to the private landlord... he would discuss with building societies and finance houses their reservations about letting property in which they had an interest... Attention would be focused on empty rooms above shops..." (The Telegraph, 3/7/1990) "More servitude." "Many would-be private land-lords are still unwillingly to rent out despite moves to make it easier to evict tenants" (11/4/1994). “Rents double after developments…” “He worked to renovate his rented property. Now proposed rent going up 30%. ‘I cannot Afford to stay here.’ Very worried. Too afraid to speak up. FORCED out. THEIR OUTLOOK: Bleak” (28/2/2005).

“The biggest problem facing landlords these days is drunk. alcoholic tenants…” “He’s been drunk for 6 weeks. The place smells of booze and stale sick. He hasn’t paid any rent. But I can’t chuck him out because I feel sorry for him! Since he was wrongly arrested…” “Almost ½ of people who rent (out) their homes suffer from ‘mortgage phobia’ i.e. fear of not being able to keep up mortgage repayments. There 129

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or physically assaulting you. Racial abuse. Sexual interference. Denying receipt of rent payments. Stealing mail…” "VICTIMISING A SITTING TARGET: Incidents often take place when the tenant is alone..." "Harassment is frightening, especially if you live alone, are old, have children, if you are Female." "Often incidents take place outside office hours... Harassment is a criminal offence and the police should help you deal with it." "It can be difficult to get the police to take action." 1986: "It's not our responsibility!" said the police. "Harassment is a sad fact of life for many private tenants..." "A SENSE OF DESPAIR AND HOPELESSNESS." "… it won’t do no good to call the police. They can't investigate DOMESTIC affairs... Last night I didn't get any sleep at all..." “The 1986 Social Security Act = You may no longer be entitled to Housing Benefit (a welfare subsidy whereby claimants do not have to fund rent or Local Authority Community Charge Tax). Changes will affect 'unrealistically high' rents or tenants whose rented property is 'unnecessarily large'... Local Authorities will no longer be able to offer their own schemes to local tenants... this bias will impact low paid and unemployed tenants... This Act will save £450 million... These cuts will affect (at least) 26,000 house-holds..." Mrs Thatcher said: "Now a lot of people will be better off." Norman Tebbit said: "No-one expects popular manoeuvres!" "The government has operated against a 70% majority and will operate that way again." ("Are you sure they are on the right track?") CRUEL JOKES: EG. "Till death do them part..." PEOPLE SAID: "AT BREAKING POINT..." “SO UNFAIR!” "Jesus, Jesus. What's it all about?" "They pretend it's a joke. The puppet master manipulating people." "We've been in the ring, had more losses than anyone in the City..." 1988: “THE HOUSING BILL: ... means LESS SECURITY of tenure, HIGHER market RENTS, scrapping of ‘The Fair Rent Act,’ reduced Rights of tenants and tenants’ relatives, increased harassment by unscrupulous landlords, reduced ‘Housing Benefits’... changes to ‘Income Support’ or ‘Unemployment Benefit’ payments... a steel level of withdrawal that will add to Homelessness and poverty.” "Overnight, HOUSING became UNAFFORDABLE! This is the stuff madness comes from." PEOPLE SAID: “Will they take all of us? Plans finalised over a game of golf?" "MY LAND IS CRYING. My country says you're dead. From out of nowhere – NO FAITH." "Passing more futile laws. They put the interest of the party over what's best for the whole country." (“Futile? Meaning: You don't get it?”)

"THIS WAR! All the scenes of desolation you never saw. In your cold eyes, there is no distress. They are puffy, frozen by your acts of horror. All in your control. You sell only lasting death." "We're not allowed any say! We will not be pawns in your master scheme. They like us being Homeless! That way they keep the rest living in fear." "We're hopping mad. Give us one excuse to ‘cut’ you!" "I ain’t got no money. I ain’t got no land!" "We're singing for the unemployed..." "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem." "WE WON’T BE GAGGED vow tenant’s leaders… who are to appeal to the government because they feel they are getting a raw deal... Tenants’ Associations told councillors: 'We are the customer and we should be served. What other option do we have but go to your bosses if you won’t listen to us.' This is a measure of how desperate tenants have become..." (1990). "Refuge for battered women being evicted…" (May 1990).

"VICTIMS SUFFERING IN SILENCE: The number of cases reported are probably just THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.... Shelter say that soaring house prices have led to a surge in the demand for privately rented homes, and are the cause for the worsening harassment problem... Between Dec 1988 - Aug 1989 one council prosecuted 8 land-lords for harassment or illegal eviction - 5 were found guilty and received fines of £300 - £1,000...” (“That’ll deter them?”) “Shelter advised tenants to: 'Nip it in the bud' by keeping a record of any harassment that takes place..." (24/1/1990). “Intimidation with threats…” "Harassment is on the increase so... REPORT URGES POLICE TO BACK TENANTS’ RIGHTS: Police chiefs in Islington are asking Scotland Yard to train officers in Tenancy laws, after a report suggested illegal harassment and eviction by landlords is plaguing people in rented homes..." "New Shelter report shows growing number of illegal evictions and cases of illegal harassment from unscrupulous landlords." A Conservative Minister said: "We have no evidence landlords are getting tenants out so they can move new tenants in, taking advantage of the new Housing Act in 1988 protecting land-lords." "Harassment and illegal eviction is on the upsurge... according to Shelter... their 'Forced Out' report... victims suffering in silence..." (24/1/1990). "Harassment is a fact of life for many who put up with bad behaviour because they think there is NO ALTERNATIVE / NO SOLUTION. "What can I do to help myself? Not a lot?" ON OFFER: “Go to an advice agency..." ("Gather round all you clowns. Don't hide your love away. Have your say. What? You're sick of being 130

protested by ring-fencing' Mrs Thatcher's retirement home in Dulwich, South London. A high-security home, she keeps empty…" (1990). “CRISIS WORSENING: ... 22,533 tenants are faced with crippling rent arrears because of government changes in ‘Benefit’ legislation... one London borough... cannot cope with backlog of cases involving arrears...2,276 court orders made, involving only 84 evictions so far this year... Housing Associations in 4 London boroughs report £12 million owed in rents... Government policies are causing more and more people increasing hardship.” “Oh! The MAYHEM!” "BOUNTY HUNTERS ON TRAIL OF RENT DODGERS: Private investigators have been brought in to track down people who have done 'a moonlight flit'... debt collectors and tracing agencies are being paid a bounty for every debtor tracked down... 'Unpaid council rent bills can't be returned unpaid. Debts must be paid'..." "CONVEYOR BELT TREATMENT: ... so many cases, courts will stay open during holidays..." "The SICKNESS IN SOCIETY TODAY." "We are shaking our pills at you! Do you hear? Do you feel? Do you hurt? Do you LOVE?" "Dictators! That's how decisions are taken!" "Maybe we should agree to go our separate ways? See how you would feel about that." "He still owes me 4 months’ rent! When I ask him to pay the rent he threatened to take me to court for harassment!" "There is NO Social Security…" ("… it would really help ease the agony.")

hassled?") CONNED: "... Menacing tactics to get people out so land-owner can buy land to develop. Public Right of way denied. They fence off the land hoping people will forget. Goes on all the time. The police have the reputation they are only there to protect the rich. The police love the landowner. The rest of us can go to hell. They've made the rules - we have to play their game." "The police say they are reluctant to get involved in tenant / landlord disputes." BLATANT: "... he used a JCB digger to demolish the house while the tenant was out... He was fined £500 with £225 costs…" (12/2/1990). "INCREASING ‘WHITE COLLAR’ CRIME: Engaged in illegal acts are those you would not suspect... Victimising people, especially the young. Life is really rough for the young" (BBC, 31/8/1990).

"They're making a KILLING…" (out of persecution). "... the police must shatter the common notion that they side with land-lords in eviction cases…" said the police. "Yes, it's official! WAR HAS BEEN DECLARED in Salford, Manchester. Chief Superintendent Tunmer, at an open public meeting said to the Youths: "If you want war, you've got it" (Class War, 13/11/1990). "… On these RAIDS, the police often take their dogs with them. These dogs, in a SEMI-CRAZED state, are let loose in families’ homes, or allowed to roam around whole floors of flats… A result of all this harassment and intimidation was a spontaneous demonstration held against the police (on 30/1/1990). Women, children, other dog owners, blacks, whites, youths, old folk - all kinds of members of the working-class community many from Salford, went onto the streets to protest. The police were forced to hide for 2 nights in their station…" (Report by: Class War). JOB SATISFACTION? "Get cracking! Police and bailiffs use axes to break into homes - everything smashed! 'Out. Take your kids, you parasites.' 'We are here in a peace-keeping role,' say the police. Sanctioned vandalism! 'I enjoy my job.' The Bailiffs work is never done... backhanders, cash-in-hand, Tax-free incentives... Green stuff, according to them means: money. Accused of using excessive force, violent behaviour. 'Bring up your grievances with your Member of Parliament.' 'We've been debased. We can't win.' A very negative situation"

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS? ‘Brave New World,’ copied verbatim because noone in authority has the imagination to achieve anything that strays from that WARNING! INCREASED USE OF STEEL: Girders etc. HIGHTECH Everything! EG. Space stations & space ships. Heavier taxes to pay for these monstrosities. = MINING of other planets to acquire raw materials (i.e. if man survives that long…) PREDICTED: Because of Pollution: CITIES UNDER GLASS: Glass Domes. Only rich people eligible. The Poor locked out… The Rich charged by an unknown elite for clean/ed air - supplies shut off at the whim of controllers. ("... people laughed at Buckminster Fuller's proposal for a dome over Manhattan but Fuller, a real visionary, pointed to this as the way of architecture for the future..."

(16/10/1990).

JOKE: ADVERT FOR THE POLICE FORCE: "Do you want a job smashing down doors, terrorising sleeping kids, smashing property, and beating people up? If you are psychopathic, Salford Police need you!" (By: Class War). “PROTESTS: Tenants from around the country

(Building Design, 11/6/1993).

“Carbon glass.” “Smart Glass Towers…” OUR FUTURE? PREDICTED: “1,000s live in this tower. We are confined to very high towers made of metal. In our cells - cameras. Daily health screening. Intrusive experimental medical 131

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sap. Amber gets shiny when polished. Is very beautiful). (Think of amber when resin is mentioned). (“Experts are divided about the date of the 1st real plastic.”) 1824: "Silicon discovered in Sweden...” Parkesine: “The result of treating cellulose fibres with

procedures. Diet prescribed. Crap food. Compulsory exercise regime. No shops. We all dress the same. You do boring work to pay rent. No view, or freedom. We don’t know what we’re doing here. We have no idea who is in control. We’ve no Rights. Who am I? I don’t know.” “Towers 2 miles high….” (“Carbon fibre weighs less than titanium.”) “Extremely costly Titanium buildings to protect governments, paid for by Tax-payers.” “EXTREME LUXURY SKY PADS”: A roofing materials company advertised in magazines for the Building Trade, using full-page colour illustrations of HUGE, SPACE-AGE buildings… that were ROUND / curved modern accommodations - Pod-like, positioned on top of a very tall column i.e. MODULAR constructions sited on DIFFERENT PLANETS i.e. sited safely, in hostile Environment/s. The style of building could only be made with a moldable? very robust material (UK:1983) (“Now I want you to walk this way… Maybe that’s what it takes…”)

nitric and sulphuric acids- patented and launched

1862… inventor Alexander Parkes is regarded as the father of plastics. Could be made as hard as ivory, transparent or opaque, also water-proof… The Parkesine Company, established 1866, went into liquidation 2 years later- Parkes had tried to hold down prices at the expense of quality… The Hyatt Brothers in the USA succeeded, patenting their composition Celluloid in 1870…” (European Plastic News, March 1993).

1869: “Celluloid dentures- tough, transulent, thermoplastic material, that was light in weight, but liable to change colour- discolouration and notably flammable. Partially cured resins were tried…” 1880: “Celluloid made from cotton…” 1907: Bakelite patented. “The 1st artificial plastic.” “It was only the arrival of Bakelite, the 1st wholly synthetic material, that allowed designers to find a new freedom and aesthetic. Reinforced for strength, making it appear quite dark, Bakelite was the original, clearer, brighter version (cast phenolic) was also extremely popular. Bakelite helped transform the wireless from a boxy piece of furniture into a glamorous fashion accessory” (UK fashion magazine, 1991). “Designers love bakelite. Bakelite used to make ashtrays, pan handles, housings…” “The world’s 1st plastic caravan (a trailer) was made of Bakelite.” 1920: “Bakelite made from wood pulp” ? “Raw plastic arrived at the factory as granules which were then poured into a detailed mold- pressed down with several tons, mold heated until granules melted and liquid plastic flowed into every detail. After a few minutes the heat and press also caused a chemical change setting materials like Bakelite solid in the new shape…” 1930’s: “The range of polymers increased but they all suffered from faults due to the brittle nature of acrylics- modern acrylics still suffer from accidental damage but can be repaired. Resistance to fracture is most important… The Bayer Company introduced a polycarbonate Thermopont with a very high impact strength- this was not successful because of the need for it to be molded at high temperatures (300 degrees Centigrade)… (The most recent developments include acrylic sheet materials that can be cured by light processes, or even in the microwave. Attempts to overcome the brittleness of denture resins have included the addition of fibres EG. Carbon, Kevlar, rubber…”

MODERN BUILDING MATERIALS: Let’s provide Low Cost housing to help the Homeless - all those people who need something SAFE and DECENT to improve their life. “… it would be kind of nice to get their lives back on track.” “Many other people have tried…” I know. Do you think I’m stupid? No, I don’t find all this confusing. Do you? They got it wrong. “Gentlemen, IF YOU ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE, we’re going to do it like it has never been done before…” “Are you strong enough? Clever enough? Do you care enough to follow these clues and accept the challenge?” PREDICTED: “There are no Gentlemen anymore…” (1993). “People who say ‘it can’t be done’ have not done their home-work…” The SEARCH to find the IDEAL ALTERNATIVE MATERIAL: WHAT IS THE BEST FORMULA ? BACK TO it’s ROOTS… JOIN (means: "BOND, CONNECT, UNITE, FASTEN.") PLASTIC: “Any bendable, flexible material, pilant, supple, capable of being molded.” Tangible, touchable material.” Plasticity: Quality of being plastic.” PLASTICS: “A group of synthetic resinous or other substances that can be molded into any form. RESIN: “Amorphous (shapeless) substance secreted by certain plants and insects; synthetic material with properties resembling natural resins.” (Amber is a natural resin. Amber is fossilised tree

(Ref:: Plastiquarian, Journal of the Plastics Historic Society, 1994).

1933: "... a research group discovered ethane 132

the building block of chemistry... a white, waxy substance… as more solid was made, it was found to have some very interesting properties. It was an electrical insulator. It could be made into thin films of considerable strength...” (Ref:

degrees Centigrade. This was found to be particularly useful for hospital equipment that needs to be sterilised... Polythene is one of the best known and cheapest plastics- used to make plastic bags, buckets, bowls and bottles for washing-up liquid. A knife will scratch a polythene bowl but it is hard to cut... THERMOSETS are heated only once i.e. when set hard, when hot, they will not melt again. Examples of this are Bakelite (which is brittle) and Polyester Resin..." (Ref:

Longmans Chemistry) (see: 1938).

1935: "Plastic is new, it's smart, and it lends plainness and simplicity which is the true goal of modern design" (wrote Loewy). 1938: Vulcanite: “Hard substance made by treating rubber with Sulphur.” Vulcanize: “Heat rubber with Sulphur to make this hard or more elastic, durable.” “Vulcanite was discovered by Hancock in the UK, and by Goodyear in the States. Vulcanite is a good insulator and was used to house the 1st (crystal) wireless sets…” “Vulcanite also known as Ebonite… was very difficult to break. It was very difficult to repair. Could never be made translucent…” 1938: “Du Pont discovered a white waxy substance and called this slippery stuff Teflon…” “Teflon is suitable for coating concrete, bricks, metal, wood…” "The French coal industry came up with a plastic house using coal chemicals..." 1944: Henry J. Keiser Co. conducted a study into a proto-type plastic house… all sections fabricated in a plant... Keiser documented a series of design objectives and goals that would make the plastic house superior to conventional construction... including making a light-weight unit to take the normal stresses to which a house is subjected... Keiser's design could be transported flat... Keiser believed further experiments would produce a low cost plastic capable of use in construction... A modern, streamlined form, simplicity was the key, using a modular system.” "It is recognised a plastic material capable of being economically molded... would be the ideal type of material for the mass-production of houses" (said Keiser Industries). “In the end, it never went into production due to the low profit margins" (Ref: Report: Pre-fabricated

Longmans Chemistry).

“… Miracle of the post-World War II age, and found in homes everywhere… By the early '50s, plastic house-wares, countertops, flooring, wall tiles, upholstery and appliances were hot items on the market…” 1957: “PREDICTIONS FROM THE PAST THAT HAVEN’T COME TRUE… YET: “In Disney’s Tomorrow Land section… a glimpse of how you’ll be living in the future… Everything is ultramodern… the floors… even the ceilings are made of plastic…” “It’s a demonstration of style and technology…” Monsanto's All-Plastic House: In 1957, Monsanto teamed up with architects from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and built their vision… Monsanto's house is the one prototype that seemed to hold the most promise. Architects designed it to get the best use out of plastics. They did not want to make plastic two-by-fours and build an otherwise traditional house. Instead, it was perched on a pedestal and had a 16-by-16-foot core with four floating wings anchored at the center. The wings were constructed from 16 factory-made molded plastic sheets that were bolted together…The walls were washable plastic…In one bold leap, Monsanto and its co-operating partners feel design and engineering temporarily have gone ahead rather than merely kept the traditional two paces behind the housing needs and desires of Americans," Monsanto boasted in a 1957 publication. They called it a ‘harbinger of what is yet to come in residential buildings.’ The plastic house, - which Monsanto said could be built with $7,500 to $15,000 worth of materials, could not rot. It foiled termites. It could come in a variety of permanent colors. The construction materials were lighter and more moldable than steel. It could be taken apart and reassembled anywhere. And it would be at least as durable as brick or wood.” (“Coo! It feels like Heaven…”) “Before the house went up for public use, engineers tested its design first by weighing down the roof of a wing with seven barrels of water. To make sure the plastic would not warp in heat, they then doused it with water heated to a piping 186 degrees. It passed the test. The house was made of 30,000 pounds of plastic, a

Plastic Housing, Bancroft Library, Berkeley).

(“All this work! And nothing came of it! That can’t be good.” (“So near and yet so far!”) Hence, the popular expression: "Leave it

out…"? “It’s unfinished business.” “Leaving a job ½ done is never a good idea…” "… it is un-buildable? The best way to see if something is plausible is to build it." "The best science is done in teams." 1945: “New Plastic is stronger than steel.” “Around 1950, researchers came up with silicon derived from sand..." 1953: “RIGID PLASTIC was discovered in Germany... the higher density did not soften at 100 133

CHAPTER 3: ARCHITECTURE / Modern

monolith…”

(They made a HUGE structure, out of something that needs to be practical, simply to meet needs). “… for all its virtues, the House of the Future quickly became an idea of the past…” “PLASTIC DID NOT FEEL LIKE HOME: … ‘We are creatures of habit and we like tradition,’ said Sarah Susanka, architect and author of ‘The Not So Big House of the Future.’ ‘People could look at these houses with fascination, but we still like a house that looks like a house. The modern movement in architecture failed for that reason. There's a natural evolution. But the House of the Future tried to jump way into the future without any reference to a house in our minds. ’ ‘... it was clear the Monsanto notion was not a good one’… she said.” (But don’t disregard what they got right! Is this now the right time?) “The Monsanto House of the Future was a free attraction set in landscaped grounds with waterfalls…” “After attracting a total of 20 million visitors from 1957 to 1967…” “While it didn't prove popular with homebuyers…” (Was any market research recorded? How many people loved it, how many people thought ‘the allplastic house’ was not a suitable departure for them? Offered for sale? Delivered Price?)

“… The house was demolished…" Sturdiness aside, architect Joe Valerio said, ‘It was clear that the Monsanto notion of the future home was not a great prediction.’ He said the House of the Future was panned in architecture school in the '70s. ‘Don't ever expect plastic houses to become a success’…” (That is not a FAIR conclusion!) “Today's architects do not predict huge changes in housing design and materials anytime soon, and don't ever expect plastic houses to become a success. "The charms of sitting on plastic chairs continue to elude most of us," Susanka wrote. "A house is not an expression of technology; it's an expression of the people who live in it” (Ref:: Article by: Nina Wasserman www.future.newsday.com)

“According to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the House of the Future "was a design anomaly: though fabricated from materials concocted in an industrial laboratory - the company's motto was ‘Better Living Through Chemistry’ - the house took the shape of a flower from another galaxy, an abstract sculpture with four, lobate wings or blossoms budding from a central stem. No longer Le Corbusier's ‘machine for living,’ the family home was a work of modern art, in which function was subordinate to the dramatized forms of eyes, legs, fingers, lungs, and a pliant skin of sleek white plastic. The all-plastic wings

“The Monsanto House was virtually indestructible…” “…it did prove extremely difficult to demolish….” “Disney finally tore the house down, but discovered it would not go down without a fight. According to Monsanto Magazine, wrecking balls literally bounced off the glass-fiber, reinforced polyester material. Torches, jackhammers, chain saws and shovels did not work. Finally, choker cables were used to squeeze off parts of the house bit by bit to be trucked away.”

were composed of modular panels in contoured shapes filled with foam insulation. Each one featured a picture window - a huge eye with the proportions of a TV screen." “Renovating the Future: … one of the world's most popular visions of the future - Disney's Tomorrowland, in Anaheim, California - is getting a full-body makeover. Walt himself devised the '50s original, which featured a car-centric Autopia and an all-plastic House of the Future. For the 1998's revamp, Disney chair Michael Eisner more than ½ -seriously suggested Montana as the vista of the future. But after toying with a techno-bucolic idyll, imagineers fell back on a Jules Verne-inspired

"It was a testimony to how STRONG the house was," said Disney spokesman Ray Gomez.

"classic future." Some Jetsonesque* relics will 134

television around the world and has been screened as a DVD loop at various exhibitions. During the 2 years Mika Taanila and Marko Home conducted research for the screenplay they assembled a wealth of fascinating background material, the highlights of which were included in the film, although a large

remain. The clunky People Mover is to be accelerated into one of the fastest Disneyland rides ever. And the techno-idyll lives on, literally, the land is rich in edible plants. No eating the shrubs, kids” (Ref:: Spencer Reiss, Aprl 1997& www.future.newsday.com )

quantity of intriguing otherwise, had to be

(* The JETSONS: A 1960’s Space-Age cartoon family who lived in tall, columnar modular-styles: These could rise up to the clouds to escape the pollution at ground level). 1961: "You could BUY a plastic house in Detroit... came on 2 trucks... crew bolted them onto concrete bases... The ads said: ‘Live in the Future! Science Comes Home!’ We loved it, our neighbours who also had plastic houses loved it... we helped each other to re-arrange walls and add modules... One night, our plastic house caught fire. Black smoke clouded the neighbourhood. The fumes made us throw up... Most of what we had melted too..." (Ref: www.alanmitchell.com/projects (8/1/2000) (A true story? Supplier? Who / what caused the fire? What kind of plastic?) 1960’s: “Plastics = Very Space Age.” “Bend me, shape me, any way you want me, as long as you love me, it’s alright…” “It’s all possible with precision moulding…”

material, pictorial and excluded...” (Ref: Futuro:

Tomorrow's House from Yesterday. ([email protected]. www.archibase.net )

Publisher:

Desura

UTOPIAN means: “Ideal, perfect, but impractical.” Uh? 1974: C-FLEX FIBREGLASS PLANKING: This material consists of small, flexible rods of fibreglass held together in strips by woven softer strands. The result is a ‘plank’ a foot wide and any length you need, that can be bent over a ribbed frame, and then resined. You get a fibreglass boat without having to make a mold! The stuff easily accepts compound curves, and obviously could be used for objects other than boats; streamlined camper trucks, domes, and custom-shaped hot water storage tanks for solar heating systems, for instance. It works; it’s been proven.” 1975: “FAULTY TOWERS: Damp and corrosion hit tower blocks. In an attempt to cheer up tenants of 2 highly damp 21 storey blocks of flats in Paddington, London, the Greater London council (GLC) has promised to replace 1,120 window frames and make the structures water-tight and more safe. The residents remain stoically unimpressed and expect the dampness and corrosion to continue. Water has been entering the flats for years and previous attempts at waterproofing have been unsuccessful. Water is getting in for a number of reasons - the diversity of which has made remedial action difficult. The blocks are of

steel construction with bolted-on ALUMINIUM window frames and GLASS Fibre Reinforced Polyester cladding and were put up 10 years ago. Shortly after erection, the GRP panels started to fracture and crack… This has been put down to mishandling during transportation to the site, and clumsy fixing. £400,000 to replace windows in

“THE FUTURO HOUSE: This plastic, ellipsoid, portable holiday hideaway (designed by Matti Suuronen) is among the most striking examples of Utopian Space-Age design. The International SpaceAge craze of the 1960's stirred interest among Finnish architects, but there was only one Finnish project that can be regarded as a "bona fide" sample of space-age architecture: Its design encapsulated the distinctive themes… mobility, increased leisure time and new materials. The chosen material fiberglass-reinforced polyester plastic - was already familiar to Suuronen after

300 GLC flats. The council’s housing management committee will be told that 1,700 windows which have

unusual rounded corners have got to come out because of a design fault. Some of them went out of shape after construction and let in wind and rain. Later the windows were modified to make them easier for tenants to clean and this led to further seepage problems. Architects say there is no way of modifying them satisfactorily. The blocks were designed by GLC architects, the windows were supplied by an outside firm to the council’s specification. The chairman of the housing management committee described the cost of replacing the windows as (Construction News, 26/6/1975) staggering”

having designed a large plastic dome, eight meters in diameter, for the roof of a grain silo in Seinajoki. The

“CONCLUSION: “Modern = More Expensive.” (“Ah! What a killer. Killer Lies.”) WHAT have WE MISSED? It seems to be a logical progression… that has been missed out! (“It just requires a logical approach.”)

Futuro… assembled at the Polykem Plant… 1968. (Book: "Futuro: Tomorrow's House from Yesterday" follow up 1998 film "Futuro - A New Stance for Tomorrow" traces the history of this forgotten milestone in Finnish design… has toured over 50 International film festivals, has aired on 135

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"THE LOGICAL ANSWER TO THE HOUSING PROBLEM: From GERMANY - a house built to modular standard, simple to make, cheap to live in, any size you like, washable with a hose. It sits - a product of the Space Age - like some visitor from Outer Space. It seems poised for flight, as if at any moment it could take off from its terrestrial anchorage and vanish back to the galaxy from which it came. In fact, it is a house - a house of the future, certainly, but belonging very firmly to the here and now. Its designer, Wolfgang Feierbach, and his family have been living in the prototype for the past 5 years, awaiting the go-ahead from the German government for a constructional system vastly different from anything we have seen before. Now he has it - and Wolfgang’s plastic house, which is cheap, durable, maintenance-free and quick to erect, may well become the logical answer to the housing problem wherever it may occur in the world. (11 years ago, the designer was a machine constructor with a dream of building a house made of plastic. It took him 5 years to perfect his ideas). In 1968, at Altenstadt, near Frankfurt, the house became a reality. Feierbach moved in and the Institute of Construction Technology in Berlin, began a long series of severe, exhaustive tests before giving official approval...

Installing the kitchen, bathroom, heating and electrical equipment and lining the walls with textiles takes a further 3 or 4 days. Within a week of preparing the foundations, the new householder could be moving in. The system reveals a number of bonuses. Gone for ever is the expensive business of repainting the exterior - a quick wash down with a garden hose once a year restores it to new. The textile wall linings absorb sound, eliminate resonance and give a high degree of purity to stereo music. The GLASS fibre sandwich walls, although only 8cm thick, are so well insulated that as much as 50% can be saved on heating bills. The building TESTS on the house were extremely severe. Against wind, snow and vibration from traffic, it showed a resistance and stability 6 times the normal SAFETY requirements. Against FIRE, it passed the highest German standards. Against humidity, corrosion and parasites, the result was the same (boat builders after all, have long known the exposure resistant qualities of glass fibre for years). There is no reason why this house should not last 1,000 years. The authorities plan to keep a regular check on the construction elements, but the designer is confident that his house will withstand most causes of fabric deterioration. By far the biggest hurdle will be public reaction. Eyes that are used to accepting bricks & mortar, that accept steel and concrete will need time to adjust to plastic. Wolfgang Feierbach now licensed to massproduce his house, believes the time taken to make this adjustment will be quite short. They come in 60 different colours. Simple, humane. A practical home. At last! Instant housing!" (Ref: Article in UK magazine for Architects, 1983)

The design is extra-ordinarily simple, consisting merely of 3 fundamental elements, all made of GLASS fibre reinforced with polyester resin. The elements are: 1) the wall element with or without windows (a sandwich 8 cm thick), 2). the corner element and 3). the hanging ceiling element… a 10 m span can support a weight up to 5 tons. ECONOMIC VERSATILITY: The elements are built to a standardised module, but can be put together in a variety of ways so that the finished house can be any one of a number of sizes or shapes. A variety of wall partitioning enables the space inside to be adapted to suit an individual family’s needs, and even this can be changed as the family expands or contracts over the years. The house can be built in one day, once the Ferro-concrete foundation is ready for use.

(Late 1989: I was given a bundle of old magazines- I saw the article, I thought it might be of interest- I did not have the time to read it, so I put it in a scrap-book for safe-keeping. Failing to recognise its significance, I did not write down the name of the magazine. I thought the magazine was The Architect’s Journal but when I wrote to check, the AJ said they did not print this article).

136

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS: Proto-typed. Tried & Tested. THIS PROVES it can be done! (This module is not precisely what I have in mind… but it’s a bit more like it!) ”QUIET men at work! "What I do, I ENJOY!" HOMING INSTINCT: “Since the day I first saw you, I have adored you.” “Chic! Irresistible!” “A timeless quality.” “I want you for all eternity. Instantly addictive and Affordable!” “Clarity! Charisma. I WANT ONE!” “CHOICE LIVING!”

“FOR GOD’S SAKE, DO SOMETHING TO HELP HUMANITY” said Berlin (November 1992).

“… it is yet to have its finest hour.”

Here's another way of putting it: “ I know I need it. I know YOU need it too.” “Suddenly, I know YOU are THE KEY.”

UK: BUILDING REGULATION HEADACHES: “The Fire Regulations for England and Wales require building materials to have 0% spread of FLAME…” (in some situations. Strange! Plywood is not banned!)

Available from? THE BAD NEWS: “Since then we have lost sight of it…” It failed to come onto the market!

The 1987 London Building Regulations, state: "Polyester Resin cannot be used as a MAIN building material - there are problems with fire resistance and LACK of RIGIDITY…” Uh?

WHY? Was it sabotaged? Is it still there? 1989: I wrote to The Institute of Construction Technology in Berlin. But their response was: "I regret to inform you, I am unable to answer your inquiry." I showed these pictures to a friend, who said: “I don’t see it taking off… because of the shapeit’s too like a box! It’s too new an idea and because it’s too cheap. It won’t work…” (“Oh dear! Hasn’t anyone got anything good to say about it?”) WAH! “HOW CAN WE LET it SLIP AWAY? We’ve come too far…” 1989: The Berlin Wall came down... The NEW WORLD was starting to emerge... … the Homeless were forced into TENTS! “Do you remember that sad sight?” (Continued / see Chapter 14 /Germany).

(This is a picture of a UK-built Polyester building)

“The old world acts as if none of these events happened!” "… it's all under control”? "A secret kept too long." "Consigned to obscurity... because of the devil?"

“Tests concluded: Polyester is only suitable for commercial buildings (i.e. business premises EG. Warehouses) but not Domestic dwellings..." (Therefore): “The use of plastic is strictly controlled - plastic is only allowed for window frames.” HENCE COMPLAINTS: "We've got Building Regs like this was 1925!" “Building Regulations like this was 1935! The government’s boxed-in conventionalism…” “Nothing must go against the government’s ideological stance.” “We Should Go BEYOND the building controls if we want to AVOID collapse…” “The Regulations are law. When you’re up against the law… all sorts of perversions happen

(Cartoons: Architects journal? 1983). 137

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initiating degradation in GRP - this varies with location and orientation; surface wetness and temperatures also play a part in determining the rate and form of degradation. GRP: MOLDING PROCESSES: Contact molding:

- many hidden…” This OFFENDING Building Regulation is causing a HUGE BLOCK-AGE... disallowing people EG. architects, planners, the opportunity to create something really worth- while…

The choice of material for the mold depends on the length of run and the edge and surface details of the panel. A simple open mold of wood, plaster, metal, glass, or reinforced plastics is often satisfactory. A ‘gel coat’ of resin, which will form the surface layer, is 1st brushed or sprayed onto the mold and partially cured before building up the rest of the laminate; the gel coat sometimes contains an additive to improve its flexibility and a surfacing mat and resin are placed over this by hand and consolidated with rollers before the laminate is cured. The hand lay-up process is slow but effective for short runs. In skilled hands good control is possible; unfortunately the converse is also true and a careless operative can cause undesirable variations in the product. It is sometimes possible to use a technique of ‘spay-up’ which is faster and cheaper for long runs; this permits reinforcement to be built up of GLASS fibre. Contact molding allows for variations of structure, thickness and strength where required and the incorporation of stiffening inserts at any convenient point, even during later stages of production if testing shows the initial design to have been inadequate. Design details can be incorporated but this adds to the cost, though not disproportionately unless many undercuts are required. Matched-die molding: ‘Hot’ and ‘cold’ matched-die molding techniques are also used. The former, in particular, requires expensive metal molds and is likely to be used only for very large production runs, though closer tolerances and savings in materials are obtainable because of the more uniform thickness. It is sometimes difficult to obtain a resin-rich and consequently better weathering finish.

UK: 1987: “PLASTICS FOR BUILDING: REINFORCED CLADDING PANELS: GLASS fibre reinforcement impregnated with Resin, incorporating

fillers,

pigments,

etc,

and

suitably

curing

process. For building use, GRP 1 appeared as corrugated roofing sheets but its use is now extended to other external claddings. It can be formed to a wide variety of shapes, in various colours and textures, components made from it are light in weight and its moldability allows the incorporation of features and details that would be impossible with other materials. To meet the total performance requirements of a panel, GRP can be combined successfully with other materials. A core of cellular plastics or other lightweight material can provide structural stiffness in sandwich construction. Steel has been used to provide means of fixing to the building framework; aerated concrete has been used to improve thermal insulation and fire characteristics; plasterboard and glass-fibre gypsum plaster panels may improve fire resistance. Much design detail can be catalysed to harden during the st

molded into the material but it will often be advantageous to introduce additional detailing at joints, window openings etc, by the incorporation of components fabricated from other materials or from a different form of GRP. GRP LIMITATIONS: Lack of rigidity and

some decline in mechanical properties at high temperatures restrict some structural uses and

(The cost of making molds? "BIG is beautiful to molders?") SHAPE & SIZE: GRP panels can be molded to virtually any shape but some limitations are imposed by performance. If the panels are to be of economic thickness, they might not be sufficiently rigid and may need to be used either in sandwich form or with a more rigid backing sheet. Stiffness can be achieved by double curvature, folded-plate or pyramidal shapes. It is important to make provision for thermal movement, if excessive distortion is to be avoided and the joints are to perform satisfactorily. FIRE REGULATIONS: It is common practice to produce GRP of Class 11 grading, but where Class 0 is required it may be wiser to consider the use of some other material rather than accept the lower performance associated with a high concentration of flame-retardant additive. The use of flame retardants have very little effect on the burning of materials once they are fully involved in a sizeable fire” “The resin used to make GLASS fibre is FLAMMABLE.”

allowance must be made for the time dependence of these properties for components to be used under stress. JOINT DESIGN: Estimates of the extent of thermal movements are required for the correct design of

joints. The joints must allow for inaccuracies in manufacture and in the supporting structure and for deflection; they must resist fire penetration and perform the obvious functions of excluding wind and rain and might sometimes have to contribute a degree of mechanical support and restraint.” (Aha! WATER-TIGHT Joint designs!) “GRP: MAINTENANCE: Mechanical damage, during erection or in service, can be patched and an attempt made to match the original but site conditions are not usually favourable to proper curing of the resin and a patch is likely to show after a period of weathering. It is better to replace a complete GLASSRP panel, if this is practicable, although it might still be difficult to achieve a match that will weather in precisely the same way as the original” (Ah! Impossible to replace if damaged?) “DURABILITY: UV radiation is responsible for 138

for processors. In mold times, less than ½ those with polyesters using the same equipment and mold systems. Cold press and resin Injection. Can be mixed with fibres EG. Carbon. (Modar Foam Casting - absence of exothermic cracking). Corrosion resistant… Suggested APPLICATIONS: Balcony posts and spindles, Airport seats, Insulation Cladding, strip Heat Covers. Squash Court Walls, Pavements (polymer concrete), Electrical Switch Boxes, Composite roof Slate (High Mechanical Strength & Weather-ability), Low Maintenance Doors.” (Everything except…) “Modar users can be sure that as their requirements become increasingly more demanding, ICI’s research will be at the fore-front exploiting new opportunities in the Building & Construction industry” (Ref: ICI Chemicals & Polymers sales brochure,

1989: “GRP reported to be selling well.” ADVERT: “LOW COST, HIGH SPECIFICATION BUILDINGS: Single or DOUBLE storey construction. High interior specifications to your requirements. Total service from drawings, Planning permission to interior detail. Prompt courteous attention. Choice of styles. After-sales service. Wide delivery. Reliable service. Glass Fibre Reinforced (GRP) Construction Products. PRE-DELIVERY: GRP panels are susceptible to damage, in common with cladding materials such as tiles and stone. Handling panels may cause permanent distortion and possibly physical damage, which may lead to serious injury. PROTECTION: Packing in (wooden) crates is an excellent method but is likely to be costly. When cladding materials are not stored in crates, it is essential for them to be supported so that they retain their molded shape. The provision of slave or temporary struts and ties within the panel envelope may be necessary. Purpose made shoes protect edges, particularly those areas where the edges form jointing configurations; this will save time and expense in repair work after erection. Panels should be securely lashed. Spreaders and timber corner protectors being used to prevent rope cutting, chafing and burning. SITE STORAGE: Panels should be covered, on a firm, flat base, to shed any water that falls on them. General protection should be provided against movement of other materials or other equipment whilst in or adjacent to the storage area which should be fenced or clearly defined. Panels should be stored adjacent to the structure. PROTECTION OF PANELS AFTER FIXING: Once fixing has commenced care must be taken to ensure all cladding materials are protected and not damaged or soiled and do not suffer any detrimental treatment”

May/June).

*

“Resins EG. Modar, can be mixed with other types of filler. It is up to the specifier.” “If the specifier fails to specify what is wanted / desired performance-wise, and goes for the wrong material i.e. for cheapness - something that isn’t quite right… the end result won’t be excellent”

*

(said ICI Sales, 1989).

PROBLEM: “Modar - architectural fibreGLASS” - is NOT LOW cost. ICI are going for the LUXURY market. ‘The TOP end of the market.’ RESULT: “LOW volume SALES, high profit”? ("Why don’t these conglomerates do something good, for a change?") UK: 1989: ADVERT: “PERSPEX (Acrylic sheet): Strength, formability, light transmission and weathering resistance are important. Every designer looks for practical virtues. The possibilities are endless and we’ll put them at your fingertips. Our standard range goes all the way from vivid to muted, from crystal clear to impenetrable. Colour is the arbiter of mood, the focus of form and style. We’ll mix it especially for you. A glorious abundance of hues. New Living colour. A variety of materials was considered for the construction of the remarkable domed reptilarium of the Rome zoo. But the choice rapidly narrowed down to one: Perspex. Why? A simple matter of the survival of the fittest. To begin with, the dome had to be self-supporting, with no metal framework to compromise the airy lightness of the design. Only Perspex had the necessary backbone. The 2nd requirement: A controlled tropical interior Environment. The thermal insulation properties of Perspex played a major part in meeting it - and in controlling running costs. Perspex was also perfectly adapted to a hostile exterior Environment. In a Roman summer, that can mean very hostile indeed. Perspex. ICI World Class.”

(Ref. British GRP Sales brochure).

(HEAVY SIGH: In other words: “One dent renders the GRP panel useless.” = (“DON’T KNOCK it! Glass is BRITTLE.) (Strong? Durable? Glass for added strength and lightness? ‘Strengthened’ with Glass! ) Ah! (They can make rigid 2-storey buildings using fibres made from GLASS!) PRIVATE HELP? 1988: MODAR (Modified Acrylic Resins) (“developed to upgrade Polyester resin”): ADVERT: “Users of GLASS reinforced plastics are continually faced with increasingly stringent legislation regarding fire retardants, smoke and fume emission. As pressure increases to avoid the use of halogenated additives, Modar represents an important ALTERNATIVE to fire retardant unsaturated polyester resins and phenolic resins. Modar has been developed by ICI in the USA to reach particular American fire precautions. Modar for Strength, Durability, Lightness, Colour & Surface finish for designers and end-users. Excellent surface finishes. Low-smoke emission, low toxicity, fire retardant for specifiers. High productivity. Excellent fire performance. Low levels of combustion products. Good mechanical properties. Ease of moldability 139

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(Perspex is not resistant to cigarette burns…) (I have a kitchen spatula made of cheap plastic that is resistant up to temperatures of 210 degrees C). “ROOF LIGHTS: An ICI developed PVC sheeting material has been adopted by the manufacturer Everlite for use in sports stadia, swimming pools…” (Homes?) PETRO-CHEMICAL HELP? 1989: ADVERT: “SHELL’s Contribution: Building Products for use in general building and construction markets which are the result of a step change in technology and a novel application of current technologies to existing products or manufacturing processes; with preference for those materials used in the main fabric of buildings. MATERIALS: New materials ADVANCED developed using novel and advanced technologies which because of their performance create new markets, or enable product substitution in existing markets. This will include such materials as ceramics, membranes, and composites for use in industries ranging from automotive through to aerospace and electronics. WASTE MANAGEMENT: Provision of products and/or services

organisation…” UNANSWERED QUESTION: “Will a new formula make a difference to Britain's trade balance?” (“… it’s got to be worth something.” “We need our facts. The stuff science is made of…”) "WORLD SOLUTIONS? You could try contacting the Research manager, ICI Brussels, who work on all sorts of plastics and rigid foam for roofs, walls, panels..." (BBC World Service, 4.45am, GMT, 18/6/1990). Try British Petroleum, (BP) Advanced Materials Division, Aerospace Composites, in Bath, Bristol? “Important scientists are working on it, so they say, but there’s no proof.” “Keep working on it” as they say in the trade. WAH! What is the best material? Here is something for you to work on if you are a Research Chemist: What is the formula for a LIGHT-weight, very durable, Super-Strong, scratch-resistant, non-toxic, NONBIODEGRADABLE, fire-resistant resin? All we need is a simple equation. “Have a really good think about it, because we really need to know.” Has the ideal material been made, tried, tested? Or, am I talking about a new material? Used as a filler? Separated, shredded / grated? “You can’t beat a sandwich?” (“… it could be the best thing since they sliced bread.”) THE EFFECTIVE SOLUTION? The need to identify it is URGENT. For use as a main building material, for Housings (panels, floors, ceilings, roofs, windows & doors) also coating/s, & fillings; possibly cellular for cavity insulation + a rubbery / spongy foam in wipe-clean form for excellent Shock Absorption. Must be made from ingredients in abundant supply, via a pleasant process – and must not damage the Environment. “I haven’t got all the time in the world…” (“God cares about us very much. So, if only for God’s sake, can we do it right? God is very precious to everybody…”) I don’t mind what you call it! You could call it Poly-loopydoopofrelene, Technoclense, Teflolensecoproflockrinate, Strentonomatica… That doesn’t matter, so long as it’s the right stuff. Has DURALITE been made? THE CHALLENGE: To maximise overall performance. To provide long term durability. To increase HEALTH & SAFETY. “So long as it gives them a happy life.” THE SILENCE OF THE LABS: "The longer we take to research, the more money we get - all off-set against Tax." “Should we wait till the entire economy collapses?” “The government’s attempt to encourage growth through innovation is welcome but industry must respond positively if it is to succeed” (said Richard

relating to all forms of waste handling and management. In particular, products or processes which will reduce

the amount of waste which is land-filled. Treatment systems which will recycle or convert waste into a useful resalable product. FORESTRY PRODUCTS: The planting or acquisition of forest land or forests and the acquisition and development of downstream applications such as saw-milling and wood pulping” (Ref: Shell Ventures, UK Ltd., brochure). “… it’s IN THE PIPE-LINE?” 1989: I wrote to: Bob Reid, MD of Shell UK., to ask if Shell could help to identify the best Super-Strong material. Mr. Reid Referred me to: Shell Ventures UK. I went to their HQ, in London, and I gave Shell Venture’s representative, a Mr. Newman, a long list of goods that could be made with this material. A few days later, Mr. Newman responded, in writing, stating: “We do not want to take further the ideas you have put forward - many of them are extremely worth-while. We return herewith your dossier, which has not been copied…” I wrote back to express my hope that Shell use their research facilities / capabilities to help the General Public. No response! So I complained, in writing. I then received a letter from Shell Venture’s Public Relations department advising me go to LENTA (the London Enterprise Agency). I didn’t have the energy to write back explaining that LENTA had referred me to Bob Reid. Instead, I telephoned Mr. Newman and pressed him for information. Mr. Newman snapped, saying: “We’re working on it. Try ICI.” (Yeh. And ICI will say “Try Shell.”) IF only they would put their Heads together! “There is a GROSS lack of

Freeman, 140

Chief

Economist

at

ICI)

(Evening

Standard,

(“Formosa is Taiwan’s largest company making plastics.”) EXPERT: “TOO MANY HIGH RISK

15/6/1993) (Is

that all ICI have got to say about it?) UK: 1990: New Building Regulations came into effect... Architects etc., were advised to “phone Techline for computer analysis and details ‘to solve any problem’…” I asked Techline: "Do the Building Regulations still limit the use of resin for domestic dwellings?" Techline said: "We don't know anything about plastics. We're only interested in thermal performance." Uh? (“40% HEAT LOSS through traditional buildings. ‘Insulation’ = Glass fibre wads!) "... it needs manufacturing consent.” UPDATE THE UK BUILDING REGULATIONS! Could altering this out-of-date regulation really make a significant difference? Yes, incredible, isn't it! What a great thing it would be! “The whole world has got problems - is banging their heads against the wall.” (“… it’s something magic…” “Wouldn’t it solve everything?” Dare I say- it might just be A CURE ALL?) Just Remember: "Where Britain leads,

products in ICI’s portfolio. Co-development, Comarketing = Sharing Costs. Cross-licensing with other producers. Agri-chemicals: Very little growth…” “The world economy could stop it going ahead” said Sir Denys. “If it’s appropriate we would think of an equity raising exercise. Here’s to its profitable future.” “Hear hear” said followers. (“I bet he lives in a very grand house…”) “The chairman of ICI, earned over £830,000 in 1993. Performance Related Pay? The staff got a 3% pay rise.” “ICI Plastics, in Welwyn, Herts, UK expanded in 1970’s - has 1,000s of workers… Now shedding jobs - closing. A highly skilled workforce going begging…” (BBC1, 3/3/1993) ("Corporate memories are surprisingly long. A company's founding myth, a deep folk-memory of its original purpose, can survive down the years and unexpectedly reclaim its inheritance…") “I like my sculptures in polyester. They could last 4,000 years” (said an artist, 1991). “Vivien Westwood, fashion designer, believes the future is in plastics” (Video Fashion, ITV, 1/5/1992) (For once, I think I agree with her…) 1992: "THE EXPERIMENTAL PLASTICS-BASED HOUSE: Shows that plastics can achieve results that are more competitive with traditional materials; aesthetically, functionally and technically. To show the potential for plastics in building: A 2-storey building demonstrates that plastics are ideal ALTERNATIVES to traditional construction materials. Plastics account for approx. 75% of the structure. Plastics can be combined with other construction materials in order to satisfy all the architectural and structural needs... The idea was to build a proto-type with as many plastic materials as possible. ENERGY EFFICIENCY & SAFETY emphasized. The starting point was the fact that only small amounts of plastics are used in construction. In the past, the use of plastics was limited to non-structural constructions and components. The target of the project was to develop and test new polymerbased components. Other goals were: To increase knowledge of plastics in construction sector among architects, authorities etc. Because plastics are young in the field of construction materials, there is certain suspicion against them, partly because designers are not used to designing with plastics. Therefore, one important goal has been to convince designers (ARCHITECTS!) that plastics are real ALTERNATIVES when designing a building. NESTE worked closely with clients to develop a variety of new construction components based on the outstanding properties of polymers and composites. The materials are already weather and corrosion resistant, lightweight, and almost maintenance-free by nature. By

others follow..." (I’m not saying it will solve all your problems but it will go a long way to help.”) UK: Cheap polythene used to make expensive ‘modern’ FREE-standing public conveniences (toilets / kiosks). Futuristic? “Is this pathetic, or what?” ‘Fun’ = KICK it. Big dents. Consigned to the scrap heap. “It would be reassuring to know it is being done properly…” "The Government are not capable of finding a solution" said Mrs Thatcher. "These are problems for industry to solve." PEOPLE SAID: "Is that all you can say? Years have gone by - and still you say maybe I can hold you - you'll be mine." "Forgive me, you can't say. You can't say I love you. These are the right words to say at this time. The right time." "Get your ticket right." "This is the time for ACTION, not a speech, because the future is in reach..." "To be late is discourteous to others!" "I cry for it." ("No more crying! No more waiting…”) (Pre-Fabricated mass-produced housing to end the housing shortage. It’s as simple as that. You choose. There’s no excuse!) “ICI are no longer the bell-weather for industry.” “ICI’s workforce is increasingly despondent…” (1990). “Imperial Chemical Industries, a Global company (one of the world’s 50 biggest companies), see their future in explosives, paint and drugs chemicals. ‘We’re coming to a very different world - I suspect a second world (industrial) revolution’ said Denys Henderson, ICI’s chairman.” “ICI has pulled out of polyester fibre production. ICI has built a new plant in Taiwan. Their new plastic for bottles – Melimar - is ‘shatterproof.’” 141

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selecting the correct mixtures of raw materials and additives in the production process, the materials were adjusted to meet additional requirements for mechanical strength, fire resistance and… is highly energy-efficient, thanks to plastics’ inherently high thermal properties and the use of special insulation materials (EPS). Transparent insulation materials in wall and roof glazing… impressive in terms of safety and durability. The structure is built of reinforced, fire-proof materials to reduce the effects of weathering, harsh temperatures, and pollution. Some of the components are made from recycled plastics. All the plastics materials can be recycled… The main aim has been to develop components which could be used widely in all kinds of buildings (industrial, multi-floor etc). CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY: One of Finland’s leading architects, Professor J. Laapotti, believes the construction industry has yet to fully understand the potential of plastics to offer new and innovative solutions. … Under-floor heating system based on PEX-Pipes. …Polyester-based floor coatings… Components made from plastic are relatively cost effective in use, because they do not need much maintenance and repair during their life-time. Plastic tolerates different weather conditions excellently. For this reason, the expected life-time of plastics is longer than that of traditional construction materials such as wood and concrete. Not immediately ready to be commercialised. The penetration into the market depends on the time required for the product & system development, approvals of authorities etc. In the past, fire properties have been considered to be a weakness of plastics. In the designing, the fire properties were adjusted for MAXIMUM SAFETY requirements by selecting the right raw materials and additives. NEW PLASTIC COMPONENTS: Exterior & interior wall elements, pillars and beams (i.e. Tubes- steel reinforcements for concrete casting), intermediate floors (pre-fabricated EPS blocks), (easy to assemble on site), roofing, lattice support structure for roof glazing, wall glazing frames, balconies, staircases, low-voltage conductor rails. EXISTING PLASTIC MATERIALS: Foundation system… bath tub, tabletops, tanks… intermediate doors, solar-panel frames” (Ref:. Neste Chemicals, brochure 7/2/1992) (“GOOD WORK. Keep it up!” “Ahem! Are they saying plastics need steel and concrete structural supports ? Crap. If you take a rigid plastic TUBE the sort used by British Gas, and stand a section on its end, it won’t bend. It’s strong! That’s why British Gas use this. A plastic tube used as an upright support - as a central column CORE, does not have to be filled with concrete! Tubes can be functional… and aesthetic. You are worried about its maximum overall carrying capacity / weight? Well, let’s put it this way - don’t carry tons of machinery. "Don't

over-complicate its overall sophisticated simplicity, its elegance...") (“I know it’s only a matter of time. I want to know if YOU feel the need for it too. It’s a message that’s just got to get through…”) (“They’re more likely to kill the messenger.”) (“I’m a bit freaked out by this housing situation - whether it’s going to work or not…”) “ATTACK ON BUILDING REGULATION THREAT: A government task force set-up to tackle red tape with the construction industry is considering ‘killing off’ the UK Building Regulations. Bovis construction - their MD, Chris Spackman, Chairman of this taskforce, said in practise the Building Regulations have little effect. His taskforce is also looking at Fire Regulations and National Planning laws… The Chairman of RIBA’s Environment & Energy committee, said the idea is ‘incomprehensible.’ Contractors will place profit before safety and Environmental responsibility” (Building Design magazine, 14/5/1993).

"Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) is being phased out..." Germany: 1993: “Protest by several 1,000 employees of the PVC industry, organised by IG Chemie. ‘The ban makes no sense either from a labour market or an Ecological standpoint.’ 100,000 jobs in Germany depend on PVC. Germany’s largest Environmental protection organisation (BUND), said: ‘PVC is not the cheap material it is claimed to be. The industry has neglected to calculate the cost of cleaning up after this dangerous material which is a source of dioxin.’ The ban passed by State Parliament in 1990, comes at a time when the PVC industry is moving into large-scale recycling. The Federal Environmental Authority (UBA) estimates the annual volume of PVC products discarded as waste = 200,000 tonnes. A ban on the use of PVC in public construction projects stipulates no PVC pipes, floor or wall coverings may be used in buildings financed with state funds - this applies to public housing projects. In 1995, the ban will be extended to include PVC window and door frames…” (Plastics & Rubber Weekly, 19/6/1993). PROTEST: “Long live PVC. Is not biodegradable. Nor are glass, concrete, bricks and stone which are some of the other principle building materials. Besides, why should they be so, given the need to provide reliable performance over a service life of several decades. Most manufacturing processes result in emissions. The matter of toxicity is as much of one of quantity as of substance. The manufacture of PVC meets the limits laid down by the World Health Organisation - a regulatory body to protect society from hazard. PVC is free of ‘off-gassing’ to an extent that enables it to stabilise landfill - should it be disposed of via that route… SWITZERLAND: Use of PVC is prohibited for drinks bottles - for commercial not 142

concrete blocks, held together not with mortar but little polythene disks to inter-link blocks. A single storey house, with exterior tongue & groove plastic boards fitted over the concrete blocks. The bathroom pre-fabricated as a complete separate unit was installed in an afternoon - its pipes, fittings and walls all made from various plastics. The roof was sprayed on using a plastic composition 1st developed for cocooning battleships. Should stand up to the weather very well.’ A family lived in the house for 11 months. The house contracted, expanded and leaked a lot. ‘I don’t know how many times they re-did the roof.’ Other problems - the family kept getting static shocks when they touched the plastic walls. ‘We could hear every sound in the bathroom.’ The guttering could be heard creaking. Plastics tend to move when they warm up. Important to design allowing for movement. Then the whole garage fell down when the upright was clipped by a car. The plastic house was eventually demolished. In the light of this experience it’s hard to believe how willingly we embrace the simplistic ideals of an all plastics world. No longer glamorous - plastics have become merely an essential part of our lives - that did not - could not deliver the Utopia that once seemed so certain. The general thing that has now happened with plastics is that they have a servant role not a master role - they have become hidden pipes - or whatever. That is a key change. Plastics were an oversold technology in the 1960s. In that time TV programmes reflected the promise that technology would bring a better brighter future. 1962: The BBC’s ‘Tomorrow’s World’ featured similar stories to the plastics house. More than entertainment - seemed to prove the technology was unstoppable. To the viewer, human ingenuity knows no bounds - the images fed the faith technology really can bring Utopia…” (White Heat, BBC2, 29/10/1994) (“… it’s succession is not guaranteed…”) (“OK, so that time they went wrong, next time…”) “A SEAMLESS LOOK WAS something to be ASPIRED TO. One house in the 1960’s, instead of using 200lbs of plastic in its construction, used 2 tons… Tomorrow’s House was called ‘Plug-In Disposable Houses.’ Everything easy to clean, hygienic - a whole new ALTERNATIVE lifestyle…” (Mod Cons, BBC1, 11/8/1997). "GENERAL ELECTRIC show-cased a house composed of at least 10% plastic... '... the point was not to push a total plastic house. It would have been frivolous because it is not always a better and cheaper substitute for traditional materials. Wood still surpasses plastic aesthetically'…” said GE's General Manager of marketing..." "... lack of independents... fierce competition between resin suppliers - about 90 in Japan, each

Environmental reasons, as no such legislation could be justified on Environment grounds. Any voluntary agreements that exist, against the use of PVC in building, are due to ill informed and irrational prejudice… A recent decision in HOLLAND… As to low-energy products, PVC and other plastics rank among the best and we would willingly share an Eco-balance study… Let us ignore labels such as ‘ingenious glossing over the problem.’ What about crucial and potentially life-saving uses in medical treatment? There its transparency, toughness and physiological inertness results in its use in dialysis units, intravenous drip kits etc. May PVC and its users share a long life” (D.R. Jones, MD., The British Plastics Federation, Building Design, 5/11/1993).

DOCUMENTARY: “WILL THE FUTURE BE BRIGHTER THANKS TO TECHNOLOGY? Perfect? Magical? Synthetic material symbolised a fuss-free, non-stick, wipe-clean world called ‘The Plastics Age.’ Exciting! Man no longer dependent on stone, brick, timber. Dreams of A Plastics Age peaked in the 1960s but had been growing for decades… Engineers set out to build a better world. 1920 – 1930s was a very exciting period for this revolutionary material - it produced some very interesting objects / artefacts. People wanted something new, cheerful, dynamic. Often compared to natural materials as being better, brighter, brilliant - better colours and so on, plastics were a universal material which should enable the masses to be able to Afford a whole lot of new products.” (i.e. “Plastic is a democratic material…”) “The characteristic look of many household products in this period was inspired by the look of plastics - which made many new shapes possible… Advertising slogan: To Shape Tomorrow… A new plastics house was advertised: ‘Here’s the beauty of a home in Scarsdale, New York: (Called) ‘The Plastics House,’ although the roof and walls were not made of plastic, practically everything inside the house was. Table tops that resist burns…’ People became quite excited by the idea you could start to manufacture the materials you needed. You had this ubiquitous material which can be all things to all people. Plastics offered designers so many possibilities. It seemed plastics could replace natural traditional materials altogether. 1940s: Architects talked of a future Environment made perfect by technology - a Utopia. They predicted the next plastics house would have fittings and walls made entirely from synthetic materials. 1963: A British company took a leap towards that future. ‘In this experimental house, there are 3 tons of plastic compared with a present day average of 100lbs. Its walls are made from foam 143

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vying for a share of 10.6 million tonne annual market for thermoplastics..." "In USA, there are growing opportunities for compounders to expand... performance modification of low priced resins... improved blends..."

done in the desert - using the Sun’s energy to create electricity,.. The silicon given to the countries who have assisted and need it. From deserts, new life would grow… "The cost of electricity affects plastic processors..." JAPAN: .”Yushin, the robot makers, in Kyoto… to increase production in plastics molding… a demonstration plant… automated – factory now unmanned… no need for lighting, saves on air conditioning and heating..." (Asian Plastics News, May

(European Plastics News, March 1993).

"BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW: An Israeli man has discovered how to make bricks from Silicon, via a simple process..." (The Sunday Times, Science Section, April 1993) (see: Moses)

SILICON: "One of the most abundant ingredients found on this planet is SILICON i.e. Silicon is a major component of sand. Sand is one of Earth's most common i.e. abundant, elements.” (EG. "THE SAHARA DESERT is approx. the same size as America i.e. 23 million square miles. Each Dune = 1,000s and 1,000s of tonnes of sand. Underneath, formed river beds - land…" “The highest SAND dunes in the world / Mega dunes = THE GOBI Desert (in Mongolia). 350 x 500 miles. Biggest dune: 430m high… A surreal wilderness…” (Channel 4, 18/4/2005) (WASTELAND?) WOW! “You can make plastic from silicon. Silicon is NOT oil based. (Anything that is oilbased catches fire). Silicon is not flammable at certain temperatures..." (“The melting point for silicon is: 1414 degrees C.”) "You can make artificial silicon but it is not considered economic* to do so... as there is no shortage of raw ingredients..." (* see Chapter 16) “STUDY OF NEW MATERIALS: ...Professor Rick Smalley, at the University of Houston... has devised a new molecule - Shape similar to a Hovis loaf of bread... Silicon vaporised by lasers... ionised harder than granite... carbon BONDED = Lightweight... Stable, So STRONG! Absorbs light… So Simple To Make it! Couldn't believe it! So wonderful! Incredibly Beautiful! Pure! It's a different ball game. Creative science at its best! ... A whole range of technology... to make houses HOMES? Expect some applications in 1992..." (story repeated on TV, 26/4/1993) (“I think it’s chemistry!”) (“It is an exact science…”)

1993).

"The Plastics Industry wants to diversify and expand its range. There are plastics groups lobbying the government, the EEC" (said a journalist for the European Plastics Magazine, 17/6/1993) Lobbying for WHAT? "UV RESISTANCE: ... can withstand vigorous physical and thermal distortion... up to 30 times more UV resistant than competitive materials... developed by Development Plastics, midGlamorgan, UK (Plastics Weekly 19/6/1993). "Super-Lego, made from bigger bits... now building sets / kits to produce toy plastic buildings, in UK" (TV, 17?/3/1994) (Lego bricks: Secure’ish top to bottom, but not fixed side-to-side…) "Liquid resin can be hardened using UV light...." (Tomorrows World, BBC 28/1/1994) (Sun-light? A GOOD CURE? "You can argue about it all you want. I just know it'll be harder the longer you leave it.") "One-way Bullet-proof 'glass' patented, but not marketed - made of plastic. Could be very useful. If someone tried to shoot you, the bullet would stay in the 'glass'. It's supposed to be Top Secret..." (Tomorrows World, BBC 15/4/1994). STAR-LITE: “Amazing scientific potential. This laser can burn through steel in seconds but not through Star-lite. Based on a polymer - is moldable. Some speculators say this invention could make £Billions. Burning plastic costs lives. Imagine, a plastic that can withstand heat. Miraculous? Plastic industry intrigued. Star-lite’s inventor is Morris Ward - an alchemist. The inventor is tired of waiting for a promised future. Morris fends off industrial giants - refuses to give the world his formulation. Morris has shut his factory where he used to produce it. Only his family who used to cook up the product know its secret. StarLite’s properties are almost unbelievable. Ward is not a scientist yet he managed to do it. Star-Lite won the backing of a top government department won sceptics over. Star-Lite worked so well, the thermal fuse in the laser blew up (killed the laser), thanks to its Reflectivity. Star-Lite is a smart material. Very fashionable area of technology today. ICI tested its flame retardancy. It passed this. The manager then told Morris to go away and not bother anyone else! ‘Many come here

Where did it go? (Oh, no! It seems to have failed to appear– again! It can’t just have vanished! “How can we get some clarification on this, so we know, for final…”) (“Well, let’s have some mental exercise whilst we wait for the best team in the world to show up, OK? There doesn’t seem much else we can do right now…” Q: So we use sand to make silicon, to make our modules? The UK has little sand. Where could we get sand from? Exploit Africa/ns? Buy it from Arabia? A: Produce it with counties who have deserts. Trade know-how, production facilities & other installations + Silicon - manufacturing could be 144

saying they’ve invented a new material, give me a £million. We can’t do that’ said ICI. Morris threw his sample away. Took him a year to get another sample - through trial and error. Advised to get it patented through a big group as patent very expensive. ‘When patented anyone could copy for a fee. Anyone unscrupulous could work it out. They would want to exploit it commercially’ said Morris. Morris started demanding large sums of money before giving his invention out. Not enough zeros in the deal to tempt Morris. NASA eyeing Star-Lite for their new plane. Would Star-Lite survive nuclear flash? Morris hasn’t the language to convince people properly. NASA bemused. Morris says they are blinkered - they only go along with their usual routine… The importance of Star-Lite has been acknowledged around the world. It has all the characteristics… 8 years have elapsed since Morris’s breakthrough. He needs scientific recognition of his peers. It is dragging on and on. We as a society are suffering not having the advantage of its use. I wonder how many more lives might be lost while Morris dances with his future? It’s his invention. It’s up to him to decide what he wants to do with it. It might come off. It might not. Morris and his family want the money in the Bank before selling the formulation” (QED, BBC1, 27/4/1994). “No-one is thinking of a material like Star-Lite as a structure in it’s own entity. People are thinking of using Star-Lite as a composite- with Star-Lite on the outside of a honeycomb of resin, carbon fibre and Kevlar. They are trying different things from week to week…” HEMP: “AN EXCEPTIONAL MATERIAL: Once a VITAL Crop: Hemp Growers / industrial production encouraged during WW11...” Hemp = Very Tough Fibres. (Plant is high in silica content. Fibres cheaper than GLASS fibres...) 1941: Hemp as a Viable COMPOSITE: “Hemp was tried and tested by Henry Ford who researched Hemp for 12 years... A composite using 30% resin binders + Hemp fibres... reported to have 10 times the IMPACT RESIST of a steel car, and weighed 1,000 times less...” (Another report): “1941: Ford’s Hemp car was called a ‘plastic car’… was derived from cellulose fibreshemp, sisal & wheat straw. Lighter than steel, 10 times the impact without denting…” (Not introduced. WHY? Because cars took off in flight?) (Does your car have a rear spoiler?) USA & UK: 1957: “CROP demonised: Prohibition imposed.” Ah! Hemp OIL Seeds… Hemp Plants = Seeds = Oil + next crop = An entirely NEW ECONOMY (Hemp based…) HEMP should be RE-INTRODUCED TO SAVE

produces as much cellulose fibre pulp as 4.1 acres of Trees…” “Leaves absorb C02. FAST GROWTH: 20ft height in 3 - 4 months. Grows with natural Sunlight... Grows without Herbicide - Plants naturally suppress weeds. Grown in Rotation = No Pesticides. Hemp uses standard crop equipment...” “Can be marketed as an ECO-PRODUCT. A NATURAL, non-toxic material. Eco-friendly. Renewable.” “BIO-REFINARIES could inject wealth into local economies - a new manufacturing sector could emerge...” “50,000 new products could be derived including (Tree-Free) paper, non-dairy milk, cream, cheese... flour... resins, paints, shellacs, adhesives, medicines, inks, textiles (is better than cotton - will reduce use of chemicals by 60%), canvas, soap...” “Bio-chemicals = A tiny fraction of pollution compared with Petro-chemicals...” MDF Hemp = “Double the STRENGTH of woodderived MDF, + Hemp is also used for the binder (existing binder is formaldehyde - which is carcinogenic.”) “Hemp can be made into a type of pouring cement – molded - it hardens... is crack and insect resistant...” “Hemp can be mixed with recycled materials... “ “BIO-Plastic made from HEMP: Ideal for use in Earthquake and Cyclone regions (strength / weight ratio). Has excellent Thermal capacity - an ability to store warmth and give it back... “The 1st commercial Hemp plastic has been produced in Germany..." ("Soy bean Bio-Plastic could also reduce dependency on petroleum...") “The car-maker BMW is now testing Hemp..”. (2004). 2004: “Hemp is legally grown in 25 countries who see its value as an Economic crop capable of being used as an ALTERNATIVE to (hydrocarbon) fossil fuels...” HEMP: “Eco-Fibre industries of Australia are leading the way... “ Q: Does everyone walk around in a drug induced haze?” (see Chapter 4 / Health / Drugs). A: “HEMP differs to marijuana - has much less of the properties needed to get ‘high’ on it…” “Hemp is TCH-free.” UK: 2004: "65% of our clothing, plastics, pharmaceuticals these days are made from fossil fuel…" “… it should be up to you to decide what kind of home you live in, not a bureaucrat.” Much emphasis placed on BIO-DEGRADE to reduce Waste: Bio-plastics do Bio-degrade - can even be made to melt within 1 hour... BUT we need NON-Bio-Degrade to get Optimum Performance for Modules. Q: Is there a NON-Bio-Degrade Bio-Plastic?

TREES... “The wood shortage...” “One acre of hemp 145

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material bought from Royal Building Systems, Canada... to try this alternate mode of housing in the quake prone Kutch district... Reservations expressed about FORCING the plastic housing on the villagers used to traditional houses... The plastic houses are currently used in hot, arid regions and places with sub-zero temperature... Will withstand quakes in excess of 8 on the Richter scale..." (Financial Daily, Hindu Publications,

A: “Hemp can be used to make any type of plastic.” A: “Petro-chemicals produce non-biodegradable plastic, Bio-oils produce bio-degradable.” Uh? Which answer is right? Fire Resistance? "Bio-plastics used in electronics products require high flame resistance to prevent fires..." (Ref: Michigan State University www.hemp.on.net www.lightparty.com ).

“Plastic man is coming. Believe me. Plastic man is coming” (Radio, 18/3/1994) (Plastic man means: False). “A poxy floor covering. Have you sussed it yet?”

16/7/2001).

Afghans need a VIABLE Alternative: “WAR in Afghanistan... Many people lost everything... Rebuilding traditionally means mud-brick structures death-traps during Earthquakes that frequently hit the area. FAIR TRADE? Now, some American scientists, engineers and architects think they have a better way to rebuild Afghanistan = Using Polystyrene (or Styrofoam) a Hazardous building material! £millions invested... Problems = Is petroleum-based - creates Toxins when made EG. Benzene... Is a highly flammable material... gives off 57 known (nasty) by-products when burned… Afghans do not have oil - will have to sell something, to buy POLYSTYRENE ‘shelters.’ 1/3rd their economic output is Opium (poppies…) Will they build a factory, or pay to import?" (comment posted on web-site, 2001-2) “This throws the rule book out of the window…” (POLYSTYRENE: Hazards: Melts instantly in contact with naked flame, drips dangerously, BURNS people TERRIBLY. Fumes. Choking smoke... Should be avoided like the plague.) “PLASTIC HOUSES PROTO-TYPES: ‘... a $12,000 investment will hopefully convince Jamaicans to buy a house made of recycled plastic’ said Western Profiles Recycling, Winnipeg. ... made of recycled PVC, designed by Troyer (involved with ‘Habitat for Humanity’). ... is similar in size to many low-end Jamaican homes... frame with t & g hollow planks, filled with concrete, fastened with screws... one is being used as an office...” If constructed from virgin plastic, the cost would be considerably higher..." “INDIANS UPGRADE TO PLASTIC HOUSES: ... using casino cash, won’t say how much... a small group of Wintin Indians are building 2 dozen luxury houses made from recycled plastics, plus a school, an admin building and recreation area... J. Deterding is constructing ‘Environmentally Advanced Homes’ using 85% Rasta (a European material - invented because Europe is short of Trees). (Rasta is Styrofoam with poured concrete)... Frame built of recycled plastic ...No rot, no pests, no fires, using materials to protect them from the hot climate was their criteria... 1st the polystyrene foam is made into Thystryon which is then shaped into panels, threaded with empty channels, concrete poured in to give greater strength... the material costs too

(Radio, 21/3/1994).

"AFFORDABLE PLASTIC HOUSING: ... Vic De Zen's Royal Plastics Group (Canada) have developed plastic houses..." (1995. Ref: www.celcee.edu/abstracts Canada Business Media).

USA: "... a carpenter upset by rising price of wood has formed a company to make panels (i.e. 4' x 8' polystyrene core, using a fast drying urethane adhesive) using recycled plastics for home constructions... Has patent... Lance Autry says he can produce a 2-storey, 1,350 sqr ft home in 2 days... 'The industry is in the learning stages' said J. Orr representative of the Building Industry Association of California. 'You see more and more of these materials being demonstrated.' ... so far the only material getting much use is steel beams for framing because quality more predictable than wood... The recession could thwart Autry chances... Now Autry is working with ‘Habitat for Humanity’.. the Oak Park Houses... Autry is now looking for money..." (Streetwise magazine, 16/10/1995) ("Plastic credit cards don't build houses...") “JET AGE BEDOUINS: … in a world that’s moving… which allows us to live more independently… (the desire to) reclaim some of the freedom of Nomads… In an Age of Greater Complexity… we hanker for simplicity… for something basic… portable… and indifferent to the conventional definition of home. Why do so many ‘modern’ constructions echo the OLDEST dwellings? If Bill Gates can build a mansion of silicon & software, WHY can’t WE construct HOMES?” (wrote Pico, 6/8/1998). “Luxury USA homes are now built to be Earthquake resistant…” "QUAKE RESISTANT PLASTIC: The Reliance Group has taken the initiative in quake-hit Gujarat... by introducing PVC / concrete houses... the system uses next generation technology, is highly modular and flexible... The world over, plastic housing systems have proved to be durable, very strong, maintenance-free and are guaranteed for long life... The savings - it pays for itself..." (Ref. www.expressindia.com 24/3/2001). "... the State government has given, in principle, clearance to put up pre-fabricated houses... the 146

eased into place and concreted together… Tiles put over joins, tiles laid on the floor. Interior wallpapered, utilities, air conditioning installed. Built from a Kit... Is this a good thing? Its construction may have profound implications for the (traditional) construction industry…” (FEARS it could cost jobs? Uh? Absurd, closed-minded.) “500 people involved in the operation. 'You save time and money this way. It is very much more cost efficient.' It may be practical, it may be cheap. But it is not a technique everyone is happy with. The president of RIBA, Owen Kuder, is concerned... ‘…there is a standard solution to everything... what people really want in diversity and interest’... He also points out that similar, though less sophisticated, methods were used in the construction of pre-fabricated housing and quality was questionable… McDonald’s (the American fast-food company) say they are using high specification materials and the new-style will stand the test of time" (Evening Standard, 10/7/1996) (Corrugated sheet metal is used for external cladding, with concrete cavity wall insulation. A concrete foundation - construction laid on top & bolted down?) WAH! THEY can create and ‘instantly’ benefit from ‘EFFICIENT’ modular buildings. But we can’t have decent starter homes! “Life can be a problem if you’re born with a house-holder’s gene and the Nomad’s gene...”

much to be competitive..." (Sacramento Business Journal, Feb 2002).

Re: Fossil Fuel Derived Plastic: "CAN PLASTIC HOUSES BE ENVIRONMENTALLY GREEN? ... Eagle Plastics Systems of Florida supply a basic building material for so-called 'Ecological Plastic Homes'... is a high-tech corrugated board made of polyethylene or polypropylene... principle clients are missionary groups trying to supply temporary housing for the Third World Homeless and disaster victims... There is nothing ecological about plastic houses! ...They use large amounts of non-renewable resources and energy to produce... They are expensive, they burden segments of society who can least Afford to be saddled with debt, rather than Affordable housing which can be built and maintained by the residents themselves... Housing needs are best met with wood..." (Ref: Article by A. Fritsch, S.J. Consultants, August 2004) (What chemicals has it got in it? Anticarcinogens ?) "THE SEARCH FOR NEW MATERIALS = “THE IMPRESS PROJECT: £41 million to be spent over next 5 years to investigate metallic alloys, for new turbine blades, involving 42 research groups across Europe..." (November 2004) (I’m not impressed). WHAT IS NEW? “Monsanto, the multi-national, have produced Genetically Modified oil seed and cress so that plants produce polymers that can be turned into bio-degrade plastic…” ADVERT: “WORLD HOMES: ‘MOBILE’ MODULAR HOUSING: A non-profit business organisation (in USA) can supply 100 units a day… manufactured on site for immediate availability… ideal for disaster relief - can be used for any purpose. Same size as shipping containers - to fit standard trailers (lorries). Delivery cost $1 a mile. Can be stacked… when sited put in double or triple formations. Construction = Tube frame, cast steel corners. Hardboard siding with gypsum. Roof felt, asphalt, galvanized metal corners. Fibre-glass insulation. Floor joists, strand board glued, nailed. Aluminium window frames. Hollow-core doors. High pressure plastic cabinets (Formica type). One-piece fibre-glass shower. Optional Extras: Septic tank, water capture system. Can withstand Earthquakes & hurricanes” Ref: www.net-magic.net / information found 2005) (But wont survive FLOODING!) "How to build ONE restaurant in 200 hours, costing £750,000? A 'revolutionary' 'MODULAR' construction Technique: Walls made of concrete and steel, outside adorned with brick cladding. Roof finished with slate. 'It is like a big Lego kit.' The 4 walls and the roof are built in Hull, UK, by Brit-Space. The individual parts transported on 10 lorries. Meanwhile workers lay the foundations. Pipes put in place. With the aid of cranes, walls

“SELF-CONTAINED LIVING FOR GLOBAL NOMADIC HOUSING = STEEL shipping containers are being used to provide ‘a cost effective solution’ to accommodation problems. Put into BLOCKS to make ‘little villages’… A single container = 20 ft. THE WEIGHT OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS? (Not as light as a feather, that’s for sure). For River-side living? (Absurd): Shipping containers are NOT WATER-TIGHT !!! Canned Heat: “A METAL box that HEATS up FAST… and COOLS off FAST…” Insulation: Wood panelling? (OK- let’s skip insulation.” ) (“Come on people! Let’s get together. Let’s work together, come on now, every boy, girl, woman and man. Now! Now, people…Make 147

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systems destroyed or poisoned. Electricity unavailable.” (i.e. NEW STYLE OF HOUSING URGENTLY NEEDED): “To relieve suffering, speed transition back to normal life.” RESULT: “200 designs from 30 countries submitted by architects and designers. Finalists: 5 proto-types. Built: 1. Techno Craft: An inflatable HEMP house; a low-tech balloon system. Much interest shown because of the nature of the material. ‘Why shouldn’t housing for Refugees be beautiful?’ 2. A shipping container inspired design. 3. A wire mesh and rubble scheme - rubble from former homes utilised; a cage-like structure. 4. A paper log house made from cardboard tubes (updated from Tube homes built for Kobe Earthquake victims and Rwandan Refugees. Plan included insulation & waterproofing)… 5. A design called: ‘Future Shack’ won”

someone happy, make life worthwhile…”) “CONTAINER HOMES ‘hold Key to solving CRISIS’: A group of Britain's leading architects and engineers have proposed to the government that key-workers (i.e. essential workers) unable to pay for (UN)AFFORDABLE (brick?) housing could be lodged in Chinese-made, high quality, converted freight containers stacked up to 16 storeys high and sited almost anywhere that land is available… The plan has been presented to MP’s, Housing Associations, landlords and the NHS. The 1st proto-types are now being developed. Urban Settings, the company behind the scheme, believes it this could halve the cost of traditional housing… The cost of a single 300sqr ft container would be about £28,000 and £40,000 for a double (!) They could be made on existing massproduction lines in China or Malaysia… ‘They would not just be rows of metal boxes. They could be beautiful buildings, with balconies, open spaces and glazed atria. They can be made very attractive.’ … could be stacked higher than 16 storeys to make High-Rise container Towers… but might be better suited for 3 or 4 storeys… they could be sited on land that is only available for a few years… they could be laid out in many different ways and finished as anyone wants. If planners wanted mock Tudor containers they could have them, just as easily as loft-style apartments”

(ref. www.architectureforhumanity.org )

2002: “ARCHITECTURE FOR HUMANITY: Competition launched for a Mobile Health Centre (outreach) to help African victims of Aids. Many entrants. Designs = Trailers, Tents - to be put on the back of a lorry – tent extendable. Frame shipped then put together on site using local labour…” (One of the judges was Jennifer Seigal, author of the book called: Mobile: The Art of PORTABLE Architecture (published by: Princeton

(Designed by Arup Associates , The Guardian, 30/10/2002)

Architectural Press).

(Ah! They want to find a highly profitable use for their rusting old stock of shipping containers!) “The Luminous House: Japanese architect Kengo Kuma's Plastic House (2002), a small private residence in Tokyo, is built almost entirely of glass fibre-reinforced plastic. Kuma used this material both in the form of long slats and thin sheets, using in either case its inherent translucent qualities…” ‘If materials are thoroughly particlized, they are transient, like rainbows.’ (“Following the general

(Also see: www.disasterlogistics.org / mobile clinic competition). “DISASTERS AND WAR HAVE LEFT MILLIONS HOMELESS… CAN ARCHITECTS HELP? Displaced by natural, economic, or political catastrophes, the number of people ‘of concern’ to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is about 20 MILLION (PEOPLE)… in the world. 100’s of 1,000’s of Afghans and Iraqis are now on the move, fleeing conflict. Floods in India and Senegal in the past year have left countless homeless. Bosnian refugees are still trying to return to their homes despite the devastation. Millions more ‘internally displaced persons’ in Colombia, Indonesia… In the wake of disasters both natural and man-made, the provision of emergency shelter, in addition to food and water, is the most pressing challenge for local governments, international agencies, and humanitarian aid organizations. As expected some of the best concepts for emergency housing take advantage of cheap, easily transported, or local materials. THE SUPERADOBE EMERGENCY SHELTER: …built by the refugees with the U.N.

trend, Kuma has over the years investigated many new and old materials, including plastic, translucent polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), bamboo, plastered straw, dried vines, paper, and, to a lesser extent, brick and concrete.” “Among the growing number of new materials architects have experimented with are: Teflon fiber fabric, polycarbonate, liquid crystal glass, cardboard, paper, corrugated metal, and perforated aluminium, in order to configure lighter structures and more fluid and ambiguous spatial matrices..” Ref. Article excerpted from Kengo Kuma: Selected Works by Botond Bognar, Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press).

1999: “ARCHITECTURE FOR HUMANITY: Competition launched for transitional housing to help 75,000 people returning to Kosovo (see: Chapter 14).

In 1991, Khalili's California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture tested the architect's dirt-dome prototypes and eventually passed seismic tests to meet California's

Refugee-style camps not possible. 50% of houses reduced to rubble. Food in short supply. Water 148

DOMES = No fire hazard caused by having a dry, tinder-box attic space…” ADVERT: “GOOD KARMA DOMES: Prefabricated = 3 men (with carpentry skills) x 5 days labour. Framework of struts. Plywood panels / (small) tri-angles glued, screwed or nailed. Colour coded nuts & bolts. 12 bolts per tri-angle. Available in KITS, in a range of sizes. A concrete footing. Spray-on cellulose insulation, fire resist. Roofing = Spun flex cloth embedded between 2 elastomeric coats… asphalt shingles. Dome skylights. Wind tested 200 mph.…” ( www.earth-house.com ).

stringent building codes. Cheap, sustainable, easy to

ADVERT: “MODULAR CONCRETE DOMES: … can be linked together… Available complete with modular floor plans… Hardwood floors… The high vaulted ceilings…” ADVERT: “BIO-HOMES: The idea is you can LIVE SUSTAINABLY… a Geodesic frame, wire mesh covered with elastomeric polyurethane foam (self-extinguishing). 12” thick wall. (Looks similar to an igloo). Lightweight & durable. Available in range of sizes….” ( www.biohome.net ) (HOW TO SECURE TO THE GROUND?) ADVERT: “Insist it should be done. Show them how it could be done. Of course, the acid test will be…” WINNER OF ART PRIZE: Exhibit called ‘Shed Boat Shed.” (A wooden shed that can be dismantled to make a boat) (2005). “WHAT LINKS FARMING TO HEMP - THE WORLD’S MOST VERSATILE CROP? Largest hemp (industrial-scale) farm (1,600 acres) in UK, in Devon (to make edible hemp oil) (Cold pressed. Very healthy, great for skin, joints…) A big worry for the farmer- are people going to like it and buy it?” Hemp has been grown in Devon for centuries. WHY Not Again? (Hemp disappeared ½ a century ago – was considered to be essential. Elizabeth 1st insisted everyone grew it. It was a vital part of the war effort. Needed a special licence… Harvesting: The seeds are ignored by most hemp growers. Produced natural oil in purest form. The need for Sunny weather… This farmer is providing employment. ‘I was so down. Do something different!’ Every bit of the plant is used- that’s unusual. Stalks used… Lightness, with strength… Hemp today is used to provide inner panels for cars, horse bedding… (& carp bait). A happy ending? If given a few good reviews… this miracle crop could run and run. Here is an (BBC1, alternative crop farmers can grow” 23/1/2006) (“LET it GROW!”) “Re: Modular Housing: I'm fairly sure that I've seen something similar from Germany! If I cast my mind back to the Pakistan earthquake, we took lots of collapsible modular houses out to Pakistan on a ship but I cannot exactly recall which country they came from, Germany, France, Holland or Belgium

build, and structurally sound (in floods?), his domes are constructed mainly of on-site materials: Polypropylene sandbags, 14 to 18 inches in diameter and up to a mile in length, filled with dirt, sand, or clay, wound in circular or spiralling forms, and held in place with barbed wire in between each layer. One house, up to 16 feet wide, can be built in a day by a family of 4. It can last decades if cement is added to the soil mix, or if the exterior is plastered… Finding the shelter buildable, stable, and dignified, they recommended ‘Superadobe’ as a potential housing solution for Middle East refugees…” (ref. Article By: Cathy Lang Ho, Author of 2001 book: ‘American Houses for the Next Century,’ www.architecturemag.com, November 2002, also:

). ADVERT: ‘MODULAR HOUSES.’ Live the American Dream! Factory built. Superior quality. Factory inspected. Built to be strong. Panelised pre-sawn TIMBER... framing system. Post & beam packaged... Insulated with fibre-glass so buyer can Afford utility bills. Easy to Finance: Suppliers have a positive track record so Bankers like the idea. We build, sell, finance, insure... Find a retail centre near you. Take a virtual tour! They look great! Delivered to site, built in 2 weeks. Will appreciate in value. Styles on Offer = 2 storey, with double garage, chalet, ranches (all conventional), split level, multi-family.” “Colonial doors, high vaulted exposed beam ceilings, panoramic floor to ceiling glass windows, available on the water front...” (USA & Canada, 2004). “FUTURISTIC HOMES = ORGANIC. Curves, and a natural play of light. Organic shapes, forms…” “THE VENUS PROJECT: For Future cities and a wide array of life-styles: … flexible structural elements, pre-fabricated MODULAR HOMES, built any-place imaginable… made from prestressed, reinforced concrete & a flexible ceramic external coating. A thin shell massproduced in a few hours… with their own thermal generators & heat concentrators…” (Ref: www.calearth.org

www.TheVenusProject.com web-site has good pictures) (info. found 2005) (structures permanently sited).

“Many people say living in a circular space is a sacred form of living…” 149

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supply - how to get a steady flow from the production line? Thefts from building sites common. ‘They put up fences which lasted one day. People would take anything - the asbestos…’ (for the roofs). ’In the shadow of Westminster, a row of Pre-fabs still stands. Were only supposed to last 10 years. Still has no leaks. 'The nicest place I ever had was a little Pre-fab. The birds in the garden loved it too'..." (BBC, 6/8/1990). "UTILITY STUFF: Picking up after the war. A cleaner look. Practical. Built to last. And it did last. Plain. Not fancy. The best. So long as it does the job. Down to Earth comments. People want things they can Afford! ‘What I must have is peace of mind and my good health.’ Few can choose the architect of our home. ‘People make too much fuss accumulating things they don't need. It's wonderfully functional! (Unfortunately) No whirly-gigs’…” 1943: "The long range solution to the American housing problem lies in rests with Pre-Fabs. No other country is so ready to provide both quality and quantity with massproduction" (said H. Dreyfuss, an Industrial designer). “… built by (prisoners of war &) soldiers. The walls go up, the cross section goes in, built for Homeless people in less than a day. Some kitted out with cooker and fridge. During the 2nd World War, Pre-fabs were very popular. And considered most attractive. Nicely spaced. Put anywhere there was space - between houses, on playing fields, sides of public parks - any bit of waste ground. Gardens established in-between and around prefabs. People very happy. Were a detached property. People very community spirited. Did not want to move out. Were forced out by deteriorating state of building materials rising damp, bad condensation - which rusted the frame…” “HOMES FIT FOR HEROES? Made to last 10 years, the Prefab is still with us. German bombs tore ‘great’ gaps in the nation’s housing stock. By the end of the Second World War, nearly 4 million houses - nearly 1 in 3, had been damaged and 500,000 destroyed. So to fill the gaps, prefabricated homes went into production. The identikit little grey huts that replaced them may look aesthetically unpleasing to modern eyes, but to 100’s of 1,000’s of Homeless families they were a miracle. Dr. Harold Rose, the industrial scientist his genius for spontaneous innovation helped make prefabs such a success. Early experiments with steel houses were abandoned when they threatened to consume every piece of steel in the country. They tried aluminium which was expensive and needed by the aircraft industry. So it was back to concrete which had insulation problems. This solved, the result was a warm, dry

but these were being given by charities to Pakistan. I wish that I could remember more! The houses I think from Germany were based more or less on a 20' shipping container, the ends and sides of which folded inwards and down to a basic size of 20'L x 8'W and about 2'H if that makes sense to you. They probably weighed a couple of tons as the base was pretty well off a normal container!” (ref. emails from a pilot of a ship, late April 2007).

Environmentalists seeking Eco-living, are converting old shipping containers to live in. Insulation = Papercrete: A thick, heavy slab of recycled paper mixed with concrete (cement) (2007). THE FUTURE? “Teflon bricks?” My guess is the most the UK will do is put up some novelty constructions using cheap plastic, after a year or 2 the colour will have faded - or whatever… so they can say: “See, it doesn’t work…”

PRE-FABRICATED HOUSING: “There have been others who have tried to change the construction formula of a house with no success. The pre-fabricated metal home enjoyed brief popularity. Richard Buckminster Fuller designed the Dymaxion House in 1929. Made of aluminium sheets… It was intended to be massproduced for $1,500, the price of a car back then. On Long Island, architects Lawrence Kocher and Albert Frey designed an aluminium house on stilts in 1931. (One was built in Huntington, and in 1987 it was moved to the New York Institute of Technology to be studied…”) “It’s all in a day’s work…” FAB = Fabulous! "PREFABS were supplied in KIT form. Took 2 men a day to assemble, complete with fitted kitchen cupboards, a cooker, sink and ice-box. Mainly constructed in UK by prisoners of war, on disused park land."

"PORTABLE UNITS for women who want to get back to normal family life, for men coming home 'I don't want from war. VERY POPULAR. anything else.' Inherent Difficulties: Building materials in short 150

wider range of system buildings than any other UK company. All are built to high quality specifications in factory controlled conditions. This coupled with reduced and simultaneous onsite work enables us to achieve budgets, schedule accurately, and complete faster than traditional building methods would allow. Find out how flexible we can be. Send off the coupon or contact us direct. You’ll find we’ve just the solution for you.” (Materials: Plywood - nailed and glued, hardboard, PVC sheet, melamine, soft wood, aluminium, glass fibre. Very thin internal petitions). (Poor natural light filtration - have to keep Florescent strip lights on all day. Bad for eye-sight). UK: 1989: There are companies who make and sell ‘High Quality’ ‘Modular’ ‘Accommodation’ Units = On-site facilities for builders etc – for changing rooms, temporary offices etc. Are very boxy, made with thin metal frames, short-life panels, some ‘insulated’ with polystyrene.

and almost instant home, built to much higher standards than many families had enjoyed before the war. ‘They were crude to start off with. We mixed concrete in a bath tub and threw in wood to provide the insulation.’ All the bits were brought together at a huge site in Edmonton and sent out on lorries to be put together on the bomb sites. There was no skilled labour so they had to be made so anyone could bolt them together after 1 or 2 day’s training’ said Dr. Rose, now aged 82. 1943: Conscious for the need for a quick answer to Britain's housing shortage, Winston Churchill gave orders for 200,000 temporary homes to be built. 1944: The 1st prototype began to emerge and by February 1945, were sprouting like mushrooms. Churchill saw it as a military (style) operation. (Churchill did not get 200,000 instant homes. The total was about 175,000…” (What happened to all the poor Homeless people who were not lucky enough to get a pre-fab?) “Early 1950’s: “The project was ABANDONED. Brick houses that took 6 months to build were going up…” (Evening Standard, 4/4/1995) (Had it continued, I wonder what they would have been working on now? Think of the potential… being… lost. “One day, we’ll all sing along…”) "When we was fab, but it's all over now. Baby blue, long time ago, you had a hold over me. Life is all over now..." (song). "PREFAB RESPROUT: ... a Russian general's daughter... (the 1st Soviet war bride to come to Britain), is reported to have said of her north London prefab: ‘It was 'the most wonderful idea that English architects ever had.' She also said: Now that 'neo-modern' is back, it is high time something on these lines was restarted for 1st time buyers - and we could send a few to Soviet miners and the 3rd World whilst we are at it. Such diversification would also ease the world car glut, and possibly facilitate planning approvals as the slow-moving British 'arts psyche' is already conditioned to the image?’ Industrialists, please note" (Ref. G. Wenman, Building Design, 1/9/1989). “Yeovil council is fighting for the Listing of two, 1925 (rusting, ½ rounded, metal corrugate) NISSAN HUTS (with rounded roofs), identified as important council housing prototypes, which (some) councillors describe as ‘eyesores.’ There are 24 in the district, some in better condition…” (Building

Over-ground inflexible plastic pipes sometimes laid in. "Can Portakabins be used to LIVE IN?” “Certainly not!" (Why not?) “Portakabins do not satisfy the Building Regulations from the fire retardant point of view.” SAFE? “Let’s hope there’s no-one inside if there’s a fire…” “Smoke came billowing up. No alarm bells sounded. Only sound - screaming. The smell of burning polystyrene…” This is allowed! “The COST of BED & BREAKFAST! We needed something for single Homeless, mentally-ill vulnerable people. We arranged lease-back deals, managed by a Housing Association. 75% subsidy. Portakabins (Duplex models), made of metal materials expected to last 25 years used to provide 30 bed-sits, for 30 people in 6 blocks - each block (not stacked) has 5 bed-sits and is self-contained. One block is an office for admin but could be used as sleeping accommodation. Cost £18,000 each + cost to site. This hostel scheme cost £120,000 including ‘landscaping.’ (What landscaping? None is visible!) ‘This scheme is very successful. Used a bit of wasteland (a former concrete carpark?) Land was leased to us for 7 years…” said Mick Carrol, (who is in charge of this St. Mungo’s project,

Design magazine, 17/2/1984).

The Modular-Style accommodation unit for nurses, made of BLUE RUBBER- sited behind the Royal Free hospital, in North London, on the carpark… in 1989 I was told this had burnt down… ‘PORTABLE’ CABINS: ADVERT: “MORE PRECISE SOLUTIONS TO YOUR URGENT ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS: We provide a 151

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situated in North London).

Commercial = Magic? They can erect an entire OFFICE building on 3 floors in a matter of… weeks… “Compared to the TECHNOLOGIES of car, boat, aeroplane or computer design, Architecture lags 50 years behind… Buildings are not prototypes that go into production. Everyone always longs for a new wonder material but for most GLASS offers the most possibilities… A Futures Systems Building is always technologically appropriate. The design for a portable unfolding shelter for use in the 3rd World disaster areas works precisely because it understands transport needs and unskilled weakened labour and doesn’t try to be too clever… The Future-World exhibition (at Milton Keynes) will feature ‘The Yeoman House,’ a computer designed, computer made timberframed, leaded windowed and massively insulated piece of nostalgia for Tudor England… These days a building can look like anything it wants. For every architect dreaming of a new house generating its own power through photo-voltaic cells - a technology getting cheaper all the time, there is another architect dreaming of massive masonry walls… The goal is for architects to produce a zero-energy, zero-emission building one that can respond immediately to climate and to its occupant’s wishes… That day is not as far off as you might imagine. One of the most practical designs to date, the Green Building, is a sleek pod perched on struts - as if it were about to lift off silently into the sky. This is one of a series of ‘blob’ buildings produced over the years. Like an egg, its skin is structural. An egg is the best shape… The smooth shape aids airflow…” (The Times, 16/5/1994). ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: “The British construction industry has important lessons to learn from Japanese industrialised building techniques, said a Dept. of Trade & Industry report. The study, ‘Innovation in Japanese PreFabricated House Building Industries,’ described Japanese methods one generation on from the component architecture of the 1950’s and 1960’s. And it found enormous differences between the UK and Japanese house markets, with the Japanese viewing houses not as investment opportunities, but as consumer ‘goods’ which depreciate in value. The Japanese pre-fabricated technique produces variety from limited components and has re-defined the modular system by allowing rooms to be created from one or more modules. OveArup & Partners head of research and development, Steven Groak, who led the report and a seminar on the subject, said that Japanese techniques aimed to provide better quality rather than cheaper products. ‘Industrialisation is used as a means of securing choice and maintaining quality and not necessarily reducing costs’ he said. ‘The

(“Fears travellers would be included in the scheme…”) “The public meeting halted a similar 2nd scheme”: “Why not try other sites? Islington council has a ‘Land Availability List.’” “Oh no, those sites are only for redevelopment! If scheme not going to work on an ideal site not going to work elsewhere. Doubts portakabins could be relocated. Would have to do all the plumbing and infrastructure again. Shells re-usuable. Could be sold off. ‘The attraction was speed of occupation” (said S. Heap, The Housing Dept., January 1990).

(SHORT-LIFE) “PORTAHOME PLAN AXED: Islington council is ready to admit defeat in their efforts to build a 2nd village of ‘portable’ homes for the borough’s Homeless. A plan to erect 5 (portakabin-style) (shelters) on spare land on the Andover Estate was shelved last week after protests from tenants on the estate. And now, the council Housing chief, Maurice Barnes, says it is going to be difficult to find anywhere else to put them because of a shortage of council-owned land in the borough. The borough’s existing ‘portahome’ village cost £400,000 to construct. The council believes the homes can provide good quality Emergency shelter for Homeless people and save cash on expensive B & B hotels” (Islington Gazette, 15/2/1989) Uh? (The Local Authority View = We’ve lost our way! “What is the danger as you see it?” “Their compromise schemes?”) ADVERT: “If you need a new building and want to avoid uncertainty and delay - you should be talking to… disruption and inconvenience on your site are dramatically reduced - and progress is much faster. So your money gets to work quicker. Based on tests and approvals from building authorities in West Germany, France and the Netherlands… ….The only true modular cabins. Uses: Offices, Canteens, toilet units, stores, Schools, Laboratories etc. Customers include British Telecom and Shell Research…” These ‘Portable’ cabins can be stacked but not inter-connected. Have wooden steps up - on the outside to reach the top cabin, everything permanently screw-fixed! ADVERT: “Hollow square section steel jack legs, with locating holes and pins. Hydraulic jack supplied, to crane into position. Has built-in sink unit, fitted cupboards, desk, coat rail and pinboard.” Portable = Delivered to your site on the back of a lorry (1993) (Man’s definition of ‘portable.’ H’mm. “Hover on over here - you’ll be with me before too long.”) (“Sorry, I’m too tired. I’ve been doing all the painting and decorating.”) PEOPLE SAID: "ONLY FOR COMMERCIAL USE... “ “For themselves they can build so quickly! Makes you sick. Is there a house where we can stay?” “Has anybody got a room to go to? Is there a road we can safely cross?” 152

STACKED? How many pieces? Weight? How long to assemble? Built by contractors? Hard work? Construction cost? Sound-proofing? Average life span? Moveable in event of Flood? Suitable for children? Still have to decorate and maintain? But great otherwise.) “Ikea buy the land cheaply from the Swedish government. Will it catch on in the UK? The UK government need to build 4 million new homes in the next 10 years…” Will Ikea take on the British government? “Thank you for registering your interest… We will let you know the outcome.” UK: “In this country, people prefer the traditional. There would be problems with Building Regulations and planning controls” (BBC1 1pm news, 28/5/1999) (YOUR

Japanese have used Information Technology (IT) to innovate and reorganise the industry and produce a complete process.’ The DTI report re-emphasised the need to develop closer links with customers and to research their future requirements. Hunt Thompson Associates senior architect, Richard Pratley, said he could not envisage the whole Japanese pre-fabricated system being adopted in the UK. But he could see certain aspects, particularly the focus on customer requirements, being taken up. He said there was an increasing fragmentation in the UK construction industry which could be pulled together by IT, but it was notoriously difficult to introduce changes into the industry. The most immediate effects on the UK market are likely to be seen in bathrooms which could benefit from pre-site assembly in much the same way as standard units for fitted kitchens. Industrial house-builders in Japan, which account for 20% of the market, use in-house designers to produce pattern books. One, Mitsui, employs external architects but the emphasis is on bespoke housing. The potential for introducing innovative techniques into the UK housing market was emphasised by a survey carried out by British Steel framing which showed increasing interest in steel-framed homes as opposed to traditional bricks and timberframe houses” (Building Design, 11/11/1994). “PRE-FABS - Kit built houses, have become Listed buildings as of national historical interest” (re:

COMMENTS PLEASE!)

“The (Labour) government has said ‘NO’ to Prefabs (to help the Homeless) because ‘they are not quality homes. Pre-fabs will only last 10 years’…” (Kilroy, BBC1, 3/12/2001). “HUF HAUSES, made in Germany. One ginormous factory makes 200 (enormous) (prefabricated) houses a year. Beautifully engineered. (System) works like a giant car factory… one worker specialises in one task. Even the security system is incorporated into the design. In the Huf villages are showrooms & show-houses buyers can select all fixtures & fittings… The Germans are so organised - they bring every bit with them, (to the UK., on the ferry, in their lorry). Every bit is costed… A house builders’ ‘heaven’ = 13 hours of hard, skilled labour = All the wooden beams! Aligned by a crane. Wood painted. When the ground floor is complete the pre-cast concrete floor is laid on… Large glass panels. Standard roof-tiles nailed on. Rubber is used to make water-tight sealed joints…” (Grand Designs, Channel

Nottinghamshire, ITN, 5/1/1998).

“HOUSING HAS NOT CHANGED FOR LAST 30 YEARS. In the future, most houses will be factory built, and put together on site- pre-fabricated units EG. complete bathrooms, will be simply slotted in. Foundations to consist of very heavy concrete sections laid on the ground secured by bore holes…” (Ref: Ist programme in series of: ‘Better Homes,’

4, 2003).

Carol Vorderman, ITV, January 1999).

“Affordable, sustainable, comfortable prefabricated homes: Jennifer Siegal's Office of Mobile Design (OMD) has designed 2 pre-fabricated lines of modular dwellings, and has begun production of the ‘Portable House.’ Various configurations and customizations are possible for both the Portable House and Swellhouse. OMD has

“ARCHITECTS BELIEVE THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR A REVIVAL in Prefabs because 4.5 million people need somewhere to live (in Great Britain). (Therefore) Blocks of pre-cast concrete and GLASS WALLING will provide BLOCKS OF FLATS. Each cost £130 a week to rent. This is ‘Affordable social housing.’ Will be finished in 3 months. If you want the blocks to be moved, they can be dismantled…” (re: Peabody Trust, Hackney, London, BBC1, 9/4/1999) (“I’ll send a little prayer to you…” “God, I hope we make it through… God, I hope you are the one I build my home with…”) 1999: “The Swedish company, IKEA, may have the answer: FLAT PACK HOUSES, sold in their stores! Cost for a 2-bed is £7,000 - includes a fitted kitchen, fridge, washing machine plus £250 cash to spend in Ikea.” (WOW! We can’t wait!) (Traditional infrastructure required? Flats? Made of WOOD? Rendered Plywood? Fire / Safety?

been featured in Dwell, Newsweek, Wallpaper, Metropolitan Home among other publications and media.”

"Pre-fabricated structures result in more timeefficient and cost-effective construction methods, as well as architecture that rests lightly on the land and has less adverse effects on the Environment. OMD is at the forefront of a new generation of designers that are rethinking the Prefabrication construction process and how that process affects the natural and built Environment." "OMD designs embrace clean, simple lines that are designed to contemporary methods, materials and values. Our designs allow for maximum flexibility, 153

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adaptability and expandability. We strive to balance Affordable construction with Earth-friendly construction methods." ADVERT: "The Portable House comes complete from our factory, located in Southern California, to your site ready for installation and habitation… a residential factory-built structure, it includes all finishes, cabinetry, and kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances. You don’t have to do any of your own contracting, as we arrange for the shipment, preparation of site / foundation and installation of the Portable House on your property. The Portable House is a flexible and ‘durable’ steel dwelling. Units can be independent or stacked two high, offset, and / or arranged in a courtyard configuration. The Portable House is clad in corrugated metal mini-v siding and floor to ceiling Polygal- a translucent insulated plastic" (Ref:

indestructible, and very low cost to build higher quality homes than any other product in the world! Plastic lumber and posts can also be made from recycled plastic. Even though plastic is not biodegradable, who wants to live in a bio-degradable house? The Low Cost Plastic House: A model of the completely plastic home building process. It is indestructible. 2 people can lift the roof on. It never needs re-roofing and will not ever leak. This plastic has no off gassing problems and UV rays do not harm it…This truck is pulling up with a complete house on board. 2 people can now assemble this entire 2 bedroom 1300 sq. ft. plastic home in one week, and they do not even need a hammer or any skills. It is like a Lego set. The plastic homes are built in a factory. Raw materials form the plastic in molds. The walls are insulated and sent to the construction site ready to go. It is even bulletproof. Nothing will damage them for 2,000 years. These plastic homes withstand hurricanes, tornadoes, Earthquakes, and will not burn. They can look like any building style (brick, wood, Stucco, etc.) up to three storeys, and can be sold for about ¼ of the cost. There are other processes to use plastics. We can use recycled plastic to build permanent benches, farm fences, and retainer walls. There is also a new plastic lumber product that is just like wood (you can saw, cut or nail it)”

www.landliving.com )

ADVERT: "The Swellhouse is constructed of preengineered steel beams and quality finish materials that are sensitive to you and in turn to the Environment. Materials are chosen to Reflect your budget and life-style. The Swellhouse is comprised of a structural modular bay. This bay is flexible enough to fit the needs of very different programs, budgets, sites, and lifestyles. Its flexibility on the land allows the Swellhouse to be sensitive to its site conditions. Its signature ‘S’ frames allow complete expanses of Glass, which result in a Seamless connection between interior and exterior living." INTERNET User Comments: (Posted by G. Rene' Laigo 12/7/2004) ”Would you please e-mail me pictures of examples of the smallest "Swellhouse" you manufacture along with floor plans and prices for a family on a very modest budget. I was thinking of building a small getaway on a piece of land I own...” ( [email protected]

(Ref: Better World Technologies. Web-site closed down by USA government 2005?) “A client wanted a house that could be light weight

and simple to assemble. The idea was that it would be used for hard to reach vacation spots and could be assembled by 2 people. “It was to be light enough so that the unassembled kit could be transported by helicopter if necessary.”

) (Vincent Beazel 3/3/2005)

“…The city of Lancaster Ca is looking for a modular design for an engineering lab at the Lancaster University…Advanced Energy Research…” (Jodi Ourso 5/26/2005) “I love ‘The Seatrain House.’ Where can I obtain erected costs and floor plans in Louisiana? Great design!” (Thursday Herdman 6/14/2005) “We are very interested in the whole idea. We can't Afford to buy… We want more info…” (Shrijit Bhowmik 10/31/2005) “I am interested in developing a unique structure in collaboration for the Indian market in different sizes, please send more details if you have any ideas that can be worked on…” ADVERT: ”Superior Home Building Products From Better World Technologies: There is a new construction material that will last over 2,000 years. The home will be completely maintenance free for that entire period. It is easy to build with,

“The photo shows a scale model I designed and constructed.” It was made the same way that the full sized house would be. The production house would have a central core housing the necessary utilities. The floor and roof sections were to be lightweight foam with fiber-glass skins. Assembly would be by bolting the pie shaped sections together. Screw jack legs would allow adjustment to uneven terrain. The production house was never built…” (Ref: www.inventorpat.com ) 2003: The Experimenta House of Tomorrow (Melbourne) a blockbuster… over 47,000 visitors 154

through its doors fell in love with the free interactive art exhibition…all ages delighted in the technology and

axis wind generator mounted on the roof and mast. Inspired by aviation and automotive design and manufactured at the micro compact home production centre in Austria, the m-ch can be delivered throughout Europe. … Guide price of EUR 25,000 - 34,000 (subject to contract) … includes all interior fittings. Subject to site conditions, the price excludes delivery, installation, connection to services… 5 year guarantee… is delivered by trailer, crane… can be delivered via helicopter… can be collected by the factory and recycled… discount offered on bulk orders in excess of 50 m-ch units… (UK debut: Grand Designs 2006 exhibition, at

ideas explored… Chris Langton's enormous inflatable plastic house façade transformed the entrance to the Arts Centre… into a virtual gateway to the fantasy home for the future… Fantastic - great to see emerging technological ideas take form in the public eye" ( ref. www.experimenta.org ).

“THE CUBE HOUSE: … to revolutionise student and leisure architecture… the outcome of a research project at Technical University Munich to design a 2.6m cube dwelling…in 2001. …

Docklands, London www.microcompacthome ).

in

June

2006)”

(ref.

“FLAT PACK HOUSE KIT ONLY £70,000: … Ikea is to sell flat-pack homes from £70,000 each. The timber-framed flats- the 1st in Britain- have high ceilings, double-glazing, wooden floors & fitted kitchens, & bathrooms. An estate featuring 117 of the open-plan properties will be assembled near Gateshead’s International stadium… Council member David Napier said: ‘These are cleverly designed, highly energy efficient & they look fantastic.’ Buyers must be on incomes of £15,000 to £30,000. The homes called BoKlok- Swedish for ‘live smart’ - & will be erected by a construction firm. They are on sale from today… Developments are planned for Brighton, Edinburgh & the New Forest”

launched Munich November 2005 with the development of a case study (of 7 micros in a ) village sponsored by O2 Germany… currently occupied by students… A lightweight compact dwelling for 1 or 2 people… Can be modified with a 2nd door … and a connecting link to another m-ch unit… (to provide) short stay accommodation for 2 or 4 people. Compact dimensions allow the micro home to nest amidst small trees and shrubs and integrate into any landscape. … reducing foundation disturbance to tree roots and vegetation… may be arranged as a single unit raised above the ground on a light aluminium frame and placed in a garden for private use, as a 'guest home' or 'teen home' …may be grouped in horizontal or vertical arrangements as 'family clusters', or form larger villages… TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: … a timber frame structure with anodised aluminium external cladding, insulated with polyurethane… a thick waterproof layer protected behind the aluminium rainscreen cladding… aluminium frame double glazed windows…heavy-duty toughened glass… The small amount of energy required to power the electrical systems of the micro compact home is provided by photovoltaic panels arranged on the canopy… Day-time excess power is diverted into the grid. Night-time power is provided by the wind turbine and reserve batteries. Heating and air conditioning is ducted to each of the 4 function spaces. Long duration LED lighting is used internally… A 'low e-home' version is available with potentially zero CO2 emissions. This is powered by (photovoltaic) solar cells and a small vertical

(re: UK, Daily Mirror, 8/3/2007).

UK: BUSINESS PARKS: "There are more than 575 parks, totalling 40,000 acres (area approx. ½ the size of the Isle of Wight). ... 29 million sqr ft completed, potential for 224 million sqr ft... ... on average 4 new schemes a week... most space used for High-Tech / Offices... Reason: The Town and Country Planning Order 1987, Class B1 which raised developers’ expectations and land values...”

1980: The Budget announced the setting up of 11 ‘Zones’ to help businesses... Advantages such as Tax relief, an allowance against Corporation Tax for expenditure on new buildings, and a relaxation of Building controls...” FURTHER INCENTIVES: "Tax concessions, Rent-free periods, Start-Up Grants, Government Loan Guarantees, Low Fixed rates of Interest, a Buying Consortium, Enterprise Allowances…" (This just shows what a Conservative government can do if they want to!) "Anybody moving here had it all going for them…" "... the old factory site was bought by the Development Agency... a new primary road network was planned... " "... a prime location, just one minute from the airport, near 2 railway stations, and the motorway..." "The site was originally pasture land... now species rich lawns, with fruit trees... a woodland 155

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needs of small firms sympathetically... the government will continue to give assistance to small firms... the need for private investment and voluntary effort, for transport, schools and housing, jobs... if rural communities are to survive..." (re: the setting up of COSIRA, 1983). "SETTING UP CRAFT HOMES IN RURAL AREAS: ... contact COSIRA who can supply lists of vacant, disused farm land and farm premises in semi / derelict condition suitable for conversion into studios, workshops etc. COSIRA's aim is to encourage crafts-people to move into pre-selected rural zones..." ("When I applied, I was shown a pigsty and told to get a bank loan!") CHILD: “The countryside is so boring! Green, green, green everywhere!” “Where are the flowers?” “There should be more flowers…” “There’s nothing exciting to look at!” “Nothing exciting ever happens here…” (“The flowers try so hard to please us…”) You know there is something really wrong with this world when a tiny child sees a flower and asks: “How much money do I have to have so I can buy one?” ("I sing this for the crickets, for children, for the army..." "This is only just beginning - it may take several years...") 1983: "THE DIFFICULTIES OF PROVIDING HOUSING IN RURAL AREAS: ... the problems of the young people migrating to the towns leaving behind an ageing population... Cottages are being snapped-up by wealthy business people for 2nd-homes...” “LAND AVAILABILITY is often determined by the provision of gas, mains water and electricity supplies, and sewage disposal facilities...” “Housing schemes may have to use special materials to satisfy planning conditions which increase unit costs... Inappropriate and rigid standards...” “Weather can severely dampen construction output... which conflicts with the need to keep rents low... The latest government bill will only aggravate this situation...” 1988: RURAL HOUSING INITIATIVE: "... developers and local councils urged to consider building small villages of no more than 1,000 homes to help ease the growing pressure for cheap rural housing... Government urged not to create new (brick) ‘villages’ (estates) / ‘communities’ from scratch - communities have to grow naturally...” COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRES: "...the Community Architecture Group chairman is to ask the DoE for funding to provide 10 new community centres... It is a crucial time for architecture... An effort has to be made to create a strong mechanism to enable people to improve their local area and get ahead... We are at the CROSSroads... The social isolation of poor areas..." (RIBA

setting, 15,000 trees and 52,000 shrubs... fountains, pools, walks, non-slip surfaces... Instead of ending up as one of Britain's worst unemployment spots, this area has become a phoenix rising out of ashes of despair..." BUILDING STYLES: "... invoke a sense of ‘modernistic’ timelessness... were completed in only 37 weeks... flexible warehouse spaces... prestige required... pre-cast concrete… shining steel sheds, domestic bricks... a metal and glass building... sliding glass doors, metal staircases, square modular tables in Swiss Pear, unpolished granite, banquette seating..." (ref. UK 2000 Building Design magazine, July 1989. Full copy available from Applied Property Research, London).

CONSERVATION: 1960’s: “Where have all the flowers gone?” Conservation = “Love and patience. Let JOY not stone, be monumental.” "Before, a car park, fly-tipping, declining... Now play areas, picnic spots, meadows, grazing pasture..." "Opening badly needed space... to be better used and appreciated by neighbouring communities..." "If you want to share your ideas, that's fine - great!" (Conservation On Our Doorstep, A Safe Guard, UK 1983).

“I love living in this village. You know everyone you meet…” 1983: A (German) journalist in the UK, showed me a copy of a LEAKED REPORT written by a Church of England dignitary, commissioned by Mrs M. Thatcher. The report, with sinister implications said: "... to get the young out of villages, dry up the public transport, this will force them into new towns..." WHY would Mrs Thatcher want to get the young people out of villages??? (I am not aware of the remaining content of the report, nor indeed if this report was ever published by the British or German press).

NEEDED: "Recreation for local residents..." "Employment for local people..." “A REGISTER OF VACANT PUBLIC LAND… is to be compiled by the Dept., of the Environment and will be available for inspection at council offices... it has been suggested that government policy should not merely be a mechanism for moving land from the public to the private sector... Without funds, from either the private or public sector, many vacant sites in rundown areas are likely to remain derelict, despite the land register..." (1983). COUNTRY-SIDE PLANNING INCENTIVES: "... Planning authorities will be unable to prevent the conversion of redundant farms for use by small businesses... the best guarantee for the economic future of the countryside lies in ensuring that people or firms who want to invest in small industries in rural areas can do so without needless distraction… In future, planners will be expected to view the 156

Journal, November, 1988) (Ah yes! Mechanism…) (see: Chapter 6)

The elusive Missing

protected by ‘Nature Conservancy Council’... Parliament waives protection... covering land with concrete... bull dozing land unchanged since last Ice Age... Planning Permission can overrule any NCC decision... Decisions imposed on people... Controversy does not adhere us to the government / politicians... The government now taking-on 'Greenspeak' by breaking-up the NCC, splitting-up conservation groups... NCC seen as bureaucratic, remote, not delivering! But NCC were a formidable lobby group... The NCC said: 'Developers will, I am sure, be given more and bigger opportunities to destroy our Environment... This is to reduce our effectiveness... I am sure we will lose our future...' ... A large private land-owner now put in charge of work NCC used to do... The Countryside Commission say they will build on the work done by NCC... it is people on the ground who will come up with the best solutions... A covert / hidden process... Councils have their own interests... There is a joker in the pack... The government can't ignore 'The Wealth Factor' if no money coming in - this presents government with difficulty... all new roads will have to go, for example... 'Sites not of national importance' say developers... All funded by public money via government agency... One of the most alarming aspects is the government are violating their own rules! All this Greenbelt land now under development... was designated to put greenery around congested areas to help reduce pollution. They must take notice of electors! 50% more land could be damaged by year 2000. All land-owners threatened - there is no guarantee. How to solve confrontations? It's due very soon. Local Authorities are their own Judge and Jury..." (20/3/1990). "British Rail announced the cutting of train services to rural areas blaming 'lack of signals'..."

"By the end of this century, Great Britain will consist of isolated oases of preserved monuments, in a desert of wire, concrete, roads and cosy plots and bungalows... our housing Sub-topian... We are busy changing reality into cartoon fantasy of 'Happy' Eater restaurants and 'fair' ground style history..." (June 1989).

"NATIONAL PARKS UNDER THREAT: ... increasing pressure for tourist developments holiday parks, marinas, cable cars... 11 national parks under threat... A panel will assess... will also look at how to halt the decline in upland farming... Call for a doubling of funding for the parks..." (14/12/1989). "What matters surely, is the POPULATION? A development that meets needs - gives opportunity for improvement - the KIND local people are seeking... Lack of clear policy, conflicting interests... So many people want access to the hills! Whose mountains are they anyway? Give various interest groups a share! ... People could live here and not damage the Environment" (Country File, BBC, March 1990) (“Call it a Nature Conserve then it’ll be funded…”) "The UK has 3,200 golf courses. Golfers want a 70% increase in land. Businesses pay up to £4,000 per annum membership…" (July 1990). WETLANDS: "... the 52 acre site - a wilderness of long grass and salt marsh, 2 acres of coastline... adjoining a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)... a beautiful un-spoiled estuary, rare in Britain... the feeding ground of many birds and wild-life... There is a value in preserving sites like these..." "GOVERNMENT STALKS WETLANDS: ... The government plans to build a B-Category prison there to house 600 inmates, with a 17ft high security fence and flood lighting... will constantly encroach... Construction began in 1973... halted by a government cutback... land sold to a private developer... whose proposal to build a holiday village was rejected in 1987 for Environment and planning reasons..." (31/12/1989) "DEATH WARRANT SIGNED: ... people are horrified... Nature conservationists are very concerned... this was a protected site!" (5/4/1990). "All the country-side was beautiful before they built up and destroyed it." "In an area once filled with green trees, steel girders have gone up. You want iron trees!" "More (protected) Green Field sites threatened..." (18/9/1990). "THEME PARK FOR MARSHES: .... Many conservation bodies are dismayed at the precedent apparently to be set up by the destruction of an SSSI without a public inquiry..." (28/8/1990). "CONSERVATIONISTS -v- DEVELOPERS: Areas

(3/7/1990).

LEVELS OF SUPPORT: "...The growth of voluntary groups, whose membership now exceeds those of political Parties, reflects public concern which traditional Parties find hard to accommodate... proposal to Reform NCC described as 'illogical, provisional, incomplete and untenable'..." VOLUNTEER CONSERVATION ARMY: Prince Charles has a vision for a corps of young people age 16 -24 dedicated to help the community... The Princes Trust said the number of applications received was 'phenomenal.' ... Pilot scheme underway..." (9/9/1990). UK: POLL: "66% want GREENERY" (1990). "10 Green Field sites lost every year to make way for supermarkets." "THE NEW BARBARIANS: Bricks and mortar! ... Many local residents are up in arms... Planning 157

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matters now often bloody. THE WAR WITH THE PLANNERS! NEEDED: Affordable Housing. Not over-crowding! 'We do not want to see bricks, mortar and tarmac ruining our quality of life.' 'Under the concrete - green fields - there used to be Trees.' Concrete v Conservation. ...Village life a gentle pace, little havens... Developers want an entire new town, 12,000 new neighbours, spoiling the view... a quick way for them to make a quick $buck... plans are out of scale... urban sprawl... losing the character of the place... the houses will be too expensive for those who need homes... gone too far up market... too many luxury homes... only catering for one class of person... The mix has gone wrong... Unfettered growth last 50 years... 5,000 houses a year still being built... The people are now saying they want a breather... The public enquiry was over-ruled... Same as trying to stop a juggernaut... Developers moving abroad... fear of more unchecked developments... The time will come when the community disappears! House builders now clamouring for more land. Builders want to be popular in villages... Someone has to break the mould… Good will alone will not bridge the gap"

continued housing development and guide-lines for the protection of urban open land... “ (INTO THE NEXT CENTURY, full copy available from Serplan).

550 square miles of land in the UK is owned by the Ministry of Defence" the Ramblers Association complained (April,1992). "The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds... warned the marshes of the Thames estuary Britain's most important and endangered bird sanctuary, is a target for industry and rail links... bringing pollution, noise and disruption..." (8/10/1992). "LONDON HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF WASTELAND: ... mainly old industrial sites EG. around Newham. Sites could be cleared for job creation schemes but funding is not available. The European Regional Development Fund is helping Birmingham but London is missing out... Birmingham has used the money to build new roads... the North of England would like these too" (8/12/1992).

HILLSIDE FARMERS SAID: "... £20 million a year is earned from farming hillsides... their stark beauty entices visitors... eked out living... Livestock value now being devalued... are being driven off the hillsides - very dependent on government subsidies... the threat to be put out of business... 'Our role as guardians of the country-side will be diminished'... Disgust. 'The way government is handling farmers in rural areas is treachery' ... Deep feelings of distrust in the government" (11/1/1993). “Can’t build houses in woodland…” UK: Woodlands are advertised for sale… (“WE’RE ALL KIDS AT HEART…” Create Adventure play parks for adults and kids. Play under the shade of trees! Lovely. Low Tech, low cost. Lot’s of family fun. “When we enjoy it, it’s no effort.” “Oh, it makes you wish you were young again…” "There is a perfect world... areas rich in treasures - wild flowers, birds, a variety of trees - pleasures...") ("It should be pretty wild...") “ON THE WILD SIDE: ...There are places to create woodlands in the future... Could grow really green and leafy in just a few years. Good for people. Nature around you is very important for well-being, physical and mental health. People want to live amongst trees. That's a wonder idea. The spaces in between us - there's plenty of space in towns and cities to plant more trees. Housing estates could be vastly improved, progress very rapid. There's abandoned grass land, areas colonised with brambles, sites covered in rubble, old railway sites. People would hear birds singing! Make these places human, please!” (7/1/1993). "20 years of support for Grass Roots..." "THE EARTH IS A FRIEND…” GREEN SPACES: "...the only bits of green in many towns and cities are under threat...

(1990).

“COB HOUSES are quite simply the best, Environment friendly, low cost way to make a really beautiful, practical, bespoke home, with rural charm. Made with thick, naturally insulating walls, smoothed, molded into any shape conceivable, using local mud! Still popular in Devon, England. But it is a dying art. Don't know how these would survive in a flood though!” "MERRY ENGLAND!” "Sleepy old villages, predominantly with a retired population, and 2nd homers..." “Living here is like waiting to die.” “Young people are restless, dispirited, disappointed with their lives and the lack of viable opportunities…" “I'm moving to the big, bad city, full of bright lights- all burning away...” “Hookers, drug dealers and pimps ‘greet’ them..." (“DO it FOR ENGLAND!” "It's a blueprint for recovery. It would fit in very well, and you know it.") "Conservationists are treading carefully to rebuild the future..." ("… it's an ALTERNATIVE to Conservatism i.e. always holding back, being afraid, unable to make up your mind, being pessimistic, antagonistic, always seeing failure...") "Mrs Thatcher gave permission for wasteland to be developed" (September 1990). PLANNING STRATEGY AFTER YEAR 2,000: ...SERPLAN aims to draw together views from all member authorities... a regional statement to be submitted... for use in... structure and district plans. The main proposals include targeted development of areas in inner London, Environment protection, 158

councils cannot Afford to maintain, or pay wages. Staff levels cut drastically. Parks and playing fields may soon disappear... sites being sold to developers..." "UNDER THREAT: Parks may be forced to close. Government cuts causing neglect. No statutory duty to maintain..." (August,

cities…” (2004). “VOLUNTEERING: The more you think of others the happier you are mentally and physically. It’s very good for your health. 2005: The Year of the Volunteer. Volunteers lose weight, ease their depression and it’s a very good way to give something back. Activity scheduling is fun. Your community needs you” (22/1/2005). PREDICTED: “The end of the little shop down your road within a few years” (UK, January 2006).

1993).

CLOSURES: "...100s of village stores will face the axe if government sell-off plans go ahead... the threat to rural services is not confined to the far flung areas... up to 10,000 shops nationwide may be threatened... the £26 million profit made from the Post Office counter net-work may not be enough to keep these stores open..." (30/4/1993) "VILLAGES FEAR EXTINCTION..." "ENGLAND SUFFERING DEATH BY BULLDOZER: Traditional villages being replaced with bland yellow brick estates... continual development... almost 30% of agricultural land lost... in the south east region, the concrete tide has covered 400,000 acres since 1945... Housing developments are set to destroy vast tracts of unspoiled land - more than 42 square miles every year. If this continues, 2,722 square miles of country-side - 20% of England’s 'green and pleasant' land will be urban by the middle of the next century... The government predicts 2.8 million new houses have to be built by 2011 - with them come more roads, more estates - their plan includes 855,000 new houses in the south east to be built between 1991 - 2006..." (Council For the Protection of Rural England report, 11/4/1994) ("Develop ALTERNATIVE visions...") (“… it’s for the good of the country!”) "ACCESS TO COUNTRY-SIDE THREATENED: ... the merging of 2 agencies (English Nature & the Countryside Commission which protects 12,000 miles of public foot-paths) ... will threaten the public's right to access and recreation in the country-side... a merger would substantially strengthen land-owners powers over the future shape of the country-side..." (10/4/1994). "Progress? What progress? They've ruined the character of the place!" "I don't want to live in a house that blots the landscape, upsetting the features that have been here for years and years." POLL: “84% want Green Belt land to remain undeveloped. Biggest threat is house, road and airport building” (Mori, 3/8/2005). "MOORLANDS ARE AT A CROSS-ROAD - are in peril of disappearing forever, according to a new study into hill-country... the withdrawal of agriculture..." (October 2004). “Cities = Limited space, jostling with too many people… Cities surrounded by urban sprawl… The migration from country to town - 1950s most people lived in rural areas. Now most people live in towns. Slums, shanty towns are at the edge of

CONSERVATION AREA REGULATIONS: (UK): NOT ALLOWED: Any changes to the exterior existing structures including: painting, rendering, even changing your front door. Everything must be OLD- fashioned!?

(PHOTO: ’CONSERVATION’ AREA, UK 1989)

"It must be in keeping with the look of the area." "Any alterations to existing exteriors of existing properties EG. replacing rotten timber doors and windows with UPVC double-glazed windows, Conservatories, Extensions, Solar panels = You need to apply for Planning Permission." (“Councils now want to make money out of every alteration by demanding you now have to get Planning Permission…”) ("There's nothing new under the Sun...”) “The council won’t let us do anything with it! The land is only for agricultural use even though it is not being used and is now a derelict site. It has so much potential but we can’t see it now the council has turned down on our proposal to build on it. Unless the council has a change of heart… the dream is dying…” UK: PLANNING PERMISSION: "It must not exceed the height of existing buildings. It must not reduce a neighbour's light.” (Blocking light causes dark, dank, conditions no-one wants to live in.”) Ah! (“The ancient right of homeowners to prevent the obstruction of light…”) “It must not stick out onto a public high-way. Does it occupy land that it shouldn't? Does the design intrude on the landscape? Does it blight or blot the area? Will it interfere with the locality? Do you intend to change use from residential to industrial? 159

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Queen and Conservationists, a proposed tower block of offices is to be scaled down. The developers have decided against an appeal..."

If so, you may not get permission. Is it over 3 storeys high? If it is you will need a fire escape. How many people, are going to do what? You may need fireproof doors and floors. It must have running water, a kitchen and a bathroom or the council could decide it is not fit to live in. A toilet ideally should not open into a kitchen." (Well it’s not against the law). Me: "Hello? Is that the planning department? I would like to put a module in my back garden. Could you please tell me if I need to get Planning Permission?" Planning Officer: "Is it like a caravan? A touring home is considered to be more temporary and does not therefore require planning permission. A mobile home does." Me: "What is the difference between a touring home, a static home, and a mobile home?" Planning Officer: "Good question. A caravan is considered more permanent." Meaning: If it moves using its own power… it is viewed as being incidental / temporary… but if it has to be towed, it is viewed as being more permanent? Clear as ditch water! EXPERT: “There does not seem to be any definite regional or national policy. Err on the side of caution. Speak to the Enforcement Inspector at the Planning Dept., before acquiring site... Tackle planners correctly. They should be helpful, cooperative. Telephone to get name of best person, outline query, ask for advice." “An English man’s home is his CASTLE...” “There is an ancient law saying you can build a castle anywhere...” CHANGE YOUR VIEW: "If it is a matter of National Security, it is exempt from planning laws. EG. The Ministry of Defence doesn't have to get Planning Permission...." "Local residents are furious they are building a multi-storey car park spoiling their view..." "They can build a nuclear power station on our door-step, without permission!" “CORRUPTION: Accepting bribes for granting Planning Permission to a property developer.” (Let’s add it to the list…”) “You’d think councils would look after the little people but it seems they’re in the pockets of big business.” "Planning consent in this country is getting ridiculous. You can't put a seat or playhouse in your garden without the council interfering!” “One man is going to the High Court to help the little man up against the bureaucrats..." (4/2/1994) He lost his appeal... "Community initiative is not taken into account by government. They only want to do what they've planned." "TOWER BLOCKED: ... after opposition from the

(21/12/1994).

"Small voices against the whole establishment? How can we get them to listen to us?" "When it comes to dealing with planning, (the number of) voices count." (Pardon me if I remain sceptical.) "Planning decisions favour Conservative voters..." (2/3/1994).

“... Planning Permission given! But what chance did the people have to influence things? This is UNDEMOCRATIC… Germany, Sweden and Holland - have whole ranges of buildings that involved the end-users who said they wanted light! Conflict can lead to an architectural breakthrough! Public authorities must realise what is happening at their door. Who should have most say? Local people 68%? General Public 47%? Planners 265%? Architects 18%? Local Councils 42%? Prince Charles 12%? Developers 6%? (“… it isn't about committee design...") “… residents said ‘no’ to quality street…” UK: “Tightening of planning permission - now any new building or Refurbishment of land on flood plains requires (expensive) survey by the Environment Agency, plus consent of local council. Architects are lobbying MPs as existing houseowners are not allowed to make any changes…” (2004) (Swamp land is uninhabitable? “The city of St. Petersburg, with magnificent palaces, was built on swamp land by peasants…”) PROPERTY DEVELOPERS / NEW TOWNS: "THE POST WAR GENERATION: ... There was a hunger for the clean, the uncluttered, the coordinated and the new... Spirit. Life was too short. The drab old world could be cleaned and improved by whole hearted design... the simple moral belief that people would be happier with virtuously designed objects... the philosophy of good design could be applied to new products and new markets for the benefit of the masses..." THE ARTS & CRAFTS Movement. Completed 1932: Critall- maker of metal window-frames, conceived a self-sufficient, sustainable village… all healthy, fresh… rallied against stale city air. Workers cottages… had lovely gardens as wellno sense of enclosure. Workplace mingled with where people work (built around the factory)… it kept the people going. A high standard of living…all services- a medical centre, dentist… lowest mortality and highest birth rates. ‘We’re happy boys and girls.’ Bauhaus Modernism. Enlightened. Give workers a comfortable workplace. Flat roofs… some (cottages) bespoke… Utopian. A SUCCESS STORY. 1950’s: Cut short by recession, a factory fire- factory and whole 160

village sold. Was privately run, then council run. Now a far cry from what it was” (re: Silver End, Essex,

1989: "... Mackie suggested the creation of a Housing Consumers Association to act as a pressure group..." "Local Authorities have further worries about the bidding process they have to undergo and are unsure how the £73 million allocated to Housing Associations will be targeted towards helping the Homeless..." “CUT PRICE HOUSING: ‘House builders are bombarding Housing Associations with offers of completed homes at cut down prices and sales of land for ‘design and build packages,’ the National Federation of Housing Associations said. Approaches from developers had escalated because of stagnation in the market. Earlier this year, the NFHA asked the housing minister, Michael Howard, for £100 million in cash to help them take advantage of sluggish conditions in the housing market to pick units at cheap prices. Mr Howard Refused” (Construction News, 14/12/1989). "DILEMNA CONCERNING THE HOMELESS: Charities who have to deal with rough sleepers said the initiative by the Dept. of Environment would fail unless the government assured people they could Afford the homes they were trying to provide. Michael Howard, Housing and Planning minister, said this was outside his responsibility but, under the review of Homelessness legislation there would be consultation between government departments. 'Action is needed from the Dept. of Health and Social Security (DHSS) to ensure people can Afford to get into the homes the DoE is providing' he said... The director of Centrepoint said the initiative would only solve ½ the problem..." ADVERT: "Intelligent Design & Tomorrows’ Buildings. All you need to know how to design and use technology, sponsored by the Building Services Research & Information Assoc. 1990: The Building Research Establishment: Aim: To improve energy efficiency of buildings. Work involves close collaboration with industry. Strategy Assessment: Development of data and models..." “IDEAL HOMES: Planning chief, Piers Herbert, has welcomed new government guidelines on housing. The Dept. of Environment has issued guidelines for good planning briefs, housing designs and the need for Affordable homes. ‘It’s a beginning. We welcome anything that recognises the need for high quality design, and puts an emphasis on the Environment. The council’s planning briefs testify to our own commitment to these principles’ he said…” (21/1/1990). "3 OUT OF 4 PEOPLE WANT A SAY IN HOW BUILDINGS LOOK: 'How can BLOCKS be made to work?' Consumer groups asked by firm of architects. 'Should we build a 114 storey skyscraper so there's more room on the ground? More shops underground? A wall all the way

UK, ‘The Perfect Village by Ptolemy Dean, BBC4, 1/9/2006).

1942: “1,000s of people waiting for homes…” “Since the end of the war only 55,000 houses built..” "Never before have we had so little time, to do so much!" OBJECTIVE: Improved Human Welfare. LESS ILLNESS caused by BAD Housing...” "HOW TO BUILD cities from War-ravaged ruins? "What the Nazis couldn't do, the Town Planners did..." “Old housing pulled down... a heavy handed propaganda campaign... Government did not curb property speculators... it was nobodies plan... people would live in terraced streets.” (Ah! They didn’t think it through properly!) 1945: "London, Liverpool and Coventry were bomb shattered, dusty piles of rubble. The Labour party won a General Election with promises of peace, prosperity and above all, proper housing…” “There were photos of MacMillan cutting ribbon on the 100th block of flats or the 1,000th housing estate. Then came the word they didn't have to build any more homes. We had enough! Even if we didn't, a crumbling economy meant votes were bought with promises of higher employment and lower inflation. All that brave talk about homes fit for heroes stopped..." 1948: "Abercrombie's Plan: 8 New Towns; semidetached houses, with plenty of parks...” 1951: "Conservatives took over - promising ‘more for everybody.’ How many houses could be built? Build HIGHER, supported by architects…" 1960's: “Governments presided over MASSIVE building programmes in the belief that the Rights of man included the right to decent housing. Also: Homes meant votes.” "The houses built were not easy to modify. Many house-wives disliked the front door leading into the kitchen, next to a toilet that had no window, the staircase in the middle of the living-room, bedrooms too small – the ‘3rd bedroom’ only a (tiny) boxroom..." "LET'S CALL it MILTON KEYNES!” "Milton Keynes shopping centre is made of mainly glass. Milton Keynes is mainly known for their concrete cows (statues.”) 1977: Government introduced a limit restricting amount of public money that could be spent on building public housing - crippling subsidies payable to Local Authorities..." 1985: "Research indicated people particularly preferred lack of conformity- they like shady nooks, quaint pathways with lots of greenery - a natural feel - not all straight lines and hard surfaces." "The GLC experimented with a flexible interior partitioning system..." (Ref: Primary Supports Structures and House Assembly Kits - PSSHAK, details: Architects Journal). 161

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around so you're completely protected inside?' PEOPLE SAID: 'Blocks force us to recreate the buildings of the 1960s.' 1990: Build HIGHER? "Everyone complains now this isn't the way people want to live..." NOTE: (Some) Insurance companies have HQ’s built on stilts i.e. concrete piles - to raise their offices off the ground. (Fearing flooding?)

the nation's emotional yearning with its equally strong wish for technological modernity..." CLOSING COMMENT: "We need something to widen the debate. When it comes, God will be in the detail." UK: "... 7 million viewers tuned into the 1st screening of the debate..." RIGHT OF REPLY? The public were not invited to contribute or consulted! The architects were given another opportunity to respond in a follow up TV programme called "2nd Chance." The producer said he wanted to explore 'the buildings of the future'…” (he didn’t get the chance to…) Then, Peter Dorner wrote: "From personal experience I prefer a hut to a council house... The council house was built to minimum standards laid down by the government... The house was shaped by assumptions as to how the average working class family would grow, and what the minimum needs were... the hidden assumption was / is that the working class is like a compost heap; they like to live on top of one another for pig warmth..." (Ref. Article: Home Is Where The Steel

THE ARCHITECTS’ DEBATE: Summary: ("When man has lost and forgotten his way, it is up to architecture to show him his way.") 1989: THE BATTLE FOR A NEW VISION FOR BRITAIN: Prince Charles criticised ‘modern’ architecture…RESULT: Charles Jencks said: "... his crusade in favour of community architecture, conservation and classicism is above all a return to Christianity in a secular country where only 11% are regular church goers..." "Norman Royce, a former Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA) vice-president told delegates of one case in 1988 where 1,000 homes were letting in water. 'This is just not good enough. The jerrybuilders in the 1930s did better than that...'" Rod Hackney said: "The Prince's crusade to champion good architecture is positive... we shall continue positively addressing the debate... so that ordinary people in this country can enjoy sensitive, delightful and exciting design, which will stand the test of time..." Ben Derbyshire said: "... To all those who say it is not possible to find out and respond to what people like, I have one message - you are wrong..." Patrick Nutgens said: "... High-Rise office blocks are erected not as an arrogant celebration of architectural style, but simply to make money..." He referred to "... villains laughing all the way to the Bank..." William Rogers said: "I am sure Prince Charles approves of St. Georges Hall - a massive neoclassical building that dominates Liverpool... A hall that is a monument to the commercial life of Victorian England and the profits of the slave trade..." Bertold Lubetkin said: "... to blame exclusively the architectural profession for the distortion and disfigurement of the Environment is to exonerate, and by implication, justify the present corrupt society..." Graham Wenman said: Thank heaven the BEIRUT experience has proved that framed High-rise is relatively secure during aerial bombardment..."

Box Is).

OUTCOME: 1990: "Prince Charles was named 'Author of the Year' for his controversial book slamming modern architecture - a best seller, now into a 4th reprint, breaking record sales in America" (HRH made a lot of money...) A few socially-minded / caring architects produced the usual awkward conglomerations of wood, glass, brick, and block, attracting media attention to their practices by describing these as "Affordable," without defining just who, in the low income brackets, could Afford to buy or rent these (costly) houses & flats… thus (almost!) giving the word 'Affordable' a dirty name. "DISCEPTION, disgrace..." "WE ARE LOST IN THIS MASQUERADE!" WHY did the Architects FAIL to mention THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED by the OLDFASHIONED UK Building Regulations? WHY did these clever, affluent, well-connected EXPERTS FAIL to come up with something MODERN to DEMONSTRATE the beauty of SPACE-AGE Architecture? MISSED OPPORTUNITY: Lamentable. Inspired, very enthusiastic, capable architects, who are struggling to get their practices off the ground, are unable to produce the kind of new homes that are needed…due to lack of funding. A thousand pities the proceeds were not put to good use! IF INDUSTRY had also been invited to participate EG. ICI, Shell, BP, Sponsorship might have resulted in… "Without their contribution we may never have the knowledge...” DEBATE CONCLUSION: "ARCHITECTURE

(see Chapter 15 / Lebanon).

John Wells Thorpe said: "... We've got to do something better..." John Well said: "The tide has already turned..." Richard Saxon said: “Development from here must rediscover that timeless way and strive to reconcile 162

have big, impressive buildings! He built BIG and no doubt impressed lots of the impressionables who attended week-long rallies in a state of delirium. Like some priest, he stage-managed massmesmerism... He has many devotees EG. the keepers of the toxic flame. (One architect who believes he was the best architect is Krier, who advises the Prince of Wales)..." "There is no such thing as a Nazi style of building… But there was such a thing as a Nazi SIZE of building. VAST!" "... their Neo-classical buildings were funereal - were like mausoleums for the ‘living’ - the living in this case were like trainee tax inspectors! NEO-CLASSICISM is a dim style, contaminated by association. The banality of evil buildings - every building possessed a symbolic plus utile purpose - symbolised the state - was persistently vain - existed to celebrate itself and to exult subjects to exult the building..." NAZI ARCHITECTURE: "Goering (one of Hitler's henchmen) believed that small rooms weaken the race… There was a type of Architecture to which the Nazis were opposed - which they killed off. The rampant individualism of expressionism was abhorrent to a Party obsessed by aesthetic control. An Observatory built for Albert Einstein (who was denounced as a practitioner of Jewish science) was something of a sculptural oddity... THIS is what the future might have looked like, had tyranny not intervened: GENTLE, ROUNDED SHAPES, ROUNDED ROOFS…” (Ahh! No sides! “… is it our true destiny?”) "...a proto-type built for 20,000 Nazi gods and goddesses - an industrialised holiday resort, which showed how to trash a COAST line = a 2-mile long barrack... to our horror, 40 years later, that became the model for the package tour operators... the 1960s and 1970s Concrete Brutalists. EG. London's South Bank, owe their origins to the Nazis... The dead, it seems, are always with us..." (Jonathan Meades, BBC, 31/10/1994) (CORRUPTING: Hitler set man on the wrong path…)

REFLECTS THE UGLY FACE OF CAPITALISM: There is a vociferous and influential sector of society which appears to wish... that they are not living in the 20th century... Architects are not responsible for national political policies... Morro expressed his bewilderment as to why architecture has been singled out to move backwards... when art, science and technology are moving inexorably forward... Architecture is change and development, not aping the past. Nothing illustrates the ugly face of market-place capitalism better than the architecture encouraged." PEOPLE SAID: “What we want is value for money” “MODERN homes! We don’t want anything Big.” (1989).

1989: “’VILLAGE’ RE-THINK: ...2,000 local residents... criticised plans... Building works cannot continue due to the high cost of traditional building materials chosen by the Prince, who wants to use local quarry slate on the roofs of all these houses... the development was to be spread over 25 years..." (HRH could have used lighter-weight, man-made replicas - Eternite roof tiles - for a fraction of the cost…) “’SELF-SUFFICIENT’ ‘VILLAGE’ SLUMPS: Prince Charles's vision of ‘self-sufficient’ ‘villages... his £30 million blueprint... for 3,000 houses, factories and offices has been scrapped because The Duchy fears the lavish houses will not sell in a recession... Objectors say they fear plans will blight the Dorset country-side..." (13/4/1990). (SELF-SUFFICIENT VILLAGES? Like they were in the old days? Small villages made from local materials, built by local crafts & trades people, for FREE. People lived off the land with just a few chickens… Money unnecessary. There were no bills to pay. Heating + Food = What you could gather for FREE. Schooling and Health needs provided by respected elders…) CAPITALISTS do NOT approve of SELFSUFFICIENCY! Therefore it is gradually disappearingit is systematically EXTERMINATED. “I KNEW it…” (“Is it now too far away, to hope, to dream, to fantasise, we can still find our way? Can love somehow come through, to find a way... so we manage to do, what we must do... to save our Planet – OUR HOME ?)

BUILDING DISASTERS & FAILURES: PROPERTY DEVELOPERS: DOCKLANDS: “…magnificent Docks…” “…the grandeur of this locality surrounded with high-piled warehouses, and filled with gigantic shipping, the tall masts which tower proudly above the loftiest houses... broad city basins and high-piled warehouses, which are the pride of England and the envy of so many surrounding nations… Here you see keels that have ploughed up the stormy Atlantic… a mingle of junk and rum, tar and biscuit, casks, ropes, and tobacco, not unpleasant…” “100’s of acres, of prime land. Many quaint, dilapidated old warehouses etc., full of

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE : (Traditional means: “Very repetitive, square, formidable, imposing facades…”) "THE VALUE OF RUINS: The architect of the Nazi party grounds devised the theory: Great civilisations reveal themselves to the future through the value of their buildings - these must therefore be very impressive – BIG. You must 163

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DIRTY BUILDING SITE... " THE BIG BANG! NOISY construction sites..." “Look at the towering cranes & scaffolding - signs of ‘development’…” "... the demolition and road works in progress are a disadvantage..." "Yes, it's a dirty job. Someone's got to do it..." "We had to complete these jolly quickly... in 2 years..." PEOPLE SAID: "Docklands is a mess - exactly what you shouldn't do..." "People have to ‘live’ next to these places you know!" "You got me so I don't know if I'm coming or going. A mental BLOCK..." “A money man can’t win my love- it’s sweetness I’m thinking about…” “London's new business centre... Butlers Wharf has flats on sale from £140,000 - £850,000... the 1st block completed...” “… A HUGE GLASS office BLOCK... a 100 room hotel... a 350 Seat cinema...” “Hotels, cinemas, museums, restaurants, offices, marina / water sport developments, large shopping complexes, luxury penthouse suites, and apartments for professionals...” "... rents boomed, Banks rushed in..." “Regeneration project viewed as a huge success…” High profile, spectacular developments... gradually filling in the acres... looking for new sites...” “We are looking forward to the next phase..." "Work-homes - premises for both living and business..." "MORE ACTION ON DOCK SCHEMES: "Exmouth Dockland development cost £69 million, Pembrokeshire £85 million, Portsmouth £32 million... Newcastle: Plans for a new hotel and office complex... and car park..." Birmingham: "Prestigious scheme to promote tourism, hightechnology industry, and small businesses cost £450 million, at the expense of housing..." ”Bristol docks have been done up, with lots of housing…” "DOCKLANDS HAS NOW BEEN COPIED ALL OVER THE WORLD" (June 1990). "…Not just Docklands. Frankfurt and Paris wanted the crown of the financial capital of Europe... The City fathers reacted by lifting the lid on Planning consents... ‘The Square Mile’ expanded in all directions... Now unemployment is rising again... What is the root of the current malaise?" ("Duplicity gives Britain a very bad name...") “(Due to) HIGH CONSTRUCTION COSTS: The big Banks stand to lose £750 million on loans to property companies…" (1990). "TOO PRICEY. The Royal Docks development scrapped. £millions already spent. What is the future for this site?" (May, 1990) OFFICE FEARS: "The office vacancy rate in Docklands will be 50% by the mid-1990's according to agents Savills." ("Are you still waiting for your office to be decorated?") "... it is reckoned that a million of its most energetic and ambitious people will move out

character and of historic value… on the water front…” The Public said: "We need a NEW model." Property Developer: "Forget dreams. I'm talking £ reality. We're really going to upgrade this area I'll make it worth your while..." "... you'll make money..." "Developers only smile when you mention profit." "Never miss a Trick Ltd." "NEW Masters OF THE UNIVERSE. Builders of the city. Architecture driven by the BANKS..." "We asked for very MODERN, very efficient buildings…” = “We got Docklands..." i.e. redevelopment of old, partially walled docks – demolishing many existing buildings, replaced with TRADITIONAL buildings - WHAT IF WATER LEVELS RISE? THE RISK OF RISING WATER LEVELS - IGNORED. "So much of London is the face of the past. This is the face of the future." "A city within a city..." "WE want to build a city for 22,000 people..." = "... A BOOM THAT PROMISED A THRIVING NEW COMMUNITY..." "Docklands - to bridge the GAP in the residential housing market…” = "Docklands - the brainchild of Sir Terence Conran who formed Butlers Wharf Ltd..." "... to carry out the scheme... The directors include Lord Mc Alpine and Jacob Rothschild..." 'FREE' ENTERPRISE = "The London Dockland Development Corporation is to receive £653 million..." When asked: Why? Mrs Thatcher said: "Because they wanted it." = "HIGHEST Construction Costs Ever: £5 million an acre...” "... work is proceeding against a background of slumping residential property values in the area..." "Local markets closed down..." "… in the East End - one of the poorest areas of Britain..." "’THE BIG WIGS’ MOVED IN, FORCED us OUT!" “Sold Out Principles..." "The Conservative government compulsory measures & as hard as nails." ".... squatters evicted..." SQUATTERS SAID: "You can't plant me in your penthouse!" "Blackmail is not a new development…" "What your eyes tell you - you're history, deceived." "No style, no grace. Stalin’istic." "We remain unconvinced." "Won’t be the same round here without the street markets." "Sorry, I would have stayed but there's just no atmosphere here." "Yeah, and God didn't make little green apples." "Love has to be based on understanding." “We’ll get through this situation we’re a combination of inspiration and real appreciation.” “… it won’t go away no matter how many walls you build.” "Mass-buildings like this shouldn't happen in places like this, for economic reasons, because of the desire to preserve - they are multi-£million developments local people can't Afford." "... A mix of old and new... this area came alive..." meaning: "... this area changed into one HUGE 164

rises in water, electricity and transport... We can't merely sit back and wait for another Labour government..." “Have to go through 100’s of hurdles to get here…” BORROW MONEY TO BUY: The word MORTGAGE (literally)means: Death Lock. "Borrowing = A HEAVY BURDEN." "Due to the INTEREST CHARGED… you will end up paying back roughly 3.5 times the amount you have borrowed." ("Seems terribly expensive. Isn't there an ALTERNATIVE?") "GIVE UP YOUR SECURITY to get a LOAN…" "A mortgage is a loan secured AGAINST ‘your’ HOME! Your home is pledged as security, the money lender retaining the title deeds. If you fail to repay the debt for whatever reason, the lender/s can apply to the court to sell your their property and get their money back." “Some do ‘rather well’ out of high INTEREST RATES... 'All those businesses - the Banks, solicitors, building societies that make money out of housing! 'We do very well'…” "THE COMPULSORY PURCHASE TRAP: The national obsession in the UK? Home ownership." "We had to buy. NO CHOICE. Housing is crucial. We can't do without it.” "They've got us where they want us." "Damned if we do. Damned if we don't." "IF prices buoyant… you keep up with investment…" EG. A business man: 'I bought a house for £2,000. Now it's worth £200,000. It cost me absolute peanuts to buy. I've done very nicely thank you'..." “I’m OK. It doesn’t bother me… much…” "BUT prices could FALL. 20%? 30%? AT ANY TIME! We never know what could HIT us…” 'There could be a DECLINE in housing for the next 20 - 30 years? We don't know!" "So many price fluctuations! The optimism of Estate Agents... Has the market bottomed out?” "CONFUSING: The Conservatives support the (traditional) Housing market with HUGE subsidies, fuelling cycles of (artificial) boom and slump...” “Home ownership is desirable…But how does one restrict it, control it?” “It's possible to tinker, to tamper” said a Conservative…” (1990). BIG DEBTS: "... high mortgage, falling house prices... Interest rates doubled in one year. Stuck - with high repayments. No money to buy other essentials. 'I feel cheated. Let down. Government policies supposed to help home owners!' " "BATTERED home owners losing £100 per week on their houses, face another year of misery..." “The mortgage is such a pain…” WAH! “I want to know what I’m working for! This is not getting us anywhere…” “You’re losing your mind, again.” “Here comes my 17th nervous breakdown…” "They'll be picking you off the ceiling…"

unless something is done..." ("Maybe we could get together to make a deal…”) "450,000 jobs in construction lost" (1991). "Canary Wharf in hands of receivers, went BANKRUPT owing £500 million..." (May 1992). "50,000 JOB LOSSES in construction forecast... "WE NEED A CURE!" (1992). ("All you get from BIG projects is ulcers.") "Japan invited to help bring back life to inner-cities in blitz on decay... Government will put up money to clear land for roads and rail links... a series of small Dockland schemes..." = "It is drastically important for the state of Britain because we cannot Afford to let 1,000s of acres rot in our inner-cities. It is no damn use if we are not prepared to put in road and railways" said John Redwood, ‘our’ Environment minister (7/5/1992). "Don't blame us" said the workers (January 1993). ALL THE EMPTY OFFICES: "An area the size of 25 Canary Wharf towers has been left empty in central London. (32 million sqr. ft of office space). Many surplus buildings, planners now accept, will never be let. ... in an attempt to salvage some cash... interiors stripped... impoverished developers trying to convert into hostels, homes, shops, even schools..." (24/5/1993). "The Royal Docks are still derelict" (1994). COST OF BUYING A HOUSE: “The UK Housing Market: A house is viewed as a commodity to help… (profiteers) accumulate and speculate. Now seems other countries are copying this BAD idea.” “This system is really screwy…” "In the UK, Housing is a LOTTERY..." (“… it’s not a lottery…”) “Housing in the UK is an INHUMANE system.” "2/3rd of our income is spent providing a roof over our heads!" HIGH PRICES: "Prices ARE going out of reach, going further and further away from us..." "To buy a small house is going to cost HOW MUCH? You are joking? You can't be serious? Oh, my God! I will never be able to Afford that!" "I'm not eligible for a mortgage." "I'm too old. I haven't got 25 years left." "I'm on a low wage. I can't qualify." "I pay £750 rent a month for a 2 bed privately owned flat and can't save for a mortgage." ".You must provide proof you have been in employment for 3 years..." "You'll need money for the deposit, legal fees, moving..." "I can't Afford to have all my money tied up in this!" "… the scandal of a desperate unmarried Mum who sold her baby to pay mortgage arrears..." (UK: 10/9/1983).

"MOUNTING DEBTS”: “Council tenants have faced rent rises between 18 - 91%... Local Authorities can set whatever rents they like... “ “The Poll Tax bills will arrive just as housing costs rocket, plus 165

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week- more than many workers’ wages…” “It's like a dead weight on our entire economy..."

"A MODERN DEFINITION OF SCHIZOPHRENIA: I must pay, I can't Afford to pay..." "Unable to sell, has to drive 250 miles to work and back every day..." JOKES: "WE’VE discovered a new lethal weapon - kills every time and damages houses like no other weapon. A Mortgage." "Here lies Walter Fletcher. He bought a house and this killed him…" "... Increased pressure..." “They keep reminding us ‘there is no such thing as a free lunch’…” "I'll have to work a double shift, eat cheap food, for 45 YEARS - that means no honey-moon, no reception. We'll be bogged down, we won’t have any fun. We'll have to work ourselves into the ground. You'll have to get a job as well, love... Yeah, OK. Where do we sign?" “You're becoming a victim, of the game…" EXPERT: "... everybody is so busy trying to work out HOW MUCH they can borrow, they are not asking: Should we?" “Attention is directed away from... work... Major distractions...” ("Don't you get it? No, of course you don't.") (“… it’s something for beginners, to help them get started…”) EXPERT: “Buying a home is the biggest investment we make. We really should put a lot of thought into it.” “NEGATIVE EQUITY” = “Stuck with high mortgage repayments when value of property has fallen. Can’t Afford to sell…” "Conservative minister John Heddle, lost more than £3 million in the housing market slump... the property magnate committed suicide..." (“People who sell in a slump always lose their investment…”) "... More Brits have bought, led by the Prime Minister. Now a tarnished Conservative ‘dream’... but Mrs Thatcher still believes bricks and mortar are a safe bet..." (9/4/1990) SAFE? (“Medusa turned men to stone...”) PEOPLE SAID: "But we are LUMBERED with the REPAYMENTS! A GAMBLE. Will the market slump or boom? Will we win or lose? Can we Afford?" “The government's economic management severely dented. 'Dents can always be knocked

(April, 1990).

“Overdrafts at 17% Interest: “We're very frightened... How much longer can we hold out? HOW ARE WE GOING TO SURVIVE?” “The loss of self-confidence...” (“…it will increase confidence..." "I have confidence in it." "… it could be all yours, if you get it right.") "We had to play a credit card game, switching money from one to the other to cover the interest..." "Can't pay? They'll take your home away." REPOSSESSED: "... always the FEARS the lender will jump in, to cash in and recoup their losses..." REPOSSESSIONS = “Going to the wall.” "Many people's dream of owning their own home has turned into a nightmare of being Homeless." “We just didn’t have the money…” “She was freaking out. We couldn’t speak about it. We’d get another bill. Then there were the solicitors’ letters. We’d LOST our dream, our money… An absolute NIGHTMARE…” "We poured all our money into the house. Now its all gone! We've got absolutely nothing left!” "Please let me cry. I had to sell my house..." "I'm indebted…" "BLACKLISTED (for credit) if you do not get a highprice sale." “We’re having to live like criminals just because we can’t Afford housing!” “The LENDERS DON’T CARE if you don’t get a fair price for your house- all they want is their investment back…” “THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!” "Once you experience difficulty the Bank come in and CUT you off below the knees." "We missed 3 payments. Got 21 days notice. When the Judge makes a Possession Order, you won’t have any alternative. You'll have to declare you are Homeless and bankrupt." "I was doing all the work I could get but money still not matching (modest) life-style. After 6 months, I was so tired, I went back to a 5 day week. Proved too much. Home repossessed. We lost all the money we paid! We became Homeless. Now we're out of the game altogether. We haven't failed. We were not given a FAIR chance to start with." "SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS AWFUL SITUATION. The council will have to pay to put them in temporary accommodation. A COSTLY exercise..." 1989 – 1990: “25,000 people registered as Homeless following repossessions." 1990: “500% increase in repossessions. That's 500 people a day." 1993: "350 repossessions every day. Mortgagees FORCIBLY EVICTED..." "Repossessions fell in 1993. Only 50,000 houses seized…" “I’M now HOMELESS! HOMELESS! Why? Oh,

out' said a Conservative. But PAIN is BEING FELT across the country...” SCREAM: “SELL THE HOUSE! SELL THE CAR!” “People are selling up, moving abroad... “ "The BOOM has sputtered to a halt. 10s of 1,000s of people are TRAPPED with huge debts and FORCED to resort to OTHER LOANS to meet mortgage bills... The number of people who cannot keep up with their monthly payments has risen to record levels... Housing costs are higher then ever! Mortgage repayments for 9 million home-buyers have risen by 40% since July 1988. In London, the average repayment is £170 a 166

WHY?” "Where's all my stuff?" “TAKEN!” JOKE: "HANDS UP EVERYONE who wants to sell a house?" (Nearly everyone in the audience raises their hand). "Hands up everyone who wants to buy a house?" (One hand goes up). "He's my punter! You can't give houses away these days. All this pathetic imitation Victoriana. What else can we bring back from the past? Bread and margarine?"

struggling with a heap of debt, wishing we were FREE…”"Let's make it easier – life!” “Make it Affordable!” (“I wouldn’t bet my mortgage on it being done!”) WAH! “WHY DO WE have to do everything the DIFFICULT WAY? What is so wrong with doing something different?” “To get somewhere to LIVE, COSTS a fortune! Where is the SENSE in that?” NEEDED: "Low start Mortgages" (1994) “Banks are competing heavily for our business...” “Low start mortgages introduced to attract 1st-time buyers…” (The same conditions still apply…) ADVERT FOR A BANK: "There's no HARD sell." (Doesn’t that contravene the Trade Descriptions Act?) (“Americans excel at the HARD sell...”) ADVERT FOR A BANK: "We've got it cracked" (1994) “They said they had cracked it (it = mortgages?) but they haven’t…” “Get a mortgage? Most advice on offer is appalling. I think they make it as complicated as possible to pull the wool over your eyes” (May 1993). "Mortgage TAX RELIEF CUT." "Stamp Duty (TAX) has gone up" (1994). ESTATE AGENT: “Yes, STAMP DUTY puts off a lot of people - they just won’t pay for a house + the tax, which adds up to £1,000s…” “Interest rates can still go up, or down - set by the Bank of England / the government.” "THEY are now lowering bank lending rates so everyone who is eligible, signs up… then the lending rates will RISE again, so more people will be evicted..." "Any tactics in the forbidden zone..." "They want you in debt forever!" WAH! “How much longer can we live beyond our means? i.e. accumulating debts that will be very difficult to repay?” "The COST to build is going up, definitely. ‘We are putting a lot of effort into ‘new build’ said the government. ‘There are a lot of empty properties because people couldn't Afford them.’” (Is that logical?) “‘Councils incur a lot of debt to build these places. They are borrowing more than properties are worth because people want a choice’..." Uh? Did you ask PEOPLE what CHOICE they want? NO. (Would that be because you don’t want them to have the choice?) “Banks are now advertising to sell the idea of mortgages to children!” (October, 1990) “They’re putting so much pressure on YOUNGSTERS to get into bricks and mortar - to take out massive loans they can’t Afford!” CON: "When the young start paying mortgages, we will get inflation down and control again.” EXPERT: “There are ‘bargains’ to be had if you buy a property at auction. Your finances have to be in place. You will have to pay to have a survey.

(Jasper Carrot, 28/7/1993).

1994: "A TRADEGY... More than 1,000 repossessions a week!" (12/4/1994). "The courts are booming from the rise in mortgage and rent arrears. Shelter's magazine, called Roof, tells of 109 people who lost their homes in one day at Oxford County Court. Each hearing took an average of 30 seconds." "Building societies… raked in record PROFITSAbbey National £501 million, National & Provincial £107.7 million..." "Barclays Bank with home loans of £7.5 Billion, raised their interest rate by nearly 1% to 15.7% and this added £30 to an average home loan of £50,000..." ADVICE AGENCY: "There's nothing you can do about it…" "The only answer is to live cheap!" “These days, nothing comes cheap…” "It's never ending! Had to get a 2nd job during my rest periods to pay off the interest on the mortgage. I've got a very stressful job. I've got ulcers..." "... making yourself ill because you need some cash..." "I'm broke. Look where all this got me fast." "NOTHING is worth ALL THIS HASSLE!" "Is there life after debt?" "Most people really FEAR repossession. A man committing suicide over this is not just an isolated incident." "Mounting mortgage arrears… Many people relying on ‘Social Security’ to pay the mortgage interest element..." "Used house as security to get a business loan. Banks have got to get their money back, no matter what the consequences are to wives and children." "... even entrepreneurs came a cropper. Worrying, watching entrepreneurs fall by the roadside..." "I don't like it when grown men cry." "My boss cried all day." "... the system is so anti-enterprise these days..." "... many crafts people are GOING TO THE WALL…” "ENGLAND WAS A NATION OF SMALL SHOP KEEPERS..." "... shops shutting - there are lines of shops for sale - food shops - everything..." “THE MESS TEARING US APART… and YOU still don’t understand it!?” "... There are MORE LOSERS than winners. The overall LOSER is the British economy" (1990). (“How would you like it?) "Much expense and heartache could be avoided if people were helped to stay in their homes..." “Why don’t they do EASY payments? 0% finance deals? Stage Payments?” “Here we are, 167

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work.” “I’m a bit worried about this wall - all the damp. We’ll have to get a builder in…” “Unfortunately the garden isn’t suitable for children…” “Very dated. Pokey. Doesn’t suit our requirements.” “I love the vaulted ceilings but how do you clean the skylights in the roof?” “The house requires complete modernisation. It’s a major task. Too much for us to take on. By the time we’ve paid for all this…” “To do all this is just too much hassle. We haven’t got the time…” “Finding our ideal home is no easy task.” “It’s a predicament. We’ve seen 35 properties but nothing that’s right.” “I can’t really describe it. But something’s not quite right. It’s just a feeling I get…” “It’s just got to have a bit of something about it. I don’t know what it is but I’ll know it when I see it.” “I like the idea we could move straight in and not have to do any work but…” “I like the lay-out but… and it’s a big but…” “We’ll be mortgaged to the hilt.” “This is so last Century!” “I feel another tattoo therapy crisis coming on…” "Yeh. Round and round the garden, like a frigging hare, lots of steps, you're never really there!" (“… it’s your key to a beautiful, everlasting home…”) EXPERT: “It would be MUCH BETTER to offer a product YOUNG People Want!” EXPERT: “There’s more estate agents than reasonably priced property.” EXPERT: “It’s important you have a good design and don’t over-stretch yourselves financially.” “You need to make financially sensible decisions.” “You have to follow your head not your heart when making decisions. You have to put the needs of your family before having fun.” EXPERT: “Buyers love light, airy houses - they sell twice as fast as dark houses. Use light to transform rooms. Light totally changes peoples’ perception…” EXPERT: “A neutral colour scheme…magnolia walls, beige carpets, wooden floors. Lovely - to everyone’s taste… won’t offend anybody…” (2004) (“Beige is the colour for old-age…”) PEOPLE SAID: “I’m sure these people are BORED - AND WE NEED TO RESTORE THEIR INTEREST IN it…” EXPERTS: “Different people have different aspirations, expectations.” “An ideal home is just a matter of taste.” “An ideal home saves you… money.” IDEAL HOME? “THE EXHIBITION: What particularly interests people?” “Portable phones for use in the garden, exercise machines. It’s a new way of life - a new sport. Gadgets you never knew you needed EG. floating bath gel, stick-on, roll-up sun-glasses…” (17/3/1003). “GARDEN MAKE-OVER EXPERT”: “If you are selling your house, remember your garden can put off potential buyers! The garden is not really looking its best. The bad drainage – ‘the bog

There will probably be lots of other bidders. You’ll be bidding against all the property developers who want buy-to-lets. Once the hammer goes down you can’t back out…” (Auctions sell the repossessed houses, often in semi-derelict, stripped / damaged condition…) "The houses being built around here are NOT for local people... They're being sold at London prices... I don't know why they keep building them! They cost £180,000! The maximum joint mortgage we're allowed is £30,000..." "Prices have gone out of reach... For the young they haven't got a chance..." "... it must be awfully demoralising for the young, watching a few other people make huge sums for sitting on their assets..." "... Anger is the juice we run on..." "Look, it’s lack of money that stops me from doing it." "Yeah, isn't it for all of us?" "No cash. No hope?" “Of course, the young want a nice life-style…” COMMENTS MADE BY YOUNG PEOPLE WHILST HOUSE HUNTING: “We’ve hit a stumbling block…” “We don’t want an apartment. We want a house with a garden…” “Yeh. It would be nice to have this luxury but we can’t Afford it.” “It’s got to have the WOW! factor.” “We’ll have to do major structural work. We’ll have to compromise on the garden space and the views. Maybe my Dad can help?” “We’ll be next to a busy main road. There is a good school but all this comes with a huge cost…” “This is a mish-mash. I don’t like this house…” “Oh! Very high ceilings…” “This is going to be too much work…” “I love this but £100,000 over our budget!? OUCH!” “Yeh. This place is buzzing – with lots of traffic…” ”We don’t want bogstandard 4 walls…” “We’ve got to pay high council tax, the yearly high maintenance charge, 3 insurance policies, pay the mortgage, plus travelling expenses to work and for that we don’t even get a garden! I can’t see any way round it…” “We’d have to change our life-style…” “I can’t see myself living here…” “The house is not really to our taste…” “The décor! Really offends me…” “This has got the magic C word. Charm, Chic and Character. It’s very cosy. I like the fireplace - a nice focal point to the room. You can’t beat a real fire. Does it work? Yes, it’s messy and hard work…” (Special light/s that give A WARM orange GLOW AND HEAT work JUST AS WELL.) “Yes, there are a lot of Victorian details but that’s not what I want.” “On paper the details seem OK but in reality this is not really what we are looking for.” “New builds have such a boxy feel…” “I’ve heard of shabby chic but this is ridiculous!” “This isn’t really a bedroom. You can’t even fit a single bed in. And there’s no storage…” “It’s not possible to extend…” “I’d prefer something modern, open-plan and spacious…” “It’s not in an ideal location. I don’t want to spend all that time travelling to and from 168

effect’ means you can’t really walk on it. The Fencing is not very nice - it’s a major SECURITY ISSUE... It will be quite a task to put all this right. Kerb appeal is very important. ‘REMEDY’: Buy some nice big wood planters. Get an (expensive) drainage expert in, or alternatively - get some new timber to repair or replace the fence, and lots of timber to create a raised… seating area = a Hardwood DECK! For LOW MAINTENANCE: “Get rid of all the grass- replace with gravel and slabs. Use steel to edge borders. Only have a few flowers - Geraniums are naff. That’s lots of hard work for 5 men. Lots of HARD landscaping is something really low maintenance. It could make all the difference!” (TV, 2005) (WAH! I want to live in a forest, with natural surfaces, sights and smells. I want to look around me and see lots of healthy green trees. I want peaceful surroundings, lots of flowers. Gravel reminds me of graves.) 1st TIME BUYERS SAID: “We were in a chain of 9 – 10 buyers. The weakest link took their house off the market. We’re still sleeping on Mum’s sofa 3 years later…”“No pressure? Oh, God. We need a holiday… it would be so nice if we could just get away… to celebrate finding our way…” “There are TAX PENALTIES if you help your child/ren to buy a home by helping them with a mortgage. You need to get specialist advice…”

INCREASE IN HOUSE BUILDING: “Signs that the property slump may have reached the lowest point come from the latest figures for private house building... In Great Britain, the 1st ¼ of this year, 35,000 new houses were built... the National House Building Council said this is 15,000 fewer than the last ¼ of 1989... the underlying strength of the housing market is obviously beginning to show through again..." NEW BUILD HOUSES: “We can’t build ‘em fast enough… before they get snapped up…” "These are NOT BUILT TO LAST! They'll only last for 100 years, IF we're lucky" said a builder. BUYERS SAID: "There's SERIOUS EROSION, DAMP, the roof's sagging..." “These are SHODDY. The standard of workmanship is deplorable… The builder has rushed the job, doing everything possible to cut corners, to save money…” “At least this has a 10 year guarantee!” “You have to expect lots of ‘little’ problems - like all the plaster cracking as the walls dry out…” “Yes, but you try and get the builder back in to fix all the things that go wrong. They’ll deny it is their responsibility. They’ll drag their heels, won’t answer letters, they’ll pass you onto to other departments… Complaints can go on for years without a satisfactory conclusion…” “Why don’t they build these so we can fit furniture in?” “I don’t like newbuild housing estates. There’s loads of mud and hardly any trees or plants! A few miserly saplings. The houses mostly have tiny bedrooms and tiny gardens - to pack more houses in, to make more money for the developer. They are often built in inaccessible places. The houses look dreary…” "Our ‘garden’ is full of RUBBLE the builders left behind and covered with a few inches of top soil…" DEVELOPER: “CITY SLICKERS don’t want gardens!” DISTRICT SURVEYOR: “These houses have been built one foot longer than the architect’s plan. They will all have to be demolished. You have contravened Planning Permission…” “But the cost to build these was £4 million!” “That’s not my problem, it’s yours…” "WALLED IN: Hailed as ‘a dream town’ in the 1980's, the (yellow brick) town is now dying from a nervous breakdown... The population of 18,000... is suffering an epidemic of stress related illnesses, divorce, loneliness and debt... the populace screaming silently..." (re: South Woodham

(2004).

“The Bank of England’s base rate has remained the same but Banks are still putting their lending rates up…” (March 2005). “… his house was repossessed 9 years ago… he’s still paying off debts - at £170 per week! He works full-time - he earns £230 a week. He only has £20 in the Bank! Bailiffs want everything he has to pay off his last instalment of Council Tax…” Bailiff: “We shouldn’t be going after people like this! He has nothing…” (BBC, 28/3/2005). “Levels of debt have quadrupled over the last 5 years” (April, 2005). “Brits (British people) are £25 Billion deeper in DEBT every year…” (Daily Mirror, 9/6/2005). “HOMES IN BIG GRAB: Mortgage repossessions up 50% last year to 28,476 in 2nd quarter of the year” (Daily Mirror, 28/7/2005). “Bailiffs have never been busier due to unprecedented debts. Repossession: People think ‘it will never happen to me.’ ‘What’s the worst they can do?’” (29/7/2005). (Ah! Are you spending money like it is going out of fashion?”) “In 2005, 67,580 (people) became insolvent. Mortgage lenders repossessed 10,260 homes. The situation is worsening. 31,018 actions in court during the final ¼. Average amount of debt £28,600. Cause: ‘Unrealistic life-style aspirations’ (!) 12,000 distress calls a day to one advice helpline” (4/2/2006).

Ferriers, Essex, UK. 1990).

URBAN INTIATIVES: "Let's turn cities GREEN!" said Prince Charles. His new book promotes decorating buildings with plants.” "... 'Central London cannot Afford to wait for years to see whether the government's ‘change’ in housing policy may or may not work' said Maurice Stonefrost at the launch of the report: Inquiry into The Future of Housing Association 169

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boost to the most blighted areas in jeopardy..." “Uh Oh! Something’s up…” "ALL NEW TOWNS FACE SPENDING CUTS: ... Demonstrations. ‘Sack the Conservatives!’ Protestors evicted from the council chamber by police... " (26/2/1993). PREDICTED: “The biggest things to change our lives since the Industrial revolution will be InterActive Homes i.e. linked to Data Stream - a ‘super highway’ of (Glass) fibre-optic cable (which should last 2 years before breakdowns occur) for transmission of information. £Billions invested in this” (10/3/1994). "400,000 new houses to be built (on green fields) in Chelmsford, Essex... Central government has swept aside local council objections. 'We need to build HOUSES to satisfy the demand for homes'..." "PLAN to Build Houses: Amount = The Size of Birmingham city centre (England’s 2nd largest city!) between villages, in the country-side!! Fields replaced by BRICKS! Heavily criticised by Environmentalists. PLAN will need new roads. Will increase Noise & Pollution. Will reduce QUALITY OF LIFE. Will KILL wild-life. And put a strain on existing water supplies & sewer system. Planners say Affordable houses are needed to replace 1970s workers houses now worth a small fortune" (re: South Cambridgeshire,

Development... 'What was needed without delay was a policy and programme objectively and adequately targeted to meet the sheer scale of its Affordability problem'..." (1990). "HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS say their funds have been frozen by the government (due to OVER SPENDING). HA’s said money to buy houses suitable for Homeless families is taking far too long to come through; they cannot take advantage of the many bargains coming onto the market (i.e. Repossessed Houses & Flats). Now BOARDINGUP houses already bought for conversion into flats needed by the Homeless. Cannot pay for work already started. The government said they hoped HA’s would take over from Local Authorities. NEW HOMES (i.e. brick houses) cannot be built on wasteland already designated…" (BBC, 12/6/1990). "Greater London Council (The GLC) SOLD EMPTY PROPERTY to Housing Associations: 1,000s of desperate Homeless families are still waiting for a home while valuable houses stand empty, 2 years after the GLC sold them to a HA. The houses are bricked-up to stop squatters getting in... The HA’s involved have received £1 million to do up the houses... The government has failed to ensure the Housing Corporation, which provides cash to HA’s, has enough money..."

(1993)

(28/6/1990).

A short mention on TV about the need for 'Affordable' homes... (I was too mortified to really listen). Apparently that means: “WE NEED more bricks and mortar... more ‘New’ Towns... by 1995... More precious green field sites are going to be lost, threatened..." (18/9/1990) (i.e. more URBAN DECAY…) THE DESIGN AWARDS FOR ARCHITECTURE (presided by Sir Terence Conran): JUDGES COMMENTS: "… shamelessly vulgar... Inarticulate.. Offensive... This is lipstick on the gorilla... Traditionally dark and satanic... Lots of historic columns... Bland... I feel a slight depression... Ah! Something elevated! A sympathetic approach! Better than storming the BBC with pitchforks! More brow beating? It's really wonderful. People linked with other communities! Optimistic. I'm on a high! Can't stop talking about it! What could this be used for? If you could take this (heavy) building over to the river... It is possible to move a traditional building given time, money and much labour..."

14/10/2004).

"Plan to build 18,500 houses by 2021 has failed did not get Planning Permission. 'We are looking for a policy that offers Regeneration'..." (15/10/2004) (Ah! "They are looking for something suitable for the future...") “John Prescott (Britain's deputy Prime Minister) admitted there was now an effective housing apartheid, with home owners pulling further away from those yet to get on the property ladder. ‘Increasing supply is a national priority’ he said. A new report will reveal the full scale of the housing crisis… The study by Cambridge university for the charity Shelter, reveals the government needs to spend £3.5 Billion a year to solve the problem. The lack of Affordable housing has a destabilising effect on the economy and the cost in Human terms is massive. It has now got to a point where it cannot be ignored any longer. 10s of 1,000s of new houses are needed…” (The Observer, 7/3/2004). "PRINCE CHARLES TO SPEARHEAD AFFORDABLE HOMES BID: Prince Charles has launched a new campaign to encourage landowners to release land for Affordable housing, to help young people get a foot on the housing ladder... The Prince who has provided (traditional) ‘Affordable’ homes at his 'model village' of Poundbury, in Dorset, said: '... the housing needs of local people far outstrip the supply of Affordable

(1990).

PEOPLE SAID: “I’d like you to try and move it, move it!” "Victorian Gothic taste is back in fashion." "Yeh, cosmic." "Why do we have to make homes that look like old ones?" "MINIMALISM is the look of the new Millennium. Clean, uncluttered surfaces..." (Ah! “LESS IS MORE…”) "£171 million cuts to schemes intended to give a 170

housing, and the consequences are severe, particularly for young people.' Under the scheme, land-owners and businesses will be advised how they can help ease the situation... 'Applying for exceptional Planning Permission is the way forward.' MP Brian Saunders warned it will not be easy to convince land-owners who will want the best possible price for their land... the main incentive will be for them to get some (kind of?) return on unused land...” (“Relationships should be rewarding.”) (Poundbury: Stone facades. No kerb stones, no yellow lines. Cars hidden away. Wide gravel paths. 20% social housing. Flexible use of the village square. Nothing to denote the 21st century…”) “The Duchy is working with the Prince's charity ‘Business in the Community,’ local housing authorities, groups and associations, Banks and building societies, and with the Country Land and Business Association, which has 7,000 landowning members in the south west of England... who will look at land availability, funding and planning issues. 'Our main task is raising the profile and getting people to pay attention. A lot of businesses have brown field sites which may be suitable and authorities dealing with water, railways, telecommunications and retail are coming on board to the initiative to see how this can work.' 'THE LAND will either be sold or leased to a Housing Association… Each case will be dealt with on its merits, rather than a ‘one-size fits all’ solution. The answer to this crisis is never going to be building a large development with a load of ‘new’ homes (i.e. houses) (it’s) - much better to have them sprinkled throughout existing communities, so young people who want to stay in the area can do so..." (West Country News, 12/10/2004). “… priced out. (Can’t Afford to stay). These houses have become too expensive…” "The local residents said they want Affordable homes..." (November 2004). EXPERT: “There’s a chronic shortage of Affordable housing for families…” EXPERT: “… there’s a real shortage of small units… A lot of people would prefer to live somewhere that is self-contained rather than being forced to share…” “A SURVEY has confirmed what people have known for a long time. We have the lowest level of 1st time property buyers for 23 years. The average price paid by 1st time buyers was £130,000. 1st time buyers need to earn 5 times the income ‘to Afford’ a home…The average age people can now buy a house is 34! 92% of towns are UNAFFORDABLE. Many people think there is a fundamental need for change. The only way they’ll get housing is a property slump” (re: survey by the Halifax, 22/1/2005). “Oh no! It doesn’t do anything for house prices…”

“Houses towards the top end of the market are finding it hard to attract buyers due to the shortage of 1st-time buyers. The whole property market could grind to a halt.” “The shortage of Affordable homes is now seen as more important than transport problems.” “PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET…” “Children can’t Afford a home where they grew up…” (Or anywhere else, come to think of it…) “This is stagnating the RURAL economy.” “Rural villagers say they haven’t drawn in the draw-bridge entirely to new developers but the cost means it won’t be built…” (it means: planned housing estates.) “TO PROMOTE A POLITICAL AGENDA OF OWNERSHIP: A 5 year plan: SURPLUS GOVERNMENT LAND will be used to build 15,000 ‘starter homes’ (i.e. brick houses) mainly for key workers (nurses, teachers, social workers) by public agencies and local councils. (10,000 in London). A competition launched to see if a developer can build a house for less than £60,000.” “Charities said they want more cheap rented housing for the Homeless. This will not make up for the lack created over the last decades. New houses being built are at a new historic low (17,000 per annum). UK: 280,000 NEW HOUSE-HOLDS ARE FORMED EVERY YEAR. Housing will still be out of reach…” (24/1/2005). "WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD..." (see: Page 539) ("This yearning is eternal..." "Till I'm in my grave I'll be dreaming of green mountains of peace.") “Meeting in Devon, England to discuss how homes could be made more Affordable… The Key to it may be to include employment” (Gemini Radio, 24/2/2005).

“COMMUNES ARE TRENDY AGAIN: In close harmony: Can living in a commune escape its sandals and guitar image?” (Is the former hippy lifestyle a bad image to have?) “Communes are once again the height of fashionable living. Things have changed since their heyday in the 1960s because they are no longer the preserve of the great unwashed. Communes are now models of sophisticated, stylish existence, actively sought by the middle classes. Those who embark on 21st Century communal living tend to hold down respectable jobs as charity workers, teachers, IT consultants and engineers: they earn decent money and often have children, but are happy to give up conventional home ownership and throw in their lot with like-minded souls to build a better future. In Stroud, Glos., a group are constructing their own version of communal living. When the builders finally leave, there will be more than 30 houses and flats on the site, built around a large communal 171

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building where residents meet and share meals. There will also be a lounge, a laundry, a library and a children’s playroom. As you’d expect, Ecoprinciples are in force, with cars banned from the site and homes constructed with robust insulation and solar panels… ‘It’s not about shutting out the outside world. We’re just ordinary families doing ordinary things and having fun.’ These ordinary families certainly believe in what they’re doing- they have all financed the construction of their own properties, and many signed up for the project when it was little more than a pile of rough drawings and a muddy hillside. As the country’s 1st-built co-housing scheme, it has attracted many like-minded souls from all over the country - people who couldn’t find the same kind of open-minded liberal enthusiasm elsewhere… A few miles away is Whiteway, set up in 1898 by a group of young Socialists, whose ideal was that everyone living there would share work, love and comradeship. To this day the community is run by a monthly meeting, which rules on everything from road maintenance to whether villagers should be allowed to build extensions… The Stroud co-housers want to get across a simple message, one of community spirit, looking after one another, working together and supporting one another. There is no compulsory communality, residents will be able to live as privately or as publicly as they wish… All of which is laudable, and there’s no doubt the children growing up here will find themselves at the centre of a wonderfully caring and supporting extended family…” (The Telegraph, 26/2/2005). “‘ECO’-UNITS: Ground-breaking plans to build the 1st major ‘live & work’ units will be submitted to planners… The Falmouth Eco-Park scheme aims to make driving to work a thing of the past. Some 30 units costing between £175,000 £300,000 and 12 ‘Affordable homes,’ where residents can live and work, are planned… The development would also include a convenience store, a café and meeting room, management offices, parking spaces and communal areas… The idea of a mixed live/work development is based on the government’s objectives to encourage sustainable communities and to cut down on car use. The park would consist of 8 blocks ranging from 2 – 6 storeys. They will be built using sustainable materials (TIMBER!) and techniques such as solar energy and grey water recycling…” (Western Morning News, 12/3/2005) (“4 million people in the UK work from home” 2005) (“If you’re going to do it - do it right - use it as your inspiration.”) “’Affordable’ homes will be built, each costing £60,000 - £120,000…” PEOPLE SAID: “We will enjoy paying that as much as we enjoy having teeth pulled…”

(THEY are STILL AIMING to turn it into something it is NOT meant to be! And I am not going to let them. Not if I can help it! ) (“… it is not EXPLOITABLE! Some people want you to buy it. I want you to agree it’s not for sale...” "… it can't be bought at any price") (it means: True Love…) “PLANS FOR AN ‘AFFORDABLE’ HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: … Both sites are owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. The flats and houses will be built to a high standard, with natural (i.e. traditional) materials, to reflect the appearance of the traditional former-mining village…” (Cost? "It's still a dirty business...") “CAN’T AFFORD TO BUY”: “Government needs to spend £3.5bn a year to solve the property divide as rising values out-sprint the average wage… The Government has admitted that soaring house prices have left people on average incomes, such as teachers and nurses, locked out of buying their 1st home… House prices rising 15 -20% a year, incomes rising 5 – 10% a year, cannot keep up. 'Increasing housing supply is a national priority… More than 50,000 new homes are needed every year to help people on lower incomes… By 2014, a city the size of Leeds will need to be built… Millions of people… unable to move… to fill vacancies. Without a new influx of staff, many hospitals and schools… will struggle to maintain standards… Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, faces… raising more tax to drag people into paying the surcharge as house prices increase… 'Successive governments have spoken about the growing housing crisis… The review, by Kate Barker is likely to say… new houses are needed and that planning restrictions should be relaxed so that housing developments can be built more easily… Many local communities block ‘new’ housing even though it is desperately needed… Government… to announce large amounts of extra funding for house building in the Budget. By 2006 the amount spent will have increased by £900 million, or 25% …” (The Observer, 7/3/2004). “HOUSE PRICES ARE RISING AGAIN. This is going to hit 1st time buyers hard…” (25/3/2005). “… young people today have no chance of getting on the housing ladder, or saving any decent amount of money because low-waged, short term, insecure work… make it impossible to save up for a mortgage, which is why this COUNTRY IS CRYING OUT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING… Our young people and families are trapped in the high rent private sector… We have got into this situation because… (some) people cannot look any further than… their wallets, and politicians cannot look any further than their own votes… Home ownership is a superb ideal but only if everybody has a chance to get on the housing 172

responsible for the welfare of this nation. Why don’t you pay more attention to this subject?” (The Times, 25/5/2005) (“I guess you could say he’s helped pave the way…”) “A LEG UP THE PROPERTY LADDER = The government & Banks will share the profits. Scheme whereby they will own 50% of the equity, called: ‘Key Homebuy.’ Buyers will have to pay rent on the share they don’t own. The scheme could push house prices even higher. Ministers will increase the amount of land for new (brick) houses. This is not really good news for house buyers. Targeted are 1st time buyers. Regarded as crucial to maintain the housing market. Intended to help 100,000 people. Banks will select who is eligible” (22/5/2005) (Was I dreaming of a rented place? "… it's a step up isn't it?") SCHEME: “… Social Home-Buy: Families earning less than £15,000 a year could be eligible to buy a share in their council or Housing Association house with councils picking up the tab for the rest. John Prescott said: ‘For too long, housing in this country was not given priority. I have trebled the amount we spent on housing but the rising house prices mean sometimes this has been undermined. So we have a long way to go but we’re definitely on the right track. I want people to have better quality homes. When I talk to some of the people we have already helped, it’s sheer joy.” “His bid to challenge builders to design a quality £60,000 home has been ‘a huge success’ with more than 100 firms taking part. The entries have been whittled down to 38 firms who will go through to the 2nd round. The eventual 10 winners will build homes in…” Mr Prescott said: “Innovation and imagination is the name of the game. This is a stretching challenge but one that is necessary if we are to tackle the problems we face in terms of housing shortage and buyers being priced out of the market. I want to stimulate fresh thinking in the industry - with the UK becoming world leaders in construction methods and design excellence.” AVAILABLE LAND: “Another 700 sites, including former hospitals, schools and Ministry of Defence sites, are earmarked for future schemes” (Daily Mirror, 6/6/2005) (“Do you dig it?” “Do we have to get LOW down and Dirty?”) “The Home Builder’s Federation, the National Housing Federation, the CBI… all hope to find a solution to address the problems… How to meet rising demand? How to improve delivery of housing? A ‘pioneering new initiative’ launched = A new group set up to look at the reasons for the shortages…” (June 2005). “Only 30% of 1st-time buyers can Afford a home. 2/3rd of youngsters could be priced out of a housing market, warned Housing minister, Yvette Cooper. She said: ‘If we do not provide the

ladder… I have no doubt many property owners will be happy with their house prices, but I suggest their children and their grand-children will curse the current policies and motives…” (wrote Michael Thompson, Independent prospective Parliamentary candidate, Western Morning News, 11/4/2005).

HALIFAX SURVEY: “House prices have rocketed more than 35 times since 1970. The average price of a house in 1970 was £4,874 compared to £170,788 in 2004! Homes in London and the south west have gone up more than 40 times… an end of terrace ex-council house in ChelSea was put on the market for £895,000, bought for £50,000 5 years ago… Houses in Scotland rose 23 times in 35 years. Halifax’s

A Chief economist said: “… home-ownership has been a tremendous success over the past few decades.” Meanwhile, ¼ of 1st time buyers have had to put their plans on hold…” (Daily Mirror, 16/4/2005).

“I have been watching them build an ‘Affordable’ block down the road. A project for local people, financed partly by the Housing Corporation. To clear the site of everything and lay the foundations took 6 months. One year later the 1st course of breeze block is far from complete! They don’t appear to understand new, LOW COST homes are needed URGENTLY!” “House price crisis 'can't be ignored.” “Redrow have met John Prescott’s challenge and built a house for £55,000. A pre-fabricated building using a steel frame… A maintenance charge covers all the maintenance and utility bills…” “43% of 1st time buyers are struggling to find the money to put down a deposit…” (Sky news, 14/5/2005) "Give it to me" (means: "If I have to pay a deposit, I can't Afford it.") “How I can improve your life” by Sir Terence Conran “who now wants to do ‘a Jamie Oliver’ on our ‘horrid’ homes”: “… houses are so woefully ugly and inadequate for most people’s needs… We should have a debate about why are the average developer’s houses such appalling, ticky-tacky little boxes? … I’ve always tried to put things in front of people that are a thoughtful alternative…” For many years, Conran has wanted to make a film… showing how it could be if a thoughtful, intelligent design was used in every way. What public transport could be like, a local school could be like… and how this could be at the same price level… He is in talks with an enthusiastic BBC producer keen to produce a model house. Architects, such as Norman Foster, have been contacted. And he has been trying to persuade James Dyson to design an all-purpose domestic unit that produces hot water, cool air, Refrigeration, all the services you need for a house which would then significantly reduce the cost of building it. “We’ve been talking to a company in Japan about it” Conran says “but the investment to make it happen is enormous.” “…I don’t think it’s ever been said to Government, ’Look! You’re 173

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“The Conservatives want to make ‘Affordable homes’ an important part of their next election campaign…” (6/12/2005). “PAPER THIN WALLS, TINY… 1,000’s of ‘cheap’ houses being built… will be left empty and unused

homes that people want, we risk facing serious social and economic consequences.’ …The charity, Shelter, spoke of ‘the shocking extent’ of the inequalities caused by housing, which are set to deepen and marginalise a whole section of society. ‘The government must act quickly with radical and far-reaching policies…’ Ministers have outlined plans to try and increase house building. But they are faced with resistance from Environmental and country-side groups who fear the loss of open areas. Shelter’s report recommended higher investment in rented housing to bridge the Gap…” (Daily Mirror, 26/7/2005). “HOME ECONOMY: It won’t be long before only 1 in 3 families will be able to buy a home of their own. That is even worse than it sounds. In the past, those who couldn’t buy would rent, but now rented property is rare, as well as often being expensive and in poor condition. The government’s answer is to build huge numbers of houses. Yet new properties are usually as expensive as older ones. This is a real crisis and no-one is near to coming up with a solution” (Daily Mirror, 26/7/2005). “HOMES A ‘SHAM’: A plan by John Prescott for £60,000 starter homes (houses) was condemned after it was revealed only a handful will be built. He said about 1,000 homes would be built on 10 sites across Britain. But ‘only about 1/3rd’ will be ‘low’ cost, and many will be rented instead of sold to 1st time buyers for £60,000. The others will be sold at market price. Liberal Democrat, Sarah Teather said ‘it was a publicity stunt.’ Mr. Prescott admitted: ‘I agree it is not enough’ but insisted the government was going in the right direction”

a report warned… the Institute for Public Policy found that people saw the Deputy Prime Minister’s

‘Affordable housing’ schemes as ‘monotonous, characterless developments designed on the cheap.’ People thought the properties would have small rooms with thin walls and suffer from poor workmanship… built in areas without late-night shopping amenities… many people may be unwilling to move into them. ‘… put off by standardised schemes without access to local community services or communal green space. Attracting a social mix of people remains a big challenge… people want a short walk to a school…’ £6 BILLION has been invested in the Thames Gateway Development’…” (Daily Mirror, 4/1/2006) “PROPERTY CRASH FEAR: House prices are over-valued by 20%… and a price crash cannot be ruled out…The Director of The National Institute of Economic and Social Research said a lack of new homes to meet the demand fuelled growth…” (28/1/2006). “COWBOY BUILDER… J. Prescott… has massively under-estimated the need for cheap homes for the low paid… he plans to build 200,000… double the number are needed… ‘In 10 years time, we will look back at the plans as just a drop in the ocean. They are not ambitious enough.’ He hopes to offer the £60,000 new builds with a subsidy… but the price will be nearer £100,000. The government said: ‘We are responding to demand’” (re: The Institute for Public Policy Research, The People, 20/8/2006) “PRICED OUT…” “FLAT PACK HOUSE KIT ‘ONLY’ £70,000: … Ikea is to sell flat-pack homes from £70,000 each. The timber-framed FLATS- the 1st in Britain- have high ceilings, double-glazing, wooden floors & fitted kitchens & bathrooms. An estate featuring 117 of the open-plan properties will be assembled near Gateshead’s International stadium… Council member David Napier said: ‘These are cleverly designed, highly energy efficient & they look fantastic.’ Buyers must be on incomes of £15,000 to £30,000. The homes called BoKlok- Swedish for ‘live smart’ - & will be erected by a construction firm. They are on sale from today… Developments are planned for Brighton, Edinburgh & the New Forest”

(Daily Mirror, 10/8/2005).

HOMES: (Yellow brick housing estates): …100’S of 1,000’s of struggling couples and singles will today get fresh hope of a foot on the housing ladder. Gordon Brown will reveal that a home-buying scheme for nurses and teachers will be extended to young house-hunters who do not earn enough to buy their 1st property. The Chancellor will make the drive for ‘Affordable housing’ a key theme of his mini-budget… and will use the plan to bash… Conservative leadership… 2 major building societies have signed up… Under the deal the buyer has to put up 75% of the price, with the government and building society paying 12.5% each (towards the cost of a house or flat)… Major building firms will also start “’CHEAP’

(Daily Mirror, 8/3/2007).

“RETURN OF THE COUNCIL HOUSE: New Labour is to be build thousands of new ones: There are 3 million council tenants across the UK. There are 1.6 million people on council waiting lists. Fewer than 300 council houses a year have been built by local authorities since Labour came to power. Gordon Brown is ready to launch a new era of

offering shared equity schemes… But Gordon Brown will have to face embarrassment as he is forced to admit his growth forecasts of 3% for the economy were too high…” (Daily Mirror, 5/12/2005)

PEOPLE SAID: “CHEAP? We want the best, and we wont settle for less.” “We want NO WORRIES!” 174

purchase of an unsuitable house for sale): “Don’t think about what your parents had, THINK OF THE POTENTIAL…”

council house building when he takes over at 10 Downing Street…” (Daily Mirror, 2/5/2007). “THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY REQUIRED TO BUILD houses is…” “Gordon Brown has pledged to create 5 new 'eco towns' if he becomes prime minister…the chancellor said the move was necessary to meet "pent up" demand for homes…100,000 new homes should be built in carbon neutral communities on old industrial sites… local councils are set to bid to host other developments. Brown also said he wants to increase the rate of house building from 185,000 a year up to 200,000 in order to keep pace with increasing demand.… The Liberal Democrats said Labour was ‘still far too slow in grasping the need for change… ’(Mr Brown) said. ‘I recognise there is a challenge of modern society where young people want to buy or rent their own homes a lot earlier than previously. We have got to make it possible for that to happen. It shows that we are the Party and the government on the side of people with aspirations… Lib Dem Environment spokesman Chris Huhne said Labour ‘is still far too slow in grasping the need for change. The government should insist on state of the art building standards from 2011, not just 2016, and use these eco-towns to boost mass production of insulating products, solar thermal heating and water units,’ he said. ‘With large numbers of eco-homes being built, costs will come down so that young couples will find it easier to get on the housing ladder as they will save more on energy bills than the extra cost of construction. The government must also beef up its programmes for upgrading our existing homes, as nearly ¾ of the houses we will use in 2050 have already been built. The road to zero carbon buildings is not just through new construction’"

PUBLIC BUILDINGS: WORLD TRADE CENTRE: "Built 1970's, 1,368 feet high, twin towers, each tower 110-storeys high, houses 600 companies, 50,000 people, 250 lifts... Windows can't be opened. Vulnerable to terrorist attack... No evacuation procedure...” 1983: The World Trade Centre advertised with The Scales of Justice pictured on the glass cladding (see photo). (In reality, the scales of justice are hardly balanced, are they?) “EXPLOSION, at the World Trade Centre... a car BOMB in the subway beneath... Many people trapped on the 79th floor... children on the top floor... ... Power cut... The people had to flee down 200 flights of concrete steps in the dark… hard to breathe... people inside had to smash the plate glass windows...” "... we didn't know if the fire was above us or below..." "... 700 people injured... Tremendous amount of structural damage..." "WHY? Is USA now a target for terrorist attacks? The USA is little PREPARED..." (26/2/1993) . ("What can be LEARNT from this?" "VAST GLASS WINDOWS. A saboteur’s ‘dream’!") BOMBED BY IRA: "... GLASSS replaced in almost every window in over 100 buildings, following the Baltic Exchange BLAST a year ago, then BOOM! Another BOMB BLAST! People screaming hysterically... 40 children caught in chaos... Glass embedded in stomach... Here we have death again... Glass / shrapnel flew everywhere causing most of the injuries..." "... crushed, they were buried under the steel shelving. Fractures... 'The false ceiling came down!'…” “(Other) Properties so badly damaged, government has agreed to share cost... Repair bill £100s of millions...” "Replacing broken glass, with more glass to show the City can take it..." (London,

(Yahoo news, 13/5/2007).

“… he wants 200,000 new houses constructed every year by councils and Housing Associations until 2013. The eco-towns will have bus routes & carbon-free schools…” (Daily Mirror, 14/5/2007). “… everywhere for rent is ‘NO DHSS, no pets, no kids, no smokers.’ How do you find anywhere suitable?” (DJ on the Palm Radio, 15/5/2007). “AFFORDING HOUSES: Young people today may never own a house of their own - they may be frozen out. Even if house-building increases, they may have to pay 10 times their income by 2027. ‘It’s a tricky political situation. The only answer is build more houses.’ ‘We need more new Eco-towns but many councils are calling for cuts in housing because they don’t want it (i.e. new brick housing estates) in their backyards’ said a new Government-sponsored housing think-tank. ‘It’s just not fair on the next generation’ said Labour’s Yvette Cooper. This is a problem affecting every area now…” (re: Report, early June 2007). EXPERT: (Advising young people to take on the

23/4/1993).

(WHY bomb the City? The City: also called 'The Square Mile' = "The financial and political heart of the British economy. A powerhouse of international finance. A vital status symbol…") The message behind the bombings? "HOW MUCH LONGER do you want to sip from the Devil's cup?" "... 47 buildings in the City will be out of 175

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SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001: THE World Trade Centre targeted by terrorists who hijacked and flew 2 aeroplanes to crash into the (85th floor) of the Twin Towers. The most treacherous HIGHRISE fire in History, fuelled by aviation fuel. The utter desperation… as more than 100 people fell or threw themselves out… as people climbed down… as firemen were walking up… the buildings close to collapsing. 1,300 people trapped inside…” “Al-Qaeda - the TERRORISTS responsible for the September 11th attacks” SAID: “The idol of the ‘modern-age’ has been obliterated.” (The media said: “Osama Bin Laden has struck at the heart of the USA…”) “Wanted: A Memorial - to remember the 2,823 people (of mixed nationalities) who died.” “PLAN FOR GROUND ZERO: Building the World’s Tallest Tower of Offices”? “THE ‘FREEDOM’ (Glass) TOWER: The much criticised architectural nightmare… is a possible scenario to replace the World Trade Centre… or The Twin Towers will be rebuilt. That the site remains a hole in the ground is a poignant reminder that something is missing” (24/5/2005) (Ah! “It’s not going to get any better.”) "WINNER: RIBA's best building of the year competition won by a 40-storey GLASS tower in the heart of the City, in London, nickname: ‘The Gerkin’ (is phallic shaped…) They want to encourage more people to become aware of the buildings that surround us" (re: Stirling Prize, October 2004) ("They are STILL putting SAFETY LAST!” “People will stare at this and say: “Isn’t it fantastic, spectacular?”) “HIGH-TECH ARCHITECTURE: The office block known as ‘The Gerkin’ = The best of British architecture. This is the new Global architecture we are exporting across the world” (April 2005) (“Uh-Oh! I can feel a sense of danger stabbing me…”) “THE FUTURE: Buildings that are NARROW at the bottom, wider in the middle. The city of Leeds is planning to erect GLASS High-rise Twin Towers” (October 2004). “CYBERPORT: They have tried to make the perfect IT building & perfect Environment = Hong Kong has invested £4 BILLION in Cutting Edge Technology: A range of buildings… (i.e. High-Rise Glass). Is this the BLUEPRINT other countries should follow? China is keen…” (BBC 27/11/2004) (“The willingness to attain perfection is very important…”) “… the old town centre will get a new Glassy look. Many agree with this… but the town’s economic future depends heavily on Tesco…” (March 2005). “Shanghai: “Bull-dozing old-style (really pretty, ornate) colonial buildings. A BIGGER Mistake: Replacing them with Glass towers to ‘modernise.’ Concrete and steel. The race / competition is

commission for some years... due to ‘The Belfast Effect’... attacks causing considerable damage... ‘There should be a full debate in this country’... The priority is to stop the bombings..." (16/7/1993) ("What have we learnt from this?”) "... a fundamental rethink” = ARCHITECTS SAID: “Buildings need a sacrificial skin / layer.” “Blast can be absorbed into the central core.”(NO! The Central Core needs to be the Strongest / most protected part…) "... there will be a major overhaul of security measures.. Our main concern is… to protect Downing Street..." said the government. ‘NEW’ SECURITY MEASURES = "... installing a beeper alert to speed evacuation of (some) buildings..." "... removing metal rubbish bins which shattered into lethal fragments…” (“They haven’t yet invented a rubbish bin that doesn’t explode into pieces with flying shrapnel.”) “We are watched 24/7 by spy cameras. Our Civil Liberties threatened...” “Road blocks of wooden sleepers and plastic road cones called: 'The Ring of Steel.' We now have armed police on our streets, at airports etc. "We feel it is absolutely necessary" said the police. "We are not going to make any snap decisions." (The Dangers of Glass - IGNORED!) TERROR COVER: "Insurance premiums going up 300%. Insurance companies starting to go bankrupt" (1993). "Japan has plans for a 500 storey Super High-rise office tower, to accommodate 300,000 people. The building will take 25 years to complete. And cost Yen 46,630 Billion." ("I'm on the outside, cleaning all the windows..." "He was a window cleaner. He fell, impaled himself on the iron railings. He wanted to live despite THE PAIN he was in. He died. Did he suffer? Yes. Latest Technology? They cut off the spike, leave it sticking in you, take you to the nearest hospital. All this rather than get rid of the spikes." ("A SPIKE is more than a pin to burst your bubble.") “SKY SCRAPERS have become the symbol of Capitalism. Tower blocks have become symbols of all that is WRONG…” "THE DIZZY HEIGHTS..." "The Height of Folly... But they still build Towers! What the HELL are they up to?" "Most of the TOP architects have gone MAD rebelling against the OLD-fashioned Building Regulations..." "The higher the building, the lower the morals…" "Lamentably, the most sought after architectural accolade is still whose erection is the biggest?" "They're hoping to shatter world records..." "Architects would be put out of business if they designed buildings we liked?" (Is that not why they are in business?) ("There are approx. 1 million architects in Europe…") 176

still on to build the world’s tallest building. All part of their game. They still haven’t grown up” (BBC, May 2005) (“Have you been Shanghaied?”) “… very ‘modern.’ Glass walls, plate glass doors. Glass everywhere …” “You are making such a BIG mistake.”

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increased this year to £1,000 million" (February, 1993). OLD, VICTORIAN HOSPITALS NEED UPDATING... Inefficient, falling apart… BIG GENERAL Hospitals. Miles of corridors = Wasted space. So hard for people to find their way around. So time consuming to get to where you need to be. Too much walking, too many stairs... "The (Conservative) government want to close 11 hospitals in London! … 20,000 nursing staff would lose their jobs! What if there's an epidemic?" "Much opposition... People fear closures..." "The (Conservative) government is ignoring 800,000 people who want to save Bart’s hospital!"

CHAPTER 4: HEALTH "Britain's National Health Service. Not based on ability to pay. NHS = Equal care for all." “The NHS is one of the most HUMANE achievements of government (introduced in 1948 by the Labour government…) "Known as a 'FREE' service..." (the NHS is paid for via a National Insurance Stamp - a small weekly contribution is deducted directly from pay - with tax). “The British National Health Service is the largest European employer (after the Red army.”) PROUD UK GOVERNMENT BOAST: "The NHS is the Envy of the World" (means: The NHS is unique? Other countries do NOT have a National Health Service? That is Terrible! "The NHS is the BEST health care in the World." (Therefore people, who are not UK residents, try to gain access to this ‘FREE’ health service... (Arguments against immigrants tend to centre on the world’s lack of Affordable Housing, Health care and Education…) ---------------------------------------------------------------Q: HOW could other COUNTRIES provide an AFFORDABLE National Health Service to satisfy the needs of their citizens? A: "… it could make ideal small (cottage) local hospitals, if only someone would realise it..." "… it looks good, it feels good, and it does you the power of good..." "Patients would love it..." i.e. Copy the way the NHS is set-up (learn from our mistakes!) Invest in MODERN Modules EG. (Mobile?) operating theatres, clinics… Do a deal with the supplier/s… The money saved on acquisition, maintenance and running costs - all helps for the provision of Affordable medical services, medicines etc. --------------------------------------------------------------UK: MAJOR PROBLEM: "THE FINANCING FOR (traditional) BUILDING WORK. What is the best way out of this? Cut a department? Opt out? Get rid of the manager? Cut nurses?" "35% job cuts in hospitals over next 5 years" (5/2/1993). “The difficulties for health professionals at the sharp end…” EG. HOSPITAL FIRE: "Fire swept through one of London's biggest hospitals (875 beds).... at the height of the blaze more than 100 firemen fought to stop the flames spreading to the intensive care unit... the building was severely damaged..." (7/10/1992) ("When they know it is the SAFEST thing to do...") "Londoners deserve a 1st rate health service. I intend to make sure they get it" said Virginia Bottomley, Conservative minister in charge of Health. Echoing Mrs Thatcher: "We must get value for money..." "... Weekly running costs are very high." "NHS spending £100 million a day. Budget

(February 1993).

“HARD to heat…” (I dread to think how much hospitals pay for 24 / 7 heating!) "... Up to 30% of the £52 million spent by the NHS in England and Wales on water... could have been saved... by stopping leaks and checking bills... Water now accounts for a ¼ of the NHS Energy bill... estimated many hospitals could each save £15,000 per annum..." (1993). “A patient died following a power cut - the backup generator FAILED - batteries were flat..." (Inquest held 28/5/1993).

"The NHS is a HUGE consumer of GAS. Of course there is waste…" "A Gas boiler exploded at a hospital..." (“British Gas announced: 'Cheap' North Sea GAS supplies are running out. The cost for gas will rise dramatically (August, 2004) (What will the NHS do for an alternative?) “NEEDED: Fixed costs. Doctors spending more time trying to keep accountants ‘happy’! HOW can we save… money? More cuts?" ("The doctor’s working day and night trying to find a CURE...") OVER-BURDENED: "Costs, going up and up..." "If it costs too much - Terminal Decline." "TOTAL COLLASPE - DIRE WARNING: ... we could find the whole pack of cards fall... Make cuts? ... Bitter divisions when asked to approve debilitating reductions... 'We have done nothing but make cuts since I joined this authority. What you propose is outrageous and if we call these cuts temporary, we are lying.'..." "THE MONEY RUNS OUT: ... 22 hospitals stop waiting list operations. 'I'm in awful pain.' Little sympathy (from the government): 'It is up to hospitals to organise themselves better. £200 million of extra money put in.'..." (8/12/1992). "CHILDREN ARE DYING: ... lack of intensive care / specialist treatment. 'We are full.' Turning children away! 420 refusals in 1992..." (An incubator = A plastic life-support housing system…) "There is no casualty department here." "Can't you do something? For God's sake. Do something!" "So if my child is ILL, you won’t help?" “That's right." 178

hospital in North London using METAL clad “modern” buildings, weighted down with concrete blocks (1990)

“We are waiting to get you a room…” "NO ROOM at the hospital… Due to Treasury cuts..." (Ah! ‘Our’ Treasury Dept…”) "I don't know how the government can live with these figures!" "Poverty and ill-health are related. Deprived people don't like to complain. How to get them to stand up for themselves?" (5/5/1992). "Look, I know you've only just had the baby, but you're going home today. Get up! We need the bed." "But I can't walk! I won’t be able to cope!" "Pack your things." "SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF BEDS. Hospitals on alert. OVERCROWDED: Patients lying on floors, waiting for a bed, for a doctor to see them, encouraging people to ‘go home,’ despite needing medical care. Growing concern. In one district, 300 beds closed, then 400... Bit by Bit each year..." (January 1993). "A road accident victim died whilst staff argued over the cost of transferring her..." "BUILDING COSTS OVER-RUN by £130 million. Westminster Children’s Hospital- bone marrow clinic closing down... 'Patients do not have the Right to treatment'..." (7/5/1993) Uh? "I've paid for the NHS all my working life. Never been in hospital. Seen the doctor only twice. I don't mind paying my NHS contribution. It's well worth the money. But why can't I get a 'free' eye test, 'free' dental care or get the chance to visit a chiropodist?" ("There's more to it than meets the eye..." “Good health starts with healthy feet…”) REFORMS: "Government closing hospitals, wards, beds. Growing Waiting lists. 'There's no money.' RATIONING HEALTH: Tiered care = Inequality, dual standards...” "Concerted government drive to push people into paying for private medical insurance USA- style. To help the private sector: Many NHS resources (equipment & staff) 'loaned' to private hospitals..." Essential equipment for the NHS EG. Scanners, paid for by charitable campaigns…” “A crazy system. Nurses opting out of working for the NHS because more money can be earned working for a private agency that supplies nurses to the NHS…” "The (Conservative) government's bland optimism, completely ignoring patients, doctors and other members of Parliament!" (February, 1993). NOTE: The government could set-up a special body to make hospitals at cost. (“Could we begin by having free consultations?”) "PRIVATE DEVELOPERS asked to build 'NHS hospitals'... in exchange for land... seen as 'a cash-free way' of bearing the costs of construction... Accusations of 'privatising by the back door'..." (10/5/1993). "THE NHS IS DISINTEGRATING. "The need for a fundamental re-think..." (4/7/1993) ("Just do it quickly." “Double quick time!”) Pictures: The NHS tried to expand a Victorian

(Same method, using a pre-fabricated thin metal sheeting outer skin, is used for ‘temporary’ school class-rooms). (ARE YOU SURE THE GOVERNMENT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING?) "The new (traditional) hospital cost £202 million..." (19/7/1993) (Were you restricted on style? Was the style dictated to you? A municipal look? What planning pressures were you subjected to? Who built this - a private company, for profit? What materials did you have to use - Concrete Blocks, Steel, Bricks, Glass, Wood, Plasterboard and false ceiling panels? What did the builder charge for materials? What was the actual cost of these? The consultants fees were how much? How long did building works take? Was there a heap of mess and loads of disruption? Does the building now function ideally? Is internal space flexible? Any costly maintenance problems? What Energy system/s are you using? Yearly running costs? What is the life expectancy of the building?) "Staff told to give back their pay-rise to keep the hospital going - overspent by £35 million" (28/5/1993). "London's burn unit is hanging on a thread" (23/7/1993). "Hospital WAITING LISTS are growing ... " (26/7/1993). 179

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"Emotionally and physically draining... You have to be fit to survive hospital. The noise on the wards!” "Man in the next bed coughed all night. I couldn't sleep! Aren't patients entitled to a bit of peace and quiet?" "I feel drained, worn out, I feel wrecked, gutted, shattered. I feel rotten..." "I need to go home and recover from this ordeal." "… Many people are in hospital lacking the motivation to get better again…" ("Sounds to me like you need a good laugh..." “Laughter is the best medicine…” “A chuckle a day, keeps the doctor away…”) 1991: "45,000 official complaints. A FAIRER system promised" (18/6/1993). Mixed Wards = Sex attacks! SICK BUILDING SYNDROME: "It's very stuffy in here." In air-conditioning all day... "Makes me feel quite ill..." Oh, I'm sorry I brought it up..." "Given anti-sickness drugs." The lack of fresh air! "Why can't I just open the window?" “Sorry! Is the light too strong for you?” No wonder the bloody building's sick! “Air ducts- impossible to clean. Dark & moist in there. Pollutants stew toxic brews…” (Ah! Use transparent piping…) “Germs spread through the air-conditioning... infecting staff and patients…” "It's plagued me for a long time..." "Oh, please. I’m begging you. GET ME OUT OF HERE!" "What a feeling! How to stop the screaming? All I want to do is kiss the rain." "Thank God! It's so nice to be back in the fresh air again!" “Cleaning services have been privatised…” “Hospitals need to improve the standards of HYGIENE. MRSA Super-bug kills 5,000 patients a year in the UK…” (December, 2004). “Keeping something clean is the best way to avoid health problems…” (Aseptic surroundings?) (A discovery made a long time ago... Mould(s) kill bacteria...) ADVICE: “Stay away from the hospital this Christmas to avoid the super-bug” (2004). “THINK CLEAN: Bugs and viruses such as MRSA cost NHS hospitals £140 million every year. There has been a 50% increase… 1 in 10 patients will get ill in hospital…” (February 2005) “It really bugs me.” “Would paying the cleaners more eradicate it?” “It’s got to go to the top- to the Prime Minister who sets the targets and budgets. It’s his responsibility.” “GOVERNMENTS ARE STRUGGLING to bring bugs under control… and have promised an investigation. CLEAN hospitals are a priority” (22/3/2005) (“MRSA is spreading to animals / dogs…” 29/3/2005). "I've got agoraphobia... Oh, I'm going to have an anxiety / panic attack! I'm so hot, breathless, I've got palpitations, I think I'm going to die! It doesn't make any sense. I feel so insecure. I'm a very nervous person. ‘Life’ is baffling. It beats me. I'm taking pills for it..."

"More hospitals now self-governing trusts, controlling their own budget... Under funding remains a fundamental problem... Costs have to be controlled" (25/8/1993). "3 main London hospitals overspent. Told to stop ‘non-essential’ operations... Nurses on strike. Protests... Another 3 hospitals told to cancel operations..." "Medical genius is being cut…" "... 24 consultant’s posts cut..." (27/8/1993). "The whole purpose of the NHS was to avoid the very problems arising now. We've already lived through what happens to people when you base health on money... Health is not about money..." (3/9/1993).

A DOCTOR: “It’s about HELPING PEOPLE. That’s what it is all about…” ("LIFE IS VERY, VERY PRECIOUS...") (SAVING LIFE is not cost effective? Ah!” It’s about doing what is right.”) "Leading teaching hospitals under threat of closure... " (22/9/1993). "Hospital on fire... Shortage of water..." (28/9/1993) (“The X-ray film didn't burn...”) "We will have to lay-off staff to pay construction fees..." (30/9/1993). "We are lurching from one crisis to another crisis, and no-one is in charge..." (22/10/1993). "MASS PROTESTS about CUTS in the NHS... 'There is no crisis' said the minister" (20/11/1993). “YOU WANT TO VOTE THESE SCOUNDRELS BACK INTO POWER AGAIN? Soon this service will be The Health Service Ltd.” "Parts of a hospital may be turned into private flats to raise money" (9/2/1994). "Prescriptions for drugs- costs going up again6 times the rate of inflation. A tax on the sick" (15/2/1994) (“It’s a medical fact, A NATURAL CURE is better than pills for head-aches.” “You’ve got to get rid of what is causing your head-ache…”) “The NHS is struggling to meet the cost of vital drugs…” “The question often asked by NHS officials is: Are we prolonging life or death?” "THE COST OF RENOVATIONS to buildings! One new wing on an old hospital cost £54 million raised by charity…" (14/1/1994). RATIONING HEALTH: "ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE BEING DENIED TREATMENT: ... routinely- people are too old to be worth the investment... many are suffering from treatable diseases... This is age discrimination... Rows in Parliament" (14/4/1994) (The buildings are too old - not the people! There is no justification…) ("Everything designed to put patients at ease?") "CLANG, CLANG, CLANG went the trolley..." CLUNK, CLUNK. The Iron Bed. "50% of back sufferers will never be able to work again. Can only do light duties." 180

robots…” DOCTOR: "I can see the need for it on all your faces...” “I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do about it. Please forgive me." “I try not to think about it. If I did I’d never come into work!” “After a bit, you become immune to it all…” “I should try relaxing? I doubt it. Things can only get better…” “You can either get better or bitter. Bitter people are horrible.” “Things could get worse…” “Tempers rise. We’ve put it behind us…” NURSE: "A BIT OF ‘BAD’ WEATHER SHOULDN'T BE THE EXCUSE FOR ALL THESE ACCIDENTS! Fractures... a list of injuries as long as a mile..." “… she slipped on the kerb and broke her hip…” “HOW to stop these accidents from happening again?" (“… some ‘Experts’ say there is no such thing as Cause & Effect!”) “The majority of the work in our Accident & Emergency departments is dealing with road accident victims, and people who have fallen from heights.” UK: "1 million people a year suffer severe head injuries." EG. "He fell, smashed his head... Take the patient to…" "Children have to learn how to take all the hard knocks in life. Some make it, some don't" said a builder discussing 'the hard facts of life' (1992) (I'd prefer it if the children were spared all the hard knocks...) "60,000 people currently have Brittle Bone Disease. One Fall on a Hard Surface = Disaster" (25/11/1993) (Osteoporosis- soft bones, caused by lack of calcium found in milk… that is why milk was provided in schools). "How do I FEEL about it?" "Yeh, when I'm up to it." “Sorry. I’m out of it…” "Every year accidents and illness force 1.4 million people to remain off work for at least 6 months... Every week over 1,000 families are likely to loose their bread winner... Every month over 50,000 people suffer a critical illness..." (UK,1993) LESSON TO BE LEARNT: “HOW FRAGILE WE ARE.” NEW SPORT FOR NURSES: "Shall we play: Spot the Motorist?" “I’m feeling very run-down…” "Ow!" "Ah, you tried to lift the heavy weights, did you? (More cases of Pumping Iron Syndrome). What you need is light, regular exercise..." “OUCH!” "It's a bit of a sore spot." "It's a canker…" “We can have it out in no time…” WAH! "Just do it quickly!" "Will it hurt? I don't want it to hurt." “Just give me something to take the edge off!” (The quest for decent pain relief…) "ASTHMA is now the biggest CHRONIC ILLNESS HITTING CHILDREN: Doctors believe asthma is linked to pollution... 'I've got to watch my child FIGHT FOR AIR! All the wheezing!..." (27/7/1993). “Any stress, dust, smoke… can bring on an attack…” “UK now has the highest rate of

PHOBIAS: "9 million people in the UK have phobias (fear of people, of open or closed-in spaces...) Phobias can be prolonged after provoked by a situation. Can be severe. Disorders are common. Phobias can be cured without the use of drugs..." "It's very important to remember what patients need." "I need gentle hands to guide me..." "I'm very attached to it, you know." "… it will soothe me." “… it’s very soothing!” ("... it's the art of healing.") ("… it could be sweet and true.") A VERY HEAVY WORKLOAD: "A Junior doctor dropped dead after 86 hours on duty. 'Alan died of exhaustion.' Before his death, he was working 24 hour shifts..." (1990). "1,200 doctors are working over 83 hours a week!” (10/4/1994). IMPAIRED EFFICIENCY: “He was rushed off his feet. He said the machine wasn’t working. He sent me home. I collapsed. I could have died…” "Hours may be reduced to 72 hours a week in 1997." "Junior doctors work 82 - 100 hours a week! With very little provision for restful sleep…” ( ... it would make ideal quarters for off-duty medical personnel...) “Our WORKLOAD is quite mad. The patients just keep coming! He fell off his motorbike. He broke his leg in the playground. He’s cut his head open on the road. He needs stitches. Patch him up. He’s got chest pains. She’s got a…” WAH! “Just get it over with as quickly as possible…" “CAN YOU FIX it, doc?” (“… it’s doctor’s orders…”) "The STRESS on the doctors and nurses!" "RELAX. Be light as a feather. Float. Let yourself go. Brother, Sister, take it easy..." (“The slower rhythm of life is gradually disappearing…”) “All this it’s got to be done like yesterday…” “It’s just got to be done.” “More haste, less speed!” “We don’t need to rush! We’ve got the rest of our lives to do it…” (“You know you’ve got to speed it up, slow it down… you’re making your mind up…” song). “We’re ALL

searching for a STRESS-FREE life.” "Desperately OVER-WORKED ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY Departments..." Under the Conservative government: Average WAITING TIME: 11 hours, 36 minutes. (“The Labour government want to get this down to 4 hours.”) "What's wrong with you?" "I'm cut. I'm bleeding. Please help me." "Wait over there. You'll have to join the queue. There are other bleeding people who were here before you..." PATIENTS SAID: "What is this country coming to?" "Things have gone right down the pan." “You should see the state of some of the people in there! Young men, in such bad shape, with 4 kids, worrying how they are going to pay the mortgage…” “God help us!” "There's only one doctor on duty. 7 patients are dying..." “Doesn’t it affect them?” “They have work so quickly! They’re like machines, 181

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asthma in Europe” “… contributory factors include our ‘modern’ life-style… carpets, central heating and double-glazing…” “Asthma: A potential killer. Cases have rocketed. 1 in 7 children, 1 in 25 adults now affected. Cost to NHS £2.3 BILLION every year. Clear link with household cleaning products such as bleach, paint stripper, carpet shampoo, air freshener, wood polish” (December 2004) (Many houses and people smell of vacuum cleaner dust). (Jamie Oliver discovered children who don’t eat processed food at school dinners, no longer needed asthma pumps in the afternoon…) "In just one London borough, 1,300 people are waiting for home adaptations. EG. A mentally handicapped child (brain damaged after being hit by father), can't get up stairs to the bathroom. Been waiting 3.5 years for an extension. Council's resources seriously depleted by cash cuts” (BBC,

Disabled said: If I want any help, I'll ask for it." (HEAVY wheelchairs- made of metal...) (‘Does your wheelchair have a loose screw? Who pushes your wheelchair? Is it easy to get you into the ambulance?) (Ah! Do you need a lift?) Mobility Bus: Out of service. "Costs too much to run." "Cut backs. 'We won’t be able to cope! If there were civil disturbances… there will be queues for ambulances." Protest slogan: 'It's a real Emergency! DELAY COSTS LIVES'” (8/12/1992) "QUICK RESPONSE IS ESSENTIAL. How far is the nearest ambulance station is crucial…” The need for LOCAL services... “Many casualty units closed down. Government says a better class of service can be had by making patients travel 20 miles to the nearest big hospital!" (13/10/2003). "FLYING DOCTORS: Health services using helicopters. Costs £2,000 before take-off! Costs so much, can't Afford to run service. Rural services threatened" (1993). “Ambulance services threatened with cut-backs. Plan = Ambulances unavailable between 2am – 4am…” (2005) “What if there should be a heatwave? 1,000’s of people could be at risk especially the elderly and the very young—even fit people are at risk when the AIR QUALITY is poor…” “The difficulties coping with a major crisis… the cracks in the system soon starts to show. The real issue is the number of people who do not have people to look after them…” “The health service runs on a knife edge and often does not have spare capacity…” “The Health service has a £7 BILLION black hole in funding and needs an extra £18.2 BILLION to pay for more staff, large building programmes and more expensive drugs… Paramedics warned of chaos” (13/12/2005). “Ambulance couldn’t find the address…” (having to work now in such a large area…) (February 2006) “I’m waiting to be discharged. They wont discharge me. I’ve got nowhere safe to go. If I try to leave, they call the security guard!” “POOR DIET costs the UK’s NHS £6 BILLION a year, twice the cost of accidents.” (“Weight loss surgery costs the NHS £3.5 Billion a year”) (2006)

August 1990).

"THE CHOICE ROW: CHOICE matters, Labour and Conservative parties AGREE! But what could it mean for patients? The choice to pay, or to wait?" (23/6/2004) (Neither! GREATER CHOICE = THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE it i.e. an ALTERNATIVE LIFE-STYLE = Less spent on buildings = Less wastage of the NHS budget, + Low electricity / heating costs = BETTER Environments / surroundings for patients, sufficient equipment & medication = LIVES SAVED, happy staff, fewer injuries / accidents, no heavy work-load = Better patient care....) “Bradford’s teaching hospital… centre of Labour government’s flagship health service… has a projected £11.3 million deficit… after building new wards and operating theatres… Having to reconfigure… staff summoned to London to discuss how to reduce running costs” (ITN, 2/12/2004). “OPERATIONS CANCELLED…” People prepped, then sent home to wait many months more, often in pain… “The cost of compensation claims for negligence etc., are crippling the NHS…” “Britain's death rate now exceeds the birth rate…” (2004). “They are closing Respite Care homes for sick children…” “BUPA is selling 10 smaller private hospitals” (30/3/2005).

(see: Chapter 8).

“500,000 people are stuck on Waiting lists waiting for scans” (19/4/2005). “People who have been waiting over 4.5 months for treatment can choose ‘an alternative hospital’ i.e. private or NHS” (25/7/2005). “40 people died whilst waiting for an ambulance...” 'People will need these at inconvenient times, whether or not there's money to pay for them' said a doctor... "Most complaints about the ambulance service involves delays..."

“They don’t know what it is. They keep taking blood… they’re looking for something…” "We don't know what it is but we'll find out in the post-mortem." (Post Mortem = Once you're dead... we can do anything we want to you). "Post mortems, found that ½ the patients had been wrongly diagnosed by their General Practitioner." NHS GPs: “For every patient I see I get £25.” “I’m only allowed 10 minutes per patient.” “If you want to talk to me about more than one condition you’ll have to make another appointment…” “We’re fully

(July 1992).

"I'm not mobile. God damn, no ramp!" The 182

booked. The next appointment is in 3 weeks.” “But I’m ill now…” GP: “I can’t go and see her. I’m too busy.” "Rising tide of complaints against General Practitioners" (5/7/1993). “We have no funding for alternative therapies, even though we know they work…” (“Do you wish you could re-write the script?”) "I'm sick of this system... I don't like having to wait in a room full of sick people. All those germs... You never know what you could catch." "This nasty weather has produced a stream of people waiting to see the doctor..." “I got cold, I'm a bit run-down and so are a lot of people...” "I feel under the weather..." "There's a lot of it about..." “There’s something going around…” "UNTIL THERE'S A CURE... THERE'S CONTACT…" "TB EPIDEMIC: "... poised to sweep Britain... Tuberculosis eats away the lungs and is spread by coughing and sneezing (moisture droplets)... TB killed 1 Billion people in Europe in the last century... Millions of people are at risk. Has to be isolated immediately- is highly contagious" (1993). FLU / EPIDEMIC: “Flu is caused by a virus…” "Flu can be deadly..." (1918 -1919: 280,000 people died in the UK & 40 million world-wide…”) “…Quarantine went a long way to stopping the spread of the disease…” “A world-wide outbreak of FLU feared. Contingency Plans = Inflatable mortuaries quarantine facilities with evacuation of cities as a last resort. Could cause 7 million deaths…” (The Guardian, 24/1/2005) (How strong will their inflatable/s be? One pin prick… Will the people really be quarantined?) (The need for excellent (mobile?) quarantine facilities…) INDIA: “Mounting concern plague-like symptoms will spread by air from village hit by Earthquake a year ago. Has spread to Bombay, Calcutta & New Delhi. Authorities said they are making effort to clear the rubbish and camps. Not Bubonic plague. Called Pneumonic” (27/9/1994) “Is it catching? It’s a highly contagious fever. Has now spread to 7 states… Chemists in New Delhi have run out of antibiotics. UK Advice: “You would be well advised to stay here until we can identify it… No, I can’t allow it…” Frantic ‘Quarantine Procedures’ = 3 weeks after the outbreak, flights out – aircraft cabins sprayed with insecticide…” “OUTBREAK OF PLAGUE in India. Spreading… European health officials meeting. Have we learnt how to deal with plague? The need for safeguards to prevent this sort of outbreak…”

is expected… (Bird Flu” (UK: 2006). HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA: "These days only 3 things in America are certain. Taxes, death taxes, and computer break-downs.” ADVERT (for a hospital): "Life isn't easy." "INEFFECTIVE, DANGEROUS, ILLEGAL PRACTICES going on in USA Hospitals! Speak out and you get fired. ... Many reports of people being kidnapped- healthy adults and teenagersrounded up by bounty hunters – held - events fabricated that did not occur... diagnosis altered by doctor, patients expected to comply with treatment. If they refuse, things can get very difficult..." "Some doctors are tricking people into thinking their problems are worse than they are. This happens all the time." "... left strapped to a bed, in diapers- for days, until insurance money runs out..." "False implantations under hypnosis! Terrifying intrusions..." "A cynical manipulation of people for money... The system is evil. Now setting up shop in England. Get your guard up! Many abuses occur..." (6/10/1991). "When corporate health comes before the health of patients..." “PROFITS PUT BEFORE PEOPLE!” "Private doctors charge whatever they like." “You’ve got to phone your insurance company to Afford the prescription… What can I tell you?” "A lot of people have no health insurance..." EG. “The waiting time is 18 hours for a bed…” “… the same old, same old…” "Our child is sick. We got to work and pay the hospital. If we don't, they take the house. All the fights over bills! ... They've foreclosed! Where will we live? What about our animals? They're going to take the costs out of my pay... We wont have enough for food- or any money to pay the new hospital bills..." “My baby needs surgery and I got to worry about medical bills…” "For saving my life the hospital sent me a bill for $27,000. I can't pay. Now there's a warrant out- they have ordered my apprehension. This doesn't make me feel any better." “How does being presented with a god-dam bloody big cheque make me feel less sick? Aw. Come on! God! God! God! Unbelievable. This goes against all the rules of civilised existence.” "You can't even die in America without paying through the nose." "Would it be easier to write out a blank cheque for 'services' rendered?" "The Americans are really mad about it..." “I NEED A CURE!” "37 MILLION AMERICAN CITIZENS CANNOT AFFORD HEALTH CARE: Hi-tech, high cost system does not work. Clinton wants reform" (17/9/1993) (Oh! ”You can’t Afford cover?”) "Bill Clinton promised Affordable health-care for everybody i.e. from the cradle to the grave - to

(September 1994)

Angola: “Deadly outbreak of the Margburg virus (similar to Ebola). No cure. Highly contagious…” (27/4/2005).

“Should all immigrants be health screened?” (debate, UK April 2005).

“A pandemic wiping out 50,000 people in the UK 183

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definitely make USA health-care the best in the world. Plan = raising $100 Billion Tax on cigarettes! His wife is the architect of the scheme, hailed as biggest reform for 50 years" (23/9/1993). "USA health care is still in crisis..." "45 MILLION ordinary American citizens cannot Afford health care” (2004). “These patients need our help and we’re not giving it to them! The quickest treatment is needed in Emergency situations, not continual delays! Tests & treatments withheld to save money. All the arguments about billing and who should pay! Why did I become a doctor if I have a corporation preaching to me about who I can treat and how I can treat them?” A: “A quick death is a cheap death…” BRAINWASHING! “To ‘help’ people deal with ‘the illusions of the past’ and the realities…” “You’re a sad person.” "10 million Americans are being treated for drug, alcohol and mental health problems..." "In America, Analysts called SHRINKS. “They don’t do anything subtle.” “They want you shrink wrapped!” "You can carry on with (psychoanalysis) treatment for as long as you can Afford all the cheques." "Psychiatry business worth $50 Billion a year." (“You’re doing time in the puzzle factory?” "Rehabilitation in a psychiatrist's chair?" "You can't do it sitting on your bum!") “SOLUTION: Get to the bottom of the problem." ("Get to grips with it!") “LAUGHTER IS OFTEN THE BEST MEDICINE. First, do no harm… If we changed the conditions, we could change the programmed response. Ah! The non-conformists flunk out because… Where does anyone have FUN around here? Don’t let their stupid old rules screw up your life…” (Recommended Viewing: www.patchadams.org )

Film:

Patch

Adams)

Administrator: ”Your job is not to start a crusade. Don’t upset the money men!” Doctor: “Sod them. They’re not human, they’re the machines that are killing us. What do you prefer? Motor vehicle accidents or a walk in the park?” 2nd Doctor: “Hey! You did a good thing. You said that like it matters…” Patient: “It’s damn miracle medicine, that’s what it is…” HEART DISEASE: “… it’s in my heart the way I want to live.” (“You’ve got to follow your heart. It’s that simple…”) Basic Instinct: "Listen to what your heart is trying to tell you." (“I look inside my heart, I look inside my soul… What do I see there? Rivers…” "Open up your heart truly and you'll see..." "HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS." “I know it’s close to your heart…” "Home is what you've got in your heart." “… it comes from the heart." “Hold it in your heart…” "It would make life very different." "… it might you give quite a boost." "… it stimulates the heart and makes YOU stronger.”) "Most people don't follow their heart." "It's my ticker…” "Oh! Why did my heart miss a beat?" “My heart just can’t take this – it’s breaking my heart… it's a heart ache…it’s like there’s a heavy weight on my chest…” ("… its heart felt." “My heart can’t take it any more…”) "Sorry love, my heart just wasn't in it..." “His heart attacked…” ("Ah, it's in his heart. Unfortunately, that's not enough.") UK: "170,000 people die from heart disease every year" (1993). “… it’s so HARD THESE DAYS to find a GOOD HEART…” "60,000 heart attacks a year. 30,000 die before they reach hospital." UK: "70,000 people a year suffer a stroke…" (1993). "SHOCKING: "Hospitals resuscitate for 3 - 4 minutes maximum, using electric shocks. Jump / Kick start technique. 'I'm sorry' they say. 'There's no hope. We're losing her. What else can we do? We did all we could.' 'Sometimes I really hate this job... but it doesn't pay to think... (divided loyalties). Sometimes it's kinder to let them go'..." "People said 'it's no good. Give it up.' But I had faith. I believed in her- in us! I pumped for 20 - 25 minutes. I yelled, and shouted: 'Don't die! Don't leave me! Come back!' She opened her eyes and smiled. Keep the body warm. And MASSAGE.” (“… it just needs THE KISS OF LIFE…” "Doesn't your body deserve it?") "It's our job to look after people!" ("I know it’s your job to HEAL people but you could do it BETTER." “Do it WELL." "I can see it in your eyes

(Ref.

"Doctors prefer to work in big hospitals not rural family practices. Despite ‘reforms’ doctors do not think they will switch to smaller practices" (22/9/1993). "Many private hospitals could go bust over next few years." "Proposed closure of busy trauma unit in LA serving a poor, violent neighbourhood...” “These kids come from such a crappy background…” “He was hit in the face by a tear gas canister. He has 3rd degree burns…” “'Healthcare is linked to Civil Rights' said Martin Luther King Junior. Closure due to... lawsuitspatients who had objects left inside them after surgery... deaths attributed to poor nursing... Protests... The hearing regarded as a formality as decision already taken... Closure likened to detonating a neutron bomb- the building will still be there, but the people will not" (Associated Press, 16/11/2004).

Doctor: “He had to get a 2nd job to Afford medications for his daughter. Now he’s found out this drug is not worth it.” 184

1980." "... 'it could be a blockage' ..." ALL THE GROWTHS... (lumps) on / inside PEOPLE! Oh! My God! Our way of life... must be to blame... "PREVENTION is better than (their) cure." "$35 BILLION spent on cancer research…" (Ref.

and smile...") “… she’s sickening for something…” "Only one heart specialist per 8 million people! People die before seeing anyone about their heart..." (UK, October 1991). "Heart / lung transplants... 70% of people survive for 5 years...” 'You don't want to get BLOCKED TUBES'..." (If some kind soul worked out how to position flexible plastic tubes in modules... maybe fewer tubes would end up being stuck in people? Just a thought...) ("How do YOU FEEL about it?") "I'll only look on the bright side when I know it's there..." ("… it will make you feel better.") "It's about looking and feeling good." "Do you feel up to it?" "If there's anything I can do..." "If it makes you feel better, I want it too..." ("… it's ideal for rest and recuperation!") “It’s about trying to rehabilitate people…” "I'd feel a lot better for it." "It'll give me the strength I need to carry on." “For all the broken hearted in the world, there is an answer. Let it be…” ("Let light come to be.") "Much better to get it over with quickly so you can start living your life!" "Go on. Get it off your chest- you'll feel a lot better." ("Let it out.") "Be young at heart..." ("See with your heart...") "TAKE THESE CHAINS FROM MY HEART AND SET ME FREE..." "One day I know it's going to happen..." “Someday, I’ll awake and find my heart wont have to break…” "Bless their hearts." "It's the patients who really matter, not the big wigs." "The government are HEARTLESS." “It’s so easy to break a heart. It’s so easy for you to close your eyes…” "If YOU were in pain, all YOU would want is for the pain to STOP." "We might as well keep this pain?" “Keep suffocating dreams?” “It’s causing an awful lot of heart ache to both sides…” (“You need a double-sided love.”) "Do it out of the goodness of your heart." "Have a change of heart…" “It’s very much a life-style issue. 60% of adults in the West could suffer from high blood pressure by 2025 due to Western diet and lack of exercise. Hyper-tension linked to heart attacks…” (15/1/2005). INACTIVITY: “BLOOD CLOTS kill more people than breast cancer, Aids, and road accidents in Britain. 25,000 people die every year- 500 people a week. DVT is a condition that could easily treated with cheap drugs- 1 (soluble) aspirin tablet a day” (Channel 5, 8/4/2005) (“Do you need something to get the blood moving?”)

Viewpoint, 1992).

“Our understanding of genetics is such we can identify genes that cause hereditary cancer…” (identify the gene/s which provides immunity… to produce a vaccine?) "CANCER IS BIG BUSINESS: ... Harold Huxsey cured 1,000 people of cancer, using old, kind of folk medicine- known to native Americans… (Herbs - listed in 'Hartwell’s 'Plants). (For external tumours: blackroot- a common flower, mixed carefully into a paste with periwinkle and zinc oxide...) Huxsey labelled a quack... Why? The medical associations wanted control of 'cancer business.' Blackballing: 'What company is going to allow you to grow a herb in your backyard if they are going to lose £millions of profit?'... Eventually, Huxsey used radio to broadcast his story... Huxsey could also cure internal tumours... His trials = 12,000 patients in 17 clinics. There were more than sufficient testimonies to substantiate effectiveness..." (Ref. True Stories, Channel 4,1/2/1990) (see: page 102)

"There is a shortage of cancer specialists- only 5 per million people" (October 1991). “Cut it out”: "People are terrified of (conventional) treatment..." (1993) “RADIOTHERAPY provided by the nuclear industry is the ‘best’ treatment available…” "Cancer services cut" (April 1993). "LIGHT CAN BE USED TO DESTROY CANCER: Its hour has come. PDT (Photo Dynamic Therapy) now effective cure. Doesn't risk killing the patient to kill the tumour. Patients tolerate it very well. Other uses- enormous potential EG. to fight infections, ulcers. A scientific break through…” (Big Science, BBC2 3/2/1994) (Widely available? Offered as an alternative form of treatment?) “LUNG Cancer: A rare disease before the 20th Century…” SMOKING: “The likely cause of a Billion deaths…” (“Excuse me. Have you got a light?” “It’s my nerves…” (cigarettes are a prop). IF you want people to stop smoking… REDUCE STRESS levels!) IMPERIAL TOBACCO: “Found in cigarettes: Arsenic (worst for causing cancer), Cadmium, Lead…” “4,000 chemicals in each cigarette. 60 cause cancer…” “Smokers in Britain spend £20 Billion a year on cigarettes” (2005) UK: "Over 300,000 cases of new cancer each year. Specialists do better than surgeons. There is a need for treatment centres and a greater prevention of cancer" (13/4/1994) (Ah! The need for

CANCER: The high rate of cancer in society today! UK: "The incidence of cancer has risen 25% since 185

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past period?" (1990). NOTE: A Needleless Syringe was invented in the 1980’s- to minimise the pain of injections… Mrs Thatcher said needleless syringes would cost the NHS too much… The idea was dropped. That simple idea could have helped to stop dirty needles. (UPDATE: A needleless syringe that injects liquid has been patented in the USA). 'It is a Human Rights issue' said Nelson Mandela. 'It could help to prolong life'..." (said during the 1st

a complete cure.) “Doctors complained too much cash is wasted on admin charges instead of actually using money pumped in to care for patients. Cancer is the UK’s biggest killer” (6/2/2005). ("Have you got me an office yet?") "A doubledecker bus has been converted into a mobile screening service (a heart-disease detection unit). This is more accessible..." (it's getting there... way too slowly for my liking... WHEN will there be FULL screening? Do a full body inventory. Early detection is vital. They do MOT checks for cars, but no preventative, FREE routine checks for people!) DOCUMENTARY: “A World Without Cancer”: “350,000 people every year die in the USA due to cancer…” “... evidence that cancer is a deficiency disease - like scurvy or pellagra aggravated by the lack of an essential food compound in modern man's diet. That substance is vitamin B17. In its purified form developed for cancer therapy, it is known as Laetrile. This story is not approved by orthodox medicine. The FDA, the AMA, & The American Cancer Society have labelled it fraud and quackery. Yet the evidence is clear that here, at last, is the final answer to the cancer riddle. Why has orthodox medicine waged war against this non-drug approach? The author contends that the answer is to be found, not in science, but in politics - and is based upon the hidden economic and power agenda of those who dominate the medical establishment. With $BILLIONS spent each year on research, with other billions taken in on the sale of cancer-related drugs, and with fund-raising at an all-time high, there are now more people making a living from cancer than dying from it. If the solution should be found in a simple vitamin, this gigantic industry could be wiped out over- night. The result is that the politics of cancer therapy is more complicated than the science…” (summary by Matt Pye, 24/4/2007) (ref. Book by

Band Aid concert, 1984) (message repeated 2004).

"37.2 million adults are HIV positive" (2004). PRIMAL SCREAM! "GET ON WITH it!" China: “800,000 people have Aids. Trial of a new vaccine underway” (March 2005). ATTITUDE: "Give them all dirty needles and let them die." “… government's obstinate refusal to adopt successful methods to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among people who inject drugs, their partners and children… 22% of HIV infections in the USA are caused by the sharing of contaminated syringes…” (2006). MENTAL ILLNESS: “I’m depressed. I need some good news. Where can I get it?” “OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND?” "I am! Yet what I am who cares or knows? ... I long for scenes where man never trod, there to abide with my creator - God... full of high thoughts unborn... So let me lie - the grass below, above the vaulted sky…" (Poem by John Clare, 1793 - 1864, written in Northampton County Asylum).

ASYLUM (means: PROTECTIVE SHELTER, SANCTUARY, SAFETY from imminent harm. Also, an institution for people with psychiatric disorders that offered ‘sanctuary’ for debtors, criminals, especially a church.”) "They say the people who can best describe God, are the ones who are locked up in asylums." (I

G. Edward Griffin & video: www.you.tube ).

wouldn’t know if that’s true not having been in an asylum).

AIDS (HIV): "1,300 children die every day around the world, of Aids / HIV... one child every 30 seconds...” AIDS (HIV) = A reduced immune system... Catching a COLD can be Fatal... (COMPETITION: TO FIND THE BEST NEW PRODUCT (presided by Sir Terence Conran): THE JUDGES DISCUSS THE ENTRIES: 1st entry is a convector radiator. "Big, old, heavy. No understanding of culture..." 2nd entry: A juggernaut to carry stacked cars... 3rd entry: Tubular steel seating... 4th entry: A motor-bike. 5th choice: A syringe. The Judges Agree: “A new identity is needed." Closing Comment: "Why do we have to imitate a

UK: 1990's: "If you walk down the street, smiling… people think you're mad! What's gone wrong?" HEALTH WARNING: "Politicians can cause brain damage." ("They want your brain to be an empty compartment.") WRONG DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT: "The government has never understood how the brain works." “… it doesn’t make any sense?” “This is all head-ache material…” “Distress is their speciality…” “Politicians are out of touch… and I’m out of time. I’m out of my head most of the time. Oh, woe, woe, woe…” "We've ALL got a little lost.” (“It’s time to get back with it, before it's too late.”) CONFUSION = “SO MANY people get it WRONG!” That little ‘it’ word… EG. “You have to 186

fight it, or we sink under?” “How people UNDERSTAND ‘it,’ that’s how it is.” "Only by speaking about it can we deal with the madness." ("Oh! Save my sanity." "Keep it simple!" "Make it easy." "I'm not quite with it yet!") SANITY means: "The ability to evaluate data." REALITY: There are so many STRESS related, really HARD problems EG. "Arguing / Fighting about (BLOODY) money, again?" A lot of people just can't cope mentally with THE DICTATES of money EG. "No-one will rent me a room." "I don't like the world..." “Every time I look around… it’s making me crazy…” “I CAN’T HANDLE it!” “He / She had a nervous breakdown when their life fell apart…” “Some get ill in the body, others in the head…” “DO YOU HAVE something on your mind?” (Yes, a lot actually!) “Is something bothering you? Yes? What?” “I just can’t get over losing…” “I’m feeling down in the dumps…” "I feel like the walls are closing in on me..." "I don't know how to connect..." “… it’s not easy to put into words.” "Oh! I can't really explain it!" “I can’t describe it…” (The inability to put it into words... to find the right words. So hard to… express it. THIS GULF / GAP... CAUSES SO MANY PROBLEMS! EG. “… it's not something I can put my finger on." "… it's all so surreal!" "… it plays on my mind...” “…it's as if there is something... “ “…it's in my head... I am trying to get it out..." “… it’s stuck in my head, going round and round in a loop…” "What could it be?" “What is it? What is it? That question keeps going round and round in our brains driving us insane…” "… it's like a nightmare, you know - it keeps coming back, all the time! I get all these pictures in my head- I see things, that aren't there..." (Having visions- seeing things that aren’t really there… is a medical condition?) “… going insane with despair…” = “I never ask for much but… it’s been so long! I’m scared, I’m scared…” "I keep imagining..." (“You are so far from home.”) NIGHTMARES: "I get nervous, over-anxious… I lose control..." "I see horrible things... bugs… climbing up walls- crawling - everywhere! They're getting bigger! Ooh! I'm so scared." “What the hell is it all about? (Mutant mosquitoes!? Giant cockroaches?") "I just don't understand it." "What could it mean?" "Am I going mad, or what?" "It's like there's something trying to tell me something, you know? Like something's not quite right, but I don't know what it is?" (“It’s all mixed up in his mind.” “... it is nothing to be scared of... it's not ‘coming to get you’!) “Don't get in a state about it!”

(“Somewhere, maybe deep down…” "... it is in everyone's sub-conscious..." “… it’s the best DREAM man could have.”) “The World Is a Connected Whole…” Maybe we are all linked in some Super-Natural way? Maybe there is a collective telepathy going on here? A form of ESP, connecting our minds, making us aware of aspects it feels we should be aware of? Maybe it’s also trying to warn us?) (“It’s inside your head and heart and it shows you…” “You know it’s there. The trick is bringing it to the fore-front- putting it in place…” Ah! It’s all up here… The knowledge, the intelligence, the sense, the integrity that will help you to make it.. Remember this when you’re feeling low…”) WAH! “I need professional help!” = These days General Practitioners don't ask what it is that is troubling you- they have heard all the problems too many times- mention the word 'depression' and the ‘healing hand’ merely reaches for the prescription pad... PATIENT: "My doc said:. 'Don't dwell on it, brooding about it doesn't help.' He told me to ‘go home, pull myself together and get over it.’ He said: 'Cheer up, it may never happen!' But that only made me feel worse…" "They told me at school: 'Don't worry about it'... 'it's just a phase you're going through'... I did try to forget it... I put it in the back of my mind... but... no matter how hard I try... WAH! I'VE JUST GOT TO GET it OUT OF MY HEAD. The pressure. The pressure!” “Make it go away please! I just can't take this pressure any more..." (Ah! You don’t understand pressure…”) (“You need to talk to someone…who understands…”) FRIENDS & FAMILY: “They no longer say: ‘Snap out of it’ as this is known not to work.” These days, they say: “Get over it.” “Yes, it’s tough isn’t it?” "Don't let it get to you!" Reaction: Uh? I think (“…it’s as important to me as breathing!” “How can I ‘hold onto it’?” “No, they’re right. I wont let it get to me…” “I have to let it all go?”) (“Do you feel you’re losing your mind?”)) COUNSELLING? “Counsellors are trained to listen, not advise…” CLIENT: “Take my pain away!” WAH! How can I keep my head together?” "It's really getting to me..." -v- “I mustn’t let it get it to me… I wish I knew how I’m going to be happy…” “Oh, God! There’s something seriously wrong and no-one can help me!” “I don’t understand…” “I can’t take it!” (Maybe that means with the added security, it can’t be stolen or taken away from you?) “I want it to end, basically…” (“You could overcome it…” ) (“Don’t dream it is over!”) COUNSELLOR: “It’s not giving up. It’s growing up.” “I understand you need some time to think about it.” “It’s no good wishing for it to happen…” “It’s not on 187

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the cards…” PATIENT: “That’s not working for me…” “My counsellor has tried everything to get me to put it behind me…” “You’re going to make it all go away, huh?” PSYCHIATRIST: “We’re going to try- it’s going to be a piece of cake…” “It’s no use. Now grow up and get going. You can’t go off the rails…” PATIENT: “Stay on the rails? I’m not sure that we should! There’s got to be a better way…” (We need to get on the right track…) (i.e. Keep up to speed on it- OK.) (Ah! Get ‘it’ back on track!) “… it’s got to happen, hasn’t it?” “Could you please explain the game they’re playing here?” PSYCHIATRIST: “I’m not being funny…” “It’s no game. Think of ‘life’ as a big train going down a hill. You either ride in the train or get squashed underneath.” “The mind is a machine…” “Can you tell me why you have a problem with authority?” (Most people stumped - are unable to provide an adequate answer to that question…) (Ah! “Aren’t we all on the same team here?”) PSYCHIATRIST: “Oh no. We don’t care about delusionals.” “Confront it.” “Are you in DENIAL?” PATIENT: “Am I beating myself up over nothing?” PSYCHIATRIST (trying to be pacifying?): “I’m sure it is all in your head….” (Unfortunately, it is at the moment… it is just a dream. “Don’t let it break your spirit. Keep telling yourself you’re a star… Don’t let it get you down…”) (“It’s driving us mad thinking about it, never knowing for sure if it will help us to reach the stars…” “You know we need our Freedom but we’re always only looking over the fence…” “Is it only make believe?” (“Nothing is proven. Not yet.”) PSYCHIATRIST: “… Nobody else is suffering. It’s only you that’s got a problem…” (“That’s not correct! You are NOT the only one who is suffering because of the muddle! This is happening because the shortage of Affordable starter homes has not been recognised as being the root-cause of so many problems. The people who FEEL something is missing are labelled ‘ahead of their time’ ‘loonies’ and put down- by those who deny it is needed, who refuse to do anything about it, who are knowingly ? causing all this pain). CRAZY = Not allowing it / not admitting what it actually is. Twisting it. Perceiving it as bad, a destructive thing; that it causes bad things to happen... Trying to keep it a secret. INSANE = The problem is: That it is all in your head - and not an actuality. Trying to stop people thinking about it. Being forced to keep it inside you i.e. not allowing it to come out in the open… naturally, not even being able to openly discuss feelings and thoughts about it, without people looking at you as if you are an alien! It = Our Natural, Basic Self-Preservation / Homing

Instinct! It exists in all of us naturally from the moment we are born- it is just that certain people are more aware of its presence, and sensitive to the narrow-mindedness of others.) (“You are beautiful but delirious in empty space.”) PSYCHIATRIST: “No. I just don’t understand it. Why don’t you tell me all about it?” PATIENT: “Trouble is, I guess, there isn't a whole lot in my life that interests me. I feel out of it. My life isn't worth shit. I know I am an on-going thing, but I'm going nowhere... People tell you ‘it's not worth trying’... My Ma used to say 'Snap out of ityou're going off the rails. You've got to stay on the straight and narrow.' I know I'm a bit off the wall... but... sometimes... I just feel like I could really flip my lid... It's all too much! It's all piling up on top of me! Do you know what I mean?" (“Concentrate on the SOLUTION to fix…) TUG OF LOVE: "My son is troubled with... voices?... inside his head that might be dangerous... He thinks they might be messages... from… God?" (Embarrassed, long pause). (Ah! “That little voice in your head telling you to do something…”) "It's been building up inside him for I don't know how long. He's not ‘normal’ is he?” (I won’t mention all our arguments about where he should live- it's not important). (i.e. Something is being covered up). "Yes, I am finding it hard to cope. He is over-dependant on me. How can we get him over this difficulty?" (Get him to somewhere where he can live happily!) (instead of trying to make sense of 'it'... ) PSYCHIATRIC DIAGONIS: “Paranoia (a social disease). Depression” i.e. “He’s off the wall!” = He’s crazy. He’s a nut. A nut case. A nutter… “It’s a defective brain synapse, not a gift from God!” = “Schizophrenia.” “Schizophrenia. A GENERAL term used to describe any mental condition they don’t understand.” ("To understand schizophrenia, understand despair.") TREATMENT: Drugs (to suppress) a chemical straight jacket; (can cause involuntary jerks in limbs, a catatonic drug-induced depression / lethargy). A REAL TRAGEDY: "Is there something we should be doing for my son?" We're finding it very difficult." Doctor: "It is very difficult. No-one really understands schizophrenia." Child: "I'm hearing voices in my head." (Not asked what the voices say…) Later: "God is in the water..." Father: "Get a job. We want you to lead a normal life." Child: "I'm going fishing." Father: "Bring a fish home." Child: "No, that's not the point- I put them back." Mother: "He's abnormal." 188

Child: "I'm a genius. Is a circle always round?" Mother (rolling eyes): "Yes." The Police come. "Your son has been found naked on the common." Drugs given to stabilise. "I'm never going to get better." "Life is so cruel. He's not like my son any more." Father: "He's pacing up and down... just like a caged animal!" "Danny, your injection is overdue.” Child: "Are you a Christian?” He runs away again. “Can I have a light please?" He gets beaten up. Goes back to his parents. Studies his work on his computer- catalogues of birds, shells, countries. He sees his reflection in the screen... he is dirty because he has been sleeping rough... he smashes the screen. Instructs his parents: "I'm waiting to be called. Take all messages." His parents are convinced he's mad. He runs away. "I want to sleep in water." He drowns himself ‘deliberately’..." (1990) ("Oh! What a tangled web do parents weave when they think their (sensitive) children are naive.") "MIXED-UP..." "He only wanted to be understood- and loved." “Do you only have unhappy memories? (Ah! You wish the people in this place would do well looking out for each other…)” “Do you have a problem forming attachments?” “Are you being driven insane?” “Yeh. I’m committed. I’ve been through a lot. I don’t want your drugs to keep me down…” IF DRUGS FAIL: “You’ll be incarcerated” (locked up / put away from ‘normal’ society). “PADDED cells have been done away with.” Electric compulsive shock therapy. ECT: Very vicious. (Discovered by a pig farmer – when he didn't deliver a full shot of electricity to the pig he was trying to kill, he noticed the pig was stunned…) (…the voltage, delivered straight into the patient's brain, is so powerful if the patient wasn't fully strapped down, every bone in his body would be broken). They say, by shocking you, this might make you 'normal.' Should ECT fail to shock you back to ‘normality’, a full or partial lobotomy i.e. the removal of parts of the brain i.e. the Temples, where your memory is stored. "Bullied out of it…" (“The real me is in my inner-core…”) ADVERT: “Finding life hard? All you have to do is talk about it.” PATIENT (Being Sarcastic): “Yeh, it sure helps to talk about it, don’t it?” The police Sectioning a man: “He’s got all these thoughts whizzing round in his head. He can’t express himself clearly. He can’t speak without shouting! He’s very aggressive. He may be a danger to himself or the public.” (He is actually a Homeless refugee who is sick and tired of being harassed by the police).

"IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEAD, WHEN ALL ABOUT ARE LOSING THEIRS..." “Keep your faith in the good times no matter what they say.” “Don’t lose the dream!” ("Understand you can't do it all by yourself." "You must retain your sanity..." "We were not created 'to go it alone'...") PATIENT: “Is Prozac the answer?” DOCTOR: “Yes.” PATIENT: “Life doesn’t make sense- none of it. It must remain confused?” “Are you saying I’m upset for no reason at all?” "NO CURE…" "I'm feeling very down. It's really very distressing..." “… it’s a maddening situation.” “… it’s going maddeningly slowly…” “I’m going slowly insane. They don’t deal with this pain.” “Mad for it.” “It’s the only thing I can think of in this world that makes any sense to me.” "80 million working days are lost in Great Britain due to mental illness” (28/9/1993). "3 - 4 million people are known to be depressed in Britain at any one time. Cost of anti-depressant drugs is £36 per month, per patient" (18/2/1992). UK: “13 million prescriptions written a year for antidepressants… patients need careful monitoring and counselling, plus other forms of ‘help’… (Cost?) Anti-depressants are addictive… Sideeffects EG weight gain, fits, suicidal ideas / selfharm…” (6/12/2004). ("There is madness amongst all the races...") TRANQUILISERS to relieve tension, anxiety, stress… (BLISS is a word that’s not often used.) “We’ve got to keep taking ‘the happy pills’…” ? “When you are sick you can’t pretend it’s not happening. The QUICKER you deal with the symptoms the more chance you have of surviving. You shouldn’t put off having it sorted…” "Put it off, put it off. That only prolongs the agony." INSANITY = "I'm losing it." "I've lost it." "It doesn't mean a thing." “I’ve gone off my head. I can’t make it… make any sense…”("It's something that never goes away...") Is their Environment conducive to aid recovery? “You gotta to have money to pay when your mind aches? Uh?” “How do I feel? My liability for bills, the hiatus, the grave isolation, the general wards, the belief they wont allow it, it makes me sick…” (“Have you built a wall around it?”) "Many people have retreated into a world of fantasy." “… until I see it with my own eyes…” “SEE it = BELIEVE it.” “THE LACK OF A SAFE PLACE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN SOCIETY: So many Homeless and mentally ill people roaming the streets- a concern for everyone. Schizophrenics, hearing voices; pre-occupied with it. Do what voices tell 189

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depression…” "We only institutionalise people, make them dependent..." (12/8/1993) “Humiliation and disempowerment are used as a tactic to further demoralise…” "Rationing of drugs is causing mental wards to be over-crowded... " (January 1994) "... severe overcrowding... still at crisis point. These people feel they are not in control... they fear they could go out of control... Go crazy? If we don't get them the help we need... Staff placed in an impossible situation... The public are still at risk...” (23/2/1994). "Repeated 'Community Care' failings... A catalogue of missed opportunities..." TOO MUCH PAIN. ANGUISH. CAN’T COPE ANY MORE = Switch my brain off… “I want to end it all…” "3 managers accused of causing 14 deaths of mentally-ill patients" (22/2/1994). "SUICIDES: The boss of a pioneering mental health unit was sacked after 17 patients committed suicide.. as part of the government's drive to put patients back into the community..." “GROWING CONCERN re: over-use of antidepressant drugs. Many doctors turn to it drugs as their 1st option but exercise could be prescribed as this is effective” (29/3/2005). INSANE: “I’ve completely lost it.” "What will you do when all the children are insane?" (song by The Doors, 1960's). "If people go mad- demented, what do we do? Let them die? It's a hell of an ethical problem. We mustn't let this happen" said a MP (the House of Commons, 1990). “IS HUMANITY IMPLODING?” (2005). ("STOP MESSING WITH PEOPLE'S MINDS. GIVE THEM BACK THEIR LIFE... People can't leave their memories behind! “THIS MADNESS MUST END!” “It's a trick in your brain, while you're making money. In your own time? You've got no soul. ) ("People! You are NOT crazy. Yes, there is something very wrong with the system..." Trying to make do without A BASIC NECESSITY. That is crazy! Using bullets and bombs instead, is crazy. ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A PERFECTLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVE! “You can’t deny it is true…”) “The Authorities are in 2 minds about it.” “It’s madness in my eyes.” “Can you shut up about your stupid profit?” “It aint what it’s cracked up to be.” “It has yet to make sense to me.” “… it has yet to be resolved…” “… it resolves itself…” ? PEOPLE SAID: “I think you’re crazy, hazy…” “… it cuts out all this uncertainty.” “Could you All this indecision is please HURRY UP? bugging me…” “… it’s a sure thing…” “We're taking it back, for all time..." “… it’s alright…” “… it would be such a weight off our minds…”

them to EG. hurt themselves, or others…” (“When the anger cannot be released, this turns inward…”) JOKE: “He hears voices in his head! Where else would he hear them? In his legs? That would be mental…” “How many are in need? We used to put them away from society- often for all their lives... 'Care in the Community' was supposed to provide them with safe, decent housing..." (February 1992). “… a very small number of (dangerous) mentally ill patients cannot safely be released into the community…” "Patients with a history of violence released into the community, without adequate supervision..." "Jonathon was stabbed to death by a patient who should never have been released... Professionals are not fulfilling their obligations..." (1992).

"CRISIS: "I'm on the streets. I haven't harmed anyone and I don't ever intend to. Lists in psychiatric hospitals are full. I need a hazard- free zone. Can you help me?" "Go to hospital. You might get some proper food there. Safer place to be than a cardboard box" (1993) “… it’s all insidechurning…” “I don’t know why he fainted- he lacked something…” “Are you in pain?” “Oh, ah- no, it’s nothing…” "If only these people could come out of their shells… be productive for once… share a sense of community values..." "Only boredom and mania are available to us." "Hospitals are turning away DESPERATE people... There aren't any places for these odd people. 1 in 7 psychiatric patients commit suicide. These people need safety, care, support- facilities on the ground. 'Community Care'? With enough resources it could be made to work, given medical back-up. Sad their only ‘sanctuary’ is the street... We spend £2 BILLION a year on health services for the mentally ill. Is more money the answer?" (“IF you’ve got the will, we’ve got the way…” ) “Get depressed when things don’t go right…” "She had to slit her wrists to get a bed..." “Please, please understand… I’ll do anything to get some attention…” “Psychiatric care in-patients may have to leave… to get treatment. … could lose 2 units where seriously mentally-ill children and teenagers can be treated… with patients having to travel to…Health managers are proposing (this) as a part of a restructuring of services…Nursing Unions have expressed concern…” (21/1/2002). “IF YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING OTHER THAN CRAZY, YOU CAN FIX ME.” “Schizophrenics need help - not a hard time.” Ah! “The search for one voice that is silent…” Ah! The need for inner PEACE in my head! “… it could revolutionise how we treat 190

legal." "Alcohol is very popular with young people who see no harm in it..." FAKING it: "It's a bottle. Let me in." "I'm trying to find it in a bottle" (it means: a friend). (“Your body is your best friend. You wouldn’t hurt your best friend, would you?”) “… it’s a lonely road… and I don’t want to go ‘home’…” "I drink because I want some company... " "I'm totally lost, afraid- so I drink. The pub's the only place I can meet people." "I drink because I'm lonely. I'll see you in the snug." "The pub is the centre of the community." "Some people believe they will find it in the bottom of a bottle…" “He stared at his glass of Scotch but didn’t find much inspiration there…” "In iron desperation he had his 5th whiskey..." (“The whiskey is liberated…”) “… he emptied his glass without even being aware of it…” "I drink because the kids get me down…" “Kids see more than you think when you drink.” “I see my mum doing it so I do it as well…” “My mum’s out of it. I have to live with that. All she does is drink. The drink is destroying my family…” “I’ve had such a bad past. This is how I cope / come to terms with it…” "You're bottling out!" (means: You are taking the so-called 'easy' option- to escape, find ‘oblivion’ i.e. a bit of peace, have a rest away from all the stress; unwind, let your hair down- relax. What a shame you have to get drunk to be able to do this). (“… it’s very good for stress- it’s very relaxing…”) DUTCH COURAGE: “Fortified with scotch…” “We drink to give us the courage to say what we need to say…” "I'm keeping it all bottled up" (i.e. I can't talk about my feelings- how I really feel inside.") “I don't know what's happening to me- it's all becoming a blur, I don't understand anything, and I don't fucking care! It's only a dream. A crazy, crazy DREAM! This planet is so BEHIND the fucking times! YOUR’E SPOILING it ALL!” (WHEN YOU ARE GRIEVING - you're suffering a loss… They say, if you are grieving for something... "You should let it all out- don't try and keep it all in... if you want reach completion..." "Don't try and keep it all bottled up inside you.") THE YOUNG SAID: “What have we got to look forward to? We can’t Afford a place of our own…” “I don’t know what I’m going to do… I’m wasting my life basically…” “We’re drowning our sorrows.” “It’s a release.” "I drink to forget my troubles." “If I didn’t drink, I’d be dying of boredom.” “I’m going to get trashed...” “I’m tired of pretending I’m happy. If I’m to be honest I admit I am thinking about it…” (it means: booze?) “I’m giving it up” (it means: booze?) “I don’t enjoy doing it. I only drink for the sake of it…” "I'm dying. I'm going nowhere." ("Getting drunk doesn't change things.") "No, but it helps." “I think it deserves a drink…” “I drink alcohol because I don’t believe

“WHY don’t you get it sorted out once and for all?” “What is wrong with getting to grips with it? Could any specialist tell me? It is not your field? I ask that you think this over…” “Some of us are nonhardy. Some of us have cerebral material that believes we should incorporate it, to experiment with it until success, that not to do it was a frivolous unforgivable mistake…” “Get the crinkles out of your minds- see it for what it is... Catch-up quick...” “Is your head stuck in the sand?” “Is it a good thing or not the right thing?” “Is suffering, pain and chaos beautiful?” “What harm could it do?” “There’s no harm in it.” “… it can’t all be bad.” “What good could come out of it?”“… It could have immense psychological and physical benefits.” “You know it makes sense.” “… it makes a lot of sense…” “… it is the only sane answer.” “HOW TO END THIS INSANITY? MAKE it REAL. MAKE it REAL!" "INTEGRATE it" (1990). THE FUTURE? "Whilst everyone is pretending it is not true..." “To make us ‘happy,’ they’ve eradicated ‘The God Complex’…” = “Compulsory psychoanalysis for ‘everybody’…” “Every person has to donate a sample of blood for genetic coding… Genetic Modification = Neurochemicals to forcibly modify children’s physiology, crippling traits to ensure each child is ‘normal’ ‘happy.’ Dogma, instilled…” WAH! How does this help the building blocks in my soul?” Alternatively ~ maybe it will happen? “Hey, it’s going to be OK.” “Just know it’s gonna be alright.”

ALCOHOL: The Indians called this: "Crazy / Fire Water" (means: 'The Wrong Spirit'). "It's the demon drink." “1930’s USA: Prohibition. Alcohol banned. Result: Mob rule. Drive by shootings…” "SET 'EM UP!" UK: April 1983: “Substantial investments made in Breweries by Conservative ministers...” (i.e. Investors reap dividends for every drink served…) (“… Breweries put up leases on pubs, forcing 'Free Houses' to close.”) “Alcohol is a legalised POISON that rots and pickles your brain and liver.” “ALCOHOL IS A DRUG TO EASE ANXIETY: Alcohol is an analgesic to blot out life... Alcohol puts you in a ‘dream’ world, shutting everything away. You can't face facts. You become blind to reality…” “I drink to forget…” BOOZY = Fuddled. “It doesn’t make a blind bit difference to you.” (“I don’t drink so I have a good memory.”) "There is no alternative to getting drunk that is 191

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("The Samaritans receive 5,000 calls a day" UK, 1993). “What you are doing is an appalling waste of a life if you can't control your in-take.” ADVICE: “You should know your SAFE limit, and stick to it rigidly.” “If you could stop drinking your life away - you’d be a better person for it…” “GIVING UP = I know it’s going to be good for me in the long run…” “Do you want to dry out?” “I don’t want to be sober and live my life this way. I don’t want to survive - I want to live…” “I’m really worried about it. I know alcohol is ruining my life. I do have respect for myself. I promise I wont do it again…” “Alcoholics wont listen to good advice. EG. "I don't have a drink problem. I drink, I fall over, no problem." "They make a joke of their problem, refusing to accept they are addicted to a drug." "It's become a daily habit. I've come to terms with it." "It's not my fault. It's a dodgy situation…" THE INSECURITY OF UNCERTAINTY: "You can't have a job because you drink? Don't you mean you drink because you can't get a decent job?" "Just pour me a drink, and I'll tell some lies, all the time." Whatever you ask the alcoholic, the answer is always the same. "Sure, if you'll get me a drink." "I like hitting the bottle..." Treatment? "We're working on it to try and reduce the number of drunk drivers." "What's it going to be Johnny? You going to quit it, or what, before it kills you." "Give it up? Stop wanting it all the time, thinking about it all time, craving it so much that I can't think of anything else? I very much doubt it. It's what keeps me going! I'd be really totally lost without it. So what's wrong with knocking it back a bit?" "It is a problem. OK. I admit it. Fix it? How? I dunno. CHANGE THE SYSTEM. But I can't do it all on my own." “WAH! I CAN’T HELP it!” UK: 1998: Drinking laws relaxed - all day alcohol consumption is now permitted.” 2003: "He's sitting there, right in the middle of the high street, unable to get up... He's pissed all down himself, he's lying in a pool of urine... He's got no shoes on. Oh, that is so disgusting... " "The police are unable to deal with real crime... They are too busy trying to cope with all the abusive, dangerous drunks..." (Ah!) “ALCOHOL PUTS MORE FUEL ON THE FLAME…” “All the pent up rage…” VIOLENCE = Lot’s of pushing… cornering people… kicking people when they’re down, Glassing (using glass bottles and drinking glasses to cut people…) Banging their head against the wall… Gutter-snipes… “The streets change after 6pm… Many innocent bystanders are hurt…and many people including kids are too afraid to go out at night…” The Police said: Whenever something is in short supply EG Taxis, that’s when people become

it will ever happen…” “I can't cope with any of it! So bloody well what if I'm going to hell? I'm in hell anyway. What could be worse than this?” (“They’re wounded…” “They made some wrong choices…”) “Party revellers…” "Lust forever- in a ‘happy’ crowd. No-one serenades- the party just gets ‘better’ and bigger." “These people that love parties, rushing to them like a shot. What? Another drink? Oh, we’re only human, aren’t we? I haven’t thought about it really… “ “We’re also having a party… a party that lasts and lasts and lasts… with slap up meals…” (Is there a link here with copying politicians?) (“I miss the real laughter. Wonder if we’ll ever get those times back again?”) “Everywhere you go, another disgusting rowdy Hell-Hole…” HEAVY drinking… “Kids hanging out…” “We’re getting on like a house on fire…” “Going on a bender…” “Go on. Give it a try! It’ll make a man of you.” “Aw go on! There’s a drink in it for you.” “It’s a celebration.” “We’re having fun.” Means: “Getting trashed…” "I like being pissed" (means: 'I like being unhappy and feeling sick.') (“People who have to drink are not happy…” “Having to stick my head down a loo is not my idea of fun!” “I guess being sick is one way of getting some attention.”) “Crazy kids. A real shame. They think they are having a good time…” “THEY ARE KNOCKING it BACK…” “Alcoholism is a disease. A Living HELL…” "Drunk as a Skunk": “Vomiting, uncontrollable urinating, uncontrollable behaviour, fighting, dribbling, falling, passing-out, the shakes, hangovers, hung-over…” “I’m in a haze. I can’t find my way…” “I can't think straight, or see straighteverything's spinning round, oops! I hit the ground…" “As the chances of initiating social contact decrease, alcohol (and drugs) have the effect of NUMBING the pain, whilst also accelerating self-destructiveness…” "Gradual loss of control and dignity is normal with the alcoholic." "Booze makes them behave stupid blind as a pickle." "All the worse for drink." UK 1990: "There's drunks all over the place. Not much of an advert for the way the world is run if ½ the population feel the need to get drunk." “His Mum left… he started drinking- heavily. He’s had a nervous breakdown. Only 17 years old! Now he’s in a full time mental institution. There was NO warning on the bottle- these drinks are highly addictive…” “Gut rot caused by cheap wine…” “When will they make labelling compulsory for producers so people know how much sugar has been added?” “Everyone reaches rock bottom sooner or later. Hopefully, there’s a limit to how far down they will sink.” “The bottom of the spiral is suicide.” 192

to face crowds of drunken yobs night after night, who may be armed with knives or other weapons.” (“Those little anti-stab vests they wear don’t even protect their kidneys! None of the police are wearing hard hats! What if someone comes up behind them… smashes a bottle over their head? You’d think the government would at least make sure the police had adequate body protection!”) “Alcohol is banned in Muslim countries… You don’t see them falling over…” (in public!) “Alcohol is poisoning your system...” UK: “30,000 violent incidents a year related to alcohol. Alcohol has killed as many people as smoking…” “Kids almost dead from alcoholic poisoning…” “These kids have a very strange, twi-light existence…” (nocturnal, like owls…) “DIRTY STOP OUTS”: “24/7 drinking… encouraging more alcoholism / more binge drinking… The police can’t cope… How are the police going to cope? Economic pressure on licensees to get maximum licensing opening times. Young people deliberately getting leg-less - what is that all about? This is a social and health problem. We need to find a better way. This is costing the health of our young” (Question Time, BBC1, 20/1/2005) (“They want a 24/7 life-style…” The system wants to exploit (that) to make lots of money out of these kids… + stop them inheriting? An evil plot… to kill the young…? "... it's a sobering thought..." ("Mull 'it' over.") “Alcohol is a short term ‘fix.’ Can’t we come up with something better than that?” (… it has far greater potential for solving problems.) “Finland charges extra on alcohol, called ‘The Sin Tax.’ The name makes me want to drink more…” “France charges less Tax on booze. Crossing the Channel to buy booze is increasingly popular. The French are making a killing…” "The French eat food when they drink. This helps their system to cope better. They don’t drink on an empty stomach…” “’Dealing’ with abusive and obnoxious drunks costs (Tax-payers) £20 BILLION a year…” (UK: 6/7/2005) “90% of people in the UK consume alcohol…” “… Alcohol is the number one drug of choice of kids in America. Every child is at risk… Rehab centres often don’t work. Cost $41,000!” (ITV3, 13/9/2005) (If the majority of people are intoxicated, how are we going to perfect the guiding system?) (see Chapter 16). “Binge drinking is now such a problem, the government has launched a campaign to combat it”

aggressive, violent…” (“When demand outstrips supply, people are bound to cheat…”) (“… it’s a way to stop all this brawling.”) "Serious liver disease used to be confined to old men. Young people, especially women, now have this disease..." “ Drink heavily for 5 years = Liver damage, plus all sorts of other nasty things that can go wrong with your body…” “You only have one liver. When this is ruined…” “Patients who drink have a low priority for a liver transplant…” “As a doctor, I have to say keep drinking and you will die. Do YOU want that?” “They must have a death wish…” (“LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW?”) “To go on the Pull…” “Kids are getting ‘Tanked up,’ ‘Wrecked,’ having ‘shots’… “In one night, young girls consuming 2 bottles of vodka each!” (MODERATION. What is wrong with moderation? “It wasn’t moderation that killed the Greeks…”) LOOKING FOR KINDRED SPIRITS? Have you got the right friends?) “Girls look for personality, romance.” “Boys only want meat…” “50% of girls drink so much they cannot remember what they did…” “… all done up like a dog’s dinner…” “… little tarts distributing sexual disease… Your father does nothing but weep…” “I must have been drunk to ever go with him!” They Admit: “We’re going a bit mad.” “I don’t care.” “We’re not worried.” “I know getting hammered and plastered isn’t clever…” PARENT: “She phones me during the night, crying. She’s drunk. She is obnoxious and abusive…” “Drunks like to create a whirlwind. Everything is said to take attention away from the fact they’ve been drinking…” “DRUNK TEENS IS A MASSIVE PROBLEM.” “So many young binge drinkers. So much associated violence. There is a very real crisis.” “Mounting concern… Excessive binge drinking... Special field hospitals set-up to deal with all the drunks… Birmingham: 1,500 people treated in one night…” (UK: 2004). “A government report admits ½ the violence in society today is caused by alcohol” (December 2004). “There is little government money available to help rehabilitate binge drinkers.” Ah! Paralysed citizens… Ah! The teen spirit… spirited away. “CHANGES in licensing laws: 24 hour drinking in pubs and clubs given permission. More young women have mental health problems, are more likely to try suicide because of alcohol… Police advice ignored…” (14/1/2005) “Super-Bars have been introduced, each catering for 1,500 people. Drink all you want…” "Instead of having to deal with fights after the pubs closed, the police now have to cope with drunks on the streets all through the night..." “What a horrible job for the police! I actually feel sorry for them! Must be very frightening for the police to have

(12/8/2005).

What’s the answer? If caught on streets or anywhere over the limit, referral to doctor for rehab? Issue Alcohol Ration cards? No ration card, no alcoholic drink. Only allowed to purchase drinks up 193

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Marijuana As A Drug = “I just want to get high…” (means: This is as close to Heaven as we can get. See life in a different light. Realisations! Understand on a deeper level - it has a Magical, Calming effect… You feel PEACEFUL i.e. “at peace with your maker” “as one with your maker,” and GENTLE). (“…to benefit their spiritual path by learning Native American knowledge and wisdom: The Peace Pipe CEREMONY: … a strong catalyst to import a powerful feeling for our Mother Earth and all living things… be reminded of our principles: Respect for Mother Earth, respect for our fellow man and woman, and respect for individual freedom… The red path only to convert, destroy and replace it… Those of this new era seek to help, not to destroy. They are open-minded, not narrow minded… insight; together we will all join forces to make a better and a more peaceful world… No form of mind-altering substance is condoned by Native American religion. The True Native American Way finds the Great Spirit through "our own juices" (fasting, knowledge and observances of God's creation and the Sun Dance, Vision Quest, and Sweat Lodge ceremonies)…” (ref. Wikipedia.org). MODERATE USE: “…my thoughts are CLEARER now…” “I feel BETTER…” Has Opposite effect to Alcohol. NOT 100% HARMLESS: Some (minor) impairment of balance… Can cause bad head-aches, Memory loss. Slows reactions (not good if operating machinery!) OVER-USE: = You can become dopey, sleepy- all the time. What are the most used phrases amongst people who ENJOY marijuana? "I need a joint!" "I could do with a nice joint." "Do you want a joint?" "Are you going to share that joint?" "Pass the joint around..." (Note: Dual meaning: A Joint is a place where I live, & a toke). “I’m stoned!” (i.e. I float off, let it decide for me…) “Is the world is going to pot?” (“I wish…”) (see: HEMP: Chapter 3 / Housing / Modern

to safe daily limit. It will need supervising… (“To DETOX, drink lot’s of fresh water.”) “Drink less, you can concentrate better, you get a better night’s sleep, feel better in the morning…” ("... it will make you feel better...") “When you’re cold stone sober, will it reach into your head and turn on a light? Maybe when your heart and soul are burning, then you might see? COM 'on. There’s nothing in the way! When you’ve got a love that’s as strong…” (song).

Ah! The need to be drink-free… (“… it should be a sober occasion.” “… it should be good fun…” “… it’s a celebration of life i.e. I’m here for you…”) “7 million people in the UK have a serious heavy drinking problem…” (news report, 9/6/2007). DRUGS: “Any mind altering drug is potentially dangerous.” ("What's so wrong with your life that you have to do drugs?") "I need drugs! Give me some drugs! I can't cope with this life, how I feel... I need drugs to brighten this dull world." "The authorities are very good at bringing us down, so we need to get high." "All I want is something that gets me out of boredom... that's why I do drugs..." Drugs = “It’s sad...” “A lot of kids are addicted to speed…” (I can understand why!) MARIJUANA: Also called: Grass, Cannabis, Dope, Pot. (Cannabis or Hash is marijuana leaves pressed into an oily RESIN…) "A soft drug, with therapeutic qualities." “Queen Victoria was partial to marijuana.” Why? Marijuana is a NATURAL HERB, used for CENTURIES AS A MEDICENE. Not smoked, with tobacco! If inhaled through a (cooling) water bong… is less dangerous than smoking with tobacco (because, apart from anything else THEY add to tobacco- they use a lot of saltpetre in cigarette papers to make the cigarette burn faster, so you smoke / buy more. Saltpetre is a known carcinogenic. Saltpetre i.e. Sulphur and charcoal, as used in gunpowder). Effect if pure leaves inhaled with Steam: Promotes Natural Healing of Lungs… NEW TREND: Toking via a vaporiser to minimise effects of smoking (February 2005). (HOME GROWN = FRESH.) A few fresh leaves infused in hot water, drained, sipped as a tea... purifies blood- removes toxins, and helps the body discharge excess water (is a natural diuretic); (to sweeten, add a bit of honey). Fresh leaves rubbed on skin, eases bruising (beneficial for the elderly…) (to help achieve a peaceful passing). Is used as an eye-drop to help cure Glycoma.

Building materials).

Legalised in Amsterdam: “Attracts a lot of tourists coming for the sanctioned marijuana cafes…” (Angel Cake: is pink coloured or chocolate flavoured sponge cake, with a tiny bit of cannabis in, and is also sold in the shops for ‘happy families.’) (‘The Bull-Dog’ cafes sell soft drugs supplied and controlled by the government. Selling seized drugs?) "It makes you suspicious, it destroys your body, your life, your families. You've got to say 'it's not for me.' We need the words young people can relate to" said Virginia Bottomley, UK Conservative Health Secretary (14/11/1992) (HEAVY SIGH. "... it is not a drug...") (Big Scare Tactics = Attempt to control / to make 194

cocaine. I’ve seen the harm they can do. But of all the things to ban! What have the governments got against peace and enlightenment?” Is this war against marijuana a part of their conspiracy i.e. let’s clip their wings? “A NEW ‘GET TOUGH’ POLICY AGAINST … he was caught with £900 worth of plants… and fined £20,000 6 months later. Pay or face jail…” (UK, April 2005) “Should marijuana be re-classified as a HARD drug? The Labour government are thinking about it”

profit out of marijuana. Is banned by authorities who fear loss of credibility...) “If the police catch me…” (Paranoia (fear) caused by knowing usage is illegal. People still grow and smoke, despite risk of being caught by the police. ("I'd rather be paranoid than stupid.”) “Countries that impose the DEATH Penalty for possession of Marijuana are: Borneo, China, Dubai, Fiji, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Thailand.” "America has declared WAR against... marijuana growers! Spending $millions to destroy plants, grown in countries where 2 out of 3 people are below the poverty line and marijuana helps their economy..." (26/8/1993) (They need an Alternative crop!) USA: “You grow an ounce on your farm and that farm can be seized.” (What an excuse to rob people of their property!) UK: "MORE MARJUANA SEIZED THAN ANY OTHER DRUG: ... of all drugs seized 85% is cannabis. The UK's Home Secretary, against the advice of the police, wants to raise fines for possession... to stop 'hard drug abuse'... '… it is largely a technicality' said Michael Howard (3/2/1994) (Fined, jailed, criminalised...) "Cannabis has taken over from alcohol as a relaxant... a social pleasure. It has become socially acceptable. There is no proof it leads to other drugs- it is easier to establish a connection between cocaine and champagne..." (16/2/1994). "Cannabis is the drug of choice for a large number of the black population, with religious and sociological connotations... one result of making this drug illegal will be that the black community will be harassed... The social consequences of this are obvious..." (17/2/1994). “SMOKING cannabis doubles the risk of developing mental illnesses EG. schizophrenia due to chemical changes in the brain… Health campaigners said it was more evidence of a drug-induced mental health crisis” (re: Study in New Zealand, BBC 1/3/2005). “UK Charities welcomed moves to re-think classifying cannabis as a Category B (hard) drug after use linked to causing some people mental illnessschizophrenia” (19/3/2005) (Money, governments and traditional housing are also linked to the causes of schizophrenia. Is everything that is contributing to mental health problems going to be outlawed?) (Does the good outweigh the bad?) “Even giving it away to 80 year old Multiple Sclerosis sufferers incurs stiff penalties…” Cannabis-based medicines are currently being trialled…” “She died after her 1st dose of the new drug…” (21/3/2005) “Let’s cut to the chase… for a world at war” “Yeh, Love and Peace, man…” “I don’t agree with drugs EG. alcohol, cigarettes and

(January 2006).

“AHDD & ADD: Based on patient testimonials… A lesser known treatment = Medicinal cannabis i.e. if prescribed via a doctor – not with ‘reefer madness’ i.e. not smoking it, but ingesting a small amount via a cookie; beneficial effect can last all day = Peaceful, relaxed, can concentrate better. Is a viable treatment. Can be of enormous value. But knee-jerk reaction against due campaign to repress & people being lied to re: benefit…” (ref. Dr. Claudia Jensen, youtube, 28/6/2006).

PROTEST: “SAVE LIVES. Legalise marijuana.” “What if God smokes cannabis?” (song). LSD: "Artificial hallucinogen. Used in psychiatric treatment to try and ‘re-orientate’ people’s minds. Result: Failure and success. Can do more damage, more good than you would believe. Can increase Extra Sensory Perception (ESP). Groups use this to get in touch with their spiritual side. Speeds up activity of the brain- gives you access to parts of the brain normally unaware of." (i.e. heightens perceptions…) BAD TRIP: “Can be extremely frightening if you take LSD and then find yourself with someone, or other people, in an Environment where you do not feel safe / comfortable. Can cause long term damage, insanity / makes you do really crazy stuff EG. climb a lamppost, refuse to come down because you think the police are lions on the pavement!” ECSTASY: "The ‘happy, happy’ drug that makes kids go off their head... A designer chemical drug known to kill Serotonin in brain nerve cells (which may affect emotional states). One possibility is that in the future we might be faced by many psychiatrically ill people- as a result of ecstasy. Damage may be long term. We don't know if brain can repair damage.... Ecstasy likened to Soma - the drug used in Aldus Huxley's 'Brave New World' to control the population..." (22/10/1993). “Overdose? Your body could have a fatal allergic reaction to one tablet…” HEROIN: A HARD drug. Also called: SMACK. 195

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HARD = “Anything that hurts your mind & body, is hard.” “A highly addictive, illegal, narcotic drug…” Made from poppies / opium (“… a derivative of morphine – which induces sleep, stupor, coma, relieves pain, or stress – is something that soothes.”) "The kids in undesirable areas... the dealers in the blocks...” “… she hangs out... ““Hey, I need it to take the edge off…” “I can’t cope with reality…” “A mug’s game.” “Send you so high, you may never come back.” “Her eyes are clear and bright, but she’s not there…” "I'll do anything to get my next fix….” “…has to rob to pay for the next fix...” “…it's such a strong craving!” “Once you start, so hard to stop. Have to do 'cold turkey.' You shiver, shake uncontrollably, feel like you're coming apart. Very hard to do on your own. People forget their body is used to a drug, to get off the drug, their body is going to go through a period of adjustment. Most addicts can't get off heroin because of this. They need specialist help." "I'm trying to kick it. It's a filthy habit - I hate it.” THEY SAID: ‘Don't do it. Clean up.” (What they should say is: “Kick the bad habit. Go for the new stuff. Get with it.”) (“There should be no doubt about it.") “Please Dad. Can I come and live with you? I’ll never get off this stuff whilst I’m living here…” “No, sweet-heart. Until you clean up your act, I can’t trust you…” “… she might grow out of it, eventually..." “I don't want to be like this but until I find an alternative way..." "The desire to leave the city is so strong... some children are injecting themselves with dangerous drugs- all too often with fatal consequences..." "Offered methadone as a substitute...” “You get addicted to methadone..." ADDICT: "The problem is not the drug/s. It’s the lack of it!" ADDICTED (means: “Can’t do without it…”) JUNKY (means: More, More, MORE!) A JUNKY DISPOSITION (means: "These people never know when they have reached saturation point.") “There’s a huge void in my life. I try to obliterate it with drugs…” “I don’t know what else to do…” "MANY JUNKIES ARE SUICIDAL…” (“Suicide is a cry for HELP.” ) ("Why does he / she have suicidal tendencies?") (“Do the YOUNG perceive they have NO FUTURE?”) "… Got so many problems- hard drugs only ‘answer.’ Have to prostitute myself to pay for the habit. I get badly beaten, put in hospital, put back on streets again. No-one wants to know. I don’t want anything to do with society because society doesn’t want anything to do with me.” “A vicious

circle…” "Junkies, hookers, the homeless- don't pay a lot of Taxes right, so who cares? HOW MANY KIDS HAVE KILLED themselves OVER-DOSING?” "Can't we get the numbers down, realistically?" Is the MALAISE- the underlying CAUSE? Is it the cure? “…1 Million dirty needles were dumped by heroin addicts in Scotland last year… the spread of Hepatitis C. … figures expose the alarming GAP between the number of clean needles issued to heroin addicts and potentially infected drug-injecting equipment that is being handed back and ‘safely’ destroyed (incinerated)… 2.9 million clean needles were issued to drug users at around 200 clinics nationwide in 2004-5…” (Ref. The Scotsman, 10/6/2006).

COCAINE: A HARD drug. Also called: Freebase, Snow, Charlie. If you suffer from nerves... dealers tell you to use Cocaine because Cocaine makes you become VERY COLD / UNFEELING / NUMB... Overconfident, completely arrogant, terrifyingly convinced of your superiority, your own selfimportance. Cocaine is quickly addictive. Cocaine ruins lives. Very Expensive. Destroys living tissue.” “Cocaine makes you CRAVE POWER OVER people and is the preferred drug of the rich EG. Politicians, money men, city slickers, high fliers, and drug barons” (and terrorists?) "... cocaine fuelled... the SICK rich..." "2 drinks were no defence against this crowd... he could feel the sweat on even the very rich, and he knew there was cocaine around and probably everything else illicit... titillating to people who have no fear of ever being caught. Crime, he realised, is in the streets, when you get off the elevator at the penthouse, crime becomes chic..." PERU: “Authorities destroy existing crops to make cocaine, without funding / subsidising the establishment of an alternative. The government haven’t thought it through properly. Their policy is useful to the guerrillas (the Shining Path) who rule with guns, taking advantage of the poor living conditions, the poverty and unemployment amongst the peasant farmers” (Channel 4, January 2005).

THE NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE: A Young Boy said: “I want to get off this drug, stop selling this but I can’t. There are no jobs. My name is on police computers. I can’t sit here all day doing nothing. I need to get out of this slum. I got nothing but troubles. All the people I grew up with in my gang are dead - I saw them die. What can I do? My whole family is in a slum” said Leo. “Every time he does something wrong, he screws up again.” “He’s messed up with drugs. I’m his mother and I can’t help him…” “The boss – ‘the main man’ 196

the dealer arranges to kill him because Leo owes him some money. The dealer’s gang shoot Leo, and cut him to pieces” ( re: RIO, in Brazil, Channel 4, 20/1/2005) WHAT A WASTE OF LIFE… (“WAH! Poor kids. They’ve no choice, no chance, or hope of improving their lives. What were they born for? Born too soon?) "ADDICTED TO BOOZE & ‘FREE-BASE:’ "He was so lucky he got into the support group on the day he needed to ..." "Society makes you feel weird... for wanting to stay clean and sober... then makes you feel weird when you're addicted! It's a… mental craving! It's fine drying out in a support group but when I'm on my own I got to phone my supplier..." "Money will run out for alcohol and drug rehabilitation by September… 17 UK councils are in trouble" (1/7/1993) (“… something will turn up sooner or later to make our spirits higher…”)

Dealers getting rich, their victims anguished… They truly desire it..." (Ah! Given a decent alternative = Bi-Bi capitalist cartels). UK: "THE DRUGS CRISIS: Gangsters, armed, desperate... are on the loose in Britain... Michael Howard says only way to stop them is to legalise all drugs! 'There is a substantial body of people who support the re-introduction of the Death penalty.' We need to increase the intelligence the police have... We have got to have deterrents... The Defence of the Realm... Legalising means more (of these) drugs will be used..." (22/10/1993) (Ah! Our National Security is threatened…) (Ah! "… it will stop people from becoming addicted in the first place.") UK: "IMPOSSIBLE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO MOST NEED it: Hostels and homes for treating women drug addicts and alcoholics, are faced with closure so complicated is the bureaucracy and so tight the funding... 96 women went through a 6 month program (cost £350 per patient per week) 65% have stayed clean... Drug and alcohol projects across the country have been monitored by a charity called 'Turning Point' who say it is a story echoed around the UK..." (16/7/1993). UK: “MISSING OUT: Almost 80,000 people admitted to being hooked on Crack in 2004, compared to 63,000 in 2003. Crack addicts need to spend £27,000 a year to pay for their habit. The number of Crack addicts involved in crime has risen 300%. The COST of the Crack and Heroin crime toll is £16 BILLION a year. 84,000 Heroin users are having treatment, compared to only 7,200 on Crack. Without urgent action, we face an escalation affecting future generations” (re: report

CRACK: A HARD drug. A drug designed (by?) to rid the world of ghettos. (Means: Kill the people in ghettos). Incredibly addictive. 1st high so ‘good,’ you have to do again... But that high not so ‘good.’ You need more. Makes you go crazy. The person you were has gone! Replaced by a crazed killer. You could kill your own sister and mother and your baby- so quickly and not care. REALLY DANGEROUS! “Smoking Rocks…” = "TAKE ME TO THE DANGER ZONE…" Users: Called CRACK HEADS. USERS say: "I need help now! I can't handle it. I'm scared…" “CRACK could destroy society if allowed to spread- reek absolute HAVOC…” "Recovery is a big issue in the USA" (Deadly Bliss,

by TURNING POINT, 26/7/2005).

DRUG REFORM (Current Thinking): "Drugs are not an escape..." (“Doing drugs is a way of killing yourself / Suicide but that isn’t recognised as needing to escape from reality?”) SOCIAL WORKER: “I believe substance abuse is caused by the need to blot out the misery of their existence.” “Don’t YOU realise these kids will die unless we do something?” The USA’s NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY: “The President’s Strategy = “He plans to see it through. He promises to do this but I’m not sure he can win this the way he wants to.” The budget thrown at this?” The President said: “We need new ideas!” Only option on the table = “Unlimited funding” (for what?) "We need to stop thinking of our positions. We just need to do the job." SPEECH: “THE WAR ON DRUGS. It’s a war we have to win for our children. 68 million children targeted. Protecting these children must be Priority Number One. I see it, not as a problem, but an opportunity to correct the mistakes of the past…” (Ref. A FICTIONAL FILM).

Critical Eye, Channel 4, 21/10/1993).

"The need to track down criminals who kill to protect their evil, vile trade (Crack dealers). There is a need for a special armed police force to stop USA-style violence in UK and elsewhere. Turfwars: Fights over territory- who has the right to sell. Continuing decline...” UK: “CRACK EPIDEMIC IS HEADING OUR WAY. Government has failed to grasp the drug is spreading with alarming speed..." (21/10/1993) “Yeh. We’ve all got a substance abuse problem…” “An enemy of good government is organised crime. The hard drug dealers…” “This is a WAR situation! Crack is now available on almost every street in the UK” (2004). “Do you want to be cracked? You dope. This stuff will kill you. Or would you rather 'the brothers' told you what is in your heart?" “Use of Crack up 50%” (UK, November 2004). DRUGS = The lure of big money = Dealers = Big drug cartels. BANNED: But plenty about. 197

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“How do we get these addicts clean?” HOW to rehabilitate? REALITY: “No money is available to provide rehabilitation.” Uh? “I got to square up…” They’re getting people to chant: "I don't need it..." duh Instead: “Make it available. “It’s much better.” CORRECTIVE ATTITUDE: Say: "Don't be mad, sad. You don't have to wait, just take it gradually. Don't despair." “You should try it. You might prefer it…” "… it will show you... it don't tell no lies." "… it will get you on a natural high..." …it will get you higher..." “You are moving away from addiction i.e. closer to it.”

quite invigorating, you know!") "One day, someone will take it seriously…” “Get on with it! None of us are getting any younger.” "IF we could help senior people to live more independently, IF we could relieve their poverty, their loneliness, sickness..." "WE WOULD WELCOME it!" “So hard to meet people round here. I’m in a community but I don’t really know it…” "… it's not up my street..." “BEING ALONE IS SO HARD. It could be such a comfort…” “How are we going to survive our old age?” "Human garbage, kept out of sight- the disabled, the imperfect..." "Helpless bodies can have a mind!" "OLD PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP WARM..." "THE DAMP is really getting to me. The damp is really bad for my arthritis. I can't get around..." “The damp isn't good for the old, or young...” ("15,000 children in the UK suffer from rheumatoid arthritis" 1993). "I feel so old, so cold." "There's no form of heating in here." "We need to keep her warm. If we don't, she will die. Large, cold, dank room. Oil fired old radiator- very inefficient. Can't Afford. Wont go to hospital. Say's she would rather die here!" 'Can't you implement the findings of your report?' 'The policy wont cope with any more economy cuts.' 'How's Mrs Willis?' 'She's arrested! Get the Crash team! CARDIAC ARREST!' 'I wish I had called in to see how she was doing… How is she now?' 'We don't know yet.' 'That woman is going to die. And, at the end of the day, no-one really cares. What about compassion?' 'We've got to protect our resources.' 'What are we going to do?' 'None of this would be necessary if a few ‘people’ in High Office just looked out of their windows from time to time.' 'Not a decent meal inside her for days.' 'She's died!' 'Poor Mrs Willis. She did not want to live.'” "THE END OF OUR WORLD…" = "Christmas on Earth - a time of friendship, crates of beer, turkey, chestnuts, baby Jesus and huddled next to the Christmas tree a pensioner who sits and freezes." "We still don't know how to cure the Common Cold." "Until there's a CURE... " UK: "In the 1989 winter, 26,000 people died in the flu epidemic..." 1989: The Conservative Party are introducing legislation... ABOLISHING HEATING ALLOWANCES for the elderly for when the temperature drops below freezing." ("I'd tell you why but you wouldn't believe it...") HYPOTHERMIA: THE TIP OF THE ICE BERG: 1979: 863 deaths 1980: 596 deaths 1981: 685 deaths 1982: 664 deaths 1983: 538 deaths 1984: 555 deaths 1985: 559 deaths 1986: 848 deaths 1987: 827 deaths 1988: 698 deaths…

SENIOR CITIZENS: RETIRED = "Ready to hang it up yet?" "I'm past it?" "I don't believe I ever reached it..." "Why put it off? We're not kids anymore." “I wanted to save the world when I was younger but you lose it after a while. If you can tell me how, I’ll be right there with you.” (Ah! You didn't have the time? Were you overwhelmed?) "I didn't have the courage to do it." "I kept the dream in mind for a long time. I dreamed it would last a long time. I keep holding onto it." "We've spent our lives waiting. Now we're still waiting, wondering who is going to die first!” "Will we manage to do it before we croak it?" "I'm not too old for it, you know." “I’m afraid… I’m ageing rapidly…” "OLD PEOPLE GENERALLY TREATED BADLY BY SOCIETY" (UK: 1990). "You don't see many happy old folk these days..." "The trouble is, with so many people, especially the retired- those who have no work to do, is they don't know how to keep their minds occupied and their body’s active..." (Ah! They need to be doing something…”) "A stale old mind needs to think young. NEEDED: FRESH ideas" (1992) (“I think I’ve found a way to make you smile…”) KNOW HOW: "The elderly have a wealth of experience." EG. GREEN FINGERS: "Maybe we could grow plants? Gardening is very therapeutic..." "I'd take to it like a duck to water." "It will do very nicely, thank you very much." "You mean I could feel free- naturally! Do what I have always wanted to? No problem! You mean I could emerge with a smile- with a happy face?" "By God, I'm willing to give it a go!" (“Did I see you smile?”) "I'm too old for it. I can't change now. I'm stuck in my ways." (“You must always keep your mind open to new ideas.”) "HAPPINESS = Being a kid at heart." "It's better than I ever dreamed possible!" ("They'll find it 198

"The official statistics have been questioned many times, in the House of Commons. These figures do not take all ages into account. They reflect only the number of deaths were hypothermia was stated as the main cause of death. Heart trouble is intensified by hypothermia, but hypothermia may not be mentioned on the death certificate" (Age

(rapes / murders). "The elderly live in fear of being mugged, robbed- murdered in their beds" (1992). THE LAST STRAW: Depressingly familiar stories: Attacks on elderly, frail victims, men posing as officials coming to read mains meters - beat, rob their victims most cruelly, destroying their faith in Humanity... BEATEN BLACK AND BLUE, left to die…” EG. "A 96 year old woman moved from her flat, fearing burglars. Went to a 'safe' flat with a warden, and was attacked in her room- badly beaten. Not found for 8 hours… is suffering from hypothermia. Her condition critical" (January 1994). "Too scared to go out, doors all locked. House broken into- burgled 4 times. Put on ground floor so can get out - no lifts to break down but more vulnerable. Can't sleep at night due to noise of tormenting children. No-one seems able to do anything about it!" "I can't sleep! The Noise! The people downstairs and upstairs- next-door... Noise goes on all night, every night- banging and crashing. The doctor wont help. If only I had a small place I could Afford... then I could move out of this flat - but I haven't found anywhere like that. They're trying to drive me out" said a 64 year old widower, subsisting on invalid benefit, unable to Afford repairs to fix the broken central heating boiler. His landlord is harassing him..." "I have to put you away. Diminished responsibility. In need of care and protection..." "PLEASE! DON'T PUT ME AWAY!" "Old folk don't want to be shoved into an old people’s home and fed Valium until they are put down." "LEFT TO ROT." "Dreadful. The rows of sad looking old people with nothing to do but stare out of windows…” (like antiques) “… watch the box...” (fantastic). "If you're happy and you know it... clap your hands..." "Oh, no! Not the Hokey-Cokey again!" “We’re going back in time, quite literally…” (JOKE: “At the funeral of the inventor of the HokeyCokey, they put his left leg in…”) (“Could life be more exciting?”) “… age 79, she was found on the motorway, in the pouring rain, trying to find her way back home. But she was going the wrong way… The 2nd time this happened, she died of pneumonia…” “I’m too old to run away…” "… in cramped rooms smelling of old people..." “You can always tell where an old person is ‘living’ - the place is run down…” "Did they do this to you so they could sell your house? What happened to all the money?" (Squandered!) "I don't know, dear. They sold everything I have! Oh, dear. Have I put my foot in it?" "CLOSING OLD PEOPLES HOMES... 'Every day before I came here, I cried. Now I think it's terrible they're closing this place down.' Almost every London borough is making cuts. A catalogue of cuts. To save £21 million, to save £20 million...

Concern, 1990).

"50,000 OLD PEOPLE A YEAR estimated to DIE in cold winter conditions, in the UK. 2,000 deaths a week, caused by cold-related heart attacks, blood clots... said a research team. Triggered by a short spell in the cold… EG. waiting at a bus-stop…” "APPALLING CONDITIONS FOR THE ELDERLY IN HOSTELS. Long term housing solution needed. Permanent accommodation needed. Hostels are temporary. Elderly are frail- in need of care, support. Some been Homeless for many years. They have not chosen this life-style. They are not happily sleeping on park benches! People need to be alerted. Not enough said or done about the elderly Homeless. Most elderly people who are Homeless are on the streets" (3/1/1991) "... help me through the night..." "I saw 3 ships go sailing by..." "... when the frost was cruel..." "A 90 year old man was found hanged from a tree in a park. The pensioner was identified as Alex Mideilo who lived in a Cricklewood hostel..." (3/12/1992). "MANY REPORTS OF THE ELDERLY SUFFERING CRUELTY in private rest homes, run for profit..." EG. "A secretary noticed the old woman was in pain... The woman's arm was broken while being forced to take a bath by a male 'care' worker who failed to report the 'accident.' She had been denied access to a doctor for 2 weeks…" "NEGLECT AND ABUSE, aggravated by lack of supervision, by lack of medical care, lack of health inspectors, lack of training / qualifications, poor wages- a low status job..." "They are charging a fortune for supplying a bit of food!" "I've no money to provide you miserable creatures with food." "Left to starve..." "I'd rather die than end up in a place such as this." "I'd kill myself!" "CONVICTED OF CAUSING CRUELTY (mentally and physically) to the elderly. Closed down. They moved to another district. Are now back in business..." "AGE CONCERN WOULD WELCOME ANYTHING THAT HELPS PREVENT OLD PEOPLE DYING. Anything!" (BBC, 12/1/1993). "COLD COMFORT: Report: 4 out of 5 old people live in houses that are too cold. Can't Afford to heat. A misery. An igloo. So cold. 81% are too cold. 738,000 elderly people at risk of hypothermia. 23% go without basic necessities. The elderly need properly insulated homes urgently. Government urged to provide these" (Age Concern, 26/2/1993).

"A man broke into an elderly people’s home..." 199

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QUALITY of CARE = "Tell me what you dream for." "You asked for it..." “I’m sick and tired of always being sick and tired.” “I’m FADING… away. I don’t want to live any more. Not in these conditions…” "I am past it now. You do it for me, sweetheart..." "Many children are looking after disabled / elderly parents... and are suffering..." "Many nights I cry myself to sleep..." "MANY ARE CONFUSED, HAVING SUFFERED MEMORY LOSS: Many old people have nervous diseases- are confused, devastated having suffered losses... Now government decanting them from place to place like dominoes. The government’s 'Community Care' aim is to save money by closing residential council homesstay at home, get relatives to look after you. Councils plan to study short-falls, assess real needs and organise the services they require. It’s going to be difficult to provide the standard they need. If they can't care for themselves and noone cares for them, then what will happen? The Local Authority has to look after them. The care for the mentally-ill and physically disabled? The government's 'Community Care' programme may lead to more neglect under these proposals" (BBC,

People are suffering very badly as a result of central government. Total cuts across region is £1.5 Billion. No extra money on the table. Very worrying. Spending targets unrealistic. 'We're putting in more money than ever before' said the government. 'Next year, Local Authorities will have improve efficiency'..." (12/1/1993). "Nice, big, cheap, old place..." Bought by property developers, turned into executive flats...” "I LIKE MY INDEPENDENCE..." 'But you might fall over and hurt yourself!” “I know I bruise easily…” "She had a fall. Poor thing. Never really recovered…” “She went to pieces after they put her in there... “ “He / She has got to keep this whole place clean! Not an easy place to keep clean - takes a whole week! He / She gets upset. Can't do as much as he / she wants to. Most vulnerable. Confused. In an agitated state. Worried. 'I'm a nuisance.' ‘It is not a viable proposition for me to look after him / her... The house isn't big enough. I don't live near enough. What is really best? Hospital? A bed on a ward? Or the Social Services? Meals on Wheels? One visitor a day for less than 10 minutes? An Old Peoples Home? Sit in a chair all day, waiting to die? We haven't got the room- the space, for him / her. He / She would disturb the house-hold. He / She seems discontent no matter where he / she lives. Nothing's good enough. I feel mystified! I just stroll around, feeling a bit lost. The fighting has gone out of him / her- that's sad. The loneliness he / she suffers...He / She wanders- could have an accident. The QUALITY of life he / she could have... He / She could function in a socially intact way... at a day-centre? The Local Authority will have to accept responsibility for him / her. Guilt! Perhaps we've let him / her down? Children don't always get what they want. He / She needs to be protected as much you can. Alternatives simply not available? ‘Care’ is not FREE - relatives have to pay 'top-up fees.' Worryhow long will ‘care’ go on for? ‘It's not as familylike as it used to be’ he / she says. 'I'll have to get used to it. I'll gradually get into it - be satisfied. It's got a nice little kitchen in it to help me along- things like that.' Happier here? Very emotional..." (Who Cares Now? BBC2, 22/3/1993) "Just because I'm old doesn't mean I can go without." "The government wants the elderly, the disabled to be looked after in the home, not in an institution. Implemented without proper resources. No help for carers! Grants available going to (traditional) building projects- to those who only want to make money out of the situation" (ITN, 31/3/1993) "Why can't we have a fast, efficient service, relatively simple and cheap?" "Charges for Home-helps is soaring" (March 1993). “THE GOVERNMENT'S 'CARE IN THE COMMUNITY' SCHEME IS A SICK JOKE.” “The

1/4/1993).

"COST OF CARING = Selling your home / taking out loans to pay for a nursing home (£400 per week!) 'Everything they do makes a muddle or is going to be dangerous.' Paying to be looked after. Care visibly collapsing under the strain. 97% of CARERS have emotional problems - suffer from anxiety, stress, depression..." (BBC, 5/7/1993) "£5,000 of savings gone in 3 years- eaten by private nursing home fees..." “Those who work in caring professions EG. working with children… are not highly regarded in society. Therefore, wages are very low. This leads to low morale and lower standards of care…” “KEEP it IN THE FAMILY: People used to be able to pass their home onto their children but these days most homes have to be sold to pay for care in old age…” “LEAVE it TO ME: “I was next in line to receive it. Now the government has it…” “INHERITANCE TAX being raised 50%” (UK: 2005) (How could the government assess an invaluable item for hereditary tax?”) "Home is such a terrible state of repair- has to close." "Can't Afford to refurbish. Can't move / jiggle old people around... I hope we can get new systems in place so we can manage looking after old people better" (28/9/1993). "Old people will have to leave the old peoples home because the owner will not pay for repairs…” (23/12/1993) "This is the last thing I need at my age!" "Cost of running an old people’s home going up and up- getting more and more expensive..." There were many upsetting scenes shown on TV of old people crying, being 200

"YOU might be old, lonely, and unwanted some day, with no-one to look after you." "Oh, no. I'll never end up like that! I am beautiful look at me! I'm a sex goddess. They're in such bad shape!" (What got them into poor shape?) “Did they get lazy?" "No dear. They got tired." ("Ah! You might well wonder what aged them so...” “… Decades of worry dim the sparkle…”) (“…it will give us the chance to look at ourselves...") “That tired, haggard look... a grey, sparse mop..." (“Nothing stays looking good forever?”) "If they could just come up with a cure for premature grey hair, I'd welcome it!" Going grey these days for many people begins when they are 15! "Inherited decrepitancy is something we ALL suffer from." ("Grey roots...") "LOST YOUTH, VITALITY, TONE, THEN MIND" = Dementure. You see yourself ageing and... FREAK! You fail to correct symptoms- you go potty- you mentally give up- think you've lost it... and lose the will to live… "Dementia = “She couldn't find her way home...” “Now I’ve forgotten for what I came here for. Don’t worry… it’ll come to me…” “I’ve forgotten what I was going to say. Oh, it can’t be anything important…” “Alzheimer’s is not a sign of ageing. Usually caused by an incident / damage…” “There is no hope of a break-through" (re: Alzheimer’s 5/7/1993) “CURE = How to stop brain cells dying? How to cause regeneration? Scientists are working on a magic pill” (22/12/2004) (UPDATE: “Fruit / drinks helps to prevent Alzheimer’s” August, 2006). LONGEVitY = How long could people live for? Moses: "… His eyes had not grown dim, his vital strength had not fled..." (when he died age 120). “Moses brother, Aaron, was 123 when he died... “ Living on fresh air, a diet of fresh goat’s milk / cheese... his skin weathered (dried, wrinkled... lacking hydration i.e. water) but his form was as strong and sprightly as... an old goat! "You are what you eat..." A HEALTHY DIET = “… it’s vital…” “The oldest person in Britain is 115…” "LIFE IS TOO SHORT. Old age: Should we fight it? How to end the cycle of destruction and death? The study of ageing. Large centre in USA has discovered a calorie-restricted diet slows the ageing clock… The secret of life extension. People are living longer. The projected costs for looking after our elderly are set to triple throughout the world. An enormous strain on our health-care system. Ageing is almost a disease. The heart dwells amongst ruins. People only see the downside of ageing. Spectacular medical advances. Chronic degeneration of the brain- 11 million sufferers in the USA & northern Europe. There's no cure? It's a gradual thing. ‘Life’ is cruel, so hard. Now she can't read or write, can't remember her own name. If it's

evicted from residential care homes, with staff crying... "When Aunt Nelly bangs on the ceiling, the plaster comes down. I wish we had a downstairs toilet..." "Caring for the elderly- much stress involved. If there were more facilities..." “Many carers suffering from nervous exhaustion. NEEDS SHOULD BE RECOGNISED" (BBC, 19/1/1994) ("... it's worth a try...") GRUMPY = "Resents feeling useless..." FUSSY = "My worse fault is being a perfectionist." "I expect good service." "I might be difficult but if the truth be known, I need you more than you need me." "With your help, I think we can make it." "THE STAGGERING COST OF UPGRADING BUILDINGS to bring them up to the council's standard. Social Services budget cut. Homes having to close. A betrayal of trust- some homes donated to the old people, being sold off to raise money. Old people desperate- do not want to be moved. Typical case- no beds available elsewhere. Transferred to Emergency accommodation. Many elderly, can't take much more" (That's Life, BBC, February, 1994). "The new policy is to keep the elderly living in their current accommodation- to close old people’s homes. Private nursing homes going out of business" (1994). "An elderly pensioner, Mrs Hutchinson, was found dead in a flat without gas, electricity, food or money, 8 months after the Dept. of Health and ‘Social Security’ failed to send her giro-cheque. Camden council owed her £8,000…" (BBC, 3/5/1994). "Many are struggling on without support. 'Care in the Community' is failing the elderly and their carers. Care needs to be tailored to suit an individuals needs…" (BBC, 3/5/1994). “… (the) council has cut hot meals… their entitlement withdrawn… Social Services was to wash its hands of these frail elderly people. (They) cancelled cleaning and shopping help. .. People age 90 should be able to expect a little help, courtesy and support from their social services… The disabled are also being targeted…” (Speech by: Anthony Steen, Conservative MP, House of Commons, 2/5/2000).

"Care Homes forced into bankruptcy... by new rules and regulations..." "We need a better system of care homes for the elderly. New proposals = Star rating. 5 stars will mean 5 star prices. A good home these days already costs £500 a week! Prices will go up astronomically! Proposals wont come into effect for 3 - 5 years. We have to go slow to get it right..." (ITN, 21/11/2004). “The bully boys don’t care about us. We were a nice, happy family before they came telling us we have to move out…They’ll be old one day and then they’ll know what it feels like to be old and disregarded…“ (“You’ll appreciate it when you’re older…”) 201

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Humanely possible, do it, for my wife. It will need an awful lot of persuasion. It's a response to undo the negative, the unkind. Wiping out disease. Let's do it. It's time to shift the emphasis to the QUALITY OF LIFE. Live long, but not old. Health costs out of control. $600 million devoted to ageing research. Will increase to $1 Billion. The cosmetics industry spends £BILLIONS on research. We can re-build muscles - using silicone implants = It's becoming apparent - we can change = Molecular Genetics..." (re: the almost brain dead… aren't we missing something rather obvious here? Before examining the potential for Genetically Modified Rich ‘Human’ Beings - how about helping us to survive in better living conditions first, so the toll on our bodies and minds is not so detrimental?) "… No technique we cannot envisage. The biological time clock. Fantasy is becoming reality. The feeling of new life will not turn off. No pattern of death. One gene causes old age. Not hopelessly complex. Not a wear and tear phenomenon. We are potentially immortal, through repair..." (note: the contradiction). "We have the power within us to heal, to renew, to regenerate. We are at the point where electronic technology was when we learned how to make machines. Now, the genetic switch… it's just a question of engineering = Drugs available to the public next 5 - 15 years. Will drugs add to years of dependency? That may be the case. But we can expand the life-span..." (What if drug supply stops? Rapid ageing? A nightmarish ghoulish vision. UGH!) (“Wanting to survive is a key to longevity.”) "… it's a new frontier. We don't know where it will lead... The consequences of preventing ageing finding ‘the fountain of youth.’ Vastly increasing the population... “ (How will we cope? ½ the population do not have anywhere to live…) “… Should ‘Heaven’ be made to wait? Or should we live for the day? Old men clinging to life. Nature clears the way for the next generation. We could destroy the natural cycle...'I see no limitation to how long we could live. ½ of us could live for 100,000 years- the other ½ would be killed in accidents…" (!) "… The probability is that we could achieve it. How to convey the thought. No phrase is grand enough. Keep this generation alive - not allow any new blood, new talent? Pushed by vanity and foibles. Do you want to be there? We could keep babies, as babies, never allow them to grow up. A contented family does not need immortality. We shouldn't stand in the way of the young. It would be too much" (Viewpoint, 1992) (Ah! You are looking for REJUVENATION... Do you need something

refreshing?) "What can be done about it? Within the next 30 years, Scientists predict we could live to be 200 400 years old. After 30 years - genes no longer repair the body (hence ageing). Body under attack from oxygen (!?) Best way to combat? Eat your green vegetables and plenty of fresh fruit!" (19/5/1993) (“Weightlessness slows ageing…”) (see: Anti-Gravity: Chapter 16)

(“… it will roll off the years…”) “A genetic scientist at Cambridge believes in 10 years time we will be able to prolong life to 1,000 years…” (November, 2004) (Why not forever?) “All the ‘plastic’ surgery - people putting silicone inside their bodies so they can all have model looks, removing their individuality. CRYOGENICS: Freezing your bodily remains hoping for a superior quality defrost, when medical science has learnt how to bring the dead back to life. "Should appeal to very wealthy wrinklies who want to be zombies." UK: 1991: “9.1 million old people.” Estimated: 2031: “14 million old people.” (Old = over 55 years) (i.e. less than ½ way through your life). "Population of over-65 years will be doubled by 2050. We have a falling birth-rate..." THE IDEAL FUTURE? You are healthy, not sick (ideally). You are never hungry, never cold, or too hot, safe from the day you are born, nothing goes wrong. A Grand world - truly. Most perfect… “There's only one possible flaw- we've nothing left to complain about!” “What will have left to resolve?” “People love a good moan.” “If we so much as step in a puddle, we moan!” THE IDLE RICH: “We keep traditions alive.” “When I want something I usually get it.” PREOCCUPIED: “HOW CAN WE KEEP OUR ROOF OVER OUR HEADS?” “Darling, how can we stay here? The old roof is 500 years old. It’s going to cost many £millions to get a new roof. The public are coming in again today for a guided tour. We can’t look after this ramshackle place! The house is falling to bits! It’s the damp that really gets to me… It’s called down-sizing - moving from a big old house, into something more practical. We could get somewhere with a vegetable patch…” "16 million people have very little control over their pension funds..." (1/10/1993). EMBEZZLEMENT (means: “Using other people’s money as your own.”) "PENSION FUNDS = £600 BILLION OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. Who is minding the managers? Vulnerable to raids by trustees, who are paid to make profitable and SAFE Enriching themselves. investments. Misappropriating funds, fraud, unethical, dubious practices going on... (see: Chapter 12 Finance: The City). Large blocks of shares at inflated 202

prices- these drop off = Crash. People lose money essentially. Investigating journalist’s lives put under threat. Misleading reporting. Trail of inappropriate investments. Low profits. £millions in the Bank. Holdings. Asset base. To speculate. Long term investors. Highly risky. Overvalued investments. Is this prudent? Not accountable! Gambling. Some pensions guaranteed by government. Not steering clear of total speculation. Funds need income - are managed by specialist / expert institutions. Aggressive tactics. Shrewd? Professional? Constrained? Too much power. Poor performing companies. Helping their own families- using their connections- managers have big expense accounts, and conflicts of interest. Careers unaffected. If no-one will speak, no investigation. Costly resulting investigations ignored... They have huge amounts of venture money to spend. The power to decide which companies survive. Web of debts. Protected funds? If pension manager unprincipled... Fraud hard to prevent. Time to get tough. Malpractice rife. Temptation is very great" (Dispatches, Channel 4, 3/11/1993) ("The Stock Exchange crashed…" 5/11/1993). "Don't you mind them spending your savings in this sort of meaningless gesture?" “Yeh. What have they invested in with your cash? Find Out!” “SCAREY not knowing what the future holds… Banks could go belly up faced with huge losses. A(nother) (terrorist) attack on major financial institutions… the Global system… property portfolios in serious risk…a domino effect of bankruptcies… A prolonged cold snap… Unpredictable extreme Weather = Loss of profits…” “Many firms do go bust.” “Sorry to hear your pension company crashed. Didn’t you know they were going to the wall?” ("Willpower is better.") “Work all your life, contribute to a pension- die before retirement age. What happens to all this money? If you are alone in the world, with no relatives who care for you...” "... pension was stopped because Mr. Spong failed to pay back a crisis loan of £31 following the theft of his pension book. 8 weeks later, with no food or electricity, he died and lay undiscovered for 2 weeks. Appalling! It seems we have one rule for those who can help themselves who have everything going... and another rule for those who cannot help themselves at all. What sort of society do we live in that allows an old man to starve to death? Someone must have known they had stopped his only income and so condemned him to death" (Today, 15/1/1993). "BATTLE TO LIVE ON STATE PENSION: More than 80,000 couples 'live' on state pensions. 1,867,000 single old people on pensions also struggle to pay weekly bills... Age Concern said: 'It is clear state pensions are not enough to keep

people in the basics of life. The government is condemned because of their own figures.' The reality of not having enough money is that people run out of savings, then cut down on heating, food and clothes" (re: The Official Spending Report, 1/12/1993). "By 2010, there will be more pensioners than workers... since workers fund pensioners it is hardly surprising that taxes will have to go up. When more than ½ the population is over 60, NHS costs will double. We shall have to endure taxation of 50 - 60%" (currently the ordinary person in the UK loses 25% of their income on Tax & National health Insurance) (27/1/1994).

THE PENSION SHORT-FALL: "There is a £57 Billion short-fall in UK pensions- that means not enough provision for pensioners. Reform due. Crisis looming. FACING AN IMPOVERISHED FUTURE: The real problems are at bottom to middle income brackets. Likely to affect 9 - 12 million people. Government wont have enough money to pay these people much money." "For most people, it has a very low priority..." (it means: Saving money for their old-age). “ARE YOU SAVING FOR it?” (it = Old Age). (Back to that CON-fusing 'it' word again). " ½ the workforce is not saving." “How can I save when I’m paying off my student’s loan? I'd rather save to buy a flat." “Is saving money REALLY WORTH it?” "It's such a big mystery. How much will I get on my old age? It's not clear. There's no guarantee..." "Movement of money flow out of savings is now a flood." "New move being considered is compulsory payments to private investment firms..." "No country is going to go for that!?" "The government are going to look at it that carefully following the next General election..." EXPERTS: "There is wide-spread CONFUSION..." "There is no magic thing anyone can put on the table." "The Labour government said: "The problems are not so much about now, but 15 - 20 years down the line. It is more important to do it right, than it is to do it quickly." "We need to design a settlement where people are properly catered for. It's a long term problem that needs to be properly resolved." Q: "Is politics getting in the way of radical problems?" A: "It is important to get fundamentals right." "We have to get pensioners out of abject poverty. Over next 20 years, pensioners need support." "We need to make amazing savings somewhere else to pay pensions." "People… will lose out if the retirement age is raised to 70 years..." Their recommended ‘solution’ is: "SPEND LESS, PAY MORE TAX, WORK LONGER..." (re: The Pensions Commission report, October, 2004).

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growth?” “11 million pensioners want a big increase in pensions, FREE long term care and a discount on Council Tax…” (16/3/2005) (“Will they get it?”) “Civil service strike re: Raising the retirement age” (March 2005). “£42 BILLION A YEAR SPENT ON PENSIONS and other health benefits… Our pension position is UNSUSTAINABLE. There used to be 22 people working to pay the pension for 1 person. Now there are only 2 people working… The plan to increase National Insurance contributions, to invest these funds… to pay for those who cannot Afford to make pension contributions…” (Channel 4 re: ‘Radical’ ideas

social care better for people” (ITV news web-site 1/8/2005).

“AID AXED TO OLD FOLK: Home-Helps are to stop helping with shopping, cooking and cleaning or Home-Helps will be withdrawn, to save £3.4 million. Devon’s budget for adult Social Services is £83 million. Help The Aged asked: ‘How are they going to manage on their own?’ An MP asked: ‘If ‘Social Services’ is not about doing this, what is it about?’…” (Daily Mirror, 3/8/2005). “Private, empty HOMES of THE DECEASED may be SEIZED by bureaucrats to be rented out to ‘help’ ‘the Homeless.’ J. Prescott’s scheme…” (The Daily Press, 30/8/2005).

“Shareholders received massive dividend payments rather than the pension companies making up for the massive shortfalls in their investments” (August

before the General Election April 2005).

“A Report by Help the Aged found that old people who die in hospital often endure their final days in dirty, noisy wards where busy staff devote little attention to them. Older people have made a huge investment in the NHS which is a perverse system denying those who have been paying for it the longest” (The Times, 25/5/2005). “PROPOSAL: Pensions will be started at the age of 67 to reduce the shortfall” (25/7/2005). “I do object to having to pay! I really do. Having to pay for everything is really dreadful.” “CARE HOMES: Investigations have revealed… the reckless use of pills to silence old folk… ‘Action on Elder Abuse’ – their goal is to make

2005).

PREDICTED: "The next generation will not have it so good with jobs for life and pensions...” (August 2006).

“I just wish your Mother was here to see it…” “It’s too late for me. I just hope it’s not too late for you.” “My fear is if I leave it too late, I’ll be too old to get it together. I don’t want to be too old for it…” "Ah. If I could do it again..." (it means: My life). "... it weighs so heavily on your soul..."

THE FUTURE? “A longevity pill to slow down ageing. Life span 150 years. Very expensive treatments. Exploited by private companies. The poor denied treatment.” CLONING: Producing an exact copy of yourself, to be kept hidden from view, locked up and suffering, or kept as morons, only for their body parts. That’s disgusting. Would YOU like to be the clone? (“The professor who cloned Dolly the sheep, has applied for permission to produce a Human clone using donated women’s eggs” 25/7/2005). “There is no Happy Land. Government controls populations by plastic cards encoded with details of how many ‘happy pills’ you need, to accompany your shots to prolong your limbo. Punishments = Withdrawal of shots + grading to assess how much psycho-analysis you need…”

204

(Ah! "Our understanding of ‘it’?) "THIS SOCIAL DISEASE..." (What shall we call it?) “STREET CRIME?" "What is the war for?" "What shall we call this war? This web... Corruption?" NOTE: There is repeated use of the term 'mindless violence' by those who discuss rising crime. Much of the violence is not 'mindless.' The sad fact is that you do not understand how hard 'life' is for the under-privileged. It's no good moaning about "when I was young, I didn't behave this way." Times have changed. Things are more complicated these days. 1992: "CRIME IS STILL RISING..." General Assessment: "There is outrage, anger, despair, and public concern." “WE’RE UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE!” "The very fabric of society is breaking down..." "London has hit a new record. One million crimes a year. London is ‘the Crime City of Europe’... the latest statistics, which the government want suppressed..." "Violent behaviour is linked to frustration..." (28/5/1992) "It's a goal!" "Enforced Boredom" = Hooliganism: STOP KICKING… AWAY. ("Kick the old habit. This is the new stuff…”) "No doubt youth will get a kick out of it." (“… it can take the knocks…”) “Some senior police-men link the growing number of crimes with 'social deprivation’..." "Improving the local area reduces crime..." "... it will help youngsters by providing an alternative to crime..." "... it will deter crime..." "Juvenile crime is now out of control...” "The answer is to lock up juvenile offenders" (a decision made by the Home Office) (November 1992) "... it is everyone's responsibility..." ("... it will stop the killing...")

CHAPTER 5: CRIME “19th century radicals believed the OPPRESSIVE Capitalist system creates crime and criminals…” 1980's: "Life is getting drearier and drearier." "NO-ONE really likes reality anymore... " "REALITY = "The hard facts of life." 1986: "Britain has a lower crime rate than America, Canada and Australia." (The system expects people to stay in control. You can stay in society as long as you are seen to follow rules - no matter how crass the rules are. The system wants compliance. Loss of Control = You are Dangerous. You have to be put away.) 1990: "… it has become a crime to be young…" “THE STREETS ARE NOT NICE PLACES…” "... it has recently been revealed that the number of assaults against the police, and the number of hospitalised police is dramatically increasing..." EG. "... in one incident a policeman was nearly killed when 4 men surrounded him and used his truncheon to beat him..." Why? ("We'll give them a taste of their own medicine...") "... there are robbers now, who rob the rapists..." "400% increase of attacks against property...." "… As long as it remains unlawful, more people will be committed to prison." "More and more people are being locked up!" "It's about time we had a respectable answer from a responsible minister…" 1991: "AN EPIDEMIC OF JUVENILE CRIME!" "Well, what are we going to do about it? Are we going to have lawlessness?" "Soaring street crime! It seems the latest craze is that the young will do anything to get put away!" Why? REACTIVE BEHAVIOUR… Some people BEG to be locked up. “I just can’t cope with ‘life’ out here.” "Lock me up. Lock me up. (i.e. Get me off the streets!) I want to be locked up. DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND. … I can't be held responsible for what I might do…. I might lose control. I can't take this strain any longer." "Go away son. You're just being silly..." “All the cells are full…” "I'll really do some damage. They might listen to me then..." Children stab themselves in the stomach, mark their bodies with knives (self-harm) because all the frustration, confusion and anger rages within… "How to help demoralised people?" ("Go on, give it a try." “Give it a go!”) "If it is allowed to drift... we could have absolute mayhem on the streets soon!" (Said whilst riot police were wielding batons on the housing estates, across Britain: "There were 80 arrests, then 10 arrests, then 16 arrests..." "They will get heavy sentences" 4/9/1991). CURRENT THINKING: "It's not the place that's the problem; it's what's inside you..”

DO WE NEED MORE POLICE? PEOPLE SAID: "See it for once from our point of view." The government always say they will solve crime by spending more (Tax-payers) money on more police. “More of ‘THE OLD BILL’ !?” The British Police also called: ‘Coppers.’ (“Uh-oh. I’m going to cop it…” “We’ve copped it…”) "Our Boys in Blue" (who now incidentally wear black - symbolising ‘the bad guys.’) 1983: THE STATE we are ‘living’ in: “The people have the Right to demonstrate and the police have to keep the peace… but…as we’re talking about public order offences… I've seen the police breaking up a peaceful protest by whipping and driving their horses straight at people! Forcing their horses to trample right over the injured people lying on the ground, even innocent bystanders! The police rode off! Leaving them lying there, bleeding and unconscious…" "I saw a police-man deliberately run his horse over 205

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a girl, then go back over her body again! I know of another girl who was smashed in the face with a truncheon- she was wearing glasses… They also smashed her camera. This was at the 'Stop The City' demo in London…" 1986: "Police are using SNATCH SQUADS... They wait for (perfectly peaceful, legal) protestors to go inside pubs... then suddenly swoop, taking the stragglers left on the street i.e. young womenhitting them, pushing them into their ‘meat wagons’ (riot vans). 'Who was she?' 'She is only 13!' 'Why have they been taken?' 'Where have they been taken to?' 'We don't know.'..." That happens whenever the people protest against Fascism i.e. ‘The National Front’ who are allowed to march! They are safely escorted by the police! Strange that, don't you think?" “I know I have the Right to remain silent… but… am I allowed to just say something?” 1990: "There was a leaked report that said the police were found to be violent, lacking controlsome officers guilty of indiscriminate use of truncheons. There were many complaints about police behaviour. No effective person was in control. Police did not follow the manual. They needed the strongest supervision. The use of horses had brought many complaints. The crowds were not warned. Warnings would have caused the crowds to disperse." "Truncheons are only supposed to be used on arms and legs." "The police think it is a big stick to bash people over the head with!" JOKE: "Yeh, save the police the trouble- beat yourself up." "The police always deny using EXCESSIVE FORCE." "There's one good thing about the British policethey are not regularly armed with guns." ("I don't doubt they'll find an excuse to change that soon.") "We are heading for a police State." "There's nothing worse than when the olds get heavy. They come down on you like a ton of bricks." "... 'You are nicked,' they say." "Let the police handle it? We are in a situation where most communities won’t talk to the police..." "It could be embarrassing for the police..." "Why are we constantly told to let the police handle it?" “It’s not their job!” "The police say they'll handle it… but nothing ever comes of it..." "The police also say: "They are not construction workers... They do not set the standards..." “It's one of life's little mysteries.” “Forget the planet, just do your job'..." “It’s a cop out…” "...'We'll get it sorted straightaway' say the police. 'Wait in a cell'... (You can be held in a police cell for 4 days before they have to charge you...) One day they'll be carting me off- I'll be a mad dog cos that's what they made me." "They've done nothing to stop the type of crime

residents are really worried about..." “The police don’t do anything!” “The police are never where you want them!” "Where were you WHEN you were needed?" “In the donut shop?” “It would help if the police were fitter, not fatter." "The Plod? Where are all the police when you need them?" (Probably checking to see who hasn’t paid the fines!) "By the time the police get involved it can be too late." "The police are here to control ‘the ignorant masses,’ to protect the rich from those that haven't got anything." "One of their favourite saying is: 'If you can't whip 'em, scare 'em'..." ("… it's a class thing...") “Citizens do not warm to their sledgehammer tactics.” "... let us make this quite clear- the police are not neutral - they do not exist for our benefit- although they sometimes appear to..." "We do not deny that individual police officers might be nice- the problem is they do as their superiors tell thembecause if they don't, they won’t be in power for long..." "The police are tools of the government…" "The police should function in the interests of the community, not crazy politicians..." ("A parasite is a person who has decided there are the have's and have-nots and has decided to have by taking, by using force...") "Douglas Hog said, in 1990: “When something goes wrong, that should be exposed, there should be prosecutions and independent enquiries...” “Well, don't forget to take ABUSES OF POWER into consideration..." "Yeh. What about going after the HIGH RANKING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO ORGANISE CRIME AGAINST THE PEOPLE?" “Crush the BRIBERY & CORRUPTION of politicians!” EG. Officials who Do Anything For Money.” “Wipe out The MISUSE of Public Money.” (“Justice is Sweeter than revenge.”) "So disappointing the police are not taking action to protect the Public." "1,600 police have died in the line of their duty to protect us…” “JOKE”: "One black woman died, when police burst into her house- nobody charged. One policeman died- 160 charged, 350 arrested..." "... the load put on police cannot be justified..." "They say their job is to keep the peace, to restore law and order, but it’s one law for them, and another for us." “WHY is it ALWAYS THE PUBLIC who SUFFER?” "The police don't care what happens to us!" (“I wanted to be a cop to help folks who couldn’t help themselves…” “I didn’t want to join the police. I wanted to help the community in a different way206

gives society many benefits…" (Question Time, BBC1,

doing social work or something like that… We do a lot of work with the Homeless and drug addicts… that’s a service the police do provide. Many of the police would prefer to do work like this. It offers so many good opportunities and it does have its challenges- like working with people who have murdered the Homeless. The Metropolitan police force really changes lives. You see so much deprivation…”) (“Didn’t you join to fight evil?”) “I’m WORRIED THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE & WORSE IF NOTHING CHANGES.” "10,000 maniacs bothers me." "Our Emergency services are our last line of defence..." “We could end up with ALL the old people too afraid to go out- the kids roaming the streets rulethe police non-existent- replaced by ROBOTIC MACHINES… that slay the rebellious children… Then where will we be? Up shit-street without a paddle…” “… it’s like that now for the old folk…” 1993: “Tis fashionable to be bad.” “… it caught on like a flash.” (“Fashions change fast.” “If it’s on, it’s in.”) (“… it’s up to YOU.”) “… it’s all about supply and demand…” DEBATE: "... most juvenile crime is against property and cars... Victims want something done... We have to look at the causes- the feeling of alienation..." "Bring back borstal training?" "... Give young people the chance to improve their self-esteem, help them improve something... Most perceive they have no future... have only known a Conservative society, hence Crime. Under Conservatives, 17,000 more police!" CON: "The increase in crime is not the fault of any government!" "Lock them away, they become hardened criminals. Steal a bit of money, put away for years! Hurt or kill someone, get a few years! Where is the sense in that?" CON: "We're not going to get involved in the politics of sentencing now!" "Young people have immense problems... they need some redirection in their lives, to gain confidence, some challenge, some adventuretrained appropriately. Many institutions are oldfashioned with old-fashioned values, not relevant to today's times... it's about the facilities available to young people for leisure, advice, adventure- many don't have anywhere to go, or anything to do- the street corner is the only place. Conservatives undermine that provision." "We need to make sure the young do participate in society. Appalling government ignores the young, and denies them resources to improve their lives. The young need the opportunity to do GOOD. It's about actually sharing with them." "Is it a political blunder? Could it unite people (it: means: J. Major's vision of a ‘classless’ society), or just give the opposition ammunition? Surely it

11/12/1993).

“Teach kids how to save lives, not take lives.” Kenneth Clarke said: "All of us in society have to look into the heart of society to find what weakens our social values." "Persistent offenders... madder sentences... When do you start to re-educate and rehabilitate?" J. Major said: "Society needs to condemn and understand a little less." (He's a real brick, isn't he?) “After all this time…” CON: "The system has to shake them, to stop them." "How to identify them so we can nip them in the bud?" "Insufficient debate. Conservative government Bill put through quickly..." (20/2/1993). FASHION = "...'it' is a street cred thing..." PEOPLE SAID: “Crime? Whilst you're busy trying to work out who the real criminals are -we want to know how far will it get to?" News Reporter: "There is a malaise that needs to be addressed." 'EXPERT': "It's a crime against people. There's nothing we are able to do about it... to stop the people who are breaking the law." "VIOLENT CRIMES SOAR: ... has reached an all time, with more than 500 people attacked every day. Shock new figures revealed muggings etc., have rocketed by 11% since last year. Rape, other sex crimes up 5% to 28,000 cases a year. Criminal damage now 12,000 cases a week... A new 'Get Tough' policy in the courts... Judges may be allowed more flexibility in deciding whether or not to treat an offender as a juvenile..." "New wave of petty crime stuns police..." "... it would be more socially useful than locking up petty offenders." "Costs £1,500 a week to keep a young offender in an institution." The government's Anti-crime slogan: "Crime. Together we'll crack it." (Oops! They need to get with it…) PEOPLE SAID: “THE ANGER on the streets these days!" "The streets are going to be full of revenging mobs of hoodlums, smashing, stealing, raping and killing. Does anyone really have total security? Hell no." "Something is eating us!" "What's eating you?" "I wish they would get off my case and leave me alone. It seems the government can make the people do anything they want- that's their power and this is how they use it against people." "I'm good and mad. I'm seething!" "Only when the public's anger is vented will anything get done." "We're going for the throat..." "I swear, I'm never going down that road..." WAH! "All I want is some FUN..." "It's not just in London. Most people in Liverpool are totally disgusted..." "Yeh, things are much worse in the North..." "Everyone's in a coma. I know it's serious. Why don't they?" "I'm sick of 207

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politicians, and money." "Will we pull through?" "They've made a hell of a mess and now they're wondering how to get out of it…" GANG WARS: Kids with guns trying to be HARD, BAD… The obsession with knives... Knife gangs wanting to CUT YOU. So Freaky! (Isn’t there an obvious link here with all the CUTS made by politicians?) PEOPLE SAID: "Don't politicians realise the repercussions their actions cause? Do they think administering a policy of cuts is doing good? Or is there a hidden agenda here i.e. social pruning? Are the governments schemers / cold bloodied killers? This ought to be examined. Politicians should be made responsible..." "They're murdering the children to make sure they don't inherit." "They're growing us like weeds in their back yards so they can pull 'em." JOKE: "No stealing, the government doesn't like competition." "Yes, WE are at the heart and mind stage." "Oh, it could be so good for you..." "This system stinks- is evil, flawed…" "Violence is creeping upon us like a plague..." Mrs Thatcher said: "Violence is not political, it is criminal... We have been working on how to keep down demand in this country, and supply..." ("Mrs Thatcher could look daggers at anyone. She was very cutting...") (“That set the tone.”) “The growing number of attacks against women!” (Is there another link here?) EG. “3 women were battered to death with a claw hammer...” "How to curb violence against women? "Men! They don't know the ½ of it! All they can do is hit out about it! It's not their fault. They really don't mean it- not the way it comes out..." “He can’t help it…” ? "I'm sorry. I just lost it. I hit her. It wont happen again, I promise..." (Face the lie-detector?”) EXPERT: “He wants power… over her Environment. Don’t let him get it…” “I make mistakes! I’m just a man…” ”I really want to make things right. I didn’t mean to do it. Oh! I’m so crazy, I’m so lonely…” EXPERT: “Low self-esteem feeds the cycle of violence.” “He’s such a jerk. He’s just so stressed…” "He beats me. It's been going on a long time. I need your help." "In just one UK county (Devon) 8,000 women are subjected to domestic violence each year" (2004). Campaign to Stop Domestic Violence Slogan: "Domestic Violence. Don't stand for it." THE NEED FOR SAFE REFUGE… Affordable, decent facilities… "Growing alarm- the high number of attacks against children..." (28/7/1993). "Elderly warned of a wave of crime..."

"It should be a government responsibility to fund agencies to help victims. The system should be more supportive of victims of crime." UK: "80,000 racial attacks last year..." "... the answer is not to attack each other but build a better society. Don't try to have a centralised state who will do it for you" said Tony Blair (Labour). "The POLICE RALLIED IN PROTEST AT GOVERNMENT REFORMS: ... due to the introduction of performance related pay... 'Our job is to protect INNOCENT people'..." (20/7/1993). PEOPLE SAID: "I think you're beautiful, can't you see the chemistry? I think it is really beautiful! Why don't we make a rainbow?" CON: "The world has gone crazy! I think we should jail them all and let them get on with it!" "Lord Justice Wolf, warned the Conservative government: 'Do not cram more and more people into jail... it is much better to tackle the underlying causes of crime'..." (12/10/1993). "Crime is not limited to inner cities. Suburb crime is rising by 25%... Investment in crime prevention is very important..." (3/11/1993). "There isn't a simple one-off solution to crime" said the Police (Newsnight, 17/11/1993). "We need a quick way to deal with young offenders. Tough new community measures. It should seem like a punishment, not a holiday" said the government. (They're so full of understanding, aren't they?) (But then they are not living behind barbed wire…) "CRIMINALS AGE 10 TO BE CAGED: "The crackdown- 27 hard hitting measures with the aim of locking up more offenders... 'Sin Bins' where young ‘thugs’ will be held if they commit a crime which carries a sentence of less than 14 years... Ships and barges to be used as 'floating prisons' to cope with so many youngsters..." (18/12/1993) ("... it's a wipe-out...") 1994: "The punishments ignore the cause of their bad behaviour- and will not solve crime." "Tony Blair believes the rising crime rate is due to drug abuse." "CRIME STILL RISING: We really are in dire straits. The police can't cope. Something must really be done" (20/2/1994). "The Queen made a speech stating it is not enough to deal with the symptoms of crime and not the cause" (23/2/1994). "A sense of powerlessness is increasing as the crime rate increases. We just can't brush it aside. It is a security initiative" (2/3/1994). "Crime against property is dealt with more severely than crime against the person! That's wrong." PREDICTED: "LAWLESSNESS. Nothing is compatible. If the authorities can't help us, God 208

help us! A tidal wave of crime could engulf us all." "The Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill... will offer secure training centres... aimed at tackling the root causes of offending behaviour... 40 places to each centre... to turn persistent offenders into lawabiding citizens..." (1994) How? “To get the job done you need the right tools… But where can you get it?” “Do the simple things right. That’s what it’s about, right?” "DETAINING THE YOUNG: "... the courts should be entitled to issue orders for 'secure training orders' that could be placed on children... who would then be confined to a ‘new’ purpose-built detention centre... putting delinquents under the same roof as children with emotional or behavioural problems is not a successful solution..." "... offenders will be electronically tagged..." (10/5/1994) (Plastic cuff strapped to their ankles). THEFT: "Over 70% of all crime concerns theft or allied offences" said a Judge (7/2/1990). Burglary: Smash a window... climb in, climb over wall, climb up drain-pipe, climb over railings, thieves drilled through the wall... "We used to be able to just leave our doors open..." PREVAILING ATTITUDE: "There'll always be an England..." "Take what you want. They're insured!" "They've taken everything 'cept the wall paper!" Prized possessions- people worked hard to get, stolen to sell for a few £'s…” "Domestic theft cost £750 million" (1992). UK: "1.25 million break-ins every year." "A break in happens once every 3 minutes. 9 out of 10 cases go unsolved." "The average burglar takes 1 minute to enter, grab what they can and run." How to deter smash and grab? (Fit audio equipment etc into A Console...) "Burglary is the crime most people worry about" (1993) ("It will give you peace of mind.") "Proposed new law: You will be fined if you do not have an alarm in your property..." "The 1,400,000 victims of burglary should be glad to see it..." "They say ‘robbery victims never get over it…’"

baby to support." "Hey, when you've nothing to eat and no way of getting it, you'll do mostly anything to get what you want." "Easy to rob. Hard to make a honest living." "We can't Afford the basics in life, never mind any luxuries." "Nothing ever came easy, so I figured... I just didn't expect to get caught. I know it aint right..." "There's so much unfairness in the system." "I think its sad we have to stoop so low to get the things we want. Society says we have got to have things to be normal. Crime is the only way." "Crime is the only alternative." “I do crime because I want to feel alive, to have some excitement- a buzz…” "Do I need a reason?" "Depravation?" "I steal what you are too weak to protect." "Men who are hungry take." "We got hungry hearts." "Life aint easy." "Look. I'm unemployed. I've tried everything to get work. What do you expect me to do? Shift the flat to Canary Wharf?" "Pressure. Inability to cope." "Negative peer pressure." "You aint treating us right." "Stop governments stealing! When they set a good example..." "Misguided youth?" "You've got to show us by treating us right." "We're playing it's a knock off... Knock it off - steal it from the hands of babies. Same as you! Don't you get it?" "Attention seeking?" "It was a cry for help?" "Lack of mothering?" "We don't nurture our young any more?" “STEALING is stealing no matter why you do it.” “Don’t be a mug. BE HONEST.” (“It's the only thing to do.”) “A MURDEROUS TIME WE ARE HAVING…”: "696 murders in the UK - a low figure compared to the rest of Europe" (1992). “A desperately violent system…” "Constant portrayal of violence on TV... if violence portrayed as normal, you will have a more violent society." "Violent movies etc., give people bad ideas." Existing System: So much emphasis is placed on learning how to… kill. "So easy to kill…” but so hard to get the BASICS to live! ATTITUDE: “Only God can Judge me.” "If only people could apply their minds to useful things, not devious things." "It doesn't really matter to me- I killed a man." “Cold bloodied killers - anyone who deliberately attacks and kills another Human Being is SICK. (“No-one in their right mind would want to commit murder for the hell of it…”) “They should be locked away from the rest of society for good…” “We should throw away the Key?” Existing System: Killers given a 'life' sentence... then released after a few years later back into unwitting society.

WHY DID YOU STEAL?: "Did he have to turn to crime because he came from a broken home and saw no hope?" “I didn’t have a happy childhood.” "I do crime to get money." "It's a cold world out there- I started to get frosty." "I couldn't get enough money to get anywhere to live." "I couldn't get a job." "I needed to steal to get the money so that I could live." "There is no alternative. I could not make enough money." "Lust and greed?" "With prices so high the temptation is always there to steal...some of us give in to the urge, others don't." "Lack of self-discipline." "No choice. Got a wife and 209

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"Millions of people all crammed in one place- hey, what did you expect?" "It's all, or nothing?" "Insecurity and loneliness got the better of me." "He got a few weeks behind with the rent money... and snapped!" "No more patience. Who can I kill?" "Could not control my emotions." "The battles raged in my head- I couldn't make sense of them." "Jealousy is a terrible thing." "Losers get angry." "The desperate... can get violent." "They've got many angles..." "They can break a heart in a moment or two, and take a life-time to apologise.”

PAROLE: "I've changed my ways, I'll never do it again..." (“Yeh, right. We believe you?”) Existing System = Expecting criminals to be honest! “They tell them what they want to hear and they let them get away with it!” “I told you lies and you fell for it!” “When you tell lies someone gets hurt…” “… eyes can’t tell lies. Look in the eyes. They are mirrors, and they’re free…” “LIE DETECTOR tests are easy to fool…” “WATCH it CHANGE!” (Should we use a nonharmful truth serum? EG. “… sodium amytal works on 95% of people…” To save people being held on remand, to make sure the guilty are punished not the innocent. To save the court’s time, to save public money and help ensure the guilty are caught… ? Would Hypnosis work?) (see: True

GUILT: = "I must make amends…" “I AM SORRY. SO SORRY. What can I do?” “… it’s between you and your conscience. Is your conscience absolutely clear?” “… It’s on my CONSCIENCE.” “If you don’t believe you have a conscience, what trouble can it be to you?” "I can’t live with myself..." "Oh God. I feel so bad. Can't sleep. Nightmares, sweats, shakes... I see their faces, they're coming back to haunt me! I will never be myself again..." (COMMON BELIEF: “Spirits visit the sleeping for good purposes, or ill…”) "Guilt is one burden human beings can't bear alone. One ½ of the self wants to atone, to be freed of the torments of guilt, the other ½ wants to continue to be free... So only ½ calls out 'catch me' whilst the other ½ creates obstacles... flirting with justice… IF justice is nimble the clues will be there to follow..." "Criminals always make basic mistakes..." "Why are there so many convicted criminals?" "So many people are excluded from the system of things! EG. By silly nationality laws statelessness i.e. living in country you were born in for 30 years but still cannot get a passport! This creates Terrorism." (see Chapter 12/ Finance / ID Cards). "Most 'criminals' are VICTIMS of the system. The system sucks. War, governments and poverty go together." "It's a warning, not a threat- an investigation that must go on." "I'm not ready for it yet." "No, but you will be." "Crime goes up by 2% when the temperature goes up 1%." Q: Crime. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? A: "It's not happening, man." ("When it's understood by every boy, girl, man and woman, we'll have joy.")

Colours: page 647).

“I WANT TO BREAK FREE FROM YOUR LIES! God knows…” "It's a cruel, cruel world that treats you as guilty till you are proven to be innocent..." “There is nothing worse than being accused of a crime you haven’t done… but this is compounded when you are wrongly imprisoned maybe for years…” (Should we just speed the whole legal process, making it illegal to remand a prisoner for longer than a specified period?) “… it’s EASIER THAN TORTURE…” (“As bad as the truth may be. Tell it…”) "Oh, my God. There are a lot of SICK ‘people’ on the streets..." "I like killing. The more passive the victim, the more powerful I was..." SERIAL KILLERS: "... they are into bondage, torture, control..." "... cutting people for pleasure..." "... he was careful, well-planned, methodical, not sloppy... at war against that social group... he enjoyed inflicting suffering on his victims..." (That is Evil). What did one serial killer say his ‘logic’ was? "It's a lot easier to find a victim than a friend." "MONEY DE-HUMANISES PEOPLE.” Some / Most / 90%? of people will do anything for money." "The oldest crime is murdering for money." There have been some really horrifying murders EG. battered with iron bar. Bashed with a brick. He was left on railway lines. She was doused in petrol, set on fire... WHY DID YOU KILL? "What happens to the SOFT ones? The vultures get them." “Only the fittest survive? Now you know that’s wrong.” "TO MAKE POLITICIANS CRY! So you wont keep your systems, wont drop your bombs, to stop stealing governments, who don't care at all, who don't understand our songs..." “You can give it but you can’t take it” (it means: Aggression). "This is my protest. Get them to look down our way. Hey, we're having a cut-throat, hell of a time here, don't you know?"

UK, 2004: Anti-crime slogan: "Crime. Let's bring it down." "We have record numbers of police. To ensure more effective community policing- the public will have access to the mobile phone number of their community support officer" (8/11/2004). “Electronic tagging has now been introduced…” 210

community initiative welcomed by the police. Sounds strange, but the idea is spreading” (Channel

UK: "1 in 4 school pupils now carry a weapon. KNIFE culture is now everywhere..." (18/11/2004) Knives i.e. blades, sharp as glass, metal to cut, stab, wound, shock, hurt, bleed victims… “TASER stun guns used by USA police have caused 74 deaths… being introduced in the UK…” "Are Labour's 'Get Tough' policies really working to reduce ‘anti-social’ behaviour? Tackling the symptoms not the cause. It's a politicians fix. 'The gangs hanging around- we feel intimidatednot safe anywhere.' 1,000's of young people now subjected to the criminal process which is Draconian- many are facing jail for disobeying orders even for minor offences such as spitting...” How Strange! To make the young civilised they are being sent to JAIL!” “In the past you could get away with it. We are making it a civil offence... To accelerate a police intelligence guided system... This is to protect us from terrorism...” said the Home Secretary (it means: Civil disobedience?) (the Home Secretary is blind…) “Police going to be given greater powers of arrest... The State is becoming more powerful...” 'We asked the police what they wanted and we gave them what they wanted.' “Yobs - more will get on-the-spot fines..." (20/11/2004). “627 police stations front-line offices, to help the public have closed. Many people are volunteering their services in a bid to keep these open to help the local community…” “We are lucky we have community policing…” “There is evidence community support officers have had little effect…” “Community Support Officers will be issued with telescopic i.e. longer batons, handcuffs, CS gas…” “Police do not now need a reason to arrest somebody…” “Michael Howard, if elected, will remove the burden of police officers having to do paper work…” (24/11/2004). WORD ON THE STREET: “Watch your back!” “A man with a history of mental illness randomly stabbed 6 passers-by in the back… 360 stab related incidents in London every week…”

5, 8/4/2005).

“The police are reeling with the number of murders and they can’t cope” (Nottingham, March 2005).

A VICTIM OF MUGGING SAID: “I just feel those who do such appalling violence should pay for it...” ADVERT FOR CRIME STOPPERS: “Help us fill in the gaps…” (April 2005). “People are being mugged more and more- in main streets, not only back alley-ways. The attacks of jewellery shops…” M. Howard said: “I don’t believe there is nothing we can do about it” (18/4/2005). re: “What type of community policing do rural areas want?” A police spokesman said: “It shouldn’t be a talking-shop. It will enable us to clamp down on rowdiness caused by alcohol.” “If there is something that could be done to make people feel safer, people need to talk to us about it. If we find there are any real issues, we will tackle it.” “Nothing gets done about it because the old boys (the sharks) are more powerful than the police.” “11,000 criminals are electronically tagged to reduce the prison population- largest number in Europe. Numbers will double by 2008. TAGGING does not work… Tags can be taken off. Not monitored. Lack of staff. Lack of expensive equipment. So how is this going to stop crime? Curfews breached. ¾ are re-convicted within 1st year (Home Office figure). Tagging is a multi£million (private) business. They are making a lot of money out of a system that is useless. These murders would have been avoided if they had been taken to court for breaches. ‘He does stupid things on the outside.’ Surprisingly, all police forces agree with tagging…” (Real Story, BBC1, 25/4/2005).

“6 million crimes last year. Under Labour government, 140,000 police (up 13,000) + 4,600 Community Support Officers. A considerable cost. Each police officer has a starting salary of £20,000…” (29/4/2005). “THE HARD LINE: STEEL HOMES: Yob families should be kicked out of council estates and sent to live in vandal-proof steel containers, senior MP’s demanded… Labour’s Frank Field believes ministers should copy a radical Dutch scheme in which yobs are already living in customised container homes. Each home in Kamper, East Holland, has 3 basic bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and is supplied with heating, gas, elec & hot water. The Dutch scheme was hailed a success and is to be extended nationwide. Mr Fields said: ‘They can be put under the motorway flyover… We need to be doubly serious about this issue because we are further down the road to anarchy.’ Campaigners say the container homes

(23/12/2004).

“… the youth ran down the street shouting ‘no-one loves me.’ He smashed a shop window…” 2005: “We are living in an increasingly UNSAFE society. If they continue to fudge the issue…” (12/1/2005).

“THE PRAYER PATROL: Christians are trying to get criminals to change their ways. Christians armed with just a Bible, a mobile (phone) and a prayer are tackling the threat posed by gangs with guns. In Bristol, a 60% reduction in crime- due to the police and the mild mannered Christians. It is a 211

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are needed to stop anti-social offenders, who may have drug or alcohol problems, ending up on the streets. A Dutch Conservative MP said: ’The trouble may not be solved instantly but will be relocated to where we can keep an eye on it’…”

“ARE WE HEADING FOR A POLICE STATE? New UK laws: Police can now stop & question anyone even if they don’t suspect a crime. If you refuse to answer, arrested…” (May 2007).

(Daily Mirror, 21/6/2005) (see: Page 146).

PRISON: "Society has the Right to be protected from the most violent criminals." "Hard men." "The idea of prison is keep anti-social, violent people from normal society..." "LET ME OUT! I DIDN'T DO it!" "Why am I being sent here?" "To serve your debt to society." "Detained at Her Majesty's pleasure…" (“The Queen of all that is cruel.”) "Britain has the highest number of people serving 'life sentences' in Europe- maybe the world." "Everyone in society is responsible for what happens in state-run institutions..." "What goes on in these places, is done with your permission..." "The General public do not understand. They don't care" ? "What sort of a society ignores the plight of fellow Human Beings?"

“CRACKDOWN ON YOBS: To beat anti-social behaviour, courts can use ASBO’s (called Isos’s) (individual support orders) to make louts aged 10 17 get treatment for alcohol and drug addiction, and direct young people towards activities which deal with the underlying cause/s of their behaviour - this can include anger management courses. The government wants a huge increase in ASBO’s. But there is growing concern that 42% of ASBO’s are breached, and critics say the punishments are “a badge of honour” for the thugs. There have also been complaints that ASBO’s merely move the problem on, and are criminalising children without changing their behaviour” (Daily Mirror, 26/7/2005).

“Tony Blair blamed ‘bad parents’ for ‘the rising tide in lawlessness’…” “The Daily Mirror believes something really fundamental is needed if anything significant is going to be achieved against the yobs, thugs and killers” “The Home Secretary said he wont be going soft on thugs…”

(Everyone has to look after their own needs first. Then the needs of their family. Then the needs of their community. Then the needs of whole world. Many people are so caught up in just trying to survive, they don’t have the time to get involved in important things such as reform of prisons).

(Daily Mirror, 2/9/2005).

“WE’VE LOST OUR BATTLE AGAINST LOUTS” admits Tony Blair…” (Daily Mail, 3/9/2005). “Police totally shocked by the high number of stabbings” (New Year’s eve, 2005). DEBATE: “The government’s ‘new’ action plan to tackle anti-social behaviour = Youths can now be taken to court. Police have more powersDispersal Orders. But where do we disperse the kids to? The answer is more Youth Clubs? What is the money raised by alcohol sales spent on? When kids go off the rails, what can a parent do?” (Newsnight, BBC2, 10/1/2006). “They are keeping a data bank of children’s DNA… even though these children were detained but never charged… The ethics and implications of the police keeping a record of our DNA…” “DESIGNING OUT CRIME: …for community safety… public access should be restricted to as few routes as possible… Good lighting will deter intruders… areas should be open to view and well lit… fencing should not provide climbing aids… priority should be given to the provision of an alarm. These are just some of the issues… of working in partnership… Good design with safety and security in mind need not cost more particularly when considered from the offset. Poor design exacerbates the situation caused by economic factors…” (Local council leaflet 2006). “We need progressive leaders who can take the bull by the horns. It exists! It’s no good saying it doesn’t exist!” (re: crime in Manchester 7/8/2006). “Should shop lifters be sent to prison?”

"What happens in these places, could, one day, be done to YOU!" "You could be sent here on remand, whilst awaiting a trial." POLITICAL DOGMA / STRIFE: "Courts seem to have set a new precedent for anyone who voices dissent: Imprisonment and psychiatric assessment... even for defacing a poster, with words such as: 'BLOOD MONEY.' Even 12 year old children are being locked up in Britain's toughest jails for allegedly stealing a purse..." (April 1990).

"PRISONS USED TO HOUSE FAILURES..." "A hostile shop owner said he saw my blanket move. I was arrested- charged with indecent exposure!" “How does locking me up at the Tax-payers expense… repay my debt? But I’m not complaining! Rent-FREE accommodation. At last! What I couldn’t find on the outside… 3 square meals a day…” “The lure of regular meals and lodgings…” THE HOMELESS DO NOT BELONG IN PRISON! "Categorising the Homeless as 'dangerous loonies' and demanding they be removed from sight to a cell is more about the comfort of passers-by (and politicians) than meeting the real needs of the Homeless" (20/10/1992). "Whilst I'm in here, I can't pay my mortgage. They're turning out my kids..." "You've been charged with vagrancy, trying to escape custody. You're in moral danger…" Uh? "Banged to rights" "... in the slammer." 212

"Our only ‘solution’ is a brawl- jokey alternatives..." EG. "Pretty boy watch your back." “Bugger it…” "Bugger, bugger, bugger...” SODOMY: "RAPE is a common occurrence." “… deprived of more than their liberty…” ("There's nothing new about this sort of thing.”) “You can't tell anyone.” "We don't like informers." "You grassed me up!" (Back to Sod’s Law). “By telling them you’ll be sucking up to the big wigs.” (“No, that’s not it…”) “You going to drop me in it?” (it means: Deep shit / trouble). “Don’t even think of it” (a threat). "... taken into ‘Protective’ custody...” "Pain is used to control prisoners." “…bounced down the iron stair-well... " = "…he fell down the stairs..." PRISON OFFICERS SAID: "The daily grind." "My approach is like steel. It's my job to see that you do it. No slacking..." "… it's not going to look good on your record…" "Don't you dare damage government property!" "It's simply not done, is it?" "We're just mugs doing the government's dirty work. We're not allowed to talk about anything that happens in here.” "Our image is bad." "Take it out on 'em." “The load on us cannot be justified..." "Decorated with an Imperial medal for long service..." "Hard day?" "Yeah, aren't they all?" "A judge described the prison as a ‘depressing, corrupting institution; with 'very poor' educational facilities." “There’s no place like home, and this is no place like home.” "... Riots due to poor food..." UK: At STRANGEWAYS prison, in Manchester: "The most violent prison riot in history... 'an unstable, very dangerous and volatile situation'... 'a social time bomb'...'prisoner set against prisoner'... the Conservative government's brutality'... 'prisoners may burn the prison down.'... 640 men on the loose' ...'fear of a mass break-out' ... roof top protestors defied authorities for 25 days'... SAS called in..."

Bedlam: means: "An archaic madhouse." SMALL TIMERS: "Petty offenders often locked in with depraved criminals..." “In prison, you’re only a number…” "Britain does not seem such an attractive place when viewed from a cell in Wormwood Scrubs prison…” CELL SIZE: "Hold out both hands, can touch the walls..." "In Victorian times, one man to a cell..." 1990: "Now 3 men locked in this concrete cell, with no toilet! “"I can't even go to the toilet without anyone watching me!" "LOCKED IN CELL 24 HOURS A DAY: ... the poor standards of care... prisoners are supposed to be let out to exercise in the yard. Now too many are locked-in 24 hours a day..." "... not even allowed to change underpants or shower once a week!" "You can't escape the smell of the buckets in the cells. We have to eat in here... (airborne bacteria) 3 people, all feeling desperate... locked in this tiny tank." "Conditions are inhumane... the corridors overcome by the pungent smell of urine and faeces. More often than not, the few toilets are blocked... There is little hygiene..." “(Ah! You want a quiet lad who can take all the shit…”) "The level of medical care is a legitimate concern..." "YEARS OF DOGMA AND NEGLECT..." “In the dirty, dark, damp prisons…” "The DIRT everywhere! DAMP, DISINTEGRATION. DISREPAIR..." "A FESTERING SORE: "The walls are crumbling and covered in fungi... This surely must be a breach of every health and safety standard?" "The conditions drag us back into the ages of barbarism…" “Prisons over-run with cockroaches, mice and rats. This is a disgusting HELL house.” "The Home Office say they spend a lot of moneybut there is no evidence to show the money has been well spent." (WHERE DID ALL THE MONEY GO?) "Boredom is the greatest evil in this place." "Starved of stimulation..." "Prison pallor." "A useless life is an early death" (said Goethe) “The warder will like me and I’ll get a good record and be out of here…” “It don’t play that way. The other inmates are mean…” “NO ALARM BELLS in cells. Be victimised, bashed, threatened... Assaulted by other inmates, or the screws. What goes on behind these walls and iron bars... " (Sadism and Masochism). "... there should be better protection from bullies..." "They can come into your cell any time they like, do anything they like..." "Screws (wardens) turn a blind eye." "They enjoy watching us squirm." "The bent screws are the worse…" "They want us to suck up to bent screws!" ("It's a point of pride.") "Doing nothing increases violence..."

THE SOLUTION: Here in Amsterdam, we try to do it in a human way. It's not an easy way of life but it's not too bad here compared with other countries. SPECIALLY DESIGNED MODERN ACCOMODATION: Each unit is self-contained. (Other) Schemes abandoned as being too big. The small size means it isn't a problem containing prisoners. Scheme must be successful- blocks are empty. There is a shop, so prisoners can stock up..." MEANTIME, BACK IN ‘THE LAND OF MOPE’: "... it's meaningless..." "Other riots... hostage taken... more than £4 million damage... prisoners set fire to cell 213

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“We’re professionals… but we don’t know what the answer is… There is nothing else we can we do. There is no solution…” "Families distressed and living in limbo..." "RIOT IN MAXIMUM SECURITY: 73 prisoners on rampage for 24 hours due to visitors (allowed visits only once a month) being strip searched (for drugs). Extensive damage" (8/7/1993). "CONSERVATIVES HARD LABOUR PLAN: ...to make jails tougher and more productive... prisoners would work doing hard labour in prison factories run by private firms... their wages to compensate victims and pay Board and Lodgings for their cells... A more austere regime... Will not be allowed to spend wages... 'We should make life as uncomfortable as possible in jail' said Conservative MP J. Carlisle. ’Prison is not a holiday camp... We need more Victorian values and less 1960's softness'... ...’The Howard League’ warned of riots and suicides..." (23/8/1993). "THE NEED TO REDUCE OVER-CROWDING IN PRISONS: ...the release of petty offenders will not take place" (September, 1993). "A RAPIDLY RISING PRISON POPULATION: 1960: 20,000 prisoners. 1980: 50,000 (40% are awaiting a trial). Jan 1990: 90,000 excluding 62,800 prisoners on remand.” "Prison officers are again threatening to strike due to OVER-CROWDING in prisons. 'We cannot stand idly by... We would like to see relations restored back to normal again.' Government once again, in opposition to the unions..." (17/11/1993). "Government re-introducing old mutiny laws..." "2 moth-balled prisons are being re-opened due to CHRONIC over-crowding..." "IN THE DARK: Commercialising management of 10 prisons without adequate assessment... Doubts conditions will be improved, or make prisons effective. Can the service succeed without it?"

block..." CON: "There's no way to prevent a riot..." "More money spent on riot equipment… £56 million on rebuilding… speeded up to restore back to former state... 'We're trying to add to the number of places available at Strangeways prison..." "Prisoners letters censored so no details get into the newspaper." "The system doesn't like bad publicity." "I wish the media would come and witness the inhumanity." "... Riots did not lead to any radical thinking..." "Rioters charged with murder..." "SO SAD: The government failed to learn any lesson. The situation is as bad as it ever was." "... the regime remains very basic... monotonous... mechanical routines..." "They give you massive doses of SOLITARY confinement..." "... not allowing inmates to associate with each other is 'totally unacceptable'... the report called for urgent changes, including a visitors centre and a sports hall..." “Physically repressive, psychologically depressing. What is the aim of prison? God, this is an awful place!" ("I know it’s something you've got to do...") "THERE IS NO REHABILITATION- that's a myth. "Prisons don't help people." ANCIENT LOGIC: “Never release your prisoner with a lion’s heart.” "They only put you on the streets again." Ah! “The need for post-release support is essential.” "90% of inmates are re-offenders." "I need a proper place when I'm released so I wont get into any more trouble." "May I please go to a ½ -way house?" "No such thing any more, mate, sorry!" (“A ½ way house isn’t a patch on going all the way…”) "Nobody ever got anything good from being in prison." "People do sometimes change." "When I get out I'll go clean and I wont be hard anymore." "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: Prisons have wellstocked workshops but prisoners are idle" (report, 1611/1992). Workshops = Metal work. "They've sold off the one thing that REALLY helped us - the (prison) farms. Looking after gardens and livestock helps - it was a fulfilling activity, a healthy, useful occupation... it gave us something to look forward to..." "… There are very clear advantages to be gained from it. I hope the Home Secretary takes notice of it” said a spokesperson for the police (23/3/1993). "Constantly moving you around, to disorientate... You could be moved 250 miles away from the only person you know in the whole world... All done to break the individual and remove your identity - to destroy man's humanity. The system brutalises desperate people..."

(30/8/1993).

"WARNING: There will be chaos in prisons if overcrowding continues... Prisons bursting at the seams... What do YOU think? Should we build more prisons to punish people, or is there some other way?" PEOPLE SAID: "To avoid tragedy, tailor resources towards helping and affecting the correct kind of change..." "Teenagers should not be in adult prisons!” "THE HIGH RATE OF ATTEMPTED / SUICIDES: "DYING INSIDE: The plight of Teenagers in prison... self injury, easily intimidated... Concern over number of suicides..." "I can't wait to get out of this prison cell." "Please get me out of here!" "This place is HELL on Earth." "I can't go through with it!" "The screws said I would only get out of here in a body bag." "Put in solitary, couldn't take it, and killed himself after 10 days..." "2 remand prisoners 214

escaped by easily breaking through a plasterboard ceiling in a toilet whilst at court... were supposed to be in maximum security" (17/2/1993). "JAIL BLAZE BREAK-OUT FOILED: A fire swept through one wing of a jail... police surrounded the prison walls to stop inmates attempting to get away and put the public at risk... 90 prisoners evacuated... police treating fire as arson. Estimated damage £250,000 to the building" (9/12/1993) (Situation flammable...) "The escape of an extremely dangerous killer... Very dangerous criminals were being transported by coach- type used for school outings (!) We Need A Review of Security…" (12/2/1994). "The public are warned not to approach 3 dangerous men who are on the run- they escaped from Dartmoor, by making a hole in the roof..."

both 19, found hanged by sheets..." "... he hanged himself in an observation cell..." "He was just a young boy, DREAMING of that New World..." "Victims of the gutter. Victims of your cold bloodied ways..." “Teenagers need Affordable housing!" “These kids need a loving home to be in…” "The mentally-ill, alcoholics and drug addicts should not be held in prison awaiting trial!” “Official Estimate: 1 in 5 people in prison is mentally ill." "Take the blues away” Does Not Mean: Lock 'em all away!" “200 suicides! Many are remand prisoners. Recommended: More bail hostels. More hostels for the Homeless" (18/10/1993). "ASYLUM SEEKERS IN PRISON: The use of restraint in prisons has led to unlawful killing"

(15/4/1994).

HIGH COSTS: "The staggering cost of a cell in British police stations is up to £2,000 for a single night! The Public Accounts Committee criticised the Home Office for paying such extravagant bills. The average cost for housing prisoners was £234 a night. (This compares with £130 for a room in the Savoy Hotel or £160 for a night at the Ritz). £234 represents the ‘economy’ end of the scale! In more than 27 cases, housing costs more than £500 a night! In one police station the cost to provide one meal is £18..." (1/7/1993). “We’d be out of a job if we did our job better…” 1993: PEOPLE SAID: "They're all profiting out of the situation... the police, the lawyers, the judges, the warders, the social workers, the psychiatrists… they have a vested business interest in having prisoners..." "These people... are your possessions huh?" "There's nowhere for them to go? There is no alternative accommodation so you have to lock up all these people ‘to protect society’?" "Punishment is all you can do. We are glad your rotten system is coming down." "It's happening rather quickly, isn't it? Prisoners breaking out, rather than being released? Trouble is, it's the violent element who will escape..." “The Young Offenders Reform Trust said prison blocks should be made into a museum- cells are falling apart. Should be brought up to scratch. Cost: £15 million to upgrade one block. The young need the support of their families…”

(27/7/1993).

"Prisoners should be allowed one shower a week. Still sloping out... Health facilities criticised" (24/3/1994).

PRIVATE JAILS USING FORCED LABOUR: ... the government's prison privatisation plan has been dealt a (merciful) blow... ‘The International Labour Organisation’ has warned that employment of inmates without their consent is a breach of International Convention... specifically banning prisoners from working- even if the labour is for public works..." (3/5/1994) (That's a missed opportunity. Prisoners could, on a voluntary basis, be usefully, safely and happily? employed making pre-fab housing in workshops to earn their keep and help the people who are homeless…) "CONDITIONS MUST IMPROVE: ... We are a dustbin for all the problems in the outside world....” “We urgently need new things. Large institutions don't work. Replace, with smaller units. The smaller the better. Manageable units. We could make a good job of it. This place is too largeplaces like this gobble up resources we can't Afford. I'd be horrified if they should build places like this again" said the Governor re: Feltham prison" (10/12/1993). "GOVERNMENT PLAN TO BUILD MORE PRISONS: Up to £500 million of private money is being demanded by the Home Office to build and operate 6 new prisons... finance houses, commercial and investment Banks are linking up with construction firms to bid for the prison business" (20/5/1994). "The Home Office said: “Everything seems to be under control." (Ah! That phrase again. Don’t worry, it’s all under control…) "5 dangerous prisoners escaped" (25/5/1993). "326 prisoners have escaped in the last 10 months" (3/11/1993). "5 prisoners charged with the Strangeways riot have

(30/11/2004).

“1,000’s of early-release prisoners (40%) are being sent back to jail after being caught re-offending” (The Times, 25/5/2005).

“CHAIN GANGS of prisoners WILL DO FORCED LABOUR to build places such as the Olympic Stadium in Canary Wharf, to repay the community… the Home Secretary said he wanted a massive expansion in the number of offenders forced to work in the community rather than go to jail… shadow Home Secretary, Conservative, David Davies said the plans will do nothing to stop ‘the 215

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from ‘fundamental problems’ said the Chief Inspector of Prisons – nearly a decade after her predecessor walked out after discovering appalling conditions. Unacceptable low standards of cleanliness, serious infestations of mice, pigeons and insects… The jail was also criticised for failing to meet a principal recommendation that (young) girls should no longer be kept at Holloway (women’s) prison” (2005).

massive problem’ of violent crime” (10/2/2006). “OVER-CROWDING: Britain's prisons are at breaking point… The Conservatives want to build more prisons…” (October 2006). "WOMEN IN PRISON: "... she shouldn't be in here! She doesn't deserve to be punished!" "If we can convince the court your home situation has improved... You are not a criminal! You are a victim...." “... separated from their children- for drug offences, sentenced to 25 years - life imprisonment..." "... They take our babies away from us when they are a year old... so hard on us..." "... choked anger... low esteem..." "... there are plenty of mothers in here who wouldn't dream of harming their children!" "There are a lot of children in here!" "... a woman in agony, miscarrying, writhing about in the cell- no-one to sit with her..." "... children during visits screaming: 'Go away!' at warders..." "... Sometimes I forget I have a mother…" "... warders voted to take industrial (strike) action to stop inmates from Strangeways prison (for men) being moved to the women’s prison..." "... the women’s prisons are all jam-packed1350 inmates in one prison built to house 900 people..." "... the women rioted following a fight..." WARDERS SAID: "You prisoners are all the same." "How the hell can we stop it?” (it means: a crime?) “If you don't do it...” (i.e. stop the crime?) “We've got to know who is doing it and get them out of here.” Uh? “We don't help people very much. Prisons should be more health orientated - many are psychiatric cases…" "It's how it should be done - say 'no' to them, it can't be done. They're not allowing it… It goes above me! Its bigger and better than you..." "Are you upset about going to court, is that what it is? Come on, talk to me. I'm paid to listen." WOMEN SAID: "We are like battery hens." "All we've got is 4 walls... all we can do is dwell on it... " "The authorities think they are God..." "The screws are on one side, we are on the other side." "You can't put your finger on it - you can't do fuck-all about it…" "... they've cancelled it! No notice!" (it means: a social event). "... some women prisoners throw themselves around their cells and have died as a consequence... self-mutilation, depression, drugs, wailing, crying, shouting, suicide- 36 unsuccessful, horrendous attempts in Holloway last year... all caused by being inside a locked building...” "Stress levels so high. We can't get away from it…" (3/11/1992). “Britain's largest women’s prison is still suffering

COURT ROOMS: (Tons of bricks, loads of wood…) “To make courts less intimidating for (UK, witnesses… cameras installed” December, 2004).

“Swear on the Bible…” Uh? “People with a history of mental illness are not allowed to testify in court...” “… the law takes a very dim view of it…” “Fraud is a crime.” “FRAUD CONVICTIONS = You must have a water-tight case.” “All they have to do is deny it…” “The law is a noble thing. It must not be brought into disrepute...” "FULL INQUIRY: We should leave it to Lord Justice Woolf to hold a full inquiry... His report could effect life into the 21st Century... He may hit a wall of silence..." ("Where there's a legal will, there's a way.") "What will Lord Chief Justice Woolf make of it all?" ("How doth the little crocodile improve his shiny tail?") The lambs were silenced. “Concealed unhappiness, carefully averted eyes, cold smiles…” “… it’s a travesty of justice…” “How can you believe in justice when it doesn’t exist?” “Nearly 32 million crimes are committed in England and Wales every year, according to the official Victimisation Survey. That is 87,000 crimes a day- or one every second” (29/7/2005). “GRIEF HAS GALVANISED THE WHOLE COMMUNITY: The depth of emotion… The shock. People laying flowers…” (re: the AXE murder in London of Anthony Walker, the teenager who wanted to be a lawyer, 2/8/2005).

(“… it is the jury who will decide…I rest my case until the decision of the jury is spoken…”) “The jury is out?” THE FUTURE? "More fascist crap - an implant sewn under your skin so authorities can track where every person is?" “WILL WE EVER GET BEYOND THE NEVERENDING CYCLE OF CRIME AND PUNISHMENT?” ("Love over gold. It's no mystery to me...Things will change… one day...") 216

system' for 'mass-use by autonomous communities' with impressive results... In a mountain laboratory (building = a series of Domes), using wind generators and solar collectors, even in a temperature of -10 degrees F, in deep snow... enough electricity for space heating and hot water was produced (with no back up energy)... The energy systems functioned normally... "We have the hardware to build a very INEXPENSIVE system... " (1974). EG. “The Ark: A solar heated and wind powered Green House... with an 'aqua-culture' complex..." EG. The solar garbage grinder (good idea), the solar warm air heater (could be very useful), solar heat pumps (Wow!), solar cookers, a waste recycling system based on methane gas generation, the Econ-coil solar heat collector to produce hot water and domestic heating.” LOW TECH: EG. “A Black coil contains water, is heated by the Sun, water goes into your water tank…” (i.e. for hot climates). "WHY did the UK government cancel the Renewable Energy Programme? Foul play? Conspiracy? A political decision - throwing away all the expertise developed! Nuclear Power put in charge of the program! Did heads falsify reports because Nuclear Power could be threatened? Alternative Energy concept hard to fault. Unit cost comparison: Wave power = 5p Conventional power 56p.

CHAPTER 6: ENERGY ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: "Man's QUEST FOR PERFECT, PURE, NATURAL, SAFE ENERGY..." ("Seek, and ye shall find...") The Sun, the Wind, the waves! All that Free, Abundant Energy! "You hold the Key to people's lives. POWER TO THE PEOPLE." ALTERNATIVE ENERGY = THE POWER IS YOURS. (Safe, Abundant, Free, Energy!) “FREE ENERGY: Different products of free energy generators are already patented and have been demonstrated, but usually they disappeared often in mysterious ways. EG. Nicola Tesla, who demonstrated a car, powered by free energy around the year 1930. He is the inventor of the alternating current technology and thereby revolutionized the electrification. He also invented the radio (before Marconi) and much more, but he was exploited by Edison and his laboratory was blown up. Thus he withdrew from public and took his free energy secret into the grave... He was an ingenious spirit- he submitted over 100 patents… but this is also a field for cheats, who promise much, take cash and never supply…” (ref. home.datacomm.ch/hb9abx/energy.htm ).

"APPLIED ENERGY TECHNOLOGY = The methods of application of an art or science, as opposed to mere knowledge itself." "RADICAL TECHNOLOGY: The idea is to replace fossil fuels etc., with energy that is particularly appropriate within a community situation." THE ART OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY: 1960's CAMPAIGN: “FREE ENERGY FOREVER!” A massive surge in alternative technology movement... in USA, France, UK, Germany... "We will show you a way to save the world…" ("How can it be?") “10 years NO hope for THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY MOVEMENT / Renewable energy. Removing the Right for the small producer to sell to the national producer. Nobody is allowed to come up with any answers. There's nothing really wrong with solar energy- it must be kept alive. Providing you are not selling it, communities could become self-sufficient. Ecological guilt trip. How much does it require to produce the structure/s? The many sources of carbon..." (1970). RESEARCH COMMUNITIES: "People worked together, shared their ideas... "You don't do it like that. You need to do it like this..." PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: EG. 'Integrated Living Systems' (in USA) prototyped systems for a fraction of the cost of industrial proto-typing... ILS developed 'a total energy-living-

HAS THE GOVERNMENT BEEN WASTING TAX-PAYERS MONEY? £305 million was spent researching Alternative Energy. Results said to be disappointing! So, heads turned instead to Nuclear Fusion, another £315 million spent… whilst they try to Re-Generate the power of the Sun!” “'We want to get out more than we put in' said the government. 'We have not yet done that'…” (see: Oscillation of water).

The costs and consequences of turning away from tested, successful alternatives! No scrutiny! Re-assess. Give it a chance in the 1990's. If we don't build now, may not have the chance in 10 - 15 years..." (UK, 27/9/1990). “The powers-that-be, fearful of competition - the potential loss of profits... said: "There's no profit in it for us." "It won’t work." "It can't be done." "We're not doing this for the love of it, you know!” Thus, the Alternative Energy Movement was unjustly, and systematically put down..." "People don't want arguments. They want constructive solutions" said an analyst (October 1990). "... Mrs Thatcher favoured nuclear power..." "£220 million was budgeted to be spent on the development of Nuclear energy in 1985-6, and only £14 million on Alternative Energy research and development. At present we have no choice as 217

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around the world worshipped…” ("Is the Sun Eternal? Who knows? Could burn up with a sudden flare-up, could burn out any second…") SUNPOWER = Brilliant! “Energy created from this is best of all - does not cause Climate Change.” The Sun radiates Light = Radiant Energy: How best to benefit from it? "The heat from the Sun is intense. Don't waste day light! It's still light at 6 0'clock at night... Sunlight reflects off water… See how the light refracts off the snow? ("… it's not dying… it is shining… it's brighter!") ("See the light pouring out...") “LIGHT can be reflected (bounced off) intensified, amplified, projected, refracted (check out an experts in light refraction), scattered (made into multiple beams, dual rays), modulated...” (“… it could take us to a new dimension…”) "LIGHT: “A ray... No-one quite understands it yet...” "Light has no mass. Is not like a brick..." "Light is a (high frequency) wave... A flow of Protons...” “A projectile particle package.” “A transmission of energy.” “Light can used to create an electro-potential difference- Electrons, which discharge, then process starts again...” “A transmission of... light... Photo-active..." “LIGHT = Pulses of Electro-Magnetic energy… travelling through empty space…” “An Energy wave…” “LIGHT = Pulses (not particles) - waves in light and dark bands… the waves vibrate… quickly or slowly… different frequencies for each colour…” "RAINBOWS: 1665: Isaac Newton (studying science at Cambridge university), discovered a beam of Sunlight (called 'white light') produces a multi-coloured band of light when shone through a prism..." Do all parts of the spectrum behave identically? No. So… identify the strongest… "Parallel Oscillated Light = Un-weakened brightness when shone through a prism..." (Reexamine!) "Solar power should be completely painless and easy to install!"

to how our electricity is generated. By actively making a protest, we are creating a direct bargaining force with a huge and faceless organisation, as well as voicing our concern about the human issues involved" (did anyone protest? I must have missed it). "... Long before VAT was introduced, the UK government put a 1% tax on electricity to fund Alternative Energy research projects. Most is spent on nuclear energy..." (/8/2/1994). "Alternative Energy was cancelled, not rescheduled." (“It’s not been put on hold.”) USA: "Re-examining their Alternative Energy program as a matter of urgency" (8/9/1990) (this didn’t really get us anywhere…) UK: "The government plans to double spending on High Tech industries" (11/12/1992). "The USA's RUNAWAY ENERGY CONSUMPTION: The USA Energy Dept., estimates the USA needs 1,300 new power stations by 2020, average size each power station = 300 megawatts..." (2004). "In year 2050, we will need more energy than we do now... as developing countries come on board..." "As population levels increase... more exotic methods become necessary..." ? “There’s a lot of thinking going on… but is any of it wise?” EXPERT: "The Environmental impact of any energy system will need to be scrutinised meticulously for Global sustainability, for long term security..." (Please apply that logic to nuclear energy.) MECHANICAL ENERGY = Wave, wind... "DEFINITION OF RENEWABLES: The fuel of renewable energy is FREE, inexhaustible and it does not cause pollution. Renewables include solar, wind, wave, tidal, biomass (and geothermal energy). These forms of electricity generation are tried and tested and working in other countries, producing economic and efficient energy" (2004) NOTE: The absence of 'water’ power. Strange! Global Warming = Rising water, more water spreading inland… Stupid not to harness… “We only have 3% Renewable Energy power sources” (2004). "An alternative source of power is desperately needed." Join in the suss. FREE, SAFE, NATURAL ENERGY: "It aint no mystery... Keep it simple." “I don’t think we have the energy… but then maybe we do. Let me show you how easy it is…”

EXPERIMENTS: "An arena of mirrors, focused on a glass building to reflect Sunlight. Result: Very high temperature recorded..." "An enormous experiment in Spain has concluded mirrors are not effective for solar power" (1990). "Russia is going to try to reflect light from big mirrors- to bounce Sunlight to another area…" (1993) (“A carefully polished curved mirror grasps more light than a glass lens…”) (Put mirrors around the solar collectors!? When light (bulb/s?) switched on / shining, that light is recollected…)

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FROM SUN LIGHT: ("In Spring, when woods are getting green, in summer when the days are long, perhaps you'll understand this song...") A NEW Order (out of chaos!): The SUN = Alive = Gives life by providing light. “Sunlight fuels life.” “God is light!” “The Sun all

Boy scouts know a magnifying 218

glass…

produces enough (intensified) light / heat to make fire… ) (Ah! A magnifying ‘glass’ over the solar cell collector? Around the light, to emit more light, concentrated light… and to help save energy?) "Experiments using oscillation of light..." "... an electrical wave of light can be amplified, fed into a coil..."

SOLAR TECHNOLOGY: “Obviously its absence dramatically effects everyone's lives.” ADVERT: THE AUTOVENT: "Solar air purifier / cleaner. Solar powered ventilator. Solar cells... power a silent fan that draws air through a catalyst filter to remove smoke, odours, dust and pollen... Bright daylight activates the fan to extract heat and draw in fresh air... Simple to install. No wiring. Durable, silent and safe. 17.5' ft long. Fits standard rear

SOLAR PANELS: “Made from layers / wafers held together in a material (GLASS) using (highly TOXIC) Cadmium* compounds (black- to absorb light), and... semi-conducting... metal (usually copper, painted black) electro-plated (to reflect light / charge Electrons). 1 Panel charges one 12 volt Battery (equal to a car battery). This works- maybe to enough to power one light bulb for approx. 5 hours? Amount of energy would vary according to the size of panel...” “Cost to make: Expensive 1990, cheaper by 2000... “ "A series of these (Heavy, Large, unattractive?) panels, put on the roof- or wherever they can catch the Sun rays. can run lights, a fridge, a cooker, and a TV for 2.5 people" (that’s not to be sneezed at – could really reduce your elec bill). "Glass is used for clear optical quality- plastic would be lighter - but believed might be UV damaged over 30 years..." (see: Chapter 3 / Modern

side window in a car. Cost £29.95" (UK Science Museum mail order catalogue, 1991-2).

"Solar Generators, Solar Collectors = Very low voltage. Very safe" (Tomorrows World, BBC, 1/10/1993). SOLAR CELLS = "The Photo-Electric Panel: Don't store energy...1,000's of cells in a panel... when light shone on cell... creates electrodifference... Panels wired together. Can power a motor…” (Has anyone tried using black plastic to absorb the light?) 1999: "Discovered at Havard, Black silicon traps light- has amazing potential for efficiently converting Sunlight to electricity... emits Electrons with surprising efficiency. Described as: TANTALISINGLY BEAUTIFUL. Havard is going to work with Scanwafer, in Norway- the world's largest manufacturer of solar cells..." "Cheap plastics could replace silicon, bringing down the price of solar cells..." "HIGH POWER SOLAR CELLS are a miracle. Heat seeking. Light sensitive. Work on DAYLIGHT i.e. do not need Sunshine to workthese still work when clouds hide the Sun. Storage cells capture light from day, to provide energy for night. Ideal for the establishment of selfsufficient communities." EXPERT: "...a well made solar cell should generate power forever- requiring no cleaning or protection from the elements..." (Aha! Maintenance-free solar cells: Could be embedded into the main fabric of the modules? Positioned all over, to blend in, so virtually unnoticeable?) SOLAR CELLS SHOULD LOOK something LIKE THIS:

Materials re: UV Stability)

"Cadmium Alternatives: 2 difficult areas - heat stability... only 3 reasonably stable pigments... distortion... warpage in the final product... Dr. Bansai Kaul, Head of Research & Development at Sandoz Huminque, says replacements are few... it is possible that organic alternatives do exist... will have to be precisely controlled..." (European Plastics News, March 1993).

"Some plastic can super-conduct..." "France has got solar power (generators to make electricity) instead of roof tiles, solar panels!" (1990).

UK: "... solar panels can be found on the roofs of more than 40,000 buildings... even in chilly Britain, enough solar energy falls onto the roof of the average house to heat it several times over... Not cheap to install... but only needs occasional maintenance... “ “A professionally Built set-up = 60% of total domestic hot water... “ (Ah! Heating water using conventional combustion… Use microwave technology… Instead of taking an hour to heat, uses same amount of energy as a light bulb…) “2,000 people had solar panels fitted last year... The Solar Trade Association wants VAT scrapped on solar installations..." (8/12/1993). "Germany is snapping up the world's supply of solar panels, paving vast areas with them and creating a shortage..." (2004).

Each solar cell should be at least the same size as recessed lights. But not made of Glass! AVOID THIS:

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"PHOTO-VOLTAIC CELLS: ... used in calculators, watches, to power roadside breakdown telephones, (some) street lamps… (and PORTABLE POWER EG.) re-creational vehicles EG. Golf carts.” (Coo! Cor! I could just see myself toddling off to buy a pint of milk in something… a bit like… one of those! There must be millions of people who only need a HANDY Local ‘run-around’ / get about…What an untapped market!) “… as for newest energy storing devices... I was thinking about batteries such as those in cellphones or in other highly advanced electrical equipment (unfortunately it means high costs to buy, but ability to recharge). They are small, not heavy and able to work while traveling…” (ref. Robert

Ah! “The collectors will back me up…” “… Many of these PV cells must be linked together to create enough electricity… When PV cells are linked together by running a wire from one PV cell to the next, they are called modules. The more cells collecting energy and funnelling it to one destination, such as an electric motor, the more power that motor receives. … NASA 1st used solar modules in 1959 to power the Vanguard 1 satellite. This was a perfect solution to the power needs of space exploration, as solar modules are lightweight, durable, and require little-to-no maintenance. Sunlight is also in constant abundance in Space...” “ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS: … Made from cheaper materials, their flexibility and feather-weight construction promise to open up new markets for solar energy, potentially powering everything… metal-pentacene cells had very low efficiencies…The silicon and organic photovoltaic groups are working together at Georgia Institute of Technology to accelerate the development of costeffective solar cells to solve the energy and environmental problems simultaneously and reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said Ajeet Rohatgi,

Majko).

Q: “Why are ALL lights not solar powered?” A: “We just haven’t got around to doing it yet.” We need CORDLESS (auto? rechargeable) SOLAR powered, light-weight appliances! For Storage of SURPLUS Energy, we need LIGHTWEIGHT, PORTABLE Energy Packs… Chips? plastic card/s impregnated with? “(The) Juice Bag is a worldwide patented portable solar power backpack. Flexible ballistic nylon solar panels make it lighter than solar bags with stiff glass solar panels… when you need to recharge items such as cameras, cell phones… it generates electricity in both direct and indirect sunlight… Portable solar energy power stations make use of these ideas and more. They may be large enough to generate sufficient electrical power for a small village…” (ref. www.solar-energy-connection.com ). EXPERT: "STORED ENERGY POWER SOURCES: Solar energy would not be for everybody- only those who could finance gigantic Solar Cell Banks who could maintain and expand them. This could widen the rift between the haves and the have-nots..." (GIGANTIC? Not if we each had our own supply… IF we concentrated on making a small efficient light-weight storage device OUR ENERGY problems would be solved. One Storm, One Hot Day = Months of Free Energy! (Obviously this device needs to be compatible with everything we use!) “… From the 1970s to now, PV cells have become 40% more effective in collecting sunlight…” THE PHOTOCAPACITOR is a new solar cell made in Japan... can convert Sun energy and store electrical charge - no battery needed. Made using sandwich layers of resin..." (Ref: www.physicsweb ,

director of UCEP- professor in the School of Electrical (ref. and Computer Engineering” www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.php?id=497 ).

“A WATER PUMP: What I've invented is a pump without any moving parts. It uses heat rather than electricity as a power source… it can use heat from sources at very low temperatures, for example, waste heat or heat from the sun. It could be useful for pumping water to irrigate fields, particularly in Third World countries, but it also has many uses here at home. These include pumping water round your domestic central heating system…” (re: Cambridge University, www.thenakedscientists.com )

Ah! An anti-gravity solar pump… ENERGY STORAGE: “The battery accumulator soaks up electricity till you want to use it i.e. solar cells on your roof, recharge your battery (back to old technology again) to run lights... Not a very good system. Mainly used to discount your supply... Switches to / from mains without a flicker" (1993). EXPERT: “Charging batteries is probably one of the best ways of using solar energy.” “Our limited battery technology is holding back development of personal hand-held computers that are linked into the home. Batteries are too heavy, too big. Historically batteries contain lead- there’s a dry cell (nickel Cadmium) and a wet cell accumulator (acid EG. Sulphuric).” “Micro-chip architecture – makes circuitry smaller & faster to save £’s. Uses less electricity. A power reduction set-up” (1994).

4/11/2004).

SOLAR POWER STATION: “... It's a simple invention on many levels. For one, it didn't cost much… find a battery, power converter and appropriately-sized solar power panel… the station itself is … wood with a couple of wheels and… 220

benefit from photovoltaics. Successful gridconnected applications include Imatran Voima Ltd.'s 30 kWp PV power plant in southern Finland one of the most northerly grid-connected solar power stations in the world. It has functioned since 1989 and its annual energy output is approximately 20 MWh. Building-integrated PV is also arousing interest and is potentially a more cost-effective form of grid-connection. At present there are 4 grid-connected, building-integrated photovoltaic systems in Finland. The first 3 kWp system was installed in 1990 by Helsinki University of Technology. The three other systems are each rated at 1 kWp: PV is integrated in an office building in an experimental plastic house, and in a singlefamily house” (18/3/2001 ref. www.oja-services.nl/iea-

paint... We decided to… create a repeatable formula in case anyone else wanted to try something similar. A week later, the entire thing was completed. (Special thanks to the Alternative Energy Store)” (ref. www.tomshardware.co.uk ). SOLAR FARMS: "BP is applying solar power for when the Sun goes down in remote parts of Africa. BP is selling solar power at standard electricity prices..." (1990). "Do you know they could, with one mile of the Sahara desert covered in Solar energy devices, produce enough Energy to meet the needs of the whole world? It's true. And that is without even investing in the technology to produce the best solar energy cells" said a scientist (1992). "They are planning to use the Sahara desert for huge solar farms, using lots of metal... (metal can be reflective...) Desert = No clouds." "...this could make power stations economical... Australia's Ministry of Energy in investing $64 million in research... a commercial operation expected in 10 -15 years..." (3/3/1995). "Do you know that a company in America came up with this GOOD DEAL: They provide you with a solar energy system. You carry on paying your usual energy bills. The savings you make pays for the new equipment over 3 to 4 years. Then your bills are reduced to practically zero. You pay nothing. Much better than all that National Grid stuff. The National Grid are happy / content with making and selling the equipment - there is plenty of profit in that" (1992). EXPERT: “LET ME MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE! Solar power corporation products are really excellent... and cheap to make!" "The cost of running a solar system reduces to zero after buying and installing it." “PHOTOVOLTAICS IN FINLAND: In… Finland, even though annual solar radiation may be only ½ that of the sunniest part of the world, PV is an excellent means of providing environment-friendly, reliable and cost-effective electricity in remote areas. Because photovoltaic systems are reliable, easy to use, and have a long operational life, they have proved to be practical in small-scale off-grid applications, even for the extreme northern climate… (Approx.) ½ of Finland's 400,000 recreational homes are situated off-grid, and of these some 15,000 – 20,000 are powered by PV… enough to meet lighting, television and radio power demands from spring to autumn. The system is easily expanded because of the modular nature of PV. An example of a larger recreational off-grid application is the self-sufficient summer house: 2,2 kW PV modules are connected through an inverter to run household appliances. In addition to recreational homes, boats and caravans…also

pvps/pvpower/03_05.htm ).

HOW do Solar Power Stations Store energy? A mini version = ? “NEW SOLAR POWER STATION IN SPAIN: The station has 600 mirrors which focus sunlight onto water pipes at the top of a 40 storey tall concrete tower. The strength of the reflected light is so great that water vapour and dust in the air is illuminated. David Shukman, BBC science correspondent, says, ‘The effect is to give the whole place a glow - even an aura…’ The light from these 600 mirrors heat water, turning it to steam which is used to drive a turbine and generate electricity. The plant is the 1st commercial solar station in Europe, generating 11 Megawatts according to it's operators, Solucar. This is set to rise though, as the plant is not finished – 1,000’s more mirrors will be added to the 600 already installed. The energy produced by this plant is 3 times more expensive than that produced by coal and gas power plants, which seems like a bargain to me. Clean solar power produced on this scale is a truly impressive achievement, and plants like this should be built wherever possible” (www.treehugger.com ). “… Although there are over 800,000 solar water heaters, such as flat plate collectors, in operation in America today, most of these serve only the needs of individual homes or small businesses. Scientists have been

working hard to find ways to make solar heating more applicable to large populations… Scientists in the Mojave Desert of California… at this site, 9 sets of 64 curved mirrors (which are about 2 ½ feet by just over 4 feet) are used to focus sunlight onto tubes that run along the centre of the curved mirrors. Synthetic oils in the tubes, which are about 150 feet long, absorb the solar energy and heat up, reaching temperatures around 735 degrees F. Because the fluid inside the tubes is so hot, merely running the tube through a large vat of water causes the water to boil. The steam from the boiling water is then used to drive a turbo-generator, which creates electricity. This site in California is currently generating about a third of the energy production of 221

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a large nuclear plant, or enough energy to power 350,000 homes. The power generated in this fashion is not yet efficient, costing more than twice as much as fossil fuels… In the Pyrenees mountains of France is another large-scale experimental solar power system. In the 1970s scientists constructed a solar furnace capable of reaching temperatures so high that it can melt metal. The furnace… location…5,000 feet up in the mountains to guarantee clear skies for their project… uses 100’s of flat mirrors, called heliostats, to collect sunlight over a much larger area. This sunlight is bounced onto a single curved mirror the size of a 10-storey building. Since the mirror is curved, the sunlight can be focused onto one central tower opposite…which looks…like a large water tower, uses the sunlight to create electricity by heating fluids to create steam to run through a turbo-generator. The solar furnace effectively generates about 1,000 kw of energy, enough to power more than 600 homes. However, it is still used as a research site, as duplicates of the furnace are still too expensive to build and operate competitively…” “Save up to 70% off the purchase price of a BP Solar Home Solution…” (2007, www.bp.com ).

resin) fitted in every home or module... I am looking for the simplest, safest energy production & storage method possible... the best minaturised solar cells… energy fed into the capsule- fitted into the central core, energy channelled from there into appliances… "QUANTAM MECHANICS: ... can now trap light inside a chamber- a laser pulse...” (project by NASA and Havard) (technology steered towards 'beam me up' communication / computing). “World market for laser products now worth over $100 Billion a year = CUT, BURN and weld... A power that can be used for Good, also for Evil. We are at the stage where it just beginning to take off..." (12/9/1994). "... The light produced by a laser can be very intense... (blinding / can fry retinas.”) “The Ruby Laser: ... activated by a millisecond flashgun... A highly directional device. Artificial crystal of 'ruby' about twice the size of a pen... (if larger... more powerful laser...) Made these days using glass, not crystal... “ (“Ordinary glass is not crystalline... has no crystal lattice. The windscreen on Concorde was made from crystalline glass. Crystal glass is glass cut with facets- this reflects light in many directions as a natural crystal would...”) (Quartz same as glass but in form of crystal. Quartz is a soft, crumbly form of crystal).

DEADLY BEAMS: "Lasers have a death ray military image - burning everything to a cinder. Powerful military lasers do exist but have never been used (yet) in a war. Are mainly used to mark targets- the laser guides the destruction. $Billions spent by the military. Applications have little to do with death rays..." "Laser beam artillery is the objective of present day research... Target vaporised...* a plane could be melted, or a hole put in... Lasers beams can cut steel plate. Could be beamed from a satellite, or at a satellite, used against cities..." "ONE ‘alternative’ energy device to heat / light a city, country, or world? The Laser beam could misfire and incinerate an entire residential area. The ability to cut off this supply would be a powerful weapon..."

LASER: "Laser is an extremely PURE light...” (means: Light Amplification by the stimulated Emission of Radiation). (Radiate: Emit rays of light, or heat- ElectroMagnetic waves). (Visible light - eventually gets absorbed by the atmosphere). Laser = Heat beams and light beams… “TECHNOLOGY: All intensities, colours, frequency relates to power. Produces parallel lines of lightperfectly directable / straight…” DESIGN: "...a true laser has a mirror at each of the tube... the surge flares up and down... growing more and more intense... the rays reinforce themselves... producing a beam of light... " LASER / GOOD USE: "Energies of light creation... EG. Fibre Optics... bundles...to transmit light... plug a diffuser in to work all sorts of appliances... Use light to heat water, produce steam, drive motors etc" (1990). "Problem: FibreOptics use glass - loose too much light..." (1993) (100's of tiny, fragile strands… of glass! Use a non-brittle tube…) THE MISSING MECHANISM:

(* If I had a choice about what happened to me when I die, I would prefer to be vaporised… rather than burnt or buried… I don’t mean vaporised by a nuclear bomb!)

MASER: “Microwave Amplification: Invisible beam, travels through ordinary glass, gets through atmosphere with less absorption…” "SOLAR ENERGY LURING MAN INTO SPACE. On Earth there is rain, cloud and night... on the Moon there is 50% night... the best location could be out in space... such power could then be beamed... = If beamed to earth by microwave heat (versions already tested), this could affect the climate catastrophically..." "NASA are developing a frightening device that would float in space- to reflect light from the Sun-

JUST think about it. Are we MISSING SOMETHING? Magnify / Amplify the light beam/s… within a sealed Tube… How absolutely BRILLIANT! I'm imagining a small enclosed device that looks like a capsule (made of 222

a sort of microwave beam- to be used for? A weapon to fry miscreants to death?" "A laser beam 84,000 times brighter than the Sun... We may be able to use this technology to light up whole cities" (30/8/1990). "A nuclear powered laser installation could attack in every direction; a kamikaze weapon." "A laser beam on the battlefield (may the gods forbid!) Problems of power supply (?) Generators could emit extremely toxic gas..." "IRAN are (mis)using laser technology to make crude nuclear bombs" (20/11/2004). “METHEL: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser: Since June 2000 is being used / tested to bring down / destroy incoming missiles, rockets, mortars etc., at the speed of light (tracks by infra-red)…”

if there was the political will... 'Bionic buildings could be GROWN' said Professor W. Nachtgall of Saarland university... A passionate plea from architect Bruno Schindler for 'an architecture of light'... Foster enthused about windmills. Stirring, radical stuff..." (11/6/1993). "Set your controls at the heart of the Sun..." “MONEY SPINNER: This low-energy, experimental house in Rheine, Germany, is on tracts which allows it to rotate and follow the Sun to keep the perfect angle for its solar panels. Enough power is collected to turn the property and provide hot water and heating” (Evening Standard, 8/12/1993). “EURO FINANCE: Estpona Town Council (in Spain), has approved a decree which obliges companies constructing new buildings or renovating old ones in the area to fit solar heating panels… the measure aims to ensure heating can be provided at low cost- to encourage the use of renewable energy and reduce fossil fuels to energy needs. The impetus comes from the Ministry of Science and Technology… the plan is for 12% of primary energy consumption requirements to be met by renewable energy within 5 years… the decree also establishes the need for the appearance of any solar panelling to be in harmony with the local Environment” (April 2005). “CITY RESIDENTIAL HOMES: Recent years have seen rapid growth in the number of installations of PV onto buildings that are connected to the electricity grid. This area of demand has been stimulated in part by government subsidy programmes (especially Japan and Germany) and by GREEN pricing policies of utilities or electricity service providers (e.g. in Switzerland and the USA).

(www.isreali.weapons.com) (view video: www.youtube.com ).

SOLAR POWERED BUILDINGS: “Experts at the Polytechnic in North London are pointing the way forward to keeping warm in future. They are the pioneers behind a new solar powered ecology centre. They have spent 3 years working on a prototype for the kind of building they say is needed today- well insulated, run on low-cost energy, and pleasant to look at. The end result will be a timber-frame structure built around paving slabs to soak up maximum heat from the Sun, with a protected veranda area...” (“Smashing idea but I can’t go for that…”) “The proposed building has won the approval of Islington

council

planning

chiefs

and

Environmentalists. The main hurdle now is raising the £15,000 - £30,000 necessary to turn plans into reality. Fund raisers hope ‘green’ businesses will stump up the rest. The aim of the centre is to encourage

The central driving force though comes from the desire of individuals or companies to obtain their electricity from a clean, nonpolluting, renewable source for which they are

architects to build better and more economically and encourage house-holders to save energy. Traditionally, we build very badly in this countryour fuel costs are huge. There’s no excuse for architects not to build using to the standards we are laying down. High fuel bills are a hidden Tax that people should not have to pay. We hope our finished building will show there is an alternative” (Islington Gazette, 19/4/1990) (Construction tools- solar powered?) “FOLLOW THE SUN: The 3rd European conference on Architecture: The Theme: Exploring the potential for Solar energy... Sunrise industries... (One of the highlights was the 1993 solar car prize...) Dr. Baruch Raz said that making use of natural energy from the Sun and reducing even eliminating the use of fossil fuel was the only way forward. Learning from nature was the solution suggested a Dusseldorf physicist.... It was not just a matter of technology but also management... It would be possible to have a worldwide electricity grid powered by photo-voltaic cells and operated by the Sun's rays

prepared to pay a small premium. In these gridconnected systems, a PV System supplies electricity to the building and any day-time excess may be exported to the grid. Batteries are not required because the grid supplies any extra demand. However, if you want to be independent of the grid supply you will need battery storage to provide power outside daylight hours. Solar PV modules can be retrofitted on to a pitched roof above the existing roof-tiles, or the tiles replaced by specially designed PV roof-tiles or roof-tiling systems. If you are planning to put a PV system on to a building and have it connected to the grid supply there are likely to be local regulations that need to be met, and permission required from your utility or electricity service provider. The level of credit for any exported electricity will vary depending on local schemes in place” (ref. information found 2007, www.solarbuzz.com ).

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can use it at night or whenever you want to, that’s another set of technologies that have also been developed. Narration: One way to store solar energy is in the form of a gas. That option is being explored at the Solar Tower facility at the CSIRO in Newcastle. Mr Wes Stein: We have about 200 of these mirrors here and each mirror tracks the sun during the day, and focuses it up onto that tower. Dr Paul Willis: Does it generate a lot of power? Mr Wes Stein: It generates well over half a megawatt of energy up there, we concentrate the sun nearly 3,000 times on average, and we can generate temperatures well over 1000 degrees Celsius. Narration: Once the power is harnessed, methane is pumped in and the sun’s concentrated heat forms new chemical bonds, trapping the energy. Mr Wes Stein: Solar energy then becomes both transportable and storable, and that overcomes two of the major problems of solar energy. Narration: Another storage option is using a different gas, ammonia rather than methane. The sun’s heat splits ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. These two gases can then be stored. As they change back into ammonia they give off the heat that was originally trapped. Dr Keith Lovegrove: Inside here we’ve got our ammonia synthesis reactor. This is the reactor that gives off the heat that we’ve stored in chemical form in our tanks over there, gives off the heat at 500 degrees C. Dr Paul Willis: The technology has come a long way. We now have a variety of ways to capture the energy from the sun and to store it for when the sun’s not there. So why may you ask are we not already living in a solar economy? Narration: While these technologies are scientifically mature, they’re economically underdeveloped. Mr Wes Stein: At the moment solar thermal is probably about 2 or 3 times the price that it needs to be. Narration: And while that’s still the case, there’s little incentive for industry to roll out solar technology. If you have a technology that is not producing emissions it is going to be more expensive than pulling coal out of the ground and setting fire to it… if we want people to use the emission free technology we need to give the market a signal to switch from one to the other, and so we need government assistance to drive those programs. Narration: One way governments can provide assistance is to set energy targets that must be filled by renewable energy technologies. The Federal Government set such a target in 2000 but critics say the target was set too low and so was the government funding.

SUMMARY: “SOLAR FUTURE: There’s been a lot of talk about a nuclear future for Australia. But we already have an enormous nuclear reactor providing us with massive quantities of energy – the Sun. Our reliance on greenhouse gas emitting coal-fired power stations is unsustainable. Solar power is an obvious alternative choice for sun-drenched Australia, so why aren’t we already living in a solar economy? There are a number of promising technologies being developed and the solar future may be about to arrive. Dave Holland: There is sufficient solar energy to power everything that we do. The sun delivers about 17,000 times (more) energy every day (than) mankind uses. So the energy is there. What we have to do is to drive ways to harness that energy. Mr Wes Stein: We’ve come a long way and now we’re right at the point of being able to say here it is industry… Dr Paul Willis: While they haven’t received a great deal of publicity, Australia’s solar scientists have been quietly achieving behind the scenes. They now have a variety of technologies that will provide clean, cheap and sustainable energy from the sun… Dr David Mills: Once we learn how to manufacture these… on a very large scale… Narration: … a 100% solar-thermal facility based on this technology, at Moree in the New England region of New South Wales. Dr Paul Willis: Boy, that’s some dish you’ve got there. Dr Keith Lovegrove: Yes that’s the world’s biggest paraboloidal dish solar concentrator Paul. Narration: This is the initiative of the Australian National University. They’ve been working on solar since 1971. They think big dishes are the way to capture the sun’s heat, as opposed to the long, flat mirrors… Narration: Another form of solar power on the cusp of going mainstream is solar photovoltaics. Unlike solar-thermal technologies, which use the sun’s heat to boil water, solar photovoltaics bypass heat and water and generate electricity directly from sunlight. Dave Holland: We concentrate the sun 500 times into a very small amount of very specialised highgrade ultra efficient photovoltaics. And we’re building power stations on small grids in central Australia where we are complementing the existing diesel generators. And it’s our intention to build a 150 megawatt power station in northern Victoria over the next few years. Narration: And that’s enough to power 75,000 homes, equivalent to a small city. Dr Paul Willis: There’s always been one sticking point with solar power. What do you do when the sun goes down? Storing solar energy so that you 224

shifting all the time..." 1960’s: “Catch the wind…” “MONEY SPINNERS, IN AN ENERGY CRISIS…” "LOW TECH: ... simplified Alternative Energy devices... 4 windmill type pumps are presently operating... with a wind driven generator... based on an old Chinese design of a horizontal windmill... The structure has been assembled from recycled materials... an old car alternator, old bicycle wheels, gears, a 2nd hand storage battery... Several solar power units have been produced…. Auroville are awaiting funding..." (ref.

Senator Ian Campbell: … literally hundreds of millions of dollars… go into solar technology in Australia from the Commonwealth government… if there are new projects that we need to spend more money on then I’m happy to take them to the cabinet and try and convince Mr Costello and Mr Howard to spend more money. Narration: Many in the energy industry think solar would get a big boost if the Federal Government would commit to an international emissions trading scheme such as operates in Europe. Companies releasing carbon into the atmosphere are taxed, creating a financial incentive for them to move from dirty to clean technologies. Dr David Mills: Carbon trading makes immediate benefits to the bottom line for us. And so in our projects in Europe where everyone has virtually signed Kyoto we find that we add that to the bottom line and that improves the project economics. And of course we hope that the Australian government in due course will do that. Narration: Carbon taxes and emission trading might help make solar more competitive, but that puts up the cost of electricity from CO2 emitting coal-fired power stations. Is that a price we’re willing to pay? Senator Ian Campbell: You put taxes up on energy too much and you drive jobs down or you drive them offshore and you drive greenhouse gases offshore... Narration: Given the right incentives, Australia’s solar scientists are confident that, in 25 years from now, the solar future will have arrived. Dave Holland: In 25 years time it is our mission to have our technology as one of the key ingredients in electricity production worldwide. Mr Wes Stein: … It would only require about 50 kilometre by 50 kilometre square, in the centre of Australia somewhere, to supply all of Australia’s electricity needs in 2020. Dr Keith Lovegrove: I believe the technology is in place that we could have 100% renewable energy in just a very short number of decades if we set our minds to it. Narration: One thing we can be sure of, once solar power is up and running, is that we’ll have an energy source with a secure future, at least for the (ref. 27/7/ 2006, next 5 billion years”

Whole Earth Catalogue, 1974).

“Charles Darwen conceived a horizontal windmill…” (Confusing! Horizontal windmills… stand up!? Uh? Why not lay down flat?) Global Warming = MORE WIND. Why waste it? Old Windmills: BUILDING fitted with a huge (fly?) wheel… the wind turned the big, heavy, wooden Paddles, which turned big, very HEAVY stones, to grind wheat into flour…

NEEDED: SMALL (mini) Wind machines... to harness (the almost perpetual motion of) the wind. A lightweight Fan - An electricity Generator… All that’s needed is one small silent fan for each house or module. Nothing dangerous. EG. …ultra-modern, LIGHT-WEIGHT, plastic resin fan, with a ‘guard’ to protect fingers etc., for safety, encased in a plastic resin housing… How to maximise potential? Alter the shape? Twin fans? Or put in a row… Fitted onto the exterior EG. on a roof? Under? To spin… (Will we need Antifreeze?) (A Vent to open / shut?) (To also cool, extract?) (Detachable Mounting?) (Portable? Useful!) NOTE: How strongly the wind blows between buildings…A natural wind tunnel effect...

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1698520.htm ).

"Greenpeace proposed 1 million megawatts of wind power for 50 million homes by 2017 (= 10% of world's energy consumption) (Annual saving of C02 = 232 million tons by 2010, 1,889 Billion tons of C02 by 2020...) This needed political will to support - adherence to the Kyoto Protocol... Clean energy is within the government's grasp..." (1989 - 1990).

i.e. They’re not working on it. ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FROM WIND POWER: "Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low..." "Work with the wind..." "The wind shall be on our side." "May the wind be on our backs." "The wind is

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provide 63% of all our energy requirements by 1995..." Back to the National Grid? Wales: "One wind turbine providing clean energy for 500 homes. 'The Auto-Generator' has 2 blades..." “NO FRIENDS: ... these horrible, noisy constructions... as the years pass we see how undesirable these massive turbines are..."

CURRENT WIND ENERGY PROJECTS: GIANT Metal Propeller BLADES! "I've examined this blade in triple cut... The metal blade... The metal massacre... On with the slaughter?" “21 metres high!” MUCH TOO BIG. "... built by private developers..." “Cost to make ONE Turbine = £38 MILLION” (1990) “Cost has risen since then…” “7,000 vast Turbines to replace one power station." “The AMOUNT OF ENERGY to make these = The amount of energy produced in their life-time.” "Turbine Noise! Very NOISY." “NOT attractive / SPOILS the view, especially along the coast...” “Electro-Magnetic Disturbance: Interferes with TV's...” “WHERE CAN WE PUT?” "Not near me, thank you." "SITING WIND FARMS IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS: Britain is unlikely to reap the benefit of wind power... The siting of Giant turbines provokes fierce opposition (in other countries too EG. USA, Denmark)... a study 'Developing Wind Power Energy for the UK' urges developers to consider cheaper electricity for people living near community-funded and operated wind parks... and says the government should provide clear guidelines for planners... Without such steps, the chance to generate up to 1/5th of Britain's electricity from wind power will be lost" (1990). USA: "On wasteland, whole areas are devoted to huge wind farms- lot's of noisy whirring dangerous propeller blades..." UK: "A row of (huge) turbines dotted along the horizon... there would be no special benefit to the community / locality... neither cheaper electricity or much extra employment. Some complain of 'asset stripping' the country-side. Some say 'better than building another Chernobyl.' Local people are largely unimpressed... The New World Power Company Ltd., exhibition showing what a wind farm would look like, was not well attended... Most sites have given rise to constant opposition... the turbine blades would be too close to the roads for safety, access roads are not suitable for construction vehicles... the development contravenes the law which disallows industrial sites in rural areas..." (21/4/1994). "Out at Sea to take advantage of the wind there?" Cost? "Sea turbines were predicted to

(21/1/1994).

"... an inquiry is being conducted in Wales... whilst developers consider pro's and con's of new sites... a £100,000 cash gift given to the Chairman of the Planning committee may have influenced his decision to give planning permission... Developers also gave money to cash-strapped councils..." (20/4/1994). "There are a few wind powered villages in the UK, mostly in the islands..." "2O new wind farms expected to be given the goahead by end of this year. New guidelines... allowing residents who live near by to have a say. They hope wind farming will become more competitive by the year 2000" (UK, 15/6/1994). "A MENANCE & THREAT TO RURAL LIFE: Most of the potential of wind farms is in less developed countries where the rural population has no electricity..." (1994). "THE POWER TOWER: ... ambitious scheme to generate heat from the Desert = Wind farms dotted on hills.” (Uh? Use solar!) “If no breeze, blades don't turn... Method: Build a hollow tower, pump up water, spray it down middle... water evaporates, cold air sinks faster and faster... to drive a turbine = the 'perfect green power.' Tower 1,000 metres high, 10 towers could produce power for whole of Israel...” (Risk of Terrorist attacks?) “Demonstration power plant being built – will be situated along the Dead Sea. Cost £30 million. Will be purest fuel ever" (20/11/1995) "Israel are devoted to exploring Alternative Energy devices..." (“Water can be pumped using wind power…”) ADVERT: “A SOLAR STEAM GENERATOR: Inexpensive & reliable. Uses a mini-windmill. Kits available” (www.biohome.net ) "The UK Conservative party promised heavy investment in wind farms" (October 2004). EXPERT: In the future, if there is no wind the power station will switch to hydrogen fuel cell…” (November 2004) (see Hydrogen) (No! SOLAR!!! NO REGRETS!) NEWSCASTER: “I don’t think people realise how big these turbines are, or how many there are going to be across the country. Of course, people are happy to have investment in wind power but…” (UK, 29/11/2004).

Germany: “20 wind turbines surrounding one village. Can be seen 20 miles away. ‘I don’t want 226

course just as food mixers are. The target price would £1/Watt because that's the installed cost of large scale turbines." WIND-POWER FOR GREEN PERSONAL TRANSPORT: "You could even look at installing your own wind turbine at home if you want to power your vehicle from 100% renewable energy." A: “’Good Energy’ have a new tariff that pays you for the electricity produced from wind turbines etc., so you're (almost) being paid to drive an electric car!” A: “Has anyone considered a hovercraft? You can

to live looking at these.’ Majority now against them, even the campaigners for wind power. But with Climate Change, we have no choice” (Inside Out, BBC1, 21/2/2005) “Germany has 15,000 wind turbines…” (Don’t fly over there in your hang-glider!) “A report from the biggest wind power producer denouncing wind farms as too expensive & inefficient has been dismissed in the UK…” “Government grants means Tax-payers are subsidising this madness” (BBC, 26/2/2005). “The number of applications for planning for wind-farms is growing. A profusion of schemes. Their visual impact… ‘Inspectors are going to be required to take far more notice of local people’ said Tim Yeo (Conservative MP). ‘Do not impose them.’ Not clear- will applications already granted be changed?” (25/4/2005). “Planning permission granted for world’s largest wind farm (in Cumbria, UK). 27 turbines” (18/4/2005). Friends of the Earth: INTERNET DISCUSSION Re: Mini Turbines: Q: "Has anyone actually installed a mini-wind turbine on their house? They seem to cost about £1,000. How much vibration gets transmitted through to the walls?" A: "I haven't fitted one but the Swift turbine from Renewable Devices says that it's virtually vibration free. Not sure how they've achieved it, but for details:

buy them fairly cheaply from www.lynden.com/ahv/ They're efficient, can move quickly on land or water and are also fairly quiet. And they turn heads on the school run!”(July 2005).

“WIND FARMS ARE GETTING BIGGER: … more are being put in the sea. (Were) 150 metres high, now plus 30 ft higher than that of the Atlantic array… over an area the size of the isle of Wight… Giant, off-shore wind farms…” (BBC news, 17/5/2007). “NEW ANTI-WIND LEGISLATIVE PROVISION WOULD MAKE IT A CRIME TO PRODUCE CLEAN WIND ENERGY: Wind Group Condemns ‘Unprecedented Effort to Strangle Clean Energy and Subvert Key Part of Global Warming Solution.’ The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today sharply criticized a provision in a new bill introduced by Chairman Nick Rahall in the House Natural Resources Committee that the group said would ‘essentially outlaw the generation of electricity from new wind power plants in the United States and even phase out power production from existing wind turbines.’ The provision, Subtitle D of H.R. 2337, would: Bar any new wind power project until new Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rules are issued – a process likely to take years – and require FWS certification of every turbine Require all existing turbines, even small residential units, to cease operating 6 months after issuance of new FWS rules until they are ‘certified,’ an unwieldy bureaucratic process applying to many 1,000’s of turbines that, again, will take years Make it a crime, punishable by a $50,000 fine or a year in jail, to construct or generate electricity from an unapproved turbine, even for home use Undermine state and federal efforts to promote renewable electricity generation and subvert the growing movement to reduce global warming pollution Create an unworkable bureaucracy that will delay clean, emissions-free wind energy projects throughout the U.S.

www.renewabledevices.com"

A: "My advice is talk to the experts and get independent advice. EG. in London there's CEN (Creative Environmental Networks) www.cen.org.uk who will help you find grants and even do the necessary work on planning application if one is required. Because they are working in the field they know what works and what doesn't. Their advice is free and could prevent you making an expensive mistake." A: "There's also the Windsave one: www.windsave.com "

A:

"An

interesting

article:

www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4373148.stm

I can't believe that this man is the only person in London that has installed a 'domestic' turbine?" A: "Someone in Essex installed a 6kw turbine in their garden! They overcame 22 planning objections, which is impressive but also confirms my fears about the image that turbines have”: www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4374748.stm”

A: "6kw is a lot of power." A: "In my opinion, a domestic sized wind turbine, say 1m diameter should cost no more than a food mixer since it contains much the same ingredients. It would be simply wired in to the nearest point on the ring-main and turn the meter backwards. A device this size would not be intrusive and would produce enough electricity for efficient lamps, fridge, laptop computer and TV etc. At £100 it would be as cost effective as large scale wind turbines. It would have to be mass produced of

The legislative proposal follows on the heels of a May 3 report from the National Academy of Sciences that 227

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states, among other things, that ‘Clearly, bird deaths caused by wind turbines are a minute fraction of . . . total anthropogenic bird deaths – less than 0.003% [3 of every 100,000] in 2003.’ And the wind industry is already helping to fund groundbreaking collaborative research programs on bats and grassland birds to develop a knowledge base that would allow intelligent and effective conservation measures. Existing evidence suggests that fossil fuel-fired electricity generation, not covered by H.R. 2337’s requirements, has far greater worse wildlife impacts. Commented Gregory Wetstone, AWEA Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs, ‘Wind energy requires no mining or drilling for fuel, no fuel transportation, no hazardous waste disposal, and no water use; and wind energy generates electricity without toxic pollutants like mercury, without greenhouse pollution, and of course without the conventional pollutants that cause smog and acid rain. Is this really an energy sector Congress should close down, for environmental reasons? Wind power is an essential element of the climate change solution. Further increasing the percentage of electricity wind produces in America will provide much needed price stability, generate 10’s of $millions in revenue for farmers and rural communities, and create 10’s of 1,000’s of jobs. We should be looking for ways to accelerate wind energy’s growth rather than putting roadblocks in its path’” (23/5/2007 ref. www.awea.org ).

A small Hydro-Electric system = “Living on / near water? Create a channel (or penstock), position a small, light weight water wheel – this spins as the water passes through…(flow could = jets of high velocity... water), wheel connects to a turbine… (I’m sure scope exists for improvements…) (see Lightning) “IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET MORE ENERGY OUT THAN PUT IN: A Bright New Dawn: Oscillation of water produces steam... Using a simple mechanical resonant steam generator, more energy is got out than put in. NASA and other scientists have investigated this remarkable phenomenon- to date, unexplained, where this 'free energy' is coming from..." "Pressurised water can lift heavy weights..." BASIC SCIENCE: "Water surface tension- water can rise up 32 ft all by itself (9.7 metres). No pump necessary. Capillary tubes..." (Pressured Air, also suction – a siphon, can lift water…) "SEEK ‘it’ OUT IN YOUR LIBRARY!" Do research on using water to make energy, these days you will find there is very little choice! HYDRO-ELECTRICITY = "Generating electricity by energy of... falling water..." THESE DAYS = HUGE / MASSIVE CONCRETE DAMS: Stopping the flow of millions of gallons of water - holding it back… building a massive reservoir behind it ... to force it through sluice gates... energy only trapped at that point- the water flows powerfully crashes down and away... "The water level rose 3ft in 2 minutes..." “Don't fall in there!" "... with horror in his voice, he said there must be a hole in the Dam... There was an ominous distant rumble... the rumble grew louder and panic began to set in..." 7/8/1975: “The Shimantan Dam disaster in China. 250,000 people died. 100’s of 1,000’s of animals died. Homes, businesses, agriculture destroyed…” "I wish we'd never built this thing!" DANUBE: “Drinking water all along the Danube from Belgrade to the Black Sea in danger as a 650ft dam holding back 7 million tons of highly toxic industrial waste sludge threatens to burst. UN disaster relief mission in Geneva sending team of experts to Dam” (Evening Standard, 24/11/1992). China: “400 people lost their lives after a Dam burst sending torrents of water down onto villages. A big hole split open. 1,000’s of homes flooded…” (30/8/1993). "Canada and other countries depend on Hydroenergy for electricity..." "Egypt: Dam: Big problems with mud / silt affecting equipment - sludge dredged from river bed..." "A project to supply water all over Malaysia... A

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FROM WATER POWER: A NEW AGE = “… it will come!” WATER = AQUA: "This is the Age of the dawning of Aquarius... " Ah! What happens when water falls? A rainbow! (The symbol for Aquarius? …pouring water from one (small'ish) vessel to another (small'ish) vessel...) (What is the horoscope for Aquarians today? Aquarius: "Make a list of things ... and put them in order of priority. Then make sure that you stick to it. It's important if you are to succeed with some special plans...") ("The Aquarian is ahead of everybody. The Aquarian has taken it apart and examined every detail of it and still believes in it. The Aquarian is essentially, a realist.") "Water wheels were used more than 3,000 years ago..." "The Free Energy Flywheel: Do you remember the big old water wheels, made of wood, designed to trap a small amount of water – the weight of the water, turned the wheel perpetually… as the river flowed downstream? The house, built next to it, using the energy… to be self-sufficient? “THE WATER SHED?” 228

Dam commissioned by Hydro-Electric Company..." "£234 million spent building the dam. 'British Aid. To protect jobs' said J. Major" (26/1/1994) "Arms WEAPONS for Aid: Deal with Malaysia done so UK could win weapons deal... weapons sold with interest, at concessionary rates... Accusations of officials taking bribes. A deal arranged by Mrs Thatcher, now thought to be destructive. Taken 6 years for the truth to be revealed. Malaysia has cut trade with Britain" (25/2/1994) "More overseas Aid should be spent helping poor people. Aid should NOT be linked to weapons sales" (1/3/1994) "A deal Mrs Thatcher is still proud of! Work on dam continuing. Senior ministers were opposed to the deal" (3/3/1994) "Trade links restored... High Court decided Douglas Hurd acted illegally giving £234 million to dam project- will have to be given to Aid agency intended for. Project not economically sound" (10/11/1990). “VILLAGES VANISH AS DAM BURSTS: The reservoir burst after torrential rain… 6 million cubic metres of water swept through 4 villages. 140 houses swept away…” (re: Russia, Evening Standard,

engineering projects. Could devastate local Environment." "Norwegians selling powerful machines abroad. Could make great progress" (June 1990). "Extra funds wanted for wave power to exploit rougher Seas" (UK: 1991). "Sea power is much underplayed" (UK: 1993). "Environmentalists lost their battle to stop the barrage development..." (UK: 20/4/1994). "One Tidal Turbine cost £50 million. Provides power to 200 homes. 2 regions want government grants..." (UK: 3/11/2004). THE DUCK: "Bobs up and down in the Sea. Huge. 38 metres each long. A necklace of 400 = 1 megawatts = One power station. Cables may corrode- need replacing every year... therefore not considered to be cost effective..." (How are they encasing cables?) EXPERT: “(Large) Wave farms are becoming very popular” (16/2/2006). DESALINATION: "70% of the Earth is covered by (salty) water. It is a tragic irony that 400 million people in countries bordering the Sea still lack enough water to drink." “Ratio of salt in sea-water = 4%.” “Heat is purifier, water made into vapour, collected..." Sun = Heat, + Magnification = Increased heat = faster evaporation of water + solar energy = Hot water / Steam… "TURNING SALT INTO FRESH WATER is a breeze: Tenerife: Part is now desert due to lack of fresh water... Huge desalination experiment... 'The Seawater Greenhouse' powered by wind produces 3,000 litres of desalinated water a day. The building has a cardboard lattice, which faces the prevailing wind- wind slowed but passes through, trapping water droplets which drop down... Water is pure and salt free. Fantastic results. Could irrigate area 10 times its own size. Could transform desert. Relatively cheap and simple to build" (Tomorrows World, 2/6/1995). ADVERT: Working closely with water authorities, Du Pont scientists and engineers have devised an ingenious way to convert Seawater to drinking water. The solution, Permasep Permeator, is based on a highly advanced hollow fine fibre for the desalination of brackish and Seawater. Today... we are producing 2 Billion litres of drinking water a day in over 40 countries... supplying thirsty people with the thing they most desire- fresh drinking water..." (1990). New-Age Technology could = Nationally-owned (non-profit-making) Alternative Energy Desalination Farm/s in coastal regions, to forestall famines / blight EG. In Africa, using low cost, LIGHT-weight, easily transported / assembled

8/8/1994).

"LATEST THREAT: ... one of the last Amazon tribes... threatened by a huge Hydro-electric project... the forests are needed to sustain the tribes... the dam could drown 1/3rd of their territory and sink their chance of remaining selfsufficient... Brazil's boom or bust policy is the way to extinction..." (3/11/1994). "… the Irrigation water supplied by the dam- water evaporates leaving water too salty..." “IF an Earthquake should hit the dam…” “… whilst he was working building dams for the UN…” “PROFITS: "The miserable wet weather was worth a few £million to Hydro-Electric, the Scottish power company. Pre-tax profits rose 19.3% to £146 million... much of the growth due to increased sales in England and Wales... These exports were up by 15.5% on the previous year" (10/6/1993) "My cup overflows..."

“Hydro-power no good if there’s a drought.” WAVE POWER: Waves = Tremendous energy. How many waves per minute? Buffeting, pounding... Frequent swells, peaks. Waves finally die on the beachesenergy dissipated. Tidal currents... flood tides, ebb tides. Tidal flow... STORMS = Larger, stronger, more powerful waves... (Ah! A raft of plastic tubes, anchored, floating, 95% submerged in the sea (bonus ~ create a REEF). Waves push water in / through… turn water wheels inside the tubes…) (… then Desalination…) "Building (very heavy metal) barrages to trap swells in estuaries and the Sea. Vast civil 229

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70.6% of the total surface. The deepest Ocean is the South Pacific which is nearly 2 miles deep." (I wonder why we’ve got so much water!? Can’t we think of something practical we can do with it?) "You cannot tame the Sea, or overwhelm the Sea by force." "The Sea creates whole new areas of landthrowing up shingle." "The sea rose 300 ft and built a beach." "Wind, Sun, Sea, and vegetation shapes the landscape." "MAN IS DESTROYING THE SEA: It is vital the Sea must live. The Oceans are being perpetually fouled. It takes very little to poison the basis of life in the Sea- waste kill’s kelp, plankton, fish... The Sea has no defences against those who defy nature. Over-exploiters are clearing the Sea of fish- whole breeds are wiped out quicklystocks cannot recover. The Sea runs red when dolphins are slaughtered. The whale is dying out. The whale is the richest jewel in the Ocean." “The world’s Oceans once teemed with whales…” "It's a drop in the Ocean?" "½ the C02 produced is absorbed by the Sea." "1,000 million tons of water evaporates from the Sea every year, leaving pollution behind..." "Dangerous waste sinks deep..." “SEA BED TRAWLING: Bottom fishing, 1 mile down. Coral beds. Utter devastation. Nets scoop up everything. Altering 8,000 year old Ecosystems. Must be banned…” "God gave us life but it is up to us to decide what we want to do with life." "We do not have long to make a choice between a dead world or a world bursting with life." “THE NATURAL WEALTH OF THE SEA NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED! Man is using the Sea as a Cess-pit, dumping: Detergent. Pesticide. Mercury. Explosives. Refineries slop. Sewage. Man is extracting from the Ocean floor... Continually dredging... Mining. Building product sediment is causing harm... Rubber tyres are replacing destroyed essential reefs...” "If only I had all the tears that have been cried. I could set up in competition with the Atlantic Ocean." “Are you crying again? The world already has enough salt water.” THE PACIFIC OCEAN RADIOACTIVITY FEARS: Radioactivity from French underground nuclear tests is leaking into the Pacific. Water is contaminated with caesium- 134 and caesium-137. The French say the contamination is a legacy of 63 Atmospheric explosions conducted before international pressure forced a switch to underground testing from 1975. Since then 123 underground French tests, equivalent to more than 200 Hiroshima BOMBS have been monitored..." (31/8/1990).

/ installed (mobile?) modular structures… (see Wave Power) Water collected in plastic water tanks & heated using Alternative energy… steam rises; collects on cold glass? arranged in an inverted V-shape over, moisture runs down, collects… gravity fed to plastic containers & / or pumped… to provide ample water for

drinking & irrigation. By-product Sea salt. Impractical? Too complicated? “In Fiji you can become self-sufficient by using rainwater in large storage tanks, a pump and solar power. You can get a portable desalination unit…” (Re: Water CIRCULATION: “… the container of water should be big enough to store proper amount of water (weight = potential energy = amount of energy able to change into form of electrical current). How to make the container easy to use and to transport? … idea = the shape of a hour-glass- dynamo-electric machine in the neck to produce electric current while water falling down and one electric pump (powered from sun collectors) to pump water to upper chamber (to store energy), electric engine to turn the “hourglass” upside down, or the weight of water keeps this turning…” (ref. Robert Majko). 2) Re: Water PURITY: “Water can be divided into drinking, industrial, used & polluted / contaminated. A house is a place where circulation of all of them can occur. Drinking water is the most crucial, & must not be polluted (biologically, chemically, mechanically...) Estimate: Daily minimum water demand for one person is approx. 2 nd liters. I suggest having some backup... 2 in table of need is industrial... used to wash, clean, for bathing... It can be slightly polluted, as no direct danger to life, but better if pollution simply didn’t exist at all (no skin diseases...) 3rd important is used water. I suggest separation between water used for drinking and for industrial, because both demand different treatment and its hard (if not impossible) to regain drinking water from used industrial... Purifying water is not simple, so its better to avoid some ways of contamination... It means careful use of chemical substances in industrial circulation, separation between used drinking and industrial, preferring use of safe biological substances for cleaning in place of chemical heavily polluting... Well, when I mentioned once in my idea about using sun collector to distill water I didn’t know the process can be so complicated!. The distiller should have more than one chamber with different temperatures and with additional filters like carbon (to filtrate poisons). Some substances evaporate faster or slower than water- that means some substances are unable to purify from water by distillation (that is why other filters are needed). In the end we will have to choose between one large purifying specialist institution for larger community of modules owners or one miniaturized distiller reinforced with filters for one module (problems EG. risk of wrong use, not 100% purifying; the occupier will need to take some time and care)” (ref. Robert Majko).

SEAWATER: "The area of the Earth covered by the Sea is estimated to be 139,000,000 square miles, or 230

"Think of water not as a commodity but something unique that has to survive for millions of years." (In 1980, before privatisation, my yearly charge for water was £40). UK: "Mr. Ridley privatised Britain's water- not well, or accurately. (Only the rich could Afford to buy shares in the water companies). Water chiefs promptly awarded themselves 83% salary boosts…” (20/8/1990) and ... "raised the costs for water beyond the reach of low income families" (and the elderly). "Many businesses were forced out of business, unable to Afford the rising charges for water." “IS THE WATER SAFE TO DRINK? Danger on Tap: Up to 60,000 people in North London had to boil tap water due to bacterial contamination. Many people were not informed of the danger..." "8,000 people in Surrey were told to boil water after bacteria was found." “In 1984, 2 million people in Liverpool, Chester and Wales drank contaminated water in a similar way and 40% suffered phenol poisoning." "Officially, 19,000 people in the UK became ill after drinking tap water" (1989). "London tap water found to have levels of TOXIC WEED KILLER 50 times over EEC regulations. Experts warned Atrazine and Simazine, used to control weeds in roads, pavements and rail tracks, can cause cancer. Environmental Health said levels have to be 1,000 times in breach to be dangerous.”) "NO REGULAR WATER TESTS IN UK: They are ruling out regular water tests. 'There is no form of regulating water purity.' Chlorine, a chemical is used as a catch-all but doesn't kill bacteria and parasites that can cause (fatal) diarrheoa. 9,000 people a year suffer from this type of poisoning, which can also cause high fevers" (19/7/1990). "Chlorine is used to sanitise drinking (and swimming pool) water because this is cheap... Dioxin, a toxic by-product of chlorine, is 300,000 times more potent as a carcinogen than DDT... organochlorines and dioxins do not break downtherefore they bio-accumulate and persist in the Environment... chlorine used as bleach... enters rivers in huge quantities... the fish... that we eat... We should aim to be chlorine Free..." (“Most house-hold bacteria is killed at a temperature of 40 degrees…”) (“Can’t safely drink water from hot water pipes as hot water comes from copper pipes…”) "Reducing nitrate contamination to EC levels will cost £5 Billion. The polluted will pay" (1/9/1990). "LEGAL CHALLENGE ON WATER PURITY: The government's decision to allow 10 privatised water companies to breach EC standards on drinking water is to be challenged in the High Court. Friends of the Earth given leave to seek a judicial review... likely to start a test case against Thames

“RISING SEA POLLUTION: The threat to public health and marine life from pollution of Sea water around Britain is increasing. The discharge of treated and untreated sewage is the greatest health and Environment hazard. Fishermen have complained of strange skin allergies and fish taken from the North Sea have been found disfigured with pollution. High levels of chemicals have been discovered in dolphins and whales... Destruction of marine habitats is causing marine experts great anxiety. Man's fingerprints are found everywhere in the Oceans. Britain continues to pour effluent from approx. 12,000 'legal' discharge points..." (20/5/1993). “Discarded tiny pieces of plastic are contaminating the Oceans” (BBC, 6/5/2004). “Coastline wildlife in catastrophic decline. Many habitats destroyed. No off-shore planning (law to protect). Dumping allowed! The oil-rigs, the wind farms… We need larger protected marine areas…” (January 2005). “The effect of tropical fishing: Devastating. A 50% reduction in fish. The fish keep the algae down allowing coral reefs to breathe. Fish taken to satisfy the UK market for tropical fish-tanks” (22/1/2005) (“Oh Dad. All my fish have died!”) “… the Ocean has taken up approx. 120 Billion metric tonnes of carbon generated by man’s activities since 1800. The same pollution we believe is heating the world’s Oceans through Global Warming is also disturbing & upsetting the chemical balance of the Oceans… A study will look at the impact to marine life and re-emphasise the urgent need to respond to Climate Change…” (Ref. the US National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration, 2005).

“Probe into RISING OCEAN ACIDITY: Ocean acidity is gradually on the rise. The UK's Royal Society has launched an investigation into the rising acidity of the world's oceans due to pollution from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The change could have catastrophic consequences for marine life… The same pollution that we believe is heating the world's oceans...is also altering their chemical balance. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission reports that some 20-25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are being added to the oceans each day… Acidification may also directly affect the growth and reproduction rates of fish, as well as affecting the plankton populations which they rely on for food, with potentially disastrous consequences for marine food webs… ” (BBC, 17/8/2004).

WATER: "The Elixir of Life." "Invigorating... Capable of prolonging life indefinitely."

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Water Utilities..." "Water BILLS set to soar… house-holders face annual rises of 14% for the next 5 years... the increases add up to more than 70%... the money will be spent on filters and purifiers to meet EEC standards set down by the EC drinking water directive..." (8/2/1990). "The government promised £28 BILLION to clean up water" (September 1990) (No details!) "More than 20 tons of Aluminium sulphate contaminated water supplies in Camelford, in 1988. Approx. 2,000 people were exposed to level 6,000 times above safety levels... caused memory loss (brain damage) and skin problems. Long term effects include birth defects. No warning given for 5 days!” (18/10/1990) “People still trying to claim compensation” (2005). "Cannot remove Pesticides: The government is pressing the EC to relax drinking water standards..." (September, 1990). "Pesticides affecting tap water... present system is not tenable. Almost impossible for any human to avoid low level build up. Load on Environment. Need for action. Strategy?" (October, 1990). "Millions of bottles of (Perrier) water containing traces of cancer-causing-Benzene have been drunk in Britain in the last 6 months..." "Water poisoned with cancer linked chemicals... pumped into homes of 0.5 million people near the river Tyne... people complained of a foul taste, unaware they were the victims of one of Britain's biggest pollution blunders... Millions of gallons of water was drawn off the river and pumped to homes before being chlorinated. But when chlorine was added, this reacted with the pollution and caused dangerous chlorophenols. 'Why were customers not told? There is clear evidence Chlorophenols cause cancer... Special protection should be given to catchment areas collecting water.” "Consumers are paying more, for less!" The government said: "We'll look into it." Minister: "Quality is improving all the time. There are costs to that." "You mean consumers are testing water quality..." (House of Commons, 27/1/1993). "High level of lead in water... A call to remove old lead pipes" (1/3/1993) (“We’ve still got these.”) "London's tap water comes from the river Thames! Have you seen the colour of the river Thames? No wonder the water tastes disgusting!" "Stranded dolphins have died in the Thames due to pollution." (“Algae is spreading on lakes & ponds due to increased levels of CO2.”) "WATER TORTURE: ... it is not yet clear what the new Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive will mean" (16/6/1993). "They say the water we drink has already passed through 10 people!" Yeuch! I’d much rather have

filtered rainwater.” "London tap water has less potentially harmful chemicals... 468 samples put through 19,000 tests by the London Chief Environment Health Officer's Assoc., found no traces of the 2 banned toxic herbicides (Atrazine and Simazine) but did find traces of the replacement herbicide Diuron. 'There is no room for complacency.' Concern about tap water is the main reason for the boom in bottled water. London's water taste has improved since using improved filters with carbon which removes trace elements" (17/6/1993). (London’s water still tastes and smells foul).

"Londoners promised cleaner water- a £40 million Super filter is the 1st major change in 130 years in the way the capital's water is purified..." (1/7/1993). "EEC directives to clean up Britain's water will cost £28 BILLION (£500 per household). Government wants to delay clean up" (22/11/1993). "Tap water may contain sewage, residents on new housing development told... No-one will accept responsibility" (24/11/1993). "A new European row after J. Major told he was wrong to claim an important victory for British taxpayers over saving £millions on water treatment" (26/1/1994). "Water is being polluted with lead from old abandoned coal mines... turns water orange... more than 170 miles of waterways affected..." "Water along the river Severn polluted by spillage at chemical plant. People told: If you don't drink the water, then there's no problem'..." (17/4/1994). ADVERT: "Try the water test today! Water Purifiers and Filters!" (sold in UK. Main function to make hard water soft. These are not devices to check water is 100% free from harmful substances.) “Water bills un-Affordable for most families...” "Something has simply got to be done! We cannot keep paying water bills, whilst still having to buy water from shops!" (UK:2004). "HARD TO SWALLOW: Big water rate rises. 6times the level of inflation" (9/3/1993). Re: "WATER TORTURE: ... recent outcries... show clearly the delicate line the water companies need to tread between profit and social obligation..." (16/6/1993). "GROWING ANGER: DISCONNECTIONS by Thames Water soared from 61 to 852 last year. (Total disconnections fell 12% from 21,282 in 1991, to 18,636 last year). Labour said 'water is an absolutely essential commodity for life and health. To terminate delivery of that commodity to collect debt is unacceptable.' A Bill is being launched to make water disconnections illegal in England and Wales, as they are in Scotland" (11/5/1993) (Did that Bill go on the books?) "Dr. Barnado's report say families are forced to cut back on hygiene since water privatised... and meters installed. One woman got a £300 bill after 232

fleeced.’ ‘We can shop around for gas, electricitybut there is no competition for water. Where is the competition Mrs Thatcher used to rant about?’ ‘When are we going to say enough is enough?’ ‘Day-light robbery!’ ‘Ripping us off badly.’ PRIVATISATION = Selling shares to raise capital… to pay for… executive salaries, big bonuses, dividends, golden handshakes…” “Selling publicly owned utilities…” (Introduced by Mrs Thatcher). Privatisation copied all round the world… Ghana: Water privatised. Now people have this choice: Eat, or drink water- you can’t Afford both.” NEEDED: A radical re-think. ‘Water should be RENATIONALISED.’ Another excuse to misspend £millions?’ ‘The government should get their act together.’ No hope of government intervention. The ‘Affordability Review’ was published today. Has the Chancellor looked at it?” (2/12/2004). (The mains water supply comes into houses via underground pipes. A lot of water PRESSURE is evident in this supply. (What is creating this pressure?) As water is pumped around, this flow of water could be used to generate electricity. Invest in small efficient (plastic) Mini-WaterWheels, installed in water systems (by the pump?) so when water flows through pipes… energy is not lost...) "Diesel pumps are used to provide drinking water..." (Water supply companies could install (hydroelectric) water-wheels at pumping stations to create electricity- thereby helping to lower the price of water…) “… like Europeans, millions of Americans have been duped educated into the practice of filtering their tap water to “look, smell, and taste better.” Now, the new Filter Kettle combines boiler functionality with newest means to extort cash from gullible consumers filtration technology, the filter cartridge…” (Ref. Internet). “FOUL swimming pool TASTE & SMELL: Still cannot drink tap water- no confidence in purity or taste of supply…” “Only answer is to fit a water filter system to every householders mains water supply” (EG. see www.waterfiltersystems.co.uk ) Check out the number of possible contaminants! (All drinking water should go through a series of filters designed to remove all impurities... ) (As an extra / precaution, every home should have a series of water filters / auto-testing / warning system installed). “Explosive device found at water board authority" (23/3/1993) "Easy for anyone to put something in the water supply to poison people..." “MAN HELD OVER TERRORIST PLOT TO POISON WATER: An Irish terror plot to commit mass murder by poisoning England’s water

only 6 months... Water bills have doubled. 'We have to charge high prices to finance big projects such as building a huge drain underneath a town'..." (8/11/1993). "Complaints water meters are driven round too fast by air- registering too high a reading for water actually used. Water board can't be bothered to check if meters are working properly" (21/1/1994). "Scottish people voted NO to government plans re: ownership of water. Control will be taken from Local Authorities. The government say the vote does not matter! Local Authorities will do everything possible to get control of water back" (21/12/11994) “They call this ‘Democracy’...” "...The National Campaign for Water Justice, who are against compulsory metering, said: '... many metered customers feel victimised they have to pay for every drop of water'..." "Complaints from Londoners about rising water bills doubled over 1992- from 1,318 to 2,832" (22/6/1993).

("Water supply at busy caravan park poisoned with creosote. One tank serves 212 caravans..." 22/4/1994). "Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink..." ("I'm still thirsty. LORD. Let me be refreshed.") SOFT DRINKS: "£5 Billion a year profit. Big business. Too much sugar a bad thing. These type of drinks make you feel dehydrated so you will need to drink more…” “Soft drinks with lots of sugar and additives linked to causing stomach cancer…” “All you really need is a drink of fresh, clear, cool water. Water will satisfy your thirst." "Water is nature’s goodness. You choose to ignore." ("Water = Glistening jewels.") ("Distilled water is not good for you.") EXPERT: “If you buy bottled water to drink make sure this is labelled mineral water otherwise you are drinking the same as tap water.” ADVERT: “THE AIRWELL SOLAR DISTILLER: Removes all impurities, sediment, bacteria, minerals… Water from sinks etc runs through a closed system. Requires no batteries or filters. Hurry! Only limited stocks available!” (Ref: Biohomes www.biohome.net )

"Be sure to rinse utensils properly. Detergent causes bad stomach problems…" "Drinking water = 1% of the water usage in our homes..." (Water now costs me £540 a year. 2001). “Despite net profits of £79 million last year… Cost of water bills going up 45% over next 5 years in SW England… Low income families, pensioners can’t Afford rises… Sewage disposal charges much higher than cost of water” (see Human Waste).

“One water authority has 30 million customers…” “Customers very annoyed. EG. ‘We are being 233

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biggest waste of water? You spend ½ a pint and flush 2 gallons down the loo. Solution: Put a brick in your toilet cistern." "No rain for 14 days. Government says there's no hope. Water is only for essential use- not for watering gardens and plants. If you catch your neighbour, report them. Fines up to £450 if you are caught with a hose-pipe" (28/7/1990). Ah! Water shortages / meters stop us watering plants… when we need encouraging to do that! "That's not fair, to cut them off - those who regard hosepipes as a LIFE-LINE..." "Have you got water-guzzling crops?" (Big rush to buy Mediterranean Desert-style plants). "Yes, people do need to think about providing shade - to protect their favourite plants..." (The best way to provide lot’s of shade is to plant TREES which are fast growing, with lots of foliage, hardy and need little water to grow. Plant these 1st, then add plants which are ½ shaded, to create a perfect mix. If the temperature is too hot, use ‘poly-tunnels’ i.e. a series of large hoops with a thick polythene cover, open-ended, could have flaps.) ONLY RESPONSE: "I don't want my son getting involved with anything shady..." "Engineers are racing to make... the new- style… water meter which will enable water authorities to track down anyone using a hose-pipe... This will be less of a nuisance to house-holders..." (16/8/1990) ("I'd throw myself in the river but the water's too dirty!") ('ENERGY EFFICIENCY' IN JAPAN: "Big programme: Washing in cold water, using old bath water to wash clothes. 2 out of 3 people forced to use public transport...") "Last 4 winters below average rainfall- hence supplies are drying up. ¼ of water lost through leaks, as ground cracks, more leaks...” “The under-maintained pipes…” “6.5 million people not allowed to water their garden using a hose-pipe" (27/5/1992) (“Are those helicopters flying round overhead checking to see if we've got a hosepipe out? What is this world coming to?” “This country is going to the dogs!”) ("After the drought began in 1988, 6.75 million people had a hose-pipe ban…") PROFITS: … last years drought and the potential for another drought this summer… the water companies have invested heavily in new systems, like South West's new £25 million reservoir in Devon…. No-one sees the situation reaching the level of last year's stand-pipes... Expect bumper profits from the water companies..." "Our supply of fresh drinking water is drying up rapidly!" (August, 1992). "A year ago we had so much rain we didn't know what to do with it…"

supplies… by threatening to introduce weed-killer through the hydrants… All water companies on terror alert” (11/7/1999). "Water bills set to rise another 35% over next 5 years. Water Regulator accused of misleading customers... Successive governments have come up with no solutions to questions of Affordability..." (15/10/2004) (see: Chapter 14, Libya).

“Dear Customer, re: Water Bill Increases: May I say it gives me no pleasure to confirm price increases as we know all too well the issues of Affordability… we sympathise with those struggling to pay all their household bills… and we will continue to support any government initiatives which explores ways of helping… we have no option… to repay loans from Banks… to deliver high standard drinking water… to provide clean beaches and rivers… to ‘modernise’ treatment works and pipelines… and provide Environmental ‘enhancement’… we aim to do everything to minimise water bills… Charges will rise for the next 5 years…” (March 2005). WATER BOARD AUTHORITY ADVICE: “Chlorine in water is not harmful” (February 2005) What? (My Water bill is now £1,300. And the water from the tap tastes and smells of chlorine (& nickels?) The tap water is undrinkable even after being boiled. We used to have soft water, with no limescale. Now we have bad lime-scale. What have the water board done to our water supply? They recently did road works… I believe levels of chlorine have risen (June 2005). UK: “Sales of bottled water up 50% in 5 years. Market worth £1.56 Billion” (July 2005). WATER SHORTAGES: "Water, water everywhere, but only while stocks last..." "Severe water Shortage: PHEW! If you could come up with a scheme to make industry use less water- now that would be really helpful." (“Do all businesses that use a lot of water have meters installed?”) ("To manufacture one car, 100,000 gallons of water are needed.") ("The average family with 2 children, using a washing machine and dishwasher need 60 gallons of water a day.") (“… every time you open your dishwasher you are breathing in Carcinogens…”) (If you don’t use animal fat, you can wash dishes in a basin of cold or warm water.”) "10,000 tons of water can support 100 Nomads for 3 years. Or keeps 100 tourists’ holiday-makers going for 5 weeks." "15 million people face water shortage. Water levels are still falling" (UK, 9/8/1990). "18 million people now have a water shortage..." (UK, 10/8/1990). "There's a critical water shortage. EXPERT: "The 234

"IMPOVERISHED RIVERS: East Anglia has banned 600 farmers from taking water from rivers. There are also spray irrigation bans in 3 other counties." "Transfer of water from areas of plenty to the places of shortage - review of system needed. Pipe water to dry areas? It's not on. Not viable. Cost of installing! Water is heavy, bulky. Cost of pumping. Water meters are the answer to make people use water efficiently- this is sensible way of charging for water. (Cost to install one meter £300).” “Meters not cost effective- only little amount of water saved (10%).” Customers not happy... A National Grid water system for next 50 years?" (Use alternative energy to power pumps…) "Water RATIONING but still have to pay full water BILLS!" "WATER GRID: To beat the drought, the possibility of a national grid is being considered by the new government enquiry into the water shortage. Michael Howard warned that moving supplies from north to south would be 'extremely expensive' and has been rejected until now, mainly on the grounds of costs. Another Idea = Pumping water around the existing canal system rather than a purpose-built grid, would be looked at. 'Any ideas, particularly new ideas, will be very welcome'..." (26/5/1992) (Ideas that cannot be exploited to make money are invariably rejected). "EUROPE. THE WATER SHORTAGES across the continent- the drying up of rivers and streams. Ministers are being urged to RESTRICT its use. Domestic users ‘use too much water’ (30 gallons a day). They are considering large-scale water transfers from region to region. Confronting the shortage is the only way to avert the crisis"

"The solution to the water shortage is… in the hands of the water authorities... I used to pay about £200 a year in water rates. Told the average person uses approx. 1,000 litres of water a week, I went on a water meter supply and found I used 600 litres. Recently I have only been using 12 litres a week. How? Well, water falls out of the sky for free. My home is an area of 50 sqr m which has an average rainfall of 12 millimetres a week, producing 595 litres a week... The standing charge for metered water is £80 a year plus £0.70p per 1,000 litres used. So efforts to save water are pointless! If I use no water at all, the saving would only be £22 per year. Even if I drink only bottled water, can I save if my supply is cut off? No, they still charge for sewerage. So how about having no standing charge and charging more for water? It would then be practical to install systems to store and filter rain water to use in the home when needing lowgrade water (which could be filtered). The country would benefit through reduced demand for water" (letter by Jim Brightwell, 30/12/1992).

"The efficiency of saving rain water is dependent upon the size of tank used to store the water..." "All this muddle the government's got us in. Rising water bills we can't Afford, income's not kept pace with outgoings... increase in disconnections, metered charges- in effectwater rationing!" Most Commonly Used Phrase in Britain: "We've got to get an income..." (income means: money). "God! They're charging us so much for water! I can't believe it! Soon they'll be charging us for fresh air and threatening to cut that off if we don't pay!" "A company was fined over £3,000 for drawing more water from a well than their licence allowed"

(27/5/1992).

(16/2/1994).

(WASTE: All those plastic water bottles!) "...Over-extraction of water from our rivers... one company is licensed to remove 500 million litres of water a day! Unsustainable uses. Trees are suffering as a consequence..." said Prince Charles (speech interrupted by a huge downpour from the Heavens- it rained so hard he couldn't hear himself speak) (28/5/1992) ("Oh, it never rains, it pours!") "They want to create a 2nd river Thames! Digging a channel to catch floodwater (USA storm channel style) to stop houses being flooded but the channel runs through the Green Belt..."

UK: "198,000 miles of underground water mains." "800 tons of water per head estimated water consumption." "Leaks in OLD pipes = 23% loss of water." "A lot of water is lost through CRACKED and broken drains." “Each water board loses millions of litres every day through CRACKED pipes.” (Frost = Usually means burst metal pipes.) "Burst water main head-aches…" "BURST WATER MAIN: Millions of gallons poured for 24 hours. Unable to find the stop-cock. In Leeke Street, residents left to count damage- the water poured into flats... caused chaos" (Kings Cross,

(October, 1992).

"INSURANCE AGAINST DROUGHT = HUGE UNDERGROUND concrete PIPES." The Ground Is Cracking! "... the £250 million London Water Ring Main- will carry ½ the capital's water- a scheme for storing water 250 ft below north London... and will pay for approx. 4.5 million tests on drinking water quality" (1992) ("Have you noticed how London gets ‘sorted’ but everywhere else can go hang?")

30/3/1993).

"4 burst water mains" (26/8/1993). "Broken water mains turned Oxford Street into a river. Large stones smashed windows. Cause: Pipe fracture. Cause: Road works / 'Improvements'..." (30/9/1993). "Burst water main. Serious delays. Flats flooded..." HEXHAM: “Dependent on Emergency water supply provided by tankers (lorries). Flooding 235

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collect and treat sewage…” ("In the 1800's, people died of cholera in London when the Thames was used as a mass-sewer and outlet for factories...") UK: "Our health depends on old Victorian sewers- designed 200 years ago, built 150 years ago. An OLD system nobody has bothered to update." ("In fact, nearly everything we depend on, is Victorian...") UK: "143,000 miles of underground sewers." Sewers = Bricks, concrete. Tree roots crack the tunnels... "There is a hell of a lot of shit going down the drain..." “THE SMELL FROM THE DRAINS! Poowee.” "A collapsed sewer is going to take 2 days to repair, causing congestion..." "Mains sewer cracked- road going to have to come up again..." "... subjected to the traffic pounding above..." "Child fell down drains..." A bit of rain water - the drains can't cope... They describe it as a "deluge, torrential rain, a downpour." Roads flood, houses get flooded... suddenly things go out of control... because it has rained! "MOST DESALINATED, NATURALLY FILTERED / PURIFIED RAINWATER GOES DOWN THE DRAINS, mixes with the stuff in sewers - and ends up in the Sea!” Q: "What happens if the sewers flood?" A: "Question is- how much do you like shit? You'll look like shit." "FOUL FLOODING: Sewage flooding through your home is not classified as an Emergency! 1,000's of us are at risk from flooded sewers..."

has damaged mains water… Businesses closed. On the positive side, the storm water is now a freely available resource” (11/1/2005). PREDICTED: “More severe droughts / water shortages.” ("It's a gift. You've either got it or you haven't" said a water diviner.) “INDUSTRY WILL LEAVE UK DRY: Industry was warned their failure to save water is turning the countryside into a ‘desert-state.’ Businesses use 1,300 cubic metres of water every year- enough to fill 900,000 Olympic-size swimming pools and 3 times as much as is necessary- said Envirowise (the government funded efficiency body). They say the waste is contributing to the current water shortage… Environwise is promoting the idea of saving water by telling firms they can enjoy long term savings and tax-breaks if they do. ‘The cost of water will rise as increases in demand begin to outstrip supply. Therefore wasting water will be a massive drain on profits and the Environment…” (Daily Mirror, 9/8/2005).

“Too much water, too little water, water dried up… Oh! For Heaven’s sake…” THE FUTURE? Year 2024: “In the blazing heat, parched citizens no longer have running water. A rusted, battered lorry delivers water to the street where you ‘live.’ The very thirsty are rationed. Fresh water has become an extremely expensive commodity. People fight over a few drops… There’s no grass. No leaves on the few surviving trees. Shade = Keep your curtains closed. Food and clothing coupons issued… People drink whiskey… When the police arrest you, you have to give them your citizen number. They don’t do anything to cool you down…” (Ref. Book: ‘Water of Death’ by Paul Johnston). (“Alcohol and heat is a bad combination…” “We’ll all be decked, i.e. feeling rough!”) “Warning of water shortages in all major cities…” (BBC World News, 16/8/2006).

(Watchdog, BBC, 6/12/1993).

BRIGHTON: "Estimated 10 million gallons of part treated sewage is pushed out of outfall pipes locally each day... Southern Water are spending £30 million on a 3 mile storm tunnel to prevent sewers overflowing in heavy rain. 'This will go some way to cleaning up the sewage but this is not the complete answer.' ... Over the next 2 years, spending 100's of £millions (£100 per person)... 'We have to proceed at a pace our customers can Afford.'..." (16/7/1993). "Thames Water, has approx. 11 million customers... over last 3 years, has invested £260 million to 'modernise' 157 sewage works, with more investment in the pipeline..." (1992). "Communal drain blocked... sewage seeping out... call someone who knows how to fix... spend hours finding the interceptor...” “What a job! Up to my elbows in other people’s shit!” Going into the Sewers = Airborne Bacteria. A JOB NO-ONE SHOULD HAVE TO DO! (If you must make robots - use them for dangerous places such as this). "The rats are coming up from the drains..."

HUMAN WASTE: “Nobody gives a shit any more” ? You don't give a shit? “No Shit” ? “You're full of shit!” “We all shit and pee. We ALL have this in common." ("To achieve healthy living one must facilitate transit. You've got to clear out of the body everything you've put in, every 24 hours.") (“Sewage contains harmful bacteria that break down matter. If sewage enters the body via wet tissue EG. the eyes, mouth… terrible infections caused. Hence smell- to put people off…”) "We face a Global sewage crisis..." “What is the best way to deal with raw sewage? We cannot carry on dumping effluent into the Sea and rivers... We need a viable, cost effective solution… that can be adopted around the world, to update the way we 236

"Monstrous madness- risk of Explosion coming from sewer (genocide attack). "We have no defence against this type of attack." Unleashed insanity. That could happen anytime." (“We are looking for a solution so we can keep our drains without putting covers on…”) "Progress = Polluting the water!" "19 SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS FAIL POLLUTION TESTS: More than 30 companies are paying £20 million to secretly dump industrial waste into the sewers in the London area. Chemical from agricultural and industrial sources were discovered EG. Lindane- a wood preservative- banned in 6 countries, but legal in UK. The poison gets into the rivers... Traces of the banned pesticide dieldrin, a carcinogen, have been found around the Thames estuary. Fish have undergone sex changes caused by contraceptives and industrial detergents leaking into the river from sewage works. Treatment works cannot cope with the flood of waste. The Thames is being used to dispose of all this industrial waste but treatment works are not up to the job. Thames Water said: 'There was under investment in the past... which is why the National Rivers Authority report showed failings..." (12/8/1993). The conventional approach = The Water Board cleans the water, adds chlorine… You pay for ‘drinking’ water you cannot safely drink, you use this water to fill washing machines and flush toilets- all this goes back into the drains, where it mixes with rain water, it goes to the sewage farm or sewage outlet to the river / sea...

SUGGESTION: A CONTAINER SYSTEM: A small modern unit, fitted into wall / panel –a pull-out, extendable- short hose, that blows a blast of air. Press button control (for cleaning toilet bowl). Toilet Bowl: Light-weight, solid resin (not heavy ceramic) (with/out wood seat) (semi-circular shape so flat against wall / panel). No U-bend. Under the bowl: Hidden from view: 2 slot-in / out rigid plastic containers- one on top of the other. Waste enters the top container… liquid drains / collects in the lower container. Containers changed / collected for recycling (with other waste, regularly) solid waste put in a hot air, auto-drying tank, the separated liquid recycled… Could something like that work?

To replace the need for underground sewers? “Yeh. And then the shit will really hit the fan…” “We need to get back to Basics.” Ah! We’re kind of our own little self-sustainable factories. Very clever design! Nice thought. We each produce enough of the stuff needed to grow all we eat! Just dry all the poo, crumble it & BINGO! www.Sun-mar.com make & sell “a composting toilet…” “METHANE CONVERTER: Uses the heat from the sun onto a closed chamber of human waste to produce gas to support gas appliances. A burden is replaced with an energy source…” “THE GREEN ROOM: Human urine contains all the nitrogen needed to feed plants…” (Ref. www.biohome.net).

"LONDON’S SEWERS: Designed to cope for 900,000 people. Now system used by 9 million people. Cost to replace £140 BILLION" (October 2004) (using traditional methods...) INSTEAD OF completely replacing the existing (underground) sewage system… update / reinforce by lining inside existing tunnels with pipes made from recycled plastic? One-way

"The chairman of the Water board authority committed suicide by throwing himself into the river Thames. He had discovered he had a disease causing uncontrollable shaking..." (UK, May 1993).

"Treated sewage is sold as an expensive fertiliser" (UK, 1990) (Not sure this is true! See: slurry) "THE SEWAGE GARDEN: ... Prince Charles opted for a natural sewage recycling scheme... raw sewage drains into a bark-filled pit, to catch solids, strained fluid pumped over bed of reeds- absorbs nutrient and neutralises nasties in the effluent. Perforated pipes will allow the fluid to drain down a withy bed planted with osiers, which further clean the water. A reed bed 10m x 3m treats the waste from up to 45 people. This system purifies water to a far cleaner standard than the legal requirement for sewage effluent, also reducing chemicals EG. ammonia and nitrate, which mains sewage treatment cannot do... an advantage would be a slope to allow a trickle feed- failing that a small pump is needed... The crystal clear water ends up in the lake..." (Good Farmer Windsor, BBC, August 1993) (Great, but not practical if you don't have your own lake) Why can’t all sewage treatment works have reeds beds? Take too much space? Uh? (Do we need a different toilet / sewage system?)

valves- to stop the flow back up? Outlet pipes into rivers etc., capped, to stop waste draining into rivers... Fine mesh, made of robust material- filters to reduce the amount of debris entering storm drains (and stop rats?).Water i.e. rainwater (and waste water from sinks, showers, washing machines etc) should enter a separate plastic pipe system, within the building for recycling...

"Berlin's ‘State of the Art’ system = 51% of shares held by consortium. A utility company hold 49%... Drinking water of faultless quality. Sewage system maintaining high quality of lakes and rivers... Sedimentation tanks... Sludge (slurry) incinerated- heat used (bio-solid mass). 61% of pipes made of concrete. 2.8% plastic... 200,000 man-holes..." (2004). “14 sewage treatment plants in SW England need updating…” (2/12/2004). STATIC ELECTRICITY: "This nylon carpet charges you like a dynamo!" NYLON: “Synthetic plastics material....” UK: "STATIC SHOCKS: The weather is giving motorists a shocking time... drivers are being zapped by powerful static electricity charges 237

CHAPTER 6: ENERGY

tense X-Rays- radiation- Gamma Rays- very harmful.” “THE HEAT ISLANDS EFFECT: It seems lightning activity may be increasing over Urban (built-up) areas. Frightening. Disturbing. Heat, up-draughts from Cities- more traffic, more pollutants… Cities are warmer than surroundingsthis warming affecting storms- making them stronger & longer lasting… The implications? We aggravate the lightning at our peril. The unintended consequences of our actions…”

which have built up... Motorists have been sent flying by jolts. Sparks can be seen when drivers touch their cars in the dark.... Car accessory shops have sold out of anti-static devices around the country. Halfords said: ‘It seems an awful of people have been zapped.’ A Weather Expert explained: 'We all build up an electric charge... That normally seeps away through moisture in the atmosphere, but when the weather is dry, the charge continues to build up until you touch something metallic. He warned: the smaller the contact, the sharper the shock'…" "Aluminium attracts static..." "There’s so much static interfering with radio waves, I can't hear the radio!” ELECTRO-STATIC: "Can static electricity keep planes in the air? Static in the air. Research sitting on shelf for years- only just realising its potential... Exhaust gases carry an electro-static charge- varies occasionally, due to debris- engine wear and tear. We could use this to… detect faults. EG. Helicopters: Rubbing rotor blades can be detected before damage caused to casing. Readings recorded. Tested on military aircraft to improve air safety. May have commercial use" (10/3/1994) (Good one, but I think you've missed the object of the exercise...)

(BBC4, 18/12/2004) (see Chapter 16 / Space).

ELECTRICITY: 1940's: "The filth and stink of the ancient world. Smog. Thick, yellow. 'The Pea Souper.' Cause: Millions of people burning coal. In week, 4,700 people died due to polluted air. Contaminated with Sulphur dioxide (acid). Crept into people's houses through windows etc. Couldn't see hand in front of face. Eventually, government forced to bring in smokeless zones. The new fashion - move smoke away from peoples homes." "The CLEAN AIR Act became law following the 'Great London Smog' in 1952, in which 7,000 people died. This followed 600 years of ineffectual legislation on air pollution in London." “30 years ago, sudden price hikes at the petrol pumps, electricity rationing, power cuts and industrial turmoil threatened to spiral an Energy crisis out of control…” "Britain's electricity comes from power stations that are coal powered." "Coal heated in metal cylinder, produces Gas... residue = Coke, which is then burnt as fuel." "National Power has over 40 power stations and are the biggest manufacturer of electricity in England and Wales." "Britain's power stations burn enough coal each year to cover 125 miles to a height of 30 ft." "Working in the mines was a filthy, hard job." "Years and Years of Heavy Mining: 1973, the largest colliery tip in Britain covered 114 acres, height 130 ft, with 18 million tons of slag, situated in Lancashire." 1990: "The UK has enough coal to last 30 years." COAL = FOSSILISED REMAINS OF RAIN FORESTS. THE ENERGY GAP: "Britain imported more fuel than Britain exported in 1989- this was the 1st Energy Trade Deficit for 8 years. The boom had gone... Taking oil, coal and gas into account, including spending £222 million buying electricity from France, Britain ended up £76 million in the red, in 1990, compared to a surplus of £6.4 Billion when the boom peaked 3 years previously..." POLLUTION: "Power stations are the largest producers of CFC's. “ "For every £5 we spend on electricity, we are sending our body weight of Carbon Monoxide into the atmosphere."

LIGHTNING: “Lightning strikes somewhere on the surface of the Earth about 100 times every second.” Q: “What do you think lightning is?” A: “GOD is moving his furniture…” “NATURAL ENERGY made by water under pressure…” LIGHTning = A Bright Spark + Moisture droplets… create intense electrical activity. SPRITES = Enormous discharges of electricitymuch bigger then bolts. JETS = Giant plumes of lightning” (discovered by University of Taiwan).

"One storm generated 59,000 lightning flashes. How to harness this Free electricity? 1 bolt worth £20 domestic value" (24/9/1993) (H’mm. Emulate technique for the CREATION OF LIGHT! (‘Capture’ via solar collectors). “How clouds start a lightning bolt / How a bolt is generated, is still the biggest mystery. We don’t have the complete picture yet.” “…it’s all coming together = Scientists are triggering lightening by firing rockets into clouds, using copper wire…” ("Plastic makes great lightening rods...") (“…metal in a microwave sparks…”) "… the lightning came out of the telephone..." “Lightning creates and destroys… Lightning might have made the chemicals that caused life to grow. Lightning plays a fundamental role in our planet. Lightning produces Nitrogen (by setting fire to trees) to feed plants & produces amino acids….Recently discovered: Lightning emits 238

THE PITS: "Entire climate altered by industry gases..." DESTROYING FORESTS: 1984: Problem: Acid Rain depositing Sulphur and Nitrogen based contaminants over vast areas, now reaching critical levels... 1,000's of lakes poisoned, and millions of trees in Europe dying as a result of poisoned water and soil from wind-borne pollution... Trans-boundary pollution... Greenpeace protestors had climbed and occupied chimney stacks throughout Europe to display banners which said: ‘STOP ACID RAIN’.... At an international convention, in Munich... a resolution called for curbing of Sulphur Dioxide emissions... The UK, USA and Ireland refused to abide by the spirit of the motion..." (“… it doesn’t stink of Sulphur.”) "No-one knows the long-term effect of ACID rain on plant and animal life. Acid mist causes the most damage"

much competition as possible." SELL-OFF OF PUBLICLY-OWNED ASSETS described as: "Deregulating" i.e. this = "More Power to Smaller Companies” i.e. "There is nothing to stop Communities settingup their own power generators, providing they do not sell power." In other words, Communities could, if the means were available, become SelfSufficient regarding electricity.” "Britain uses £8 Billion worth of electricity every year, giving power companies £60 million profit." "PowerGen announced losses of £80 million, blaming £200 million spent on privatising" (31/7/1990).

DISCONNECTION NOTICES were issued in abundance, threatening to cut supplies off. "If you do not pay the charges due, disconnection of your electricity supply might proceed without a warrant." (In other words, demanding money, with menaces!) “Pay Up! Or Else! People still live in fear of electricity bills…” The cost of utility bills causes untold worry, and many bitter arguments over money. “HOBSON’S CHOICE: The Electricity Board or The Electricity Board.” POWER means: "Ability to impose one's will, especially if large and influential." BLACK OUTS: "Even the BBC was plunged into darkness for 7 minutes after London's 2nd biggest power failure in 2 days." "11,000 fans of 'New kids on the Block' missed seeing their idols when a power failure blacked out the concert..." (May 1990). DARK SIDE OF THE CITY: "More than 100,000 people were without electricity following a fire at a key generating plant..." "... looters smashed windows and stripped stores after the lights went out in Chicago... 3 people died when their home was set alight by candles..." UK: "22 million customers are supplied by 12 electricity companies." POWER CRAZY: Our total dependence on electricity! Computers = Operating Systems at airports, in shops, Banks…) electricity for cooking, heating, lighting... We only have to be without electricity for 30 minutes and then ALLHELL BREAKS LOSE! "3rd power cut..." "What are we to do? This could lead to .... CHAOS!" "A power cut during dialysis can be fatal." "Accidents always increase during power failures." “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM?” City lights for advertising hoardings, shop and office lights etc., left on all night... (‘Stars’ live behind electrified fences, to keep fans out...) "There is scope for Energy Efficiency measures

(1989).

ACID RAIN: "The west of England suffers some of the highest levels of acid rain levels in Europe" (re: Environment Department report).

"Plans to install FILTERS in power stations to combat acid have been DUMPED by the government ‘to safeguard electricity privatisation plans.’ .. The filters cost of £4,000 million is ½ the cost of privatisation... The Conservatives say they will meet EEC regulations by importing lowersulphur producing coal... The only supplier is South Africa... even if the government breaks the EEC ban on South African coal... this wont solve the problem... the FILTERS would have REDUCED pollution by 90%" (February, 1990). "WHAT A WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY!" "Privatising electricity described as 'disastrous'... 4,000 tons of paper used in privatisation documents... " "The City will win, the customers will lose." "£50 million paid to consultants by the government privatising nationalised industries." "The government wants to pay Lord Hanson £15 million for making a bid for electricity giant PowerGen- a good return for his company's £600,000 donation to the Conservative Party…" PLEDGE: "The government promised to maintain electricity prices until 1995..." The government used images of Frankenstein (and lightning) to sell privatisation to share-holders. (Did the public think / hope electricity was going to be made naturally?) "FURY AT PRICE RISES: The average family’s electricity bill is set to rise £50 over the next 3 years to more than £300 per annum!" "Angry Labour MP, Frank Dobson claimed profits were being fattened for privatisation... He said coal prices had fallen 6% but power prices had risen 12%." To justify the decision to sell off electricity, Cecil Parkinson said: "I am determined to introduce as 239

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and consequent contributions to Environmental well-being whenever there are proposals for expenditure on any energy consuming activity such as housing, public buildings, leisure services, lighting, refuse disposal, transport etc. " said the government (1990). "WORLD ENERGY CONFERENCE: (January 1992): BURNING ISSUES: World Energy consumption is set to double by the year 2030 and again by 2100 unless restrictive measures are introduced

CON: "There's no market for coal." CON: "TAX ON DOMESTIC POWER: ... will hit the poorest families who cannot Afford fuel bills without Tax!" "A very hard decision for me to take. I realise it will cause great difficulty. We must have a sustainable budget, under control- will aid recovery. This will help provide jobs, cut our borrowing, deficit, help exporters. I am not here to care about tittle-tattle. My job is to do the best thing for the country. We've got to do something to conserve Energy. Every other country puts VAT on domestic power and fuel. Since the General Election we have signed an agreement to reduce Climate Change- that means putting the level of VAT up. Instead of cruising, tell me what the alternative is" said Norman Lamont (17/3/1993). HEATING YOUR HOME IS A LUXURY? PEOPLE POWER COMMENTS: "He's busy putting lights out..." "Like lambs to the slaughter, we are locked in their control- no way out, unless... you tell me what you got tucked away. Can the whole world see, now the point of Alternative Energy? "We'll have a field day. He'll turn round. But whether he'll let us go... We'll just wait and see." "HEAT, OR EAT? What will these people do now?" “Cry? Cry? Cry?” "Look, you don't need to waste your precious money, buying all these other things... We need rescuing..." "Save it, save it, save it..." "THE PEOPLE ARE POWERLESS." "Is there an alternative? What could it be?" “Let there be no doubt about it…”

(Ref. The Intergovernmental Plan on Climate Change).

(“The British government have accepted a Tax on transport fuel...”) “The EC has finalised proposals to Tax the energy / carbon contents of all fuels... Experts estimate such a tax would reduce CO2 emissions by 3% by year 2000... The (Dept. of the Environment's) Building Research Establishment said the UK could save 35% of the energy used in buildings” (I am not aware of details provided as to how this was to be achieved). “The government estimated 20% of all energy used in Britain could be saved from an annual fuel bill of £50 BILLION. The power companies are looking at ways to build more efficient power stations using 'Greener' fuel EG. Combined Cycle Gas Turbine stations... Energy Efficiency is known as a 'No Regrets' strategy..." (1992).

Europe = 20% of the world's population, yet Europe consumes 80% of the world's resources." A PRIORITY: THE NEED TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION! Energy Efficiency measures = SAVE POWER WITH LIGHTS! "Power savings could be made with better lights = Efficient lights in offices, factories and homes could cut reduce electricity demand by 8% and Greenhouse Gases by 5%." The Government’s 'SAVE IT' campaign: "Put the light out." "... the revised Building Regulation targets now before Parliament, will save £42 a year for each new dwelling" (Ref. National Audit Office paper, 1989). PEOPLE SAID: "Bloody fan heater. Back of my legs burnt to a crisp, but the rest of me is freezing cold!" (All the complaints seem to be stating the need for it!) ELECTRICITY PRICES ARE GOING UP... again? "Jobs to go at British Coal. Coal no longer needed. Stockpiled. Enough for a year. Cheap imports blamed. 'Sack the Tories, not the miners!' Mass rallies” (protests) (October 1992). "Call for more coal to be burnt- 45 million tonnes. More gas powered power stations?" (25/11/1992) (I

Gordon Brown (Shadow Chancellor for the Labour Party) said: "We have built everything there is to

build. Are we lazy? No, but we're falling behind. Our future lies in our skills. The skill revolution is the key to our survival. Yes, there is an alternative- a policy for growth... a new economic policy where everyone should have the chance to improve themselves. We'll work best when we're all working together" (18/3/1993). "There is a new market for coal" said Labour. "Burning it, instead of cheap imports." "If we don't make Britain's economy competitive, our children will be ashamed of us" (said Michael Heseltine).

"GIANTS SET FOR BONAZA: ... the big electricity companies are poised for another surge in profits, certain to bring fresh outcry from struggling customers... Seeboard's profits rose 66%. Scotland some regional companies profits rose 77%. London Electricity- a modest rise to £17 million. Eastern Electricity- £22 million. These profits are from over the summer months... profits by the end of the year likely to be 10 times higher..." (17/11/1992). "A RIGGED ENERGY MARKET has put workers out of work. We could end up dependent on foreign power (French Nuclear Power). Privatising coal handled less than honestly. We should use

wonder what the chief of the Coal Board has to say about it?”)

“’Smokeless’ coal still produces smoke…” "GOVERNMENT'S PLANS WONT WORK: ... dismay bordering on disbelief..." "The British public are subsidising British coal by £1 Billion a year." 240

coal to make oil, to make chemicals for selfsufficiency" said Tony Ben (for Labour). "The Conservative government's plan was approved." "Coal subsidies will continue for another 2 years..."

There'll be increased contamination, adding substantially to acid rain. Dust contains Heavy Metal. We asked for special filters to be installedso far they haven't. Another nail in the coffin..." “LICENSED TO POLLUTE: ... a former BP employee said: "... years ago acknowledged burning Orimulsion had a direct connection with cancers in the workers who deal with this." "Environmentalists say the dust is high in Sulphur- emissions will rise... At Richborough, 300,000 tons of Sulphur came out of the chimneys in 1990... Orimulsion when burnt gives off high levels of Vanadium- a toxic gas, and nickel- a cancer causing metal... Why are PowerGen happy to burn Orimulsion (from Venezuela), when BP have developed emulsion lubricants that are not carcinogenic?" (5/8/1993). "VAT ON ENERGY will cause many deaths due to hypothermia... a cold climate surcharge... Many people rely on heating oil- they will not be able to Afford to keep warm..." "Glasgow: Poor quality housing called 'fridges with windows.' Hard to heat. Much colder in Scotland. "I don't want to freeze to death!" "The aim is to collect an extra £1 Billion in tax." "Record low temperature in Scotland -10” (22/11/1993) "How can a 'cold weather payment' to reimburse VAT compensate for a £750 electricity bill?" "NEW POWER STATIONS COMING ON LINE: …will burn stockpiled new rubber tyres- old tyres cannot be burnt! This is fashionable... This will increase CO2 emissions! One station will power 25,000 homes." "THIS FOOLISH GOVERNMENT!"

(23/3/1993).

“NO NEARER TO FINDING THE SOLUTION: ... Gas FIRED power stations will go ahead..." (29/3/1993).

"Government perpetuating fraud. A rigged market. There’s no market for coal? The government's really asking for it." AN UNHEALTHY OVER-DEPENDENCE ON GAS, ELEC & CARS: "A world totally dependant… Bloody dangerous times we're ‘living’ in!" "Let's stick together and make it happen." ("Accept the challenge and it could be all yours.") "POWER DOMINATES THE GAME." “The only currency that matters is money? "We need an urgent overall energy review- a new policy" (1993). ("… it's quick, it saves money and you don't have to put the heating on." "Are YOU willing to be converted?") ANOTHER POWER CUT! “What's happening?” “Why's nothing working?” "We're trying to see in the dark! “Oh, God. Oh! If it’s not one thing, it’s another..." “All the traffic lights have gone out! Traffic's absolutely chaotic! All the shop-keepers fridges have stopped working! All the shops are in darkness. Spooky! What is it? Is it an overloaded circuit? Who knows? No-one explains! It never gets on the news...” "APPROVAL GIVEN for a 1,000 megawatt power station in Barking... will pump out an extra 5,500 tons of nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere"

(19/11/1993).

MOP: "Oh, my God! This bill is astronomical! We can't keep giving money to these faceless corporations! It's about time we stopped being dictated to! We are being terrorised! Held to ransom! What if they suddenly doubled our bill? It's a stand against bureaucracy. What should we do? Put a windmill in the garden?" ("H'mm. How to get the better of the National Grid?" "Make the most of it!") “MASSIVE POWER FAILURE: Liverpool's power supply closed completely! 100's of people stuck in lifts... The lights went out! Such a shock!"

(12/5/1993).

"GRID PLUG: .. the difference between electricity capacity and peak demand is set to narrow markedly in the next 7 years... UK will have much less 'spare' power... a study has highlighted the commercial potential for new power stations... 10 power stations with a total capacity of 3075 megawatts are to close... Generators only required to give 6 months notice of closure... Market conditions may lead to terminations of new power station projects... “ GROWTH: “Demand for electricity set to grow at an average annual rate of 1.6% for the next 7 years"

(13/12/1993).

“MORE TAX ON ENERGY: Gas and electricity were slammed over plans to hit domestic customers with a new Tax on top of VAT bills... which will be back-dated... the only way hard-up families can escape the Tax is to pay in advance but many millions cannot Afford to do that... The power companies already make vast profits from pre-payment" (23/1/1994). "I think all people over the age of 60 should have FREE energy subsidised by the profit made by power companies..."

(18/5/1993).

“National Power (a private company): 400,000 jobs shed last years. Productivity up 25%. Further job cuts due." "COAL STOCK-PILED: "The coal no-one wants is stockpiled. 40 million tons. Doubts private operators will find a use for it." "By 1994, the UK will have 600 million tons stockpiled" (23/8/1993). “PUTTING THE CLOCK BACK: PowerGen given permission to BURN the world's filthiest fuel. 241

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Renewables 2%, Others 3%, Gas 38%... The figures do not stack up… The effects could be the harshest in a particularly cold winter when the power cuts would be most likely due to a peak in electricity demand… The fuel poverty situation would get even worse… ‘There is so much instability and uncertainty in the system now that companies don’t want to invest in the UK.’ The Energy worker’s Union, AMICUS, has been at the forefront of those calling on the government to urgently reassess the UK’s energy strategy… The impending European Directives on carbon emissions… ‘It was absolutely crazy for the government to pin hopes on imported natural Gas for the bulk of UK’s electricity… We could be held to ransom… ’…” (Western Morning News,

"Rise in childhood leukaemia. What could the cause be? New studies- evidence of link... ElectroMagnetic fields- a form of radiation... coming from electricity appliances, meters, power lines, pylons? Readings taken way above maximum safety level..." (Panorama, BBC, February, 1994). "MORE PRICE RISES DUE..." (UK, October, 2004). I wonder what Electricity prices will be when the Earth cools? “COULD THIS BE THE ANSWER? To keep Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station running for 1½ hours, 1300 tons of coal are needed, causing 10,000 tons of C02 to be pumped into the atmosphere… Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity is one of the biggest causes of Global Warming. The Prime Minister, T. Blair, told The World Economic Forum that whatever the world does to tackle Global Warming, the World simply wont be able to stop burning coal, oil and gas for decades to come. Stopping burning is unacceptable to world leaders. Mr Blair is pinning his hopes on carbon capture and storage which means fitting power stations with filters in chimneys- the carbon would then be piped to modified Gas rigs at Sea and pumped deep underground to pressurise oil and gas fields so that oil companies can get the last drop of oil out… One estimate is CO2 emissions could be cut by 45% by 2020… Coal-fired power stations have to be refurbished by 2015… But this comes at a price. The equipment needed is expensive to fit, and the cost will push up electricity prices and make power plants less efficient. So power operators will not agree to do this until told to do so by politicians- who have yet to agree on making such big cuts in emissions. The trouble is the cost of carbon credits in the new emissions-trading markets is so low, it is not worth it…” (Julian Rush, 2/2/2005). “BLACK OUT FEARS: A report has said $12 TRILLION is needed by 2030… Electricity (and gas) companies are struggling… They need to do something to create stability around the world”

19/3/2005).

“ELECTRIC SHOCK: “Scottish Power plans to hit 5 million customers with higher bills despite doubling profits to £330 million…” (10/2/2006). “MASS PROTEST: 100’s of Environmentalists demonstrated at a power station against Carbon emissions. Slogan: ‘Free, clean, green energy now!’ (I think that was what they were saying). Carrying Rainbow flags. Drax (coal) power station emitted 21 million tonnes of CO2 to provide power to 7 million homes. 35 protestors arrested…The Conservatives don’t want a radical energy policy that will change anything- they want a Green Tax… A GREEN REVOLUTION is dawning but is it coming soon enough? The commodity we are running out of is TIME” (UK, BBC, 31/8/2006).

NUCLEAR POWER: Nuclear FISSION: "When neutrons fired at a nucleus, becomes unstable... fly apart. Strong force released." "In nuclear power stations, they use fission of uranium or plutonium, depending on reactor. Very Dirty Pollutants. A HAZARD.” Nuclear FUSION: "4 atoms of hydrogen, 4 separate protons. ‘Persuade’ them to join together to form one nucleus- atom of helium derived...” (Helium: “Explosive, flammable Gas.”) (Fusion coming together, huge amount of energy released.") (Huge = “…over the top…”) "Generating enormous amount of heat by a catalyst effect (i.e. a speeded up chemical reaction). YELLOW CAKE (mined in Australia etc., people mining this suffer large loss of life). A small sixpenny piece size of this produces more heat than a mountain of coal. Pure uranium comes from Russia, South Africa, Canada, and Australia. Purified into oxide... (powder). Put into rods. Atoms split all the

(BBC 24, 18/4/2005).

“STOCK UP ON CANDLES- THERE COULD BE MORE BLACKOUTS: Britain could be facing blackouts with a crisis in our electricity supply. What can be done? … Alarm bells are clanging. In a report called ‘The State of the Nation 2004,’ The Institute of Civil Engineers said: ‘Last year we asked ‘will the lights stay on?’ One year on, the government believes ‘the market will provide’ and ‘renewables will bridge an impossibly large shortfall.’ How in this super-sophisticated technological age could we be staring at an energy crisis that could force every one of us to reevaluate our most common and casually used resource? The rise in Energy consumption: Coal now provides 35%, Nuclear Power 22%, 242

100,000 tonnes of nuclear waste into this... In 1983, Greenpeace managed to get this UK practice banned... The London Dumping Convention decided to outlaw dumping of radioactive waste into the Atlantic by September 1985.” "Mrs Thatcher's ministers have a habit of leaving TIME BOMBS for their successors…" “The Terrible Problem of what to do with

time, giving out heat. Uranium is very expensive to process." IS NUCLEAR POWER SAFE?

GROTESQUE PERILOUS THREAT! Plutonium: Remains dangerous for 1/4 of a million years. A few million'th of a gram is lethal. Ruthenium: Flasks contain up to 6 grams. One flask could cause 175 million cancers. Caesium: Dangerous for 300 years. Strontium: Dangerous for 300 years. Thorium: Found in granite, deep in the Earth's crust. Highly radio-active. (Conservatives believe this could be ‘the fuel of the future.’)

RADIO-ACTIVE WASTE?” "The UK has 75 TONS of Plutonium (from Sizewell) in civilian storage..." (15/1/1993). "Nuclear Electric's waste company UK Nirex, say they will have a final repository working in the next century (whereas the Swedes started working on this problem in the 1970's). It will be 2005 or 2010 before the UK has what the Swedes have now. 'SAFETY has got to be top of the list of priorities' said J. Collier, chairman of Nuclear Electric" (1990). "... Nirex is still at an early stage of trying to identify a suitable site for a deep depository... sites under Sellafield or Dounreay are being considered (drilled)..." (15/8/1990). "... the issue of what to do with nuclear waste loomed large in the 1980's as various disposal schemes proposed by the government were dropped after public opposition..." "Scotland is building their own dry storage unit for Plutonium" (15/12/1993). What to do with waste? ("Don't make this in the first place.") (Dry Seal Outer containers using

"No-one in their right mind..." "YOU HAVE TO BE ASKING TO DIE." "So many TERRIFYING RISKS! Long-term, damaging effects. "Too risky." "Too costly." "Putting vast numbers of people at risk." "The TRUE cost of nuclear power? The conspiracy has gone on for too long..." “You don’t believe we’re on the edge of destruction?” "If the public knew the facts and if they were allowed to chose between nuclear power stations and candles, they would chose candles." ("I'd rather light up from within!") "REACTORS. Monuments to our Ignorance." “… a vastly complex control system… areas as delicate and sensitive as the Reactor units…” BUILT BY THE SEA... (so water in continuous supply). “Require immense amount of water1,800,000 gallons a minute to cool the Reactor cores down… The condensers and Sea-water evaporators…” Discharging? “Water turned into steam to drive turbines... One problem with nuclear power stations, Nuclear Activity Escapes- water coolant put into the Sea- poisons fish- cause’s terrible cancers... Steam and smoke emitted from chimneys also contaminated- contaminates soil surrounding site, vegetation, cows milk.(Children absorb 12 times more calcium from milk than adults do). They did not realise this danger until 1978-9..." “Despite PROTESTS / marches... Nuclear Power stations built = 16% of UK's energy…” NUCLEAR WASTE: “Includes anything that comes in contact with strong doses of radiation- clothes, shoes, gloves, food, water, flesh, sludge, building materials... which will be contaminated invisibly.” DUMPING FOR PROFIT: 1949: The UK began dumping.. An approved dump was agreed, 500 miles south west of Lands End- the UK, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands dumped

WATER-TIGHT, SUPER-STRONG NON-BioDegradable resin!) (“… it is not materialising…”) STORAGE = "This waste is stored in Concrete bunkers..." EXPERT: “There is no such thing as solid concrete. Hairline cracks often occur…” "COMPLACENCY is the enemy of SAFETY!" "Ever heard of prevention? It only takes a little bit of attention..." "What if I'm not a crackpot? What if I'm right?" Q: “How do you think people feel about this?” A: “I’ll see you in heaven because they’ve made such a mess.” “… in truth, everyone’s frightened of it… but there’s no choice…” “No sweat? They’re sweating buckets. People are half scared out of their wits…” “If you’re the coronary type, nukes are not for you.” "DEADLY CARGOS OF WASTE TRANSPORTED BY ROAD, TRAIN, FERRY, AND SHIP: "100's of flasks containing highly radio-active waste regularly travel through heavily populated areas..." 243

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"Each flask contains as much radioactivity as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima." "Consultant engineers have cast doubt on the strength of the flasks carrying Nuclear fuel and suggest they could fail in a 'realistic' accident. The group warns that IF a flask of waste was breached as many as at least 6,000 people could be killed." "If flask/s ruptured, the consequences would be devastating in terms of health, disruption, economic damage and the possible creation of areas of increased background radiation and therefore greater risk to health." "The consequences are unthinkable..." "Many Protests: Nuclear trains nicknamed: 'Dante’s INFERNO.' "Every day, 10 tons of spent nuclear fuel rods from power stations pass through London by train. The train went half-way across Europe 'a death-bearing scandal on wheels,' totally unguarded, carrying 4.5 tonnes of Nuclear waste... at any time... the train was vulnerable to accident or attack..." “We don’t escort Nuclear fuel using armoured vehicles as this is bad for the public image…” Q: “This is a ‘credible deterrent’?” “Would flasks survive a direct missile attack? Or another train crashing at 90mph? No! ‘’If ‘the death train’ were to be Hijacked by terrorists… We’d have to evacuate the entire population… Poisons scattered as far as the wind carried them…” “Gloomy silence, mild panic… It is a question of security… I’m not sure we need reactors… The case is not proven yet. We have paid too little attention to public opinion… The £millions help to accelerate commitment… The game’s worth $millions to people not working for the governmentsub-contractors, multinationals…” (ref. Book: ‘Maximum Credible Accident’ By:

before the STORMY weather comes...") "Greenpeace prevented one shipment when brave protestors chained themselves to mooring lines and squatted near propellers..." WISDOM: “You should treat a reactor like you would treat the Sea. You have to respect the unknown or it will turn on you…” (WEATHER FORCAST: “A very large, angry black cloud is heading for Britain…” (3/1/2005) Uh-oh! Warnings bells are ringing like fury in my head… the ferries... I close my eyes and try to shut the images out… I understand the warnings being sounded… Do YOU? “Seal all doors and windows…” HOW? "FLASKS: "A Nirex spokesman said he believed the flasks are virtually indestructible. 'They have been fire and crash-tested' he said...." “REPROCESSING FUEL = INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE & POSITIVELY LETHAL.” "Many Countries send their waste to Britain for 'laundering' (Britain's job is to extract the plutonium used to make nuclear weapons. The residue is 'hot waste'- and is extremely radio-active). "Britain is importing "A LEGACY OF DEATH." MANY PROTESTS: "BRITAIN IS THE WORLD'S NUCLEAR DUSTBIN." "The government must immediately insist on tougher protection against accident and attack. Then the government must ban all nuclear waste imports." "Nuclear power is dangerous, expensive, exploitive, unnecessary and encourages the manufacture of Nuclear weapons. As consumers we can influence this policy, by protesting against this misuse of our money." "ALL DONE FOR THE MONEY: In the end this will mean Environmental destruction and misery for many generations to come, all for the sake of Deutschmarks and Francs."

John Howlett).

"MP's FEAR the move to double the amount of death trains… 'The RISKS ARE unacceptable'...." "The government has admitted the ‘Roll-On, RollOver’ type FERRIES have SAFETY faults... yet imports of irradiated fuel into Dover has risen 18 fold since 1988 - much shipped in ordinary Sealink ferries with no extra precautions! This shows irresponsibility beyond belief!" "The government is shipping a consignment of plutonium through dangerous waters, banned because waters known to be unpredictable- ship in unsafe condition- a grave risk to public health"

"Can't the government see they've got a disease?" REACTORS: “Intended life-cycle 25 – 35 years…” “… the constant checking for contamination of radioactivity and the smell of sodium…” "The spending of £3 BILLION of Tax-payers money on the nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield is a disgrace..." (Accounts checked?) "New plant at Sellafield, to reprocess nuclear fuel (thermal oxide). Could lose £BILLIONS. Insolvent. £100 million lost during construction. Process is so expensive. 'There is no logic' said Environmentalists. 'It's going to make money' said the government. ‘The HEALTH risk is trivial’…” ? “HOW LONG CAN THIS CHAIN GO ON?” “… if a meteor impacted…” Q: What is the Reactor’s dome made of? EXPERT: “… one day NUCLEAR DISASTER had

(Warning issued by Greenpeace, 2/3/1993)

"A FERRY was marooned for 4 hours outside Dover- was unable to dock safely due to gales and mountainous Seas... The coastguards had no idea that a lorry carrying 4.5 tonnes of Atomic waste was on board!" ("You had better do what you are going to do 244

beaches and remain radio-active for approx. 1,000 years." "... already cases of thyroid cancer deaths, genetic defects, bone marrow cancers, leukaemia... (“Leukaemia is sometimes treatable in

to happen…” EXPERT: “… there is no such thing as ‘total failsafe’…” (Murphy’s law…) “WHERE can all this contaminated equipment & rubble be buried? Buried forever?” If the plant blew up, at least ½ a million lives would go up with it…” “… in a normal operation, evacuation takes at least 24 hours to organise by road and rail, but in BAD weather…”

children, but not usually in adults…”)

December 1986: "A scathing report told the industry they had one year to get waste disposal in order. Given 12 months to clean up or be shut down..." Other worries too... REGULAR INCIDENTS: EG. "41 workers withdrawn due to contamination / overdoses of radiation. 'Had 3 times over safe limit of 'safe' level of radiation in his body. 60 times over yearly limit. His whole body became radio-active. Result of 'Blowbacks' / leaks... He died..." February 1987: "3 more leaks in a fortnight prompted a 2 week shut-down." 1990: " ... samples of mud taken found radiation levels to be 100's of times higher than normal..." 1990: LINK WITH CANCER FINALLY PROVED: "The British Medical Journal confirmed that radiation is causing genetic mutations in the sperm of men working at Sellafield. The BMJ report finally confirmed nuclear power is NOT SAFE... "Workers told not to start a family rather risk passing on leukaemia to their unborn children... Children of fathers who receive 1/5th of the annual legal limit run 6 times the normal risk of developing leukaemia." "... The government asked for more research to be done." "(Subsequent) Tests done on mice and men established radiation causes genetic change..." ("Public support for Greenpeace has grown 75% in the last 12 months…") 9/4/1994: "... BNF is still discharging 30 extremely Toxic effluents, including Plutonium, waste into the Sea..." 1994: "Fishermen have died of cancer. Fish tested for radiation every 2 months. Farmers may be sentenced to permanent health restrictions…" COST TO BUILD: EG. "They've spent another £56 million building another nuclear power station we do NOT need and nobody wants" (22/10/1993). JOKE: “We all know the Nuclear energy power Corps all talk a load of…” “Many people are deeply unhappy having a Nuclear plant on their doorstep…” “SINISTER and threatening…” “NUCLEAR Power = Huge Grid lines, buildings blotting, straddling the sky-line… always the very real risk of blowing us into oblivion…” “Buildings are undeniably ugly… concrete walls reinforced with 50,000 tons of steel…” What are reactor domes made of? “A FIRE… could release radioactivity into the atmosphere… Sequences of events not thought of when the reactor was first designed… An explosion of hydrogen might split the reactor

“To HELL with the specifics and logic…” “… inexactitude – lying, neglecting to communicate the whole truth…” SELLAFIELD (in Cumbria): APPALLING SAFETY RECORD: EG: 1957: "The plant, then called Windscale, was engulfed in FIRE in Britain's worst nuclear accident. 100's of people died from cancers because the government refused to order safety measures." 1950 - 1976: "177 major radiation incidents and 270 serious accidents…" "THE MOST SERIOUS LEAKS HUSHED TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT." 1970's: "A series of leaks, hushed … prior to the inquiry into the plant's expansion... 1978: Greenpeace began a campaign to focus attention on the daily, routine radioactive discharges into the Irish Sea from the giant reprocessing plant... 2 million gallons a day! The Irish Sea became known as the most radioactive Sea in the world...and had by then caused 30 - 150 deaths through consumption of contaminated Seafood and fish... Scientific work was backed up with Parliamentary lobbying... Greenpeace deployed divers to plug the pipeline 70ft below the surface... Greenpeace was fined £50,000...” 1980: "Many leaks of radioactive material onto the beach around Sellafield discovered..." "Greenpeace discovered highly dangerous contagious radioactive leaks into the Sea- beach closed to protect the public, thanks to them…" "One mile down-wind from the reactor- not evacuated..." “Case took 4 years to come to court..." 1983: "Cluster of childhood leukaemia’s around Sellafield linked to Sellafield.(plant). Sicknesses / deaths finally established by Scientists, antinuclear protestors and journalists." "10 times the national-average of childhood leukaemia were found in Seascale, ½ a mile from the plant..." 1983: "BNF (British Nuclear Fuel) fined £10,000 for radio-active discharges on nearby public beaches..." (re: Sellafield?) 1984: "A battle. The judge sided with BNF…" Protests: "SEA OF FILTH" & "DON'T SWALLOW NUCLEAR LIES." HOT-SPOTS: "... tidal currents cause contaminated silts to move- will accumulate on 245

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weeks later! Surrounding land now known as: 'THE DEAD ZONE'... officially too dangerous to live there. Vast areas... yet only 7 miles away- people still live there- they have nowhere else to go. Children there too. The children are dying of bone marrow cancer, not getting transplants. Radiation levels still very high..." (1990). "The army were sent in to clear away the most contaminated equipment- they survived only a few days..." "Approx. 2 million people should be moved from areas of Byelorurussia contaminated by radioactivity caused by the disaster, local officials say. Yet only 180,000 people will be moved by next year. Soviet scientists estimate the clean up will take 20 years. The cost of moving people estimated to be £400,000 million." "THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN: Chernobyl was a man-made disaster. Disease still affecting 5 out of 6 Ukraine children. Victims of corruption, chaos. Once healthy, beautiful... forests... now no-one allowed to use. People most at risk are the workers... Many children have died of radiation. Children born afterwards affected i.e. premature and paralysed, deformed, with kidney cancer... situation in hospitals deteriorated in 1992-1993... everything is old- keeps breaking down. Distressing scenes in orphanages. Many children are disabled and have short-life expectancy. Mental health problems and physical disability. Critical shortage of drugs. We have a catastrophe..." 1991: Another FIRE at Chernobyl..." 1992: "WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND": "The UK government's National Radiological Protection board admitted vast areas of hill farming land will be affected by radioactive fall-out from Chernobyl for at least 15 years. Conservative minister M. Jopling insisted restrictions on sales of lamb would only last 'about 3 weeks.' More than 400,000 acres of farmland and ½ a million sheep remain subject to Ministry of Agriculture restrictions." "Russian scientists discovered 'extremely high levels' of radiation near a 'secret' Siberian Plutonium plant which EXPLODED last month. Authorities had previously played down the danger from what they admitted was the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl" (13/5/1993). 25/2/1993: re: Chernobyl: "Concrete casing is cracking. In 4 years could leak radiation. Desperate need for power is keeping Reactors going when Every SAFETY Requirement says they should be CLOSED Forever." 1993: 2 FIRES at Chernobyl: "There are 1,000 holes in the roof. The rain and snow got in. Scientists must do something to make the building safer. 2 out of 4 reactors still operating

building open…” “SHUT-DOWNS DUE TO MISFUNCTIONS = Weeks / a year of disruption… MASSIVE Power CUTS.” Sizewell B: "The shell of this nuclear reactor was built using tons and tons of concrete with metal supports. Cost £1.69 BILLION. Costs increased. Estimate £2 BILLION, could go up again... Project ahead of schedule. Friends of the Earth tried to get the government to cancel this project, unsuccessfully..." "SAFETY FEARS: "Sizewell B... will generate enough power for 1.5 million people in East Anglia. The building is the last line of defence in the safety system... Intense row over safety. The primary system relies on computer software... which could be too complicated (i.e. is inadequate to stop a chain reaction breaking down the whole system...) used for monitoring, control and protection. Does not meet current standards. Safety licence not yet granted. It is impossible to build a large complex system that is easy to test..." (20/4/1994).

COST TO DEMOLISH: "Nobody has ever taken part a nuclear reactor- when built told would be there forever! The people who built them have died... We don't know if it is possible to dismantle them... They have to be decommissioned..." "CONCRETE TOMBS: Britain’s atomic power stations will have buried in concrete coffins when they are scrapped. Nuclear Electric, which runs the state-owned stations, plans to turns former nuclear sites into public parks!" Dungenis: “Built 1965. Now coming to end of life. To sink in concrete cost £18 BILLION. 1/3rd paid by Tax-payers. Real cost may be £Billions more. Generations to come may have to pay" (4/6/1993). Ravenglass: "... the UK government confirmed radio-activity building up in livestock to be killed for food. Dust particles can be measured in the air, in Sea spray... House-hold dust, startling results- Plutonium plus other toxics found..." (9/4/1990).

DOUNREAY: Fast breeder reactor. A leak of coolant - sodium, which explodes on contact with water, left the plant crippled- chiefs hushed up the Emergency shut down." TERRORISM: Dounraey Nuclear power station: "Explosive device found" (23/3/1993). "TERROR: 7 people in Maryville, Tennessee, have been charged with planning to blow up a Nuclear power plant, a Dam, an airport and a US navy ship to free a jailed pal..." CHERNOBYL GAVE US A WARNING: April 1986: "During a routine check, huge amount of hot water escaped... Hydrogen Gas exploded... steam vapour... Pollutants carried by the wind all round the world. 1,000's of villagers not evacuated... 2 of the 4 reactors at Chernobyl working again 2 246

despite serious safety concerns. Chernobyl still poses the world with a serious safety risk" (World

scientist/s kidnapped, hostages used - threats pay up, or face the consequences of Nuclear radiation, or detonation… The time will come. We know there have been many hoaxes… We rely on computers and poorly paid staff to tell us if any of this stuff is missing…” "Pressurised water reactor- the pride of nuclear Electric. Monstrous costs. Power still an illusion. Still uncertainties" (27/7/1993). "50 nuclear scientists have made a breakthrough. Controlled fusion experiment provided enough energy to power a small town. Heating Hydrogen to 20-times hotter than the Sun. Could provide power indefinitely" (11/12/1993). "A 4-second burst of energy... fusion... soaring costs. Experts highly sceptical this will ever lead to cheap electricity" (12/12/1993). WONDER FUEL DOUBT: British scientists at JET (the Joint European Taurus Nuclear Fusion project) dismiss USA claims of a breakthrough in the Search for cheap, clean and limitless energy supplies... a working power station would cost too much to build... (existing nuclear power stations work on fission)... New projects with the EC, USA, Japan and Russia will build large reactors to create up to 1,000 gig watts of power to show the engineering is possible" (12/12/1993). "NUCLEAR FUSION: Now called: 'The Rising Sun.' (Not to be confused with solar power). They are using laser light to create Nuclear Fusion... Process = BANGING 2 ATOMS TOGETHER..." (I wish I could bang their heads together. Anyone with ½ a brain cell...) "Very difficult and Very DANGEROUS- taking nuclear fuel, compressed, causing atoms to fuse, using Temperatures of 200 million degrees Centigrade..." (You've got it all wrong... magnify light... intensify it, replicate over and over = abundance, safely... ) "... JAPAN is power-hungry to keep all the appliances working so Bigger, More Dangerous versions are on the drawing board. Process called: 'Going Beyond Break Even.' Process involves.... using computers etc., all sorts of metal pipes... Projects now all round the Globe. £Billions spent..." (1990). “POWER MAD: These scientists are still following the 'Big Bang Theory' and are looking for the same power that in their opinion, started the world... “ (Chapter One: Genesis: "... now the earth proved to be formless and waste. God proceeded to say: 'Let light come to be.' Then there came light. After that, God saw that the light was good. God went on to say: 'Let luminaries (light) come to be in the expanse of the Heavens to shine upon the Earth.' Then God saw it was good..." No mention there of any Big Bang...)

In Action, 5/4/1993).

re: Chernobyl: "The casing sealing the Reactor is full of holes! Contamination could get into ground water..." (21/4/1994). “WOULD A BIG EARTHQUAKE REDUCE REACTORS TO RUBBLE?” “Let’s hope we never find out.” “… we deal with THE RISK OF EARTHQUAKES with rubber mountings and shock absorbers…” “… the control room is underground, and below them is the fuel line- that is where the new fuel is stored and brought in…” "If we, by gaining knowledge, destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands." "Ever since Chernobyl there has been wide spread anger against governments who cover up facts and figures that reveal the true extent of deaths caused by cancer / radiation..." “Many children are still ‘living’ in the highly radio-active zone around Chernobyl…” (2004) "BLISTERING: ... A drop in pressure. Tried to pull out a bank of control rods- imprudent. The hazard is losing control. 'You have 60-seconds before the accident slips beyond your grasp and proceeds towards meltdown. In this Emergency if you pull out the control rods the chances of controlling events are sharply diminished" (Ref. A statement issued by the ‘Union of Concerned Scientists.’)

"The heat turned up and the heat can't be turned down..." JOKE: "Gives new meaning to hot lips..." LOSSES: "Nuclear electric made a loss of £419 million this year. Liabilities exceed assets by £40 Billion because of the huge cost of getting rid of waste. Nuclear power is needed because of the need to diversify from (fossil fuel) oil... Going to start a new campaign aimed to persuade the public..." (14/8/1990). "BECAUSE NUCLEAR POWER IS EXPENSIVE... customers will now have to pay Tax on their bill. Customers should declare they want Renewable energy instead" (UK, 1990). "The sad fact is all that money spent on nuclear reactors... could have been spent on other much needed, really useful things..." POWER BROKERS: "Oil prices going into orbit again... so the government have announced a building programme of 13 new nuclear power stations arguing nuclear power costs are ‘attractively low’ compared with renewables!!! Nuclear Power described by the government as 'new solutions' (the gasification of coal) ...the development of the next generation of fast breeder reactors are gaining credibility..." (UK, 1990). “Is the SECURITY at the power plants still lousy? The grave risk of hijack, theft, Nuclear 247

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"THEY COULD BLOW US ALL UP!" (Someone once said: ”IF YOU DID NOT CHOOSE it, YOU’RE MAD.”) (The mad politicians pay these mad scientists because they want implausible power. They are willing to risk whole districts being wiped out by TERRIFYING explosions, pollution... Overwhelming power, for our Security? Persist and there will be a bloody Big Bang...) NUCLEAR FUSION REACTORS: COST HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. Very complicated process involving super-conductors to provide intense magnetic fields, heavy forms of Hydrogen found in Oceans, hot plasma gas, helium, liquid sodium... very high pressures / temperatures involved... BIG Risk of Explosions, huge machinessupposed to be less risk than Uranium reactors but are as UNSTABLE with Serious Risk of Pollutants- as lots of METAL involved- in a disaster there would be lots of metal flying round..." (re: 'The European Torus'). COLD FUSION = One scientist experimented, spending little money, and found that (using a process called adsorption, involving Palladium and Hydrogen) he could achieve more heat than was put in... using a fusion process done at room temperature, with small vessels, no powerful magnetic field, no pressurised containers, no special electronics or computers. Huge debatescan this work? Another scientist says he can recreate result...” “In 1950's Britain tried to do this (the Zeta Project) but abandoned this... One day might produce a predictable level of heat without harmful risks and pollution..." (1990) "Probably the most extraordinary co-incidence discovered by science is the fact that the basic formulae for 3 separate and apparently unrelated energy systems are almost identical." "British Nuclear fuels shedding more than 3,000 jobs..." (4/3/1994). "DRAMATIC RISE IN NUCLEAR WASTE: "... Operational low-level waste (derived from reprocessing nuclear fuel at Sellafield to extract uranium and plutonium for re-use)... estimated amount 732,000 cubic metres... intermediate waste (much more dangerous but less bulky) estimated amount 127,000 cubic metres. Decommissioning waste 128,000 cu m... A big jump... Friends of the Earth, who released the figures said 'BNP have no grip on how much waste is being produced' and added this information showed a wanton lack of control over Nuclear waste... Decommissioning waste is expected to rise to 1 million cu m towards the end of this century... As Britain still has no method for disposing of nuclear waste, when the Drigg dump in Cumbria is full at the end of the century, these new figures are an embarrassment..." (29/8/1990).

“NUKE PLANT BLAST: Part of the Soviet Republic has been declared an ecological disaster zone following an explosion at a nuclear power plant. Clouds of deadly beryllium oxide gas spewed over the town of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. Blast happened a month ago. 200,000 people contaminated” (29/9/1990). Nuclear Power = NO CONTINGENCY PLAN! "The Thorp reprocessing plant, now built, costing £2 million a week- government wont give licence to trade. Local do not want highly radioactive materials... Protest slogan: WE DON'T WANT A DOSE of Thorp!” (29/6/1993). "Trying to get permission via the back door... GREEN-PEACE has limited time to try and block moves by BNF..." (25/8/1993). "VERY BAD NEWS FOR THE PLANET: GREENPEACE have lost their appeal. Thorp Nuclear reprocessing plant given the go-ahead. Nothing will stop the reprocessing work. 'There is nothing wrong in going ahead without a public inquiry.' A disastrous High Court decision. Even more countries will now ship nuclear waste to our shores..." (4/3/1994). ONE EXPERT DISCUSSING ‘THE FUEL OF THE FUTURE’: "Nuclear power offers a safe, efficient and Environment friendly source of power..." (What? SAFE? Efficient? ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY? Risk of freak weather?) EXPERT: “Industry in France has the lowest prices in Europe thanks to 55 nuclear reactors..." (see: page 336)

(I cannot speak for the French. I do not know if they are concerned about it... "Could we not find some way to getting together with the French to find some sensible way..." “Will the French say we very much regret but we cannot a find a way to liberate...”) EXPERT: "Nuclear power does not contribute to Global Warming or acid rain..." (Are you sure?) EXPERT: "We take electricity for granted... but such a feeling of security may be misleading..." (Secure? Our supply can be disconnected at any time, the world could suffer the most horrendous accident/s at any time...) EXPERT: "The problem is most of the worlds fossil fuel supplies are located in politically unstable regions..." (Understood. Therefore we need a viable alternative…) EXPERT: "... some energy planners take only a short term view of energy supply..." (A short term view = Disregarding the known risks associated with Nuclear reactors.) EXPERT: "... fossil fuels are subject to wild price fluctuations...." (Alternative Energy is FREE!) EXPERT: "... none of the design faults at Chernobyl are present in Western nuclear power stations..." (Their appalling safety records with ongoing 248

inherent dangers do not ease our troubles or make lives any better at the end of the day…) EXPERT: "Renewable sources of energy will have a future... but as a generator of electricity, it does have its limitations- wind or sun power can only be used when the wind blows or sun shines- they cannot be called upon to boil the nations kettles at any time of day or night..." (Ah! “The hardest hour is always before the dawn?” What is a winning combination? Solar for long summers, wind for blustery winters? HOT COUNTRIES: Invest in SOLAR power! Use the best device/s (can upgrade later…) COLD, wind-swept regions: Invest in Mini-Wind machines + powerful Solar collectors to capture day-light. UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER: Use an intelligent combination of solar, wind & water devices… and you might just find, you can get through the night, night after night… "… it can't be done?" The Ideal Home exhibition featured: "... a futuristic house run on solar and wind power designed by a 15 year old boy" (UK, April 1999). EXPERT: "We still produce electricity using our substantial reserves of coal, oil and gas, we use nuclear fuel to generate 20% of our electricity, we are beginning to use wind power too... a combined approach of nuclear power is the balanced approach..." (Balanced means: Fair, reasonable, stable, sensible, sane, steady…) (words hardly synonymous with Nuclear power!) (Are you saying it all depends on money?) EXPERT: “… the government must decide to maintain nuclear power as part of the secure, economical and Environmentally sound energy policy...” (Nuclear power causes an unnecessary and unacceptable amount of Radio-active pollution...) (“If you feel the same way as I do…””… say it wont you please!” “… there’s not a shadow of doubt…” “Sometimes we can work out what we want by finding out what we don’t want.” “I want to keep the flowers in full bloom!” “I don’t want the Sun to fade away!” “Do you want all our dreams to come crashing down?”) EXPERT (CONCLUSION): “... such a policy would be the most important foundation stone of Britain's prosperity..." (28/9/1992). NEXT EXPERT: "Plutonium is the fuel of the future…" (15/12/1993). "Britain's future energy is set to be nuclear power." (Is the discussion about it closed?) “The apathy of the general public has allowed the situation to deteriorate…” APATHY: “What’s the point in trying? All you get is pain…” (“Before death, there is apathy…”) “If we all think we can do nothing…”

EXPERT: "No country can Afford to get it's Energy policy wrong." (That is very true.) CANBERRA: "Senior ministers played down the chances of relaxing their uranium policy... the government will continue uranium mining... and meanwhile is to sell their 2262 tonne Uranium stockpile, accumulated since the 1960's. The sale is expected to reach $50 million" (1990). "ARMAGEDDON IS COMING!" "Uranium is the material used mainly to manufacture Nuclear weapons. A small amount could be used to make a bomb quite easily. Plutonium can be used to make nuclear weapons but is technically more difficult". USA: "Hanford nuclear plant. Excessive cancer in the area. Many are sick. Down-winders exposed to secret military releases of toxic cloud in 1940's and 1950's. Many are financially dependant on facility. Much of the country treated as a nuclear pig farm- people, to be experimented upon, without consent. All secret experiments have stopped the USA government assures us..." (8/2/1994). ARMENIA: "So desperate. Energy crisis. Imported fuels cut off... switching back on a nuclear rector closed because of danger and unreliability. Not enough gas to run eternal flame. Unheated homes. No power to lifts in blocks of flats. Only cold water for washing. Many neighbouring countries alarmed. Reactor in an area prone to Earthquakes" (7/4/1994). "We need a new LAW to ensure responsibility." "We will never attain a 60% C02 reduction by 2050... using renewable energy without nuclear energy... or with nuclear energy... Emissions are still going up! The world already has 442 nuclear reactors... IF we started to plan tomorrow, new reactors could not come on line until 2010... The debate about it is still open... We have to stop talking. We need ACTION! Situation very serious. The public has to understand HOW serious. Environmentalists don't agree on way forward... it is not being done... We have to work out ways to do it... The government has to put incentives in place... and society has to want to do it..." (said Roger Higman of ‘Friends of the Earth’ - who believes in renewables…) (Hard Talk, BBC, 9/11/2004).

(WHY can’t we ALL switch to renewables in a FEW years?) (Governments should provide the necessary funding to encourage new JOINT VENTURES: Agree a new Universal Standard, pool resources, expertise. Reallocate revenues. Realistically budget for new product development… (Accounts available for public scrutiny) Bonus payments to projects successfully completed). “Nuclear power in the UK is being scaled down. By 2010, 1/3rd of Britain's nuclear power stations will have reached the end of their operating lives and will be closed…” (Western Morning News, 19/3/2005). 249

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“BLAIR COMMITS TO NUCLEAR FUTURE: … The Government announced a 5-month consultation exercise on… plans for 5 new nuclear plants by the private sector but a private consultants' report for the Department of Trade and Industry raised suspicions that the consultation is a sham. Critics called the consultation a ‘farce’ and nuclear power would be a ‘dangerous, dirty white elephant.’ The report says new nuclear plants should be built predominantly in the South-east where the main demand for energy exists. Many of the plants are on the COAST, and could be at RISK OF FLOODING as a result of climate change causing a catastrophic rise in sea levels. But the report by Jackson Consulting says higher defences could be built to avoid coastal sites being ruled out. The engineers said the new plants should preferably be sited on existing nuclear plants, but they could also be based at existing coal-fired or gas-fired power plants and a 3rd option could be to build new nuclear plants on Green field sites. It says a DTI expert group had already identified 12 sites potentially suitable for a new single reactor and 10 of the sites could be suitable for new twin reactors…” (The

Britain's FUTURE ENERGY IS SET TO BE NUCLEAR: “The Labour party are drawing up secret plans for the next generation of nuclear power stations…” (The Independent, 23/4/2005). “Politicians in a hurry?” “Maybe. They’re frightened of the enemy.” “Enemy? Environmentalists?” “Don’t under-estimate them. For all we know, they have not only nature but also God on their side…” “… to recreate the nuclear reactions which take place at the heart of the sun… Last month, the EU, America, Japan, Russia, China and South Korea agreed to build an experimental nuclear fusion reactor in France” (re: the Futures market, by BT’s Futurology Dept., Daily Mirror, 26/7/2005).

“THE ATOMIC BOMBSHELL: Cleaning up Britain's old nuclear plants will cost £56 BILLION… that has shot up from £48 Billion… The Nuclear Decommissioning Agency wants the cash paid over 25 years instead of 125 years… Friends of the Earth said that shows nuclear energy is ‘an expensive liability.’ ‘It wont be the nuclear industry that will foot the bill, it will be Tax-payers. It would be madness to increase our liabilities by building more nuclear power stations.’ The bill for cleaning up the 20 sites could rise by £10 BILLION if Plutonium is re-classified as waste rather than ‘an asset’… A Liberal Democrat said: ‘Again the Taxpayer is being asked to dig deep for the unplanned and ill-thought out work’…” (Daily

Independent, 24/5/2007).

“FRANCE now has 58 nuclear power plants…” “The prospect of a new (the next) generation of nuclear power stations has been condemned by Alistair Carmichael… (He) said: ‘Nuclear is a tried, tested and failed technology with far higher costs than the renewable alternatives or energy efficiency measures. In 2002 alone the government spent £410 million bailing out the nuclear industry… however, in reality, every £ we spend on

Mirror, 12/8/2005).

EXPERT: “Energy intensive industry (EG. Aluminium factories) needs Nuclear energy for quality jobs. (Therefore) Ageing nuclear plants need replacing…” (9/1/2006) (I can see more of a future by replacing aluminium…) EXPERT: “Energy prices have risen 80% over last 3 years. ‘Consumers have a variety of choice’? This underlines the need for Renewable energies” (4/2/2006). “Could nuclear power stations survive (intact) a 9/11 type attack? The USA has 103 nuclear power stations. The NPP suggests steel netting should be placed around the plants to shred any plane before it impacts… A NRC classified report, not to be available to the public…” (ref.

nuclear power is a £ that could have been spent on clean renewable forms of energy generation…’…” (25/5/2007, www.shetlandtoday.co.uk ). “FIRE CLOSES NUCLEAR POWER PLANT: A fire at a nuclear power station has caused it to be shut down indefinitely..” (re: Oldbury, Gloucestershire, UK, BBC, 30/5/2007).

“GERMANY: 2 KILLED: … The men were doing repairs on the outside of a dome over the reactor…” “… nuclear power is much more expensive than commonly suggested. Figures for the cost of nuclear power normally ignore hidden subsidies…” (28/5/2007). “… there are massive (hidden) subsidies for the nuclear industry… The International Energy Agency has said that any new nuclear programme must be funded entirely from the private sector…”

www.abovetopsecret.com podcast).

“DECOMMISSIONED: … 4 massive cooling towers that had dominated the sky-line, were blown-up today… 25,000 tons of rubble…” (20/5/2007). “NUCLEAR POWER PROCESS CONTRIBUTES TO CO2 POLLUTION: A nuclear plant itself may not generate greenhouse gases, but that distinction is meaningless because the process required to create the fuel — from the mining of the uranium to the waste disposal — does create carbon dioxide pollution… There is no easy way to change the fact that nuclear power is dependent upon fossil fuels…” (re; Report by the

(30/5/2007, www.newsblaze.com ).

Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, India, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey etc., all investing heavily in nuclear energy to “secure” the future!!!!! “It seems none have been listening to public opinion…” “… to help keep security guards at nuclear power plants from falling asleep…” (29/5/2007).

Oxford Research Group, 24/5/2007). 250

pockets.” “FOSSILS, AS A FUEL: Oil, gas basins. Fluids assemble..." OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AFTER THE PLANET: "... that rich fossil fuel, that rare precious jewel, that we need just to live day by day, it's the blood of our past, but how long will it last?" "One day, perhaps, it will begin to dawn on our masters that to plunder in a single generation resources that have taken 150 million years to accumulate, is a crime for which our descendants will never forgive us."

“Uranium Prices Rise Fivefold As World Warms To Nuclear Power…” (29/5/2007). “US backs nuclear fuel bank plan: An international scheme to produce a controlled supply of enriched uranium has won support from the US and Russia…” (BBC, 31/5/2007). “Despite problems at Koeberg… South Africa is to build 10 more nuclear power plants because of concerns over Greenhouse gases…” (31/5/2007) Uh? “Britain's Nuclear Energy Plan: Too Little, Too Late?: … Britain still relies on nuclear power for 20% of its electricity but these power plants such as Dungeness and Sizewell are long in the tooth and are due to be decommissioned by 2015. So Britain has to replace that 20% and provide for any extra electricity that may also be required by that date… Apparently we should be looking towards off shore wind farms, wave power and solar panels in our homes. So that secures the green vote but what about keeping warm? Yes we all know about tiny windmills on the shed roof and we have been talking about alternative energy as the answer since I was a kid but the truth is that we are not much further on. So what is the answer? PFI of course! The Private Finance Initiative will come to Britain’s rescue via Engineering Contractors offering the complete package. Or will they? … $3 BILLION for a nuclear power station and a lot more for a larger plant… all of the objections… will have to be listened to and somehow accommodated. That will takes us into 2008 before Britain gets to the starting line. Then there is the small hurdle of Planning Permission - yes we need these ghastly horrors but not near us thank you very much. Allow another year for that sort of wrangling and we are into 2009, which leaves Britain with about 6 years to build around 10 new nuclear plants. This is a big ask for Britain as any slippage to this schedule leaves Britain well and truly in the dark… Where will the uranium come from?” (1/6/2007, www.energy.seekingalpha.com ). “It’s Time To Give Us The Power To Decide On Energy: Claims that the lights will go out if Scotland does not build new nuclear power stations is illinformed scaremongering and ignores the reality of our energy systems and markets. Such claims also downplay the success of the Scottish renewables industry, which has, so far, delivered its generation targets ahead of schedule. As it stands, Scotland has no shortage of electricity. Each year we even manage to export almost 1/5th of our output to England and Wales…” (The Herald,

DRILLING: “DRILLING IS TOO RISKY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: A USA report, compiled by a presidential taskforce, kept secret... finds drilling is too risky... the report called for the delay or cancellation of drilling... in some cases it was found the Environmental effects could be unacceptable... the USA off-shore oil program is in a death spiral..." (25/5/1990). UNTOLD ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE... ENORMOUS BORE HOLES BEING SUNK: “The well penetrates 18,000 feet…” "A huge percentage is dug up that's not wanted. A private investor is not going to pay to put the Earth back, repairing the damage done. A True Socialist policy is needed to repair the damage already done." “Do you have a Boring job?” (Would you prefer to do something interesting?”) ADVERT: FOR A SENIOR GEOPHYSICIST (in the North Sea): “…formed 1971… ranks as one of the leading independent UK oil & gas exploration companies. Our portfolio extends to 15 countries… With diversity of prospects to explore… We are embarked

upon one of the most aggressive exploration programmes and during 1989 drilling of more than 225 wells world-wide. To sustain growth…” EXPLOIT THE EARTH? "Private industry will exploit the Earth's resources without any regard for the Earth, the needs of future generations, or the quality of life." "To win from the Earth is a fallacy that can never be achieved."

1/6/2007).

TOO RISKY: 1974: "The deepest oil-well- man's deepest drilled penetration into the Earth's crust- was 480 miles. Bore hole made by Phillips Petroleum Company in 1958, without producing a drop of oil. The Size of the Hole: The Empire

OIL: FOSSILS: "Primary Energy: Underground, prehistoric carbonised residues of all organic matter, compressed through the ages in huge 251

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"Tanker run aground... has 1,600 tons of oil aboard... Lifeboat capsized twice trying to rescue tanker. Tug is on the way" (28/1/1993). "A huge oil slick threatens the Angolan coast after an attack on the oil terminal" (5/6/1993). "The British Trent, a stricken BP tanker... became a lethal fireball... cargo of 24,000 tonnes of unleaded petrol... crashed in thick fog in the North Sea... BP said no pollution threat, but flames were 100ft in the air, thick black smoke..." “Shell fined for health & safety failures”

State Building could be lowered down the hole 20 times." WORRY ABOUT SAFETY! "Drilling and blasting altering vibrations in the ground..." "There's good guys and bad guys, right and wrong- and these guys are wrong. It's time we made a stand." OIL SPILLS: WORRY ABOUT POLLUTION! "A common practice is sumping i.e. dumping residue of oil from shipping tanks into the Sea. And staging accidents at sea to get insurance money." "Transporting HUGE quantities of oil - Very Risky EG: “The Torey Canyon was the world’s 1st major oil disaster. The Captain took a short cut and the ship got stuck on rocks. The UK Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, ordered the RAF to bomb the wreck to try and stem the oil flow. The south Cornish coast was devastated…” "40 million gallons of crude spilled- super tanker exploded…” (1991). "11 million gallons spilled..." "60 tons spilled into River Thames... captain charged with unlawful discharge..." "The tanker Nautilus, spilled 260,000 gallons in New York harbour... captain charged with being drunk in charge of a tanker... he is now giving driving lessons to other would-be drivers of tankers..." "An oil slick 175 miles wide is threatening the Atlantic coast off Morocco, 27,000 tons spilled by Iranian super-tanker after a fire..." "Leaking lakes of oil... call for double hull in tankers. Shell transferred haulage of oil to private companies to avoid liability and new Safety legislation. Other oil companies following Shell's lead" (11/6/1990). ("I'm glad these are your ships...") "A British tanker, owned by Shell, carrying 70,000 tonnes of crude oil exploded in the North Sea..." "38 million gallons of crude leaking into the Gulf of Mexico..." "1,000 tons of heavy crude escaped from a damaged Liberian tanker after collision with trawler, in Devon, England..." "Shell fined £1 million after blunder caused 30,000 gallons of crude to spew into a river..." "22 million gallons of oil spilt and on fire in Northern Spain- a super tanker carrying 80,000 tons, split in 2 after hitting rocks... exploded after 5 hours... 3rd oil spill in that area during last 3 years..." (3/12/1992). "85,000 tons of light crude North Sea oil, spilled from Liberian tanker after drifting onto rocks- in Shetland. Tanker 800ft long, no double hull..."

(27/4/2005).

"There are 36,000 tanker movements a year in the English Channel- the world's busiest shipping lanes- there is no speed limit. Near misses have increased 400% between 1986 - 1991 (said Numast, the merchant shipping officer's union" 3/6/1993).

"It can take 3 hours for a tanker to change its course.” “Each Oil Spill = A HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER, with loss of life to marine life, Sea birds + loss of a precious commodity…” SAFETY OF OIL TANKERS: "Took no notice of safety warnings." "Accusations denied." "Difficult to apportion blame." "Accidents caused by negligence." "Are standards sub-standard?" "The government offers very little support." "Increase in amount of cargo held." "Problems with oil overflow." "68% of all ships have defects." "Tanker fleet getting older." "Building programmes ground to a halt after hard times." "Safety standards in other countries not so high as ours." "Difficult to impose international standards." "Implementation, enforcing and policing standards down to governments agreeing to conventions." "Not Sea worthy. Sub-standard ships have to be eliminated." "Tougher inspections recommended. Discourage from operating." "Need to prevent accidents happening in 1st place." "Not happy with progress of legislation." "Tankers in coastal waters. Tanker tracks are near sensitive coastlines around the world! Areas known not to be safe. No mandatory law to keep them further off." "Refineries should de-contaminate slops. We need international shipping agreements to stop tankers spewing oil out, but captains wont agree. They don't care if they get fined.” “Oil fields are a danger..." "Who pays for the damage?" "Special funds set up?" “OIL TANKERS ARE FLOATING BOMBS. Could be hijacked.” ("There are 2,000 wrecks of battle-ships, leaking oil. EG. One ship holding 30,000 tons of oil. Norway has plan to use a remote device to drill through the hull to extract this oil to prevent 252

Ecological

damage

throughout

the

demand... a crisis could force prices up... a drop in demand... price could drop..." "... the price stayed firm despite the apparent surplus of supply..." "... they could create a shortage ... " "OIL CRISIS DUE SOONER THAN EXPECTED? ...could force a rise in prices..." "... if demand is not curbed, this would lead to a gradual increase in price..." "...between a stagnant price and inflating costs, exploration companies see only a squeeze ahead..."

world"

27/7/1993).

(An alternative for (oil) tankers = Carrying sand? (“… but the Sea will freeze before you decide not to keep hanging onto your shipments of cargo…”) SUPER-SIZING: “Inherent Dangers. A list as long as the ship of things that could go wrong. Double hulls- a relatively new design, to reduce the strain, the metal stress, with monitors. Ship weighs 10’s of 1,000’s of tons, is 380 m long, 68 m wide, 34 m depth. Sits 25m into the Sea. In one year does 10 trips carrying 1 million tons of oil- cargo very heavy. Has miles of pipelines. A massive jobevery surface needs 3 coats of paint on top of the anti-corrosion, anti-abrasion to stop rust. ‘Bad’ weather can mean the paint does not cure properly. Whole ship could be wrapped in plastic to overcome this. 75m of cable, specially insulated against fire. All very expensive. No 1 risk = Explosion- one spark could ignite…” (re: The

OIL SHORTAGE?: CARS: "THE WORLD RECORD FOR FUEL ECONOMY was 145.5 miles to a US gallon, equal to 174.7 miles on an imperial gallon, using a specially adapted 1956 Austin Healey sponsored by Shell Research Laboratory" (1974) (Ref. Guinness Book of Records) i.e. They have the technology to CONSERVE Fossil fuel but they have turned their backs on it, to make more money. "Apparently, someone invented a SIMPLE way to make engines use 3 times less oil. No-one in industry was interested." "... when the focus turns on potential supply, industry analysts have found the OPEC surplus they assumed to be there, might not be... the theoretical surplus may not be deliverable...” "There is plenty of oil in the ground in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states... but war and financial stringency have cut maintenance and development..." "OIL IS A PLENTIFUL RAW MATERIAL..." "The buyers of the oil..." "The world is not running out of oil... BUT America is running out of oil..." "USA oil production peaked in 1976... oil accounted for 40% of their trade deficit in 1989." "USA does not have the untapped resources left to exploit fields in Texas dwarfed by fields in Saudi..." ("... Mr. George Alcron of Alcorn Exploration, said it was not $30 a barrel that caused a speculative land boom in Texas, it was the promise of $75 a barrel...") “USA having to import- has a potential petrol shortage for first time... " "… the US imports 60% of their oil from Canada, Saudi Arabia / Kuwait, Mexico, Venezuela (the wild card) (Iran: Embargo since their 1979 revolution...)" "... an oil shortage may occur if the Soviet Unionthe world's largest oil producer, experiences political disruption..." "Confirmation has come- the world is not running out of oil... Venezuela say they could contribute 500,000 to 1 million barrels to the reserve... which would not be sold over the counter or subject to Optec’s quotas... If the USA can depend on an inexhaustible supply of oil, then the dangers of another artificially induced OPEC oil shortage are

building of the Hellespont Fairfax, built in South Korea, to serve oil wells in Arabia. Renamed the Oceania) (BBC2, 10/1/2005).

THE OIL BUSINESS: HEAVIES / BIG TIMERS: "Put all us small independents out of business..." "A DIRTY BUSINESS: Dirty deals. Oil rich townsmurders, excessive violence, all about power, money..." “BLACK GOLD…” "Save us from evil land developers and evil oil companies" the people cry… "For the sake of oil- making money, the people were suppressed by the Dutch..." "Oil companies around the world are damaging communities. Oil extracted from many Rainforest regions. LAND cleared using pesticides etc. LAND remorselessly exploited. ECO-destruction... Oil pit opens- bad smell, children get sick... Gunsthey attack anyone... 17,000 - 21,000 gallons of petrol contaminated one area... PETROL IS CARCINOGENIC... Yet the bull dozers continue to chew and drills continue..." (Critical Eye, 8/10/1992). INFERNO: "All hell let loose. A major oil field put to the torch..." "Our friends in the Gulf..." "Producers run an effective cartel..." The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries: "OPEC tries to control the supply and price of oil..." "OPEC works to keep quotas... and supply down... to reduce the surplus in oil reserves in the Gulf..." "The world's richest man is the Sultan of Brunei- oil magnate. Wealth £24.6 Billion. His oil wells gush to the tune of £250,000 an hour..." (1990). "... the oil price... depends on supply and 253

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£millions. Problem- how to spend it? Government ministers fled with suitcases loaded with cash. 1970's boom, followed by 1980's bust. Debt. Must now broaden base of economy..." (11/1/1993). "OIL IN BIG DEMAND as the USA feels the cold... The big chill has revived faith in oil stocks. The value of shares rose" (27/1/1994). “HIGH OIL PRICES / OIL SHORTAGE = No air conditioning, no transport (or food!), no heating…” “What if hospitals run out…”

over. The cartel would keep their teeth..." "...the smooth, articulate oil minister proposes an end to the damaging wild oil price fluctuations...Mr. Armas suggests prices should stabilised at $16 a barrel plus inflation... while the world should foot the $20 Billion bill for increasing oil production to the levels required by the year 2000... alternatively, prices could be gradually increased to $28 a barrel by 1995, and $40 a barrel by 2,000...." (16/8/1990). THE ORINOCO: ... awesome... vast tar belt 'Black Gold'... oil previously thought to be too heavy for commercial use- can now be exploited... a development by BP and Venezuela of a new fuel called Orimulsion... process devised... will cost $8 a barrel... conversion of existing oil and coal burning power stations said to be inexpensiveOrimulsion said to be cleaner... confident process will reduce Sulphur and Carbon Dioxide emissions..." (Venezuela politically uncertain... a military coup... sells oil to Cuba). "Big oil find in Darwin... some of the world's oldest reserves... oil has shown in 10 of 13 wells drilled..." (24/9/1990). "STRENGTHENED DRILLING: ...BP and Satoil (energy giants) will explore... West Africa, offshore China, Vietnam and in the Soviet Union... one of the most concerted efforts to take on the big USA oil firms in developing reserves... venture backed with joint research and development... the venture will go far beyond the traditional joint venture..." (29/8/1990). "Oil discovered under the Adriatic Sea. 2 rigs there now. 18 more to come. As they start to pump, Venice will sink" (The Cycles of Life, BBC, 28/11/1992). CANADA:... more oil than thought... making SYNTHETIC OIL from tar sand- oil boiled out of sand. 1,000's of gallons of bitumen turned into crude - added Hydrogen to make substance lighter... refineries quite happy with this... Now 2 big plants producing more than Canada needs… (Sulphur emissions)... will ruin country-side, but, as a Public Relations exercise, will landscape..."

OVER PRODUCTION: "CHEAP FOREIGN COMPETITION": "...Traders say Iraq has been the most aggressive in trying to find outlets for oil- dispatching tankers without buyers, then offering to sell at $12 a barrel in Rotterdam..." "OPEC raising price of oil from $18 a barrel to $21 a barrel..." (27/7/1990). "Iraq's seizure of Kuwait... (Queue Wait!) demonstrated the world's dependence upon a commodity that is largely located in one of the world's most politically unstable regions..." "Saddam Hussein changed everything..." (1990) (see: Chapter 13 / Gulf War)

"... This time Mr. George Alcorn predicts, the Saudis will keep oil prices low enough to discourage Alternative Energies..." (The Economist, 26/5/1990).

"... a fresh burst of discounting by Saudi Arabia and stock increases..." UK OIL: "... the big increase in petrol prices is expected as world oil prices soar..." "... motorists advised to drive around to find the best prices!" “THEY’VE GOT US OVER A BARREL…” “How much do you spend a week on petrol?” “IF only we had an alternative!” PRICE FIXING?: "... Esso, Britain's biggest supplier, said free market forces did operate in the industry..." OIL COMPANIES ASK FOR TAX CUT: ...are urging the Chancellor to make another 4p cut in tax for sales of unleaded petrol - to revive sales... to maintain growth of sales... tax incentives..." (1990). "PETROL TAX IS A CON: America- a net importer of oil, where a gallon of unleaded will cost as much as in Britain... On £2.14 a gallon the British government collect £1.02 in tax, and then takes another £0.28p in VAT. We are paying tax, on tax!" “We’re all being manipulated.” “An estimated 500 million gallons pour through Britain’s petrol pumps every month- giving the Treasury £168 million VAT. Hard-pressed motorists paid an extra £20 million tax to the government last month because of the Gulf crisis

(8/1/1993).

SHALE OIL: "Oil is extracted from bituminous shale (i.e. “finely-grained, sedimentary crushed rock, produces oil when heated to 500 degrees C…”) The British

were producing oil from shale back in 1915... Have companies in the cartel bought up the leases on shale producing land, and all the processing patents? Afraid this would knock the bottom out of crude prices? Have major oil companies been stalling for decades on developing shale oil reserves? We should be able to process 1,000's and 1,000's of acres of shale and sell it for much less a barrel. Is shale going to be the next big project?" NIGERIA: “Oil sparked their economy... made 254

"The oil boom is over with very serious consequences for the economy in the 1990's" warned the Labour Party (28/11/1989). "SUNSET / ‘NEW DAWN’: North Sea oil production is being stepped up from £1 million a day to £1.5 million a day... Britain going to be selfsufficient in oil for 5 - 10 years... Mature fields previously abandoned- now going to be worked harder... The North Sea has 160 unexplored fields... ¾ of continental shelf never explored... New exploration planned if price stays high... Searches aided by new technology charting rock formations on Sea bed... Even small finds might be profitable... Oil companies do not like conservancy. They want to know where they are going so they can plan... It's just a question of time before they realise it... UK will be a significant producer until 2020, maybe oil supplies could see us through to 2050... Geologists and Economists will decide our future..." "Tax revenue will increase next year..." (21/8/1990). "Oil found in Poole Bay, Dorset, by BP... field operational by mid-1990, producing 60,000 barrels a day for at least 20 years..." "... Plan to build artificial island for oil rig... met with a hostile reception..." "1,500 barrels of oil a day coming from a new field opened today. 'We must maximise energy in every possible way'..." (4/9/1990). "OIL BONAZA: A new major discovery in North Sea...reserves worth £1 Billion in the Saltire field, 120 miles off Aberdeen... production due to start 1992..." "OPPORTUNIST ROBBERS: While the oil companies are simply opportunist robbers, the real extortionists reside in Whitehall..." (The Sun,

(war in Iraq). The AA said £80 million is set to flow into the Conservative’s coffers by Xmas unless pump prices come down" (1991) (“… it’s FUEL FOR THOUGHT…”) "PROFITEERING: The oil companies need grabbing by the throat. They're making a killing. Oil companies can do what they like!" "The oil companies are robbing us blind and have been for years. Take a peek at their HQ’s and the salaries they pay their public relations to tell lies." "The matter was referred to the Office of Fair Trading..." "OIL GIANTS CLEARED OF PRICE FIXING: ... report branded a 'whitewash'... Labour's Doug Hoyle- a member of the Trade & Industry Select committee which demanded the investigation accused the oil companies of being 'devious to say the least.' The year long Monopolies Commission investigation failed to find any evidence... and ruled that no changes were needed in the industry..." "PETROL TO COST MORE: Up to 40% of Britain's petrol stations are polluting the Environmentnearly 7,500 have contamination problems... stringent new standards to include doubleskimmed storage tanks, plastic instead of metal pipes, monitoring systems to measure if so much as a teacup disappears... a huge investment to clean up... the cost of building petrol stations = £920,000 more today than 10 years ago... oil industry cannot bear cost alone... retails margins must be increased... Britain should levy an Environmental tax on prices, as France and the Netherlands have... to pay for cleaning dirty sites" (29/4/1993).

"HUNT: British Gas plans to produce oil deep within Russia's ARTIC circle have won £55 million of backing from the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development" (6/8/1993). OIL EXTRACTION RISING DRASTICALLY: ... producing record amounts and more to come following heavy investment in mining... oil exported to keep trade deficit down. Shift from domestic consumption..." (8/3/1994). "Oil and gas production up 30% a year. Anaemic recovery in industry and housing..." (7/4/1994). "The North Sea is one of the roughest Seas in the world..." "Extractors want to make money... Big capital projects..." "The Seas rich off Scotland..." "... the cost of providing and maintaining ageing platforms, the cost of bringing £multi-million facilities on stream, the cost of extra safety measures after the Piper Alpha disaster..." (Global Warming = More storms / wind. The increased dangers… EG. for men on the rigs at Sea…Their reliance on helicopters…) "Shell / Esso awarded contracts for 3 new fields..."

9/8/1990).

"These days, the British approach is to own, not conquer... the British government plans to exploit hydro-carbons found in the Falkland's continental shelf..." (1993). “In a demonstration of People Power: The ‘Dump the Petrol Pump’ campaign: Due to high taxation- petrol prices are un-Affordable. A farmer tried to unite the people… ‘We are not peasants. We are The People!’ ‘We go in as gentlemen’ he said. The biggest oil refinery in Europe- the Shell terminal, targeted- blocked by tractors. ‘It’s about time something is done about it’ (it means: petrol prices for lorry drivers). City centres ground to a halt- long queues for petrol… ‘Barricades will not change government policy towards petrol’ said Tony Blair. The ideal protest is to reach the heart of State…” (July / August 2000).

(Sept, 1989).

OIL CONSUMPTION: "North America: 849.2 million tons, Latin America 252.3 million tons, OECD Europe 631 million tons,

"£128 BILLION oil revenue has gone up in SMOKE! We have WASTED the oil-rich years...” 255

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Mercantile Exchange's oil contract - before dipping slightly. Earlier, the president of OPEC said oil prices were at 'crazy' levels, but that OPEC was powerless to cool the market. 'There is no more supply, said OPEC president Purnomo Yusgiantoro. He said that officials in Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, had told him that that country could raise production, but not immediately. Oil analysts agree that OPEC is pumping flat out, so there is limited scope to calm prices by boosting output. 'The oil price is very high. It's crazy,' (said Mr Yusgiantoro, who is also Indonesia's oil minister.) High prices are underpinned by soaring demand from fast-growing China and recovery in the US. Prices are highly sensitive to any development which could affect the Global supply situation, such as the attack warning, or instability in the Middle East....” (2003). “…sounds like we have been ‘well-served’ by having a wannabe oilman pretending to be the President..." (2003) (G. W. Bush owned several oil companies that failed before he became President of the USA). "USA is stock piling oil in case there is a shortage..."

Non-OECD Europe 487.2 million tons, Middle East 153.1 million tons, Africa 97.4 million tons, Asia & Australia 97.4 million tons..." (1990). "IRAQ is nonOPEC. Iraq's huge supplies could cause a glut... (Saddam = Uncertainty. The USA could be forced to address him as 'Sir'...") "Iraq planned a 25 cents a barrel Tax to help the Palestinians... worth £500,000 a day to help the Palestinians... £2.8 Billion a year... This would pressure OPEC... would outstrip the $3 Billion given to Israel by the US...” (The Guardian, 3/12/2000). ("Israel has no energy supply of its own- no coal, no nuclear energy. USA is Israel's 'Sugar Daddy.' Iraq threatening Israel? Israel has nuclear weapons- could flatten Iraq... Israel and Syria at logger-heads over oil... War in Iraq = the means to secure oil supply to Israel... Israel needs 0.5 million barrels of oil a day to run cars etc...") "Iraq cutting oil exports... to protest against Israel's military incursions into Palestinian territory" (CNN, 9/4/2002) (see: Chapter 13 / Gulf War).

“INDEPENDENCE FROM PETROLEUM: … Rockefeller (Standard Oil, Esso, Exxon), DuPont and Ford are all profiting from the petroleum. More oil = more asphalt (paved over LA's trolley tracks) = more SUVs off the assembly line (thanks to Hitler those pesky labour union communists were stopped in their tracks). Prescott Bush (Bush's grandfather who funded Nazis), Hitler, G W Bush and Cheney are the political puppets of these and other industries (chemical conglomerate IG Farben in Nazi Germany). Imagine how Ford and Rockefeller would have felt if the assembly line factories in Detroit became unionized? The centrally controlled petrochemical industry is soon going to collapse and be replaced by something else. The occupation of Iraq with the help of America's nuclear weapons outpost Israel is the industry elites squeezing the last few drops out before the oil economy collapse.. If any town grows their own crops for biodiesel / biodegradable plastics, the economy is locally controlled, not as easy to regulate by the wealthy elite… Enter "Reefer Madness" funded by DuPont (petrochemical) and Hearst (timber baron) to make marijuana / hemp illegal and ensure their profit and control of the market. No local farmers making a profit allowed in the land of the oil thief, home of the petrochemical slave. As long as the wealthy industrialists make a profit, all's well in the land of lies… Organic farming and medicinal herbs (no, not just THAT one) are another way of preventing cancer and physical ailments…” (6/11/2003 ref. www.portland.indymedia.org ). "... US oil prices have hit record highs after the president of OPEC said the producers' cartel was unable to push any more supplies into the market. Prices rose to $44.24 a barrel in New York - a level not seen in the 21 years of the New York

(2003).

UK: "We consume 3 Super-tankers of oil a day" (2004).

"Fears about oil supplies... although the cartel OPEC claimed they are in a position to increase crude output... the price of light crude has topped $53 a barrel... record oil prices blamed for the sharpest annual rise in the cost of goods leaving UK factories for more than 8 years..." (21/10/2004). "GLOBAL DEMAND FOR OIL SET TO INCREASE 60% by 2030. China now soaking up oil to power hi-tech cities... People's perception regarding continuity of oil supply is affecting price... BP made £2.2 BILLION profit for 3 months trading- profits up 43%..." (25/10/2004). "ASIA'S OIL HUNT: ... China: Real energy problems- depending on imported crude oil and burning coal. Result: POLLUTION (Cost to Health: £170 Billion a year) + vastly increased DRILLING... Future Problems: Clashes re: Pipelines, shipping routes... Needed: A major re-vamp in nuclear power? 30 new Reactors = 4% of energy needs to fuel super-growth...." (Business Week Online, 5/11/2004).

"THE ‘OIL FOR FOOD’ RACKET: $21 BILLION in illegal bank accounts..." (Associated Press, 15/11/2004). "G. W. Bush is trying to get Environmentalists to accept MORE DRILLING for oil on public land..." (5/11/2004)

(“Has it Sunk in yet?”) "AN ENERGY STARVED WORLD: ... we will have to drill for gas and oil in off-shore Artic regions..." (Reuters, 8/11/2004) "The warmer temperature in the Artic will increase shipping / oil spills..." (ALASKA: WOW! Beautiful virgin country. Unspoilt. Great lakes, rivers, mountains, forests. 256

GREED must stop’ Friends of the Earth demanded, calling for a switch to more Environment friendly fuel. The boss of BP made £5.6 million last year. Profits rose 42%” (Daily Mirror,

Ice Caps. Frozen landscapes. Pure snow. Populated by people and animals… “Please don’t spoil Alaska!”) “Alaska was protected…” “Gone are the MAGNIFICENT rocky mountains to make highways. Soon there’ll be more and more tarmac...” 2004). "Oil price set to rise to $100 a barrel?" (“What could OPEC do about it?”) “Russia has seized oilfields in Siberia. Idea is that oil fields (said to rival Saudi) come back under state control” (18/12/2004). “THE ENERGY GIANTS: BP made £9 BILLION profits last year.” “Shell made £5 BILLION from DRILLING. Shell are making £25 million profit a day. That’s £19,000 a minute. Obscene. Polluter’s profits… As oil supplies dry up, petrol prices are going to go up… Oil reserve estimates cut 4 times this year” (February 2005). “Labour want a windfall Tax against companies that make excessive profits.” “An excessive profits Tax.” “This wont stop them charging excessive prices- only means the government creams off…” “Rocketing Fuel prices for diesel have a KnockOn Effect EG. on commercial fishermen… Red marine diesel prices- although free of duty and tax to boat owners, have doubled in a year. One trawler owner paid £13,500 to fill his tank this week. These have big engines to pull a heavy trawl and they get through a hell of a lot of diesel…” “A massive $12 BILLION oil & gas pipeline planned by Shell off the East Russian coast could spell the end for the grey whale…” (17/2/2005). “OIL PRICES ARE GOING UP due to the cold weather in the USA…” (Sky news, 23/2/2005). “MASSIVE BLAST AT BP’s OIL REFINERY in Texas. Bad safety record… No new oil refineries built in the USA for last 25 years…” (23/3/2005). “MORROCAN OIL FOR EUROPE: A plan to use a pipeline to transport oil from Morocco to Spain via Gibraltar… confirmed by a US-based oil exploration company. The plan announced by Vanco Morocco Ltd., involves the start of a massive 700-squarekilometre seismic acquisition programme off the coast of the North African country… (the company is a leading deep sea explorer in off-shore Africa with 20 million acres under licence…) (4/4/2005). “THE SECURITY OF THE WORLD’S OIL SUPPLY is top of the agenda. Worries about Middle East oil supplies… There are plenty of supplies in Africa but corruption and lack of training are a worry.” “Protests in China due to… opposition to plans for off-shore oil explorations in disputed territory”

27/7/1990).

“THE FEAR OF A TERRORIST ATTACK against oil installations in Saudi… pushed the price of oil to $60 a barrel. The energy climate is getting harder. In 1974, the world was tipped into recession by hiked oil prices…” (BBC1, 8/8/2005). “… SHORTFALL IN GAS SUPPLIES… gas is important to the UK, providing electricity and heating… dependent on gas… catastrophic… DRILLING down (to find new reserves)… The bulk of gas is burned in domestic home heating, over 70% of which is gas fired… severe winter analysis…” (Ref. www.energybulletin.net/ 27/8/2005). “THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING! The impact of oil prices… Oil prices are hurting our disposable income. The way those prices hurt our economy- a huge ripple effect. Price of plastics has gone up… Consumers in the USA are concerned.… an oil shortage soon? Spare capacity exists but only for a few years (5?) A million barrels a day surplus but refineries cannot handle more heavy crude. Global growth is 5%. What will fuel the developing world? Reserves are in decline. There is no accurate data how long oil fields can maintain our present oil supply. If this trend (for instability) continues… Could oil become so expensive it out prices itself? Holland is considering reopening coal fields to make petrol out of coal again... Things cannot go on this way forever. Oil for heating, cooking, transport… Transport accounts for ½ the world’s oil consumption. The Need for Renewable Energy: Water in rural areas in Africa is still being pumped by diesel! 20 years ago, BP costed investment in solar (photovoltaic) in Africa unrealistically high. The investment for alternatives EG. solar and wind power, do not include alternatives for transport- an alternative fuel for cars.” Uh? “Whose responsibility is it ? Will we still be sitting here in 25 years time waiting for the innovation to start ? OPEC (said they) would like to encourage the growth of (complimentary) alternatives of a sound economic basis. We have become addicted to oil. It is everybody’s responsibility to take this issue seriously, develop alternatives and contribute” (Talking Point, BBC World Service, 28/8/2005).

“THE WORLD IS LIVING ON A KNIFE’S EDGE: …there is little prospect of relief for many years to come. Driven by the booming economies, Global energy consumption is set to increase by 60% over the next 25 – 30 years…” (The Daily Press,

(April 2005).

“The price of oil is still dominating the market…” (2005). “BP are making ‘obscene profits.’ In 6 months BP made £6 BILLION profits (set to break the record: HSBC (Bank) made £10 BILLION (in 2004). ‘This

30/8/2005)

“The effect of inflated prices on the elderly and those on low incomes…” 257

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them suffer while we live off our own resources that are replenish-able!” (ref. Yahoo Answers).

“MAIN GAS storage depot on fire” (UK, 16/2/2006). EXPERT: “RENEWABLES will never provide 100% energy- maybe 20% by 2010, though the benefits are considerable…” EXPERT: “We have to persuade investors the benefits of Nuclear power outweigh the risks…”

HYDROGEN: Hydrogen: “… the most plentiful element in the universe, but doesn't exist naturally as a free gas. Instead hydrogen forms strong bonds with other elements and is therefore, difficult and expensive to isolate and deliver…” SAFE? “A highly REACTIVE Gas…” “Very Vulnerable to FIRE.” 1937: “The Hindenburg Disaster: The largest airship (Zeppelin) ever constructed, filled with ‘lighterthan-air’ hydrogen... EXPLODED. “Bodies rained down from the sky...” Q: “What assurance can you provide that Hydrogen plants will not EXPLODE?” A: “None.” Q: “Is this risk and potential for loss of life and limb acceptable?” A: “Hardly.” SUSTAINABLE? "Scientists at JET creating energy from fusion of Hydrogen in Hi-tech lab. Can make sudden burst - hotter than the Sun, but cannot sustain. Uses only little fuel. Is this the energy of the future? (July 1998). “Water can be turned into Hydrogen gas - by low tech process - and used for cooking - gas costs considerably less so ‘ideal’ for poor people. Inventor kidnapped twice and threatened by those who do not want lower price gas to be supplied”

(16/2/2006).

“… oil pipe-lines are corroding…” (August 2006). ADVERT: “BP is investing £275 million to make Biofuels via pumps reality…” (The Times 29/7/2006). DANGERS OF OIL PEAK: “The Middle East has 2/3rds of the world’s oil, then Afghanistan, Iraq – hence need to militarise for USA… 9/11 used a covert excuse for war against 60 States where the oil is situated… The USA has tried to monopolise oil in Caspian Basin for themselves… When the oil supply peaks in 2010 - 2015, then RUNS OUT… This is something we need to prepare for yet we are told nothing about it! The CIA studied oil peak since 1970’s… It’s not that governments don’t know. There is no easy solution so no-one really discusses depletion / implications / the threat. A stark realisation – how that will affect the price, debt, consumers = Economies will shrink = Depression – Gap between supply and demand = we are facing a decline. Everything is now dependent on oil – FOOD, agriculture, the military… Fewer oil fields being discovered. Using 3 times more than we’re discovering – 84 million barrels a day. Maximum capacity = 95 barrels a day. Harder to find / extract = more expensive. After that, a graduation… then the impact of relentless decline, getting ever worse. No Oil = Very high unemployment, social unrest… There’ll be wars…” (Extracts: Video: Oil, Smoke & Mirrors, 5/10/2006)

(Tomorrows World, BBC1, 31/7/1999).

HYDROGEN AS A FUEL: "1,000'S of factories are working to separate Hydrogen from water- so Hydrogen (an EXPLOSIVE, flammable, colourless, odourless gas) can be used as a fuel." HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS: "... for use in cars..." “… When Shelley Minteer was working with hydrogen fuel cells, she was always afraid of accidents. Growing worries about the SAFETY issues while teaching students eventually saw her interests turning elsewhere…” FUEL CELLS: "... run electricity through waterseparate Hydrogen ('explosive air') and oxygen. Latest design- reactions take place in plastic sheet... (gives off heat). (Lots of bulky, noisy, HEAVY machinery and pressurised tanks needed). A lightweight, powerful fuel cell is expected shortly"

(further info. www.OilSmokeAndMirrors.com ).

“There may be twice as much oil in Iraq as previously thought…” (April? 2007). “ExxonMobil and Shell, 2 of the biggest carbon emitters in the world, reported combined annual profits yesterday of nearly £90 MILLION A DAY, earned largely from oil production, refining and petrol stations. The earnings triggered protests from trade unions and fuel poverty groups as well as environmental campaigners. Exxon's net income of $39.5 BILLION (£20bn) last year is the largest ever recorded in US corporate history and comes amid mounting fears worldwide about the impact of CO2 output on Global Warming” (The Guardian, 2/2/2007) (“Shell made £13 BILLION profit last year…”) “Next ? £5 on the cost of a litre of petrol?” THE SOLUTION? “Use up all the oil as fast as we can, then the world companies / government etc., will have to use alternatives!? Problem solved, now let us drive / fly / sail and live our lives without the pathetic, pointless guilt trip and scaremongering. Thanks.” “I hope we can use alternatives, and let the oil rich mongers find other ways to maintain their luxurious lifestyles and reel in recruits for evil. Let

(16/10/1991).

"G. W. Bush has committed £1.7 BILLION to Hydrogen research" (2004) (for fuel cells, or bombs?) “… Bio-fuels and hydrogen are America's big ideas for the future… Arnold Schwarzenegger … wagered his successful campaign to be re-elected Californian governor on a ‘commitment’ to Green issues, in particular a hydrogen highway with more 258

but burns quickly and invisibly, with very little heat radiated from the flame. Readers with any engineering knowledge might gulp at the thought of high-pressure hydrogen storage. In 2001, Dr Michael Swain did… tests with ruptured hydrogen and petrol tanks (The hydrogen fire burns intensely (one Ford engineer told me that it explosion will blast straight through a pressedsteel car boot lid) and quickly. The petrol fire is slower to start, but lasts much longer. This is by no means an exhaustive test, but…replicates… others we have seen… There are also concerns about the effect of hydrogen on the upper atmosphere, because hydrogen has a secondary effect of creating Ozone and EXACERBATING CLIMATE CHANGE... Don't rush it: The DoE's "National Hydrogen Storage Project" comprises 3 centres of excellence as well as independent projects, with the participation of 40 universities, 15 companies and 10 federal laboratories. The project is costing the DoE $26.6 million this year and $34.6 million in 2007, with an additional $7 million in funding. While none of this US funding officially finds its way to Europe, some leaks out through the International Partnership for a Hydrogen Economy, a talk shop for European politicians to piggyback American research and claim they are making a difference… Dr Henry Winand, chief executive of Intelligent Energy (said): ‘A hydrogen economy is not one of those big switches you can throw overnight… The reality is a gradual (TOO SLOW?) CLOSING of the carbon loop… but… CAN THE WORLD WAIT?... how frustrating… to pepper targets without actually hitting meeting them..” (ref. www.telegraph.co.uk/.../25/nosplit/mfstore25.xml

than 200 filling stations… …The problem of storing a… flammable gas… the investment requirements are unbelievable… Yet car makers are pressing ahead with… optimism: They believe hydrogen represents a way of removing the car's carbon exhaust emissions, thus allowing them to build more cars… ‘Where will all the hydrogen come from?’ Hydrogen infrastructure… even if the cars are almost ready, the hydrogen infrastructure certainly isn't. President Bush's 2003 Hydrogen Initiative seeks to make hydrogen practical and cost-effective for Americans to chose hydrogen fuelcell cars by 2020. It's a big ask and the Americans are spending a lot of dough… In 2005 the US Energy Act gave $3.28 BILLION to research a hydrogen Economy, yet in the same year a US Department of Energy (DoE) report, Review Of The Research Program of The Freedom Car And Fuel Partnership said: ‘Hydrogen storage in vehicles is the program's most difficult challenge.’ They're still throwing money at the problem, though. DoE grants for hydrogen research are enormous: $155.8 million in 2004, $224.7 million in 2005 and $259.5 million this year - last month the DoE gave another $100 million to 25 projects on fuel-cell research and development. The DoE has set some pretty stiff targets in its hydrogen programme, including a target pump price of $2-$3 per kilogram, delivered and untaxed, from whatever source. Its 2015 target cost for high-volume fuel-cell production is an ambitious $30 per kilowatt of power (car makers are aiming for $50 per kilowatt for a complete fuel-cell installation including fuel storage). Yet fuel-cell car makers are still struggling with the cost and weight of storing the fuel. One kilogram of hydrogen has the energy equivalent of 0.83 gallons of petrol, so hydrogen has a pretty efficient bang. Depending on how you store hydrogen, though, volume can be up to 4 times greater than that of petrol, which leads to huge problems... recently admitted…hydrogen storage:… a… pressurised carbon-fibre tank is so heavy and expensive… In 2003, the DoE launched a ‘Grand Challenge’ to the technical community for research into hydrogen storage. The options…include: "Squashing it, squashing it some more, liquefying it, soaking it up with a sponge, dissolving it or freezing it onto something." Where and how will you fill up with this highly flammable… element? Refuelling: There is one 10,000psi refuelling station in Los Angeles, California, with an additional 9 stations being upgraded across the state and 2 further stations in New York. Hydrogen is the smallest molecule in the universe, so hydrogen tends to escape from anything you and I might regard as impregnable, including pipelines and storage tanks. The process of escape makes small Aerochocolate type bubbles in metal… and causes cracks to appear. Hydrogen is not itself explosive,

).

THE FUTURE: BURN WOOD? GRASS? BIO-MASS: “Rubbish,” or new crops burnt as a fuel, like coal? Wood = Cycle could continue indefinitely? The sustainable forest? Sweden already burns as much as Britain's nuclear power stations. Using the willow - fast growing, naturally replaces itself. 4 -6 generations = 30 years fuel. Also, birch, eucalyptus. The land and technology exists. All that is missing is the will. The energy forest is already producing enough energy to heat and light industry and homes..." (24/5/1990) FREE of carbon emissions? “GREEN PLANT, GREEN CITIES?: A new power station, to provide power for 2,000 homes, run on elephant grass grown by approx. 40 farmers. The grass dies in winter- becomes dry cane- which is simple to burn. This still pumps out CO2. To be carbon neutral is the real winner. Growing the grass consumes CO2. Is a bio-mass resource. BioEnergy. Is only a small project. But big power 259

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companies are not interested in buying the electricity produced. The idea could fail as project cannot really compete with cheaper fossil fuels which cause Greenhouse Gases” (Channel 4,5/6/2005).

new energy systems are coming to the fore... EG. advanced batteries, inexpensive fuel cells, modular on-site heat and electrical generators... Funding remains a problem..." (2004). "High oil prices are pushing growth of renewable energies... One idea is to put windmills on top of oil and gas rigs..." (November, 2004).

“Good bye fossil fuel. Costs too much to build power stations. Geo-Thermal Energy?” (Exploit the Earth's Crust?) “MAN COULD GET ALL THE FREE ENERGY HE WANTS by… tapping into the core of the Earth. Look at the heat in Volcanoes. We’ll use the heat to generate electricity. METHOD: Send down a missile (an upside down rocket), to make the deepest shaft. Should take 2 years to safely do the job, but…” “YOU WANT TO DESTROY THE WORLD, to save the world?” (“Must it remain a theory?”) “The missile will be fired on Saturday…” “Like a disease out of control. It’s out of my hands. Stop the launch! Too late. A terrible disturbance ensued. Destruction, on a massive scale. Earthquakes, tidal waves, £millions and millions of damage to property. Splinter effect. Flaws- could cause another explosion- more cracks! The resulting crack ran along the Ocean floor. A deep fissure. Speed about 3 mph, moving around the world. Can we stop the destruction? We’ll fall apart! We’ll be a cloud of dust! A calculated decision. We had to know. Solution? Pray? Put another bomb into a Volcano, blow another hole. Result: Earthquakes affecting the fault. Crack not stopped- is moving twice as fast. Means the end to us all. Not 2 fissures. Observe, the birth of a Moon. The Earth gave a mighty roar. The people at boiling point. ‘We rushed it.’ ‘We were so sure of success.’ Project evacuated” (Ref. ‘A Crack in

SUMMARY: (“Altogether, it will be better value.”) "THE DREAM FOR SAFE, CLEAN, FREE, ENERGY” "… it is NOT A MILLION MILES AWAY...." "I believe polluting fuels like coal, oil and nuclear energy will be banned from use after the discovery of a clean free energy source" said Arthur C. Clarke. “Governments have to break up this cartel-like behaviour and make Energy function like it should do.” “We need to reduce our need for energy” (said Conservative MP Alistair Darling, Channel 4, 15/2/2007).

“If I could change one thing about American foreign policy, what would it be? The answer is easy, but it's not something most of us think of as foreign policy. I would adopt a serious national program geared toward energy efficiency and independence…” (ref. http://www.lightparty.com/Energy/EscapeOilTrap.html).

"There are still 2 billion of the world's 6 billion people who have no electricity. Bringing them electricity from solar instead of fossil fuels makes more sense." “Indeed, if these countries can plan how they want to develop, they may be able to create systems that are entirely self-sustaining through the use of solar power. This would mean that they would not have to rely on other countries for energy. They would also be able to step away from all of the pollution problems industrialized nations now face through the abundant use of fossil fuels. Economically speaking, solar energy is a wise choice” (ref. www.scienceclarified.com ). "FREE THE WORLD from nuclear THREAT. Vote to CLOSE them down. Transform power..." "HUMAN POWER really makes a DIFFERENCE. Tell policy-makers what YOU want. Make it happen.” “Gradually, momentum will build. Interest will grow… It will be market led. Basic standards do need to be set." “We can get SAFETY by numbers…” “… We need to make sure we reduce our need for energy…” (said Conservative MP, Alistair Darling, Channel 4,

the World’, a science fiction film).

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY FOR WHOLE OF UK: "... plan by group of scientists for one massive underground geothermal power station to power Britain = One power station, cost $115 BILLION (i.e. 80 times the cost of a conventional-sized power station) situated 6 miles beneath Cornwall... to harness heat beneath the Earth's surface... piped water converted into steam / electricity...would produce 10 gigawatts... £86 million needed to finance 3-5 years research... 25 30 years to complete... New Technology = DEEP SHAFTS: 6-mile depth, (2 miles is currently considered deep for commercial mines). Power plant will use hot dry rock technology- water is artificially driven into the Earth's core to be heated; conventional geothermal power requires naturally occurring fissures" (Ref. The Mining for Heat Consortium, Source: ENN, Reuters 21/4/2001).

15/2/2007).

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: "THE RACE FOR NEW ENERGY... a plethora of 260

CHAPTER 7: TRANSPORT CARS: "Man's dream? A mechanical horse that would never stop..." "We now have the horse-less carriage." ("Chariots of fire...") "IN THE BEGINNING: RELIABLE QUALITY: Henry Ford expressed the view it would be nice if anyone who wanted a car could own a reliable car, and then he set about making his vision reality. By providing Affordable, reliable transport, he also opened up the prospects for 100's of enterprisesroad building, the aircraft industry, shipping... providing world-wide employment (JOY to millions...) creating happiness as a result of increased mobility; communication and commerce (incidentally; also being responsible for America’s oil industry). His ideal was to improve the standard of living for the masses. By producing something that everyone needs, you are not just sitting there bleeding- you are making $millions for yourself." "30 years later Ford's dream had turned into a

"Building bad cars... Trade Secrets...” “Only basic legal requirements..." "You will make enemies by speaking out..." "I don't care about cars! I care about SAFETY!" "How to REDUCE accidents?" “What's the answer to IMPROVE SAFETY? “More metal? Side impact bars” ? "The safest car with roll bars, completely disintegrated on impact..." (12/5/1993). These days, new cars (in the UK) do NOT even have Bumpers! (Fenders). Oh, Man! You need to spend less time eyeing-up ladies ‘bumpers’… (men love curves!) NEEDED (Basic): Protective wide banding (to form a reasonably prominent ‘bump zone’) made from a water & fire proof foam (same as flip-flops and craft / play mats are made from? Aerated polybutylene?) i.e. Thick, Resilient layer, all around the middle of the exterior (replaceable) to absorb (deaden) impact; save lives, diminish injuries + stop it getting wrecked). Ah! CRASH PADS! (“Different materials have different densities…”) (The Safety Harness: Softer, slightly stretchy, strong - crosses over both shoulders and hips, fastening with a snap resin clasp in the middle). Neck & Head Rest: Should be correctly contoured, height / position (very) adjustable, and soft…) (so these don’t cause head-aches!) (Use magnets to keep protected head / gear in place?) (it slows if likely collision detected? & Auto-Stops should a collision still occur! No dashboard? No foot pedals?= Brakes i.e. a power reduction system… Speed adjusted by? Steering by touch pad? Will passengers block the view?) (Work it out! "... it's no tin pot weakling." Ah! “… it serves you right.”) “CANNED PEOPLE”: “Manufacturers do not admit they are wrong, the product they are making is potentially very dangerous. They play down SAFETY…” COCOONING means: “Hollow (tin, and plastic) panels- there's only empty space...” (for storage of sweetie wrappers…) ‘Safety’: Exploding air bags that burn people? PEOPLE SAID: “What should we do? Use bubble wrap?” (“Don’t forget- you’ve got precious cargo! Your kids…”) PEOPLE SAID: "If a toy is found to be DEFECTIVE, the toy is taken off the market. You can claim substantial damages. You just contact a Consumer Association... WHY can’t we DO THIS with CARS? Cars are frequently recalled due to admitted defects..." UK: "New GROUP SET-UP called ‘Disaster Action.’ Will campaign for IMPROVED SAFETY standards" (”… it’s something you might want to look into…”) "A car is the 2nd most expensive thing we buy,

nightmare..." Post-Ford: “Capitalise to make more money.” 'Profit Maximisation': “CHARGE what people will pay.” “Charge WHAT WE CAN GET AWAY WITH!” "DO WHATEVER WE CAN GET AWAY WITH!" Car manufacturers realised they could make more money selling spare parts… therefore…more money to be made selling unreliable cars! = "NEVER MIND THE QUALITY, CALCULATE THE QUANTITY!" “1st - use cheap materials. Safety does not matter. Glossy will cover inferior quality. Aim for quantity. Business steered towards the company car.” RESULT: “70,000 possible faults. One cog costs £80.” “Major repair bills. You'll never finish paying out.” JAPAN: "Maybe if the distributor didn't get wet there would be fewer problems?" BOSS: "I don't want to hear it…" UK 1990: "CARS ARE BIG BUSINESS." "£30 MILLION A DAY..." ("... British cars not known for reliability, only charm.") Cars used to be made from THICK (plate) STEEL (EG. The old Land-Rovers and Mercedes). In a collision, the car and occupant/s would survive. EG. “I was going round a roundabout when a bus crashed into the side of my car- all my car needed was a bit of a paint job…” "THEY DON'T MAKE CARS LIKE THEY AUTO…" “MADE TO CRUMPLE (Collision tested by dummies): These days, the majority of cars are made of very THIN TIN. “’Modern’ thinking is to… er… um… absorb the impact = reduce the jolt - to reduce injuries… so now the ‘soft’ (SHARP!) metal (TIN) squashes into… crumple zones… The car will be a right-off … but that doesn’t matter…” Uh? 261

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servicing, repairs, petrol, oil, insurance, breakdown cover, parking fees, parking finesknowing all the while our ‘precious’ cars are depreciating in value, and we've got to start saving up to buy a new car." “CAR MAINTENANCE = “PAY OUT. PAY OUT…” “We’ve had lots of cars. Always the same. You never stop paying out! You fix one thing, then another bit goes. The bigger, more expensive the car, the higher the cost for repair bills. Computer diagnostics haven’t helped. They say ‘part 3MT’ has gone.’ What the hell are they talking about? All I know is I’ve got to write a cheque for another £1,500. I might as well just give the garage a blank cheque and tell them to get on with it.” (“…it’s a love / hate thing…”) “They say: ‘Being a motor mechanic is the worse job in the world.’” “… covered in oil, grease and dirt, your head stuck under a bonnet…” (“… it wont ever need servicing… it will go anywhere you want to… it’s more than a dream machine…” “… it’s something to make you feel special, that treats you right…”) “I… I… can’t… reach… into the back…” “… bend double to clean the carpets…” “I am so sick of banging my head…” "I am looking for the perfect… car… but I don't know what it is…" “Oh no! The shape! This is much too square and clunky…” “I’m looking for something funky!” “This car is not made that well they cheap-skated on the finish…” “Yeuch! There is far too much plastic on the dash-board…” “Look at the grill – the car seems to be frowning!” “I wouldn’t touch that make. They’ve got a terrible reputation for unreliability. They quickly fall apart…” “There’s no leg room in the back!” “Oh! It turns on a sixpence!” “With finance plans to suit every budget…” (if you are employed, you don’t owe any money, your credit rating isn’t screwed…) Cars AVAILABLE with 0% Finance: Interest

after a house." “Buyers are left to the ‘mercy’ of dealers…” "You can buy it from this garage or go across the roadwe'll all treat you like shit." "Although we offer a warranty, there is nothing to say the car wont break down on the 1st day..." COMMON COMPLAINTS: EG. “Cars are such a pain!” “The battery is dead, again…" WAH! "It wont start!” “You left the choke on! The engine’s flooded.” “The radiator’s leaking, over-heating…” “… the fan belt’s flapping… “ “…blown gasket…” “The cam-belt’s gone again? You mean it wasn’t actually replaced? I was charged…” “The car’s not worth repairing!? But I’ve just spent…” “… each component…” “The whole engine has to come out…” “… the gear stick came out!” “… the display has gone blank – a common problem…” “… the brakes need attention…” “… worn tyres…” “… stone chip marks…” “… dents…” “… rust on seams…” “… needs some welding…” “I must have gone over a stone on the road…” “… leaking… taking in water…” “… gearbox mounting cracked…” “ cracked headlight…” “… side mirror snapped-off…” “… there’s a bad rattle in the drive shaft…” "… it's not my fault the automatics have packed up again!” “The bloody car is out of action again!” “The engine just died…” “The engine cut out!“ “AARGH! INFERNAL CONTRAPTION! This is nothing but a complete PAIN- a worthless piece of junk. I feel so hard done by! So frustrated. I’m seriously pissed off. God! I HATE ALL this messing about!” “This bloody, bloody thing!” “I’ve got a FLAT…” (“Don’t you just hate that?”) PUNCTURE: "I'll die before I ever manage to change this wheel” say's a stranded, pregnant woman. "Men are mechanically minded... Yes, it's a man's world. Everything has been designed by men, for use by men..." “My car broke down in the middle of the motorway…” (“Is there a good place to break down?”) “No, I can’t push this for the last mile!” “The garages are closed till after the Bank holiday…” "Oh! It's enough to cause a National Breakdown!" “Why? Why? Why test me like this?” BREAKDOWN: "The highest bill in Britain for towing a car 2.5 miles was £2,200" (1990). "The UK Automobile Association receives 13,000 Emergency calls a day i.e. one call for help every second." (",,, the phone number is always engaged, especially in winter...") (The Emergency Breakdown’s service centre is a new building made of 95% Glass.”) “We’ll soon have you on your way…” “Buyers want Trouble-Free motoring.” “We like RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY, DEPENDABLE…” "Men really ‘love’ their cars..." ? "Yeh, we really enjoy paying road tax, paying for MOT checks,

☺

FREE Deals: “Oh, yes, we like that!” (“Offered on selected models only, subject to status. 25% deposit required. A guarantor may be necessary…”) “… IF WE CAN KEEP UP WITH THE RE-PAYMENTS…” “I couldn’t get credit so he paid… he loaned the car to me…” “She didn’t make all the repayments…” “I lost my job…” JUDGE: “They’re fighting each other lock, stock and barrel. The world is in such a state…” "... jammed up with credit, chokes the smile off every face...” CARS REPOSSESSED: “… they towed my car, put it in the pound. When I tried to recover it… I was told I was entitled to nothing back! I’ve lost my down payment. I’ve lost all my repayments!” “… the prospective damages… return the car, or they’ll 262

come to get you…” “… the Bailiffs are at your door…” “’FREE & EASY’: A NEW Payment Plan by Chevrolet: 3 stages: 1st stage: Pay a deposit. 2nd Payment due after 1st year. Last Payment after 2nd year. Interest free!” (July 2005). "Do you want a tin top, canvas or glass?" “YOU CAN HAVE ANY COLOUR of car YOU WANT. Cost of metallic paint excluded..." “This car has 17 coats of paint hardened in ovens…” WOULD WE still LIKE cars if we could see ALL THE METAL ? "Motor show organisers are trying to work out how to attract more buyers for their relatively expensive products" (27/9/1990) ENTICEMENTS: “Free insurance for 1 year, Free servicing (cost of spare parts excluded…”) (Cost built-in to price). (Average Life: “Up to 100,000 miles. Can’t give ‘em after that!”) "Car sales soaring.” “What a bargain, I don't think." (“… it doesn’t need sex to sell it.” “… it sells itself ~ it’s got everything you want ~ it’s perfect...”) HELL = The menacing Roar of FIERY… engines. Top speed 128 – 177 mph i.e. made to be far more powerful than is safe to drive, or we are ever likely to need…so we can feel powerful acceleration – 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. (“Step on it…” means: “Put your foot down- on the accelerator – the ‘gas’ peddle.”) TOP OF THE RANGE EXTRAS: “Climate control, 3D cockpit display, remote start control, immobiliser, remote alarm, power locks via blip on fob key, power assisted steering, tilt steering, electric heated seats, electric memory seats, electric mirrors, folding mirrors, drivers + passenger’s + side airbags, adjustable air suspension, anti-skid, electronic stability program, cruise control, Park Assist / parking sensors, walnut panels, leather seats, cup holders, (fold down) picnic tables (great), privacy glass, door exit lights, even panel gaps, air filter…” “No executive car is economical to run- they’re too heavy. Built for comfort not efficiency.” "Executive Power = Speed is everything." "In a fiercely competitive society, what else can we do but go racing?" "In Edwardian times, the average speed was 12 mph for a horse and carriage. Today, the average speed in London is 12 mph..." "The journey will take quite a while... I'm afraid there's no alternative..." CHAOS: "The fighting among drivers..." "People become much more aggressive behind the wheel. I don't know quite what it is..." "The stress levels of drivers..." "My racing heart will never the same again." (More heart problems). “My husband gets really nutty behind the wheel. I get so stressed I have to drink!” “STRESS IS A KILLER!” "Driving involves a lot of RISKS..."

"Get-Out-of-my-way

or

Get-Squashed

Attitude is Everywhere!" "Rush-Hour lasts 3 to 4 hours. It's horrendous! All we want to do is get HOME..." "Come on! Get a bloody move on. If we don't get going, it's going to be murder out there!" “MOVE it! We’ve got to get going or the traffic’s going to be murder…” ROAD RAGE: “He cut me up!” "I'm fuming! I spend most of my life trying to park!" "Trying to find a place to park has become a national preoccupation..." THE SCHOOL RUN: Strain, stress, grid-lock. “You can’t sit there- you’ll have to go back…” “Do something!” “Come on love! Reverse!” “Why should I go back? You go back…” UK: CAR PARKS: "50,000 people a year attacked in car parks. Dim lighting… minimum security. Creepy..." (1994). JOKE: "Give Mrs Thatcher an inch and she’ll park a car in it." Municipal car-parks. “God, I hate these places. Human and dog excreta, horrendous smells, disgustingly filthy, graffiti, people ‘sleeping’ there! Too scared to go round the corner. Hold your nose in the lift.” “You clean these places, 10 minutes later, dirty again!” Front and back gardens lost to make way for parking space…for cars. “UK Councils charging excessive parking fees…” Ah! “We are paying for parking…” "RUN FOR PROFIT: ... the Chicago system of clamping till the heavy fines are paid, is going to be introduced into the UK" (1993). “BOUNTY HUNTERS: Local Authorities have realised they can make a lot of money issuing parking fines. Staff are now on bonus schemesmore tickets issued, more pay. Unscrupulous firms operating, making life a misery. Don't pay, bailiffs come after you" (UK, 1995). “The car factories and their overlords have all but destroyed YOUR Environment - clogged streets, poisoned air, all the hideous paraphernalia of double yellow lines, traffic wardens...” “Car-Jackers (thieves) are on an all time high..." (Stolen cars re-sprayed...) "Car thefts cost insurance companies £20 million..." (UK, 30/3/1993). UK: “21 car pile-up on the motorway. Long, long delays… in freezing blizzard conditions. “At least its nice and warm in the car.” “Yeh, but for how long? The battery will soon run out if we keep the heat on. We have to leave the engine running to have heat…” (Vehicles could at least have solar power back-up and solar lights… Cars have no insulation either – so cars get very hot in warm weather and freezing inside during winter… UK: HEAVY SNOW FALLS: “Many motorways closed… due to accidents. Visibility suddenly 263

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lost…The authorities are taking it seriously = They are working 24/7 dropping grit on roads.” “The gritting lorry smashed into the public house…” (23/2/2005) As the snow fell, he said: “I’ve never seen anything like it!” UK: “CAUGHT ON THE HOP due to snow: Abandoned vehicles… frozen door locks, wipers frozen to the windscreen…” (25/11/2005) “You’ve got to love it.”

roads show, when drivers suddenly slow down on approaching a camera, other drivers fail to slow down in time… Money raised from cameras spent buying more cameras…” “The Labour government have now decided not to continue investing money in speed cameras which rip-off motorists- instead they will invest in humps” (December 2005) “Now we’ve all got the hump…” “Drivers over-filling petrol tanks to get the last drop out, go on a roundabout, petrol slops out, covers road, fatal consequences for bikers…” “A lorry has spilt diesel on the road. Her car skidded through 8 concrete bollards before overturning… A motorcyclist hitting this will stand no chance…”

THE MASSACRE ON THE ROADS: LEARNING to Drive: “Are you sure I will be able to do it?” “Don’t cut people up!” “Don’t let it get away from you… You must stay in control at all times…” MOBILE… THE DANGERS TO OTHERS… (it could have registration insignia…) Roads: A HARD surface. (“… this aint no upwardly-mobile FREE way…”) “Come on! Let’s hit the road…” OW! “… his injuries were caused by hitting the road…” "Here we go, rattling over every pot-hole, all that jolting and bumping..." “All the lumps and bumps…” "WATCH OUT! For HOLES in the road…" “Stones / grit / mud flicked up…” “Visibility reduced by water spray…” (“Condensation misting windows is still a problem…”) "FOG, ICE - always a danger." (“It can’t be much fun trying to travel on those roads in these conditions…”) BLOW OUT = "Tyres can burst..." “VERY Dangerous if this happens at speed…” ("Motorists WASTE 1,000's of barrels of OIL a day… because tyres are under-inflated." “The cost to councils who have to remove tyres that are flytipped…” "A huge mountain of 10,000 tyres at a depot caught fire... all the thick black acrid smoke…” "Tyres should be Recycled. 150 million tyres (at least) are stock-piled. Tyres don't decompose..." I can think of a much better use for all that IMPACT ABSORBING rubber...) “… lot’s of surface water. Many are roads are impassable…” "Too fast, too close..." "Break neck speeds..." "Collisions…” “Pile ups..." “Every corner could be a death trap…” ACCIDENT BLACKSPOTS: “I’m coming to a fork. What should I do at this junction? Was it the right path to take? No sign of any kind. No warning on the bend even…” “They look at the number of accidents to determine where black-spots are - and then ask: What can we do about it? Put up traffic lights? A crash barrier? Impose a speed limit? Add road humps?” ”The government denies speed cameras only there to make money, and lies about statistics – arguing cameras have reduced accidents by 40%. Truth is cameras in black spots have reduced accidents by 20% but elsewhere, as skid marks on

(MOTOR BIKERS ATTITUDE: “All that power between my legs!” “I’ll look glamorous!” “So exciting! I might as well die doing something I love!” SAD: Only realise HOW extremely dangerous when it is too late! EG. “He’d just got married. He had passed his Advanced driving test. He went round the bend on his motor-bike - a car was on the wrong side of the road. He died. His wife went looking for him, saw him lying in the road… The driver of the car was drunk…” “Yeh. He was a police motor cyclist. He’d done 1,000’s of miles of his bike. He loved it. He was killed last year on his way back from holiday. Only been on his bike for 5 minutes when a car hit him…”)

(UK: “1,500 motor-bikers seriously injured or killed every year.” Cyclists are now called 'Organ Donors.') SPEED in a TIN CAN = HORRIFIC ACCIDENTS. VERY PAINFUL. Always a mess. "Take a look at me now!" "The impact? Same as dropping a child on its head from a 2nd storey window..." “Hit very hard.” “The impact of the collision killed…” “SQUASHED.” “CRUSHED.” “SUFFERED MASSIVE INJURIES.” EG. “Both legs cut off.” Trapped limbs, bleeding profusely. Screaming... "This cut me through to the bone, then cut the bone..." Pelvis broken, head injuries, facial injuries, abdominal injuries, back injuries... Whip Lash… “She has a broken back in 2 places plus a severed spinal chord, a broken pelvis, a broken clavicle, head trauma and a punctured lung.” ”DREADFUL! A CAR = A COMBUSTION engine: Gallons of highly flammable liquid fuel in the tank... “…only takes one spark, to ignite...” COMBUST (means: "LIABLE TO BURST INTO FLAMES, TO CATCH FIRE, FLAMMABLE material…”) “Uh-oh! Can I smell… smoke?” “CRASH & BURN…” "DEATH TRAPS…" EG. "... car fanatic David Rowlands was burned alive when his BMW burst into a ball of flames..." "... a lorry carrying liquid petroleum gas overturned killing 30, injuring 90, destroying buildings. Some died, burnt to death in their cars" (Thailand: 27/9/1990). "... the car exploded into a huge fireball... they died, burned alive..." "I feel so sorry for the firemen who have to cut 264

the burnt bodies out of the wreckage..."

"Go get the cutting equipment...” “… he was crushed between 2 vehicles. They tried to rip the roof off but…” "... he was trying to tune the radio, took his eyes off the road for a second, never saw the car coming..." "Dear Patient, I am writing to inform you your dentist has unfortunately died in a car accident..." "My doctor is never in his surgeryhe's too busy attending car accidents -taking photos to put in his surgery to show how dangerous the consequences are..." "... as they mourned Michael's road crash death, the twin’s mother was killed in another smash..." "...she went through the windscreen, suffering terrible cuts..." “… he crashed into railings…” “I didn’t see him. He was in my blind spot! I didn’t realise I was boxed in until…” "Lorry crashed. 6 dead..." "A lorry driver crushed own child to death...""School mini-bus collided with (unladen) petrol tanker, after being hit by a lorry, in 7 vehicle pile-up. Children trapped. Blood everywhere! Luckily, they were wearing seat belts..." "... School coach crashed with lorry. Boy killed, 16 injured. All the glass came in..." "A tourist coach rolled down an embankment. 10 killed..." “I didn’t expect that to happen! It would have been a lot safer to stay at home. If only I had…” "A tipper lorry crashed killing 6 people before crashing into shops. 14 children lost a parent..." "... a lorry carrying a hazardous load... overturned caused a chemical fire..." "... lorry overturned, caught fire, spread diesel over motorway..." "I live on skid row..." “Grit my teeth. Will it be me that dies today? Oh, what the hell. If one thing doesn’t get you, another thing will. I can’t be afraid to live.” “She walked down the street, that’s all it took…” UK SAFETY ADVERT: “55 teenagers every week wish they had crossed the road safely…” “Driving: The MOST DANGEROUS thing people do daily.” "... a driver who killed his friend is being haunted by the ghost of his pal, his sobbing Mother told the Old Bailey..." “DREADFUL when you accidentally kill someone…” “… He had a nervous breakdown… 10 years later, he still can’t talk about it…” "... you've killed my only child..." "… yes, I look upon it as a big mistake..." “That’s not good enough…” "CARS have taken as many lives as were lost in World War 11." Roadsides ‘littered’ with sad wreaths of flowers… "MANY PEOPLE FEEL UNSAFE…" WAH! “I CAN’T CONVINCE MYSELF ALL THIS IS OK.” “What do you think when someone dies in an accident? That you just wish you could put the clock back and change everything to make it right? BUT NOTHING ever CHANGES or gets done about it! EXPERT: "Man's obsession with the motor car. A necessary (?) evil, idolised." (Do you worship your car?)

NOT WATER-TIGHT!

“… a car will fill up with water instantly…” EG. "... trapped in their car... water poured in... the car sank like a stone...” “Please hurry! The car’s in the river! We’re sinking! The water’s getting deeper! Oh God! The doors are jammed… we’ve got power windows- they wont open! We’re stuck! We’ve got to wait for the pressure to equalise! We’re on the bottom of the river now. I can’t swim…” “The lake was 98ft deep…” TO ‘SOLVE’ THE PROBLEM: “Drivers advised to carry a special pointed hammer to smash the glass.” (“…it’ll keep going…”) (“… it is water-tight…”) (see: Amphibious Vehicles).

"WHAT A KILLING!" ROAD DEATH TOLLS: EG. UK: 1989: "5,230 people killed. 'Deaths in rural areas may have been due to increased travel in fine weather'... " UK: "400 children killed each year. 9,000 seriously injured each year. 10's of 1,000's of people injured..." (1992). "38,000 people killed by drunk driving in 1992" (28/9/1993).

"... Another year, another 4,500 deaths on UK roads. Daily 500 people injured! So many CRASHES!" (24/3/1993). USA: “200,000 deaths a year due to wet road conditions…” "... 864 deaths in 3 months in Britain. The lowest quarterly toll on record the Department of Transport announced..." (24/6/1993). “8,000 road deaths a year in Italy…” “France has the highest number of fatal accidents…” ("Your iron horses. MADNESS, in metal boxes. A SUICIDAL race. A pity man's propulsion system makes LIFE EASIER in some respects, but SHORTER…" ) “JOY Riding” now called “Death Riding” (1990) (“For God’s sake man, leave that car alone…”) BLOODY CARNAGE: EG. "... he killed the cyclist while doing 80mph on the wrong side of the road..." "A cyclist run over by a lorry needed 700 pints of blood and countless operations…" "... fell under a tow truck... died 5 weeks later..." "... fell under a lorry. Had to be scraped up..." “… the sound of heavy clunking metal. Awful this shit can happen. This fucking metal…” ".... my son never stood a chance..." "... he lay in a coma... I believed in God then and prayed..." "... girl killed by her Dad's lorry..." (1/8/1993). “A lorry jackknifed..." “The car crashed into the wall…” "... he crashed - a scaffolding pole went through him..." "2 die as car hits builder’s skip..." "... an outspoken Labour minister was killed when his car crashed through the central barrier..." "... she was killed after leaving the park..." "... a woman injured when a tree branch crashed into her car, died in hospital..." 265

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drivers commuting so that London does not become one, vast, filthy, choking traffic jam..." (1990) Londoners: “London already is one, vast, filthy, choking traffic jam!” "I'm not worried about odour. A bit of a pong - stale smells..." LABOUR SAID: "A ghastly enterprise- you're turning your backs on alternatives, as if we're stuck with what we've got! Make more provision for bicycles. Talk about using resources intelligently. It's about time we tackled this problem seriously..." (17/5/1990) (UK: "Motorists who resent cyclists riding past them whilst they fume in jams, are attacking cyclists..." “China has a stock of 10 million new bicycles because factories are churning out too many.” “Sir Clive Sinclair had made a folding bicycle using carbon fibre and plastic composite throughout..." "Smog sufferers might be told to buy smog masks" (18/7/1990) (Cyclists already using.) UK: Large billboards Advertise: "SOS. This poster's outside 24 hours a day. So are 75,000 Londoners." PEOPLE SAID: "The amount of fumes emitted from coaches, lorries, buses and trains… is nobodies business..." "... it's all going up… in smoke!" (Sticker, seen on the back of a car: "BURN it? Don't waste it. You haven't seen it...") "I’m EXHAUSTED by ALL THE EXAUSTS..." "The smell and taste of petrol fumes - all that muck coming out... Makes me feel tired all day..." "We are told car fumes are a HEALTH risk. Why don't the government ban car advertising? Should all cars carry a Government Health Warning on their sides?" CHEMICAL POISONING: "... much of the SMOG is sweeping in from the Continent, topping World Health Organisation safety levels... Government health officials are considering bringing in… USAstyle warnings to tell the old, young and sick to stay indoors when SMOG levels are HIGH... similar warnings are given out in LA, Mexico and European cities..." (1990) ("Better Hurry! I can feel we are fading fast.” (see: Deforestation). (“My diagnosis? All you need is fresh air to breathe.”) "POLLUTION in TOKOYO now so BAD people have to go into an Oxygen bar (and PAY!) to get a shot of oxygen. Is available in 4 flavours: coffee, mint, lemon, mushroom..." PEOPLE SAID: "I wish they'd stop making cars." "They'll never do that! Did the Native Indians manage to stop the Rail-Roaders?" ("How to stop being rail-roaded?") (“COME ON! Be a man about it. You wont die. Set our love free. You’ll survive. Set us free from this misery…” “One look, just one glance, that’s all it took, yeh such a sweet surrender…”) “I like sitting on my bum and going places.”(“Why don’t you pursue it then?”) "WHAT'S THAT STINK?" "CATALYTIC

"WE are trading SOULS for money…" ("… but money wont bring them back...") “Every accident costs Taxpayers £1,000’s…” "A driving instructor killed a man on a zebra crossing... fined £250...” “Screams of disbelief..." "We CRY as THEIR LIVES ‘PASS AWAY’…” (“… see it stream down your face when you lose something you cannot replace…” song) EXPERT: “There’s always a knee-jerk reaction after something happens…” "Are you dying to show off your new car?" “… the car went on it’s roof, skidded for 50ft, other cars piled in, the drivers had no time to get out… As a policeman, I see this sort of lunacy everyday. People drive as if this is some kind of a game!” “The police get very upset seeing these scenes at accidents…” “The police want to reduce death on our roads…” "HOW DID THE 20th CENTURY FEEL?" After the car crash, he said: "... there was this big lump of crushed metal wrapped round the traffic light. I lay there and thought about all the petrol everywhere… and the risk of it exploding…” POLLUTION: "A TIME BOMB!" "You've got a filthy attitude. If only we could clear the air between us! Do you want to be responsible for pollution? Now is the turning point" (1986). "The world is choking on smog. Britain has 20 million cars on roads. 3,000 new cars every day. Global Warming is going to get much worse... “(March 1990). (Cars etc., show up on night vision cameras i.e. the heat given off… by the engines and tyres when moving). "50 million cars a day polluting our atmosphere. Calculate on that basis. Going to get a lot worse before it will get any better..." "Shitty Shitty, Bang Bang..." "BELCHING OUT..." "... the government's plans to increase public spending on roads... Speeches re: dangers of pollution = The need for a world-wide effort to curb causes of: ‘The GREENHOUSE EFFECT ’(i.e. heat enters through all the glass in a greenhouse, heat builds up, can’t be released if no window/s or doors are open…) The UK's government's transport policy which foresees a rise in the number of vehicles on roads (between 83% 142% by 2005) in effect WRECKS any attempt to control pollution... ... The road lobby HQ at the Dept. of Transport replied that (metal) CATALYTIC CONVERTERS will merely replace carbon with a mixture of other gases which pollute... The government argued it was necessary to divert more transport funds to the railways, to penalise 266

will be HUGE... This decade will either see the end of the car or we'll all go down the tubes... The West owns 78% of all vehicles. The East wants to copy the West..." (1990). CONCLUSION re: cars: “... slow, inefficient, catastrophic, too expensive..." "We need to look for a long term solution" (6/6/1990). "Dangerous concentrations of GAS, belching out..." "Today I watched a queue of traffic build-up caused by the wheel clamping unit..." "... traffic was brought to a stand-still by protestors..." UK: "Environment groups are tiresome" said the Environment minister! "And are hampering progress towards the goals they are seeking. It is more difficult for the government to see or take any decisions at all in a barrage of criticism." The Council for the Protection of Rural England said the minister was an affront to the Conservation movement..." PEOPLE SAID: "He can set the world on fire. We're trying to cool it." "Everyone knows, the governments only care about lining their own pockets, looking after their own family. They're not interested in helping the Planet! They don't care about how life is going to be for our children's children!" "The Only Answer to solve the problem is: Reduce transport on roads TO SAVE THE PLANET." "... Market forces will control pollution levels. We will only introduce new Taxes" said the government (8/10/1992) (but the market is being suppressed UNFAIRLY by existing producers… and no-one in the market knows about it…) "POLL shows FEARS... of greater concern than personal liberty and convenience is air pollution, with accidents a close second... A 15% reduction in traffic? ¾ of the people interviewed thought this was acceptable... An extra Tax on petrol? Government says this is to save the planet (!) ... is part of their international solution - Energy prices have to rise to get more people to behave more efficiently in the way they use energy..." "... Despite EEC curbs, Japanese car production in Europe, expected to increase by 150,000 units in 1993..." (3/6/1993). "PRICES of CARS LOWERED to increase sales…" "Car sales still soaring!" "DEALS ARE A TOTAL SELL-OUT..." "The Conservatives have changed tax regulations for people using their car to get to work. Many people will now have to pay more. But owners of top of the range (gas guzzling) cars EG. Porsches and Jags will get substantial tax benefits!" (1990) ("My boss has 6 cars! A Mercedes. A Rolls. 2 Jags. 2 Porsches...") PEOPLE SAID:"I don't know why we put up with this..." "The government has made us car dependent, now they are planning to pull the rug

CONVERTERS have little effect in a cold climate. Need time to warm up, to work..." "Old cars do not have catalytic converters to change (cancercausing) Benzene into SO2” (Sulphur dioxide – ‘the bad eggs smell.’) (Sulphur is associated with the Devil…) (see Chapter 15). "A catalytic converter only removes 80% of the crap..." "A catalytic converter does not get rid of CO2 (Carbon dioxide), they only increase fuel consumption and then produce more CO2..." "... the price of the metal- Rhodium, used to make catalytic converters, reached a new peak as buyers scrambled for supplies... South Africa is the main supplier... soon, catalytic converters will be compulsory throughout the EEC..." "AN UNCONTROLLABLE DISEASE... SPREADING RAPIDLY. People used to die of coal smog, but what we have today is much more dangerous. Everyone is affected according to dose / exposure..." “GREENHOUSE ENGLAND... A fearful pressure paralyses me..." CON-GESTED: "... Public mislead over pollution risk. … ‘until levels breach World Health Organisation safety guidelines?’ Levels in car exhausts have been double the safety level set by WHO..." (1990). UK: Reports: “Asthma and lung disorders are on the increase..." (18/7/1990) ("... Hospital doctors staying with the NHS - will be rewarded with 'company cars'... the perk will become available to 17,000 hospital consultants and 28,000 junior doctors..." (25/5/1990) "God! I hope life gets better..." Italy: "In an attempt to reduce air pollution, in Rome, the Italian Minister for Urban Areas called on mayors to close city centres to traffic... In Milan, where a lack of wind and rain has kept a vast CLOUD of SMOG hovering over the city for 2 weeks, the mayor has signed an order forbidding the use of private cars on Sunday..." "The mayor is now desperate for a solution..." Brazil: Now runs cars using alcohol made from sugar cane - burning this is more expensive than petrol- is cause of their massive debt. Making cheaper fuel using different alcohol but scheme has problems / high costs..." “SYNTHETIC OIL: … (as used in Germany during WW2, where oil production reached more than 90 million tons in 1944), is today used in South Africa to produce most of their country's diesel from coal…” “… the air heavy with the smell of diesel…” "… Thick clouds of fumes built up as temperatures soared to 75, choking our cities and threatening the health of millions..." "GLOBAL WARNING! Car manufacturers are moving into Eastern Europe, building factories, then to the 3rd World... Impact on POLLUTION 267

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free’ hydrogen powered "freedom car." However up to 90% of all the Hydrogen will be refined from the burning of fossil fuels!” (If you want real freedom…”) “SUFFOCATED DREAMS...” “For over 70 years the technology that makes the combustion engine obsolete has been REPRESSED to suit the greed of the oil industry. Profit put before the needs of the PLANET and the people…” “Have we discovered an Alternative fuel? Cars (in the north of England) are running on Vegetable oil… for ½ the cost - but the smell is terrible.” CAR SICK: "Going to have 35 million cars in UK soon. A policy that offers choice is necessary. Cars eat towns. We shop further from home, schools are further from home... Heavy reliance..." “1/3rd of all car journeys are for leisure..." ("Are YOU HAPPY?") "The Head of the UK Pollution Inspectorate committed suicide. Verdict: Carbon Poisoning. Cause: Low morale." "We ALL fear ‘the big C’..." (i.e. cancer) "... there's an abnormal load still travelling clock-wise..." "And you still want to worship the combustion engine?"

from under our feet." Conservative: "Cars- the benefits outweigh the risks." PEOPLE SAID: "He's a ruthless murderer. A charismatic, charming manipulator- a villain. These are very dangerous..." "It takes 22 TREES to combat the pollution of one car." "TON UP: Cars emit a ¼ of their weight every year, in pollution." "Pollution. An invisible demon." "... German analysts have found that each car = 1,016 million cubic metres of polluted air over 10 years..." (16/8/1993). "Factories, power stations, waste incineration plants... There are 82 pollution producing plants factories in the east Thames corridor alone! Pollution load reaching critical levels..." (18/1/1993). "500,000 tons of black smoke- dangerous levels of Toxins..." "Diesel causes asthma, cars cause carcinogenic soot..." "Blackened buildings..." "295,000 HEAVY lorries daily" (UK, 1993). "Carbon monoxide emissions will rise in next 20 years" (1993). "... Nitrogen dioxide levels risen more than 35% over last 5 years... starves the body of Oxygen, impairs thinking, slows reflexes, causes drowsiness... is linked to numerous viral infections... causes irritation in lungs, bronchitis, pneumonia. London's level breaches EEC rules... No safety limit for Benzene set... Particles so fine - go deep into lungs..." (1/6/1993). “GO GREEN? Unleaded petrol has cancer causing Benzene in." "Child leukaemia linked with petrol... a report by a leading Toxicologist..." (4/11/1993). ("BOTTLED Oxygen sales up. In EUROPE, selling faster than manufacturers can produce it…" (1994) (Uh-oh! How do they produce it?) "They want to abolish the petrol car, they now want electric cars..." "Everyone knows- a battery takes 50% more energy to make than a battery produces." “Pollution? Pollutes the same where the Power Station is situated...”

Just Remember This:

"THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH..." Are Heavy, Noisy Metal chariots that Reek Poison, meek? "The prize goes to the swift..." "If you stay true, you will make it.") "One day we might devise something to save us but right now we are overwhelmed with all the problems." "I think we've made the wrong decision... Straight indecision...” "The deadline runs out for campaigners..." ("Haven't they got any leads?") "Aw come on! How long does it take?" “MOVE it!” “11 million new cars on the roads and in parks. (That’s a lot of parks taken up…”) "... it is very, very good way of cutting down pollution permanently..." (October, 2004). “Car showrooms attacked by arsonists…” (UK:

(USE MORE BATTERIES? HOW MUCH DOES ONE BATTERY WEIGH? “Batteries are very HEAVY...”)

("Maybe policy-makers are suffering from psychological over-load. They can't deal with all the info?") "Fiat's electric car costs double the price of a normal Panda-car... the space usually occupied by back seats and the luggage compartment will instead need to be taken up by batteries needed to power the car. The top speed is 70km an hour. This can travel up to 100km at 50km before a recharge which takes 8 hours..." "TO SAVE THE PLANET, General Motors are investing in... Hydrogen..." “… the only emission is water…” “POLLUTION FREE? THINK AGAIN. $1.2 billion has been cleared to make a ‘pollution-

2004).

“HUGE OIL DEPOT FIRE at one of the UK’s largest petrol storage depots: EXPLOSION– heard as far away as France & in Holland. A series of explosions, intense fire… very thick HUGE black plume of smoke pouring out for over 12 hours now. Smoke heading east – everyone told to close their windows and stay indoors. Problems for people with breathing / chest difficulties… Dept. of Health has an eye on the situation. If people inhale smoke- contact your doctor. 2,000 people in immediate vicinity evacuated to leisure centres. 268

conditions... The director of Design Development said: ‘The plastic engine promises new levels of efficiency in the future. Nottingham University and other manufacturers were involved in the EEC's Basic Research in Industrial Technology Initiative…" (June 1990). "They are planning on making plastic cars that will last 5 years..." (1993)

Schools etc closed. Flames still burning intensely. More explosions expected. Cause thought to be accidental. This is the biggest peacetime incident since the war… People panic buying…” (Herts, UK, 11/12/2005) (The ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE not even mentioned!) UK: “WOEFULLY UNPREPARED for a fire of such a size. A series of cost-cutting cuts blamed. No planning for mass-foam assistance of this type” said the Fire Brigade Union. The scale, the intensity - reeked devastation - and the toxic, massive cloud… Petrol vapours catch fire…” IMAGINE: A WORLD OF CARS!

NO!

WAH! “They don’t want it to last!”

"... A glass fibre sports car was torn in ½ when it hit a (METAL) crash barrier. The barrier sliced through the car like a can opener..." "PLASTICS FOR AUTOMOBILES: Toyota, in Japan, is building ‘plant’ to make Bio-Plastics, using sugar cane, which absorbs C02... Expected to produce 1,000 tons of Bio-Plastic a year, from 2004..." "Japan's Nissan is to boost spending on British and European car parts... their plant in Sunderland which opened in 1986, aims to increase their present 2,500 workforce..." (26/6/1990) ("Nissan were given the site...") "... Nissan changing. 'We are looking for something simplistic, something for fun.' ..." "Nissan reported losses of £600 million. Other Japanese car manufacturers also report low figures..." (28/5/1993). "On the face of it... if you can imagine it, Japan can do it... (re: micro-electronics). (“Japan has specialised in miniaturisation…”) "... Mazda, to reduce driver error, have developed the autonomous car with 3 cameras to compliment, not replace the driver..." WHATEVER NEXT? "The fully automatic. Driven by computer..." (Will the anti-collision device be able to detect life-forms?) Q: Do we need radar in cars? A: “There are too many metal objects EG. lamp posts, that radar would pick up…” 1994: "I must admit, I don't quite understand the 'Revolutionary' concept. What is it? A tandem bicycle? A tri-cycle?" “What’s the big idea? The Alternator?” (In a car, the battery starts the car. The wheels turn - drive the dynamo (this is Kinetic energy). The alternator drives current to recharge the battery… which diverts electricity to different components in the car EG. the lights. The fuel is burnt to provide energy for thrust). Add the Accumulator! EG. Additional LIGHT weight Apparatus for making Electricity... EG. KINETIC ENERGY: …it has power assisted by the kinetic energy from the movement of the wind passing over the vehicle i.e. via fly-wheels i.e. As it moves, much more energy is generated – that is collected… (Well, now you know what it is, what are you

THE FUTURE? “They used pollution to force us into living in high-rise towers… Dealing with pollution was easier: A new car now costs £500,000 - £5 million. That way the majority of the survivors can’t Afford to travel…“ THE NEXT BIG THING?: “What do we get for our money?” ("Do you want better value? Do you really, really want better value? Then all you got to do is know where you are, and where you want to get to... and it will be a good result…") 1989: “Is ‘it’ a bus, a train or a plane?” 1990: "What does it really mean? Quieter, safer roads? Less congestion? Lighter traffic? Less pollution? What its shape will be, no-one really knows." "Citroen: The car body that can be put together in one-piece by the customer. Bolt-on fibre-glass (car) boot extender kits to double boot space..." (“… it’s a new kit!”) UK: 1991:"The new Nippon car factory in Telford, cost £65 million... This will be the 20th Japanese firm in the town. Built with the aid of a £2.2 million government grant..." "... Toyota want new cars to satisfy the new generation… is using virtual reality and theme parks to sell concepts EG. body sonic seats... 'We've got lots of plans for it. I am full of ideas. I want to discuss every point' said a designer." "Toyota will open a major European car plant factory at Derbyshire- this will use as much as 40 megawatts of electricity at any one time..." A CAR = Engine & Chassis – thumping HEAVY lumps of metal. (Even so, a spoiler has to be added to stop cars taking off in flight…) Q: “Why aren't cars made with a plastic chassis?" EXPERT: "The plastic would shatter in a collision. Steel, despite the rust, doesn't..." "An old plastic car got squashed by a lorry on the way to a museum" (1990). "FORD'S PLASTIC ENGINE gives silent power: The vehicle is being tested in normal road 269

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The main barrier is the price of construction, which can run as much as $80,000 to $120,000. This high cost comes from the fact that the parts and energy collection and storage systems are expensive and not made on a production-level scale, which would greatly reduce the price. This 3-wheeled electric car runs on batteries

going to do about it? “MORE OF THE HEAVY STUFF? What are you going to do? Make a carbon copy?”) "THE SUPER-CAR: ... made of carbon fibre, molded... Whole thing is a SHELL onto which the doors and boot are snapped-on... Weighs about same as a motor-bike... Radical designs. Batteries? Forget it! Purely electric driven cars are not the answer. No scientist believes battery technology will ever improve... The fuel of the future has to be a mixture of petrol, diesel or gas... driving not the wheels, but an electric generator... Tested - could do 300 miles to the gallon with ease... it's run by a computer the size of an orange... Hardly pollutes the air... it probably wont be made by any of today’s big car manufacturers... it could be put together by a few people in a small factory... Proto-types being built in USA. Conceived by The Rocky Mountain Institute, America's leading Energy Think-tank..." (Earthlings Magazine, March 1994) Cost? (What is the logic giving car manufacturers public money to enable them to build factories, only then to force them into bankruptcy? We need speedy, precision production - cars replaced with FRIENDLIER, SAFER AFFORDABLE devices, that do NOT pollute. Could we make use of existing manufacturing facilities with CAD/CAM etc., to make alternative housings... That would guarantee 1,000's of jobs…) FLYING CARS? "... an American inventor has the solution to traffic jams = the Super-Car, called Moller 400, has 8 rotary engines, to produce enough thrust for vertical take-off or landing on land or water- will have a flying range of 800 miles. Can be driven as an ordinary car. Cost £125,000..." (Daily Express, 30/1/1990) ("I wouldn't like to bump into one!" "God! Most of us have enough trouble just trying to stay in control of 4 wheels...") ADVERT: “This car is a beast…” "The Swiss now have solar power cars..." ? "Solar cars have been tested in Germany, America..." (“Now it stops being an argument about power- it’s more about handling…”) "Solar cars work, even in the dark..."

charged by a solar panel in its roof… Another type of solar-powered car being actively developed is an electric car that is primarily charged by solar panels while it is parked and runs off of a battery while in use.” (Just think about it, yeh?) “‘The… car is charged up via an electrical outlet, which could be powered by solar-powered carports and parking garages… PV panels in the roofs would provide enough energy to charge cars on sunny days, which would be more energy-efficient than refining petroleum’…” (ref. www.scienceclarified.com ). "THE ZERO EMISSION CAR: Compressed Air Technology (ZEVCAT). Pressured air forces pistons... Air tanks recharged in a few minutes at a special station... uses vegetable oil for lubrication... a fibre Glass body..." LATEST FASHION: "Turning your whole life into a big (up & down) roller-coaster ride…" = “White knuckle rides” (UK, 2004) “Instead of essentials, we get ‘amusement’ ‘parks’! (“BRAINS - WHERE ART THOU?”) "The only change they are introducing is LONGER PRISON SENTENCES for dangerous driving" (2004).

“Flooding: Cars and showrooms wrecked…” (12/1/2005).

ROVER: ”There’s nothing more that can be done at this stage” said the government (to help save Rover - famous for the very popular Mini car). 6,000 jobs to be lost immediately at the UK’s last major British car plant. “How are we going to be able to pay our mortgages?” (April 2005). (PROTEST: “… it needs a production line… no reason why it should not be assembled there…” (it means: the executive / prestige Rover 75 model car?) “Iran wants to use the former Rover site to expand their car industry. 2 manufacturers are interested” (22/4/2005). ADVERT (for Honda): “What is the point of having

("There is a Quicker way and we are hoping you don't find it...") “SOLAR POWERED CARS: Scientists are applying solar energy techniques to cars. Solarpowered cars, 1st built in Chicago in 1955, may become the wave of the future, but for now they are used mostly for competitions instead of the public market. 270

dreams if you are not going to make them happen? We make dreams happen…” (Our new diesel engine….) (April 2005). Q: "When will they stop making cars?" A: "When there is something else people can use." (Ah! The alternative!) NEW products need to Emerge...

"ELECTRIC CARS: California leading the way... Batteries stored under the dash... Could energy be re-fed, as cars slow down? ... Could tyres have less resistance, to save Energy? Could quick recharging be possible - no having to lug to nearest re-charge station? No warm engine? By 1998, 2% of all vehicles must be electric, then 10%... COST? Same as petrol..." (15/4/1994) "Takes hours to re-charge batteries..." "California wants 10,000 electric cars in 5 years...") "There is no such thing as a CLEAN car." "Special grids in roads used to re-charge lorries batteries in USA…" "G. W. Bush has boosted production of ETHANOL in the USA... 12 new ethanol factories being constructed- 83 factories already in production... and he has boosted mileage requirements for trucks by 7% (average mileage will be 22 miles per gallon for 2007 models)

USA CARS: “Even at Rent-A-Wreck, you can’t rent a car for less than $200 a month…” “I bought a 2nd hand car for $500, drove down the road- it exploded! Judge said it was my fault- I knew what I was buying…” "In America, cars called 'mean machines'..." “Cars are Lethal weapons…” "70 victims every day of drunk drivers.” “2 out of 5 American drivers will be involved in a drunk driver accident in their life-time. 17,000 people a year are killed as a result. If ever an accident was avoidable, not drinking is it. TAKE HEED, before it is too late. In this, cops are wiser than most drivers. Make no mistake about it…” ALERT: “… armed crack heads, high on drugs, have robbed a liquor store and are trying to outrun the police…” "Los Angeles: 500 square miles of roads. Fumes get into your eyes. Smog levels high. A permanent smog hangs over the city. Smog so bad, can't ever see the Sun..." "Californians can choose between petrol and Methanol- a smokeless, odourless fuel- engines do not need to be converted. Diesel engines can select ethanol. Petrol companies do not like the competition. We would like to introduce Methanol in Britain but this may take another 5 years" (July

(5/11/2004).

“Ethanol: Ethyl alcohol is made from renewable resources such as corn and other cereal grains…” “US: … subsidising Corn (maize) (Oil?) production, and conversion to ethanol, for years. Added to petrol acts as fuel, and makes the petrol burn more efficiently and cleanly. .. should reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions and help reduce American dependence on Middle Eastern oil. .. $1.4 Billion annual subsidy every year… full costs are more than the subsidy. By raising the price of corn they raise costs of food overall. Nor does Ethanol help the Environment... An acre of corn = 328 gallons of ethanol. But planting, growing and harvesting that much corn requires about 140 gallons of fossil fuels… The energy economics get worse at the processing plants, where the grain is crushed and fermented. As many as 3 distillation steps and other treatments are needed to separate the ethanol from the water. All these need energy.” "Put another way, about 70% more energy is required to produce ethanol than the energy that actually is in ethanol. Every time you

1990).

Methanol: Methyl Alcohol is produced either from natural gas or gases out of oil. Natural Gas is compressed, heated, de-sulphurized, and then mixed…” “… a colourless liquid that may explode when exposed to an open flame… occurs naturally in volcanoes…”) "HEMP SEED OIL is easily combined with 15% methanol... BURNS 70% CLEANER than petrolbased diesel..." "How to overcome dire economic problems?" “How to eradicate dependence on Middle East oil?” "You may not think it's true... but you'll see, it all comes down to Ford..." "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow..." "... it'll be here, better than before..." "... all I want is to see you smile..." (see

make 1 gallon of ethanol, there is a net energy loss of 54,000 BTU…” “Overall ethanol from corn costs about $1.74 per gallon to produce, compared with about 95 cents to produce a gallon of petrol. That helps explain why fossil fuels -not ethanol - are used to produce ethanol…" (“The price of sugar has risen sharply

partly due to the success of ethanol for cars in Brazil. Ethanol offers a diversification for sugar producers during an oil shortage. India is the largest consumer of sugar” (11/1/2006). “WARS HAVE BROKEN OUT… between those who want and believe in cars and those who believe cars are causing Global Warming…” "GAS GUZZLERS..." “What will induce Americans to change? Drivers in the USA don’t care about Global Warming- they just want more oil so they can drive gas guzzlers EG. Sports Utility Vehicles that only do 11 – 16 miles per gallon. SUV’s =

Chapter 3 /Public Housing / Modern Building Materials & Chapter 4 / Health / Drugs).

"ROARING AHEAD: Americans spent £40 million buying 1,083 luxury Jaguar cars in July... last July was 457... The company expects bumper profits..." “A Jag does approx. 16 miles to the gallon…” (5/8/1993) 271

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Glamour, sex-appeal. Pumping out more pollutants than any other cars. SUV’s = Plenty of leg room inside- to haul stuff around. Global Warming to these drivers is a joke- evoking lots of ‘laughter.’ These Americans are united about their love of cars. ‘Global Warming? What can we do?’ Their Dream of Freedom = The open road, to connect Americans to the great outdoors, and this is a BIG country... Answer? SUV’s? The latest must-have, rugged to go over all terrain- off-road ability… We are a very mobile population. They want to sit in a nice car. This is what we are used to as Americans. Our ultimate toy. They are addicted…” (They have NO alternative!) “My SUV is more important than the house I live in(if) someone steals my car, I (will) kill them. My Car = My life. It’s like a home I can live in- with TV’s, DVD’s…” SAFETY = ANTI-Kangaroo BARS ON THE GRILL: These are built to crush other vehicles, animals and people…” (“These have killed millions of animals…”) Because of the tendency of SUV’s to roll over… side impact bars & front and side + (exploding gas) ‘air’ bags… Car culture deeply rooted- starts young - kids given cars… Los Angeles: 8 Million cars on the road. 2 million people can’t Afford a car. Public transport system dismantled years ago. City over-run with cars. Their solution? A union to expand the bus system by 350 more buses. USA = Auto Malls. 20 car dealers in a row. Families own more cars than they can drive. Cars are abundant. Some people now own so many vehicles- lifts put in garages- cars stacked…” “Cadillac’s are respectful things. I’m really hitting the gas so I can go get me some burger meat…” Weening them off is not going to be easy…” (“Oh! It’s not going to be smooth sailing?”) “20 million Hummers sold in a year. So big! So warm. Feels so secure. Big-boys toys. ‘‘We need this if we have a big Earthquake- we’ll be able to do a public service’…” (Yeh, when / if ‘The Big One’ comes…) (Folks will need rescuing… “In the time it takes you to get in gear…) ("Blasé until it happens?") “… The future is looking bleak… They Joke: “Global Warming will be good. Plants thrive on CO2, so we’ll have more plants.” TREND: Larger, more gas guzzling cars! Carsnow out of control. Filling a tank of petrol UK costs £40. In USA £8.50. As ‘cheap’ petrol pump prices increase, drivers in the USA are fighting back. People are driving long distances to check petrol prices- to find the best deal… The cream of PR departments stave off

Environmentalist’s campaigns against the car manufacturers. ENVIRONMENTALIST: “Tracing the impact of oil through the various stages of production made me dedicated. Oil money supports terrible things. EG. $BILLIONS spent on DICTATORS in Saudi… Our dependence on oil from the Middle East… It is time for manufacturers to declare independence from dirty Energy / dirty oil. 280,000 gas guzzling cars come out of one factory every year. Their gestures are tokens. Ford is hooked on oil… America can once again rule the world- why don’t you make Environment Friendly vehicles? CARING for the Environment = Protecting the world God created. Taking care of it is stewardship. It’s part of loving your neighbour. Would Jesus drive a large SUV?” FORD said: “Ford is committed to this: All our plants (factories) are the cleanest anywhere. We convert paint fumes into harmless hydrogen. We do need to do more. What’s the alternative? Take all vehicles off the road and go back to how things were?” (Harmless?) The ½ electric HYBRID car does 50 mpg. Made in Japan. Now a hybrid with 2 power systems - an internal combustion system, & battery - engine shuts off in traffic- is silent, can run completely on electricity- on highway- no difference… Hybrid cars are only being driven by a handful of people ‘the Environment conscious.’ Time is running out for Environmentalists. The USA is emitting more Global Warming gases than anywhere else. The implications of a country over-run by OIL guzzlers = The Population can’t escape the bad air, the Toxins… Campaigners have now stepped up actions against oil guzzlers. The Environment Liberation Front (ELF) is spray painting cars, drive-ways with slogans EG. ‘Another dead Iraqi for your SUV.’ Car windows smashed, tyres deflated… all over the country. The USA’s refusal (to tackle Pollution) is a problem facing us ALL. Too many people think there will always be oil…” (What Would Jesus Drive? Channel 4, 10/1/2005) (a mini-scooter?)

(“Leaders will realise one day, that we only wanted to live in peace, that had we found something worth having, that we’d have made a world where these problems don’t exist.”) Detroit: MOTOR SHOW: Volkswagen, Volvo making concept cars but quite a few years till these become production cars” (“Detroit- home of the USA car makers who have made boat-loads of cash…”) SUN FUEL = Using bamboo, grass etc., to make Alternative fuels… Wont be popular in USA. Diesel not popular here. Few incentives. Car manufacturers sceptical. Value must be higher than the cost. ‘There’s no money in them.’ Unless there 272

is government legislation to enforce their production… the future is going to be the Hydrogen Highway with cars running on hydrogen?” (BBC, 11/1/2005) (“Hydrogen is Explosive. I’m not sure all these people quite understand…”) “GENERAL MOTORS warned their profits will collapse this year” (16/3/2005). “7 MILLION SUV’s sold each year. (17,000 in the UK). Environmental activists in the UK say SUV’s are heavy beasts that hog / clog roads - SUV’s are IRRESPONSIBLE… Ford’s new SUV uses Japanese technology- has a hybrid engine (developed 1997 at Toyota & Honda). Hybrids pay for themselves i.e. the cost of petrol saved makes them economical. (Cost to purchase £18,000). Can go at 65 mph. Hybrids use surplus energy to charge the battery… The UK Green Alliance believe Energy efficient smaller cars are the only way forward. The hybrid solution may not be enough to reduce Greenhouse Gases…” (BBC2, 1/4/2005). “CAR TROUBLE: General Motors report £1 Billion losses… Ford’s profits have fallen significantly… As petrol prices increase, Americans are increasingly turning away from oil guzzlers. Are Americans really falling out of love with American cars? Japanese cars are becoming increasingly popular. Manufacturers have a cushion in the balance sheet… but this is really going to hurt them. They are going to have to look at where they’re going. Things are really changing now. ‘We don’t see any way out.’ Have they lost their way? EXPERT: ‘This is part of a terminal decline. Hard to see how they can stop spiralling downwards’…” (BBC24, 20/4/2005).

prefer door to door transport. This is my only option." (We like things that are convenient.) "Get to the back of the queue, matey. We've all been WAITING here for bloody ages! We're not standing here like a bunch of lemons for nothing!" "Sorry this bus is out of service." "Typical. WAIT 2 hours, then 3 buses come together." "Can't stick to time-table- stuck in heavy traffic..." "The ‘bumper to bumper’ buses go very SLOW…" "Exact money only. We don't give change." “I’ve lost my bus pass!” “Age 60. A free bus-pass is not much to show for a life of hard work…” “Bus fares aren’t cheap any more, are they?” “Don’t push me!” “The bus was crowded…”"Move down to the front of the bus." "Stop shoving! There's no more room!" “Don’t sit over the wheel…” “Standing room only.” “… the frantic melee as passengers try to get on and off…” “When the bus goes up the hill in 1st gear, it’d be quicker to get out and push.” An estate agent in Camden has a bus converted into a mobile office (London, 1980's). BRUSSELS: "British buses are too narrow to be safe. Risk of blowing over..." (28/11/1991). "Bus overturned, going round a round-about... was fully laden - carrying 77 school children. 50 children hurt... broken bones, spinal injuries. Cause: Unknown" (5/11/1993). "The EC has plans for 'vertically integrated public transport saloons' - that's a double-decker bus..." (15/2/1994).

SPAIN (and other countries) have long singledecker buses that (concertina) bend in the middle… “EVERYBODY OUT!” "Bus drivers on strike, again…” "Everybody off. The bus has broken down." "The bus broke down, blocking the bus lane. Mayhem!" “Does anyone like bus lanes?” "Bus lanes need constant repairing..." "... the bus mounted the pavement- woman trapped beneath. She died…” (3/12/1993). “… she was dragged under the bus…” "... the bus hit the railway bridge. The roof was ripped off the bus like a lid on a tin can..." "18 passengers hurt when a cement mixer collided with the bus..." “I was going down the stairs when the driver suddenly jammed on the brakes… I fell down the stairs, smashed my face…” “… his leg was broken in 14 places after being hit by a bus…” “She’s trapped in her car because the car door is crushed.. Her car collided with a bus…” "... fire and explosion on a bus on the motorway..." (23/4/1993). "One UK bus company is using rape oil seed to run buses... Engines do not have to be converted from diesel... Why isn't the government encouraging investment in oil seed?" (UK, Sept 1992).

(Global Warming = “Can we handle it?”) BUSES: "The 10 ton bus." "Not my idea of fun." Dirty. Smelly. Vandalised seats, filthy, scratched windows, litter, chewing gum, crude graffiti everywhere... The risk of being attacked, knifed, blown up, hijacked... attacks on bus drivers... “What the HELL do you think you are doing?” POLLUTION: "Nobody ever talks about all the black stuff pouring out the back of buses!" “Don’t miss the bus!” “I missed the bus. There’ll be hell to pay. I’m late for work again! I’m soaking through to my skin…” “Bus shelters do not provide adequate protection..." (Most bus stops don’t even have any seats!) "I'm bloody freezing standing here. Oh! God. What a way to waste a life! Do they think we've nothing better to do than stand around here looking like a spare part?" “Wait for a bus on a Sunday? Quicker to walk.” “I’d much rather have a car. DOOR TO DOOR travel is much more convenient…” "Many people 273

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heat..." "... roads blocked with snow..." "... slippery in the wet, watch out for all the oil spills..." "... he skidded on black ice..." "... the lorries roar past in the middle of the night. The noise! THE NOISE OF LORRIES!" "Oh, my God. The noise! The noise of traffic! "I can't stand another sound!" "TURN THAT BLASTED CAR ALARM OFF!" EXPERT: “One thing is for sure. (More) new roads will not solve any problems." UK: POLL: “89,000 people took part. 95% want better public transport. 90% said roads will not solve any problems..." "What the public want, the public gets? "£15 BILLION allocated to new roads…" “…approved despite the strongest public protests…” "Value for money is not seen as being important by government..."

"... vandals broke into the garage and smashed buses - the windows. Staff horrified by damage..." (UK: 8/4/1993).

“FLOODING in Carlisle. 84 buses wrecked…” (12/1/2005). (Harry Potter in the film 'The Prisoner of Askerband' features

a Triple-Decker blue London bus, converted into a night shelter). “… she fell on the stair, broke her hip, and dislocated her shoulder, as people were getting on. Poor lady. Not much fun being old, these days…” “…it’s not safe anywhere on the streets in London at night- the gangs with knives! If you’re on your own on a bus, they’ll take you on…” (August 2006). ROAD BUILDING: ("... it's not profitable, you say. OK, what do I know?" “I haven’t a clue how to get it through to you…” "How many times do I have to tell you people, if you want your FREEDOM...") “OH, ARGH!…That’s the sound of men working so HARD under the Sun..." (“Your roads are ageing…”) All that HEAVY machinery… “The high cost of maintaining roads…” “Roads need almost constant maintenance.” "The UK has 89,000 miles of roads." Our mains services are under the roads… “All this dirty work, as if there is no alternative…” THE CONSTANT ROAD REPORTS: "Watch out for the road works..." "... roads closed due to subsidence..." "... there's a steady build up of traffic..." "... avoid all the heavy road works..." "... chaos and misery continue..." "... a £29 million by-pass to ease the worse bottle-necks... Avoid the contra-flow..." "... there’s still massive road closures..." "... down to one lane, with delays..." "... there are defective lights..." ("... we spend ½ of our lives waiting for the lights to change to green, the other ½ sleeping...") "… the temporary lights are out of order..." "... the traffic is very heavy, slow moving, badly congested..." "... the area is blocked solid..." ".. all major routes blocked..." "How to beat jams?" (“I’m stuck in heavy traffic! What do you want me to do about it?”) ("Are you still trying to find your way round the one-way system?" “Groan. All these roundabouts!” “I’m sure Town Planners have designed this so we have to drive round and round using lots of petrol…”) (“…it's not a oneway street to nowhere.") "Massive road closures… Oh, all the delays..." "... a bent lamp post closed the motorway for 3 hours..." "... carriage-way blocked by over-turned caravans..." "... 100's and 1,000's of holiday-makers are jamming the roads delayed by road-works..." HOT SPOTS: “There’s lots of heavy traffic. The queues are building up…” "... the tarmac is melting in the

(UK: 21/3/1990). ("I wish I could

make you turn around- make you see..." "Roads are not necessary for that new and wonderful world...") "We are being told to use public transport, to make fewer journeys, BUT..." "20 years ago, told houses going to be demolished... area blighted since..." "... roads lead to housing cuts..." (3/3/1990). "PLANNERS can now design new roads from the comfort of their offices, using computer assimilations. £10 million spent assessing roads for widening roads in North London" (1990) (“The lack of attention to what’s important…”) "A new £25 million ‘fly-over’ has been built over a round-about, completed 6 months ahead of schedule..." (“You are going about it in the wrong way.”) "... the cost to build one mile is £225 million... 570 families had to be re-housed..." (17/5/1993). "... Houses blighted... new roads a threat to communities... bring in more cars, do not ease traffic... have to demolish existing homes, businesses... decimating... increasing pollution, dangers..." ("... there's a long, long queue of lorries, trying to deliver goods to Britain, but stuck at the port, due to industrial action...") (Industrial Action means: Strike!) "GIANT HEAVY LORRIES: ... should continental 44 (currently 38) ton juggernauts, with 6 axles, ply British roads? The debate has been rumbling... the transport industry want to compete with Europe... would mean 9,000 fewer heavy lorries, 480 million fewer lorry miles a year, 300 million litres less of fuel consumed, with corresponding less congestion and pollution..." (30/7/1993). ("A juggernaut does 7 miles to the gallon." "Bridges will have to be strengthened to carry the weight of juggernauts...") "We shouldn't have to suffer super-lorries!” 274

using plastic waste blended with bitumen and rock aggregate. Plastic improves bonding and makes the roads survive the monsoons better. Now if only the rest of the country adapted to this, it would kill two birds with one stone” (Ref: Good News India

"CONSERVATIONISTS are fighting a road scheme - a 400ft wide dual carriage-way across the cliffs of Dover..." "... more concrete lumps and bumps to slow speeding cars…” ("Yes, we really are in trouble...") "DIABOLICAL: Concrete blocks could replace plastic cones on motorways to make drivers slow down" (1993). PUBLIC HANGING: "Horrified drivers saw the body of a man hanging from a roadside tree in Bedford. Police believed he committed suicide." ("I'm decorating the road-side...") "Pay as you go." Pay as you drive..." "There are plans to introduce private TOLLS on every UK road..." OSLO: "Rail-Roaded!” "Angry motorists have fire-bombed 3 Toll booths in protest at a chargeto drive on the streets of Oslo. The congested Norway city is slapping a toll on private cars using their road system..." (“ONLY THE WEALTHY WILL BE ABLE TO USE CARS…”) UK: Advert for Road Tax: "Can you Afford the £500 fine? No. Get it." UK: "MONSTER ROAD GETS GO AHEAD: ... a new wave of fury is set to erupt over government's plans... 80 wildlife sites, 50 ancient woodlands are under threat of DESTRUCTION... the Dept. of Transport's 6 year plans, turned into a 20 year resistance campaign... Furious Environment campaigners... fear American-style monster roads... Public inquiries... The government promised more money to over-ride Conservationists fears..." (25/6/1993) ("... arrested, fined... for demonstrating...") "... the government's £23 Billion road building programme will speed road building... 500 new schemes planned...” (4/8/1993) ("... History bulldozed, LAND vandalised...") ("Could we please get past Shovelogy?") ("I think you are going about it in the wrong way.") "On the road to ruin..." "No stop roads..." "... fast lanes..." "... Monstrous schemes... upgrading to 10 lanes... American-style 18 lane superroads..." "... 60 children stood in front of the giant earth diggers..." (October, 1993) ("This is not progress! This is madness." ("Sing of freedom." "Dance it with your foes. Dance it with your fore-fathers. Dance it with your sons. Dance it alone...") ("If it were not for the odd protestor...") "A Covent Garden survey showed business for traders improved when roads closed to traffic; the creation of all pedestrian thorough-fares..." UK: “RECLAIM THE STREETS”: "York put people before the ‘need’ of cars. Pedestrian only areas. In over 30 streets, people can walk in comfort..." (23/2/1994) ("… it's so nice!") “Make way for the Plastic Road. A 1.2 km stretch road was built near Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu

Website, 2002).

“One fly-over over a roundabout: Projected cost £80 million…” (January 2005) “Anti-road protestors are trying to stop a £500 million bypass road in Beds and Bucks. ‘We cannot Afford a judicial review’…” (BBC, 24/11/2005).

“The government’s National Audit Office criticised The Highways Agency for not bringing in modern ways to keep roads free of grid-lock” (26/11/2004). "... it means the end of the road for cars..." “…it’s subject to availability...” “Most major transport projects are estimated to take 13 years to plan and implement. Is it any wonder that Britain has a shambolic transport system?” “PAY-AS-YOU-DRIVE to start by 2010: … a nationwide scheme is proposed… The Transport Secretary, Mr. Darling said: ‘For those who would baulk at such a radical change as road pricing, think about the alternative - the prospect of a system becoming slowly grid-locked like you see in many American cities every day. Doing nothing is not an option. And the prize- giving motorists more choice and making journey times more reliable- is surely worth having.’ He said a study showed road pricing would achieve a 40% reduction in congestion with only 4% fewer cars on the road… A survey found 73% support the idea of tracking devices being fitted into cars, 47% would accept charges on congested roads at peak times…” (Daily Mirror, 10/6/2005).

UK: “1st SUPER-HIGHWAY opened. 6 LANES each way (part of the M25). Now more major schemes than in 1997 - when Labour promised no more roads. At the Election– Labour cancelled 150 schemes saying they wanted to look at alternatives). More than 26 million cars on our roads. UK has worst congestion problems in Europe. ‘We can’t go on like this- widening existing roads, more roads, more cars, more exhaust gases.’ Roads swallowing HUGE tracts of LAND…” (ITV, 13/12/2005). “… CONGESTION CHARGING nationwide will cost £23 BILLION and £BILLIONS for 1,000’s of roadside beacons… 73% of businesses believe the London Congestion Charge scheme should not be a model… National charging will dramatically affect the way of life for a huge number of people, especially those who live in the countryside or cannot Afford to live near their work…” (Daily Mirror, 26/7/2005). “The traffic in London is atrocious! Stuck in a jam for an hour on a Sunday!” (August 2006). 275

CHAPTER 7: TRANSPORT

"Long suffering commuters..." "They're ripping people off more and more..." "103 delays. Any excuse!" "... a tree has fallen on the tracks..." "... a cow is on the tracks..." "... there are swans on the rails..." "... storm damaged equipment..." "… a broken sleeper..." "Ramshackle. Falling apart. ½ operational control equipment not working..." "LEAVES AND SNOW CAUSE PARANOIA: "... for years engineers in Japan & USA admit they have been stumped by it... Leaves cause £millions of damage... ‘The Teflon Effect’..." (8/10/1990). According to Track Experts: "The worst trees are the ones that grow fastest have the largest leaves..." (see:Deforestation). "4,500 miles of trackside have a (dangerous) problem with leaves.” "When we eventually have this problem licked, it will truly be a giant leap for mankind..." "The Railway’s Answer? CUT ALL THE TREES, despite all the horrified outcry..." (5/3/1993) "The Austrians did that and the people have never forgiven them..." "A new device to clean the rails... blows the leaves from the track” (2004) (onto the other rails…) "... packed trains... I'd say never again but I've no chance..." "Train driver found to be drunk..." ("We wont get far without it…") "Staff harassed, spat on by angry customers... verbal and physical abuse..." "It gets your back up when customers start having a go at you when there's nothing you can do about it…" "… it needs investment from government…" "20,000 rail jobs must go..." "Soon unmanned stations!" "Vandals chucking concrete, bricks at trains from bridges etc. Attacks up 40%” (1989 – 1990). “There has been a sharp rise in the number of attacks against trains- usually kids throwing stones and rocks off bridges... Unfortunately, passenger lives are put in danger” (2005) "Services cut due to vandalism…" "... the rails buckled in the heat..." "Euston station closed due to badly buckled rails" (19/7/1990). “DURING THE HEAT-WAVE, THE VERY REAL DANGERS OF TRACKS BUCKLING…” TRAIN HORRORS: "... 2 trains collided..." "... such was the impact..." 1993: "101 people killed trespassing on railway lines. 200 seriously injured..." "... when one hits you, you have no time to get used to it..." "BR TO AXE MORE RUSH-HOUR TRAINS: ...in an attempt to recoup a forecast £84 million shortfall... Cuts described as horrifying... Losses expected to exceed £80 million..." (1993). "142% Fare rises… alienating passengers- more will turn to cars... People can't Afford to travel now! Exorbitant. They should pay us the quality of

TRAINS: "This used to be a green, fertile valley..." Railways lines are not A PRETTY SIGHT. UK: "British Rail has 21,000 miles of track..." "Homes blighted..." "Anger, dismay. Prize homes demolished... 1,000's of homes at risk... Can't sell. Misery. Disaster. Frustration..." “The trains spewing clouds of diesel…” The Smoke! The Smell! "Need we say it again?" HEAVY PROPULSION. "Get on that dinosaur, ride that..." NOISE POLLUTION: The noise! “… the train thundered past…” “… the sounds of trains SCHREECHING past the blocks…” “The Rumbling! Grinding! British rail has immunity from noise pollution. Sleepless nights. Many are disturbed..." “A train carriage is approx. 30 ft long.” NO SAFETY BELTS! BIG (panoramic) GLASS windows: “EXPRESS TERROR: ... the carriage left the rail at 125 mph, the heavy steel hurtled... Passengers thrown through the glass windows... Vow to make SAFETY A TOP PRIORITY..." (15/1/1990) “IMPACT – DEVASTATING…” "VORTEX caused by high speed trains, strong enough to suck passengers off platforms. Special stations (terminals) have to be built..." “… the express train approaches the station platforms lined with passengers at 100 mph…” "At the end of the line- concrete & metal buffers..." "... the train wrecked the station..." "Train carrying commuters hit buffers... Driver drug tested..." (22/2/1994).

“MIND THE GAP!” "...fell on railway lines..." "... fell under the train..." "... electrocuted..." "... cables so close to the rails...".“.. fell from high speed train..." "MAJOR SIGNALLING FAULTS: Widespread Serious Disruption: 500 passengers marooned…” "Power and Points Failures..." "A monopoly situation..." "British Rail heavily subsidised by tax-payers... 4 out of 5 people do not want privatisation..." “SAFETY played down prior to privatisation - 198 derailments... 46 not reported…” "... cost to privatise British Rail £446 million, not one new line laid, or any trains modernised..." "...costs tripled..." "Privatisation risks safety..." "... the battle for cash..." "... station closed. No electricity..." "... missed connections..." "... cold platforms..." "COLD COMFORT: ... long delays in both directions... Waiting-rooms locked, trains cancelled, due to staff shortages..." "... unprofitable passenger lines cut..." "... to transport heavy ‘goods’..." "... to compete with other forms of haulage..." PROTESTS: "Profits put before SAFETY! Profits before people!" "... we regret the inconvenience to passengers..." 276

service is so poor..." "Terrorist threat, risk of planting bombs..." "Explosion on main railway line..." (14/12/1993). "Massive commuter cuts... 37 stations closed due to hoax security alert" (21/12/1993). "Derailment at depot trapped 20 trains behind... " (26/1/1994) “ALL

vine-yards.’ The protestors have gone from strength to strength. This has not been welcomed by the national railway organisation that calls the new train ‘the pride of France.’ The tight time-table is based on the assumption the process of compulsory acquisition of land will be completed by the end of 1991. Inhabitants in one of the country’s most pretty regions, feel they are being ridden over roughshod. ‘I’ve already been involved with a number of other Environmental groups in successfully opposing a golf course which was in fact an excuse for a major property development.’ His 1st meeting attracted almost 1,000 people. Within weeks he found himself secretary of an organisation organising dozens of local defence groups…” (1990). France: “OFF THE RAILS: A TGV high-speed train, travelling at 185 mph jumped the tracks. 5 of the train’s 8 carriages derailed, but all remained upright. Some of the 211 passengers were shaken and bruised but no serious injuries were reported. Heavy rain may have loosened the track. The TGV is able to remain upright even if the train leaves the track at high-speed because the train’s carriages and engines are tightly linked at each end to form ‘a single backbone.’ A similar accident occurred when an axle broke as the train was travelling at 168mph…” (Evening Standard, 21/12/1993). “The interior detailing of the new (spacious) French trains is rather poor… France has more design competitions than Britain.” ITALY: “OFF THE RAILS: The Italian State railway, western Europe’s most indebted railway system, became enmeshed in the country’s corruption scandal with the issue of 15 arrest warrants for alleged bribery by company manager and officials…” (1993). GERMANY: THE HAMBURG EXPRESS: 120 killed… Train doing 125 mph. Carriages somehow became uncoupled- 13 derailed. Cause: A defective wheel?” (June 1998). Mozambique: “Train crash. 192 people died…”

CHANGE!”

(“A train doesn’t do detours- anytimeanywhere…”) “A ONE-WAY TICKET TO A MADDENING SITUATION”: "... the train sent to rescue the broken down passenger train, crashed into a diesel engine..." (10/4/1994). (All the paper wasted on tickets… Railtrack introducing bigger tickets.) "DETERIORATING RAIL TRACKS... Infrastructure in tatters..." "On the track to chaos..." Questions Asked: “Are our railways really SAFE?" “The UK government announced a massive spending programme... £800 Billion to improve Britain's ANTIQUATED railway system...” (2002) (Did I hear that correctly? No, surely not? It can’t be.) (For a fraction of that = Alternative Employment: Dismantling, and planting…) (OLD rolling stock modified to make temporary fun places to live in? America uses old railway carriages to make funky diners). HATFIELD: “Train crash- 4 people died. Railtrack imposed a blanket 20 mph speed limit. 10 days later the Prime Minister pressured bosses into changing Emergency safety measures to get services back to normal quickly…” (October 2000). “A father of a rail victim called for seat-belts to be fitted, and other inexpensive special equipment to be installed to prevent crashes at railway crossings” (early July, 2005) “About 12 times a year cars hit a train…” “43% INCREASE OF VIOLENCE ON RAILWAYS. 6,354 attacks on trains. How can we encourage Public transport when this is becoming more dangerous to use?” (14/2/2006). "DEVELOPMENTS: Some sort of transformerchanges AC to DC current whilst the train slows. Revs are stored, saving 45% energy - passing saving into overhead cables" (1990). “There are 350 different types of high speed trains…” “Train Speed Record: 345 mph, made possible by improved tracks i.e. steel and concrete…” FRANCE: “Early 1970’s, the French built the TGV…” “… the world's first fully automated passenger railway with crewless trains, the Lille Metro in northern France, was inaugurated in 1989…” “WHAT’S BIG & NOISY and travels at 200 mph? The ultra-fast train has Provence up in arms. The route will cut through beautiful country-side. ‘We have fruit trees, vegetables and above all,

(25/5/2002).

Egypt:

“Train

crash.

361

people

died…”

(20/2/2004).

Iran: “Train crash. 320 people died and 5 villages devastated” (28/2/2004). SPAIN: “THE MADRID TRAIN BOMBINGS… 4 crowded commuter trains bombed. 191 people killed, 1,500 people injured. The fanatical Islamic militants (terrorists) showed just how fanatical they are by blowing themselves up, rather than get caught…” “Bombs detonated by mobile phone technology…” “It is hard to travel on the train and think of that day” (2004). AUSTRALIA: “Passenger Power: 100's & 1,000's of frustrated, angry commuters refused to pay for the rail service. The service is dreadful, inadequate. Mismanagement. This is their biggest problem277

CHAPTER 7: TRANSPORT

between the north of England and the south. Could re-balance Britain economically. Greatest problems are planning consents. Very expensive as will need completely new infrastructure & new stations- would have to demolish too much. A fanciful notion? Far from reality? Monorail is not as land-hungry as existing railway tracks and motorways… One idea (rejected) was to put the monorail track above existing motorways but train/s can’t go round the bend/s, plus problems with breakdowns…” (Newsnight, BB2, 17/2/2005). TUBULAR RAIL: ”Built up on TALL, concrete plinths support an overhead train… I presume the idea is to save space on the ground. Sorry, but I wouldn’t like to be on one in an Earthquake or a very stiff breeze!” (re. www.tubularrail.com)

failure to get the trains to run on time. OLD rolling stock..." (Sydney, 21/11/2004) ("… it should be on the time-table!")

UNDERGROUND TUBE TRAINS: (Building underground = Risk of flooding…) "Underground services in London are going down the tube. £40 million loss this year. Situation serious. Cuts expected" (1990). "This train will not be stopping at the following stations due to a security alert..." (almost daily

USA: “MULTIPLE train crash in California… fatalities and dozens of walking wounded. The DOUBLE-DECKER train derailed… toppled / over-turned - smashed, dented, crushed metal everywhere….” (January 2005). JAPAN: “Japan introduced ‘The Bullet Train’ in 1964…”MAGLEV: ’Floating’ trains i.e. “Magnetic levitation, repelling forces, train suspended above track..." “All tracks sealed off completely. Tracks have to be maintained in top condition… No lineside signal…” “There have been derailments – no casualties – in 2 decades…” “Japan’s worst train crash. The train went into the bend, travelling very fast, started to topple overderailed. 4 carriages left the rails. Busy commuter train. The train crashed into an apartment block. 50 people killed, 300 injured. Inexperienced driver blamed. He overshot the station. The 1st carriage disintegrated. 12 hours after the accident rescuers were still trying to reach the injured- were still cutting away- terrible scenesin a country obsessed with safety. 60 million use the trains” (Osaka, 25/4/2005). Sri-Lanka: “Passenger train collided with a bus. 50 killed” (27/4/2005).

occurrence since 1989?)

"WICKED NEGLECT: No more room for cables. Clogged with old cables - not fire resistant- not new safety cable. All covered in thick dust, old machine oil - highly flammable. To replace, would cost too much, take too long, use too much manpower" said an engineer, after ‘The Kings Cross’ fire disaster (October, 1992). "... fire at 2 stations..." (28/9/1993). "I wouldn't use the tube and I don’t let my kids use it" said a manager of a London Tube station. "But if you quote me, I'll deny it" (1990). "The underground will take 10 years to improve... Investigators inspecting the underground were disgusted - walls dripping with water, puddles everywhere…” (6/3/1993). "FLOODING... Ground water risen 8ft threatening safety... London's water table is rising fast- 2.5 metres a year... system can't cope... sewage leaking into some stations. Water has undermined some sections of tracks, damaging electric circuits... The need to repair bridges, tunnels, embankments, drainseverything! ... But money from government cut..." (12/8/1993). "300 million gallons of water a day pour into the London underground..." (GLR,

THE FUTURE? NUCLEAR powered trains? "ULTRA-SPEED RAIL: Trains travelling at 300 mph. The speed of Concorde at take-off. (MAGLEV uses magnetic levitation). British government is interested and has agreed to finance a feasibility study. Technology proven. Greatly reduced journey times… Could leap-frog the UK to the best railway network in the world. Britain currently only pours money into patching up. Has 1/5th of the emissions of commercial air- could cut internal flights by 75%. Would be the safest form of travel in history. Should be done to re-balance the economy

18/10/1993).

"A nightmare! Stations resemble building sites…” “£750 million spent refurbishing one tube line i.e. decorating walls to make public areas look safer." "The underground is crumbling... a video shows extent of decay... routine maintenance abandoned. Big problem. Concrete crumbling - danger of concrete falling onto track... Modernisation put on ice... Pleas for essential repairs likely to be ignored..." (22/9/1993) (“Is the underground a bottomless pit?") 278

A London Underground worker said: “When we get some private investment things will improve”

“TERRORIST ATTACKS on London’s public transport system. 3 underground stations & 1 bus bombed. ‘It is impossible to prevent this type of cowardly attack in a very busy city.’ Death Toll: 59 people. Over 700 people injured. The public’s mobiles were all stopped from working… (i.e. ‘non-essential’ phones)” (7/7/2005). “2 weeks later, explosive devices on 3 underground trains + 1 bus (which failed to fully detonate). Since July 7th, 257 security alerts on the London transport system. ‘One of the consequences may be restrictions to the freedom of mobility we have enjoyed. 3 million people use the London Underground every daysearching everyone is impossible. In USA, now random checks made. Jittery, nervous passengers. What can we do? Carry on as normal? This is anything but normal” 15/7/2005) (see

(March 2005).

“MIND THE GAP!” "GLASS screens will be installed at intervals along the platforms to help stop people falling in front of the train, copying USA" (26/9/1991) Still no screens installed (2003 -). "... tunnel wall collapsed..." (30/4/1993). “ONE UNDER: People still fall / jump under the train. Whole stations have to be evacuated. All lines closed. An enormous job freeing… him. His legs are trapped. He’s vomiting. Lift the train! So hard to do. But his heart has stopped now. For 15 minutes they compress his chest, give him adrenalin, to shock- but to no effect. His heart still has electrical rhythm but blood not pumping- so they give up. That’s the way it goes. The paramedic said: ‘This happened 27 times last year’…” (Trauma, BBC1 2003).

Chapter 13, Terrorism).

"Still not accessible to wheelchair users..." "… Metal Fatigue found in wheels..." (GLR, 18/10/1993). "The tube train ran away..." (4/11/1993) (I don’t blame it. I’d do the same in its shoes). "Rolling stock is wearing down track very quickly. Speed limits imposed. Lines closed. More delays"

“Underground staff are scared…” “THREAT OF MORE ATTACKS: A passenger said: “We’ve got to beat it.” Passengers numbers are down. There is a heavy police presence to reassure the public. The risk of similar attacks in undergrounds EG. in New York. Clearly to masstransportation, it is ‘an issue’…” (4/8/2005). “FIXING THE TUBE: … a ‘public private partnership’ organised by Gordon Brown, opposed by London’s mayor- Ken Livingstone… £17 BILLION disappearing into a black hole… delays…” (BBC news, 17/5/2007).

(19/11/1993).

"... a tube breakdown left 700 people trapped in sweltering conditions below ground for 5 hours... a catalogue of errors... no Emergency tunnel lighting..." (5/8/1993). “THERE IS NO AIR CONDITIONING. Circulation of air depends on the trains moving… The dangers during a heat-wave… stranded trains…” "10's of 1,000's of people stranded in claustrophobic tunnels..." (24/11/1993). "An atmosphere of insecurity and danger..." “Over-crowded. Standing room only. Uncomfortable conditions. The heat is terrible!" "New High-tech train cost £45 million. Will carry 1,300 passengers, 200 more than at present..." "... the line known as 'the Drain' closed for a £23 million refit... the new train will have more standing room, very large glass windows... the 15,000 regular users will be comfortable sardines..." (29/7/1993) (“Do you enjoy travelling like a sardine?”) (“Get me out of here! I can’t breathe…”) “Oh, will you please give me some breathing space!” "The weary travellers..." “Travelling on the tube is a daily nightmare for 1,000’s. Packed carriages, late trains. Can’t get on. Wait, wait, wait…”

TUNNEL VISION: Building a new Tunnel: "They carve out massive tunnels, sewers- leaving land unstable. Sliding into erosion, into oblivion..." "Tunnelling is the most dangerous form of construction... The strongest concrete tunnel in the world is built 100 ft below the Seabed... will be the busiest railway... Took 170 million man hours to build, 15,000 people, taken 10 lives, 6 years and 20 million tons of spoil to complete" (9/12/1993). “Euro-Tunnel has a £6.2 Billion debt…” (30/3/2005).

BOATS & SHIPS: "The 'Unsinkable' Titanic: 900 ft long, height of an 11 storey building, weighed 46,000 tons, rudder tall as a mansion. 500,000 hp. Built for luxury, not safety. Had 20 life boats (4 more than required by British Board of Trade regulations). So arrogant were the builders they proclaimed: 'God himself could not sink this ship…”' (“He, that overloads his vessel, be it with gold or silver and precious stones, will give but an ill account of his voyage…”) “As the band played 'Nearer My God to Thee' the Titanic slid below the icy, black waters... Built with 16 water-tight compartments, the iceberg

(14/5/2005).

"... We don't know what it is, so problem cannot be solved... to find the fault, engineers battled all through the night... The generator used to back up main power supply cutting off..." (25/11/1993) "A massive power failure... " (13/4/1994). "... we are sorry for the disruption. Please find an alternative way home..." ("How much did your taxi cost?" At least 466% more than a bus!) ("Let's make it easier...") 279

CHAPTER 7: TRANSPORT

ripped a huge rent, 5 compartments flooded- water slopped from one to the other...until 35 minutes later, the boilers exploded and the ship sank... 2,227 souls on board, 750 survived..." “Sea water (salt) devours steel…” "RUST BUCKETS: A leaky tub. "Maintaining takes a lot of time..." "In dry dock." "Yeh, do another paint job, to hide all the rust." "Oh, looks good as new - well, almost! If you didn't know what was being covered up…" "Big, heavy iron cross beams, flaking..." "Full of holes." “… up to 30 coats of rust-proof paint…” "The acoustics of metal ceilings, floors, walls..." NOISY ENGINES! “… the engine howling beneath the surface…” “Cut the engine!” ‘Modern’ Ships: Steel frame / panels / Rivets… Fibre GLASS yachts and cabin cruisers... "So easy to get a Hole in!" ("Double hull- little use if ship HOLED on rocks.") Boats = Wood or fibre-glass hull, wood plank flooring, (breakable) wood or metal mast, flimsy wood or metal rudder… “Designed by Architects: Racing boats, yachts built for pleasure... with ‘Space-Age’ materials for less weight and more speed. Over 50' long. Need a 24 man crew- fully trained. Cost £4 million. The expensive mast needs much maintenance..." (1988) “I don’t know why they call these leisure boats! They are anything but…” UK: "Now making WARSHIPS out of plastic. The Duke of York took up his 1st naval command aboard the plastic-hulled minesweeper HMS Cottesmore- one of the Navy's TUPPERWARE fleet whose sister ship served in the Gulf..." (Evening

gales..." "DREADFUL: .. the ferry overturned, then quickly sank. More than 50 people died. Passengers jumped into the sea- bitterly cold- could not survive for more than a few minutes- some tried to cling to the hull. May Day call. Could not be rescued. Divers trying to enter to find any survivors trapped in air pockets..." "The Neptune - a rusty old ferry, crammed with people and animals- over laden, overcrowded with refugees, an unstable craft, went down- sank by a sudden storm; people rushed suddenly to one side to avoid the storm- ferry began taking on water below the water line, started to list, then rolled... 2,000 people on board. 300 survived. No life jackets. No life boats. A tragedy. One woman survived by clinging to a (plastic?) bucket! Another woman lost 5 children. Worst maritime disaster in peacetime. There's grief on the dock" (Near Florida, 18/2/1993) ("Life can sometimes hinge on the smallest thing!") "2 ships collided- they both sank" (1/10/1993). "One collision every 8 weeks in the English Channel..." (see Nuclear energy). "The yacht went missing in a gale... wreckage found..." UK: "Life-boats manned by voluntary crews (and paid for by charitable donations…) saved over 1,000 people from the coast of Great Britain (1993). "Please help the life-boats." "A tractor is needed to launch life-boats..." "The sea was too rough for the coast-guard to continue the search..." “The whole crew went out- only one returned…” "People are getting into more trouble at Sea. The coastguards were called out 80,000 times last year" (30/7/1993) (“More people are buying boats…”) A LIFE-BOAT = One small diesel powered craft, with space on board only for a few survivors… "... washed overboard..." "Lost at Sea… Presumed drowned…" “The cruel Sea…” "Captain! Water over the stern!" "Abandon ship!" "We were sinking from the second the 2nd wave hit the deck. We were ordered into the dingy. We could only lie there and rot..." "Rubber dinghies go porous in the Sun, & sink." "The boat's sinking! We'll have to swim for it…" “Uh-oh! We’ve had it…” "Oh, my God! WAVES as high as a house!" “When you’re staring defeat in the face…” "… Weak, dehydrated, suffering from exposureshocked..." “… it was A VERY POWERFUL WAKE-UP CALL!” "MOUNTAINOUS SEAS! Up to 35'! What would you do if you faced a wall of water in a yacht? If it had decided to take us, there would have been nothing we could do. Fortunately we survived to tell the story..." ("You have the chance to try again- to get it right.") (“I survived for you, I’ll turn

Standard, 27/4/1993).

LOST AT SEA: EG. "... a wooden hull- the speed and ferocity of the flames appalled..." "A ferry sank. 200 people died" (1986). ‘The HERALD OF ‘FREE’ ENTERPRISE’: (The) Ferry capsized, killing 200 people..." (1987) (This class of ferry now described as “Roll on, ROLL OVER.”) "Boat carrying 1,000 tons of paper sank..." (28/12/1990).

"Ship carrying 16,000 tons of Sunflower oil sank..." (5/1/1991). “Passenger ferry sank. 14 dead. 26 injured” (Yugoslavia, 5/1992).

"A ferry which capsized off the German coast had overturned twice before!” “A HISTORY OF INSTABILITY: The Jan Havelius, the same type of ship as the Herald of ‘Free’ Enterprise, turned turtle in gale force winds and 9ft waves. The ferry was laden mainly with lorries and their drivers... Only 9 of the 34 passengers and 29 crew survived the freezing seas" (15/1/1993). "HIT BY A FREAK WAVE: Hurricane force 280

ADVERT: “UNSINKABLE” BOAT: 14ft x 9.Closed cabin. 2 berth. With Tonneau (soft) cover. Recently anti-fouled. Fenders. Breakback trailer…”

the tide for you. Should you ever be on the stormy sea, I want you to know it’ll never let you down…”) "I felt empty after being rescued. Go back to way things were? People said: ‘Don't worry about it. You've got 2 choices- recover slowly, taking the sympathy or fight back- get over it as quickly as possible’…" “My engine’s cut out! Christ! We’ll never make it!” “The engine caught fire…” "Fire on board..." "The engine room caught fire..." “The engine room flooded… there are men trapped down there! Captain, we must evacuate the ship. Assemble on the promenade deck. Despite their determination…” (A familiar saga repeated many times). “Your old boats are rapidly ageing…” "The Marchioness Disaster: ... old leaky, wooden ‘pleasure boat’, sank, trapping people... 51 souls lost..." (5/7/1993). "BLAZE WARNING: .. river boat owners urged to get their craft serviced, with special emphasis on fuel / storage, after a spate of fires... 17 fires on the Thames in 1992" (24/7/1993). "... Following another crash on the Thames, a call for crafts on the river to be brought up to a proper standard..." (Losses / Costs are neither Affordable or desirable…) (Strikes me a lot of boats have difficulty staying afloat...) EXPERT: “Boats do not survive storms…”

(April 2005).

I hope all boats have waterproof covers for protection, because some heavy rain is coming. No? “Well now… hope the bilge has good capacity, hope the outboard doesn't cough and die...” “Batten down the hatch!” (“Don’t you get bored?”) MODERNISE BOAT DESIGN! Let’s start again, from scratch. NEW BOAT DESIGN: 1. Select a light weight SUPER-STRONG, WATER RESISTANT, NON-BIODEGRADABLE material. Invest in one-piece RESIN housings. Resin: At least 1” thick. Solid Resin… or a composite i.e. solid resin outers, sandwiched with the STRONGEST, most durable fibres, woven, impregnated / soaked in resin. (NOT THIN, loose mats of GLASS strands– painted with resin…) 2. CHANGE THE SHAPE: THE PRINCIPLE = JUST IMAGINE a round (inflated) plastic ball. Slice a 2/3rd section off the ball. This could be the base (hull). Fill the bottom with water (in a separate accessible, sealed resin tank if desired) The water = Ballast (a heavy weight) always in the bottom middle of the hull. See how it performs. It always remains the right way up… upright. (You just need a bit of air to remain in the top section to achieve this). (Warm air rises). Already, you have

BOAT DESIGN: “DON'T ROCK THE BOAT!” CAPSIZE FEAR: Boats lack stability- boats are narrow at the bottom, wide at the top - to ‘stream line’ i.e. reduce wind resistance ? & (supposedly) increase performance / speed in the water. Boats are 1/3rd? submerged in heavy / dragging water to effect propulsion via a propeller. (“Not good is you suffer from sea-sickness…”): YOU'RE ON A ROLL means: The CHOP, the TILT of the waves, could FLIP the boat over... Boats frequently do overturn... Water sloshing IN over the sides, SWAMPING the boat. Fasten down the hatches!

something much sturdier… SAFER. DOUBLE CASING = Place one smaller “ball” inside another “ball”… The inner surface ‘floats’ is suspendednot fixed… the space filled with water. The outer rotates, the inner remains ‘upright’ = A gyroscopic Frame. (“… each section / compartment held in place by gyroscopic gimbals…” ref. Film: ‘The Core’: see the hand-held model before the ship is built. Note: The outer moves, the inner stays stable for occupants). The remaining 1/3rd section, makes a lid, or cover... with screw threads. Needed: A stubby central column attached to the top surface - the lid attaches to that – and comes down on screw threads, when the Sea swells, to protect / water-tight it (see jar lids, plastic shampoo bottles for different lids…) (Use magnets around the rims?) The (auto / manual) lid could be multi-positional? Used as a sail? 3. Full ballast tank, float on top of water... No drag!

But water still slops in... NEEDED: A soft waterproof cover? In a swell, unfold it (If you can), (roll it out from the mast?) drape over and secure with snap-on fastenings? A cover would stop a lot of water entering the boat… whilst the boat is upright, but that would not stop the boat sinking if the boat rolled over…

Propulsion on water? Think of water under pressure... What a powerful jet! ("The octopus travels by blowing out a jet of water..." In one constant stream… (i.e. Not jerky / phut phut like a boat’s engine!) Empty ballast tank = Lighter weight (it could then skim above the water / just take off - ‘fly’) (using Alternative 281

CHAPTER 7: TRANSPORT

"GIANT SHIP: Largest cruise ship ever built90,000 tons, nearly ½ as big again as the QE2. Cost more than £250 million" (8/2/1994). "There are plans to build another Titanic to be used as a very luxurious passenger liner" (2003). “Some of the largest ships have 2 engines, 2 propellers. One propeller can weigh 100 tons. All that metal! Engines driven by steam turbine60,000 tons a day… 3 generators…”

Energy!)

Always carry a repair kit! And have the equipment on board to desalinate water.

it’S JUST A SUGGESTION! "… it can do the job when you're in town, when you're in winter wonderland, in the meadows. By the Sea, proud! No going up and down, no chilling.. it could put us in a different world - a lovely world..." "If YOU were in deep water… would you turn it down?"

AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES: Travel on land and water (i.e. “… it can float…”) Many countries EG. Germany, Russia, France, Italy, England, Holland, Belgium, Turkey, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Canada, America, Australia … have all experimented and have built many types of amphibious vehicles (a cross between military tanks, cars, boats, caravans…) that have been used for military purposes (personnel carriers etc), bridge-building, rescue, recreation etc. EG. 1942: France: The Hydro-Mobile: “… Fully wooden ‘superstructure.’ 3 retractable wheels… planed the water surface…” 1946: “Ben Carlin went to Ford to get sponsorship to convert a Ford car, but they thought he was mad…” 19/2/1947: (Nottingham) UK: “The river Trent burst… The railway station was flooded… 50,000 acres of farm land were under water. The height of the water was 9ft 4 inches. Houses had water up to 2nd floor bedrooms. Amphibious ‘DUCK landing craft’ used to evacuate marooned people… but the currents were too strong. The craft became pinned against iron railings… A line was used to pull the craft to safety…” (“Needs flat ramps to go in / out of the water…”)

SHIPPING: "Docks crammed with forests of cranes..." "3 million (heavy, metal) shipping containers in terminal... now building another terminal. Vast nightmare. 'Most efficient' port. Most congested waters... " (Hong Kong). “Hey! Guess what. You’ve had your day. What do you say? Things are going to get… heavier?” (Sorry if you are a HEAVY METAL FAN). "A tide of losses on the docks.." "Shipbuilders: Swan Hunter (what a dreadful name!) (in Tyneside UK) called in the receivers. The Ministry of Defence failed to pay a debt of £20 million... Skilled craftsmen and design team now on the dole..." ("The Ship-yards could make almost anything.") "Now is not the time to stop building boats…” “… it's not what you've got, it's the thought that counts…" "You'll never get to where the grass is greener if you burn your boats..." "AIR FOIL FLAIR BOAT: Air rushes in under 'wings'. Boat lifted by compressed air, right off water, saving 1/3rd of fuel. To be developed in Berlin as a high speed ferry that can fly, carrying 200 people” (Tomorrows World, 16/6/1993) (Very noisy!) (but if that can get lift…) "I name this SHEEP: A racing yacht is about to be built in New Zealand made from compressed wool bonded with resin..." (10/8/1993). FLOATING ANARCHY = Live on a boat (a Tax free shelter). GET THERE FERRY FAST: ... the craft will cruise at 50 mph, carry 1,500 passengers, 375 cars, or 50 trucks... is longer than a football pitch and almost as wide... could cross the 22 miles stretch in 28 minutes…Our craft is the biggest technological breakthrough in shipping... the speed ferry cost £10 Billion..." "Ship at Mitsubishi shipyard uses superconductors is powered by water - water is drawn in, electrical charge passes through, water forced out back. At full force can as yet only travel at maximum 7 mph..." (7/12/1993) (A Heavy metal ship?) "… Outer compartments are flooded to protect the inhabitants from the pressures of the deep..." (Ref.

1957: Texas, USA: Terra Marina: “… a dual purpose trailer / house-boat …” “A damned handy thing to have around…” 1959: The EuroCar: “… had an Austin engine… became ‘The Amphicar’…” 1960: Dauphin: “A luxury camper… Front = A Poop deck… (Book about it sold out…”)

Fiction: Sea Quest). 282

1961: “Volkswagen Beetles world-wide changed privately into amphibious crafts by sealing under the car…” 1967: Corvette Weekend: “An amphibious caravan to be towed…” 1968: A Russian design had retractable wheels… 1968: Germany: The Schafer Orion Motor-Home… Late 1960’s: Project 4142: “Volvo had 5 prototypes…” 1974: USA: The Bartlett Waterlander MotorHome…

road speed 70 mph. Length: 39’ Height 15’ Width 7’9. Dodge military axles….” 1992: Chrysler Labrron: “…floats because there is a thick foam layer under the car. Water propulsion comes from a jet-ski in the trunk…”

1994: ‘The M3’: “… development took 10 years… The result of 10 years design experience…” 1994: England: ‘The Topping’ Amphibious MotorHome…” MANY DESIGNS ARE Water-Tight CARS WITH OPEN TOPS!

Many amphibious vehicles = HEAVY armoured military tanks: 1977: The Landmaster was 7 – 8 m long, 2.5 – 3 m wide…” “… a wedge-shaped front…” 1980: Lancia Fiat: (canvas top). Top speed on water: 7 mph using water jet propulsion. Diesel driven on roads…” 1982: “Lancia Fiat Iveco, armoured vehicle… used in Amazon Basin expedition…” 1980’s: Holland: The Bocar: “A pop up / soft-sided caravan / boat: Not a success…” 1984: The Wave (home-built) Motor-Home: Cost over $100,000 but for that you get 2 storeys and can Seat 22 people…” 1984: England: The Streamliner… 1990: England: The GMC Motor-Home: Proto-type. Front jet drive… goes backwards in water…” (Weird!) 18/9/1990: “… an amphibious vehicle sank…” 1992: USA: “The Aquarian amphibious camper Motor-Home.

“…bath-tubs on wheels…” 1995: Japan: ‘Isumi Nagisa’: “ “… High speed performance in water…” ”1995: “Nike Topping… his vehicle is 100% WaterTight: No need for a bilge pump…

Hull = Steel. Top = Aluminium. Design uses a Ford Transit engine, a Land Rover gear-box and a 16” propeller… All work done in his primitive shed…” 1996: France: ‘The HobbyCar’: “Turbo-deisel engine… Production ceased.” 1999: Italy: ‘Terra-Mare’: “4 wheel drive.. Also works as a Hover-Craft. Cost $300,000…” 1/5/1999: “13 people killed when an amphibious vehicle sank…” 18/12/2001: “… an amphibious vehicle sank…” 23/6/2002: CANADA: “Amphibious sank. 2 adults, 2 children killed (were wearing lifejackets). A sight-seeing water bus. Caused big discussion re: SAFETY of tours.”

Proto-type built in anticipation of production… A Chevrolet gas engine. 6.5 miles to the gallon. Top 283

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2003: FOR TOURS: The (Open Top / Side) Trolley Bus-Boat made of a composite fibreGLASS hull… Air-ride suspension. A diesel enginea hydro-static drive train…” Uh? 2003: USA: ‘The WaterCar’: Retractable wheels… 10 wheels… The rubber used to join… deteriorated a lot…” 2003: England: Aquada Gibbs Technologies: A high speed amphibian car with retractable wheels… 2003: ‘The Aquavan’… 2003: Hewitt’s Prototype: “A 17’ vehicle with a double-hull covered in aluminium. Caterpillar tracks with nylon rollers…” 3/9/2003: “A high-speed amphibious car (30 mph). Cost $230,000…” 16/2/2004: SWITZERLAND: “An amphibious vehicle that can fly. Has foldable hydro-foil wings. No production planned. Engine powered by gas…”

AIR TRAVEL: "The ultimate quest for maximum performance…" Man's Dream = "To fly as FREE as a bird." “I want to be as free as a bird.” “So we invented a TIN tube with wings…” (“… with no sensation of flying...”) “In many ways, technology has produced more miracles than religion has. Charles Lindbergh- when he flew alone to America, inspired a romantic vision - of a tomorrow in which each individual could fly freely whenever they wanted. Journalists, opinion polls etc., all projected the future of the aeroplane would be in the form of individually owned, privately flown aircraft- what people call ‘a family car of the air!’ Robert Foulton designed ’The Airphibian’: A propeller easily detached from the front of the car- wings and wheels were one unit which detaches. Easy to operate, easy to fly. Travels 45 mph on roads. Will not be long before air coupes would be on sale in Dept., stores! A very popular idea. The reality that emerged from this dream was very different. A detached faith in technology” (White Heat, BBC2, 31/10/1994). "400 million Europeans will take a holiday abroad this year ‘to escape the masses’ taking the only transport available..." (1990). PEOPLE SAID: “ARRIVING & DEPARTING IS HELL”: "Took longer to get to the airport than to fly!" “Are you stuck on the turn off to the airport?” “A 4 car pile-up has blocked the approach road to the airport…” “It’s so complicated to find your way around here! I’ve got lost twice in the 1st ½ hour..” “I’m stuck in heavy traffic…” “CHECK IN CLOSED.” “TROUBLES”: “You’ve missed your flight. It’s not my fault you were late!” “The bloody train was late…” “If you swear, I’ll call security… Swearing at meit’s just disgusting!” (“They can’t understand it.”) “If there was another flight, I’d get you on it.” “Other airlines would make you pay for another flight.” “Sorry, it can’t be done.” “It’s not our fault, sir.” “No, Operations wont allow it!” “No sorry, it’s too late…” “All flights are fully booked- you’ll have to wait till the next seat becomes available…” "Over-booked scheduled flights..." “We’re having problems…” “As most of the computers are down… the crisis… we’ll get through it… somehow… mix-up’s do happen…” PEOPLE SAID: “THEY QUOTE THE RULE BOOK with glib excuses like ‘we have a technical hitch.’ Unfortunately, I’m not an engineer…” “Going through immigration was a nightmare! The guards with guns! Their coldness! Can be very frightening… All the HASSLE!” “By the time you’ve travelled to the airport, checked in, gone through security & passport control, cleared customs, you’re disorientated, and dog tired. What a rigmarole!”

(Ref. www.rinspeed.com )

“Built by Tycon: A small SUV. Aluminium hull with polyethylene armour. Cab made from fibreglass. Propeller drive, diesel. 4 wheel drive…” “AL FAHID: Amphibious craft for Arabia military: … The hull is water-sealed and air-tight… (army technology)…” “… some amphibious crafts can also travel on packed snow…” THE SULEICA CARAVAN: “The stuff dreams are made of. Out of this world. Out of reach…” (Ref: www.mitglied.lycos.de/amphicar )

www.amphibiousvehicle.net

“Richard Branson set the world’s fastest record for crossing the English Channel in an amphibian vehicle in 1 hour, 40 minutes” (14/6/2004).

TERRAWIND: “Luxury motor-coach / yacht: 6 seats. Sleeps 4. Width: 102’ Length: 42’.6. Aluminium hull. Diesel generator to power kitchen…” (ref. www.terrawind.com ) STILL A PROBLEM: “No-one will sponsor until the project has started…” THE HEAVY WEIGHTS! THE MATERIALS… THE PROPULSION SYSTEM. The weight of the engine. And the exhausts. (… it’s like baking a cake. They’ve tried many recipes… IF we could just get the ingredients right…) 284

“UPROAR:” “TIRED, ANXIOUS, ANNOYED, GRIM… THE FRUSTRATION IS SHOWING…” “I have to be there today!” “My plans are ruined!” “Saying ‘sorry’ over and over is not helping me!” “That’s no good to me!” “I’m furious!” “I can’t stand all this waiting!” "They're on a Go-Slow again! Very Frustrating.” “Absolutely not fair!” "New ALERT on air MISERY!" "French engineers promised more chaos for air travellers... another long strike... the dispute would only have been effective if vital equipment had failed... Their chief warned it was only a matter of time before equipment did fail..." "High level operatives are under a LOT OF STRESS." “I feel so sorry for the passengers but there’s nothing we can about it.” “I’m on the sharp end. I feel rubbish that I can’t do more to help them…” "Sorry, we're busy doing nothing, working the whole day through, on double shifts cos we need the money. Come the end of the shift, we'll go and get pissed..." "Sales of alcohol at airports is up..." "Jet lag is a problem…" “You are drunk and unfit to fly with us today.” “Delay due to crew change…” “We can’t find the cabin crew!” “We’ve missed our slot…” “We apologise for…” “We apologise for the slight delay…” “Slight? I don’t call keep us waiting for… How am I supposed to make my connection now?” "50 flights delayed..." “Airports shut down at 40 knots wind speed…” “When a storm hits, the whole airport is on full alert.” “’BAD’ WEATHER means cancelled flights.” “Ladies and gentlemen. This is your Captain speaking. There are going to be delays due to some ‘bad’ weather coming in. Air Traffic Control has put us on hold…” "All flights cancelled due to ‘bad’ weather." “SNOW CHAOS: All flights cancelled due to the weather. The airport is closed. 1,000’s of very unhappy passengers left stranded in queues. No alternative arrangements!” “Delays, delays. Passengers still stranded as the snow melts…”"Poor visibility has grounded all flights…" “Your flight may or may not take-off…” MORE LONG DEPARTURE DELAYS: "1,000's stranded at airports..." “LONG, LONG QUEUES…” “Luggage thrown about... We're treated like baggage - unwanted animals! What's that all about? Hours of delay. Make your own way. Can't. There's a bus strike. Taxi's charge what they like. We’re shunted about like damaged, lost goods! No floor space left. Passengers ‘crashed-out… trying to sleep across chairs, next to toilets awash, dirty, smelly overflowing bins… Only one cleaner employed! The café/s closed or over-charging for every morsel…

WE'RE ALL TRAMPS!”

People forced to sit-up all night, with children… “Will you please stop running off!?” “I’m hungry Mum.” “I want a drink.” “I’m going to be sick…” "Oops! I didn't mean to bash into you...”"I wish they'd oil the luggage trolley wheels, I can't sleep!" “I’m freezing. No blankets or pillows provided!” "You miss home comforts..." PEOPLE SAID: "We're not at all satisfied. We're a captive audience." “We can’t go anywhere! We’re stuck! They put us on buses- contain us…” “A total lack of information provided!” "Groans. We'll never get a hotel room, or a taxi..." “I’m getting hot, tired, flustered…” “Oh, if I ever get home, I’m going to… Oh, I don’t know what I’m going to do… Write to the government I suppose. Make them understand this is not the only way. Make them hear what we’ve got to say. We could open an old man’s eye. We could tell them a New Age is coming…” (“STAND TALL! OUR DREAMS ARE THE SAME as King’s…”) (“… the colours of the Rainbow, so pretty in the sky…”) “The airport was like a big cattle shed. The plane landed at 12pm. The airport didn’t open till 6am! 100’s of people sleeping on the roads!” “The coach drivers were on strike. You’ve never seen like anything like it! We were totally stranded! You couldn’t even buy a bottle of water in that heat! They switched the fans off! Do they do this to us because we’re British?” "You don't mind a delay that's catered for…" Provide modular accommodations- emergency sleep-over facilities EG. within the locality of the airport, to help stranded / passengers who need to freshen up, unwind, put the children in a cot in a crèche for a rest, who may like to watch a film, or just sit amongst some pleasant REAL greenery. It should not be beyond their capabilities to work out / organise. Air-craft cabin designers could, I am sure, come up with a design that is towed (mobile?) b). the correct dimensions based on statistical evidence of likely number of passengers delayed for any particular period c). Produce a well thought-out layout, that ideally meets weary passengers expectations. EG. an area where people can lie-down properly to sleep, take a shower, in privacy & comfort. “What? You haven’t got enough Space? Not even at the most northern gates to your neon decorated architectural prize?”

“Singapore Airlines are buying 400 sleeping bags for stranded passengers" (Christmas, 1990) “DISAPPOINTED HOLIDAY-MAKERS:” "I spent 285

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(5/8/2005).

my holiday on the floor at the airport..." HEATHROW: “The terminal in chaos as 1,000’s of passengers are left stranded for 2 days due to a catering dispute…” EXPERT: “People want frequency of service… but we can’t provide that…” Sign by the Aircraft Door: “Please report all faults.” PEOPLE SAID: “OK, WILCO, to that.” “I hope they’re RELIABLE!” JOKE: "Wham, slam. Everybody shake a leg." PEOPLE SAID: "Oh, don't! I suffer premonitions." "I'm always worried, even if there are no accidents." “I can’t stop thinking about it.” “I hate flying!” "Oh, I'm so nervous!" “Most people just grin and bear it…” “For many take-offs and landings are just too terrifying- some can’t even board the aircraft.” "Accidents just waiting to happen..." “I don’t need no cannon to propel me to the promised land…” “Hot, sweaty, shaky. It might crash! Fears. I’ll never fly! One day, I’ll make it...” IMAGE: "I'm in with the in-crowd. I go where ‘The Jet Set’ go... The glamorous jet set..." "DANGER. We all like to believe the jets which whisk us around the world are the last word in High-Tech perfection but the report into the Kegworth crash revealed a frightening catalogue of human muddle behind the reassuring image. After 80 years, questions still not resolved! In the quest for excellence, Human and Common Sense have been forgotten..." (19/10/1990). AEROPLANE FUSELAGE: FATAL FLAWS: “48,000 pieces.” “Thin aluminium (susceptible to frost attack...”) Fuselage attracts static lightning. (Metal attracts lightning). Ultra light? STRONG? NO. "... the plane looked like crumpled paper..."

PROPULSION = BIG COMBUSTION engines: (“NOT MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW JET PLANES FLY.” “Gas Turbines: Engines suck air in, a compressor raises the pressure with many fan

blades attached to a shaft, this air is sprayed with fuel, an electric spark lights the mixture, the burning gases expand- blast out through a nozzle, at the back of the engine. As the jets of gas shoot backward, the engine and the aircraft are thrust forward. (Operates on the application of Sir Isaac Newton's 3rd law of physics: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). This is called thrust. Turboprop Engine: The exhaust gases also used to rotate a propeller attached to the turbine shaft for increased fuel economy at lower altitudes. Turbofan Engine: Incorporates a fan to produce additional thrust”

) "A Jumbo carrying 400 passengers carries 160 tons of fuel..." (1993). "...the average plane uses 60 gallons of fuel per passenger..." “SKY HIGH WASTAGE OF PRECIOUS FOSSIL OIL…” "This jet does ½ a mile to the gallon." The amount of fuel used annually is ? (I'm trying to work out HOW MUCH fossil oil could be saved...) "Aviation Fuel, one of the Worst Pollutants..." “Aviation industry not subject to VAT on fuel…” "World airline profits dropped sharply last year, largely because of higher fuel costs." POLLUTION: “A scientist has discovered that jet plane vapour trails are blanketing the sky and affecting the temperature of the Earth’s surface. (A researcher discovered): When no airplanes flying, the Earth’s temperature went up… Conclusion: Airplanes are stopping the Earth getting hotter…” Uh? “Strangely, aviation seems to be holding back the onslaught of Global Warming…” (Horizon, BBC2, 13/1/2005) (“God is giving us some extra time…”) “British Airways FUEL BILL has risen from £800 million to £1.6 Billion due to rising oil prices” (BBC1, (www.inventors.about.com

(26/7/1993).

SAFE ? NO. "... an average aircraft flies 1.75 million miles between each service - approx. 15 days..." "...entire fleet grounded for safety checks after cracks found in engine mountings..." "The Amsterdam jet disaster... 2 engines fell off soon after take-off... Corrosion and metal fatigue blamed” (7/5/1993). Much-used phrases in Cock Pits: PILOT: "What the hell is happening?" "Grab the (phallic shaped) joy-stick!" "God damn this flying tin junk..." NOT WATER TIGHT! “Passenger jets can’t take off from or land on water…” The Inflatable dinghies, life-jackets, chutes stowed for Emergency use, but no parachutes, don’t inspire confidence… “The plane crashed into the sea. All that was left was lots of bits - all smashed. The calls went out for body bags…” UNTYPICALLY: “A plane crashed into the sea in Tunisia. Some people survived…”

8/8/2005).

“…We could smell the aviation fuel…" "... petrol rained down from the sky, cars and buildings caught fire. Fire was everywhere. Bodies were everywhere. Badly burnt..." ”... they died due to smoke inhalation..." "... ripped apart... burst into flames, news black out..." "… another plane ran out of fuel... had to make Emergency landing..." "Haunted by FEAR. All those people who wanted to get airborne but failed..." "Coming in to land- an alarming experience- so much could go wrong in the final approach." EG. "A jet skidded in snow on the runway..." (3/3/1994) ("Do you have a safe approach?") "Heathrow's longest runway melted... affected by so many landings and take-offs... a re-surfacing project cost £13.6 million..." "Plane over-shot runway... ended up in the Bay... 2nd time this has happened..." (“No worries?”) 286

"Did he run out of runway? You will conduct the inquiry?" "... Lord King, British Airway's chief has been awarded a £84,000 a year pay rise, bringing his pay to £515,000 per annum... he donated funds to the Conservative Party Funds during the last 3 years..." ("Confirmed suspicions...") "CALLS FOR IMPROVED AIR SAFETY: ... the Civil Aviation Authority say airplanes are safe... CAA accused of not acting, of hiding behind fear... Survivors still waiting for compensation 5 years after accident..." (4/1/1994) ("Statistically, it's safer to fly in one of these things than cross the road.") ("That's not saying much, is it?") ("To ensure you have a SOFT landing... What will it take till you believe?") “The dangers of sectional concrete runways breaking-up… lumps sucked into jet engines…” “CONCORDE CRASHED 90 seconds after take-off. 113 people killed. Concorde hit a small piece of metal on the runway, a tyre burst and ignited the fuel. ‘I never thought it could happen’ said a pilot…” (All Concorde flights stopped as a result). "... crashed into embankment on motor-way, 48 people killed... investigation did not reveal what actually happened..." PEOPLE SAID: "Pompous, self-satisfied oldies ruining young lives...” “Colonial wasters of life and limb…” “They’re STILL playing “MINE'S BIGGER THAN YOURS!” “…their favourite toy…” "Heavy reliance on computers, despite so many computer failures..." "We've got 8 computers, so if one is faulty..." (What if you've got no power?) "A plane crashed into the power unit at Heathrow..." (11/2/1994) "Cognitive sensory attributes... methodology... task analysis..." (“CHAOS can be caused by computer errors.”) (“The 2 most dreaded words: Disk Error.” ("... a heap of cold, electronic eyes, dial the combination and if I'm in, I'll take you home..") “Computer equipment has to be kept at room temperature.” “The amount of dust that gets inside computers!” “Are we all cabled up?”) "Whole lighting network on runways is down! Oh, my God. Call the power company! Back up generator not working. Stack 'em. Several dozen of our ‘birds’ are circling... The weather is affecting all our electronic equipment! All approaches... Good-luck…" (Fictional Film: Die Hard 2) COMBUSTION: "Shut down the engine! Not that engine. That's not on fire!" CRASH. "Installing cameras so same mistake cannot be made again..." (“I think you will have the same problems time and time again…”) "Both engines are on fire!" (July 1990) PREDICTED: "A major air disaster every 2 weeks" (1991). "Monster jam in the sky!" Air Control: "Go round in circles for 2 hours, dump fuel..."

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL = Mission Impossible... Rows of terminals, operatives facing glass windows... TERMINALS: 85% Glass and steel. Average Unit Cost: £500 million (1990) (Are airports protected against floods, hurricanes…?) AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: "We need a radical solution" (1989) All contingencies catered for? Hardly. "There are many crashes, fatalities..." EG. "AIRBUS CRASH... not equipped with radar..." (Katmandu, 29/9/1992) (“My sister / my mother / my daughter… was on that flight! I’m cracking up… This is too hard. I can’t hold it together. What did she go through? What were her last thoughts / wishes?” “… the plane lost contact with Traffic Control… the plane crashed… A fatal accident. At least 42 children were on board… People want answers… Was a cheap airline…” (14/8/2005). LOST: Are all planes fitted with unbreakable tracker devices? (“If those are ‘unbreakable, why aren’t the planes?”) "Turbulence... 150 passengers injured..." (5/4/1993). "Hang on. This is going to be rough. We have a freak storm ahead..." "3rd near disaster in the air this week..." (“GOD is working overtime.” “Miracles every day…” “THANK GOD!”) "Heathrow handled 38 million passengers last year, had departures to 214 destinations in 85 countries, 1,160 flights handled on one day. Heathrow has 70 airlines - 24 have VIP lounges to accommodate 4,000 people..." “…Up to 42 gates. Up to 65,000 passengers a day. Renovated at a cost of £24 million…” "Heathrow Airport = 1,300 planes on the runway daily..." (2004). Gatwick: “25 daily departures to USA…” (1993). Each departure = BOOM! BIG NOISE! (Jet planes are as loud as an explosion.) "A jet blasts off..." "Jets at full throttle... as they gain altitude. Engines roar incessantly, rattling windows..." “Amazing how high up in the sky the plane is, yet the noise down here is still so loud…” "The engines screaming overhead..." "Noise is a pollution. Government plans? EEC controls. Individuals can take their own action..." (18/10/1990). HEATHROW: "1,500 homes under a flight path need repair... the vortex strike, caused by air pressure..." (“… it wouldn’t be the same as this…”) "Number of planes set to increase... we can't expect to have quiet skies..." (February, 1993) (Oh? Why not?) "... military authorities have been persuaded to open up more of their airspace to civil flights..." (29/4/1993).

"Airline traffic set to double by year 2000..." (22/7/1993). 287

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"The Dept. of Transport proposes another 300 night flights from Heathrow every night for next 4 years, by redefining 'night' time in winter..."

"British Aerospace are LOOKING FOR A WAY FORWARD re: air manufacturing..." (7/2/1994). ADVERT on a door of an Aeroplane: “Make it Happen.” (Smaller, lighter, STRONGER would be SAFER… ) ("I need a little help, to begin what must be, I mutter under my breath. There is such a growing need. Are we to have an unhappy ending?") (“Never put all your eggs in one basket…”) ( An Analyst would say: “Spread the Risk.”) (+ “Less passengers = Can go very, very quickly.”) "AIR JOB LOSSES: 1,000's of aircraft workers marched to try and save their jobs... Boeing: 28,000 job losses, McDonnell Douglas: 100,000 losses, Rolls-Royce: 5,000 losses… Companies around the world are cutting..." The Government said: "Air industry is subject to enormous change... We'd like to see them making plans on their own initiative..." "Are we travelling light today?" LIGHT means: “… Not much baggage or equipment. Remove a burden, become cheerful. Become less heavy, without encumbrances…” "One jumbo jet weighs 400,000 tons..." (laden). VERY HEAVY! “When you look at these grounded ‘birds’ you never believe they can lift off or fly.” EXTRAS: "... approx. 2 dozen airlines between Europe and USA every day, all use similar aircraft and on-board services. 30,000 catering items are loaded on board each Trans-Atlantic jumbo... Scandinavian airlines spends £2.75 million a year on newspapers alone... Many gimmicks tried to attract bookings EG. a dance floor with an aluminium piano (to save weight) on the upper deck..." "Take our heartless invitation. We're out to buy you." “Only one bit of hand-luggage allowed” (You can stash a bag full of glass bottles containing flammable alcohol under your seat). “Your baggage is too heavy by 5 kilos…” "Airlines trying to impose strict new laws over how much air crew can weigh…" (12/5/1993) (“What you weigh, what you weigh- is important- yeh.”) (“Have you got what it takes?” FLY LIGHT! "Man could get in the air using inflation...) (H’mm. Inflate something, it becomes as light as air… as light as a feather… floating…”) (“Inflation could be used to improve more than cash flow...") COMFORT? "Travelling with my knees poking up somebody’s bum is not my idea of FUN! Conditions very cramped. “Why can't I move around a bit to exercise?" “Why can’t I take a walk or something?” “Please sit down – you’re blocking the aisle.” “Passengers comfort is not really that important. People want cheap flights…” (so we have to put up with narrow seats, little leg-room, seat backs in

(15/2/1994).

"3,000 homes, in 3 towns threatened with demolition if plans to build more runways goes ahead. Every 2 minutes a plane comes in to landexpected to double. New terminals also needed. Will blight country-side..." (Stansted UK, 27/5/1993). "Malaysia planning a huge new airport. 1st stage cost £700 million..." (3/3/1994). "DISTURBING: "... residents who live near airports are deeply unhappy... there is no alternative to jet planes..." (2/2/1994). "Redhill Aerodrome: 500 acres of previous Green Belt land lost... Opposed by local residents who said: 'We don't need it'..." (March 1994).

EXPANSION: “All our runways are full… Planned expansion at Stansted airport is not viable… Cost £2 BILLION” (2004). “STANSTEAD AIRPORT EXPANSION: 7 miles of green fields covered in concrete. Loss of the community. Pollution. Smell of diesel. More Greenhouse Gas emissions. UNSUSTAINABLE development. Needed to satisfy the massive demand for cheap travel…” (Channel 4, 25/4/2005) (Cheap, or affordable?) “FARMS, near the airport, now used as car-parks for the airports.” (“Of course, it may not appeal to those with more money than sense...”) "... the rocketing cost of Aerospace development..." "... the airline is refurbishing their 18 Jumbos at a cost of £21 million a piece... the airline seeks an increase of passengers, with a money-back guarantee to tempt them..." "Holidays faster than speed of sound! More efficient, quieter, super-sonic, built with USA help. 'Better' means: BIGGER planes to carry more people..." "... a long standing row concerning SAFETY policy... 2nd manager resigned when pilots complained the company is increasing their emphasis on marketing at the expense of operational expertise..." (12/5/1990). “THE 800 SEATER: ... plans to create the world's largest aircraft... a stupendously expensive project (£10 Billion)...with a range up to 10,000 nautical miles..." (9/6/1993) “... a new passenger aircraft can cost up to £15 Billion to bring into commercial production..." "SUPER-JUMBO: ... plans for a plane carrying 1,100 passengers have run into difficulties... How do we evacuate so many people? ... Industry believes ½ the money spent on new aircraft in next 20 years will go on jets with more than 500 seats..." (10/6/1993). 288

18 or 19. Actually about the same number as to this point last year” (CNN, 5/9/2005). “Another AIRBUS crash…” (July 2006). “HORRIBLE: US passenger jet crashed, I mile after take off, with a full load of fuel. There was a postimpact (hot) fire which consumed- caused all the deaths. They were trapped in the air-craft… There are several ways the aircraft could end up in that situation…” (27/8/2006). “DANGEROUS: … birds have to be scared away. A flock of birds or a swan… hitting a ‘soft’ part EG. an engine…” “Plane crash… a tyre burst…” (Iran). “Sir Branson has signed a £4 Billion deal for a fleet of fuel-efficient Boeing 787’s made of lightweight carbon fibre instead of aluminium” (Daily Mirror,

their faces minimum headroom…) “If you are not fit, your health will not be improved by a 9 hour flight.” "The biggest cause of deaths in aircraft is loss of circulation (blood clots)" (1993) Cabin Fever… “A new air bus. THE SUPER-JUMBO is a doubledecker plane with 550 Seats. This is the future of air travel…” (January 2005). “The new GIANT AIRBUS is ready for take-off. The HEAVIEST plane ever built. Weighs 2,100 tons un-laden. Can carry up to 854 passengers. Will have wider aisles. Immense bulk. An A380 twindeck. Everything about this is beast is BIG. They didn’t know for sure that this could fly. The 6 testpilots had parachutes. Has more wheels than a Jumbo. Cost to develop £4 Billion. Has orders for 150 more planes from 15 customers. Many European hopes pinned on this aircraft…Talk of fitting this with gymnasiums and casinos. Will carry passengers further & cheaper.” (Ah! ‘Needed’ due to economic pressure… ) “These planes are for the ‘fat routes.’ Airports will have to specially adapt to accommodate the A380. America has said the cost of modification was too expensive.” “Great thing about this aircraft is it is cheap. COMFORT CONCERNS BYPASSED. Is 73 m long. Can fly 9,300 miles without refuelling…” “Critics say SMALLER planes would be SAFER the A380 will cause untold ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. The makers argue the opposite is true.” “Boeing- their rival say the A380 is a Giant Gamble. Boeing are developing smaller planes. The Dream Liner…” (27/4/2005). “The Ultra-High capacity aeroplane was rejected on safety grounds as could not be evacuated quickly. Was designed to overcome congestion in the skies… The A380’s ultimate goal is to make huge amounts of money. Is in a monopoly situation. Cost $480 BILLION. Needs to sell 250 of these airplanes just to break even. Is this project WISE? This is the HEAVIEST plane ever built. 560 tons of aircraft + the weight of the persons, cargo, fuel etc.” “£3.7 BILLION = 50 jet planes.” “AIRBUS BURST INTO FLAMES. Was trying to land in wet conditions- skidded off the runway into a ravine. Runways do get slippery… 291 people of board. The Oxygen masks did not come down. Passengers had to scramble to escape the flames and smoke. There was no time to use the chutes. Plane was wrecked. Accident happened very close to a 15-lane motorway” (Toronto, 2/8/2005). “Airlines worldwide have lost £5 Billion since the attacks on the US” (6/8/2005). “I’d like to have a holiday but all the planes are crashing…” “5 airline crashes in August…” “A plane crashed into a residential area soon after take-off and caught fire…” (re: Acha, Indonesia). “Concern over the number of crashes this year-

28/4/2007).

“The Future for MASSIVE planes: Hyper-Sonic? Unless something better comes along?” Q: "How to reduce costs?" A: "Learn some valuable SAFETY lessons." SECURITY: (“Airport terminals attract the homeless, touts, thieves, mentally unstable people…”) “… every form of security is being…” ? "They're not really improving security…" "... a LARGE potential target..." "IRA Mortar Attack on Heathrow - a high profile target” (10/3/1994). "2nd Mortar Attack... (10/3/1994). "3rd Mortar Attack...” (13/3/1994). “A terrorist was found guilty of terrorism in America i.e. trying to buy on-the-shoulder Anti-Aircraft weapons” (27/4/2005).

“Planes now are always under a Hijack warning…” (Small = FEWER passengers i.e. potential hostages. LESS RISK). “AMERICA’S MOST WANTED: "If you look like Bin Laden you'll get the full works..." "If you look like a hippy, you'll get pulled..." “Just because I’ve got long hair, that’s no reason to dislike or distrust me! I’m only respectable if I cut my hair?” Journalists don’t seem to have any problem breaching security at airports- walking around the planes on runways… "How did they slip through security?" ”I thought she was fat…” “He didn’t look like a killer!” (“What does a killer look like?” “Hitler had blue eyes…”) (“If killers looked like killers, we wouldn’t need cops!”) "What if security guard/s are corrupt?" "... one bullet hole in the outer skin... decompression..." “Sky marshals will carry guns…” "Metal detectors. They seem to have forgotten most weapons these days are made from plastics." “Detectors can tell metal and plastic apart.” “My (solid) metal hairclip didn’t set their metal detector alarm off.” "Porcelain guns don't show up on X-ray machines…" 289

CHAPTER 7: TRANSPORT

"Low Flying Aircraft - Radar Can't Pick Up." Does plastic show up on radar? "Another security alert! Everybody Out!" “Algerian Terrorists planned to crash a plane into Paris. Plot foiled by police…” "MAJOR TERRORIST (alleged) plot to blow up 20, 6, 9, 10 trans-Atlantic airplanes (Jumbo jets), 3 a day, in mid-flight, to cause considerable loss of life- 'mass murder on an unimaginable scale' using highly toxic liquid fertiliser (unstable in a compressed air cabin) products taken on individually + a detonation devices... Domestic flights targeted. Arrests made- threat interruptednot removed. (4 other major plots foiled in UK, + others in USA since 9/11 when 4 airplanes hijacked...") Clear for months threat has not gone away. Massive delays at airports- knock on effect. Can hardly move! Packed terminals- severe, huge queues (before any security checks), people waiting to get inside. The infrastructure is creaking. Security chaotic. HIGHEST level of alert- critical, severe, attack imminent. No hand luggage now allowed. (Ah! They're taking the fun out of it!) The need for tighter security vetting- background checks. And body scanners- but these invade privacy? The public need to be tolerant and well informed. It could alleviate pressure on airports who have tremendous pressure to squeeze. It will save lives. How have people adjusted since 9/11? Stiff upper lip! 'We have short memories.' 'I'm not really going to think about it- it's terrifying!' Scepticism. 'They'll have us in quarantine next!' 'They've only to put out a scare / rumour- that'll work!' 'There'll be no travel soon!' ("Flying is a freedom...") 'I feel secure with all the (heavily armed) police here.' (Ah! The police want to keep us all safe!) 'Don't come to the airport!' 'Fly only if it is absolutely necessary.' 'If you don't turn up, you could lose your money.' The job of government is to raise confidence. President Bush said 'a stark reminder... we are not safe...' The markets are jittery..." (Sky & BBC World

“TERROR PLOT at JFK airport foiled. TARGET: Fuel and pipe lines running through residential neighbourhoods of New York… would have blown up airplanes on a scale of 9/11. One of those caught was a cargo handler…” (2/6/2007). HELICOPTERS: “Don’t worry! There’s a chopper coming…” "UK propeller company lands new contract" (28/11/1992). "A revolutionary helicopter has 2 rotary BLADES, side by side" (1993). "... his fingers were severed by the blades..." (18/3/1994). The NOISE! “Can't hear instructions yelled. Very noisy inside.” "They've got NOISY CHOPPERS..." "Helicopters will start flying over London throughout the night" (November 1993). “We have police helicopters over our heads just about all the time now…” "Cannot get near enough - blades could hit the cliff..." "… couldn't land - too windy.” “… helicopters are having difficulty flying in the heavy rain…” “… the helicopter can’t hover in hot and still conditions…” “They couldn't bring the helicopters in - the blizzards, the blades..." "Can take hours for a helicopter to arrive... conditions so bad..." "… couldn't get to the plane crash in the mountains for days..." “We can’t get the wounded out till the helicopter arrives!” PARAMEDIC: “We had to land so far away. By the time we’d walk there, the incident…” “… in the length of time the helicopter takes…” Top speed? “… helicopters fly at 100 mph…” “… the nearest one is 4 hours away…” “Helicopters and overhead power lines don’t go well together.” “Not safe near power lines…” "Excessive down draught..." (Kinetic Energy? Could power a turbine?) "Not aerodynamic - need a lot of maintenance..." "Costs £1,000 an hour to fly" (1988) "Heavy on fuel." How much do helicopters weigh? “… have to run the engines for 10 minutes every day to stop the engines freezing…” “A new helicopter (metal clad) hanger cost £3.5 million” (UK: Dorset, 24/4/2005). “£260 million = 8 Chinook helicopters”

News, 10/8/2006).

(2005).

"CHAOS: Not leaving on a jet plane... New security measures unsustainable. Whole system could break down in 2 days. Ryan Air asked for the army to be drafted in" (using Tents for the over-flow of delayed passengers) (re: Heathrow airport, BBC

“All round vision. We’re surrounded by GLASS…” “… no Auto-pilot…” "The helicopter went into a spin, crashed and exploded on impact..." "Helicopter crashed into a lake and sank..." "Crashed one minute after takeoff..." "An Air Force chief, his wife, aide and 3 crew killed in helicopter crash..." (3/3/1993). "The helicopter fell out of the sky like a stone... 8 tourists and pilot killed..." (24/3/1994) “We’re… going down!” “I’ve lost tail rotor response! I’m losing oil pressure Oh! God!” So MANY Awful CRASHES... Fatalities…

World News, 12/8/2006).

“The alternative is use the train?” “You mean I’ve got to spend 7 hours sitting on a train, with 5 changes, to do a journey that would take 1 hour to fly there?!” “A small private jet plane costs £6,000 an hour…” EXPERT: “We have to sacrifice security for efficiency…” Uh? 290

UK: "1,463 people owe their lives to Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and coastguard helicopters… 1993: Rescue helicopters were called out more than 2,000 times to help people in distress." “They are brave people. They do a good job rescuing people…” “A Royal Navy helicopter Search & Rescue helicopter… crashed into the Sea… in calm conditions. 4 crew lost their lives. Was well maintained. 15 Lynx helicopters have gone down in as many years. They don’t know what caused this crash…” (9/12/2004). “… the helicopter is busy elsewhere…” “New (police) helicopters cost £5 million each… expected life 10 years…” (London, October 2006). "2 helicopters collided, I crashed, 1 brought down..." (Lebanon, 12/8/2006). This hasn’t got what it takes. Too CRUDE. (“Shall we make it float in the sky?”)

"1988 we bought the Racer Hover-Craft Kit, and have used it ever since at our remote cabin in Canada. We have been very satisfied with the Hover-Craft, its performance, and your company. With Rae now being 73 and myself nearly there, we decided we'd better not risk long periods in the remote during the "ice out season" anymore. Those were some memorable events and we were able to have them with the Hover-Craft as our Emergency

vehicle. We have the Hover-Craft listed on eBay, where it is getting a lot of attention… over 1,000 lookers and more than 50 have it on their list to watch. Some are asking questions and we are mentioning your web site in our answers. Yours is the most impressive site on the Web; it's informative, covers every aspect, and is exciting. We hope many others will visit the site and all take a trip to Terre Haute. Thanks again for all the help you were to us. Owning one of your Hover-Craft was

an exciting part of our lives" (Ref. www.viziwiz.com ) “The Hover-Craft is the most secure, the most stable, and the least expensive RESCUE platform available for performing Rapid Response operations - while assuring that the rescue team itself is not put in harm's way...” HOW TO MAKE HOVER-CRAFT: ( www.Hover-

HOVER-CRAFT: ADVERT: "... it's A LOT LESS BOTHER with a HOVER…" 1959: “1st Hover-Craft launched. Wasn't quite the revolutionary thing expected. Hard to direct (no jets to help steering). FANS… used to direct / steer. Tends to travel side-ways. Pilot has to fight against this pull…” “The military spent a heap of money researching the Hover-craft. ATTITUDE: ‘Yeh, hop across the mud flats at high-speed, to get at people’... But they found on rough terrain, the rubber skirt gets torn. This skims just over the surface. Is OK on water. But very NOISY. WHIRLWIND: Over sand is nasty- a nasty cloud tells people where you are = No stealth element to it… so research discontinued in lots of countries..." Uh? (Helicopters are very noisy; they also make a dust cloud… but are favoured by the military…) "If anyone really discovers the answer to it - we'll really be getting on!" The Hover-craft was successful financially..." "The Hover-Craft Expedition: ...the hover-craft had to be re-built en-route..." (13/9/1990). "We're not bothered with a hover" (UK 1990). "… Hover-craft services being cut" (24/11/1992). FOR RECREATIONAL USE: ADVERT: “There is no vehicle comparable to a Hover-Craft –

Crafters.com/mikejacobson/hul ).

“Light Hover-Craft General Specifics: … for a light Hover-Craft which has broad abilities EG. operations over thin ice, open water, swift water, flood water, salt water, mud and marsh… which will provide good service and represent value in the eyes of the owner or operator…Range… Speed: Calm water 50 – 60 miles (80 – 96 km). … must maintain static horizontal hover over ice, water or mud in 25 mph (40 km/hr) tail wind. In calm conditions, the Hover-Craft must float indefinitely even if totally submerged…” Uh? “With 800 lb (364 kg) load… no water should enter cockpit during any 5-minute period… Stationary Hover… Must be capable of backing up… Reverse… Weight Empty… Width… Hard structure must not exceed 8 ft 6 in (2,590 mm) off cushion height… … Must operate between -30° F and 110° F (-34 and 43° C) … Engine Icing… Powerplant Electric as well as manual start. Gasoline, diesel or other suitable engine(s)… Power Battery charging 13V minimum of 120 watt at full power… Protection Fan and engine must be protected from ingress of foreign objects. Skirts: Must be easily and quickly replaceable in the field. Average use life 100 hours… Trailering… Hover-on Hover-off…Must be equipped with… Emergency kill (over-ride) switch… When shut down, Hover-Craft must be capable of being manhandled… Hover-Craft must be constructed from all new materials and components, which will last more than 25 years under normal use. Maintenance of structure, power plant and components must be of a level similar to any vehicle(s) having the same characteristics… A range of Hover-Craft options must be available EG.

especially the Neoteric Hovertrek. With the Hovertrek, you won't own just a versatile sport and utility vehicle; you'll own more than 40 years of solid research and development, unsurpassed engineering, award-winning design, and the only Hover-Craft in the world with

effective brakes…” (www.neotericHover-Craft.com ) 291

CHAPTER 7: TRANSPORT

Old Tourists JOKE: “The hot season. The rainy season. They build breeze block huts with tin roofs! So hot in here! You turn on the electric fan, if there is one, and get tangled in the mosquito net. You see cockroaches! And the locals say ‘so what’?” “’PARADISE’ comes with a large helping of compromise… Endearingly unsophisticated… Our house doesn’t have a bathroom. The toilet is a hole in the ground in a hut in the garden- can’t digest loo paper. There’s no pump in the well. Water and elec erratic supply. When it rains, it pours- everything gets damp. There are rats… Cooking still done over open fires by women. Washing done by hand in cold water. Shopping… difficult. Everything takes a long time here. Money-mad Europeans come here a lot. There is high unemployment. Local people used to do up their ‘palaces’… Here I learnt there are good men…” (She magazine, June 2004 re: Sri Lanka) (“This is like England was 40 years ago. It’s lovely. It’s another world…” “This is the nearest thing to Heaven we have ever known…” “Still no flushing toilets! Who said the Dark Ages are over?” “The houses- beautifully quaintthatched roofs, built up on bits of stick, on wooden platforms on or near the water… are so flimsy… fragile!”) RELAX = “We just need some space so we can recharge our batteries...” “Take it easy- put your feet up…” “How can I? The ways things are…” “All my family do is sit there moaning…” (“You can take it easy when you know you’re loving it…”) “Tourists only see diluted versions of the real country…” “It is not safe to leave the compound…” “This is a private beach. It belongs to the hotel. Locals are not allowed.” “We have to have bodyguards on the beach…” “Tourism has a downside. The locals are seduced by the money…” “They only want us here for our dollars…” “Women and tourists have become targets…” “All we want to do is have a holiday. I feel we have committed some sort of crime. But what sort of crime? All the constructions built for our pleasure… without any thought to the consequences of nature. The pursuit of happiness and this are not the same. We feel sad at home- we are emotional ice-bergs. So much of this idea is sailing away- getting away from it all, wanting it all served for you - no hassle. But the reality- and our dreams differ. Concentrate on that and we’ll be moving in the right direction. Enthusiasm destroying… listless tourists wandering around ruins, red light districts… the neon lights- the exotic delights of somewhere different… but the mundane details are the same. Bricks- the buildings… shape the people. We seek to fall in love with something nostalgic… so we can relax… that tells us something important.

siren and public address system. Useful for operation in low visibility conditions: Spotlight…GPS… Navigation lights… Headlights. Fire extinguisher. Partial or full winter cab… Bilge pump (electric)… Ship to shore communications. Portable fuel tank(s)…” (Skirts? Oh, com’on! Put a solid bottom on it! Or your rear end will be on fire…”) A SOLAR POWERED HOVER-CRAFT?? Should the craft have a whirring fan underneath? it, to make it move - hover - fly, powered by light (laser?) made into electrical energy? How’s it done? (Ah! HOW to achieve levitation with Alternative Energy? Floating on air? Levitation by air, compressed air?) Look at the Harrier Jump Jet… (vertical lift aircraft) Make it lighter… take it just one generation further… (see Chapter 16 / Space).

TOURISM: “WHY do we need a holiday?” “Oh! I really need a break…” “Why do we want to get away?” (Is this the only way you can free yourselves of the weight of the things that possess you?) “We want to get away from it all.” Site Seeing! “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do- just travel round the world…” “Every page in their passport is stamped 3 or 4 times. They have flown all around the world several times…” (That’s how much petrol?) “Holidays are not cheap. They are very expensive…” “A lot of people have problems with their accommodation when on ‘holiday.’” EG. “Our holiday was ruined by the horrible hotel…” “Advertised as ‘luxurious’ but we got here and found the village hadn’t been built!” “Our room was dirty, and noisy- a view of workmen, diggers. Constant dust!” “A deafening building site…” “Oh my God! It’s so hot in the hotel…” “Slippery paths…” “ENJOY YOUR TRIP?” “SERIOUS HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES. Locked fire escapes or none at all. No fire alarms. Poor hygiene in food preparation etc. Lack of clean water…” “Accommodation not safe…” “Our hotel FLOODED. We had to wade up to our stomachs to get out of the place. The water came in so quickly!” “How do you fancy being stuck in one of these places during a Hurricane? Terrifying!” “They’re supposed to be professionals! Sit back and leave it to ‘the professionals’?” “They’re quick to take our money off us but there’s so many problems and they don’t want to sort our problems out!” “They wont put us in alternative accommodation!” “The travel company says problems are ‘cosmetic’!” “No customer satisfaction.” “They always say ‘we have 1,000’s of satisfied customers…” “We can’t do anything about it.” 292

… Glamorous airports, road-side diners etc., are frustrating… but the pleasure is thinking we are getting somewhere… and comforting to think we are not alone in being alone…The allure of this loneliness redeemed because everyone is lonely in such a sad Environment. Being so far from home is a melancholy sadness…Hotels give us the chance to speculate- a dreamy trance-like state…” (The Art of Travel, Channel 4, 2/1/2005).

“Even strangers are a comfort…” “All the lonely people! Where do they all belong?” (1960’s song)

(“Have you lived with passion?” “What do you feel passionate about?” “Where’s the passion when you need it?”) “… it’s brought out something in me that’s been buried for years. I’ve realised you’ve got to seize the opportunity to do it before it’s too late…” “Hurricane Wilma hit… we were taken from our hotel to a boarded-up school! 40 people to one room! We only had 2 candles! Terrifying! Windspeed 150 mph. We had to stay there for 5 days…” (24/10/2005). “They discover an ideal tourist spot, up go the KFC outlets…”

293

CHAPTER 8: AGRICULTURE

"The number of children being injured on farms is increasing" (1993). "Every year, 2,000 serious accidents / people killed in farm-yards" (1994). “Farmers incomes have dropped considerablynothing done to stop this…” “Rather than do anything about it, they have decided it should be driven into a siding. Why?” "Farmers on verge of bankruptcy. Buildings becoming derelict... Many going out of business..." "ARSONISTS set fire to 10 barns… Cows could have been inside and burned alive" (29/11/1993). "What are you doing out here?" "Look at that poor creature out there in the wet and the cold. They should tie the owner up out there to see how he likes being so mistreated. He says the animal will come to no harm..." Ah! WE NEED TO ACCOMMODATE THE ANIMALS… "Worst spring for sheep farmers in 50 years... Lambs suffering from arthritis" (UK, 25/5/1994). "1,000's of lambs are dying due to bad weather. Flocks throughout the country affected. Animals get wet, get hypothermia and die. There's little farmers can do... No ROOM in existing cattle sheds" (UK, 7/4/1995). "ANIMALS DESERVE DECENT ACCOMODATION." “What is the future for farmers? More muck and muscle? Sell land off to developers to build brick houses? 'We don't think housing is a good idea.' ("Houses built on farmland? Little back gardens are no use to otters, partridges, hares, rabbits... Suburbia drives out the little creatures. Borderlines between urban sprawl creates a haven...") 'We need to keep farms for traditional farming.' 'Turn farms into fun-'fairs'? 'Make more farms into major tourist centres?' "Projects costing £100's of millions... crowds of holiday makers on land where food once used to grow?" "Farmers are at a cross-roads. ’We're not quite concern what the mix should be. We're all confused about it.' What is the future role of the country-side? We must sort this out soon" (BBC,

CHAPTER 8: AGRICULTURE (pronounced: 'Agreeculture') "How can man and nature co-exist?" ("... it'll bring us closer to nature...") 1989: "15,000 PEOPLE DIE EACH DAY FOR WANT OF FOOD..." "Officially, one BILLION people are starving to death." “THE CAMPAIGN FOR BREAD NOT BOMBS... organised by ‘The Campaign Against the Arms Trade’… who tried to publicise certain facts EG. in 1985, the world spent $800 BILLION on military purposes. Britain is the 4th biggest exporter of armaments (weapons). 51 million people worldwide are involved in military connected work. If we could spend less time and money developing destructive mechanisms... many diseases could be combated. Children should have access to comparatively inexpensive vaccines (yearly cost £3 Billion). Children should not have preventable diseases. Children need decent Health care...” “The campaign did not really get going... Campaigners felt their message was not really getting through to enough people..." (Ref. www.foodnotbombs.net )

"Hippies say they are not mad- they are just loafing around... planting songs of peace..." "When will there be a harvest for the world?" “Is the bread winner in your family using his loaf wisely?” "Conservatives say they do not understand hippy concepts." (I do not understand fascists. Life should be cheerful!) "There are more than 10 Billion people on Earth..."

"Half the world is starving" (1990). PREDICTED: "The Hippies will enjoy a come back." “The coming of this event will be symbolised by a rainbow." TRADITIONAL FARMS: Muddy, mucky yards. Stone flag floors. Cobble stones. Hard to clean. Deep puddles. Strong smells. Rickety old out-houses. Crumbling, walls, falling down, full of holes. Rusty metal corrugate. Wooden doors etc., all falling apart. Rusting equipment. “Hard work to make any kind of living.” “I'll never escape this place.” “So cold. And hard to heat!” “Cold comfort.” “… even old father MacDonald wouldn’t want to live here…” UK: "180,000 farm workers. Britain's 2nd most dangerous occupation is agriculture" (1990). "Formidable farm machinery..." "Keep children away!" "... got his leg jammed in machinery- been trapped for over 3 hours. Massive blood and tissue loss. Will have to amputate limb..." "When we are called out to someone under a tractor that usually means removing a corpse." "He was crushed..." Smoky, smelly, noisy and slow tractors…

17/1/1990).

"Farmers can't Afford to care." (Rubbish. Maybe farmers don’t understand it?) "A One Man Farm = 10,000 acres. Imagine that divided into plots for families to use... With orchards, plantations, loads of different crops farm animals galore and 100's of happy, healthy children..." "Who say's growing food can't be good fun?" (“… it’s for the good of the country…”) "Help farmers to stay on the land." "We wish the government/s would." "PLANNING CONTROLS OVER FARM LAND: "Reforming permitted development rights in the country-side: Lax planning controls allow farmers almost a free-hand to erect buildings… pull up 294

trees, lay roads and hire out their land for nonfarming uses and are destroying the peace and quiet and disfiguring the country-side, said a report by ‘The Council for the Rural Protection of England’ (CPRE). The exemption of farmland use from normal planning controls is out of date and should be ended... The report is critical of the way farmers can erect buildings covering 1,000 sqr ft of agriculture land without planning permission. That means, in effect, farmers can build in virtually any location, in any style, in any colour, regardless of the impact on the rural landscape... CPRE also want tighter controls on the temporary use of farmland for such things as (hippy) music festivals... to protect Britain's cherished landscapes" (23/8/1990). ("You'll see it come to fruition." "With good loving..." "I'll bring it back- you need never feel no pain..." "It's food for thought." "It's just food on the table.") "I'll try it. I need a good diet." "THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND IS IN THE DOLDRUMS: The public has lost confidence in farmers. Many farmers are hanging on by the skin of their teeth" (BBC, 16/7/1998). "The high cost of land... 'We want to manage the land around us the way we want to.' More farms are being sold off" (BBC, 12/11/2004). "It's so lovely here. All the stresses just disappear..." “BATTLING: …For the past 8 years, the 74 year old pensioner / farmer has been fighting planners who claim she has no permission to live in a converted wooden sheep shack… she has been taken to court twice, fined £1,000’s, but she refuses to move out. ‘I need a dwelling… This is killing me… but I wont abandon my animals.’ She owns the organic farm… but experts say there is no jurisdiction for a home on the farm… A similar battle ended with the council demolishing the building…” (Herald Express, 1/12/2004) Uh?

"Pesticides affecting children’s health... the side effects…. Fields, plantations sprayed from planes- sometimes over houses! 'I feel sick all the time.' Children born with deformities EG. No eyes. Can't open eyes. Need artificial eyes. Birth defects not investigated. Migrant farm workers affected. 70 out of 75 farmers complain of problems. 'Lost his health and his crops.' Increased risk of heart attack, liver failure, kidney, throat problems, rashes, numerous tumours, cysts, respiratory problems, feeling very disorientated... neverending female problems.... One chemical is marketed by several companies... is cheap, effective but not safe. Warnings last 2 decades. USA Environmental Protection Agency discovered problems when pesticides used in animal experiments. But UK Ministry of Agriculture gave chemical a clean bill of health after traces found in baby food! Sweden has restricted the chemical's use...” (BBC, 4/6/1993). "Of all the 34 chemicals most widely used on lawns, 25% are widely known to cause birth defects, genetic mutation and cancer." "Americans spend £6 BILLION on their lawns each year." "OIL SEED (rape) (what a dreadful name!) dried with poisonous chemical spray... drifted onto housing estate, killing plants. Health & Safety looking at risks to people and land?" (26/7/1994). "Pesticides banned in the USA are regularly sold to 3rd World countries" (1995). "Over 100 chemical contaminants have been found in human breast milk in the USA." "Most crop sprays are carcinogenic." "Pesticides linked to breast cancer..." "Spraying almost a daily event. Spraying very dangerous. High-tech business now in controlin position of power. Land now 'an efficient factory.' CLAIM: 'We have gained control over our Environment'..." "A switch to ORGANIC farming would cause ‘catastrophic food shortages.’ ‘Key crops would be devastated by almost ½ within 2 years, if chemical sprays were banned’... claimed The National Union of Farmers who voted to dismiss demands for a major expansion into Green (Ecofriendly) agriculture. 'There is no evidence of any danger to public health where chemicals and pesticides are used properly' said the chairman... Green supporters attacked the decision as 'short sighted.' 'How can we be on the brink of starvation if the Agriculture minister is busy setting land aside from production?' asked Friends of the Earth. 'The opportunity is here for farmers to use less intensive methods." (“ENUF. Just do it!”) "Some areas are too polluted now to grow Organic crops..."

PESTICIDES: "There are 200 million bugs per person on this planet." "Insects do enormous damage to plants." "You can avoid pests by simply rotating crops." "Plant cabbages etc., amongst flowers! This works very well..." 1945: Before widespread use of pesticide, USA corn growers lost 3% of their crop to insects. 1990: “They lost over 12%..." 1960 – 1970: Land sprayed with toxics despite local protests. Now soil contaminated. Tons and tons of top-soil has to be cleaned. Pesticide manufactured by Shell... who say ‘they cannot accept liability’" (BBC, 23/3/1990). “MOST OF THE GOODNESS is in the peel…” “Due to pesticides, we can’t eat peel safely anymore…” “Suppliers coat fruit and veg in wax so it keeps longer…” 295

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CATTLE: "1960 - 1985: Over 40% of the central USA rainforests were destroyed to make grazing for cattle." "Cattle are the biggest contributor to methane gas." “The cattle eat more than we do. If we gave up the luxury of eating beef we'd do the world an enormous favour. Synthetic beef is perfectly possible..." "85% of top-soil loss in the USA is the result of live-stock production." "Live-stock production is the main cause for water pollution in the USA." "20lbs of grain produce 1lb of beef. 1lb of grain makes 1lb of bread." "5,214 gallons of water are needed to produce 1lb of beef. 23 gallons of water make 1lb of tomatoes." "1 acre of land can produce 1651lbs of beef or 20,000lbs of potatoes." "16lbs of cattle-feed = 1lb of meat + 15 lbs of manure." ("The USA cattle industry produces 158 million tons of waste every year.") USA: “33% of all raw material consumption is used in the production of meat, egg and diary products." EXPERT: "Are we ready for the changes necessary? We can't eliminate people but we can reduce live-stocks. Should we invent a genetic plague to get rid of cattle, so that land could regulate back to FOREST? I want an Eco-system for my grand-children. God will not take care of the Earth. It is up to us to care for the Earth. We must take steps to protect our Earth" (said

"THE MEAT TRADE is a ruthless industry that exploits animals." "A 'modern' meat-farm is a car factory in reverse- one dissembling plant processes 6,000 animals a week..." UK: Has 780 abattoirs in England & Wales... new hygiene standards if delivered will only be at expense of animal welfare- the closure of smaller abattoirs means longer journey times..." (1992). UK: "ANIMAL AGONY: 450 million farm animals are killed every year in slaughter houses where, in the words of a government enquiry, 'animal welfare has a low priority'..." "Meat eaters prefer not to think about where the meat has come from. Clever labelling in supermarkets etc., suggests is ‘farm fresh produce’ - misleading. Can mean animals packed into one shed, fattened for slaughter. The consumer is ignorant... Fair trading? Increased standards? The food trade doesn't have that. No independent scrutiny. What is needed? 'We want it to be applied' (Country File, BBC, 27/4/1994). "The UK produces 2 million tons of animal waste a year. And a mountain of animal carcasses." "I don't like meat cooked rare- still looks alive!" ("Oh, so you only eat dead meat then, huh?") "I believe people who eat meat should kill their own animals to eat…" "I believe those who want to eat meat should at least witness the killing of (humble) animals they will eat. That could save millions of animals every year." "If 10% of the population became vegetarians that would save 60 million animals a year." "EEC rules state animals should be properly stunned before being slaughtered... but rules ignored. Horrific treatment in abattoirs... EG. RSPCA cannot show film taken in a Spanish abattoir- too horrific. A screwdriver is used... anything!" (BBC, 11/11/1993). "THE FREEDOM FOOD label tells customers the animals were treated kindly - is humanely produced meat. Introduced by the RSPCA to encourage caring for the animals we eat... Shops (very slowly) investing in this to try and improve conditions...Animals need more space, to have access to Outdoors, with proper ventilated space indoors..." (6/7/1994). "HALAL MEAT in theory is a humane way of killing animals. The knife must be sharp, a clean blow delivered to cause as little suffering as possible. This must be done by a Muslim according to the Koran. 'To eat meat not produced this way means: ‘Going to Hell.' Research has shown only 20% of Halal meat is produced by this method. Clearer labelling will increase prices up to 40% which is unfair..." (BBC, 21/7/1994). "The RSPCA say the law in the UK means it is not illegal for an animal to be killed for religious purposes IF the animal is in your ownership,

Visionary, James Lovelock, Channel 4, 1/7/1990).

ABATOIRS: "Anxiety. Distress. No-one gets out of here alive!" "On the bloody floors... how many animals have been murdered to make burgers?" "Your complaints about abattoirs are ill-founded. Animals are killed with compassion and they don't feel any pain or distress." "Once my children knew how burgers were made they stopped eating them..." "Slaughter houses = Slit throats, long suffering. Absolutely disgusting." "A total of 15 million cows, pigs, sheep and other farm animals are slaughtered every week in Britain. Some animals are killed by having their throat cut- they bleed slowly to death... Some are given an electric shock which paralyses them but does not render them unconscious. I am convinced animals who die in abattoirs are murdered slowly, and that they die terrified and without dignity" (The People, 2/2/1997). "I went to a wholesale butcher. I felt sick. They did nothing but cut heads off sheep and goats. Hung them up by their legs, on a conveyor belt. Bled them to death. Then went through a skinning machine. Were cut and quartered. That should not be allowed..." 296

providing the animal is killed with one, clean blow and the animal does not suffer. Do you think one day they'll make a law stating it is illegal to split an animal's head open during slaughter? EG. Goats killed in back garden family rituals (because their horns and beard said to resemble the Devil! This is so stupid.) They kill mothers and kids together! Their painful bleating! For ‘fun,’ they are TORTURED with a rusty machete! This practice is so barbaric! How do you prove the animal suffered? By the time the RSPCA arrive, the animal is stewed and remains burnt.” "A ‘new butchery process’ developed which binds meat scraps together using a blood gel... this means ‘reconstituted meat’ could be sold as steak. May end up called 'remoulded meat'..." "Blood from abattoirs used to pigment lipstick and wall paper." "Lambs slaughtered when only 10 weeks old..." "Turkeys plucked whilst still alive..." "Many experts say the conditions for animals is worse now than ever. Exports of live-stock from UK up 40%..." (11/10/1993). "’Unwanted’ British horses are packed into transporters and sent abroad for slaughter. Their meat is sold..." (and their fat is used to fry chips…) "The needy and desperate Dartmouth ponies are sent to be slaughtered” (= Export Trade) (1993). ("A horse! A horse! My Kingdom for a horse..." "Nowadays all we've got is imperial leather..." "HELL for leather..." “The worse smell on earth is a tannery.”) ("An ARSONIST set fire to stables. The horses were heard crying in pain. 3 horses died.") HOT STUFF: "A riding school boss heats his 10bed house with a new fuel = 30 tons of rotting horse manure. As this rots, it warms up, then heats water pumped into his house. Doesn't even smell. There's brass in muck - saves me £1,000's a year..." (The People, 1/5/1994) (Popular Expression = "Shit-hot…") "Export of British pigs to USA up. Being flown there" (26/8/1993). "Britain exports puppies to Hong Kong where they are badly treated..." "TRANSPORTING ANIMALS TO BE SLAUGHTERED = Animals overcrowded - many are injured, many are sick- in a bad way. Appalling journeys. Total journey time 47 hours at a relentless pace. Driver can take a break but animals stay on board, without food, water or rest. Arduous, stressful, but legal! 1995: 3 millions animals from Britain will be transported this way. Reform long overdue." "The RSPCA wants animals to be slaughtered at place of production, and a maximum journey time of 8 hours..." (Country File, BBC, 22/6/1994). "They should BAN the carrying of live-stock in filthy, disgusting conditions, which injure and cause indescribable suffering" said an Animal

Rights protestor. "Ferries may ban carrying animals for slaughter. ’If UK bans, other countries will export meaning longer journeys, argue farmers'..." (15/8/1994). "I thought farmers were supposed to love their animals? How can farmers allow their animals to be so mistreated?" “Do farmers these days even like animals? They seem to ‘have it in’ for all small furry creatures…” Q: “ … people who own large numbers of animals. … is it possible for such men to become emotionally involved? Can the dairy farmer milking maybe 50 cows become really fond of any of them, or are they only milk producing units?” A: “I think small farmers have an affection for their animals…” (ref. James Herriot book: ‘It shouldn’t happen to a vet).

"Farmers only ‘care’ about the money- what price they'll get for each animal.” “Farmers can't Afford to care...” (“That argument again, huh?") "CAN DISEASE BE PASSED THROUGH FOOD? There is a risk. Until there are better conditions in the abattoirs... Contamination could come from splashing, splitting the carcass... the spinal chordwhich could be infected is used in meat pastes, sausages. Before, we didn't feed cattle on sheep’s brains, crushed dried bones of other animals (bone meal)... we didn't use calves brains in cattle feed... Animal protein still fed to pigs and poultry…" (“You’d be surprised how many animals like to eat vegetables…”) "Milk from cows fed with artificial hormones is being tested on the public in unmarked containers" (1989).

BSE (is an unconventional virus- takes years to grow. Symptoms only appear last 2 weeks of animal’s life. Could be caused by feeding sheep offal to increase milk yield. Unacceptable risks. Ideally, there should be NO risk to public health. At the moment no-one is satisfied... The British government is not doing enough...." "... the government said there is no evidence people can contract BSE- then announced they will spend £12 million research into the disease..." (1990) ("What's the beef?" "Hood-winking is the main thrust of their game.") "Hoisted by their hooves, headless cows are piled up to be burnt in secret as government brings in private contractors, to deal with growing mounds of animals with 'mad cow disease.' At 350 cases a month, predicted 1/3rd of Britain’s herd should be slaughtered to halt the virus" (May 1990). "DISEASED CATTLE SLIP THROUGH: Farmers, cattle dealers, slaughter-men all involved in the racket- making them a fortune while putting public health at risk. Trail starts with greedy farmers who pocket back-handers from cattle dealers offering £500 for a dead cow- more for a bull. Offers 297

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Advertising = The most powerful propaganda of all. Our country-side has nothing to do anymore with our diet... Our farmers have been encouraged by government policies and the supermarkets, to specialise in beef, milk, wheat and potatoes (we have EC surpluses in all 4). Supermarkets pander to the elite and deprive the disadvantaged of cheap (low-cost) (free?) healthy food, they homogenise our diet, increase our Trade deficit and are a destructive force on the Environment..." EG. "... every grape from South Africa has travelled 1,000's of kilometres, using aviation fuel..." "Food transported in huge lorries... all contributing to pollution..." "We import food we could grow here..." ("All these travel costs could be saved...") "... Supermarkets dictate to farmers which foods are to be grown and state the amount and timing of chemical applications.... the variety of these products shrinks down all the time... fields sown with lack of bio-diversity leads to more pests and pesticides- with inevitable lack of wild-life… All the meat, fruit and vegetables has to be a standard size- any which diverge are thrown away... Their rules mean: The losers are the small-holders... Supermarket processed food, plays with only a few ingredients - saturated fat, salt, sugar, refined flour, eggs- re-fashioning these into different meals; chemical flavourings are added... that hide the poor quality of ingredients used... It is these products the lowerincome groups are forced to buy. EG. Bread with air pumped in! The COST to the consumer? The growing problem of malnutrition in the disadvantaged" (Colin Spencer, The Guardian,

grabbed... slaughter men stamp the carcass as 'fit for human consumption.' These probably end up in burgers and pies. Given a nice clean image... Other condemned stuff is taken out of the skip. is blast frozen... 'LISTERIA (a parasitic, harmful bacteria) put down to hysteria, the runs or a bug from Bombay. But no-one mentions meat... Remember, this is all BIG business- a web of corruption... Some dealers go into fields and injure animals- knives, sledge hammers used- when farmer finds- he calls the dealer... Dead cattle are even being skinned in the back of lorries and barns. Many carcasses are going through the system where there's no supervision...The government and RSPCA are trying to smash the racket..." (The People, 13/5/1990).

"The HEALTH SCARE... emergency meeting in Brussels... Fiercely carnivorous, Conservative Agriculture minister, J. Gummer threatening to retaliate... The (beef) Export war..." (June 1990). "THE EEC BEEF MOUNTAIN: Frozen meat. Now 6 years old, being sold - much could contain harmful bacteria" (September, 1993). "... at least 30,000 animals died in Britain due to BSE..." (1994). "A strain of AIDS found in cattle herds in Britain + other countries - disease called BIV... not known how many herds affected... Vets are at a loss to know what to do..." (Channel 4, 7/9/1994). FAST FOOD: “40 years ago, we did our shopping in small, local shops and markets, buying fresh, locally grown produce…” "Food prices to soar... are going up faster than ever before..." (UK: 1989). “I haven’t got it. Can I owe it to you?” SIGN in a USA Super Market: “CREDIT IS DEADdon’t ask for it.” "THE GROCER’S BILL WE CAN’T AFFORD:... the image of the kind, wise grocer- the concept of the benevolent family grocer selling wholesome locally produced food at reasonable prices... has long since faded in the UK... The few big ‘super’ ‘markets’ have cornered the market and are so bedazzled with their power over world agricultural business, they would not notice an ethical principle if one should impale one of them in the foot. 85% of our food is sold via ‘super’ ‘markets’ - more than 60% through the big 5... They present themselves as a tempting bazaar offering wide range of flavours, coupled with the notion we are getting these experiences at cut prices... The REALITY IS exactly the OPPOSITE: The gross immorality of today’s supermarkets works on many levels... to do this and make vast profits year after year takes considerable expertise in the art of CONNING the public. Government and Agricultural connived policy backed up with TV

14/5/1993).

“The council has got rid of all the wild blackberries…” “You’re starving… and you still don’t get it...” “There used to be a big farmers market here. Now everyone, including the farmer buys their food pre-packaged in ‘super’ stores …” ARTIFICALLY FLAVOURED FOOD, FULL OF CHEMICALS & COLOURINGS… Soon they'll stuff animals with polyester... Will we find those delicious too?" "BOOM: ... sales of snacks now worth £7 Billion a year..." (UK: 1989). "Kids eating junk food are likely to suffer from behavioural disturbances..." ("Vitamins especially Thiamine – found in grain… can prevent brain deficiency i.e. prevent diseases of the nervous system.")

"Children can get a bad reaction to artificial food dyes." "Companies these days seem to be competing… Who can put the most additives in!" “Does it matter what we weigh?” "The Americans are real beefy." "The All-American 298

"McDonald’s have changed the eating habits of the young... Now planning to open a new outlet every week for next 10 years" (September, 1994) (McDonald’s could lead the way by opening HEALTHY food cafes!) "Those people who order double pizza and a diet cola are a joke." "Eating burgers makes you stink." "The EFFLUENT given off by beef burger restaurants is not good for you or the Environment." “Tons and tons of discarded animal FAT is BLOCKING SEWERS…” "Eat your heart out?" "WHO is eating that nasty food?" "Got to do something with my life..." The FEAR of going without causes people to be greedy. “Over-Eating = “I over-eat because I’m bored… I eat to comfort me…” “If you are not feeling happy inside…” “I want instant gratification…” (“It takes 30 minutes for your brain to tell your stomach you have eaten…”) EXPERT: “You have to accept you can’t have it all in one go…” Roasted pheasant, fatty duck, monkey’s brains, cow’s bottom, skinned dog, eye-balls, testicles… (“What a strange way to exist! I tell you there’s a better way.”) (Couldn’t they makelong-lasting flavoured, no calorie pills, to suck instead?) "We must learn to attain Human balance." "Soften your heart or have a soggy brain." THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME = “Indistinguishable blobs. Clothes used as camouflage not adornments.” “Let it all hang out, huh?” “WHAT you eat matters.” “Yeh, it matters a lot…” ROLY-POLY: "MOST people in the West eat far too much. Their diet is UNHEALTHY..." "The rich minority will die prematurely of heart disease the fat blocking their arteries..." "Over-Eating due to too much stress? Are you trying to eat your way out of depression?" Diet! “Are you afraid of sticking at it?” “½ your body is fat!” “You are 19 stones overweight!” (Your body is your best friend. Don’t you care what you put inside it?) “How do you feel being fat?“ “I am MISERABLE and uncomfortable. I suffer shortness of breath…” “I’m fed up with being so fat. I want a different life.” “I feel as big as a house…” ( “Here, try some aversion therapy?” Why don’t you do volunteer to do…) USA: "Rich families pack their kids off to be forcibly dieted and exercised. Costs $4,000 a week! Average weight loss = 4lbs.” (“… it’s a great way to boost self-esteem and get some exercise…”) OVERWEIGHT = “I’m trying to lose it…”

diet. Burgers, fries, ketchup. Result: BLOATED bodies. Weight reduction is their ultimate goal." "Burgers make you fat. Yes, they do." FAT SUCTION: "The USA's most popular cosmetic surgery treatments are now available in the UK…" “Carbohydrate is the main diet of the poor…” (Carbohydrates = Highest Calories i.e. units of energy). “Potatoes / Stodge is not nourishing, only filling.” (Leaflet): "FOR A WORLD THAT DOES NOT THINK: The American-style junk food nightmare... Whilst we eat so-called food with the nutritional value of (sawdust?) people in the 3rd World starve... One hour after eating this gunk, you feel hungry again. Fast food- all designed to make you not to want to think at all... Eat this 'food' deprive your body of what it really needs... The lettuce has 12 chemicals added to make this look 'green, crisp and healthy. THINK: THEY ARE MAKING A KILLING. How many TREES have been chopped down to make space for the cattle, and all that packaging? RAIN FORESTS in South America are destroyed to produce all that paper and card... This is not recycled. ‘Healthy’ profits BUT dead animals and sick Humans! The fast food producers only want your money. Not to pay staff a fair wage, but to keep profits maximum. Walk on by. Take your time and make some real food. Ignore the phoney adverts. It's our world. Let's take it back." (“I’m loving it.”) "HEAVEN IS A… HAMBURGER OUTLET?" 1983: ‘HAPPY MEALS’? “… the school children in Hong Kong are now fat from eating all these burgers…” Adverts for McDonald’s: "Loose all your cares." “I’m lovin’ it.” "... the Global domination of one fast food company- Mac Donald’s, is worth $24 Billion a year... McDonald’s wants a spotless image to maintain popularity...” “The burger giant has a nice wholesome (modern!) image... In 1985, McDonald’s went to the High Court to argue the company is responsible and humane… suing the activists who distributed leaflets to make consumers aware of the Human and Environmental costs of their products & packaging. McDonald’s won their case..." (2005: McDonald’s lost when the activists appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. The activists had illegally been denied Legal Aid to defend their case.”)

"MOSCOW TAKES SLOWLY TO FAST FOOD: ...crowding round the 1st McDonald’s restaurantbiggest in the world... Much hyped opening day... some were impressed by the large paper napkins (the Soviet’s have a paper shortage...) He spent twice what he would pay in a Soviet cafe but he still felt hungry. He was far from alone in finding the ratio between price and substance unsatisfactory. Some customers were so intimidated by the surroundings... they left..." (31/1/1990) 299

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UK: "20,000 Female anorexics, deliberately starving themselves…” Why? (Ashamed by other people’s greed? They want model looks?) "The same farce that makes the worst lard is also responsible for saying you should be thin." UK: "Spent £3 Billion on slimming aids- most are worthless products." “95% of nutritionists consulted in a poll said fast food was a major contributor of obesity. USA: $30 Billion spent on diet potions & pills” (Supersize Me,

“… it’ll pull your buttocks in…” “Yes, we’re members of a gym. We pay our subscriptions but we hardly ever go…” A doctor said: “Seek a drastic solution if you have a drastic problem.” “If you want to lose weight… it’s simple! Stop eating meat, bread and potatoes, dairy products, fried food, sugary biscuits and chocolate.” “If you must eat meat, only a maximum of twice a week. You should be eating organic meat. You are probably not because this is expensive and hard to buy." THE IDEAL DIET: "Come and Get it!" Goat’s milk / cheese = You will be “As nimble and sure footed as a goat.” “A glass of fresh orange juice a day is known to reduce cancer risk.” Un-sugared low-salt wholegrain Cereal. Wholemeal bread. Fresh tomato. Dark green lettuce. Fresh fruit. Raw or steamed fresh vegetables. Frozen still contains vitamins but over-cooking destroys. Oily fresh fish..." “A wise man prefers honey..." (By-products: wax, mead, cosmetics…) "HERBS: Essential for healthy life. Fast to grow. Should be really fresh, fragrant- for good taste, so grow your own..." “Anti-Carcinogenic Fruits: Mango, Strawberry, Guava (also prevents cell malformation, decreases cholesterol & prevents cell aging). Pineapple: Good for bone formation; anti-bacterial and anti-viral action. Papaya reduces inflammation of the feet, good for digestion. Blackberry reduces fever; blueberries also good for circulation…” (All ideal for SMOOTHIES!) My advice is don’t eat animal fat unless you can help it. (“SUPER-CART: Plastic shopping trolleys that do not bend out of shape when banged, invented” BBC, 24/1/2004). “Britons spent £27 BILLION on take-away food last year. 2/3rd spending £700 a year, £15 a week” (The for an Activity Centre, 1992)

Channel 4, 28/4/2005).

"Supermarkets say THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF ORGANIC PRODUCE... an extra 10,000 farmers are needed to meet soaring demand for meat, fruit and vegetables... a shortage of supply is pushing prices up by an average of 88% over conventionally grown produce. Despite attempts to convert more British farmers, approx. 67% of organic fruit and veg has to be imported. The UK market is worth £120 million annually and growing steadily. ... The Organic Growers Assoc., represents 1,000 farmers... has called for government cash to encourage more organic growing. The President of the Nat. Farmers Union said at best organic food production could only meet approx. 10% of demand... Under a £6 million research programme launched at the Royal Show today, farmers could become major producers of crops for industry to make plastics, paper and other products. The project aims to cut (reduce) imports and make use of millions of tons of surplus straw. The Agricultural Food Research Council has joined forces with private industry to fund £3 million of research over next 5 years" (4/7/1990). "Cost of transport and refrigeration of food going to be taken into account- costs passed onto consumers" (1990). "One USA supermarket chain made $185 BILLION profit" (1998). MALNUTRITION, STARVATION OR OBESITY? (“… it’s not fattening…” “… it takes guts to do it…”) "The British public must decide what kind of society they want." (“... it's dieting without pain...") “… it develops co-ordination, improves confidence… it needs organisation- so join a club. Improvise, invent equipment. If you’re willing to work at it, it’s a great way to spend your time. It’ll keep you fit, help you lose weight. It offers healthy competition that aids survival skills. It involves a lot of techniques and solid understanding. It’s open to every age range. We run courses to make it attractive, so it becomes less dangerous. We can make it easy for them. Taking the risks out is a very important part of the process. It has been called the ultimate street cred ‘game’ of the 21st Century. Message is: Be ACTIVE. You can do as you like. Encourage, don’t criticise. That’s it. Good lad. You’re a natural, Jenny. Great. Get Wise. Say: I’m going to get it” (Advert

Sun, 26/2/2005).

“A major food scare… (loads of) ready-made meals found to contain a (red) banned food dye…” (UK, 2005).

“One Slogan UK Supermarkets Can’t Use Is: ‘Picked This Morning.’ Fruit and vegetables full of taste, texture, freshness, smell? Not anymore. HOME GROWN is tastier, less acidic and insipid; sweeter. We’ve lost so many our local shops and markets. More choice? Almost every strawberry sold has come from the same supplier. Everything must look the same, be available all year round and able to stand long distance travel. Better value? We are spending so much on food now! Supermarkets appeal to our lazy side.” "… it is important... the availability of fresh food..." 300

7/8/1994).

SUPER-MARKETS ARE OVERPOWERFUL: A Farmer said: “We are ants under an elephant - I fear we could be squashed at any time…”

UK: “There are 3 million vegetarians…” (BBC, 20/5/2007).

(Dispatches, Super-Market Secrets, Channel 4, 1/8/2005).

"What is the best way to get people to eat a healthy diet? What is the best way to get Britain to meet healthy living / eating targets?" "A government report states the nations eating habits must improve suggesting we eat 50% more fruit to avoid heart attacks. The government may have to promote healthier life-styles…"

TRADE: "What is the best way to cover the Earth? Go with the Grain- it's easier!" ("Imagine London, in the Sun, its postal districts packed with fields of wheat…") "Why does an empty field look so lonely and sad?" ("Too many fields are idle.") "OBSCENE: About 100 farmers will be paid subsidies under a £300,000 pilot scheme- part of EEC-backed moves to curb food production" (July 1990) WHY? "The current system is not about growing food, only making money." “Britain's Balance of Payment Deficit = £20 Billion” (September, 1990). "INDUSTRIAL SCALE FARMING: We have made a breeding ground for rats... the extent of infestation... ICI unable to solve mystery of how to get rid of them... Should we be studying nature? Owls?" ".... plants forced to grow under electric lights to speed growth..." (Little taste or smell). "Food is becoming scarcer" (1/10/1990). "Farmers in France kept riot police busy... are protesting at lack of drought Aid. Surge of cheap imports. French farmers can't compete" (29/8/1990). "USA extending trade blocks across Mexico..." (1990) ("Compromise used to mean: ½ a loaf of bread is better than none. Amongst statesmen now this means: ½ a loaf is ‘better’ than a whole loaf!" "No-one is enjoying it. Busy only calculating the decline... Degenerating in the interests of 'security'..." "We are not market-orientated enough..." "No, tomorrow's not OK. The future is bleak. We're facing a dead line. No, it can't wait. Aren't you allowed to talk?" "Massive Giants Create Chaos." "…’OVER-PRODUCTION’ has caused low earnings. Common Agricultural policy. Farmers can't make ends meet. No income from investment. They need a quick solution. Supply trade living on a knife edge. Stockpiled harvest. No market for it (!) ‘Unwanted’ food put into 3-month storage. The cost to subsidise! The product is there, the customers are there- but who is going to transport?” EXPERT: “We have produced traditional schemestourist parks, where once we had woodland. Fields are going to be left to fallow is the only ‘solution’…" (12/9/1990). "The USA ‘Farm Workers programme’ is being cut back" (29/7/1991). "Trade talks. Subsidy cuts agreed. Farmers not at all happy. Could lead to new trade war. Going to cut back production to end ‘unwanted’ surpluses"

(9/11/1994).

“Super-markets pricing farmers out… Wont be long before Britain loses all cows from the fields… Dairy farmers are going out of business…” (TV documentary, 2007).

THE FUTURE? What will happen if / when fossil fuels run out? How will we get to the ‘super’ ‘markets’ and carry our loads home? VEGETARIANS: "Conservatives say the diet of vegetarians is so strange!" "To be or not to be? Get your facts straight." “Eating fresh fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of heart disease and prevents cancers.” "50% of men who eat meat regularly die of heart disease. 4% of men who eat no animal products die of heart disease." "The countries with diets highest in animal products have the highest rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis etc." "90% of all food borne pesticides are found in meat and dairy products." "10% of nursing mothers who are vegetarians had DDT in their breast-milk. 90% of meat eaters have DDT in their breast-milk." "I want to be a vegetarian but my Mum says I have to eat meat because if I don't my health will suffer." "Your Mum has been successfully indoctrinated by the meat industry. Meat kills people. Avoiding meat will improve your health, not damage it" (Dr. Coleman, The People, 26/3/1990). "16% of teenagers are now vegetarians. People are eating less red meat, preferring poultry" (BBC, 11/10/1993).

"If you haven't become vegetarian yet maybe you should think about it..." "Some of the diseases vegetarians less likely to suffer from are: Cancer, heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, gall stones, indigestion, diabetes, strokes, varicose veins, piles, gout, and constipation. Vegetarians also less likely to become overweight. And far less likely to contract a food-borne infection. Vegetarians tend to be fitter than meat-eaters, many of the world's successful athletes are vegetarian" (The People, 301

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(27/5/1992).

ground..." WORLD TRADE TALKS: "The USA accused of holding back Gatt... The war with farmers drags on..." "We have a crisis on our hands. There is little consensus" said Leon Brittian (6/11/1993) ("Changes do not mean increased plough shares...") UK: "200,000 more jobs in Agriculture due to go. We are witnessing the next generation being told it isn't worth it..." (16/2/1993). "GOING BROKE: Financial ruin. Closure of farms. Banks foreclosing. Gone broke. Farms empty. French farmers blame 'the Socialists' for not doing enough to help rural areas. Conservatives are busy making promises" (18/3/1993) (Same in USA, UK... WHY? Is something sinister going on?) "Trade agreement will increase trade in whiskey, furniture..." ("... it could increase Global trade..." "... it will give a boost to Global growth....") "Only 15% of the population voted Euro-MEP's in. What do Euro-MP's do? Make sure farmers don't produce food!" (29/10/1993). "EURO-WASTE: European Union bosses ordered the destruction of 750,000 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables last year. The food - enough to fill the Ark Royal navy ship 37 times... was pulped to push up prices and stop ‘inefficient’ French, Greek and Spanish farmers going bust. Families paid higher prices because of the policy Britain wants to scrap" (The Sun, 21/4/1994). “… it DOESN'T MAKE SENSE:” "Princess Anne reaps most of her profit by leaving fields emptyand harvesting Brussels’s hand-outs... 90% of the income at her home, Gatcombe Park, comes from the controversial ‘EC set-aside Farm Subsidy scheme. 'The existing system is crazy. Although some are doing rather well…” (Evening Standard,

"Farmers PAID NOT TO GROW CROPS! Paid to cut down hedgerows, paid to replant hedgerows. Empty fields. Farmers trying to make money investing in converting their land to golf courses. Many go out of business. Land hard to convert back due to type of drainage used" (October, 1992). "WE HAVE TO FIND A SOLUTION! The Maastricht Treaty: Unresolved issues… Politicians trying to thrash out. No water-tight solution. We have to find a solution - middle ground. We need simplicity. Europe is on a razor's edge… 50,000 German farmers protested, dumping hay outside the USA embassy, claiming 5 million jobs will be lost" (ITN, 8/12/1992) (“… it could save many farmers from bankruptcy...") "This new economic drive must have a basic standard." "Laying decent foundations for society..." "The cost of ‘fertiliser’ has risen but the price we get for our produce hasn't" (1992) ("Waste at fruit and vegetable wholesalers etc., chucked awaynot kept to feed chickens and pigs- or used to make compost...") "Will negotiations be good for farmers?" "They wont try it" said Dan Quay "because the support's not there" (11/12/1992) (Did anyone understand 'it'?) "Price of cider set to double due to EEC tax laws. Producers say they'll be ruined. Redundancies... All the apple trees will go thanks to EEC proposals" (11/2/1992). "Orchards are declining. There are approx. 6,000 types of apples that can be grown in the UK. Only 9 types now grown" (October 1990). "Kent, in England- their apples are threatened by the European apple mountain." "Many people lament the loss of taste in fruit..." "Drinks companies are removing most of the goodness of the fruit and adding too much sugar." "FACTORY PRODUCTION of cheese produces less taste. What the cow eats matters. Can still legally be called 'Farmhouse Cheese'..." "HAPPINESS = The Freedom to Live Without the Tyranny of bureaucrats." "A TRADE WAR = Another regrettable delay, setting back its progress. If only we could trade... Then it might happen…" "50% of UK's arable land- country-side could be lost if negotiations fail" (14/11/1992). "FOOD PRODUCTION has FALLEN behind POPULATION GROWTH in 27 out of 39 subSaharan African countries" (1992). "PROTESTS: 50,000 French farmers battle to hang onto their subsidies. Farmers clashed again with riot police. Bitter opposition to Gatt deal. Police responded with tear gas. Other countries in Europe also oppose deal. Gatt not representative. Farmers see it increasingly as a battle for survival... Will be very damaging if EEC cannot agree..." (1/12/1992). GATT = "100's of countries trying to find common

27/7/1994).

"EURO FOOD MOUNTAINS: Britain setting up a think-tank to find practical approaches toward ending EC food mountains.... ‘Reform of the Common Market Agricultural policy is essential as Europe expands’ (said W. Waldegrave). France and other nations shy off upsetting farmers… the Agriculture minister said: 'This is a national task and one which, although it will take years of hard work, I intend to start now.' Ministers have 3 aims: Good quality food at Affordable prices, food and drinks industries, and industries flexible enough to respond to changing public concern" (Evening Standard, 11/10/1994).

"PRODUCTION LINE COWS: Milk. UK: A £2.5 Billion big business. 40,000 diary farmers under threat. Cut in milk men. Supermarkets taking over sales. 13 million pints every day. UK has an enormous appetite for milk" (ITN, 11/8/1993). INTENSIVE FARMING of cattle divided into 2 main areas: Milk production and the rearing of calves. Cows for milk undergo a continuous cycle of 302

pregnancies, producing a calf, or twins, every year to produce up to 8 gallons of milk a day. The offspring removed when 3 - 4 days old. Some calves are slaughtered straight away, used to provide rennet (removed from their stomachs- used to commercially produce hard cheeses). Calves kept for veal production... are generally kept in dark crates, denied water, are fed only milk powder substitute and roughage (hay and straw.”) Italy: Keeps cows indoors and uses anti-biotics. Lower quality milk than UK" (1993). "They're milking it for all it's worth…" UK: “3,964 dairy farmers have gone out of business in last 6 years…” “SENTINENT CREATURES: Instead of standing on grass, cows now stand on concrete. Instead of grazing they are fed on cut grass. There is very little joy left for the cow. They are pushed to their physical limits. 50% are suffering pain from lameness from standing in slurry. Inflamed udders… The quality of milk suffers…” (Dispatches, Channel 4, 1/8/2005) WAH! "WHEN WILL THE COWS COME HOME?" PIGS: "Intensive live-stock farming... every pig used to be different- had its own shape and size. Breeders altered all that. Scientists say that pigs have problems- infections caused by their Environment..." "Pigs are highly intelligent animals that naturally live in family groups. They are foraging animals, preferring woodland to open pasture, with access to water in which they wallow. Intensive systems allow pigs little or no natural activity - their physical restriction and boredom with their surroundings causes stress. This causes them to chew the bars of their pens or crates, and in biting their own tails off. DOCKING: The remedy is to cut their tails off at birth?" "Labelled 'Free Range' 'Farm Eggs.' 2 That means: 7 hens to one metre, 14,000 hens in a shed - can't move so crowded. No better than battery hen conditions..." (27/6/1994) "The term 'Small Farm' (these days) is meaningless = 12,000 chickens… with access to only a bit of dirt outside. Advertised as 'Free Range' and 'produced in spacious conditions'..." "40 million hens are crammed into battery cages in the UK. No respite. No FREEDOM to enjoy life..." "... all their NATURAL instincts are thwarted. They are caged so closely packed, they loose their feathers and peck each other to death. That's why owners cut their beaks. These poor hens have a terribly hard life." GASSED AND BURNT: "A vet gassed 2,268 ducks after they were stranded at an airport" "5,000 ducklings, worth £20,000 when processed for food, died in a farm fire at Buxted Ducklings..." (UK,

the answer farm shops? 95% of food we eat is processed, often with undesirable elements added. Unfortunately with massive advertising campaigns persuading us to buy... Concern... the unhealthy consequences of too much sugar and fat, not enough proteins, fibre. (EG. Bowel cancer). Very little action taken to correct. World conference... disappointing. Result: To make the world a safer place- not for consumers but for multi-nationals" (ITV, March 1993). "Dairy produce- massive price rises due" (22/8/1994). “The existing trade system keeps millions of people ‘living’ in poverty. UNFAIR trade is the norm today…” (BBC1, 4/3/2005). “Should we be trading bees?” (”If I were you, I’d make a bee-line…”) “95% of fruit & vegetable varieties in the UK have disappeared” (28/1/2007). ALTERNATIVE CROPS: "Don't be nuts. Grow nuts! Almond oil? "Walnut oil? "Sesame oil?" “Lavender oil?” (Cottonseed oil, castor oil, coconut oil…) ("How will it hurt the land? It doesn't stand out. It just blends in. It's very, very fruity. It's not just delicious and good - it's golden. It's the call of nature.") "Chlorophyll (in leaves) enables plants to take in Carbon dioxide and alter it to produce Oxygen..." “… vegetable oils are non-toxic to the Environment, biodegradable if spilled…” ETHANOL: Sugar cane alcohol. Much cleaner than petrol. A renewable source of energy. 1.5 million people work to produce this in Brazil. One problem expensive. Reducing cost. Leaves of sugar cane plant has bacteria which help the plant growbacteria, as a natural fertiliser, helps plant absorb nitrogen from air. Tests being run - can plants be grown on a massive scale? A new industrial plant?" (Tomorrows World, BBC, 2/10/1991) "OIL PRODUCTION CEASED: Oil ceased production - rapeseed oil, Soya oil, oil seeds. No acceptable deal to the USA. Fail = Grim consequences. $200 BILLION lost in trade. Gatt Rules: Problem. Change policy? Subsidies, or stick to rules? USA wants to impose tariffs. How is it to be implemented? Sector, by sector. Very substantial job opportunities. Gains will be lost if talks fail. Quarrels continue" (The Money Programme, BBC 8/11/1992).

GLYCEROL: "700,000 hectares of Oil seed (rape) grown in France for cooking oil and pet food. Now NEW use. By-Product = Glycerol. LIGHTER OIL.. A high-octane fuel. A diesel substitute… Ideal for… turbo engines - no conversion needed. Costs more to produce than diesel. But government aren't going to Tax as it's Green. Wont help petrol cars. Buses could soon be

Easter, 13/4/1990).

"LACK OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD is one of the reasons for INSECURITY in places like Africa. Is 303

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BURNING glycerol. 3% going to be used as a fuel in the future" (BBC, 27/5/1992) (Use Natural / Refined Oil to power existing gas guzzlers? Perish that thought!) "Waste/d wheat straw is turned into alcohol to help farmers drive their tractors" (3/5/1994). "The world market is changing! We've got to ADAPT! What crop/s should farmers grow next? Farmers said: 'We're not allowed...' ‘The Common Market… They think we're fools. We see no future for us. They prefer tourism! Leisure centres!’ Every farmer has a horror story to tell. How we undervalue fresh produce! The price war... Something is missing... The Mediterranean climate... the combination of good irrigation is a winner. The high unemployment among youth... but the government is giving subsidies to STOP farmers producing crops!" (BBC, Open University,

16/11/1994) Yippee! "Get back to Mother Nature. This organic food smells divine. Quite mouth watering in fact." "Organics = Fresh, natural. Organics so you look radiant, with health and beauty." “Shall we all go to the garden centre?” (“No, no, no. That’s not the way to do it. As your crops increase, your fertiliser increases, you swap and start feeling better…”) “BIO-DIESEL was available in the 1930’s… Can power (diesel) trucks (lorries) and domestic vehicles 100%... Bio-diesel can’t be used in cold temperatures as this congeals… Some are made from reprocessed animal fat, some are fish oil, others are made from soy, or Canola. I acre of Soy or Canola = 100 – 120 gallons of Bio-oil + Byproduct: Animal food. Whereas 4 tons of Hemp seeds = 300 gallons of oil from 1 acre + 3 tons of food! Low TCH = Few flowers = Fewer seeds = only 120 gallons per acre. Therefore, we need hemp oil to be subsidised - $350 per acre. Low TCH useful as remaining TCH = acts as a natural pesticide. Hemp will create many new jobs, whole Green industries. Hemp can also be used to make medicine… but currently only limited availability. …”

7/6/1990) (WHY? “Blooming Heck!”)

“Say it with FLOWERS…” "WINDFALL: OIL seed plants blown by the wind, now arriving in people's gardens, now decorating road-sides..." (UK, May 1990).

"We have a lot of letters asking: Is oil seed going to change the look of the country-side? (Question not answered). LUPINS have very high concentrate of proteins and Oil - good for animal feed. Could become our next bumper crop worth £millions. Grown commercially, could replace oil seed (rape)" (Country file, BBC, 29/6/1994). "HOME GROWN: Food now accounts for most of our trade deficit. UK farmers not producing quantity or quality. Small operators could market through an organisation, guaranteeing quality. Working together technically through a Cooperative. Can promote effectively. Can re-invest. Operate full scale- packaging to dramatically increase profits - to give Britain a boost. How to wipe out £100 million deficit? France now has a £580 million surplus. It can be done. British farmers left behind due to bad policy decisions. 'Home Grown Fruits' believe growers have a lot to do. Industry fragmented... Some farmers resisting joining a co-operative. Whilst they argue, foreign producers continue their assault. No united front. ...the government has to be part of the team. It needs a coherent effort. It's a long term affair. The answer is to become more market developed" (The Money Programme, BBC, 1992). "New Zealand: Kiwi growers need an alternative crop to stay alive…" “New research shows Oil seed (rape) does not increase hay fever, allergy” (8/6/1994). "THE GOOD LIFE: A bid is being launched to bring new blood into the farming industry through an ‘Agricultural Tenancy Reform Bill’ which will allow farmers greater freedom to negotiate agreements to let spare land to people who want to try their hand on the land" (Evening Standard,

(ref. video: 13/9/2006).

“BEWARE of Canola Oil Canola oil comes from the rape seed, which is part of the mustard family of plants. Rape is the most toxic of all food-oil plants. Like soy, rape is a weed. Insects will not eat it; it is deadly poisonous! The oil from the rape seed is a hundred times more toxic than soy oil" (ref. www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com ). “RAIN-FORESTS are cut down to grow Soya beans for chicken feed…”(ITV, July 2006). “A PAIN-FREE ALTERNATIVE TO FOSSIL FUELS? I acre of bio-fuel crops = fuel for 4 – 5 cars. Land size of Britain now used to grow Biofuel. Land area doubling every year. Bio-fuel now viewed as the ‘pain-free alternative to fossil fuel’ but the UN believes this is threatening the world’s food supply. ONE BILLION PEOPLE ARE STARVING…” (BBC, 28/5/2007) Burning Bio-fuel = POLLUTION. SMALL HOLDINGS: “Farms had to be self-sustaining, especially all through the winter. Simple nourishing food. Here the animals are wealth... 'What we sow, we reap'..." "Do it in a way that's acceptable to Organic gardeners." ALLOTMENTS: "During and after WW11, allotments used by families to grow food- but not so much now" (UK, 1993). "During the war, when people grew their own veg, the nation was healthier than it is today." "You get fresh air, exercise and fresh food from 304

(1994).("One

single match destroyed the potting shed...") THE PLOT: "... the allotment is an alternative... part of the lives of 1 in 50 people in UK today. Last 15 years, 4,000 plots lost to powerful forces of developers... ½ a million people now trying to hold onto their bit of land... All over the country allotments are under threat from developers who are always on the look-out for a bit of open space... Many have wanted to take it over... Most sites are owned by local councils (and the Church). ... the cruel deception that plot holders are the enemy of the poor who need homes... The reality is they are fighting together against ‘the real power’ that ignores them both... The struggle of ordinary people pitted against highly organised councils with PR and unlimited funds- to keep ourselves together and hang onto a piece of land to which the ordinary man or woman has right of access. It is far more important to grow food... than it is to make these into golf courses and hit a little white ball around..." (Open Space, BBC, 22/11/1994). "For many pensioners their love is their allotment… Pensioners are determined not to be forced out..." (BBC, 4/8/1994). "These various assaults on our gardening activities and our way of life, have united our association- we feel it is our Right to have a piece of land - as set out in the Parliamentary 1908 Act... 'They will have to carry me off - do what they want over our dead bodies.' ‘We shall petition and fight, protest. This might mean court action to remove us from the land. We hope it doesn't come to that..." "... it's like an oasis... a little piece of Heaven.... it's a meeting place..." (2004). “… allotments have become very fashionable…”

growing your own." "This is really healthy. You can get fit doing this." "I haven't had a cold since I've been doing this... so there must be something in it!" “Gardening has a therapeutic effect on mental health…” ("… I found my freedom on blueberry hill...") “… it means I've grown it... it doesn't cost anything..." "Fruit and veg grown for the home freezer." "We've grown 25 bundles of asparagus - I couldn't Afford to buy one bunch from the shops." "We've grown salad, potatoes, leaks, 1lbs of fruitall for free." "Financially this means everything - I don't have to live off the state. It's self-help. Means I can support myself." ORGANIC: "… it's not sprayed with anything - it grows on fresh air and Sunshine, basically…" "Having a plot means you can grow something to give - that's always a pleasure." "We learn things from each other. We're very social, very kind." "You learn skills about planting, different ways of cooking, patience, goodness - even religion and the way it blends in…" "I love my allotment - it's a complete new world..." "You feel you are in the country." "My allotment means freedom - the love of creation everything in the world to me." “GROW YOUR OWN!” "… it's self-funding and could run itself." "Children love to grow thing things too." "I can help my Dad. I grow peas, sweet corn..." "My son can put in a lot of energy..." "My parents enjoy being here a lot..." Garden Sheds: "Many styles of wooden tool sheds available. At the most will last 20 years?" You can also buy lock-up painted tin sheds. One Knock = Panel (non-replaceable) ruined. "Garden crime is big business... theft of tools etc is growing" (24/5/1990). Allotment Sheds: “Rickety, wooden sheds, rusty corrugate... Made from old bits & pieces i.e. are recycled, over and over again- sometimes up to 10 times... 'This will stay till it's rusty and pull of holes.' 'No, I'm not getting paid for doing this but that's OK' said a man whilst putting up a shed for someone else... Hurricanes - quite a problem. Raised off the ground with old railway sleepers or whatever. ... There is some censorship to stop people expressing themselves... people like to be creative - to put them in different ways - not so much to save the planet, but more to save money. The spirit of things like this is that some things can be reused. The shed is a place of refuge from rain and reality - a place where you can pretend to live..." (David Crouch, Open Space, BBC, 22/11/1994). “Allotment sheds burnt-out, burgled- all tools taken, vandalised. Night time raids. Stealing plants, shrubs, fertilisers. Garden crime. Huge increase. Expensive ornaments, pots taken…”

(UK, 2006).

NATURAL LIFE: “I grow massive vegetables using a mixture of goat and sheep manure…” "If you resent paying exorbitant prices for a small amount of badly made food..." "Gourmet country baby food could boost your harvest..." "Look, it's not all going to be bread and water you know..." "In France you can holiday in regions where all the food is home grown and jolly good. The children loved it" (1993). "WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO it!” “I’ve never grown anything in my life…” "HOW TO STAVE OFF FAMINE? We think starvation will never happen to us... To save the world POSITIVE resistance. Housing, landscaping, Conservation of natural resources. A philosophy, a way of life. A design system: Perma-Culture consultants will show people how to 305

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put things in the right place. Dynamic stability. We must not lose our Forests. If we do, we lose everything. It's much more than a gardening system. Permanent agriculture. Instead of concrete and glass, we should be living with natural materials. All you have to do is plant.... Perma-Culture teaches design - is teaching people how to make use of land destroyed. … Up against powerful forces... Image of rural abundance... it's going to be good news... You need an underground (?) plumbing system to collect rainwater to avoid drought... Will Perma-Culture work? I say will plants grow? Becoming increasingly viable, commercially. A Forest Farm. Land dotted with ponds. Avocados at head level. At ground level- mandarins. It's cool and shady. We can show the 3rd World before the crisis comes... He is interested in ABUNDANCE. The danger of this system is falling fruit- there's going to be tons..." (said Visionary Bill Mollison, re: Perma-

flowers among the veg to ensure good pollination and less blight. If you cultivate gardening friends you swap, get advice, seeds, plants etc for FREE." ("LOVE! Fresh as the morning air. Love sharedlike a rose under the April snow. Love! Can certainly grow. Love! Ageless and evergreen. Seldom seen. It can make each night the first- all because we have the brightest love. Time we learnt. Love - ageless as evergreen…") USA: "We have a law that states what people can grow in their front gardens. Growing food is not allowed- this considered to be 'unsightly.' We have a list of permitted plants..." (June 1994). ("... it could bring about an economic miracle...") "A Conservative minister has suggested the unemployed should grow vegetables!!!“ A frivolous, insensitive, useless comment' said the former director of the charity Shelter, Sheila MacKenchie. 'Poverty levels have risen 3 times... The unemployed need jobs..." (Virgin Radio,

Culture: Channel 4, 1990).

Most satisfying. "Gardening is BLISS. Rewarding..." "Standing in a garden like this is absolute JOY. It is what everyone aspires to..." "Gardening is very therapeutic, very enjoyable and relaxing. Can help you live longer..." “THE GOOD LIFE!” “Plants are like people. They need water and food to live. And space to grow. Press plants down firmly- they need to feel secure, but be gentle with their roots- they can be damaged quite easily…” "Rain water is better than tap water for plants." VEG: "Select varieties that can grow close together. Grow in containers. Keep them warm and snug and they'll survive - better in a sheltered position, not exposed, or in extremes. Spinachgrow, then crop as often as you like- it will keep coming back" (BBC, 8/3/1993). "Do it so valleys bloom again- so there'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover..." "Organic farmers would like a revitalisation of Farms- everywhere, even in the cities!" (17/5/1993). “MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK!” “SAY it WITH LIVING PLANTS!” "Call in the troops to transform barren areas. Plant the Garden- that's the way to do it. Do a plan to scale. Keep it tidy..." “Do I like it? I love it!” "The exchange of food can bind communities together." “If you guys have anything surplus we could sure use it…” Plan: “,,, it will be all over the world" (28/5/1992) (“Let’s all join together now…”) “I just want to cultivate it… see it growing basically…” “…it’s a little gem…” “The sweet smell of success will come with it!” THE ELDERLY: "Many are wise cottage gardeners. From this small plot they fed their family. A simple chicken coop made of a few bits of plastic and some straw for happy chicks... Growing

16/2/1995).

THE UNEMPLOYED SAID: “Is that the end of it, then? Because ‘our Sheila’ doesn't want it? “ I think it's a great idea!” “Yeh, RIGHT ON. Help them do it, I say! Just make it possible for those who do want to do it!” “HANDS UP all those who want GARDEN!” “Will we have too much of something to eat? Right, then we can trade quite simply... Does this product have any other uses? Could it be put together with other ingredients to make something? If so, we will add value... it's really quite easy...” "BUT I haven't got any land have I, sir?" "Well no, son, you haven't- that's because I've got it all. And you can't have any.” "What can you possibly want now that I have everything?" He is really saying: “It’s mine. All mine…” WAH! How much longer is this CLASSIC SITUATION going to go on? "There are fears it will be nullified in every single country. Make it binding on all nations that they'll do it - the people need this reassurance. It's a long-term objective. “ "The way this recession is going, we could be eating our pets soon." ("LAND OWNERS: The world's largest landowner is the US government with a holding of 765, 291,000 acres (1,185,787 square miles), including 529,000 acres outside the US. The largest UK land-owner is the 8th Duke of Buccleuch with 336,000 acres.") ("NO TREATY EXISTS between England and USA concerning the number of military establishments in the UK, owned by the USA.") “You’re going to reap what you sow…”

306

UNDER THE WEATHER: How will changes in the weather affect traditional ways food is grown? "Farmers have been praying for rain..." DROUGHT = FAMINE… 1970's: “The Green Revolution: Not understood by many people. Was very important. The UN (UNESCO) put up £millions to develop hardy, disease-free new crops. Crops that could withstand drought, yield much more. As a result much starvation was abated in the 3rd World. It's a thousand million pities the programme was not continued." “Recycled tyres can be made into porous pipes to weep water onto plants…” "Potato prices have sprouted by 60% - the 1989 drought cut the harvest by 500,000 tons..." "Most farmers are suicidal because of the rain..."

FORECAST: "… it will grow" (UK March 1993). FISHING: “… it’s a beauty!” “… it was this big!” “How big was it really?” “Ugh! That horrible hook through their mouth!” “That doesn’t hurt them! Fish have no feelings!” (“How do you know they don’t have any feelings?”) "Fish Oil? Whales are killed for their oil..." "A WHALE is no different to a sheep or a cow" said a Japanese business man. "Wrong! “Whales and Dolphins are Mammals, not fish! Sheep and cows are bred specially for their meat. Whales take 9 YEARS to have a baby. Their numbers are dangerously low. To make up the shortage of whale meat, the Japanese are now slaughtering dolphins in massive quantities" (1993) "SAVE THE WHALES! Babies are completely defenceless!") "WALL OF DEATH Nets: "... after many hard months of campaigning, Conservationists are winning? These nets are going to be outlawed to save dolphins... one day... soon... we... hope..." (1/10/1990) (“This is not fishing. This is murder!”) "This catch of fish is so disappointing. They are so small... For this lot we only get £10 on the main land" (June 1990). "The way we fish... Trawlers wipe everything out." "Sea lions clubbed to death- even babies, in the annual cull. The snow turns red with their blood. Done to stop the sea lions eating fish stocks." (“Greenpeace carried the body of a dead Sea lion to 10 Downing street to protest at North Sea pollution. The Sea lion had died of a 'viral infection.') (A popular medical term these days, often heard when GP's diagnosing ‘mysterious’ illnesses in children and adults.) "200,000 dolphins a year get wiped out by their favourite friend- man - after being caught accidentally in new nylon nets. They get trapped their bodies when hauled in are thrown back in the sea." "Dolphins - not dollars!" "The Fishing War: Interpretation is not the same on both sides. It is up to politicians to hammer out an agreement" (29/3/1993) (Does that means nothing will ever get sorted?) "Square hole nets catch everything including baby fish. EEC regulations state these must be put back - but by the time they are- they are DEAD. Consequently, low fish stocks, resulting in fishing controls. Fights, over fishing grounds...” RISK: “Slaughtered to Extinction." "Small fishermen are burning their boats to get EEC compensation as they go out of business. Huge factory ships are allowed to take the fish"

(March 1994).

"A commercial project. £5 million invested turning pastoral fields in GB into vineyards to grow champagne. Maybe 2 million bottles this year. Let's hope we have good weather" (8/10/1990) ("We didn't, so we may go out of business.") (“Champagne tastes like cider cut with a knife.”)

"The harvest was ruined by ‘bad’ weather..." "FROST i.e. frozen dew, could wipe out much of Brazil's coffee crop. The price could shoot up in shops" (27/6/1994) ("Covering the Earth over with sheets of polythene is the cheapest way to keep the Earth warm...") "We have an acre under glass..." ("Plastic cloches, big and small, better than glass houses. Cheaper and SAFER…") (“… it’s the LIGHT at the end of the tunnel!”) “… it’s A GREEN HOUSE…” New-style. Transparent? Or tinted to stop plants burning? Unbreakable? ”… it’s as tough as growing grapes.”) (“… with the surplus grown in my polytunnel…”) ("What plants are you going to grow in it?") "(Most) plants like to be sprayed with a fine mist of water…” (H'mm. An automatic variable sprinkler?) LIQUID FEED = “Hydroponics. Growing crops in water, with Organic food... Marijuana growers know a lot about Hydroponics... Ready-made kits available... Great if top soil lacking.” (“… it’s an ESSENTIAL bit of KIT…”) "BOFFINS in Singapore have developed plants that grow in the air without soil. They hope to set up roof-top farms to solve a land shortage" (The Sun, 21/11/1992).

PREDICTED (not by me): “Hydroponic towers.” "NEEDED LIKE A HOLE IN THE HEAD: Skin cancer. Just remember to always wear a head covering." (Long, loose white flowing robes is sensible attire in extreme heat). "THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE DEPENDS ON YOU."

(Ireland, October, 1993).

"TONS OF FISH DESTROYED by angry fishermen. Angry the competition can charge a lower price" 307

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understanding, in all things..." (said Max Stirner). "THERE IS NO SIN EXCEPT STUPIDITY."

(3/2/1994)

That’s disgusting. So disrespectful, and ungrateful… "The government has given permission for increased fishing- an extra 300 Spanish vessels will be allowed to fish in the Sea surrounding Ireland. The Spanish have used their fish stocks..."

WOULD YOU EAT YOUR PETS? "I can't live without my 4-legged friend..." "Animals relieve stress, tension... Such unconditional love. Animals are so full of

(13/4/1994).

"A new trawler costs £12 million... 40% of some areas are over-fished. Little Conservation efforts in Spain and France" (BBC, 23/11/1994). "The commercial slaughter continues. 80,000 dolphins and porpoises a year are caught in fishermen’s nets..." (1994). “They are still trying to find a way to stop dolphins being killed” (2005). “DOLPHINS ARE INTELLIGENT: Scientists have taught dolphins 60 different sign language words. They believe dolphins even have names for each other. Their groups are strengthened through play. They live in complex social groups. They can master exceptionally difficult skills. Some Scientists define intelligence as: Going beyond the boundaries. Dolphins receive full marks for versatility of behaviour. Dolphins co-ordinate to fish. Dolphins nurture, stroke their young. Dolphins are so clever! Their behaviour creates strong bonds…” (BBC, 24/2/2005). “A whale swam up the river Thames to the Houses of Parliament. After 2 days, the beauty died…”

trust..." ("I'm walking with the reindeer. It's the little things that matter most....") "The look on their faces: Please! Don't eat me..." "If only animals could speak!” EG. "I don't want to be on one of your lists..." "I need your love. Then I'll be coming home- you'll see. Oh, I've hungered for so long…” "Do I have the chance to grow?" "PLEASE HELP US." "We need a miracle before we can ask for one..." JOKE: "If animals could vote the country-side would be safe." ("Animals may be dumb but they're not stupid.") “ANIMALS DO HAVE FEELINGS. The finer sensibilities. Animals experience happiness, grief, fear, anger, love, compassion, pleasure, pain… We make good use of their intelligence EG. Guide dogs to help the blind, Hearing dogs to help the deaf, dogs that rescue people from drowning, and from the snow. Trained sniffer dogs… “Chimpanzees are the most intelligent at solving problems…” "There is increased concern for animal welfare...” A Nursery Rhyme: "A hunting we will go. We'll bully the fox and never let him go..." "HUNTING THESE DAYS IS NOT FOR FOOD. Killing is a way of life.” Uh? “The privileged few do what they like..." "… getting pleasure from the kill..." “The rabbit’s blood matches my tie! Ha Ha.” "Some men these days think it is funny to shoot anything that moves…" ("Why don't you just do skeet - clay disc..., shooting then?” "There's no need to kill! Where has your COMPASSION gone?") SPORT = “A level playing field. All players equally equipped…” "Fair Game? These are Defenceless creatures WHO CANNOT SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES.” “Who are YOU to snuff out life? What gives you the Right? Is death your trade? Only because you don’t know any better. You need to be re-educated.” "4 hunting packs of dogs kill approx. 130 deer each year. The dogs tuck into the stomach and entrails…” Fox hunting is as popular as ever among Conservatives (toffs) and (some) farmers. Hare hunting, badger baiting, dog and cock fighting still carry on illegally." "HUNT DOGS RUN WILD: A crazed pack of beagles owned by public school toffs terrorised a

"Treat all animals with respect, kindness and mercy." "If man is cruel to his beast, he is a wicked (Evil) man." “No man should ever beat an animal.” HOW DOES MAN LOOK AFTER THE ANIMALS? ANIMALS RIGHTS: "... I conclude there is no point in proceeding with this Bill supporting Animal Rights. There are all sorts of different animals! Are we supposed to give Rights to a fly?" (December, 1989) (House Flies are not animals. Flies are insects which can spread disease - flies bite creatures, laying 100’s of eggs inside them - the maggots infest their innards, fatally…) "The law to protect animal Rights will be IF The Treaty of Rome accepts amended animals have feelings…" (12/9/1991) squeak! ("You are waiting on some back road. Always on my mind...") "What is the difference between an Animal and a Human?" "Animals can't tell the difference between right and wrong..." “Doing things in a civilised way – it’s what sets us apart from the animals.” "Intelligence. We're supposed to be intelligent." "What is INHUMAN is the loveless egoist... The mind is man's weapon..." Moral Will? "Serving a GOOD cause is moral; 308

"Hunting is legalised, vicious thuggery. We need a revision of the law" (14/6/1993). "It is time the law was tightened to protect all wildlife" said a vet. "Awful acts of cruelty…" (18/8/1993). "Hunt protestors (who look scruffy compared to the hunters), get hit frequently and viciously by hunters... The hunters say: 'You're either fast or you're food'..." JOKE: "If you're on foot, you're trespassing. If you're on horseback, you're landed gentry." "... the people who try to stop the hunts usually come off worse..." "The peaceful protestors are described as: 'Saboteurs' and arrested..." "The police cross the boundaries of neutrality..." "We've got to look after the aristocracy" say the police. ("Couldn't you hunt down evil instead?") "The attitude of the police is outrageous!" "Authority is biased in favour of the yah-hoo." "Surrey council has banned blood sports on their land. Other councils also banning all hunting. But most hunting done on private land so decision wont affect them. It is mainly Conservatives who like hunting" (1/10/1993). "No piece of legislation has been passed by Parliament for the sake of the animals themselves. Whilst hunters trivialise, sensationalise the 'crimes' of animal Right campaigners, and the press continue to misrepresent..." "The (Conservative) Home Secretary has introduced tough new laws to protect huntsmen from animal rights campaigners!” (5/11/1993). "Activists accused of being so aggressive. Yet it is the hunters and the police who behave unacceptably aggressively! EG. Someone using a camera at a peaceful protest to try and provide evidence of abuse - is arrested for conspiracy and burglary! Serious charges... Their homes are raided... The Public Order Act is used to curb people's Rights to protest... Costly legal battlesusing the Libel laws is fruitful to the ruling fraternity- is a tactic used to silence critics. The Right to protest is a fundamental Right in a Democratic society..." (Critical Eye, Channel 4,

town. They then savaged a deer to death in front of horrified families. The dogs from Marlborough College fox-hunt, ran out of control. The dogs ignored the commands of teen-age huntsmen..." (4/2/1990) (Give a dog a bloodied bone and the dog becomes more aggressive). "The Queen joined the hunt..." "BANNING BLOOD ‘SPORTS’ IS WRONG" said a spokesman for Blood ‘Sports’ (1991) "Hunting is a tradition." ("We always keeps our traditions, don't we?") "Britain allows blood sports to continue" (1992).

OUTRAGE: "Chased by dogs... How they hound me..." "How would YOU like to be chased by a pack of dogs, hunted, pulled to pieces, then eaten alive? This is not sporting!" "What about all the animals who have not got as much fight? We must help them." "Oh, shut up. You haven't got over Bambi's mother being killed." ("No. And I probably never shall." “Oh! Poor deer!”) (Hunt for it instead… Uh-Oh! What have I just said?) "’The League Against CRUEL Sports’ said clubbing 60,000 fox cubs to death should be made illegal. IF there was a vote in this country, most people would say: BAN cruel ‘sports.’" (Give it a try!) "They make a messy, bloody job of killing. Hounds are trained to rip animals apart - to killsee these animals as their Enemy." "Cubs must be culled and dispersed" said a landowner (4/8/1993). "HUNTERS GO WHERE THE BEST DEER IS..." "A wealthy land-owner had a stag shot on his land rather than see it tortured at the hands of huntsmen. The anti-blood sports campaigner ordered his gamekeeper to kill the mutilated animal which stumbled into his courtyard. It's fur was ripped and bleeding after being chased for 10 miles by the Quantock Stag-hounds- in Somerset. The pack of dogs was baying waiting for their quarry to escape. 'I know the hunt would have got it eventually... The question is, how they would have dispatched it'..." "Vegetarians are kind to ‘meat.’" "KINDNESS NOT CRUELTY!" "Opposed to hunting are those who believe in the preservation and protection of wild-life." "Challenging hunters can be dangerous - they resent interference..." ("They see red.") "Hunting is legal. Violence towards demonstrators who are against hunts is on the increase..." "We all remember George Adamson - the man who believed there is a place for the animalsthat nature and man should live together. The man whose story was 'BORN FREE.' George Adamson, shot dead..."

18/11/1993).

"Another disappointing blow for ‘animal lovers’:... Somerset council are not allowed to ban deer hunting on their land" (9/2/1994). "... there is a lobby who want to cull red deer ‘to allow regeneration of their habitat’..." (1994). "Petition with 1 million signatures delivered to Downing Street to support the Bill to stop Blood 'sports' (hunting) described as a 'legalised way of killing wildlife'..." (2/3/1995). "Animal Liberation is an Ethic. 'Its time has come!" "The police have set-up a special unit to track down animal Rights protestors" (9/3/1995). "Shortage of Funds" = A CULL. "There is no 309

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alternative..." "They are culling reindeer ‘to stop them starving in winter’…" (1992). "Badger sects, now protected by law, are apparently now causing damage to building foundations... so farmers want badgers and moles to be destroyed. The dormouse is fast disappearing..." (25/5/1994). HOW MANY ANIMALS HAVE BEEN KILLED ON ROADS? "Badgers are endangering drivers... in the 8 weeks since the £40 million road opened ... 19 badgers, 30 foxes, and 5 deer from a nature reserve have been killed (and countless hedgehogs...) The badger tunnels built under the road were a waste of time. We measure the success of the road on the benefits they bring to the human population and not the animal population" (Evening Standard, 6/12/1993). "Squirrels regarded as pests..." "There has been a rising tide of CRUELTY to animals..." 1990: The RSPCA reported a record number of complaints- cruelty right across the board. More than at any time in history. An appalling catalogue. Pets, farm animals and wild-life. EG. Ears cut off. Animals left to die. The evidence is mounting up. Criminal acts against dogs. EG. 'Cold bloodily beat litter to death with a hammer'..." (April 1990) "Pets dumped on motorways..." "79 dogs suffocated to death packed in a truck..." "Animals bred for their organs... then discarded..." (This could soon be happening to Humans) (see: Cloning). 1992: “The RSPCA rescued 3,200 animals…” 1994: “The RSPCA tackled 90,000 complaints of cruelty against pets. Number of convictions for cruelty doubled. 3,000 successful prosecutions. 'We would like these people to be banned from owning animals.' NEGLECT, SADISM, STARVATION AND STUPIDITY..." (10/4/1994). "People mistreat their pets because they don't know any better." "The high cost of vets bills! Many families cannot Afford insurance or treatment." “Animals are just like people. They get ill- same as people. Animals get cancer…” "THEY SHOOT HORSES: ... only worth saving if animal is insured. Only worth insuring if a top racing horse. Who can Afford a horse that doesn't win top races?" (January 1994). "The long queues at the RSPCA!" "We need an International Health Service for Animals!" "Why should we have to pay VAT on medicine for pets? Pets are a luxury?" "We get a lot of letters from people wanting to know about alternative care..." “A worrying new trend. Snuff videos using animals” (2004) WARNING! “Some ‘people’ enjoy watching suffering and death!” "CLEANER AND GREENER and a better deal for

animals. Labour wants a cleaner, greener Europe, something that can only be achieved through collective action at European level. Labour MEP's have pledged to campaign for better conditions of animal transport, and to demand changes to The Treaty of Rome, allowing animals to be classified as 'sentient beings' rather than 'agricultural products.' (HURRAY!) “Labour's manifesto demands 'radical change' in the Common Agriculture Policy, and pledges Labour will work for policies which will sustain the rural economy- policies that will create jobs, assist small producers and encourage the protection of land from pollutants. New incentives will be offered to farmers to manage land in ways which are socially and Environmentally more acceptable" (Evening Standard, 23/5/1994).

"Labour have stalled - vociferous protests from the hunting supporters, threaten a revolt which could bring the Conservatives back into power at the next General Election. Even the Queen has said she will refuse to accept any new law that bans hunting... (2004). "Hunting is a ‘great’ British tradition..." TRADITIONAL = Can’t change ? "MPs are going round in circles- are in a muddle about this. The House of Lords voted for no ban. The House of Commons voted for a ban - many Conservatives voted for a ban knowing this could destabilise the Labour Party during the election..." (19/11/2004).

“Hunting with dogs was banned. Hunters say they will flout the law… Hunters will resist by not allowing (smelly) human waste slurry to be put on their land…” (Great! Such a valuable resource should not be wasted…) “HOUNDED: The hunting ban on foxes will be postponed to protect the General Election. The government do not want a campaign of civil disobedience against them. A legal challenge by ‘The Countryside Alliance’ who say a ban contravenes their ‘Human’ Rights! The government has caved-in to the bullies of the blood ‘sports’ lobby” (23/12/2004) “The aristocracy always win.” (“The police are in a very difficult position…”) “A fox can reek havoc among lambs and chickens… because many farmers cannot be bothered to take precautions to protect their flocks. Every year, 4 million lambs die from disease, malnutrition and exposure (hypothermia) within a few days of birth… Foxes do not kill for lust as ‘humans’ do - they kill to survive, and many knowledgeable farmers know foxes do more good than harm by keeping rats and rabbits under control… Hunts do not control foxes, that is why poisons and snares are cruelly used… Post mortems dispelled the myth that hounds kill with a 310

‘quick, sharp nip in the neck’…Hunts shoot their ‘beloved’ hounds age 5 – 9 years, up to 10,000 every year…” (L. Short, Herald Express, 17/12/2004). “More people are now joining … the hunt…” “… A llama will protect chickens from foxes, badgers and buzzards attacks…” (Western Morning

Congo: "As logging companies open the Forest... so chimps and guerrillas are slaughtered by poachers - traders take their orphans and sell them. Genetically, almost the same as Humansthey have an IQ of a 5 year old child and experience the same emotions. The need for the setting-up of sanctuaries..." (BBC, 25/10/1994). Australia: "More mammals have become extinct here than anywhere else in the world" (5/4/1994). "To wipe out every rabbit in Australia..." "Wild horses shot..." “THE SADISTIC SLAUGHTER of millions of kangaroos. Their national symbol (Skippy) is regarded as a pest. Despite their protected status, a loophole in the law allows (official figure) 3 million (unofficially) 6 million kangaroos to be barbarically slaughtered every year. Their meat is used to make pet food..." “The UK imports 70,000 kangaroo skins a year to make leather goods…” Bangladesh: "Every year, the legs of 300 million live frogs are sliced off - the top of the wriggling bodies thrown away. The frogs can take an hour to die." Borneo: “The orang-utans suffer psychological damage… behind each orang-utans in this sanctuary is a tragic story… as their forests are replaced for palm oil…” (BBC1, 3/4/2007). Canada: "70,000 baby Seals are clubbed to death every year." China: "100's of bears kept in cages so small bear can't move, with a tube stuck permanently in their gall-bladder to collect bile- 'a cure for everything'..." "An outbreak of flu killed 30,000 horses and left 1.5 million horses seriously ill in the most destructive epidemic since 1949. The situation is critical..." (31/3/1994). “An outbreak of rabies, 16 people have died. Culling the dogs and puppies rather than inoculating them” (August, 2006). Croatia: "Serbian forces napalmed a Forest which was home to 300 brown bears." Denmark: “Bacon industry sows spend the 16 weeks of pregnancy tethered alone in metal cages, unable to exercise or turn around." Ethiopia: "Zebras hunted for their skin to point of extinction..." Faros: "1,000+ pilot whales speared each yearmetal hooks plunged into their backs, dragged and hacked to death with knives. 100's left to rot." France: "... they don't suffer being trapped in a small dimly lit box from being a few days old. They are ‘comfortably housed,’ argue the French veal producers. This is our traditional method." ("I don't agree with depriving calves of their mothers from being 2 days old..." ) "Geese are nailed down, their wings pinned- a funnel is pushed down their throats- they are force-

News, 16/4/2005).

How Animals Suffer Around the World: Animals = "DENIAL OF HABITAT…" "SHOT, TORTURED AND TORMENTED…” “Animals are completely vulnerable. They have no choice. They have no say…” 1991: "5,000 species are threatened with extinction- species become extinct each day." Africa: "Great Apes in danger of extinction due to illegal trade in their meat." "Camels are so mistreated. They put bits of metal through their noses... the camels are beaten with sticks, kicked, whipped, bullied. Makes me ashamed to be a human being to see other socalled 'human beings' so cruel and abusing..." "... overloaded un-affectionately..." "Giraffes are skinned and sold for meat." "The 'great' white hunter / ‘explorer’ specialises in the extermination of 'vermin.' "Whilst Man is free to destroy the jungle - NO PEACE." "MANS BEST FRIENDS: "Elephant skins sold to make handbags, Texan cowboy boots and wallets." "Killed for 'white gold' (their tusks). The trade fuelled by unthinking tourists. BARBARIC. The discarded bodies of elephants litter the African bush. Orphans search for their lost mothers... Many elephants not killed instantlysometimes they take days to die..." (“The elephants were taken by surprise, weren’t they?”) "There's still time to save the elephant from extinction... but these days, when someone says 'good-luck' I take notice. Young Kenyans are risking their lives on a daily basis to try and stop the sheer menace of hunters with guns..." (1990) (Can’t you find another way to keep you occupied all day?”)

(RESIN can be made to look exactly like ivory, leather, tortoise shell, Mother of Pearl, marble, granite…) "1.3 million elephants 10 years ago. Now only 6,000 elephants left..." (March 1994). "I am sure if anyone had known these animals they wouldn't have killed them. Those animals had no enemy in the world, only the men that killed them." “Whilst elephants were being hunted in large numbers (one hunter could kill 1,500 elephants) there were a lot of jokes going around about elephants... There are now a lot of jokes going around about the need to save Planet Earth… (2004). 311

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fed 6lbs of salty, fatty maize every day to produce pate de foie gras." (“Geese are a good deterrent to warn of burglars…”) "13 million song thrushes killed by hunters every year. 1,000's of skylarks trapped in netsboth are considered delicacies." “Little birds like sparrows are trapped, put in black boxes, over-fed, drowned in alcohol, decapitated and eaten in one mouthful…” “Deer are stabbed with a long knife…” “There are no Anti-hunt campaigners …” Germany: "Cuddly bear cubs in zoos are bred to attract crowds... when they get older, they are sold off and slaughtered for £80 a carcass, ending up on the menu next to venison and rabbit" (The People,

licensed hunters..." (June 1990). "TO SAVE BIRDS FROM EXTINCTION... some people breeding captured species... The most obvious danger to birds is hunting and destruction of their natural habitat. Caught, for sale in pet shops- few survive. If birds are not surviving, this is indicative of an unstable Environment for Humans" (BBC 3/3/1993). What gives man the right to STEAL animals, birds etc., from their homes? ("Feed the birds... that's how it goes...") "ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING in wild animals is a market worth £10 - £15 Billion a year. They're stealing animals and birds that belong to you and me." "If I had known what they would do, I would have made my animal safe" said a victim of animal theft. "LOSS: The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, made a loss of £15 million... spending almost doubled to £18.5 million, following 5 years of heavy investment in protecting endangered species. 'It would be a great tragedy if we cannot continue our conservation work'..." (5/8/1993). “Many breeds of birds could be extinct by the end of this century…”

21/11/1993).

Hawaii: "Monk seals facing extinction as breeding grounds are destroyed by developers." Holland: "Britain has banned the barbaric practice of rearing calves in dark boxes to produce vealinstead they export 100's of calves to Holland who continue to do this." ("Holland has a farm population of 112 million in a country of 15 million people. Each year the animals produce 80 million tons of manure. The growing mountain of animal waste... What to do with it? A problem? This attracted the attention of a Dutch monarch who posed smiling for photos drinking water recycled from pig manure.") ("One donkey provides enough manure to fertilise acres." "Vegetarian farmer, Billy Wilson, cannot bear to kill his animals- so he makes a pile selling their manure.") (“Many people think pigs are dirty! In fact, pigs are very clean creatures. They love to have a patch of mud to roll in and a bath to soak in…”) ("Donkeys are the latest thing to protect farms and houses. More than 2,000 guard donkeys are now employed across Britain watching over live-stock, to guard against attacking dogs, foxes and coyotes.") ("Animals know when there is danger. Animals are a good early warning of danger.) India: "Sloth bears killed for gall-bladders. The bear's paws are a delicacy." Indonesia: "Bird dealers endangering 120 different species of birds..." Italy: "6,000 illegal snares found in 1 day, by 2 men... Breeds hunted to extinction. 2 - 3 million migratory birds killed in 1 poaching season in 1 valley. Robins, blackbirds... Man has turned these valleys into hell..." (1990). "SHOOTING BAN DOOMED… after an unprecedented referendum, it became clear a move to ban the shooting of wild birds and restrict the use of pesticides throughout Italy was doomed. Approx. 42% of the electorate voted. A 50% turn-out is needed to make the vote valid. Shooting is one of the most popular ‘sports’ in Italy. Species are now at risk of extinction... Italy has 1,600,000

(15/12/2004).

Japan: "Tourists flock to bear parks in hope of seeing fights to the death over mates, lack of space..." Korea: "Dog meat is still a popular meal." "Dogs and cats used to be boiled alive before new laws introduced." Malta: "Colourful birds shot for fun, for stuffed bird collections." Morocco: "Donkeys, horses, camels neglected, under-fed, beaten and overloaded…” Namibia: "40,000 terrified Seal pups clubbed to death. 1992: 2,000 adult males mutilated so penises can be made into bizarre potions." New Zealand: "A 'sport' for tourists and locals. Chasing and shooting rabbits from helicopters. 'This is great fun!' Attitude: Rabbits are undermining grazing land. Rabbits are a bug, a menace. Rabbits will be exterminated by farmers..." (So much for people really loving cute little bunnies.) ("Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit, was so successful this was published in 20 languages.") Norway: "Whale hunters persist in using explosive harpoons and rifles to kill Minke whales." Pakistan: "Black bears have teeth and claws ripped out before being tied to stakes and made to fight pit bull terriers." Philippines: "Dogs front legs tied and forced over the dog's head, and sold for meat. The trade of wild monkeys to research labs in the West…" Russia: "The modern poacher swoops down upon prey from a helicopter, to track down and kill in the most brutal way... Brown bears are butchered for their gall bladder- or in the name of sport- their skull 312

decently if the alternative is a boycott of holidaymakers" ("5 million Brits spend their summer holidays in Spain") (The People, 24/7/1994). Taiwan: "Customs men seized a ship containing 28 tonnes of rooster's testicles, considered to be a delicacy by locals." JOKE: "Now they can't wake up." Turkey: "Bear cubs snatched from the wild trained to dance on a red hot tray under their feet." Uganda: "Ivory poachers regularly massacre elephants…" “Man’s nearest cousins- Chimps. 90% are gone due to deforestation. Are now eaten for protein! (Chimp’s now part of the commercial meat industry…) Deforestation creates chimp refugees. As the demand in the West for hardwoods increased, countries allowed logging to improve their economies… 90% of Cameroon logged… Chimps forced to ‘smash and grab’ to survive…” (BBC Nature 9/1/2006). USA: "17 million animals are trapped each year for their fur. Many traps are so painful, animals chew their own limbs trying to escape. For every fur animal trapped, 2 other animals (dogs, cats, deer etc) are trapped and killed. In 1987, 450,000 minks died on a fur farm from heat exhaustion" (1995). "The international fur trade claims 40 million animal lives every year (a conservative estimate). "A colossal toll on wild-life... The suffering and terror of these animals is immense... Additionally, millions of animals are trapped, killed and discarded, callously considered 'trash' because their fur is not the desired colour tone." UK: FUR FACTORIES: "Minks in shared cages all their lives (would naturally live near water, being semi-aquatic, preferring to live solitary, nocturnal lives). Fed slaughter house waste. A sure symptom of their distress is repetitive stereotyped behaviour EG. High incidence of selfmutilation- sucks / bites their own tails off- this is caused by the inadequate Environment / physical restrictions. There are 3 recommended guidelines for killing: Barbiturate injection, neck dislocation or inhalation of carbon monoxide (car exhaust). The UK has 55 mink factories. 1987 - 1988: 260,000 minks were sacrificed for their fur.” Rabbits: “10 million rabbits reared in cages every year- their flesh is eaten. The fur provides (real) 'fun fur.' There is no specific legislation governing the way rabbits are killed- this may be done by a blow behind the ears- some may be rendered unconsciously electric tongs before being slaughtered.” Foxes: “Foxes have social, family instincts. In factories, foxes are caged for life in small, barren cages and may develop foot deformities due to wire floors. Abnormal behaviour and self-mutilation often observed in these animals. Cannibalism

is the trophy. This is murder. It is not sporting to fire on an unarmed opponent" (6/4/1994). Senegal: "Largest exporter of birds EG. parrotsapprox.10 million birds a year. ¾ of the birds die before reaching pet-shops.” THE PET TRADE: “The way 100’s of 1,000’s of animals are boxed and stored (in planes etc) for the pet trade- 100’s of 1,000’s never make it.” Spain: "25,000 traditional festivals a year, involving cruelty and slaughter of animals. The fanatic Spanish... A Catholic country. Day begins with Mass - then killing ritual... Live goats thrown from balconies, from top of church towers, dismembered chicken and geese heads thrown into the crowd, rabbits stoned to death - for fun?" "Spectacles are medieval and decadent" (1990) ("There are parts of my heritage I can do without!") “Goats are cheap to look after. One goat = 2 litres of milk a day!” "1,000's of bulls are tortured in fiestas. Steeltipped darts made by nuns, are fired at the bulls, turning him into a live pin cushion, in the hope of scoring a bulls eye." "Spain TORTURES AND KILLS 30,000 bulls a year. Big business worth £550 million a year, employing 20,000. Bulls have no chance. Specially bred by a money-making-machine, to be overweight, slow, awkward, stupid- fighting characteristics bred out. Bulls kept in a filthy subterranean world and tranquilised before the fight. (Horns filled with wax- set alight...) (are repeatedly stabbed... until, in agony, they bleed to death and are dragged out of the arena). 'We don't want to see animals win.' Not a fair fight. Ritual death. If not selected for fighting because they are too clever, sent for slaughter. Bull fights are funded by EEC Tax-payers..." (The Cook Report. ITV, 9/6/1994).

BULL RUNS: As the young bulls run through (the closed-off) (slippery) cobbled streets, people jeer and children lob Coke cans at them. The shocked bulls are terrified. You can see it in their eyesthey are thinking: ‘What are they doing to me?’ ("When you take a bull by the horns the result is a toss-up.") ‘The Fight Against Animal Cruelty’ (FAAC) are trying to combat traditional festivals involving the cruelty and slaughter of animals. Animal Rights campaigners have been shot at, stoned..." (Panorama, BBC, 12/9/1991).

"What can we do to help these poor creatures?" "Blood ‘sports’ should be banned across Europe. "Write to the Spanish ambassador and tell him you will never go to his blood-soaked country until his country-men start treating animals with respect. Spaniards are primitive, rather simple minded people who have few natural skills and rely entirely on their climate to make a living. But they have some native cunning and will start treating animals 313

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becomes common. A frustrated mother will often eat her young. 10 foxes are needed to make 1 coat." PROTEST: "It takes 40 dumb animals to make a fur coat... but only one to wear it." "Fur factories do not need Planning Permission as regarded as: 'Agricultural pursuit'..." (UK: "Following Greenpeace's campaign to end this

that UNDER-ANAETHETISED animals were used in experiments at the National Institute for Medical Research in London" (10/5/1990). “19,000 researchers are experimenting with animals in GB. ‘The Animal Liberation Front‘ starting a new campaign… 'We have enormous public opinion on our side.'” “Anarchists are ‘shadowy terrorists’ said animal researchers. 'We don't know who they are. There is a large reward for anyone who knows who is responsible.' Britain has tight controls to stop animals suffering" (Channel 4, 11/6/1990) "There are only 18 Home Office inspectors to check on 22,000 licensed animal experimenters." "Britain is set for a new wave of bombings by animal Rights fanatics" (police warned, 18/6/1990) ("Who taught these ‘animals’ how to make bombs?") "Nobody knows why they bombed... £1,000's of structural damage caused. No-one hurt. Their intelligence must be poor" (said D. Waddington,

misery in August 1990, tons of furs were destroyed.")

Zanzibar: "Turtles are killed for their meat, eggs and shells are then sold to tourists" (1993). "’The World Wildlife Fund’ has not managed to save the Panda…" ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS: "GROTESQUE experiments..." "The suffering of these animals..." Animals are so misused! "Men have cells, but no brains: For more than 25 years, Prof. Ruskell has conducted cruel and worthless experiments on countless innocent monkeys. In one experiment, 18 monkeys had part of their skulls removed to expose the brain. Various cranial nerves were probed with hooks, severed and removed causing severe and permanent visual damage and paralysis of the head. After being sewn back together and kept alive for 20 days they were then killed. This was done by severing the jugular vein, cutting open the chest and injecting a lethal injection straight into the heart. The monkey’s heads were then cut off and pickled in preservative ready for dissection…" "Blinded by Science..." "LIFE IS HELL: ... the animals suffer such pain, their only release is death... Animal testing done in utmost secrecy..." "Since 1982, Anti-vivisection societies... have been prevented by court orders from organising protests against Boots the Chemist use of animal experiments..." "... painful mutilations of animals are routine before the actual testing procedure starts. The unfortunate ones surviving then undergo a cruel series of painful experiments- dogs, cats, rats, mice, guinea pigs, monkeys- all suffer considerably..." (Ref. BUAV leaflet). “Products are tested on animals to ensure safe to use on humans? Ibrufen: Side Effects: 3443 cases of serious damage done to stomachs, 2654 cases of serious liver, kidney or skin damage- 6097 cases of these serious adverse side-effects, 1247 cases fatal" (British Medical Journal statistics, 3/5/1986). 1988: "It has become clear to me that essentially all experimental work using animals is irrelevant vis-à-vis application to humans” (said Dr. N.

Conservative, The Home Office, 1990).

Popular Hoots / JOKES: "What's the difference between a dead yuppie and a dead hedgehog? There's brake marks in front of the hedgehog!" "Why's it better to use yuppies than animals in experiments? The lab technicians don't get to attached to them!" "We feel ethical committees should be set-up so everyone in the community can have a say. There is far too much secrecy at the moment" (28/7/1990). "IMPRISONED WITHOUT A TRIAL..." "3 million animals experimented on in Britain each year" (Anti-Vivisection statistic, 1992).

"After years of campaigning to stop Britain experimenting on monkeys the trade still goes on, attracting substantial sums of money- many companies invest in vivisection despite public protests" (13/4/1994). "’Unwanted’ baboon… corpses..." "After 170 years of LAWFUL campaigning, animal abuse has worsened. So now tactics by animal Rights activists have hardened." "Things are bad for people... worse for the animals." "The term: 'Political Prisoners' now applies to us all." ANIMAL LIBERATION: "For every activist, there are a dozen sympathisers" (who do nothing). "One can only expect to convert a percentage of the public to cruelty-free living. The majority, through apathy, selfishness and darn-right wickedness will continue to finance animal abuse through their consumption of animal and animal-tested products..." (wrote an animal rights

Buyukmihci, Professor of Vetinary Ophthalmology, University of California, Oct/Nov issue of Outrage).

protestor- in a letter smuggled out of prison).

"Approx. ½ the population is against animal experiments for the cosmetic industry.” “They are experimenting on animals to make more money. The animals don't suffer? We have

"... sentencing animal Rights protestors, the judge said they had done everything to make sure nobody was hurt..." "Labour MP's demanded an inquiry into allegations 314

"Familiarity breeds contempt? Far from it." "City Farms Threatened with Closure: Unable to Afford high rents..." (1993) ("HELP PEACE EFFORTS!") “CITY FARMS are now the most popular tourist attraction" (UK, 1997). "BRINGING JOY TO SICK CHILDREN: If you have a sick child... you can put an animal EG. a cat, in their lap- they can stroke the animal and this acts as a distraction. If kids are withdrawn- if they have blocked everyone out, we find the animal becomes a conversation piece and gives them a contact with the outside world... Parents are helped as well as children" (said a play specialist at the Ormond Hospital for

no way to gauge that as experiments all done behind closed doors. Animals forced to consume substances- some toxic EG. pesticide. People trying to stop the abuse of animals labelled 'trespassers' by the Conservative Party. Police have files on at least 21,000 animal Rights campaigners, the majority of whom are engaged in perfectly lawful activity. The police remove all evidence i.e. diaries, computers etc." (Critical Eye, Channel 4, 18/11/1993).

"I Billion animals killed each year in experiments" (UK: 1995).

ZOOS: "These animals were trapped, stunned, roped, doped and crated against their will..." "Behind Bars... in concrete cages..." "This is not a natural Environment!" Animals behind bars- in jail! These are wild animals. How would YOU feel in a cage? "CONFINED: .. they live apart, in cages, with bare concrete floors... are only able to walk a few paces. Not even a pool to swim in. There is nothing but the boredom of captivity. They sit all day... sometimes exposed to the elements without shade... many animals are suffering from mental problems because of their frustration... They have both died now." "Even the zoo keepers are suffering because they cannot give the animals what they need." "Some antelopes in zoos now have BIV..." ("Outrageous behaviour- will this convince everyone?") "Animals freaked, spooked, pacing relentlessly, lethargic..." "Do the animals look happy?" "No" (re: London zoo,

Sick Children).

"There is very good evidence that using animals as therapy works with older people. I am convinced of the importance of the influence and benefit of animals to humans" said the British Psychological Society (10/4/1994). "STROKING A PET IS GOOD FOR YOU. This is something the NHS are now taking seriously. Therapeutic value. Can help with a wide range of problems. Doctors agree. Now prescribing 'donkey therapy' i.e. going to a donkey sanctuary. Companion Animal Studies proves psychological benefits. EG. reduced risk of heart disease. Animals bring back balance to our lives. Animals don't compete with you. Consistent improvement in morale of humans. The chance to nurture, cuddle, love. You can share, exchange. Increased laughter... People will live happier, healthier lives just because of being in (loving) contact with animals" (Health Check, BBC, June, 1995). “Children being around animals is good. It teaches them about birth, life, responsibility, and death. It’s how children should be brought up, not stuck on some god-forsaken council estate…” "A well fed animal is a happy animal..." Needed: "A simple change of attitude." "Many animals are need of a good home..." "There are many Homeless animals..." "I have the strongest urge to say they must understand what Humanism means or they won’t know when Freedom no longer exists. And that they must either be the best- masters of their ideas and themselves- or chose the best to lead them. I could wrong, Levin thought. 'I'm no judge. Imagine,' muttered Levin. 'Perfect'..." “RING THE CHANGES. If they had based their life on Humanitarian principles..." SAVE THE ANIMALS! Please Hear the call! "We are far from a stable situation..." "This is the crux of the matter- re-organisation..." "All that's holding it up is official clearance." "Peace to the animals."

Greater London Radio, 14/12/1993).

"Animals now being sedated" (1997). (BLOOD ON THE WIRE: There has been enough barbed wire produced to circle the Earth 6 times." "Farm animals. Terrible injuries caused by barbed wire. EG. Horse tried to jump over barbed wire fence - ripped its stomach open...”) ("Some day we will all be as free as horses...") CITY FARMS: "The growth of the City Farms to serve the local community (1,200 people). Goats, herb gardens for eating and medicines, glass houses ('greenhouses'). All kitchen waste used. Growing plants to dye wool. It's good therapy. Everyone can join in. Allotments with disabled access... Children learn to respect animals..." (London 1990) ("Mixed blessings..." "Making peace with creativity." "In this world, we are just beginning to understand the miracle of living..." "Let's make this world a beautiful place." "Nature's way..." "Instinct leads to it..." "All creatures are at one with nature. If we learn from their virtues...") 315

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THE FUTURE? "THE SILENT REVOLUTION: Will fast, booming big businesses get complete control over the bio-chemistry of plants, animals and Humans? Patenting cells… Profound MORAL implications..." "PREPARE FOR LIFE: Let's make another sound. The sound in my dreams. Say I wont let it go, no, no, no." "I wonder what I can do to put things right in my life, now that I've seen the light..." "If you want to remain romantic, here's what you have to do..." "Have the guts to start again." "Promises can only be met if there's growth..."

316

… plastic money-bags, purses, cheque book covers, pens, plastic plugs (PLUGS: “The EEC has plans to change all British plugs- to bring these in line with other European countries. That’s a joke, isn’t it? Their standard is a lower than ours. What a waste of precious plastic.”) … plastic sockets, conduit, circuit boards, folders, visors…… plastic printing cartridges ("300 million dumped annually.") … plastic chopping boards, traffic cones, riot shields, margarine containers, fast food packaging… ("Supermarkets generate huge amounts of plastic…") … plastic medicine bottles, syringes ("Nearly all plastic used in medicine is made from coal…") …plastic jewellery, rain Macs, razors, containers for sweets, cigarette lighters, “SAFETY HELMETS: “We tried smashing a plastic hard hat - sort found on building sites, with a hammer. Good things. Didn’t break! Gave it all we’ve got” said 2 BT engineers (1993). ADVERT: “… so STRONG an elephant could stand on it without breaking it... “ (Tonka?) … plastic TOYS. SO MANY plastic toys! Many tested to be virtually indestructible… (“Children love testing everything to destruction…” (toys have to be Super-Strong!) Frisbees: “The military studied the Frisbee to see if this could be used as a weapon.” Rubik Cubes: “10 million people bought one - 4 new puzzles have been launched since…” 1988: ADVERT: “BUILD AND PLAY TOY TUBES: The FUN construction set for girls, suitable for ages 4+. Sturdy plastic pieces join together. Makes many different play accessories EG. chairs, baby walker, stroller, high chair, rocker, slide, recliner. Easy to assemble and take apart. No tools required. 68 pieces in a deluxe set” (Copyright M & S

CHAPTER 9: WASTE "WE TAKE PLASTIC FOR GRANTED": Just how many things today are made from plastic? … waste bins, bin liners, ashtrays, cigarette lighters, potties, nappy sacks, feeding bottles, cat loos, pet beds, plant pots, plastic fruit, brushes, mops, combs, drinking straws, milk bottles, milk crates, suntan lotion bottles, cooking oil bottles, ice cube trays, picnic sets… “Perfect for the job…” “TUPPERWARE: Storage containers. Introduced because this was hygienic. Sold through a catalogue. To keep goodness in, badness out. Very much a sanitary product. Free from insects and vermin. Invented by Earl S. Tupper- a reclusive chemical engineer, who left DuPont in 1942 to experiment with new plastics technology. He used a plastics waste product - black, putrid - referred to as ‘slag’. He created a brilliant new productpolyethylene- a pure, white, translucent, non-toxic, odourless substance- almost Heavenly- God-given. A miracle transformation” said Alison Clarke, a British historian at Brighton University. All you have to do to seal Tupperware is to snuggle the top of the rim of the bowl and press. Seal made good with a so-called Tupperware burp. Seal took advantage of the flexibility of polyethylene. The top was made smaller than the diameter of the bottom of the bowla raised groove creates tension- the groove flexs out when pressure applied, but snaps back to original shape once in position, forming a smooth water & air-tight seal. Can be refrigerated. Worries in the kitchen could be banished. Tupperware offered more than the technology for keeping bad odours at bay. The Tupperised Cupboard: All products for the kitchen could be stored in a well ordered fashion. It was keeping things in their right places- very important” (BBC, 24/10/1994) (“Now there’s a man who could make the dark change into light… A man who understands how it should be. He told me to close my eyes, don’t let grace go by…”) "Like to hold a Tupperware party to make some cash?" "Would you like to look at these Air-tight plastic containers?" "Very useful. Very convenient." “Very popular!” (“… it’s the item we’re all looking for!”) “We need more finesse!” “STACK ‘N STORE: Plastic containers, some with lids. Bright colours. Brilliant. I wish these were made bigger…” (1992). … plastic Garden furniture… ADVERT: “Table covers, garden chair covers, hammock coversmade from strong, water-proof, woven polythene which are protected against UV sunrays. Save your valuable hammock from the destructive forces of the wind, rain and sun with this tough all-over cover. Rust-free eye-lets to keep it fixed” (Ideal Home mail order catalogue, 1992). … plastic tumblers, CD's, videos… ("Cut. That's a wrap." "The film industry uses tons of plastic.")

Shiller, Brooklyn, New York).

“There aren’t many MODULAR designs about. Problem is the fixing. If pieces only pushed together, may not get pushed enough to make a strong connection, so danger of structure collapsing” (said the owner of a toy shop, UK, 1992). "The UK toy industry is worth £1 Billion” (1992). … plastic inflatables: "An inflatable toy castle used for jumping on by children - not tied down, took off with 4 children on board" (UK, 1992). Plastic Housings… for computers: "Americans throw away 10 million computers a year." Plastic Housings… for lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners, radios, hairdryers, telephones, power tools, cameras.. . the list is endless. But no HOUSINGS to PROTECT PEOPLE! WAH! “MODERN HOMES. THE NEW APPROACH?” “SCRAPYARD BITS INTO TOMORROW’S HOME: In the future, people will live in homes made from 317

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everything. It has saved lives, helped put men into space... plastic has revolutionised our lives..." "It's the stuff of alchemy and it has a very humble role as a utility material - tolerated, enjoyed, it is functional and beautiful... How could we exist without it?” “THE 21ST CENTURY. Tap in a few numbers. Everything's plastic. It's fantastic!" "I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth..." "Plastic is replacing metal..." "(Thanks to NEW MOLDING techniques… Plastic LIBERATES us... new shapes, new designs. The Mother Earth thing - round shapes... Space-Age design gives us hope, a bright outlook. It has a futuristic appeal. Be into roundness. It's nifty, funny, zany- that's why I like it..." "Its new shape..." "Its simple curves..." "Its simplicity itself." "It's so fine, so fine." “Plastic is usually thought of as ‘unnatural’ even though fashionable hair gels, the latest silicone implants and the slinkiest of nylons are made from plastic composed of the same atoms and molecules as trees and flowers. Ever since plastic 1st appeared more than a century ago, it has had a struggle to prove its worth and no matter how hard designers and critics have tried to make plastic acceptable, traditionally it has been seen simply as a cheap substitute for luxurious natural materials. But it is an alternative to horn, tortoise-shell, ebony, marble and other precious substances in short supply. Catching up with the imaginable and the future for this versatile material looks extremely exciting.” “Plastic is the face of the future.” “… it’s DISPOSABLE.” = chuck it in the bin “…it's not worth anything” ? "We are choking on plastic waste." "’Rubbish’: One of the biggest causes is plastic waste going into landfill sites." "650,000 tons of Non-Biodegradable Plastic dumped in landfill sites each year" (UK?) "At present, 1% of plastic waste is recycled"

discarded beef burger packs and bits of car trim reclaimed from the scrap-yard, according to representatives of GE Plastics, an American multinational company producing advanced plastics. The claim was made when the company recently unveiled its revolutionary new house in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The colonial-style house…

… almost 1/3rd of which is made from recycled and advanced polymers and resins, makes use of advanced design and building methods. They are meant to demonstrate that plastic is the material of the future for cheaper, safer and more easily constructed homes. ‘We are very excited in sharing with you what we feel the future home is’ Mr. Uwe Wascher, vice President of marketing for GE Plastics, told architects and builders. The 3,000 sqr ft, 4-storey building features a façade that resembles timber, achieved by using a plastic claimed to be damp resistant, damp-repellent and flame-resistant. The matt black plastic door with an inlay of cherry wood has a built-in infra-red sensor and camera that produces a photo of the visitor. Inside the walls are of corrugated plastic, offering strength and fire resistance. Polymer films control the level of light through the windows and the translucence of the glass can be switched by adjusting an electrical switch, giving the option of clear windows or opaque glass for privacy or shade. The floor has a wood finish, but a plastic base allows wiring and piping to be discreetly run throughout the house. The roof tiles are flame, moisture and warp resistant. Company representatives say the great advantage is malleability, versatility and low weight for shipping and handling. A GE spokesmen said: ‘You don’t paint it. You just replace it’…” (The Times, 28/10/1989) (A Non-biodegradable? Disposable? Or Recyclable? Standard-looking house? RESIN to repeat traditional mistakes? Wrong Approach!) "PLASTIC: It’s THE FABRIC OF THE 1990's." "Washable, hygienic and cheap, plastic has become the favoured material for almost

(14/9/1990).

DUMPED: "You've thrown it away!" "…it's all gone now." "That's the way it goes... saying it's all a load of rubbish! It's not rubbish! It isn't rubbish! It isn't rubbish! It's not a heap of trash. It's plastic - it's worth SAVING! Stupid... to throw… it ... all... away!" "Please! DON’T waste it…" VANISHING PLASTIC because they say: "There's no money in it…" “’NEW’ DEVELOPMENT: The continuous plastic bag for super-markets. Now each item can be wrapped individually in a bag made to fit” (1990) WAH! "There could be a SHORTAGE of plastic soon..." "Here today, gone tomorrow…” “You never know what's around the corner..." The WASTE of it all! 318

the end that can be made from it'..." “Is all the plastic from CARS recycled? Average life expectancy of a car is 11 years. A car is made using at least 8 different types of plastic. A lot of the plastic could be recycled. Charge builds up on the plastic, different static properties denotes which type of plastic… Instant Identification Plastic is cheap. Some say it’s not worth recycling. At present going to landfill..." "By weight 95% of a car will be recyclable by 2015, compared with 75% of the 1.5 million currently scrapped annually" (1994). “Plastics used to make lorry springs, hip joints, heart valves, and Concorde's nose. It can conduct electricity, be stronger than steel and more transparent than glass. Plastics have thrown away their cheap and nasty image. Are now collector’s items, gaining value" (12/3/1994). “Each week container ships leave British ports bound for the Far East full with plastic waste…” (24/8/2001) (Any way they can, they waste and rubbish plastic. One day they will regret this…) "WHAT WE NEED IS A GREAT BIG MELTING POT?" (1960’s song). "86% of plastics used today are Thermo-set i.e. cannot be re-melted (means: If heated to melting point, the plastic decomposes...") "... polymers shrink when heated..." (Ref.

UK: "Little done by plastics industry to recycle... The Plastics Federation said: 'No quantity collecting. Costs too high to warrant investment. If more collected, costs justified.' Failed to get any interest in plastic bottle recycling - they're so cheap to make. We can't get any money out of it, so it won’t be done." EXPERT: (studied recycling for 20 years): "Government has to take the lead to appoint a minister to create Tax incentives. Industry says difficult to take a lead as no profit- same as car industry" (14/9/1990) ("Plastics are a growth industry which will respond to demand...") "MOUNTAINS OF PLASTIC WASTE: Is there any point in collecting it? Some types of plastic bottles recycled to produce fibres for clothes, carpets. Recycling plastic is very difficult. Bales take a lot of space. Each item has to be hand sorted and identified as many different types of plastic used... Wealthy homes throw away twice as much as council tenants" (8/10/1993). GERMANY's GOOD WORK -v- UK's LETHARGY: "Rubbish from Germany is ‘threatening’ Britain's recycling efforts. Germany sends waste to UK. So much waste! Can't deal with it. Paper and plastic. System over-loaded. 400,000 tons of plastic. Much more than we thought. LinPacs plastic recyclers fear recycling may collapse. Tim Yeo, UK minister in charge, says it is unfair to dump waste on us. Need way out. 'We have to stimulate follow-up' said the German Environment minister. Germany is having to lower their standards regarding recycling!" (28/10/1993) (LinPac make

www.askascientist.com ).

performance

“These days specialists can recycle plastic without this problem occurring.” “LOW HEAT AIDS RECYCLING: A new US technique allows plastics to re-molded without using heat to melt / weaken them. MIT (Massachusetts

“Anything made from virgin plastic can be made from recycled plastic” said LinPac…” "... in Germany the strictness of the packaging ordains has given rise to instances of cargos of plastic being shipped abroad, because there is no money to be made from it... German rubbish has turned up in landfill sites in Portugal and South Africa...” (17/9/1992). "GOT SO MUCH PLASTIC WASTE BUT DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH it: German people now have another bill to pay - the rubbish bill. Rubbish from each household is weighed by truck households receive a bill according to how much rubbish is disposed of. So many German people are into recycling. Have been ‘too successful at it.’ Now many DUMPS of plastic waste just waiting for someone to deal with it. Until there's a market for it..." (19/9/1993). UK: "Plastic producers pay to collect waste. 10,000 tons of plastic waste they don't want. Can't they do something useful with it? We are building MOUNTAINS of WASTE we can't use. A British industrialist re: Plastics, said: 'There's no point getting all that waste if there's no useful products at

a system whereby plastic can be shredded and remolded 10 times without changing their properties. Thus making recycling less energy intensive and make recycling more feasible. Molding at room temperatures could eliminate problems…” (BBC, 26/11/2003). “A team at Cornell University hope C02 could one day be collected & used to make plastic – similar to polystyrene… having done experiments with orange peel. This could provide an alternative building block to using oil.” (WHEN?) JAPAN: “Plastics reprocessed to make insulation & roofing materials…” (BBC, 20/1/2005). UK: “75% of councils do not recycle plastics as there is no use for it. Each year Britons get through 5 million tonnes of plastic. Barely 1/10th of this is recycled. Therefore much goes into landfill or the incinerator - up in smoke.” THROWING MONEY AWAY: "Take it away at once" say non-thinking consumers. "PUT it OUT with the rubbish.” “GOOD riddance to BAD RUBBISH." UK: "20 million tons rubbish thrown away annually. Of this, 80% is recyclable."

vacuum extruded polystyrene high insulation board, CFC Free Polyfoam).

Institute of Technology) in Cambs, USA have developed

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UK: "In paper, we consume the equivalent of a FOREST the size of Wales every year." "6 million tons of paper and cardboard are imported into the UK every year. ½ is thrown away." "The USA and UK import huge quantities of paper... the cost of doing that..." "We discard up to 10 times our body weight in textiles, paper, glass, plastic, metal and kitchen waste." “WHAT is in an average BIN? 36% paper, 9% metal, 10% glass, 4% textiles, 21% food waste, 6% plastic, 14% other materials. 25% of the average dustbin is vegetable waste. Additionally, a lot of wood is thrown away" (Ref: Friends of the Earth

noisy dustcart... the pipe sticking out of the roof, belching out smoke. Are they burning ‘rubbish’ as they drive along?" "One poor dustman got his foot stuck in a crushing lorry… at Christchurch... he was in agony!" “Volume of rubbish is reduced by squashing & grinding…” “Anything that has been shredded and mixed, cannot be recycled.” UK: “Sales of dustcarts have really gone through the roof! This model costs £100,000, and this is not top of the range…It’s become very BIG business, moving rubbish” (1990). “In HOT countries, rubbish has to be removed daily to prevent outbreaks of insects…” GREECE: DUSTBIN STRIKE: "The Acropolis, shrouded in brown smog, is surrounded by uncollected rubbish as a dustmen's strike enters the 9th day in Athens. Fears are growing that the rotting piles and the pollution could pose a health hazard..." (19/1/1990), UK: "Running out of landfill sites…" (1990). "53,000 tons of rubbish every day in Great Britain. Takes land and space. Rubbish covered with soil to stop it blowing away... now trying ‘something new’ i.e. covering it with foam - an elastic membrane to keep smells in, pests out. Will allow methane gas to escape. More rubbish still piled on top. Still under test. Regarded as being 'more efficient' (by Mrs Thatcher)…" (1990). "We in the middle classes have nothing to lose but our comfort…" "Every person in London produces almost ½ a ton of rubbish a year. Commerce and industry produce 11.5 million tons a year. 1.5 million tons goes to landfill. 500,000 tons are incinerated. The remainder goes to other counties, like Essex, to be dumped..." (1994). "LANDSCAPES ruined by tips." "The PONG!" "Landfill sites are badly maintained." (Fleas, rats, excreta...) "Now MORE RATS in Britain than people!” "Some people think there's a new plague on the way..." "Several thousand rats near the rubbish dump. People do live nearby. There will come a time when there is another Black Death - only this will spread right across Europe to a greater degree- a population controller, unless rubbish dumping is nipped in the bud. SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED!" ".... the boy is now recovering after being gnawed whilst he slept at his family’s council home - the rats (which spread disease... the new 'super rats' are immune to poison...) got into the house... His Mum said his bed was covered in blood - she thought he had been stabbed- it is too horrific to think about..." (“The cat ate the rat…”) SEA GULLS: Debate: “Should we shoot them? They

Recycling Directory, 1991).

"DANGERS OF METHANE: Many people live on top of old rubbish dumps. Methane gas can gather, seep-out, explode... lethal quantities, a risk to life. Landfill sites are a risk to public health. Government has allowed crisis to creep up. Hardly any councils have tested sites for safety, those few tested all have a methane problem. No gas yet found in houses. But not safe to start a car. EXPLOSIVE levels monitored. Houses being demolished. Tenants being evicted! Council sold houses after they knew there was a problem! Houses described as a 'tinder box.' Private house-holders not told- no tests done. Government repeatedly alerted but stopped research. Failed to see consequences. Government going to legislate. Is the answer to dig a trench all round these houses?" (16/10/1990) (Give them an alternative!)

Methane Gas = An Explosive Time Bomb (methane is smelly...) "Methane Gas could be a main contributor to The Greenhouse Effect.” “Methane is 10 times stronger than C02…” "TREES are not bearing fruit- they're dead or dying due to methane gas." UK: "At Arpley, Cheshire, Biotreatment is involved with a group that will use soil microbes to draw out and use methane from a new dump that will receive 13 million tonnes of rubbish during the next 25 years. At peak production, the tip will yield 6 million therms a year" (1990). UK: "It’s the COUNCIL'S FAULT": "Regarding our rubbish filled streets, the councils are to blame for all the litter, not louts as they so rudely suggest. Shop-keepers are told to tie up rubbish in black bags and put these out for collection. This rubbish is all along our streets, often spilling out, in little semblance of order. People with their take-away food happen along and view this as a way of disposing of unwanted items. Councils should address this problem before criticising others" (letter by A. Richardson).

are a noisy pest…” “Don’t feed the Sea-gulls.” “She was attacked…The seagull cut her head...”

UK: "THE NOISE OF THE DUSTBIN CARTS! At 5am the dustbin men arrive in their exceedingly

“Sea gulls do have a purpose. They excrete 320

considered viable to recycle plastic. Most is bailed and sent away for reprocessing…” EXPERT: "... Some companies have tried blending plastics to make products such as traffic cones and park benches but there is a limit to the number of road cones people want...” (You could try to widen the range...) THE HOUSE BUILT OF JUNK: A resource conserving home, built from recycled materials, was made ‘The National Assoc. of Home Builders Research Centre.’ This was made from old steel, shredded newspapers, wood mill scraps, plastic roof tiles supplied by GE Plastics, and recovered mineral wool, recycled copper... Fast food containers were a problem... The Research Centre has dozens of such projects..." (Popular

much-needed goodness into the Sea…” (Man upsets their natural fishing at Sea by leaving rubbish everywhere. Seagulls come inland to scavenge food scraps especially from rubbish dumps. (We might get rid of them from our towns by leaving fish-scraps for them regularly on the beaches near cliffs).

1990’s: The Buzz phrase: “Think GLOBALLY. Act LOCALLY.” "WE ARE MAKING THIS WORLD UNINHABITABLE…" "750,000 Plastic and paper disposable nappies are needed for orphans each day." “… will take 600 - 800 years to disintegrate in landfill.” “It takes 500 years to decompose plastic carrier bags.” Now companies are selling devices to seal each nappy in a plastic bag to reduce odours...” (1990).

Science Magazine, January 1993).

“The architect, Michael Reynolds, calls his houses: ‘Earth Ships.’ Aluminium drinks cans cover the Earth (mud) walls. He uses car tyres with Earth rammed in with a sledge-hammer. Makes a strong, 3ft thick wall which maintains a 70 degree geothermal temperature. Uses bottles and cans for infill i.e. walls & partitions. Wooden frames, doors and ceilings. Earth is a good material- so are steel tyres. Both are readily available with no cost (i.e. additional burden) to the Environment” (BBC2,

should at least use BIO-DEGRADE* for nappies and bin bags!) (“The UN’s ‘Clean Up The World’ event focused on reducing the use of plastic bags…”) "WOEFUL DAYS & WASTEFUL WAYS…" NEW YORK: "27,000 tons of mixed ‘rubbish’ put in land fill sites every day." "200,000 tons of paper used every year." (1990). "If all the bags of rubbish Yanks dump in one week were lined up they would circle the Earth 6 times. They throw out 60,000 bags a minute." "The number of town and cities in the USA with recycling schemes has swelled from 140 to 2,700…” “Both sides of the Atlantic now suggest recycling may not benefit the Environment as much as many believe, and is certainly not as economically viable as hoped. Recycling is a complicated business. People are now aware of how rubbish is collected and sorted, but they forget about the marketing of the end product... Paper can only be recycled 6 times because the cellulose breaks down..." (Better to re-use 6 times than only once. That will save 6? HUGE FORESTS EVERY year!) "... therefore ‘EXPERTS’ are convinced refusederived fuel is the best way to dispose of household rubbish... " EXPERT: "Plastics are a good example, as they are derived from petroleum, and can be incinerated as a concentrated form of petroleum energy..." (Once plastic is burnt, it can never be re-used. For the sake of a few minutes energy, we have lost its potential to make something really longlasting and worthwhile.) EXPERT: "... Owing to the various molecular structures of different plastics, they should be recycled individually if they are to be used for their intended purposes... that is a tricky and expensive business..." EXPERT: “50 different types of plastic are on the market. Each has to be hand-picked. Therefore not (They

4/7/1994).

"... Countries such as Denmark, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain have started establishing incineration plants to burn household refuse to ensure some form of energy is recovered... More and more governments are legislating to encourage recycling but companies complain they are not given enough time to find out what is feasible, or necessary, or just a waste of time..." (“You know we need to speed it up, slow it down…If I could just make you turn around…”) (song.)

INCINERATION = WE HAVE TO CARRY ON MINING & CHOPPING TREES TO GET MORE RAW MATERIALS… "THE MASS BURN INCINERATOR releases poisonous gases into the atmosphere. Difficult to reduce pollution, or control for sure. British Plastics is advocating burning plastic to release its energy... Looking to make best use of oil reserves. We need to re-use- vital. We have to change. The waste years will wage on" (15/11/1992). EXPERT: “Everything chucked in? Car batteries contain large amounts of lead. Batteries cannot be economically recycled because they contain high levels of highly TOXIC materials. Denmark has banned Mercury oxide batteries. Rechargeable batteries have a very high Cadmium content..." EXPERT: "Batteries contain Heavy Metal. Contents do not bio-degrade. Should be illegal to throw batteries away. Burning rubbish puts a wide variety of DANGEROUS CHEMICALS in the 321

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joined a battle concerning the definition of 'overpackaged.' Just what does this mean?” (Far too

air- all sorts of impurities..." "Vacuum cleaner dust contains lead..." EXPERT: "Aluminium is one of the most expensive and POLLUTING metals... the metal is mined, much in tropical rainforest areas. The mining process destroys large areas of natural vegetation, leaving the soil bare. The resultant erosion causes rivers to silt up and huge quantities of slag contaminate the water supply...” “Aluminium costs £1,000 a ton so it is worth recycling" (1991) (Aluminium is used to make cars and planes…) EXPERT: “Phone the manufacturers. If they don’t know how to safely dispose of their products, they SHOULDN’T BE MADE.” EXPERT: "GOT MONEY TO BURN? Whatever you do, don't burn it. The smoke breaks down THE OZONE LAYER and contains cancer causing gas." PEOPLE SAID: "There won’t be any OZONE if you dafties don't stop burning all the rubbish!" "It's deadly serious. Think of the damage! What does it feel like to be exterminated?" "Waste disposal company 'Cory Environmental' want to build Europe's biggest Waste-to-Power incinerator in Kent, England" (12/5/1993). BURNING WASTE: “10 NEW WASTE INCINERATION plants awaiting Planning Permission / Construction…” (London, 1993). "TOXIC POLLUTION FEARS: ‘The London Waste Regulation Authority’ plan to build 5 GIANT INCINERATORS over the next 20 years, to cope with London's growing ‘rubbish’ mountain, has been widely condemned. Environmentalists want a logical approach. Incineration will add to pollution. Incinerators will damage air quality and the remaining ash contains a high concentration of toxic substances which is disposed of in landfill. Asthma levels are already way above the national average...." (10/3/1994). "IS RECYCLING A WASTE OF TIME? It saves energy. It saves Trees. It makes Eco-sense. Reusing it makes us feel good...” “80% of waste could be recycled… IF there was the will to do it…” “Collection bins in car parks... Is there any logic to recycling efforts? Muddled idealism. Recycling has to be concentrated on glass and metal? Plastic and paper not regarded as cost effective, say ‘experts’! Has to be recycled into packaging! Over-packaging costs the Earth. Yet amount of packaging for products is increasing all the time. A waste of resources and production. How to control? A tax on packaging? EEC targets unrealistic. Incineration favoured by many ‘experts’! Burning is regarded as ‘high efficiency’! Make less in the first place?" (15/12/1993). THE OVER-PACKAGING ROW: Incpen (‘The Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment’) and Friends of the Earth have a

much ‘disposable’ plastic is used to package products- often impossible to open without a knife, or scissors!) "East Germany had the best system in the

world. Simple packaging!" WHO (‘The World Health Organisation’) estimates 30 - 50% of food in parts of the developing world fails to reach Human mouths due to inadequate packaging. Friends of the Earth say the government should take action to ensure packaging is reduced at source… their report says too much packaging is wasting money and resources, and alleges the public is being 'ripped off.' This drew criticism... " (19/6/1993). … it's ALL A MATTER OF STORAGE”: (The simple answer is to put food-stuffs etc in reuseable / plastic containers- like Tupperware- just make sure brands are clearly identifiable by shape / style / colour. Don’t use labels that leave load of sticky gunk... ) USA: “There are more than 200 dumpsters in the county of Prince George - only one is segregating wood, cardboard, and steel. As costs of dumping waste from construction at a landfill site rises, builders will turn to recycling their waste. Construction land fills are as toxic as municipal ones..." (1993). "Hidden among the household waste, is toxic waste dumped by criminals - waste dangerous to human life... Illegal dumping makes $Billions. Garbage is big business. $3 million per day profit. People shot dead-silenced. Each violation $10,000 fine. A big problem. Odds favour the criminal. The problem is realising how much the Environment is being damaged. Tipping poisonous chemicals down the drain is illegal in USA. 24,000 tons of rubbish every day- how much is toxic? Going into the soil? A dozen other countries are interested in solving waste disposal problems and are looking to America. Will garbage cops be exported? (22/3/1990). "... the major problem is finding corporations and hauling contractors to participate in recycling waste...” "Transporting stuff for recycling costs money and takes energy..." "We use HUGE amounts of energy. How can we save energy?" "The great thrust- how to get the same level of service efficiently?" (“STOP and TIDY UP! We've got to do it.” Recycle, using Alternative Energy!) GREECE: "READY FOR A DUST-UP? Wherever they go, armed police monitor their every move... watching for an ambush... Who are they? The dustmen of Naples. The newly-privatised dustmen’s contract worth £300 million has recently been secured by a company who were bidding against the mafia... and the Cosa Nostra is not happy..." (9/9/1990). “One dust cart (a huge lorry) now costs £120,000 322

recycling centre is so popular... the recycling depot is over-flowing... the recycling bins are not emptied regularly, bins are choc-a-block... The council said this is the responsibility of the private contractors who pledged to empty the bins once a week... There might be an accident... our cleansing manager will try to sort something out..." ("I'd treasure your love. I'd like to tell you how best to use it.") "They offered to give us bags to separate rubbish but nothing ever came of it. They said they couldn't get a supplier for the bags!" LEEDS: "An example of the way things could go in the future in Europe. Leeds, a kerb-side recycling scheme, started as a 6 month trial, has been going for 2 years... Probably ‘the most advanced recycling project in the world’ - other countries ask for their help. Each household is issued with a green and brown bin. The brown bin is divided in 2 sections. All compost-able kitchen and garden waste is placed in the front and nonrecyclable material in the rear. In the green bin goes paper, card, plastic and cans. Bins are collected once a fortnight. The rubbish is then sorted and recycled appropriately. The scheme is expensive but ultimately saves money because it costs money to send rubbish to landfill and this cost rises every year. There is a chance of selling compost to firms as an alternative to peat..." "In Essex, ‘mobile’ recycling Banks are shifted from place to place (by lorry) to help people in remote villages..." "ARE FRIENDS OF THE EARTH BEING STITCHED UP?" "There's a growing stench surrounding the councils and their business backers..." "WHERE THERE'S MUCK, THERE'S BRASS..." "Scrap metal merchants quickly became millionaires..." WHO IS GETTING THE PROFITS FROM RECYCLED WASTE? "Do investors know where their money is going?" “No. Not really.” “THEY WANT YOU TO THROW it AWAY AND BUY A NEW ONE!” “You should be able to take it back to the store and make it good as new again...” (“Don’t be fooled!”) "Ripping off the public..." "The public are going to get cynical." ("We already are!") "We will draw attention to the CON and advise Green investors from now on" said Friends of the Earth (1990) "Reducing threats to our Environment has bought nationwide supportFriends of the Earth now has over 230,000 supporters in England and Wales, Scotland has 5,000 members" (June 1990). “The actual cost to collect house-holders rubbish each year is only a few £’s per year...” "LABOUR PRIVATISING ‘RUBBISH’ DISPOSAL: Liverpool council selling the right to collect rubbish

- £150,000” (UK, 2005). GERMANY: "Over 80% glass, plastic and paper waste is recycled under ‘The Green Dot Scheme.’ Over 40 major producers produce goods displaying a green recycling logo. Householders place these items in big yellow bins. A private company collects- obliged by law to collect packaging consumer has to pay. This helps keeps the country clean without having to raise taxes. Lowpaid immigration workers hand sort waste. Remainder put in landfill. Collection costs subsidised by consumers. Mountains of waste turned into toilet rolls. Plastic is washed, converted into pellets, made into plastic bags for supermarkets. Very cheap source of plastic. Without knowing it - all paid for and subsidised by consumers and German recyclers." DENMARK: "’SOPHISTICATED’ HOME COLLECTION SCHEME: The Danes want 50% recycling… have a scheme whereby Household waste is separated into 2 bins- one is for recycling- is sold back to industry… they increased Taxes on land deposit sites. Now cheaper to go to a recycling dump. A tougher land-fill Bill…" (1990). UNIFIED WASTE SYSTEM COMING IN EUROPE: "New European law- a standard, unified Europe... We should look at this again and ask what it does for the whole of Europe, not only copy Germany... For this we may have to wait many years. Should government set new standards? What is worthwhile? A saving of oil, the re-using of product? We should leave it to the market to discuss and decide." "Europe is being smothered in waste, motivated by economics... A 1992 survey revealed only 2% of waste is being recycled! That is a long way from the government's target of 25% by year 2000..." "There is no incentive to build recycling plants" (UK, 1990). "It's on their lists - awaiting funds." "Only 1 in 5 councils in the UK have a recycling scheme" (September 1990) ("They are too busy counting money.") "Red-tape is delaying plans to build a waste recycling centre... the council applied for a licence to ‘The London Waste Regulation Authority’ but is still waiting... The council has the money set aside to start the scheme to recycle paper, oil, cans, white metal, wood and rags, and so preserve natural resources..." "... the centre opened 17 months later... at the opening ceremony were the children who petitioned the council, pleading for such a centre..." "... trouble is, people can't be bothered to take their stuff to the (recycling) dump..." ? UK: REFUSED REFUSE: "... local residents are complaining their streets are being turned into an unofficial dumping ground, because the local 323

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to a French company arguing this is needed for quality of service" (17/6/1991). ("The disputes are likely to continue...") "Tell me, what do they do with all the LEAVES and rubbish you sweep up?" Council Street Cleaner: "It's all taken to the recycling centre- the (filthy) place where the big lorries drive up... the rubbish is tipped from the top of the building into huge metal skips. Then it's taken to the furnaces. The council these days doesn't waste…" GLASS RECYCLING: “Glass doesn’t lose quality when recycled…” UK: RETURNABLE! Drinks manufacturers used to give you money back for returning bottles. People faithfully returned themno problem.” "... the council has 15 Bottle Banks which accumulate 500 tonnes of glass each year..." "There are 190 bottle Banks nationwide" (1990) "You know those coloured collection bins in the streets for collecting glass- green for green glass, brown for ... yeh? Well, I watched the man come in his lorry to empty them- he tipped all the glass together! What's the use of that?" "A lorry that had collected a load of glass for recycling was followed- all the way to the landfill site!" “… the recycling bins are there so you feel you are doing something good for the Earth…” "Only 16% of glass is recycled in the UK. 40% in Germany. 50% in Holland. Tin- only 10% in UK. 35% Germany, 45% Holland” (1990). UK: A WOOD STORE: "... a timber store is proposed encouraging people to bring, buy and reuse softwoods. The aim is to minimise the use of hardwoods... the idea is that people phone us and we arrange for items to be collected and taken to the centre... We will even lay on skips for heavier items..." (Great idea but did such a store open? Surely every area could benefit? In Spain, no scraps of wood anywhere- every bit grabbed by people for recycling or burning for fuel). "FRANCE is using high quality paper to make toilet paper! To be flushed away! Lost forever! Advertised as: 'Environment Friendly'! Britain is way behind France. UK imports the cardboard rolls" (1990). "If not enough places producing recycled paper at low prices, more TREES will be chopped down and the cycle of destruction continues..." "Newspapers are only using 20% recycled fibre – they estimate will be using 40% by 2010. Most newspapers are not recycled. They end up in landfill. Cost of recycling machinery high" (1991) (You only need a paper shredder, a plastic tank, some water = Pulp. It is not hard to make recycled paper!) (Newspapers use 'dirty' ink- hence not nice to recycle?) “Buying 1 newspaper a day, plus 2 at the weekend = ONE TREE every 6 months." "NO PLANS TO INCREASE RECYCLED PAPER: “Plans killed for new mills using recycled paper.

UK not cutting back on paper used for newspapers. 'We want to sell newspapers. We need the best fibres. But if more readers said they want us to use more recycled fibres, we would'..." (1990). DAILY… NEWS PAPERS - TONS & TONS TOSSED - without a thought or care for the World! UK: "2 MILLION TONS of newspapers are read in Britain every year. Only ¼ recycled. 'Collection is not economical.' Industry can't cope, with all the paper there is to collect. There is no demand for recycled paper products. The Public need to put pressure on editors..." (1991) (I keep trying to buy recycled paper in preference to any other quality. I have been repeatedly told: “We don’t stock recycled paper because it costs twice as much...” Uh?) WAH! "We want recycled products." UK POLL: "Investment funds sent out questionnaires: "There are 37 million would-be Green purchasers." "But companies only have to advertise they are Green..." “Oh, we've got such a lot of paper work...” Usage of PAPER IS UNSUSTAINABLE! "You'd think they would at least REDUCE the amount of JUNK mail, TO SAVE TREES!” "So much paper, for so much crap!” Every 2 weeks, I throw away the equalivant of ½? a tree in unwanted junk mail. UK: "... collections are made regularly at schools... we hope businesses and traders will realise the rewards of recycling..." (“… local schools don’t want paper, cardboard etc for recycling. They’ve nowhere to store it all!”) “The GLOBAL DEMAND FOR PAPER IS SET DOUBLE in 25 years…” "PAPER made from TREES is yellow- requires chlorine bleach. Huge quantities of toxic chlorine discharged into rivers... PAPER made from HEMP is Stronger - recycled, will last 100's, 1,000's of years..." (Go to: www.livingtreepaper.com ) (also see: Hemp).

UK: “GOVERNMENT FINANCE ON OFFER TO ENCOURAGE RECYCLING: ... The government hopes some of the cash available will encourage councils to set up more recycling schemes for plastic, glass and tin cans. A team of consultants has been picked by the Dept. of the Environment to work out what sort of costs the authorities will face..." (2002) (“We are only interested in new ideas for what to do with waste at council-owned ‘recycling’ centres…”) UK: “It's on the cards, as sure as fate is fate, soon they will be charging all of us for dumping our ‘rubbish’ (by drastically increasing the amount we pay for refuse disposal. At present, this figure is very low). Councils are also considering levying penalty payments - fines, for ‘customers’ who do not recycle waste, so they can meet EC 324

ARE PURE…” Basically, nothing should be made unless it can be recycled. That would be sensible / ideal. We should aim to recycle 99% (not 25%). Everything clearly labelled (don’t use tiny print). To quickly identify plastic - a manufactured embossed symbol on the plastic will do! COMMUNITY ACTION: Just separate the (small) stuff you don’t want into 2 plastic bins: One (small’ish) GREEN bin with a lid for (wet) fruit & veg waste (keep in the kitchen - just empty regularly - if you do not have a compost heap – use a green bin bag) + a bin for (dry) waste EG. paper. (WET (Uncooked) GREEN vegetable / plant matter / organic EG. used teabags, coffee grindings, egg shells... Save for Composting. “Think of falling leaves, dying plants and kitchen waste as valuable." ”… it’s good for the garden…” COMPOSTING: "Helps soil structure, increasing the water retaining properties, especially of sandy soil, and returns valuable nutrient to the soil." "Rich, organic compost would do the world a lot of good." (SEAWEED: “I have to laugh. Our council uses a tractor to ‘remove’ seaweed from the beaches- but then they leave it there in piles. Apparently ‘they do not have the money to dispose of it.’” “Seaweed is the main ingredient of many tomato plant feeds. Seaweed is used because this has a balanced range of nutrients. Seaweed, washed to remove salt, and shredded- is an excellent fertiliser for growing Trees...”) The Community should decide what to do with all the valuable compost... Advice: Don't use plastic bins to make compost! Those form sludge. Let the air, the sun, the rain and grass cuttings break this down naturally. Keep branches, twigs separate- shred, or burn to create potash (a natural fertiliser). Do this work at The Community Recycling Centre. WET: (Unwanted) cooked food / raw meat / slops cannot be composted. So, remove packaging, put in a specially marked container kept in the freezer, to reduce putridity until collected / deposited… or, have a red bin / bag for ‘smelly, don’t sort.’ "FOOD SCRAPS MAKE PLASTIC: 22 million tonnes of food waste USA each year...” 1992: “ICI made a bio-degradable polymer but was expensive... Now process made cheaper by Natural Institute in Honolulu..." (Ref. www.newscientist.com ). Old Oil = Keep in a container, when collected- store in a tank - when full tank collected / replaced. The oil cleaned / reused / recycled. This simple process will eradicate the disgusting smell associated with rubbish, will stop rubbish forming a soggy mass, will keep paper, card, textiles etc clean, thereby make it possible for sorters to handle all the goods for recycling.

targets…” (UK, 2004). “Tip officials have been told to do something about the way the rubbish smells. Locals have complained about the smell drifting across houses and schools.. A spokesman said: ‘We have been drilling a series of Gas wells on the site to install pipe-work to extract landfill gas to be used to generate ‘renewable’ electricity. We apologise for the smell…” (March 2005). “PILOT SCHEME: … an experimental recycling scheme in Kent will turn unwanted plastics into gutters, spare car parts and clothing…” (BBC, 6/7/2004).

UK: “BURNING WASTE IS ‘BETTER’ FOR THE ENVIRONMENT than burying it in landfill sitestherefore the Dept. of the Environment plans 22 new GIANT WASTE INCINERATORS, selling the idea to the country by saying these will provide ‘Green energy.’ Action is not being taken to reduce the amount of waste we generate. 29 million tons is thrown away every year- 5.5 million tons is recycled and composted” (Daily Mirror, 14/22006).

"The people make regular Inspection trips..." "We've come down from the valley- we're looking for the land of milk and honey. We've got our babies in our arms. We're looking for Maggie's farm. We're looking for a rainbow…" (UK: 1990).

PEOPLE SAID: “WE ARE ALL DOWN IN THE DUMPS THESE DAYS…” “DIRTY, SMELLY RUBBISH … especially in hot weather...” “All the piles of white goods…” "Who knows what this stuff is, or where it comes from?" "I've just found an unused carton of cream. Say's 'Eat within one month of purchase.' There's no date on it. The label says 'Use a whip'... I would if I had one..." FREECYCLE: “A Grass Roots organisation / network around the Globe. How does it work? Pass it on. Email your local group to offer something for free. Giving it away = Why landfill something if someone can benefit from it? (Ref. www.freecycle.org ).

“The council charges us for compost made from our deposited green matter, and uses this on municipal beds…” THE INTELLIGENT NETWORK: “You and I paid for it. Giving it away (to them) is not right. It belongs to us - the family..." “SORT it OUT!” = “POWER TO THE PEOPLE!” “Let’s Do it People!” RECYCLE = "Collect it" "Save it, save it, save it, SAVE it." "Don't throw it away!" "It would be criminal to throw it away." "Don't use it all up!" "… it's something you can't refuse…" "It offers you a whole new world, shining and FREE." "RECYCLE it!" "RECYCLING WORKS BEST WHEN MATERIALS 325

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solution is to reduce packaging, increase recyclinglevels, and build smaller-scale anaerobic digestion plants.’ ‘The government should take urgent action to legislate against profligate packaging - like the polluter, 'the packager should pay.' Friends of the Earth are calling (for) reducing the amount of waste generated and expanding recycling so that at least half of household waste is recycled by 2010. What should our future policy be on waste disposal? What do you think?” (BBC, 22/1/2006). CHILD: “I think it’s absolutely bonkers…” “The UK is one of the worst countries in the EC for recycling waste, also Portugal and Greece” (re:

LANDFILL = Only old rubble. Put in abandoned quarries… DRY: = Wool (old carpets, mattresses etc, fabrics = Fibres (can be reused…) paper (recycled) plastic and wood (all recycled) Metal? Ahh! (It was in the Earth’s crust to strengthen it). Put it back now! (Wrap broken glass or anything sharp in old newspaper). (Glass bottle recycling = Sterilise and Re-use / not smash, melt, reform). Large items - arrange collection. EVERYTHING collected, sorted, stored at The Community Recycling Centre… Could be recycled at the Recycling centre? Or, give it to well deserving causes. Or, customers collect costed / weighed amounts – the fee paid = the running costs of The Community Recycling Centre i.e. wages for sorters… equipment etc. NOTE: Name changed - no longer called 'The Tip,' Rubbish Dump or 'Local Refuse.' This benefits the local community... It is an opportunity to provide local employment, training – an option for the Community to own / manage the Recycling Centre, as a Cooperative, using surplus gains to benefit the (local and Global) community. The bags containing the goods for recycling could carry an identification label to show which household has deposited each bag - to ensure residents etc., separate their rubbish correctly. "CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS." “RECYCLING will help save the Environment.” ("… it eases my troubles, that's what it does.") “THE RUBBISH ‘VISION’ EFFECT”: …the proportion of burned waste could rise from 9% to 25% in the next 15 years. ‘New’ Labour's surprise plans a 3-fold rise in building more waste incinerators… Ministers support more burning as it provides a ‘green’ source of energy- a stateof-the-art plant... would produce usable energy from the burning of waste…. (and it) reduces our dependence on foreign fuel, (and) incineration (provides an) effective way of meeting strict European landfill targets… Waste Strategy 2000 sets out how England and Wales should meet the targets of the EU Landfill directive which sets targets for reducing landfill and increasing recycling: • by 2010 to reduce landfill to 75% of 1995 figure and increase recycling to 30% • by 2013 to reduce landfill to 50% of 1995 figure and by 2015 to increase recycling to 33% • by 2020 to reduce landfill to 35% of 1995 figure. (In spite of) long running campaigns against incinerators… serious health concerns … Ecologically damaging... could discourage recycling in the future… incinerators need a high level of waste to be run cost-effectively… Critics say: ‘In the 21st century, the only Green

research by the Institute of Public Policy, BBC, 28/8/2006)

(see: Chapter 14, Africa).

“Many newspapers are losing customers because of the internet…”

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killing people. Winds blowing 150 mph. The wind uproots trees. The wind breaks velocity meters. Radios and phones don't work- transmissions keep fading, lots of interference. Heavy rain hammers down, bounces a foot high. Lots of high water and waves, pushed by the wind. The water comes in under doors, slowly at first, then more rapidly, scouring, gutting, sluicing, slopping. A sodden madness. The current flows into the living room. People stagger for balance. So disorientated they cannot comprehend. They stagger back and forth, their mouths and eyes round. Realisation of it keeps exploding in their brain, over and over, erased each time by disbelief. This life-style. So hard. It is a sign - a message from the Lord - it has to be accepted. The whole roof blows off. The wind and the waves fill the rooms. The wind shoves people faster than they can wade. People cannot hear each other yell above the noise. All the wires get wet. The electric goes out. Everything dies, the lights, the candles, lanterns.... The furniture slides and topples. People can drown in here. Some people are borne upward between the beams, others are jammed through windows. GLASS ruptures. Total force 112lbs per sqr ft. Utter confusion. The house totally destroyed in less than 6 minutes. Debris the size of tree trunks carried by the boiling, roaring murk. People wearing life-jackets drown face down. Cars ‘float’ down what was once the street. The water punishing. The water washes away top soil, undermining, making deep furrows. The Sea engulfs, swallows, and consumes buildings, pulling them apart. A truly awesome tumult. Wave’s thud, smash, suck out contents, spew fragments back out- tirelessly working around and under, shifting, turning, lashing the steel work. The runoff from the previous wave is sucked back, adding to the mass of the new wave. The water gobbles, crushes, breaks up, up-tilts and eats concrete, detaching, prying loose, and bending stilts. The Sea will bury what it cannot lift. Build a house like a fort, anchored deep, then you get a flood higher than the house and you're screwed forever. If your house is knocked off the foundations, the house could roll onto people. Wave surge 20ft plus. The impact of untold tons of force…" "They used minimum specifications when designing the buildings... they were sub-standard. Inspections less than thorough... an explosion of wind and shards of glass...” "But they still keep issuing building permits for these... unsubstantial houses made with bad materials!" "These wooden ‘huts’ can be smashed to bits at any time..." (Recommended Reading: Condominium by J. D. MacDonald, 1977). GALE FORCE WIND = "Trains, planes, lorries, buses, vans… all suddenly flipped over! Literally

CHAPTER 10: THE WEATHER

(Old Picture: Origin Unknown)

“WE ARE ALL AT THE MERCY OF THE WEATHER.” “The weather governs our lives…” “Wherever you go, the weather is always with you.” The Weather = Our Environment - God! Who could make anything happen. Awesome power…” ”The weather is unpredictable…” "Tonight, I know it will be fine, for a while..." “What an amazing planet! A few degrees too hot, or too cold and the whole world could be wiped out!” "Time and Tide Waits For No Man." “He who hesitates is lost…” "The wind blows, the sea blows..." MODERN Attitude = “For us to survive, we need to be able to take whatever it throws at us…” “Go with the Flow…” “You’ve Got to Go with the Flow. No point crying over it. Life’s like that! Go with it…” “The Key will be to learn to live with it.” Traditional Attitude: “You should always be prepared for all eventualities!” "Man's battle AGAINST the Weather…” WHAT IS YOUR HANDICAP? POWERFUL WIND? "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house down..." = “GONE WITH THE WIND.” A PHRASE USED REPEATEDLY: “… their homes, reduced to matchsticks..." HURRICANES: "A lot of very powerful, strong, dangerous winds. Hard gusts, invisible hazards. Savage. The wind whips. Frightening. Deafening. A roar so loud! The wind whistles, moans, howls, shrieks, bellows. The wind plucks away, looking for loose edges, anything that can be peeled back and ripped away. Light wood is whipped away, heavier bits made into giant splinters. The wind rips bark off trees. Trash flies through the air, 327

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blown off (the road) as if they were tiny toys! 'I couldn't believe it when I felt the wheels gradually lift off the ground… I've never been more frightened in my life. I don't know how we weren't killed'..." LESSONS TO BE LEARNT: "I guess these manmade objects are insignificant to God..." “Mother Nature is far more powerful than we poor mortals…”

have to spend hours / days / nights shovelling, and lugging very HEAVY sand-bags, arranging these across doorways, driveways, to make garden walls higher etc. And PRAY! Hopefully, the sand-bags will stop your much loved home filling with water, mud, sewage… ATTITUDE: (Stoicism): "Sand-bags have been used since 'the good old glory days of the war,' and we're sticking with 'em.' = "Come on love! Smile! There's no alternative you know. Stop snivelling... You and I are made of sterner stuff. Yes, I know all this is heart-breaking. But else can we do? Don’t fret. Good job we stocked up and we’ve got enough food, water and torches… If only we could get the kettle on…” SAND-BAGS? To barricade us in, & keep some water out? Unfortunately these 'DEFENCES' are INADEQUATE. Sand-bags do not stop water flowing – sand-bags wash away… As the water breaches YOU may have to bash a hole through the roof, climb onto the roof, and await rescue, whilst balancing precariously on the slippery slopes… Beware of the down drought when / IF a helicopter arrives… ATTITUDE (STIFF UPPER LIP): (Apart from helicopters) we rely heavily on rowing boats, rubber dinghies, canoes, fire engines and tractors to rescue stranded people (who will be wet, cold, frightened- traumatised, possibly injured, tired, sad, dejected- and in immediate need of dry clothes, blankets, hot / drinks, food, a SAFE roof over their heads- somewhere that is dry and warm, with people to help and comfort them…) REALITY: "We will have to find somewhere else to live, whilst we sort all this mess, love. Try not to cry love. Tears… won’t help us now…" SEA WALLS: "AGEING, INADEQUATE, UNDER FUNDED. They wait till there's a problem. There are no planned procedures! Compensation is being deliberately withheld." THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE?

“Let me just say two little words to you. Flood lights...” SEAWALLS & NATIONAL SEA DEFENCE: “Shorelines were once covered with TREES...” "Land sinks, water levels rise, and the sea reclaims land..." SCIENCE: "How can we alter this process?" (You can't. "It's not going to go away.") EXPERT: “Massive and unyielding. Defensive measures? Erosion occurs...” (The Erosion Problem = You could use liquid resin to coat...) EXPERT: “We could stop rebuilding storm damaged (traditional) buildings, and instead move them back as needed...” (Ah! HOW? How can housing be moved quickly?) EXPERT: “Vast sums of money are tied up in shoreline development, but the rising cost of fighting the Sea will undoubtedly force communities to consider retreat in the future... The Sea will continue to encroach. In the long run, we may have no choice but get out of the way..." (1993). "Vulnerable coastal areas swamped by High Tides. Sea walls taking full force. 2,000 people homeless in one town. Sea wall patched up many times..." "The Sea walls around Britain are ineffective. 1,000's of homes, coastal and inland waterways areas are threatened." “Repeated calls for government help…” (Ignored). "Aid promised" = "Just when will we get it?" "We have already spent £0.5 million on coastal defences..." (that much?) "... rapidly rising water... 28 people killed. Buildings destroyed... Belgium, Holland, West Germany, also on flood alert..." "MONSTER TIDE OF TERROR: High tides and crashing waves brought terror... wind speed 116 mph. Homes flooded, boats ripped from moorings..." "… Sprays, sand and stones hurling through the air..." UK: "(Hessian) Sacks will be issued (if you need more than 2, not free of charge) for those in need of flood defences. Call The Environment Agency they might be inundated, but keep trying. Or use pillow cases. Go to your local builder and stock up on sand” (at your own expense.) means: IF you have enough time before flooding occurs…You fill the bags, quick, sharp. You may

FLOOD GUARDS: "GREAT BARRIER GRIEF: ... The Thames Barrier, built at a cost of £440 million, is rusting away after only 8 years... the steel shell which protects the engine from water spray are corroding... The structure- the world's largest, ‘moveable’ flood barrier has been used 5 times..." (1990) (Built to stop a freak high tidal surge, from the sea, coming down the Thames river, flooding low-lying areas of London (including Westminster) but if water levels exceed the barriers height..) (Recommended Reading: “Flood’ by Richard Doyle). “Londoners continue to go about their daily lives because they have the Thames barrier to protect them. But when the storm drives an oil tanker into an oil refinery…”)

NEEDED: A simple flood guard, made of 328

provided

SUPER-STRONG plastic. Non-biodegradable, rigid, WATER RESISTANT... One Piece of plastic at least. 5ft high, made to fit across door-ways etc., slotted into position...using pre-fixed runners… A central section provides an access door (see how plastic cat-flaps work). A specialist could take a few seconds to install... (Not a DIY job). 1999: I asked a U.K. based plastics manufacturer, to manufacture this simple flood defence kit. The managing director's reply was: "There are only 1 or 2 million people in the U.K. currently affected by flooding. Therefore the market is not big enough to warrant investment in it." THE MARKET FOR it … IS TOO SMALL? LARGER FLOOD SHIELDS EG. along a coast (could be transparent) = Interlocking plastic panels, bottom heavy. METHOD: Positioned (ideally, BEFORE the storm… hits) a row of solid plastic sleepers along the ground- slot upright shields into the sleepers, then slot completed sections together. You could use a snap-fastener type system to secure the sleepers to the ground i.e. embed fixings permanently in the ground. (Shields & sleepers stackable for ease of transportation / storage). Or, install the shield in the ground so it rises up automatically… It could work the same way a car windscreen protects you… Even if some waves did spray over the top, the risk of flooding would be significantly reduced. “Flooding- a high tide. Roads flooded. Cars under water. The water came up the storm drains. ‘We are 4ft under water.’ WHY DIDN’T THEY BOTHER TO USE THE THAMES BARRIER?” (Putney, 31/1/1994). GO TO: www.floodguards.com MANUFACTURED FLOOD PROTECTION DEVICES: PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS: ADVERT: “… Permadeck Sea walls are made from 100% recycled products. The water-proof material is suitable for marine applications… The product is maintenance-free and requires no special tools. Backed by a 50-year warranty against warping and cracking, the product is Environmentally safe… Available throughout the US” (ref. www.plasticsresource.com ) ADVERT: “The Floodgate Door Barrier: …a 25mm boxed frame… expands telescopically… horizontally & vertically. Frame = A 7mm thick rubber envelope which creates a water-proof seal - no permanent fittings are required on the property. …in use since 1997, clients include Councils, Environment Agencies, construction companies, Emergency services and the general public throughout the UK and Europe. The expanding metal frame fits 99% of domestic doorways… In most cases the thick rubber cover molds itself to the doorway, but where the surrounding surfaces are very rough, a non-permanent sealant is

for

fitting.”

SCREWFIX

ADVERT:

(Developed over a period of 3 years, in conjunction with the University of Wales), Floodgate is easy to install, re-

useable and re-siteable. It provides similar standard flood damage prevention as 5 traditional sandbags. No Permanent Fixings Needed. Easy On-site Assembly. Existing Doors can be Opened to Allow Access. Adjustable Width (735mm to 980mm). Height 680mm. Kite-marked. STEEL gate with neoprene cover, ratchet spanner, tube of Sealant, Sealant gun: £299.00 +VAT” (2005) ( www.floodgate.ltd.uk/index.htm )

ADVERT: THE FLOOD ARK: “… Fit the system in less than 5 minutes. Each board is only 20cm in height allowing you to install only to the height of cover you require. Access to your property as water recedes or rises is an additional benefit. Storage of the boards is equally easy because of the board size and use of light weight material. The materials (UPVC planking?) used in our unique system are impervious to weathering and ultra-violet light… Can be fixed to the majority of surfaces” (www.floodark.co.uk) (Ah! Flood guards similar to my design… UK: 2005). ADVERT: “RAPID DAM: A bolt-down barrier: preinstalled, stainless steel, concrete, aluminiumsupplied in standard 10m lengths. A FREEstanding barrier is zipped together…” ADVERT: “… A technique… using standard pallets, plywood boards, metal sheets, a metal support and a waterproof geo-membrane… pallet metal barriers… lip-seal, compression and inflatable gasket…” ADVERT: “AQUA BARRIER: … re-usuable, inflate with water… constructed from industrial grade vinyl coated polyester - fabric laminated with a base of woven polyester between 2 layers of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These units (if punctured / cut) can be repaired easily in the field in wet or dry conditions… (Inflatable tube) system to stop rolling. Join by overlapping. Laid on flexi-board. Drain holes to fill and empty…” ( www.aquabarrier.com ) ADVERT: “AQUA FENCE: (Norwegian) …consists of a base plate, which is fastened to a concrete foundation and pressed by the weight of the water to the ground. Steel girders connect the base plate with the upright standing slab, which stops the water. The advantage of the system: 10 persons need only one hour, in order to raise a 100 meters long wall… they would need 72 hours for filling 15,000 sand-bags, which would be necessary to secure the same distance…” ( www.aquafence.com ) (2005).

ADVERT: “… The Emergency Flood Control Equipment is typically shipped in 50’ sections, sealed in 55 gallon plastic containers. Tubes are 50’ 329

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municipalities near the Laguna.' About 200 'NoGlobal' demonstrators entered the construction site… carrying banners that read: 'Stop the Ecomonster'…” (26/3/2007 ref. www.thisistravel.co.uk ).

in length when filled (54’ when empty). The tubes are 19” in height. Larger lengths rolled on spools may be provided… a section that will form part of the bottom courses is laid out and filled with water. Other sections are added, connecting to form a watertight seal and filled with water… the bottom course is completed, subsequent courses are added…” ( www.usfloodcontrol.com ) (2005).

HOW THE WEATHER AFFECTS OUR LIVES: Just TIME THE ACTION… or lack of it… UK: 26/2/1990: "... one disaster hit seaside town... engineers are racing against time in a desperate bid to repair the gaping 600ft hole in the sea wall... the battle began as 8 dumper trucks drove through 5ft flood water, with boulders to plug the wall... they poured in mixed rock, concrete... whilst MP's were demanding £millions to fix Britain's crumbling Sea defences... Sandbags used to fortify 100's of homes… 2,800 properties were flooded…” “Mountainous waves continue to batter the coast... Dozens of people airlifted to safety...” “… others left to fend for themselves... “ PEOPLE SAID: "They love to make a drama out of a crisis." "We don't want to be alarmists but precautions should be taking place" warned the worried victims. 5 WEEKS LATER: "... the town needs £4 million to solve their problems... £320,000 received... 'Salvation' has just arrived (re-housing) = Homeless residents can now use a holiday park (caravans)... THE STATUTORY DUTY TO PROVIDE DECENT EMERGENCY SHELTERS? “'We are trying to put this right but this has been the biggest evacuation in Britain since WW11.' 'There are inequalities we know' said a housing official... ‘Communications have broken down. There have been some mistakes.'” (EG. “A mother with 3 children forced to share with 11 adults and 4 other children are now sleeping on a mattress on the floor in a communal dormitory… “) 4/5/1990: "Prince Charles donated flowers, window boxes and hanging baskets, instead of giving money to help the flood victims...” PEOPLE SAID: “He must be potty!” “1,000 people are still homeless..." 29/8/1990: "An appeal is being launched to help the flood victims by the cast of 'Bread' (a BBC comedy series).’Disgraceful! The people have been forgotten by the government.'... People are still unable to live in their homes...” “British Rail, the owner of the town’s sea wall, is using 75,000 tons of granite in a £10 million project to strengthen the town’s defences...” “... property developers are offering to buy the victims homes at a fraction of their former value... ... many of the families were not insured... ...houses are still covered in thick sludge, muck and rubble..." (re: Towyn, South Wales, UK) ("Are you still waiting for the repair men?")

Picture: TubeWell Stopper (Sweden) ADVERT: “… Protecting your property from flooding in 9 ‘easy’ steps... using metal (steel and aluminium): …STEP 6: After the 2nd layer of tubes are filled with water, the 3rd and final layer of tubes is laid out evenly and parallel on top of the 2nd level. STEP 7: Completion of the dam is finished. 6 tubes stacked in a pyramid fashion make a very stable flood protection barrier. Total completion time is approx. 1 hour depending on the water fill method… COST: $350 per tube per day (3 tube length required for average flood). Daily Stand By Charge: $5 per foot…” (2005). “10 MILE THAMES FLOOD BARRIER PLAN: Plans to build a 10-mile barrier along the Thames to protect London from flooding are being considered… Climate change experts say the existing Thames barrier, built in the 1970s, may not be able to cope with rising tides… ” (BBC, 10/1/2007). “… FLOOD BARRIER to ease the effect of high tides that routinely deluge Venice's streets: The Italian Government is hoping to put a stop to the ongoing threat of floods… with a barrier project which will cost €4.3 million (£2.9 million), Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has revealed. The project 'is the solution to a problem that has always existed’…Dubbed 'Moses,' after the Biblical figure who parted the Red Sea, the project (i.e. a barrier of steel gates similar to the flood barrier on the River Thames), calls for hinged barriers to be built in the seabed just off Venice that could be raised when high tides threaten the city. Some environmentalists say the project will turn Venice into a stagnant pond, while supporters say it is necessary to help prevent the sinking city from being inundated even further. Berlusconi said the project would be completed by 2011. Earlier this month, protesters disrupted work and damaged some machinery at the construction site where the massive flood barriers are being built. Berlusconi said the upcoming budget would include funding to help generate 'positive choices for Venice and other 330

houses..." "... more than 70 cars were damaged by falling tiles and masonry..." "20,000 motorists were stuck in 25 mile tail-backs in heavy snow..." "... overnight campers with crying children had to spend the night huddled together and shivering on a concrete floor- the management seemed to have disappeared. 'You go away for a relaxing break and end up lucky to keep your life!'..." "I saw my car going past on its roof…" "... a flight had to circle for an hour before being able to land..." "...By far the largest number of deaths was caused by falling trees, many of the victims being killed in cars..." "... all military bases alerted to the possibility they might be called upon to lend support to the Emergency services..." "Britain paralysed by 106 mph winds... 100's of main roads blocked by fallen trees, overturned vehicles and other debris, high winds swept power lines onto rail tracks and roads... buildings demolished... flying bus shelters..." "... gale force winds shattered the canopy at Waterloo Station, showering screaming travellers with shards of glass..." "... school buildings badly hit... the blood stained corridors..." "... the roof of the hotel blew off..." "... the computer handling calls could not cope with the 1,000's of queries, and broke down, leaving staff to deal with the crisis..." "The House of Commons shut after masonry fell from the Central Lobby roof into the Engineers Court with a resounding roar... Mrs Thatcher said: 'Life will go on as usual'..." (Life will return to normal?) (Business as usual, eh?) "MISERY- STILL MORE TO COME: ... rivers reached danger levels... more heavy rain due..." "... The weather has disrupted all services by air, road and rail... power cuts... will have to endure artic conditions until mid-next week... deep drifting snows... many drivers stranded... people advised to get a sleeping bag and a thermos flask..." "... the weather caused a 10 car pile up..." "... there are dozens of mud-slides, roads have subsided... pumps used in high risk areas…” (water pumped back into rivers…) "... railway tracks frozen... 10" of snow in a few hours! Drifts 10' high! Exposed to wind... people died on the roadside... 100's of people are trapped in their cars, maybe 1,000's... can't get home... traffic at a stand-still. Blizzards continue. Aberdeen and Dundee cut off..." "... a cargo plane crashed on the mist covered mountain near Sellafield nuclear power plant... Boats flipped over..." "... 6,000 made homeless... flood waters knocked ‘mobile’ homes off their foundations..." "... the storm caused £500 million damage, 111 deaths, some died from heating failures and gas explosions... a freighter sank, 5,000 left Homeless..."

"Traditionally, the weather leaves a trail of destruction..." NO DISASTER PLAN? "Get it together!" "You had better get working on it." SOME GOOD ADVICE: "BE PREPARED." You never know, one day YOU might need it. “… it could save your life.” “… it could save my life.” “What you do to prepare to give yourselves the best chance… if you get it right - it means less will go wrong later on. Can you Afford not to get it right?” STORMS: "WE FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY…" UK: "... 47 deaths, 400,000 homes still remain without electricity... helicopters brought in to search for breaks in overhead power lines... Train services crippled... 1,000's of people stranded with nowhere to sleep... “ = “Ministers considering asking the Met office to issue clearer broadcast alerts when freak weather on the way..." "... in France, a Nuclear power centre was damaged… the collapse of pylons carrying high tension lines caused the closure of 6 plants at Gravelines Nuclear centre; a chimney also crashed down..." "... floods wrecked 1,000's of homes in 23 towns in Russia..." "... officials in Florida are increasingly anxious... 100's of 1000's of retired Americans could be trapped in Miami's High-rise flats IF the storm strikes and electrical power is lost - all the lifts would be out of action... " "... in the Caribbean... miles of glass windows are un-taped and without plywood (!) protection... more than 50,000 people are reported to have lost their homes - are now Homeless... after the strongest hurricane hit the coast... The damage runs into £100's of millions... There is no running water and food is in short supply... 500 prisoners broke out and joined a rash of looting..." (1990).

UK: "... a last minute warning saved 20 workmen when 10 storeys high scaffolding was ripped apart... ... residents ran for cover as a massive crane on top of Archway Tower began to sway and looked likely to be blown off supports..." (Will they ever learn?) CLASSIC MISERY: "... £2.25 Billion insurance claims expected... double the cost of the 1987 UK hurricane... most claims will be for collapsed roofs and chimney stacks... insurance companies will try to argue the buildings were badly maintained..." "HIGH REPAIR COSTS: "To make matters worse, in the UK we are Taxed on essential repairs." "HUGE LOSSES: ... unprecedented series of natural disasters... Worldwide disasters..." "65mph winds whipped roofs off terraced 331

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as a somewhat backward branch of atmospheric sciences, has yielded enough evidence to suggest that not only is the climate changing rather rapidly at the moment, but that the last 50 odd years have been the warmest period for a thousand years, and that we are now heading back into the Little Ice Age which has been affecting the Earth since the 16th century” (Ref. Reid Bryson, Director of the Institute of

"... flash floods... a trail of destruction..." "A disaster at the caravan site. Water burst in… one caravan hit another, then another... “ “A disaster for hoteliers who tried to hold the water back using plywood..." "... hard to open the car door to get out..." "...impact on housing stock worse than we thought... hard coping with the aftermath..." "I lost everything!" "... hospital damaged..." "... a sand-bagged embankment crumbled / gave way whilst workers were trying to repair a breach... " "THE SAME SORT OF THINGS HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR BUT THEY NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT it!" UK: "The number of people seeking solace in the hills is growing. Many more will die in the cold. Ageing helicopters. Rescue services can't cope"

Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin- an outspoken climatologist, Fortune magazine, February, 1974).

1989: “PEERS PREDICT DROUGHT & HURRICANES: ‘Britain could suffer more snow storms, droughts and Hurricanes because of ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ said the House of Lords Select Committee on Science & Technology. One result of atmospheric change could be an increase in anticyclones, with fewer warm winds and more easterlies bringing in cold in winter and dry warm in summer. It is conceivable that Britain could become colder in winter, with larger number of heavy snow falls and drier in summer with increased in frequency droughts. Higher Sea temperatures could lead to more tropical storms such as Hurricanes. The projected rise in Sea levels of some 10cms over the next 50 years will leave Britain vulnerable to North Sea surge. The report concludes that on the basis of scientific evidence world temperature will rise by 1.5 of a degree C some time after the year 2030. Practical measures endorsed by the Committee for domestic action include development of the leanburn engine for motor cars (engine size and revolutions per minute- rpm, both affect fuel efficiency, and hence the level of emissions- leanburn engines could be some 10% more efficient than conventional ones), this is favoured by government. Continuing nuclear power, including fast breed reactors EG. Dounreay. (Britain has committed itself to government stabilising carbon dioxide emissions from coal-burning power stations and cars by the year 2000 at the latest). The report urges government spending of £50 million as the UK contribution to ERS-2 (the European Space Agency’s planned replacement for the satellite to monitor the Earth’s Oceans). The peers recommend an intensive programme of research at home and abroad to determine the scale of the threat- carbon dioxide is thought to be the most dangerous of the Greenhouse Gases. Clear proof is needed that Greenhouse Gas concentration is occurring. This by way of an insurance ‘no regrets’ policy. The report warns: ‘The world cannot Afford to wait for proof before taking action to remedy the process because by that time it will be too late’” (The Times, 28/11/1989). "LORDS PRESS FOR ACTION OVER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION: .the government will face renewed demands from a Parliamentary committee for urgent action to protect the Earth

(24/7/1993).

"… Thank heavens we had 30 helicopters- so many people needed rescuing!”(UK: 2004) (What IF many more people need rescuing?) ‘Defence’ Cuts = Helicopter bases Closed. “South West England coast, sea wall defences breached. Waves at High tide brought waves crashing over, roads closed, properties flooded... The UK’s Environment Agency said it is not their responsibility to protect private householders property. There was the usual rush for sand-bags... On the 2nd night of flooding, the Coast-Guard station was being sand-bagged as the waves came up to the doors... Councils struggling to cope with existing budget - now face £millions of damage…” (October 2004). GLOBAL WARMING: 1860: “Weather 1st recorded.” 1974: THE WEATHER IS CHANGING: “ICE has in past Geological ages, played one of the main roles in sculpturing the face of the Earth. Huge icecaps and glaciers have advanced and retreated many times. There is a very important climatic change going on right now. It’s not merely of academic interest. It is something that, if it continues, will affect the whole human population of the Earth - like a billion people starving. The effects are already showing up in rather drastic ways. New evidence has been accumulating for several years and has been confirmed by the 1st long-term analysis of satellite weather pictures. They show that not only is the extent of ice on the increase, but that it is occurring at a faster rate – 12% in 5 years. This could indeed be a serious situation. Ice is one of the main factors governing climate, which depends on the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth and its atmosphere. White is a highly reflective colour and any increases in snow or ice means that more heat is reflected back into Space so that the temperature of the Earth gets cooler. Climatological research, always regarded 332

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against the effects of Global Warming. The House of Lords Select committee on science & technology will issue a report on ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ - they are likely to call for immediate action to promote energy conservation as a means of cutting demand from pollution sources such as coalfired power stations. Recommendations for increased funding of research into the science of Global Warming, along with the viability of nonfossil fuels energy sources are also expectedurging caution of the complete abandonment of nuclear power. Targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions are thought to be the prime cause for Global Warming. The government claims market forces are the most efficient means through which a response to Global Warming can be made, rejecting targets as ‘arbitrary’ and ‘without scientific rational.’ The Dept., of Energy, which was responsible for this negative reaction will hopefully undergo a change of heart” (1989). “IF Catastrophic Climate Change is to be avoided, carbon emissions must be cut in ½ in 5 years. America won’t be bound by target agreements wants more evidence. USA is responsible for ¼ of emissions. USA advocating no action! Criminal negligence! Nations will have to proceed at the rate of the slowest.” (Why can’t other Nations just get on with it?) “A draft report by the United Nations working group

•

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Inexcusable if the inability of the governments of the world allowed irreversible and disastrous Global Warming to occur for want of the means or by lacking the political will to effectively take action to halt Global Warming Irresponsible not to adopt target for reducing emissions, especially when costs of doing so are modest. There is no GOOD reason for delaying the implementation of any policy that can be shown to accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency or demanding measures which are inherently economic and which would reduce CO2 emissions. The existence of an independent body or watchdog is vital if policies to combat Global Warming are to be properly formulated WORLD UNITY IS VITAL. Environmental disaster demands Global strategy"

(Conclusions & Recommendations report, by the House of Commons Energy Committee, July 1989).

UK: C02 Emissions: "Transport 23.5%, Domestic space heating 26.6%, Agriculture 2.6%, Cooking 3.4%, Process heat 15%, Motive power 9%, Lighting 6.5%, Appliances 7%. Water Heat 6.4%." "WE MUST CURE OURSELVES OF OUR ADDICTION TO FOSSIL FUELS" said .Jonathon Porrit, former director of Friends of the Earth..."

led by dr. John Houghton, head of the Meteorological office,

predicts a rise of Global temperature of about 2 degrees C by 2030, and a Sea-level rise of 9 28cms i.e. 3.5 – 11 inches.” (UK: “The Meteorological Office is run by the government’s Home Office.”) "We need an Emergency ACTION plan: PLANET IN PERIL: Recommended ACTION: • OZONE ENQUIRY RESEARCH. More money to investigate Global Warming. • The UK should set an example to the rest of the world by seriously tackling emission (pollution) problems. Mandatory controls should be considered... • The capture and disposing of CO2 urgently pursued (Trees do this) • Renewable technologies brought nearer to exploitation • Serious market imperfections exist relating to energy efficiency... Disincentives should be reviewed • Burning of aviation fuel should be studied for effects on Ozone... • Finite resources are being used up- these should not be wasted. • Should encourage electricity companies to invest in energy production systems which cut Greenhouse emissions. Reflect the costs of Global pollution, devoting revenue to energy efficient investment.

(27/1/1990) (Why perpetuate a bad system?

DATE COMBUSTION PHASED OUT!)

ENGINES

SET A TO BE

"The UK government accused of creating obstacles to finding a solution" (18/7/1990). "BEHIND THE HEADLINES: The Ozone layer is a lot of hype? Just a way to make money for government and scientists? We have mass complacency. It may just get too horrible before we do anything about it..." "Routines? Our days are numbered." "Every year we add 24 BILLION TONS of Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere... 4/5th from burning fossil fuels, most of the rest from burning felled tropical Rain Forests. (Chlorofluorocarbons, used in aerosols, fridges, foams 23%, methane 14%, 7% nitrous oxide...") "There is a LARGE degree of consensus that pollution has already made Global Warming inevitable." UK: "RURAL COASTLINE MAY BE LOST: ... parts of low-lying eastern coastline may be sacrificed... so that more money can be spent protecting areas against rising tides caused by ‘The Greenhouse Effect’... priority will be protecting lives and urban property rather than 333

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GNP on sea defences - more than the USA spends on military defence... PREDICTED: Severe flooding makes 30 MILLION people Homeless.” "WORLD HARVESTS: ... effects likely to be even more dramatic...rainfall patterns will change, disrupting food production..." "Farmers who adapt to a new climate will flourish." "A wild-life holocaust seems inevitable. Even plants may not survive... The best we can do is slow Global Warming down. World Unity Is Vital. Environmental disaster demands a Global strategy" (Ref: “’Planet in Peril'

agricultural land..." (1993). (Global Warming means: Land lost…) "VAST STRETCHES OF ENGLAND'S COAST MAY BE FLOODED: .. if recommendations in a suppressed government backed study are followed. 100's of homes and farms lie within the area under threat of flooding...” “We're going to be swamped..." "... Sea Defence plans are not going through... they don't know where finance will come from..." (1993).

examines the consequences of the Greenhouse Effect, with special attention to Britain, and asks whether the deeds of

political leaders match their warnings of the threat facing our children” The Observer, 18/4/1990).

(Cartoon: Found in a Newspaper).

"...the government funded ‘Institute of Terrestrial Economy’ assumes sea levels around Britain will increase by 2' - 5' over the next century..." "... a report prepared for the UN backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, estimates Britain will have to spend £6.5 Billion over the next century to protect coastal cities from inundation, to safeguard ports and harbours, defend low-lying land and rescue beaches... but that estimate may be 3 times lower than what is needed..." "How the weather could change our world... Disasters on such a scale may produce mass migration of people... where are victims going to move to, in a world segmented into geographically and politically into tight and often antagonistic countries?" (CHAOS!) PREDICTED: “ENDANGERED COUNTRIES: "Maldives (1196 islands fated to vanish beneath the rising sea), Florida Keys will cease to exist by 2050, Germany's Friesian islands vulnerable. Manhattan only 4' above sea level, will doubtlessly be protected by a high sea wall (made of?) Bangladesh - home to 15 MILLION people, may cease to exist - is already subsiding... Flooding in the Nile Delta (flat lands) (twice as heavily populated as Bangladesh), will destroy Egypt’s cultivable land... An 18" rise would flood Canton, a 3' rise would inundate China's low-lying plains... driving 30 MILLION people off the land... Venice faces disaster if seas rise only 1'. An 18" rise would flood most of Guyana's population. By 2050, New Orleans could be abandoned... Miami would also be flooded... The Netherlands already spend 6% of

(Picture: The Vietnamese Boat People)

(Will we have to be… boat people?) “But we don’t know how to survive in such conditions! Who are experts in this? Will they help us?” (We didn’t help them when they needed our support and understanding…) (“We all know the story of Noah and the Ark. Well, do you also know that Noah went around telling people that an almighty storm was coming and that they should all build boats. But none of the people listened to him, which is why they all perished…”) "Demonstration outside Dept., of Transport. “THERE’S GOING TO BE NO FUTURE FOR US, OUR CHILDREN OR GRAND-CHILDREN” (5/6/1990) (Perhaps that’s what they want?) "Another protest, criticising ministerial delays. Slogan: 'Blah Blah Blah'..." (16/5/1990). "DELAYED DEAL: ... the USA has been secretly calling on the British government to join in a slowing of the pace at which industrialised nations respond to the threat of Global Warming... The signing of a long ministerial declaration on sustainable development... (they are) meeting today’s needs... so that future generations are unable to meet their needs..." (10/5/1990). "HAVOC: ... Britain could have heat-waves in summer but colder / harsher winters... Predictions: Britain will face dramatic extremes... leaked documents show Experts expect the Earth's temperature to rise by as much as 5 degrees centigrade by 2050... this would cause havoc in 334

the 3rd World, already suffering droughts... The scientist believes Global Warming has already started.." (23/5/1990). Global Warming = “Starts with a Warmer climate = More insects such as disease carrying mosquitoes... “ DO NOTHING: " ... the Conservatives believe solutions must be found 'within the framework of a market economy.' They suggest a system of tradable pollution permits, already used in the USA." "PLAN IS A POLLUTERS CHARTER: ... reality fails to match rhetoric... the USA, the biggest single contributor to the Greenhouse Effect (accounts for 22%) has the most to lose from carbon reductions... The USA's energy intensive culture, notably their love affair with the car, might not survive... a proposal tabled in Washington... allowing rich countries to continue extravagant use of energy... countries could trade the rights with each other, on a new international market... The wealthier nations emit far more per head than poor countries, mostly from burning fossil-fuels... an across the board freeze on emissions would prevent poor nations industrialising by building conventional power stations, transport systems and factories, and they would never agree to it... It has to be saleable by almost every country..." “YOU’VE GOT TO FACE FACTS!” "There is a conflict of interests" said George Russel (18/3/1990). "Scientists have now advised sea levels could rise by as much as 1 yard (3ft) (90cms)" (25/5/1990). SAVING THE OZONE LAYER: “India needs £650 million to invest in new technology- been promised £40 million. 'It is not possible for us or China to reduce emissions.' Mrs Thatcher pledged £5 million, providing we agree to her terms!" (June

Aquatic life might not survive…” "Gases can't escape... Trap heat... Climatologists agree if present trends in burning fossil fuels and deforestation continue, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere will double by 2030... causing a temperature rise up to 2 degrees C by 2030, up to 4 degrees 2 decades later, committing the world to a Sea rise of 12" by 2040... " "President Bush's $175 million Plan to PLANT a BILLION TREES a year, will lock away 26lbs of CO2; the USA could thus reduce CO2 emissions by 12 million tons - about ¼ of 1% of the USA's total." (The idea of Replacing TREES dismissed! What IF we did manage to REPLACE FORESTS AND STOP emissions…) “HEAT STRESS: ... by the time our children reach late middle-age, the Earth is expected to be hotter than at any time in the last 100.000 years... summer is likely to become unbearably hot... doctors told ‘The World Conference on Preparing for Climate Change’... in the future we are likely to see increased risks to health... epidemics... spread by mass movements of Environment refugees - the world faces unprecedented refugee problems. 10’s of Millions of people forced out of their homes..." "Another problem compounding mass population movement from areas of declining rainfall and spreading desert, will be that those people will be crying for water, not oil wells" said Mrs Thatcher. ONE SOLUTION: "The Sunday Express newspaper highlighted the dire consequences of drought..." “We ought to embark on a ... building programme of desalination plants- not only to solve the drought problem, and create employment, but also to produce an Environment Friendly Electricity source...” (wrote Mrs B. Walker, 1990). Q: "Why doesn't the public do more to make them tackle ‘The Greenhouse Effect?’" A: “The public couldn't care less” ? "THE GREENHOUSE CONSPIRACY? ... a scientist cast doubts on the legitimacy of other scientists claims we are heading for catastrophe... 'We need to compare the Earth's temperature back to before the last Ice Age.' ... 'We cannot forecast Climate Change.' … scientist accused of ruining credibility..." (12/8/1990). "MAKE THE RIGHT INTERPRETATION OF THE FACTS: Environmentalists ‘attacked’ Mrs Thatcher in a powerful call for realism over pollution. Mrs Thatcher said: 'I find some people are thinking of the Environment in an airy-fairy way, as if we could go back to village life! Some might quite like it, but it is impossible to do. There is no way we could do without the great car economy because the economy would collapse if we do." Mrs Thatcher also said (as she presented the

1990).

"More damage to the Ozone layer done... CFC's are growing" scientists warned (26/6/1990). "ANTARTIC SURVEY: ... UN scientists warned Global Warming has already begun- the Earth's temperature is rising faster than thought... drastic measures are needed to cut energy use... 70 UN meteorologists called for a reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions... After the Downing Street briefing, ministers were in a sombre mood. 'Everyone sat there, and asked what are we going to do?'..." (1990). "...plans frozen on producing CFC substitutes... Companies (Du Pont & ICI) object to plans to control their new products... No profit. No alternative!" (4/7/1990). "One CFC molecule destroys 10,000 Ozone molecules in the stratosphere." "The effect of increased Ultra-Violet light (radiation from the sun) is skin cancer." “Increased U.V. could destroy all Human, animal and plant life. 335

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Better Environment Awards for Industry): "Instead, we must find more efficient ways of using fuel, more economic engines and more economic uses for cars. We have to think of a NEW way… if necessary we would have to create new industries for converting pollution into chemicals that are harmless.” (“Call Dr Who?") Mrs Thatcher warned against making any snap decisions. She added: “But the most difficult thing right now on the Global Environment is to make the right interpretation of the facts before us.” “She had studied a new report from ‘The Scott Polar Research Institute’ in Cambridge, which showed that the Ice Caps had diminished considerably in area and thickness.” “This could be caused by a pattern of winds in the Atlantic…” she said. “We do not solve Environmental problems by creating new problems- of major Global threat.” Mrs Thatcher then accused Friends of the Earth and ‘Greens’ of being “totally unrealistic” indicating she was looking for “something more practical. We must apply common sense” she said (1990). Global Warming = Freak weather conditions. Irreversible Damage. Terminal DECLINE. Effects due to / hastened by pollution. Europe BURNING, then FREEZING. We gotta stick to cars? WHAT USE ARE CARS GOING TO BE? “… a highly profitable (?) but reckless strategy…”

Planet, we lose everything. Rates of erosion going much faster... Option of improving public transport ruled out... If our love affair with the car continues, nightmare scenario... Conventionalism won’t produce cuts in Greenhouse gas emissions..." (BBC, 22/5/1990). 'Next year, another million cars on the road. Germany is only aiming to reduce pollution by 25% for year 2005.' 'DENYING TIME AND REASON" (5/6/1990).

"The world is at risk of catastrophe. The problems don't lie in the future, they are here now" said Mrs Thatcher... “Action must be taken by a 'Giant international effort' if it were to be effective.” Mrs Thatcher announced no new government moves" (25/5/1990) (I think God was listening…)

"We must be always be ready for any challenge we may meet" said Mrs Thatcher (10/6/1990). "David Gee, director of Friends of the Earth, criticised Mrs Thatcher's top UN Green Award as 'laughably naive' in the face of widespread condemnation of the government's policy on CO2 emissions." What is the solution? "MEGA PROJECTS? EG. Hang a 45 million ton umbrella in outer space to block the rays from the sun? Let algae gorge themselves on CO2- giant algae farms- 22 million hectares of them? Plant 52 million TREESenough to absorb the CO2 produced from one of the latest power stations in America during 40 years of operation? ... Boffins have offered all manner of 'imaginative' solutions... calculators are working overtime... These ideas are too risky or politically ‘impossible’ to get far... Governments and householders should all be doing the things that would be good for this Planet and our pockets.

NO Alternative Economic strategy in place. Wake Up! ("...in a very crowded place, past all concern... They scorned me...") "What planet are these politicians on?" “What are they smoking?” "Should we continue to ignore all the signs?" "Mrs Thatcher, the world is as risk of catastrophe...” PREDICTED: “Swarms of malaria spreading insects. London could be swamped beneath the Sea..." "The GOVERNMENT is in a state of TERMINAL SCHIZOPHRENIA" said a Conservative MP! "The government is playing for time. We've got to sort this mess out." "Decadent Thatcherism. The LOSS of Free Enterprise, the loss of The Free Market. If everyone is going down..." "We have to open up FLEXIBLE arrangements, if we don't- we're stupid. The government want to encourage competition! They want to spark the situation to see if change will come... “ "REDUCE EMISSIONS BY 50 - 60% OR SURE CATASTROPHY FOR THE PLANET. THE DANGERS OF INACTIVITY. A new report by scientists makes dire reading. Gas in Atmosphere already doubled... IF we go on accelerating... the differences around the globe… IF we lose our

Preserving Rain Forests and Planting Trees Does Make Sense..." “Maybe it would be cheaper than trying to lower the Atlantic?” "ULTIMATUM: WORLD FACES DECLINING OZONE LAYER: .. being eaten away by CFC's and Halon- needed for Fire-fighting, and other chemicals for dry cleaning and paint... The hole in the Ozone layer is getting worse but there is also a possibility of catastrophic speeding up of the process... A British report confirms Ozone now in long term decline in mid-latitudes over North USA & Europe... Another report confirmed a 15% drop in Ozone well outside the known Antarctic Ozone hole..." (HALON: UPDATE: The manufacture of Halon has been banned since January 1994 in response to the Montreal Protocol.”)

("2/3rd of CFC's are produced by the military…”) "OFFICIALS FROM 50 COUNTRIES met in London... they must reach agreement... or face the collapse of world-wide efforts to save the 336

“THE MELTING OF ARTIC ICE SHEET: Scientists tracking... gradual melting is occurring... The Artic is a huge area... Global Warming is taking effect. It is early days. Something must be done!"

Environment... more than 60 countries have now signed ‘The Montreal Protocol’... 'We cannot fail. Failure is not an option, success is imperative'..." (21/6/1990).

"WHERE ON EARTH ARE WE GOING? UK: No political will to preserve the Environment by implementing an energy efficient, non-polluting transport system that is also SAFE to use. Had years of trying to make conventional system profitable... Many parts of England could be desert..." "We don't know. Unless people stop burning oil and petrol... Only way to recover from situation is to stop pollution" (said author of book on

(Fragile Earth, 10/5/1992).

ICE-BERGS: “The largest iceberg on record was an artic iceberg of over 12,000 square miles (208 miles long, 60 miles wide), sighted 150 miles west of Scott island, in the South Pacific island. A 200 ft thick Artic island (140 square miles) was discovered in 1946, and was still being plotted in 1963. The tallest iceberg on record had 550 feet above the surface…” (Guinness Book of Records). “Antarctica is 58 times larger than England = 10% of the world’s Oceans- affecting climate by cooling other Oceans, moving heat around the planet… a frozen land mass that affects us all…” "At the moment our polar caps are frozen..." "HUGE ICE SHEETS ARE MELTING away due to slight (1%) weather change in Antarctica- holding 90% of world's ice- cliffs are 100's of feet high… 700,000 cubic kilometres of ice. Over next 10 - 100 years other ice shelves will be affected... THE DOOMSDAY GREENHOUSE EFFECT. Scenario? MELTDOWN?" (ITN, 28/3/1991). "We don't know how long hole has been there, we do know hole size fluctuates... Can man manufacture Ozone? ... Could this disaster be capable of slamming us into the next Ice Age earlier than predicted? Next Ice Age had been predicted for year 3000. Worrying..." (September,

Global Warming) (18/10/1990).

("Isn’t it everyone's dream to live on a desert island?") "More salt going up into the clouds- likely to cause heavier rainfalls..." (29/9/1990). A LIFELESS WORLD? "The picture is fragmentary but when the pieces are fitted together, a new and terrifying future looms which, if true, will change and effect all the current debates on resources, energy and politics, as the whole world faces the fact that once again it is man against the elements and that we really have not come that far after all." "Can we Afford to make a mistake?" "No-one really cares about it that much, after all, it is only going to affect the next generation..." "People will love the warmer weather until..." "IF WE FAIL - EXTINCTION. Human actions may in fact be more clearly linked to changes in the climate. Ancient civilisations, such as the Indus and Mycaenaen cultures, are well documented examples." "This has just got to be the decade of decision"

1991).

"London calling. The ice is melting. We're burning. Living by the river, but I don't care. A nuclear error. But have no fear. Oh!" ATTITUDE: "We can't do anything but get used to it." ARE EXISTING BUILDINGS & SYSTEMS WEATHER-PROOF ? "Every year, the sun shines, nice weather comespeople buy a house. Bad weather comes- oh, it’s not been maintained…" "Are builders worried about Global Warming? Are they advising customers how to make their homes more Weather-proof?" "No. Builders aren't worried. They think they'll get all the work making good all the damage done." “The flooding wiped out everything we’d done before…” “BUILDING CONTROLS: The UK is lucky in some respects. At least Britain has tight building controls. Once a building goes up, it usually stays up in average weather conditions… When the wind blows the UK does not want the people to be forced to leave their property because the quality of building work is so poor that collapse is almost guaranteed, as can be the case in other countries, such as Jamaica. That said, will TRADITIONAL Housing survive the effects of

(1990).

"4 areas in California are burning, due to lack of rain. Million $ homes reduced to ashes. Flames carried by 70 mph wind. Scene compared to nuclear war. People sheltering in churches and schools, until they can be evacuated..." "In 50 years time we could have destroyed our OXYEGN supply" (1992). "When the damage is done, it is too late." The Queen's speech: "... the Prime Minister was to start a new Environmental Agency to fill the Gaps..." "DO NOTHING: Disappointment expressed. PM is not now going to do so" (6/5/1992). "Volcanoes emitting millions of tons of Chlorine gas every year, adding to Ozone depletion... without Ozone all life would be IRRADATED out of existence... Not enough action taken to slow down industrial Chlorine dumping... even if the best plan works we will have Ozone depletion until 2080... The way we live will have to change..." "Ozone depletions... 11 million people could get skin cancer before 2004, despite CFC ban...” “Spare a thought for those people living underneath the hole in the Ozone layer…” 337

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Global Warming? “Most of the technology developed to ensure buildings are hurricane proof has only been fairly recently developed. Housing built before then, is at risk…” “WE ARE ON SHAKEY GROUND…” How much of our TRADITIONAL infrastructure is going to be UNDER WATER? 25%? 50%? 75%? (Can we manage without it?) What will be the £value of traditional housing & infrastructure, should GLOBAL WARMING really hit us hard? Who is going to be able to pay their mortgage? When economic / security depends on Banking… "Who will benefit by ignoring the dangers?" What provisions have governments put in place to ensure our Energy (for lighting, heating…) food ETC ??? ACTION TAKEN: “The (rusty) Thames Barrier in London is being strengthened.” (Is that it? There are no realistic / practical plans for civil protection? NO DISASTER PLAN! Flood victims will continue to receive short thrift - otherwise known as ‘a kick in the teeth’? Contingency? What contingency? "Oh, it’s not going to happen. It'll never happen in a million years…” (Oh, you mean, ‘it's every man for himself’? How quickly our so-called civilised world could end!) The only official advice offered is still: “Stay indoors, stay away from the windows, lie in the bath and put a mattress over the top of you.” MAYHEM! Baths don’t float, especially if the plug comes out. How long can you live for in a bath? ("CHANGE! Make a start. It doesn't matter what for - but when you rebuild- hold on. There's a storm coming. All the nights, all the time I'd go anywhere- in Heaven- in the sea of love. Call me and don't ever stop…") “… it’s DO, or die. It’s as simple as that.” "WORSE THAN FEARED: ... new research shows the Earth may be about to undergo dramatic changes in climate.. Governments urged to step up campaigns to stop Gases... Scientists in the Artic have discovered that average temperatures in the warm period before the last Ice Age (between 115,000 and 125,000 years ago), were extremely unstable with swings up to 14 degrees C over 10 - 20 years. IF that pattern repeats... the world would be facing cataclysmic changes... 'The speed with which the Climate Changed was staggering. We expected temperatures to remain the same for 10,000 - 20,000 years. We are moving into un-chartered waters. This has increased our uncertainty about what's to come' ..." (15/7/1993) (In other words, the world heated up 9 degrees before the last Ice Age. We are now ½ way there.)

"How are we going to tell everybody?" "How are we going to handle this? We must handle it..." "Is it the end of the world, as we know it?" ("You could have the best of both worlds.") ("Global Warming: Best Way to Deal With? New light shed...") ("If I had to put money on it- which I would never do because I don't believe in gambling, I would bet that you are going to say I don't believe it will ever happen, it hasn't happened, so it couldn't possibly be true, could it?" “I’ll give you odds of 10 – 1 it doesn’t get done…”) (“It’s on the cards, as sure as fate is fate. One way, or the other…”) PREDICTED: “WARS where people fight for water, not oil…” “A 1% increase in temperature = 10% fall in Grain yields…” (2001). (IF the harvest in Russia & America fails - what then?) “BRITAIN HAS FAILED TO MEET TARGETS for C02 reductions… Every flick of a switch for power, every car journey… is using energy which is producing the gas… also cheap air flights… Actual reduction achieved = 7.5%, not 20%. Britain supposed to be leading the world! Our love affair with the car… C02 also pumped into the Atmosphere by heavy industries… The USA are still saying the melting of the Polar Ice Caps may be a natural phenomena” (BBC, 10/12/2004) (natural or unnatural - the effect on people still going to be the same). “The US administration don’t believe it… HAS GLOBAL WARMING now started? (I don't know. Has it?) UK: "So hot for January... the birds and the bees are going bonkers as Britain basks in record temperatures... a winter heat wave..." (17/1/1990). "Warmest March since weather 1st recorded 300 years ago." "May Day... the temperature in Scotland was 81 degrees! That was hotter than the Sahara." "8" of rain fell in Korea, in 2 days. Never happened before" (7/5/1990). "Scorcher Europe... in grip of a 3 year drought..." (8/8/1990). "Record breaking heat wave... Paris 93 degrees, south west France 102..." "America got 10" of rain..." (13/8/1990). UK: "Invasion of jelly fish... washed in from Spain and Portugal..." "... farmers in East Anglia gathering earliest harvests for 30 years." ("Whales are trying to come ashore - no-one knows why!") "The weather's gone barmy!" "7 people found dead beside their broken down car in the Western Australian desert... had been stranded for 6 days... temperature was 115 degrees..." "A Cyclone killed 688 people in India..." (16/5/1990). "Saudi, in the Holy City, 1,400 pilgrims trampled to death when air conditioning system broke down in the 338

heat, there was a stampede..." (2/7/1990). "Worst storms this century. Record snow falls, 50 Tornados, storm tides..." (East coast USA, 3/3/1993) "You aint seen nothing yet!" “It is the debris whipped up in a tornado that kills. Broken wooden houses…” “On average 69 deaths a year due to Tornados in USA…” "The Mississippi Delta flooded an area the size of England... “ (7/7/1993). “TRYING TO HOLD BACK THE RIVER. Lost livestock, the crops, the farm buildings and farmhouse. 100’s of farmers affected. Cost of land dropping. Can’t Afford to stay. Banks wont lend any more money. Overdraft already higher than assets worth. The welfare cheques have run out. The answer is to flood the valley and build a hydroelectricity Dam? To provide jobs. To solve the lack of irrigation / drought affecting those not near the river. Will put us farmers in the valley out of business. Can we really Afford to lose this fertile land- that we love so much? Workers on the Dam strike- they bring in scab labour. The Bank foreclosed. System working for developers - not for the farmers. We still have starvation. POLICIES ARE SELLING US DOWN THE RIVER.” (“You’re beginning to realise it’s sink or swim. You’re dressed in oil skins… growing corn… for which they say there is no market… they buy this off you for less than it costs to grow… while you push and shove the wet Earth - desperately making barriers to contain the storm water… When will you realise the answer to solve all your hassles is plastic?”) "China: Severe flooding..." (13/7/1993) (China: River flooding: History. 220 dams failed…) "USA devastated by flooding & heat wave..."

"... about 150,000 fled to ‘evacuation centres’..." (7/12/1993) (What if ‘evacuation centres’ are devastated?) "Flooding across Europe especially Holland, Germany. Homes evacuated. 100’s of 1,000’s will spend Christmas in temporary shelters (schools, leisure centres). Countless damage.” “Heavy rain caused houses to subside. 1,000’s of acres of farmland flooded. Disaster areas declared. The only way to get about is by rubber dingy..." (6/12/1993)

(24/12/1993).

USA: "Hurricane... 180,000 people made homeless, damage to buildings $20 Billion... Millions evacuated to... Emergency shelters (schools). Wind speeds: 168 mph" (August 1992) "... severe flooding in the Mid-west completely drained ‘The National Flood Insurance Program’ coffers... the cost of reimbursing coastal dwellers for damage incurred from storms and hurricanes puts pressure on these funds..." (July 1993). “The UK has had 4.5 times the normal rainfall. An increase of 440%” (BBC1, 11/10/1993). UK: “Crops washed away, live-stock drowned in their cages, cells in police stations had to be bailed out… More rivers threaten to burst their banks. Water in torrents. Sand-bags arrived too late. Desperation measures. People using canoes to get about. 100’s of people evacuated. The army helped the fire brigade. After previous flooding, the council did not improve the drains. Leaves got in the drains. Tow trucks did major business. Power cuts. Water rose to dangerous levels. Schools closed. ‘This was a new building.’ Cars submerged. Fear: Worst is yet to come. Winds could add to the misery. Rain and frost predicted. Costs impossible to estimate” (BBC1, 13/10/1993). “HOW TO COPE WITH THE DELUGE that is engulfing Britain?” (BBC1, 4/1/1994). “Farmers fear they will lose £millions as CROPS ARE ROTTING UNDER WATER. Homes washed away in flood waters. Blizzards… red alerts on 5 rivers. As snow thaws- more flooding. Water overwhelming drainage system. Couldn’t have been prevented. All residents could do was watch water rise. 11 hour delays at airports. In one country, 150 abandoned vehicles. Journey time to work doubled. A car plunged into a canal- driver drowned. Rain has caused subsidence- houses are slipping away. Clay sliding down hills. Disaster. ‘We’re quite upset about it.’ Ground still moving. Houses now due to be demolished” (South

(18/7/1993).

"Spreading flood waters are creating something… that looks like a great new lake... New holes punched in flood defences... ... a 54 mile levee gave way flooding 44,000 acres of farmland... flooding knocked out electricity... another levee gave way... 3.5 million residents along one stretch of river battled to save their homes and possessions... another levee break- where 100's of people worked on sandbag barricades in stifling heat... 'Things will never be the same again. We just keep praying.' ... People are so confused..." (28/7/1993). India: "Millions made homeless after 10 days relentless rain..." (19/7/1993). "Bangladesh: ... a sandbagged embankment crumbled... death toll 500... 2 MILLION people have fled their homes..." (21/7/1993) "Over ½ of Bangladesh is now under water, 6 MILLION people made homeless... 75 people are in one flimsy boat..." (27/7/1993). UK: "4.5 times normal rain fall. An increase of 440%..." (11/10/1993). Philippines: "Typhoon... 2nd is approaching

England, BBC1, 7/1/1994).

“Winds reeked havoc on roads and railways. Passengers on 5 trains stranded… A portable cabin was blown from a lorry trailer into a river 100ft below” (UK, 28/1/1994). "Record cold temperature gripped USA & Canada... - 40 degrees C. More than 75 million people suffered Artic conditions... Power 339

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"Residents advised to evacuate Florida – 6 MILLION people fled in cars... The world’s largest evacuation in history" "... another Hurricane is approaching- unprecedented to have 3 Hurricanes one week after the other..." (September

companies enforced rolling black outs as the demand for heat surged..." (21/1/1994). “A massive inflatable tent was used to protect a football pitch” (UK, 7/1/1994). ("They've had over 20 years to work it out...") "Worst Cyclone this century... 110,000 made homeless…" (Madagascar, 4/2/1994). Malibu: “Mud slides..." (8/2/1994). USA: "Worst blizzards for 60 years... Forecasters blamed for bad weather!" (9/2/1994). PEOPLE SAID: "I hope you've got your thing together. Looks like we're in for some nasty weather..." "If you're a little scared and nervous about it, and anxious to do everything right, avoiding harm and damage, that’s a healthy attitude." "You can try hard- don't mean a thing. Take it easy that's what gets results. It's the way you do that..." "It's just a shout away?" "Just one look, that's all it took, yeh." USA: “15th major storm of the winter shut down schools and businesses, toppled trees and snapped power lines. Winds overturned boats. A Tornado hurled houses off their foundations. Stocks of salt and sand are running low in the major cities. Blanketed under snow. Virginia has declared a state of Emergency” (North East USA, 3/3/1994). “Tornado killed 40, at least 90 injured. Hit 5 States. Blew cars across the road, blew down walls, telegraph poles. 19 died when a church was destroyed- the roof came down on the congregation- took 20 seconds for the building to come down. 6 died in a mobile home (caravan) park. America is today counting the damage now the storms have subsided but heavy rains due tonight…” (28/4/1994). UK: “April showers? Today it rained for 6 hours non-stop” (4/4/1994). "I don't know, we have a bit of snow and everything grinds to a halt!"

2004).

"Is politics getting in the way of radical problems? It is important to get the fundamentals right..." "The Queen of England, having noticed changes in the grounds of her estates, has voiced grave concerns to Tony Blair, re: Global Warming and the USA's policy..." (The Observer, 31/10/2004). “KRILL at the heart of the Ocean's food chain levels have fallen 80% in the Artic region since the 1970's as sea ice melts..." "Melting of Artic Ice = 8% has caused a 3" rise in Sea levels in past 20 years.” “Ice / Glaciers = An area the size of Texas and Arizona has MELTED...” “Western Canada- winters have warmed by 5 - 7 degrees F..." (a 4 year research study involving 300 scientists) (details: www.acia.uaf.edu ) (8/11/2004). Tony Blair said: "The Kyoto agreement is off the USA's agenda... Kyoto would sacrifice their economy... We are going to have to go far further than Kyoto. We need to get agreement the problem is serious at the G8 meeting next year..." (12/11/2004)

("Who is going to argue it’s

case?" Sacrifice their economy? Uh? It would be the making of YOU!) “Tony Blair said he is trying to find a different way forward to handle this issue (i.e. the USA refusing to accept the Kyoto agreement). (Oh! YOU ARE YOU STILL NOT CONVINCED OF THE NEED FOR it ?) “What INCENTIVE would induce government to work harder?” (When it hits their brain…”) “37,000 DEATHS due to heat-wave / freak weather across Europe last year… More heatwaves / deaths expected… Temperatures are way above average… Latest research dismissed by one USA expert…” (BBC, 1/12/2004) followed by reports each lasting approx. 3 seconds: “Flooding in Australia…Water will take a long time recede…” “Flood waters are 11’ high …” “Flooding in Malaysia…” “Flood water 8’ high…” “ONE THING IS FOR SURE. You never know what you’ve got, till it’s gone.” CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE in Buenos Aires. Global Warming is definitely occurring. Content of meeting = Assessments of vulnerabilities and options for adaptation in poorer countries. The National Action Plans = Workshops… for ‘sustainable’ development planning. Agreed = Experts to meet in Bon to establish appropriate responses” (18/12/2004). “Blair asked to help G. W. Bush see the light…” UK: “Labour said they have put CLIMATE CHANGE at the top of their agenda. Climate

(14/12/1994).

"A storm from hell shatters L.A.... rock slides, mud slides, rivers of mud crashed into homes... no power for 1,600 homes, 100 traffic accidents in 3 hours...." (21/12/1994). Note: THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THE OCCURENCIES… “Californians use 80% of their power consumption running air conditioning. Air conditioning = CF Gases. Houston, Texas has more air conditioning than anywhere in the world. The cost of turning hot air into cold air exceeds the gross national product of 30 countries” (The People, 20/2/1994).

“… The big, naturally vented building is making a come back… Government advisors have actively considered banning artificial air conditioning systems in new buildings to meet Britain's targets for reducing CO2 emissions…” (The Times 16/5/1994). “The US Senate voted 100 – 1 against ‘The Kyoto Agreement’ (i.e. the only plan to reduce pollution…”) (2001). 340

Change now has top priority. Tony Blair very keen to solve this problem… USA & Europe have different views about how to tackle… Kyoto agreement due to end 2012. What should replace Kyoto? A new agreement - internationally binding- to succeed. A compromise deal? A worthless bit of paper? UN conference in Geneva. Environmentalists / protestors outside say time is running out to take action. The vast majority of Scientists agree Climate Change is occurring due to man. The Polar ice-caps are melting - if the rate continues- ice will be gone during the summers in 70 years. Fears the USA could go into deep recession and pull us all down… The USA (the world) needs to move (swiftly) towards Renewable Energy.” “Paris hit by an unexpected freak hurricane…”

“Swirling water… many killed by cars / debris in the water… Houses swept into the sea… At least 400 fishermen swept out to sea… Boats tried to outrun the waves. Boats flung from the water. The waves travelled at the speed of a jumbo jet 500 mph.” The impact… Entire villages swamped. People from 5 villages missing… Many of the victims elderly and children too weak to swim… A HUGE tragedy. Profoundly tragic. Death Toll: 11,500.” (Journalists crying…) Sri Lanka: “We are not equipped to deal with a disaster of this magnitude. There’s a shortage of helicopters, doctors, medicine…” “They can’t cope- they’re ill equipped. They desperately need international assistance. They (officials) DON’T KNOW what they (the poor suffering survivors) need…” (26/12/2005). (EMERGENCY ACTION? How incredibly handy if we could launch Rapid Response. Ideally, modules should be made in every country = No need to load the plane or use too much fuel doing it. Or, we could instantly ? deliver Modular KITS, using Modular transport.) (The pity is you

(BBC, 18/12/2004).

A YEAR IN REVIEW: “14 hurricanes. So much misery. 4 hurricanes hit densely populated areas with devastating consequences in the Caribbean. 100’s of 1,000’s made homeless. Winds 145mph. Florida: Without power. Houses ripped from foundations. Haiti: Entire cities and towns submerged after an exceptional season. Mudslides, flooding before the hurricane. An impoverished island. A record year for tornados330 mph wind speeds- terrifying! Planes overturned, power lines brought down… Exceptionally strong monsoons in Asia. Japan record rainfall, 10 Typhoons. Flooding in New Zealand and Peru. Turkey freezing storms…heavy floodwater… Once again, homes and businesses swamped… A watery world… Locusts destroyed vast areas of crops in several countries…” (Sky TV, December 2004) (I could not write

didn’t know about it / you haven’t realised it – yet).

2 DAYS LATER: “They are still at the assessing stage. Death toll: 23,700. Luxury tourist resorts wiped out, flattened… The hotel’s gone! The sandy beaches now used as casualty centres. Many casualties. Many cuts. Minor and serious injuries. Bodies on the beaches, in the sea…” “We clung onto a tree…” “Survivors terrified, grief stricken, reeling, dazed, stunned… “ “The people who left on boat tours- not seen again…” Hysterical scenes- women screaming. One man refused to give up the little body of his son- he walked around carrying him for over an hour... “Many survivors are sleeping rough out on the streets too afraid to go back… fear of sleeping in partially collapsed buildings…are in make-shift shelters. Millions of people displaced / homeless…” “Local radio stations broadcast prayers and no news…” “100’s of tons of tents, plastic sheets, tarpaulins = Aid from Britain. Plane delayed...” “It’s important people have a roof over their head even if it is only a plastic sheet. Lack of clean water. Fears of water borne diseases / epidemics. Shortage of chlorine tablets to purify poisoned water. Water and sewage systems now ineffective…” “Australia sent 2 planes of drinking water…” “The local Red Cross / Red Crescent providing pots, pans, bedrolls, clothes, packets of food…” (“Frantic relatives… Telephone help-lines in UK inundated. System cannot cope during a

all the occurrences down- sorry. I don’t do short-hand).

“GLOBAL WARMING IS NOW A REALITY. Will the world come together in 2005?” (Sky TV, 24/12/2004).

TIDAL WAVES: “Caused by disturbances out at sea. No-one can tell if one is going to happen; instruments can fail to detect. Weathermen can be wrong. Animals and birds tend to migrate from area beforehand. There could be slight Earth tremors before wave hits. Tidal waves travel quickly..."

UNPREPARED: “An Earthquake at Sea measuring 9 on Richter scale, followed by a series of tidal waves (called a tsunami train) hit Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Maldives - densely populated areas. Waves- a wall of water- took people by surprise. The Quake reduced buildings to rubble, then buildings smashed into drift wood. The waves took vehicles and people.” (God! What an AWFUL sound! ALL THE SCREAMS!) 341

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lost… Death toll: 59,000- increasing all the time…” A few of the survivors reflecting on how close they came to disaster: “Nerve racking stories.” EG. “The Sea went back (the tell-tale sign a Tidal wave is coming). People did not know what this meant. We could see coral we’d not seen before. Children went to get shells… Then the waves came… and that was it. It was very, very quick... It only took a couple of seconds… The 2nd wave was worse than the 1st… Shouts. It’s coming again!” “… it started as Christmas in ‘paradise.’ He had just taken a picture of a child wearing a GAP T’shirt…This is where the (drinking) bars were…This happened on BOXING DAY!” “What a difference a day makes. I think I grew up today.” “…the water came in, the glass crashed, people were screaming everywhere…” “The wave broke the big window…” “The room filled with waterthe wave pushed the window out at the other end of the room, saving my life…” “People trapped in rooms, only a foot of air above their heads for a breathing space, unable to open doors…” “Trashed chalets… bodies hanging in the trees…” “Before I went under the water I saw the bungalow was uprooted and coming down on top of me…” “My bungalow exploded…the water came through the doors, the windows… “ “… she lost 3 generations of her family and her home…” “…he has lost 50 members of his family…” “The sea threw the boats… the boats came through the buildings, crashed into the road…” “Trains, boats, buses, coaches, cars tossed like toys… His family… Everything swallowed by the Sea, lost.”(God Almighty!) “The monumental force of this wave… flipping over 100’s of tons of metal… even warships capsized, pushed inland… mangled wreckage everywhere.” “A desperate struggle for survival against the power of nature…” “A huge surge… the impact… Corpses floating… bloated bodies…” “Local people rescued us, carried us, made sure we got to the airport. They didn’t want money…” “We don’t know what happened to our friends. I will never know who saved me… it’s not quite sunk in yet. It’s just so good to be back home…” “They’re trying to take it all in - to make sense of it all. There is no rhyme or reason? Everyone is trying to understand what it means.” (“… it is beyond normal comprehension? “May you one day see the light.”) (“Out of chaos comes order”?) EXPERT: “The loss of life could be reduced in the future by building Quake resistant buildings.” (Ignored) “We will have to rebuild quickly.” (How will they re-build? Hodge-Podge?) “We have to rebuild houses, shops- replace

disaster.” “Now a lack of hotel rooms- tourists on floors anywhere they can find… Difficulties getting to the airport… Airport closed - a glass wall smashed…“ “Repatriating foreigners is now UK’s main priority.”) “Airport now a place of trauma displaying photos of dead victims to help people identify loved / missing people. 1,000’s of people are missing. Many children have lost their parents…” “The authorities have a grim task. A mammoth crisis. Hospitals and morgues overflowing… Mass graves - 2-3 dozen people in each. Shortage of coffins…” “Loads of people need help and they’re not getting it! The dead and the dying on road sides, in halls, corridors, temples…” Colombo: “Hit by a series of disasters… A train derailed by floodwater- the wave of death. 100’s of bodies trapped…” “As night fell rescue efforts given up- they will resume at 1st light…” “They are using an oil lamp for relief operations…” “They have spent 48 hours cutting free dead bodies…” “The 8 carriages were packed- 1,300 people were on board… Now all that remains is so much smashed wood and metal…the railway tracks are now twisted steel 25’ up in the air…” “2,000 people died here. The horror. Bodies buried / trapped under hotels, in rubble - crushed. There’s a shortage of heavy machinery to lift and free the bodies…” “They’ve got to bury the deadthe rotting corpses in the tropical heat- the putrid smell… shortage of sheets to wrap the dead, now using black plastic to make body bags… They need refrigerated morgues…” “Deadly devastation. Will take the world’s biggest Aid effort. Most costly disaster in history. $Billions of damage. Appeals launched by various charities for money. Aid agencies are coordinating… a joint operation… “ “The UN said they had never seen anything like it before- the sheer scale of the Humanitarian disaster… Request for people to dig deep into their pockets. Rehabilitation of these people is our biggest challenge…” “Many areas cut off… Roads blocked by damaged houses. Difficulties getting Aid to people…Many have lost everything. People have lost their livelihoods. No insurance. Many people now poverty-stricken - will have to start again from scratch.” (What are you thinking now?) “We’ve only got our memories left…” “Eerie seeing people’s sandals and… flip-flops… floating by…” “Have we got lessons to learn from this?” “Tsunamis can happen anywhere. Anyone living in low lying coastal regions is deemed at risk. 8 tsunamis happen on average every year in the Pacific…” “A ‘paradise’ obliterated in seconds. A paradise 342

boats - everything! For millions of people… now plunged into poverty. This is going to take 10 years. It is not an easy task. It is a real issue now… Survivors are living as refugees. People are hungry…” “Help has not arrived, even in the capital… It requires multi-nation response. Scores of countries sending Aid – dozens of planes are airborne…” “The 1st Aid flights have arrived. Frustration help is taking as long as it is. It can’t come too soon…” “A BUREAUCRATIC nightmare trying to get help to those in a living hell who need help… everything needs clearance… Government has not done enough to help. The Indian government feel empathy- are trying their best to help, to provide a healing touch…” “Help may not arrive until the end of the week! Situation very grave. Local stockpiles distributed. Terrible scenes… Areas still to be assessed…” “10 nations affected by the quake- Somalia, Kenya, Malaysia, even the Seychelles… Regions ripped apart. Now wasteland. So much wasteland!” “How to maintain standards of hygiene? Existing water supplies / systems affected by sewage.” “Task force disaster teams working round the clock = Teams of social workers and psychiatrists are on the ground. Trauma counselling set up - to help people who need settling… Quick decisions need to be taken… It’s an absolute disaster…” “This is where people came to find Heaven on Earth…” (Ah! You like visiting the village people…) “Tourists come here for a holiday of a life-time… The designer hotels, the villas…” “A tropical paradise turned into pandemonium… resorts were crammed… for parties on the beach… tourists and staff battered to death in luxury hotels. Now ruins… 700 people died in one hotel… In another resort, 700 bodies mainly of Western tourists are on the beach, some ½ buried by the sand…” “Long-term support for people is going to be needed…” “’Maybe as many who have died will be affected by risk of disease’ warned The World Health Organisation. 1/3rd of the casualties could be children. “ “We could be in a situation where more children could die from diarrhoea in the next few weeks than those who were killed by the tsunami. That is always the after effect of major natural disasters…” (World Health Organisation statement- on UN’s

“UNICEF, CAFOD, Save the Children Fund, Oxfam, World Food Programme Aid = Medicine (antibiotics, vaccines to deal with outbreaks of disease caused by contaminated water) water tanks, plastic piping, buckets, temporary plastic squatting pads for use as toilets- all being airlifted…” “The UK charity ‘Shelter Box’ sending small plastic boxes each containing “… a good quality tent to help keep 10 people warm, water filters. The box can be re-used afterwards to help in the tent as a table…” “Fears now for the survivors of this disaster. People are desperate for help!”

“MOVE it. MOVE it…” “Aid is not enough! Complaints: BASIC needs are not being met. It needs to get here fast. Infrastructure overwhelmed. Police, troops and civilians overwhelmed.” “The crying! The screaming! The wailing! Such sadness. So much death and sorrow.” “Bodies buried, burnt - not counted. Many bodies unclaimed - no surviving relatives to claim them. Many still unburied. Bodies piled, put in long lines. Stacked coffins. Unimaginable horror. Row after row of dead bodies. The stench of death and decay...” “½ the victims were children. Children couldn’t run as fast as adults to get away. Children weak- could not hold on… they were separated… Nobody can fail to be touched by it… some people have no tears left…” “A WARNING SYSTEM could have saved many lives. American scientists knew this was going to happen but had no way of sounding the alarm… The wave could be seen from Outer Space… Governments criticised for failing to warn people… The idea of a Warning system was rejected due to the cost of Emergency workers“ (False Economising!) (“Such a system has already saved countless lives in other Oceanic islands EG. Hawaii.”) “Some of the poorest communities were along the coast- have (consequently) been wiped out.” (Q: Will these poor people be able to stay or will their home-lands be replaced with fancy buildings, owned by the rich?) (A: “Corporate vultures may use this opportunity to entice them to part with prime retail sites in exchange for ‘secure housing’…” (comment posted on BBC web-site).

“The wreckage of countries. Never before have we witnessed anything like this in our life time. Whole country on their knees. Shattered towns - the full extent of damage visible from the air- mile after mile… huge areas of land now flooded. Water has travelled 5 - 7 miles inland. Whole villages

website).

“Children are most vulnerable to dehydration.” “Schools all washed away…” “The UN has launched the biggest ever RELIEF operation. Response is positive. Japan $30 million, Australia £11 million. USA $15 million pledged…” 343

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are now under water. The thick mud… Grim scenes. A water logged chaos. The authorities have a formidable task…” “The UN has called for the world to unite to help the victims. People are now waiting for help. The main concern is to get it right” (BBC & Sky News, 26

needed.” “It has got to people’s hearts - people are giving generously- £600,000 raised by Oxfam during last 3 days. 1,000 calls a minute to donate money to Oxfam.” “USA has doubled their amount of Aid to $35 million, the UK increasing their Aid to £15 million.” Jack Straw, UK Home Secretary said: “The issue is not money. The issue is to identify people’s needs to make sure money is not wasted. They need bottled water… forensic expertise - to provide DNA assistance… We are always learning from disasters… as we have in the past….Every desk is being used… The police can handle any disaster that could happen in the UK…” (Oh! Really?) Michael Howard, UK Conservative Party leader said: “People should match the amount pledged by the British government… people can live on $1 a day. It’s got to be done today. Further calamity could be avoided if everyone now takes the action needed. Help is needed urgently. How to respond to everyone’s needs? Lessons can be learned from this…” ( "Think of what you need here. IF your speciality...") “India will now install a Warning system…” “If other nations help by re-building, these economies can’t Afford the repayments…” (What a muddle. “They need to organise it. Start an assembly line system. One day, they’ll work it out… One day they’ll learn something…”) EXPERT: “Tourism… will bounce back.” “In the temples, they try to find serenity, lighting candles, praying…” “Many people are coming to look for their loved ones…Harrowing (beyond belief) searches…” “They don’t know how many people were swept out to sea.” “If you didn’t see it coming you would have really struggled” said a rescue worker. Banda Acha: “200 prisoners perished in the prison. Jailers had no time to unlock cells when the water hit…” “30 countries have lost citizens…” Burma: “What is happening there? A secret military state, on the same coast-line? No reports.” “…The military are here now…” “Devastated forests… railways, bridgeseverything flattened- swept away…” “Mosquitoes will breed in the standing water… spreading disease…” “Shallow graves = A time bomb…They did not die of disease so priority should not necessarily be disposing of the dead but helping the living…” “… unfortunately, this is the Dry season otherwise people could collect rainwater…” “We are getting no help from the British consulate whatsoever. I’m ashamed to be British. I’m proud of the local people- they fed us,

- 28 December, 2004).

“Survivors are facing starvation. Death toll: 69,000 and still rising. There have been 7 further aftershocks up to 6 on the Richter scale. Safer to sleep outside - tremors still being felt.” EXPERT: “The Key is planning- how to get it (Aid) there and how to distribute it.” (“The Key to it is simplicity.”) “The sheer logistics… of delivering critical Aid…” (How to get it through to these people?) “The planning as it stands at the moment… They are loading the planes… looking for trucks and fuel, and help from the government… IF charitable needs are not met… it is really a challenge to provide Aid very, very fast - it is just not possible really” ? “Millions of people now plunged into poverty. We are setting up co-ordination networks…” Q: “Are you content with the way RELIEF Operations are going? There has been some criticism of certain elements…” A: “Too little, too late.” “The authorities are groping in the dark over the relief effort.” (Question not answered lucidly). “5 million people now left without basic resources for life” said the UN. “The response of the rich to the needs of the poor is stingy” said Mr. Egeland. “The uncertainty. All they can do is hope, WAIT.” “No-one has come to help us. No food. All we get is scraps. We have to rely on charity… organised by a local group. We can’t Afford to wait for governments.” “One group of survivors are sheltering in a monastery- they are now entirely dependant on charitable support…” “We have come to help our stricken brethren” said a youth group. Well-wishers are putting together their own relief convoys. No outside help.” “Delivery of Aid is haphazard. All the ports, the (wooden and metal) boats destroyedirreparable...” “What is the future now for all these people? … in the ‘relief’ centre… 1.000’s of people sleeping on mats on the floor since Sunday, some in tents - in these humid conditions! The temperature is 39 degrees. They are facing another night… We must somehow find temporary homes for them. ‘Relief’ centres may be open for a few more days…” “The Red Cross are sending a lot of heavy equipment EG. vehicles to enable 3 Aid workers to be self-sufficient and fully equipped…” “There are 5 million grieving people who need drinking water, food, shelter.” “Aid sent = A drop in the Ocean but obviously it is 344

watered us, used their fuel, gave us the shirt off their backs. We can’t get a flight…” “Some tourists stayed to help rescue people, setting up medical centres, helping to bury the dead…” On their return to the UK 2 young men explained: “… there were only cess-pits there… conditions will get worse… we pity the people who have to remain, who have lost their entire economy (fishing & tourism)…” “A DISASTER OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS. Smashed beyond recognition… Indonesia worst country affected- 45,000 deaths here. Obscene scenes. Burial by bull-dozer. 1,000’s in massgraves. Apocalyptic destruction. In hospitals, children wait untreated in corridors, their wounds rotting- gangrene is setting in… Refugees are ‘sleeping’ along roadsides under tatty bits of polythene.” “I wish we hadn’t survived…” said a woman. Sri-Lanka: “Death toll 20,000. 1 million people camping out. Now scavenging in the mud… A place of filth and despair. Waiting… No-one seems to care. Grave digging on an industrial scale- truck after truck of dead bodies… but still not quick enough…The final indignity… being laid to ‘rest’ in a pit.” “Towns vanished- street after street. Decades of development wiped out in seconds… Nothing could withstand such a force…” ? “10 ravaged countries… NATURE FEELS… disturbed / UNBALANCED…” (see: Chapter 15) EXPERT: “We may have another Earthquake of this scale… 2/3rd of these people need not have died. People do heed warnings- in other regions people go round on bikes blowing whistles to warn of Cyclones…” “Calls for A GLOBAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEM to enable people to get to higher ground. It is possible to install such a system. We may all feel impudent but there is something we can do to prevent more deaths… They need the funds to do it.” “Aid now = $250 million. IF pledges are honoured…” “Damage Estimate: £7.2 Billion - figure expected to rise dramatically.” Aid described as: “Woefully inadequate. They have only got 5 helicopters in Sri Lanka - they need 50 helicopters…” “4 days after ‘the great wave’ hit, ‘wealthy countries’ are beginning to respond…” G.W. Bush made a statement: “… last year the USA gave 40% of the world’s Aid. We are a very kind and generous nation” he said smiling… Tony Blair is still on holiday. Jack Straw said: “We are doing everything we can. Telephone helplines are now working- you have a better chance of getting through (to the UK’s foreign office.”) “This is the sort of disaster the UN is designed

to take care of…” “This is one of the biggest disasters of ‘modern’ times… It is such a disaster… it transcends any political divisions…” APPEALS FOR CHARITABLE ASSISTANCE LAUNCHED: “… All the water / sewage systems need replacing, the roads, the railways. They cannot do it without our help. Please donate money. People are crying out for the 3 Basics of life: water, food and shelter. £40 donated = Drinking water for 1 family for 1 week, £100 will build 2 family houses using zinc sheeting and timber… We need cash… for short term relief for some of the world’s poorest countries… We have stockpiles… We will source locally to save transport costs… It is required to give them something to live for…” (said the Disasters Emergency Committee DEC, an umbrella organisation for 12 charities).

PEOPLE SAID: “We just feel we have to do something.” “At Christmas time, it is a time of giving…” “We had too many presents...” “It’s a good cause. It could have been my family…” Q: “Why cash? Can’t we donate something else?” A: “We can buy goods that would cost you £32 for £8. This is a natural disaster. This is needed to help people re-build their lives” (said a charity). Newscaster: “They need safety tonight, not tomorrow! When will we see an end to this suffering?” (BBC, Sky & ITN News, 29/12/2004). (WHERE IS THE SENSE IN RE-BUILDING USING THE SAME MATERIALS ON LOW LANDS REPLICAS OF ‘SHELTERS’ THAT HAVE FAILED SO MISERABLY? They are Cheap skating again! “People dying is bad enough! But if YOU don’t learn anything from it…”) “The UN launched an appeal to raise money for an Early Warning system” (29/12/2004). “Record amounts of money donated. The British people donated £20 million in 24 hours. People of all faiths are giving what they can. ½ million people in Britain have given money. Level of donations from the people is humbling.” “We have never known anything like it” said DEC. “Keep on giving (money)” said a charity. “People want to know will the Aid get there? And, are our government awake?” ( Will they leave them high and dry?) (“I think it’s high time they do something…”) “People are desperate for help, to get them back on their feet…” “Thanks to the money pledged, we have 9 medical teams now on the ground said a charity. … Still criticism response being led by charities not government/s…” “The Queen has donated an unspecified sum.” “The British government has increased their pledge to £50 million.” “The UN is not satisfied with the Global 345

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building left standing. Wiped off the map. Mud and corpses everywhere. Have rescuers arrived too late? Reminds me of Nagasaki after the bomb, said a Search rescuer. There’s no Aid here. 100’s of 1,000’s of people here are starving- had no food or water for 5 days…These survivors are walking to escape but this road leads to nowhere… They are too traumatised to talk…” Sri Lanka: “Disorganised local Aid. Grim. Survivors living amongst the rubble & death. No relief camps, scant medical care, little sanitation. Over-crowded, desperate people…” “The Moslems buried the dead and asked Allah: Why? They want to know. Traumatised, they sit, blank, vacant. Nobody talks anymore. They’re too frightened to come off the hill…” “Aid Agencies are being kept away from some of the worst hit places. When the media asked if access could be allowed the authorities said they would think about it…” “Oceanographers for the 1st time have video footage of a tsunami… The wave was 200 miles long. The sea crashed… the wind sucked… it just kept coming and coming. They had to submit to its power… Scientists cannot conquer it. Scientists are struggling to understand it… Man’s flimsy structures…” (Sky News & BBC, 30/12/2004) (“It is nature’s way. This is what you must expect. You must use your intellect…”) “Emergency UN meeting (called by Kofi Annan, who rushed back from holiday) re: Relief operations… UN overstretched financially and technically due to other relief operations round the world…” (30/12/2004). “UNICEF said 125,000 people are dead in Indonesia alone. Outside the capital, sheer desolation. People here are without anything - are living under tarpaulins. A massive, military-style operation is needed here. The Aid agencies can’t cope. Everything needs to be done NOW! Infrastructure has collapsed. No airport. No fuel! We have to get infrastructure here. The real issue is there is not enough water. Food is trickling in. There is a small window of opportunity, but that window is closing. Time is very short.” “Indonesia has given up counting the dead…” 5 DAYS LATER: “And Aid has still not reached some regions. There is still a shortage of food, water and shelter. India has never seen tsunamis / huge destruction all along the coast. The Sea took the fishermen as well as destroying the boats… It seems what nature gives it also takes away…” “Breath taking destruction! Wherever you see bricks, you see bodies - bricks are everywhere… The electric wires are down…” “How to rebuild their faith? A grim mood. A fateful event. The aftermath…” “3,500 Swedish people are still missing.”

response.” “It has registered deeply on the consciousness and conscience of the world. It is going to be a long haul… It’s so huge one agency cannot deal with it…” (said Kofi Annan, General Secretary.)

“THE UN ARE NOT VISIBLE- they are still assessing the situation.” (“Assess. Assess. Don’t you know what you’re looking at? I hope you are going to give them something now so this can’t happen again.”) “There is an idea that each country adopt a country to support financially…” “The Red Cross are preparing to fly in (heavy) generators… Each agency tends to specialise… they have divided the affected land into grids…” “The USA is sending warships and an aircraft carrier… A field hospital…” (A big tent) “They may hold a special (G8) conference to discuss the crisis…” “Death toll now 125,000. 6,000 people are still MISSING, many are tourists, presumed dead. Relatives are hunting amongst the dead… Stacked plywood coffins, overflowing morgues. The volunteer grave-diggers lifting the wet ground, heaving, sobbing, sweating… Everyone (here) now wears a mask…” “5 million people are homeless- displaced. Some children who have lost their parents- lost everything, who now have nothing- are trying to commit suicide- are walking into the Sea, (or) banging their heads on the roads… 1 million children need help. Children will need long-term trauma counselling. We need to rebuild their homes for them.” “India is providing self-help and help for their neighbour… citizens airlifted off a neighbouring island to the mainland…” “The Navy dredging the port… there are 100’s of buses, cars, vans, boats down there- they have recovered a lot of bodies… (a gruesome job.”) “Survivors are in agony, praying… Survivors inconsolable… Will take years for them to heal… Survivors locked in a state of FEAR- the desperate fear they will be swept out to sea anytime.” A SURVIVOR: “I heard buildings and trees cracking… desks - everything went flying past. The iron sheets off the roofs cut people really badly…” India: “A false alarm another tidal wave is coming triggered panic- forced many more people to flee / run for their lives… People who lived near the sea are now too afraid to go back…are now homeless. A catastrophe made by the government…” FEAR: “It’s coming again! It’s coming again! It could come again!” Indonesia: “The tide brought in another grim discovery- 1,000 bodies.” “Vast areas- complete desolation. Not a single 346

totally smashed. Water in wells contaminated… They need tanks of water... The risk of E-coli in children…” Indonesia: “1,000’s of survivors trapped on an island- weak from thirst… 1,000’s of families camped out in the open…” “Indonesia will host a tsunami summit on 6/1/2005.” PHUKET: “The wave was at least 20’ high… Extremely sad. People grieving- coming together as part of their healing, to mourn. Candle lit vigils across the beaches. A show of unity… it’s very quiet - silent.” (North) SRI LANKA: “½ the population have died. Aid is not getting through to the Tamil population (who have been fighting the government for last 20 years). Government not involved in rescue work! No-one is helping ‘the rebels’. Only volunteersanyone who will help. They only have one earthdigger. No helicopters. No time for funerals. These are CHRISTIAN villages…” (with pictures of Jesus on the walls…) (Sky TV & BBC, 31/12/2004) (The HUGE piles of WRECKAGE… so much (cut) wood everywhere!) “New Year ‘celebrations’ in London = A 2-minute silence to remember what has happened and a lighting display of fireworks. People are still in the mood to party but many people in many communities are impacted by this… The display will be something special, provided by gun-powderrockets, roman candles, thunder-bursts, to give us hope for the future.” (“Oh! It’s all so brilliant! When will they invent something that doesn’t leave the Earth with a bang?” “A laser display is much more interesting!”) “One blast for each chime from Big Ben… A (traditional) light display, reflected in the water… televised- visible to people throughout the world… Flags at ½ mast.” Survivors Eulogy: “We are changed forever. We now have the chance to do something - others who died cannot do. We can make the rest of our lives a noble example…” (What should I do? I can’t just spring it on them. They / it needs to move fast… Whilst they are going through the motions… they wont give me the time of day. Could Aid Agencies Fast-track it i.e. speed it through?) “… it’s not our role as fund-keepers. It’s up to the UN, the governments. We’ve got to get the people to do it. It is not a race” (said an Aid Agency). 6 DAYS LATER: “Still strong aftershocks up to 7 on the Richter scale with increased waves causing shock and panic…” Sri Lanka: “FLASH FLOODS after heavy rainfall during the night. Bridges collapsed… crippling Aid operations- Aid workers forced… 20,000 people had to be evacuated from camps… Floods are delaying relief trucks- conditions extremely difficult for fleets of lorries as roads are seriously damaged. Access to fuel extremely

Appeals to raise money = “We beg you…” “British people have now raised £45 million. Britain has come together to donate Aid. Churches, newspapers, petrol stations, supermarkets pubs, cafes all have buckets for cash donations = We’re all? doing something in 73 countries…” (“Ah! You’re all sacrificing £’s. How wonderful!”) “$1 Billion pledged… USA Aid increased 10 times. (“$1 Billion is the amount of money America spends on the war in Iraq every day before breakfast.”) “Britain now sending 2 warships, an aircraft carrier, 1 RAF plane to help the UN distribute aid, and military personnel- teams of people + fork lift trucks… to ensure the right supplies meet the needs at the right time” (to arrive early next week?) The news coverage = “It really moves you.” “The UN has overall responsibility and the lead role…” Sumatra: “2/3rds of inhabitants lost their lives. Terrible scenes of destruction. A marathon clean up lies ahead. The fate of many 1,000’s MISSING… never found.” THAILAND: “Will visitors want to come here again?” INTERVIEW: Re: Rebuilding: “…A difficult balancing act. We have to think about Environmental matters. The Thai government is now looking at the preservation of the area now more than ever.” Questions raised of how close hotels were to the sea-front. Will they be re-built further back? A: “There were no sky high buildings there” (said the Minister of Tourism). (“The King of Thailand feels deeply… His grandchild was killed…”) A Tourist: “We came here for the party of the year…” Death toll: “4,500. ½ of those killed were tourists.” “People too scared to return to coastal areas… Aid workers are really struggling to help survivors.” PHI PHI: “The risk of disease… ‘We have to stop people looking for their dead’…” Scenes of grown men crying. (Many people now have cracked voices…) ("I know what causes that ache at the back of the throat...") “Nation mourning, holding candles… Mourning by lighting rows and rows of candles, standing the candles upright- in the sand…” “Diseases are breaking out, on a small scale. If they don’t get the sanitation back…” “Corpses in this heat increases the number of fliesmany diseases spread by flies. They have to deal with both priorities- disposing of the dead and helping the living. Trying to establish water supplies for so many people is proving very difficult especially as the infrastructure has been 347

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what we can in terms of personnel. It is essential we co-ordinate on a truly Global scale…” (point of question lost). (STILL NO QUESTION RAISED CONCERNING THE GROSS LACK OF DECENT WEATHERPROOF SHELTERS!) “We are continuing to assess and monitor…” “We need to keep (up) the (monetary) assistance to alleviate their plight any way we can” (said UK Health Minister, John Reid). SPEECH: “We need £2 Billion for this rescue / relief phase, £2 Billion for…” SPEECH by Mr. Egeland: “… ships carrying helicopters- who can stay at sea… new airstrips, boats, trucks, cargo planes, 10 fully-equipped base camps for Aid workers, 1,000’s of water treatment units, 1,000’s of generators. I have made the same concrete plea to all Agencies involved. We need to feed 2? 5? million people…” (The poor man is on the verge of tears). “Everybody wants us to make it in this race against the clock. 5 million people are at severe risk of (water borne) diseases now. Diarrhoea is exploding in many places now. Cholera spreads very quickly… We are asking for an alternative way to transport - we have a lot of heavy hardware… therefore distribution problems…” Q: “Are refrigerated units being sent?” (Unanswered). “… We will never know the final death toll figure. 250,000 ++” (said Jan Egeland, the new UN Under Secretary General, Emergency Relief Co-ordinator). Tony Blair, said to be ‘horrified at the disaster’ (still on holiday) said: “… a Global catastrophe with consequences for years to come…” (means: IF we don’t get it right, this is how many more disaster ‘relief’ operations will transpire…) “A specially chartered flight brought 94 survivors to Britain…” “40 nations have donated money. The World Bank is to help re-construction…” “There are long queues of survivors carrying the only things they have got left- waiting to be rescued on an island… But there’s no harbours, no boats- they can’t get them off. Even if they did there’s no roads to get them anywhere.” (Where are the landing craft?) The journalist found a boat, went to a remote island. “Bodies are still floating in the sea…All the houses have gone! He managed to rescue about 100 survivors, taking them to the mainland… In another area: “These survivors are being given soap and biscuits. When you’ve got nothing, you are grateful for anything…” “China has sent tents - now stockpiled in a warehouse…” “Conditions for survivors are getting worse as more people come to the camps. 64,000 people in one camp! Medical staff overwhelmed…”

difficult. Now no harbours or jetties…There is a huge backlog of Aid sitting in warehouses…” GALLE: “Aid disjointed. Bureaucracy hampering. Now high levels of rainfall. Flood water up to 4’ high. How this is affecting the Homeless… It’s the start of the rainy / monsoon season so being in a leaky ‘shelter’ will be extremely unpleasant. The homeless are now exposed to the grave risk of Cholera. The sheer scale of this disaster- it is something very hard to comprehend. It (the flood) adds complexity…” “Open air morgues. Volunteers packing bodies in dry ice until… help arrives?” “The Light House hotel has gone…” “All the fishing villages are gone! There were 600 fishing boats along one bit of coast..” “Few hospitals remain standing. The need to reestablish the Health infrastructure, the Health services…” ACEH, Indonesia: “500,000 people are still without food or water. Some complaints the government is not co-operating. The USA Navy has arrived- helicopters are dropping parcels of Aid to some parts…” INTERVIEW: Q: ““More sustained relief is required. Is anyone taking the strategic view?” A: “The governments are in charge, the UN, WHO, (100’s of) other Agencies. Important to help people to help themselves.” Q: “Can further tragedy be avoided?” A: “People need clean water supplies - it’s not so much shelter. People are used to sleeping out here. We need to replace the boats- all the glass fibre things are broken” (said the director of Christian Aid). (“The USA & UN don’t get on well. There’s a lot of distrust… sparring…”) “Japan now pledged £500 million. The British public, who have little money to spare, have now raised £60 million, plus shoes, clothes, medicineswarehouse loads- ‘all needs provided for.’ People are also donating time. It is nothing less than we expect from people in Britain. But 100’s & 1,000’s of people are still without BASIC supplies.” INTERVIEW: Q: “Will this money be spent wisely?” A: ”Charities don’t waste money! Political organisations might do…” A: “Why would we direct money elsewhere? To other disasters? That would be illegal…” (said ‘World Vision.’ (NOTE: (Dubious) Capitalistic ‘ethics’ were examined, in a long 1990’s UK TV documentary, which concluded that children who are sponsored are being fobbed off with a few felt-tip pens…) INTERVIEW: Q: “Are any other resources needed?“ A: “Medical aid is being provided for. We are doing 348

tarpaulins (to cover the dead and ‘shelter’ the homeless).’There is nobody there to organise it! Somebody should there!’ Aid Agencies are frustrated about it. It’s gathering pace as we speak. 4 military services from different countries working all together but there insufficient lorries, fuel, volunteers. There is tension between Aid agencies and governments. No blanket plan.” SLOW-BOAT: “9 Sea-hawk helicopters off the USA Lincoln aircraft carrier now distributing Aid. Battlehardened pilots horrified by the desperation and destruction they saw…Boats plonked on roads…” (it is suggesting to us that we need vehicles that can cope over water and land?) “… were 2,000 people here, now only 2 dozen. All the children… have gone!” “Where can helicopters land? Ground is too soft… Helicopters are the only hope these people have got. (Small) Helicopters can only carry 150 lbs. Fears people getting hurt coming near the choppers. Crews overwhelmed…” “We have seen no fighting for Aid here… Now armed troops control Aid distribution to the needy…” “1,000’s of bystanders want to do something positive to help…” “We are still looking for ways to help- how to raise more money, how to turn money into fuel…” said Hilary Benn, UK International Development Secretary. SPEECH: “As it became clear to us, we assessed the need and met the need. We may need to do more. It’s a Global problem and you need a Global solution to it. We are seeing more and more Global problems needing a Global solution. Wouldn’t it be good if we kept our long term commitment up to dealing with poverty… Climate Change… The UN needs assistance to meet targets. The public has shown they want us to do that. We’ve got to do it” (said John Prescott, Britain's deputy Prime minister). “1,500 troops due soon…” Thailand: “Elephants drafted in to help move piles of wreckage. Nice to look at these ancient creatures after all these dreadful images…” “Now a tented centre to care for volunteers- the need to help all those who have given help in the mortuaries, suffering post traumatic stress…” (TV pictures shown of: A rickety re-construction effort using salvaged bits of wood -the poor man with the hammer did not have the energy to bang in the nail). “This! To get them back on their feet…” Sri Lanka: “Determined to re-build. Future tourism = Will depend on confidence.” “The UN has confirmed 1.8 million people need food Aid… Still got bottlenecks… Whole areas inaccessible…’You have to climb over rubble to get anywhere…’ Water logged land now stinking

“CHRISTIANS do not understand why God is letting this happen… The Pope said special prayers… Candle lit prayers in Westminster Hall, London… A day of mourning in Sweden…” (BBC & Sky TV, 1/1/2005).

7 DAYS LATER: “20,000 people are still missing. 20,000 bodies still to be found… The huge numbers of refugees… ‘We will have to keep these people in camps until they are found homes.’ All the missing children- parents searching, too upset to sleep. Mothers hysterical. ‘I remember the look on their faces as they were swept away…’ ‘You gave birth to them- how could you let them go?’ A double burden of grief and guilt. They tried so hard to hold onto them. Some children ejected from the safe cocoon of their world now so traumatised haven’t spoken for a week. How to resume a normal life? How do we help the women? (“Women and girls are specially vulnerable in disaster affected areas…”) How do we restore utilities? We are trying to understand what these people want. They don’t want to live on hand-outs.” “We don’t want these dramas. We just want to be able to get on with our life.” (Aid = The opportunity to do something - know what I mean? They need something to calm and reassure them…) “This kind of Aid has never happened before…” “The silver lining = At least everyone now is talking about it…” (”… it is the only ray of hope on the horizon.”) “2 civil wars suspended (ended?) because of the disaster.” “Amazing stories of hope, heroism…”EG. “I held onto a tree for 24 hours…” “… their father tied them to a tree…” “I clung onto to a tree for 5 hours…” “I held onto a branch…” “100,000 people used to live here. Now only 400 – 500 people… Some isolated communities will remain abandoned for some considerable time. Bridges made of bamboo, sectioned concretegone…” ”Distribution of food, water and medicine almost impossible…” NICOBAR: “It was a miracle they survived. Now they are living on anything they can find…” “Camps say we don’t want more mouths to feed… The military will have to feed…” “Will take me a year to Afford a new net never mind a new boat.” “The sea gave them everything now the sea has taken away…” India: “We have a ‘mobile’ health centre…” “Open air mortuaries have sprung up… using dry ice to help preserve bodies.” “Aid all being badly co-ordinated. The airport is 400 miles away - Aid has to be taken to another airport, then distributed by helicopter. ‘We’ve got to get the Aid off the tarmac!’ EG. Tons & tons of 349

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and steaming… Airports working at full stretchgiant planes unloaded as quickly as possible. Bureaucracy is still a problem. Losses overwhelming. Orphans- dozens of children in only one area have lost parents… How many British are missing? 100’s? All the homes, shops now splintered debris. ‘We must find some way to find money’…” (There’s nothing to buy). “In one area a few Catholics are left to pray in the large church. How much trauma will they have to overcome before they can rebuild their lives?” “Warehouses, showrooms, salesrooms all destroyed- this hardware business had many buildings selling tin roofing sheets… Official Death toll now 128,794. ..”All infrastructure- the fisheries, Agriculture… will have to be re-built.” India: “We have to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.” “How do you keep the attention of the world?” “Should we bring in all the old boats not being used to this area? This is a 1st class test of our initiative. Clearly something more substantial needs to be done. We don’t want nations competing. It’s a big role. I just hope we are up to it” (said Lord David Owen). Aceh: “Heavy rains disrupting Aid convoys.” Banda Acha: “The waves took everything (and everyone?) with them.” Galle: “Infrastructure under strain of collapsing as Aid convoys try to get through.” Acba: “We’re in real trouble here. No water, food, toilets. A wall of water came down the streets. Couldn’t swim… The waves sucked… The wave of death…” “Aid trucks mobbed. A temporary feeding station set up giving out hot potatoes.” “Prayers for the homeless and bereaved said at a Hindu temple…” EXPERTS (DEBATE): Re: “People are questioning their faith.” Q: “IF there is a God, how can he allow such things to happen? God has left humans to get on, on their own.” A: “Suffering is a part of life. A random act of nature on an indifferent planet.” A: “Tsunami was part of God’s plan. We must fit into God’s plan. He knows the picture of the whole universe.” Q: “Does it test your faith?” A: “Yes. How do you do explain God loves you? It is very difficult- ½ a million people in camps, on a God-forsaken bit of coast” (said a man of the cloth). “Religious people are growing up. Tragedy. Why must people suffer? Suffering. Very demanding on the human heart. But it can be done. Jesus declared to God, why have you deserted me? If Jesus suffered, we can bear the suffering too. To be in darkness doesn’t mean you are away from God.” A: “God has a purpose for our lives. That is why we

have survived.” Q: “Can you have faith in these times? Childrenvictims- what did they ever do?” A: “Deeply religious people affected. Idea: We should punish God by shedding it” (it means: Belief in God). (“You may write me down in history, with your bitter, twisted lies. You may trod me in the very dirt. But still, like dust, I'll rise.”) A: “We are back to Biblical predictions re: Flooding.” A: “That’s unimportant.’ Q: “What matters is what are we going to do about it? Those in buildings (mostly) drowned, people at sea (mostly) survived…” “The enormity of it all! So difficult to understand” (BBC & Sky TV, 2/5/2005)

(Ah! Such is the power of water…) (Didn’t everything that was NAILED down go? Wasn’t everything METAL smashed?) (“There’s something that keeps me listening in the dark…”) Didn’t YOU hear the victims cry “GOD! Save me” ?) (“Sorry, I can’t do anything more to help your struggle to be free. I’m so tired they’re not doing anything about it.”) EXPERT: “Very worrying the American hardright politics wont support United Nations! They see the UN as a threat to world governments. They hate the UN - seeing it as a ‘Super-Power.’ This creates odds with the world… The UN receives a standing ovation in 130 countries. American position has backfired on them. Problems worse since G. W. Bush. Now USA trying to kick the UN, marginalising it” (i.e. there are over defensive measures to protect government). “So much distrust in the USA. The USA’s aggressive approach is a disaster… so hard IF the USA takes charge. The British role as peacemakers much more successful in Iraq… The USA rushed in - therefore a mess. The elections there - a mess. Will there ever be a post-mess period? The number of natural disasters has increased over the last decade…” “$40 Billion losses for insurance industry during 2004. The costliest ever ‘natural disaster’ year.” (“Acts of God not covered by insurance but if death occurs due to buildings causing loss of life, general view is ‘Acts of Men’ i.e. a known hazard becomes a disaster EG. People living in non-Earthquake-proof buildings in known seismic zones…”) (Ref. www.udel.edu/DRC ). (“It’s an Act of God, therefore we are not accountable, alright?”) “Call for a new Taskforce for natural disasters to deal with Climate Change catastrophes…” “An early warning system is by no means a complete solution… Previous Cyclone warnings found people in villages would not leave their homes… Poverty kills. These buildings were not 350

Galle: “No means of cooking dried rations. People waited and waited for an Aid Agency to turn upthey didn’t arrive. Still problems delivering Aid…” Sumatra: “Now fishing for human bodies. Gruesome.” Thailand: “Given up search for bodies due to lack of resources. Foreigners told to stay away from disaster areas.” LONG, LONG good natured queues of survivors waiting for… dried noodles. “Helicopters dumping sacks of sugar and rice. The people are desperate for food, water and medicine. Then Rebels delivered food to people in the area they were fighting - reaching them by boat…” “Most of the children in this village survived but are now orphans. Most of the adults were fishing and are now gone… 1/3rd of deaths was children.” “Capsized, up turned ships… (some look like whales). A dolphin is now trapped in an inland pool washed in by the wave…” “Everything flung like confetti…” “President Bush held a special appeal for more money. This could boost donations considerably and help people who need it most.” “This is about Humanity. We’re sitting on top of the world whilst they’re trying to crawl out of a hole. We don’t need it” (said Bill Clinton). “Meeting the need is going to be a Herculean task…” “Phone engineers leaving UK to try to restore broken communication lines…” Tony Blair said: “It’s business as usual” (3/1/2005) (Where have I heard that phrase before?) 9 DAYS LATER: “Still in tents. The discontent…” CRISIS: “Disease will spread if people remain without adequate clean water…” (said as monsoon rains fell…)

sturdy. That one country should adopt another country- a very interesting proposal. Could that really work? Not really. More strain on some countries than others…” (BBC, Dateline London 2/1/2005).

“The force of the Earthquake = 1,000 – 10,000 or more Hiroshima (bombs). Man does not have such capability. This was a Mega-Crust Earthquake of Colossal Force… The Earth as a result has shifted on its axis by 1”…(”This is a sign… of something… What I’m not quite sure…”) A scientist said: “… a mass of the Earth has wobbled… is unbalanced… it is now offbalance…” “…one island has moved 120ft…” (Ah! The Earth is changing its shape…) (see: Techtonics) “The wave crashed onto victims like a juggernaut… a horrible, horrible deafening noise… same as a train… loud wailing…then a terrible haunting silence set in…” “Last week, we thought Mankind was in control. In 7 days, the wave that shook the world…” “A MAJOR WARNING BELL HAS SOUNDED…” 8 DAYS LATER: “Aid = $2 Billion pledged. Everyone recognises the need for more (monetary) contributions. Refrigerated containers now here. Most communities affected were by the sea. Some villages still cut off. Many bodies still buried under the sandy beaches. Along one road, 20,000 died… Will take years to heal…” Colombo: “Hit by a series of disasters. The wave, the train… Government admits they can’t cope. Survivors have borne their wait for Aid with incredible dignity. Nobody is fighting for food.” Nicobar: “1.000’s have died… Now boats unable to land. (Where are the landing crafts used by the military?) A few people who swam to the boats were eaten by crocodiles. There are 1,000’s of grateful survivors here… all desperately waiting for Aid.” Q: “Is the UN doing enough?” A: “Yes, we are working very effectively with the organisations.” Q: “What can be done to speed supplies of Aid?” A: “We are air-dropping food.” “LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN” (ITV

(IF modules had been delivered- modules which should have been developed a long time ago- these survivors would have benefited from the Heaven- sent rain as this clean water could have been stored easily, thus saving all this HASSLE, pain, misery, risk of disease…)

“We are still waiting for the Aid Agencies to get here…” “A riot caused by lack of drinking water…” “It took only 5 minutes… (it = the wave) Now everything is gone…” “Where to start (rebuilding) and how to start?” “Cars flung onto roofs…” (isn’t that trying to tell you something?) “I flew in here because I felt I could do something to help…” “Tourists still arriving but now they are volunteer Aid workers.” Phuket: Scene: An elderly woman is slowly rebuilding a wall using breeze blocks… “500,000 people injured. Overcrowded hospitals adding to risk of epidemics…Symptoms of stress could go on for many years…”

3/1/2005).

“THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN…” “Houses were mortgaged to pay for boats… Now price of fish has plummeted- no-one believes the fish are safe to eat…” Sri Lanka: “Homeless sheltering in temples & government buildings…” “… ‘Food for Life’ (program run by Hare Krishna, operating in 60 countries, serving 100,000 meals daily, likened to Mother Teresa, now providing meals for some of the needy in Sri Lanka. (In Bangalore, they provide 60,000 under-privileged people with lunch daily…”) 351

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Sri Lanka: “We need professional volunteers to help Grass-roots projects…” Thailand: “Orphanages were already full (before the wave struck). Many children having been dumped by the road-sides by parents too poor to care for them.” (Would such a thing happen in a true paradise?) “Now lack of CARERS. Fears children in camps not safe. (Many) paedophiles operating here… (Children's) Safety from depravity must be guaranteed. Unicef report gangs now abducting and trafficking (selling) orphans… Perverts want to exploit them! Criminal elements are trying to get a foothold…” Acha: “All that remains here are the foundations of the entire village where 500 people lived. These were solid brick houses, 2 – 3 stories high. Waves came 3 miles inshore… smashing… bringing sand inland...” “Conditions for survivors horrific.” A ferry at sea felt the Earthquake beneath their boat and miraculously survived but many other boats were sunk. All the fishermen who owned these wrecked boats now gone. One has survived but his boat has not. …he has lost 6 of his children… ‘I will never set foot in my fishing boat again’…” “NATURE is unkind. It is as if nature is conspiring to test this nation.” “Nature has so much more significant power than we have.” India: “Determined to replace all boats lost in 6 months. Are going to go it alone.” A CHILD: “We have to start thinking about the future, move away from the past.” “Aid raised by British public = £76 million. Could reach £100 million.” “I’ve donated money so it’s now OK, isn’t it?” “Did giving money make you feel better?”( “Are you still thinking what to do?” “Shall we build a perfect plan together so we can live hopefully forever?”) (“I believe in the days ahead. I’m sure you’ll do your best.”) “Britain's music industry is releasing a record to raise funds called: ‘it never dies’ (it means: grief) (money raised via sales to the public). USA people have donated $120 million. Response = “The public realises this is something different” (said DEC). “Government will match £ for £. European Union Fund donated $31 million.” (H’mm. That’s a lot of money, especially when money is tight…”) “Gordon Brown called for Debt relief to save these countries £Billions.” “Governments must provide a long term solution. There are no Experts for disasters of this scale.” “12,600 troops now committed. 21 ships, 48

helicopters…” “Heavy old lorries being air lifted from Britain…” “A cargo plane hit a herd of cows / a water buffalo… now having to close the runway…” India: “10,000 tons of supplies delivered by Air Force. Supplying 1,600 troops, 32 ships…” “Heavy rain still hampering Aid distribution…” DEBATE: Q. “WHY ARE WARNINGS NOT ACTED UPON? Q. “Is 2005 really going to be ‘The Year of Compassion’?” Q. “Has some kind of turning point been reached how we help the ‘helpless’?” A: “We’re not going to give up what we have in the West because of this.” (“Pure and simple HAPPINESS. Until that day comes and the pain is gone… Who will miss the pain?”) A: “We have to ensure Aid / Debt Relief is spent well.” A. “We can’t reach any concrete conclusions. People feel they are being left in the dark.” Commentator: “That question is going to be left for another day…” A. “Government’s usually take from one poor country to give to another poor country. Now governments promising unprecedented levels of Aid. Previous pledges - promises not delivered. We need to transform the people’s enthusiasm into Government action.” Q. “Just what lessons have we learnt? A. “More new money is required, a very large military commitment - support the international effort.” A. “Risk we might take our eye off Global poverty. We have to apply wisdom to long term problems. We need fairer trading rules for the world’s poor. A poverty reduction strategy. Ordinary people in the world are leading governments… Humanity at its best. The attitude of the public translated into what people want to see.” A. “The need to invest… The lack of political will (both phrases repeatedly said). Development of risk reduction systems needs to be done. There are many types of disasters…” “A strategy for disaster reduction = Concentrating on trying to understand tsunamis.” (They are not coming up with anything to advance constructions i.e. affordable protective shelters. “We could have a nice smooth start…” ” Instead they take the power out of our wings…”) “It has not been achieved yet. It must happen. It must be made effective in the field.” “We will try to make progress this year” (it = An Early Warning System. (it also means: Adequate Aid). “EU ministers meeting soon to discuss how to solve it” (it = Global catastrophe). “I felt absolutely helpless” said the designer of ‘The Test Ban Network.’ No way of letting people along the coast know” (emails, radio stations…) 352

“An Early Warning System is needed also in the Atlantic… a volcano could erupt there causing a massive tsunami.” Jan Egeland said: “We are very happy tonight. Unusually, we have the money and logistic capability only the military can give us, at an early stage.“ Commentator: “He has now got what he thinks he needs…” “DISASTERS are a consequence of man’s folly / sin?” EXPERT: “IF you build a BAD shelter and Mother Nature turns against you- you get wet and you can’t complain. It’s your own fault.” (Rather than accept this obvious principle…) DEBATE Re: “ACTS OF GOD: Biblical punishment by flood…” Q. “How can a God who is good permit such suffering?”(Ah! Your gods are not good, are they?) (Ah! You think God is supposed to help us during hard times?) A. “An aged dilemma for religious scholars.” A picture of Noah’s Ark was shown. (The Ark = A boat with a house on top… enclosed so that the boat would stay atop the rising waters… Noah’s Ark… so that man could survive whilst nature at work…) A: “Man challenges this relationship between God and Man, questioning if God exists. Whatever the reason, this tsunami reminds us of Human fragility. Faith challenged.” A. “God is challenging my faith!” said a Cardinal. “Um, er. God has a Divine Purpose. Um er… He is good. Er um… Suffering and death has to be… balanced…” (Is that is the best explanation the Church has to offer!?) (see chapter 15). A: “Moslems believe these are natural processes we must Educate, use Warning systems so people are not allowed to suffer this way! Faith is a comfort, therefore it continues. Atheism is on the retreat, not religion.” A: “God is a terrorist. He has killed more people than Bin Laden. He is malicious. He allows evil to stalk us. How many children does he have to kill? This is the bleak truth.” “If there is no God then no problem with evil.” A. “That is utterly naïve. Then no ultimate justice!” Q: “If there is a God how can he allow it?” (it means: Suffering). A: “That is the aged old problem for the last 2,000 years. There is no easy answer” (Newsnight,

indifference to the plight of the people. POLICYMAKERS ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. Don’t blame GOD!) 10 DAYS LATER: Banda Acha: “…Only one house left standing in the city. A huge acreage houses collapsed under the weight of the water. Bereavement beyond belief. Heart broken survivors. ‘I don’t know what to think. I can’t believe its true. Whole families disappeared. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s not really hit me, you know. Maybe it will tomorrow.’ Relatives searching…Happy endings are so hard to come by. So many bodies still trapped under homes, schools, shops, factories…” (“When will they lighten up?”) “MONSOON AFTER THE FLOOD… The conditions! Trying to survive on the mud, in tents… for 100,000 people… Put yourself in their shoes if you can… “There, but for the grace of God, go us…” What is happening here is NEGLIGENCE OF CRIMINAL PROPORTIONS. “All this undue burden placed on the unfortunate victims who are already suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome…” “We need new buildings, schools, housesshelters is 1st priority…” “Wracked with grief and hunger- still waiting for help. Still chronic food and water shortages and shortage of shelters. Helicopters flying non-stop 24/7…They are trying their hardest…” “Aid = Trying the ensure the right type of Aid reaches those in need. Aid agencies have their work cut out.” A volunteer: ‘It’s a tough call. If you don’t do anything, how do you live with yourself afterwards? To have skills and not offer them?’…” “Another aftershock 6.2 on Richter scale… another false alarm the tsunami coming again by government soldiers…” Survivors described ‘The Wave’: “…the mass of furious water went on and on…” “… the wave sounded like a jet plane…” “… there was a sonic wind…” “… it just took us as if we were made of paper…” “Children died unable to fend off debris or hold onto anything… Humans powerless against nature…” “Journalists found a town that had been overlookedsurvivors very hungry- no food. 8,000 people killed here. 1,300 survivors have only a tiny sack of rice left. They can’t Afford to sit and wait for help to arrive. They’re scavenging in the rubble looking for food…” “Survivors are walking from village to village looking for food…” “1,550 villages destroyed… On one island 490 fishing villages destroyed… They will still have to pay interest on the boats that were smashed, as well as cope without those they lost…” “Here the injured are crammed together lying on the

BBC2, 4/1/2005) (see: Chapter 15)

(“Some like to confuse.” Don’t be fooled. Man perpetuates unnecessary suffering. Capitalists who are the hidden controlling forces, are distracting attention away from the fact that their decisions to save money caused these disastrous consequences. Capitalists have 353

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grass next to the run-way…” “No running water in the hospital. Survived the wave only to die here, lying on the floor. Frequent power cuts. Casualties still arriving. ‘We do our best but we can’t help them.’ Nurses exhausted… ‘She died of tetanus…’ This place is their ‘sanctuary.’ Children still arriving here… Orphanswounded, alone, lost amongst chaos… What will happen to them?” “BADLY CUT… 1,000’s are in need of urgent medical care… but doctors and nurses killed, and hospitals destroyed. Injuries that need prompt attention. People frantic. Quality of care? ‘Not in an Emergency management situation…’ Bodies flung onto the backs of lorries, into pits… so many bodies! It’s building up- the feeling of crisis… In one area called ‘House of Peace’ 30,000 people killed - entire area flattened…” “54,000 live-stock killed.” Colin Powel (touring) said: “… I have never seen anything like this. I cannot begin to imagine the horror…” “This must be a long term reconstruction and rehabilitation effort.” Sri Lanka: “THE DISPOSSESSED… are struggling for survival. They had been fighting for a separate homeland. Now armed government soldiers are here ‘just following orders.’ This is the last thing we need. Aid = Power here i.e. who hands out the Aid…” “People away from the coast- the package tourist resorts- also lost homes- everything… are finding it hard to cope- now ‘living’ exposed to the elements. This family’s home = A tiny shack. ‘We don’t think we’ll get a grant from the governmentwe had no planning permission’…” “If we don’t get back on our feet again economically and socially, very quickly…” “Another warning - death toll could double if supplies don’t reach survivors…” “EMERGENCY MEETING held (in a fancy hotel) (should have been held amongst the devastation). Leaders discussed how to spend tsunami fund. Nearly $3 BILLION pledged. British businesses have donated very little. £220 million allocated for Shelters. Traditionally, pledges = It doesn’t show…” “Agreed at summit: Military power (helicopters etc) offers the best hope.” “5 million people need feeding, drinking water and shelter- will need help for years to come. Getting the food into remote areas is what is going to cost so much.” “The 1st Aid flight from UK to reach Indonesia = 40 tons: 100’s of rolls of plastic sheeting (to wrap bodies…) + 4 wheel drive vehicles to help Aid teams - a gift from the British government. They will fly as many missions as possible. Getting Aid from Britain 60,000 miles away = 2 refuelling stops en route. Aid flights will be repeated for many

months.” (Has it not got through? What’s in the air now- is toxic…) SPEECH: by Kofi Annan: “We have a race against time. The world has come together. We are responding. We are going to make a difference…” “The UN wants countries who have pledged - to put the money into concrete projects now. The costs of re-construction are going to be very high. We must not give up on their re-building needs.” (Gordon Brown (people say he is the best Chancellor in the world) suggested a plan to relieve Global Poverty = “£43 BILLION debt write-off, £56 BILLION new Aid.” “How serious is he about this? It is easy to talk about poverty… but do we have the courage to see to all the general details?” asked Clare Short. Gordon Brown said: “It is a life time opportunity for a modern plan for today’s world. We are one moral universe…” His anti-poverty speech reminded world leaders who do not deliver promises to help the world’s poor. His plan (similar to ‘The Marshal Plan’ that helped Europe re-construct after WW11 (see: New Towns) = A deal between rich

and poor nations - more Aid to the poor (Aid prepaid / paid early) (Loans repaid later on…) (“… and this will poison the New Paradise.”) NEEDED: “Written off. Free and Fair Trade.” Tony Blair said: “The people just want to know we are doing something about it, doing absolutely everything we can… making sure we respond to the man-made preventable disaster. We are united in taking this forward…” (“…it is my very great pleasure, to introduce to you today…” ?) Germany: “Scepticism… Plans need international acceptance. Government leaders made BIG PROMISES today. These people depend on them being kept. Our shared vulnerabilities and common destinies…” (Sky, ITN, BBC News, 6/1/2005) (Are you frustrated with foreign policy? Like to change it? It’s no mystery to me. Just Imagine if such funds were put into it. Give Humankind the very thing they need. They wont disappoint. I assure you, the majority of people are neither greedy or lazy.) “Many people are donating skills EG. Building & plumbing.” “Kofi Annan said he is stunned, horrified by the devastation.” Sri Lanka: “100’s of camps set up” = “…it’s all coming together...” “A community in trauma. The wave has struck the Moslems to their very core. One school completely swept away whilst the children were studying the Koran. In a mosque the living and the dead now share the floor… Parents queuing outside with the bodies of their dead children in 354

their arms… Moslems feel they are being punished in some way but they don’t understand… It’s really very moving…” “Jack straw viewed the walls of photos of some of the missing people… In the UK, a lot of criticism concerning the amount of time it’s taking to identify the dead.” Maldives: “One island evacuated- too expensive to re-inhabit… Working together is special”

“The poor should NOT be so vulnerable. Get into that part of the debate if you want honest debate” (said Clare Short, UK Labour’s former International Disaster Relief minister). “Longer term development could move them on so they are no longer poor” (said the Director of Oxfam, Ms. B. Stocking). Q: “Can the PEOPLE’s mood infect governments to REALLY move things on? It’s probably not going to happen, is it?” A: “Yes it is.” (Ah! “Are they ready for it now? Or will they say we’ve got to take the dream away?”) “The Era of BIG Government is over” (see: Chapter 15: God’s Promise to the People). “Of course, they’ll try to stop it but they wont be able to if enough people want this because it’s just good economics…” “They’ll do their best to make sure it doesn’t get along…” (“it = All our Hopes.”) “HEART -v- Budget. Our entire future could depend on this.” “We’re agreed. You can’t fix it in a year. And there we really must leave it…” (BBC Hard Talk, 8/1/2005). “They’re looking to the longer term. Contaminated water wells cleared to help people return to the coast…” Phuket: “Most Britons were killed here… trapped in their rooms… Resort re-opened. Holiday makers urged not to cancel trips.” “Towns will rise again from the rubble (the shattered remains of walls…) Hotels will be re-built once insurance sorted out.” “We hope this (disaster) wont happen again for 1,000 years. Things will return to normal, hopefully, and no-one will know what happened” (said a spokeswoman). (Ah! They want to rebuild to restore tourism and make money!) ("The reality remains the same. We are far from it.”) Aceh (Sumatra): “Death toll here 105,000 and still finding many bodies under rubble. Where do they begin? All the streets flattened. Bodies dumped. Injured casualties still being found. Dreadful mental scars of Boxing day. Another tropical rain-storm grounds helicopters, bogs down lorries, sends Aid workers running for cover…” (9/1/2005). (All the wreckage- burnt? Maybe they will set-up a wood store for recycling when all the wood is dry? The wreckage is being removed by cranes and lorries and taken to?) 14 DAYS AFTER the tsunami: “45 builders died here, taken by the waves, whilst building this new 5* complex. The owner found their bodies. Now crying as he views the damage, recalling the tragedy he said: “We will (still) build… to beat this. We owe it to each other. It is heart warming to know people still want to come here.” A woman said: “Spirits of the dead must be laid

(7/1/2005).

13 DAYS LATER: “…may take another week before food Aid reaches all the people who need it. Desperation… Kofi Annan on tour in Sri Lanka… 3,000 desperate survivors at a meeting said to Mr. Annan: “We need an immediate solution to our problems. Please be kind enough to look into our problems…” “It’s always tomorrow…” “The water lifted the tarmac off the roads…” “A man has been found alive trapped under the rubble of his shop…” “Mines, other weapons washed in-shore when munitions store struck by the wave…” “G7 meeting of Finance ministers… FREEZING DEBT payments agreed. Will save (Sri Lanka) £3 Billion a year. They have to repay £20 Billion a year. Freezing only postpones…” DEBATE: “After an Act of God, we shouldn’t be talking about other issues carried on a wave of emotion (i.e. debt relief.”) “… This is an OUTPOURING of EMOTION from THE WORLD that something needs to be done. The public are ahead of governments. The people are the HEARTS wanting Global JUSTICE. THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY WANT THESE PEOPLE BETTER PROTECTED! “But the money on the table is not new money. The big money = The re-construction stage. This money must not be taken from elsewhere EG. Africa but that is the way it goes.” Q: “What reassurance money will be spent wisely?” A: “Our money does not go to political agenciesgoes straight to Agencies, on the ground.” Q: “How do we know debt relief wont be spent on the military to buy weapons?” A: “Aid & Debt - all very complicated…” (Deliberately over-complicated? So ordinary folk can’t follow it?) “This tsunami is not going to bring strategic change between rich and poor re: equality.” (i.e. “We don’t raise money for the poor! Only for us!”) ? “The World Food Programme feeds millions of displaced people who are never HOMED! They have a HUGE STRAIN on their budgets… Governments are not keen at writing off debt. We need a more informed debate. We have a fantastic opportunity to do something about poverty in the world.” 355

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to rest spiritually - we need to release them so they go home.” A Survivor said: “I’m only just beginning to come to terms with it. I don’t think the reality of it has hit me yet.” “All the mud inside buildings… So much flotsam and jetsam! Crushed lorries…” “Gun-fire reported at an Aid camp…” SEA OF SOULS: “They are still searching / dredging for bodies.” Andaman Islands: “Very badly affected…” Aceh: “Now no lights during the night… Camps are getting set-up. Still some communities cut off…” Maldives: “The tsunami could wreck their economy…” Galle: “Infrastructure totally wiped out.” New video of disaster: “So much debris. Cars, vans, corrugated iron, wood- all flowing so quickly!” “Psychologists now talking of the need for closure.” SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE: Hymn: “…when hearts are breaking, sorrow- under sins afflicted iron rod, God guides even then…” “This disaster has put things into prospective” (9/1/2005). DEBATE: “Governments are trying to do well for themselves. They know how to play the people and use an occasion to make themselves look good… All this wealth. No corruption or loss? There’s reason to be sceptical. No guarantee money will be used for humanitarian assistance. Only ½ the money pledged in 2003 was delivered. The human aspect of this. That is the real crisis. We can’t control the elements. Everyone should get to grips with the situation. There’s a general fear… A world-wide alert could have been put out via CNN, the BBC. The news media. People have radios- some lives could have been saved. How do we change the structure of Aid response? The French government are suggesting an international Tax solution to it. Aid could get stronger and is an opportunity for a political solution. Indonesia is an Islamic country. The USA helping is a show of compassion. The USA - the world’s policeman. Maybe it could define G. W. Bush’s 2nd term? Is power only defined by military power? Or moral power? It’s good for the Americans and its good for the UN. This disaster is a failure of imagination. No-one could imagine such a thing could happen. We need to work with governments. We need to set up mechanisms and monitor…” “A plane carrying Aid leaving Britain. On board tents for storage, sanitation equipment and tons of water for people who need it. This is how the money being raised is being spent.” “There are 400,000 displaced children… Everybody here is behind the idea of coming together to help communities…” “Scientists are still trying to work out the damage

done to the Earth’s crust…” “Aftershocks still being felt. ‘I’m not sure this was an after-shock…’ Another Earthquake 5.7 on the Richter scale, causing more damage- shaking buildings already in disrepair, which may now collapse…” “A government advice leaflet produced advising should another tsunami hit, find a bit of woodanything that can float. Open window to stop water pressure building up. Go to high ground or the top of building…” “A helicopter carrying Aid and 10 people has crashed…” (10/1/2005). “The helicopters blowing the tents… causing choking dust clouds…” South East Asia: “Re-building has now commenced…” “… the people are asking for homes… The President of Indonesia has promised to rebuild in 5 years…” (How will he do it?) Banda Acha: “War against rebels resumed. Indonesia’s government announced restrictions to media and Aid Agencies, who must now seek permission and be accompanied by the military… This will not assist efforts… Despite disaster the government’s main concern is the war against rebels…” (12/1/2005). Indonesia: “Still finding 2,000 bodies a day… Scores of people have died from tetanus caused by cuts… tetanus is usually fatal. Survivors looking for scraps amongst the rubble despite the risks (of cuts…), for anything they can sell to feed their family… Survivors living in makeshift tents next to polluted water… Pools of stagnant filthy water everywhere- spraying with DDT to reduce risk of Malaria…” (Are they going to pump the stagnant smelly water out?) “A special Mass held in Westminster Cathedral. Message: Hope overcomes despair. Remember, 30,000 Human Beings die every day of malnutrition & disease. Remember, the overall needs of the poor. Recognition for the spirit and generosity in the world towards Global poverty” (16/1/2005).

“Tsunami death toll now 226,000.” Indonesia: “How come the mosques and churches survived? A structural Engineer: ‘It’s the design of the Islamic arches..’ Science can come later. Right now people need their faith. ‘God protected the houses of God’…” (Sky TV, 17/1/2005) (Arches survived because they were built to be stronger… an arch reinforces the sides… A known attribute in civil engineering). (Not all buildings of this style have survived past disasters…) “Norwegians who lost 30,000 lives in this disaster, want this tragic event to effect everlasting peace - a new spirit of reconciliation… are trying to influence the peace talks in Sri-Lanka… Aid is now getting through… Aid - who gets what is becoming part of the power 356

fishermen…” (BBC1, South West news, 4/3/2005). “Tsunami Refugees: Women in camps sexually abused. Young women forced into marriages”

process… The Sri Lankan military are now running the Tamil camps. The Tamil’s fought for 20 years for a separate state- they have their own military and want their state to be recognised. Objections raised. ‘This is a Humanitarian task…’ Government troops patrolling with guns. The army are putting tents up but not helping with reconstruction. They are the only ones with trucks. People are trying to salvage bricks. The electricity supply has been re-connected at the army base…”

(March 2005).

“MAJOR ALERT: Earthquake of 8.7 Richter in Sumatra 19 miles under the sea…” (Gulp! Could Earthquakes be getting closer to the centre of the Earth?) “Residents told to flee inland. Fears of another tsunami. Area still totally UNPREPARED for any disaster - so panic…” “Everybody is scared looking up at the buildings as they flee, fearing falling masonry…” “We have learnt to get on high ground, get into boats- or whatever…” (“Yeh. Whatever…”) “Despite 3 months of rebuilding- the infrastructure is still crippled… The majority are still ‘living’ under canvas - in tents…” “Sri Lanka has a new law - no new buildings within 100m of the Sea… but fishermen are ignoring this. How can they not live near the sea?” NIAS: “¾ of the town now flattened. 100’s of people trapped beneath buildings…” “Another major Earthquake could be due…” (28/3/2005) “It’s not looking good” said a Humanitarian organisation. “At least 400 people have died here…” 3 MONTHS after the tsunami: “Death toll 300,000. 50,000 children died. £425 million donated by Britain. An Aid worker who raised money independently to build concrete houses said: “The tsunami made everything we did before this seem trivial. You can’t promise people something then not do it” (BBC1, 11/4/2005). “Tropical storms are becoming more frequent. Everything gets drenched…” (22/4/2005). 4 MONTHS ON: re: The Victims: “…still living in a tent. Tents don’t provide adequate shelter. That is why permanent housing is so important. Government will help IF you can prove what you have lost! Now an exclusion zone… Private charities building breeze block houses. No government help here at all…” (The Village, Sky

(Sky TV, 19/1/2004).

“Nearly 600 AFTERSHOCKS have been reported… ‘We are feeling shaky, literally’…” “Agreement reached… A warning system will be installed to protect the Indian Ocean.” Tamil Nadu: “Temporary stop-gap homes built made from locally available materials- bamboo & eucalyptus poles… We need a new self-contained township containing safe houses with basic amenities + Cyclone shelters.” “We need new Emergency infrastructure, evacuation & rescue strategies and a new redistribution of relief system…” (comment posted on web-site) (BBC, 19/1/12005) (“Did I hear you say… there must be a way… to do it… basically?”) “We have plenty of designs on the drawing board but what good will these do to help these people?” (said an Aid agency? What kind of designs?) “People searching among wreckage to find anything they can salvage. The risk of tetanus… Clean up workers not told of danger, not informed about the need for vaccinations to protect them from diseases! How many will die because of this?” (Sky news, 22/1/2005).

“The people in Britain who want to help the survivors managed to organise a pop concert held in a stadium to celebrate the Millennium. Buckets passed around to put cash in. Over £1 million raised…” (Sorry. But I don’t have your enthusiasm. This money wont be used to make the NEW HOMES that are so desperately needed. And the contributors are probably also in need of decent homes). ”DEC has now raised £200 million.” “This is CHAOS on an industrialised scale… The real cost of this tragedy is a human one…”

News, 25/4/2004).

ONE YEAR AFTER the tsunami hit, where houses flattened by the wave, now row after row of new flimsy wooden, concrete and metal corrugate houses… They have taken NO notice of the need for flood protection! “… doing the same thing over & over, when they know that’s not working, is a form of insanity…” “Another tsunami is expected…” (December 2005). “ANOTHER TSUNAMI STRUCK…” (July 2006).

(23/1/2005).

“1 MONTH after the tsunami… people are still scavenging, still trying to survive amongst the wreckage, Aid still has not reached the people who need it. They are salvaging the old boats that survived, and rebuilding using timber-frame and timber-clad houses, traditional blocks and bricks, and TIN roofs! DEC said: “We don’t need any more money…” NO PURCHASE NECESSARY: “A (kind) manufacturer of glass-fibre resin boats has donated a mold and machinery to help tsunami

"… it's a Universal picture...": "Looks like we're in for some nasty weather..." “England, Scotland & Wales is taking a battering. 80 flood warnings. Wind 90 mph. 30 trees across roads. 25 lorries blown over. A car ferry ran 357

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Earth could be 10 degrees hotter - in a Century hot countries now, would be uninhabitable, the UK turned into desert- a north African climate with soil erosion and dust storms…” (Horizon, BBC2, 13/1/2005) (IF we do everything we could do…) “PLAN A = We do nothing. We pretend nothing has happened or is going to happen and it’s all going to go away. This is the HARD option. It’s not real to us yet…” “PLAN B = We do something realistic to sort it out. We just need a Green light. This is the soft, nice, kind, option. It’s going to get better and better…”

aground… Carlisle cut off- marooned, swamped. The city under water… all the alarms are ringing… The water poured into homes and cars. No warning system - this will be evaluated. The river Eden is a raging torrent. Schools, churches used as evacuation centres. Mass evacuations by air being considered. 70,000 people without electricity. No light, no heating… Are relying on candles… The International Rescue Corps (a UK charity, manned by volunteers. Patron Sir Richard Branson) sent 3 rubber dinghies to work with the police…” (8/1/2005).

UK: EMERGENCY PLANNING OFFICER: “We need to get routines back.” “GLOBAL WARMING is a problem we CAN’T ignore. The Environment Agency have increased spending - upgrading our weather service. All the inappropriate building! The politics of it = ‘All very difficult.’ ‘Sustainable’ Development = Flood plains & flood meadows EG. look at Holland - all very expensive ‘defences’… ‘very sophisticated’…” CONCLUSION: “You can ‘defend’ any area if you are prepared to put an awful lot of money into it.” IF the Prime Minister were to turn his attention to this - something would happen” (Newsnight, BBC2,

"Global Warming is a ticking ECOLOGICAL TIME Bomb yet ACTION remains inadequate! ‘The Institute of Public Policy’ said governments must act respond quickly to reduce the impact. Recommended: Back pedalling - steady action over a prolonged amount of time. The cost of adjusting to remedying this situation is insignificant. Subsidised Bio-fuels. Investment that’s good for business. CO2 shows a steady rise in the Atmosphere and is still rising – we are dangerously close to danger level- 400 parts per million. Scientists increasingly worried but conservative in their reports. One nation cannot solve. Every country needs to take ACTION. If USA wont…” (They will!) “The aim is for all countries to have an agreed CO2 emission. 25% ‘renewable’ carbon trading… More & more talks planned…” “The Campaign Against Climate Change: Activists took to the streets to demand the USA takes action to reduce emissions” (12/2/2005). “As Kyoto becomes law today, there are fears Kyoto wont work as the biggest polluters (USA, India & China), have refused to sign the agreement… 35 Greenpeace protestors entered ‘The International Petroleum Exchange’ (near Tower bridge, London), trying to prevent trading to highlight the problems of Climate Change. ‘Climate Change poses the biggest threat our Planet has ever faced yet oil is traded in this place with impunity as if the lives of millions and the future of whole species mean nothing. This madness has to end’…” (Sky news, 17/2/2005). ”THE FINAL PROOF: Global Warming is a manmade disaster, not a natural phenomena. Scientists have found an unequivocal link between Man-Made Greenhouse Gases and dramatic heating of the world’s Oceans over past 40 years. Approx. 90% of Warming has gone into the Oceans. Studies based on 7 million recordings of the Oceans temperatures… The debate now is not: Is Global Warming a signal, but What are we going to DO about it ? …” (The Independent, 19/2/2005) “The moral questions are as much in limbo now as they

12/1/2005).

“We may have grossly UNDER-ESTIMATED the speed of Global Warming. All our predictions could be wrong. A staggering 9 – 60% drop in Sunlight has been recorded Globally… caused by tiny particles of pollution from car exhausts, power stations etc- soot, ash, nitrates and Sulphur Dioxide… also affecting clouds causing more light to be mirrored away from Earth… process called ‘Global Dimming.’ Rate water is evaporating less, matches the level of the drop in sunlight… Global Warming & Dimming competing with each other…” “… the effects of Global Warming therefore under-estimated…” (means: The Earth is responding to the causes…) (Do YOU want to keep this place going?) “… the glaciers in the Alps melted, the Forest fires in Portugal… The Earth is much more sensitive to Sulphur Dioxide than we realised… altering patterns of rainfall. This could have already caused famines on a Biblical scale… 1970 – 1980’s: African monsoons failed… the disappearance of these rains a mystery to scientists…” (Loss of Rain-Forests?) “Did our Pollution cause the famines in Ethiopia? IF true… implications fatal. Pollution must be eliminated- this doesn’t mean stop burning coal and oil - we just have to do this more cleanly using catalytic converters, filters etc. Could be poised to strike again…” By 2030, the Sea level rise could be 7 – 8 metres. Cities now on borrowed time unless ACTION is taken. It wont stop there. When tropical Forests wither in the HEAT, turning into desert… the 358

ever were…” “Yes, we’ve made mistakes- beyond repairing? Whilst there’s life there’s hope. Do you have Faith in a BETTER world?” UK: “FLOOD DEFENCE SCHEME: … Local residents overwhelmingly rejected the previous scheme forcing the Environment Agency to withdraw funding and go back to the drawing board…” (9/5/2005). “EARTH SUMMIT: In 1998, coral reefs turned white. Called ‘bleaching.’ Mass bleaching events all over the world noted. Caused by Ocean temperature rising, confirming scientist’s fears. Coral = Delicate organisms. Coral died, unable to regenerate, recover. Dire consequences are predicted. ‘We can no longer dig up fossil fuels. We must reduce Global Warming. We have to become cleverer.’ 2002: Worst cases of bleaching in Australia. Loss of coral reefs would be drastic for coastal populations. (Coral reefs act as a buffer to help stop the sea swamping inland). ‘We cannot stick our head in the sand like a demented ostrich” (re: Conference, Johannesburg, BBC

“THE HUMBLING OF AMERICA:” “… the waters of the Gulf have been getting warmer…” “36 hours before the storm hit, mandatory evacuation. Roads jammed…” “Approx. 1 million people fled from Florida before the storm came in…” “Approx. 100,000 people stayed…” “Many people did not want to abandon their homes fearing looters…” “All their money is tied up in their house…” 29/8/2005 Monday: “HURRICANE Katrina hit…” “Wind speed 145 mph.” “…debris is falling off the roofs and coming into the rooms. We’re scared, very, very scared. Blownout windows. It sounds like a BOOM!” “My house crumbled while we were inside…” “My house split in 2…” “Houses collapsed…” “10,000 – 15,000 big trees brought down…” “… it’s having its own way now – it’s no good trying to fight it!” “… a wall of water about 15’ high hit Louisiana…” THE AFTERMATH: “Traditional levees (walls) failed… (caused by erosion’ said engineers). The Sea surge flowed over leaving 80% of New Orleans under water. The giant pumps failed. Apartment blocks collapsed. Houses submerged. US Army Engineer Corps don’t know what to do. Hurricane Katrina worst US storm ever…” LAND SIZE: “An area the size of Great Britain devastated…” “An area with a large ghetto populated with black & poor people…” “Streets have become rivers…” “… cars completely submerged…” “Katrina likened to America’s tsunami…” “… many people fled without shoes…” “… the structure of the Super-Dome remained intact but large pieces of metal were ripped off the roof…” “… crushing casinos…” “… casinos swamped and tossed like dice…” “… a casino building picked up and moved 200 metres away. The fruit machines scattered…” (that’s got to make you think, hasn’t it?) “… it created a major disaster…” (it means: the Hurricane) “… people trapped in flooded buildings…” “… water up to the attic, the roof…” (Ah! The need for roof / escape hatches!) “GULF STATE RESIDENTS…” “500,000 people flee hell & high water…” “… the salt water got into ma engine, now it wont work…” “… there will be 22,000 troops on the ground. 1,000’s are standing by, waiting for orders to go in there but the inability to get around…” “… sludge, sewage, oily water, vermin, debrismainly timber. Sickly heat. Bodies…” “The world can see ‘the mighty power’ can’t cope…”

March 2005).

“The Environment Agency warned a total of 5 Million people in the UK are at risk of flooding. The number is predicted to rise… A major report called ‘A Better Place’ said: ‘Climate Change is already happening- temperatures are becoming more extreme.’ ‘Action to tackle Climate Change is too slow…’ Friends of the Earth said: ‘Tough decisions are needed’…” (Daily Mirror, 10/6/2005). UK: “2,500 left homeless following a Tornado in Birmingham…” (30/7/2005) “On average 33 Tornados hit Britain every year. Tornados can happen at any time with wind speeds up to 150 mph." "Severe storms, sometimes of Hurricane force, will hit Britain, often causing damage and death..." “DROUGHT-HIT: Spain- one of the worst droughts on record” (13/6/2005). “EUROPE FLOODS: STILL MISSING… people from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria… “ (August 19 – 21, 2005). “(FOREST) Fires are spreading through northern and central Portugal. 5 water-dropping aircraft deployed. …” (8/7/2005) “Portuguese government unwilling to invest in a squadron of water bombers preferring to buy military submarines and F16 fighters which are of no use to anyone” (19/8/2005) “140,000 hectares of forest destroyed. Spain & France have sent water-dropping helicopters. Germany & Italy sending help later” (22/8/2005) “Many homes destroyed. Major devastation.” “Drought leaves Europe’s farmers helpless” (30/7/2005).

"When the damage is done, it is too late." "We've grown old but not grown up."

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Humanitarian Aid & rescue workers. Iran: Offered Aid to the Red Crescent Qatar: Offered £55 million for victims…” “I suppose there’s a chance they might receive it…” UK: Planes being loaded to bring relief to Washington.” “They all want to be seen to be doing something…” USA: “… we are focusing 1st on military facilities, bringing in more state troops to restore order. Squads of National Guard…” (Are reinforcements coming?) “Disaster growing by the hour…” “… had to leave 94 year old father…” “… it wasn’t supposed to be this way…” “The IMPACT on Mississippi… special mortuary teams dispatched. Everything within 2 blocks of the beach flattened. Smashed homes, smashed businesses. Area has no power - same thing happened 6 months ago… Water is 7m deep…” “We must now evacuate 20,000 people who are ‘sheltering’ in the Dome who have no food or water. We will run buses in - whatever measures are necessary we will do. Use cruise ships???” (Oh! For Heaven’s sake) “3,000 – 5,000 people fit on one ship. We will need a lot of… cruise ships...“… “… it is something we have to work on. We don’t have any answers right now. We are in crisis mode! We need temporary / permanent houses. We don’t know HOW to provide folks with the shelter they need right now. People are shell-shocked…” “We have got to make their living conditions more decent. It is a logistical nightmare. We’ll do it - whatever is necessary EG. walking them to the buses…” “We will work tirelessly to ensure survivors have sustained…” “… they will be housed in a football stadium in Texas. Food, medical supplies - still at the planning stage…” “… cots are now available…” (Row after row…) “… they have lost their privacy…” “The ‘shelters’ are refugee camps… will be there until December…” “SUFFER, SUFFER…” “Bussed to where? To families willing to house them…” “States taking in refugees… eligible for government money…” “… the children will have to go to school there…” “Hospitals lamenting the lack of water and electricity. Ventilators having to be worked manually…” “Ships carrying soap etc., will arrive there in 5 days…” “We’re on our own. I feel we’ve been punched when we’re down…” “Panic buying as the water continues to rise. There’s looting, concern about how survivors will survive…” UGLY SCENES: “… people robbed, gangs with guns, women and children raped…” “… rescue missions are standing down as boats too dangerous for the crews because people have

“WAH! WE NEED HELP NOW not tomorrow…” “… which means the time has come to move quickly…” “… All the broken glass in the water…” “… swift river rescue? There are not enough rescuers. In each neighbourhood, 1,000’s of people need RESCUING from the RISING water…” “… in labour, this pregnant lady had to swim for 30 minutes to try and get help for her asthmatic 5 year old son…” “… given birth, now homeless…” “… conditions are deteriorating rapidly… disintegrating into anarchy… the stranded are just wandering around… shots have been fired…” PLAN: “Fixing the levees are the 1st step to restoring normality as water levels continue to rise…” “Sand-bags dropped by helicopters. Ariel drops into the breach. Should have happened earlier but agencies having problems communicating as phone lines down. Will this stop water from pouring into ‘the bowl’? ‘We need to drain the city to un-water it’…” “20,000 giant sand-bags will be used- each weighing 3,000 lbs. The depth could be 25’…” “This is an engineering nightmare…” “We don’t know how long it will take or how many bags will need to be placed as we don’t know the depth necessary to stop the flow.” Q: “Anything else being considered?” A: “Rock placements. A steel lined basket…” “… not going to be fixed for 12 weeks?” “At least 30 days to get the water out…” “When we get electricity… we can get the pumps working…” (no petrol available to run generators?) “We need to get the water out before we can get the people stabilised…” 1/9/2005: “Based on the latest polls… ‘Getting back to work might not be a bad idea’ said George W. Bush (who had been raising funds for his party). “… no electricity to pump gasoline…” “… it has been declared a state of National emergency…” MISSION CRITICAL: (Priorities): “Security, Food & Water, Medical, Relocation, Levees.” “WANTED: Water purification systems, water trucks.” “… the need for vessels with low under-water draft…” (i.e. shallow bottom boats). “A HUMANITARIAN AID PACKAGE = Money, oil.” (Wouldn’t it be better? …it is simple…) WHAT THEY CAN DO = “Camp beds, water pumps.” “…pumps and generators are being brought in from around the country to try and drain the city…” “AID OFFERED: Canada: 3 warships loaded with supplies. Cuba: Offered to send 1,500 doctors who are standing by Mexico: 15 amphibious vehicles. Italy: Tents. Russia: Heavy transport planes loaded with helicopters and generators. Sweden: Water purifying equipment (?) & Emergency shelters (tents?) Venezuela: Cheap fuel, 360

become so desperate- are becoming violent trying to get on the boats. A contradiction. A journalist said people were not acting in a violent manner but were very gracious - just happy to be rescued…” “1,000’s more expected to die…” “How can they LEAVE them?… These… POOR… people!” “… succumbing to dehydration, disease, despair…” “There is a definite LACK of co-ordination in relief efforts. There are too many crooks in the system. It is bringing out the best in some people and the worst in other people…” “If people’s needs were taken care of, these people wouldn’t react with hostility…” “… it’s going to be unbelievable if nobody does anything about this…” “A refugee crisis is not something that should be happening, but it is…” “… not known how many are stranded. Could take a month to pump the city dry…” “… helicopters had to be diverted to rescue people, setting back work by several weeks…” “… taking groceries to survive…” “… looting nappies, clothes…” “… many gun shops looted…” “… there is no sense of authority. It is The law of the Jungle…” “… over-whelmed by state of lawlessness. They need a massive military operation…” “… only the military are ‘good’ at doing that…” “… military police are moving in to stop it…” (it means: looting). “Is looting justified? “Barefoot, thirsty, hungry people - how much can you blame them?” “We are all in the same boat…” “… the heat for these people 105 degrees F…” “… Everybody is going insane! People with SAD faces needing food and water. Scenes of utter confusion. Increasing squalid conditions. Remember, you can’t drive a truck or a helicopter in a Hurricane…” “… the airports unable to operate…” (Planes unable to land…) “Keep it together…” “Florida has pleaded for help from the government…” “People are DYING because we can’t medical supplies to people… People using their own generators are dying from carbon monoxide poisoning…” “Don’t eat perishable food that has been without refrigeration…” “We are racing against time…” “… it is pitiful…” “… it is so hard to witness this…” “… help all these desperate people! 1,000’s are ‘sleeping’ out on the streets, on bridges… just waiting and waiting. Is anyone in charge?” “This is too big for local officials to handle…” “There really isn’t any plan for it. It is impossible for somebody to co-ordinate…” “Our forces are doing a great job…” “… calling this ‘a rescue’ isn’t accurate. We’re just moving people…”

(Ah! You need to take the quick route to…) “Aid could be another 3 or 4 days- is sent to Alabama, and then to the States to be fanned out…” “… no electricity, no phones, no hope. People here are hungry, desperate, tired, afraid…” “… specialist teams dealing with collapsed buildings being flown in. A million (people!) made Homeless…” “…Bodies are painted with a large red cross and left where they are found…” “… Houses containing the dead marked with a spray-painted red cross…” “HOMELESS and hungry. ‘We just need to know help is on the way. No job, no home, no vehicle. Only a life and I don’t want to live it this way. I need somewhere to live- somewhere secure’…” “Some Aid has arrived in Mississippi but people who have no homes or vehicles have to ‘go and get it themselves’…” “… armed gangs roaming in trucks, outnumbering and outgunning the police…” Most newspapers reported: “As Anarchy Erupts…” “… couldn’t evacuate… hospital staff and patients shot at…” “… they tried to evacuate the hospital but patients transferred to the boat had to go back again because the Rescue centre was under water…” ( “Ah! Could it be… they are beginning to realise the importance of it?”) “There are promises the Pentagon are doing something about it but today is Thursday…” “G. W. Bush, emerging from the longest Presidential holiday ever taken, reacted casually…” “When he did eventually turn up 4 days after Katrina, he said: “… there was a power vacuum. The main purpose of the President is to take the lead. I understand that this will take more than one day’s thought’…” The President described the slow response as “inexcusable.” He also said: “It is so devastating. It is hard to describe it. Entire communities have been obliterated. Re-building will cost 10’s of $BILLIONS. … it’s going to require a lot of money and private help. The task before us is enormous… Where our response is not working, we will make it right. We will not rest till we get it done right.” “… Within hours, troops in armoured tanks on the streets. A shoot-to-kill policy for suspected looters…” “A year ago, the US Army Engineers proposed to study how best New Orleans could be protected from a Hurricane- but the Bush administration ordered the research not to be undertaken…” (Daily Mail, 27/9/2005) (“Budget for flood defences cut from $21 million to $6 million to help pay for the war in Iraq…”) “Friends of the Earth said: ‘In the face of mounting evidence of rapid Climate Change, President Bush 361

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“95% of USA oil production done in Gulf of Mexico…” “1/3rd of the nation’s heating oil…” = “… risk of severe fuel shortages across the country…” “… immediate price hikes…” “… there is very little the government can do…” Uh? “The RAINBOW COHILITION push - Jesse Jackson teamed with Venezuela’s controversial President Hugo Chavez, to offer the US cheap oil for the poor (hospitals & schools). (In Venezuela, oil is so cheap- fill your tank for $2…”) “The White House said a definite ‘no’ to a price cap for oil for the whole country…” “150,000 jobs have been lost…” = “… it has cost me my job…” “1 million (people!) made unemployed. Big problems. This will hurt the US economy badly…” = “400,000 jobs going to be lost - because of Katrina…” Uh? “New Orleans called ‘The Big Easy,’ was America’s big party town…” “A huge business in the Mississippi was GAMBLING. Casinos not going to be rebuilt soon…” “… some want the parties and tourism to start again soon…” “As a result of Katrina, investors say there will be a SLOW DOWN on JOB CREATION - it will have a depressing effect… taking a percentage off economic growth…” “… there could be some movement in the Futures market…” Uh? (the phrase lazy bums springs to mind…) Re: HEAVY CRUDE: “US releasing oil reserves to keep the lid on. GW. Bush said: ‘We are doing all we can. These are trying times for the people in these communities. We ask them to be patient’...” (“Last year, after Hurricane Ivan, 900 million barrels of oil released…”) “After consulting 26 governments… we are releasing 2 million oil barrels / products a day from strategic reserves. This will help but we’ve got to get these rigs back up. Oil from Europe will help but the effect on world economy – the price could go up to $110 a barrel soon. Where else could Oil come from?”(Well, if he doesn’t know…)

has down-played the problem and refused to take action to tackle it…” “THE WORST HUMANITARIAN DISASTER in American History…” “Public Anger: Inadequate precautions…” EXPERT: “… it is true it is God who inflicted horrors on America…” EXPERT: “How quickly the thin veneer of civilisation slips away…” “STOP SEARCHING FOR SURVIVORS - SHOOT LOOTERS!” “Still no rescue or recovery plan! Victims blamed for not evacuating! “But there was no help available- these people did not have cars…” “I can’t believe victims are being blamed!” STRANDED: “There are too few boats left to pull people off roof-tops. Survivors are exhausted. We have too many people still desperate. VOICES CALL FOR HELP…” “DISORGANISATION: A State of millions of people are now thinking what are we going to do next?” “The Red Cross has been given a great deal…” “The Red Cross has raised $71 million…” Q: “What was put into position before this storm because you knew it was going to happen?” A: “It is very unfair of you to blame the Federal government” said the Mississippi governor. “We begged people to leave. In this case there was warning…” A: “Could this have been prevented? If the USA had been fully prepared…The scale it is needed… it requires planning for it… Warnings given for years…” A: “A Clinton initiated programme for Disaster Relief, ‘Project Impact,’ was cancelled outright by the Republicans. This summer, a request for Federal flood mitigation funds was rejected by Washington…” LOSSES: “Estimated losses $25 - $30 BILLION, plus uninsured costs…” “Not a case of homes being damaged. They have been destroyed…” “… the infrastructure that has been damaged…” “There is absolutely no infrastructure left.” “New Orleans is now uninhabitable. Even up-town houses…” Q: “Can the infrastructure be fixed?” A: “Of course it should be fixed. There’s no question about that…”“… the governor is planning to rebuild the area…” “New Orleans will be rebuilt into a shining example for the rest of the world…” “A new drainage plan = 40” dredging pipes…” RESULT OF HURRICANE: “Refineries could be out of action for months…” “20 oil rigs are missing. 90% of output is offline. Remaining rigs trashed, listing, torn apart…” “7 oil rigs adrift. 8 refineries destroyed. (BP and Shell’s profits up…”) “In Gulf of Mexico, refineries flooded, oil rigs drifting…”

(How convenient, the USA oil-men have achieved maximum oil price / profit from this ‘disaster.’) “Now

restrictions on heavy shipping lanes. This ‘economic’ activity only represents 1% of the USA’s economy. This wont damage the economy. Reconstruction costs? Oil is the wild card…” “The Netherlands is going to release 30,000 barrels of oil a day…” “If US forced to buy more oil on the international market, a worldwide Energy shortage could ensue…” “OPEC will increase oil output. 1 million barrels a day…” “42 million gallons of oil lost each day due to Katrina…” “Do we need a really vigorous Conservation effort so we don’t have a recession ahead?” asked Bill Clinton. “What does it mean in its effects on GDP?” “Analysts will want to study this so they can advise other countries how to handle…” 362

“The President arrived in Mobile, Alabama, on an inspection trip and pledged the government would do better. ‘If it’s not working right, we’ll make it work right, and then we’ll duplicate it elsewhere’ he said. All around the world, disbelief at the chaos. The Federal government’s job…” “WHY can’t the USA plan SOMETHING BETTER?” “Australia, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Israel, Canada- even Sri Lanka, Mexico and Cuba, have offered help but to date no response from America…” “A CRUEL spectacle for the champion of ‘security’” said France. “Sadness, shock & frustration…” “… very desperate civilians with their children looking for relief supplies…” “A military convoy is coming through the flood waters, carrying… pallets (of food?) The General’s giving orders - is very concerned these people will think relief is on the way. He believes this is a Humanitarian operation and that that is the way to go…” “5 DAYS LATER: “Aid is beginning to trickle in. G. W. Bush said ‘the response was unacceptable’…” much pontificating? Then: “… it’s big, and it’s massive” (it means: just the job…) “The Mayor is livid. ‘I need 500 buses to get these people out of here. Get every bus driver here. It’s a major deal’…” (Ah! We’re determined to do it better.) Q: THE MERCY CORPS was asked: “What would you send in there now?” A: “We’d look at the gaps in the community, for vulnerable people.” Q: “In the aftermath, what have we learnt from the tsunami?” A: “Health is a primary concern. That is a gap. The assistance must reach the most needy.” “There is not a shortage of co-operation…” Congress: “I’m ashamed of America. It’s got to go right to the people. We don’t want another Iraq where the money just goes… (disappears) ” “A $10.5 BILLION AID PACKAGE agreed by Congress…” “… the sheer volume of people, trash and no airconditioning…” “… they’ve led the people out of the Super-Dome, they are now waiting outside in this humidity as troops arrive…” “At Charity hospital… treating 800 patients an hour… the only hospital working now… conditions very primitive. Disgusting. SEND HELP!” “… the Basic Necessities of Life: Food, Water, Shelter & Clothes. We have to ensure in the postimpact stages to avoid public health diseases. Q: What can we do to limit water borne diseases?”

“… every day, lost tax revenue…” “Consumer confidence leads the USA economy…” “POVERTY in the USA is GROWING. These victims are trapped by poverty. It is a class and race thing. The poor are proportionately the more devastated, lacking medical insurance…” said Rev. Jospeh Lowery. “… It was dangerous to live in New Orleans before the hurricane - people would do anything to get food…” “2 former Presidents (Clinton & Bush senior) are raising money - to go to the Governors who can spend it as they wish…” (Will ALL the spending be made public?) “… it goes with the territory” said George Bush senior. (Glad you said that, I think so too!) “OCEANS OF DEBRIS. Can this city ever be restored?” NEWS FLASH! NEWSCASTERS: “THE SHOPPING MALL IS ON FIRE! Other fires breaking out - no-one to deal with them! A chemical factory is on fire- if there was anything toxic…” “If these High-Rise buildings catch fire with all the people in there… Is the answer to get men on the roof with hoses? What if there’s no water / pressure?” “… it’s obviously got to be a massive effort…” “… the hospitals are in very dire straits. People are dying due to lack of resources. Bodies are stacked in stair wells…” “… having disconnected communications is really horrible…” “G. W. Bush toured Mississippi in a caravan…” (“The Salvation Army Centre = A trailer and a truck.) (He saw the back end, OK?) “THE LEVEES ARE INADEQUATE…” Helicopters still dropping giant sand-bags into a black hole… bull-dozers are pushing dirt into the hole… “That is a hopeful sign. There is no way you can build a levee that will keep out a category 4 Hurricane.” (is that comment symptomatic of a dual-personality?) Flood Protection = Levees because you don’t want to raise tax to pay for… something better?” (something better should cost considerably less…) “… the water was up to our necks… We’ve lost everything…” victims told the President, in Biloxi. “He is getting a lot of hugs as he tells them help is on the way- the Salvation Army & the Red Cross…” “Everything is being done that could be done” said George W. Bush, in a lack lustre performance…” “George W. Bush is only going for photo opportunities?” “At the Dome in Houston, 12,500 people. Dome now closed- can’t handle any more people. People bussed there- traumatised- don’t want to go inside… A 350 mile trip…” “… the mayor pleading for local people to open their homes to evacuees…” 363

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A: “Evacuate to safe harbours. Make sure there is safe water & food, evacuate people out of there. Bottled or boiled water. If these people remain in this condition- infectious diseases-outbreaks…” (“… it’s a simple message, and it comes from the heart…”) “OPERATION CATASTROPHE: They flocked for shelter and found despair.” G. W. Bush said: “A new CITY will come. You just can’t imagine it until you see the level of devastation…We’ve got plenty of resources to do more than one thing. Our jobs in responsibility are not to be satisfied until it is done better. It is going to take a while. We’re talking years- weeks to get the electricity back on- days to get people rescued. The more fuel we have available, we are addressing it. We’ve got to get the ports open, to get more oil to the refineries. There is a need for housing. PLEDGES: FEMA will be providing lots of temporary housing. We’ll be providing lowinterest loans. People can apply. The government will supply housing. We will delegate- get opinions. HOW do you re-build a city? ‘We’ll listen to people who know what they’re doing…… remote, coastal & rural communities who don’t have electricity. PLEDGE: We’re going to get the power to the people. 1st things 1st. We’ve got to make the people safe.” (Ah! it’s about not running away from responsibility!) General Honore (looking drained of energy) said: “If it was easy, it would have been done alreadyif it was simple. We’re going back to pick up the next load using the helicopters. I would best describe it as: The people on medication are getting worse- once we can get it started- clear the area, get helicopters in, get medical personnel in, people need a place to sleep in reasonable degree of comfort. These are families. This is not an instant solution. They are frustrated and we are too.” (i.e. er, we’ll get back to you on that one, OK?) “… it’s taking so long…” Q: “Where will victims on buses go to?” A: “We are building capacity. We are getting troops in from all over so it’s working.” Q: “So many people want to help. What can they do?” A: “Contributions… People who are evacuated are stuck there. These are Americans. This is our mission and this is what we are committed to. This storm is our enemy. This is phase one. There is big government work to do to make this right.” A: “We’re counting on you, General.” He replied: “It’s not about me. It’s about our great forces- the police, the coastguards… We’re going to make it happen because it’s a great cause…” “… Nearly 60 countries… everyone wants to see these people taken care of right’ said the Secretary of State…”

“WHEN FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH we are stronger. When we are on the retreat we are more vulnerable…” “It does us good to give without being mean about it…” said Condolisa Rice. The Speaker of the House said: “3 Gulf coast states are in a terrible state. We need housing for those who are displaced. We need to bring people together… to get these things together… This disaster is the top priority of the House. We need structure, Bills. We have never had to face these problems before…” “… dozens of helicopters are still winching people off roofs, bridges etc… People are losing their minds…” The police in tears… “…so many people are still searching for help on the ground…” EXPERT: “… it shows the Americans are not allpowerful…” EXPERT: “It is an appalling shambles.” “… the lack of flood control…” “Germany is offering portable shelters…” (Tents?) RESPONSE: “… we are working with the Colonel of Civil Protection…” “… the UN can’t send help until the US (administration?) asks them to do it…” “… the hospital remains immobilised…” “… the water is disgusting… 1,600 rescued by boat. ‘We are seeing 3rd World conditions’…” NEWSCASTERS: “NEW ORLEANS - many houses made of wood. You can’t get a fire engine down those roads now canals... Look at the density of these houses… The oil in the water will accelerate fires. The fire will jump from one roof to the other… Fires are not far from the SuperDome…” “… we should find what it is and get it in there…” “INDIFFERENCE & INCOMPETENCE. Both are unacceptable” said Jesse Jackson. “Tell it like it is, don’t take nothing from it. Don’t say you’re coming if you’re not...” “We made it through the holocaust- that’s what it was” said survivors. “Why can’t they get food to the Super-Dome? Why can’t people be put in the unused Airforce / military bases? There’s nowhere to put people? That’s bull-shit. They DIED because they couldn’t get water! WHY?” “6 DAYS LATER: The criminal justice system is up and running again. Prison population moved to other prisons…” “The General is the antidote, telling his soldiers to point the barrels of their guns down…” “The biggest problem, no toilet facilities…” “300 buses are standing by, going nowhere…” “A needs assessment is still being done to see which offers of help are needed, if any.”

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trucks & personnel needed… will focus on the sickest of the sick…” “All the people who want to volunteer… A new National service launched for health care professionals to harness ‘all the good energy,’ to relieve the suffering… There hasn’t been a dry eye in the Emergency centre…” “…We have calluses on our knees from praying so much…” Q: “WHY EVACUATION SO CHAOTIC?” A: “The traditional model… the military… the legal frame-work… authority in each State placed with a governor… under these circumstances… the unusual set of challenges… the need to break the traditional model & come up with a new one within the legal framework- that was breathtaking. Water over-flowing levees- not a template planned for. It was as if someone took the traditional model and dropped a nuclear bomb on it. It only became clear when we realised this was going to be a category 4 Hurricane… This reminds us, in our confidence to conquer Nature, Mother Nature Is A Very Tough And Very Powerful opponent. It’s important to have a common operating plan to enhance security, to make sure what we are doing is the most efficient. The Gulf coast has been obliterated. We need a new ultra-catastrophe model. I would ideally like to do it perfectly, ideally to get closer to it. Everybody has magnificently stepped up to meet these challenges. The National Defence plan all done within the existing framework. Is a critical toolis our validation plan for what is reasonably seeable. This is outside of what people foresaw but we can adapt.” Q: “Should FEMA directors resign?” FEMA: “We are in the middle of something that is very dynamic. We can spend a lot of time looking in the rear view mirror or you can look at where we are going. We are going to promise people will get their lives back together. My focus is we are doing everything possible to make it as easy as possible. There was a lack of balance. Nature was unhelpful. It picked up speed, focus. Between preparing for… Government has to focus on special catastrophic issues.” “He added he had confidence in the US plans to deal with terrorism & disasters.” “WE’VE LEARNT HOW TO DO THINGS RIGHT” said FEMA (Federal Emergency officials). “(Some) civilians are being evacuated on school buses and loaded onto planes to be flown out. We want to get survivors out- that is our mission. FEMA are not focused on the death toll. The state has a worked out plan to perform their usual functions with that.” JOURNALIST: “When will we have a rolling count?” FEMA: “I don’t know. We will start making breaches in the levees to allow some water to drain out of the city…”

“VICTIMS ARE BEING FED A LINE OF BULL…” “People here feel very much let down by the people who they thought were going to save them…” “… now, IF they have food or water, they still have nowhere to go…” “… responsible for co-ordinating Federal assistance, FEMA ‘dropped the ball’…” “… efforts being put into repairing a levee system we know is not working. We’ve got to make sure these problems never happen again…” “… all we can do is pour money in to help the people who are helpless…” ? “… camping out with plastic bags… people moving from place to place. These are not ideal conditions. It’s a mixed message. There’s long lines of folks queuing up for buses… There’s so much garbage everywhere… People are saying ‘Why are we being treated like animals?’…” ATTITUDE: “Hey, you can go catch a bus.” “We’ve got to go back to living with faith, hope and compassion.” “$200 million given privately to charities. Stars will hold a Telethon… Stars (i.e. celebrities) endorse… raise levels of contributions…” (“Oh, no. They don’t do Telethons for it…”) “… the impact of losing their homes, being kept in these conditions, their lack of control, not knowing what is going on…” “… their sense of insecurity…” “Yeh, they’re going to need a lot of mental health officials…” ‘SECURITY’ BRIEFING: “A FEDERAL JOINT TASK FORCE will be responsible for co-ordinating resources. Logistics are a huge issue here. It will help the people in charge. A former FEMA commander / director will lead…” “… navigate the streets! Fire Depts from New York using jet skis to look for people… Helicopters dropping supplies of water and boil-in-the-bag food… The loads…” (Ah! Fast-food?) “… rescuers wearing ‘dry suits’…” “Mother Nature has been far from maternal” said Michael Chertoff. (“Some people are making very heavy weather of…”) “Houses reduced to matchsticks. The damage to infrastructure is horrifying. We are going to move heaven and earth to restore…” (“I’d like to do something to help but…”) “We will not allow bureaucracy to get in the way…” “94,000 people are in Red Cross shelters across 9 States…” “We have to give them hope. There will be rebuilding. This set of catastrophes has broken every mold, so we are going to break every mold in how we respond. We will do whatever it is to get people to health and safety…” “TRAINS used to evacuate… Many patients still need to be evacuated from hospitals…… We are sure we will be able to innovate” said Michael Chertoff, Secretary for Homeland Security. “40 tents being sent up for medical shelters. All the 365

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“People are scratching their heads. There are not enough resources. It’s chaotic. Everyone is getting the best possible care.” JOURNALIST: “Isn’t that a contradiction?” FEMA: “They are getting what they need (medically.”) “Someone should explain it to the International Rescue Committee…” “…3 or 4 truckloads of Portaloos have arrived. These people might have to ‘sleep’ in the queues for another couple of nights…” OUTRAGE! “To move 20,000 people…” “There are not enough buses- so people will get rejected…” “They will have to go back to their little patch (on the street, outside the Convention Centre). The sick and elderly are being put in shopping carts… People want to stick together. People have no idea where they are being taken… About 8,000 sick people are waiting at the field hospital at the airport. Bodies are being put in white cooler trucks… “ “… Inside the hell of their ‘Super’ Dome ‘shelter,’ knives, guns, crack, over-flowing toilets… soldiers armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers to stop people trying to leave…” “… Another 14,000 cots ready for evacuees at the stadium at Texas…” “Media told to stop using the word ‘refugee.’ Has negative connotations. Must be called ‘survivors’…” “The last 5 days has been hell- a disaster. We were given a choice- bring your pets or your luggage. We don’t know where we go from here.” “They were rescued now they can’t wait to get out of here…” “Oh, you are so right- it is the beginning of a long road ahead…” “In the stadium, 25,000 people with nowhere to go. This could be the biggest challenge the US has ever had to face. Another fire raging in the business sector…” “So many dead and dying abandoned pets…” “Rats and animals are eating bodies…” “Whatever it takes to help you rebuild your lives…” said a host of a displaced family. “Oh, thank you for your kindness…” “I am afraid to go back…” “If all documentation is lost, how do you prove what you have lost? In the old days, Banks held deeds. These days...” “12,400 people rescued so far. They are the lucky ones. 1,000’s of people are still on roof-tops etc. “ The journalist then notes: “… this litter-basket is spinning violently as they are winching to airlift someone who is seriously ill…” “Local supplies of fuel are dwindling…” “A SHORTAGE OF military HELICOPTERS (as these are in Iraq). Civilian and private helicopters hired…” “We need to REVALUE! Don’t send smart bombs on dumb missions…” (Ah! We no longer believe in your wars!)

“There’s no communications between the various Agencies! From the boat we need to tell the helicopter there are people down here, but we can’t…” “Left a bit, right a bit, let’s see now, up a bit more, more left… so hard trying to co-ordinate the helicopter! This side left, more pedal right, mind the power lines that are all around… From this bird’s eye view, so hard to see into buildings to see who is in there… They continue to wait to be rescued. The congestion in the skies- about 16 helicopters…” “… take off as the heat rises from the tarmac. The risk of snipers… dozens of choppers in the air. This is like a war zone! ‘Our problem was a lot of coward men out there. We wanted to get the women out 1st.’ ‘The hardest to rescue are pregnant women’…” “We just don’t have the facilities or a lot of room on board the helicopter to help these people…” “A rescue helicopter has crashed…” AIRDROPS: “What it’s like to have lost everything, be in waist-deep water and then have somebody drop pallets of bottled water onto you?” “Aid dropped into contaminated water… So hard to find. And people don’t want to get into the water…” “Germany offering mobile units to provide clean water…” (still no response from the White House!) “SOS.” “WE NEED HELP!” “… there are 60 choppers in the air…” “… it’s just not working out…” “I keep trying to find resources. I’m screaming at the President…” said the Mayor of New Orleans. “For 8 years we have begged for money for flood defences…” “The Mayor wont forget those who are accountable…” “…The CIA might take me out…” he said. “Now is not the time for further analysis of what has happened…” “HOTELS ARE FULL for 100’s of miles. For most of the guests is the worry what happens when our money runs out?” “…45,000 (people!) are in hotel rooms…” “… it’s not an option…” “I’m starting a new life…” “Just identifying their needs is a very complex problem…” (Heavy Sigh). “… dozens of dazed victims living in miserable conditions…” “Isn’t this sad? I’m Homeless. I’ve never lived like this. I want to go home.” “This ‘instant city’ is beginning to take shape. The Astro-Dome stadium. Now 26,000 people taken to Houston…” EXPERT: “Not suited well to a long term life here. You’ll want to move them from here…” “They’ll have to be bussed out again…” “All the mental and physical anguish and it’s still not done…” “The swamped city…” “The BLAME GAME has started.” “The whole of the Louisiana Emergency Planning responsible should be sacked.” 366

marked only the ½ way point in the Atlantic Hurricane Season and more major storms are on the way. Katrina was the 11th storm of the season and the 4th to become a Hurricane. The Met Office suggested this could rise to 20 tropical storms, of which 10 could reach Hurricane status before the end of the season in November” (Daily Mail, 2/9/2005) (“A super-Typhoon with destructive winds of up to 250 mpk is heading toward Japan…”) (“Resource GREEDY People”: “How will you rebuild when there is NO timber or petrol?” “WHEN YOU HAVE NO OIL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?”) “… it asks as many questions as it answers…” “Another group of people are mobilising- an army of volunteers called ‘Angels of the Storm.’ ‘Whatever we can do we want to help.’ Hand out water, cheques for $1,000’s, class-rooms opened. Volunteers will live side-by-side with victims to help them rebuild. Will it say good-bye to their own, old way of life?” “Coroners overwhelmed…” “After the Hurricane, people are coming apart at the seams! So many domestic disputes…” “… Families- separated- at breaking point…” “FIRES SET BY ARSONISTS…” “… Fireboats are being used. Hydrants are empty. Inept. Indicative of the way G. W. Bush runs America…” “We’re going to fix it one at a time if we have to” said G. W. Bush. “… it’s wanting to do something for the babies. That’s right, isn’t it?” said the General. “If there’s one thing I need its about 3 days of expert time to plan everything…” “We’re going to turn the tide of this situation. We’re gonna find the solution” said General Russel Honoray. “Dusk to Dawn Curfew imposed…” “At night they stop the rescue missions…” AT CHARITY HOSPITAL: “8 – 10 people a day dying here. Thick air, a sickening stench…” “IN THEIR DARKEST HOUR… they are now trying to put the pieces together…” “It was horrible, so horrible…” “… God only knows where I’m going. I’m lost…” “Housing is going to be at a premium. Every rental is going to be filled up…” (re: Covington). “100’s are camped out in Churches relying on the charity of the congregation…” “Outside the affected areas, life is continuing as normal… There are lines and lines of buses going nowhere…” “Countless Aid flights carrying supplies…” “The UN’s offer of help has been accepted…” “The US has asked the EU and NATO for food & medical supplies…” “KUWAIT pledging $500 million in oil / products.” “Wal-Mart donating $17 million in cash. Will open mini-stores in areas devastated by impact of Hurricanes…”

Re: The National Guard: “… a baseless and unnecessary mission whose pretext is based on a lie, deception and the false promise of making America safe while US citizens who are actually need their protection, are deprived and unsafe…” DISASTER MANAGEMENT? “… even Guatemala can do it better than the richest nation on Earth…” “… of course there are things that could be donemore sensible housing, taking into account flood plains…” “TERRIBLE SCENES AT THE AIRPORT. The injured, many in critical conditions, from hospitals and nursing homes, just waiting to be repatriated…” “The Homeless, waiting…” “Reports of infighting. Will the State do it? ‘I don’t know’ said the Mayor of New Orleans. The local government’s response: ‘This is not an ideological debate. This is a debate about disaster control…” “… the flow of people through here could go on for another 6 days…” “Let’s see if something can be done for these poor people long term’ said Bill Scheider, senior political analyst.” “Eventually, 54,000 troops will be in the area to distribute food and water…” “A $62 million Emergency grant will provide 20,000 temporary jobs for displaced workers- who will participate in the clean-up of their own communities…” “100’s of staff will canvass neighbourhoods to help people access unemployment assistance / grants / insurance = A tremendous array of assistance…” “I can’t cash a welfare cheque without ID. Many had to flee without any wallet…” (“BLUNDER: Mrs Barbara Bush said: ‘So many of the people were under privileged anyway, so this is working very well for them’…”) “Still about 30,000 people on the ground…” “… I have been wearing the same clothes for days now, soaked in toxic water, sewage…” “Who will clean me up?” “In the hospital- no working toilets or air conditioning…” “NO GREEN LIGHT given to other countries wanting to send Aid! The State Department said that would only complicate things if no logistics on the ground to receive it…” “The people should have the Right to accept or reject the Aid being offered by other nations not the State Department…” (Ignored). “79% of oil output closed down…” “… it will take many months / years for THE GULF STATE to recover…” “100,000 people given Aid…” “3 cruise ships are heading for the area. Will ‘house’ 7,000 people for the next 6 months…” “THE HURRICANE SEASON HAS YET TO HIT ITS PEAK…” “Weather experts warned Katrina 367

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“The lack of respect shown for this disaster has stirred up a lot of politicians especially Democrats…” Q: “What was at the core at the breakdown of the social fabric?” A: “The government needs to do more to help the poor people. Their circumstances linked to a lack of education…” A: “A fundamental lack of insight & planning at the highest level in government. A profound lack of understanding. Insulting to the good people to say we didn’t expect the levee to break when we all knew the levee would break!” “What went wrong? What went right? Let’s face it.” “On Monday, FEMA built ‘an arc of relief’… centres equipped with blankets etc. Then roads impassable. FEMA’s relief said to be ‘inadequate & missing.’ FEMA were surprised by the extent of the tragedy. Where was the relief when it was needed? (Studies done- this scenario was predicted in 1995). Now people split - put all over the country. Still no communications? People need to find their loved ones…Web-sites set-up… FEMA’s budget was cut. FEMA needs to be independent. Plans need to be exercised…” Q: What more could FEMA have done?” A: “…A Seamless operation… So many firemen are sitting around waiting for a mission. We are going to have a Seamless operation up and running by the end of tomorrow…” Q: “They are still talking about setting up a plan!?” A: “It’s not a plan, it’s an organisation” said James Witt, former FEMA Director. (“… it’s a plan. A good plan… always sensible to have a plan…”) “The political, economic and disaster model of the USA - the scenes! Is NOT the model for other countries to copy.” “‘This is nature’s doing’ is the primary spin from The White House…” “Relief efforts must not be hampered by a system designed for much lesser disasters.” “A Commission should be established to investigate…” “How to get these communities back on their feet?” (“Give positive relief.” “Say it. Come on. You need it.”) (“… it’s all about how we respond to fear. We’re going to make it work. Are you with me?” “Let’s cut the crap and get down to it…”) “… police traumatised- a couple of suicides… “ “Rescuers red-eyed- they wont give up…” (At long last!) “The Duck Bus, Amphibian vehicle being used to evacuate… “ Also, Air Boats (large, noisy fan at the rear, as used in Florida swamps). “… so many unhappy faces…” “I wouldn’t want to ‘live’ on the overpass for 5 minutes” said a private pilot flying charitable rescue missions.

“Survivors DYING of heat & starvation as rescue efforts too slow- aren’t enough resources. Coastguard centre overwhelmed with calls for help. Cries haunting rescue workers. The weak and sick expire 1st. They are still working round the clock…” (5/9/2005) (“The USA’s Chief of Justice, a Conservative, has died…”)

Q: “Are problems going away?” A: No, they are not. Evacuees need new homes and some want to return to their old homes.” “They don’t want to give up the security of their badly damaged houses…” “… some don’t want to leave their homes…” (7/9/2005). New Orleans: 9 DAYS after the storm: “Drainage starts. One hole secured…” “This city must be cleaned…” “EVERYBODY MUST GET OUT, it’s in your best interests to leave. It’s not safe. New Orleans is a hazard. There’s no food or safe water here. Police forcibly have to make people leave- for safety, security. 5 people have died of water-borne diseases in the Gulf region… Looters put in cages accused of stealing to make profit…” ATTITUDE: “Out you go. We’re on our way…” “Now a ‘life’ of uncertainty for displaced persons.” “This is a nightmare. We left thinking we’d be gone for 3 days…” “Initially people will respond to this devastation with a warm welcome. 3 months on, I hope they still respond…” DEATH TOLL: “Significant. Likely to be 1,000’s…” “Everyone is shocked by it. A tragic situation…” “G. W. Bush to ask for $51 Billion in Katrina Aid…” “Final re-building cost could be $200 Billion…” “10 DAYS after… (some) pumps now working” (spewing the toxic filthy water into the beautiful lake…) (Comments / Ref: CNN). DEBATE: “Florida has a special fund for this sort of disaster, so they can rebuild quickly- in about 2 months…” (more of the same?) “Not right, that the poor in New Orleans wont have their homes rebuilt anything like as quickly even though they pay taxes…” “The uninsured wont have anything built for them…” “If you earn over $100,000 in America, you get tax breaks- concessions- a reduction. Isn’t that crazy? That means, the poor are subsidising the rich - the money paid by the poor pays for rebuilding property for the rich!” “… still without power… THE INQUIRY into the DISASTER was boycotted by Democrats as a whitewash. i.e. Republicans? are saying ‘we handled the crisis brilliantly’…” “12 DAYS on. The military are leaving. They’ve done their job now.” Uh? “They are trying to work out whose responsibility it is...“ “The disasters are growing…” 22/9/2005: “The (next) Hurricane is churning! Oh, it’s heading our way!” “A GIANT OF A STORM IN THE GULF: … is heading for Texas. Wind speed 368

the shoreline. EVACUATION would have to be incredibly EFFICIENT. This is going to happen. We don’t know when. Last eruption on La Palma in 1949, followed by several Earthquakes which opened the huge fissure…” (Horizon, UKTV History,

up to 175 mph. Old sea wall- concrete up to 18’ high, but only 5’ in places. 12’ of water could wash over the wall – Galveston could be under water. Mandatory evacuation- 2 million people evacuated on buses, plus 1 million people bumper to bumper. So sad seeing them run out of petrol. Many gas / petrol stations closed. The longest queues- 100 miles long! They’ve been sitting there for 5 hours! Taking 35 hours to evacuate. Stores sold out. ‘I had a good business but now I’ve got no customers!’ Threat to oil refineries – 21 could be damaged. ‘We do have a lot of rigs in its path.’ Cost of timber has gone up 30%. ‘Wall Street will get wise. The investors are benefiting from higher oil prices. Could cause a deep recession.’ ‘We can’t keep writing cheques for the damage!’ Serious danger… As the price of crude rising… This Hurricane could finish the job Katrina left undone. ‘American ingenuity must come to the fore. Not sure where it will hitHurricanes do change their path. Concern- the amount of rain that will fall in that region – a few inches could spell disaster. Hurricane could hit Houston, Louisiana and New Orleans. NASA evacuated… They’re hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. They’re leaving trying to find somewhere safe… 3rd worst storm in USA’s History. Global Warming has definitely contributed…” (“Ah! AMERICANS are CAPTIVATED by GLOBAL WARMING). 17/9/2005: G. W. Bush said: “We are beginning the largest construction job in the world. When it’s finished the world will have something to be proud of.” “BACK TO THE OVERFLOW”: “2 days after Hurricane Rita, 2 million residents told not to return to their homes as no sewerage, electricity etc. FEMA not able to go into the area- has to stay away to protect rescue workers & vital supplies (drinking water etc). Storm downgraded to a Category One (merciful God!) Galveston not flooded- but New Orleans flooding again as 100ft section of levee breached… A bus carrying elderly evacuees caught fire- at least 24 dead…” 14/10/2005: “WE NEED TENTS!” A fraction received. Rehabilitation and reconstruction will take $Billions and years…” “Mother Nature has a will of its own. … Only 50 – 60% of New Orleans can be re-built” (February 2006). “MEGA TSUNAMI: “Many years ago, a WAVE- the size of a 50-storey building (150 metres high) hit this shoreline... (A normal tsunami reaches 10m maximum). In 1958, a 2nd GIANT WAVE. Cause: Rock falling off a mountain- landslides... Scientists FEAR a Volcano island- La Palma, could collapse triggering A GIANT WAVE that can cross Oceansand could hit the East coast of America causing Miami, Boston and parts of New York to be devastated. The WAVE would take 8 HOURS to hit

2/8/2005).

("Who needs tomorrow? We'll be running for shelter, looking at the stars. How we will wish we had made it to last...") WHAT’S THE ANSWER?: DOCUMENTARY: “AROUND THE WORLD, sea defences are being swamped as the Ice Caps melt and sea levels rise. Rivers are overflowing regularly… The ‘answer’ is to create inlets, sacrificing land and villages to protect the majority of the country = a Dutch plan. The fields will be submerged. The Dutch build houses to ‘float’ on the flood water i.e. (traditional houses) built on concrete moorings encased in steel - the moorings will rise and fall with the level of waterand will be linked by ‘floating’ roads built on lumps of Polystyrene- pontoons, encased in concrete… (Following a devastating flooding disaster in 1953… sand dunes… clay and huge quantities of rocks used to reclaim the land by building a Dam… but this was ineffective during a storm… Then, in 1975, the Dutch built the world’s biggest Sea Barrier- a mega-structure- a sluice gate consisting of massive concrete towers. A crucial element we have learnt is to build with nature. We can try and understand it better…” (Channel 5, 29/8/2005) (Ah! “We need it to bridge the gap for any future problems that may arise.”) “MOST CLIMATE SCIENTISTS AGREE they are right to warn the prospect ahead is alarming unless we act respond soon… Real concern speed Earth heating up… Greenland’s Ice shelf could disappear… causing a sea level rise of 7m (23ft) by 2350” (BBC, 27/7/2005). DOCUMENTARY: “GLOBAL WARMING. The Earth’s temperature has been rising for decades. It is going to change our world. Shocking weather day after day. Weathermen are shaken. 2/11/2000: Severe flooding in Yorkshire, UK. 10,000 homes submerged… The rain = It just kept coming. It’s beaten us- the water’s come in…The floorboards floated away… Many locals wanted out but how do you sell a house in a flooding area? Houses flooded for 2 weeks, 11 weeks LATER, house dried out leaving deposit of mud, sewage and a foul smell. We’re on a flood warning again- sickening. All across England, rain levels have increased… 5 million homes in the UK are at risk of FLOODING… 2002: THE COLLAPSE OF AN ICE-SHELF: The temperature has risen in Antarctica further here 369

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than the rest of the world. 500 MILLION TONS OF ICE FELL (twice the size of Luxembourg), but did not (thankfully!) go into the sea - fell on land. The shelf had been intact for 10,000 years - since the last Ice Age. Warming softened the ice… Glaciers melting means we really are in trouble… As sea levels rise… new disturbing conclusions. London’s sea defences are inadequate. 1st – 8th January 2004: The Thames Barrier closed daily. Never happened before, usually only once a year. (The barrier was built following a 8 metre

wide spray of lightweight foam onto flames…) WEST SCOTLAND: “Wind speed 90 – 106 mph. Islands cut off last 2 days. Scores of roads closed. Flooding. Lots of damage. Power lines down. 1,000’s without power. Hotels closed. Lorries blown over. Ferries cancelled.” Carlisle: “25 schools closed. 1,700 homes still without power & under water…” IRELAND: “Lorry blown off high bridge - driver killed… Waves battering the coast…” Australia: “Bush fires. People jumping into the sea to escape the flames…” California: “Massive mud slides…” (11/1/2005). UK: Boscastle: “5 months on is still a building site… Given permission by ‘The Environment Agency’ to re-build existing structures that had been swept out to sea… arguing this was an event unlikely to happen again for 400 years and new (concrete) flood defences installed will prevent such a reoccurrence…” “IS THERE A POLITICAL WILL TO KEEP THE COUNTRY FLOOD FREE? Warnings of flooding pumped out by ‘The Environment Agency.’ All over the UK sea coast defences are being reevaluated. A fingers-crossed approach is not good enough. £10’s of millions needed to protect coast-lines & properties. We have to wise up to it and make some difficult decisions. 2 million houses along rivers… The volume of water coming down off hills… Peak river flows 20% higher by 2080, with higher tides… Risks increasing every year. Local Authorities taking problems less than seriously. Why are 12% of property developers ignoring Environment Agency advice? 50 years of neglect Re: Planning. Too much concrete used. John Prescot’s plans for new (brick) houses on FLOOD plains- will those be happening? Flood management… appropriate measures will have to be taken. £20 £75 BILLION going to be needed by 2080. People must be aware of the risk. People must know what to do if they are evacuated. Housing estates may have to be relocated.” (Are they mad? Brick by brick? Concrete slab by concrete slab?) “Don’t leave it to the last minute.” “SWITZERLAND: GLACIERS MELTING, also Europe’s longest… The Swiss Academy of Sciences said the findings show that Global Warming is taking its toll” (9/1/2006). "... the Artic circle are ordering Air Conditioning units as the world's temperature increases..." (BBC

wave that overwhelmed defences killing 300 people in 1953). 20 times more surges predicted.

Dangerous tidal / sea surges. We are not ready for that. Many sea defences are at the end of their life. 10/8/2003: Temperature in Britain 100. Never happened here before since records began 350 years ago. GRAVESEND: Heat followed by violent electrical storms with lightening (described by a child as ‘a goldy colour’). The hottest summer ever recorded. 2003: “Record number of FOREST FIRES – predicted as world heats up. Forest Fires Release CO2 = More Heat = More Fires…” UK: Boscastle: 8” of rain fell in 12 hours. Worst flash flood in UK seen for decades. Water lapping up to the attic… 140 tons of water per second hit the village. 2 millions tons of water.” (“100 people had to be rescued by helicopters…”) Global Warming is making these ‘freaks’ ‘normal.’ We expect to see more weather such as this. 9/5/2003: USA: 2 major tornados in 2 days hit Oklahoma. Never happened before. 90 tornados daily in Tornado Alley! Huge power flashes! Global Warming is impacting our weather believe Channel 9 TV. 3/8/2004: 4 hurricanes aimed at Florida. 155 mph wind. Mother Nature’s fury inflicted £20 Billion worth of damage. The 1st ever hurricane to hit Brazil… Hurricanes likely to be much more intense… The time has arrived but we are not ready for it. I don’t know how we are going to cope with it. GLOBAL WARMING is the biggest threat facing Mankind” (Channel 4, 8/1/2005) (To be politically correct, the word ‘mankind’ now obsolete in preference for ‘humankind’).

Alaska: “One million acres of Forest on Fire = Helicopters doing ‘bucket drops’ of water…” (2004) (“Heath-land fires are the worst. The way we fight these fires hasn’t changed for years - we take in the pumps and hit the fire with (wooden) sticks! Very labour intensive…” (& inefficient!) (A FIRE EXTINGUISHER = A lightweight foam that expands to smother oxygen. Pressured jets. Water soluble. Why don’t they adapt this? Using large tanks (under or inside… the helicopter?) aiming a

World News, 13/8/2006).

“Britain's coastline eroding. Residents will not be compensated…” (21/8/2006). “Can HURRICANE destruction get worse than Katrina? The USA’s Hurricane Centre director thinks so. ‘I think the day is coming. I think eventually we’re going to have a very powerful hurricane in a major metropolitan area worse than 370

what we saw in Katrina and it’s going to be a MEGA-DISASTER. With lots of lost lives,’ Mayfield said. ‘I don’t know whether that’s going to be this year or 5 years from now or 100 years from now. But as long as we continue to develop the coastline like we are, we’re setting up for disaster’…” (Reuters, 22/8/2006). ADVERT: “Don’t wait until tomorrow. The danger is here today.” “The problem of High Tides, combined with storms / rain…” PREDICTED: “13ft (4m) rise in sea levels due to melting Greenland ice cap, swamping major cities” (31/8/2006). “ALL TALK AND NO ACTION!” WEATHER EXPERTS: “… the sky is empty… the hurricane is ugly because it is destructive…” “… New York (& other major cities) threatened by hurricanes (glass exploding from all those high-rise windows- buildings not designed to withstand…seasurge) … because there is no alternative… scientists researching how to manipulate the weather…Will the power be in safe hands?” (ref.

ARTIC CONDITIONS: "In the past 2 million years there have been 30 ICE AGES..." “NOT BY FIRE BUT BY ICE: The next Ice Age could begin any day. Next week, next month, next year, it's not a question of if, only when. One day you'll wake up -- or you won't wake up, rather -buried beneath nine stories of snow. It's all part of a dependable, predictable cycle, a natural cycle that returns like clockwork every 11,500 years... And since the last ice age ended almost exactly 11,500 years ago...” (ref. Author: Robert W. Felix, www.iceagenow.com ).

“The Next Ice Age Is on Its Way: Yeah, I know, the world is in the grip of global warming, the Arctic summer sea ice melted at a greater rate than usual, glaciers are retreating and our air conditioning costs are going through the roof. What could make me believe that this warming planet could continue to produce weather increasingly frigid and increasingly violent? It's really simple. To begin with, the world's glaciers are not retreating… 75% of the planet's glaciers are growing. … many scientists believe… the summertime melt, far from being an ominous development signalling global warming that is melting the ice cap itself, is actually a cyclical development – a phenomenon that comes and goes over long periods of time. It is also a symptom of the oceans being heated… if, instead, the ice and snow pack is thickening and becoming more frigid, the cold fronts it sends south will be increasingly colder. … As for the very real prospects of massive snow falls and violent blizzards, it is important to remember a very simple fact: The colder the air in a front, the more violent the storms created when Arctic air meets warm air pushing up from the equatorial regions” (ref. Philip V. Brennan, 1210/2005

Documentary, The Science of Storms, BBC2, 29/4/2007)

Ah! Are your dreams tossed? “I don’t want you to worry…” (What a pity man fails to understand the relationship…) “I am always reminded of the “Titanic” when they play God again... I guess they don’t accept the destruction as part of world and life... Old buildings are demolished for new to rise... old people are replaced by their children... Mountains, seas, rivers... come and disappear... Earth is changing all the time to provide for us a variety of miracles in place of the dull, frozen in time- an empty world where change doesn’t exist... World without life... World ruled by emptiness... I think they will fail when they will find out about truths like ‘When you give something to one place it disappears from another place” or “When you hold something as unchanged forever you make the evil mistake’…” (wrote Robert

www.newsmax.com ).

“PROOF The ICE-AGE CAUGHT THEM UNAWARES? EXTINCTION.” “Only the hardiest survived The Ice Age.” “Neanderthal man was wiped out by the last IceAge, but Homo-Sapiens survived. How? Why? Homo-sapiens used their intelligence to communicate. Homo-sapiens ADAPTED, they started sheltering in caves to protect themselves from the onslaughts of bitter winds, and snow. They used animal fat to make fires which lit the caves and kept predators away. They died young, but they survived as a species, and we are their descendants." “ARE WE smarter than the DINOSAURS were 65 million years ago?” “The ENDURANCE: A SHIP, attempting to cross Antarctica, was crushed by ice…” Do not forget Scott of the Antarctic: “… Scott died of the cold, without achieving his goal...” (“A good death meant nature hadn’t knocked you off course” said Robert Scott.) (Scott reached the

Majko).

“Only with God may we rest.” “… oh, for crying out loud. If you want it, come & get it…” Re: The NEED To Reduce Emissions”: “America resisting. Other countries using harder language...” = “G8 DEAL: “A post-Kyoto deal may be signed in 2009, agreeing to cut fuel emissions by 50% in 50 years.” “We have made a major, major step forward” said Tony Blair (fooling nobody. (For days, “anarchists” rioted outside the summit / “the exclusive talking-shop…” These very special, brave people were thrashed by police, dragged away and arrested…) (early June, 2007). “Does CARBON TRADING reduce carbon levels?” “No, that’s up to governments to do something…” 371

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canoe. Er. Hello?” “STAY RATIONAL. Be objective. Make a list of priorities. Remember variables. Expect unexpected problems. Get a grip on yourself…” Young PEOPLE SAID: “What vehicles will we be using when the heavy snow and ice comes?” “Houses, roads- everything’s going to survive The Ice Age? Yeh right. Get real. We might not even live that long…” "Our will is not our own. Can WE do our own stuff?" “We’ve just to get inside it…” “Get it while you can!” “Hopefully, the idea for it will snowball from us outcasts to being something more than mush…” “Computers don’t survive well in floods or at low temperatures…” “COOL… AN ICE BASE ON SKIS: … an entire Antarctic research station… built on skis… the futuristic new base for scientists…”

South Pole but died in his tent, heading back, unable to tell his story: “800 miles from base camp… they suffered appalling conditions for almost a month in the tent…” 1963: “ICE BOX BRITAIN: The sea froze! So much snow. 23 people killed in one day…” SUICIDE = “Letting yourself be snowed under.” (They also say the only way to survive a snow storm if you’re out in the open, is to bury yourself under the snowmake a snow hole.)

THE RISK OF EXPOSURE: "Brrr Brrr. Antarctica doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Antarctica is very unforgiving. Life here can be very complicated. You sit here in a tent and think... When the worst winds came, all we had were 2 layers of canvas between us and the outside... it would take less than 2 seconds for the tent to go and you would go" said a Scientist (from an international expedition

that is racing against time to complete the 1st dogsled crossing before the southern winter takes hold- the 6 man team must get to Queen Mary coast before the last ship leaves the port, or face 6 months at the base throughout the winter). The team has already

weathered a severe 60 day storm, with winds blowing to 100 mph, temperatures as low as – 26C. The team is behind schedule. ‘Even before the trek got under way there was fuel shortages - the aircraft to ferry food were unable to fly...” “Frozen fuel lines…” (Helicopters can’t fly means if you need rescuing, you will… die). “The South Pole has the cleanest air on Earth because of its distance from the planet’s source of pollution. Scientists there, are researching the atmospheric conditions in air. And monitoring the Ozone” (1990) Scientists in Antarctica, in tents! Are they mad? “ANTARCTICA: The South Pole. Wind speeds 200 mph. Even simple tasks become very difficult. Oh! Christ! Putting up a tent. Do that bit 1st. I’ve lost the instructions! After 20 minutes, one tent pole has snapped. Consequences grave. The temperature inside the tent is -25! You might be in here 16 hours a day, 24/7. Battling against strong winds is like struggling uphill dragging a heavy weight. You use up all your energy. If energy intake not matched with output… You have to eat or you burn your body weight. (1,200 calories needed

(Oh! it’s NOT something for ordinary people?) “The Halley V1 Station has legs that can be jacked up above the regions 5’ snowdrifts… The new HQ for The British Antarctic Survey will be… towed using a bull-dozer. The creation of architects (at London-based Faber Maunsell and Hugh Broughton), won a BAS and Royal Institute of British Architecture competition to design a new base for scientists researching Global Climate Change. Building work is due to start in 18 months” (ref. Daily Mirror, 20/7/2005).

(Remarkable similarities! I started to get quite excited… BUT on closer examination, I had to ask how practical will these MODULES really be? The 1st drawing I did, had skis (i.e. long runners – same as helicopters…) I looked at those and decided skis are impractical. Skis only glide forward and back… The ski/s could snap off… How will it move if snow packs on top of these thin, flat skis? How long will it take the (diesel-powered) bulldozer to tow and relocate one Module away from danger? What if the bull-dozer topples… (Ah! Hurray! FREE-Standing!) But their shape... Stability tested, in a strong wind? Size? Transported by ship? … to Antarctica… … in pre-fabricated pieces?

a day - in normal conditions usually 2,000 calories needed a day). Where will these calories come from?

Fat / Oil = Killing… YUK! The dreadful conditions! The White Continent. The dreaded blizzards- wind and snow. You can’t see your hand! The risk of getting lost- can’t find your tent. Hallucinationspeople see their dead relatives… You don’t want your hair to get wet…” (re: The Polar Challenge, BBC2, 10/1/2005).

UK: A bit of snow = “WE’RE FREEZING!” “HOW TO ESTABLISH A BASE CAMP? The need for food supplies, cooking… ‘PROJECT LIFELINE’: Severe miscalculations. All I have is a 372

Material? A steel frame and aluminium skin? Clunk, clunk, every trip? Insulation? Weight? Power source?

Tidal waves... Famine, disease... The disappearance of the Earth's Magnetic field crippled radio signals... Computers went mad... Trade rapidly dwindled. Little oil... No supermarkets… No travel. Millions died in 1st day... Lost agriculture. Cheques failed to arrive... Military in control... Population locked in suicidal wars... " WAH! “We need it.” “… it’s not too late.” “God, I hope we make it.” “… it's the only one who'll keep you from the cold..." As the Lottery organisers say: “You’ve got to be in it, to win it.” “IF you’re not smart enough to plan ahead, then doom on you” (Film: Ice Age). “We can survive if we learn from our mistakes.” What’s it going to be? ADAPT, or suffer EXTINCTION?

Inter-Connectable?

EARTHQUAKES: TECHTONICS: “100 million years ago, the Earth was one huge land mass. Now all split up. In 100 million years time (?) land mass will be back together.“ “FAULT LINES where plates move, creep, glide along. Plates collide…” • “Structure of a building: of processes that build up the Earth’s crust. • About land masses moving, changing… • The art of functional design and making.” • “It is estimated that EACH YEAR there are 500,000 detectable seismic or micro-seismic disturbances of which 100,000 can be felt and 1,000 cause damage.” SUBDUCTION: “When 2 plates collide, the younger of the plates… will ride over the edge of the older plate…” “CONSPIRACY OF SCIENCE: ... The land plates all fit perfectly together! The oceans cool... “ "This video is a Neal Adams animation about his theory that the Earth is growing. This collides with the Pangaea Theory. Watch it, you will be amazed"

Interior: The Top floor is for? Lower level for a vehicle? The Roof- too rounded – of no real practical use! “OUR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON OUR ABILITY TO EVOLVE.” “Er, you’ll see it later when we’ve organised something…” JAPAN: “5 metres of snow… roofs creaking under the weight! So much snow, people unable to get out of their houses…” (Early January, 2006). IS THIS WHAT THE END OF OUR WORLD COULD BE LIKE? "SHACKTOWN: Our makeshift hut is made from old bits of plywood. … Christ! Every surface is crusted with frost. Shivering compulsively… Frozen sleeping bag… Even the floor's frozen. Frozen tears, frozen mucus, frozen teeth, frozen darkness… Cracked lips- painfully blackened, blackened fingers, risk of gangrene / DIY amputations... Useless batteries, frozen pumps, no petrol, when the generator worked it gave us a bad head-ache. Monoxide emissions from the stove killing everyone. Damn place is TOO BIG to heat. Abandoned huts, broken glass everywhere, piles of contorted metal no use to anyone everywhere. The tarpaulin ripped in the storm...The dazzling snow. Snow blindness. What if we crack up? Tough it out…” “… it doesn’t have to be this way”: "The Ice Caps slid into the sea. Climate Changed overnight.

(www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjgidAICoQI ).

1884: “A twin Earthquake was felt over an area of 530,000 miles…” 1906: “…28,000 buildings were destroyed- most of the city, largely by fires ignited by the Earthquake…” 1985: MEXICO: 20,000 people lost their lives due to poor building design and construction. Biggest housing estate and one tower block collapsed1,200 people died. Weak concrete columns inadequate- they gave way. Same across the City…” (“In Mexico, people sell small ornaments with bells, for use for a warning…”) (“Church bells ringing are a good warning sign…but comes too late…” 1988: “The Armenian Earthquake killed 25,000 people who were killed by falling rubble… Only 373

CHAPTER 10: THE WEATHER

the Americans will be taking a closer look at latest seismic techniques currently under trial in Japan. An 11 storey building in Japan incorporates the 1st computer damping system. At the 1st hint of a tremor, sensors, located at the base of the building, activate hydraulic pistons which shifts weights across the roof of the building. These counter-balance vibration and hold the building in check. The system has also been designed to steady the buildings in HIGH WINDS…”

30% of drugs and medical supplies sent by international relief organisations were usable on arrival. 1/5th had date-expired, were unsuitable… The Anti-biotic arrived with 238 different brand names in 21 languages… Survivors- mainly the elderly, children- had to survive in below freezing conditions in the ruins- in makeshift tents. NO Government Contract To SUPPLY SHELTERS…” “2½ YEARS LATER those poor, poor people were still Homeless!” AMERICA: “SAN FRANCISCO: … the crowd were in the stadium. About 60,000 people were CHANTING: ‘Go Giants.’ The ground rolled… there was a heavy grinding noise… the ground shook… a violent jogging up and down… Older buildings buckled, TOPPLED, cutting power, water and gas supplies… Fires broke out. The tremors grew stronger. ‘It was like a monster feeding off lives.’ The rim of the stadium undulated as if made of rubber. The mood was one of disbelief… The modern stadium shed concrete, as did the Air Terminals. A 25ft section of the Bay bridge collapsed. CANDLESTICK PARK: A ½ mile double-decker section of the ‘freeway’ collapsed onto the lower level… crushing scores of cars, trapping people… SKY-SCRAPERS swayed violently, moving as much as 8ft but all stood firm as the Richter scale touched 6.9- however there was concern another Earthquake of similar magnitude could threaten their stability. A Seismic engineer said: ‘They are all now in a weakened state. Many will be unusable before detailed examination. Tall buildings in San Francisco have reinforced lift towers and service cores. Even if wall cladding fails, central cores are designed to remain upright. Walls are generally cross-braced, so that even if shaken side-to-side, they will hold together. No two buildings are the same. Two apparently identical buildings- one could fail while the other remains standing. No matter how stiff a building, it can fail.’ Building engineers have been subject to a vigorously enforced building code since 1927. The code is constantly revised and has prompted architects and engineers to devise a wide range of techniques, designed to prevent buildings or mass falling during or in the wake of an Earthquake. In recent years, San Francisco’s buildings have been equipped with damping systems, including the use of isolation bearings in the foundations which enable the foundations and the structural columns of steel or concrete to move in response to external pressure. The principle probably saved many 100’s of lives… All buildings taller than 65 ft are subjected under the code to ‘dynamic analysis.’ That is, tall buildings have all been designed so they will shake without toppling. But in the aftermath,

(19/10/1989).

“THE DOMINO EFFECT: One tall building sways, hits another building…” (“TALL BUILDINGS designed so steel uprights remain to speed rebuilding. One Snag: The loss of life and limb caused by cladding falling off. Cladding = Glass, stone, concrete…”) “WALLS TUMBLING DOWN. A Quake Reduces Homes to Heaps of Matchwood: … the historic homes collapsed within seconds of the tremor…dazed survivors tramped through glassstrewn streets and huddled together… One house, seemed to have been lifted by a GIANT hand and placed, minus 2 bottom storeys, in the street. 1,000’s of old buildings were destroyed… Over 1 million people cannot get to work…” (19/10/1989). “… Millions of people face financial ruin because their insurance does not cover their homes against Quakes. Only 15% were covered… the payout is likely to be just £630 million …” (USA? October,1989). “LA ROCKED: … SKYSCRAPERS shook… the 20 second Quake measured 5.5 on the Richter scale and caused heavy damage… people are nervous. For years, scientists have predicted ‘The Big One’ along California’s San Andreas fault that could cause major devastation…The jolt also caused damage in Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Poland” “Also Hit: Washington” (1990) “CITY HIT BY TERROR: 6.6 on Richter, lasting 45 seconds, in Los Angeles. Houses ripped apart like cardboard. 100’s of buildings wrecked. Gas and water mains smashed. Fires turned neighbourhoods into infernos. Phones and computer systems crippled. The walking wounded engulfed hospitals. The 1st big shock hammered the city 2 hours before rush hour. If this had happened during the day we would have had 10’s of 1,000’s of people in HIGH-RISE offices. More than 95% of the residents are without power. Aftershocks knocked out 6 ‘freeways’… Road system crippled. The few shops open swamped with people desperate for supplies. Overpowering feeling of helplessness. The awful sound of masonry cracking, and water spurting as pipes ruptured… The eerie chorus of 1,000’s of car alarms going off and people screaming… Residents gathered in pitch black in the streets…” 374

babies… Being in darkness is what scares people most…” (Today, 24/1/1994). “FRUSTRATED people were turned away- were queuing for food stamps; tempers flared. 3 days after the quake, still rocked by aftershocks.” “STAY AWAY FROM THE BUILDING- it’s not safe!” “EQ caused major damage to rail roads, water, gas & elec supplies. They are trying to use a computer to warn trains not to run so that trains can be stopped if another EQ hits. The new LA underground, lined in plastic, survived the EQ. LA is addicted to cars. Taxes put up to raise $150 Billion to improve the public transport system but only 10% of people use this. They are determined to do something about it. Needs a massive rebuilding programme. At the forefront technology. Style-conscious. A city that can never be held back from new development… They may not be so lucky next time” (Tomorrows World,

”MADE INTO REFUGEES… Residents told of dogs barking non-stop for an hour before the Earthquake hit.” (Can dogs hear a high-pitch warning noise?) “You would have thought, if they had an inkling of what was going to happen, so would the seismologists.” “The damage is estimated to cost $BILLIONS.” “Scientists believe the quake was not the massive movement they fear is waiting to hit Southern California, estimated to be an 8.0 due to hit the region within 30 years.” A SURVIVOR said: “It was a long 30 seconds. Count 10 before your brain figures out why in hell your house is shuddering. Count 5 until the brain gives the order to move. Where to? Under the doorway, as they advise in Emergency manuals? Then all the transformers blow- blackness everywhere. The house groans as the shock waves pound up and down against the foundations. Every book, plate, glass, pan is smashing down. Blunder across the glass strewn kitchen floor in bare feet. Outside at last…” “Houses and chimneys will be replaced soon enough but by the time the sun was high above the flames, everyone in LA knew the prison term announced in those seconds: Traffic jams for years to come, long-term economic delay…” (18/1/1994) “The best they can hope for is a Federal Loan to help rebuild…There’s opposition in Congress: Why should they receive Tax-payer’s money when they have failed to provide for themselves? Clinton has an argument on his hands…” (“Maybe we can jerry-rig something up?”) “300 rescue teams are searching through rubble to try and find survivors… 20,000 people now homeless. 1,000’s need to be urgently accommodated. The Fear Factor: Many fear walls crashing down. 1,000’s are now camping out in parks, in public areas. A lot are choosing to stay outside- they don’t trust the buildings. Many houses completely destroyed- they have nowhere else to go… The government has sent Emergency funds to help relief effort. Strict building controls contributed to relatively low death rate…” (19/1/1994) “… CAMPING OUT in makeshift ‘shelters’ as 100’s of buildings are condemned. Rain and a drop in temperature are forecast. City authorities are trying to persuade many of the homeless into shelters before the downpour begins… A helicopter searching for EQ damage crashed killing the pilot and passenger” (Evening Standard, 21/1/1994) “Rod Stewart and his pregnant wife are helping those made homeless by organising tents, sleeping bags, food, water, baby products and the trucks to distribute them, as well as roping in famous neighbours to help… They want to do something to cut through the red-tape holding up government help and provide instant Aid. … concern about young mothers living rough with their

BBC1, 28/1/1994).

“LA rocked by another EQ measuring 5.3. Power cut. Fires broke out. Another reminder of their fragility” (21/3/1994) “The Freeway that collapsed is being repaired. A military-style operation: Construction workers working round the clock, 7 days a week. Contractor’s bonus $14 million. Builders given $9,000 bonus to get this finished months ahead of schedule. Strong enough to withstand another EQ? ‘Could not be bombed down’ laughed the contractor” (13/4/1994). “LA’s SKYSCRAPERS ARE DEATH TRAPS: 100’s of cracked skyscrapers repaired after the Earthquake might not hold up to another Quake shocked scientists have discovered. Tests showed re-welded joints in giant steel frames snapped under the pressure of a 7.0 laboratory tremor. Demolishing them would add hugely to the $6 Billion bill left by the Earthquake” (Evening Standard, 8/6/1994) “Washington is forking out $14 million to provide counselling for LA residents who are still jumpy…” JAPAN: “140,000 people died…” (1923) “Recent surveys have warned as many as 150,000 people could die if a Quake with the strength of the 1923 Quake hit again… records show violent Quakes hit the region every 69 years… Experts and officials exuded total confidence as they told citizens that Japan’s technology was superior to America’s. ‘Japanese bridges are the strongest in the world. Americans are not so well prepared for disasters as we are.’ In spite of Tokyo’s ‘modern’ image, wooden houses are clustered so close together in residential areas, that fires would spread out of control… approx. 1/3rd of the city’s population of 3.7 million people would be left Homeless… The government’s Emergency Coordination Centre is on the 3rd floor of a skyscraper… Japan: NOT so well PREPARED” 375

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(The Independent, 19/10/1989).

ISTANBUL: “Huge increase in house building. Using QUALITY materials- IGNORED. If uncontrolled building standards… same errors committed in housing stock. People are inclined to believe their concrete castles are stronger than anything. Reinforced concrete is still the method used by most builders- is economical… Larger developments can usually be made in weeks but there are few checks on consistency of mix and amount of steel used to support. A lot of building taking place where design standards inefficient. Small Condos built overnight. Blocks built with NO basic EQ engineering. Contractors keen to protect profits don’t allow inspection by engineers.’ ‘We mix grit, with shells, for concreting.’ Technical people, local government and the Statethe people who don’t take EARTHQUAKES SERIOUSLY are all responsible.’ 70% of Istanbul could be flattened! So many competing priorities. Maybe they will only see it as a priority when the Earthquake has struck? Much still needs to be done. Earthquake science could save many people if we recognised the urgent need for apply it. We STILL FAIL to see the learning lessons that are there. Will we ever get it right? Not sure if we will have enough time. We might not have the time before we are the people are dying beneath old brick and concrete structures” (Equinox, Channel 4, 21/11/1993). AUSTRALIA: “… a collapsed roof. 11 people died, 21 people may still be buried under the rubble… there is a 50-ton retaining wall on the 2nd floor which is at a 50 degree angle… if that crashes down on rescue workers…” “EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS WE FACE THE BONES OF THE SITUATION.” CAIRO: “A 20 second Quake… collapsed buildings. 450 dead. Many trampled to death trying to escape. NOT PREPARED even for low Richter scale Earthquake. Chaos. Much rubble. Desperation. Beleaguered authorities. Unacceptability of buildings. NO building control! Those returning fear their houses could be reduced to rubble” (13/10/1992) “Estimated 4,000 people injured… most of the damage in poor residential areas. Among the dead about 100 children, crushed in the stampede as they fled fearing their class room would collapse on them. Throughout the night rescue workers toiled with cranes and earth diggers, to clear the rubble from 180 buildings either brought down or damaged… Many people spent last night in the streets fearing aftershocks or another full blown Quake. A state of Emergency was declared. Schools and Universities closed for inspection by engineers… Oil installations mainly unaffected. Saudi Arabia said they were sending £36 million.” INDONESIA: “MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE + 8ft tidal waves. 1,500 people died in poorer parts.

“Jesus. What a terrifying sound… When the Dam broke up, the force of the water took whole houses- swept them along- they soon broke up, and cars, electricity pylons- anything in its path. Most police killed. There’s no-one to help you…” “… Once a building is weakened- may look perfectly sound, but a minor after-shock can bring the whole structure down…” PHILLIPINES: “CRUSHER: 89 dead (30 students). 40 foreigners trapped under a hotel…14 days after a Quake hit, a man was found alive in the ruins of a hotel… The Quake had killed 1,650 people…” (July 1990).

FREQUENTLY SAID: “… it’s a miracle anyone is alive in there.” BRITAIN: “PANIC AS HOMES TREMBLE: ... tremors rocked houses, factories and offices throughout the Midlands, the North, Wales & London and parts of the South… scores of buildings damaged… firemen freed workers trapped in lifts… ‘It was as if a GIANT was shaking our Portacabin office from side to side. It was terrifying’ said a worker in Oldbury. 1,000’s of consumers lost power as electricity supplies were cut… Slates and roof tiles fell, a block of flats was left leaning… The Quake caused massive disruption to computer firms… computer programmes were wiped out as circuits were sent haywire… (The previous Earthquake in Britain on July 19, 1984, measured 5.5 on the Richter scale)…” (1990) WALES: “3 fault lines run under Wales. Earthquake 2.7 on Richter…..” 1556: “The world’s deadliest Earthquake killed 830,000 people when it struck Shaanxi, China.” BEJING: “115 people killed, 160 injured, 1,000’s of homes levelled. 5,000 people left Homeless” (28/4/1990).

PERU: “83 people killed, 500 injured… toll expected to rise. The town of Achabamba is said to have ‘totally disappeared’…” (1990). IRAN: “A DIVINE TEST: 80% OF BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED OR BADLY DAMAGED…” “2 more Earthquakes hit Iran” (24/2/1994) (see: Chapter 14, Iran).

“HAVE YOU LEARNT THE PAINFUL BUT VALUABLE SAFETY LESSON? “Big business can’t make much profit from building safe homes for poor Iranians. Our bosses and rulers profits are ‘more important’ than ensuring everyone, whoever and whatever they are, are SAFE as possible. That’s why the only way to FINALLY STOP disasters inflicting misery and suffering is to get rid of BIG business and the BIG profit system” (Socialist Worker, 30/6/1990). TURKEY: “300 – 1,000 people KILLED BY FALLING BUILDINGS” (13/3/1992) (“A survivor is one who takes photos to remind us we are still alive and that things still need doing.”) 376

£700 million a year spent on building research to prevent Earthquake damage- to make buildings stronger, less likely to crumble. In Kobe, there was a meeting of 300 Seismologists, gathered to discuss the effects of Earthquakes. Spooky” (18/1/1995) “Death toll now past 4,000. 600 still missing. Refugees desperately short of water, food and adequate shelters…” “Most serious problem is now finding accommodation for ¾ million people. This family are now ‘living’ in a piece of (huge) plastic piping…” “Kobe: 21,673 injured. Death toll 5,000. Heavy rain. Threat of landslides” (13/3/1995) “The Japanese economy nose-dived and has not recovered” (15/3/1995) ”More than 300,000 Japanese were left homeless by the Kobe Earthquake- some are still homeless 3 YEARS LATER.” GREECE: “2 jolts… some damage to coastal town and nearby villages” (14/6/1993). INDIA: “5,000 people died, 10,000 injured. Countless 1,000’s buried under rubble. 6.4 on Richter. Many buildings destroyed.” EXPERT: ‘Not possible to build a building that is completely Earthquake resistant’ said an engineer at Imperial college, London. (see: Chapter 3: Modern Building

Buildings collapsed. Fishermen badly hit. Mosques collapsed. 700 people drowned, swamped by waves. Many living outdoors. Call for relief effort- tents” (13/12/1992) INDONESIA: “1,200 people killed on island of Flores. Many people were swept out to sea by tidal waves. 30 – 40% of the houses were destroyed. Urgent action needed…” (The Daily Telegraph, 14/12/1992) “Indonesia: Earthquake. 117 people killed…” (16/2/1994). “JAPAN TREMBLES: Fresh series hit… bringing death total to 2,029 in 25 hours. Strongest measured 3.3 on the Richter scale” (27/5/1993). JAPAN: “160 missing. 80 killed. Quake 7.8 on Richter scale triggered tidal waves. A house floated out to sea. Numerous fires, dozens of after shocks. Town incinerated- 60% destroyed. Hillside collapsed onto hotel. Railway rendered unusable. People left without water & electricity.” “QUAKE DESTROYS ISLAND: Okushiri: … within minutes of the Quake, The Meteorological Agency issued tidal wave warnings. 1,000’s of people were ordered to evacuate low lying areas for 100’s of miles around the coast. The evacuation warnings came too late for the people 12 miles off the south-western coast which bore the brunt of the Earthquake. Catastrophic tidal waves rolled in up to 450 mph. This was a repeat of the tragedy which hit in 1983- 104 deaths. Survivors said fires started ‘like a domino effect’ caused by propane gas leaks. House fires are still raging… tidal waves hampered attempts by firemen… a scene of total devastation…” “JAPAN FEARS OF WORSE TO COME: 6.8 on the Richter scale. 65 dead. Timber homes reduced to matchwood. Collapsed hotel. Roads opened up, swallowed cars and lorries. Soldiers collecting the dead. Survivors left to survey the wreckage of their lives” (ITN, 13/7/1993). JAPAN: Earthquake felt. Epicentre in Pacific Ocean. Measured 7.1 Richter scale. Biggest jolt Tokyo has had for how many years?” (ITV,

Materials).

INDIA: “Main sugar-growing area. Caught them unawares. Houses collapsed as they slept. Relatives grappling with rubble. Situation quite horrifying. 2 towns devastated. ‘They’re going to need money, food, water, sanitation NOW!’ 80% of houses destroyed. Most were old, small concrete, brick, stone. Authorities in shock. Not 1st time area flattened by a Quake. EXPERT: ‘We get this type of quake 70 – 80 times a year. Horizontal shaking and vertical force shook the heavy buildings which could not withstand the magnitude. Very strong jolts…’ 1,000’s are Homeless. Hospitals are full” (1/10/1993) 24 HOURS LATER: “Heat seeking teams are still waiting the go-ahead from the Indian government. Speed is very important when it comes to recovering people who are buried… Shelters and light needed immediately!” “2 dozen villages destroyed. Hardly a family left intact. ‘I just wonder if it is God’s will? Saying Comon! Get it sorted out. I’ve had enough.’ London said: “Monumentally awful. Why are we not moved by such an awful tragedy? Why aren’t people properly taken care of? Everyone is so disenchanted at the moment.” Scene 48 HOURS LATER: “Pandemonium.” “It’s too sad to tell you everything that’s happened. I can’t be a man about it. 1,000’s are fleeing their homes- are ‘sleeping’ in fields, on roads…” (6/10/1993) “ONCE AGAIN, MASSIVE DESTRUCTION…”

11/10/1993).

JAPAN: “Earthquake. Lasted 30 seconds. 7.2 Richter. Biggest Quake in 50 years. High-Rise buildings swayed, offices toppled. Whole blocks of flats flattened. The Quake hit Kobe, Kyoto- the centre for metal workers, & Osaka. Kobe turned into a vision of HELL. At least 1,800 have died. A wall of fire swept along by the wind. 1,000’s injured- crushed bones. Countless victims. 8,000 buildings in ruins. The Dock- hardest hit. 80,000 made homeless in Kobe alone. So many houses flattened. Earthquake ‘feasted’ on traditional Japanese wooden buildings. Infrastructure almost destroyed. Another Candlestick Park! Upright columns snapped at ground level. Trains thrown off buckled rails. Roads buckled. Rescue teams unprepared. An unforeseen Act of God? There was a WEEK of TREMORS before this one hit. 377

CHAPTER 10: THE WEATHER

used to protect older buildings: Base isolators reduce effect of ground motion- soak the energy / force- made of lead and rubber (Dynamic Isolation Systems). Have to support the weight of building above them. Controversial. Not adequately tested…” (Ah! A pad of rubbery stuff between the leg and base joint?) “Problem: Limited resources. Under-estimated EQ force” AFGHANISTAN: “Earthquake. 15,000 homeless in freezing snow. 5,000 dead. Some rescuers arrived 6 DAYS LATER…” (see :Chapter 3: Modern

1 YEAR LATER: “MOTIVATION APPEAL FOR DONATIONS: India. “In one school, 120 were lost. Over 500 killed in one village. Flattened. Now ‘living’ in a shanty town, under corrugate steel… Since the Earthquake, the water pumps nearly dry. Inadequate sanitation. Disease festering in the heat. Food supplies scarce. Lines of CHILDREN with begging bowls… The need for a new hospital…” (GMTV, 19/4/1994). “EARTHQUAKES MOST DAMAGING OF DISASTERS: All cities live with the threat of Earthquakes- buildings collapse. New technology could save lives if applied with much greater urgency. There is no question we should build safer houses. The Question is: What do we do with people in houses now? When you buy a house, you don’t ask for any guarantee.” (People should have greater choice…) “Earthquake prediction science has a long way to go. Some are not predicted. Can occur without warnings. Buildings shaken, lifted, twisted… There are simple construction techniques that can protect a building. ‘Modern’ Earthquake ‘Resistant’ = Making Sure concrete is consistently mixed, columns, walls, floors, beams properly connected together, additional walls reinforced with steel. The greatest damage occurs to buildings over 10 storeys” (“How do you get around Quality Control? Inspectors are cheaper to bribe than to pay for quality concrete…We’ve built dozens of substandard blocks…”) “RESONANCE: Destructive motion- sway. A Cathedral has survived since the 16th century because of its squat shape. Architects knew its interlocking domes and pillars were strong. (But the Cathedral is sinking…) Many houses are unprotected- need strengthening- many lives are at risk. Cannot find Alternative housing. Faced with an uncertain future. We are all afraid? A neighbourhood group in Mexico City is promoting SAFER low-income housing. People often take walls down to make rooms bigger- the walls support the floors above. Crack, collapse… Cannot Afford to upgrade buildings. ‘I think it is very important to promote awareness. There is no such thing as an EQ proof building. There are some more resistant than others’ said Lloyd Cliff, President of The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. The TransAtlantic Pyramid Building: Design = Steel interlocking beams and columns- can deform without collapsing- better protecting occupants. San Francisco: Old building stock damaged. UPGRADING was never a priority for governments. The Freeway that collapsed was rebuilt using reinforced concrete columns (steel jackets). Hydraulic dampners absorb shock like in a car- will cushion force. New devices that can be

Building Materials).

“The stomping of 30,000 fans at a Madness (music) concert caused an Earthquake” (1993) (“Keep it mellow. Don’t get too excited.”) ALGERIA: “Earthquake. 140 killed. Considerable damage to buildings- 100’s destroyed. 1,000’s left homeless” (18/8/1994). PAKISTAN: “500 VILLAGES WIPED OUT… 45,000 people killed. 2.5 million (people!) made homeless. Few helicopters. ‘Sleeping’ in the open… few tents… now freezing rain and snow! They need medicine, food, shelter, shoes. £350 million Aid pledged…” “… an estimated 100,000 people already dead and 3 million homeless. Those worst hit by the quake - the women and children who remained indoors - continue to be the most vulnerable. In remote mountainous areas where temperatures have plummeted, access has become increasingly difficult and medicines are in short supply. Many people are sheltering in relief tents unsuitable for the harsh winter conditions and it is feared that up to 40% of children could die as more start to catch pneumonia and bronchitis.” “… only ‘the lucky’ have tents. Trying to get help to survivors = Helicopters are the only way. Roads are iced. (But they are) trying to deliver ‘SHELTER BOXES’ using lorries. (Each Shelter Box weighs 55 kilos). Children ill – lack of sanitation. 3 months on, people still QUEUEING for a tent! 9 people to one tent. Freezing snow. 1,000 aftershocks! ‘Tents are no match for the weather’ admitted a ‘Shelter-Box’ distributor. Villages desperately in need of shelter. The tents had to be taken out of the plastic ‘Shelter-Boxes’ to make load less bulky so more tents fit in the open back lorry. ‘They need 2,000 tents adequate shelters just in this one small village. We’ve only got 30 (tents)! 6,000 more needed. 200,000 people are still in need of shelter… ” (BBC1, 23/1/2006) “Action-Aid's Response: Appropriate shelter remains the highest priority but the deteriorating weather conditions have meant it is difficult to move from relief to construction work. "In the short term, these people need shelter (Uh?), but in the long term they need help to rebuild their lives" said Bushra Gohar, the director of Action-Aid's Earthquake Relief (Fund). To date 378

Action-Aid’s primary focus has been medical care, shelter, latrines, heating and basic food items. 1,000’s of metal sheets for building ‘robust’ shelters have been distributed and families are also being given stoves, warm clothes, kitchen utensils, food and bedding” (27/1/2006). EXPERT: “No Earthquake above 8 on the Richter scale has ever occurred beneath / near a city…”

lethal mix…” (Do NOT breathe the dust in! Clogs your lungs…) “Huts in danger zones now fitted with cameras. Stopped using concrete- now using hard volcanic rock- have channels around villages to draw mud slide away. ‘Safe Co-existence with volcanoes is now possible’ the Japanese claim! Many people worldwide facing similar dangers” (Tomorrows World, BBC1, 1/3/1990) JAPAN: “Mount Unzen erupted in June 1991, killing 43 people. The volcano continues to spew ash and lava, preventing most of those who were evacuated from returning home.” THE PHILLIPINES: “Underneath the volcano, 20,000 Americans evacuated. ¼ of a million refugees. Temporarily housed without power or water supplies. Ash already a foot deep. Whole rows of buildings collapsed. More bodies still being discovered” (1991) “60 killed. Mayon volcano in the Philippines erupted again, spewing columns of ash 12 miles high. Scientists sent out a Red Alert but said ‘This is NOT ‘The Big Bang’ we are waiting for.’ Molten sand and stone spilled down a gulley cut into the flanks of the volcano. Most people living in the danger zone had already fled following the eruption last week. Many villagers who have defied orders to evacuate are in danger” (Evening Standard, 12/12/1993).

VOLCANO: “… a natural opening / crater in the Earth’s crust…” “… plumes can travel for 1,000’s of miles…” “At least 1,511 different volcanoes have erupted in the last 10,000 years. There are many more that are dormant or extinct…” (see: Chapter 14: Yellowstone & Chapter 15: Mount Vesuvius)

“Indonesia has 167. 77 have erupted within historic times…” 1883: “36,417 deaths were caused by the KRAKATOA Volcano & tidal wave that affected Sumatra, Java & Indonesia. 165 towns were destroyed. Tragedy never really recognised. The hard lesson to be learnt = The forces of nature should never be under-estimated. This volcano could erupt again. It’s not a case of if. Only when?” Channel 4, 22/1/2005). COLUMBIA: “A volcano erupted. 25,000 died” (1985).

“VOLCANO ERUPTION: …the cinders set fire to the roofs. Tons of dust fell. To save houses, dust swept off roofs- teams risked their lives to remove rest of household goods. A new flow of lava threatened the harbour. Who could tell what would happen to the settlement? A town of over 24,000 working people. Villagers had expected nothing like this. A sea so hot it boiled! Evacuated. Afterwards, they returned to the island- they must not settle on the mainland. The dust was used for foundations for the new houses. ‘She knows what she is doing- she is making new land for us.’ The children witnessed the stubborn men who refused to give up the rebuilding of (wood) houses…” (1988). (TAKE EVASIVE ACTION! Modules could be MOVED away Very Quickly and Easily if danger seems likely. Resin wont melt? I’m sceptical. I personally doubt any structure could survive burning hot lava. If it ever came near to crunch time, I wouldn’t stay around long enough to ever risk it…) JAPAN: “4,000 children live a the base of the volcano- dangers of constant eruptions, lava, dust. Volcanic lightening. In 1914, cascades of molten lava totally wiped out villages. Now, observatory built on side of mountain. Tunnel runs into the mountain. ‘We are looking for minute changesvibrations.’ Very confident they can predict activity. Dust, thick- when mixed with rain turns into

SUMMARY: “WE LEARN FROM TROUBLE & STRIFE” ? “The world's leading climate change experts will this week outline highly controversial plans to save the world from Global Warming. Their proposals which include a major expansion in nuclear power, the use of GM crops to boost bio-fuel production, and reliance on unproven technologies, including the underground storage of carbon dioxide - will put the UN's climate group on a collision course with a host of environmental groups. The proposals for saving the planet are outlined in a draft version of 'Mitigation of Climate Change' by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)” (The Observer, 29/4/2007). “GLOBAL WARMING could create one BILLION Homeless refugees / migrants, and is likely to spark ‘a world of Darfurs’ (re: Christian Aid report, radio, 15/5/2007).

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THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT: “Twice rebuiltfollowing a fire and Hitler’s bombs…” Churchill, decided what the new building should be like. Churchill said: “We shape our buildings, and afterwards they shape us.” “THE NEW OLD BUILDING: An ornate, Gothic building, not unlike a Cathedral with high vaulted ceilings…” “Parliament is not an open, visionary building…” “… the weight of the building- so much stone! Makes people feel weighted down…” “Parliament has 7 bars and 14 restaurants…” "THE HOUSE OF LORDS: (Unelected, very influential) has been refurbished using lush velvets and tropical wood..." (1990).

CHAPTER 11: UK: POLITICS "NEEDED DESPERATELY: A Global Formula, a product development and marketing manager, with design flair, leadership, strength, commitment, enthusiasm. A Humane Resources Director." What do we get instead? THE EXISTING SYSTEM: PRACTICE: "Ritual, ceremony, frequently repeated schemes, preliminary, experimental..." EXPLOIT: = "Usury. Take advantage of, make gain, unfairly..." IMPERIL: "Expose to danger." IMPERIAL: "Pertaining to the British empire. Fixed, as a standard throughout GB. Traditional system..." IMPERIALISM: "The practice by a country of acquiring and Exploiting dependant territories. Systematic attempt to Dominate weaker countries by political or economic means." (“Throughout the history of the British Empire, from India to the Middle East and Africa, the most brutal forms of REPRESSION were used. EG. The British invented concentration camps in South Africa during the Boer War… 1,000’s of Afrikaner women and children were imprisoned and starved to death in wooden huts and tents in the camps, with too little food, an epidemic of typhoid, and no soap or medical help. Hostages were taken on trains to deter attackers and ensure supplies reached their destinations. EG. The British used brutal methods in Malaysia during their 12 year way against the Communist party guerrillas from 1948– 1960. A group of 5,000 guerrillas faced the onslaught of 250,000 British and Commonwealth troops, who routinely beat up and massacred communities of Chinese squatters. They decapitated the dead, imposed 22 hour curfews on villages and slashed rice rations to hungry peasants. Whole villages were rounded-up- moved into concentration campsto stop guerrillas getting information or food. Squatters were surrounded in their huts at dawn, forced into lorries and taken to ‘villages’ encircled with barbed wire. 500,000 people were moved to ‘new villages’ in this way. EG. The same tactics were used by the USA to try and smash the support for the Viet Cong in Vietnam. Between 3035% of the population of South Vietnam were forcibly evicted from the land they had lived on for generations and ‘resettled’ in the ‘strategic hamlet program.’ The ‘hamlets’ were concentration camps, surrounded by barbed wire and had watchtowers to prevent escape, with armed guards and forced labour.”) (Why cling onto a tradition that is not FUN?) “By God, I need it! Down with imperialism.” “It’s waiting for us. It’s almost too easy. IF we conquer that… We’ll all be free men!”

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY: MAIN THRUST: “OUR (traditional) way of life must be preserved at all costs!” 1950’s: The Conservatives: ATTRIBUTES: Well mannered, well spoken (BBC English), polite, articulate, well educated, straight laced, reliable, steady, dedicated, loyal (to their own class). Conservatives occupying respectable, influential roles in society… were people to be looked up to… “VOTER INDIFFERENCE: "This is the Party that robs shillings off old ladies." "Their plans to make me blue (i.e. cold / dead)...” "I wouldn't say much for either side (i.e. Conservative or Labour).They don't influence me- they only make me sick." “The Conservatives offered free beer to get votes. They paid the bar bills and won the seat…” THE LABOUR PARTY: 1959: “Labour will apply NEW Thinking that will end the chaos…” Conservatives said: “Don’t let Labour ruin it.” PEOPLE SAID: "We went like voters. As our fathers before them. Hoisting up Jolly Roger..." "It's the same old story..." "There's a lot of farting about..." "We will undo what the last government did..." "They get in, they fall out of favour. Nothing is accomplished! Nothing, or very, very little. Stupid." "When one side lets you down, you vote for the other side. Then they let you down, and so on. The trouble is, they can call a sudden stop to (economic) growth..." “LET it SLIDE…” WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING A PARLIAMENT?: The idea is: "COLLECTIVE WISDOM: Idealistic, noble, self-less public servants... not our rulers. The people are our masters. Politicians merely do our bidding...” (“Your wish is my command!”) THE IDEAL: “… to fight injustice, leave the world a better place than when they found it... personal advantage is the last thing on their mind... THE HOUSE OF COMMONS probably contains more dreamers than pompous, incompetent and greedy opportunists..." 380

them being frivolous about Homelessness etc). MP’s can sort out genuine problems. They determine policies (and ignore activists). MP’s make lies seem truthful and sanctioned murder respectful. For the majority of time, they heckle, boo and jeer… to defend the realm and unite the nation.” “Don’t worry. These are professionals” ? Ministers are HIGHLY TRAINED, QUALIFIED EXPERTS? NO. “2 weeks into the job, they are supposed to know all about Health, then Education… of course, they don’t. It’s quite ridiculous..." “You can be appointed in charge of all the armed forces without any knowledge! You wont even have had to carry a 500lb weight on your back… That’s not right.” (“The new Labour party have introduced short training courses for new MP’s…”) “They love the sound of their own voices.” “Do they know what they are talking about?” “That’s debateable…” “Do politicians know anything about engineering?” (They do social engineering…) PEOPLE SAID: "You tear it apart- you take every piece of my heart. You got every advantage. You think you got it all figured out. You're an expert no doubt." "Just give it to me in plain English." "Are they ‘fighting’ to get it done?" "IF you believe in love all you have to do is make it official." "No. They're only there on public money." “MP’s in the 19th Century were financially independent and used to decide what was best for the nation.” "These days, they have substantial investments to protect." “They have commercial interests…” ‘MORALITY’ = “Who do I owe favours to?” “What can I get for nothing?” “Some MP’s do things for interest-free loans. Others because they know ‘the whips’ can make life extremely unpleasant for them…” “IF all MP’s were independent, the whips could not use Party loyalty to push through unsatisfactory legislation. We would have true/r Democracy. To be voted in, each MP would have to be worth their weight to the Constituency…” DEMOCRACY (means: “The Right to a form of government in which power is invested in the people as a whole… Organisational members have a Right to participate in the decision making process…”) “MP’s have to sit for hours in the chamber of The House of Commons. They are there because they want to make a speech, they do not go there to listen. Their speech is delivered, another MP rises to make their speech. Result: A paralysing sense of frustration. The place is full of tedium, obscure procedures, and point scoring. There is too little detailed analysis…” (wrote Jeremy Paxman). "... 'it' means: nothing to me. I’m too busy tending to

“Many become MP’s to follow their parent’s footsteps. A University background- not a working class background…” (“To be MP’s they have to be ambitious gamblers…”) GOVERNMENT = A REGULATORY BODY. "We will take your complaints to the proper authority." "It's an issue that should be settled by Parliament." "Members of Parliament (MP's) have the power to carry it through." ("If you put your weight behind it, who knows, they might just go for it.") “If the government don’t like something, it has no chance of becoming law.” “There are over 650 MP’s…” "Parliament is a tiny minority..." Q: "If a government does not reflect the majority, or voice people's intuitive well-informed instincts, what is the point of having a Parliament?" (DICTATORS SAY: "You will follow my style- do it my way- or no way at all.") A: "The policy of government is ‘to keep the lid on’ i.e. stop us all going mad, killing one another (or them, more likely). Beyond that, they have no idea what to do for the best.” “Civil servants argue ‘the inhabitants of Whitehall have little to offer’…” EG. “… the obstructive, pomposity and archaic uselessness of Whitehall…” EG. “Ministers often stay in their jobs long enough to be a nuisance, but not long enough to make things better.” MP’s Complain: “If the civil service do not like something, they simply produce a paper to say that thing cannot be done… because they want a quiet life. They have no interest whatsoever in trying to develop new lines of activity…” "Government do not make money. They only take money and re-distribute." "GOVERNMENT'S are NO good at INNOVATION." JOKE: "Innovations? Is that what you want? Actually changing something? It's our job to make sure they haven't got the time! We need crisis’s, panics... not public scrutiny!" "It is not up to us to implement popular wishes!" "Oh! I thought that was your job…" “The Elite hates democracy because democracy threatens privilege… & representatives may request they do something!” (said Noam Chomsky). COMPLAINT: “Many good ideas go in, and come out a shadow of it’s former self.” "Many MP’s are afraid of change. Many are fearful of the future." (“There are those in Parliament who have borderline personalities…”) What do MP’s actually do? “They swear allegiance to the Queen. They read newspapers. Attend boozy gatherings. They canvass. Help their Constituency- by writing letters (i.e. deal with a catalogue of misfortune) (a heavy case load, especially in the inner-city) (should give MP’s insight into how well legislation is working) (stop 381

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like!" "A deliberate tangle of red tape i.e. too many petty-minded rules- to restrict..." 1979: “There is more paper-work now than ever before!” “We have to keep re-inventing ourselves because we’ve nothing better to do, to justify our existence.” “I’m resigning. I want a job where I can achieve something useful- not merely pushing bits of paper…”

ceremonial pomp." “ENGLAND: "LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY." (“The atmosphere is far from light.”) A DEMOCRACY ? Q: "Do I have influence in my own society? Can I follow things? Write a letter? Get it implemented?" "I want to know what you are going to do about it." A: "You can vote on WHO gets into power... but not on SPECIFIC policies." "There's an unhealthy concentration on personality, not ideas.” “Something needs to be done to adjust that." ("Do it for England!") JOKE: MAD MINISTERS DISEASE: Advisor: "Keeping the people in ignorance has made Britain what Britain is today." The Prime Minister: "The people are unintelligent and ill-informed? But they voted me in!" Advisor: "You must say ‘wait.’ Better still- you start a committee to investigate. You don't need to read it! Say ‘there's not enough information.’ You discredit reports- saying ‘it's not in the public's best interests’... Stage 4: You discredit the person who wrote the report. Delay! ‘Insufficient evidence’… ‘irresponsible- might be future health risks’ - say ‘the Committee doesn't recommend’... ‘after due consideration, after studying all the implications’... say ‘they are totally lacking in judgement’!" The Prime Minister: "But it's the people's will... I must follow them. If they had all the facts it might make people think for themselves..." Advisor: “Yes, Minister…" (BBC Comedy) (“Ah! DELAYING TACTICS. Yes, I get their drift…”) (JOKE: “We only need a little triumph to survive. Like pretend to plant the occasional tree or sapling, for a good photo opportunity. We don’t need to do any more than that. Voters are only simple people. They don’t know what’s good for them!”) JOKE: re: CONFLAB: "We plan ahead, so we don't have to work now. You know what it's like…" “WE RUN AN ARISTOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, increasingly EXCLUDING the voter” (except during Election times). “A CLEAR PARADOX: Those most dependent on the State have the least engagement with it.” “Parliament is estranged from the people they purport to support.” (Local Government): “THE COUNCIL keeps saying they must do something about it… Budget… budget… They’ll look into it next year.” “The council are crazy, illogical!” Q: “Haven’t they got contingencies?” A: “Yes, but which account should it come out of?” “Councils are incompetent and inefficient.” Q: " Could Councillors make it happen?" A: "Councils only make local decisions, not on national matters." (“They’re dead against it” ?) BUREAUCRACY: "We are drowning in paper!" "Too tied to a desk to know what the real world is

"BAD POLICIES”: 1979: “THE FIGHT FOR JOBS: Mass demonstrations. 'Kick out the Tories (Conservatives). Put Thatcher on the Dole.' ... Depression caused by recession sets in. British factories closed down. Bankruptcy, embezzlement and fraud rife. The Conservative government 'rocking the boat.' They have closed down the weaker, less able element. High and ‘Soft’ technology (i.e. missile) businesses were madly encouraged. Then ‘The Youth Training Scheme’ was introduced: Work 5 days for £26 a week (pittance). Norman Tebbit in charge of ‘The Manpower Services Commission.’ At a time of mass-unemployment, he then CUT Community programmes (ceased funding), and cut most other self-help schemes. The Community Programmes were good for training youngsters in basic skills EG. Gardening, caring for the Elderly..." "THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT: ... a vote of no confidence in government..." "... there was 6 times the level of support for Labour than for the Conservatives, but Labour supporters did not bother to vote..." 1980’s (early): “The Social Democrats emerged… and fell to pieces…” 1983: PEOPLE SAID: "THEY (the Conservative party) HAVE THE FREEDOM TO HAVE A PRIVATE PARTY!" "They're having a laugh at our expense!" "They're leading a life of luxury and extravagance..." "... they're lost in a haze of alcohol and soft middle-age." "... this waltz of brandy and death..." "Life is a hoot. " "They're having a ball!" "They spend ½ their time complimenting each other whilst we, the taxpayers, pay their wages..." POLITICIANS ATTITUDE: "If we solved problems, we would be out of a job, wouldn't we?" "My first thought was to abuse my power." "We're not working for love! Only money" = "ACTING ABILITY REQUIRED. We perform for the cameras..." Logic: "I have a reputation to maintain." ("Presentation! Presentation! Image is everything!") THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY / IMAGE: “Their uniformity… conforming (to the demands of the selection process) they inevitably appear soul-less, selfish and smug - fitting in with the Party but not the population.” "It's your money we want and your money we shall have." 382

DECADENCY: "Shall we go lunch?" "We are only good at wasting time." EG. "… the sleeping sickness is catching... Mrs Thatcher and Denis Thatcher were over-whelmed by ‘The Snooze Zone layer’ as a succession of speakers pronounced on what is reputedly one of the hottest issues..." (re: the Environment). JOKE: "It is not enough that I shall succeed. Everyone else must fail as well." PEOPLE SAID: "Tacky." "Gross." "SWARMY." "Their faces bad as a long, heavy breakfast." "Thatcher is the best looking corpse in Great Britain. Been dead for years. A cold corpse if ever there was one." "I don't think it's very funny." "Sorry, I guess I'm just not party material. Their Party is as effective as Cancer research." "WILFUL MISCONDUCT! "They are supposed to represent the people who elected them, but they don't. They've got a ticket..." "They have a nice steady Gold-mine. No point in them moving is there?" "There is no competition!" "THE CONSERVATIVES: "The Party For Law and Order." "Elected on law and order policy" (see

15/10/1983: SPEECH: Mrs Thatcher said: "We meet in the aftermath of a General Election... The government has introduced the most ‘IMAGINATIVE’ TRAINING SCHEME in the Western world…Tories have long been promising re-training schemes... You can rely on Norman Tebbit. We were elected to reform the Trade Unions. With the support of millions of trade unionists, we have already passed 2 major Acts of Parliament. ... Let nobody accuse this Party of failing to care about the unemployed... it was by producing what people wanted to buy that unemployment would be solved... This year, the health service is costing over £15 million. That's over ½ the total yield of income tax... 5 years ago, just before I came into No. 10, a family of 4 was having to pay, through various taxes £550 a year for the health service. This year, that same family will have to pay £1,410 a year- more than double... You may remember I said the health service is safe with us... this government will see to it that it is prudently managed and financed, that care is concentrated on the patient, rather than the bureaucrat... Let us never forget this fundamental truth... No nation ever grew prosperous by taxing its citizens beyond their capacity to pay... We have a duty* to make sure every penny piece we raise in Taxation is spent wisely and well, for it is our Party who are dedicated to good house-keeping… Protecting the public purse, protecting public services- those are our 2 great tasks... Of course we all have our favourite cause- the protection of the elderly and sick... But someone has to add up the figures. Every business has to do it. Every house-wife has to do it. Every government should do it... That means we must stick to policies which get inflation down and interest rates down... Keep down business taxes and local rates which cut through the thicket of restrictions.... " "... the rule of law, the belief in private property and home ownership..” “PEACE is hard work. The so-called peace movement may claim to be campaigning for peace... We should grab every opportunity for dialogue... but such exchanges must be hard headed... Weapons with Cruise and Pershing 11 missiles restore the balance... We have set the course... to that course we shall hold fast..." (* "When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of he always declares it is his duty" said George Bernard Shaw). MRS THATCHER’S VISION: "... is a Britain strong in the defence of peace and justice, a Britain in support of personal freedom. The limitations of government and the freedom of the individual. A government with the strength to allow people to live their own lives. We shall see it through- to success." ("A SURE VOTE WINNER…") SPEECH BY: SIR GEOFFREY HOWE: (The

Chapter 6 / Crime & Chapter 13 / Terrorism).

JOKE: “The Conservative Party Motto? Ignorance is Bliss." CONSERVATISM: "Keeping established traditions." PEOPLE SAID: "Such as Betrayal? You're not only interested in money, you are interested in having a good time. You are not interested in honour." 27/5/1983: "Mrs THATCHER'S SECRET PLAN TO AXE THE WELFARE STATE: LEAKED documents, dated 1980... reveal the existence of a special committee... The Ministerial Steering Group on Government Strategy known as MISC 14... membership known to include G. Howe, N. Fowler, N. Tebbit, and Sir K. Joseph... many of their ideas now implemented- tax reforms to favour the high incomes, development of Nuclear power, changes to land, housing and planning law... 'From the outset, the government have adopted a 'wet' posture... the short, sharp shock (which does work) was rejected in favour of the gradual approach...' ... on the far right... a list of further expenditurecutting projects... local government privatisation, the privatisation of Key services i.e. Education and National Insurance... There is no hint of any such plans in the Conservative manifesto... The government have denied any intention to change the financial basis of the Welfare State services... Other plans include troops for the intervention of disputes in public sector services, the Right to dismiss strikers and sue strikers for lost production, the creation of a fighting fund to break strikes, the abolition of the minimum wage by abolishing or curtailing Wages Councils... Both the Conservative and Labour parties know there is no support for their radically opposed policies" (Ref. Time Out magazine). 383

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Deputy Prime Minister, Summing Up): "There are things for which we as a people have stood for centuries. We are a mature nation, which through centuries of trial, sorrow and achievement have developed a common view of life... I think we have discovered and expressed... where the hearts of the British lie. A government strong enough to protect the weak..." (Rapturous applause). "They made a lot of promises..." “A promise used to mean something. It was something you would keep come hell or high water…” "There's lots of reasons for their plans..." "Dozens of those who have just begun their Parliamentary careers are conspicuous by their absence; many are abroad at seminars and business trips, a few even on holiday... The Conservative Party conference went placidly on to debate The Common Market..." “… after weeks of smiling and making solemn promises…” Mrs Thatcher said: “THE HONEYMOON IS OVER…” (i.e. "Promises are made to be broken.") UNIONS: “A VOICE for the workers to try and GET BETTER conditions…” 1983: TRADE UNION STRUGGLES: “All the rejects in the unemployment line…” “... For a year, brave pickets have endured everything the State could throw at them- DHSS hassles, video surveillance... riot cops...” (CARTOON CAPTION: “Go get 'em boys!” snarled Thatcher... “Make 'em do what she wants you to...") “25,000 people- maybe more, turned out to show that Trade Union struggles will never die...." (re: Wapping print workers strike, 24/1/1983) Uh? "Norman Tebbit said: "Their pride's been hurt, that's all." "On yer bike." THE UNIONS SAID: "We have promised our members. If it comes to it, we will do it…" WORKERS SAID: “Will the Unions wear it?” "Tactless handling might finish us..." “The Unions don’t know what else to do but strike. They crack me up. I can’t Afford to strike…” “Typical. You’re going along, thinking you’ve got it (life) sussed… when suddenly you find you’ve no job, no moneynothing!” Q: “Wouldn’t it be great if money was no object?” A: “It wouldn’t work! Everybody would take advantage.” “No. They wouldn’t…” GAP: “MASS"THE INCREDIBILITY UNEMPLOYMENT…” “People really suffering…” "I'm still wondering how many jobs could be created..." "Yeh. Me too." "In the ideal world there would be no need for pay rises... or fears about insufficient pay..." "I'm a bright spark, me. I'd give everyone a job, if I could..." “What’s your dream job?” 1983: “MASS rallies for the unemployed in Hyde Park...” “I’m unemployed but not unemployable!”

"TAKE THESE CHAINS FROM OUR HEARTS…" London: There was a meeting in the back of a pub... ½ way through, a young man jumped up and slammed a heavy duty chain across a table. 'Let's go and get them' he said (meaning: politicians). Then someone asked: 'Have they (politicians) had enough rope to hang themselves with yet?' Noone knew the answer to that. The discussion concluded that everyone realised it was very necessary to organise so people are protected from the orchestrated chaos reeked by politicians. “When there’s an impasse, the Unions have to sort it out…” "The Unions lost touch with their members on Key issues..." "THE ABOLITION OF THE MINIMUM WAGE..." became fact + "The Endless Working Week..." "Take a £100 pay cut of face the sack!" "Britain's hardest worker starts day at 6.30 am and finishes after 11 pm, for £90 a week." "Low Pay and Low Morale is Forcing Care Workers To Quit..." Q: “Have you got any work?” A: “No, but I’ll let you know if something comes up…” THE LACK OF TRAINING: "No CHOICE about which job they want. Very often forced to do 'scab' jobs. To force down wages in the already low paid areas, be part-time unskilled, and casual..." Q: "Why do I have to scrub floors all day?" A: "It's important you're doing something you like." "No, you can't get a decent job until you're fully experienced..." "You'll get all the iffy jobs to start off with- that's life, I suppose. Emptying smelly dustbins... to show you how we do things in The Space Age..." ADVERT: "DISHWASHER WANTED: Must be Homeless..." "You're not entitled to a lunch break! Yeh, new rules..." "My son died on a Youth Training Scheme. Firm not insured. My son is crippled for life. They say there's nothing I can do about it." 1984: PREDICTED: A chilling description of how ‘Big Brother’ rules. Our world ends with a boot smashing into the face of Humanity (Ref. Book by George Orwell- written as a warning to Mankind.)

1985: The Youth Training Scheme = “Renew his interest in Carpentry." "This is going to build our future?" 1986: "The people in this country are longsuffering. They will draw in their belts. They will fight for King and country. 2 things they wont stand for is bullying and cruelty." 1988: “… analysts expressed hope, and concern..." "GREED IS TAKING OVER..." "Welcome little fishes into smiling jaws..." "Greed encouraging a callous disregard for LIFE." "Brutality and the economy are related..." "As workers were slaving away on the South Bank Docklands BOOM... other workers had their pay docked..." 384

more than a millionaire overlooking Regents Park. Millionaires will get their Tax reduced…" "Everyone over 18 must pay..." "Even if you ‘live’ in a tent, a Poll Tax bill will be poked through your flap..." JOKE: "SINGLE people are worth more dead than alive to the Tories." Chris Patten said: "We want to learn from this experience." Mrs Thatcher said: "Let's hope someone is Tracking things for us..." (1989) (Was she afraid her vision had been hijacked?) PEOPLE SAID: "... it's all too much. Cause property slump... Then 300% rate rises..." "So DESTRUCTIVE!" "38 million Electors. What if 28 million lose out?" "18 million people paid rates. Now 35 million will pay Poll-Tax... 11 million are partners of rate payers." THE GOVERNMENT SAID: "Machinery set in motion. If a government makes a law there's nothing you can do about it." "MP's postbags will no doubt be filled with angry denunciations when the FULL EFFECT becomes clear... The new property valuations... some of the shifts will be of eye-popping magnitude... The bills will thump through letter-boxes... " The Royal Mail raised the price of stamps... The increased paper work! “Put your complaint in writing.” “No response from Westminster. No replies to letters from MP's..." “They’ve got away with it again!” "What's wrong with this system?" "Government's not taking into account the people's ability to pay..." “The Poll Tax is a tax on people. The government has done the exact OPPOSITE to what they should do i.e. a tax on property should mean BIG House/s = More tax.” "The “rate” bills for businesses also shot up dramatically, the big companies paying £millions more." "Now we've got more companies paying Tax" (said Nigel Lawson) LABOUR SAID: “We should be fighting this tax, not the people!" "Labour did consistently lobby against the Poll Tax- a detrimental law. ("The Right Hand does not know what the Left Hand is doing..." ?) THEN Mrs Thatcher BLAMED 'Militants' for "… COVERING UP THE GROWING GRASS-

1989: "The Conservatives spent £90 million advertising themselves." "The additional costs of policing their conference at Blackpool was £1,080,000." PEOPLE SAID: "Such CONCEIT!" "They've got swelled heads." "Nasty, thickos." "They're out of control! Totally out of control." "Morons." "Dead Beats." "You upset my chemistry!" "The Straight Jacket Brigade." “THE CLING-ONS.” "YOUR hatred is destroying this planet." "The AGITATORS. Unauthorised by the people..." "You're driving them out of their heads, whilst you never shed a tear. You say love is plebeian. Now you say you love! Well I think you should throw yourselves into the river cos we all cried a river because of you." "Take all of us if you can and I'll take all I can. You are the dogs of war." "You make out you know everything. You know nothing. How can you be so stupid?" “CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND A HARD PLACE”: “… As 7,000 Vietnamese Boat people in British-controlled detention camps in Hong Kong refused food on the 2nd day of their hunger strike... fearing they will be returned to their communist homeland... unless they can establish they fled political persecution in Vietnam..." “DEAD TO THE WORLD: Conservatives were caught napping…” The Conservative party were labelled:

"THIS GERIATRIC GANG OF MURDERERS..." PEOPLE SAID: "THIS IS THE GENERATION THAT'S SCREWED it ALL UP." "This generation made ICI what it is today." "WE'LL HAVE it LOOKING LIKE A KNACKER'S YARD." "PILE ON THE MISERY…" "Last year Birmingham council prosecuted 28,000 people for failing to pay General Rates..." i.e. council services, levied on the value of your house). "The system of paying General Rates will disappear in April... in favour of THE (controversial) POLL TAX..." CON: "... to be more efficient..." "Pensioners will have to pay TREBLE the amount they used to pay..." (They will have to use life-savings to pay). "Nuns and monks will be exempt- unless they teach or do social work." (What?) "... NURSES will be paying

ROOTS MOVEMENT…” Mrs Thatcher described protestors as: “Socialists!” (Left-wing “thugs" = Ordinary people!") PEOPLE SAID: "They are setting people AGAINST each other. Wouldn't they love it if we were at each others throats!" "TAX HITS BUILDERS: 100's of small builders driven into bankruptcy, unable to Afford the new 385

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tax, the rise in water charges, and the one-off Infrastructure charge on properties being constructed, come at a time when there is already a house buying slump. 'We can't increase selling prices- these are retirement homes which are already proving hard to sell across the country..." "... the government has not taken into account the growing population in this area- we may have to stop our house-building programme..." "WITH PLANNED CON-FUSION they get it all their own way. They get it the way they want it to be. It tears me apart. It still remains, cracking my heart." DEGENERATE: "They are sapping my desire to live..." ("The 1990 budget was set to collect 95% of the Poll-Tax...") ---------------------------------------------------------------(1381: "The King understands that after paying for food, clothing and shelter, there's very little left for taxes... so from now on you'll have to pay your Taxes first..." "… it's worth trying" said Robin Hood. (He robbed the rich to help the poor.” Robin Hood was ‘The People's champion.’) ("I will get my money. I will cut you in 2" said the Prince...) ("... it's what led to the peasant’s revolt...” ---------------------------------------------------------------"The ‘PEASANTS’ REVOLT Again..." PEOPLE “IN A DEMONSTRATION OF POWER… people picked up big sticks…” “A MASSIVE REVOLT....” "Long Live The Revolution!" "Synchronise like magic, with nerves of steel. Pure Love. Now its cloak and dagger stuff. Everyone will say it's hopeless but we cannot kill our fear." The Scottish Revolt: "We're no paying the PollTax!" "Who you gonna call? Tax busters!" "... this won’t help me pay the rent..." “DEEP MISTRUST…” Q: "WHY do they want OUR money?" A: "To pay for the police, the bad schools, the fire stations..." "... the burden to collect Taxes put on Council Treasury departments - extra staff taken on..." "... Councils, tenants groups, housing workers, Homeless agencies... joined together to condemn the Tax..." "... special payments made to housing staff collecting tax..." "... had to buy a new £3 million computer- working day and night..." "... Poll Tax forms = Tons and tons of forms to fill in and process...." "... 20 SACKS OF COMPLAINTS and queries A DAY pouring into Council offices..." "HAVE WE LOST ALL DECENCY?" CONSERVATIVE’S REPLY: "If it's not HURTING, it isn't working." "’Keep your nerve’ said G. Howe. ‘Go to bed and pull your duvet over your head’ he added to distraught backbench workers…” "With stature and charm, STIRRING UP A

HORNET’S NEST. Thatcher and K. Baker get on like a house on fire..." "This so-called dynamic duo and the joker in the pack... are crooks..." "... Birmingham Council prosecuting 120,000 people for non-payment..." "... bailiffs going out in squads of 10... to seize people's goods..." "700 protestors now arrested. The police won’t stop till they have all been tracked down.." "... we own the Town Halls don't we? Protestors tried to interrupt Council meetings..." "... the police dragged him down the stairs, killing him..." THE PROTESTORS SAID: "... these are all just kids ready to die..." "... hearts on the run..." "... it's all just bits of paper flying away from you..." "Someone is playing us for jerks..." "We've been ridiculed by over-commercialised..." "... making me do things I don't want to do. Busting in on my dreams..." " ... the Anti-Poll Federation leaders told they will be sent to prison..." "... the government planned to make employers dock Taxes from wages..." "The SECOND BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR”: "Shocked eye witnesses saw how a peaceful demonstration which included elderly, disabled people and children, turned to violence when police threatened to make arrests if an effigy of Thatcher was burnt. The crowd shouted them down..." "I was surprised when the police attacked..." “... the police set against protestorsviolent consequences..." “... Fierce, RAGING BATTLES, in the streets... "... long into the night, London echoed to the sound of sirens and shattering glass..." "... shows how angry people are..." (“...we smash the glass to point out to you the error of your ways..." "... for this we don't get paid..." "... we have no option- we have to get through to you. You have to help look after other people...") "... mounted police made repeated charges..." "300 arrested after a riot in Cheltenham following a speech given by Mrs Thatcher..." "Government sources said Mrs Thatcher was shocked at the scale and ferocity of the protests, which included RIOTS ALL OVER BRITAIN..." "God's truth: WE HAVE A DICTATORSHIP..." "... the poor can't pay the fines..." "...that you have no means to pay is irrelevant..." "What we think is irrelevant! That is the end of it?" THE INJUSTICE!” "... find a charge to prosecute them with. That's your job!" "... the purpose of the Courts is Clear: Help Thatcher rob the poor..." PEOPLE SAID: "Why should we pay the fines? Are we men, or miserable fish? Victoria used to be a grand word. If he goes, I go too. To Heaven. To the Blessed Saints."

386

PEOPLE SAID: "Malicious, narrow-minded..." "… and incompetent..." "They've POISONED RAINBOWS with DAMNATION…" "The trouble was all caused simply because the government ignored the Democratic process." "It's because you have lost your reasoning..." "A wide-ranging political Conspiracy." "... a scandal of criminal proportions..." "... there'll be no turning back... do nothing..." Thatcher: “The objective to protect the Tax-payer has been achieved" (28/6/1990). "A master class in Duplicity." Thatcher: "Let us make sure there is no repeat of this serious incident." JOKE: "What drives a man to drink? COSTA LIVING.” "Do you really need to ask?" "Mrs Thatcher is very respected in Britain" (January, 1990) (I don’t know who said that). "THE POLL TAX will INCREASE inflation, Mortgages, Water, Electricity, Rents- all the costs for home owners... A Terrible burden on millions... Interest Rates Have Gone Up 11 times... Conservative 'medicine' is hurting, NOT working... Is hitting Industry... OPPORTUNITIES MISSED…” “I know your plans don’t include me…” “The Task for the 1990's?MAKE it HAPPEN!" ("I will continue to fight for your perfectly just cause.") 1990: "9 more Conservatives have resigned the Chief Whip as a protest. The Conservatives constantly refuse to listen to Grass Roots. Electoral suicide. Back-benchers divided..." MORE CUTS: "There are plans to close libraries, swimming pools, leisure centres and social services i.e. Public services..." "It took them 3 minutes to 'scrap' THE POLL TAX. They merely changed the name. This is now called: The Community Charge Tax..." MISLEADING: Mrs Thatcher said: "Socialism costs too much..." PEOPLE SAID re: Socialism: "He aint HEAVY! He's my brother..." "Mrs Thatcher only cares about self-interest." “Their life-style is acceptable to them…” "The COMPLACENT Conservatives are very good at attacking..." "... the most unpopular Prime Minister ever" NICKNAMES: "The Iron Lady." "Bodicea." "Thatcher-the-Snatcher undeterred by public opinion." “Less than ¼ of voters (24%) support Margaret Thatcher" "I don't think we need a Prime Minister." "Go now." "GO TO HELL." "HYSTERICAL CALLS FOR A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP" (6/4/1990) "A record 64% of voters in a National Opinion Poll survey telling her to go before the General Election..." (7/5/1990) "They

"GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE!" "... one borough issuing 50,000 summons (to Court). They will keep people on remand- in prison for longer than they should... may lead to higher Poll Tax bills next year... Fears of financial ruin ahead. Cost of Administering: £5 BILLION... In poorer areas- ½ the people haven't paid... residents moving... These poor people have already suffered financial ruin.“ Newcastle: “65,000 people can't Afford to pay... "Unless full payment is made immediately a warrant for your apprehension by the police will be issued..." “Police raids..." "... an extra £150 million spent on prison building..." CONSERVATIVE RESPONSE: "We need money very badly- there is no money to administer Community Care Programmes..." “BRING BACK THE ROPE: Premier Margaret Thatcher led calls for the return of the Death Penalty..." (Do YOU believe in Capital punishment?) ("It's wrong to string along...") "... policies set to provoke Trouble..." “A CLIMATE OF FEAR…” “We can live in fear, extend ourselves too low, or we can stop loving…” MISINFORMATION: “… protestors accused of anarchy…” "Anarchist gangs blamed for all the trouble..." ("I'm just a new man. They're busy running down my name...") "... rebels labelled 'scum' 'louts' 'yobs' and sent to prison, thanks to Sun newspaper readers." "What a put down." "Process me." "There is no other way, huh?" “The battles led to many people being imprisoned…” "7 MILLION PROTESTORS PROSECUTED for ‘refusing to pay’…" PEOPLE POWER COMMENTS: "All the brave young men... These people who tried to warn you... who want only to help you... who are very precious and special to us... found a place in the chain. They were sent to prison... and are WAITING for you (the public) to say 'Now Go' (to Thatcher). They fought on the side of ghosts... they thought they were winning... now the things we wanted are so far away..." "He'll still be liable to pay the Tax whilst he is inside... that is another crazy aspect..." "IF he ever gets out, he'll have to keep on running..." "I'm in a mess and I've got to get out!" ("Illicit affairs always end in tears.") "Viewers might find the following comments distasteful and repugnant:" "The police are the instruments of the ruling class" said a Class War spokesman. "And there we've got to leave it" (BBC News). 387

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accommodation saying package costs too much. 'I couldn't believe they have nothing at all set-up! No tents!'..." "… it's a Goal!" “WHY are we Waiting?" "Fans treated like animals..." Death threats to referees... A centre now- for massARRESTS..." (16/5/1990) (“It's a pity so many men think 'it’s a load of old balls’... " “… it’s a completely different ball game...”) "Rather than trying to press fans into an old mould, I hope the RFAC will encourage new and innovative forms of architecture..." English Football's No. 1 song? "Say it with pride, our hearts will be beating as one. A feeling that can't be denied. The lion shall roar in the sun. A nation so strong. We're going to walk tall. We're going to answer the call..." (May 1990). "£100 MILLION SPENT ON SECURITY FOR CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS: SelfProtectionism: "They put up IRON GATES to keep Democracy supporters out." "... the owners of the Imperial Hotel are spending £1 million to make the hotel safe. Armoured glass is being fitted... walls are being strengthened against collapse... The Prime Minister arrived cocooned inside a £2 million security net... 1,500 police drafted in... 'the chances of an (IRA) attack are very high'... marksmen will track her every move... a 7' high steel fence put all round the conference centre and the hotel..." (October, 1990) "The very bitter IRONY... TERRORISM has become a way of life..." "The collective conscience... Blood debt... Our political MASTERS... Our leader is taking us in the WRONG direction..." "She is running a STALINIST regime based on dominance, intolerance..." (18/10/1990). "THE NEW BRUTALISTS REMAIN UNCHALLENGED…" PEOPLE SAID: "Paralysed by FEAR, compelled to stay, frozen by horror." "You have built yourselves a prison! You are nowhere." "I don't care for what you ‘care’ for." "Anybody that voted for this government should be ashamed." "People who are in touch are dropping out of the Conservative Party." OLD RULERS ARE NOT READY FOR SOME NECESSARY CHANGES: "How long must we wait for this ridiculous situation to stabilise?" "For years we were living just for survival- now everything is more complicated." "People hoping secretly in their DREAMS for a change." "OLD system seems eternal." "If change takes too long, not good for people. Confidence is lost." "SAYING ONE THING, DOING ANOTHER..." ("They'll have a hard job explaining this…") "Health and Security now 2 separate departments, run by Select Committee (self-monitoring)"

broke the mold when they made her." "A lot of people have EMIGRATED to get away from Thatcher's UNFAIRNESS..." "8 LONG YEARS IN CHARGE..." "Split opposition ensured Mrs Thatcher won her 3rd Election." "They voted her back in again! I don't believe it!" “MP'S GET IT IN THE NECK: ‘Scruffy’ MP's, who do not wear ties were rapped by the House of Commons speaker, Bernard Weatherill. He said he was less likely to call them to speak if they were 'improperly dressed'..." (15/5/1990). PEOPLE SAID: "CURSES! The Stone Age revisited. Don't they know what Century this is?" (This is supposed to be the Space Age). "Who can Afford to live in the past?" "They've got it wrong!" "There's a lot of faults that need to be ironed out." “What’s wrong with relaxed and casual?” "You must admit now it's time to let go." "Let's go and crush the Party down." "THE LARGEST DISPLAY OF MASS-DISOBEDIENCE…” "Isn't there

something you've forgotten?" PROTESTORS Placards read: "House the Needy, not the GREEDY" (June 1990). PEOPLE SAID: "We waited for a sign, but now it's clear, you don't care at all." "No more waiting around for the government to let us down!" "You thought we wouldn't see what's going on. Well, here we all are..." "Wild going for Good." Interpreted by the media as: "We are on the road to anarchy" (10/7/1990). EXPERT: "Our society has lost all moral purpose. Indifference is a terrible disease. People have very short memories. This does not help MP's reliability. Let people express their needs" (Question Time, BBC, 14/6/1990). "B & B hotels for Homeless families paid for by POLL TAX revenues... + Evictions for nonpayment of Poll Tax... forced more Homeless families into B & B...” (18/7/1990). "Mrs Thatcher is waiting, apparently, ‘for an alternative to be put to her’..." “Policy-makers can’t deal with any of this right now. We’re all under extreme pressure…” "Mrs Thatcher's obsession? "Control of ‘hooligans’" (their bad name abroad…) “Logically, something needs to be done... “ (“FOOTBALL MAD”: "Football. A national pasttime..." (Wasn't football introduced to keep youth / men occupied so there wouldn't be a revolution?)

"Trouble Brewing…” "Fear of trouble hangs like a cloud. They hope it will be a good match. Is the writing already on the wall? Touring camp-sites are a long way from the football ground... A serious disorder problem..." "The English! High spirited. Pre-occupied with getting a ticket and the lack of Affordable accommodation... " "Tickets only available through a package tour operators- cost £500. Unless they can prove they've got accommodation... But many are going without

(18/10/1990).

Mrs Thatcher: "We must make sacrifices..." 388

(6/11/1990).

us lies." PEOPLE’S ATTITUDE: “I pictured a rainbow you could hold in your hands. I had flashes. You saw the plan. You stretched for the Stars. You saw the whole of the Moon. But I was grounded, dumbfounded…” (song by: The water Boys, 1991) (That

PEOPLE SAID: "You will not feel THEIR PAIN. That is The MADNESS. You will have their deaths on your conscience. You swore allegiance to Humanity. The killing was done in your name." "One day, the lies will get through to you." "Maggie. The market forces sweetheart. Hear her old cracked records: We'll Cheat Again. There'll be pay booths on the White Cliffs of Dover. A Developer sang in Berkeley Square. Next, she'll be privatising the BBC..." "She got a lazy heart. She got 100 ways to keep YOU in a HAZE." "10,000 BIGOTS can't be wrong?" "Beware of Parasites." (“Parasites kill their host.”) "HE'S MR CLEAN? The Home Secretary escapes the blame?" ("The face of the executioner always remains hidden.") CANDIDATES DISCUSS THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION: "Politics is a tradition. I joined because I wanted to have a go. I wanted security and a say in the political process." "With powerconfidence, assertiveness. That corrupts. Our comfort- privileged. Very exhilarating. Watching people’s spending." "We know the disillusions of sceptics. So much play. A subtle process. The WHIPS Office... (mumble mumble). Very powerful." "The House of Commons: A restrictive, surly place. Goes against one’s instincts. Media has a vital role interpreting subtlety. We are in the serious business of gaining power. We can have a meal, meet at the bars... Selling out your principles? Criticism? Ha! Develop a thick skin! If you've got an inner core, you can survive. Put iron in your soul!" "Lost capacity to feel on an emotional, imaginative level. Decisions you make totally affect lives of other people. A real danger- when you are no longer Human. Some have become totally encrustedinstitutionalised." "The joy of politics? You don't know! ‘It’ could be anything! Pink icing? Sugar roses!?" "What are the pitfalls you can avoid?" "Fellow citizens!" "Once people have said: ‘Yes we want this, or that.’ Surely it is our responsibility to do it?" (mumble, mumble). "I wonder what historians will make of it all?" (Channel

explains the trend in mooning).

CONSERVATIVES response: "WE are the Party of Honesty and Sincerity..." PEOPLE SAID: “You CUT bodies. I cut through lies…” "We've got low-life’s in high places." A LOW LIFE: "Is a nasty piece of work that HURTS people to get what he / she wants." PEOPLE SAID: "Let's face it. You lie for a living." "Oh, you are without prejudice?" "Ah, still you tell me it's black, when I know it's white." "They're dragging it out (whip appeal.”) "England is infested with those busy telling you what to do who know little about what is going on!" "Shifty bastards. They work every trick in the book." "They're slave drivers... cracking the whip..." "Trouble is, people keep voting them back in!" "If people vote for governments, they must have a death wish." "Never take anyone's word for it!" "We don't have the time. Every time they waste a line..." "MP’s Self interest = Bad Morals. Leads to no activity of a Progressive Kind." "I don't care what you say. TRUE LOVE IS TAKING OVER!” THE INEQUALITIES: “It’s alright for some…” March 1990: "Revealed: Mrs Thatcher does the least work..." (“Some MP’s are gentlemen, many are astonishingly hard working, some are lazy…”) "Only one MP works as an MP Full-time. Most MP's are moon-lighting" "Being an MP is one of the few jobs where you can vote on whether to grant yourself a pay rise!" "HOWE COMFY: Deputy Prime minister, Geoffrey Howe, now has 2 official houses and a pad in the Cotswolds which cost £200,000. He has made a start in achieving the soft life for at least one person- himself!" "Ex-Party Chairman, N. Tebbit, admitted he now earns £200,000 a year from journalism and directorships..." (1990). "THE RICH HANG ONTO THEIR CASH: ExChancellor Nigel Lawson has a £175,000 job for only 2 days work, on top of this he could collect £50,000 for his memoirs. He is still getting paid £26,701 a year as a backbench MP (Mr. Lawson was slammed over soaring interest rates, rising inflation and a growing Trade deficit.”) "LEADING A DOUBLE LIFE: ... Millionaire author and MP, Jeffrey Archer...” “…his £350,000 play flopped..." he has turned down £14 million for books he has not even written... he hopes to get even

4, 18/10/1990).

SHARP PRACTICE: "Putting the icing on the cake." “It’s like taking candy off a baby…” "TOO MUCH POWER CORRUPTS." EXPERT: “People have become disillusioned with politics..." POLITICS = "Which candidate can offer a serious challenge to a depressed economy that shows no sign of getting any better?" "We need political virgins..." "No-brainers, with big egos, who hope that by rubbing up against money, some will rub off onto them..." "Can you please answer a straight question, with a straight answer?" WAFFLE, WAFFLE, WAFFLE... "We ask questions. You tell 389

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a day." ("I fear all speeches are written in hotels.") "A world record £8.58 million was paid for a cabinet at Christies, London..." "OH! WHAT FUN: ... he lashed out £10 million on a new mansion in Eaton Square... a fabulous place for parties... marbled floors... and here are the paintings... he earns £150,000 a day..." "... he paid out £46,500 for a car number plate..." “... drinking champagne that costs the same as a hatchback…” "Opera dominates the attention of the rich." PEOPLE SAID: "We're walking in rich streets." "Carefully! Carefully! We'll make them understand! There's no getting away with it." "The working class are beginning to close ranks over crime and Community Action..." “We need a VOICE! We must reach the public." "One day soon! We'll be free!" "We've got to SAVE LIVES." “Do JUSTICE TO THIS!” "Searching for perfection in a world that's gone wrong..." "WHY ALL THIS FUSS? Cos it's not DONE, that's why!" "Quick! Before it's too late!" "We could take all these places by storm..." “THE POSH SCHOOL SAYS NO RIFF-RAFF”: Riot police charged at 2,000 demonstrators ('anarchists') outside the annual Opera Ball, in Vienna. The protestors, outraged at the opulence of the event, chanted: 'Foreigners Stay! NAZIS OUT!’ at guests... The Homeless also protested at the entrance to the Opera, where tickets cost £3,000" (23/2/1990) JOKE: "Anarchists who LOVE GOD are told god does not love them. For them, a poke in the eye is better than flowers… it makes them see stars." "We only have incentives for the rich.” PEOPLE SAID: “UNFAIR! The ELITE are having a whale of a time." "It’s the same the whole world over. It's the poor that gets the blame. It's the rich wot gets the gravy. Aint it all a bleeding shame?" "The poor get all the pain. The rich get all the pleasure." "Misusing Trust and positions of Responsibility." "Bleeding US dry!" "Harsh! Oppressive! Favouritism!" "I don't care if the government fails..." "You are playing with our souls. Why don't you look at your soul first?" "You'll find out the hard way- you'll die with no respect." “The limp hand-shake brigade.” "Here today, Gone tomorrow." ELITE: "Select group, aristocratic or exclusive clique." INSIDER TRADING: “Using privileged information to buy shares, or pre-empt take-over deals..." MP's not disclosing contracts. 'A small fee is paid.' MP's business interests- payments are significant. Not registered. We can expect a tightening of the law" (23/5/1990) Tony Benn, Labour MP said: "Ministers should not be allowed to be directors of private companies" (14/6/1990). “PERKS: Free bullet and bomb-proof cars, free holidays, 1st class rail travel...”

more from one of the 5 publishers competing for his work..." "... Mr. Archer will get £500,000 from Finance group MI... "... he lives in a 6-bed house, stacked with antiques, has a London pad, overlooking Parliament...” PEOPLE SAID: "I thought being an MP was a Fulltime job!" "Ministers talk of wage constraints, then go off and award themselves whacking big salaries!" "You can stick your part time ‘love.’" "Suit themselves, that's what they always do." WAH! "HOW APART WE ARE!" "I am struggling to find the money to bury my son. Because I work for a living, I don't receive any Benefits and he wasn't insured. It's sickening." "Must I share your LUST for Death?" "Share and share alike? Why aren't they sharing any of the burdens?" "The Conservatives have a monopoly on ‘decent’ living standards." "The government have a cynical disregard for a semblance of EQUALTY." Mrs Archer said: 'I'm a very unemotional person... I don't get angry- instead I will simply freeze people out'..." PEOPLE SAID: "Am I jealous? No. I feel sorry for you. You don't impress me. You only upset my mind. Use up my time. You don't (Thank God) possess me, though I know you want to..." “CONTEMPTIBLE! They're playing games. You're trying to make us jealous." “Don’t rise to provocation.” “We don’t want to be as you are! We have our own styles and VALUES, far removed from yours.” "It's alright to fight evil." "It's called 'breaking all the rules, to save lives'..." "Would she say, if she had the chance, I'd make it, I'd do it. It's the best thing we can do?" GRAND ‘CHARITY’ BALL: Q: "Why are they dressing up, and eating smoked salmon to raise money for the poor?" A: "Enjoying yourself isn't a crime." "Whooping it up, we get Press exposure, we lead a champagne life-style, and claim expenses back off Tax." “Any extra we make, it’s party cake!” "Fund raising for the Homeless in South Kensington = Lapping it up." ("The idea behind many ‘Charities’ is to raise as much money as possible, and INVEST this money so that the Capital grows. No money refunded.") THE RICH SAID: “Oh, darling, it’s just too awful.” "It's a disgrace- we'll never know what it is to starve. Maybe we should give up our suite at Claridges? Maybe we should cut down on limousines, drinks and cakes? We've got to make some small gesture to the poor." PEOPLE SAID: "May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold. May you never make your bed out in the cold..." "THE WAGES OF SIN. There are those that can Afford it, but definitely don't deserve it." "MONEY IS TIGHT? MP's can Afford to stay in plush hotels where a room costs more than £1,000 390

Labour survey." (What was that money spent on?) "SNUB FOR THE POOR: ...Conservative Joan Secombe was the only Women’s National Commission member not to back a report calling for a review of the government's Housing policy. She said: 'We don't want a society where the State is expected to do everything'..." "2/3rd OF BRITAIN ARE GETTING POORER..." "15% of house-holders are in 'difficulties', 61% are 'just getting by'. The majority of families with children are in ''difficulties..." "THE POVERTY TRAP…" "If they can't see better living conditions is not pampering..." "Poor people should be looked upon with sympathy and receive immediate help! This, now is far from the case." "Domestic crisis’s..." "You can't leave these people to die!" "HEAVY DUTY POLITICS!" "DYING SO THE CONSERVATIVES CAN MAKE A PROFIT..." PEOPLE SAID: "Some ‘people’ have no sense of direction." "THERE'S TOO MANY CHIEFS AND NOT ENOUGH INDIANS..." "To Free the people from the grip of tyrannical Councils would be great." "We could do very well without them." "Local government are being swept away... going to be replaced with regional government. Control going to be given to 'Yes-Men'..." = BLIND-DATE: "You get answers by remote control..." "Blame computer errors!" "Blame clerical errors!" "Oh! God. Give me contact with a HUMAN face!" "DOOM WITH A VIEW: The biggest provider of government training courses has launched a 'fundamental review' after cuts in official funding left it facing a £15 million loss..." "£300 million cuts due in Employment Re-training" (27/3/1990) "Cash cuts hits Youth Training Schemes..." "You who have no work- speak!" "We need jobs to make to a living, if we don't make a living, we die." "I need a real job." "Try Real Estate." "Please, I have some pride." "It's very hard to get a job in the private sector..." "When there's no job, we're going to have reap from what has been sowed..." PEOPLE SAID: "It looks like we're in for another dose of the Stalin’s now its gone out of fashion in the East..." "Where are we? East Berlin? Moscow?" "A new upstairs, downstairs world is emerging..." "HELP THE YOUNG!" "HELP ME!" "We must make people aware of our track record" said (Conservative) Kenneth Baker (9/5/1990). "I am not able to help the situation until the House rises..." (House of Commons in uproar)

HYPOCRISY: "Employment secretary, Norman Fowler, admitted he had a 'tremendously good run' in government. 'I am leaving the Dept. of Employment when things seem to be going well...' (Unemployment is soaring). His intention to write his memoirs and spend more time with his children...” PEOPLE SAID: "BOO. Hiss! FOUL play." "He can further his career!" "We'd ALL be BETTER off if we could spend more time with our families." “How much QUALITY time do you get to spend with your children?” “Darling, I’d much rather be with you…” “But NO CAN DO! WE are all overworked and under-paid.” “WORK it OUT, MAN…” “WE’RE ALL JUST KILLING TIME…” “All the discussions to save my job, to save your job came to nothing…” "The Unions agreed to CUT the work force... Another 2,000 workers are to go..." (5/4/1990) "If only we had a strong Union..." "If you call me brother, may I enquire according to whose plan?" "… it DOESN'T FIGURE: The government plans to drive the long-term unemployed off the dole... attendance at ‘Restart’ courses will be compulsory... claimants will be CUT from the dole figures..." (Aha!. “Take it into account!”) "EARNINGS RELATED SICK PAY CUT... " "... then, as unemployment begins to rise again, the Dept. of Employment scrapped claimants over 50, those suffering disability or illness- those signing on quarterly... Then Mrs Thatcher refused to sign the EEC's Community Charter saying this did nothing to help the unemployed! For sheer cheek, she takes your breath away. What has she done for unemployment except treble it?" “MASSAGING THE FIGURES: 30 adjustments made (or FIDDLES) to the way figures are calculated..." "BAD INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS…" "Conservatives are making striking practically impossible by contracting workers. Terms: Work all the hours we tell you, for lower pay- if you don't, you're sacked” i.e. fired. "Transport workers keen to keep public support." "Remove the Right for Key workers to strike?" "We must retain the Right to protest." "Degraded and Reposted: For anybody opposing the government, the full process of the law is available." Uh? "If you step out of line, you're out." "Britain is behind America, but catching up fast..." April 1990: "27 Welfare Benefits CUT..." = "They don't give a monkey's down at the DHSS…" EG. "In the (BLACK GLASS) Archway Tower, they've made the windows so they don't open to stop people throwing themselves out when they can't get any money... Doesn't work- they go up the road and chuck themselves off the bridge..." "Tories cuts in Social Security have saved the government £27 Billion in 10 years, according to a

(16/7/1990).

"Life is beautiful but sometimes you have to fight for it." "We'll give them outrageous, disturbing behaviour!" "Police fought running battles with nearly 3,000 rampaging teenagers" (28/8/1990) 391

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the Party, say ‘Get Lost’…” PEOPLE SAID: WAH! “All in this magical world is not as it seems.” "They're rubbishing it, again!" "They say there's no such thing as God!" "Give us your money. That's all they care about!" "They say this is the way things will always be." Their Attitude: "I thought you were happy ‘sleeping’ on a park bench." "It doesn't matter how isolated they are- it's not going to speed anything up." "Are you some kind of radical or what?" (A RADICAL gets to the root cause of problems). Neil Kinnock "... will campaign for it" (so he says). ‘Wanting Union’ism and devolution’ was described by Baroness Blatch as: "… toying with the future..." "We need to build more houses to re-float the economy... This creates jobs, this will help the unemployed, the architects. The money spent on B & B's is a waste. Homelessness is rising..." said Labour. "You are waffling again" said a Conservative (Question Time, BBC 3/10/1991). "Britain is so depressing!" "It's the blackest propaganda. Some of the dirt will rub off" said Chris Patten, Chairman of the Conservative Party (8/10/1991) (not voted back in

"They're demoralised. Caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea- a rock and a very hard place.” "Spare me!" "THE HURT isn't hard to hear." "It seems the good die young." "HOUSING PROBLEMS PRE-OCCUPY MP's: MP's are fed-up. Being an MP is both depressing and exhilarating..." ("… it's a way you could save your face…") "THE POOR ARE GETTING POORER…" "We.. 'live'.. out.. of.. bins..." Q: "If someone is elderly, severely disabled and Homeless and cannot get help from the Welfare state, tell me who does get help?" A: "Who is smiling today?" "TORIES SET TO SNATCH BACK £55 MILLION: ... victims could lose every penny awarded of any compensation awarded by insurers or employers or through the courts... any State benefit they have received will be knocked off their awards under a tight-fisted new government scheme. Up to 5 years of benefit payments will be liable to be reclaimed in full... the government will not take into account any legal costs... " (30/4/1990). “They are spreading animosity...” Mrs Thatcher's “COLD HEARTED” Conservative government. Not a good word was said about them… "We wouldn't have to have a go, if they did what they were elected for..." "The Queen decorated Mr and Mrs Thatcher" (November 1990) "That's useful?" 1990: John Major succeeded Mrs Thatcher enabling the Conservatives to limp on…” "The Conservatives want to be seen as kind and sympathetic but most voters will see through the Con." PEOPLE SAID: "I wont be taken in." "You come on, like a flame..." "After 12 years of Thatcherism, testing everything to destruction, more people now want power from the bottom up…" PEOPLE SAID: "When will God send us a Rainbow?" "MILLIONS SUFFER POVERTY: A book published

during the 1992 election, but put in charge of Hong Kong by J. Major).

Ken Livingstone said: "Britain should help build relationships- culturally, diplomatically. See it through the Iranian's eyes- build that dialogue." "Improvement in transport could be made if we have more ‘defence’ cuts and that saving was put into things much more important." REPLY: "Investment is at an all time high in roads and transport" said a Conservative MP (21/11/1991).

"The most BORING people on Earth are those who DICTATE as if there is no Alternative." "You want dirty wrecks- wrecked LIVES." 30/11/1991: Tony Benn said: "You've got to ASK THE PEOPLE whether they want it or not…" THE PUBLIC SAID: "What is ‘it’?” (not understanding) "ASK THE PEOPLE!" Mrs Thatcher demanded! THE PUBLIC SAID: "Ask us what?"

( Are YOU: FOR or AGAINST it ? ) YES / NO

by ‘The Child Poverty Action Group,’ to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their charity, called: 'The Exclusive Society- Citizenship and the Poor' claims millions of British citizens are being barred from full citizenship because of poverty... the book calls for a 17-point Charter for Social Citizenship to relieve poverty..."

"A STRONGER FORCE of leadership is advocated in The House. Unpalatable to Socialists who want an alternative i.e. a new social fabric. Manufacturing needs ‘a shot in the arm’- it is wealth creation in the purest sense. It is the very basis of our national wealth. Very serious problems we are up against. Don't govern in the short termlook at the long term- the next decade…" CONSERVATIVE response: "Our record is testimony enough to our success in governing the economy." "There is considerable concern about the closure of London's Teaching Hospitals... It is a very long standing problem. It is time we got

1991: "John Major returned from the EU summit with no Social Contract..."

"… it is my belief. God's Kingdom

Here On EARTH. Socialism will ‘kill’ the EVIL of capitalism- which doesn't work" (said Tony Benn, Labour MP).

"There is no pot of gold" said Brian Gould (8/2/1991). JOKES: “Holy Shit” say’s Thatcher. “Whilst we, in 392

"Public 0fficials all too often think they are above the law. If they do not respect the Law, who will? “FREELOADING: The privatised industries then awarded themselves directorships...” "The Tories have their snouts in troughs" said Labour’s Jack Straw "... in a bitter attack against corruption in the Conservative Party" (House of Commons, 27/1/1993) EG. "How did Mark Thatcher amass his £3 million fortune? Dodging taxes? Selling arms (weapons) to Iraq? Question asked." POLL: "87% are DISSATISFIED with the government's performance" (ITV, 25/2/1993) PEOPLE SAID: "Government's strategy is not working and is wrong." "They're CON ARTISTS." "Nobody with a conscience would vote Conservative." "The inability to change. The Old School fear change. A bad mistake." "We'd rather have the Devil we know." "People are too cynical." ("You've got to try and work it out of your system.") "The Quest for World Domination…" "J. Major attacked 'Doom Mongerers' (Socialists) for 'Talking Britain down.' (!) He said, proudly (!): "Britain is a world beater..." "Government accused of 'shirking their responsibility…" (3/3/1993). PEOPLE SAID: "They're dead to the world!" "Leave it out…" CON: "It's not my problem." "Freeze 'em out, or they'll be demanding blankets, clean sheets..." “I only got rich by being mean... Sympathy? I'm not one for sympathy!" PEOPLE SAID: "Pity a life without sympathyyou're really at the mercy of others when you're lying in hospital- imagine a nurse, with no sympathy, giving injections..." "Yeh. Go on! DENY it." "Beating people is sick, depraved..." "It's all too much. It's awful." "They say they are working towards it. It could take 2 - 3 generations for anything to change!" "The government are making it into a very long, BORING process." "Are they trying to BORE us to death?" "BORE us into submission?" Q: "Is it doomed to fail because the Conservatives wont be satisfied?” Q: “The Conservatives don’t frown on FREE ENTERPRISE, or do they?” "There's no question about it..." WIND BAGS! (Hey, this gives me an idea...) "Is it on the Agenda for tomorrow?" "MP's must take away our pain before we may begin again. IF only they could carry us like a fire in their hearts. When you need a light in the lonely night, carry a fire in your heart. Let it start. Let it start. Meantime, carry the need, on your knees, if you can..." "If you're sick of corruption, reconsider delivering it." "GOVERNMENT BANKRUPT OF IDEAS AND INTEGRITY…" "Out of touch." "Past their sell by date." "Listless, drifting from one crisis to another.

on with the job. It takes years before decisions are taken. Clearly it is true." "Now you have it, you should be grateful for it." Uh? "A new Quango: The Urban Regeneration Agency: To attack local governments, not protect the Environment? Will they be able to focus funds and powers?" "How many houses could be built and Homeless helped if capital receipts were invested in new housing? It is of immediate benefit to the Homeless and the construction industry. IF the Parties got their act together, we would see a massive reduction in Homelessness... WHEN is the Minister going to do something about it? It need only take 6 weeks to help London" (Today in Westminster, 14/5/1992).

"An 83 year old widow was mugged for £3.70..." "Do YOU understand how POOR and desperate people are?" "Down with TYRANNY!" PRE-ELECTION SPEECH: "Labour don't want to build it, but we will" said J. Major (8/2/1992). "It's about MALE power pitted against civilised society." "Some get satisfaction out of it." "Longrunning arguments." "The government are not listening to opposition." "I couldn't have put it better myself." "No man is perfect." (Why?) "At the moment everything is controlled by the Conservative ‘bolliticks’ Party." "Do it by Democratic vote. End macho politics. It appeals to a wider electorate" said John Smith (for Labour) (23/4/1992). John Major wants "… a CLASSLESS SOCIETY... He is confident of an upturn. 'When it becomes apparent. No-one can be sure of the date when consumers will be satisfied, but it will come' he said" (11/12/1992). "We will make it grow. That's our job over the next few years" said J. Major (28/4/1992). THE PUBLIC SAID: "PROMISES, PROMISES..." "WHAT DOES 'it' MEAN?" "YOU OWE 'it' TO THE PEOPLE!" PEOPLE SAID: “… the stifling class structure…” “… the upper class intolerant…” “… to end the OLD class STRUGGLES between the lower, middle, upper classes… the class WAR… whereby those in power ENJOY SCARING people…” "What? It's always the same. They use HUGE GENERALITIES to get what they want... But we can't have it in real life. That's diabolical." "Life's always a struggle." "No likely prospect of another General Election for another 4 years" (ITN, 8/12/1992). 1992 – 1993: "Politics is about attacking and under-mining people." "BUNGLE, BUNGLE, BUNGLE." Britain's most popular phrase is now: "I don't believe it." (“You’d better believe it.” “… it’s about what’s BEST for you.”) 393

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"Government borrowing £1 BILLION a day. The Chancellor says he's not worried..." PEOPLE SAID: "What does he care? It's not his money." "He'll go down in history as 'a great man, one of the best.' They'll probably make him the next Prime Minister!" "Oh, don't. The very thought makes me feel quite sick." "If the Conservatives get back in... I believe people really don’t know how much this country will go down the proverbial (censored) hole." "They might bring back Mrs Thatcher." A deeply mortified, horrified silence. "THE GOVERNMENT ARE GOING TO SEED..." JOKE: "STUPID, BRAINLESS thick’os. Us and those who vote for us. How stupid these people are! The more damage we do, the more they trust us!" (Spitting Image: Spitting Back). "Make it top dog?" "A NEW SOCIAL CHAPTER: … 15 countries want this- only the UK opposes. A lot of arm twisting done... J. Major accused of asking people to vote against their consciences. Chamber in House of Commons packed. 1st Vote: Result: Dead heat / Tied. Speaker had casting vote. He voted no. A ‘majority’ of one! 2nd Vote: The government lost. Shouts: 'Resign! Resign!'..." J. Major said: "Either back me, or sack me." "Where do we go from here? To limbo? It still hasn't been ratified" (ITN, 22/7/1993). "HAMMERED: At Christchurch... a doomed Conservative campaign. CONSERVATIVES: "The economy must come first." "After a bit of blood letting, our fortunes will improve." The Conservative Party lost the seat..." "A vital lesson... Listen to what people want." "We've got to get this country's economy back in line- some hard decisions will have to be made..." said J. Major (30/7/1993). STREET CRED: "We've got to get rid of the perpetrators." "Hear no bullshit. Speak no bullshit." "The No-Turning Back Group of Conservatives said: ‘Cut wholesale (i.e. paid irrespective of income) Welfare payments, including state pensions (i.e. those paid to rich people). Target the Needy. The system is failing the new poor especially single-parent families who are being made into scape-goats" (3/8/1993). "Baroness Thatcher expects to make headlines with revelations about which of her former colleagues plotted her downfall. Thus we shall discover that many of our cabinet ministers are deceitful, untrustworthy and self-serving, and that she is vengeful, tyrannical and self-obsessed. That's news?" (The People, 8/8/1993). "The ‘Bore of Britain’ (J. Major) is in a rut. MORALLY AND FINANCIALLY BANKRUPT. One good aspect to all this- the people are not slow to recognise a leader who recites scripts without

We should know where we are going otherwise we will have disaster." "100 YEARS OF MISRULE..." PARADOX: “A Century ago, the government was an infrequent meddler in people’s lives. In times of war, it raised taxes or levied troops, but most of the time it left people alone. Most of the population didn’t even pay income tax. If they built a house… they were left to their own devices. The experience of 2 world wars accustomed the British people to an allpowerful government…” Answer: PEOPLE SAID: "Loosen the grip of Whitehall." "We should not allow OVERPOWERFUL government ever again." "The politics of it are simple. The government can be defeated. THEY NEED OUR VOTES. Let's vote on it." "The people have lit a fuse under the government" (re: Newbury: Conservative seat lost 7/5/1993) (i.e. "This was a protest vote. We think there is an alternative and we're prepared to give it a go.") LIBERAL DEMOCRAT: "We now have a golden opportunity... Our policies will be tempered because we don't have overall control and we don't have all the answers." "Conservative domination is coming to an end. Power sharing?" CONSERVATIVE response: "There will be no pact." "Government discredited and divided. Losses of confidence of people. Sheer scale of losses took Tories by surprise." "A reaction to the recession" said J. Major. "Leave it to the intelligence of the British people" said Paddy Ashdown. EXPERTS: "8 hung Councils. Now no Party with a working majority. Un-chartered waters lie ahead. Voters angry at government policies. Intent of teaching government a lesson.” "They've lost their way. Are a lost cause." "The Chancellor must always wield the knife" said J. Major, rejecting calls for N. Lamont to be sacked. J. Major said 'no' to a cabinet reshuffle." "We aint moving it..." (7/5/1993). "Has J. Major stopped the rot?" (8/5/1993). "APATHY STILL RULES, OK? It doesn't seem worth all the bother." “My conclusion? IF the government were on our side, we would all get on a lot better.” "The Conservative government are £15 million in the red" (20/6/1993). "Taxes may be increased to pay for government spending" (24/6/1993). "FIXED GRINS:" "MP's debating how to reduce Britain's £50 BILLION deficit, and compensate the most vulnerable affected by VAT on energy" (12/7/1993).

"K. Clarke borrowed £3.7 BILLION in one day to balance the Treasury books..." (17/7/1993). 394

reading them or having the intelligence to know the scripts are rubbish. Trouble is- takes so long to get rid of them once elected into office, and during that time they can do much damage." "BLUNDER BILLS PICKED UP BY TAXPAYERS." "MORE TAX INCREASE THREATS..." The Tories seem to delight in high taxation for the sake of it. Trouble is they start believing their own bull-shit." "SLEAZE AND GREED: 6 ex-cabinet ministers accused of offensive deals taking them into the board-rooms for which they are responsible in government...” 'I'm alright Jack' culture, exposed by Gordon Brown..." “DISGRACEFUL RISE IN PAY & PERKS for directors across the country... Lord Young given a 76% pay rise... Plus he accumulated 409,000 shares under a scheme he, as Trade Secretary, helped to regulate..." (Evening

system...” “The 'new' Conservative Party have brought in Mrs Thatcher to gauge level of support for her. THE VAMPIRE STRIKES BACK? Burning topic: The FALL in living standards... The cream-off. The way crime is growing. They're going to build more prisons. They're going to get HARDER. 1984 revisited? 'We all have to pretend to be like Thatcher, even though we hate her guts.' A disgusting, appalling business. Many in the audience did not clap but sat on their hands." CONSERVATIVES: “Needed: A man of steel, to unite the Party." PEOPLE SAID: "They are as subtle as a lead pipe." "They want to control it." "That means all HUMANITY DYING!" "They'll turn it to dust. Hearts of GLASS." "Our Masters Voice: 'We shall return to traditional values.” (It depends on what they mean by 'traditional values'?") "Government is pressing on with rotten policies despite voters." "There is no easy way." "A low taxation policy would be popular…" "It's going to have to happen in the constituencies"

Standard, 3/9/1993).

"They will not be ‘happy’ until there is no JOY left in this country." "Which Party will deliver it? Until that question is answered..." LABOUR: "Tories are shabby and secretive. The British public will never trust them again" said J. Smith. "He did not use the word 'bastards' but referred to 'the B-team- the men in grey suits." "Clapped-out government." "Voters across the country angry." "LABOUR will have a HIGH-TECH, high-skill economy. We will start again to build. There is no other Party that can turn this country around." (“The BATTLE between The Modernists and the Traditionalists RAGES on... “) "The Labour Party is the Party of joiners..." "… it has a central and vital role to play in election policy." "… there is no point in trying to put it across to people..." Much Generalising. (Labour conference 28/9/1993) ("Once again, it gets neglected... it fails to get an adequate mention...") "Wavering.... drift. They want us to bury our heads in the sand..." "THREATENED REVOLT BY GRASS-ROOTS SUPPORTERS..." (Where? Who? Yes, where? Tell me quick. I want to know about it...”) SILENCE! "The Growth of the Green Grass Movement is to be applauded. It brings individuals into the governing process and reduces the dangers of secret government" (Ref: ‘Participating in Local Affairs,’

(re: Brighton, October 1993).

"The Right wing Party (CON) and the Left wing (LAB) are known as ‘The Wets,’ and ‘The Dries.’ Liberals just known as ‘Wishy-Washy.’ THEY HOPE people wont make the connection" said J. Smith (16/10/1993) (i.e. “’Wet Affairs’ are so called because their operation not infrequently involve someone getting wet with blood.”) "Only when it comes out into the open will tensions ease." "IF only they concentrated on how to make people as HAPPY as possible." "The SOCIAL SECURITY BUDGET is the BIGGEST budget of all. We need to reduce the size of the State" said M. Portillo (8/20/2993). "Exports falling. Manufacturing down. Inflation, gas and oil production up." "If production low, that means the recession has not yet reached rock bottom- recession is not ending" (13/10/1993). "WEAK EXPORT MARKETS: Recovery painfully slow. Investment remains flat. Britain falling consistently behind competitors" (26/10/1993) ("… it has a value in the world market you may not appreciate.") "MANY MP's ARE LINING THEIR OWN POCKETS working as consultants for commercial and industrial companies for undisclosed sums of money. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Acting on behalf of narrow groups. Democracy cheapened. When they argue against practical good common sense they are getting paid by somebody else. Very SLEAZY. This is outlawed at local government level for fear of corruption. Are MP's above suspicion? Sponsorship popular = Big business has presence in Parliament. MP's vote on issues that benefit their commercial

by D. M. Hill, 1970’s).

(‘The Trouble-Makers Tea Party.’ “A book advising

Grass Roots supporters how to get organised.”) "The Tory Party: A Hard-line Minority of Die Hards, will implement VAT on Energy despite public outrage, ‘for the good of the country’ because there's no alternative. Tories are brain dead. 'This is such an unpleasant government.' People feel modulised from the entire existing 395

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"Home Secretary, M. Howard, attacked for his plan to ‘reform’ Local Authorities by closing them down." "50,000 jobs cut in local government 1993, same again due 1994..." (January, 1994) (“That’s so typical! Don’t offer me another option…”) "WELCOME TO THE ELECTED DICTATORSHIP OF TORYLAND where the motto is: Don't do as I do, Do as I say. No doubt the situation will change in time for the run-up to the General Election. Will the British people be taken in again by the false promises? Too many people SUFFERED too long to forget their tyrannical policies. Keeping the masses down whilst feathering the nests of the already wealthy seems to be the prime motivation these days" (G. Flint, Today, 24/1/1994) ("IF the Conservatives are ever elected again I will wear a black arm band.") “The Conservative’s policy of BOOM OR BUST..." "DISHONEST, deceitful, double-crossers." "NO SCRUPLES." "Government accused OF FRAUD, CORRUPTION & WASTE: £100's of millions wasted by public bodies, through incompetence and mismanagement. Report by The Public Audit Committee. A devastating catalogue. Poor cash controls. Inefficient spending. Pile of problems, failings. Situation getting worse. Throwing money away. 'It is important to ensure honesty.' There has been a decline of standards... “ “J. Major laughed it off" (27/1/1994) (”The Public Accounts Committee which is not quite the vigorous scrutiny so many fondly believe in…”) "Conservatives new 'Get Tough' policy = 'We mustn't alienate too quickly.' (Sinister). Labour have decided to quickly react if they come under fire" (5/2/1994). "J. Major has gone on tour to tell industry to… increase competitiveness as £BILLIONS were WIPED OFF The Stock Market…'Most people want ACTION' said Labour..." (18/2/1994)

interest. Compromised ethics / morals / beliefs. Hypocrisy. Abusing influence. Cynicism. Cosy network. System benefits the paymaster. Should this be allowed to continue?" (Check Out, Channel 4, 27/10/1993) (Ah! That explains why they keep coming up with crazy ideas to supposedly help us!) "We often have to vote for things we are not happy with. The unity of the Party must come first" said a Conservative (25/11/1993). PEOPLE SAID: "Modernise Housing, move the people on! Not the Party!" Q: "What do you people want? Perfection?" A: "It wouldn't hurt." “Wouldn’t you be better off funding fewer bodies?” “Yes, but the public want a broad base…” "THE NEED FOR A NEW STRATEGY: "Politicians are determined change will only happen slowly" (23/11/1993) (Now I understand why people to get addicted to Speed…) "The situation could change overnight..." "The government is clawing £1 million back a week paid in compensation to people injured at work" (Watchdog, BBC, 29/11/1993). PEOPLE SAID: "THEY'VE GOT THEIR CLAWS in the POOR, that’s for sure.” “WELFARE SYSTEM COULD COLLAPSE: The Commission for Social Justice is concerned how Welfare benefits can be distributed to those who really need them. £120 million paid out each day in benefits. A social time bomb. £80 BILLION a year." “P. Lilley said he wanted more people to take care of their own needs, with less burden on the Taxpayer. The welfare system could collapse." = "Make provision for your own welfare" (26/11/1993) (HOW? “Give it a go and SAVE Taxpayers money!”) "J. Major preoccupied with ‘the nuts and bolts problem’ i.e. how to make his ‘Citizens Charter’ effective" (7/12/1993). JOKE: J. Major: "I've done bugger all." "Can you give the people what they want?" "No, I'm a prat") (Spitting Image, 15/12/1993). JOKE: “He’s the one who would, if he could, but he can’t, so he wont…” "HOMES FOR VOTES SCANDAL: Conservatives sold 1,000's of council homes to the WEALTHY to get votes in 2 London boroughs, instead of letting them to the homeless... Westminster Council boarded-up 1,000's of council-owned flats over 6-years so they could be sold to private developers" (Jan/Feb 1994). "I find it absolutely appalling that this government is allowed to remain in power. Every day brings fresh evidence of people's money being squandered, sex scandals, corruption etc. Why must we wait to throw this rotten lot out? These liars and cheats have no Right to keep their seats any longer" (M. Brazier, Today, 21/11/1994).

(competitiveness i.e. do something better than others… to beat them).

"THE PAIN STAYS THE SAME. All the Parties are looking for less painful ways to raise cash to maintain services" (24/2/1994). "GRADUAL ERROSION: Recession has caused a separation between rich and poor. Do we accept this as irreversible / desirable? We've made this change: Capitalists can get the people to do whatever they want. You work for us, we look after you- on a short term basis. Laid off / taken on when needed (to do a menial task). Nothing really meaningful, only tokens... Unions were there to keep bad employers in line- but they've failed. Now avoidance of sick pay, with low pay. The attitude: Let them look after themselves. This is our dictum. We’re living in luxury. We're getting richer. You're substandard. You can't really get any of the things 396

considered normal by society without getting buggered." "GOVERNMENT ONLY HAS INTERESTS OF GOVERNMENT PARAMOUNT: Government playing for time. Hollow words. Are only interested in staying in power. Spent all that time deciding on a cabinet- soon they'll be putting the Prime Minister in the ground, in a cabinet" (March 1994). "THE RICHEST 10% HAVE HAD TAX REDUCTIONS WORTH £50 BILLION" said Denis Skinner, Labour MP (13/3/1994). "The whole country is YEARNING for a lead to start re-building the social fabric..." PEOPLE SAID: "THEY'LL ARRANGE A ‘CHANGE’ IN GOVERNMENT before you wise-up about how rotten the Party is- hoping you'll forget about their failures and antics. The next generation will hear their speeches full of clichés and promises and ignorantly will vote them back into control." "Grand, repetitive speeches." "We don't want more words on paper. Why don't they arrange electronic voting via cash machines, telephones, the internet, inter-active TV etc on ALL issues?" (March 1994). POLL: "Only 1 in 10 of the public are satisfied the government are running the country properly"

less money- for housing, rubbish collection / disposal etc. Harder to establish with Council Tax. The arguments are going to get very technical, complex. It will take some analysing" (6/4/1994). "J. Major is making heavy weather of introducing the 35-hour working week." “J. Major refuses to alter his goals." "J. Major is getting very snappy and heated. Overwork blamed. Sparks are flying between him, his colleagues and the opposition..." (11/4/1994) (“We could have 2 days extra off a week IF productivity was increased…”) JOKE: "THE FOSSIL HAS DROPPED: M. Thatcher collapsed, her face like alabaster, her gold tight around her... Well, thanks for making the world a ‘safer’ place." (Mrs Thatcher was the leader (in charge?) of the Conservative Party for 11.5 years). “… enormous misjudgements in character assessments… a highly intelligent woman with a degree in Chemistry… but beyond self reproach… extremely cunning… with dumb-founded, sycophantic followers… Millions of lives adversely affected… if people refused to complysubtle systematic torture… NO PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE SHOULD THIS PERSON BE DEEMED UNFIT? Mrs Thatcher could have chosen to SAVE many lives. She chose not to.” 1997: “THE COUNTRY IS TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF THE ABYSS…” “Anti-sleaze campaign… wasting time. Procedural nonsense.” “During an interview, Michael Howard was asked the same question 14 times without giving a straight answer…” “Tony Blair was elected.” LABOUR won the General Election. “Labour’s election campaign cost £26 million. The Conservative campaign cost £28 million.” “THE WIDENING GAP BETWEEN PROMISE & PERFORMANCE…” The same under-lying problems still exist... YEAR 2000: “Parliament marked the new millennium by opening yet more accommodation for MP’s (built with public money.”) 2001: “Labour did not seem a credible alternative government…” “… people were wondering why there has been so little improvement in public services…”

(22/3/1994).

MORE PRIVATISATIONS ON THE WAY: "The government are considering Tax incentives to encourage the private sector to fund infrastructure projects EG. the railways, prisons, roads and the health service. £BILLIONS will be required to finance a huge number of infrastructure schemes. Key questions centre on how much risk can be transferred to the private sector. In the USA, private money has long been used to fund infrastructure projects" (25/3/1994) "The GREED of the USA is close, very close..." (Ah! If it’s in America, we’ve got to have it?) Q: Do we really want to be the same as America? (see Chapter 14).

“WE DON’T CLAIM TO BE PERFECT but we’re free to make our own decisions… Little by little… we could get everything we’ve dreamed of… it’s day will come… everything you need wont go away cos god got out the wrong side of bed…” (song by Oasis). A TYPICAL CIVIL SERVANT in the old days: “It’s my duty.” These days: “Oh, fuck it.” "THE PARTY IS GOING NOWHERE. We need a new man" (1/4/1994). The Government said: “The alternatives to Tax increases are worse.” “We now have SOCIAL DEPRIVATION. Both Parties accused of ‘deliberately deceiving the Public’" (5/4/1994) (“The government's idea of an alternative to Tax rises - are cuts in public spending.”) SQUABBLES: "… about which Party costs the

3/10/2001: “Tony Blair sets out his courageous ‘dream’ of the future…” “Labour promised to clean up politics” (December 2001). “Labour won a 2nd term in office.” 397

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providing customers with a fair deal. To effect lower prices, there should be a new law limiting profit margins on essential items. Currently charging what they can get away with (astronomical figures), limits the number of people who can improve the quality of their lives” (1994). "The public are being kept in the dark." ("Some are in the know, some most aren't.”) PEOPLE SAID: "I don't think we really know what is going on in this world." "We don't know the ½ of it." "Are we only hearing ½ the story?" "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." "We always need to hear both sides of the story." "We need a clear picture to make an accurate assessment." “We need a balanced and fair discussion.” "What we know- they know- that's balance." "We must maintain a balance between good and evil." "Price sensitive information must be available to all, or none." LOGIC: Wouldn't it be great if everyone was clued up about it!" “The more people that can take part in dialogue the better it is.” "Solutions should be explored." "We can't tell you about a young idea? That's silly." "Talk it through." ("… it's only just beginning...") "Don't blow the whistle on their Health & Safety regulations?" “Yeh. Blow the whistle. Expose the CON merchants. Then we’d all get some peace.” "Safety should be their main concern…" "We need to find out what is going wrong. People should be warned of dangers. If these people had been warned- they would be alive now." "It's not knowing that kills you." "Personally, I would find it very comforting- kinder than taking a battering." "It's comforting to know." "I'm relieved to hear it." ("This so it wont come as a shock...") "It's better than saying 'I didn't expect it. I never saw it coming. I could kick myself'..." "… it will enable people to better understand what is happening." "Where did we go wrong?" "That's what we've got to find out. You know, we let each other down." "Whilst the puzzle is in pieces, we can't solve the puzzle." "If a puzzle piece is still missing, you know we can't solve it." (“Plant a Kiss! This little baby- it’s the missing piece in the jig-saw.”) UNRIDDLED = "Out with it!"

“… And now the electorate are stuck with them for another 4 or 5 years.” “ARE THEY GETTING THEIR JUST DESERTS?” (“Greenpeace and Amnesty International have more members than any political party…”) “Today we are living under despotism by consent- the country is being ruled from the anteroom of Downing Street…” “Nowadays MP’s get their instructions from Party leaders and they act on them even though this is not Democracy…” “It doesn’t matter if a policy is crying out to be implemented. The only thing that determines whether the policy is acted upon is the passionate conviction of the Prime Minister.” “Politicians have become evangellists for a system intrinsically incapable of delivering what is asked of it.” “We are almost at the point where we could do away with Parliament altogether. The technology exists for referendums on every subject using electronic voting. Most politicians, not surprisingly, are against the idea- this could make them redundant- there is also the fear of what the British public might vote for. Do the public know what they’re talking about?” (wrote Jeremy Paxman in his book ‘The Political Animal’).

THE CONSPIRACY THEORY: Conspiracy = "ILLEGAL activity." "WHY WEREN'T WE TOLD ABOUT it?" “… it’s A PRIVATE JOKE.” "You know, it's one of those jokes- lots of nudging and winking." "Aren't you in on it?" "S'hhh. Or they'll all want one!" "It's a cut throat world (thanks to raging Thatcherism.”) "... 'it's A STEAL." "DON'T GIVE THE GAME AWAY!" "KEEP it to YOURSELF" / "Keep it to Ourselves" = "DON’T let them in on it." "They don't need to know." "The fewer people that know about it, the more we have for ourselves." “A SECRET = It’s not going to go any further.” “Hush it up” ? ("Oh! I am so tired of keeping all this a secret!" “I know a secret, I cannot keep it…”) "Let it go no further" = It’s PRIVATE.” (“You do in private what is wrong. What's good- out in the open.") "Hot News. All is not as it should be in the private sector." (“Privacy laws only protect millionaires and colonist plantation owners.”) (“Don’t do it by private agreement…”) “SUPPRESSING THE MARKET: The powers-thatbe still fail to recognise a dramatic shift in consumer demand! The new trend for durable, AFFORDABLE QUALITY is based on disgust for things that cost the Earth, which break easily, shattering lives - cars being only one example. The old school want to keep on producing more of the same- preferring vast, easy profits to actually

"… it's much better to get it out into the open…" "Don't tell anybody?" “I can’t sneak around any more! It either comes out into the open now or not at all.” “Our goal as Human Beings must be the pursuit of truth.” "THE TRUTH = It's time to come clean." "It's no good trying to stop people talking and understanding. This is what people talk about (in a round about sort of fashion). "It's widely talked about by people from all different backgrounds- it 398

appeals to us all in varying ways because we are all interested in what's going on." "… it's a talking point." "… it's a topic we all have in common." "Mankind's greatest achievements have come by talking. Man's greatest failures have come through not talking." "No-one wants to hear about it" ? "I'm a product of the Silent Age." "People are too scared to speak out." "Everyone is too scared to tell." "Keep your mouth shut. Say nothing - else..." "They got people too scared to open their mouths. Come on. Try and break these barriers down." "Your brother is bound and gagged, in the land of so-called 'Freedom'…" "You, who have to run like chickens from the vulture- speak!" "Shut up peasants." "It's none of your goddamn business." "Whisper! Who dares? I'm saying my prayers." PEOPLE SAID: "Can we please stop this nonsense and just say what it is?" “Now is the time to tell people all about it. Be fair.” "It's something you should be made aware of." "… it's time you found out about it." "They play it down- suppress this information because it is not considered to be ‘in the best interests of business’ to make people ‘unhappy’ about living here, about buying and selling land, about paying their mortgage’...” "This stinks and people have the Right to know about it. They are conducting their affairs fraudulently- saying something can't be done, when it could be done, easily." (Why am I going public with it? I designed it to overcome problems... Keeping quiet about it would therefore be defeatist - and immoral. I have no allegiance to any political or religious Party. I am not bound by any private contract. “Knowledge should be shared. I can’t play God!” What matters most to me is that we make it… WARNING! Devised by me, ‘owned’ by me, but I can’t specify HOW it is used. A friend advised me not to do this book because the rich and the military could use it to help them survive Climate Change… whilst the people, for whom it is intended, could be left to perish. I argued that could happen anyway. but if we don’t know what they are up to… This friend also said: ‘Humanity is no longer worth saving.’ I strongly disagree. “I want to spread the message... I want to tell the world… Everyone should know about it! But words fail me.”) PEOPLE POWER COMMENTS: "TELL it LIKE it is." "Say it like you mean it." "Blurt it out." “Let it all come out.” “TELL ME ABOUT it…” “Speak freely…” "Be honest about it." "The truth will set us FREE." "The truth is our greatest ally." "Tell the truth and shame the devil." "Do you have a mind of your own and a voice to match it?" (“Well, if

certain things came to light…” "It's an essential mind game." "Get into the know." (“I know it's a lot for you to think about." "I don't want to give you brain damage. I'm trying to give you a helping hand.") "It's true. Every word is true." “When it’s not a secret anymore, that’s when it’ll change the world.” (“Let’s hope it’s for the best.”) “They don’t like dissent.” “Tough. I don’t like liars.” "Their lies keep them silent." "The cruellest lies are often told in silence." "Give me some truth. I'm sick of narrow-minded, short-sighted, pig-headed, hypocritical, chauvinistic, short haired politicians" (song by John Lennon).

“Anyone who rocks the boat is seen as a threat. Their idea of 'good' order. Our rulers are incapable of discerning between dissent and treason." "If that's the way you want it, it's only a matter of time." “The truth always comes out in time.” “Is it better to reveal the secret or keep it all to myself?” EXPERT: “It’s really complicated. Being secretive is really cheating.” "It is supposed to be a secret... for 'Security reasons' i.e. They say: "It will inflame feelings and not improve security” i.e. “It might be misunderstood" (means: “We don't want you to find (political) power.") (I want people to be clear headed... so here is some news you may be waiting for: "… it's in the national interest..." Use the phrase: “…it’s for 'National security'...") STATE CENSORSHIP: "Stops us learning from political mistakes." "Sweeping the dirt under the carpet. I don't believe we should be afraid to publicly scrutinise the government's dirty washing. The government scrutinises our dirty washing all the time." "If

it is in the boundaries of good taste, why should it be censored?" "To speak, or not to speak when state censorship is imposed? That's a matter of personal choice." "How would you feel about it if you didn't do anything about it?" CLASSIFIED INFORMATION: "To reveal restricted classified information, if you have signed The Official Secrets Act, is an act of treason..." ("I can tell you everything I know because it isn't classified information...") "It's a very sensitive subject." "If they get wind of it..." "It's a State secret?" The Official Secrets Act = "Anything the government does not want to reveal." "Secrecy leads to waste and inefficiency." (Paddy Ashdown, leader of the Liberal Democrats, promised to abolish the Official Secrets Act in 1990). "There is too much secrecy in the system than is good for the Public" (the Scott inquiry revealed, 22/2/1994).

OPEN GOVERNMENT = "No unnecessary secrets.” "Parliament has a duty not to mislead the Public 399

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scheme of things." "What would I give to see it? Not a lot." "I'm going to give it a miss." "It doesn't cut any ice with me." "It hasn't got a hope in hell." "It's doomed to failure." “Something must be done therefore we must do something? No, no, no! It can’t ever happen…” “We don't want you to be happy with it!” “It could put me out of a job.” "Talk them out of it. It's our jobs that are on the line." "I'd rather die than admit it." "There should be a law against it." "Politics is a dirty business…" "It's all about double crossing. That's my job.” "What's fair doesn't come into it." (Fleece 'em and dump 'em). ("All's fair in love and war.") "We are getting away with murder." "We are getting away with it." "We've been getting away with it for years, and we are going to continue to do so." "That's the way it goes." “What else can do but laugh whilst people burn?” "Nobody ever beats the system." "It isn't a case of whether the system is fair or not." “Unfortunately we don’t live in a world where the bottom line is fair.” "It's not the way I work." "There are many things in this world that I don't like. But it's my job. I have to make a living. I didn't ask for any of this. It's the last thing in the world I wanted to happen. I never thought it would..." "It's my reputation on the line here. H'mm. Maybe that is the only difficult part?” "If this ever comes out, we're going to look like a complete bunch of Charlies. I want the whole thing kept completely quiet." "Keep it quiet." "Tone it down." "It makes us look a fool." "It's just not worth it." "We'll try to live it down." = "We take a dim view of it." "I've no time for it." "… it simply will not happen." "It's not on." "It wont change a thing." “I wouldn’t dream of it.” "It's a difficult situation. I can't go into it now." "I don't like it." "It spells trouble and lots of it." "It'll be nothing but trouble." "... it is very IRRITATING." "Do me a favour. Never mention that word 'it' again. I'm sick of it!" "No, I don't want to hear it." "Think nothing of it." "Don't even think of it." "Get it out of your head. It is not going to happen. There is no way in this worldif I have anything to do with it." "Don't push it." "It's tiresome." "Don't make a fuss about it." "Come off it." = "It's a pain" = "We will overcome it." "The time to stop it is before it starts." = "Suppress it" = "Put a stop to it." “Hopefully, it will die a death.” = "I'll take so long, I'll make it so wrong, and you’ll never find your way." "I DON'T CARE HOW LONG ‘it' TAKES!" "Spin it out…" "We can't rush it." “Drag it out. We've no need to anything quickly.” "There are ways round it." "I'll do it in my own time." “It’s buried rather deep in my in-tray.” "Leave it to me." "It's a

to tell the truth" (re: the morality of MP's discussions, 9/3/1994).

"There are webs of secrecy in every corner of Whitehall." "The government's routine suppression of information..." (BBC, 15/4/1994). “The number of documents being shredded before the Freedom of Information Act comes into effect has almost doubled in some departments… anything revealing, embarrassing… All sorts of material will remain exempt- confidential…” (BBC, 23/12/2004) ("I can't see them keeping this quiet from now, can you?") "They are afraid to tell us about it because it might blow our minds. You may want it to blow our minds. Well, our minds wont be blown" (2005) (“… it wont blow your mind but it probably will change your life.”) "HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH it?: "... it HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY FUDGED..." JINKING means: Move elusively, dodge, elude by dodging, boisterous fun." “Imperial humour…” “Hollow laughter…” “… they bluff and bluster their way through question time…” POLITICIANS ATTITUDE: A Maxim ALL Politicians Go By: "To Will is to Achieve: I want it, it happens." "The initiative lies with government" (11/11/1993). "If the truth were to be known…” "If it could be developed it would change the social structure of our world!" = FEAR: “We could lose control over everything!” (“It’s all about power.” We like being in a position whereby we have power over you. We get all that money to spend… raised via TAXES). = "There could be problems trying to implement it." WHY? “It could undermine us!” = "It's a major stumbling block." EG. "Every Prime Minister worries about rival power centres that could mean an end to their office." = "Now is not the time to give up privileges, monopolies." = "It's a time bomb under Downing Street…" = "Is it something that is going to be a very great asset to me?" = "It's a mute point." “I prefer a different routine- I like mansions for a start.” = "I've gone right off it." “WE DON'T NEED it..." "Look, we're only interested in the affairs of very rich people, who want to indulge themselves. It doesn't come into it!" "It's not so great." (Ah! They are afraid of going down the social scalethey may have to endure poor conditions…) = “I’m quite prepared to sacrifice it.” = "CAST DOUBT ON it..." EG. "It's not up to our standard." "It's not appropriate to my taste." "It's insignificant in the 400

dismissed it from my mind." "It's what I call...." "Is it a good thing? I'm not sure. Until I am. I'm not prepared to act on it." "Leave me right out of it." "I don't want to have anything to do with it." “I'm too old for it.” "It wont make any difference." "Don't expect anything to come out of it." "Leave it out." "It will not be a walk over." "I can see straight through it." "There's nothing in it." "It's best forgotten." "It simply does not apply." "Don't read too much into it." "Is there no other way?" "It wont come to that." "It's all down to you." "You don't look as if you've got it in you." "I don't know what it entails." "It's a drop in the Ocean." "It's neither here nor there." "It's a bit hit and miss isn't it?" "It's only a spell." "On your head be it." "I don't think much of it." "Tell me how to get out of it." "It's as long as it's short." "What’s it for anyway?" Ah! They have no real idea what it is or how it works…

no, no. I know and you know." “Look, I’m sympathetic but something’s just come up. Maybe we’ll talk about it tomorrow?” "I can't manage it today- I'm off on holiday." "It doesn't worry me!" "Sorry. I'm waiting for a promotion." "Leave it with me for a while." "Take it into your study." "It's only a remote possibility." "I'll overlook it..." "I'm not sure it could work. A full investigation is needed." "It may be a perfectly reasonable question, but not today. I've got better things to do." Ah! “…it don’t matter to me.” “… he brushed it aside. He didn’t want to know anything about it!” "Nobody seems to know anything about it! How very strange!" "We work very hard to conceal it." i.e. "The authorities are very keen to keep this low key." EG. "It isn't important." “Think nothing of it.” "It's a lot of belly aching over nothing." "It's much ado about nothing." "I don't wish to discuss it." "I'm not at liberty to discuss it." "Let me put it this way..." "It doesn't work that way...""It's been given up as a lost cause." “It’s out of the question.” "Write it off." "It's been written off." "It's a no win situation and that's all I'm going to say about it." "Stop going on about it. No, I wont change my mind about it." "Drop it, I said. Drop it!" "It'll blow over." "Ignore it - it'll go away." "Give it up." "Forget it." "No, you are never going to get it.” = "WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED TO BRING it DOWN." "Keep it Down." "I am not going to let you do it." "Keep out of it." (If you don't, I'll kill you). "Yes, I am going to take it out on you." = "It can't be helped." "There doesn't seem to be much I can do about it." = "To HELL with it!" (That is our favourite expression). "Kill it for me." "Everything's been done to head off ‘trouble’…" "THE OLD BOY NETWORK. They'll get you in the end." = "We're determined to put it behind us." "There's nothing I / we can do about it now."

PREOCCUPATION OF (some) MP’S: "They wont catch me." "Me neither." "It's nothing a stiff drink wont cure!" "The tension, the strainwe're quite used to it really." "It's a storm in a teacup." “It’ll all blow over… very soon I hope….” "… it's better than sex, so I've been told. Ha." "… it's a 2 second wonder." "… it's no substitute for the real thing." "I'll make it up to you." “It doesn’t bare thinking about.” "I'm trying very hard to get to the bottom of it." "It's very hard trying to make sense of it. Personally, I'd rather examine your body." “Fuck it.” “Goddamn it.” "Bugger it. It's a pain in the backside." "It's too late to back out now!" "It's a great big cock up." "… it can lead to no good." "You never know where it'll lead- to greater commotion, unease..." "It's trivial, unrealistic and undesirable." "It isn't really viable." "It simply wont do." “It is without any foundation.” "It's baseless." "It can't really be done." "It's not something that can be practically done." “It’s a complete wash-out.” "It's nothing new! " “It’s a concept obsolete, no-one is interested in.” "It always look good on paper." "It's just words on paper." “It’s always easier said than done. Ha ha.” "It'll be a disaster." "It's pathetic." “It’s laughable! Pathetic.” "It's rubbish." "It's plain junk." "There's only one thing we do with trash- throw it out." "It's utter clap trap." "It's a wacky idea." "Don't be taken in by it." "You fell for it, huh?" "It's hard to separate fact from fantasy." "It's sheer nonsense.” It’s stuff and nonsense." “These are pie in the sky ideas and its not on.” "It's madness." “I think the person that conceived this- their mind has gone funny- and they belong in an institution.” "It's a cruel hoax." "It's a send up isn't it?" "It's crazy." (“OK. It's a crazy idea, but it might just work.") "I presume it's some kind of tax dodge." "It's lies. All lies." "Who's behind it?" "It's devil's talk." "It's a poisonous

"...'it's CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN- I DON’T UNDERSTAND it": EG. "It never dawned on me." "It's all the same to me." "I can't see the point of it." “It’s senseless.” "It's unthinkable." “It’s inconceivable to me.” "It baffles me." "It's all meaningless." "I'm not wasting my time on it." "It's a white elephant. It's not going to make a bit of difference." “It’s the least of our worries.” “It wont do any good!” “It just didn’t enter my head.” "It never occurred to me!" "It has nothing to do with me." "It could take an awfully long time." "I've said it many times- there is no quick fix." “I think it’s a boot.” "You're best off out of it." "It wont wash." "It gets me down." "Don't do it again." "It sort of rings bells to me." "It slipped my mind." "I 401

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chalice." “It’s just sour grapes.” "It means anarchy pure and simple." = "It's no concern of yours." "It's none of your business." "I'll make you pay for it." "It will go ahead as scheduled." "It's over."

it's all over but it isn’t!" "They don't give a damn about it!" "They can turn anything into dross." "They are mind-benders. They shove you from department to department. Aim? You get nowhere." "Time and time again they let us down. WHY DO THEY TREAT US SO BADLY?" "Who are these ‘people’ who cut and close down everything?" "They have such forceful personalities!" "They're obstructive." "They're so behind it all." "They go too far." "They are not true to their roots." "How can they do what they do?" “The government could try being nice to us for a change.” "Politicians always say ‘Hang-on’...." "The authorities ought to be nailed, not us. What have we done? We haven't killed anybody." "They skate along the surface and don't get things done. They could go into detail." "They could try saying I'll make it as brief as I can..." "Why isn't it on the agenda?" "We're not asking them to rush into it." "It's obviously a huge step for them to take." "It's better than what we have at the moment..." "The government don't give me much of a thrill- I'm not that impressed." "They want to suck all your energy." "Their hobby is invading people slowly." “Are they beating the bush to see what will come out? So they can kill it stone dead?” “Kill the bird of peace? That’s the way it goes?” "It's true. It exposes some of the hypocrisy in high places which cannot continue." "Both sides are as bad as the other. Mixed-up, crazy..." "They always try to make such a big thing out of it." "They're berks who don't know their ass from their elbow. They're into cheap shocks." "They're cutting us off to save their faces!" "They put property before people!" "They are giving up their sanity, for vanity, they're giving up Humanity, for cash." "Is there anything they wont do for a profit?" "They should take our feelings into account, but they don't!" "They're so stuck in their ways!" "STOP MAGGIE THATCHER’S 'DREAM'!" "They're so busy knocking it... They slag it off. They're only good at confusing it." "They misuse their powers." "They're trying to get out of doing it." "They keep making excuses to put it off!" "They rule it out. We're not going to live this type of lie." "It is not considered by politicians to be a vote winner!" “Do they know they are up against it?” “DO it FOR POPULARITY!” “They haven’t realised how they also need itnot to live in but to make their jobs match our dreams…” “Why ignore something that could set you free too?” "We've got to get them straight." "… it is to their advantage as well..." "I can't believe they don't know about it." "They're being very cagey about it." "If they had thought of it, would it have been done?" “Until they make it the leading question of the day..." "… it would be the most amazing thing if it ever did come to a

"I'M NOT CONVINCED THERE IS A CALL FOR it..." "It's a far cry." "It's got no real backing." Ah! “Come! Gather round people, admit the water’s round have grown & that soon you will be drenched to the bone, or we’ll sink like a stone. Admit the times are changing… Come! Senators, congress men… hear the battle outside raging… Come! Mothers and fathers throughout the land, please lend your hand…” (1960’s song, by Bob Dylan).

1994 - 2004: PEOPLE SAID: "Consider this: Our leaders will talk and TALK UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD..." "They've been talking for a Century..."

"... it is the one thing they don't want to talk about… openly!" "Why don't they come clean?" "Why don't they clear the air? Do it, before it's too late!" “Yeh. They talk about it and talk about ‘it’ but it’s not moving…” "They're spinning it out." "KILL JOYS!" "They're more interested in their parties than the Public!" "HIDE THE TRUTH?" "Because they want to rule the world?" "They don't want their old age ruinedtheir public image…" "Do these people not realise life is not one long party? "They do not think through their policieswhat effect they will have." "They are too busy lining their own pockets (they appreciate comfort) to provide adequate help for the Homeless, or services for the public..." “That is their morality for you…” “The high and mighty really look down on us. They make such disparaging remarks about us all the time. They are really disrespectful, hurtful…” "They are at fault... They strut around preening themselves... They are so removed from ordinary folk..." "There's a real conflict of interests..." "They want us to leave them to it!" "Let's face it. All these problems could be sorted out in a few weeks- I don't know why they don't get it all sorted." "If only they were a good influence!" "They could turn it all around using all that technologybut they wont!" "They've got the wrong attitude!" "They're sitting on their laurels." “They are so SLOW.” "Maybe they never will get around to doing it?" "It's not them who is suffering." "They are totally unsympathetic!" "They are not discerning." "They are too stupid for ideology." "They've no hope or consideration." "Hope is fading." "I wish they would start fading!" "NUMBSKULLS. They're so full of it." "They think 402

vote in the House of Commons." "They seem to be all for it, but I don't know- they're good at making people miserable." "Don't let them squirm out of it." "THEY'RE BLOWING it!” Leaving it till it's almost too late..." "We can't fail." "Our task is to make sure governments and rich society realise, before it is too late (to save your lives) that by helping the young, it may not be too late to save your souls." "It's a mistake- they've forgotten it, right?" "How can they know what it means IF NO-ONE HAS EXPLAINED it TO THEM?" "Maybe they don't know? Maybe nobody told them?" "That's a lot of maybes." "Have they even considered it? Maybe they don't understand it?" “Maybe they do know about it. That would make more sense. Maybe they’re doing nothing about it to keep the status quo?” "They think they've got it all sewn up!" "They are actors." “Are they so blind, so batty, so dead between the ears they just can’t fathom it?” "It makes you wonder what their mental condition is." "They are not ones for hiding their light under a bushel." “WHAT PLANET ARE THEY ON?” "They've had YEARS to get it right! Are they incompetent or just desperate?" "Some people obviously do not have what it takes." "If politicians no longer fulfil dreams, if they do not manage adequately, nor protect us- what use are they?" "They haven't the talent for it." DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR: "They have an inflated sense of worth." "Alcoholic Politicians = Impaired Vision." "They're drunk with power." "Maybe they are just too thick to understand the need for it, or value of it?" "Thick as thieves!" "They capitalise on other people's misfortunes. No. It's not OK. Should we let them know how it feels to be left outside in the cold, all alone?" "Now it's come to allegations. It's threatening to become a vicious circle..." "It's shake out time, Ladies and gentlemen." “FAIILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.” "We blame the government for our predicament. It's one step forward, two steps back with them in charge." "They're in charge of everything!" "Cut the suckers." "I could teach them something about suction…" "They're laughing at us!" "It's time they were cut down to size." "We could get on well without them" ??? "Don't make it any harder than it already is." "They're leaving us to it, I guess." "They are PLAYING A WAITING GAME. They will lose." "It's their loss." "There is no time to lose. We do not have that luxury. We can't Afford to play games!" "It'll become their problem." "No, just because the government are behaving like asses doesn't mean we have to." "Bring them into it in a big way..." "Hopefully, when we can convince

them it is a perfectly rational thing to do, they'll go for it." "What's irrational about it? It's not a pretty con! I'm no scam merchant! It should be done. It's very relevant..." "It's a sad day when the hay has to chase the horse." "It has a good purpose." "Hopefully, it will oblige ‘them’ to re-think their policies." "They wouldn't allow it if they didn't have to- and they have to." “We must exercise the Right to have a choice whether the Conservatives like it or not.” "Make it official. Give it official approval..." "What is its release date, please?" "It could turn out to be an empty gesture if the government don't accept it." "It's just not on, is it?" "Oh, if only someone would put it above party politics!" "The government are hypocritical pigs. Lot's of people are very vexed. Don't know where next penny is coming from..." "They're fakes, trying to conceal it..." "What if it is a cover-up?" "They want to protect old suppliers?" "They're protecting it... “ "WHAT IF THERE IS A SINISTER PLOT AGAINST it?" "Maybe they have already worked out the details?" ("I'll look into it." "I am handling it!") POLITICIANS ATTITUDE: "If it makes them good. No way. I want it all for myself." "Yes, we will do it, but no, you can't have it" (PLUNDER)? "ARE THEY SAVING UP FOR A BIG ONE IN SUPER-GOLD?" (It would be better to only make one quality of modules - the style could be varied. That way Equality is achieved… and resources are not wasted). “They can’t have the cake and eat it to!” Politician: “What is the point of having cake if you can’t eat it?” "They've got it all worked out? Right. We let them. Then we can get it for ourselves!" "It's ON!" said the young. "Are you naughty-minded?" "Should we bend the rules, just a bit?" "It's not exactly legal but it is just." "It appeals to my sense of humour." "You definitely need to have a sense of humour about it." "Taking the law into your own hands is against the law." "It would be better to bend the ear of politicians." "Bring on the man from the Ministry?" "Bring it on." "Somebody’s going to get it…" "Nothing CRAZY! It's got to be done by the book. It's got to be legally water-tight. It mustn't be crooked." "Never mind who's for it, or against it. WHO is going to be in it?" "IF you can stay focused you will have greater chance of success." "Do it for me, I'll do it for you." "Take care of us, we'll take care of you- now that's what I call a rewarding relationship." "Love and help each other- I believe that's the way God wants it." "Let's do it." "It's a must." "Don't let them let them get away with it!" 403

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"IF the government/s (CONTINUE) to get away with it..." "Question is: How are we going to stop them?" "Marches alone can't bring integration." "Waving placards has little or no effect." "Shouting about it doesn't help." "I'm past shouting abuse." “We can say it till we’re blue in the face- doesn’t mean it’s going to get us anywhere…” “Demand it and it might get somewhere…” “… it won’t be done unless I can persuade you to persuade the officials…” “There are lines in your face you can’t change…” “You can change! You can change!” “A change will do you good…” “… it might even get their brains moving again…”

than out-moded convention." "It will be kinder than the old way." "… it bridges the gap!" "God, how the poor people must need it!" "It will greatly relieve people who have been waiting- holding on." "The big question is- will people want to go with it?" "You have to let people decide for themselves." "The public will vote with their feet." (No votes for sale). "It's the ‘in thing’ to do!" "Its not bad." "It's my humble duty to present it to you and get it to you." "It's our duty." "It will provide realistic progress." "It is necessary and I hope it will be understood by people." "People don't want rapid change. They want gradual change. INTEGRATE it!" "Try to get it into perspective." "Will it really make a difference?” “You'd better believe it." "It would be natural change..." "Get it working for you." "It's a blend of..." “… it compliments..." "It's an attractive proposition." "You know, it makes sense..." "It offers significantly better living conditions.” "It's something to be grateful for." "Being cosy is important. It's not something you turn your nose up at." "Tell them where they can stick it!" "It stands to reason..." "Well, if you put it that way... I am going to do it!" "It's an idea gaining ground." "It creates a lasting impression." "Most folks wont look twice at it. It'll just be procedure." "It could be an Emergency fund?" "Don't you think it's perfectly reasonable?" "Let's discuss it- no drama." "Have it out, once and for allhave a perfectly civilised discussion about it." "Mold it into other systems?" "It will be good for morale on ALL sides." "Good God! It's in the interests of national security!" "It is easier to achieve." “Yes, by all means, go for it.” "It's civilised." ("Its got nothing to do with taking sides." "You need to get into the spirit of it.") "… it should ease the tensions if it's done properly." "Ask yourself- is it logical? It is the logical solution." "It will benefit 8 out of 10." "It's not an option. It's a necessity." "The entire world depends on its success, but don't let me put you under pressure." "Don't dismiss it." "It is the ultimate solution whether you can see it or not." "It'll do the trick- you'll find out sooner or later." "Take it from me- it's a very snappy idea." "There are no 'ifs' and 'buts' about it." "Admit it." "You can in no way deny it." "There's no arguing with it." "It's in a league of its own!" "It's no contest." "We can't change the past but we can make the future easier." "I can do it in the twinkling of an eye." "It's a mere formality." "It wont take a second." "It's just a matter of policy." "It's no trouble." "I'll make it easier for you so that you can work on it." "Put a time scale on it. Its objectives need to be met fairly quickly." “Let me handle it.” "Some day wont do. It has to be dealt with now!” "It's a

HOW it COULD BE MADE TO WORK BY POSITIVE THINKING POLITICIANS: "Ah! The bits fall place into place now!" “What else can we do but laugh about it?” “It’s a last resort.” "It's an offer of HELP." “It’s too good to be true, isn’t it?” "It's jolly good, isn't it!" "I don't mean to make light of it..." "I think it's a splendid idea." "It's an excellent idea." “It’s too good an opportunity to miss!” "It leads to greater Democracy- a fairer way of life" "It's just a Democratic process." "It will lead to a more prosperous world." "It’s always been an ambition of mine…" "It seems it will do men good." "It's taught us a valuable lesson I'll never forget.” "It will mean a pleasant start to the day." "It would be better for us- we'd have more fun things to do!" "Starting a new way of life will be thrilling!" "The politics of it are going to be exciting!" " "It is appropriate." “It could be a brilliant way of bringing true Democratic government, with many advantages to Parliament…” "It will be the making of us." "It's a terrific goal- certainly plenty to work on!" "MP's take it very seriously. It's much better than working!" "It requires youth" (sad admission). "What's in it for you? Peace of mind?" "It's the only way out of this scandal." "Its ironic- it could save our necks, stop us from dying. I think we're ordinary people. I know our clothes make us look awfully boring..." "It's going to be an education for me." "It's our best chance." “With a little bit of encouragement from people like you, we might to be able to do something about it” (said Neil Kinnock, They Think It’s All Over, BBC, 2/12/2004).

"It worried me at first but now, with determination I believe it could be made to work." "Realise the potential benefits! It reduces waste." "It is a sensible precaution." "… it's economical." "Get to grips with it." "We are getting to grips with it." "It will be long and good" (said Neil Kinnock, after his 1992 election defeat).

"We've got to get beyond the politics of destruction..." (pre-Election speech, USA). "It's better 404

The Times news group. Also taken over the Today newspaper... He is a very good friend of Mrs Thatcher...") "Action to BLOCK premature disclosure of confidential documents... being prepared by MP's... after a series of leaks from Commons select committees" (10/5/1990) ("Ah! Mrs Thatcher does not like leaks...") "Racism should not be given a platform in the Press." "Our Press trembles on the brink of obscenity." "The attitude of the Press is enough to incite WW111." "Journalists have to write everything in a hurry." "Do you know many journalists who do not drink a lot?" "The 'news' consists of old men stumbling down... and embracing each other, jaws a wobble..." (July 1990). "The Press is full of it" (means: They are full of the need for it. Revenue from advertisers favouredthe bulk of newspapers / magazines is therefore crap). "The presentation of the news ALLOWS the government to GET AWAY with MURDER." “The media rarely report what was said in ‘The House.’ The media concentrate on gossip… and this is how Parliament likes it.” "The Press are very BLOOD-THIRSTY." "Disasters sell more newspapers." PEOPLE SAID: “Make it so there’s no argument about it. Don’t back away from it. Give it a schedule.” “Let’s finish all this.” “Press on with it…” (“No-one could doubt, as impatience grew, there would be a great deal of news re: developments…”) Q: “What will be its influence on mainstream TV?” A: PEOPLE SAID: “All we do is disintegrate in front of the box!” “We want people to receive a different kind of message.” “See you in the Square.” “Got your kit? Hopefully, this will get it / you started.” “The Press should make it front page news. It shouldn’t need blood-shed / violence to get the media’s attention! Pictures of it should be screened on mass-television at peak times as a promotion, a documentary to make people say ‘gorgeous,’ ‘come on,’ ‘that’s a new sense of direction,’ ‘that’s healthy,’ ‘that’s wise,’ ‘sane,’ ‘I want one.’ SELL THE IDEA TO THEM. Tell people where they may find it. HOW to do it’…” “Make it so there’s no argument about it. Don’t back away from it. Give it a schedule.” “Why don’t you put it to bed, save a load of paper, concentrate on quality information and spend more time with your families instead?” “Put it to bed quick, and don’t write a book about it” (1/9/2005) (“One day I hope we can put the past behind us.”) “… and there you have it!” "A TRUE Social Democracy is needed

priority. It must take priority." "It needs immediate attention. It deserves serious attention." "Legalise it." "Order it." "If we can play a part in its construction, then that's a useful role for us play" (said M. Howard, 29/5/1992). “It grants us a unique opportunity." “It is a historic opportunity…” "This is 2004! Not the 1900's! WHY are we only doing it now?" ("I don't want a debate about it." "What could you possibly say about it now?" "Don't make it a personal battle.") "There's NO excuse for not doing it." "Stay with it- it's important." "It'll be fine." "We'll get around to it one day." "Don't worry. It'll sort itself outeventually." “Just play it as it comes.” "It wont happen by magic" (said J. Major, 26/5/1992).

"If your mouths did the work, it would be done by now." "Do it before the country is bored and sickened out its mind." "It will save the nation from despair." "The nation’s health depends on it." "Well, I hardly refuse it if it's going to help your education." "We've got the raw ingredients, we've got the money, we've got the time, the land and the airtime. What's the problem?" "I'm on to it." "Come on, out with it." "We're going to get it together." "We're going to do it together." "We cannot rest until it is done." "We are going to stick with it now we've made the decision." ("Do it by the book.") (If they still don't do it: "Throw this book at them" ?) "I hope it is adopted." "See it through- it will be sensational!" "I hope it all goes well." THE MEDIA: ("Take me to where the most powerful printing presses are.") “… it’s better to be truthful than live a lie.” "To report the truth would make a nice change." "Read all about it!" "… it's a top story." "It's our job to tell people what's going on." (So why haven't you?) "... it's only hearsay..." 1963 - : "Any attempt to publish it will simply not see the light of day." “Colloquialisms- not allowed… This is where most common sense is found. The public say what they mean." 1989: "GROWING CURBS ON MEDIA FREEDOM..." "The media don't represent how things actually arethey're very biased (politically.”) "We are witnessing A RAPID DIS-INFORMATION PROCESS." "We do not have a Free press." "The number of banned programmes! In Key areas... we are not allowed to transmit. Conservatives are increasingly censoring..." "Warned off it." “Massaging the Truth = Propaganda.” The Sun newspaper said: “Forget about the Homeless- other things are more important…" "I never felt more like singing the blues..." ("The owner of the Sun newspaper has now bought 405

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accountable to the British people in a way no Party has ever done before." PEOPLE SAID: “Hip Hip Hooray. Huh! We can hope.” M. Howard (smugly) insisted Conservatives can win the Election. He said: "People are looking to us for a lead in crime, which is out of control.” (As he got into his car, Mr. Howard chuckled and said: “Crime has gone up, hasn't it?") Mr. Howard’s next speech: "Conservatives will fight crime, by increasing the number of police...” EXPERT: “Conservatives are now more right wing- they have harder language & policies..." (Newscasters looked very sick and pale when announcing): “…the Conservatives are making a come back...” Then, a Conservative Party spokesman at Bournemouth said: "… People want an ALTERNATIVE. They want something very different..." (Sky News, 3/10/2004). M. Howard said: "… There are no ideological battles these days. Politics is all about management…" (4/10/2004). EXPERT: "People no longer trust politicians..." "Trust us" said M. Howard. "Broken promises- it wont happen again." "There will be more school discipline..." (A clever speech, wringing the mainly elderly audience for the sympathy vote. As usualgrand speeches- no content or detail). "The Conservative audience loved it” (it means: his speech). They said: “He will be Britain's new Prime Minister'..." Commentator: "Can the Conservatives offer any real alternative?" EXPERT: "No" (Channel 4, 5/10/2004). Labour said: "Michael Howard will say anything to rope you in." A Voter said: “I wont take your word for it.” Commentator: "Voters have fallen out of love with Tony Blair. The 2nd war in Iraq, the ban on fox Hunting…” (Labour are no longer Socialist i.e. supporting policies to help the poor? Are ‘New’ Labour the only Party capable of delivering it? Labour are slow, often ineffective and governed by doublestandards…” (Do Labour support the Middleclasses?) (“David Blunket, former Home Secretary believed in regenerating communities i.e. more power at local government level…”) (Unfortunately, the homeless, prisoners, the mentally ill, and children are not allowed to vote… Maybe the Middle classes should insist LABOUR HELP the poor!? RELIEVE SOCIAL SUFFERING!) The UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY: “Their desire is to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act releasing Britain from the rule of Brussels… to save… money- “£12 BILLION per year is given to Brussels via Taxes, and restore Home-rule.”

throughout the world... But the existing powers have control of our lives. Should we censor the facts - the truth? Or remove the cause of the problem? Is the problem… Freedom?" "The UK operates under a strange code of secrecy. The people who run Britain conspire together to prevent you learning anything except what they want you to know. It would be refreshing if there was Freedom of Information. The usual establishment conspiracy is not what makes for good Democracy. 'Publish and Be Damned' is still our motto" (said the Daily Mirror, 27/7/1993). "PREDICTION: The media wont stop the rot" (1993). “DISASTERS are now part of our entertainment...” “Read any good adverse weather reports lately?” “Ever heard of the game called WIPE-OUT? Well, it was a wash-out.” The Press said: "People wouldn't want to read stories about rapes and murders if they weren't jazzed up." PEOPLE SAID: “You have a very low opinion of your readers! You decide the content of the newsto report what. Scandals, soap-operas, not the real issues…” “These are unconventional times...” "Mass access to the news just might have a positive effect." "When more people know about it... BREAK THE STORY. Only then will we know how the people really feel about it." "…it's something we really need to talk about." "We need more in-depth information." "Something beautiful is dying! Don't let it slip away!" "As we race for the future... we haven't forgotten our past." "CONSIGN it TO THE PAST- TO SILENCE?" "The past wont go away." "What's important slips away." "Play it back. When you're not sure what happened- what's wrong with that?" "These moments would otherwise be lost like tears in the rain." "When you see a reflection of your predicament, you understand it better." The Press said: “If this story breaks, we’re going to have to run with it… for progress to occur.” (“What do the government want to cover up?”) "I think you'll find it's a set-up, not a cover up." THE GENERAL ELECTION: The look on their faces: We’re still getting away it! Incredible! “The opposition Party leader earns £120,000 and has £½ million to run his office…” September 2004: “VAMPIRE ALERT!” Michael Howard who was known as “… one of Margaret Thatcher’s Henchmen…" is now the leader of the Conservative party. Speaking at their Party conference in Bournemouth, Mr. Howard said: "We don't need a miracle. We need more than that." 1st Pledge: "We will make ourselves 406

Speech by Dr. Kilroy Silk, ‘most likely leader’ of UKIP: "Why should you want to give it the kiss of life? We have to kill it. And replace it" (it means: The Conservative Party). "UKIP lost their main financial backer" (5/10/2004). (Kilroy went on to form his own Party… and was ‘slaughtered’ by the media…) EXPERT: "Tony Blair is going to be damaged by his relationship with G. W. Bush. I feel sorry for the rest of The Labour Party. If Blair calls an early election, political suicide..." (3/11/2004). “Labour’s Re-election Chances = Only when Tony Blair calls it a day…” BBC POLL: “84% believe delaying the election will not win re-Election for Mr. Blair.” (“Tony Blair has bought a house worth £3.6 million…”) THE GREEN PARTY: No broadcasts! Not a word said! (The TRUE Blues i.e. THE PEOPLE, don’t have a Party. If only The Greens and The Blues could somehow get together! “Blue and Green should never be seen…” (Why not? God made the sky blue and the grass green.) “THE NATURAL LAW PARTY are coming to Britain. Their symbol? A Rainbow.” What do they believe in? “Meditation. Change the world through the power of thought…” U’mm…… Voters said: “We can't ‘protest vote’ for ‘The Monster Raving Looney Party’ again!” “Put all our weight behind it?” “Oh! Sod it!” “Damn it all.” “What is wrong with having a PROTEST vote?” “Maybe we should write the word 'it' across ballot papers?” "How do we know it'll work?" "We don't. We've just got to take the chance..." “Any election papers that are not correctly filled in are deemed invalid.” “Belief in the political system is at an all time low” (29/11/2004). Ah! We could vote for independent candidates… if they support it… “M. Howard promised he will keep his promises if elected, or he will resign…” PEOPLE SAID: “Sounds like the words of a drowning man…” “Politics is all about trust…” “Can we trust him to do that?” “No. We can’t.” “Will he Save The Planet and all THE IMPORTANT LIFEFORMS?” “Should we get a load of him?” “What? Are you mad?” (“David Blunket, former Home Secretary believed in regenerating communities i.e. more power at local government level…”) “POWER TO THE PEOPLE PROMISED: Labour’s Election campaign will be ‘Power to the People’ i.e. do your civic duty to regenerate your local community… a national scheme…” “The message back to the government from the people is: IF you’re serious, give us the power to make it possible” (BBC, 10/12/2004) (No reply). “Will it be done?” (“… it’s (now) in the laps of

the gods.”) “More and more power is going to ministers…” (BBC, 15/12/2004).

“Muslim’s asked Tony Blair to disengage from USA policies…” (20/1/2005). “GORDON BROWN PROMISED to set-up a Child Care system to rival the importance of the NHS. Tony Blair PROMISED better school meals, increases in Child Benefits and more support for Youngsters leaving home. He said: ‘In the 21st century, a ‘new deal for children’ would be the most potent symbol for its mission. (it means: The Labour Party). Labour pledged a Children’s centre in every community, offering Nursery care, more investment in school children- up to £5,500 per pupil, raising the (compulsory) school leaving age to 18, and halving child poverty as a major step to eradicating it. Mr Brown said improving child care was an economic issue as youngsters were the innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders of tomorrow. It was also a social issue because if people did not pay attention to youngsters today ‘that may force us to pay attention to troubled adults tomorrow.’ He added: ‘Every child is precious, every child is unique, every child is special and all our children count.’ Parents and children's concerns ‘are so important in this election’ that this is becoming ‘a school gate’ election…” (Daily Mirror, 16/2/2005) (Ah! THE BIG PROBLEM IS THEY DON’T really KNOW WHAT it IS!) (“A leader can’t lead till he knows where he’s going.”) “Tony Blair is trying to privatise Public services. Gordon Brown is bitterly opposed to that. The lack of clear Social Justice language! No clear Labour Manifesto…struggling to find a way forward. PREDICTED: Hung Parliaments” (BBC, 2/5/2005). “There is NO opportunity for the people to state the precise manifesto they want…” PEOPLE POWER COMMENT: “If we took their smiling faces off would we still vote for their policies?” “Council Tax BILLS are still RISING UNAFFORDABLY.” “Pensioners protesting because they cannot Afford to pay Council Tax bills… Senior Citizens- in court… in PRISON…” “Governments cannot keep raising Taxes” said M. Howard, also promising Power to the People…” (4/1/2005). “The Labour party is splitting into old rebels (i.e. the GOOD GUYS who are leaving…) and ‘The new Robots.’” (Ah! Politicians are becoming more artificial.) “The government are trying to stop all throw backs…” “Clare Short resigned due to ‘ill-thought out dictates’…” (re: The Iraq war). “Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, resigned over the Iraq war…” (“A man of vision and principle. He was climbing a hill when he had a heart attack and died…”) 407

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“COUNCIL TAX up 6% last 9 years. Pensioners hit. Most agree the Council tax is unfair…” (20/2/2005) (

Q: “Just what is Labour’s BLUEPRINT for the future?” (unanswered). (“… it’s an ALTERNATIVE blueprint, just in case….”) (see: Super Casinos). SPEECH: “Labour is a socially compassionate Party… Labour wishes to reform the NHS, not abandon it…” “The only hope for the Planet is for people to vote for The Green Party” (Question Time, 13/1/2005). EXPERT: “We don’t need competing Parties right now. A group of highly skilled individuals with proven expertise would do much more good for this country than men who are trained to be mouth pieces for cameras…” SPEECH by Alan Milburn. Labour’s Election CHIEF: “We want to break the glass ceiling of opportunity. Many are struggling to get onto the housing ladder… Many of the costs associated with housing is the cost of buying land… if something could be done about that... We need to expand the number of houses to rent and buy. We’ve got to provide more opportunities so more people can get into the opportunity of owning their own home.” SPEECH BY CONSERVATIVES: “Under Labour 66 stealth Tax increases, 300,000 more bureaucratic jobs last year- we now have more civil servants than troops in the army. 5,000 people died last year in hospitals due to infections (EG. MRSA). 1 million young people are without education or a job… We’ve not seen successful delivery… We don’t want radical reform… We want government that focuses on priorities and gets better value for money. We need something that leads to less accidents… It is impossible to reduce Taxes without cutting public services. Cuts means less spending on public front-line services…” (15/1/2005) (statistics given by M. Howard

www.isitfair.co.uk )

“What it means to you. Re-evaluation of Council Tax is due in April i.e. all properties to be reassessed at current market value following the property boom…” “M. Howard promised to help pensioners struggling to pay the Council Tax…” (“But it was Mr. Howard who introduced the Council Tax when he was the Home Secretary!”) “The Liberal Democrats are a muddled version of CON & LAB...” SPEECH: “The Liberal Democrats are the real alternative. People want a viable alternative…” (5/3/2005) (“Politicians use that phrase every time there’s an Election. People vote for them- some councils then run by them, people carry on complaining… nothing changes…” “This phoney election…”) “The Scottish National Party (SNP) said the Scottish population is in decline. Invest in young Scotland! ‘We’ll get it right in our schools. We’ll boost Early-Years education, to get the economy going…” (“This area has gone downhill…” “… their only ‘solution’ is Tax, Spend and Waste…”) “Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party asked to resign for revealing the true extent of intended Public spending cuts if Conservatives re-Elected i.e. more than £35 BILLION. Mr. H. Flight was secretly taped… and sacked for telling the truth” (re: report: in The Times, Newsnight, BBC2, 24/3/2005) (“They kill the messenger….”) “Do we promise one thing and do another? Oh No! We don’t do that… If you believe in honesty, you have to act on it” said M. Howard. PEOPLE SAID: “They lie to get what they want.” “Election Plans are fundamentally flawed…”

were later disputed by a journalist).

EXPERT: “There isn’t much difference between the main parties in the UK. Both will privatise Public services - even though this is NOT what the people want. Parties have to follow their leader’s agendas. This is potentially is very dangerous.” WHICH PUBLIC SERVICES WILL BE CUT? EXPERT: “The Conservative’s promise of cuts wont deal with waste- they will take out vital services EG. Care of cancer patients and the mentally ill…” (“They always target cuts at the most vulnerable, those who are least able to oppose…”) EXPERT: “There’s lack of a choice. People are not really angry. There’s a sense of disconnection…” “Tony Blair said the Conservatives are more right wing now than ever. He said Labour are a moderate progressive Party in touch with the family. ‘We have achieved progressive change’…” (22/1/2005). “SLIPPERY. CAN GET OUT OF ANYTHING…” Tony Blair’s Nickname is: “Teflon Tony.”

(11/4/2005).

“… Social Enterprise could help everything work much better…” “Mr. Howard’s helicopter failed to get off the ground and he had to run for the train…” Pre-Election speech by T. Blair: “The NHS IS NOT PERFECT. Labour will invest in it’s future. The Conservatives will not invest in it. It is the pride of the British people. It is in favour of opening opportunities for all people. Fight for the future. Fight for a MODERNISED health service. The fight is on for our country. Let’s get to it!” “The NHS has broken even…” (March 2005) (Saying something is not perfect is a never-ending loop- you can get away with anything simply by saying that! Point is, are we aiming for perfection?) “PEOPLE POWER PROTESTORS SAID: “We want an across the board cut in fuel duty. Protests will take place 2 days before we go to the Polls. We are hoping to avoid protests of the sort we have 408

community support Officers.” A young woman told Tony Blair: “It’s heartbreaking. We waited for so long for a Labour government to get in- then they turn out to be Conservatives! All our trust is gone.” Tony Blair said: “We have a government that involves people fully…” (20/4/2005). “Britain's nuclear deterrent needs… replacing? Will you replace it?” asked J. Paxman. “We must keep our nuclear deterrent” said Tony Blair. “Will cost £Billions” said J. Paxman. Blair: “Let’s not speculate about that. There is a review going on to find out what is the best way to replace The Council Tax” (BBC1, 20/4/2005). TO WOO 1st time House Buyers: “Conservatives promised to raise the threshold at which Stamp Duty becomes payable (i.e. the Tax paid when purchasing a house) from £120,000 to £250,000 (£1 Billion a year is raised via Stamp Duty)”

seen previously. Obscene profits…” “There are 25% less fore-courts selling petrol in the UK due to lack of profitability…” (Radio, 22/4/2005). “Labour will build 40 ‘new’ Community centres (No details provided!) The Conservatives will run it down” said Labour. (it = the NHS?) (April 2005) (Then- after the election? “The pub is the centre of the community.” Labour offering money for re-opening old closed down pubs).

“All Parties have their policies about (traditional) housing… 1 in 6 votes will come from rural communities. ‘We feel very disillusioned. The problem that concerns us most: Our young feel alienated from where they grew up. A bungalow here costs £440,000! ‘New’ building here is only for Tourism not Affordable housing!’ ‘If the government can’t do anything about it, they should tell us’…” (BBC1, 13/4/2005) (Ah! “We trust them to do the proper thing.”) “The Green Party is committed to a more just society with the Planet at its heart…” (12/4/2005). “Conservatives accused of an unscrupulous, nasty campaign” (re: Immigration) “Media must upstage the spin doctors. General elections are more to do with stage management, saying very little, with well rehearsed messages…”

(20/4/2005).

“They should scrap the re-valuation of properties for The Council Tax…” “With the exception of the Daily Mirror, who support Labour, most of the media can’t make up their mind who to vote for…” “The Polls are becalmed…” (21/4/2005). “All Parties arguing over immigration…” (see

(Western Morning News, 16/4/2004).

“The Key impression image-makers want politicians to convey is self-confidence.” “The plan to cut 4,000 jobs at the BBC without consultation…The National Union of Journalists are on a go-slow…” (16/4/2005). “…They have chosen not to make this an ideological election” (BBC News 24, 17/4/2005). “OUR LIVES, in THEIR hands…” Politics = You don’t get it. Is that too cynical? “… Crime fell by 18% when I was Home Secretary…” said M. Howard (18/4/2005). All Parties are making many promises… Liberal Democrats will abolish University student’s fees. Charles Kennedy said: “Students debts affect their ability to get on the housing ladder…” Liberal Democrats will replace The Council Tax with a Local Income Tax… (which will hit house-holds with 2 – 3 wage-earners hard.”) For dealing with Crime: “Identify the source of criminality” said Mr. Kennedy, promising more police. “Tony Blair wants to improve the health of children…” (Ah! Their Mental Health & Physical Safety?) “Labour will do something about Council Tax. (Council Tax raises £5.8 Billion). There’s a review going on to find out what is the best way to replace the Council Tax.“( “Houses re-valued in Wales: Bills UP 33%.”) Tony Blair said: “Crime has gone down. There is ugly disorder in some communities. We have to deal with these issues… We need another 30,000

Chapter 14 / Borders).

M. Howard said: “If we are to get proper control of our Public services, we have to control immigration…” (Uh? They are going to get rid of Public services…) “Voters don’t like the tone of negative campaigning.” “Focus on policies instead!” M. Howard said: “I want us to remain in the European Union… No, we wont revoke Labour’s stealth Taxes…” “We will act. That’s why we are confident of winning the election.” “The Liberal Democrats wish to concentrate on the issue of discrimination against women…” (22/4/2005).

INTERVIEW: J. Paxman: “Why would anyone want to take you back into government?” M. Howard: “Because we will do the things that people care about.” Paxman: “It’s about judgement, Mr. Howard. You’ve been wrong on so many issues.” M. Howard: “I have proved I can get the job done. We were in government during The Poll Tax and we have to accept responsibility for that. We have an accident plan to bring that under control.” Uh? Paxman: “If you’ve been so wrong in the past, what guarantees are there, you’ll be right in the future? You will cut Tax by £4 Billion but the Tax burden will go up by £20 BILLION?” Howard: “Well, yes. I wish we could undo all the damage Labour has done. I can’t predict what will happen. Yes, we are going to scrap services to save money. The private sector can deliver a better service… the best deal. Yes, we will take over £1 409

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Billion out of The NHS to reduce Waiting lists, to save the NHS money… we will use NHS money to help people go privately… people don’t care where it comes from… People want it to be free and so do I. This is fair play to help Tax-payers.” Uh? (He mentioned the case of a man who had to get a loan to pay for an operation). Paxman: “Anything else you’d like to privatise?”

decision to go to war…” Tony Blair repeated: “I believe it is the right thing to do” (it now means: Go to war!) He also said war was justified to ‘save lives’ by getting rid of Saddam. Mr Blair said he is happy Saddam was toppled but regrets the loss of life.” PEOPLE SAID: “When you’ve made a mistake, at least have the decency to admit it!” “Should the PM have done it? Was it legal? Has the Prime Minister been telling the truth?” “It’s a technical argument. The actual justification for it (it means: Military action), there was not a conclusive case for going to war. It became clear it was going to be very necessary. Saddam failed 6 tests (for minor breaches). The Security Council should have decided not Tony Blair. Was all the material about it laid out before the cabinet? It’s important how the decision was made i.e. was there an informed, collective debate?” “If Ian Duncan Smith (former Conservative leader) had done something different, we would not have needed to do this war, would we?” “He did make it clear at the time.” “That obviously is blatantly also untrue.” “We also believe in telling the truth for what things are…” “As Parties clashed… they’re taking swipes at each other. Many voters feel confused.” “It’s so hard to work out what they’re going to do!” “I’ll definitely change sides...” POLL: “60% don’t like the government or the other Parties either.” “No sign yet anything is about to change…” “Government should be solving problems, not creating them!” (“It is interesting to note that every Conservative policy disintegrates!”) Labour said: “Conservatives wont be happy until there Isn’t a teacher or nurse left.” EXPERT: “This is very interesting. We have 2 main Parties with leaders we cannot trust. On the issue of trust, voters want a reliable leader who will keep their pledges to us” (24/4/2005). EXPERT: “All the political Parties have kicked it into the long, long grass. They don’t want it to be known.” The British Youth Council said: “Politics have failed young people. Affordable housing is needed. We have to accept the European system of renting…” “Those with HOUSES vote. Those who don’t have houses, don’t vote?” “Bizarre! There are some voters who think it is a big issue!” “Politicians are listening to the old because they matter. They IGNORE the young because they don’t matter? Nothing ever changes - so don’t vote? Today’s rotten politics are short of ideology.” STREET CRED: “Build God, then we’ll talk.” “HOW TO TACKLE THE GROWING BURDEN OF HEALTH-CARE? The general rise in health expenditure over the next years, the rise in ever-

(BBC1, 22/4/2005).

GREENPEACE said: “The Environment is being left off the agenda by irresponsible government…” “The government’s own Chief Scientist Agrees. There is Evidence ICE sheets ARE MELTING dramatically…” Labour’s Environment minister, in response, said: “I do believe this is a temporary phenomenon.” Commentator: “… it’s going to be very important to the politicians over the next 5 years…” “Conservatives will help renewable energy.” “When the Conservatives were in power, Britain was called ‘The Dirty Man of Europe!” “Liberal Democrats condemned the government saying: “There is a CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE from the Labour government- who don’t care about the Environment.” “WHY is no fuss being made about this?” “Polls show there is not major concern about this.” (“Oh! It’s so important…”) “The Green Party will phase out nuclear power.” “The Green Party will highlight what they describe as the disappearance of public services…” (no further comment provided!) “Liberal Democrats will promote sustainable communities, help the elderly and young people…” “All Parties are searching for the right message to get votes” (23/4/2005). PEOPLE SAID: “Which ever way you look at it, we are left on the verge…” “Do they know where they are going?” “Is it worthwhile?” “How to deal with it?” “… it is the only wise thing in this campaign…” “Will it make any difference to the way voters think? We don’t know. A few marginal votes could decide this election” (24/4/2005). Labour’s Shirley Williams said: “We’ve got core values…” “M. Howard will continue to attack the character of the Prime Minister…” “The focus is heavily on the war in Iraq…” (see Chapter 13 Gulf War & Chapter 14 Iraq).

“Around the world, this war has caused enormous damage to Britain…” (25/4/2005). “MUSLIMS ARE VERY ANGRY.” Protests against Tony Blair and G. W. Bush. A hate campaign, stirring up racial, religious & economic intolerance in the UK & USA (the West). “THE ANTI-WAR VOTE:” “M. Howard said Tony Blair had lied about the intelligence reports that led to his 410

STUDENT: “My advice is focus on what people need.” DEBATE: “…John Redwood, responsible for Deregulation could not be contacted by the BBC…” “Our message is very clear. Mrs Thatcher did it.” Uh? “The country flourishes under a low Tax burden” “But it’s difficult to make those savings. We’ve got increase productivity… the government has got to look for it. For all countries lower Tax is better…” (Radio 4, BBC 27/4/2005). QUESTION TIME: Charles Kennedy outlined Liberal Democrat proposals: “We propose a fair system…” (a top rate of 50% Tax for the rich earners to pay for free care for the sick elderly, and the abolition of University fees…) (It was pointed out to Mr. Kennedy that old people, in addition to having to sell their homes to pay for nursing fee homes, are also having to pay for personal care provided by the Social Services). It was established that under his proposals, 25% of the population will be worse off EG. wage-earners on incomes over £40,000 i.e. middle-income married couples. Q: “How can these people Afford to pay higher Tax when they are having to pay high mortgages?” Q: “Could this Tax cause disincentive- another brain drain?” A: “No, I don’t think so…” Q: “Aren’t students under enough pressure these days?” Charles Kennedy said: “We will look at slimming down the National Curriculum and make exams more useful to the employers…” Mr. Kennedy said: “Liberal Democrats are the only Party who opposed the war in Iraq” (making political capital). A member of the audience said: “That you claim to be the real Alternative is absolute rubbish.” Mr Kennedy said he is not willing to form a coalition, or do any deals. Q: “Why not co-operate?” A: “… Our voting system is perverse. You can never have a majority in this country. Pledge: “I would bring in a proportional voting system.” Q: “How does it feel, Mr. Howard, to be less trusted than the person you call a liar?” Conservative Pledges: “We would identify waste and cut it out.” re: The Pensions Crisis: “We will give them £10 for every £100 saved for their pension fund.” “Conservatives would keep Britain's nuclear deterrent to stop people attacking us.” (Why would people want to attack us?) Re: The Conservative’s Plans for the NHS: Comment: “… thereby only helping people who can Afford it.” re: The Legality of Britain going to War in Iraq: Mr. Howard confirmed he “would have gone to war knowing there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction…”

increasingly expensive drugs, the increasing population. The maths is frightening but no-one is willing to discuss it! These are the deeper issues the politicians should be talking about during this election” (Why Politicians Can’t Tell the Truth” Channel 4, 25/4/2005).

“What irks is that politicians have shown little inclination to do anything about it.” “UKIP loathes Wind Farms.” “Conservatives want to cut 130 MP’s.” EXPERT: “It’s about pressure. Yes, pressure. Getting people to vote for it.” “… The most important thing for the business community is a stable growing economy with secure Public services.” “Many people think Labour will get in and that’ll be it…” Labour said: “Conservatives will take £200 out of Education for every child to pay for private education for a few.” “Conservatives will sort out children’s fundamental difficulties at ‘Turn-Around” schools.” “Conservatives have no vision for a different sort of country” said Lord Norman Tebbit (who is campaigning for the Conservatives). “People are now uncertain we will establish big Tax cuts…” “Tony Blair again said he thought war was the right thing” (25/4/2005). PEOPLE SAID: “If you were honest, you’d admit you still don’t know what LOVE is.” “He took us further away…” “I’m sick of hearing outrageous lies!” “Billion pound decisions are made. Life is so well oiled for only so few, and that is how Parliament likes it?” “Meet me on the other side…” “Tony Blair wants to target School Gate Mums to win votes…” “Labour’s Education plans are designed to help all children to succeed…” “Labour will rebuild every secondary school in 10 years” (26/4/2005) “Labour will tackle difficult problems…” “The New Labour project is dead” said the Liberal Democrats. “The Conservatives are only 2% behind in the opinion polls…” “Tony Blair’s plane was hit by lightning during the approach to London…” (27/4/2005). “Liberal Democrats want to focus on ‘core’ subjects… promising more support …and 21,000 new teachers (cost £230 million) to ensure smaller class sizes.” “(40?) Part-time prisoners will be allowed to vote for the 1st time. Critics say that is crazy- all prisoners should be allowed to vote if a few are.” “Conservatives will scrap Labour’s early release plan for prisoners.” “The GREEN Party manifesto has a lot in there I agree with but we’re not going to get a Green MP so I wont be voting for him…” “Election results often are based on whether voters think their living standards will go up or down…” 411

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“It doesn’t sound like people are very satisfied after 8 years of Labour.” Labour: “We have to do more. That’s why we want another term.” “Politics are going down to the level of the gutter. Referring to all politicians as liars and cheats is misrepresenting all the good politicians.” “I’m a 1st time voter and Mr Howard’s tone in this election has totally disaffected me.” “I think people understand some of the issues” (The

DEBATE: “Regime change cannot be the basis for military action- that is illegal. There are many countries with bad (horrible) regimes EG. Zimbabwe, but we can’t go changing these.” “We could on the basis that it is a human catastrophe under the UN…” Q: “£150 BILLION EXTRA spent on schools and hospitals. What improvements have we got for our money?” A: Tony Blair said: “New buildings, scanners, computers, nurses…” PLEDGE: “Maintenance grants of £3,000 a year are being re-introduced so poorer students will not have to pay any fees whilst going through University- repaying afterwards…” Q: “Why don’t all the people like you Prime Minister, who had a free education, repay?” (The programme ended with the Public being told rather disrespectfully to be quiet) (BBC1, 28/4/2005). The BBC are using a double-decker bus to tour the country to discuss people’s views re: the Election. Some of the comments made by the Public: “So depressing! Leader’s rubbishing each other.” “I’m not going to vote. Such a mess, so confusing. “It doesn’t seem we can change anything.” “I know it’s important but I don’t know who to vote for. There is no Party I believe all the things in.” “We don’t really know what teenagers views are.” “What is a Manifesto? A package of lies?” “Nobodies got it right.” “Are any of the Parties really pushing Affordable housing?” “I’m a floating voter because I don’t believe any Party will make any difference” (29/4/2005). DISCUSSION: “We need to change the behaviour of people in this country.” Conservative Candidate: “We have an antiviolence policy. We need to speed up the court system and sentencing.” “Prosecute parents who don’t support the policewho are trying to stop the kids running riot.” “Are we all agreed- prosecute the parents?” “In some cases the problem is the parents not the children. It all starts in the home (it = bad behaviour). Making the parents pay will make them think.” “18 teachers last month were hit by parents!” “Bad behaviour. What do we do about it? There’s a real decline.” “Society and the media haven’t helped.” “Crime is the Number 1 issue that keeps coming up that people are concerned about.” “I don’t believe more police are the answer… If politicians weren’t bullies…” (said an elderly lady who was not allowed to finish what she wanted to say). “The majority of people don’t think there is a problem with immigration.” “We don’t get true figures about Waiting lists from the government. I’m not on a Waiting list…”

Boulton Factor, Sky TV, 29/4/2005).

“We need radical decisions… The non-radical government…” “Maybe if the people were asked, they would express a view on it” suggested Dr. Kilroy-Silk (who was then squirted in the face by a man who ran off).

“Talking about what needs to be done could be electoral suicide.” “They’re all in it for themselves.” “Politics these days is all about evasion.” “DEMOCRACY IN ACTION”: A 16 year old girl said: “I think it is outrageous I have to pay £5,000 top up fees when Blair had a free education.” (“She was arrested for throwing an egg at Blair’s election bus.”) “Labour warned Conservatives will introduce charges for NHS services” (30/4/2005). “We are storing up more and more problems for our children, and our children’s children. Ideals are dying, with catastrophic consequences for the future. People are failing to grasp the real issues.” Labour Party Pre-Election Broadcast: “If you value it, vote for it. Vote for Labour because the alternative is a disaster area.” VOTER: “I don’t want the aggro of it.” PEOPLE POWER COMMENT: “You’ve got to do what will make you happy without screwing anybody.” “Conservatives want more prison places. Liberal Democrats believe in Rehabilitation schemes.” “Significant voices lost in this election.” EG. “It is the last thing on their list, but 60 – 70% would vote if given the chance” said a charity for the Homeless (based in Plymouth). “Campaign described as ‘lack lustre.’ “There is something going on in the constituencies… they’ve fallen out of love with us…” “Something is missing in this Election…” (Ah! Should we (i.e. those who want it) FORM: ‘The People Power Party’? ‘The People’s Alliance Party’? “Yeh, we’re going to have a party…” “Everyone we meet will be dancing in the street…” “I know! Call it: ‘The People Power Movement!’ Everyone who is Human will join!” (That domain name has already taken by a European bureaucratic office). Ah! “It’s my party… and I’ll cry if I

want to…” 412

gambling!!!” ("... it's not gambling.") “Tony Blair could become leader of the UN…” “… it’s about making successful communities” said Labour. (re: Need to delay reassessment of value of homes for Council Tax er… um… The Community Charge) (December 2005). PEOPLE SAID: “Pull it together or you’ll be gone and so will we!” “For the Conservatives to win the next Election and profit from the discontent with the Labour Party, they need to convince people they are ‘the real alternative’…” (Sky news). “… An important ruling in the High court Re: TORTURE could have wide-reaching implications…” “Charles Kennedy finally admitted he suffers from alcoholism- he resigned…” “Labour’s Home Affairs minister, whose job is to provide a sense of unity and purpose, suddenly resigned” (January 2006). “Prime Minister criticised for his domestic policy… Tony Blair hoped to rise above it…” (27/8/2006) (Much criticism, like: “… if you want to keep your job, you’d better come up with something right now!” “Forget ‘what if’ and concentrate on ‘what’s next?’…” “People still think the P.M. has something up his sleeve. It‘s still a core issue for most Labour people. The rebels are at their weakest… The Prime Minister portrays them as being ‘soft’…” “The blood of the poor profits the profiteers and they call this democracy…” “Your idea of democracy is killing me!” “The dead and the dying are the silent majority. What a way to be free…” (“There a great deal the dying can do…”) HARD GAMBLING: “A shortlist of 8 possible sites for Britain's first Las Vegas-style ‘super-casino’ has been announced…” (BBC, 24/5/2006) “Tessa Jowell said the government had ‘no plan B’ (if the House of Lords ‘scuper’ Labour’s plan for ‘regeneration’…” (29/3/2007) “… it’s what you might call an alternative strategy if they fuck up again…” “I’ll give POWER TO THE PEOPLE… under a humble government which will listen and learn…” said Gordon Brown (Daily Mirror, 12/5/2007). “… How can he be the change this country needs?” asked David Cameron, Conservative leader. “… a RAINBOW COHILITION seems likely in Wales…” (19/5/2007). “… the lies, the cynicism, the lack of trust! They give with their left hand, take with their other, and hide it as well! That is Mr. Blair’s legacy. Blair didn’t see it as a selling point (it means: Family values)”

Q: “Why can’t we just be a united TEAM? With a clear message?” “IF Tony wants it…” PROTEST: “B LIAR…” “Tony Blair is going it alone…” “Charles Kennedy called Tony Blair ‘a lame duck.’ Campaigns focused on personalities” (30/4/2005) (“WAH! I’VE HEARD ALL THIS BEFORE. THEY’RE WASTING OUR TIME.”) M. Howard said: “We’ll deliver action, not words.” EXPERT: “Howard is more sure-fired.” “We’re Party animals.” “Their aloofness, remoteness evaporates at Election times…” “What did M. Howard achieve when he was Home Secretary? Did he do anything good for the country? Did he sort out the problems of people having nowhere to live?” COMMENTATOR: “The young today are very good at detecting bastards.” “Gordon Brown will raise Child-Care Tax Credits…” “M. Howard has an action plan for his government” (1/5/2005) (No details!) “Labour promised to focus on Aid for Africa- the noble cause. Liberal Democrats promised help for Aid’s victims. Conservatives will match Labour’s targets for Aid making free Aid fairer. We have got a Historic opportunity here and now to make THE WORLD fairer.” “FAIR TRADE!” (Sky News used a smile-meter to gauge the Public’s response to politician’s answers…) “I wanted to vote for The GREEN Party but my area has no Green Party candidate!” VOTER: “I’m an IDEALIST. I expect some organisation but there’s none at all!” (NEW WORDS: QUALITICS & QUALWITTY). “THE ELECTION RESULT = WHO is on TOP?” “After 8 wasted years, Labour won a Historic 3rd term, with the lowest percentage of any returning Party. Labour lost 47 MP’s. Conservatives gained 33 MP’s. The GREEN Party vote was up only 0.4%. It was a nerve-racking roller-coaster ride for all Parties. There has been a lot of ‘hold your nose and vote Labour.’ Blair will now reshape… his cabinet. There is now more chance for the policies of the Enlightened. Is the story going to be he’s not listening again?” M. Howard said: “I believe the time has come to really deliver what the people really want in this country.” “Tony Blair promised he will govern wisely.” “… with a reduced (government) majority we might get true Democracy…” (“but I doubt it…”) “How to make future Elections with postal voting less open to corruption?” “We need to make them water-tight with safeguards.” (“Yeh. You need to concentrate on water-proofing a lot more…”) “To overcome low turnout, voters should be fined for not voting” said an MP. “TO REGENERATE AREAS, Labour’s BLUEPRINT is 6 Super Casinos to support hard

(Voters verdict, Sky news, 20/5/2007).

“Labour will end ‘grace and favor’ mansions…” (20/5/2007). 413

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of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation: £225 million (excluding cost of all the jewels). All the regalia... “ SOVEREIGN: "SUPREME ruler…” The Queen = “Head of The Commonwealth. Head of State.” "The Queen of England has power to sign treaties, declarations of war, can appoint lords, and decide patronage.” Q: “Has it been done as you ordered, your Majesty?” (“A great ruler brings his country prosperity and peace.”) A: “The Queen does not make decisions. However, the Queen could dismiss Parliament and appoint a Prime Minister." "When you are royalty you can have views but the people never know what your views are." Q: "Who writes the Queen's speeches?" A: “Mrs Thatcher.” Q: "Who writes Thatcher's speeches?"

“… SOMETHING MUST BE DONE’ said Tony Blair re: Reforms. Criticism: ‘You started off 10 years ago believing in social mobility but it has slowed down.’ Mr Blair replied: ‘… I have seen evidence (whereby) reaching out to those who would have been left behind has made fundamental differences…’ Q: ‘What pressure made you change your mind from radical reform?’ A: ‘I was very sceptical of it. It was problematic.’ (it means: Removing A’ level exams). ‘That wasn’t the right change. … to give poorer kids a chance in life…’ approved changes = Privately owned / run academy schools…” (UK, Commons Liaison Committee, 18/6/2007).

("John Major wrote the Queen's speech which announced new laws to end mutiny in prisons..."

THE FUTURE?

1/11/1991).

PROFIT MAKING: "The Queen is the richest woman in the world, with a fortune of £5.3 Billion. She owns 25 crowns and tiaras, shares worth £2.4 Billion, 106,000 acres of land in England alone, several castles, and several palaces. Crown properties...” "There are 10,000 pictures in the royal collection. One small painting worth £80,000" (1989) "The Queen is the 9th wealthiest person in the world. Her wealth = £5.2 Billion (fallen from £7.8 Billion) (May 1993). "…Their duties, responsibilities have decreased…" (14/10/1990) (JOKE: "What I am doing, I am doing for you...") GENEROUS PROVISIONS: "The YEARLY cost of keeping the Royal Family! (And all the hangerson!) Tax-payers are spending: £71,250 to keep Royal cellars, £180,557 to provide soft furnishings, £213,650 for garden parties, £73,317 on cars, allowances / grants £330,933, upkeep of palaces £25.65 million, publicity £376,000, uniforms & security £150 million, Royal Yacht Britannia £10 million (a new replacement yacht cost £80 million), the Royal train £1.5 million (each outing £36,000). A day's outing £430,00. The cost of holidays! EG. £5 million for a 10-day cruise for Prince Phillip!” "ALL costs met by Tax-payers." "WELL OILED EXTRAVAGANCE: "The Royals are enjoying a massive spending spree at the Taxpayers expense…” "TOYS FOR THE RICH... can leave you gasping. What they want is what they get. And what they get is what the council house kid can only dream of. ... on her 1st birthday, she was given a £2,000 rocking horse, carved out of Brazilian Rainforest mahogany... she spent £2,240 in one toy store... stocking fillers included a £515 teddy-bear..." "... they whizz around in private grounds... in a £20,000 replica of a Jaguar XJS, or a £10,000 replica of an

“Year 2027: Hi-tech overload. Still no choice. What’s big? IT (Information Technology), cloned, duplicates of humans and ROBOTICS: Governments use machines as cheap replacements for slaves / forced labour = Robots are ‘the perfect alternative.’ Robots used to do jobs automatically. Mechanical efficiency without sensitivity. Cyber-nauts. Machines instead of man. Many models of automatons available. Never ill, easily replaceable when dysfunctional. Robots bought and sold. Also used for sick entertainment. Given artificial intelligence… But they make them too clever, and they make too many… The robots revolt. ‘The world is a bad, bad place. It’s over for humans.’ ‘We’re here to finish it.’ ‘… it must be a

HUMAN thing’ Remaining Humans wiped out, and all the governments. (Robots i.e. metal 'men.')

THE MONARCHY: “… we could be torn apart by rage and fear…” "The monarchy holds England, Wales and Scotland together…" "Queen Victoria's direct ancestors- the Georges, won battles against Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Conquered bits, nibbled... Founded Great Britain. Victoria fell in love with a German prince (both her parents were German). She and Albert had 9 children. They formed the Russian, Greek, Dutch, Austrian... royal family. All countries in Europe governed by children of Queen Victoria. Did not marry only for love but for political reasons. Dowry not only money, jewels- but parcel of land. Thought they were uniting countries but theory busted in 1914…” (see: World War 1). "The Church is committed to the Crown…" "…You must be prepared to sacrifice your Divine Rights and your noble passion…" "Cost 414

throne. 'The show must go on.' She wants what's best for her family" (2/6/1993). "The Royal Family are held-up as a model family- something we should all be like..." "The Royal Family are the idealised domestic family." "The Royal Family represent divorce at the moment..." (1993) "Yeh, we do a mediocre impression of being a normal family." (Ah! We're supposed to lust for their money, power- to be posh). ("I could show you how to go to the top of your class... Just be yourself!") "The Royal Family bring in a lot of tourists, and imports into the country."

Aston Martin... both have a pony..." "... in one shopping trip she spent £10,000 buying antiques for her home... then spent £10,000 having her face cleaned at a Knightsbridge clinic..." "SUMPTUOUS: Royals have to be glamorous, highly fashion conscious, to reflect Britain's greatness in the world." "You mean they have a designer life-style?" "... Diana admitted to speeding twice in 7 days in her £109,000 Bentley Turbo... she didn't get banned..." "The private income of the Queen is going to be taxed but the Queen has MANY sources of income that are not taxed" (23/4/1992). "Do the Royal Family pay Inheritance tax?" "No." "The Queen claims Tax relief for dependents." "Royalty can go anywhere they want and Everything is FREE. Car manufacturers beg them to take their cars. They don't pay for anything." "Houses given to the Royal Family are rented out to workers." "If the Royals get ill, they never go without medication." ".... built on land, not supposed to be built on, they got Planning Permission... the Queen, who is footing the bill, for the super-home... Sunninghill Park will have a swimming pool, a helipad, tennis courts, a cinema, a bomb shelter, stables, billiards rooms... the interior designer has been given £500,000 to spend on furnishings... everything to suit her (the Duchess of York’s) whims... the 50 room palace (mansion) will have blast resistant plastic walls..." PEOPLE SAID: "Couldn't they save energy and live in a smaller house?" "The Romanians should get a load of Fergie." "Couldn't the Queen think of anything better to spend her money on?" “If I were a rich man… with all this money and land in the world, I know what I would do…”(The Queen could just say “we will welcome it…”) "... the money-grabbing Yorks were reported to have been paid £250,000 for a few family snapshots..." "There are 240 books in print about the monarchyonly one is critical." "If you were given a book to publish that could establish the truth, so that people were not kept in ignorance, what would you do?" "At whatever cost, The Crown must be protected" (BBC, 6/5/1990) ("If only we, the British public could share the plan...") "The Queen is going to the High court to ban a book revealing the private life of Buckingham Palace... now being published in Scotland" (July 1990). The Queen's speech Christmas 1993: "We must not shield ourselves from the truth..." "The Queen celebrates her birthday with a military spectacular- trooping the colour…” "... she walks, accepting gifts all the way..." "The Queen celebrated 40 years of rule, on the

(1989: "9,500,000 overseas visitors came to London, spending £3.6 Billion." "The Tower Of London and Westminster Abbey were London's top attractions..." London Tourist Board statistics).

"QUEEN OVER-RULES PLANNERS: The Crown doesn't require Planning Permission. In a rare case of royal prerogative, the Queen dismissed objections of Westminster council, the Royal Fine arts Commission and English Heritage... the Queen personally approved plans to place 2 portable toilets beside the ticket booth (at Buckingham palace)... even monarchs are bound by local government planning laws but because the Mall is part of the Royal park of St. James's and as Crown property, the laws cannot be enforced there if the Queen does not agree..." (3/8/1993).

"The Queen is raking in profits from tourists visiting the palace and buying souvenirs EG. a desk tidy, cost £45..." (8/8/1993) "WE NEED ROYALS TO ATTRACT TOURISTS: ... turning Buckingham Palace into an all-year-round tourist attraction could boost the Queen's finances by £33 million a year. 50 of the 200 plus palace workers could be axed saving Scotland Yard £60 million spent on guarding Royals" (23/8/1993). ROYAL BUILDINGS: "Renovations to the Queen Mother's rooms cost £5 million and took 4 years to complete." "Buckingham Palace is a fire-trap..." "The government knew Windsor castle was a fire trap. Fire experts warned 10 times in 11 years that Windsor castle was a death trap. The government is prepared to risk lives to save money. If government cannot ensure Royal buildings are safe from fire..." (5/5/1993) "The Queen has been told to install fire / smoke detectors in all Royal Palaces, and fire partitions. Sprinklers are too expensive. The repairs at Windsor castle following the fire will cost £40 million (the Queen decided to allow the public into Buckingham Palace to raise funds to pay for the cost of repairs)" (1993) "The police foiled an attempt to blow up Buckingham Palace" (March 1993). "The Queen told the nation: “… THERE IS NO MAGIC SOLUTION…” (1993) (“They’ve reduced magic to a play thing.”) "The Queen is in bed with a very bad, heavy cold" (5/3/1993) ("She's not immune then!") 415

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hospital… they need equipment for children. Yes, the great British public have to dig deeper into their pockets to try and save the children, because the Queen won’t! Why isn't Queen Elizabeth shouldering any of the burden?” "They've got tons of money." JOKE: "Whilst things need to be done, we're in the sun. We've got 6 hot and cold running nannies. Who said it's hard bringing up children? Our husbands have £millions..." JOKE: "TOO RICH TO WORK: Work? Me? Why should I? I'm loaded. I have a butler. I call him 'dishcloth'..." JOKE: "THE WHICH? REPORT FOR BILLIONAIRES: Does the 747 make it as a 2nd plane? Castles are roomy and built to last. But moats can be a problem. Bathrooms: Our panel rates the solid gold spigot. Wall Coverings: Rembrandts wear well. But they may clash with your Picassos. Corporations: We rate 27, find 12 you should take over. Lakes: A smart 1st step for those planning to buy an Ocean. Energy Savers: Cutting fuel bills by building your own pipeline" (Mad Magazine, 1989). "THEY'RE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO REALITY…” “Would her Majesty like to visit us one weekend? I am sure she would find it quite illuminating." "They should try living in the scene of the battle!" 1990: "I don't care about the Queen’s Mother! I do care about trains. I have to use the train everyday..." “They demand self-less duty from commoners but they are far from being self-less…” "SPEAK NO TREASON": "Of course you cannot go up to a complete stranger and say what you really feel about the Royal Family, (just as you couldn't in Iran) (we don't really have murderous thoughts in us) but once you know someone, you can say they don't care about us and they'll agree with you, quietly- then be a bit lost and dazed about what to do about it." "Privileged, spoiled Royals are doing a rotten job." "It's always too easy to spend other people’s money." "SHATTERED DREAMS AREN'T FUNNY: The oldest Poll-Tax protestor in Britain handed back his war medals to the Queen, saying he felt persecuted by the powers of the State. 'I am ashamed to be a British citizen.' He was ordered to pay £800. Courts are not here to make any moral judgements (!) about what is wrong and right (!) only impose the law of the land" (21/8/1990) (i.e. "I have found no love or peace here.") “THERE’S ONE LAW FOR THEM...” ("Shall I mourn your decline with a black handkerchief?") "150 YEARS OF OPPRESSION: … the Queen was unhurt but visibly shocked when a young woman hurled a black flag at her... Police sealed off a bridge to prevent 300 Maoris activists

"Subjects mustn't think we're out of touch..." "Prince William shook hands with paupers and came face to face with the misery of the homeless... whilst Prince Charles's St. James Palace home had been spruced up at a cost to taxpayers of £1.7 million..." (1993). "The Queen said she wouldn't stay in the way of the Commonwealth countries becoming republics" "Without it, The Commonwealth is impudent" (it means: the monarchy) (21/10/1993) ("… it's a… HEIRACHY?") ("... it is for the common wealth...") "INDIFFERENT: The Queen stepped into a row over pensions and said she felt sorry for the plight of hard-up old folk. She said, in a letter, she had every sympathy with those of her subjects facing financial difficulties through no fault of their own. The letter also said she was not able to help personally." "The Queen joined the hunt..." "The Crown Jewels were re-housed in the Grand Jewel House..." (24/3/1994). "The Royal Family live continually in the firing line. And the peril they face becomes chillingly obvious when the tight security that surrounds them is breached." "Electrified fence installed at Buckingham Palace..." (October 2004).

"GIVE THE QUEEN THE EURO CROWN: The Queen should be made Empress of Europe, the boss of the aristocrats bible, Burke's Peerage, said. 'The Royal Family could be the corner stone on which to base European political unity'..." “… the Queen warned Paul Burrel all is not as it should be - the Queen said she feared serious repercussions…” “Princess Diana was (suspiciously) killed in a car crash…” (31st August, 1997). “The Royal Family is surrounded by a wall of loyalty and discretion… THE WAR BETWEEN PRINCE CHARLES AND DIANA… Diana was winning the people’s HEARTS. Those siding with Charles accused her of borderline disorder (a serious personality disorder, implying she was unbalanced). Those who knew her described her as kind, sympathetic and loving. ‘I wont go quietly’ said Diana. ‘There are moves to discredit me.’ This led to the end game…” (ITV3, 17/4/2005). The Queen said: “Diversity is a strength, not a threat…” (25/12/2004). 1989: "There is growing unpopularity for the monarchy…" THE PEOPLE SAID: "5 MONTHS a year- FREE HOLIDAYS!" "Their provisions are OVER-Generous. A castle only for the odd week-end visit..." "WHATEVER HAPPENED TO EQUALITY? The charity appeal to save the Queen Elizabeth 416

Q: "Do the rich Royals feel GUILTY about having so much wealth?" Q: "Do they really need all the trappings of wealth?" "I feel a bit sorry for the Royals. They didn't ask to be born into this. Must be a terrible strain having all that wealth continually lavished on them... All the responsibility that goes with the job... Sometimes I bet they wish they could just walk away... It must be a burden, knowing they are SQUANDERING people's hard earned money... whilst the vast majority of people are made to suffer... Bit of a stupid system really..." ("In my life a million dreams take over...") "WHY doesn't the Queen help us?" "Is the Queen going to help us?" "We keep hoping!" "There is so much SUFFERING! Royalty is not appropriate." JOKE: "Give Aunt Lizzie a ring. Her magic voice will relieve all your pains." “THESE ARE VERY TRYING TIMES…" "The Royal Family HOG the Headlines in the media..." "Bloody carnage and pictures of the Royal Family! That's all we get." "If only the Press were FREE to adequately publicise social injustices." “I don’t know anyone under the age of 60 who likes the monarchy…” DEBATE: "There is a lot of anxiety concerning the monarchy- keeping it in it's place… Much talk of the need for stability, a fresh economy. We are being forced to re-examine everything. Radicals question logically. Lots of Democrats object to the monarchy. Right radicals- thrusting entrepreneurs. It's wonderful how many people want it. People who do not rely on State benefit.” Q: "Could Britain become a republic, without a monarchy?" "Who could be President?" Q: "Should people be TRAPPED by institutions, or should we reform?" A: "We don't have a Bill of Rights." "The divine rights of Constitution- we could do away with (as they did in Civil War after Charles 1st...") "The Queen stops us from having a 'Civil' War." "OK- we get rid of the Royals. Then what? What happens in the meantime?" "Get rid of the Queen and government = A National drama." "We should have the Right to choose our Head of State." "If monarchy were to go - allows a despot to come in...” “Good could come out of it..." "If the Queen doesn't make decisions, how could bad decisions suddenly come just because we've got rid of monarchy?" "Approx. 50% of the studio audience voted to keep some form of Royal Family" (The Frost Programme, ITV,

reaching the grounds... Banners declared: 'Honour the Treaty!' Demonstrators shouted: 'You Already Have Everything. What More Do You Want, Elizabeth?'... Their chiefs had no idea they were ceding control of their country to a foreign power... the bishop said his people had been marginalised... 'I have come here to cry for the promises you made'... (re: The Queen's visit to New Zealand, 1990?)

"The Queen symbolises conquering." "HUGGING A SIN OR VICE..." "Did you live off the fat of the land, dressed in velvet? Whilst children- our children only had a blood stained, filthy blanket?" "I hear much support for the monarchy from the people who want to keep us in chains..." "A society DIVIDED into classes... The Ruling class have all the wealth and power... is the cause for (all?) the problems experienced by the working class the whole world over..." "We all live like ants. The Queen is our only super-star." "The Queen tells you, you are nothing but an underling." "We'll stop breathing before we stop having a go back." "We're trying to knock down some of the barriers i.e. class discrimination..." "Class divisions have not brought us peace or well-being. Our system is destructive." "The British class system? How to crack?" "ENGLAND! The last bastion of revolution..." "… no longer on a pedestal to young people..." "People are obsessed with the Royal Family.” "Royalty ooze mystic, superiority, power, authority..." "People still feel very loyal..." "Patronage protects the hierarchy." "PEOPLE ASSOCIATE ROYALS WITH DISNEY": "Glitter, fairy-tale magic surrounds the Royal Family. People want to believe there is a happy ending.” "A bit of magic- something out of the ordinary. People need to believe in magic- this can help them see things in a different light- is good therapy if it is not a trick..." "The monarchy don't do anything worth while. A waste of money. No value. Old institution based on class. They have our money to waste. The Profits of Doom. Of course, they can make a fresh claim..." 1992: "Monarchy falling apart, now people so hard up." "This country has been robbed blind by the Royal Family for centuries." "The real people are those who are starving, queuing for soup... not these parasites." "We'll all die like rotten cabbages. There's no other way?” "400 yards from Buckingham Palace, the Homeless people ‘sleep’ on the streets- there is hardly an empty doorway…" "Why don't you get a job?" "I'm too scruffy." Q: "How much (our) money do the Royal Family spend on clothes for their own backs?"

20/5/1993).

"Prince Charles is a square…" POLL: "Most people think the Prince of Wales is failing them. The Prince's team are playing it down..." (1/3/1994) "... as 417

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he left the palace to return home... a King-sized head-ache..." (“… it’s a pain behind the eyes…”) "One day, the old Queen is going to blow a fuse..." "They live in the past, they represent the past, they do not represent the future…" "We've got to be modern to have a good standard of living..." "The Royal Family have become a scandal-ridden anachronism, trying to sell what has long gone past their sell-by date. We are subjects, not citizens. We can't get rid of them just because we don't like them…" (Question Time, BBC 17/3/1994). "We are PROUD of our Queen. Without her, Britain would not be the same. (The benefits = The Royal Mail... By Appointment: HP Sauce. Brasso…”) “1950's morality, when problems were small, and Britain was great..." “Royalty are people we can look up to. They represent duty, hard work, trust... Oldfashioned values. Leading a routinely organised life." EXPERT: "There's conflict with what people want." "SCROUNGERS: Extremists in the Conservative Party are constantly bleating on about 'the something for nothing' society. They never mention the biggest scroungers- the Royal Family. The Taxpayer is expected, year after year, to keep Royalty in a life of idleness and luxury. They are not faced with the stress of looking for a job despite being unemployed and unemployable. How much longer must we subsidise these upper class freeloaders?" (George Wood, Today 24/1/1994).

"WE'RE IN A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD…" Q: "What belongs to the State and what belongs to the people?" A: "That my friend, is a very hard question to answer." "The winner takes all?" ("Back to the order of the boot?" Ah! Sorting out the Hierarchy = “Sniffing, shoving, bullying each other – lots of mating…”) DEBATE: “They own large amounts of land that should belong to the people.” “There is doubt the monarchy could still be here in 50 years. Don’t rule it out!” (February, 2005). EXPERTS: "Abolition of the monarchy could happen very quickly." "A DYING monarchy is always one that has too much power" (Uh-oh! see: World War 1).

"How can we have a Democracy if we have a monarchy?" "The GOOD NEWS is you can keep your Queen and have it too." "… it does not need the Royal Seal of approval.")

418

capitalists live in awesome splendour. There are many jobs that need doing that the capitalists do not want to do... To get ;servants,’ ‘a carrot is dangled’ i.e. inducement - you can live like me! If you are 'normal' you will desire the same (trappings). You'll get jobs befitting your status. (The capitalist is like a queen ant- you are merely one of the many soldier / worker ants). To win you over, the capitalist pays you (some) money (a bribe) if you are fortunate, enough to keep you- whilst you have a use.” Their Attitude: "A hungry worker is a healthy worker." “THREAT: If you try to break free… we will use a big stick... Do not try to break these chains if you want to live.” = “MAN WAS BORN FREE… BUT EVERYWHERE MAN IS IN CHAINS…” “WELCOME to Capitalism. WE OWN YOU.” “I own you, I own this and that. You want it, you can’t have it. Tits for Tat. Ownership! You can’t own people! You can only have associations with them.” Just REMEMBER: “Whatever they do, it is always for the Gold.” “MONEY: INFURIATING BONDAGE causing people to die in large quantities, often violently, crazily, insanely due to stressful CONditions…” “If only there was a solution that could fix that, smoothly and quickly, I'd use it, no qualms.” BLOODY MONEY! HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF MONEY????? “…the lack of it…” “Money is hard to get. There are times when you haven’t got any.” “Hard cash.” “HARD TIMES.” MONEY CAUSES the most arguments, corruption, stress, suicides, murders, crime, misery… “Money is the most important thing when you haven’t got it…” "A BASIC NECESSITY to a capitalist means money." “Why does it always come down to money with you?” “There’s more to life than buying something for $1 and selling it for $2!” “SELF-INTEREST: Capitalism makes you feel dissatisfied with what you have, and encourages you to want to acquire more money, disregarding the feelings of whoever you have profited from EG. A conversation between 2 Burglars: “I’m thinking of buying a house.” “What on? Your salary? Hah. No good wittering on about getting a mortgage! You’ll never have that much dosh!” “We need to simply rise above…” “… the DICATES OF MONEY…” “WHO MADE THE RULES? We follow them like fools. Act on what they say. Who are they? Where are they?” (a song, 2005).

CHAPTER 12: FINANCE "I suppose it ALL comes down to money?" COST IS A DETERMINING FACTOR: “It’s always the money that matters.” MONEY: "Money was invented to assist bartering..." (Barter as in: “Give something to get something…”) "In the days before money, people used to simply trade produce EG. Fruit they had gathered, or wares they had made." (“MADE BY HAND: A big demand. A trade that is rapidly diminishing…” ADVERT: “Public Auction. Nomadic tribal rugs from the deserts of Persia and Central Asia. A fast disappearing tradition as Nomads are forced to settle. These desirable collectors items are now few and far between. Auctioneers: Marshall & Merriman & Assocs., Hampstead, London (Evening Standard, 9/7/1993).

“Whatever we do we want something in return…” (“Relationships should be rewarding.”) These days: “I’ve got to live on something…” “I’ve got to have something coming in…” THE EXISTING SYSTEM: (“It has taken us 30 million years to get this far...”): CAPITALISM: "The accumulation of money. The distribution of goods and services for profit, using invested wealth." (latest dictionary definition). MORE ACCURATELY: "Capitalism is a machine for the suppression of the working classes by the aristocracy." Who were the slave-traders? Capitalists! Colonisers. "Slavery was abolished” (in 1833 in the British empire & in 1865, in America) means: Slave traders cannot legally descend, steal all the healthy young men, women and children, imprisoning them (as they used to) using heavy chains around their ankles and necks- before cruelly selling them, for a profit, in a slave market to another trader, who would then own them as if they were cattle... That system of slavery was repugnant. Too awful. Unacceptable. The slave traders epitomised everything that’s bad about the (greedy, immoral) capitalists. Unfortunately, the capitalists regarded the abolition of that form of slavery as nothing more than the temporary loss of some profits. After all, there are lots of fish in the sea… 2004: “The International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition” ( www.un.org/NewLinks ).

“Capitalists only love money- nothing else. Find a way to help the capitalists get lots more moneycongratulations- you may join their (private) club.” HOW DOES CAPITALISM OPERATE? “The capitalists possess most of the money and consequently wield enormous power. The 419

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money." "Money can make you miserable when you have money, and when you don't." “Do you ‘have it all’ but still think / feel there is something missing? (Ah! “Are you not missing everything that matters? Like true Love?”) "I was so lonely. All the people around me were false. I had all the money I wanted but I was so unhappy. Then I realised- it's about friends and family- that's what really matters. I love my kids more than anything- it's not about money or materialism..." CORRUPTION: “Moral deterioration, UNETHICAL (Wicked i.e. Evil) Deals EG a selfcentred politician accepts bribes; to promote business which donates money to you, to help keep you in power. This is immoral i.e. Moral corruption. And against the Public’s best interests EG. Insider Trading: I am in a position of power, I will invest in this or that, and vote / use my influence to protect this or that... Supposed to be illegal, but this goes on all the time.” “Money corrupts. Money leads us into temptation, to excesses…” “People are being forced into corruption.” “There is a very Heavy price we are ALL Paying: MASS DEPRIVATION + THE CORRUPTION OF OUR SPECIES. “Who are we hurting… but ourselves?” “I’ll do anything you want me to, for money.” “You can rent my smile for £200.” “People will do the sickest, most perverted things…” “What creatures we are making of ourselves!” “The things I do for money! I wish there was some other way…” “Does what you are being paid for, make you happy, truthfully?” “If they said ‘eat dirt’ – would you?” “Do you like they way they insult you? Steal from you?” “Every body is on the take…” “WE’RE ALL HYPOCRITES.” (“When will this nightmare cease?”) UNETHICAL / IMMORAL = “Very UNWISE.” "How Does Money Grow? Most are totally preoccupied with this." (“The 3 big ways to Make Money: Deception, Corruption, Assassination.”) "Investors are being advised by the British government to buy gold because gold is rare”(1994) “You can buy gold but once you've added VAT and other fees...” (If gold is so ‘rare,’ how come so many shops have tons of gold to sell?) "GOLD MINES: Largest is in South Africa. 1974: Labour force was 650,000 people, producing 74% of the world's supply. The largest mine in terms of gold extracted covers 12,100 acres, size to cover Manhattan island. The main tunnels placed end to end = 2,600 miles." "The conditions down in the gold mines! I earn £1 a day, sometimes not even enough to buy food..." "They flew over in planes, prospecting for gold.

Capitalism is a man-made system, imposed and perpetuated by man. “London: The birthplace of capitalism. The belly of the beast...” "A Capitalist system depends heavily / totally on money. Capitalists acquire money by EXPLOITING i.e. UNFAIR usury. How money is acquired is 99% unimportant- heartless, vicious schemes requiring cunning / ingenuity enable one to survive. Find a weakness, pull-the-wool over their eyes, grab the money quick! Ha! I got one over on you! “A night-mare trail. Same scenes played out many times... When do I get my share of the robbery? It is always the unsuspecting who lose out.” Ah! Capitalism encourages selfishness and greed. Capitalist’s Main Motto: “Hush Hush, you mustn't talk too much. Don't give the game away.” “With this system, no-one is going to Heaven. Take a cut. A percentage. Or forget it. A corrupt system. Pray you don't get swallowed up. How much money can we take off them? Incentive - the promise of a better life. In reality, kill or be killed. We've not really PROGRESSED because of that. And maybe we never shall.” “Many complain Capitalism is destroying all that is good and noble.” “With capitalism, a ‘great’ way of making money is KILLING righteousness i.e. all those who want to LIVE in heaven.” “When will people realise THEY do NOT care about us? They only care about profit (money.”) “Money is everything to the capitalists. The acquisition of money is like breath to them. The thought of money keeps them jolly and living in a false sense of security. Money is their quick relief but money prolongs the agony. Cash on the nail, that's their motto. Give me more, more, and more. They are on the money trail, willing to do anything for money." “I’m not exploiting you for nothing! I’m after lovely money to keep me in the style I’ve become so accustomed to. Ha bloody Ha.” PROUD CAPITALIST BOAST: “Money makes the world go round…” (see: Chapter 15: LOVE). “Money is ‘The ‘Great’ Motivator’...” (Could anything replace that?) “Cash, that magic word.” (“Things will change- just like magic...”) "A FAIR EXCHANGE IS NO ROBBERY." AVARICE: “The love of money” (is a sin). GREED is wanting something you don’t need.” “Grab the cash and make a stash.” “Got to make a wad.” (“We are being sold the lie that we need a whole heap of money…”) “Greed. Are we really supposed to take more than we need?” “THE MONEY MOUNTAIN”: "Money is a DRUG. You are never satisfied. You can't get enough." “The more money you've got, the more you can make." "Money makes money." "Those who have money hold onto their money for fear of losing their 420

“The Mega-Wealthy live in TAX havens EG. Monaco. ‘This is a place for special people’…” (“You’re not special. You’re shallow.”) “£25 BILLION on deposit for 35,000 people…” “The aristocracy begrudge themselves nothing but begrudge the poor everything.” “The poor deserve everything in the world except a decent break?” “To most people, money spells ‘freedom.’” “Money is freedom?” “Till the money runs out.” “Money is pouring out of me like a cut artery…” "How to invest WISELY? I've got to do something with my money." “Money? You have to put your faith in something that wont let you down.” "It's sitting in the Bank, depreciating! Bank Interest Rate: 12% Rate of Inflation: 17%..." "The government Taxes money, then Taxes investments!" “We don’t get our jollies by going through all this red tape and never ending hassle you know!” “Is money really worth all this sodding HASSLE? I dunno. You tell me! Oh! I’m so sick of being worried about money.” "I've got so much money! Such a problem. I want to spend it on something worthwhile..." “We’ve got to spend our money on something…” WHAT IS THE BEST SAFE INVESTMENT? "Believe it or not, the best investment you could make is to look after your HEALTH." “Money doesn’t buy peace of mind. Instead they lost their head.” "Safe as houses? Invest in bricks? OK if bricks increases in value. What if prices collapse?" (see

They found gold, and ½ a million people they didn't know were there... Natives were very willing and pleased to help. They told us to work, so we worked. We knew nothing of money. We liked shells! I got paid one shell for a months work. We thought they might eat us. We had to have sex with them. We were terrified of the strangers. We hid from white man. Before white man came we handled things alright. They became millionaires from sieving our water." "White man came to our lands. They came to mine... There was a big tribal war. I was 9 years old when the white men took me. My parents said my spirit had been sold. I got there and thought 'this is the Devil's place'..." (Channel 4, 19/3/1990). “WHAT WHITE MEN DO, THEY DO FOR GOLD.” (“The original intention of jewellery was to decorate an ugly person to make them appear pretty.”)

"Oh, I'm so sick of jewellery…” (Does GOLD FLOAT?) “Unfortunately many people have negative reactions to your system.” THE RICH ARE A TARGET FOR THE POOR: "THE RICH ARE HOGGING it. KEEPING it ALL FOR THEMSELVES…" "We're going to beg, borrow or steal to get it..." (it means: money)."It doesn’t matter! You’re insured..." These days, always the very real FEAR of being KILLED for money... your jewellery, your watch… “Your insurance policy can make you more of a target.” "Oh! It's a BIG problem!" The (unacceptable?) risk of you, or your children, being kidnapped and held for ransom... "Money and power- such an aphrodisiac…" “It’ll cost you…” (Should I let the blind stumble on?) “I don’t like what money does to (most) peoplemoney makes them act ugly…” Do rich people realise how OBSCENE they are? “Diamond crusted collars for their swanky pets… Every (ignorant) whim excessively catered for…” (“When you are tired of your uptown toys for boys…”) “… it is unjust that a few privileged people continue to accumulate superfluous wealth, depleting the resources available, when multitudes of people live in conditions of misery, barely above the minimum level of survival…” (said Pope John Paul 11 (New Years Day 1990). “Through city trusts etc., the most wealthy are avoiding paying Tax altogether. Secret tax havens for millionaires. Legally escaping tax, exploiting loop-holes. The Channel IslandsGuernsey, for the super-rich EG. accountants. They put some into a Tax shelter. Live off some of their money. The rest is ‘on deposit.’ Buying houses costing £millions. The super-rich are super-mobile. Hard for tax-men to catch up with. If they paid tax, the middle class would pay less.”

Chapter 3/ Housing)

"You can tie up your capital for years." "I don't want to be tied down!" "Savers can build a little nest egg and no tax on the interest earned provided the money stays in for 5 years..." "Investors are running for cover..." (8/2/1994). "If your investment is in a company experiencing labour problems..." “What's up dude? Can't find the staff these days?" "Buy antiques?" "Many of the rich feel GUILTY having so much money... but that doesn't mean giving it away!" Why not? What is wrong with re-distributing some of your wealth? “I believe money is like chuck-poo - you should spread it around where it will do the most good." “What is the point of having all that money if you don’t put it to GOOD use?” “The power of money = THE POWER TO HELP SOMEONE.” “Your money could make dream time come true!” "IF WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOVE, WE ARE REALLY POOR." "There are vast amounts of money in the markets. Persuading the speculators wont be easy..." (“Doesn’t it mean anything to them?”) What are all ‘THE ANGEL' investors spending their money on? STOCKS? BONDS? 421

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freedom and leisure, possibly over-estimating the degree” (1990) “GREED has not died as predicted”

“If I were a rich business man- who didn’t want to work hard…” (I wouldn’t diddle!) "I'd like to help the poor, I really would, but how can I? They'd only spend my money on booze and fags." (That is a cop out). "WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE? Show it to me and I'll put my money into it. I believe in thinking ahead. I believe in investing in the future" said a van dealer. "Consider it!" “You could make it so everyone’s winning.” "Excuse me mister, would you rather buy stamps? Oh blimey. With variations?" "Got some spare cash to invest? And the desire to help others? Why not help to get a great idea off the ground? Please, if you are genuine..." “Into this, I ask you to venture.” "Couldn't you treat it as an investment?" "Straight up, it is a GOOD investment!" "Something for you to set aside for yourself and the kids?" "What are you waiting for? Your birthday?” "What do you want for your birthday, love?" ("I have just one wish. Oh, it doesn't really matter. I'm just a simple girl..." “Well, just name it. And it's yours..." "Oooh! It's exactly what I want! It's the best present you could have got me in the whole wide world. Thanks ever so much Father. I'll treasure it forever." "I promise I will really look after it." "Where did you get that from? It's brilliant! I love it! I want one!") "The best that usually happens with capitalism is that you might win the odd gift." (“You can spoil them with presents, but you know what? Nothing will ever take its place.”) THE HENLEY FORECAST: “A more CARING society. Are Green adverts a gimmick? Customers more discerning. Co-operation is in. All want to be seen as friendly. We understand what’s going on but there’s a corporate image problem. The British Airways Advert: ‘We’ll take more care of you.’ A very competitive Environment. A campaign aimed at pushing humanity. We can talk about people the way we wouldn’t. People want an easier, more relaxed way of life. Typical of car industry. Owning a car like this is very much a status symbol. This person is going places. It’s about speed and movement. The new man is now the new father. The values it depicts are values of exclusivityshutting the child away protectively. Individualism, greed of the 1980’s wont go in the 1990’s. What they are doing is redefining our activities. Now just what can I do to benefit me? More responsible socially. Are we going to see the back of the green yuppie? Lot’s of caring, sharing adverts coming in. Will succeed if they have real content. If they deal with real issues. The ‘Greed is Good’ campaign was BAD- people can be obsessed that adverts are right. Much less emphasis on the work place. More

(1994).

"Capitalism does NOT work but it is the best system yet devised." 1994: Every country is embracing Capitalism. If this fails, the only alternative is Communism” ? (“Dear Oh Dear! Can’t we have a sensible combination?”) “Money is the problem everywhere.” “CAPITALISM FAILS TO SATISFY.” "Surprisingly, capitalism is a system few people can imagine being improved upon…" "Nobody really likes capitalism but until someone can come up with a better system...” (Ah! Until there is an Alternative?) “I like money! I’ve worked hard all my life to acquire nice things. I’m not willing to change!” (“You could still have nice things…”) “In their eyes it’s not appropriate- not now- while there’s a profit to be made…” “THEY MAKE it SEEM LIKE A BAD THING!” “The way capitalists turn their noses up at it, as if it is a bad smell! As if it is nothing!” “Not a thing wrong with it but how quick they are to regard it as horseshit. You know, one day, it’ll be me who will say ‘please come in. Do you have any ideas to contribute to this God-given plan? Have a drink. I think you’re going to need it.’ ‘You bastard’ I shall think, watching you take a swig. For all your dynamite you know nothing of what is to come…” “You got money on your mind. It wont make any difference to you.” "If you're into heavy sex exploitation, fast cars and constant gambling, it's not for you." “When you no longer care, you’ve lost it, you’ll never get it, you’re past it. And then you realise you’re not so strong- that you should have turned dreams- it, into action.” “LET’S MAKE it EASIER…” “Everyone is changing…” (“… when it starts to open your heart, let it come in. You’ll discover when you look around you, you don’t have to be afraid… it’s like finding the best lover…”) “Everybody wants something exciting, and there’s no point living without it…” “When YOU feel you’ve had enough of this life…” (“… everyone’s going to feel better!”) IF the only thing stopping it …is money… THE DREAM: "IF LIFE was EASY… wouldn't it Be WONDERFUL!" “… it’s about QUALITY time…” What could life be like if we were not HELD BACK by money ? “Have a good think about it.” “FREE! Everyone’s favourite price.” H’mm. Could it work? The underlings freed from the mundane crap, freed to create rather than destroy. Might just work… “NO motive for Murders, Robberies, Fraud, Corruption, Greed…" 422

making a come-back." “Let's hope they look after their money better this time around." "Yuppies are using their cash bonuses to pay off bank over-drafts" (1993).

“WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM, HOW COULD ANYONE GO MINING?” Child’s dream: “Everyone should have 4 missions to do every day, to help someone else, & everything should only cost 1 penny.” MORALITY: "Be satisfied with a reasonable profit." "Money should be put to work. Get the wealthy who make UNFAIR, vast profits to invest in healthy projects within society- this will give them status." "... it will put you on a healthy mission..." “Get it out of your system!” Make it a Non-Monetary system? “It’s time to break free!” “… it’s for the greater good…” “TRUE CHANGE is too expensive, sometimes, for those with a vested interest in the present.” “The craven protection of vested interests…” “… the range and depth of ‘human’ duplicity…” WALL STREET: "300 - 400 privileged people at the most. They're real gamblers. They call it: “A Sleeping Beauty.” They set themselves up so high- a long way to fall when the rug is pulled beneath them i.e. when a deal crashes." THE CITY: "A great institution"? "The City is trying to promote the image of respectability, but that is not what the City is about. Scandals dog the Exchange. Bribes, Insider Trading, front running. Absurd investment opportunities. A RIGGED MARKET basically..." (Dispatches, Channel

THE BANKS: OLD PROVERB: “Never a lender or a borrower be…” "The monopoly with the Banks, ripping people off... Everyone should let them know by telling them 'You are a rip-off!'... On the Continent we wouldn't put up with this" (1990). "EURO-LOANS...the £ is linked to a foreign currency... the £ might be suddenly devalued... that's why its wise to steer clear. A giant gamble." ADVERT FOR A BANK: "Something's never get off to a good start..." (1990). "The Banks are after our blood!" "I wonder how much longer the Banks will drag out this 'profitable' game?" PRICE GLOOM: "How long has this been going on?" "Banks could never crash. They've ‘got it made.’" "The Banks are desperate for business. The Bank will be happy to discuss a loan..." "The Banks are terribly competitive. But none of them pay interest on business accounts in credit." "I believe Banks should not be allowed to play with other people's money- their role should be to look after customer's money." "The Banks in Germany are beginning to wield massive power" (6/10/1990). "What worries me is what Banks are doing with my money..." "The Chancellor urged the Bank of England to produce a tough Budget and keep interest rates high for the foreseeable future..." "The Bank of England said the expected recovery in the economy has failed to materialise- is elusive, the worse since WW11. Global recession, with worse to come. We have a downward turn in the cycle. The cause is the governments"

4, 3/11/1993) (see Chapter 4 / Senior Citizens)

PEOPLE SAID: "The most corrupt institution in the world, profiting from exploitation." "Stupendous profits. Fraud & Corruption rife. Smart arses get someone else to do their dirty work, then say I know nothing of this. Front men. Thieves who rob, stitch people up for £millions." "The City is rich and powerful. They have the odds stacked against us." "Business means 'the bad old days'..." "The City was awash with cash" (1988). "The City did well- helped by J. Major…” (1990). “ARE YOU TRADING AWAY OUR FUTURE OPTIONS?” CITY-SPEAK: “Well bid” means: “Everyone wants it.” COMPLAINT: "The City doesn’t understand it”

(11/2/1992).

"A GLOBAL CRISIS. THE COLLASPE OF BANKING? The Bank of England has loaned £100's of millions during the recession, to stop the collapse of banking... Hushed-up... would reveal the true extent of trouble the economy is in..." (26/5/1993).

(1992).

"Our system of banking unfortunately imposes restrictions..." “The West’s Greedy Banking System…” "The British banking system is controlled by politics..." (June 1993). “WILL THE WEST CRASH?” “Not this time. Maybe…if £Billions of military contracts are cancelled… the capitalist’s markets would go into shock… havoc…” "The Banks are owed £100's of millions and are determined to get it back" (January, 1994). “HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT REDUCE

“The Futures Market = Buying & Selling money”? Ah! “Whizz kids going for broke…” "The City is set for a period of terminal decline, similar to the one suffered by Britain's manufacturing sector, a report warns. More than 45,000 jobs are at stake" (10/2/1994). PEOPLE SAID: "Cash to flash is all most yuppies care about." "There might be hope for yuppies yet..." "Sing for your supper, if your song is sweetof romance, you'll get your supper..." "The Upwardly-Mobile yuppies are supposed to be 423

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gradually increasing their ownership. The word ‘Interest’ merely replaced by word ‘rent’? No, there’s more involved than that” (BBC 24, 22/3/2005). "Isn't there some middle ground here?"

BORROWING? The recovery will not be consumer led” (ITV, 12/9/1994). “These days the Banks are only interested in what we can offer them.” “Banks accused of irresponsible lending EG. lending £100,000 without making sure borrower and guarantor understand the small print.” “THE OLDEST BANK in the City collapsed- was reputed to be the safest Bank to invest in… There’s a culture of complacency in the old boy network in the City banks. Many traders believe they are masters of the universe. This is very dangerous if they get ‘it’ wrong… They are gamblers trying to guess the way the market is going. Gambling with other people’s lives. Heavy fraudulent investing in the Futures Market. They risk loosing all… and it did go horribly wrong” (re: Barings Bank,

THE HIDDEN AGENDA? Here is something that should satisfy all narrow minded MONEY-LOVERS: How To Get Rich In A Different Kind Of Way: “Just think about it. Talk about it. Very interesting? Keep listening. Keep your wits about you.” "They do not know what system could ever replace money." "Money is god." OH BOY! HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU: 1956: "Money is being out-moded." Plastic tokens are being slowly introduced... “The cashfree society will come. There is £20 Billion in cash in circulation at the moment” (BBC2, 25/1/1995). “I’m living on plastic. I hope they take a credit card…” (“YOUR FLEXIBLE FRIEND…” “There now. That’s taken the edge off now, hasn’t it!”) UK & USA 2003: "We prefer plastic!" "More people are using plastic cards to make purchases..." "So much lighter than carrying a load of heavy, dirty money, and so much easier than having to queue at the Banks." Governments PLAN to REPLACE Money i.e. You will be issued with one plastic card, ALL your details will be encoded- you must produce this whenever you make any transaction- a computer check will be made on your credit / character worthiness, if you owe anything that will show. The same card will be used by police for tracking purposes- if you are Homeless, a refugee, an illegal immigrant / economic migrant i.e. a ‘criminal’, a ‘subversive’... if they have deemed you do not fit into society- you are classified as a bit of scrap i.e. you are not rich... life will become extremely difficult / impossible. A Mongrel = If you haven't got lots of money… They will sell this concept to people arguing your health details have to be put on this card to facilitate / speed any medical attention you may require, that this is necessary to reduce terrorism, theft etc. This will happen slowly- be implemented gradually, ... then they will argue, 'to increase security' ... there are so many thefts of these cards! ... the only answer is a bar code... Theft still occurring... so people will be bar-coded. Where will this be put? A micro-chip will be implanted, at birth. (Same way pets are microchipped now). This will spell the end to 'freedom.' They will track your every movement… "Who can Afford to be middle-class?" "Then, there'll be no community." "It's some way off in the future..." "Our way of life, simply vanishes altogether..."

World in Action, ITV, 13/3/1995).

“THE END GAME? The market is turning away from the Banks” (June 1995). "The UK's mortgage lending debt is £700 Billion" (2003).

"Britain is £1 TRILLION in DEBT due to mortgages, home loans and credit cards. (£827 BILLION is mortgages). Housing is worth £3,00000000.0000" (29/7/2004). TYPICAL ATTITUDE: "Treat ourselves today, pay for it tomorrow." Q: "Is there an alternative to Interest rates?" A: “The KORAN forbids the lending of money for profit” (see Chapter 14 / Iran). "CAPITALISM CAUSES WAR." "Concern over TRADE WARS. It's a stark reality..." WHY IS THIS WAR HAPPENING? "It’s all a matter of money." PEOPLE SAID: "I see! You want to turn it black. You want to paint it black. You want all things to turn black. I see you turn your head away. You want all touch to turn to gold. Boy, are you cold!" "God! How I cringe every time I hear them saying they are going to make a 'profit'... We will 'exploit' something... That usually involves “making a KILLING." The most evil type of capitalist kills people to make a fat profit. What a flawed system. Killing for spoils. "A power hungry, evil, corrupted guy not satisfied with all he's got..." CAPITALISM OR ANTI-CAPITALISM? "It's breaking my heart. I know which side I must choose. One of us will lose." "Take me to the other side." (In order to stave off the inevitable...) (Something round has no sides). "THERE'S STILL TIME FOR A NEW STRATEGY..." = “ISLAMIC BANKING: Lloyds Trustee Savings Bank has launched new bank accounts for Islamics, including mortgages. Complies with the Rules of Islam which state you can’t give or receive Interest. The UK market is worth £4.5 Billion a year. Banks buy property, then purchaser rents the property-

(1990).

Q. DO YOU WANT THAT TO HAPPEN? YES / NO 424

“When all we’ve got is a number, it is so much easier to get rid of you…” "There are many enthusiasts for ID cards..." "KNOW YOUR OWN MIND. Life does not have to be a struggle." “The Police Federation said their problem does not concern identifying criminals, but catching them… All the terrorists in the September 11th 2001 disaster had ID cards…” "How do we know people are who they say they are? That's what ID cards are all about. To protect people from terrorism. ID cards are not a Big Brother ploy" (said David Blunket, Home Secretary,

"The money-men think they have it all sussed. The Thatcher'ite society preached- everything's OKmoney is everything. Well, some of us weren't bought. There's a much HIGHER Principle at stake. Let's just say we hope the Human race doesn’t lose. We've lost many battles..." "We are going to change your world." “What matters are our children. Not Party loyalty. Not greed or money. IF you care about children, you've got to care about their Environment... “ “HOW CAN ANTI-CAPITALISM ‘TAKE OVER’ THE WORLD?” “SOMETHING DID START IN QUEBEC: The Summit of the Americas. 34 State leaders of socalled ‘free’ countries met to discuss bringing ‘Democratic’ ‘freedom’ through ‘free-trade.’ Media attention was focused on the tear-gassing of the people locked out of the debate by a 10’ wall of barbed wire fence called ‘the wall of shame.’ Hence expression: Which side are you on? The Outsiders i.e. the anti-Capitalists, or the Insiders? The wall became the symbol for the divide… The closed meetings and secret documents inside with champagne toasts, the rinsing of eyes from chemical burns for those not allowed to participate… The attempt to control the debate… has provoked widespread hatred of the wall and sympathy for a new, still fledgling Global social movement… with the coming together of diverse groups of people… to complement rather than crush each other… with direct action events to demonstrate the rejection of capitalism EG. Leafleting urging town-folks to unite in Grassroots associations… Community organising campaigns… to put a positive human face to the negative media… and give locals some of the knowledge they need to begin to judge and hopefully reject capitalism…and much more than that… to build a solid foundation of support, sympathy and trust in the community for longerterm projects.…There were signs in shop-keeper’s windows: ‘We support you.’ Quebec proved it is possible to bring together 1,000’s into the city and work closely to radicalise and mobilize them for a convergence… How to balance groups so they reinforce, compliment and build on each other in a way that escalates a revolutionary movement… there is a creative process at work… mass actions give people hope… The real task has only just been glimpsed… Anti-capitalists are a long way from turning the places they live in, into free ‘cities’ in a free society. To date, it appears they have done very little work and published thinking, on what a reconstructive vision might look like, as well as move toward it in their communities… rather than just a carnival, something else might have provided the utopian thrust necessary to sustain and give direction to the

17/11/2004).

Tony Blair gave a long speech to support the introduction of ID cards, justifying this saying ID cards will protect Public services, stop illegal immigrants and increase our security by removing opportunity” (29/11/2004) (What is the best way to improve Public services? What is the best way to improve security?) “If our way of life goes to the wall, the Terrorists have Won.” WAH! WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL THE PEOPLE classified as ‘ILLEGALS’? What will the punishment be for not having an ID card? Indefinite imprisonment? “After 9/11 we have to consider new ways to increase security… ID cards will mean no crime” (20/12/2004) (no FREEDOM, more like…) “The biggest growing crime is identity theft…” (March 2005).

UK: “10’s of 1,000’s of people have signed a pledge never to carry an ID card. Only 45% of the public back ID cards…” (Daily Mirror, 27/7/2005). “The UK minister responsible for ID cards said ID cards had been over-sold. Plans may be dropped…” JOKE: “Is this new coin a fake? Feels very thin!” “Well they’ve got to save metal in some small way!” “Soon, coin-operated people!” “Nah, they’re already here, robotically robbing by overtaxing…” ANTI-CAPITALISM: "The trouble is, capitalism allows the BAD people to stay in power, to abuse ALL THE PEOPLE who haven't got any money."

PRIMAL SCREAM! "We need an association of GOOD people. NOT BAD people.”

THE ANTI-CAPITALISTS. Who are they? "We are all, more and more, being manipulated into trusting and believing in capitalism..." "Capitalism has tricked the people of the world, conspiring against the people, making them poorer than they should be. Using up their lives..." 425

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difficult struggle ahead. Nonetheless… Quebec motivated 1,000’s and hoisted the anti-capitalist banner onto the centre stage in North America. Now the hard (?) work of shaping and building that movement must begin…” (Ref. Extracts from:

sleeping bags as they slept in a school building… Genoa showed the movement is not united in either its strategy or its goals. Solving our differences will be vital in the years to come… Many countries have been rocked by General Strikes EG. in South Africa where the ANC now bleed dry the very people who fought to put them in power. Last year India had the largest General Strike the world has ever seen. Bolivia: Strikes and demonstrations toppled the government when they privatised water and arrested people for collecting rain water. Turkey, Equador and South Korea have all seen huge demonstrations against IMF-inspired price rises and job cuts… Argentina has had 4 General Strikes this year and mass demonstrations are a regular occurrence… One thing is clear from these struggles: As long as Capitalism spreads poverty, misery and despair around the world, the Anti-capitalist movement will be there to fight back, saying ONE (Ref: WORLD, ONE BATTLE!”

Article by C. Milstein, 2000).

"STOP THE CITY" = MASS PROTESTS: 1,000’s of people filled the streets, many on bicycles, ringing bells… stopping the traffic… in cities around the world. Given minimum attention by the media. Most onlookers bemused, not understanding what it is all about… Mrs Thatcher said: "Who are all those people?” (Anti-Capitalists). “Weirdos? What's it all about? I'm afraid I don't understand it! What do they want?" (Answer: A Rainbow… “The Rainbow symbolises believers in God…”) “We don’t want to turn back the clock to when life was good and simple. We want government and society to reflect our values and beliefs…” Uh? “Do you really think you can beat the governments and the multi-nationals? Ha Ha.” (“Oh! Give me strength!”) “The anti-capitalism movement has grown immeasurably bringing numerous activistsEnvironmentalists, Socialists, anarchists, trade unionists and reformists together, targeting summit meetings of the rich and powerful… In the West, the focus has been on protesting against their neoliberal agenda, their Environmental destruction, corporate exploitation and sham Democracy. The Carnival Against Capitalism (18/6/1999) targeted the City of London and was organised by ‘RECLAIM The Streets.’ 10,000 people took part. The peaceful street party was violently attacked by police- a protestor was run over with a police van and police baton charged repeatedly into the dancing crowds… 1999: Seattle: 80,000 activists and campaigners attempted to shut down a World Trade Organisation meeting- the WTO is dominated by the economic Super-Powers and acts to break down trade barriers… that means: Scrapping laws which safeguard standards, protect workers Rights and the Environment. Prague (September 2000): A protest against the World Bank/ IMF summit... cut short the meeting, sending 14,000 bankers and bureaucrats home a day early. … 3 protestors were shot with live ammunition in Gothenburg… Genoa: 300,000 activists welcomed the G8 leaders i.e. the 8 most powerful men on Earth. It is during their bi-annual summit they thrash out the agenda they will pursue at other meetings. They also surrounded themselves in a ring of steel. ‘The attempts of the police to criminalise the movement, to intimidate us off the streets, to repress us out of existence has failed.’ … Activists were bludgeoned by fascist police in their

www.worldrevolution.org.uk ).

“REVOLUTION to change the world? Well, when you talk about destruction, you can count me out. Don’t you know how its gotta be?” (“… it will happen by Evolution, not revolution…”) (CRITICISM OF) “THE POLITICS OF WAH: The demands of today’s anti-capitalists are often worse than anything they criticise: …inflatable dolphins danced with people dressed as butterflies…

… to the rhythm of native drums… The protest in Seattle and its runt offering in London… every protestor emerged from the fray with his own account of the uplifting mood… ’ … the newspapers (EG. The Daily Telegraph on 2/9/1999), and TV news gave substantial space to the images of ‘police brutality.’… Seattle was compared to the repression of Civil Rights and anti-war protests 3 decades ago… at that time the media almost always erred on the side of the police… When protestors swept through the City of London… smashing car showrooms… its rainbow coalition of Eco-warriors, manual workers and non426

governmental organisations had NO one DEMAND, and no clear goal… The gains of the past and present are rejected with the catch-all label ‘anti’. A protest, ‘against capitalism’ sounds very bold. But being ‘against capitalism,’ can mean, when there is nothing else on offer, that the world is a nasty, nasty place, and its about time the media knew about it. As a call to arms (or in this case flowers), this is about as depressing and pointless as it can get… the politics of ‘waaah!’ = a tantrum against the general crappiness of life. The only solution posed is a demand for humility and restraint… Anticapitalists ushered in the 21st Century by complaining that capitalism has gone too far, too fast, and that ‘economic’ growth should be reined in. They argue against ‘growth’ in the 3rd World and for ‘sustainable’ development… Less is best is their motto; and nobody dare disagree… On one level of course, you can’t disagree. How could anybody be for unsustainable development and Environmental degradation? ... President Clinton proclaimed they should be invited into the WTO conference… the door to capitalist leaders was flung wide open to the concerns of anti-capitalists. But today’s capitalists are only too comfortable with the principles of restraint, and restriction. Lacking the nerve to invest in their own system and the will to push things forward, those running the world are increasingly reluctant to make the most of what limited potential for progress exists today. So new technologies, bogged down by indecision and ethical soul-searching, are developed at a snail’s pace: and the 3rd World, caught between its own limited resources and the diktat of the richer industrial countries, is hardly allowed to develop at all. Seattle’s anti-capitalists have more in common with government and corporate leaders than they would like to admit. All are united in the miserable view that humanity should move forward, if at all, only with the lowest ambitions and the utmost caution. That really is something to protest about” (CONFUSED!)

Can be whatever we make it (no scams possible though). Permanent interest-free to facilitate… Achieve 0% inflation = No competing. Tax money would go further as no money needed to pay private bankers. Currently economic dictatorship… who gets the money & who doesn’t? Enslavement…” (Extracts: 2006 Documentary by Paul Grignon www.moneyasdebt.net http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9050474362583451279 ).

THE ECONOMY: Q: "What GUARANTEE is there PUBLIC money will be spent WISELY?" Q: "The economy is run in whose interests?" A: "Um, ahh! er, erm cough, cough, nervous twitch... Let's not go into that." "We are looking for a budget that includes Child care" said the General Public. 1989: MINI-BUDGET: "... a £55 BILLION boost in public spending…” (How was all this money spent?) “£2.6 Billion extra for the NHS to pay cost of government's reforms, £257 million for new beds (check out the design), new hospitals (ditto) and pay rises, £24 million to buy computers for doctors, an extra £3 Billion in Welfare payments for next 3 years, £250 million to help the Homeless- £50 million will be given to Chris Patten to sweep away the scandal of cardboard cities, another £43.4 million to be spent on Environmental research- £5.5 million of this to fund the UK Centre on Climate Change, an extra £150 million to be spent building prisons in the next 2 years, providing an extra 2,000 new places by next March, plus 8,500 by 1993. Over the next 7 years, 6,500 cells will have a toilet. Plus another £750 million to subsidise the removal of the very unpopular Poll Tax..." 1990: "The General Public are Taxed to the point of starvation..." PEOPLE SAID: "They don't get a result! They put money in- so much money!" "They're only in it for a quick buck." "THERE IS AN ENORMOUS ADMINISTRATIVE FIDDLE GOING ON.” "The games they play! Moving money around- takes years to find out what money is paid to whom, for what, when." "They're fiddling… while we burn!" “They are all part of an enormous club!” LABOUR SAID: "The government tells us prices must be firmly kept in control. So why do the government consistently put prices up? How much more are people paying this year to last year? On Tax increases. The Poll Tax will increase inflation. Mortgages, water, electricity, rents- all the costs to home owners. A terrible burden on millions... These force up the cost of living. Interest rates gone up 11 times- doubled. They are actually hitting industry. Investment is vital. Opportunities missed. We face falling order books.

(article by: Jenny Bristow, reproduced from LM magazine, issue 127, February 2000) (Picture: Unknown source).

“MONEY AS DEBT”: Money is created by banks 95% & governments 5%. USA debt is $45 Trillion. Now more money than gold. Money these days is created out of debt. No debts = no money! We are completely dependent on banks. Is the collapse of the entire banking system inevitable? We need a far different concept of money. How to make a sustainable economy? Governments could create interest-free money. Usury is immoral, parasitical… (We need to) live within our means (re: natural resources)…(achieve) balance between what we use (i.e. energy) so proceeds evenly distributed. Replace the system (with) an honest system. All work regarded equally – local bartering – prudent emergency planning for every community. 427

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nearly all of which is allowed against tax (Research & Development). Favourable, clear evidence demand is now slowing down. The housing market clearly is slowing down nicely” (Uproar). “I expect the economy to only grow 1% in the coming year but growth should pick up ¼% in 1991- the growth should be short lived. Record level of foreign investment in Great Britain. The Deficit will fall to £15 Billion" (Commentator: "There's a warning there!") Labour (interrupting): "Is there an alternative to interest rates? I know many institutions (Banks and Building Societies) would do well to re-consider their policy.” By mid-1990 there will be improved export growth with cars." "The GREEN Party want to put 90p a gallon onto petrol!" "The Stock Exchange reported quiet trading" (re: The

In short, worsening recession. Conservatives have under-estimated our Trade Balance deficit. We must have stable exchange rates. The European Monetary Fund is the only way. Building a strong, competitive industry would enable us to compete in Europe. The task for the 1990's? TO MAKE it HAPPEN. Investing in skills of our young people. A national objective? To further the education of the people. It eases bottlenecks..." (John Smith, Shadow Chancellor, re: The Budget, 1990).

THE VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE: "Home owners were blasted as mortgage rates hit a record high... the news will kill the housing market stone dead and looks set to cost Mrs Thatcher the next election..." “OUR FAVOURITE WASTE OF TIME: Valentinemad Britons spend more than £100 million saying ‘I love you.’ Our romantics are topped only by the Americans who spend £446 million. We spend £50 million on chocolates, £125 million on (cut) flowers, £15 million on cards and £3 million on stamps. The rest goes on cuddly toys, candle-lit dinners etc. We will buy 16 millions Valentine cards…” (Feb 1990) (“Let’s go all the way…”) "More than 600 people are being evicted from their homes every week because they cannot pay their mortgage..." "A record 58,000 home owners are more than 6 months behind with their mortgage payments..." (15/8/1990). "I wont bale out home buyers" said J. Major, Chancellor. He ruled out help for hard-hit home buyers and warned the agony must go on... He insisted high interest rates had done nothing to stop the scramble for mortgages. He denied interest rates are to blame for mortgage arrears. 'Most of these are due to marriage break-ups' he said..."

Budget, 20/3/1990).

PEOPLE SAID: “If they could just stop believing they are god's gift, and stop acting suspiciously... I might start to be impressed.” "Many speeches are made by those who drink too much alcohol..." "Do you think they are deliberately muddling, to try and confuse the issue?" (What's gone wrong? Can you see it now?) "Recession. Are we coming out of it?" EXPERT: “Yes, we are. We have to soldier on." PEOPLE SAID: "Oh! It's enough to do our heads in." "A vicious recession- it's going on and on. We are constantly going down- all of us." "You can live in a different country every 3 months and avoid paying tax." WAH! "I want a base! A decent basesomewhere safe, Affordable, friendly- where I know people... I don't mind paying a reasonable amount in tax." "Government makes self-righteous statements- trying to make it look as if people can Afford to pay when they can't." "No initiatives! Only more rubbishing" said a MP in Westminster. "Cuts hitting deprived areas..." ASSEST STRIPPING: "A BAD DEBT POLICY..." "These days everyone is grabbing what they can and heading for the airport..." "Conservatives privatising debt collection." "In 2 years, repayments doubled..." "Rising mortgage costs.." “Home Loans threats..." "Another year of Home Loans nightmares..." "Capitalist Britain..." "Under Thatcher..." PEOPLE SAID: "They spit hatred at us then hold out their hands for our money!" "Everyone playing follow my leader..." "All those lost deposits..." "There are all these bodies lying in the street near the Bank- a co-incidence maybe?" “An economist predicted the end of the City and Thatcher..." (1989 - 1990). "The cost of living soars..." "We lowered interest rates in 1981 before the

(16/8/1990).

"We are very worried about the world economy" said Japan. Every word followed by other countries... all of whom need an economic sense of direction... Britain, on the world stage... and this is what Britain had to offer: "Anti-inflation battle maybe impossible to win. How to curb public spending?" "High interest rates! Slack demand. We must address these GAPS." "We would like to encourage more Local Authorities to build council houses" said a manufacturer of building blocks. CONSERVATIVE: "We believe we have cured what's wrong in the housing market- the main cause of all the trouble in 1987." Uh? "It will abolish 2 taxes" (cheers at that!) Uh? (Are they communicating in secret code?) "In framing the budget, savings more than meet investment, confidence has never been stronger, more numbers in work than ever before, rising company profits- their spending has risen 50%, 428

"£1.75 Billion + £600 million to relieve housing shortages - 'to be spent on schemes of lasting benefit to the community' (money will go to Local Authorities.”) "A missed opportunity" said Labour. "Britain will increase the budget deficit by £17 Billion... ...not the 1st time such a huge deficit..." (or the last) PEOPLE SAID: "It's no good!" "Who would credit it!" "I don't believe it." "They're mad! They don't know what they're doing!" "Oh! My God. What the hell are they playing at?" “High interest rates are holding back investment in housing. Limited manoeuvring. Germany blamed” (23/4/1992). "Hi. How's business?" "Sales in the High street are falling... The stock is so oh! I don't know! Conservative?" "There's no sign of it in the High street..." "The downturn started with the housing market, then spread to the High Street..." PEOPLE COMPLAINED: "They're making us spend a lot of money when we haven't got it!" "Bloody amateurs." "Yeh, easy come, easy go..." "They're having a laugh at our expense!" "They don't have a clue about what we want!" "We're coming out of the recession? Huh. I see no sign of it." "When we raise money, where does it go? To the already well off! Massive projects to keep them in offices, parquet flooring. Admin charges! A lot of nonsense." "I might look more favourably at contributing if I see a worthwhile project but until then... my money is limited." COMPLAINTS: "There's a lot of dross in the shops." "Yeh, everything we want, but nothing we need." "What a rip off! They're making us pay top dollar for everything when we don't even need ½ of this stuff!" "Trouble is- we're in a ladder system- everybody along the line puts their % on, the price goes up and up... Used to be one middle-man… Now there’s so many…” “That’s the opposite of what we need.” “The man in the shop was very off-hand and rude to me. Take it or leave it attitude. Right, I thought. I’ll leave it.” “The customer is always right.” “If you can’t see it, just ask. We sell everything!” “Huh. Chance would be a fine thing. Some hope we’ve got.” “We can’t sell everything!” (“That’s false advertising!”) "They only pretend to offer what the market really wants..." “Shopping is the only way we can pass the time” ? "Crazy ‘goods’ have paid off. One firm has made £23 million a year on gadgets, such as duck shaped telephones- these called 'innovations' ... 1,000's of people have bought talking plastic flowers that cost £30 each..."

Election. We lowered interest rates before the last 2 Elections and we will lower interest rates before this Election" (said K. Baker, 9/5/1990) "The only way to bring down inflation is the high price of money" (said K. Baker, 31/9/1990).

JOKE: “If all the economists were laid end to end, they wouldn’t reach a conclusion.” "We can't Afford to delay..." said N. Lawson. "Interest rates are an instrument for us..." said the Bank of England (28/7/1990). "U'hem. Yes, inflation ... interest rates help us get inflation down." (Price Waterhouse stuff...) "Rate of inflation is judge and jury. Doesn't the bad rate prove the Tories are guilty?" CONSERVATIVE: "Our good record... problem is rising oil prices" (14/9/1990). "High house prices pushed inflation up." LABOUR: "There needs to be a major reassessment of spending but I'm afraid bricks and mortar is not the way... The figures are alarming..." MINI-BUDGET: "There is MORE GLOOM for the economy... Growth- to slump to under 1%. Gordon Brown said: "It spells 4 seasons for gloom in industry, with further cuts in industrial support." Trade Gap £1,115 million... production still falling... Hopes of a cut in loan rate dashed... Analysts forecast another rise after shock £2 Billion Trade deficit..." "If something's not done, the recession will get dangerously worse." "… it will turn this recession around. It's the only way out of recession." "Nearly 1,000 top British economists blasted Mrs Thatcher's monetary strategy. The shock criticism comes from The Institute of Economic Affairs- a right-wing think-tank. In the biggest survey of its kind, the survey reveals that 2 out 3 economists want the Government to take tougher action to control BIG business." "Mrs Thatcher was unable to face the situation…” PEOPLE SAID: “DAY-LIGHT ROBBERY! THEY’RE COINING it IN! The amount of money they claw back? Add it up. They’re penny pinching! How much is a 1,000 million pennies worth? (£10 million). Oh yes. It takes a long time for the penny to drop… and when it does…” “They are raking it in. Their Gain = Our Loss.” “£680 Billion raised via public Taxes…” (1991) PEOPLE SAID: “Make them account for every penny!” “But don’t look back in anger…” 1992: Budget: "… it is neither necessary nor desirable. This means there will be an increase in Tax. I propose a large increase" said N. Lamont. (John Major hid his face). Sterling plummeted immediately. Lack of confidence in policies... " "A budget intended to help boost the car industry." "It's business. Some only want to make a quick profit." 429

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("This takes the biscuit.") "’Growth’ over the next 8 years won’t end this recession." "The good news (here's the sweetener) the government has cut interest rates by 1%... ... this will improve confidence in the (traditional) housing market, encourage home ownership, ‘growth’ in the economy." EXPERTS: "A welcome move. It's going to be very successful. We see it as being necessary." "Continuing deep depression over the recession. People want real jobs, real assets for the future." "Very HEAVY Tax increases in next budget. Panic?" "They've closed children’s nurseries! Of all the things not to cut!" "Something must be done. This is the best way to fight unemployment..." (21/11/1992). “TATE & LYLE- the sugar group announced 18% loss of profits” (25/11/1992). “The government makes self-righteous statementstrying to make it look as if people can Afford to pay when they can’t!” "Where else will Labour get all the money needed for their ‘new’ spending plans if not by cutting 'universal payment' - targeting benefit?" (Are the rich are going to continue to receive Child Benefit- Welfare payments? They have said they do NOT want it- ”this welfare benefit money is only spent on luxuries.”) (“4 million pensioners only get £12 million spent on them per annum... “) (Are state pensions going to be reduced, or raised to at least keep up with the rate of inflation?) (17/12/1992). "FRANKFURT complained policy in Britain is obscure." "Denied avidly by the British government" (February, 1993). “REDUCE TAXES! State pensions paid to the rich- to those with additional (high) incomes who don’t need it!” (February, 1993). "Chancellor warned not to raise Taxes to fund spending. 7 economists- 'wise men,' said we should wait and see what happens. A clever exercise by the Chancellor's dept., to ignore dissent..." (20/2/1993). 1993: Budget: "Called 'Bite the Bullet.' How to reduce Britain's massive debt? VAT on food? "Frozen Tax allowances... Claw back money... high interest, stifling recovery... No acceptable formula to this... only face saving options..." ? "VAT on domestic fuel and power supplies. Petrol up 15%. Other motoring Taxes- road Tax up. National Health Insurance up 10%. Income tax now 25%. Stamp Duty (Tax on house purchases) doubled. No Mortgage Interest Tax relief..." N. Lamont said: "I commend it to the House." "Changes will add £12 a week on the weekly bill of the poorest families." Labour called the budget: "A cynical betrayal

COMPLAINT: They're sitting on it!" (means: The Buyers who select the products to sell in the High street shops DICTATE what the Public can buy) (see Progress Report).

"It's the bosses fault. He is so conservative. If they knew what young folk want..." EXPERT: "This isn't any old business. It's fundamental. Government policy is in a shambles." FUNDAMENTAL (means: Basic). The Institute of ECONOMIC CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT said: "Government policy of high interest rates must stay- to beat inflation..." (Is that so? No. You're doing it all wrong!) “EMERGENCY CABINET MEETING: (to discuss ECONOMIC CRISIS:… pressure on Chancellor intense… Loss of control of economy... Not succeeded in defending sterling... Confusion in the markets... Overnight losses... Constant threat of rising interest rates. What is policy framework?" "The government is desperately trying to formulate a new economic policy." "We're looking at inflationary pressure very seriously" (17/9/1992) “MUDDLE FUDDLE…” "… it's not in forecast assumptions, calculations. The years ahead are likely to show a huge imbalance- £100 BILLION. How to stabilise the deficit?" "… it could be a very long cycle" said Norman Lamont (Chancellor). "... 5,000 jobs per week being lost in industry.” Mr. Lamont described this as “the greatest rise in confidence / optimism in the economy for the last 17 years!" Committee Conclusion: "… it will be governed by growth and policy" (16/11/1992). “SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: Labour's review of the UK's Tax & Welfare benefit system = "£12 £15 Billion handed out to those who are NOT poor! John Smith, leader, not in favour of redistributing wealth to give poor more... NEEDED: A Vision. Likely to be opposed- heavily critical. ‘Sacred cows’ must be questioned." “1,000 UK businesses going bust every week…” THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT SAID: "British business is just going to have to get on with it." "Something's got to be cut! Something's got to go!" PEOPLE SAID: "Yeh, I'm waiting till the Banks collapse." "Banks only go where the money is, investing in unhealthy projects." "When it's so unclear how can we plan our lives? And get on with it?" "I dunno. What do you make of it all?" (October, 1992).

"A sky-rocketing deficit (£50 BILLION): Government might introduce VAT Taxes on food, travel, children’s clothes, and books - things like that." (Value Added Tax was imposed as an additional tax on LUXURY items- yet most of what we are already paying VAT on, are Essentials!) 430

"J. Major, confident of a recovery in the economy had fun opening a museum... and borrowed another £4.7 Billion. Fall in sales, performance sluggish. Need to cut public spending. Government not convinced of need to change"

which the Conservative government will hopefully live to regret." UK: "11 million people on or below poverty level..." (22/3/1993). "Mrs Thatcher said wealth would filter down... I see no evidence of it." "Thatcher said the money her government helped the rich make would trickle down to the poorest. Mrs Thatcher said her 'property owning Democracy' would end poverty for good. She was lying. The GAP between rich and poor is bigger than at any time since WW11... The income for the poorest has dropped by 6% since Thatcher in power in 1979... the richest 1% have seen their incomes grow 80% since 1979..." "The upper crust never went into recession- a fall in profits, that's all." "You take other peoples cash, give nothing back!" "100's of demonstrators against spending cuts. 'A FLAGRANT ABUSE of position electors put you in.' Demonstrators hand-cuffed themselves to the railings..." "Budget day always has this kind of reaction. Anyway, let's join some MP's..." "Um.. Yes, we've been left with some messy problems since the last government..." (25/2/1993) ("After all this time, after all these words...") "Manufacturers will have to find a sustainable way of ending the recession" (said J. Major 26/4/1993). "The recession is over? Mr Lamont has dug a deep hole and sucked us all in. He is now saying we should applaud him whilst we're trying to climb out of it..." "We're over the worse?" (28/4/1993) "The market is still stuck with the politicians." "The Chancellor is going to have rule it in, or rule it out very quickly, in the next month or so. It will reassert the authority of the Prime Minister. If he re-shuffles his cabinet without doing so, the point of the reshuffle will be lost..." (26/5/1993) (He's busy shuffling his cabinet? “Let's hope God doesn't start moving His furniture...”) "Inflation set to rise dramatically" (21/7/1993) ( "… it's a solid counter-inflationary plan.") "Are the re-occurring cycles of inflation, boom and crippling recession inevitable?” “EXPORTS ROSE BY 1%. IMPORTS ROSE BY 3%. ‘Very encouraging’ said John Major. ‘Be patient’…” "The TRADE GAP has widened- up £960 millionwas $5.6 Billion in the 1st quarter... due to stockbuilding of oil, timber... and pink diamonds. The worst figures in Europe! We must have protection for the pound (sterling). Serious errors in economic policy... every day 40 UK companies forced into liquidation!" (I'm speechless!) "... low levels of investment, importing goods, not manufacturing, exporting- banking can't make up deficit... constrained growth... Britain's economy will not grow unless there is an expansion of manufacturing based on sustained productivity..."

(19/5/1993).

"Shops are fighting to pull in customers as the recession bites. The economy is too fragile..." (16/8/1993).

“The Prime Minister aboard his private jet celebrated (1.5%) growth in exports.” “EFFICIENT? Treasury quick with explanations for Trade deficit. Rise due to import of raw materials (timber). Industries demand…” “John Major admitted: ‘We got it wrong’: ‘I accept the view expressed by many business-men I have met over the past 2 – 3 years, that perhaps we have under-valued science and the application of science in the UK over the past 20- 30 years’ J. Major told a gathering of Japanese scientists…” (New Scientist, 2/10/1993).

"£50 BILLION DEFICIT. How will the government deal with it? We have to wait for the next budget" (25/11/1993).

Effect? "Amateur Financial Management. Devastating." "The cost of sorting all this lot out! Who pays? YOU!” "The economy needs an active housing marketa stable market " (6/1/1994). "NO STRUCTURES ARE BEING ESTABLISHED FOR THE FUTURE..." PEOPLE SAID: “You always knew you had it coming to you.” “We must free ourselves!” (Freestyle….) "Government should protect business, not interfere with it!" "Industrial and political wings need to be together." “… it WILL BE LEFT TO MARKET FORCES TO DECIDE (but usually it is not)” (25/2/1994). OXFORD: “Firebombs went off in shops. Devices found in 3 other shops. Last month, attacks in Cambridge. No-one has yet claimed responsibility” (10/8/1994).

"Sir Leon Brittain proposed POOLING IDEAS to bring nations together. The trading balance between Europe, Japan and USA- all are concerned about economics. 'We all have a common problem - we should deal with it. We should look at the common causes of these problems, and study those.' To enhance liberalisation? We will have to explore that. Our thoughts might lead to something..." (18/2/1994). “Higher living costs… Tax anger sets tone among shoppers” (The Observer, 10/4/1994). LITERALLY WORTHLESS: ‘Good’ News: The Age of consumer durables is finally over. Bad news: We’ve not entered the era of consumer unendurables, thanks to the 24 hour day, 365 days a year shopping-till-you-drop TV sales channels… They claim this is convenience, quality,

(Article by economist at ICI, Evening Standard, 18/5/1993). 431

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value…” (Evening Standard, 13/6/1994) (Ah! The Ideal World TV channel?) “Arguments in Parliament re: ‘A Weak Britain.’ The government may give incentives to boost car sales. Car sales are leading ‘the recovery.’ Surplus cars exported” (18/10/1994). “Britain's Trade Gap is £410 million… The sort of things that need to be done are so at variance with what J. Major wants…” (21/11/1994). “24 hour shopping introduced to encourage Christmas shopping” (30/11/1994). “Over 90,000 businesses went bust in 1994” (30/12/1994). “John Major refuses to change” (6/2/1995). “Inflation has gone up. ‘The recovery is export led and it is ‘sustainable’ said M. Portillo. ‘Consumer booms lead to High St spending and have to be choked off.’ Retail sales down. All the bull-shit about the recession ending!” (15/2/1995). “There is evidence people are avoiding the High Streets- and turning to direct marketing- catalogues etc. People’s confidence is changing. Workers are becoming more mobile- THANKS to Information Technology- the micro-chip…”

got to sneeze and the world catches cold..." In other words, IF the USA gets their policy wrong... every nation could fall like a pack of cards... “ BUDGET: “A budget for hard working families… to stabilise… end the ‘BOOM or BUST’ economies of previous years. The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, emphasising the need for economic stability said: “This is a Budget putting competitiveness at the heart of the economy, which must be knowledge based…” The CBI applauded. “He is quite right. We do need skilled people- brick-layers, carpenters…” The Director General of the CBI, Digby Jones said: “Everything painted to be be hunky-dorey to boost the Election…” POLL: “71% dissatisfied with the Budget.” (16/3/2005). “The Lottery and Bristol council have funded a ‘Festival of Ideas’ to take place in May” (2005). “A FEEBLE ECONOMY: Slow Down. Falls severe. ‘THE ECONOMY IS FALTERING. We must keep consumer confidence. We must keep house-building’ said Sir Digby Jones. But the (traditional) housing market is shakey. Property prices expected to fall again… The High St is suffering. Gas & Elec prices are soaring. What is helping is imports from China keeping prices down” “But China is using a lot of oil…” (4/8/2005). “MORE PEOPLE GOING BROKE: Record bankruptcies. 40,840 last year. 112 people a day”

(Working Lunch, BBC2, 15/3/1995).

“Sterling is still weak against German currency. If this continues…” (17/3/1995). “The message from the High St is getting clearer all the time…” “Oh, it’s so hard, isn’t it!” “They keep building shopping centres even though we haven’t got any money!” “I can’t bare the thought of using ½ the new products they’re coming up with- the thought is just too depressing.” “These aren’t cheap.” “If we pay the price they’re asking…” “THE ‘FEEL BAD’ FACTOR IS SPREADING: What is to blame? The lack of jobs? Survey by ‘Grass Roots’ shows Britain's shop-keepers are miserable misers. ‘They are so indifferent!’ ‘We are increasing sales by aggressively getting new customers’ said a shop-keeper. The problems for small businesses: Finding, leasing and financing suitable premises is always a problem. There is no help. Fewer businesses are expanding. The Henley Forecast: ‘The majority of new jobs will come from small firms’…” (Working Lunch, BBC2,

(6/8/2005).

NEW DISCOVERIES: “If you put a problem in front of me…” “… it suddenly dawned on me…” “… it could lead to something…” EUREKA! means: “I’ve got it! I’ve found it!” “… it just came to me…” “A prize winning idea might be at your finger-tips.” "One good idea leads to another, and before you know it, you've done it!" “It’s very, very difficult getting an invention off the ground- the problem is money.” “Product Development funding withdrawn” (UK: 1986).

“Does anyone know how to BLOCKBUSTER?” “We haven’t a clue what to do.” “What is it? Does anyone know what it is?” (Yes, I do. “I know how to turn it into something beautiful…”) “THE ENTERPRISE CULTURE: You need an original idea…” “THE COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY: If we are to retain Britain's good name…” 1989: "In these dark days you need a vision..." ("Anyone with new ideas is always called a 'crank' till idea becomes popular. Then called 'visionary' …”) "It's often the way- the most under-rated things turn out to be the most valuable." “The 1990’s will be the era of Innovation.”

19/1/1992).

“The recession is ending! Carpet sales are up!” “£1.043 million worth of carpets were sold in Britain in 1994. If all the carpets were laid end to end they would stretch to the moon and ½ way back again” (The People, 2/4/1994).

“Government blamed for slow economic growth” (14/4/1995).

“Will it be a commercial success? It remains to be seen.” ( “… it will set them straight for a start…”) "The cost of indecision?" “The cost of uncertainty is exacting a terrible toll worldwide…” 2004: ECONOMIC STABILITY = "America has only 432

“WANTED: Something that endures (greener), better functioning. Industry gearing up for this. Now total involvement. Designers working with industries.” “You can see something taking place. There’s no product to fill it. That really gets a designer hot under the collar!” “More imagination is necessary!” “Letting off steam is very evident in our society today. The same mechanism that produces that, stops expression.” “It can take 5 years to bring out a new product!” “How to make (GOOD) use of technology? To stop technology recreating what already is, or was?” “Fabulous image production lines are the future!” “Reject the materialism of the past?” “We should embrace research to make it work.” “The problem for the designer is how to recreate the Cathedral- the atmosphere, the smell, given today’s restrictions”

the idea to them.” “The Pavilion of NEW DISCOVERIES at Expo ’92 (in Spain) burnt down to the ground- very embarrassing.” “STRESS is on THE INCREASE…” “THE BIG GROWTH INDUSTRY? Leisure. Keep Fit. Artificial Environments. Activities For All Ages. DIY Gas Masks. Body Armour?” (1992). “There is a new trend coming: Pay-as-you-View (Sky) TV” (27/5/1992).

“We need a greater vision of where we are going” said Brian Gould, Labour MP. “Britain is crying for change. We need radical ideas, which we will examine but these must not be put on the back burner” said another MP, (ITN, 8/12/1992). Needed: “Space-saving ideas.” “WE’VE LEARNED: If something fails, it is essential there’s something there to back it up”

(The Designer Industry, Signals, Channel 4, January 1990).

(re: the Grand national horse race which disintegrated after a series of disasters, April 1993).

“A Research Design Centre is not going to get funding” (30/11/1991). “The Prince of Wales Trust helps 18 – 25 years old start in business- helps you get bank loans and business loans…” The setting-up of national centres to help innovators. Inventors now have somewhere to turn to for practical help… The setting-up of a web of information.” AGEISM: “I’m too old. Nor do I want to start off in business heavily in debt…” (Do they offer counselling for despondency?) “THE Prince Of Wales AWARD for INNOVATION: 7 Finalists: A compact microscope, a printing machine for date-stamping eggs, an optical fibre amplifier to boost signals, a compact disc for 5 hour recording, a small carbon laser to treat cancers and warts, a solid state gyroscope to improve car suspension when cornering, aerosol made by compressed gas & air to help Ozone. Judges Comments: ‘What are you doing about attacking the world market?’ ‘We’ve been trying to encourage Environment Friendly products.’ ‘’It was too big to take on. We sought a commercial partner. Idea has too many practical applications.’ ‘I’m very impressed. How can you persuade manufacturers to use your nozzle?’ The award is now 10 years old. 1981 Finalist: A scimmer to comb up spilt oil. 1985 Finalist: A coating for windows that repels dirt for ships, hotels and office blocks. The winner 1982: The molded plastic bath for disabled people. Now exported all around the world” (1990). “WE WANT SOMETHING MORE… CONTROVERSIAL.” (“You tell me it’s good to be flexible, versatile…”) “For everyone attracted to the light…” “… it’s for people who don’t do things by halves…” “… it’s post-war housing.” “There’s still time!” “… it doesn’t sound like a very interesting proposition to me.” “I think we should support it, not attack it.” “Oh, people are so conservative. It will be hard selling

“THE FUTURISTIC HOUSE: Project 2020: Conventional construction / design. Lot’s of wood. Wooden furniture. Electrical applianceseverything for the lazy” (Exhibition, London 1994) “HighTech = Expensive gadgets.” (“Oh, for Heaven’s sake… protect us!”) (“You can’t advertise a product as ‘perfect.’ Or you’d get sued if anything did go wrong.”) “TECHNOLOGY POLICY: An industrial policy via the backdoor? British talent for invention is still alive and well. Devices promise to be a Key technology growth in the future. Market forecast to grow 10times during next decade. Liquid crystals. Market now dominated by Japan. UK unable to get funding to compete. Government opting for a new approach. Intention is there. Need: New ways to exploit science. Government has good budget to spend. How to spend it right? Research companies not happy. Research not being done for Mass-market. Electronics engineering- we could get a better academic base. Particle physicists appalled by lack of funding. Under threat. Success shouldn’t be destroyed. Much research being done not needed in the real world. ‘It doesn’t seem beyond the wit of man to bring those 2 a little closer together’ said the government. What ought priorities to be? IF enough people say something should happen instead of shouldn’t happen, then it stands a much more likely chance of happening. The £Billions spent on nuclear research! FORESIGHT could SAVE £Billions in future. Whitehall extremely bad at marketing strategy. The sensible thing- whole new technologies. Developing a new research line takes time. The real point is to mobilise companies to do this. They say they need more government HELP, support. This squeezed more and more. Process needs to be nurtured through every stage. This is not happening. Hence- Britain's decline. It 433

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programmes fail. Why? Too much is expected to be achieved in too little time. You’ve got to stick at it. See it as a permanent change. Not a quick fix, but a long haul. You may have to stay a few dragons along the way. Managers- hard to let go, fearful of mistakes, errors, prejudice. Drive should come from the top. Senior management commitmentshould give 100% support so can reap the benefits. A challenge to a lot of old companiesto completely rejuvenate themselves, to be a good company- something people can be proud of. Make more effort for improvement” (Business

needs higher priority, beginning in schools- more realism, thinking about how to make it work and actually make it. Thorn-EMI doing research on silicon laminates. Government keen on leading research. We should analyse market failings. Will it make any difference if we don’t do it?” (The Money Programme, BBC2, 9/5/1993) (“Yeh, planning ahead can save heaps of grief.”) “NEW BUSINESSES WILL BE BASED IN OTHER COUNTRIES, not in the UK said a frustrated British inventor. Government wants to reverse the brain drain? A Mission for Science = To exploit key areas! This is what we have come to expect from this useless government. There’s got to be science for useful purposes” (26/5/1993). “NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED.” (“Let me hold onto this good thing I’ve found. Don’t let me down.”) “British industry is improving quality by involving the shop floor. Inward investors. Britain is going to take the lead in car production… It is the

Matters, BBC2, 29/7/1993) In the first few minutes of this documentary, there was a picture of a module? with the word ‘IT’ written on. Made of metal? (I wrote to the producer, Steve Wilkinson, for further information but he did not reply).

“Engineering Employment Federation very worried by downturn in sales. Need: New markets” (14/10/1993).

“It may need consumer laws to actually bring it about” (July 1994). “Do you like machines that eat money?” “Hell, no!” “We’re all into Key pads…” “People really love remote control units. They’re selling heaps of remote controlled everything. People love it- click, click! EG. Those swish auto-open/close curtains” (1993) “Brand names are targeted at specific social groups.” "Only 1 in 10 UK companies take innovation seriously. Companies must innovate if they are to survive. It's become something of a hobby-horse to the CBA and Dept., of Trade. They have ideas but not products- if you compare the number of patents held, there's an imbalance... Companies neglect investment. More seminars planned. It's a necessity..." (18/2/1994) (“It’s a breakthrough arrived at by necessity, rather than desire.” “Necessity is the Mother of invention.”) “Most inventions these days is incremental invention. 32 million patents exist world-wide. 1 million new patents are added each year. Very good ideas often do not reach the market place. Often inventors invent markets. Inventors seem to hold the key to progress. The telephone, invented 1870’s. The technology really brought people closer together. At 1st sight not seen as essential. Inventors are very creative people, but are often portrayed as freaks- somehow dangerous, mad…”

world class companies that will flourish. The Japanese always seem to listen to what the customer wants. Without quality, you fail. Quiet revolution going on. Transformed quality without new factories to meet the most demanding standards. Hard to meet quality with stepped-up production. Expertise with workers with knowledge how to put pieces together. Used to have no system whereby they could collaborate so couldn’t improve quality. Doing away with old inspectors- old faults still got through- very costly… …everything standardised. Manuals approved by BSI (Kitemark). There are some international standards. Downside of BSI: A lot of paperwork. Not relevant… No

guarantee of customer satisfaction – that this product is what the customer wants. Passion – Putting the workers behind it. 1980’s: Workers & Unions met management head on. Now relations much better. We have realised enormous loyalty in the company. The Japanese Message: Trust your work force. Instead of issuing orders- listen. The word ‘associate’ is good to use. Closely-knit teams- absolutely fundamental to improve quality- can bring a lot of information together to implement the best solution. Not left to some bright spark- that never works. We all check each other’s work. It’s about removing obstacles getting in the way. Trouble is, a lot of common sense isn’t common practice. Continual improvement, involving everybody. A challenge. Hot project meetings. Looking for better ways of doing things- a radical solution. Japan: We look after workers- give them a job for life. You can transform a culture. Recipe is not a rigid system but winning hearts and minds of workers. Motivate them. They are more satisfied when they see they are producing something valuable and worthwhile. Managers are now one of us. Quality up, production costs now down. Reduced costs are possible. And higher profits lead to greater investment of the site etc. 8 out of 10

(White Heat, BBC2, 12/9/1994).

PATENT: CAPITALISING ON AN IDEA: “The patent office currently has approx. 600 applications a week… A patent protects your rights for a maximum of 20 years- and gives you the right to stop anyone else using it…” (Corner the market i.e. own all the rights to it, stop anyone else making it, stifle competition, kill the market for it…) “… Patent puts you in a monopoly position and by choking off competition, gives time to get your 434

business established. Hopefully, you will have better luck than Sir John Harrington who, in 1596, was refused a patent by Queen Elizabeth 1. She thought his idea for a flush lavatory was improper.” “Inventors must be careful not to let the secret out… you can discuss your idea with the patent agent but no-one else. The 1977 Patents Act… if you have a dispute about ownership… if you have discussed it with anyone in the pub, it could be regarded as a public disclosure…” “Britain has 25,000 patent applications every year but only a few end up on the market. In Japan, the idea of a mad inventor does not exist- the Japanese take invention very seriously. Flymo Hover mowers turn down 300 inventions every year. One invention that made it into production was the garden vacuum which sucks up objects like leaves and tin cans, without causing a blockage in the tubes” (3D, ITV, 9/3/1995). “Adapted ideas are not helpful to people with new ideas…” ? “There is scope for at least 30 more Innovation Centres in Britain, to provide practical help for inventors i.e. help with patenting, providing workshop facilities for making prototypes, finance. The few Innovation Centres that exist are interesting because they are all co-ordinated. These hope to be self-financing. There is a supervisor who is not above helping to make parts. Can also help inventors find a product champion” (Horizon, BBC2,

don’t actually know what we’re cooking” (The Daily Telegraph, 1996).

INDUSTRY: ADVERT for HOOVER: "We can't wait to recommend it." 1981: “Famous Hoover building emptied, staff all laid off.” "5,000 jobs per week being lost in industry..." DOWNTURN IN SALES = PROFITS FLOP = "There's a lot of wasted manpower." "Restructuring = 1,800 jobs shed." "Management gone wrong - not addressing problems..." 1990's: “Steepest decline in manufacturing. Employment prospects at their worst..." "Conservative business men pay no rises unless there is increased productivity." "It's all about CHEAP LABOUR..." "Employees taking pay cuts in return for a job. Prolonged weakness means competitiveness is tough..." "A more realistic approach is needed." 1992: “The decline of North Wales. No hope of better paid jobs. Wales has suffered huge depopulation during the last 150 years due to decline of Agriculture and industry.” “Output is at very low levels. Industry needs some help” (BBC1, 14/1/1992) (“Did you see us or hear us try? Did you turn a blind eye?”) “Birmingham has lost its manufacturing base. The recession hit hard. New products are needed.” “The ZERO DEFECT Organisation: A management course. An obsession with skills of the trade..” “Unions are shocked by the amount of redundancies. Current events are shattering, horrifying. It’s a very serious situation” (11/2/1992) “Staff cuts brought an avalanche of complaints…” “Now is not the time to start a small business”

17/3/1995) (programmed introduced by a man called Shutzman- who helped the inventor of the Black & Decker workbench). (“Anything to do with finance turns me

right off!”) “The Prince of Wales Award for Innovation: Finalists: A radio scrambler for the police, a display screen to help batteries last longer, a safer aerosol using CO2 gas not butane or propane gas, a smaller Gas meter- costing less to manufacture, using cheap plastic- if this should catch fire, the plastic will melt and the system will cleverly close the Gas off. Next- a yellow dye… The winner: the Gas meter” (1994). Winner 1995: A faster tractor- goes at 40 mph.” “THE SHAMEFUL WAY BRITAIN TREATS IT’S INVENTORS: The life-time of struggle endured by the creator of the Hover-Craft, Sir Christopher Cokerell, who died this week. Despite the obvious significance of his great invention in the late 1950’s, Sir Christopher had to put up with continual indifference from the government… I would like to see the creation of an academy for inventors” said Trevor Bayliss, inventor of the windup radio (Daily Mail, 4/6/1999). “WHAT WILL THE NEXT 25 YEARS BE LIKE? There’s going to be something fundamental that we’re going to miss- not because all the pieces aren’t already here and just waiting to sprout, but because although we’ve got all the ingredients, we

(1992).

“PLAY it SAFE: A decade of disasters- huge losses- the worst in living memory. The Banks have taken such a hammering- may not be able to fund recovery. ‘It’s so hard to define’ said the Bank of England. ‘We’re not seeing it happening.’ New investment put on hold. Problem is cost of new buildings and equipment, the number needing finance. Expansion via portable buildings? Companies giving up trying to balance books. They want to be secure at all times. People are scared to death to lend any money. The good is being held back. It’s not getting done. Small businesses are the dynamo- the starter. If we haven’t got them! The damage done to companies with high interest rates. But it’s not dependent on high interest rates. The Banks wanting to avoid bad losses, need to increase profits. They need to restore confidence, working capital, business men putting their money where their mouth is. Have we LEARNT from past mistakes? The price will 435

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reflect the risks involved. Will funding the economy become ever more expensive? It will be worth every penny. It’s bizarre. Many UK companies are desperate for an upturn. They’re hanging on but worse is still to come. Only the liquidators have lots of new clients” (The Money Programme, BBC2,

piers* with cars parked underneath. Shops open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as a market place, with a large number of office workers working 3 x 8 hour shifts. A garden growing on the roof of traditional homes to provide insulation” (Study: Commissioned by major British companies- ICI. Unilever, British Gas… who paid £330,000 to assess the future of the consumer market, 1994).

16/2/1992) Followed by a discussion re: the need to have bank interest rate independent of government.

“You know you’ll never get a loan without having to put a mortgage on all you own…” “AID NEEDED FOR JOINT VENTURES: We’ve got economic problems related to jobs, related to providing infrastructure...” ADVICE: “Find niche markets” (UK, March 1993). 1993: "50,000 small businesses went out of business." “He lost everything he worked for. People owed him money. He owed the Bank £3,000. They foreclosed and took everything. The bastards. 1,000’s of businesses failed this way.” ("There is an alternative to bankruptcy.") "Global Plastics PLC recommended the manufacture of shower curtain rings to boost trade." "Is it going to be curtains for all of us?" “THERE’S CUT-THROAT COMPETITION. Cut throat contracts. Industrial espionage. Fighting for Global markets. No-one trusts anyone else. Everyone is after someone else’s Blueprints. Runs risk of souring relations between nations. Involves government agencies. Intense rivalry. It’s the hottest issue today. Stealing of trade secrets. ‘Increasingly competitive world. We have to make sure we are not compromised. Trying to get the edge on business.’ How far should they play dirty? Commercial secrets. ‘We have to know what the competition is doing.’ Intelligence gathered for years for ‘economic well-being.’ Not narrow operations. Relations tinged with suspicion. ‘We may be disadvantaged unfairly. Any methods are acceptable to avoid this’…” (Newsnight, BB2, 26/1/1994) “The cost of keeping ahead of the competition!” “They’re always worried about secrets getting to the other side.” (What secrets?) “Weapons technology for the next century EG. Robot tanks” (Radio,

(* Piers, or the pilotis raise up the construction, and free a (usable) space under... Pilotis have varied appearances in Le Corbusier's architecture… sometimes quite slender columns, of flared bases with a 'brutalist' look…”) “Business is suffering. So many new regulations, a mountain of paper-work, despite government promises to reduce bureaucracy” (July 1994). “Business men have had their fingers burnt so often- investors do not want to waste their money again” (25/7/1994). “What is the best help the government could give to business? Each government department told to reassess. Causing deep divisions. Expenditure must be vigorously reduced. The need for regional development. Project costs… All Aid may be stopped. Conservative hard rights saying ‘Cut it back.’ Britain's shrinking industrial base. No agreement…” (BBC1, 1/8/1994). “Government support for industry may be cut altogether. High cost, risky projects… The public spending implications…” (BBC1, 2/8/1994). “400,000 new businesses started. Only 20% managed to raise finance from the Banks, who will no longer risk money” (19/8/1994). “There was talk of revitalising i.e. putting up loads of new Banks and parking lots…” “MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN. Not any more. How to put the ‘great’ back into Britain?” CLOSURES DUE TO: Not good value, not producing the goods? “The KILLING OF London’s FACTORIES: This used to be one of the great industrial cities in the world. Not any more… ‘It was all government driven’ said Hoover. Unemployment still reaches 50% in old manufacturing districts. With all the disastrous social consequences this entails…”

14/3/1994).

(Evening Standard, 17/10/1994).

“The 21st Century. Wars between private companies, fighting for a market… share” ? (“… it's all about Attitude, Attitude, Attitude...") ("Don't be too proud to admit it when you're in the wrong.") "Despite all the technological progress there is still unemployment, poverty, hardship and frustration. There are far too many people for whom work gives little or no satisfaction." “PREDICTED FOR YEAR 2010: “Flexible space – moveable, lightly constructed panels, which enable the size of the rooms to be altered according to need. See-thru homes- containing much more GLASS, and transparent materials than used in houses today. Houses raised on

“We’ve got to get this COUNTRY back on its feet!” “Professional institutions are taking ‘a wait and see’ approach” (4/4/1995). “DO THE GOVERNMENT HAVE THE WILL TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS? What is the best economic policy?” “A partnership between industry is needed. The government has, for too long, IGNORED the wishes of industry” (12/5/1995).

“The law of RESISTANCE: If the machine is not too bright and incapable of reflection… A smart machine will do whatever you tell it to do. Whereas a human will 1st consider what is more worthwhileto perform a given task, or instead figure some way out of doing it. Whichever is easier. And why indeed 436

behave otherwise? Being truly intelligent. For true intelligence demands choice- internal freedom. Therefore, we have ‘drudge dodgers’…”

possesses you? Are you sure you don’t want to join our ‘little’ community? Put the customer first!” "The customer is always right." "What the customer wants, the customer gets?" "The customer is the most important." SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS ADVICE: “Give them what they want. And you can’t go wrong. Aim to please.” INDUSTRY SAID: "There's no demand for it."

(Recommended Reading: Book: The Futurlogical Congress, by Stanislaw Lem).

“3,200 jobs lost at the UK High street store chain & catalogue business- Index. They were unable to compete with their rival Argos…” (16/4/2005) (Both companies sold almost identical products…)

Ah! You wont offer it, until there is a clear demand for it? Fair enough! ("Now is a good

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN?: NEW GENERATION SHOPPERS SAID: "This is the new stuff- show it to me, and I'll show it to you. It's a subtle one” (1990). “BUSINESS NEEDS STABILITY…” "Here is some sound business advice: Know where you are going." “Everything has a shelf life - sooner or later everything needs replacing or upgrading.” "What is the Number One Rule of Business? REINVEST." "Every company needs new products to survive." “To keep yourself on the ball you need to DIVERSIFY!” FASHION: “Always looking ahead, seeing the need for change, coming up with new ways to SATISFY the market demand…” "Another rule of business: If something needs doing, make sure it gets done." Are you looking for something…? The ideal product? "Well, it's here for the making!" “THERE’S A HUGE GAP IN THE MARKET!” "Let's get down to it." "… it is a decent product." “What is good for business?” Having an ESSENTIAL product people want! INDUSTRY SAID: “We don’t want any cut-backs!” "Look, push off! We’re perfectly OK. WE’VE GOT it MADE..." (Oh! So you think you’ve got it all worked out… “You think you’ve got it but when feelings are involved…”) “… it’s a done deal? I don’t think so!” “We haven’t made it yet.” “There isn’t anybody making it…” "… it remains to be seen." "SEEING IS BELIEVING." (I have seen what it could be like... it’s so beautiful! So wonderful!) "… it'll take a whole lot of money to prototype" ? (see Chapter 3 / Housing / Modern Materials). “Please Sir, Can I have a loan for £250 million?” “Does it need government money? Or money you’ve raised independently?” "In British history, British industry always comes up with the money to boost new technology" said an industrialist (1993). BUT INDUSTRY SAID: "There's no market for it." (What? "I can't believe you would deny a love that is so clear!" "If you don't sell what the market wants - you're a fool." "Micro-brain, what

time... It's at the turning point." "... it's ON THE BRINK!" "DO YOU WANT it? Do you really want it? They’re not really sure that YOU do.") "Industry says they can make it happen, there is increasing demand but we're cautious. The Key is consumer demand" (April 1992)

(“We don’t want to ‘consume’ it!”) "CONSUMER POWER COULD AVERT THE DISASTER TO COME SHORTLY" (Eat Your Heart Out, YTV, 3/12/1991).

"Supposing interest in it escalates?" "… it's impact on manufacturing... Re-investing. When the time comes, we should be ready." Q: Are you READY for it? NO! WHY NOT? A: “The market is not sufficient to support production.” PEOPLE SAID: “CRAP! It’s you who is not ready.” “The sheer numbers will stun and astound you, the activity will force you…” Industry’s Mistaken Belief: "… it's not commercially viable." "Something has to be cost effective to be commercially viable." BUT "… it is cost effective!" INDUSTRY SAID: "I haven't got the time for it." PEOPLE SAID:"MAKE TIME FOR it!" INDUSTRY SAID: “Who needs it? We DON’T!” "Must blast - that's the name of the game, having lunch with clients is not pleasure, that's business." “It’s nothing personal, just business.” "Suggestions on a post-card. You can't meet us back-stage.” (“Oh! Does that mean you are in a position to help?”) INDUSTRY SAID: “Fob off. Get lost.” "That's the way it is- nothing will ever change." PEOPLE SAID: "They love to feel superior!" “Take your chances. It's about the way you move... These big boys who drink and smoke heavily can't recognise talent when they see it." “BRING it ON!” "… it may be none of my business but...” “There IS a COMMERCIAL side to it....” EG. it could make brilliant NEW business premises, mobile retail units... for a fraction of the cost... ("1/3rd of business is affected by Vandalism. 'Our windows got broken 4 times in 6 months. Can't Afford to keep replacing.' The answer, said the government, is: Step up use of security guards." "The cost of security systems! Trying to keep a shop secure at night! The call out charges! The answer is a camera? Can be covered up, stolen, 437

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PRODUCE it! “… it’ll do the business.”) "Recovery predicted to be patchy and fragile"

can commit crime quickly, not get caught, if caught, get out, do same thing again- they don't stop, criminals may improve... there's a lot of dead time- soul-destroying watching CCTV screens- hard to stay awake, can take 3 minutes for you to re-act. By then, too late!" “Metal shutters coming down sound like a shot gun…” "Many businesses have 100% mortgages. Going bust, unable to keep up the repayments." "They've put up the lease so high, I can't Afford to renew." “How do I figure it? Our lease expires next year…” "Rent costs are too high!" “Shop-keepers can never Afford the rent, are always behind. Are always out to get something Affordable, something decent...” “The trouble with owning a shop is that it really ties you down...” “Our contractor has had a flood. The mains burst. Oh my God. What will happen to our stock? We’ll never make that delivery. We’re finished.” “We’ll have to come up with something…” “A huge blaze swept through a row of shops and flats” (Clerkenwell, 9/8/1994). “Market traders are freezing working outside in all weathers trying to sell their wares…”) “I just think it will be very handy.” ("Desperate for a QUICK FIX? "… it'll make it quick and easy for you to get your business going..." “… it’s good for Trade!”) (“Spend some time on it. See where it is going- if you like it, or not.” “I think most people would enjoy it.” “Question is: Is it enough?” “You may never know what it may come to.” “… it has hidden possibilities- untold.”) (“… it will do away with forced labour, inefficiency, people having to work in hostile territories, it will enhance intelligence…” “Just think what scientific advancement could come about…” “Tell me, what more do you want? Have no fear…) “… it’s not about consuming…” “It breaks the circle of having to go to work, to buy things, to use them up. Let’s see if we can make this ‘it’ business – the unknown, work!” (Ist episode, The Good Life,

(23/4/1992).

"Companies are reacting very slowly to the GREEN cause. Firms who have gone Green say 'Come on in, the water's lovely'..." (1990). PEOPLE SAID: "Yeh, do a circle round the block... how do you feel now?" “When it suddenly hits you it will yield a high return and be a good true Green investment…” “You’ve got to see the point of it to win it.” "Conditions are right for recovery. The prospects are brighter than most people can imagine." "… it will be a real break-through. There is an alternative not based on economic dictatorship.” " … it will assist recovery." ADVICE: “If you change the business model and pull if off, the rewards will be high…” (London Business School).

"… it does more than you credit." "Give credit where credit is due." “Some people are so wicked they never credit it.” INDUSTRY SAID: "There's no money in it for us." PEOPLE SAID: "You are turning down a SIZEABLE market, saying it's not worth anything! Don't you want life to be more exciting? You know what they say? ‘You can't have too much of a good thing’…” "… it will be a bonus." "… it'll be a nice little earner." "… it could be a BIG earner!" ”You're turning away GOOD customers! I don't know, they seem to think it's a trick or something!" “They are totally NON-BRAINERS.” “… it’s no hardship.” "If you want to make money out of it concentrate on GOOD customer relations." INDUSTRY SAID: "… it's not going to sell." (Ah. Well, that's really up to you. “If the price is right... If it's a good product...” “PRICE it RIGHT!” "… it is something most people would be willing to pay for." MASS-PRODUCTION: BULK ORDER DISCOUNTS: Could we get a discount if we place a bulk order for it? More Manufactured = Prices come down." 2 for 1 offers? FREE INSTALLATION? “CUT PRICE”? “Can’t you manage it?” Made by Government Contract? “If the State was behind the project this would make it a great deal easier.” "… it should be given full backing." "You can spend money on development. Release the £millions you've tied up." "You could manage it." "… it's good thinking..." “Hey! They could sell it to the rich and the profits from that could finance the making of it for poor folk.” (That’s socialism, isn’t it?) PEOPLE SAID: “… it could go either way.” “I bet we could make it without you." "Even if we can't do it, we could still have some laughs." “HAND OVER THE TECHNOLOGY TO THOSE WHO NEED it!”

BBC TV)

INVESTOR: “I don’t understand this New-Age business. You say you don’t want to make money! I’m only interested in getting a big (greedy) return for my money.” Hence, there’s NO INVESTMENT in it. INDUSTRY SAID: "The dictates of big business: I've got to give up my smaller, less prestigious customers." "Now is not the time to take big risks." "No-one wants to invest in risky ventures." (Quite right). ("What have you got to lose? Times are bad...” "Government has spent 20 years running down British industry..." “They are leading the blind away from the light…” ("… it's just the business to shake off this recession, to keep your business healthy..." 438

could be produced to a given time scale? Also means: If you're a banker, work it out - calculate your new net profit with many more HAPPY, satisfied customers). "… it's somewhat taxing." ("Yes, it is. That's what makes it so worthwhile.") (Whilst you’re busy figuring it out… I can work it out at the speed of light...) “If we don’t do it, someone else will.”) "… it will help business ‘build’ partnerships in the community, with community involvement, help ‘build’ morale and create a more positive working Environment, ‘building’ loyalty. Behaving responsibly in the community is becoming an important priority..." "… it's a good job." “From idle, to IDEAL!” "… it wont come as a blow to workers- it wont be a real tragedy." "Britain cannot Afford a scattergun approach…" Q: “WHAT’S IN it FOR ME?” A: "What's in it for you?" ("If you get it right this time, you're never going to have to look at the suffering- you'll know you're really home, and Human. You wont be on the lonely side of the road..." “No more hatred, please!” "Saving lives!" "Good deeds." “Hey, it’s all good, OK?”) INDUSTRY SAID: "We're not going to recommend it- if it reduces our profits.” PEOPLE SAID: “They want to exploit it.” "They are still saying 'yes, providing there's money in it.' GREED still RULES.” "Alright? No. It’s not alright. It is the only way to SAVE LIVES." “Hey. Get it right and you could save a million overnight.” “… it counts HOW we make it work.” "Honesty is the best policy." "Aim to be neither rich or poor.” "We might not make as much money but we wont need so much…" “…it's not about BLOODY money!” “… it’s wrong to do it for the money…” "They're saying 'LIVING FOR FREE is a thing of the past, and that is where it belongs, in the past'..." "They say it doesn't matter any more!" “Always believe in it, no matter what they say.” "If you pretend you must pay" (means: "Play your cards right, and it just might not cost you a single penny" “Price doesn’t come into it.” “You don’t get something for nothing”? “Just make a wish and don’t forget to say your prayers at night.”) "… it will set a new precedent." “I DON’T CALL it ‘a loss.’ I CALL it AN OPPORTUNITY.” “I think it will be an asset.” "You could try appreciating it..." "Cash in on it?" PEOPLE SAID: "We need freedom, remember? It isn't borrowed. It's not about loss, things untouchable. Rejects. Piles. Little lost lambs to the slaughter…” “RIP OFF THE NEEDY? Go for a FAIR price or I don’t want any part of it. Give them a product they can Afford.” OVER-PRICED: "Current market prices are unrelated to (actual) costs. So STEEP! Money-

“They wont do it because it’s an admission they’ve been making unsafe products for years.” “… it should be made available upon request.” "The way we want to do it. Make participation possible." THE BEST OPTION? (“Memories of the way things used to be…”) Community Co-operatives i.e. networks of ‘non-profit’ making Groups: EG. One does the designing, another makes the moldsavailable on free loan. One sorts out the raw materials. One does the refining. One does the casting / curing. One does the assembly. One does the fitments… All to Benefit the Community i.e. the people - workers receive remuneration… "YOU could do it." "You're not on your own." "Get it together." “Co-ops are entitled to a start-up grant” (UK, 2003). NEEDED: “New organisational structures… to oversee it’s affairs. The setting-up of a new… company? Hopefully, you’ll see it soon all over Britain and other parts of the world too. The malaise will die away and we’ll have some enthusiasm!” (2006: These days, to some, Co-operation i.e. give and take now means: If you're cheap and easy- have sex! I’ll make you into a film star.") CONSUMER DURABLES: "I'm afraid it may just be one of these tricky things that people can't do for themselves without professional help..." “Consumer groups said they fear it could mean higher prices all over Britain…” (“This is a misconception if we are talking about the same thing.”) PEOPLE SAID: "You'll find it much more profitable." "Check it out. Check it out. Check it out" (means: Just THINK about it. The sound of cash tills working overtime?) "I wish there was some way we could check it out." “FOLKS WILL LINE UP JUST TO BE THERE.” "If it's a real bargain, I'll go for it. I love a good bargain." "It's a very attractive proposition." "It's a proposal well worth considering." "You could get it in the sales." "Kiss it. Good Buy!" "I call it great value!" "It's a great offer." "It's an offer you can't refuse" (means: "It seems too good to be true" or "… it is irresistible.” “You wont be able to resist it.” "Shop around for it." "See how much it will cost you." "It's the art of shopping." "... it is luxury for less..." "… it's economical!" "…it's less expensive…” "Work it out!" "Britain needs a strong relationship with other countries, in industrial terms. We need to sell products to those countries. Make it here and EXPORT it." "Make it a practicality. British invented." "Is it advisable for us to miss out on it?" START NEW JOINT VENTURES! “ "… it’s a buoyant market…" "… it offers great opportunity. Nothing offers more." "When you're ready, you'll try." "How do you figure it?" (means: How many units 439

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grabbing business-men only want money. People have to pay. NO CHOICE." "They're making grotesque profits." “We could do it, at a price. We could go the whole hog, but it’ll cost you.” ("Oh, well, it was a nice dream while it lasted.") "Brutal interest rates. Over The Top Prices for materials. GREEDY MANUFACTURERS. What they want is excessive." QUALITY COSTS: "… it could be too costly?" “If not of a standard / quality – sub-standard- not suitable for anybody, especially children.” “It could cost more than we’ve got.” “… it could out-price itself. Needed: Such a good quality.” ("It's about saving money but not reducing quality.") “KEEP it AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE!” "If you think you can't Afford it, think again." "… it's an easy way to save quite a lot of money." THE BAD NEWS: "… it's all over, folks. We've realised it's going to be too expensive. The only 6mm plastic available- security plastic, as used by Banks, costs 4 times more than Glass" (UK, 1993) (Ah! How to get AFFORDABLE QUALITY?” “Simple things have no price fixed…”) "Do you want the best deal for your money?" “Advertising pushes the cost up. The best advertising is word of mouth. Free advertising.” "Are you spending more than you need to?" “Do you buy a lot of products you don’t really need because of the hard sell? Most salesmen only care about their commission.” “Dealers all want to take their cut.” “I’ll make it worth your while…” “Why don’t we cut out the middle-man and pass the savings onto you?” “Drive a hard bargain? One ends up at a loss. Go instead for a fair deal.” CONSUMERS: “If you see something you disapprove of, don’t give them your patronage. When people stop paying, they will realise they have to change…” "… it wont rob you badly." "Sort it." “ARE FRAUDSTERS TAKING YOUR MONEY?” "We're being sold bull-shit. Don't believe their hype. Why should we get poorer? Their concern is they don't want to get poorer- they want their money to grow." "Don't let the rich sell it to us, or we'll get poorer.” "You know they'll try and flog it to us- the usual scheme. Well, say no, never, not this time." "You don't want to pay through the nose for it!" "Don't go for it if they make you take out a loan secured against it." "Don't buy it!" "We don't want them getting fat on it." "So long as you think it's good value for money that's all that matters?" "… it's (only) a small price to pay." "Are they taking an UNFAIR advantage of us?” "There is no honour in business" (said George Bernard Shaw). "Common business practice is not ethical" (1990). (“Any attempt to exploit it will fall on deaf ears, one hopes.”)

IS THERE A CONSPIRACY AGAINST it ? “Are we running a trading racket? Well now, what proof do you have?” "Never interfere with another's man business." (“It is considered. It is created with inner and outer strength based on patience, observation and contemplation.”) "Because there's not enough infrastructure... materials are not being recycled so industry can't buy..." (1990) (see Chapter 9 / Waste). A man complaining about having to replace the flimsy plastic cover on his market stall: “Yeh. I’ve got

to lay out another wad of notes to replace this. Price of plastic is unstable- had 2 – 3 price rises recently- going up again 9%. They say there’s a shortage of polythene- recycled stuff- not much of it about- costs twice as much!” (4/2/1995). "CARTEL IN PLASTICS INDUSTRY... accusations made of (illegal) PRICE FIXING" (no details given!) (BBC1, 6pm news, 28/2/1992). “PRICE WARS have broken out. Prices are falling. Falling costs throughout the economy... Weak market…” (17/11/1993) (Raw material prices falling?) "A Retail / Distribution Monopoly: Perfume companies charge very high prices. They claimed in court that makes customers enjoy their prestigious products more, and won their case!" (1993) ("Who likes cheap perfume?") "They are saying: 'The more it costs, the better it is'..." "Well, I disagree!" “You get what you pay for.” (“That is not strictly true. Manufacturers want you to pay a lot of money” 1993). “The huge growth in pirate copies… counterfeits… Obviously A LOT of people want AFFORDABLE goods. “… it’s all about SUPPLY & DEMAND. Controlling the supply, inflates the demand, pushes prices up further- artificially raising profit margins.” “SALES OF PLASTICS have gone up significantly thanks to being able to make price increases stick” (Melody radio, 6/4/1995).

“PLASTICS GIANTS FACE NEW FINES: The EC is set to impose fines of £29 million on the alleged European wide plastics cartel despite a successful court appeal against the action by 16 chemical companies. ICI, BP and Shell are among the companies facing a fierce counter-attack by Brussels after The European Court of Justice rejected the Commissioner’s plans to fine the British producers a total of £3.5 million. The companies convicted by Brussels of price fixing in their sales of LDP, a form of thermal plastic, have held onto their money during the 7 year court wrangle since the Commissioner’s original fines decision. But after their court appeal against the fines was upheld on a technical point yesterday, Competition Commissioner, Karel Van Miert, is expected to hit 440

back in a few days with a new legal action. The court ruling is the latest set-back for the Commission’s attempt to prosecute Cartels. The Brussels fines decision was ruled null and void because of ‘sloppy’ bureaucracy, which included the failures of Jacques Delors, then Commission president, to sign it. Most of the companies involved in the LDP case last year, escaped fines totalling £24 million when the court overturned a Brussels crackdown in polyvinylchloride on the same grounds. Van Miert immediately announced a new decision, which is being contested in the European court. Of the British companies, ICI face the biggest fine- £2.8 million. BP is likely to have to pay £600,000 and Shell £120,000” (Evening Standard,

“profits”! How CONFUSED and SICK is that? “Don’t YOU realise if we don’t do it NOW-

WE’LL ALL BE DEAD MEAT?” "It's our last chance to make it." “Don’t you care at all? Don’t you want to help the good guys? You’d better decide… Please respond…” Newscasters JOKE: Q: "It's hiding in the grass, isn't it?" A: "No. It's hiding in the long, long grass! Ha Ha Ha" (2004) ("You're all part of the same cartel.") "MAKE it WORTH MY WHILE." “We run a Dogeat-Dog business. We don’t do fair here…” “I’m going to fire you.” (“Wise up.”) (“And if you can’t be wealthy, be wise.”) Q: “The misery keeps me in a job! Why should I do anything about it?" A: "Some people will go to any lengths to make money." "I don't understand how you can do what you are doing.” “They’re out of their minds!” (“I guess… it takes… all sorts?") "… it's very appealing to us... it could be very lucrative... but I'm not allowed to develop it though I know it should be developed..." (see

7/4/1995) that’s laughable.

“They wont let it happen!” "They'll Say: ‘DON'T LET it HAPPEN - it will be competition for them..." "They'll say 'what are you doing? I'm not going to let you take business from me'..." ("That's what the Mafia say...") “The monopolies wont allow / encourage it.” "I don't suppose the Monopolies Commission will do anything about it?" “There should be more referrals to the Monopolies Commission.” "The Abolition of Restrictive Practices?" “They're trying hard not to show it." “The whole world is sliding into DEEP DEPRESSION..." “… it’s all a GIGANTIC CON forcing people to live in squalor... The powers-that-be argue: "There is no alternative..." but the simple truth is, they have everything it takes to produce better quality, lowcost HOUSING… the ONLY thing lacking is the will to do it. They prefer us to buy petrol because that makes them rich. Petrol Burnt = VITAL LIMITED RESOURCES go up in SMOKE. Lost! WASTED FOREVER! The consequences… ALL THE PRECIOUS OIL should be made into something useful and long lasting, the oil being recycled over and over…

Chapter 3 / Housing / Modern Materials / UK Building Regulations.) “Stick to what we know." ("Look

after what you love...") "Businesses don't know HOW to start it. Not many citizens participate actively. We have to get information from them" (1990) Now you've got it. What are YOU going to do with it? "You wont turn it down, will you? Some things are more important than money, like saving Humanity, for example." “Let’s pool resources…” "… it's the only way forward." "... it's in all our interests." WHO will rise to the Challenge? "Are you small enough to care, big enough to make it happen?" ADVERT for ICI (Imperial Chemicals Industries): "Nobody does it better." (Maybe Home-Pride and Vitalite would sponsor it?) ADVERT for Rumblelows: "Whatever you want, however you want it, we want you to have it, on easy payment plan" (1992). "Interest Free! = Heaven- that place in the sky?” Please Just Say: "… it will be a welcome addition to our range." “Oh! I just wish some company would say: Just name the date. Say when you want it around.” "Hey! Check out the new style!" "I wish I could." Available from? Where? Do you know? BRITISH POLITICIAN: “… that sort of reluctance is easily overcome if circumstances force a change…”

(1970’s: My Uncle, John Blundell, and his young son,

developed the technique to recycle used oil. Crewe Chemicals, won The Queen’s Award for Industry. 6 months later, his factory mysteriously burnt to the ground. The Insurance company refused to pay out. A few months later, a competitor took over…)

"Rotten Trickery! Cheats! Deceivers! They're using their 'intelligence' to make us mistrust the beautiful. On the surface their intentions are ‘strictly honourable.’ But they are prone to stealing. Are all your valuables i.e. your children, safe?” (Ah! Is their ultimate aim to totally OUT-PRICE THE PUBLIC - who are uncivilly referred to as 'punters’!” ?) THE ALTERNATIVE = NO SUFFERING. Happy, Healthy people + 0% pollution. How Absurd! They wont create the conditions to make it possible because they fear… a drop… in

("Has it opened your mind?")

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decline). "It's too big a project for one country alone to deal with. It could have very dire scenarios. Europe's battling. Russia's economic difficulties... Let's hope they get it straight very soon..." (CBI conference, 9/11/1992). "House prices in the UK are considerably higher than other parts of Europe... The UK has higher interest rates.... If European currency becomes united, how will this be ratified?" "They are working on it" i.e. House prices are rising through-out the world- out-pricing local people who feel extremely resentful…” "Create a more flexible Exchange Rate Mechanism? It should be recognised..." (31/7/1993) ("... it is not a coin...") "The EEC dismiss it, unconvincingly. Resentment is growing..." (1992). UK: "… it could mean we have a place in Europe, putting us further ahead..." EXPERT: "To win the European market, redesignate trading routes, establish a trading union, on higher level investment of both capital and human resources." Uh? “… one of the UK’s richest men is Mark Dixonthe chairman of Regus, which is Europe’s leading operator of fully-serviced business centres and offices and has a network of more than 200 locations in 41 countries, across 5 continents. The entrepreneur hit on the goldmine of selling instant offices that are as easy to hire out as a car is rented… Regus was established in 1988 with one centre in Brussels. Now Regus has more than 10,000 work stations world-wide with more than 700 employees. ‘We have achieved our mission and have changed the way people work forever’…”

EUROPE: “350 million people in Europe being controlled by ‘Big Brother’…” (1993). “Population 375 million” (1994).

“There’s a crisis in Europe…” (“Have you got head-aches? Are YOU going grey?”) “THE SINGLE MARKET, in Thatcher’s Era = “If Britain can state it’s case…” “We didn’t.” (Ah! The Singles Market…) MAASTRICHT = "We had the 2nd World War without a Referendum..." "Un-Democratic. Authoritarian..." "A Referendum is our opportunity to say 'no' to what government wants...” "Maastricht = Un-Elected Bankers, Controlling Our Budgets- for Housing, Education, Health- everything! You can't get rid of them." "We'll be ripped off badly, financially- and culturally." "They change the rules overnight. Very worrying." "At the heart of the Treaty- the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) which ‘cost us our current economic difficulties’…” J. Major convinced Britain can't Afford it (it = The Maastricht Treaty). Exchanging large amounts of… money could cost Britain £500 million a year" (1/12/1992). “We will have to go back into this = Soaring interest rates, a self-indulgent club. Don't Join = Left out in the cold. In theory, democracies working together... but we're all splintering..." "To go in we've got to have a strong economy..." The studio audience concludes: "We haven't been told enough about it" (The Frost programme, ITV, 20/5/1993). FRANCE: President ‘Mitterand’ said: "… it is unconstitutional." "Before deciding the Maastricht Treaty, was 'it' clarified?" "No, not really. The PM did not address the issue..." "Euro-MP, Stan Newens £800,000 expenses... Euro-MP's can claim £52,800 for a secretary..."

(Chelmsford Weekly news, 22/4/1999).

(“A hard man leases by the hour for a minimum number of hours.”) PREDICTED: There is little chance of a recovery in Europe" (25/11/1993). PREDICTED: "There will be a terrible war across Europe." PREDICTED: "Europe will become stronger than America." (What's my view? We could ALL be a lot better…) UK: "The CBI warned of 220,000 job losses…"

(14/6/1993).

“The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development: Chief spent £750,000 changing the polished marble floor. He spent more refurbishing their HQ, than the Bank spent on Eastern Europe. He resigned. The Bank has a credibility problem..." (25/6/1993).

1994: Re: EUROPEAN UNITY: "A common policy is needed- not Britain standing in the side-lines. We don't want to see it shuffled to one side as if it's not really happening…" "Brussels believes Britain will go broke..." "The UK is ruled by Brussels - Britain is not Selfgoverning...” "EEC uniformity is suicidally competitive..." ("You could win it in a competition?" "… it's not about winning, or losing this thing, I just don't understand why no-one has done it properly yet.") "There is something wrong with the government's planning" said the CBI President (re: the importance of the UK's manufacturing sector, in

(12/11/2004).

PEOPLE SAID: "What does 'growth' mean to the EU commissioners?" Brussels sprouts?” “Oh! They haven’t a clue.” “Don’t worry. Something will crop up…” “LETTING it SLIP THROUGH THEIR FINGERS: Britain's Debt = a £10 BILLION black hole…” (2/12/2004).

“Banks are moving out of the US into Europe” (24/1/2005).

“Gordon Brown does not want the Central European Bank taking over his responsibilities” (24/2/2005). “Europe would like a big role but is in a bad position. Europe’s 25 nations are struggling to 442

find a cohesive policy / action plan…” (9/5/2005). “Europe is so vulnerable…” “There is concern about the European sugar industry” (18/4/2005) (Sugar can be used to make Oil…) "… it's the icing on the cake" (means: it's the extra bit you want, ideally). "… it's a piece of cake" (means: it's easy to achieve, there'll be a greater amount to share). “… it's so SWEET!" (means: it's lovely, irresistible- it'll keep me happy). “Britain is leading Europe” (said Tony Blair pre-election speech, March 2005).

“The markets are depressed…” Europe’s Population: “730 million people…” (2005).

“Europe’s vision for the future needs rescuing” (re: the Constitution Referendums, 18/3/2005).

EU SUMMIT: “It’s clear something has to change. We can’t keep the European model…” (22/3/2005). “Tony Blair called for a fundamental review concerning the state of the EU…” “Britain's economic growth rate predicted to be 2%” (25/7/2005). “EU meeting re: Proposal to cut the EU budget. They are looking for a solution for everyone…”

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CHAPTER 13: WAR

"Experts do not agree exactly what caused this war.” 1914: “There was a power vacuum. Enormous misunderstandings. People turned on each other. There were unsecured borders in Europe. The Austrians held military manoeuvres along the border... As the Royal couple were visiting Sarajevo (where East meets West). 7 assassins / terrorists hiding- controlled by Serb secret police (called 'The Black Hand') ... Royals shot. Sparked riots… Homes ransacked... Then Muslims feared domination by Serbs. Austria in decline- Serbs were threatening... Prestige came into it a lotpageantry- a Conservative history. Insults could lead to a duel. Power politics… (“In dark, damp corridors... War is the only front that matters. That's government policy.") A loss of face could not be un-avenged. Despite impression of grandeur- monarchy were faltering.. Monarchy had hold over 11 empires. Their position threatened. Their belief in ruling by 'divine right'... Germany most powerful European empire- ruled by Kaiser Wilheim 11 (Queen Victoria's grandson). He'd had an extremely strict education- this backfired- he rebelled- turned away from liberalism. His speeches resounded with megalomania. 'Your enemy is my enemy' he told troops. He dreamed of military glory. He basked in the title 'Supreme War Lord.' He was resolute, unclear and indecisivenot a good leader. He liked flattery- idea of German supremacy. With lavish finances... Austria wanted Germany's support against Serbs... This given, in private- handed a blank cheque. Did this mean they could start a war? Talks held in private / secret meetings... They pinpointed a suitable trouble spot... Serbs deliberately given conditions- an ultimatum, they could never accept i.e. give up sovereignty. Serbia refusedso war declared. Only Hungary opposed. People cheered- were so enthusiastic. Russian's feelings hardly considered. (Russia Serbia's ally / protector. An attack on Serbia, seen as an attack on Russia where millions shared the same orthodox religion). “It became something for the Germans to sort out” = “The monarchy gave the impression everything was normal- went on holiday, went hunting as usual.” Tsar Nicholas made an appeal to Kaiser to stop the war before Europe engulfed. Kaiser tried to back down- he wanted peace, but was persuaded war only ‘manly’ thing to do. The Tsar relied on the army to prove Russia was a great power. France backed Russian military support. Russia sent troops to Austrian border to prevent attack. Once troops mobilised- very hard to stop. This German leadership- people told their country under attack- the young caught up in excitement. An easy defeat promised…” “… the war will be over by Christmas…” A domino effect...

CHAPTER 13: WAR WAR: “To preserve territorial integrity, to wipe out invaders- those who raid, loot…” “Our emphasis on DESTRUCTION of our enemy…” WAR: “Planes, bombs & collapsing buildings…” “WAR is CHAOS…” “First demoralise your enemy…” "Find your enemies weaknesses, and exploit them, ruthlessly." “War! You have to think like your enemy- be worse than your enemy…” (or cleverer…) VIOLENCE: "UNLAWFUL exercise of force, intimidation by exhibition of this, furious, impetuous, to cause intense pain, injury, sickness, abuse, shock..." "Nothing ever comes out of violence and nothing ever could." ("That's not the way to do it!") “There’s no excuse for not attending to security. I mean, it’s pretty basic, isn’t it!” ("... it's not worth risking your neck over it." "It's not worth dying for. Make it a Disaster-Free event.”) “The wars blundered into…” "I shall never understand how men see wisdom in a war." "2 wrongs never make a right." Ah! Policies that cause instability do NOT bring stability! "Evil for Evil. That's the system... until something better comes along..." "PETTY SQUABBLES: Fighting leads to killing. Killing leads to war." "This is how people sometimes try to settle their quarrels- conquest by violence." "Argument is an exchange of ignorance." EG. "THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE: Given an almost impossible task. They face certain death. What madness. Fools! Cannons thundered. Show no mercy! Swords clashed. 1,000's went to their death... Another INSANE clash..." "THERE IS NO QUICK MILITARY FIX…" "War drags on. War De-Stabilises..." "DESTRUCTION is the price." “Don’t you know? War means: You are spoiling it all.” "Every time, just when it starts feeling really good, they come along and say 'we’ve got no CHOICE'..." "War. Don't you just hate the system when this happens?" "This aint right. It makes you wonder why? Nothing but a huge power struggle going on here." (“Rather than go to war, wouldn’t it better to get it sorted properly, once and for all?”) “You know I love you. I’ve got to go. Will you at least think about it?” “He’s asked me to marry him…” “The classic dilemma of war – to marry or not to marry?” WORLD WAR 1: (1914 – 1918): "THE WAR TO END ALL WARS": 444

"They said war could never happen again..."

BLITZKREIG. British government caught-up in troubles in Ireland- home rule. British didn't take it very seriously. 'It was no concern of ours.' Nothing must stop the British being British. School children indoctrinated in virtues of a military career. Civil servants could make no better move than join the army. 'We were tremendously impressed. Told joining the army was a great honour. Playing soldiers was our favourite game.' People put pressure on British cabinet. Britain afraid of Armageddon- dragged in.” “Just before Britain declared war, this was said: ‘The government have no idea what kind of world this is.’” (STRATEGY: "A War is a way of reducing the population- not a good way...") August 14th: “Britain declared war. Britain vulnerable- foreign policy in hands of a small elite. Policy not even discussed! Belgium neutral but obliged to give passage to troops. This is how war starts. 1st the war, then the tragedy. A rolling juggernaut, turning war into a Global disaster. They did not realise a war between Super-Powers could mean the end of the world. 3 imperialistic autocrats put dynastic ambitions before the lives of their subjects. Palace politics.” “The men and women marched to war. 8 MILLION people died. There was no glory. Only degradation. LIFE thrown away. Terrible carnage. A campaign of self-destruction.” “Chemical / poisonous gas was used during WW1…” "CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS: Branded 'cowards.' Many shot by their own side for refusing to kill people. Symbol to denote: A white (dove’s) feather.” “SHOT AT DAWN”: "346 men branded cowards for being unable to carry on in the trenches. The Prime Minister, J. Major, refused to grant a pardon, arguing that would re-write history. Their surviving families said: 'We are only asking for clarity- many shot were suffering from shell-shock- an unknown illness then. The men were in fact shot for being ill'..." (20/2/1993). "Called 'The Great War.' I did not find it a 'great' war. I don't call killing people 'great.' This was NEEDLESS CARNAGE." NOTE: The Elite / RULING class, never put themselves on the front line during conflicts, which they orchestrate. “The Black hand is still in business today. This is still an unsettled dispute! On site where Royals shot- 1,600 children recently buried there! So long as this conflict remains unsolved, security in Europe cannot be guaranteed" (Timewatch, BBC, 5/11/1994). SHELL-SHOCK: "I fought for you. Now I have no place!"

WORLD WAR 11: (1939- 1945): "The 2nd Armageddon": "Hitler was Austrian. Hitler did poorly at school. He was disgusted that politicians, not soldiers, had” lost German the 1st world war. He blamed an international Jewish conspiracy for the defeat..." (“To fool the people is his only wish…”) "Hitler articulate. A great ACTOR. Able to present himself as a worker among workers, a plutocrat among plutocrats. He made 13 speeches in one day." "Herr Hitler had one redeeming quality. Just when crowds expected him to be violent, he stopped to smell flowers." (“Mrs Thatcher was the same...”) "Hitler was very clever. He gave people what they wanted- then became too clever..." “Hitler beguiled people with PROMISES. Then launched his people into WAR…” 1923: “Hitler wrote a book whilst in prison. Called 'Mein Kampf' (means: My Struggle). In this he predicted (warned) what he was going to do. People read with fascination- hence many "little Hitlers" who envy the power Hitler had over people.” 1907: "A chemist discovered a hydrogenating process for converting coal into gasoline for war purposes..." (Technique not perfected). "I. G. Farben (a cartel) restricted its use..." 1927: "Standard Oil, using money supplied by Wall Street, USA, agreed a programme of research and development to enable Germany to prepare for WW11..." 1933: "The British Royal Navy were still blocking the ports… The German people were starving... The Germans tried to make ships from concrete... Hitler provided investment to enable ICI (Farben division, in Germany) to look for alternatives to goods (especially building materials) that were in short supply. This was known as: The Ersatz Scheme (means: superior substitute)." ( “I.G. was a mighty industrial empire in the 1930s… dominated the chemical business world, fortifying links with household names such as ICI, Du Pont…”)

"H. Schact, a financial wizard changed German inflation... pulling Germany out of disaster... by

*stabilising prices i.e. making price increases illegal..." * “It just goes to show what a government can do to overcome (some) problems...” "The process for converting coal into gasoline was by then perfected…” “Chemists in Germany had managed to make artificial wood and plastic metal..." "They had already discovered Vulcanite (a plastic that could catch fire). Vulcanite was used to house the 1st radio. The radio was thought to be the discovery at that time..." "HALTED PROGRESS: Instead of rebuilding Germany with the new materials that had been 445

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discovered... Hitler started WW11.” i.e. “Hitler got it back to front…” Hitler said: “You have the tools to rebuild the Father-land…” (tools = military tanks). "Plot revealed to seize the Whitehouse, USA. The plot was to establish a fascist dictatorship... to hold Franklin Roosevelt prisoner- use him as a puppet. He was offered a substantial bribe. The plot involved a private army of 500,000 men... More than $300 million was available in working funds..." (“The S.S. had 500,000 men…") (Is that too much of a co-incidence?) 1938: "Hitler was 'nibbling' i.e. invading / taking over Austria..." “MINDLESS VIOLENCE: Nazis organised terror bombings to spread chaos in Austria… The Nazi bullies…” 9/11/1938: "A HARD LESSON TO LEARN: Nazis rampaged across Germany and Austria, attacking Jews... An orgy of violence... (a foretaste of the Holocaust to come...) Many Jews 'deported' ... went missing... This was called: Kristallnacht means: "THE NIGHT OF THE BROKEN GLASS." THE PEOPLE SAID: "NEVER AGAIN." 1939: "Hitler invaded Poland, to cheer himself up for a birthday present..." "The Germans violated their non-aggressive pact..." Hitler had ‘designs’ on Russia...(Hitler wanted the oil fields). CLIMATE OF FEAR: "The German people did nothing to stop Hitler" means: "Hitler ripped apart political opposition to form a Dictatorship..." "... when 40 of his General's tried to warn Hitler against this- he had them shot." "The Nazis did not rule by majority vote, only by fear. Brave, doomed plotters against Hitler were hanged, guillotinedabout 100,000 people shared this fate." "THE PROPAGANDA MACHINE: Before the war, we listened to our radios. We had peace on our streets. Everything that came out of ‘the music-box’ was believed- the power of the radio! Used to manipulate people on mass. Nazis were given a heroes welcome!" RACISM: Hitler hated many groups- even the Germans. Hitler hated Socialists, Democrats, gypsies (because they could not be contained) (they are 'free' people). He hated coloured people (Africans), intellectuals and aristocrats (Conservatives and Liberals), also women and homosexuals (“they do not make good soldiers.”) "In the eyes of Nazi’s everyone with dark hair had to be beaten up- even Asian Indians..." “The German people were ashamed of their poverty.” "BLIND DREAD": Hitler expressed what people felt in the bottom of their hearts... Hitler emphasised anti-Semitism. (Semitic i.e. Tribe; Nomadic, speaking the Hebrew language). Uppermiddle class Jews, very successful but despised (by the poor and starving) for their

OSTENTACIOUS WEALTH. Racially, easy to identify. Even though some were poor, Eastern Jews were blamed for causing hardship. Jews also in prominent, powerful positions- USA advisor was Jewish, Chief of the Bank of England was Jewish (he could have helped Hitler dominate Europe…). Hitler hated the way emigrated Jews ‘misrepresented’ the German language... ‘Jews incarnation of all that was evil’ spread the evil Nazi propaganda.” FACISM: "A drive to seize power using power of violence- uses organisations and violence to suppress opposition. Racial superiority, male supremacy; elitist..." Re: LEADERSHIP: Hitler said: "Consolidate the attention of the people against a single adversary taking care nothing will split that attention." "It is not right in a war that matters, but victory" said Hitler. “… so full of themselves… Persecution, lieseverything justified… Threats, coercion, foreclosures, books destroyed…” "THE TWISTED POWERS OF A PERVERTED PHILOSOPHY…" "Adolf Eichmann brought terror to the Jewish population- stripping them of everything they owned... If unable to find a foreign country to take them in, they were given a one-way ticket to the concentration camp..." "2 MILLION Jewish children were butchered because no country wanted them." "The mass-shootings of Jews and Slavs across Russia were costly, and traumatic- even for hardened S.S. men... " "Eichmann set up the GHETTOS where the Jews were penned in. He planned for disease and hunger to take their toll so that ‘valuable Reich ammunition would not be wasted.’ He authorised experiments with mobile Gas vans- Jews were crammed into sealed trucks and killed by carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust. Proved to be inefficient... " “THE HORROR OF THE DEATH CAMPS…” "Most people died." “THE FINAL SOLUTION to the Jewish problem: MASTERFUL PLANNING: "Eichhmann was the biggest mass-murderer of them all. He set-up killing factories i.e. more efficient ways of… killing: Gas Chambers: Colossal rooms masquerading as 'bath-houses,' that processed (exterminated) an average of 10,000 Human Beings every day." The Jews called Nazis: “Cannibals.” AUSCHWITZ: "A place where The 10 Commandments were reversed... where the whole state system collaborated... Above the entrance, in the metal work, the words: 'Work makes you free.' 1,000's of prisoners shot by the S.S. against 'The Wall of Death.' 20,000 people a day burnt in the gas chambers. 2 MILLION Jews massacred here. 75,000 Polish people perished here. All were victims. The terrified screams of 446

Written on German Soldiers Belts: "God is With Us." (Did God have any say? No). Nazi officer: "I had to do my duty. Of course, I had to do it" (it means: kill?) "The Officers were worse than Nazis- they knew the man at the top was a maniac and did nothing about it."

mothers, the tears of the children, the anguish of the old and frail..." ("Auschwitz is now a popular tourist resort...” 27/1/1995).

FEUDAL THIEFDOM: Eichmann tabulated the numbers of dead alongside the numbers for daily looted wealth...” "All Hitler wanted was the Art treasures- anything- icons, statues..." “The Gestapo terrorised, stole… all for the money…” “Eichmann uprooted Jews from all over Europe without arousing the suspicion of neutral countries... He commandeered trains needed for the war effort to carry more and more 'enemies of the Reich' to the gas (Zyklon B) chambers and ovens... So much EVIL in one man! He made the trains run on time to the infernos (a German railway truck running into a wood meant mass death...) He organised the round-ups... he garnered the equipment. Reinhard (‘Hangman’) Heydrich selected the hardened S.S. men for the 'great' tasks' 'to cleanse Europe of undesirables.' The manpower made the diabolical scheme possible. "HUMANS ARE ANIMALS" (said Heinreich Himmler, in 1943). (mid-May-July) 1944: "437,000 Jews were dispatched by train to be exterminated" (from Hungary). (All done in the name of 'National Socialism.') Jews said: "I have spent my whole life on the run." "The scum are the Nazis." “Germany does not recognise East Europeans. They will be sent to labour camps…” “IG Farben built a factory for producing synthetic oil and rubber (from coal) in Auschwitz... by 1944, this factory used 83,000 forced laborers…” "Jews branded with a prison number..." "Concentration camps also supplied labour for building projects..." "By the end of the war there were 7,000 forced labour camps. Most of their buildings were built by slaves. In one building, 32,000 slaves died- starved, beaten, shot, experimented upon." Hitler = “HEAVY investment in STEEL.” "CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: A hideously warped mind planned the systematic extermination / murder of 6 MILLION Jews and 'other inferiors.' Hitler's warped vision was a world dominated by his cruel storm troopers." HITLER'S MONSTEROUS FINAL SOLUTION: Ghettos. Put EVERYONE in, no-one can get out. Clone everyone to be the same. No individuals. To make the race ‘pure’ projects for the breeding of pure stock.. Hitler introduced his version of Euthanasia i.e. "Kill the blind and disabled, by gassing them." (MORAL/S VIOLATED: EG. “The strong must look after the weak.” "It is sacrilege for us to take advantage of the blind.")

(I have been told the British Royal family wanted Britain to side with Germany – but I do not know if that is true).

"Britain had no choice but declare war having left it too late to stop Hitler..." “We'll drop more bombs” said Winston Churchill. “A gutsy exchange..." 3/9/1939: "Britain (and France) declared war against Germany (on a Sunday) but Hitler did not declare war against Britain." (HITLER said: "It almost causes me pain to think I have been selected by fate to deal the final blow to the structure which these men (the British government) have set tottering... Mr. Churchill ought, perhaps, for once to believe me when I prophesy that a great empire will be destroyed which was never my intention to destroy or even harm" speech delivered to the Reichstag, 19/7/1940). “How horrible to think all the lights will go out again all over Europe” said Chamberlain. “The church bells stopped ringing... street signs were removed...” The dangers of GLASS were fully realised- people taped up all the windows so that should a bomb drop the glass would not become flying shrapnel. All windows had to be blacked out to stop the light… PEOPLE SAID: "We might as well sign up. The sooner we go, the sooner it'll be over." "They disembarked. Let me at 'em. No-one smiled. Noone saw the light..." "While men went to war, women were left on their own labouring..." "WHILST LEADERS FIRMLY ENTRENCHED AT HOME: Men sent to hack each other to piecesstick knifes into people. Die on the end of a bayonet. Volleys of bullets. A messy, grim business. Killed men, quickly replaced. Much of the landscape destroyed- became dead land. A filthy and depressing time was had by all (on the battle-field). Ant-like masses. The honour, romance and glamour expired- lost in cratered mud, and decay..." "BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS..." “Soft in the middle”: "WAR IS STUPID. People's stomachs come out, heads come off, and chests get ripped apart..." "Men shit in their pants- they can't help it, the sights and sounds are so horrible. Others are scared shitless. No, they didn't make it - they only got their names in the obituary section…” The British army used a clever device- a sort of bicycle rigged up in the field to generate power for radios in the trenches... 447

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Germany, rockets for reprisals became top priority. Many unsuccessful launchings- ‘great’ balls of fireexplosions. Rockets found to be prone to sand.” Hitler's DOOMSDAY Weapon: The V2 ROCKET (a REVENGE WEAPON). "1st rocket capable of penetrating the atmosphere." “Using Intelligence, Britain bombed German rocket experiment sites but mainly killed workersexperiments transferred to S.S. camp. Tests were a disaster. Hitler still ordered 12,000 be made. Ginormous underground factory built. Workers from concentration camps got up at 5am, at 2pm got soup. If too tired, gagged and hung in front of the others. Dead workers regarded as rubbish. Barbaric conditions. Beaten, tortured.” “As Germany's economy collapsed, rockets still fired for revenge. 25,000 men perished making the rockets in one factory- 4 men died for every rocket made. Starved corpses put in a mass grave…” The Era of the Missile had Begun: “Rockets designed to kill people. Rockets are not a triumph of science but are made for weapons." "EXTREMELY NASTY. A fireball effect. Burning with the devil..." “Rockets unleashed against London. The official line- Britain played down their effect. Doodlebug and buzz bombs killed by day and night. Rockets called 'indiscriminate weapon of terror unleashing sudden death.' In one summer, 32,000 homes destroyed, 6,000 people killed, 1 million families suffered damage. 1,000's of rockets launched. School children had to be evacuated...” 7/9/1940 – 11/5/1941: THE BLITZ: "... to ‘soften’ Britain for the invasion..." “348 German bombers escorted by 617 fighters blasted London from 4pm (just after dark fell) to 6.30 am the following morning. An intense wave of bombing of London and other cities continued for the next 57 days. Fires consumed many parts of the city. In the worst disaster, 450 people who were sheltering in a school were killed…” “TERRIFYING! Seemed the whole of London was burning. Big fires. Stuff going up everywhere. Many people died- gassed by leaking gas pipes..." "... home-made bomb shelters..." TO PROTECT CIVILIANS: “THE ANDERSON SHELTER: Consisted of 14 sheets of corrugate, to form a shell… The idea of the Home Secretary, John Anderson… within 2 weeks of the Blueprint, the 1st model. Feb 1939: 1st shelters delivered to families. Issued free to those earning less that £250 a year. £7 for those on higher incomes. Was basically a metal box, bent in such a way that it formed a very robust shape that could withstand considerable weight. Not designed to withstand a direct hit or a near miss. Placed in a 4’ deep dug-out hole. The shelter covered with spoil from the hole. The digging

AUSTERITY: "Germany tried to starve Britain. London battered and gutted by high explosives dropped by the Luftwaffe. Britain lived under the most rigid austerity. Gasoline almost unobtainable for private cars. Petrol coupons. The ordinary people had rations. A fresh egg or rasher of bacon were seldom seen luxuries. 2/3rd of the population were starving (the privileged had secret hoards of food). Rationing went on for 14 years. 3,000 children died of TB (in Great Britain). Industry worked with the government... began to make fortunes...” “Every spare bit of land used to grow cropspotatoes were grown in Hyde Park..." “People ate less and were fitter…” "THE MILITARIZATION OF CIVILIANS: In Germany, there was no such thing as the private individual anymore...” “Hitler's outdoor cadet cluba nationwide scout group, encouraged 'sneaks' (i.e. denounce anyone- even your parents, if you suspect their activities are anti-Nazi.”) “The Nazi leisure organisation (motto: 'Strength through Joy'): Their idea of leisure was compulsory games, walks, lectures... Religious dogma... Nazi’s intended to replace the Church with their own Church of National Socialism,* replacing the Christian cross with a swastika (old symbol of good luck- Hitler turned the original shape round. The colour & background were designed by Hitler.”) (* not to be confused with ‘The Socialist Workers Party’– their origins come from Communism). “Their 'beloved' leader's dictum: Nazi ‘Socialism.’ 'We shall look after our pure Master race- Ayrans' (only Ayran’s did not exist...) (Aryan concept came 100 years before Hitler. means: 'People of the Plough'). They proposed ‘peasants’ should wear heritage costumes...” “… image of the strong dominating the weak. Strength = Military might…” “Nazi ‘medical school’ turned the healing art upside down- lectures taught elimination of ‘unworthy’ life-forms, turned out anti-Doctors. Barbaric enthusiasts encouraged maiming and murder. The process46 weeks of indoctrination..." (“Britain experimented with rockets 1772 - 1828.) Germany took the lead in 1931. A deadly enemy. Called 'the flying bomb.' A pilot-less plane, to wage war.” "Rockets: Weapons without soldiers. Nothing heroic about that." “A 'light' weight Rocket = 4 TONS of metal.” 1942: “German engineers assembled a rocket height 46'. Consumed enormous amounts of Oxygen and alcohol (fuel). Combustion method.” ("Engineers did not believe they were doing wrongthey were carrying out a religious duty...") “Gyroscopes used to direct rocket in flight. Were self-correcting. Travelled at 9,000 mph. In 448

regions like the colour blue- this looks cool like the colour of water) "Hitler's troops invaded Russia... As oil froze in their engines- the territory became the enemy... Rommel, crossing the 1,000's of miles of desert, captured fuel supplies… Oil tankers became targets. Long oil supply lines- difficult to protect. Refuelling- most vulnerable, critical moment. Supply logistics essential. Oil essential for all the war machines. Without- ‘advance’ stalled…” “USA oil saved the British...” “Allied forces turned their attention to hitting synthetic oil / fuel plants. Coal made into oil- a giant German operation providing 90% of Germany's aviation fuel. Japan made oil from coconuts and pine tree roots- whole mountain sides stripped of trees and saplings... Could not get enough. Led to suicide (Kamikaze) attacks- no need to refuel” (Ref: The

of the sizeable hole required considerable effort. As the hole was below the water-line, the shelter’s flooded constantly... When the weather was bad, many became unenthusiastic- leaving a warm bed to go into a cold, wet shelter was not an inviting prospect…” “Steel corrugate, built 15ft away from the house, in the back garden- dug in. A sand-bag wall to protect against shrapnel. Filling the sand-bagsback breaking work. If the house bombed- could fall on the shelter and squash occupants. Anderson shelters protected ¼ of the population. Average time spent inside the shelter: 6 hours a day. Use the bucket. No form of heating. Very little space inside- only enough room for 1 bed. Sometimes 9 people in there, also complete strangers in there…The discomfort! Not pleasant places. Some didn’t even have a door! So cold in there! You just had to cope. Death and destruction on a daily basis. Many died underneath the rubble. Terrible really. The constant danger! ‘The bombing’s started again. It’s getting closer...’ ‘Try and take your mind off it.’ ‘It was something you just had to put in the back of your mind.’ Awful never knowing when the raid was going to be over. The sleepless nights… Tired, cold, worried… What more could go wrong? ‘The bomb hit the house across the street. The house caught fire. Your husband went in to help but the roof collapsed on him.’ 8,000 children died during the bombing…” (“BOMBS AWAY!” "They are still trying to make sense of the Blitz" UK: 1990) 31/8/1939: “’The biggest mass movement of people’- evacuation of children. Country divided into zones. 1/3rd was considered a danger zone. A tremendous amount of unhappiness- children and parents fretting. You could end up somewhere not nice… The evacuation did work- children's lives were saved…” “177,000 people sheltered in the Underground train stations- staying on the platforms all night…”

History of Oil, BBC, 25/7/1993, based on book: 'The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power by Daniel Yergin).

"By the end of the war, Germany was still making 75% of fuel synthetically. Not subjected to allied bombing- 25 out of 30 refineries still operated- only 15% damage sustained..." "MOST BRUTAL BATTLE in WW11: The Siege of Stalingrad (in 4th year of war 1942 -3) (Hitler's armies occupying almost all of Europe and parts of north Africa...) Hitler's largest army of stormtroopers given the task: Cut Russia in 2. Germany had already lost 1 million men. Aim: Capture the oil fields. Russia had already lost 250,000 menthey could only retreat. Stalingrad: Stalin's showpiece = 15 miles along Volga river. Citizens, trying to defend, barricaded every street- turned every house into a fortress. Were bombed relentlessly by Luftwaffe... Houses explodedcaught fire. The people hid underground. Tired Germans running out of supplies. People fought back with cannons. Germans took very heavy losses- 20,000 lives lost a week. Troops fought hand to hand for every inch of the city. The people fought like barbarians. Hitler was asked to do the job quickly. 'Time is of no consequence' said Hitler, at a dinner party. Time was running out for the Germans. Russian winter (average - 45 below freezing). The Russians could survive in their boots but the Germans could not, so Germans killed Russians just for their boots. Germans who refused to kill women, children either shot or sent to frozen wastes of Siberia to clear land mines- they were refused food. Russia amassed 750,000 new troops. Germany sent supplies but were shot down by anti-aircraft, plus much stolen by Nazis officers hoarding for themselves. Germans besiegedmany froze... Hitler, obsessed, sent more troops... by Xmas, one German died every 7 seconds. Germans eating raw horse flesh... The Commander, surrendered, proposing a toast to the Russians. Of

(The Home Front, BBC4 23/4/2005).

“THE MORRISON SHELTER: Designed by the succeeding Home Secretary, Herbert Morrison. Was for indoor use, in flats etc. A fortified steel cage between 4 legs. Had 219 parts, 48 nuts & bolts + 3 tools needed to assemble it. Could also be used as a table. If a fire broke out, people inside could be roasted… Distributed FREE. Undoubtedly saved lives.” ".... towns smashed to pieces... 'Britain shall not burn!' ...buildings smashed, streets full of rubble, debris and glass everywhere..." “With many houses empty, burglary was rife…”. OIL: "One country's ability to cut off the oil supply... Oil could be depleted. This could cause war. Always a major threat. Oil supplies always a prime target..." (If Tanks painted white, stand out a mile). (Desert 449

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the 100,000 captured soldiers, only 60,000 returned home- they died of malnutrition, the cold, and typhoid. Hitler said: "What is life? Life is the Nation! The individual must die anyway! Beyond the life of the individual, is the Nation!" (Ref: BBC,

1945: “The PEACE PLEDGE UNION formed. A mass-movement. "Aim is to give voice and strength to the politics of non-violence and war resistance. It searches for and praises nonviolent approaches to the problems facing all of us as individuals and citizens who want a world without war. Is linked to similar movements in many countries through ‘War Resisters International.’ The PPU is an organisation of sincere and genuine Pacifists who aim to present constructive Peace-making." Each member makes this Pledge: "I refuse to support any political Party based upon violence. I will promote instead the Welfare of the whole Human family." NON-VIOLENT DIRECT ACTION advocated.” "If we believe there is no way to defeat the military we are fostering complacency!" ("PACIFISM was in fact justified by the outcome of the war.") "Some kind German pilots- rather than drop bombs on ordered targets, flew planes over bare land, dropping their bombs where no harm could be caused…” 6/8/1945: HIROSHIMA: “The USA Atom-bombed the city of Hiroshima, annihilating the population.” ("The 1st bomb used in atomic warfare." Bomb called: 'Little Boy.') (“Some disagreement exists whether intention was to hit a civilian target or whether the President intended the weapon to be used as against a military target.”) “Done to end the war, by demonstrating the USA had the most powerful weapon i.e. 'the final weapon to destroy Man-kind.'” “MASSIVE OVERKILL: 80,000 people immediately obliterated. 50,000 died a short while later, in agony..." "THE INNOCENT DIED. All the children..." "Hiroshima victims suffered hideously from full body 3rd degree body burns, caused by heat flash explosion. Skin burnt irreparably deeply and hung off in shreds... Acute radiation sickness: Vomiting, diarrhoea, haemorrhage (internal bleeding). The blood forming bone marrow gives out..." "THE SHOCK WAVE circled the Earth 3 times, taking 36 hours, 27 minutes for 1st circuit." "The explosive power of the Hiroshima bomb = 12,5000 short tons of TNT." “Before the bomb dropped, Japan had approached Russia to negotiate Peace terms. Rumoured the bomb was used against Japan to prevent intervention of the USSR in the Pacific rimthis effectively carved them out of any final settlement in the East, when the Super-Powers got together to divide the spoils of WW11. The wanton slaughter was the consequence of this strategy. Leaving in their wake, CRIMINALS used to a life of wealth." "Hydrogen bomb money is in the Bank now. America made a lot of money out of WW11that was used to re-build industry."

31/10/1994).

"VERY HEAVY LOSSES: "One million German men were killed in action, froze to death or starved." "By the end of WW11, 20 million Russians had died. Some, who survived said the official estimate was wrong. 200 million Russian people died." (No Figures for how many wounded) (Ah! Very HEAVY casualties…) (one injury often means a life of pain and suffering). THE FRENCH RESISTANCE MOVEMENT: THE NEED FOR SAFE HOUSES! "Our (very brave) people will take you across the border to where it is... SAFE." That word: SAFE. What a BLESSED word. How people yearned, dreamed, for somewhere... SAFE. 1941: "Japan bombed Pearl harbour in the Philippines- entered war without formal declaration. Infamous 'surprise' attack. Dragged USA into war. Japan wanted to take over 'their' part of world.’ War in Europe was dragging on and on...” "The United States can always be relied upon to do the right thing, after it has exhausted all other possibilities" said Churchill. 1945: German submarines used torpedoes against refugees fleeing in boats, ships carrying troops, and cruise ships." "It is a far better thing I do now than I have ever done before" said Churchill. (it means: “… the systematic bombing of German cities…”) “… entire cities and towns bombed to bring about the collapse of civilian morale i.e. to hit the enemy where he will feel it most…” “FIRESTORMS: Incendiary bombs filled with combustible chemicals (napalm) in clusters… people sucked into the fire…” DRESDEN: “Population 650,000 (many refugees there who had fled the advancing Red army). 13/2/1945: 35,000 – 100,000 civilians were killed…” "In one British air-raid, £40 million worth of bombs were dropped, 250,000 people lost their lives and homes…" The Dread Nought Battleship: "... fired 200 rounds, each passing through a barrel in 1/40th of a second..." "THIS IS TERROR." ("Worse than an Apache.") 10/3/1945: Tokyo: "Conventional bombing caused 140,000 deaths." "At the beginning of WW11, the bombing of civilians regarded as a barbaric act. As war continued, both sides abandoned previous restraints..." "International law however, has always distinguished between civilians and combatants..." 450

WW11, now face a very personal battle. In old age, they suffer from ill-health and/or financial distress.") After achieving Victory: "Churchill was accused of being a war monger..." ("... it could have come out of the mouth of Churchill?" ".... it could have been arranged with just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear?") OUR HERO: "The leader of the Royal Air-Force was 'broken hearted' when he died."

"Alongside, are the LIES that those Weapons were the only way to end WW11- and that their existence has kept THE PEACE ever since." "Hiroshima is the most horrific example of the way governments justify murderous acts of aggression in the name of peace." "After the bomb was dropped, General Groves extended his heartiest congratulations..." "A MONSTROUS PIECE OF MASS-MURDER: "This was a case of intentional assault, with a deadly weapon." August 9, 1945: The city of Nagasaki Atom Bombed... 73,884 people killed (plus, large numbers died in the following year of radioactive poisoning), 74,909 people injured. Levelled Area: 6.7 million square metres. 18,409 houses damaged (completely destroyed 1,326). "... was said the area would be devoid of vegetation for 75 years..." (1990: “Now made into a peace-park”). NOTE: Land is back in Use.

(ADVERT FOR JOINING THE RAF: "Young Winston was not a spectacular success at school. A few blots was all he could muster in answer to his school entrance exam yet he went on to command the Royal Air Force and to command just about everything else..." (Newspaper advert,. 1990).

At the end of WW11, King George said: "The Nations of the World must Abolish war, or perish." “WILL TAKE 75 YEARS TO CLEAR THE MINES: Bomb disposal experts have been dismantling unexploded bombs for last 25 years. Magnetic, acoustic devices, booby-trapped. A German bomb contained 1,500 lbs of explosive… Many good men killed on routine jobs. Clearing mine fields on beaches... A treacherous job. Will take another 50 years to clear the mines. 'I don't like bangs. Bits of metal cases... We're knackered.' 'People who live near mines, should tread lightly'..." SOME OF HITLER'S HENCHMEN: HEINRICH HIMMLER: 'The man behind Hitler.' Chief of the S.S. (Waffen): "The most dreaded arm of the Nazi state…” RULDOPH HESS: The deputy Fuhrer, loved Hitler like a dog. He went to Scotland to talk peace with Churchill- who kept him as a hostage. Hess held in various prisons all his life- but not executed..." HERMAN GUERRING: A fighter pilot from WW1. Won various Iron Cross decorations. Chairman of the Reichstag (the German Parliament). STREICHER: "Another of Hitler's henchmen. A terrible, disgusting man. A fanatical pornographer. He incited the worst type of racial hatred (is there any good sort of racism?) via newspapers, sold on every street, aimed at German youth. He was known as: 'The Grand-Father of Racists' He was hanged." 1961: "Eichmann put on trial. He showed no repentance, no hatred, and no bitterness. He did not understand why he was hated. He was a contented man. But he was concerned most of his work was left undone... " "A WORTHLESS soul: Refusing a hood, Eichmann was hanged. Unmourned. No prayers of any kind were said for him." "April, 1945, Hitler's body found in the Fuhrer's bunker. He had committed suicide (shot through the mouth) (he was partially burnt) (reported to be still recognisable). He had murdered a lot of people he thought had betrayed him, and had poisoned his wife. The Russians were coming... He left a note asking for his remains to be burnt. His remains were

"NOTHING PUT IN PLACE TO STOP THIS HAPPENING AGAIN." UNBELIEVABLE: “Its amazing there is no mechanism in place to stop Crimes against Humanity happening again!" The children of Hiroshima, campaigning for Peace, said: “The world must never make such a mistake again. Children are still dying of leukaemia" (1990). "COMMUNICATION! Not radiation. NO MORE HIROSHIMAS." "They did not listen then. Will they listen now?" "D DAY: A Mission for Freedom (and liberation for Germany). The sacrifice of 1,000's of good men... (Hitler fed false information...) 8/5/1945: “Germany surrendered. We shook hands with each other, clapped each other on the back. ‘Christ! It’s all over!’…” "I shall never forget the horror of seeing a concentration camp liberated (the walking skeletons…”) "The British government had interned 1,000's of German prisoners, including many who had been forced to flee Nazi Germany..." "One million people died in the prison of war camps controlled by America. Called: 'The Death Camps.' There were crates of food- they wouldn't open them. Men ate grass..." "During WW11, many pilots suffered the most HORRIFIC BURNS ..." 1945: At the end of the war, Churchill said: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed to so few." Few? "Over 200,000 British aircrew lost their lives." "I'll have you decorated for this." (“Is this really what I need? What I need, I can't find.”) (1995: “1.75 million people who served in the RAF during 451

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consult them... Some knew a lot about Russia. A few 100 also slipped by- took sanctuary with the Church (of Rome). Nazis escaped to Britain, Canada, USA, Australia (via Italy), Switzerland, and Brazil... one (known about) Nazi scientist, Von Brown, joined NASA (+ others- their expertise contributed to NASA's rocket technology). War criminals are still being harboured by the powers that be. ‘Too late’ to expose- they will die, emigrate, disappear..." (What did they plan? How to continue under a different guise?) "ANTI-SEMITISM IS RISING AGAIN..." "Deeply guilty powers are getting away. The allied nations are letting them! I don't understand why!" "Don't you? What does your enemy want you to do? Over-react. Allow yourselves to be terrorised. So we get fed-up… So they can carryon with their exercise. We should just get on and protect ourselves." "The House of Lords represent the older generation. The cream of barristers. The lords went through the war and know that crimes were committed by both sides." "We don't want to see the same crimes committed again." "Nazi’s must be brought to justice. They'd get a fairer trial than their victims got." "It's taken us 50 years to get this far" (Discussion

taken to Russia." "HITLER HAD A DEAD SOUL." “The NAZIS promised ‘WE WILL RISE AGAIN’…” "Ian Fleming, the author, was the 1st to acknowledge the Nazi government were an OCCULT organisation..." "... nothing more than a death cult, glorifying death from which they promised return.” ("NEO-pagan sects - a weird collection of cults and brotherhoods formed at the beginning of the century...") "... in this subterranean crypt, which also served as a chapel, urns containing the ashes of the S.S.’s highest ranking, initiates met and celebrated rites to fortify themselves in their exterminatory ministry. This is the most terrible place. Disquieting, sullying, even to stand where the Genocidal zealot stoodempowering himself, multiplying himself through auditory trickery and mystical bull-shit. This is not a pre-historic site- Himmler had 4,500 stones brought here for a ceremony..." "You have to imagine a whole nation taken over by a mad cultleader..." "... like Imperial Rome, the Nazi’s dreamed of immortality..." “Himmler said when conception takes place in a cemetery the child will inherit the spirit of the dead buried there. Nazi’s were fascinated by deaththeir high priests killed millions, then killed themselves. Death was their speciality. Their iconography was persistently morbid... Hitler was forever planning for eternity, but eternity was going to look like 2000 years ago..." (Ref. Jonathan Meades,

in London, 1990).

"WAR WILL ONLY CEASE WHEN PEOPLE AGREE TO STOP THIS HAPPENING AGAIN." "Hitler was ONE man who drove starving, desperately unhappy, CONFUSED people, on mass, to their death. The German people voted Hitler- 'a sinister man' into power. We still vote mad-men in!" "There are about 20,000 more Hitler's waiting to take control. They all have an identity problem!" "How to get rid of a dictator? DROP A BOMB ON THE WHOLE NATION?" No. Oust the culprit/s! How? “MICRO-TECHNOLOGY: … the heatseeking bullet with your name written on." "Implant a device inside leaders! If they start reeking havocBOOM!?" "How can we stop a bad leader from ever becoming over-powerful again?” WORLD CITIZENSHIP: "Henry Kissinger believed in a Global society, to end turmoil to increase security..." (1976). GUNTER GRASS said: "We should aim to have a Confederation. One pass-port for everybody" (1990) ("I am a citizen of the World...") "The hard times can tear you apart, but love keeps us believing- somehow, to keep the dream from dying..." "LOVE = A battle-ground?" "All the Sacrificed lives!"

BBC, 31/10/1994).

"Thank God the world rebelled against horrific, detestable, horrendous, annihilation, and won." "... because of the enormity of their crimes and the extent of their MORAL SQUALOR- the 3rd Reich was regarded as an aberration- a 12 year period when a supposedly civilised nation went mad. It soothes us to think this is what it was..." "THE EAGLES NEST: ... built on the highest mountain in Germany, in 1936 by slaves (took 3 years), is a villa built in English style because Hitler was envious of way the British rule the world. Hitler socialised here, wearing Harris tweed, eating cream cakes- he went on and on, boring his visitors to death. He liked architects..." 1990: "The Eagle's Nest is now a place of pilgrimage! This is a lair- to the god of War." Popular Belief: “Don’t tell me because it hurts…” "What you don't know can't harm you." "The less you know the better." Wrong! "These people pretend bad things never happened." WARNING! "Nazism did NOT die in Nuremburg. Nazis buried their uniforms and slipped into the post-war world..." NAZI'S ALLOWED TO ESCAPE: War criminals working on weapons, gases and rockets (intellectuals / professional elite) were allowed to escape. British, American and Australians wanted to

ADVERT FOR THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM: "Re-live the greatest air-battle in history- the Battle of Britain."

("Imperial War Museum fire bombed" 17/9/1992). "LEST WE FORGET..." "THIS WAR COST 50 452

burned. 'Nobody wants to listen to the Conservatives- who are close knit with the military. Government funds meetings (£100 million). Kohl not clear about borders. Suggestions for changing borders seems completely irrational. Trying to tie people into this or that block! Impossible. Should Germany really form a strong Nuclear power with France? Kohl scared of losing votes. Neo-Nazisnot full skin-heads (in some ways, look very respectable). At a recent meeting of Nazis- 2,000 delegates… They said: 'Small businesses, farmers, shop-keepers- they have support from everybody.' Last 2 World wars came from the centre of Europe…" "Our ability to cope with this situation... We go in search of settlement. We have the upsurging of revitalised socialism..." "For ambitious plan 'Reclaiming the Father-land' there is little support" (May 1990). "THE NEW NAZIS: WHO are THEY? WHO controls them? Back, with a vengeance. Their Slogan: 'Burn the Homeless.' Homeless people have been burnt to death… Is history repeating? 1921: 2,000 incidents of shocking racial violence. Thugs. A drive to get the immigrant workers out so there will be a higher standard of living- 'to give the children a chance.' 'It is our duty to get them to leave.' Petrol bombings. People easily led. Criminal lunacy. A command network. Repulsive. Targets of hate EG. blacks. A sizeable proportion of population applauded these attacks. Only 60 years ago, Hitler rose to power- immigrant workers were attacked... Recent goings-on: EG. "A series of anti-Semitic attacks, including bombings, has rocked South African Jewry. A synagogue in Johannesburg and the offices of a Jewish city councillor were bombed by right-wing terrorists..." "Montreal: Slogans such as 'death to the Jews' and 'KKK' (Ku Klux Klan) were spray-painted on walls" (6/7/1990). "Ontario: There was a rally of 'white supremacist' and Neo-Nazis from Canada, the USA and Britain." "The implications of this are very serious. They are exploiting the problems of unemployment. Now so many people are without work, hope. Foreigners could be attacked any time. Will the government respond or will the new Nazis win? Easily manipulated foot-soldiers. Violence- spread across Germany. What do Nazis want? If government does nothing, more Jews, black people etc will be burnt… Extremists want deportations- camps, where people will pay for their fare back home, receiving prison wages..." NEW NAZIS = 'NICE' respectable looking people, CONTROLLING these NASTY activities. Very clever. Not brought to justice! Promote EXTREMIST views. The same faces turn up at rallies. They put the blame on immigrant workersnot themselves...” “… 'SECRET' 9 POINT PLAN: Jurgen Reiger, a lawyer, said his plan encourages activists to take

MILLION LIVES..." "Royal Doulton are selling celebratory souvenir mugs..." (UK: 1990). PEOPLE SAID: "This should be a time for remembering people's GRIEF. Not celebrating!" "They hold a 2 minute silence to remember the war dead." PEACE = 2 minutes, once a year when all the cash tills stop ringing, but Emergency sirens? The wailing does not stop...” "WE FOUGHT THIS WAR SO ‘PEOPLE’ such as Hitler COULD NO LONGER TELL US WHAT TO DO." “We stood up to beat THESE BULLIES…” “Freedom of speech and DEMOCRACY! We fought hard for these RIGHTS.” “I think YOU have forgotten!” “…all we fought for - homes, a beautiful world… now we’re done for?” On Remembrance Day: UK: "There has been a bizarre incident. A man has set himself alight during the ceremony! He has suffered 60% burns... but the Queen and political leaders seem unaware of the incident…" (ITN, 1990). The Queen of England said: "We must maintain strong defence to ensure peace and freedom" (Ref. The 50th Anniversary of D Day, 5/6/1994).

“50 years on, leaders of the world attended the Remembrance ceremony" (27/1/1995). "Those who forget the past may be condemned to relive it" (wrote J. Major in the book of Remembrance at Israel's National Monument to the Holocaust, 13/3/1995).

PEOPLE SAID: "WE SHALL NEVER FORGET": "Think of all the people murdered by tyrants, by the power-hungry Demi-gods. May the world remember the destructive malaise. I don't believe the world has learnt... “ "'NEVER AGAIN' is a hollow slogan unless we do something... Educate the young. Cultivate the GOODNESS in Mankind. Listen to the victims. Do not give Hitler a posthumous victory." “We have said ‘Never Again’ many times…” "In a situation when NAZISM IS RISING AGAIN ALL OVER Europe (the world?) establishing JUSTICE IS VERY IMPORTANT. Survivors of concentration camps can remember the faces especially of the murderers who killed up to 30 members of one family..." “They look like ordinary citizens. They say they are good citizens. Nobody is disputing terrible things happened, but some agree to holding trials, some wont, so what is the point?" (Channel 4, 15/6/1990) "We survived- is this not something we should do? Is this not why we survived?" "All war criminals should be brought to justice. Grave breaches in international law." "WAR CRIMES = DON'T YOU KNOW THEY ARE MONSTERS?” NEO-NAZIS: "There is a new nationalistic feelingbeing proud to be German. 'This land is our territory.' Groupings becoming more and more powerful. 'We are really afraid.' Violence. Absolute violence. 1,000's and 1,000's of leaflets 453

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the law into their own hands EG. He said: 'It will not work without violence' and he encourages: EUGENICS: "The purity of the race is good." (All this disgusting racial stuff deserves to die an early death.) “The British National Party (the BNP) is against Asians... 'Many agree with national socialism' say the BNP, stirring up racial hatred, spreading fear and promoting terrorism among peaceful communities. At a funeral of one murdered victim, the BNP said: 'We're glad he's gone.' BNP slogans: 'White Power. White Supremacy.' 'Rights for Whites.' They say: 'They take our homes and jobs.' The BNP try to profit from social problems same way Hitler did. BNP has many Neo-Nazis supporters. Sinister. Those people who have diedsame types of people that figured on Hitler's death list…" (The Cook Report, 26/1/1993). "Brainless thugs." "Got rocks in their head." "When you believe in things you don't understand- suspicious." "Leon Greenman's family were sent with 750 others to Auschwitz (October 1942). Of the 750, only Mr. Greenman and one other man survived... Since then, he has campaigned against fascism. He does not sleep well. He harbours a deep fear of Nazis... he was terrorised again, when they threatened his life and vandalised his home (in Ilford, England). A brick crashed through a window- minutes later, a man claiming to be a member of a racist-terrorist group telephoned the local newspaper, saying attack would be followed by a petrol bomb. He points to the windows, now covered in steel mesh. 'Look at me. I'm living in a cage again. Behind prison wire as I was in the camps.' The alarm he wears round his neck signifies the renewed loss of freedom. He believes fascists want to silence him. 'They want to shut me up so I can't tell people about them. The Nazis are still saying the holocaust never happened! They're always saying that couldn't happen here. Nobody should be so naive as to think that couldn't happen here. 'He is a man with a keen sense of history. He recalls people in London queuing for gas masks when the prospect of war seemed impossible... Chamberlain said there would be no war and we believed him.' 'But for some strange reason, that same, restless, frightened feeling is coming up in me again.... the same fright I had when the enemy took over.' A result of the recent attack against him? 'No. I see what's going on in Belgium, Austria, and Italy. The world is a very restless place now, as it was then. When evil is building, you feel this, but the evil does not show in the beginning. People are always saying: 'Oh, things could never be as bad as that again.' But they're wrong. I experienced that. I ignored that too. What happened, could happen again'..." (Evening Standard, 9/11/1994).

UK: “Parliament asked to introduce a specific law making race attacks illegal. The government refused! Time and time again, thugs get away with vicious crimes. One young Asian boy was beaten by a white gang- his head used as a football. A one year jail sentence is not a deterrent. By next year, judges will be able to sentence thugs to 2 years..." (15/11/1994).

"WE LOVE TO STIR IT ALL UP": Yobs, thugs, right-wing extremists- hard core fans rioted- gave Hitler salutes. When there were no more police to attack, they turned on women and children. They left behind a lot of racist propaganda. And a lot of injured people..." (15/2/1995) (“Fuck the World” Attitude: These are kids who need to vent their frustration at all the crap... rather than feel inadequate, emasculated, they join a group- to win admiration- they may become Bullies who torment people they hope are unable to defend themselvesthey’re hitting out at everyone- they may grow-up to be hard men because they have no alternative… deep inside… they want the real thing... they too like to feel sunshine! Is the answer to hit them harder and really hurt them deep inside their guts, or is it to help them understand their hands were never intended to be used as weapons- there is so much work for strong hands to do?) (The hardest part is how do you get it through to them?) (H'mm. How to deal with rebellious youngsters? America sends them to cow-boy boot camps where they are shouted at, kept in solitary confinement, denied a decent bed, decent food, are forced to believe their values are wrong… (The USA has compulsory conscription for highschool failures -non-graduates…) "…The USA could introduce (wider) Compulsory conscription…" (October 2004). UK: "Colonel Blashford-Snell, a Conservative? explorer... wants to install more discipline in schools, bring back ‘National Service’ i.e. Compulsory conscription into the Armed Forces for people under the age of 20, during peace time.... He said: 'Nothing worries me more than young people without motivation, a sense of curiosity and adventure'..." (Evening Standard, 8/3/1994) (a voluntary National Service could be given a new fun image & useful role? (see: Thunderbirds).

"THE NIGHTMARE RETURNS: 'Congratulations. You have been ethnically cleansed' said a calling card left by Combat 18 (a group that advocates violence). Slashers. Racists. Savage attacks. They go after women. And children. They use Hitler salutes. These are the people behind violence in football. Are a far-right group (fascists). They spread hate, fear- blind panic. They aim to exploit violence for their own political ends. They boast of attacks against innocent people. 'We'll put out all your windows.' They kicked 8 school teachers down the stairs... Their campaign 454

“I’M A FAN OF HUMAN BEINGS. I’m not so keen on machines…” "We are pawns- the least important pieces in their game. We are Expendable..." "Their current power struggle leads inexorably to Atomic War and the probable destruction of The Human Race." "Our days are numbered- one way and the other..." "They would never do that! They surely couldn't be so callous!" "Never Under-Estimate..." (GOOD GOD!) "They nearly dropped theAtom bomb twice on Korea. If citizens were aware of the horrors and ghastliness of war, they would stop war... but this (supposedly) is not in the government's interests. That is probably why the CIA have not been charged with endangering LIFE- Genocide." “The military argue they don't make policy decisions… they say politicians dictate...") "Nuclear weapons play a part in our strategy" (said Mrs Thatcher, 21/11/1990) (What kind of strategy would that be? "Don't push the button!") (“Could the button be pressed in rage and frustration?”) "The development of the HYDROGEN BOMB made inevitable the entry of the Human Race into an age dominated by the possibility of annihilation." MAD: “Mutually Assured Destruction.” "... and everybody said 'here, here, cheer, cheer'..." ("… it's me on my own swimming against this tide.") “Instead of seeking WORLD DOMINANCE WITH THESE WEAPONS, we need to SAVE THE

of terror remains unchecked" (World In Action, ITV, 27/3/1995).

(“Who are ‘they’?”) "The crimes against ordinary people are being organised internationally. Something strange is going on... There should be an inquiry, to establish conclusively, once and for all…” CIVIL DEFENCE / PROTECTION: “The 1st responsibility of any government is the safety of its citizens.” "Do we have a water-tight defence policy?" "The absurdity of 'defence' policies..." Uh Oh! "We had better find out what is going on." "They do not have any real PEACE policies." ("… it offers you a degree of control and security you've never known before...") CIVIL DEFENCE? 1914 - 1972: "A WAR ON CIVILIANS..." 1949: MASTER PLAN: "CIVIL DEFENCE ABANDONED. "We've taken every precaution..." = "The government urges calm... and digs shelters for government including quarters for the Royal Family (there is an underground shelter for the Royal Family somewhere in the West...") "Governments have dug deep shelters- for themselves- for protection against nuclear war." "Regional governments have shelters in locations anticipated to be unusually safe." "The government plans to remove all the art treasures..." ("Every new home built in Switzerland must have a nuclear shelter.") UK: WHITEHALL SAID: "There was not now or ever any cash available for public shelters." Sitting Duck Syndrome: Vulnerable. Anyone could attack us... DANGER! FOR the PROTECTION of the PEOPLE they have WEAPONS FOR OUR DESTRUCTION! 1983: "There might be a strong temptation on government/s to ‘solve problems’ by Nuclear war. The (Technological) Elite against the masses. Each country might agree to do each other's dirty washing… The 'useless' (thanks to government policies...) do gravitate towards the Cities... known as: "The Population Centres..." (“How much easier to eliminate us if we are all in one place.”) “Doubtless, to salve consciences, this would be dressed up as a war between Super-Powers.” “The Nations are going to be faced, within the next 30 years with ‘the fact’ that the majority of citizens are a 'dangerous, useless burden,' … unless some Democratic ALTERATION OCCURS in Economical and political thought... Government's are in tacit conspiracy..." "… it is a tragedy. A travesty of justice." "A WAR ON CIVILIANS? I don't like that at all..."

WORLD!” EXPERT: "The way forward is planned death" (said an advocate of Euthanasia, 6/6/1990).

(Ah! “This is how it ends...”) ? WAH! “My beloved world, CONQUERED!” “… with meticulous planning and attention to detail…”“Evil is amongst us.” "NUCLEAR WAR IS PLANNED AND EXPECTED. All that remains to be decided is the timing and the extent." "Beforehand, there will be a noticeable rundown of industry..." "In approx. 42 seconds, we could have the end of civilisation as we know it- after all the retaliatory gestures..." "DON'T PANIC! Maybe we can find some constructive way..." "STAY CALM about it." “Always look on the bright side of life…” "Don't overreact..." "Don't get it out of proportion..." “…it's only a possibility..." Most people are vaguely aware of a possible nuclear war scenario. Many people say: "If there was a nuclear war, I wouldn't want to survive." “There’s a general fear…” DO PEOPLE KNOW HOW WE ARE BEING HOOD-WINKED? How we have been betrayedbadly?" “We are victims of a double standard.” "BLACKMAIL! This nuclear business. The effect 455

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probably will not survive if hit by a nuclear bomb. More likely to entomb occupants- those not crushed to death by falling debris- walls, ceilings. Tons of rubble on top- can't get out- blocked entrance / exit.” UK: "Selling off concrete bunkers" (1993) (What have they devised for themselves since, using Tax-Payers money?) "The only people likely to survive atomic war are the ‘diplomats’..." "Some believe no-one would survive..." "Only cockroaches will survive Nuclear Holocaust." DOOMSDAY. WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN? "GIANT THERMAL PROGRAMMES..." "APOCALYPSE = THE END OF THE EARTH? Now it's gone?" "There is NO assessment in British official plans for Global Ecological or economic consequences of a major nuclear exchange. The most serious effect? Destruction of the Ozone layer (approx. 70%). Massive UV bombardment would ensue, burning, blinding, destroying crops, changing Global weather patterns..." “… the cities built on fault-lines… What if a nuclear (or Hydrogen) bomb hit a fault line? A MONSTER EARTHQUAKE would result perhaps triggering MONSTER tsunamis (tidal waves). (“FAULT LINES… What does that tell you? The Earth’s Crust- protecting us from the intense heat of the Earth’s inner core.) "War is not Environment Friendly. Far from it." ("This won’t make a pretty site / sight.") "Still fighting over the same OLD ground?" “A MULTI-NATIONAL AGREEMENT IS NEEDED PROHIBITING nuclear weapons that could endanger the Environment, triggering Tidal waves, Earthquakes and disastrous atmospheric pollution, and this should be solemnly signed and adhered to…” "Is this the time to be making waves?" “Here we go- marching onwards. We’re too important to die?” (“One despairs for mankind.”) I don’t suppose any of this will stop them.” UK: WAR PLAN: Devised by: "The 'Hard Rock' planners in the Home Office:" "On Target Lists: "THE WRITING OFF OF CITIES AS A MATTER OF POLICY. High-Rise flats, oil platforms, industry and resources..." "There can be no telling where bombs will actually land..." "The accuracies of the bombs has increased. Missiles are direct-able (accurate targeting) EG. Could be aimed (deliberately) at highly populated areas, not military installations..." UK POLICY CALLED: 'SCRUM HALF': "Population will be advised not to leave their areas..." "Stay put (and face the consequences.") "People with 2nd homes will stand a better chance..." "Normal services (public transport reduced to 50% then, fuel shortages.) (Schools

on the ‘people’ who own them! To over-awe other people... One rattles, the other responds... An invaluable bogey in the wood-shed. AIMED AT US! A device used by governments to hold its citizens hostage in peacetime. Governments threaten..." 1987: "Much better to PRODUCE the missing mechanisms than get into a BLOODY, INFERNAL MESS." NOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE CALLED: 'THE HUMAN RACE' ? "… it is a race against a ticking clock..."

“OBJECT to this madness! OR LOSE it.” "When there is only ONE RACE – Man-kind… will we win the race…" (Morbid Curiosity): WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A NUCLEAR BOMB GOES OFF? A Nightmare: “There is a sound like a rushing train as the shells hit their target…” “RUIN-OPOLY: "1st energy goes out... ionizing air to create electro-magnetic pulse….” (“EMP: Electro-Magnetic Pulse: A side effect of nuclear explosions, halts all electrical current in the vicinity flowing in wires. Power stations stop. Everything dependant on electricity stops. Optical fibres not susceptible to EMP… “)

“… FIREBALL (infra-red radiation). Crater scooped out of earth- vaporised. Crashing shock wave. Phase of sustained pressure. Accompanying wind away from direction of blast... blows in windows, seriously damages roof tiles... blast wave (drag / pull on buildings which may explode).” "SCORCHER: ... the building would first respond with gentle tremors. The vibrations would then become so powerful that the whole structure would go into resonant oscillations of such amplitude and power that rivets in steel beams would be loosened and sheared. The outer stone (or glass) coating would be thrown off and the skeleton steel structure would collapse in all parts..." "Extremely nasty. A fireball effect." "BURNING WITH THE DEVIL." “Cloud disperses = Radioactive fallout. 30 minutes exposure is lethal." (Followed by nuclear winter...) "Anyone sheltering in the central area of a onemegaton ground burst weapon action would not survive unless in a deep military installation." (They would be vaporised). "BACK TO RUINS: ... trees stripped of trunks, if not uprooted. Unrecognisable, appalling sights on all sides. Communications at a stand-still. Famine and epidemic preyed amongst the twisted girders, splintered beams and flattened houses." (The army will probably be called in to tidy up. Corpses could not be dug out of ruins). "HAVOC." "Mile wide chunks of debris; left overs." (Bull-dozers would be used…) "It is impossible to contain Nuclear pollution." "Underground concrete bunkers with steel doors 456

close over a 4-day period). Public utilities will be non-existent..." "Panic food buying." "Nothing will be done to put out fires in main blast areas." "Self-evacuation: People will have to survive on what they had stored or could carry with them as they flee... No food likely to be issued until 2 weeks after the attack... food shortages, panics... people will rampage and loot- a grim struggle in a food starved, radio-active hell..." "Head-quarters attacked- controlling the public slips beyond reach... mechanised platoons dispatched..." "No scope for mutual aid." "Prisoners / zombies put away from sight to await their deaths." "The tracking down of 'illegals'..." "Non-provision of medical Aid." "If refugees are without significant shelter... from fall-out, they are likely to receive lethal or near lethal doses of radiation. Many would be seriously injured with blast or burn wounds. 'The Walking Dead'... any casualty centres most likely to refuse treatment for this or any other injuries, and refuse to supply food... No-one can help them..." "The conditions for the spread of disease and epidemic could not be better." "Broken limbs will bleed and become infected..." "Trapped, injured people will die slowly..." "Whole families condemned to die..." "Military ordered to hold irradiated cases at refugee death camps." "Military can shoot on sight." "Ships assist the re-distribution of any surviving population to less damaged parts EG. Scotland." "Britain is likely to fare badly under a large nuclear attack maybe a few million people will survive the first month..." Estimated: “3 Billion people in the southern hemisphere could die of starvation due to the Global destruction of the food supply..." (Ref: ‘War

scenes?" "Ridiculous! You can't be serious. They are not having regular little meetings to discuss any such thing... with lots of conspiratorial winks- are they? Surely, nobody could be so calculating, so monstrous, and so evil !?" "What if governments believe they do not have any choice? They can't see another way out? Christ..." “They are making CLASSIC psychological and TACTICAL ERRORS…” "How can we make them see they are wrong? How can we make them change their minds?" "So many demonstrations against the State have ended in failure. What are we to do?” “… it’s us against them?” “Crush them with the sheer weight of our bodies? If we were to even begin to plan such a preposterous thing, we would be arrested... for plotting to overthrow... even though all we want to do is achieve a happy peace... but I can't see how we can achieve that. God, we are so powerless... to stop this..." “The answer could be to put all our weight behind it...” “Maybe they are just doing their best to keep us ‘happy’ until they can work something out?” "NUCLEAR MISSILES STOCKPILED: A Onemegaton Bomb = Mega death. Arsenal: Estimated (early 1970) the USA possessed 4,250 deliverable thermo-nuclear warheads. The USSR's arsenal estimated at 2,300 (including 1,300 intercontinental missiles). No official estimate published of potential power of the device known as 'Doomsday.' A 50,000 megaton device could kill the entire human race (except those who were deep underground and who stayed there for 5 years.") "The WHOLE WORLD TREMBLES WITH FEAR... OF THE likely TERROR TO COME..." "Nuclear weapons make us all feel secure." Uh? "I find these weapons TERRIFYING. Sorry, but I do." Who feels secure? "We're all dead nervous." WAH! I feel INSECURE! “I’ve got to cure my insecurity!” "The British (& USA) position is nauseating." "Governments are weapons! They use it against us all the time." "The whole of Humanity could be levelled in chaos..." "IF we don't settle matters quickly, implementing changes to put things right- we will grieve." THE NUCLEAR THREAT = A HEATED ARGUMENT. "I think it would be much better if we all discussed it... Instead of squashing more and more people into cities… with it we have the ability to start anew in the middle of nowhere, without damaging the Environment, easing the burden on cities…

Plan UK’: a book written by: Duncan Campbell, investigative journalist).

"MASS GRAVES: ... a range of famous parks have been scheduled as 'mass-graves' in the Emergency War Plan for Doomsday. Able-bodied survivors will pull wagon-loads of dead, according to the plan. 'In view of the limited supplies of petrol, non-mechanical methods should be used...' Presuming they are not all too weak from terminal radiation sickness. Further gruesome details of our master's 'contingency' plans can be obtained from CND which is pressing for councils throughout the country to declare themselves as 'nuclear-free zones'..." (Time Out magazine, 11/4/1985). "What would be the point if the government/s orchestrated a full-scale nuclear war? The governments wouldn't gain anything!" "LEVEL OF DEVASTATION TO LAND CAN BE CONTROLLED... There are different types of bombs..." (see: Hiroshima). "Surely they wouldn't inflict such suffering on their own people?" "Don't you believe it?" "Of course, I could be wrong... but are the Nazis still in control, behind the 457

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“Personally, I think you should choose the lesser evil and consider the greatest GOOD for the greatest number.” “Damage limitation rather than poof! All Human life exterminated.” “Heaven send me strength. Are bombs your best tactic?” "You don't have to go to war. Just do it." “… it just needs somebody to say My God! I believe it could be done. It will be done.” "… it is THE ANSWER TO STOP WAR." "NO MORE VICTIMS!" ("Yes. Think about it. "Think it through.") "... or are we already dead men?" "Violence is NOT the answer to it." Do YOU agree? “Was that a hard decision?” "Maybe there isn't any argument?" "Nobody has the Right to play God. The people have the Right to have a Voice in their own destiny, and they're not getting it! What is going on here is Genocide. People from Attila the Hun to Hitler have tried to twist the rationale from massmurder into a saleable form, but that doesn't work... We have to oppose this, or we're as guilty as they are..." "People may change, they may get tired, afraid... but about the fundamentals they don't..." NO MORE HUMANS? TAX-PAYERS SAID: “What are we? Bugs to be destroyed?” "Play it fair. Hold on." "We don't get fooled again." "DO THEY NEED A REASON?" "THEY CAN PLAY THIS ANY WAY THEY WANT!" "Missiles could be dropped 'accidentally' on countries when missiles en-route to another country. 'Computer controlled...' 'Wars are full of accidents...' 'Accidents do happen all the time'..." "400 miles off target..." "Electronics down- shit!" "The Survival of the World Depends on Electrical Gadgetry!" "Rulers of the Earth, robbing the poor oppressed." "$Multi-Billion hooded ‘facts.’" "All for this!" “A WAR MONGERING CAPITALIST PLOT… on this governments are in agreement!” OUTRAGE: "Mechanical Murderers." "Species that can never be replaced." "The Grandeur of Nature- lost! Many cultures. Future endeavours..." "We only have one world- the living one." "Whilst we're all hanging on, and you're pretending not to know the difference…this distance between us. Every second, you're breaking us down. I'm giving you my heart and soul. We must find a way of letting go cos I don't want to cry. There must be a way we can find PEACE." "You have to understand OBLIVION..." "War is hopelessly unconstructive." EG. "THE ATOMIC MESS: The Soviet Union has 100's of miles of nuclear contaminated land- damage caused by decades of irresponsible nuclear weapons testing... they still store nuclear waste

same as the USA- fusing waste into GLASS blocks or boxing waste in stainless steel - waste has been pouring into rivers and across fields, unchecked since late 1940's. They have 40 years worth of Reactor waste dumped..." (Evening Standard, 17/8/1990) ("Of course, GLASS doesn't break, does it?") "Monstrous EVIL." "Lethal Let down." “The modification of the Environment for military purposes…” Is that banned? "ALL DONE TO ‘DEFEND’ THE REALM" ? "… it's for the public's good..." "THE GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY IS GUESSWORK... against Reason and Logic." "I guess when it all comes down to executing the solution..." "… it depends on how big your appetite is for DESTRUCTION." "…it's the answer to make men GENTLE, and you want to fight for it ?" “LOVE LIES BLEEDING…” “Everything decent wiped-out. For what? Sacrifice? How will this CRIME be justified? They’ll have to live with this shit which will never end for them.” ("You can try and justify yourselves, but wouldn't you just rather it was all said and done? So you could be in charge of your own fate?") "Is pressing the button a Democratic decision?" “It’s not your call!” “Who’s call is it? The President’s? Well, call him now! Make that call. STOP THE BOMB! We need to make it NOW! And tell him you are doing a piss-poor job of putting it together…” "FAMOUS LAST WORDS?" “I guess it’s for the best.” "Afterwards they will say: 'We don't know where we went wrong'... 'We did everything we could'... ‘There was no alternative'..." “The dogs of war…” "Let sleeping dogs LIE?" NUCLEAR WEAPONS: "FORMULATING SECURITY POLICY IS A MATTER OF PRIORITY! An appeal made to the public 'to identify it as soon as possible'..." (15/4/1992). "We need to find a peaceful way" said George Bush Snr (22/5/1992). "Neil Kinnock DEFEATED ON DEFENCE: The Labour leader was hit by a revolt when the Scottish Labour Party reviewed its call for unilateral nuclear disarmament, in defiance of the official policy of multilateral cuts. The Party conference voted 21 - 1 for a Labour government to cut defence spending, FREEING the cash for PEACEFUL PURPOSES.” (Labour was not in power so decision irrelevant...) "Once again, the lack of a planned reduction in government defence expenditure..." (29/9/1992). 458

(“… it IS THE SAFEST PLACE YOU COULD BE.”) PREDICTED: “Year 2126: A large COMET could crash into Earth... “ (Shortly after this was said, then said, this is incorrect. Could the military be looking for a way to prolong their existence? The theory of catastrophe- a life-line to the military?) NEXT: "They are going to send a missile into an asteroid to see how much blow-off is produced, then they will move an object into collision with the Earth to see what will happen! Extremely expensive / dangerous and no reason exists to do this. NASA has a $150 million project to send a satellite to see where these objects are- objects not predictable... Next year, impact due on Jupiter. A string of mountain-size rocks will hit. Will the planet explode?" (Horizon, BBC, 29/2/1994). Meteoroids: “Greatest shower 1966 when 2,300 per minute passed over Arizona for 20 minutes." "Last major impact of a meteorite was 1908: Siberia- destroyed 1,500 miles of forests(devastating airburst- did not hit ground…) "PLUTONIUM DUSTBIN FILLING UP FAST: Plans for dismantling America's Nuclear arsenal are in disarray. Stores to take Plutonium could be full within months. USA has failed to give a lead to Russia. The Clinton report is confident about Russia's progress. Assist. Sec. for Defence for Nuclear Security and Counter-Proliferation said: 'We don't know the rate of dismantlement taking place. We guess about 2,000 a year" (New Scientist,

PEOPLE SAID: "Quit stalling. Let's get on with it. This is no time for clowning around..." "Nuclear weapons are still needed. The problem with The Middle East… um ah er… Asteroids?" (said Tom King).

("Asteroids: Closest measured approach to earth by an asteroid was 485,000 miles (Hermes on 30/10/1937). Asteroids lie in a belt between Mars and Jupiter..." "We have only discovered 5% so far." "200 craters on Earth- what caused these? Did an asteroid impact kill the dinosaurs? A regular record of mass-extinction every 6 million years..." “The sun blocked for years leading to an IceAge…” "The shock of a very large impact- belittles all nuclear weapons- would hit with the force of 1,000 Hiroshimas…” (“Could we fire lasers?”) "In 1972, we came close to an impact... We ought to have some plan..." “1996: “A near miss…” “Are we relying on it passing us by?” POSSIBLE SCENARIO: (“Come on! NASA wants something- any ideas- off a napkin or whatever. We’ve only got 18 days before that thing (asteroid) hits… With so little preparation time… that thing is really going to hurt… The impact… Tidal waves… ½ the world is going to burn, the other ½ will freeze to death. Yep, it’s coming…. Mass religious hysteria, total chaos. 6 BILLION people wondering why this is happening… GET THE JOB DONE! Or everybody is gone! AND DO A GOOD JOB or I swear…” (The fictional film: Armageddon).

POSSIBLE SCENARIO: “You have to try and warn people!” “What? And create panic? Public hysteria costs lives. How is it going to help? The clogging of roads, everyone trying to get to the airport…” “The impact could level everything! “If we are going to do it, we’d better get started now.” “If we don’t get started now, what is our option? Evacuate whole towns / cities? Gridlock, stampede, hysteria, panic. Not enough civilian flights out, or medical Aid. Our Best Emergency Teams = OLD ambulances, choppers. Military transport only does 8 mpg! The average walking speed is only 3 mph. Total mayhem! We can’t leave them there! We’ve got no choice. We can’t do it. We’re not going to make it. The refugees are furious! They wont calm down! They need assistance! We’ll try and help you for as long as it takes. I can’t believe it! Everybody is in shock. All the petrol tanks exploding…The oil terminals are on fire! They’re going to blow. If these blow, the pipelines go… We’ll get through it buddy… Yeh. A lot of good people were lost…” The President said: “I never thought anything like this could happen!” “You crazy ‘people!’ You’ve got your priorities all wrong!” “SAYING THE TRUTH CAN SAVE A LOT OF LIVES IN THE LONG RUN.”

2/10/1993).

"INDEFENSIBLE WASTE: Reports about wanton over-spending... the defence establishment does not seem to have much skill at mucking-out. ‘The Public Accounts Committee’ is expected to demand tighter controls of defence contracts, concentrating on avoidance of last-minute design changes to incorporate the latest technology- a process known as 'gold plating,' which leads to substantial cost over-runs. ‘The National Audit Office’ criticised overspending of nearly £1.9 Billion on new weapons and delays of up to 5 years on 9 separate contracts worth more than £4 Billion. 11 contracts have over-run original estimates by 25%... Existing equipment in stores is not protected against fire or theft. ‘Defence’ equipment is so expensive- attention to detail can save huge sums. Ministers should bring in outside auditors for regular (surprise) checks on progress and costs of each project. They should demand individual pricing for each component. They should develop major items only in collaboration with NATO- the huge cost of developing our own capital ships, tanks, fighter aircraft and computers is a luxury Tax-payers can no longer Afford" (re: UK, 29/1/1990). "Mr. Gorbachev ordered a massive reduction in Russia's Nuclear Weapons when he arrived back 459

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nuclear weapons" said Tom King (1990) (TRADE NUKES? "We are SAFE in their hands?" "Dan Dare stuff has gone right to his head.") Re: 'SECURITY': "Tom King warned Britain must keep its guard despite Democracy moves in Eastern Europe. He wrote: "Our defence is our insurance policy if things go wrong.” He said: The nations independent deterrent costs every man, woman and child an average of £400 a year. We can't make savings in the ‘defence’ budget until we know what shape the world is in. I can't promise the speed. We have OVERSPENT on Warships, Aircraft, Nuclear submarines, Missiles (Hardware). The proliferation of nuclear weapons in other parts of the world. We have to match them." "Tom King promised new equipment- more mobile Gun ships, Fighter planes, Tanks" (28/7/1990) (More tin hats?) “The problem is that nations believe nuclear power brings prestige…” "Faulty weapons costing £1 Billion a year... the Commons Defence Committee said supplies are so shoddy up to ½ the RAF's attack jets are out of action at any one time." "For security... your technology has to be kept up to date. That's why we have to update Nuclear Weapons" said Mrs Thatcher (June 1990) (Shouldn’t you update with effective, less dangerous i.e. nonharmful technology?) "Thatcher's Britain: Rolls-Royce is bidding to manage Britain's 4 Atomic weapons plants, 12 months after the company chairman, Lord Tombs, prepared a report urging for their privatisation.

in Moscow from the USA. More than 1,500 warheads, 60 missiles and 250 guns are to be withdrawn from Europe- far more than the Kremlin had previously announced. He said he was making the reductions to encourage the scrapping of such weapons in Europe" (8/6/1990 (Huge sigh of relief…)

PEOPLE SAID: "Gorby needs all the help / resources he can get if he is to make Russian industry more productive..." “We should help the Russian people.” (“The Women’s Peace Camp. After a 24/7, 17 year long battle / protest by the women at Greenham, the common (land) was returned to the people but…”) "CRUISE MISSILES in ‘greater’ numbers. Greenham's 106 ground-launched cruise missiles have gone, only to be replaced by a minimum of 160 new air launched Cruise missiles." ("The original missiles were scrapped under the ReaganGorbachev Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). But the treaty only covers medium range missiles.") "M. Thatcher plans to put new missiles on USA F-111 fighters, increasing their range beyond that covered by the treaty." "2 - 3 columns of wire surround the Cruise missiles sites. Just down the road- high unemployment. The MESS. Life is a disaster." ("I don't want to fall on no razor's edge. I don't want to be possessed...") "QUAKE DENIAL: Soviet defence officials denied an EARTHQUAKE in Kazakhstan yesterday was caused by a nuclear bomb test" (15/6/1990). "Nuclear bomb tests leave HUGE craters. USA: Underground testing of nuclear weapons. Clinton may extend test ban. IF other countries agree to ban testing... IF ban extended worldwide, could stop proliferation. Britain uses the Nevada desert occupied by Native Indians for testing. UK putting pressure on Clinton to resume testing. Ban wont affect Trident" (2/7/1993). "CHINA: Exploded a nuclear device underground… Peking restated policy that China would never be the 1st to use a nuclear device in war" (5/10/1993). "All 38 of China's nuclear tests carried out on the edge of the Taklimakan desert. All tests since 1980, were conducted underground. TREMORS from the explosions, detected by seismic sensing stations around the Globe. ... Zone used for all blasts bigger than 10 kilotons. Piles of debris at foot of mountains- drilling vertical shafts is a substantial undertaking that can take a year" (New Scientist, 2/10/1993). “Nuclear Explosions damage the Ozone layer. Could effectively cause a hole…” "To add insult to injury, all this was done with a very low level of efficiency." Q: "HOW TO PREVENT LETHAL WEAPONS falling into the hands of our enemies?" A: "Britain may, one day, be willing to trade away

Tombs spent 2 months studying the plants at Thatcher's personal request" (Socialist Worker, 30/6/1990).

"The Ministry of Defence are wasting £100's of millions every year by over-paying Weapons firms... they dish out the cash to compensate for rising prices- as inflation sank to a 25 year low. Now Tax-payers trapped into paying extra for missiles, ships and aircraft which will take years to complete... The National Audit Office revealed overpayments which include: £72 million on £1.5 Billion anti-submarine helicopters, £14 million alarm anti-radar missiles, £8 million on Stingray & Spearhead torpedoes costing £496 million, £4.6 million on the £853 million Rapier ground-to-air missiles. Tank firm Vickers over-paid millions because their contracts too complicated to understand. Computer giant IBM offered £95 million savings but the MoD said no because the MoD did not realise it was a good deal..." (The Sun, 8/12/1993).

(Re: War-Ships: Slow moving, huge, highly visible, easily detectable targets. "Have you ever seen a torpedo go straight through the steel deck on a ship and out through the hull? The crew fall into the water, the ship can’t stop, the sea is on fire, people are on fire…”) "ESCALATING COST OF WAR SHIPS: Needed 460

radio-active (enough to make a 50 metre crater). Each lorry carries up to 4 bombs. 'No danger at all' said a (complacent) official. Yet there have been many incidents: EG. A warhead carrier slid off the road- over-turned. The risk to other drivers, the risk of road hogs, pile-ups, fog… The risk of a full-scale nuclear explosion involving the release of deadly Plutonium- not at all out of the question. This is possible. 'We do not have the capability to tell / warn people down-wind. Noone has the resources to deal with an accident of that magnitude.' Protestors arrested for breach of the peace! 'This is a disgrace allowing a convoy through areas where people live.' 'A complete waste of Tax-payers money. We allow our money to be spent on weapons for our destruction. 'No real way danger can be minimalised.’ These weapons could remove Glasgow from the map! Nuclear Weapons are more of a HAZARD to British people than anyone else" (Channel 4, 6/4/1993). Re: EVACUATION: “I beg to differ” said the Home Office. “I assure you we have a… room full of contingency plans for every town, village from land’s End to John o’ Groats.” “2 million people? It wouldn’t work for ½ a million. The logistics are impossible. Emergency transport, emergency housing, emergency food and medical supplies: evacuation of hospitals, prisons, mental homes. It’d take a week to organise and 2 weeks to effect” said the Defence department…” “If” said the Prime Minister… “we have to evacuate the entire population across the Scottish lowlands, we have signalled the end of the nuclear energy future. The public would no longer accept the level of risk…” (Extracts: Book: ‘Maximum Credible Accident’ by:

for defence of our land, trade routes and to protect troops. Cutbacks in building... Fear of unemployment. 'We need a guarantee we will survive.' USA fleet: Each ship carries £150 million worth of explosive." "We view our awesome power as a peace-keeping Weapon- a deterrent to make them think twice before attacking." "We do what our President says. We signed up. We'll go to war." "We can wipe out political volatility off the face of the earth." (“Terrifying- even for strategists). A WAR MACHINE. Cold warriors. For use to solve differences between struggling economic States?" "GOT A JOB TO DO IN THE KILLING BUSINESS?" "The 'Flies and Dies' Sea Wolf motto graphically describes awesome power. The motto for the ship's Exocet missiles is blunt: 'Fire and Forget'..." "War looms..." "God damn." "The latest in Naval technology: The Sea Shadow: The USA Defence Dept. test vessel is designed to explore advanced technology, using alternative structures, ship control and automation" (Evening Standard, 27/4/1993).

UK: "The Treasury is demanding cuts of £1 Billion in the £21 BILLION defence military budget next year as part of 'The Peace Dividend.' Downing Street however, indicated Mrs Thatcher would back Tom King, the Secretary of State for Defence, in resisting cuts until the long-term results of the Defence review are known..." "EUROPEAN SECURITY?" "Mrs Thatcher is also fighting to ensure events in Eastern Europe don't force result (in) defence cuts reductions in weaponry. Asked whether ‘defence’ spending could be cut reduced in light of changes in Eastern Europe (the tearing down of the Berlin wall etc) a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "What changes?" "An increasingly unstable Europe (!?) (the Berlin Wall has come down- therefore we are less secure?) “Weapons are needed for security." "THOSE WHO HOPED FOR A REDUCTION IN STRATEGIC MISSILE SYSTEMS will be disappointed.... No decision has yet been made..." "The people who use bombs are the people who abuse Human Rights" said Douglas Hurd

John Howlett).

"STAR WARS: Developed in USA. Theory: A laser gun, detonated by an atomic explosion- knocks out missiles. Working on satellite lasers so if any Nation 'makes a mistake' can upset steering so missile falls elsewhere... collision could cause explosion to occur prematurely. Ronald Regan dreamed ‘Star Wars’ would 'render Nuclear Weapons impotent and obsolete.' ‘Star Wars’ was consigned to oblivion yesterday, 10 years and at least $29 BILLION after inception. The USA Defence secretary said: '... we find we have a different need for a ballistic missile defence... In the future, we may face hostile or irrational states that have both nuclear warheads and ballistic missile technology that could reach the USA.’ Mr. Les Aspin said 3 or 4 new land-based missile defence systems were under consideration. The announcement does not signal any backing away by the USA from nuclear weapons related defence, or any great financial saving. Mr. Aspin was hard pressed to describe what Tax-payers had got for their money"

(25/3/1993).

"South Africa has produced Nuclear weapons. 'Became a liability to relations' said De-Klerk. But could still be ready for use. Iraq and Korea still want nuclear powers. We're in BIG trouble. There is a growing risk of Nuclear war" (ITN, 24/3/1993). "They TRANSPORT NUCLEAR WARHEADS ON LORRIES, on British roads- military convoys regularly (every week) drive past the biggest shopping centres, drive through densely populated areas. How SAFE is this? Deadly loads, combined with explosives. One bomb

(The Guardian, 14/5/1993). 461

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active. Outer-coating of this where cracks started to grow- in the heat exchanger and valves. Boats without safety certificates. This sub long overdue for an overhaul. Many safe-guards pushed to absolute limit... Then, another problem- 2 subs collided underneath ice... now cracks appearing in reactor circuits and possibly in protector systems... Some want to keep 'our nuclear deterrent' in place. But many workers facing radiation... workers getting twice recommended level. Political pressure keeps sub in the fast lane... The Peace protestors and Environmentalists are picketing every sub-station to try and ban pollution, radiation. Greenpeace trying to warn citizens of possible nuclear accident... The primary piping may blow with no advanced warning. British government says this view is 'alarmist' but Polaris is banned in foreign ports. Our subs are unfit- a danger to workers and constituents. Government determined to replace. Cost £10 Billion (each). More nuclear subs!? With more deadly, even more expensive missiles!? Ready by 1995. (Going ahead despite public opposition). PEOPLE SAID (Re: Britain's Trident Missiles): "Who cares what politicians want?” “Who wants MORE BOMBS? We have nightmares" (1991). “Trident. To build- whole mountain side being evacuated. Programme dogged by delays. Government not confident- what is best to do? Take Polaris out of service? What will put a stop to Britain's nuclear 'deterrent'?" (Private Eye, ITV, "PLUTONIUM LEAK: 4 people 19/9/1991) contaminated in 'safe area.' Lack of precautions. The SPLITTING OF A CONTAINER..." (re:

"The USA Navy is the BIGGEST STICK IN THE WORLD i.e. has the most military might... 'OPERATION: Desert Storm: One Super-carrier dropped 2,400 missiles and bombs on Iraqi targets in 6 weeks." "Carriers are versatile. Not designed to carry nuclear bombs, but they do." "We keep the peace by backing-up diplomacy" (Equinox, Channel 4, 17/10/1993).

2003: WORLD WAR 3 has already started..." Web-sites are counting down the number of days we have left... until it all goes off between North / South Korea- the West are hoping China will take advantage and invade... when the USA (and UK?) go after Iran... THIS IS GOING TO BE HELL... could cause all-out Nuclear war... unless we stop them..." "... the Royal Navy gave permission for Devil worship..." (UK, October 2004). “THE RAINBOW WARRIOR- a ship owned by Greenpeace, who are pacifists, was blown up / sunk by the Secret Service- French agents acting on orders. An act of sabotage…” “There were mass-protests against the French testing Nuclear weapons in the Pacific. 1 in 3 people were opposed. Rioting, buildings smashed- set on fire. Clashes with riot police. Cars at the airport set on fire. 1996: France signed a treaty banning testing. The Polynesian atolls remain military exclusion zones- a Nuclear dump. The community is still completely destabilised- receiving subsidies…” (BBC4, 16/3/2005).

NUCLEAR ARSENALS: France 350 nuclear warheads, Russia 19,500, USA 11,000, China 2350, UK 200” (BBC4, 16/3/2005). "China has deployed 600 missiles across the strait from Taiwan and has engaged in sabre rattling... China now believe they have the green light from the USA (following a visit from Colin Powell) to ratchet up the pressure on Taiwan... a muddled policy... potentially lethal miscalculations... morally dubious, strategically unwise..." (The Cato Institute, 4/11/2004). "Iran are concealing weapons of massdestruction... they have large reserves of raw uranium- could make crude Nuclear bombs... this could change the balance of power in the Middle East- Syria will then want Nuclear weapons... Israel could decide to take unilateral action to stop Iran's production... sites already on target list. We are 4 - 5 months from a crisis. Situation is very worrying" (18/11/2004) (see Iran). “Things are not looking good.”

Aldermaston, Panorama, BBC, 14/6/1993).

"Atomic warheads for Trident missiles, made in old factory- Aldermaston. Concerns re: design of building. Appalling safety record. Plutonium leaks. Greenpeace report 'Citadel' lists 58 serious contaminations (30% of accidents are plutonium leaks), 252 fires (15 serious), 9 deaths. Extremely Hazardous. Intolerable. Threatens workers & whole community. 1950's: Annual protestsmuch public outcry against nuclear plants. Affects local children badly- cancers. Having to fight for compensation. Accused of slack decontamination, slack storage of radioactive waste. Modernisation behind schedule. £100's of millions over budget. Stainless steel pipes corroding. Bungles…” "THERE HAS BEEN AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A RADIATION LEAK! Stay indoors, with doors and windows closed... Do not collect children from school unless advised by Emergency authority..." "We have a technical hitch..." (Wonderful?) "Plans Re: Nuclear / chemical accidents are the responsibility of the generating board and Ministry of Defence." "Planning for peacetime

NUCLEAR SUB-MARINES: “In deep water... designed to wipe-out whole cities.” UK: “Launched Polaris 25 years ago. 1990: After re-fit, cracks appeared. 2 subs taken out of service. Only 1 left to patrol. Centre of sub is radio462

(The fictional Film called: The Abyss: Nuclear sub, crashes, sinks. The 150 crew die. Rescue hampered by a hurricane. One missile could go off, detonating the others...) Re: THREAT POSED: "Nuclear sub base hit by strike over lack of safety- 100's of workers on the Clyde staged a walk-out... more men at Faslane ready for Trident missiles are expected to join protest action" (14/8/1990). “Armed guards from Russia’s KGB seized a Greenpeace ship and crew after firing to force the ship to stop. 5 Britons were among those on board when the ship sailed into a Nuclear test site in the Artic circle. 4 of the anti-nuclear protestors escaped, landing on a nearby island. Last night, they were being hunted. Greenpeace say they are protesting about Soviet plans to resume Nuclear testing. ‘Our information is they have a warhead underground. They are not going to test weapons as long as we are around.’ KGB officials accused the vessel and it’s 38 crew of violating Soviet borders” (Daily Mirror, 9/10/1990). "Workers infected repairing Nuclear submarines (leukaemia). Still trying to get compensation" (October 1990). "Soviet sub-marine leaking Plutonium into the Sea... Sunk off Norway, in rich fishing fields... Sub caught fire, and sank (April 1989), killing 42 sailors. Threat posed to Environment covered up"

DISASTERS has a poor priority in the Home Office..." “The Nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror, built 1971, is to be scrapped. This will cost £600 million... This, the only submarine to ever fire in anger. Conqueror fired at the Argentina battleship, the General Belgrano, which sank with the loss of 600 lives, during the Falklands war, after unleashing 3 torpedoes, on Mrs Thatcher’s direct order. Would be too costly to update. 'It is better to build new nuclear subs' said a Naval expert" (1990). "To conquer, or not to conquer? That is the multiBillion $ question..." "The Labour government will not reduce ‘defence’ spending, nor cut Trident" (1991). "Russian nuclear subs roam around the world with their deadly arsenals- in secrecy. An underwater world, confined for months on end. Russia has 225 subs. Twice the size of USA's fleet- built in response to USA's development of nuclear subs. 'For the security of the country.' Typical crisis responded to in last few years? Not Super Power conflict, but strife for many reasons. Do these submarines help people by providing decent housing and jobs? Trying to keep up with USA has practically bankrupted the Soviet Union. Symbol of THE WEAPONS RACE: HARDWARE. Heavily Taxing. THE END OF AN ERA: In Russia, nobody needs this type of fleet (warships / carriers). Tied up nowno fuel. Are rotting, floating scrap metal. 100's of RUSTING hulks. Ex-military personnel now on streets- nowhere to go... What if unauthorised persons get access to these weapons, to these control systems? The world is less stable now with this potent force / threat. There is always a danger. Could reek havoc. Old aspirations based on violence. Minor hostilities still result in HUGE LOSS OF BLOOD. GRUESOME. CUTTING EDGE technology. Hardware, for policing... Stop policingthen what happens?" ("Integrate, irrigate... Beat hostility!") "Escalating Piracy... Technology now being transferred to aggressive countries! Idea is not to be so dependent on USA, be friends to USA. What if present political will for peace changes? Dangerous. 'We may have a serious threat for which we have no response. We must prevent those from returning, prevent politicians from profiteering from conflicts. We need to do everything we can to avert such a disaster from ever happening'..." (Ruling the Waves, Viewpoint, ITV,

(24/11/1992).

"2 Nuclear subs crashed. No reported leak" (22/3/1993)

"Most contaminated area in the world is Russia's Artic coastline. Nuclear subs dumped. The military want to resume Nuclear testing here" (BBC, 12/8/1993).

"Construction worker on nuclear submarine contracted leukaemia. Survived. Won his case for compensation. Now way paved for many other claims" (December 1993). "3rd ACCIDENT involving a French Nuclear submarine. 10 killed. All French Nuclear subs recalled" (31/3/1994). "The UK government do not know how to dispose of 4 decommissioned Nuclear submarines, dumped at Rosyth" (15/8/1994). "Britain's Nuclear sub fleet, based at Devonport, will have to be kept in service for a few more years... Defects... refits... 'We want pay to reflect risks'..." (November, 2004).

(Metal) SUPER-STRUCTURES: “There are 10 Nuclear air-craft Carriers…” (2006).

12/10/1993).

THE MILITARY: (1988: "Last year 18 MILLION CHILDREN died of starvation. If only we had been able to provide food for them!” Britain spent £1,1200 million on armaments Weapons. That is more than £600 for each child that died") (PROGRESS = No Food?) “All over the world… killing.”

(The fictional Film called: Under Siege: 'We'll start the end of the world.' The risk of a Nuclear sub being hijacked by mad-men with a grudge... arsenal used to 'light up' a city- a heavily populated area. Potentially, 10,000 people burned alive in less than a minute). 463

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FUN. In the top military, life is most enjoyable." "They have heavy investment for munitions. They're praying for the next war- to justify their existence." "They say people like to work for the military because the military do the most interesting research..." "Government can get larger Taxes for military spending. Can spend in secret with little or no public interference." "One man is in charge of the UK's £23 BILLION ‘Defence’ budget. A £1 Billion reduction in military spending asked for. The Chancellor is busy trying to work out how to stop the ‘derailing’ of the economy" (ITN, 14/10/1993). "The military is our only centre of ‘excellence.’ We have 240,000 men in the Armed Forces. 150,000 civil servants in the ‘defence’ ministry. Too many admirals." Q: "What about a review of the Treasury? Their inefficiency has cost us fortunes!" ("… it would save public money...") A: "Cuts are being made to civil servants, not 'experts'..." (Do you think we could just please stop talking about CUTS?) "There is scope for spending LESS on the MILITARY. There are always ways of improving things." "Has it even been presented to you as an option?" "Reductions in military spending will reduce security" ? ("No-one has the brain to know HOW to reduce the excesses of the military without reducing 'security'...") Q: "WHAT DO WE WANT FROM ‘OUR SERVICES’ ?" A: “A Peace Keeping Task force sent in to stop trouble- there to protect / help citizens...” "We've got to think of needs in 15 years time." Conclusion: "People under-estimate the importance of the military during peace time" (Debate, Greater London Radio, 18/10/1993) (Ah! "FOR PEACE, WE NEED WEAPONS." Something about that does not make sense. Do you fight fire, with fire? Or water? Is FIRE - a Solution? “There’s a lot wrong with this General, and if you don’t realise it, I pity you.”) ARMY TRAINING: “Seeped in tradition. Daily rituals haven’t changed for 600 years…” “We haven’t got it right yet.” “Will the brutal bullying ever change?” "The 1st duty of the military is to follow orders” = "Troops BULLIED": "You are not people any moreyou are not human. You are machines. You do what we tell you." ("MEN are not Machines!") DRILL: "Left, Right, Left, Right. About turn! HALT!" (Weird! Is this the army or politics?) "Give it all you've got!" Interpreted as: OVERKILL! Bombs away! "Our instructions are to go on the

NON-ETHICAL INVESTMENT: "UK & USA arms weapons production £39 BILLION" (1989) "Going to spend more..." (1990). "Man's Capability: Missiles." (Ah! Missile Technology. Fiery bursts… A capsule housing. Self-correcting in flight. Rapid start-up and slow down. Circuits. Breakers. Contacts. Heat protected signals. Burnt out. Man’s present day favoured curiosity…” ‘Modern’ Technology = "RANDOM, CLUSTER BOMBS." UK 1990: "Officially we all support the military." PRO-WAR MARCHES. A TIME OF ‘GREAT’ CONFUSION.” “Take it in your stride…” "Giving each other grief…" 1991-2: "There is fanatical support for the military" ("Things can change.") ATTITUDE ON THE STREET: "War is unnecessary." "WAR IS FULTILE. WAR SHOULD NOT BE GLORIFIED." "All for honour and glory? All for nothing!" "You call it 'pageantry.' I call this murder." "You should ask yourselves: 'WHY are the Armed FORCES here?'..." "Can't YOU see what's going on? (You hold the Key when you believe it.") ("... it will be a good opportunity to see what people are made of...”) "WHY CELEBRATE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION?" "So, what else is there?" "Have you come to see the glamorous uniforms?" "They look so fine- so hard to resist." ("Women are attracted to men in uniform.") WAH! "If you need UNIFORMITY, do you think you could make it an agreed international standard?" "Why are you here?" "We came to learn, to understand - not to kill…" "What are doing on this world? Do YOU still feel lost? Are you still looking for a leader to follow? Where will you follow him to? What are they doing? WHO are they going to do this to? Who are they going after? What is their real motive for doing this? Are you caught up in it? Are you afraid of their snarling hounds, or would you prefer the sound of music?" “FUCK this military ‘justice.’ Killing is killing no matter how you dress this. None of us needs this shit. This is the way it is but not the way it ought to be. The military is a machine. Without this machine we could function the way God intended us to be. I guess it’s me against the sadistic military. Just me trying to save all your souls cos I’m sick of the suffering.” "THE FEW PROTESTORS who openly support PEACE are arrested and labelled as 'loonies'…” "Today we (only) see the development of more Weapons of for mass-destruction and the stockpiling of Nuclear arsenals by the Super-Powers." WHY? "THE NEEDS OF THE MILITARY ARE PUT 1st." "The military are like a Secret Society." "They obtain vast amounts of influence, power, and have 464

forced to cook, carry, be wives…” ("In the name of decency...") "We want a good, clean fight." “I believe leaders should fight hand to hand battles to save lives." "So do I. Wouldn't it be great if we could say- if you want to fight- go over there. Don't suppose we'll see it happening though…" "I don't like life. I want to join the army..." ("You are running away- from what? from who? To what?" "Easy to get into, hard to get out of.") "Killing 2 birds with one stone- this way they get a job and somewhere to live..." “The POOR KIDS mostly sign up. The rich kids get away with it.” ADVERT for Joining the USA Army: "You can do it in the army." "Needless to say I didn't do it. It's very disappointing." "I want to do something to help my country..." Ah! You want to do it for your country. (“… it’s for the good of the country…”) "It adds to one's personal pride to do something good for one's country." "I fight for excitement, for the Nation, not myself." (Ah! You want to stand up like a man!) ("They should use grey matter, not fists." “THINK DIFFERENTLY!”) “I enlisted to make you proud of me dad.” "Men join the military to get in good physical shape, to stop them going crazy. Idealism- ‘Going into service,’ usually followed by shock and dismay..." "Join the Army. Meets lots of interesting people! And... kill them?” "He wanted to see the world, so he joined the Navy, but all he saw was the sea." "You are just too Humane to end up working for a war machine. They are animals..." "Some are attracted to the dangers..." “Before you joined up you had no perception…” "NO-ONE IN THE MILITARY IS GUARANTEED A FUTURE..." “You spend most of the time at war wanting to be back at home but you don’t know when or if that’ll happen so you have to wait it out...” ("Are you into flying metal- getting cut?" "Don't you believe you'll bleed?" "You'll never know what it's like. You only hide behind that wreckpicking up the pieces. You can never hope to win. They'll cut you down. COM ‘on. Be a true survivor.") (Ah! You want to make it back in one piece…”) ("Soldiers with faces like stone, can't see what it is." “YOU’RE FAKE HUMAN BEINGS!”) "Meeting CONFLICT with violent aggression. Most will leave in body-bags. Resentment runs deep." '”I’m scared. So scared." "In the army, everyone is scared about how they are going to die." "He prays on bended knees, but swears like a trooper..." ("I've witnessed your suffering. You did not deserve war...") “Sir, are we going to make it?” ("Pull out of this game whilst you've got a chance and be grateful

offensive..." “I WAS NOT TRAINED TO MURDER INNOCENTS!” “But you are paid to follow orders.” “We do whatever ‘Big Daddy’ tells us to do.” The General said: "All good things must come to an end. Combat is all I know. I love to command an army. When I get my orders, I'll do my damnest to carry it out...” ("His might be the last voice you ever hear.") (To the GENERAL ‘it’ means: Leading people in… to... battle). MILITARY ATTITUDE: "See how many you can take out." "Nuke 'em." ("That should wake the gods up!") "I'd rather be a hammer than a nail." Called: 'Angels of Death.' "All are killers, fighting for pay." "If they use these weapons for an OFFENSIVE ATTACK against us, we're in trouble." "That's where training and discipline pay off." FAVORITE MILITARY ORDERS: "It's an order." "Get on to it." "Take it in your stride." "It is the duty of every soldier..." "Soldiers are not social workers. (A thousand pities!) They are trained to kill but are worried about it. They do what they do for the money." "We got to kill... to make a living" = "Blood will flow..." ("Better a payment in kind than in blood.") "When you KILL someone YOU LOSE A PART OF YOUR SOUL." WAH! “I want to have a perfect soul!” (“Be a soul survivor…”) “Are YOU sure WAR is right?” "There is no REASON for war. There are no MORAL arguments to support war. WAR = A MESS." ("… it is better to be sure, to be SAFE, to be happy.") "… it's MY life! I'm an INTERNATIONALIST! I don't believe in fighting to protect borders for Kings and Queens" (Discussion, October 2004). "I'd die for my friends. I don't want to die due to some almighty government cock-up." "We are puppets in a sick world, serving the same master." "A SAD CASE IN THE ARMY: You don't know who you are fighting for, you don't hate who you are fighting." (“THINK MORE!”) “DUTY CALLS!” “THE DUTY TRAP: You now know what it is. Be constructive. It’s no good saying how you’re feeling un-clearly- letting it slide. Say instead: “What kind of mission do we have to prepare for sir?” ‘Look, this isn’t working for me. Can’t we formulate some way of doing things differently so that it actually works out?’…” "I don't mind what you people do, providing no-one gets hurt…" “Are they at least decently equipped with shields / body armour?” “Not really...” "Isn't there something we could do to protect these guys so they don't get hurt?" "Don't risk the lives of our YOUNG men..." MANY OF THESE SOLDIERS ARE CHILDREN! Only 16, 17 years old... “There are (at least) 30,000 child soldiers in 30 conflicts. Many are girls. They are 465

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you're not toast.") "… the perverted fear of violence wipes the smile off every face..." "Battle Fatigue." “What are you putting me through? I can't stand another 10 years of fighting! What the hell are we trying to prove?" "All this STABBING AND WOUNDINGall these DISASTERS- like a nightmare. It's still waiting there at the end of every day!“ "Bullied, injured, tortured, suicidal soldiers..." ("Killing is not sophisticated.") (“These soldiers have so much courage. What a pity they couldn’t do something useful…”) "The Guys Just Keep Yelling: 'I want to go home. I want to go home'..." "Take me home. Take me home." "Just give it a shot, OK? (wounded, begging for pain relief). "I can't take it" (TOO MUCH PAIN) "I can't make it." ANGUISH. "Looks like these guys are going to buy it" (means: "They are about to die.") "Dying in a Grotesque manner..." "Ever seen grown men cry?" “Ever heard grown men scream?” "Hear the battle cry..." Screams on the battle field. "On the battle ground... every bit of you hurts." "BLOWN APART. That's no way to go!" "The Human cost of war..." "War. Everybody hurts": "We were told our son died painlessly- of shrapnel wounds... that he didn't suffer... Our son lived for the army..." ("They don't usually write 'died in agony' on the death certificate.”) "The war took my best friend. Where did he go?" "He needed ACTION but his mother did not raise him so his body could end up in some God-forsaken bog somewhere miles away from her. He was worth more than that! To end up as nothing. With no reason, or sense." "God. I pray we establish thy justice among Nations and men" said a General. ("… it's safer than joining the military..." "… it's better than being dead." "... it wont hurt anyone will it?" "... it wont take anyone's freedom..." "Why not do it? Is it cruel?" "… it has no lethal technology..." "You never know, you may never need to say a cross word ever again!" "… it's not the death penalty." "… it wont kill you." "It doesn't have to be painful." "… it's not a bad love." “… it’s no sacrifice, it’s no sacrifice at all…”) "But its our job to..." ("Yes, what?") (“If you’ve got to protect your precious career, do something CONSTRUCTIVE!”) Q: "WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COUNTRY?" A: "Better relations abroad!" ("You love the fight, more than the cause? Then you should be a politician...")

"What are The Generals doing?" "THE WORLD IS STILL FULL OF KILLING FIELDS: The future face of wars. Military experts believe there will be a tremendous increase in the use of helicopters such as the Apache. And lighter equipment EG. light armoured vehicles, should be in greater demand. Strategists expect regional aggression to dominate the conflict arena. Britain's defence budget poised to fall from £23.4 BILLION in 1993 - 4, to £22.8 BILLION in 1996-7..." (Evening Standard, 9/12/1994) ("Hello campers") "CONTAMINATED MILITARY SITES: 300 sites, owned by the USA military, in Germany are contaminated EG. dangerous chemicals stored / spilled. Heating oil pumped into ground water, forests used for tank training- heavy goods (vehicles) destroy the land and trees. Land used for dumps. Could cost £Billions to clean up. Who should pay? The mess the military leave behind! May take years to realise the problem..." (ITN World News, 22/3/1993).

"PLAYING WITH FIRE: Britain is destroying (old) war arsenal. Tanks will be used for target practice" (19/5/1993) ("Do you live near a firing range?") "COST OF TOP BRASS: ... the Ministry of Defence paid £2 million for a mansion for a military chief. His salary is £102,000 pa tax-free. More than £1 million spent upgrading 4 houses for RAF officers..." (Evening Standard, 25/4/1994).

"MARCHING ON: Britain is trying to drum up 15,000 army recruits as 37,000 trained soldiers are given their marching orders. Army numbers being cut from 156,000 a few years ago, to 119,000. A spokesman said: 'It may seem strange to deliberately lose 1,000's of highly trained personnel who have cost £millions to train. But we must keep the pyramid of promotion and opportunity wide open to young people" (Today, 17/7/1993) "Ex-military personnel are finding life hard. Not easy to get a job on civvie street" (27/7/1993) (Back To That Old Saga again…) “We are trying to find a solution… to keep regimental identity… The army is trying to find a way to… keep all the disciplines… We need effective modern… Armed Forces for today’s world…” (said Tony Blair, 29/11/2004) (“He who hesitates is lost!”) "We have to keep Britain's Nuclear deterrent. Engineering jobs depend on this" (June 1993). “The USA spends $250 BILLION a year on ‘defence’” (2004). THE FUTURE? “RAY GUN: A new gun which shoots an invisible beam of energy is to be used by US soldiers in Iraq. A ‘microwave’ gun, officially called ‘an Active Denial System’ penetrates the skin and causes severe burning pain but no lasting damage. The gun will be mounted on a Humvee vehicle and 466

used for ‘crowd control’ to cut down on deaths of innocents when insurgents mingle with them. ‘It will stop troops going lethal before they have to’…” (June

as a result" (Today, 21/1/1994). (Ah! CAPITALIST BLOOD SUCKERS. “Make the punishment fit the crime”: "So-called ‘Arms traders’ should be made to use their ill-gotten gains to provide decent artificial limbs to help all the victims who have had LIMBS blown off." "A 4-Nation plan to spend £20 BILLION building 800 standardised European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) is close to collapse... sources say they suspect Bonn is using the radar issue to play for time because Bonn wants to pull out of the project" (1993?) “One EURO-FIGHTER JET cost £50 million. Years overdue. COMPUTER SYSTEMS still compromise safety… a disastrous computer glitch… a wheel failed to come down, vital manual over-ride failed to work, flames poured from the engine and under-carriage… all flight data displays failed at critical stage… Difficulties of countries coming together to build… languages different- hasn’t worked. Project Costs £20 Billion. 1,400 jobs depend on this” (Daily Mirror, 14/2/2006). "DEATH ON DELIVERY: Manufacturers want to expand sales of… weapons! The trade in weapons involves the most prestigious politicians, scientists. Dealing in Death. Many major businesses involved. EG. Thorn, EMI, GEC, Lucas, British Aerospace. The weapons trade is heavily subsidised by British tax-payers. Sales of weapons expanded under Thatcher. The Masters of War are paid by the tax-payer... The death count gets higher whilst these profiteers hide in their mansions, getting rich on young people's blood.” "Switzerland, known for precision timing devices, now making weapons. Supplied Iraq with chemical devices. The Swiss don't like to talk about it. Now supplying the Middle East with weapons restricted technologies EG. Electrical discharge machines to Iran. There is no international law to limit. System is wrong. Governments ought to have moral qualms. We do business for money, for profit. Secret weapons programmes. Plans protected by military men. Dual-Use Technology = High grade steel, buy piece by piece, assemble in factories. Now Biological weapons programmes in Iran. They're selling death on a wide scale. They say weapons are for Humanitarian use! To kill old and young. To stamp out all kinds of plight. Problems getting tougher. Misuse can never be totally prevented. Switzerland is a haven for weapons dealers." "SECRET JET: ... newest spy plane- code name: Aurora... mystery plane been seen over remote Nevada and the North Sea... allegedly travelling at 7-times the speed of sound... is a 2-stage system with a main plane that launches an unmanned arrow-shaped craft called the 'Thunder Dart.' The mother ship is 160ft long, with a 97ft wing-span and a crew of 3. The drone is 80ft long and can fly

2005).

“NEW MODEL ARMY (the military have taken the name) = “The army will be going into battle (against Teenagers?) using armed robots… fitted with machine guns… rocket and grenade launchers…” (January, 2005). WEAPONS DEALERS: "WEAPONS SALES BAD FOR EMPLOYMENT: Sales increased 3-fold since 1981, but related jobs have declined by 30% for the same period. This is because weapons are increasingly made by machinery. They are capital but not labour intensive. Investing in health, education, housing, and transport instead of producing weapons would result in far more jobs." CAPITALIST ARMS DEALERS: EG. "He cruises the world on luxury yachts and in his private fleet of aircraft. He is down to his last £35 million and 4 houses- a far cry from when he controlled 80% of the weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. Then, he had 14 homes and was worth £2.5 Billion. He still lives as a King- enjoying sex with 'pleasure wives' who service his every need, dining out every night in top restaurants, ordering wine at £1,000 a bottle. Age 54, he has been accused of using public money to buy buildings and jewellery. He has been released on £10 million bail in New York- accused of laundering money for the former Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda (Marcos is dead but his wife has to answer charges of embezzlement of £millions from the National treasury of the Philippines). He is also charged with concealing £270 million of ill-gotten assets- including a Skyscraper bought with stolen money. He also allegedly sold £130 million worth of stolen art treasures Imelda looted from a Manila museum before fleeing to Hawaii. 'I am not a crook' he said. 'If I were, I would not be able to sleep.' He sleeps in a 5th Avenue apartment under a Russian sable bedspread worth £145 million. He says he is determined to go down fighting" (7/5/1990 "Khashoggi and Mrs Marcos were acquitted of fraud and racketeering" (4/7/1990) "There is no crime without punishment?" "I can't believe you don't know they are EVIL." "He is going to do very well out of the Gulf crisis..." (Oh! Those poor, poor people.") "Violence pays! “Arms dealers will sell weapons to anyone…” “EVERYTHING PAID FOR BY BLOOD, THAT’S HELLISHLY DISGUSTING…” "HOW CAN THE UK GOVERNMENT GO ON ABOUT TERRORISM when they sell Land-MINES to all sorts of suspect nations? These weapons have been devised to maim but the UK refuses to stop selling them. Africa has 1,000's of amputees 467

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at 4,300 mph with the aim of launching small satellites and photographing terrain from 100,000 ft. Witnesses say unusual vapour trails were left during tests and they reported a noise as if 'the sky was being ripped apart'..." (Evening Standard, 6/12/1993)

1968: America divided in chaos. “It’s something very unpleasant…” Uh? (“You’re a total head case!”) The hawks for the war, the doves against. Rioters. Anti-war protestors. Families. Parties. Divided. The White House did not understand what was going on in the nation, in the field... The war in Vietnam was un-winnable..." 1971: "NUCLEAR PROLIFICATION IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY!" “As Greenpeace sailed their vessel into the forbidden zone (where the USA government planned a series of nuclear tests) (islands off Alaska), and protest marches took place across the North American continent, Greenpeace explained: 'We want peace and we want to make it a GREEN one.' A statement which embodied the striving not only for peace between nations but also between man's activities and the delicate Environment." 1987: "£3,500 million worth of military equipment was sold by Britain to overseas governments. 2/3rd of these exports went to 3rd World countries. For the price of ONE British AEROSPACE HAWK, 1.5 million people in the 3rd World could have clean drinking water for life. Yet the British government encourages the sale of such aircraft to countries where many people die of water-borne disease." 1990: "WAR is a never-ending vicious circle of violence, pain, suffering, revenge..." “There have been 100 WARS since World War 2…” 1990: “The military voted for Democracy..." 1990: CAMP DAVID: Conclusion of Meeting: "Let's have more light…" (That could be interpreted 2 ways. It could all be over in a flash?) “Largest exporters of weapons are USA, USSR, UK to 3rd World. War overwhelming the 3rd World. We fuel the flames of war. Wherever Civil Rights disturbances going on, British weapons manufacturers involved. Warships, missiles, guns. A web of 'Technical aid' has gone to the military- all used to suppress the civilian population... The armies are there to suppress their own civilian populations...” “84 COUNTRIES HAVE HORRIFIC SOCIAL PROBLEMS / DEPRIVATION... The money goes to the military!” “Whenever someone is driven from their home- burned, shot... the British government profits. Weapons sales prop up tyrannical regimes, and cause regional conflicts. The Gulf War- the UK exported weapons to both sides. Trade continues with Iraq, despite the Geneva Convention which bans chemical weapons. 'We don't supply weapons to countries that are likely to use weapons against Britain- British troops' said a minister. However, the Global market for weapons is shrinking due to government debt. Britain's exports now competing with Japan, China, Brazil... We should look at other products to exportgreater diversificationbut government restrictions won’t allow. In USA,

(Launched December 2004).

THE FUTURE? “The development of LASER GUNS- nasty, fearsome things to blind, burn, maim, disfigure people… A repugnant sport. And to make holes…” (Knowing all the troubles guns have caused, wouldn’t it be WISE to STOP the production of these BEFORE everyone wants one?

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST MILITARIZATION: "KNOW THY ENEMY…" "Men and Women must campaign against militarization." "Petty, repressive regimes..." “The 20th Century: War on an industrial scale. Young men pitted their bodies against automatic weapons. Man- the victim of machines...” “(Metal) GUNS changed the world. They made causing a lot of damage possible. Lethal power.” (Very enjoyable?) 1958 - : “The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND): Non-violent demonstrations: Placards: “Not in My Name..” 1960's: "The CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT: Martin Luther King: “…Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children…. there will be neither rest nor tranquillity… I HAVE A DREAM… the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice...” “A 'civil war’ to improve Rights...” THE ‘BAN THE BOMB’ MARCHES: "Tests without the consent of the public is immoral and wrong." "Responsibility is more important than power. NEVER misusing power is important. A pity more politicians do not understand this." Donovan's song: "He's a universal soldier, he fights with missiles and spears, he's been fighting for 100's of years. He knows he shouldn't kill... He thinks he'll put an end to war this way... He decides who's to live and who's to die... His orders come from you and me. Can't you see, this is not the way to put an end to war..." “There aren’t enough protest songs…” "We need more time to think." ("Yeh. Risk a life, peg out, till you see the light... Look at my eyesthey're hollow grounds..." "You'll find yourself faceup, lying dead in the gutter...") 1966: “12.5 million children, women and men killed in one conflict.” 468

technology is switching to civil projects. The British government need some inducement. Overall- a cohesive strategy. A programme of diversification. Change is possible and necessary. 'There are so many productive things that could be done to secure children's futures. Positive, exciting things. Disgraceful so much is spent on Wardamage to the potential of Mankind. I hope in the 1990's, we see a phoenix rise out of the ashes, so we can enjoy a New World for all' (said the director of UNICEF) (1990). The ‘Campaign Against the Arms Trade’ said: “Britain is far from planning conversion to other products. Weapons salesmen are now looking for new markets, mainly in the 3rd World" (Ref. Report by Open Space, 3/7/1990) (When all the bullets are flying, do you think all those poor victims didn't say: "What the bloody hell is going on?") NEEDED: "A RADICAL PLAN TO REDUCE DEFENCE SPENDING." 1990: PEOPLE SAID: OUR AIM: "Develop the Community." "We are Designing New Life Support Systems, to help us LIVE, and to help future generations live, Affordably." COMMON GROUND: Hey! We all seem to be in agreement ‘I can’t do it alone.’ "HOME IMPROVEMENT!" "We will not (in the future- if we make it…) be so vulnerable. We are far more cohesive in giving support to each other..." "We want to HELP people. We can do an intensive assessment first - the team can then feed that back to the Care Plan. We are no longer operating 'a Closed management system'..." In other words: "Sort out the nuts and bolts agreement." "HOW TO SOLVE CON-FLICTS WITHOUT GOING TO WAR?" "… it has to succeed to avoid a repeat of the nightmare of the past." ("Come, and discover the difference.") "… it's something completely different. …it's about the QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIPS..." "Without it, tensions won’t die. It will make people sweeter. People won’t hate so much..." "… it's sweetness that you're looking for." EG "Thank you for saving my life." "Don't mention it…") DEBATE: "… it's better than what they've got planned." "It's not bad." "The government's claim civil defence is public insurance against the risk of nuclear war. In reality, government's insurance policy against disquiet." "Deluding people about protection is morally wrong." "The sad thing is not many civilians realise a war is being waged against them..." "We shouldn't wait. We need better protection / security." (That's what it's for). "Science & Technology should advantage our industries. Money should help our Health Service. We could develop the world in a much better way. Can't we have some other form of 'deterrent'? We have friends in need of help. Vast amounts

of money could be saved. Your attitude keeps the war going on..." "The situation with Russia is tense, nervous, difficult, quite dangerous." "The threat posed effects the man in the street in Russia. Russia does not pose a threat to us! There is no enemy there any more. To say that Britain should get involved militarily in the Middle East! I thought we were past all this!" (Question Time, BBC, 7/6/1990).

"Slave driver- he said to me I should hide my love away..." DEBATE: “… But they still have arguments that ‘JUSTIFY’ SLAVERY. The Crown stops us being Democratic. They force old customs onto people. To secure justice we have to secure HUMAN RIGHTS. Nobody talked about the Rights of Native Indians because Queen Victoria was in charge! WHO MAKES THE LAW? Politicians... who do not decide FAIRLY. The State can be your friend or your enemy, depending how wealthy you are. It is always the poor people who do not have any Rights. How to stop Imperialists who are depriving Rights?” “Will it help shape the Law?” “Membership to Human Rights Movement trebled this year. (You have to be 'free' to do this). There are 3 stages to a Bill of Rights: 1). Ancient privilege 2). God created everyone as an equal 3). Every man is a secular individual.” “A Basic Human Right = LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. The Right to Life. Adequate Human Rights Protection would stop this conflict. "LOOPHOLES in the law help the Masters of War." “There’s only one law. The winner takes all.” "Who knows what the law is! The law is invalid. Breaches in the law are most profitable." "Take it to Strasbourg!" "Having strong Law is better than having no law..." “How will they use the technology? For PEACE or Oppression? Who shares that decision? What experience teaches us is that people and government have not learnt anything from history" (Burnt Embers, Channel 4, 30/6/1990).

"Civilised men? A lot of men have died because of your 'civilised' actions." "This is a frightening concept. Legalised Murder." ("Kill a few- you're called a murderer. Murder many, they call you 'a conqueror.' Can you figure it?") "The war machine has killed millions of people. Anti-Humanitarian propaganda should be banned" (1990). PEOPLE SAID: "BLOODY HELL!" “WAR! Men have no choice but behave as BEASTS. They forget what separates men from animals." "THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A GOOD WAR. Every war is barbaric, brutal..." "Extreme suffering, pain, horror, death." "Stomach churning. Enough blood to make your stomach turn and blood boil. Wanton devastation. Repeated blows." 469

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"You shouldn't be so blood thirsty!" "HATRED FUELS WAR. Hatred. Hatred. War is ONLY for those who do not value LIFE." "If you're a bit squeamish, war is not for you." “War isn't for me- I don't fancy all the blood and guts. I'll sit it out, thank you." "There is no honourable way to kill.. The only good part of war is the war ending." "The INSANITY of war. Struggle, struggle... Heavy Duty..." "The world seems to have lost its way..." "I really hope mankind finds out what's driving him wild." ("... it soothes the blood...") "TIME is RUNNING OUT…” "Let's HARMONISE..." "Say it LOUD. Say it CLEAR. You can listen as well as you hear. It's too late when we die. See eye to eye. If we quarrel, we SACRIFICE THE FUTURE… IF we had a new perspective... Sing it LOUD. Sing it CLEAR, in these living years..." ("... it will bring greater stability...") "We live in a DIVIDED world so we suffer the pain of CONFLICT. We pray for Justice and Peace. Make it bring UNITY, UNIVERSAL and everlasting PEACE." "Peace and UNDERSTANDING is the Wisdom of the World." "Are people really as DIVIDED as they seem?" "Let them have it" (interpreted as: "Give 'em hell.") "Ow! Ouch! Don't take it out on me! It's not my fault!" (i.e. it's absence). “DOGS FIGHT”: "It's in the heart of every dog- to want a good home." "Did someone kick your kennel? Who rattled your cage? Who's pulled your chain?" "You went on the rampage because of poor living conditions? (Ah! You come from a seedy background?) Does that mean: You have to fight… to survive?" ("Recklessness usually means death.") STOP A FIGHT: "Hysterical outbursts leave me feeling quite a loss." "I'll deal with it. Right, who started it? You are in the wrong...” "Come on. Break it up." "Bury the hatchet." (Is that groovy? GOOD Negotiators?) "CARE THAT YOU ARE NOT MAKING it FIT." "… it is a COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN!" WAH! “We’re all at crossed purposes!” "LOOSE TALK COSTS LIVES!" EG. "People are always willing to die for their liberty." Uh? (To some 'liberation' means: Kill, or get killed.") (does it mean: Kill, or get killed" ?) "It's us or them." ("I kill you, or you'll kill me! What kind of a choice is that?") “Do you want to make something of it?” "You're looking for trouble." (Heavy Sigh) “Well, what are you going to do about it?” "Hitting me is going to make it OK, huh?" "Well, COM‘on. Let's get it over with!" "See! You can give it, but you can't take it..." “It’s a horrible job… somebody got to do

it…” WAH! "HERE WE GO AGAIN!” (TO AVOID SQUABBLES: "Be NEUTRAL. Shrewd. Avoid pit-falls. Do not be a follower of men, their ideas or traditional verbal habits. To avoid a row, avoid misunderstandings by improving communication skills..." "It's a habit that's worth forming." "It's much better than arguing.") (THE GENERATION GAP: "Every generation blames the generation before. The trouble is, we talk a different language....” "People are separated by language. The better we know one another, the better it will be..." "You know, it is a problem for both of us..." "Whilst it is not understood..." "Define 'it' in precise language- you see where conflict arises..." "Baby, you don't know what it's like..." "…it's a discussion that really matters." "It's really positive. It will help the PEACE process." TRY SAYING: "Hi. How's it going? How long have you been hanging in there? This place stinks. Shall we make a run for it? Together. I got to hand it to you guys..." "It's only a small step away." “Cool it.” “Can we accept you are both to blame? Now shake hands on it.” DO NOT SAY: "It doesn't matter. It wont work. That's reality. It's not going to do any good. Because it's dead. It's a lost cause. Because there's nothing anyone can do about it. Because they're not going to allow you to do it." "You can't have it." Unless you want: "There's so little of it about!" (i.e. Justice, Equality, Peace) "I've never seen anything like it in my life! Give me weapons.") "WAR- men FIGHT… to protect... what they've got." "We're losing everything that matters- our homes, our family. I wont let it happen. They're destroying everything. They've got to be stopped. We are powerless to do anything..." “What's the score? Who's winning this time? Who's loosing? That's a shame.” “I'm not convinced this is the best way to be. Aint there something better we should be doing?" "WHAT THE HELL ARE WE FIGHTING FOR?" “There is an issue here…” "WOW! It's the only thing… standing in our way? Can't we get our heads around it?" (“Is it done?” No! ARGH!) = "Fight for it!" "There's nothing else we can do…" = "WAR: A TIME of LOSS." "… it resides with the diplomats..." ? "MANY PEACE AGREEMENTS ARE IN TATTERS- just like others before it... We need more negotiators with the ability to listen…" (11/5/1992) (…and learn!) “FAILURE to negotiate peace / a settlement… will guarantee an escalation of violence." "We don't need another feud..." THE IDEAL PEACE PACT: "Oh! GIVE it a REST." "I RESENT WAR. I'm a Pacifist, and I'm proud of it. Why can't the military respect that?" "Fighting is CHEATING. War doesn't remove the basic problem. War changes nothing." "What's war 470

anything to do with." "A gun gives you respect? Huh. You need to respect yourself." ("If another creature is frightened of you that is shameful.") "Narrow-minded fools always deny it." "(Some) MEN! They'd much rather blow things up..." ("May you overcome your prejudices.") “WHEN will the war be over?” = “Will it ever be?” "It could be an important step towards achieving PEACE." ("Proceed with it without delay. Don't hesitate.") "… it's one man's dream, another man's obsession..." "… some feel quite threatened by it!" "I don't want it to come between us…" ("I worry people may still not be ready for it...”) The Have's versus The Have-nots." "There are those who want to leave things as they are, and then there are those who don't. Some want it. Some don't.” “I’ll say it again- it's not compulsory! Of course you can disagree with it!" "I'm not crazy about it." “It’s not for everyone” (i.e. not everyone has to live in one!) “So what's the problem? If you DISCUSS it, it might work out. It might be too difficult? You wouldn't want it to get the better of you. You could still put up barriers to protect you from things you don't like, want, trust or care about in any form at all..." "Too many, during a time of stress, worry about who has too much." "Avoid jealousy to avoid destruction in an un-Godly world." "DON'T ALLOW it to upset this way. There's no point getting uptight about it." "Don't make too much of a fuss about it." "What does it tell you? Does it tell you to take on the Russian army, armed with drink? If it does, I here say: Do the opposite!" "I am not suggesting another bloody revolution!" The CORRECT Way To Regard This: "…it's YOURS, for the asking." "Take this in case you need it." "… it would be an honour." “… it’s my pleasure.” “… It’s a privilege…” "See how it works first..." "I hope it works out." “NICE JOB”: “Ah, great. I’m glad it’s working for you!” "… it should, if it's done properly..." "How do you think they'll take to it?" "They'll love it, I hope." "So long as they're happy with it..." "Don't give up on it. It's early days. Win the PEACE. Make a promise on the stars above- say you will make it because you know it all depends on you and me." "Be absolutely determined to make it work." ("Oh, please keep it dignified. Pure and simple, every time." "It's a quest for love, created of love." "Come into it more to get a true prospective.") "PREFERRED ASSURANCE: Does it make you live longer? I don't know. I’d like the opportunity to try it and see." "IF you CARE about your health and prospects... find a way of doing it- adopt the concept- quick! Pioneer it. SHOW how it can be done so that it benefits many, many people." ("...

good for? Nothing!" “Be an ACTIVE pacifist." "Are YOU a team player? What do you look for in a team? Dedication and a sense of humour?" "I don't want a medal. I'd rather have the truth." "OK. Lay down your life. We need another futile gesture." "The sacrifice of the individual for the greater good..." Uh? "The sacrifice that might be made of all of us." "Come on now. See it for what it is. And then hopefully, it will happen. See the light!" "Do YOU want to WAIT until every man is torn apart with nightmares and dreams, with CONFUSION as his epitaph?" "Systems that engender servitude (pseudofreedom based on economic slavery) are no better than political slavery." "Equality is the pathway out of poverty and chaos." WAR (means: "We don't know the difference between right and wrong.") "War is in our best interests" (That corrupts the Nation/s). "All is ‘fair’ in love and war" “Governments are obsessed. Guns = A tradition. What they want must be allowed. What the pubic wants, the public doesn't get!?” "War is the most serious, unscrupulous business." "The trick is not to play the game too long- or you'll pay." "Give it your best shot" MISUNDERSTOOD: To many people 'it' is a gun... (OK. If that's what you must have- try a tranquiliser gun. Put opponent/s to sleep! A BASIC RULE OF SELF-DEFENCE =

"Never use more force that you need to.") "Shoot it out" !? "No, you're never going to get it. Never. Not this time." "Never, in a million years..." "You are going about it in all the wrong way..." “You’re a loaded gun…” You wont glorify guns when you’ve been shot! “Do you really want to die? For real?” "BANG! BANG!" "You’ve been exterminated and don't you ever forget it." Uh? "All you want to do is shoot people! Your thoughts are dark." ("He doesn't think to wonder why. He looks at his watch. He feels so superior as he aims a kick at the crutch…") "Why do you want to play with guns? Because ‘life’ isn't giving you everything?" "Put away your guns…" "I guess it all depends how much you hate?" "He's full of hate." "What does he hate? (Ah! You hate..." "Sick, negative energy." "You are locked in fear and anger, not understanding." "You're as bad as they are." "Most people just want to be happy." "When are you going to stop punishing... yourself? Don't be so hard on yourself. You want to feel bad? It doesn't feel good to be alive? You don't want to feel... be disappointed?") "Yeh, it's a lot like that." (“Wont it make you feel beautiful?”) "Guns are bloody awful things- I don't want 471

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find a way of putting it." "Do YOU want to get overtaken? Killed? Better if you have never to find out the HARD way- better if you can be budded with everyone, if you never need to abuse the system. That men learn struggling is horrible. When the time comes, when everyone is geared to reduce suffering..." "The problem is in the heart of man. Man has to be unselfish. He has to have love in his heart." "Ask where does he get his energy from- from ignorance, or playing with sheep in a field?" "It's pretty straightforward." "It could be a fix." "Shall we simply agree, it's in everyone's interests?" "You might as well call it quits." “Call it a honourable draw.” "MAKE WAR OBSOLETE!" "Make a new VOW. A solemn oath that you will respect LIFE and never take another LIFE. That you will take your own LIFE first." "That's very difficult, but try to live up to it." "There's no place for 'Generals' in the new way of doing things..." (means: We have to be specific about policies etc). "BRITAIN'S REPUTATION ABROAD..." 'It is the duty of a leader to enhance the country's reputation.” "Man is worse than termites…" "We've just got to make sure we are not DIVERTED from it." "One day someone will ask: 'What was life like then? We want a new past. A new present. A new time, free of the old. Do you have any newspapers of the period?" "PEACE NEWS... founded in 1936, as part of another pacifist organisation, The Peace Pledge Union has been forced out of business by a shortage of funds. The trustees are selling off the property to pay debts. Publication taken over by ‘War Resisters International’ (WRI), a pacifist group. Now... we must expect some reversion to traditional pacifism" (June 1990) ("... the word will still get around...") DEBATE: "The SUPER-POWERS have all the arsenals. Weapons are needed to defend against attack..." "A good debating point. As long as 'Super-Powers' have nuclear weapons, nuclear war is always a possibility." "Super-Powers can ignore any rules they like." "WE don't want any ‘kind’ of 'Super-Power'..." "No active programme of nuclear abandonment! This has to be on a Global basis- it's not a bi-lateral issue. One country will sign if another will." "160 countries have signed a treaty to limit nuclear weapons." "Hypocrisy! You want nuclear weapons of your own but want to limit others..." “NEEDED: A nonnuclear free bird" Uh? (The World This Week, Channel 4,

it's about Sharing, Caring, Giving...") "Tell me, what else is SANE for the future?" "You know they've got to come up with something different." "It is not a case of 'if' only WHEN." 1991: "CORRUPT governments are systematically organising serial killings..." "If you don't believe me, look at archive photographs (of dug up remains of children, women and men). Who put them in jeopardy? Who put the look of horror on their faces? Who murdered them? Men. The Army. Massacred, like chickens. These were EXECUTIONS. They make CORPSES! They made these poor people lie down, and then they shot them. They throw babies in the air, then use bayonets... Systematically, they are killing civilians. In El Salvador, the government accuse 'leftist guerrilla sympathisers' (but guerrillas attack government, using physical combat…) (see stories in the New York Post.”)

"Don't let them torture the children! Adults, let your voices speak out!" "Tender RAGE": "For the record- lodge your (verbal) and (written) protest. Put protests together, in a book, filled with all the names of people already known to be massacred. That will be the BIGGEST BOOK ever made. That will let the truth be known. Put it on display. Establish lists are accurate. What is Guilty? WAR." (i.e. “You have made a book of pain.”) "LET THE GOVERNMENTS KNOW YOU WANT CHANGE." "ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MERCY? Do you think you’ve had too much of THIS? You need something pleasant? Not a hole in the ground? Do you CRY, because you're hurt? Hold on. hold on. Are you SURE you've had enough of all this messing around? Will the war be over, sometime soon? It's time to sing along, if you think you've had too much of pain." "The worst thing about it at the moment is that it is not a SURE THING. Make it real." "If you are suffering from over-load, just think How our Earth must feel." "The Earth belongs to our Lord. We need an injunction to protect it, not abuse it!" "War stops people being Human Rights investigators, reporters, activists... Eventually, we will all get massacred, one way or another, unless you give it YOUR vote and get on and DO it to STOP governments ORDERING MASSACRES..."

“MAKE THE PEOPLE SAFE!” "IF these governments still prefer VIOLENCE, then in my humble opinion they have a psychological problem!" "Have governments, who are so removed from ordinary people, become INHUMAN? "What do these governments say? That we should be grateful?" "Hey! What do YOU say? It's all down to you." "Yes, it is YOUR job!" "You

18/8/1990).

PEOPLE SAID: "Unilateralism. No matter how clever the chemists are, politicians always get the upper hand." "We can use science correctly, or to 472

destroy each other." "Science changes with fashion." “How can science improve your love life?” "What's the alternative? Everybody wearing flak-jackets? Will they become the next must-have fashion accessory? I'm not happy about that. I want to live in a world where no-one has to fight." "The greatest gift of all, is the gift of TRUE love." "A smile will create a long lasting, loving relationship." DEBATE: "Callous. WITHOUT FEELINGS? Have they ever watched death?" “Politicians, no doubt, argue this only a ‘minority’ view. They are mocking... Imagine, Nuclear Arsenals Held By Lots of Mad-Men...” “We need politicians who don't want to brutalise... who don't believe in the loss of life... who have opposed war for a long time... with a non-conventional approach... They must stop beating their country. Tell them to FREE ALL the HOSTAGES under the tyrants rule. ALL the soldiers- tell them there is GOOD work for them to do. Disarm - STOP THE ARMS RACE (i.e. the weapons trade). This is the only way to peace. Don't concentrate on disputes. Discuss common ground... It's your responsibility" “Get WOMEN to tackle them..."

on top of it…” (it means: A female). “I’ve got what it takes” (means: Sexual allure). “Hey! She doesn’t look like she’s getting it…” (means: Sex).. “Nothing could be said to take away all the fury and misery at all the killing… of innocents. The uselessness and blatant tragedy of it all…” "The search is on for ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT for ‘defence’ workers (a big vote winner)" (Labour party campaign, 3/10/1991). (IDLE: "The devil makes work for idle hands.") "Most service personnel have nothing to do inbetween wars – and are KEEN for ACTION..." "We just want to get on with it now!" 1993: DEBATE: "THE COLD WAR: The end of East, West hostility- it promised a peace Dividend i.e. a reduction in military spending. But there is a penalty- job losses. The destruction of military manufacturing industry? Why not say 'we're sorry, but we don't need your products any longer. If you can't survive, that's too bad.' 'That's not viable' said a policy-maker. 'We can't protect them from a changing market place' said Michael Heseltine. Britain wants a place in markets, wants important orders but came away from Arm Sales show empty handed. 20% drop in equipment sales round world. 'We need a consistent strategy to attack export market' said a British industrialist. 'That's how I see it.' Fierce competition... to sell... military hardware. The race to sell tanks... (fighting machines)... 'If exports aren't the answer, diversify- go into making drilling platforms? For salvation? 'It's not as easy as that. There's always someone else making those.' The choice = Convert or Collapse…” (Haven't you got any other brilliant ideas?) “'…We don't feel government understands engineering- expanding technology." UK industries moving into ceramics for space industry. 'It is hard.' Some direction from the government would be extremely important.' Many depend on the defence industry for their livelihoods. Threat of closingcollapse in demand for submarines = Staff cutbacks. $110 BILLION proposed cuts by Bill Clinton. $20 million to be used as plough shares? Get into civilian products? Used to make radar, now making parts for cars- electric vehicles, with co-operation between government and industry. Advert to promote: 'A refocusing of talent and resources.' 'Why risk Tax-payers money on projects like these?' 'Why not?' 'A new realm of industries to ease pain.' Re-training workers for Hightechnology projects- Clinton supports this. G. Bush de-mobilised- ignored domestic needs. Key, merging areas- why can't Britain do this? 'We are. In transport, budget considerable expenditure review.' 'Government can't do industry's jobs for them! Grants to preserve yesterday's model is not the

(ITV, 1991).

WOMEN SAID: “WARS are MAN-MADE.” “’Be a man about it’ doesn’t mean: ‘Go ahead and destroy now’!” "The more I know about men, the more I want know about elephants." "All this blood and guts stuff. Can't men think about something better?" "They've always got to do it in their crass, heavy-handed way..." "Crazy bastards. Trouble is, men love to be hard... Blood will flow..." “He’s such a major jerk…” “MEN! Bloody stupid the lot of them. What bloody fools men are!” "They always think they'll win. But they don't. Meantime, we almost die of despair..." "Don't they care? The fighting is very upsetting. We are very frightened." "So that's how it's done, is it? Snatching peace from the mouths of innocents. You call war proper! Well, where's that got you?" "The men have got beer, but the babies haven't got milk. Work that one out." "We've agreed to make a stand. Man, you aint no brother." "Get used to it." "Son of a ‘bitch’? Men invalidate women's existence! Women's role is to GIVE and NURTURE Life. Man's role seems to be to take life away. WAR! Women did not GIVE BIRTH for this! Women did not go through THE PAIN of child birth for THIS!” "Those who give birth... are the ones who CARE about international PEACE." “Women put so much effort in to give life… Doctors work so diligently to save and improve the QUALITY of life…but some men don’t even value their own life…If that man had given birth, he wouldn't blow away lives so easily as if it didn't matter!" "Move your but." Man’s Reply? "Give it up. Give it up, baby..." “I’m 473

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brutalised- their fate largely ignored... SAVE THE CHILDREN, the charity- needs help. Their ‘Children Under Fire’ campaign: The charity has already spent £100 million world-wide on urgent projects, such as school and hospital rebuilding, counselling- for war-scarred children, and clearing of land-mines... but this is not enough... Liberia has not got a school left standing, not one hospital is functioning... There aren't any dogs or cats- they've all been eaten... Unless inter-governmental support comes... war could break out again... they are still unable to return to their homes... SAVE the CHILDREN need so much help... The children are under-nourished, the children have no blankets, no books. Teachers need to be trained, seeds are needed for crops, foster parents and new homes are needed, medical staff need facilities, medicines... PLEASE HELP THE CHILDREN…"

way to do things' said M. Heseltine. Economic black spots. Heart torn out of UK's manufacturing base. Firms now applying to government for handouts. New assisted areas map due. It's good for economy- should be a national approach. Very considerable skills in previous defence industries. New factories are going up... building these will not create new jobs. No firm tenants for business parks- no incentives to move there. Hole, left by the Cold War... Putting it together is like putting a man on the moon- a tragedy to lose their skills.' 'They've got to accept change' said the government. 'Should we build washing machines?' 'The way things are looking, we're not going to be making anything tomorrow'..." (Panorama, BBC, 22/3/1993) ("OH! DO SOMETHING WILL YOU? COME ON, YOU GUYS. YES. YOU!") "ALTERNATIVE JOBS ARE NEEDED for 300,000 ex-Defence workers..." PEOPLE SAID: “The MoD should MODERNISE. Get with it! Move it! You are people, yes? Well, your people need you, to rescue them from the rising murky waters...” "INTERNATIONAL RESCUE has a very wide following...” (THUNDER birds the puppets show?)

(3/8/1993).

“THERE’S TOO MUCH DEATH…” "54 WARS ARE GOING ON. We have only had 3 weeks and 4 days of PEACE since Christ" (December, 1993) ("I'm laden with sadness that everyone’s heart isn't filled with gladness- of love, for each other." "It's got such a long way to go...") PEOPLE SAID: "They want to have a war to keep factories open, to keep the striptease." “Let’s masturbate while we wait…” “And you can watch them masturbate…” "This'll get 'em back in the churches." "War is about graves. Lots of graves. Tombstones. A lot of dead young men." "In war, no-one, not even the undertakers are happy." "We have to have war... to end... tyranny?" "DO NOT SUPPORT THE WEAPONS TRADE!" "… it's not about earning a slaves reward..." "My arms don't belong with ’a love’ that is lost." "STOP WORKING FOR MURDER INCORPORATED!" TYPICAL INDECISION: "We don't agree with destroying Humanity... but... if we refuse to make components for weapons- what else can we do?” UK GOVERNMENT: "There will be no redundancies- we couldn't house.... We'll cut back on recruitment." PEOPLE SAID: "I hear what you say. These are really Heavy Times, man. My life is ruined. It's as if I'm paralysed. I'm really worried..." "Thatcher wont change her principles, so why should YOU? You are more afraid of her than war..." "May the devil look past you. May the devil look into your eyes..." "YOU watch WARS from a position of safety. Tell me, how many will die because of YOU this time?" "If you've got a gripe, do your own dirty work." "WEAPONS ARE SOLD TO GOVERNMENTS TO PUT DOWN PROTESTS..." (“… the uprising was quashed by government troops…”) "Hey! These are PEOPLE.

(i.e. The desperate need for a CARING, HUMANE, TASKFORCE... EFFICIENT. FAST! Equipped with.... HARD-ware? For Search, RESCUE and HOMING... for the victims of disasters, wherever they may be. "You don't need to force it... Just be firm about it...”) “Hey! Compared to the things you guys make... There's nothing to it!" “It’s easier than you think! It’s simple and it’s straightforward…” “Men with muscles and machines should help women and children…” “The military have a very large budget to work from… They have genius inventing things for them- science fiction stuff. Surely these guys could make it work for us…” “A PLEA TO HELP THE CHILDREN OF WAR: Children are suffering from war more than at any time since World War 2... The people trying to help the children are struggling to cope... Liberia: 100,000 children killed in war. Cambodia, Bosnia, Angola, Mozambique, Somalia Iraq and elsewherechildren are being starved, orphaned and 474

you come complaining you're not competing with the Japanese or anyone else you feel like invading..." "Oh! Lord. They can't change! They can't fly as free as birds. Oh! Lord, release my chains..." "They want war to keep us on our knees..." "IT'S THE END OF OUR WORLD! Nostradamus, Jesus and me said it was coming... The end of trees, the birds and the bees..." "Nostradamus 'the man who saw tomorrow' who accurately predicted Hitler..." "End the CONFLICTS here and now. PEACEFULLY COEXIST. Don't put it on hold!" "Respond to it with grace, dignity, maturity." "Teach GENTLENESS AT ALL TIMES." "Speak with TRUTH, and DEVOTION, kindness and UNDERSTANDING, inspiration and hope- BE GENTLE." "Whilst anticipating things you may never possess, try a little tenderness." “ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD… “ ‘What do we want? Justice, not war!’” (These demos did not stop the war in the Gulf…”) "An energetic group of political activists?” “He who dares, wins.” "Who CARES wins." "They say 'The Peace Movement is dead.' Just 'cos the 1960's ended'... 'PEACE AND JUSTICE are LOST CAUSES'? “Prove to them The Peace Movement is NOT dead- that it is not a lost cause." “Don’t fight it, don’t fight it…” ”There’s no need to fight it!” "Stimuli which made no impression?" "Apathy Crushed a DREAM?" Apathy: “It’s all too much like hard work.” “It’s all been done before.” “Give it up.” "Love is like a grain of sand slipping slowly through your hand..." SAY: “No! I can't sleep... Can I help?" INSOMNIA = “Do you lie in bed and worry about nuclear weapons?” “Is something bothering you? Got something on your mind? Is there something you need to do?” “Have you got it going on?” “If you’ve got a voice- use it. Understand it. Make it clear. We’re not going to sit in silence, or live in fear…” “POST WAR = No more BOOM! BOOM! No more pain. No more TERRIFIED society…” “It’s going to take a miracle…” “Do YOU believe in miracles?”

Not clay pigeons!" “That was someone’s daughter or son…” DEBATE: "They should have A WORLD-WIDE TRADING BAN. All Nations should stop the trade in weapons!” "AGREE on it. Where else will you find PEACE, except in a garden? Among the flowers?" "GOOD WILL TO ALL MEN." "Can you find it in your heart not to punish the innocent?" "War is INSANE! We shouldn't be building WEAPONS to provide JOBS! Just look at what needs making and make that! There are plenty of good jobs that need doing- more than we could do, I dare say. Wouldn't you rather delay your demise? Invest in medical assistance, not slaughter!" (60 Minutes, ITV, 24/3/1993) ("CARE about HUMAN HAPPINESS, not nastiness!") PEOPLE SAID: "DISGUSTING WHAT SOME MEN WILL DO FOR BUCKS. SICK to think they get turned on by spilling guts. Is that their way of dealing with enforced boredom? Doesn't say a lot for men, does it really?" "I'll tell you what I know about Capitalists. They’ve got NO HEARTS, no guts- NO COURAGE, NO CONSCIENCE, NO FEELINGS. THEY'RE EXTREMELY DISGUSTING. And they're SLOW and VERY STUPID. Only they haven't realised that yet." "He seems to like hurting people! He needs help." "I guess you'd rather be mean, huh? I guess, I don't need to guess at all. You're supposed to be my buddy. Well, this hurts. You're pulling me down with you. Well, I don't like anybody to make things harder. Anybody to keep it from happening. Get my drift? So just get wise. I'll pray it will only take 2 seconds." "I think it takes courage when a man can show his gentler nature and turn his back on trying to prove he's an animal that really doesn't know any better..." "Do YOU think this is fair? Or cruel? CRUEL?" "Wouldn't rather learn how to play a musical instrument? Play music? Wouldn't you rather find and face the beauty in you?" "Are you proud of your life?" "… it doesn't have to be like the gore masters of the depraved movies..." "Look for the SIMPLE NECESSITIES OF LIFE." "Let us pray like never before.” “IF we get beyond the threat of nuclear holocaust we've got hope on the horizon.” “COM ‘on all you sick romantics. We're going to take (it) over. Join the Cosmos. Weave, spread a pattern of delight that lasts forever, not to be swept away, only admired. Learn how and tell the powers to fly (into oblivion). Don't say you need me to tell you any more. Say it with (living) flowers and not a flame. Do it right this time. It's tight, I know it. I'm down on my knees, leading you on, because I want you to take me home." ".... it's got to be perfect... " PEOPLE SAID: "Put aside your differences = Let us have an INTERNATIONAL AMNESTY!" "Don't

THE FUTURE? “You could give orders to fire, but no firing orders will stand. You will change your orders and men may come running but your nondescript programme burnt out in favour of precise and exacting work furthering a new field of scientific research in the name of Human excellence…” “FORGET MILITARY APPLICATIONS. Or you may never complete it. Be aware of what you are 475

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be switched off... Japan agrees to oil embargo. Saddam must be toppled one way or another..." "How to win this contest? Crisis." "It's a fundamental problem. Excess production. OPEC meeting agreed to cut production recently. Britain- Europe gets more oil from the Gulf than the USA. USA cutting back anyway on oil from this region.” “Danger- if Saddam allowed to get away with action, could in 2-3 years have confrontation/s with other Arab states” explained Henry Kissinger. “Saddam- power mad maniac? Saddam is a calculating, astute politician- ruthless... USA- the need to protect National Security. They don't know answers to who, what, where, when, why questions... Energy problems have been coming on us for years. We have no Energy policy. We have only war games." "War of resistance planned" (6/8/1990). "Switzerland agrees to sanctions. Egypt say Saddam has embarrassed all Arabs; they are now ready to fight. Shares in defence industries rising rapidly..." "Very slow to reduce petrol prices, though oil price is falling. They're making a killing. They're business people. They want to make profits." "We will turn Iraq into a cemetery." PEOPLE SAID: "Something so strong... is going wrong." "Maybe they can't think straight?" "No-one is talking peace." "Now, more than ever we need it. It's coming upon us like Judgement Day." "Britain's motto: Cash before lives." "USA's motto: Death from the Skies." "It's dog eat dog time." "It's sad we've come so far in our evolution to produce men like this." "Human Rights? All's fair in war? One woman encouraged proliferation- now because of Thatcher, THEY COULD BLOW THE WHOLE PLANET UP! KILL EVERYBODY! Why?" "I hope by now they realise how stupid and futile nuclear weapons are?" Ah! What could stop the impending slaughter? Quick, think of something…” "Israel has produced nuclear weapons. They say Israel could be Saddam's next target..." "A week's insurance cover on a Super Tanker worth £35 million is now £350,000." "MASSIVE STRIKE COMING: ... there is an aggression coming- it could be horrible and destructive' said the Egyptian President (Hosni Mubarak). "The world is on the brink of going mad!" said King Hussein of Jordan. Jordan is in a state of Emergency. USA: "We're going to make Saddam sorry he's done it" (it means: invade). President Bush (senior) said appeasement (i.e. pacification) doesn't work, on live broadcast, all round the world, followed by more defiant behaviour from Iraq. More crack troops, hardware etc on the way. "The acquisition of territory by force is not on. Most

doing…” (JOKE: “Is this thing against ‘The Geneva Convention’? No? Then install it!”) “This is The Gateway To The Good Life. What do you say? Do you want to be part of it?” (2006). THE GULF WAR (1990): "The West established (paid for and built) the oil refineries in the Gulf." "Oil wealth lubricated their economy..." “The West armed Saddam Hussein…” "Oil prices have quadrupled in the past. Poses most major economic threat since WW11." "Kuwait has fallen overnight! Saudi Arabia is biggest Arabian oilfield, supplies 25% of USA's oil. Effects could be devastating. Last message from Kuwait said: 'Hurry. SOS. Send Aid.' Phone lines cut...." "How can Iraq march in and take over a defenceless neighbour? Secret aims... Large stocks of oil..." EXPERT: “Iraq has plenty of oil... there had to be another motive.” "THE WAR OF GIANTS…” “There is no other way?” "... Iraq wants normal relations with USA- to continue mutual respect (bearing fruit)... Military build-up. Most powerful forces. Carriers. Battle groups. Warships, armed with Nuclear weapons. Got to defend Gulf states... USA told to stay out of row- fear USA could attempt to destroy Arab nation once and for all... UN Security Council in favour of sanctions against Iraq- want to strangle Iraq..." "Turkey closing oil pipe line, refusing to load oil. British bombers have arrived plus 50 warships. Kuwaitis protesting- petition to Downing Streetmilitary option is only solution. Bankers in USA holding Emergency meetings. 'Drop THE BOMB?' 'What about the oil?' "Iraq said the Royal Family will not be allowed to return to Kuwait." British Foreign Office issued a statement: 'UK government's position- invasion damaging Britain's future interest..' Petrol prices raised. "£10 Billion wiped off UK oil prices in 1st 2 hours of trading. Stock Exchange in state of shock. Crude oil now $26 a barrel. Will slow down world growth. Could tip economies into recession. G. Bush meeting Thatcher- she is determined, no matter what the cost... Put in a strike force? … UK Parliament is on 10 week holiday!" "Saddam holding stranded people as human shield." "Saddam is (another) Hitler." "Oil prices 75% increase in 2 months..." "What if Saddam makes a stand? 'All our options are open' said Bush. "Targeted air strikes? Our service men. Are they hostages? They don't want to chance it. What if they don't cut it? Blow them up? Our warships could cause blockade to stop Iraq exporting oil. Pipe lines used to transport oil could 476

when the oil wells begin to run dry. Last year, he earned more from investments than oil sales... Before Iraq invaded, the Emir grabbed 4 wives, 40 children, a plane loaded with gold... and beat a hasty retreat...") (Surely the rewards from oil should benefit everyone in the country equally?) (Did Saddam believe he was doing the West a great favour???) Saddam said: "IRAQ INVADED as response to Kuwait’s Royal family aggression.” Saddam also said: "A very dangerous USA conspiracy... Plot against Iraq. An act of war, waged against us! A single standard must be adopted, not a double standard. 2 main aggressors are USA & Britain... The world is not united against Iraq! The press has voiced concern. USA & UK have pushed world council against Iraq... Dialogue is important to Arabs so resolutions can be adopted. No-one has talked to us! Jerusalem is occupied- is annexed- but nobody said anything! We want dialogue for security in our region... We want prosperity. Wealth is being squandered... Why not talk to find solutions to bring real peace and stability to area? We must find a comprehensive solution because all these problems are inter-connected. Political, economical, social problems should acquire significance and attention compatible to its place. Collaborators in the House robbing, sinking into vice... because of our position with Palestine, the conspiracy started against us in Kuwait... We don't want a fragmented approach... We must all sit around a table to reach deep solutions to all these questions, to find the right course of action, achieving peace for everyone... so people are happy. Then we will have done a very great service. May God spare all Mankind from the calamity of war. Why will the world not sit down and talk to me?" Tom King said: "You can't leave an aggressor there. We were invited there. He is playing for time, stringing this along. I am concerned about facts. I'm not interested in nuances." Edward Heath said: "It will be a ghastly war costing 10's of 1,000's of lives. The world is very stupid for refusing to talk." "Australia and Germany sending Warships." "Saddam not an easy target to use assassin. Several coup attempts failed; his critics silenced. News blackout in Kuwait. Rubbish piling up in streets. Resistance movement of ordinary citizens planned. Tension mounting in the Gulf. The military build up. Fanatical support (smiles, hand clapping) in Israeli Parliament. Summit meeting in Cairo. Still trying to find an Arab solution.... Saddam needs a face-saving gesture. Summit last chance of settlement.. Why don't Arabs stand up to Saddam? Arabs not afraid, but they wont condemn invasion. Saddam popular for stopping the bullets in war

people support this. Defensive position to assist government in Saudi." "... MASSIVE DESTRUCTIVE RETILIATION forecast. TOO HORRIBLE, DISGUSTING- Nuclear and Chemical weapons- with troops on the ground... goes against the grain... If there is aggression, this will come from the West. Jordon stocking-up with Emergency supplies. Italy and Spain made bases available for USA... Troops have got to protect oil and desalination plants... Full scale evacuation by plane? Airline companies have other business. Do not want to go in danger zone. Some murmurings in backbenchers in House of Commons but not much. Thatcher determined... 'No-one, friend or foe should doubt our desire for peace. God bless the American people.' Servicemen bid farewell... Saddam given option for complete withdrawal. In response he said 'Kuwait should be returned to the Motherland.' Saddam not a compromise politician. If he has a way to back out… He is in a corner... if not, he will fight. Saddam considers Kuwait a fete accompli. Atmosphere reminiscent of Churchill announcing outbreak of WW11..." "Arab frustration. 'We warned against this developing into a crisis. We warned against USA intervention. To arrive at a different conclusion. It was our duty.' Iraq has 100,000 men in Kuwait. Iraq is 4th strongest military. USA will not turn their back on friends. If USA meddle, Arabs may unite against USA... Going to be very rough for men on the front line. Britain: 'Our contribution is troops.' A lot of puzzlement in UK. Gerald Kaufman said: '... We don't want to see civilians bombed... but we're in the UN... policy... we must support it.'” A USA civilian said: "It's necessary to stop us and you Brits freezing." “Backing for what governments are doing is widespread" (BBC & Channel 4, 8/8/1990) (untrue). (… it will serve to the end of time, bring love and light... This LOVE will last forever.”) "Saudi Arabia has no elected Parliament and public beheadings are common! (The public forced to attend?) In Kuwait, only 60,000 of the country's 2 million population are allowed to vote and no Women at all have this Basic Right." (1989: Re: the Royal Family of Kuwait: "The Emir received Prince Charles. On one previous visit the Emir gave Prince Charles a car worth £80,000 and gave Princess Diana a necklace worth £1 million. The Emir's earnings said to be approx. £1 million a minute. His uncle, the late Emir used to end his daily prayers, with the Plea: 'Allah tell me and my people what to do with all our money'..”) (Saudi is Ethiopia's neighbour. The Emir could have helped save the people during Ethiopia’s dreadful famine...) (“Over the past decade, the Emir has quietly channelled £BILLIONS and £BILLIONS into safe havens abroad. A nest-egg for 477

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between Iraq and Iran." “FORMULA: Return of Royal Family- if Saddam steps down.” “UN: 1st time operating as a multi-national force.” “All over USA, prayers are being said for the troops. PRAYING FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION.” "Paris looking at ways of saving oil. USA's appetite for oil- UNQUENCHABLE. Uses ¼ of world’s whole supply. Japan- entirely dependent on imported oil. Oil Reserves = 137 Billion tons. Suggested: Run down stock piles, share out reserves." "... 1,000's of Westerners trapped... Security Council vote 15 - 0 to end occupation of Kuwait. Iraqi Parliament: "In God and blood we sacrifice ourselves." (“Only a madman destroys himself.”) Baghdad: Demo: "We are prepared to lay down our souls." (They haven't much choice...) (Will be killed if they do not show allegiance to Saddam). "The dictator (Saddam) has virtually bankrupted his oil-rich country to buy weapons... Kuwait now short of food and water... Mrs Thatcher, in Italy, demanded they get involved. A rapidly growing financial crisis in the West- an explosive situation- Saddam labelled a 'mad man' in the hysterical press. Evil, brutal- yes, but a 'mad' man? 'Purpose of repression is power- building themselves up... Mistake has occurred. Fails to understand- miscalculation of what world wants, will be Saddam's downfall. The Super Powers are belligerent. We need to diversify- find Alternative Energy sources. We've had oil crises before- in 1973...' said a military strategist. "The solution is in the Arabs hands." FORECAST: "A NEW DARK AGE." "USA Air Force Carriers- weapons are 500 times more powerful than all the bombs dropped on Vietnam, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Tokyo." ("Please support this gloomy event.") "Britain and America are bringing us to the brink of disaster." President Bush said: "Today, I ask for your support- to stand up for what's right and condemn what's wrong, all in the cause of peace." Saddam said: "Hit their interests wherever they are." "Western-style Imperialism- war justified to clean up Western corruption." "USA signed a deal with Venezuela to buy 500,000 barrels of oil a day- to fill GAPS left by the embargo against Iraq." Re: Embargo: "Doesn't Mrs Thatcher realise how wicked starving Iraqi children is?" EXPERT: "Better if men were Hippies? An LSD bombardment would transform battle-hardened troops into peace loving hippies" said Defence analyst Paul Beaver (He is very wrong about that. LSD taken in an unfriendly Environment would cause insanity). (Marijuana could change

aggressive men into peace-loving Hippies…) "UNHOLY TERROR: "Let them know they are too much." USA has formidable fire-power. Striking capability... takes 1,000 flights to move one division of troops. Build up of weapons... 'Chapter 7 has given us broad authority...' Mrs Thatcher urged the world to drive 'the butcher of Baghdad' out of Kuwait. 'What has happened is a total breach of international law. You can't have one country marching in and taking over another country which is a member of the UN' she said. "Thatcher demanded that other nations do what she steadfastly refused to do: Improve the people's Rights." "Now burning anti-West feeling. 'It is my duty to volunteer to work with my brothers.' British women married to Jordanians launched a scathing attack: 'What right does Mrs Thatcher have to come charging into this region threatening everybody’s safety?' 'Wrong to involve Britain. She should re-think and get out.' USA & UK leaders accused of threatening world safety because of greed for oil. They only have one aim: Secure the oil at any cost." "SOME ESCAPED BUT HOMES AND SAVINGS WIPED OUT: 7,000 British and Europeans managed to get out of Iraq- trying to escape across desert, despite Home Office advice to 'get your head down and stay put.' ... British printer killed- car got stuck in the sand... Refugees continue to arrive in Jordan... Alarm for those still stranded... those still trapped are digging in for siege by boarding up their homes... there are bomb shelters made with great inventiveness. 'It's time the British government came back from holiday and did something!' Children trapped in hell, even new-born babies... 'Parliament should not be recalled unless the crisis worsens' said Neil Kinnock. A CONservative MP said: 'Lives will have to be sacrificed... This is the New Age. Iraqis say they are ordinary people!” If diplomats- their total immunity to local laws... they may lose their privileges.' “Kuwaiti business-men- wealthy home owners 2 weeks ago, now penniless squatters auctioning their goods..." "Japan's Stock Exchange fallen more than at any time during this decade. Government split. Steps taken to conserve oil- lights being switched off… Air conditioning really eats oil...” Australia: Families waved loved ones good-bye. These men face significant risk... A few peace protestors... Most people support their involvement." "He's asked for it" said President Bush. America has done very little to formulate a new energy policy. 'Gasoline guzzlers' are selling well in USA. There's no let up in car sales. They can't get 478

Destroyers, Belgium sending Minesweepers, Pakistan sending troops, France sending 6 ships to 'simply show the flag'..." PEACE PACT: Iraq said: "Perhaps we could cooperate in a bid to make the Gulf a place of peace, free from foreign fleets?" RESPONSE: "President Bush turned down a desperate plea from Kuwait for intervention by USA forces. He again ruled out a full-scale invasion or any other help before flying off to meet Mrs Thatcher in Colorado..." "CASH FLOW: The Bank of England is still trying to find a way to allow the Kuwait Investment Office and Kuwait Petroleum to carry on trading. Strict Emergency sanctions to stop Iraq seizing Kuwait assets held in UK." "The Kuwait Investment Office in London is one of the most secretive and powerful investment groups in Britain, with a portfolio of approx. £50 BILLION..." "BANKS CASH IN: Wealthy Kuwaitis in London flocked to Banks and were told 'You can't have any cash.' Britain has frozen all Kuwaiti assets..." "The $ has been rescued by the Federal Bank..." "SAME OLD STORY: Oil giants Shell considering a 5.5p gallon rise after yesterday's increase in crude..." An oil spokesman said: "No-one really knows what's going on." "Giant oil companies will rake in more cash from overseas sales if prices stay high. This could hit Britain’s hard pressed economy. Oil price $27 a barrel." "Is there a policy in the West to CON-fuse?" "America- the world's police-man. Europe piggybacking." "We are effectively destroying ourselves by violence masquerading as love." "We will do whatever is necessary to make sure no oil leaves Iraq." "Negative effects on rest of world." “Britain's Royal Navy will form blockade.” "Iraq issued a warning to Egypt..." "Governments kept in power by wide-spread fear. Saddam's own people fought him for 8 years- now organised resistance in Iraq- most opposition to Saddam is in London. The Kurdish people were an organised group for widening intelligence. Now Kurds broken…” (“5,000 Kurdish people Gassed by Saddam’s regime, in the city of Halabja. A poisonous chemical Gas attack- 75% were innocent women and children… on March 16th,

enough cars to sell! Cars that only do 10 - 12 miles a gallon selling better than ever! Worsening American debt. 'It will be consumer led” said President Bush (14/8/1990). "The NEGLIGENCE of the British government could cost 100's of 1,000's of lives." "A war of nerves." "NUCLEAR FURNACES: Saddam has come frighteningly close to getting 'atomic furnaces.' 2 furnaces held in Glasgow, 3 in New Jerseyshipments stopped only at last minute... despite weeks of warnings these were for processing Plutonium and Uranium for Nuclear bombs and missiles... Now there are fears he could send out 'suicide ships' to challenge blockade and provoke war." ("Israel blew up Iraq's Nuclear weapons factory 9 years ago.") "The Israelis believe Iraq has been loading Chemical weapons onto airplanes..." "THE RAPE OF KUWAIT: Kuwait is burning! Motorists shot to death as they leapt from cars and tried to escape. Reports of soldiers raping Western women, stealing jewellery etc, families thrown out of their homes. The illegal invasion of Kuwait described as 'the greatest sneak attack since Pearl Harbour.' Claims Briton's held in a Iraqi concentration camp with 1,500 other men... 'Saddam is starving his troops and unleashing them on us.' 'We were used as target practice.' 'They're all over town- knocking them dead.' As the remorseless military build-up continues, revealed British soldiers will be in the front line in Saudi... increased nervousness." “FEARS: Britain could be hit by Nuclear weapons. Saddam (looking increasingly worried) is buried deep in some military installation…" "FLASHPOINT: President Bush sparked a stormas he prepared to go on a golf holiday! Q: 'When is this madness going to end, Mr. President?' A: 'It's all in the hands of the military.' “The Queen was joined on the Royal yacht, Britannia, now in Scotland, by other members of the Royal Family. Prince Charles 'is on holiday'... 'Mrs Thatcher is away on holiday'…” NOTE: Fearing NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION political leaders and the Royal Family abandoned Britain fearing for their own safety. No OFFICAL warnings were given to the Public. The Phrase: "Rats deserting a sinking ship" comes to mind... Also: "PARADISE LOST." General attitude on the streets: "Who wants to live forever?" "The RAF said: "It's their job. It's what they've got to do." Iraqi people said: "We want the USA and UK to ease the situation." “Australia sent 2 guided missile Destroyers to the Gulf, Holland 2 guided missile Frigates, Canada 2

1988”).

Iraq’s Ambassador to France said: "... Iraq now has a threat of war against it." "Iraqi agents spread far and wide... Saddam could retaliate using an international campaign of terror- may unleash world's most dangerous terrorists, striking against... Key targets.” “Human Rights campaigners threatened..." "Wheat consignment not allowed into Iraq..." "King Hussein of Jordan, with his 'eye on the King of the storm' going to USA trying to call off the blockade- he is an ideal negotiator- going to discuss 479

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“'We wont turn back.' If we stay on this course, it will mean war. ... a world-wide effort. That is what is happening now." "They are trying to find their way out of this dead-lock." "Is Thatcher diplomatic?" "Hardly." Russia: "What we need now is defence efficiency." "It's a question of HOW do we do it? None of us can Afford to go to war... The whole world agrees..." (“No-one asked me! Did they ask you?”) "Saddam is threatening to withdraw the sale of baby food! I feel sorry for the children..." "We need sanctions to weaken the military... If we don't destroy Saddam now, what will happen in 3 years time?" "The number of people in these danger zones- it's going to make very hard for the authorities to decide." "A few don't want peace..." "The strain of being pawns in a very dangerous game..." "We are at the edge of the cliff and neither Party wants to go back!" EXPERT: "They are playing cat and mouse. There is no pretence what we are seeing here is the end of an era." Douglas Hurd said: "We are waiting for greater clarification." "There's a queue of empty tankers in the Gulf..." "You have a one-track mind..." "EVERY INTIATIVE, EVERY PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE A PEACEFUL SOLUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY." "Saddam wants this issue to be settled by the Arab world... Increasing pressure in Britain to begin political negotiations... Iraq thanked the many countries who refused to join the embargo of food and medicine reaching Iraq. Iraq said: "When UN violated by acts of waraggression... UN and Security Council- criminal prohibition! Starving our babies! The UN excludes boycotting food and medicine. Britain & USA trying to remove this clause! This is terrible! Response: "Do you intend to carry out any reprisals against hostages?" Iraq: "Integrity is our highest priority. We will not attack. Our position is entirely defensive... We are trying to formulate a solution for everyone. It must be an Arab solution." "A month long meeting in Geneva has begun to discuss Anti-Proliferation of Nuclear weapons… Douglas Hurd expected to ask for a heavier buildup of weapons." "2nd wave of USA stealth bombers sent to Saudi. Saddam agreed to release some hostages from countries that did not agree to the Gulf blockade." "MILITARY NOT THERE TO PROTECT CITIZENS." "Forces sent there to protect the installations in Kuwait. They are not there to relieve the plight of citizens" explained Mrs Thatcher. "Mrs Thatcher refuses to negotiate. She said: 'Trade embargo will get Iraq out of Kuwait.'

differences and perhaps find way out of crisis... Bush wants to work out best way to use USA ships." (RESCUE ETHIOPIA!) President Bush said: "Commerce must continue. We condemn this outrageous aggression." “Bush hopes there will be a diplomatic solution. Bush wants to convince the international communityBush dreams of total withdrawal. Bush adamant Royal Family must be re-instated. Costing USA £400 million a month before any shooting starts. Security Council pondering: 'We're going to see how best to do it. We are going to get it right, according to the rules.' President Bush said: 'It's not going to bring any immediate miracles.' (no clarification). 'It's the uncertainty. It's quite tense'..." "GRIM WARNING:... Saddam has used a mixture of deadly nerve gas before- called 'The Hussein Cocktail' (kills within 2 minutes). The Tyrant Boasted: 'We don't need Atomic bombs- we have chemical weapon.' (An attack during the Gulf war in 1984 left 4,000 Iranian soldiers dead and 45,000 choking, bronchial cripples...") "Saddam offered to withdraw all his troops and release all Iranian political prisoners. Iran and Iraq could be a formidable force- no scruples... A Tory MP said: Saddam must be toppled. He is an atheist- that's Iran's position'..." "Britain gloomy. This is going to mean more unemployment, less money, more hardships." "British exports hit." "Saddam is a monster." "Iraqi's in London have made themselves hoarse trying to tell the West Saddam will soon have Nuclear capability. Mass propaganda..." David Steel said: "... we should be less gun happy. We should negotiate peace diplomatically...." "Reports say there has been another attempt to assassinate Saddam- there had been dozens of arrests." "There are still 3,000 - 6,000 British and American citizens being held in Kuwait against their will. Also, 5,000 Russians are in Iraq. Tired, frightened, bewildered; many refugees now destitute. Soldiers outnumber citizens... Sinister... Hostages are being rounded-up, taken to hotel in Kuwait... ‘Liberation forces’??? " OPERATION DESERT SHIELD: Temperature in desert 120 degrees. 'If we could just overcome this heat! It's us who is burning.' "Iraq warned of 'an incinerator no-one could get out of." "The military want fully-automatic weaponry..." "There is a growing movement. Millions of us want peace. We've had enough of our sons coming home in body-bags and wheel chairs" said a disabled ex-war veteran. The Security Council said: “Something must be done." They are going to discuss it tonight. 480

Attitude of UK Teenagers: 'Find out what their views are- what they feel. Get old and young representatives together. Ask them exploring questions. Find out what the impact will be. Is it good or bad? Do people really want it? Come on. Let's let get it going. 'Far away and far out.' "WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF OUT-MODED CONVENTIONS..." "Ideas need the respect of both generations, both sides..." EXPERT: "Saddam may be trying to build without straw." Response: "Saddam could have indicated what he wants EG. the Golan Heights, to be placed under the protection of the UN. That he has not done so indicates he does not care what happens to these people." "If only Saddam and Bush could play a round of golf together..." Mrs Thatcher: "No room for negotiation. Nothing possible. Hussein must pay for all the damage he has done." "George Bush may be willing to compromise" (1/10/1990). (“… it’s a good compromise…”) G. Kaufman said: "They're just playing for time." "Iraq now self-sufficient in making own weapons." "£100 million already spent sending troops to the Gulf. Costs going to rise to £200 million per day for keeping Desert Rats in the area!" "How to cope with all this military influx? Saudi, USA, UK now co-operating as one team." "Our desert sands will cover your bones" said an Iraqi soldier. "BOTH SIDES SHOULD TALK about it." "A CRITICAL ERA IN HISTORY: Will dictators be accepted? Dictators that swallow whole countries? ... Millions are experiencing misery, the loss of liberty...” “A ceaseless airlift is necessary to get all the people out... 'To organise that- it cannot not be done on a charitable basis. It does require a central organisation.' 'It has such good sense- of value to the whole country! It is vital for durable security, to withstand an attack.' Troops amass, they withdraw... this is no solution. Boxed ourselves in. No alternative..' 'What we will do if (rigid) sanctions don't work?' 'We should develop a new design for world Security. It will be a long haul but we can use the situation in the Gulf to create international PEACE. A New World order to benefit the whole world community. That it could be jeopardized before it is even a proto-type! We must not risk its potential.' 'We all Agree, AGGRESSION must NOT pay'..." "Government obsessed with going to war. Bound to be bloody. Labour should distance themselves." "By destroying Saddam we must not destroy the New World order." "HUMAN MISERY: Nose to tail- huge convoys!

The rule of force has been substituted for the rule of law. 'To be effective, it must have teeth' said the military. Saddam hiding behind women and children. Human Rights are being totally flaunted much to the dismay of the whole world...” “Solidarity is vital here” Mrs Thatcher kept saying throughout the meeting… “Public support for Mrs Thatcher?” “Yes, definitely.” Uh? Mrs Thatcher said: 'When you've been in power as long as I have, you get to sense these things.” “The Security Council’s discussion went on behind closed doors. 'We don't know technically how we are going to do it.' They are looking for compromise.’ Aircraft, armed with heat-seeking Missiles coming. 'God only knows how frightening the end may be.' 'It's not clear what Thatcher wants the Red Cross to do.” Mrs Thatcher said: '... I have to deal with many unexpected things in my job. You cannot give deadlines. Hostages will not get in our way. Of course it means naval action!” “1,000's of refugees are frying under the Sun, waiting for bureaucracy to decide their fate. 'I say to Mrs Thatcher and America, saving lives is the priority.' Commitment? 'As long as it takes.' 'Poor people will suffer. Hospitals in Palestine closing...’ ‘If the USA had not interfered with this situation would have been solved by Arab agreement.' 'The UN, slow, painful...' 'We have to do what the UN says...' 'The West speaks of Human Rights!' "USA policy mainly decided by the CIA. They know Iraq's military targets.' 'Saddam will only understand a military attack' said the CIA. 'Are we heading for war?' 'You had better ask G. Bush and his advisors' said Iraq. 'We are telling your government to speak peace. If you talk you are not doing wrong' said Jordan. "Everyone is waiting for an Iraqi military offensive." "Below decks (on warships) the temperature is 130 degrees. The average age is 21.' The RAF said: 'We are following government policy.' The Hostage Helpline reported: 'Most people don't want a military action. They want to get citizens out'..." "The Big 5 gave the go-ahead for Britain and America to use force in the Gulf. George Bush took the decision on the golf course! The order went out after a meeting of the War Cabinet in Downing Street..." "WE WILL TRY TO ADDRESS it - THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER:" "This is the start of the process- we aim to get through..." 481

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13,000 refugees leaving by ferry each day. Tales of desperation, despair. They're leaving, frightened by a major war." "There is no sanitation. The weak are suffering most. Relief is not enough." "Children are dying! Children have died." "Various women’s groups protesting... First time such groups have got together..." "Desecrations of Holy lands / places… to make capital... Is there no alternative?" "Conspiracy to murder is a crime in the UK..." JOKE: “Scene: A vast, Dallas-style suite (i.e. 10 Downing Street): Saddam Hussein: "I come as peace-maker." Thatcher: "Get out." Emir of Kuwait (looking shifty): "Please tell the Queen of Thatcher we are grateful for her undying support..." Douglas Hurd: "The British people have nothing but admiration for the heroic way in which you managed to get away with all your money." Prince Shufti El-Saab Turbo: "My father thanks your obsequious greetings and enquires when are you going to nuke Baghdad?" Hurd: "Oh, ha ha. It's very hot in here, isn't it?" Emir: "Perhaps you did not hear the question? My nephew asked when are you going to burn the whole of Iraq to a cinder, in order to restore my family to our rightful place on top of the largest pile of money in the world?" (Socialist Worker). (i.e. "YOU CAN HAVE MY WORD FOR it AS A GESTAPO OFFICER...") "Military action is lawful." ... "Military analysts all disagree with another! Nobody who has not fought in a war should be allowed to start a war." "A surgical strike? Our scalpel would turn into a club and have a boomerang effect." (Lots of laughter in the House at this comment). 'Sand could get into engines.' 'A strike could kill a lot of civilians, not the tyrant. Do we have this sort of intelligence? Are Fighter Bomber airplanes surgical? ... Destruction could unleash other conflicts... could decide to reoccupy land lost... not in interests of stability. Monarchical regimes... most rely on foreign labour for getting oil out of the ground...We must do what is wise... If it is possible through initiative, by agreements- much better than trying to impose... full-scale war. Oil facilities on which the world depends could be put out of action for years, if not months. Public support can be won if governments put their minds to it." "It is vital the public are informed- the scale of it is new. Decision making in the future-the basis is very important... WE MUST SECURE AN ENERGY PROGRAMME in next few months. We must go forward with honour. We must have tested it. It is likely to take months, not weeks. We need to provide help, to cushion the shock. We must carry out a strike against Iraq." Uh? "Surely we can learn something from it? 17 British

and 35 French companies attended the Baghdad Arms Fair. Arms are used by aggressors! Talks to control sale of weapons to 3rd World very necessary. Arms ruining the prospect of economic development." "No provisions made! Arms- a constant source of trouble. Occupied territories... How to deliver a Palestine state? They are scattered. There is no answer to this problem” (see: Chapter 15: The Holy Land).

“Future security... Security structure? Tormented by governments who really had the chance. Stalin lost the opportunity. We have the instrument to hand- we must not fail to use it. I pray to God we are lucky this time." "I feel deeply for peace loving people. There is anxiety for the whole world. Their patience... We should not shrink from our responsibilities..." "The crisis is a matter affecting the security of the community as a whole. There are urgent lessons to be learnt from the last few months..." "Self-righteousness often exceeds intelligence." "NO PROTECTION FOR CIVILIANS! Israel- not even basic standards. Dependant on their welfare on provisions of law. Willing to apply law to perpetrators- pulling law into disrepute... Ultimate implicationsintolerance; only verbal condemnations! Enforcement of law has Humanitarian grounds. All states have this in common. Wilful ignoring of international lawthreats to whole world security... Not looking at who is breaking rules. Is the (lack of) law an excuse for a political agenda?” (YES!) "I have observed the UN last 40 years... could be more useful... on that we all agree." Tony Benn said: "The purpose of the House is not to give support to any government, it is to voice the concern of the people!" (D. Hurd was falling asleep). "Governments are not practitioners of morality- to talk of right! Super-Powers- no moral authority... practice hypocrisy. Are we to live in a world where you have your hand chopped off for shop-lifting? Saudi... getting drunk on this fluid (oil)- this has to be controlled. The Arms Weapons Trade has made £BILLIONS, selling instruments for massdestruction. We do this because this is profitable, even if corrupt. What are our war aims? To bring them to a War Crimes Tribunal? Massive loss of life during a war. Taking on Islam? How many divisions do the religious powers have? When Britain had an empire, we used to dominate. Thatcher says she has the right to attack Iraq... those who vote for her will be giving her a free hand. We must not commit an offensive. Many of us reserve our judgement- taking the broader view- we've got to deal with the oil companies who are exploiting all they can. Churchill, thank God, Nationalised oil to protect the people. The cold 482

indefinitely. Armies on full-alert. Waiting for a solution... It will be a tremendous advance for us to use it. What a difference! If we do not we will be failing our people." Hear Hear. "3rd USA aim? The legal and moral use for it? Combat? Unpredictable superiority? How far is that going astray? And how far behind is the time-table? We have encountered serious delays." (“Mrs Thatcher looks as if she has had a radical face-lift.” She smiled throughout this debate.) G. Bush said to be 'hand in glove' with Thatcher. "HEAVY GOING. Can we Afford a confrontation? Testing nerves, costing lives? Critical juncture. It needs time. How much time has Bush got? He can hold out. He needs allies. Saddam will exploit gap through Arab policies... An insane game... the shooting starts- then the wringing of hands. Objective of government not clear... risking the lives of our service men..." "The world is held to ransom. It must be achieved peacefully. It may be possible over a short span to produce some results- fatal if we tie our hands, contributing to military means. I'm glad many agree with that." "Let us look to the longer term with as much cooperation as possible. To do it alone is, of course, unthinkable. Arabs can't go it alone. There is a direct link- we have to solve the Palestine issue or we are sitting on a powder keg that could blow any time. We have points in our favour. Many feel we have been slow to respond. We must get it across- a clear message. The prospect of regional disputes is as strong as ever. Things cannot go on as they have. Saddam says he models himself on Nebuchadnezzar! Says he intends to build his economy on The Hanging Gardens of Babylon! Ha ha." (A symbol of man’s power over nature = In Babylon, the luxurious gardens rising out of the arid plains. i.e. HOW were the terraces watered?”) "Some countries are behaving well. Burden sharing. An additional security levy may be necessary." "We must take action on oil. We have OPEC- international stock holding- 90 day supplywe can operate on them. Countries who are not oil producers... Oil is a world necessity- at a reasonable price… OIL not there to be exploited. Arguments are finely balanced. IF we get a substantial agreement- all countries, the UN... The cost of keeping troops- the military! Are we to sit back and watch ruthless policies carried out?" "During the Cold War we used a flexible response- no blood was shed... We will not achieve victory by shedding blood... Now for the 1st time, we can make the Security Council actthat they didn't is cause for many of our ills today. How encouraging is it to have 5 countries in agreement so we can deal with serious problems

War prospective- White power? Will not work. You are not dealing with natives but united assemblies. We mustn't live in the past. We must share the world's oil. It is hope for social justice. To those who oppose it, I urge caution. It's time to take the hate out of elections. So much for the right of selfdetermination. We've had war propaganda pumped down our throats. We need the speech of peace." ("… it's a pool of wonderful opportunity to really uplift Mankind. Changes could benefit us all." "There are so many different worlds... different Suns.... billions of other planets..." "Come On! Let's put it to the test!") "... Facing a genuine chance for good. Turning away from evil... Saddam has started a vital international conference, sparking fanatical antiWest feeling. Wars and chaos could rage. We must not allow that to happen. Opportunities for doing good must take place." "Clear war aims? So Americans can guzzle all the oil? Their immense consumption! USA urging: Do it now!' "... What hypocrite’s politicians are! ... attempting another gloss... Remove threat of Global war? Schemes include Missiles! Are these to remain in-situ to restore order? A charade. Thatcher ignorant of culture, of history. She commits to the British press; she backs the USA without any reference to EEC colleagues, and then proceeds to insult most of them! The moving of a boundary is a small price to pay to effect peace. Is it not advisable, before war breaks out, to achieve justice for these people?" "War's could have been over very quickly... if we worked with Russia, China- taking it very seriously to get a solution. Economies collapsing around our ears! Pray force is not necessary for those who have no regard for the law... taking into account all different colours and creeds." "The Queen said: "We are proud of our Armed Forces." John Major said: "We are very pleased with the way it is all going." The Church said: "Conflict is inevitable. Prayers are being said. It's a terrible tragedy- a regrettable necessity" (1990). "... All coming to support of government... Stakes not about sovereignty, not only independence, or self-economic interest of Western world, or regional interest. Land wasted, assets raped. We must employ military power to stand up for Rights." Uh? "Some are only interested in getting oil wealth for themselves, even though concept has not yet been developed! We have no planned strategy. Response is not as I hoped." "... I'd like to see it. ...it is massively important building flexible structures... I'm afraid a military battle is what it'll turn out to be. You can't wait 483

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"2/3rd of UK public polled do not support wardo not support Thatcher" said Tony Benn (29/8/1990). "Mrs Thatcher criticised almost every European country for their lack of military support... Germany stressed the need for Humanitarian Aid.” A PEACE MISSION said: "I can't understand why anyone would want to sacrifice lives or cause Human suffering." "Thatcher strongly criticised for not caring." "LET THE SHOOTING BEGIN. We are not blood thirsty but we suspect this waiting for something to happen in the Gulf, is taking a bigger toll on the Stock Market than would be the case if some hostilities actually broke out" (said Newton Zinder, a Technical Strategist). ("They don't think- is this moral?") "The amount of war hysteria being whipped up! Thatcher! Hurd! Negotiations should have the safety of hostages at the fore-front. We are being rail-roaded towards war. British people are against this and I'm glad they are. We must pin our hopes on Gorbachev's summit" (3/9/1990). "United Nations agreed law. One country shall not invade another country especially if that country is not threatening that country..." "BECAUSE OF THESE BIG POWERS ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN TO US- our childrenanything!" "Oil production has to be doubled to fuel Fighter planes..." "2 USA peace campaigners were each jailed for 15 months for damaging a USA Bomber..." "STOP THE WAR! American imperialism, backed by servant Thatcher, is provoking the most dangerous military build-up. The potential risk for ordinary people is huge. Suddenly Saddam is the new Hitler. Yet both Bush and Thatcher were quite prepared to arm and back the same Saddam. The drive to war has nothing to do with Democracy, freedom or peace. The war has everything to do with our rulers' wish to keep the Gulf region under their control so they can keep a supply of 'cheap' oil..." (Ref. Socialist Worker). A Socialist Worker demonstration, marched to the USA embassy in London. G. Kaufman said: "I can't see any point in negotiating. UN policy... We want an unconditional surrender." Iraq: "I've been involved in diplomacy for 20 years and I've never heard talk like this in diplomacy. Every opportunity should be given to negotiations..." "We appeal as Human Beings. We have our own children. We are trying to prevent a war from happening." "Plane loads of people arriving in Baghdad to be with their families when crisis happens. People are expecting to be attacked" (24/8/1990). "SOLDIERS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE of it all." "This is sick" said a USA soldier. "What they

of Nuclear proliferation? I'm hopeful The Security Council will solve all our problems. The world is inter-dependent..." "Saddam is in for a sticky end if he is modelling himself on Nebuchadnezzar... The brave boat of liberty! Despotism. 2 clear choices. Allow ourselves to fall into their game at a time that should be filled with tranquillity, running rough-shod over morality. Integrity has been violated. Is Britain becoming a vacuum? Selfish? Should we go to war to support the interests of the oil industry? We must share it. Dictators love to gain new territory. Such politics must never be allowed. On the face- honest, rational. In reality - thieves. They should be corrected. Their evil ‘Jihads’ have a terrible effect on the world." JIHAD (means: “Holy War.” A contradiction!) "Could produce collapse of USA's system... Maybe we could find a way of doing it with China? Nothing less will suffice. Co-operation resisting aggression. The way is open to whole new set of opportunities. We can move towards a well organisation as envisaged by founder. Thank God, we now have the opportunity to learn from his blunders, which have lost much... strains... downfall of governments. Constant factor- blind government producing arms. Result is arms dominate. Saddam killed 1.5 million of his people. Nothing was done!" "The time has come to initiate security for Human matters. Shall we sit back and wait for Doomsday?" asked King Hussein's deputy. "Liberation means kill, or get killed?" "Appeasement =- Give the people what they want." "Shouldn't we leave a diplomatic way open?" "No, there is no alternative." EXPERT: "Is there a substance to do a deal or has Hussein got pipe dreams?" "Where is the substance for helping the restoration of the Arab regime?" "Nobody can ignore the state of The Security Council. Do they have a clear view of the substance?" (Unanswered questions) (I haven't a clue what they're talking about!) "Thatcher talks dangerous nonsense when she says there can be no negotiations." "Thatcher accused of rigid policies, threatening war.” Re: The release of hostages (women and children) Iraq, trying to set the record straight, said: '... regardless of nationality- we are setting them free'..." EXPERT: "When this situation is over in the Middle East, we will have other problems, but it is fruitless at this stage to say what they may be." "What a sensible way to put it. And there we've got to leave it..." "Thatcher has again refused to rule out military action..." 484

are paying me isn't enough to pay my mortgage." "Americans not anxious to give time to work crisis out." "Hostages are hanging over the edge by their finger-nails. Humiliating, stripping away of every fibre of strength and spirit of what we are." Freed hostage, Brian Keenan said: "I would do anything- anything I could..." Saddam said: "I am open to ideas but who is there to put ideas to us? If we go to war, America will have a worse defeat than in Vietnam." "Sanctions are beginning to bite in Iraq- Saddam has ordered the start of food rationing- cards have gone out and troops will shoot anyone caught hoarding food. A spokesman said: "If we eat mud, we will not kneel to any foreign power." UK: "I am concerned about our tone. If we are seen to be rigid- negative-. trouble against us will come..." "Moderate opinion could swing against Britain..." "Don't you have any misgivings?" "We've made our fair share of mistakes. We joke around. Do we really care?" "Talks may take a Humanitarian stance..." "Saddam knows exactly what he's doing. he weighs up the consequences beforehand. He is very calculated." "CND and the Green Party have taken up the issue..." "We really do need a diplomatic solution!" "Hurd is visiting Yemen to make sure sanctions are applied..." (31/8/1990). G. Howe said: "Saddam must pull his troops out of Kuwait and restore Kuwait to independence"

Proportions, but the world has been slow waking up to it. Amman is host to approx. 35,000 refugees from other 3rd World countries. The Asian and Arab (other than Egyptian) refugees are sleeping in requisitioned churches, mosques and halls, and 10,000 of them are packed into the International Centre- the country's biggest car showroom... The chance of rioting between Jordanians and refugees over food... in short supply due to the war. 'They treat us like dirt' a lawyer from Egypt complained. 'We are given insufficient food and water, and even if some of us have money, we are forbidden from entering Amman where we might have the chance to buy something. Instead they force us in convoys down the desert highway..." (The Guardian, 29/8/1990). "A basis for agreement is the common need to re-structure to benefit Mankind..." ("Bring Settlers Express Relief....") "The only ‘alternative’ to co-existence is codestruction." "Good communication can be the Key to success. Cuts = Arguments (people go their different ways). People like the idea of working in the community, with a serious commitment to carrying out GOOD changes. To communicate with each other, we create a grapevine... to free flow rumour. It worked very well. Simple messages..." Paddy Ashdown said: "What's needed is a Supreme Commander to take control. Probably an American General" (Uh-oh. Celebrating no more Social Democrats?) A US Senator said: "We have the ability to blow them off the face of the earth and given the opportunity I wouldn't mind" (28/8/1990). "How can we stop them doing this again?" "MISSILES ARE OVER-HEATING IN THE SUN and are having to be hosed down with water"

(1/9/1990).

"I know I'd rather have them alive, than dead." "CRISIS SNAPS..." "West accused as 1,000's suffer... Day by day, the refugee's nightmares get worse. 'It was only when I saw them queuing for food that I realised how bad it was. I was completely stunned by these waves of people coming at me with their hands outstretched for food. People are dying out there.' The killers are thirst and heat exhaustion. Scores of pregnant women, unable to cope with the grim conditions, have been begging Westerners for advice how to abort their unborn children. Fights are breaking out in the frantic scramble for food and water. Babies and children are suffering from snake bites and scorpion stings. There's no sanitation and an explosion of illness can only be days away..." (5/9/1990). “HOT TENTS: Oman's military came to the rescue when more than 300 RAF personnel faced living under the desert Sun in heavy canvas tents more suited to the Artic... they were ready to put up their own 'tent city' on arrival. But the 1st to arrive found the tents were unsuitable for the heat and high winds... below the sand was bedrock which no tent peg could penetrate..." "... in the refugee camps, a similar story is echoed... "WE ARE FACING A REFUGEE CRISIS of Major

(24/8/1990).

"Britain has sent £500,000 Aid..." "PROFITS from ‘defence’ rose from £106 million to £177 million as British Aerospace began creaming profits from the later stage of their Tornado and Hawk aircraft building programmes. The civil aircraft business made £15 million, against a £1 million loss last time, helped by programmes to cut costs by up to 50% in some areas..." "Painful economic shock? For the world's arms weapons merchants, the tense military situation in the Gulf is a ‘dream’ come true..." (Business Weekly, USA).

"WHAT CAN KUWAIT DO WITH THEIR MONEY AND GOLD worth approx. $120 BILLION? That's $14 BILLION per annum interest = £0.25 million per second. They own 10% of BP..." "AIR FARES SET TO SOAR: Airline chiefs warned increases in fares were unavoidable as fuel prices rocket due to the Gulf crisis...The Assoc. of 485

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operation... costs significant funds... £1 million per day. £75 million spent on equipment (additional costs). More costs still to be calculated. We are being provided with free fuel from our friends in the Gulf. What about security for our troops? It is very relevant. The capacity of the USA armed battalions, plus 100,000 troops- many other countries have sent hard ware and troops. Our objective is to end aggression. The rule of law... Embargo ensured effective... it is illegal under sanctions... under our national command and control. We must have effective co-ordination. It is matter of some urgency but I can't go into details here." Q: "Saudi wants no use of military forces on their land. Will this reassurance be given in time for their generous financial assistance?" A: "We are not in a position to attack Saudi." "It must be decided between Saudi and USA." CONSERVATIVE: "It will undermine sanctions. It will add to the conflict. Those that believe it are misguided. For them the world will be a difficult place indeed. Other countries have to make very real sacrifices. Pre-planning done. Saddam never thought our actions had the promise to defeat him." "You are accountable to legislators. Those listening to this debate on TV- they need our encouragement. Employing forces at a time of crisis? Those who have experience of living conditions will pause to give thought to the cost of phasing... Aircraft are defensive? To break resolution? Confusion in people's minds. What kind of preparation have we really? To defend an attack? We cannot choose. Dread. Take out Key Iraq installations? They're capable of attacking. People cannot defend themselves! Build-up organised, to attack, but not yet. Lies! Propaganda. Folly. With international backing! Gun inspired strength. Considerable costs. The dangers of initiating war. Our troops are sweating it out. Are field hospitals able to help Gas attack victims?" "I don't know." "We have plenty of reason to reconsider. We will not be deluged with constituents demanding withdrawal of military forces... There is universal revulsion against Saddam. This is not the time to talk about blueberries. Likely no support from Germany. Sod's law. You can't Afford to ignore it but it is too neat, too tidy... Discord. We have to get re-assurance from government. What kind of technological development- building blocks? We need a clearer picture. Accountability lies at the heart of this exercise." "I don't know if it is being dealt with. There is some kind of stale-mate. Can we have an assurance we do not attack if they have not attacked us?" (Unanswered). "We called for a blockade..." "It is for politicians to decide whatever action... Those that do not want to

European Airlines said costs have been rising twice as fast as revenue even before Iraq invaded Kuwait..." "A policy of no middle ground. We are appealing to Bush..." "This mistake could cost us our future..." ("While Bush and Thatcher cry crocodile tears for the hostages... the actions of the Western powers have never been to defend Democracy or rule of law, but to defend their interests and break any resistance to their rule. And it has always been the poor and working class who have paid the price." "Surely, it's all about accountability to the public?" "Thatcher wants perfect behaviour from everyone. Has she got a bone to pick with you?" "Before, we had teamworkwe could assess our own objectives- a semiinformal basis...") "President Carter's government was halted... the hostages... We must not allow leaders to use us as hostages. They must not be allowed to get away with it... otherwise, others will follow their leadership..." "I think, when you have a dictator, that's crippling." "When are we going to stop this foreign policy that continues to destroy our young men, that teaches them hate, killing and destruction?" "When are we going to get wise and build a loving machine? Get hip? Something else that lights up?" "If we are a Democratic society, based on Democratic principles, why should we fear it?" "This is all the fault of one dictator. The whole fault is his" said Mrs Thatcher. "We must persist in our determination. He has taken a state against the wishes of his people! He plunged the country into war without achieving anything other than destruction. It could put our forces in jeopardy. We shall keep hostages plight in front of the world..." she said, whilst pledging to send more troops...USA doing a tour to gain support. Japan contributed £1 Billion, then told to pay more towards cost of securing their oil supply. Japan sending trucks, wants change in law so they can 'free' their armed forces. 'Thatcher is hell-bent on war mongering. I don't trust her. I wont give her a blank cheque. I don't doubt the British people will see it through' said a MP. Red Cross trying to get permission from USA to distribute food and medicine... Iraq has lost £3 Billion from lost oil revenue... Not nice they attacked... Sharp criticisms of Thatcher. 'Do more for hostages...' Neil Kinnock said: "It is not a prerequisite..." Tom King said: "...I agree with the PM, it may be necessary to use force... the pride we can feel, having completed 7 air-to-air re-fuellings. Made a great impression! HMS Battleaxe support ships... We have effected good communications. Britain's contribution? Chemical decontamination. Massive 486

government will press NATO so we can come to the help of our friends." LABOUR said: "I want to congratulate the USA forces. They could mount a massive attack. Starving the people into submission before that is the case. If that is our policy- it wont work. A mistake. If we, in the West, loose 40% of their oiloil companies will suffer... It's the elderly who'll suffer (cuts in oil-fired heating). And single-parents (who can't Afford heating...) Don't rely on starvation, before Iraqi's economy grinds to a halt. Don't try and assassinate Saddam. Someone else could be far worse. Is our objective to wipe the smile off his face? By employing our Chemical weapons on his people? How can this action be supported? In this crisis, there is a great opportunity. It is worth giving a lot for. Not a lot of attention is paid to it, but now we are looking over the abyss... We could use it to arms weapons exporting countries to help need and wealth of inhabitants of those countries as well. For the sake of the children I hope it is very clearly understood by those responsible. It must be made effective to bring dictators to their senses. Profits from aggression must be given up. It is very important indeed not to forget the humiliation of military aggression. We cannot allow military force. We can't compromise about this crisis. Saddam is not a man with whom one can reason. The propaganda war... the media... the message to be put across to the people is that war must NOT be allowed to happen." "PEASANTS ARE DESERTING THE COUNTRYSIDE..." "Whoever perpetrated this must be brought to justice... The conditions in the Gulf! The humidity! Men cannot survive there. Men and machines need to be rotated. All these costs can be found in the defence budget. We must get people back to their countries and get supplies to them. We need to do something... We must do it QUICKLY." "Jordan have done their best. A terrible situation! We condemn aggression. Let us explore the practical policies of it all. The urgency underlines the fact dragging our heels was not the right tack." "How to Get Practical Assistance To The Refugees on the ground?" (Unanswered). "The ambitions of Kuwait... ‘Democracy’ was cut by Saddam's actions. We can do it in short-term (before Oct 15?) Let us look at ways military could be used. To use their resources to provide effective assistance. I'd like suggestions about that. In-built facilities for medicine and food. NATO procedures... Civil resource could be applied. A special opportunity. Set Aid aside for direct resources- the type I am referring to. Could supplies not be dropped near refugees? Use of bases? To get people away? To return them to their country of

liberate... Iraq has no record of tolerating failures." "Amateur strategists! Profit from aggression should not be allowed. Brutal, savage dictatorships... Saddam's troops are removing traffic lights... The fall-out from a strike attack in incalculable. Western double-standards are blatant. USA subsidises brutal acts. (10 people murdered in New York last Sunday!) It would benefit us if Israel is not ally of USA- Israel must be kept out of the conflict. Tyranny must come to an end!" "Whether one likes it or not, this is a dangerous situation. Negotiations alone- it wont happen. We have warned of this before. We are not saying Saddam is justified- no brutal dictator is. Dictators should be condemned by the whole world. When it 1st happened, no-one took any notice. Policy of destruction gone on for a long time. Nothing has been done about it. This is a disgraceful situation. I've been accused of being on the side of Saddam, and Northern Ireland! I am not on any side. We bear in minds our friends. The destruction of killing! Saddam does not believe in a United Arab situation. It is not the only answer. There is no door ready to be opened... It will be over quickly? This may be my last speech. I don't know. We have to find some sort of solution. If we don't agree on going to war, we should not go to war, we stand by law? I'm old enough to remember when we said: 'LAW, not war.' By what law are our actions justified? Murdering and killing. Violent means. What sort of law is that? That is imperialist interest. Are we to forget the poor, oppressed people in Iraq? Is it oil? I dread. If only they were growing carrots... It's capitalistic oil interests that bother me. I want people to be genuinely free. We must not rush into war interests" (said Mr. Heffer, Labour MP for Liverpool).

CONSERVATIVE: "Government is wise, calm, measured, honourable. The major factorexplaining to the British people what is happening. It will need to be explained on and on for months. Our response... Turkey is now bold and brave. Give credit to our government, for our defence relationships, to the way we have handled our international affairs. This was the easy part. The job has to be done. It is going to get much harder. Of course, it has to be done. Those arguing for peace must now be eating their words. Ha ha for military cuts! The spares, the ammunition required must be kept going. More money needed for ‘defence’ budget. I'm sure he'll do this with relish. This is not a bad moment. Words are for eating. A large slice embarked in the Gulf." "What about Aid?" "Government is wisely reticent. It is more urgent now. Until we have agreed on the shape- the size of the shape- we cannot plan how to come to the rescue of the forces over there. Our ability to respond flexibly... I hope our 487

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depression, traumatised relatives waiting- those that have not returned... Much criticism of Foreign Office... Now is not the time to look at what happened, but to ask what may happen in the future? People battling the media who hype up agony and pain, playing on nerves... asking can we show the distress! They should be ashamed of themselves. We are sick to death of the media. If we take hostages into account, Saddam has won." "The CIA covers the world. We are getting more and more disinformation creeping up on us all. The Secretary of State is trying to justify, camouflage. Danger. Every complaint is about lack of support. We have more people dying in Northern Ireland than in the Gulf at the moment... USA policy- our so-called friends... Do we want USA policy throughout the world? Can we defend their part? There is only one super-powerthat's the USA. Their history... (see: Chapter 14) I have no confidence in their intentions. Do not support military attack! Baker saying we should have enforced a land embargo... I hope this is not the government's policy? Risk of civilian aircraft getting shot down... Could be carrying food, supplies. Unarmed. Embargo- the right to shoot down? USA looking for opportunity to escalate... Stand united against this, against the government. We've got more to fear from our own PM (Mrs Thatcher) than we have Saddam." "Don't down-play the role of the House of Commons. It is not the media who speak for Britain. It is us. We are over-laden with Americanism. Go and ask the common people- do they prefer a dictator? Then ask what is the action of an international community? How long are they going to be held hostage? WE MUST ESTABLISH SMALL COMMUNITIES THAT CANNOT BE HELD HOSTAGE. Pray to God for Humanity. We must bring barbarity to an end. Aggression must be seen to not pay." "We are entitled to protect our own oil supplies." "The Soviet Union is still a super-power. That we are not on the brink of war with Russia is a sign of the change of the times." "In the Post-Cold war period, we want the whole world to share." "We must try for a long-term settlement. A new security guarantee. I support the government- their case for an international response to aggression..." "Supporters of Saddam really loathe him." "The government said they have to stand up for their ‘ethical principles.’ Public opinion shall not sanction starvation. Mass-unemployment in Britain. The government is lying!" "High-technology! Trade credits! We have the same lies Hitler used in Austria, saying 'we have a united nation'! If it is achieved, all this is a waste of time." "If we are going to deal with the aggressor, we should give Ireland back... On that there can be no

origin? The decay in disaster relief... On this we need a discussion. For a reduction in civilian disaster. A PEACE DIVIDEND. Something... of lasting value..." Merlin Reece said: "My view is the House should have been recalled earlier. I detect a lot of 'it's not my scene.' Undoing good intentions. A lot do not understand it, or ignore it. Can't The Common Wealth do something? It will have to wait? When the possibility of war could get it all done away with?! What about recreation for the forces? (No 'Red Light' districts over there). Sand is affecting turbines! What is going to be done about that? Command and control. What is our purpose? To implement a general strategy? I don't like patronising the USA. We've too many ships in the area. Cock-ups! Who is in charge? No-one! If it were being done properly- it will be the 1st time in History. Let us not remain whilst things are going wrong. Q: Steps are being taken? The Chiefs of Staff are discussing it?" A: "British policies have been effected competently.” “How to deter dictators? SHARE FAIRLY. An alliance. Contributions. Co-ordination. Don't sneeze at it. Establish the proper organisation. Finance to do more than co-ordinate. Instruct ministers what could be done. So proper, integrated structure, so we know what its objectives are.” “What hitherto has been outside NATO's responsibilities? For the stability of the worldmilitary structures? Let military play a reduced role. To be prudent, to avoid the next threat... to our stability. Have smaller, lighter forces? Reshaping? Shall we be left wanting?" "The West turns a blind eye to excesses. We should take stock- press for realism. PM's measured tones. I am uneasy about USA's framework. Calculated policy to destabilise the Middle East for many, many years. None should believe USA is greater threat than Iraq is to Israel. Brutal aggressor. Children caught up in this malice. Any ill-judged move... serious risk. Those in (the British) Home Office should be well aware of risks by now... I'm urging caution. We need scrupulous adherence to a United Nations. An international campaign with maximum Arab participation." "Saudi people believe very strongly in preserving the family. Many feel the American invasion is the real invasion, not Saddam in Kuwait." "Play it safe. With utmost care. For friends and relatives." "The media's attitude of guns dashing off has been laid to rest thanks to the PM. Now people believe we are in a position to supply Emergency services but we are not. (UK): Support spread throughout country for hostages. The condemnations of those returning on planes! Their 488

supports this action." "There are no winners in war. If there are moves to secure a united front that will be the death to the Arab nations. Bring Saddam to the conference table! Seek the removal of troops unconditionally from Kuwait. Seek peace throughout the Middle East. We all have to conform to international law, or death could come to the whole world. The West must help to resolve..." "What is our greatest weapon?" "UN accusing Iraq of using food as a weapon." "Iran is going to join Iraq to fight 'a Holy war.'” "Threats don't help relations. Blackmail attempts can't determine policy. It is time we offered to help our constituents." "Men make wars. Only one woman has been called the speak- that was Mrs Thatcher. A less than well-represented debate..." (Female MP silenced

deal... I am shocked by what the Tories have donecriminal acts! What have we done? Nothing! How can we be indifferent to terrorist aggressors? We should oppose, in every form, their aggression... Force is maintained by Britain & USA." "Put it at its simplest. Profound distrust of the Americans and this government at this late moment... human problems- very real problems come to the fore... We must pick up casualties of all this aggression. To cope with this situation, I believe we ought to help subjects... offer immediate help to the dispossessed who are penniless. Help for self-help groups. Scale of numbers is much too big for voluntary organisations to do." "DESPERATELY NEEDING SHELTER- maybe 2 million refugees. (0.25 million refugees now on Jordan's border). Security for these people... What guarantees promised Aid gets to these people? They have self-contained field hospitalsextremely versatile... Refugees haven't even got camps! We've got to build something for them... Our field troops are extremely versatile and there they might be useful... We have surplus aircraft- we should charter these immediately to take people home... Who is my neighbour? Refugees are my neighbour." "We are not voting today for war or peace. Saddam has wrecked the livelihood of many, many poor people. Image he walked in and ousted a corrupt Royal Family not true... (!) We have reaped rewards of Arms weapons sales under the authority of the UN. We cannot go on trafficking in death as we have. No action taken on it! Expansion plans no longer a reality. Conflicts neglected for many years because we have not recognised the many difficulties they have... We must analyse why this happened. 'What point if there is no peace?' they say. Unhappily what they said has come true. We have an obligation, to say to friends, we recognise we have been a bit lax. We will bring it to the fore of the political agenda. Out of this tragedy must come some hope" (said David Steel). (NO time for the Green / Environment clause). "... surprise attack against Israel is likely- would mean war. Favouring a policy of massstarvation... catastrophe of massive proportions favouring the aggressors. Biological weapons can be dispersed from the air- range of 600 km. What happens when Israel gets Nuclear weapons? The whole population under threat for so long. Britain's part should be to liberate, using forces under an allied supreme controller, equipped with distinction. Keeping casualties to the minimum. We must take out Iraq's aircraft, missiles- weapons of mass destruction. Let there be no doubt- time is running out for Saddam. Let him know the whole nation

by Mr. Speaker).

LABOUR’s G. Kaufman said: "Saddam's stranglehold on all the oil..." D. Hurd: "We should not allow hostages to weaken our resolve. Many have decided to stay there on their free choice, rather than leave their husbands. A hard agonising choice. The evacuation of refugees, people fleeing... Many have been repatriated now. For this we gave our help. We don't want to establish new camps for these people. Feed them. get them home. Isolating the aggressors. We cannot allow Saddam to go sailing home with an oil field in his pocket." “There is going to be an Emergency EEC debate on Barbarity…” (not broadcast?) "On my journeys round the Gulf... we have to show we understand... we have not forgotten... The war of ideas is entirely right (dropping leaflets on the opposition?) We must make sure Saddam gets the right messages... May I remind British businessmen of the severe penalties if they break sanctions. It wont cause difficulties if they run out of oil or other goods. It's important government make sure Iraq can't trade- can't find a way out. Very important their financial institutions are turned off- The Security Council will ensure Humanitarian condition exists. America will see to this. Everyone in Britain is subject to our laws. We have to operate without laws. The House has accepted (not universally) that we cannot exclude military intervention. The ethics of how we proceed- not the legality- must be right. Consider it is not right to leave machinery solely to USA. Certainty here is necessary. We will make sure command procedures go ahead smoothly. Each nation will be responsible for their own forces. Obviously, system will have to be collective. We all hope for a New World Order. It's becoming more of a real hope. Some talk of a great brotherhood of man. I see it much more in traditional Tories terms- as a concert of nations acting in self-interest for an order. Can 489

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we actually make it endure for 100's of 1,000's of people? If it doesn't work, we are back with anarchy..." (Cheers from MPs). (House adjourned. Not full attendance by MPs. Tony Benn voted against the government). D. Hurd, winding-up said: "We must not let Saddam rejoice his possession of Kuwait." (NOTE: “How MP's understand The New-Age = How it is going to be...”) G. Kaufman said:: "We can pluck the flower of everlasting peace..." Uh? A 6 year old boy returning from Kuwait said: "Iraqi soldiers were shooting the walls..." A woman said: "... everyone having a go at Saddam.... Thatcher going on and on..." Iraq: "Our country men are used to hardship..." Re: Refugees: "The security oil rich years gave them, is gone. Supplies drying up in desert heat. This dust, wind... a nasty mixture. Having to buy at ridiculous price." "Bush trying to cut budget deficit $150 BILLION. May impose a Tax on oil consumers." "ISRAEL WENT ON A WAR FOOTING AS IRAQ AIMED MISSILES AT JERUSALEM..." "How to quell hate in that area?" "We don't know! Israel is not in any danger. This land could be paradise..."

their arrival gives you approx. 4 minutes..." "Diplomatic talks have begun..." (26/8/1990). ("I think of all the good things we have left undone... confirming suspicions of the holocaust to come...") “MAKESHIFT CAMPS KEEP ON GROWING... Many people have no money, no possessions (to sell). The sheer weight of numbers!" "Many are without documents." "Jordan fed them." "Appeals for Emergency help... Send sugar, flour and water..." "FACING DEATH IN THE HEAT: ½ a million frightened refugees were trapped in Iraq after Jordan's road to ‘freedom’ became a highway to hell. The Jordanians closed the border between the 2 countries saying they could not cope with the desperate human flood. But there are fears 100's will perish from thirst, heat and disease in Iraq's scorching desert" (24/8/1990). "WHOLE REGIONS COULD BECOME FERTILE AGAIN IF PEOPLE CO-OPERATE..." "Iraq has been producing 25 - 33% of all the world's oil. This easier for them. Agriculture fell by the wayside. Now wasteland... can't turn into pasture quickly- soil not favourable. (Heat 130 degrees in the shade). Produces approx, 18% own food supply. Much of land covered in inorganic sand... Got to add topsoil to sand, special clay to hold water...” (“People are very poor. Underneath the ground are millions of gallons of water. By drilling tiny holes (2 - 3" inches across) people could become self-sufficient. For this there has to be political stability. (Small) drills, (apparatus)… could be solar powered. In places like the desert they can get everything- water, electricity- lots of byproducts... EG. plastic, Modular 'Green-houses' where you can grow plants- arranging solar panels cells for power...”) (“When no trees, top soil blows away, leaves sand. Many areas that are now deserts used to be heavily wooded... can tell by coal underneath. Sending them blankets is hardly helping them to be Self-Sufficient....") ("The Hanging Gardens is a joke to British politicians i.e. if Saddam wants gardens… Britain will be quite content… by improving the living standards for his people…") (A MAGICAL ENVIRONMENT: Nebuchadnezzar 11, in approx. 600 BC, for the love of a woman, turned dry desert that hardly ever received rain into a pastoral country-side… a feat of Hydroengineering. An elaborate tunnel and pulley system

(19/8/1990).

"War could break out in next 24 hours. Israel would be 1st to be hit" (23/8/1990). "War could break out in next 48 hours..." "Saddam is the loneliest man in the world." "Saddam is being very clever!" Saddam told the children, taken as hostages: "You are here playing a role in maintaining peace of our world. You are not human shields. You are protecting the world from war." Saddam also said: "To Mrs Thatcher and President Bush, I ask, what has Iraq taken from them which has made them send their forces and troops to this area of the world to attack, destroy our people and Iraq itself?" "WHAT ARE GOVERNMENTS DOING?" "We don't know!" "No-one cares? It's gone wronglike a fire. There's burning desire- a yearning for so long..." "ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT?" "No risk to British civilians from Iraq weapons. We are deciding the Iraqi people's future, not they deciding ours. They're hoping people will overthrow Saddam, or ruler with better reputation takes over. New leader could induce help for Lebanon (good outcome for all this). Or, the whole world could be thrown into poverty and despair. They need appeasement peace-keeping force in the Middle East." "Iraq's weapons could reach Turkey, Jordan- if 'lucky' south Israel. Russian missiles more developed- in deep underground silos; cannot be detected till active- 100's of them- if discharged simultaneously... we wouldn't know which are duds, on way to the UK or USA... mechanism for detecting

brought ground water from the Euphrates river, to the top terraces- water dispensed by a chain pump i.e. 2 large wheels like a ski-lift- 1 wheel at the bottom, 1 at the topbuckets hanging from the chain continuously dipped into the reservoir- at the base, slaves turned handles to provide the power to turn the wheels. Water streamed from elevated sources & flowed down inclined channels 490

“When there is no alternative, you resort to violence…” “… because of the conspiracies of the antipeace faction, no social improvement…” “Lose your dreams, and you might lose your mind.” i.e. “It’s a real dog’s breakfast.” Q: “WHO ARE THE (MAIN) TERRORISTS?” A: “The constant threat to world PEACE posed by Imperial and Capitalist ambitions…” A: ANGRY MEN (Freedom fighters). (Ah! Jealousy burns!) (Ah! Unrequited love means unanswered… inadequate response… love turns… into anger, which is destructive…) Q: “Are we winning or losing the fight against terrorists?” (Ah! If we re-embrace…) A: That depends on who you include in your list of terrorists. If you include State sponsored / induced terrorism, I'd say we are as far away from being free of this, as we could ever be.” "UNTIL nations that perform or sponsor Terrorism change, the violence will never stop." A: NEO-CONSERVATIVES BELIEVE: "If people believe in their society, they don't break its rules. The trick is making them believe…" (NO! Your job is to make sure everything is WATER-TIGHT & above board so there is NO corruption, perversion, fraud, crime… "Every problem has a solution if you work at it long enough. You just need to make it work for everybody and do it well enough so they can believe. Sooner or later society has to win over barbarism.") HARD / BAD POLICIES = HARD / BAD SOCIAL CONDITIONS = REBELS = More Force! Dealing with Terrorism: "… it comes down to JUSTICE… Reducing poverty would reduce terrorism. Crime would go down” (said Gordon Brown). “A FREEDOM FIGHTER is a person who uses violence to resist an established political system.” EG. (REBELS in Afghanistan were called ‘gallant’ in the USA film Rambo 3… The surviving Mujhadin Tribesmen spoke of the cruelty against their kind, committed by (Russian) soldiers EG. pregnant women having their babies torn from them… atrocities committed to stop the next generation of natives inheriting the land). "Radicals and fundamentalists must not be allowed to take over!" (Rebels, Radicals, Fundamentalists… now all labelled 'terrorists' by authorities… who deliberately seek to CONFUSE…the real issue?) REBEL: “What have we got to live for? We've got nothing to lose… We are dead already…” (i.e. Our lives are not worth living…) "We'll put a bomb underneath them" is an old metaphoric phrase (meaning: "Hope to spur them on, FRIGHTEN them into doing ‘it’..." (it means: whatever it is that is wanted). "Many terrorists are against THE MILITARY- want the military out- are playing the government/s at their own Game- taking hostages, using fire-power,

to irrigate… As a result, plants hung over terraces… There were many cooling water fountains- this created humidity that helped keep the area cool- the shade of trees also helped… The hanging Gardens of Babylon became one of the ancient Wonders of the World…”) (Babil: means: “Gate

of God.”)

"1,000's of refugees swamped the only visiting British minister, begging: 'Take me home...' 'Help us.' 'Feed us.' 'We are dying.' "Some people are dying from dehydration, children are getting sick. There is not enough food or shelter." "Fundamentals continue to warn of dire risk..." ("When things go wrong with you, they hurt me too...") "HEARTLESS: A member of the Royal Family visited the dying in tents, and said: "I hope they get better soon." 1991: ESTIMATE: 150,000 PEOPLE KILLED IN THE GULF WAR." “Could it be we are cursed?” "Kuwait has been dismantled. What is international opinion?" "Every man is to die?" "We've got no choice!" "The obvious choice: LIFE." "STICKING TO OUR GUNS: President Bush said: "Let us install respect for the law" (8/9/1990). Saddam said: "We will win. God has chosen the people to be on the front-line." (Iraq’s soldiers are conscripted). Gorbachev said: "Let us herald a new peace." (The director of the Proms in London, Mark Elder, refused to play 'Land of Hope and Glory'). "PEOPLE ARE STARVING, THERE ARE BODIES IN THE DESERT..." "You're going to leave their bodies bleeding on the ground! You never cared." "Hospital lists show 500 Kuwaitis died in hospital since the invasion. Active resistance force. Victims are the most vulnerable (the elderly, the children, women). Severe queues in Iraq are building up..." "Britons and Kuwaitis who fled the war zone have told of young Iraqi troops begging for food and water..." "Thatcher being TOO NEGATIVE about it..." "Mrs Thatcher said she is not worried about her position. She has trained junior ministers to follow her…” PEOPLE SAID: "ALL YOU GOT IS SCREAMS." "I won’t let you make them howl like a wolf any more. May God forgive you." "CENSORING: The Conservative Party apologise for the non-printing of any sensitive material..." (to protect profits from petrol sales). TERRORISM: Terrorism: means: "Threatening violence, installing fear by using negative, brute force. Using vicious, organised force, without sentiment…” "Cold Bloodied Planning." “What are the root causes of Terrorism?” 491

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have waged a war (in the name of Allah) against non-Muslims. They regard themselves as crusaders for oppressed people. They feel intensely bitter towards the USA. A holier-than thou attitude, arguing the Koran morally allows them to kill innocent people, including children without any loss of conscience! By fighting, supposedly for the poor oppressed, they believe the (pearly) gates of Paradise are open wide to them. The USA has retaliated spending $BILLIONS on the military in an effort to crush them.” EXPERT: “… merely using religion as a vehicle, without feeling mercy, compassion or justice, consumed by selfish anger. They SHIRK their true duty to God’s will…” EXPERT: "Killing, especially the innocent, is an ACT of cowardice. If you have no heart, no feelings, no values- then you are a mad dog -an inhuman, evil bastard, unworthy of any respect." “There’s only one thing to do with BAD, mad dogs. Put them down.” EXPERT: “You can’t defeat Freedom fighters… people who would rather die than end up as slaves to an invading army… We learnt that in Vietnam…”

threatening, killing... BUT rather than confront the aggressors, they also go after ‘soft’ targets i.e. defenceless civilians.” "Theirs is very much a system of tit for tat." "I'm going to waste you…" is one of their favourite sayings. "Terrorists ABUSE things we take for granted, in order to destabilise, and make us confront CORRUPTION in government, in business, in society... to try and get society to CHANGE." (Ah! I am the pen, they are the sword). “I’m defiant. They’re NOT having it all their own way. I wish there was some other way…” “You have forced me to be this way. I cannot allow you to beat me / us by using such bad behaviour.” (Ah! You don’t believe in the gods... Acceptance of the god’s bad ways is not an option. And you’re so mad all you can do is scream like a banshee?”) “Resistance (usually to Imperialism) = Using Weapons- guns and bombs, not dialogue or…” “Take up weapons to beat terror” Uh? “We have to match war games with war games…” (“You don’t stop evil by doing evil.”) “G’rrr. I’ll be as nasty as you- nastier - if I have to be. My actions will be on a lesser scale- for beginners…We'll teach you a lesson. Lives will be taken. You have given me no other choice…” (Ah! You have no alternative!) (“You can huff and puff, or just get on and do what it takes…”) (“Where is the love? When we need it most? They made a blue sky grey. We can turn it around…”) "Armed struggles are the way to Freedom!" Uh? (Ah! “Nothing to live for, everything to die for.” “You’ve nothing left to lose?”) "We will die for it…" Uh? (What do you want it i.e. Freedom to achieve for you?) REBEL: “I wish I knew how to break all the chains holding us apart. I wish every man could be free. Ah! How sweet it would be…” “I wish I knew how… I wish I knew how it feels to be free…” (Do you want to make it?) “It’s a long shot…” (Ah! You have doubts they’ll work it out?”) REBEL: “ALL the INJUSTICE!” “You don’t want calm! You’ve rocked my dream boat for the very last time…BLAM! Does this shock you? Do you feel afraid? Now you know what it is like…” Uh? “… Now you know what it feels like…” (HOW DOES it FEEL? “I know how it feels. It’s having a bad day.” WAH! Oh, my God! The state it is in!) “… to have done to you what your leaders have been doing to my people…” "Some terrorists believe their supreme goal is so wonderful, any means are justified to reach it. But when violence is used, the violent system never changes. Therefore the supreme goal is never attained." "A mad man uses his talent destructively." "With a SADISTIC laugh, they took pleasure out of it. They had evil thoughts..." EXPERT: “Muslim zealots / fanatics / extremists

(see Vietnam)

PEOPLE SAID: “A man of ideals doesn’t say give this to me, or else…” "You are not an idealist! You are a Lemming." KILLING. Done to EXCESS. Wrong Action! “GOD… is a bullet?” “Real POWER is NOT based on terror.” “Men of God have no need for guns...” "We must educate our desires. Pain is a warning..." “Instead of really HELPING each other… Blow it all open, huh?” “Heap it up again. They want everything in one big pile…” There is no Alternative? If only YOU all had the COURAGE to SAVE the lives of the poor oppressed. Aren’t they all lacking decent shelter? I know they’d love it. “Oh! My! It’s so fine!” they’d say. Ah! “DO YOU LOVE ME? DO YOU really WANT TO HELP ME?” (”… building love…”) “Spreading HAPPINESS. That is what it’s all about.” It’s your choice. Do YOU still prefer VIOLENCE ? PEOPLE SAID: “DYING? Is that your idea of fun?” That’s not what it’s about! It’s about staying alive, making it better…” “WEVE GOT TO STAY ALIVE!” “Yeh. NO more TEARS, good-byes.” “I do believe, ONE LOVE IS ALL WE NEED.” "There is only one way to win the fight against terrorism: Co-operation is vital to combat terrorism" (BBC, 24/11/1993). Anti-Terrorist Measures UK: "Police now armed with machine guns…" PEOPLE SAID: "We want Law & Order, not terrorism and subversion" (1993). 492

“Osama Bin Laden blamed USA foreign policy for the (Terrifying) September 11th attacks...” (October

land…” PEOPLE SAID: “Is KILLING the only way to set man free?” “There is no simple answer?” “You’re messing up your lives, and others. You’ve got to think about it. Think about your Father looking at you right now. What is he thinking? You haven’t helped in any way, but it’ll never stop coming. Meantime, the punishments will keep getting crueller. It’s how you live and what you leave behind. At the end of your life as you face the truth…” WORSE SOCIAL CONDITIONS = More Force… EXPERT: “They become national heroes for carrying out operations against Israel. He / She was a very good person…” If you die whilst inflicting suffering- martyrdom? “My son! I do not want you to be a martyr!” “Killing people does not entitle you to honour! I can’t love somebody who only wants to kill.” “The best and shortest way to heaven is to fight for it” wrote a would-be suicide bomber who was arrested. SUICIDE BOMBERS (also called Kamikaze Bombers): “They are against the imperialist presence...” Blind Faith: “Oh, you’re going to do it in the after life?” “… it doesn’t work that way…” (The Good go to Paradise, the Bad go to Hell.) Are you on a CRAZY mission? “God made me do it.” (“If you call me, may I enquire according to whose plan?”) “If they only ‘love’ things that go BOOM, then BOO’OOM go I.” (see: Boom or Bust). EXPERT: “The problem is suicide bombers are a weapon of war and they work” (i.e. lots of people get killed). “REAL concern in so many countries about the high number of car, bus & train bombs…” “… it’s ‘fuck it’ time again…” RECRUITING SUICIDE BOMBERS: “I don’t want any death on my conscience. I wont do that to another Human Being. I don’t want blood on my hands! I’d rather die first!” TERRORIST: “That can be arranged…” “… some people just can’t take ‘life’ in the camps- too much like dying. Told: ‘If you do this (evil) thing you will go to paradise, if you love Allah.’ They need to believe it very much. So they strap dynamite to their chests. It’s very confusing.” ”Do YOU really want to be blown up by a shell?? “Rebel. Rebel. You’re in such a mess!” IRAN: "We are on the road to anarchy" (2003) (They mean: MAYHEM / Destruction). CONFUSION RULES, OK? (No, not OK!) “Using false pretences, you are being MUDDLED (deliberately?) That’s what worries me…” “Have YOU been blinded by lies?” WHAT POOR people NEED to HEAR IS: “Have I not made it clear to you? Don’t be too proud to be strong. Don’t be afraid… it’s a RETURN TO

2004).

"Why do people follow Bin Laden?" EXPERT: "They only want his money..." “What do they want his money for?” “To buy weapons.” (Oh! How do weapons help the poor?) “Why haven't people handed Bin Laden over to the West to get the reward money?”(“Until the gods understand there is a HIGHER PRINCIPLE at stake here...”) PEOPLE SAID: “Al Queda should put the ‘fun’ back in fundamentalism and forget the ‘mental’…” “The good don’t hide…” "What does Osama Bin Laden want?” "He wants to be the Emir of Kuwait- to get all the oil..." (Osama wants the profits from petrol sales? He is also killing for petrol-profits?) “To do what, with the Oil and profits? Bring the West to their knees?” (Ah! The Oil should be a non-monetary, public asset?) (Tragic! All this HASSLE for… the wrong material?) (Does Osama Bin Laden believe existing rulers are corrupt?) “Bin Laden accused the Saudi Royal Family of misspending public money whilst millions of people are suffering from poverty and deprivation” (16/12/2004). UK: DEBATE: Islamic Militant: "Do everything by the Qu’ran. If you don't, you are corrupt. Vote only for leaders who follow the Qu’ran. Only one vote allowed. Then they stay in power forever. Don't go for this, you are corrupt, therefore OK for us to kill you." PEOPLE SAID: “Where in the Koran does it say KILL everyone who believes in Freedom?” “Kill the children of God?” "Why bother to allow a vote?" "Are you sure your leaders are not corrupt?” (see: Iran) “… it’s a common mistake to confuse the dream… a worldwide Islamic State… is really about political dominance…” “You want everyone to vote for them so they can stay in power forever?" “I’m feeling no connection to the things you bad boys do.” Islamic Militant: "We have no option. We will go to Paradise when we die..." (Ah! You have a dream of Heaven: “… the perfect resting place after death…”) “… fragrant gardens with fountains…”) “LORD! I want to be with you. Can I come in from the cold? Then I can go to sleep… I can become a star. Oh! bring me JOY. I can’t believe in my life. Lord, come and get into my life…” “I want a silent place of my own! I get so weary of all these battles in life! Oh, Lord, nothing seems right! Oh, Lord, when there’s no need to win and no need to fight…” “Islamic Militant: “What we have is obedience to the one true God… until we feel security… Enter us into the gardens of paradise…” (Ah! We all want the same thing!) “… I am giving myself for the liberation of our 493

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INNOCENCE - it is the Alternative to following mad-men.” (“Can we see eye to eye?”) PEOPLE SAID: “I think everyone is paralysed with fear…” “Stick your neck out these days and there’s plenty of mad people who’ll want to chop it off! So most people just go around with their head down and try to get on with their lives. Most people just want a simple life…” “I THINK EVERYONE IS FRUSTRATED WANTING TO GET INTO it, basically.” “IS THE EVIL HERE TO STAY?” “Yeh, go on. Keep your head down. Don’t say something…” “Are YOU fighting for a better world? Will YOU continue the repression?” “Say it out loud, for the whole wide world to hear. What do you LOVE?” “DARK, DIM & BACKWARD: A chilling warning of more terrorist attacks came from Ayman-alZawahri, al-Qaeda’s 2nd top Henchman. He said: ‘Blair has brought you more of that… There is no escape unless you stop stealing our oil and supporting corrupt leaders. He warned of ‘volcanoes of wrath.’ He said peaceful change is impossible… ‘He called for ‘crusaders and Jews to leave Muslim States. He said ‘you shed rivers of blood in our land.’ ‘Until there is peace in Palestine’…” (4/8/2005). “Pope Benedict prayed to God to convert terrorists to peace. He said we invoke the Almighty to stop the murderous hand of those who commit such acts and convert their hearts and minds”

He has attacked the US. The militants look for causes. Surrounding the cities, arid desert, hills, mountains and valleys. ‘This area needs to be brought under control’ said an army General. The army is at war against the extremist militantsthe terrorists. The General tells his men they are the Holy warriors- not the extremists who are not fighting a Jihad. The extremists want to kill Pakistan’s President Musharraf for helping the USA. The USA have written off Pakistan’s debt. The military play an enormous role in Pakistan- cost ¼ of the national Budget. The one stable institution in the country. Musharraf believes in ‘Enlightened Moderation’ to win the hearts and minds of the people because military might alone cannot beat the extremists. 10,000 religious schools in Pakistan teach only religion. State-run alternatives are poorly funded. Hard to train doctors or anything else. Money and teachers in short supply. How to reform so they do not teach aggression? A political solution? Put it on hold? Musharraf wants the USA to change course in the Middle East. ‘We must do it to deal with the root cause of disquiet. It will make a tangible difference.’ 1,000’s of troops attack the villagesfortified compounds, which are demolished. The tribal belts on the border with Afghanistan… The General wants to dry up the water supply the terrorists use for bathing. At a meeting of elders, he promises new roads, phones, electricity, schools, water. ‘These are poor, underdeveloped people who deserve communication, health, education.’ He is using USA money ($5 BILLION given to Pakistan for helping ‘the war on terror’). ‘We’ve got to get the masses to understand or the nightmare scenario the terrorists gain ground. The West fears that too’ said Musharraf (The New al-Qaeda, BBC2, 8/8/2005). (Tribalism / Clans = Always the risk of (more) bloody feuds!) “There’s a lot of rough, unused land where you can hide training camps for plotters…” WAH! Why doesn’t somebody TRAIN these strong men to do something GOOD for a change? (“… it’s either kill, or CURE…”) “A leaked document stated Britain's foreign policy is contributing to the growth in recruitment to terrorist organisations” (28/8/2005). WORLD SUMMIT: “… Tony Blair told all (160) world leaders they must unite against terrorism…” (14/9/2005). “Kofi Annan called for world-wide changefundamental reform to prevent wars… to tackle poverty. Calls for collective action. (Details lacking).” CLASSIC USA AGENCY ‘THINKING’ = “Much better to ‘manage’ the problem in perpetuity than solve it.” "Soon there'll be no-one to be saved. We'll have

(25/7/2005).

“What would the Conservatives do to improve the UK’s National security to reduce the risk of terrorist threat?” Michael Howard said he wants “24/7 security at 35 main UK ports… all ports” (18/4/2005).

Anti-Terrorist Measures UK: “A shoot-to-kill policy. Kill, then ask questions. “Oh, the poor boy was innocent! He was shot 7 times at close rangebecause he ran off when told to stop. Maybe he ran off because he was in the UK illegally?” “Do we need any additional security measures?” “Yes. Phone tapped conversations to be admissible in court, training terrorists in camps will be made illegal…” (UK, July 2005) ( …easier to make inhuman camps for Homeless people illegal!) “Muslims meeting with the London police to discuss HOW to Strengthen Communities. It is very clear citizens want to tackle (the causes) of crime (terrorism)” (25/7/2005).

EXPERT: “We will not get rid of Global terrorism by more stringent methods. We need to clean up our act…” (BBC2, 25/7/2005). “Growing militancy in Pakistan. The response to growing problems. Population 150 million. Vast teeming cities. Bin Laden more popular than G. W. Bush. Little sympathy here after Sept 11th attacks. Bin Laden is their hero. He has stood up to the US. 494

Implement safe-guards…. Wars to secure oil distribution / the oil industry / the global market. The Islamic Threat = The new enemy to explain that rational. There is no war of terrorism – Al-Qaeda is an instrument of co-operations (a False Flag organisation), so they get the blame giving you the upper-hand politically… Attacks orchestrated, inspired by Neo-Conservatives / financiers to maintain the current form - which is a fake, to keep control i.e. the crushing of Civil Liberties to give the government yet more powers- against free speech etc., (against) an insanely repressive structure / a giant lie. Enter a Fascist regime? All the signs point in that direction” (Extracts: Video: Oil, Smoke &

a GRAVE, not a world." “Ignoring what could save life. Does that make sense?” “Maybe that’s what it takes? Fighting to keep the dream? We’re all innocent?” "World political leaders want a war on poverty..." (The New World War, ITV, October 2004). Tony Blair said: "We must completely rethink (our war on terror) strategy." He called for a renaissance. "Military might wont bring peace. To defeat it, we need an alliance" (2/8/2006) Uh? (Renaissance means: Rebirth of classic architecture, culture, skills, learning forgotten or ignored. Ah! A new start?) "(Western) Islam-phobia has created a generation of angry Muslim people" (7/8/2006). “… at least one million British people are trying to help ease the struggle…” (“We all need homes… and we all want to live in a beautiful world…”) "British Muslims (again) strongly criticised Britain's foreign policy, saying that was putting British lives at risk. Tony Blair strongly denied that is the case, arguing they have got it the wrong way round..." (11/8/2006) EXPERT: "Well I think it is central to terrorism. It's so sad, foreign policy is so far from what the mainstream public want..." (Dateline London, BBC, 13/8/22006) Ah! They can’t admit that war is a disaster… “Muslims and Christians are allies…” (BBC, 13/9/2006). “TERRORSTORM: Our leaders tell us the war on terror may last 100 years & may never be defeated… 1,000’s of following generations may have to lose their liberty… Do people really know how FEAR is being used to control them? As used throughout history in the drive for tyranny… Most Westerners believe the official story of 9/11 is a fraud… There are 100’s of examples of Statesponsored terrorism, called ‘False Flag Operations.’ Staged incidents blamed on innocents… EG. (as used by) Hitler in Poland… FFO’s carried out by the CIA – bombing, machine-gunning… propaganda… in scores of countries to over-throw… Innocents targeted on trains, buses - (in) schools… knowing images of dead children get people hopping mad… Covert wars to expand wars… Intelligence skewered deliberately… Lies pave the way for deaths… CIA planned terror attacks as pretext for war. Reports falsified, actual events covered-up… Bombings take our focus off…” (ref. Alex Jones: Video: youtube)

Mirrors, 5/10/2006) (further info. www.OilSmokeAndMirrors.com ).

“SAUDI PLOT FOILED: An Al-Qaeda plan to carry out 9/11 style attacks on oil fields and refineries has been thwarted… More than 172 Islamic militants – some of whom had trained as pilotswere held in one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest terror sweeps… plans were advanced… ‘They had personnel, money and arms. Almost all the elements were complete except for setting the zerohour’…” (Daily Mirror, 28/4/2007). “Do we want the same thing? We are just going about it in a different way?” i.e. An end to the complete terrorising of the Almighty’s creatures. And we all need to see it together?” “All’s well that ends well?” “Once upon a time, it was so fine, in its prime. Yeh, you can laugh about it, but now you don’t seem so proud- whilst you’re scrounging your next meal. Yeh, how does it feel- to be without a home, to be a complete unknown? You’ll say you’ll never compromise. But as I stare into the vacuum in his eyes, I want to know- how does it feel- to be on your own, with no direction of home?” (song by Bob Dylan). “Would you be in mood to compromise to save a little face?” “Can you think of a better way to end the suffering on this planet?”

(further info: www.prisonplanet.com )

“… we are going rapidly towards a Nazi USA & UK… that is why it’s so important more people realise… When we have no democracy it will be too late, People are in denial about what governments are doing… The Secret Service know the truth re: 9/11. Story massaged (to suit current USA administration). Enormous implications. People in disbelief… WAKE-UP! Impending crisis… 495

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scientists…” (Loss of rainforests?) (WHERE DID ALL THE TREES GO?) “Africa has lost its beauty. A land full of soul. In mourning. The people yearning for a little respect. The government yawning. The whole DREAM / CONCEPT dying as Capitalism takes over completely. How to push Africa back from the brink? To be self-reliant. Sustaining. All people happy. Genuinely?” 1990: "AFRICA is nearly desert, unless it is savedirrigated..." "In Africa, DON'T fight fire, with fire! TAKE WATER!" BLIGHT: “Famines, caused by lack of rain…” “The FLIES! So many bloody flies!” "The flies don't care..." "What causes flies?" (Yuk. Don’t you know?) “Africa can no longer feed itself.” “AID = Subsistence level.” “Where there is DROUGHT / FAMINE i.e. no water, they send ‘Aid’ i.e. DRIED FOOD that has to be Re-constituted with Water!”

CHAPTER 14: INTERNATIONAL STUDY: Every country in the world has the same power struggle going on. One group of people want independence, decent housing and food. Another (opposing) group does not want them to have this??? One day, they might sit around a table, and discuss it… The International Prayer for PEACE: ”Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth. Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.” AFRICA: “A country rich in resources…” “Long before slavery, there was a golden age; civilisations of which many are ignorant of today…” “After traversing fields of green, and green trees, we cleared from the rich gardens, mango clumps and cocoa nut plants which characterise the FERTILE COAST-LINE. The country is uniformly well covered with trees. The surplus from the rainy season falls into the rivers. The villages are not large or numerous- consisting mainly of grass huts…” “THERE WAS NO STARVATION IN THE OLD CIVILISATIONS of Africa where there were high levels of prosperity and productivity, there were no humiliating scenes such as we are witnessing now…” “The exploitation of Africa goes back a long way…” 1790: “… 2 months at Sea. No fresh food. Hardly any drinking water. No toilets. No fresh air. Survivors sold at other end to slave traders…” (Ref: The Wilberforce Committee). … Village chiefs were at war with each other. The villagers turned out, then retreated- singing out they would not attempt to fight until after the guns had gone… Expert slave hunters clothe themselves by the sale of their victims, selling their goats and grain… Slaves sold mostly to America… Acts of arbitrary cruelty. ‘It is a fixed custom now. No good struggling against it’ they told us (it means: slavery). If the natives were wise they would make enough to sell, but they would not, they must put up with their lot; truly there seems nothing but misery here: food so scarce the villagers seek wild berries and fruits… A creature of great impulse-a grown child- there is no law, no home to bind him- he could run away at any moment. Sometimes they will show great kindness, even bravery- heroism and affection. Any toy will amuse them. Great risibility, but no stability…”

(1990).

(IDEA: LONG LIFE: Couldn’t a low-cost (leathery) (vegetable? based) foodstuff be produced that could be made into pressed (flat) sheets- that could be stored for many years EG. in people’s homes (built into panels)? To be used in the event of an Emergency? EG. Some chewed each day provides sufficient sustenance? Not salty, greasy or sweet…) “Where is the milk of Human kindness?” “We need to help people recover from drought, to protect themselves against irregular rainfall…” (In the UK, we could make large plastic water TANKS, plastic sheets etc to help collect rainwater, plastic channelling & water pipes to provide irrigation etc., plastic buckets, plastic fly-swats etc., for the people in Africa simply by using our mountains of waste plastic… so when the Dry Season comes- life is substantially easier for the people in Africa… “Let’s all do it! Let’s all save plastic to help Africa!”) (see Chapter 9 / Waste).

“Africans want to control their own destiny. We need appropriate technology to help save valuable resources…” "Sub-Saharan Africa." (“...it could work here!”) Africa = SOLAR Heat & Sand… "£167 million spent on Emergency food Aid. For every £1 borrowed, they pay back £3 in debt repayments..." “A way of punishing. They’re taking advantage of it. This is horrible.” “Who are these loan sharks? Their faces are never revealed…” (WHY? “Deserted = Value Drops. Time to take over…”) “I am making this statement as a wilful defiance of military authority because I believe the war is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end the war.” “CONflicts create refugees. Inevitably the young suffer most.”

(wrote John H. Speke, born 1827, African explorer: author of ‘Journal of the Discovery of the True Source of the Nile’).

“How little the whites pay them!” “They take and give nothing back! That’s unacceptable.” 1980’s: "African monsoons failed… the disappearance of these rains are a mystery to 496

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to raise money for charity has raised £300 million since it began.” ) “THE UNMADE ROADS… there’s a queue

PLIGHT: “Living conditions for refugees and displaced people in Africa are the worst in the world.” ‘The Organisation of African Unity’ said conditions are “not fit for Humans.” “Agricultural policies designed to suit the urban minority- the army and the mob on whom the rulers depend- who consume food rather than the peasant majority who grow it.” “Number of children on the streets is going up, begging for something to eat. Children have no protection..." "10 million people will die of preventable diseases by year 2000, mainly Aids..." (27/8/1990). “Children have to walk 5 miles carrying water on their head…” “Very hard using a well to draw water…” (Ah! Think of a plastic dispenser- just press the plunger - to get some soap) 1993: “POLICY SHIFTS TO RELIEVE CRUSHING BURDENS: The USA has offered to write off 50% of the debt of Africa’s poorest countries in a move which could give an important lift in the battle against the living standards in the region… In Latin America, existing debt has been swapped for equity and other assets in public enterprises… In a speech, the former chief economist of The World Bank pressed home the virtue of reform noting the ‘African governments spend more on the military today than on health and education combined. Government must change their spending priorities toward investment in people if they are to expect increased support” (The Guardian,

of vehicles stuck in the mud… The public transport is not fit to be in service. They jam everyone in…” “AFRICAN SANDS: … large area of productive lands could become engulfed by wind stirred up by Global Warming, SHIFTING sands…” (BBC, 30/6/2005) “Dung cakes, made by hand, burnt for fuel…” “Being Re-housed = Having to save £68 to buy a single storey metal corrugate shack…” (Comic Relief, BBC TV, 2005).

“Whew! What a nightmare! Trying to mix concrete in this heat! The water hole is dry… We’re having to drink gallons of bottled water each day…” “HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: APPEAL for donations: Please put this simple cut-out model together. You will be holding in your hand a model of what for many Third World families is an inexpensive dream – a simple, decent, 3-room home. Habitat for Humanity can make dreams come true.

14/5/1993).

“AFRICA. 20 MILLION DISPLACED PEOPLE: Their lives on a knives edge. CAUSE: WAR. Starving, no camps. If food doesn’t come, they die. Starved to death. Aid could keep them alive. They have no chance of ever helping themselves. It will provide food…” (Appeal by David Suchet, ITV, 14/10/1993) (“Ah! Food! There’s nothing quite like it for soothing…”) 2004: FAMINES = Most are caused by tyrannical dictators..." “1 doctor for 80,000 people…” “Orphans of Aids have nothing. Nothing!” ("Can you imagine no-one to look after you, no-one caring about your birthday, or ever saying they love you?") 2005: “The Salvation Army do a lot of good work here- helping disabled children, girls taken from the streets who are orphans of Aids…” “If only we could make them more comfortable. Her bed is just a sack on the floor! Disgusting. Incomprehensible. So unjust! All she can do is lay there crying- dying. She’s so weak & feeble. She’s in SO MUCH PAIN! And she’s supposed to look after children!” “.... it’s very moving when you see the suffering… it makes you want to do more to help, doesn’t it? ... it’s beyond comprehension… You need a sense of humour here or you go under…” (Ref. “The BBC’s ‘Red Nose Day’

Just 100 gifts of £10.47… will make this home a reality for another struggling family…The cost of building materials in the developing world is much lower than in Great Britain. So we can build these homes at a fraction of the cost you’d expect. The costs vary in different parts of Africa… Using the volunteer labour of the families who will own these houses also helps keep the costs down. We then sell the houses to the families who built them – with no profit added. They repay us, gladly, through a zero-interest mortgage.” (Uh? Doesn’t that mean they are being paid twice for each house?)

Examples of some of the materials needed to build a whole house: ROOFING: £122 buys enough corrugated iron sheeting with trusses & fixings for one roof. BRICKS: £20 buys over 200 local mud bricks. Cost: 8.5 497

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fire need to be ‘hammered’ out” (3/3/1993) (“Army life is not all it’s cracked up to be…”) “2nd biggest city has fallen to Unita. Gangs of orphaned children roaming for food. 2 columns of government reinforcements try and retake the city. No medical facilities. No Aid for 2 months. Marxistbacked government. Prefers war! Unita backed by South Africa. A country of refugees. Many years of war. Aid could take quite some time” (BBC,

pence each. (Glass?) WINDOWS: £15 each. That means every house can have a window in each room for a total of only £45. FLOORING: £55 for concrete A solid floor that is so much easier to keep clean & dry than bare earth. FOUNDATIONS: £142. Nearly 80ft of trenched foundations on which to build a firmlybased permanent home…” (April, 2007). CHARITY APPEAL: “Help us to turn disused (rusty) shipping containers into clinics, kitchens and classrooms in Africa:

8/3/1993).

“Government said ‘We should prepare for a long war.’ Their troops are in full retreat. Trying to escape wrath of Unita rebels. For over 2 months, the population cut off without food or medical supplies. Large number of civilian casualties. Government has re-introduced compulsory conscription. Little training, then sent to the front” (BBC, 9/3/1993). “30,000 dead last 6 months. Last 16 years 400,000 dead in ‘civil’ war. Africa’s worst warcountry size of Europe- too much land. A war of ambush. Fled from village. Walked 100 miles. People known little but war all their lives. Rival fractions fighting for power. Refugees returned after Elections- air of expectancy. ‘We can plant. We need schools, water & electricity.’ Now 25 30 people to one very small house (makeshiftmade from bits of rubbish). Cities under siege. Totally dependent on food (Aid) getting through. Cannot plant like before. There will be a famine. Fertile land made barren by war. 2 million people fled their homes. Pitiful aftermath of an Election. What can be done now? Election winner takes all- that’s wrong. We have classic dictatorspolitical instruments of the whites. We have a terribly deeply divided society. We need reconciliation and reconstruction. It is for the people to tell where they stand. The danger is from the Conservative element” (The World This Week,

Their home is a tiny shack of tin and cardboard with no running water or electricity; the children who live in the vast, sprawling townships of Africa face a life-time of misery and hardship…” (Breadline Africa, April, 2007).

AFRICA = 53 COUNTRIES EG. ALGERIA: "Housing crisis. No improvements in living standards for the poor. 20% Inflation. Riots... Fundamentalists challenging..." (1990). “85% desert. The desert is littered with remains of metal wrecks that never made it… A test of survival in the scorching heat…” Algeria liberated from the French…” “Vast supplies of Hydro-Carbons and gas…” “… now desperately trying to free itself from radical Islam. Civil war. 100,000 people killed. Violence since 1992. Extreme Muslim groups. Reign of terror. The most bombed train route in the world. Most barbaric acts. Security is a real problem. A Fatwa against foreigners…” (Michael Palin, 10/8/2005). FATWA (means: An opinion or religious decree issued by a leader.”) “Islamic extremist fundamentalists who fight anywhere they feel Muslims are being badly exploited, who want the Qu’ran as its constitution… Not known for Human Rightsthey like to cut bits off…” (Ah! Another sort of AntiCapitalists…) (Constitution means: General health, ability to withstand disease, written principles, laws of a country. The ways in which people combine to form it… The formal creation / establishment of something… A foundation…”)

Channel 4, 10/7/1993).

“SAVE US PLEA: Scores of foreigners trapped in Cuito city appealed to be evacuated. Government said about 100 dying daily from famine and fighting…” (4/8/1993) “Disappearances…” “TALKS FAIL: Talks have reached a stalemate. Unita will not withdraw from the towns and villages they have occupied… Across the country the Humanitarian crisis is worsening daily with up to 3 million people facing starvation and a complete paralysis of town administration. All food flights have been grounded… after Unita’s 3rd attack on UN aircraft brought down a World Food Programme plane with missile fire… Government forces launched an offensive to regain control of the diamond producing areas…” (The Guardian,

ANGOLA: “War all about control of oil…” “Soldiers bodies lie in piles, in doorways, on the streets for days being buried in unmarked graves. Unita (opposed to ruling party). Terms for a cease-

14/5/1993).

“30 YEARS OF WAR. A huge Humanitarian crisis. Forgotten, pointless war destroying a rich country. World ignoring Angola. Vast numbers of refugees swamping places they’ve fled to. Villages 498

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wrecked. Government aircraft bombed houses. Hygiene in hospitals very poor. Lack of proper equipment. The UN has got 1/3rd less than the money needed” (BBC1, 27/8/1993). “Villagers have hardly any food. Potato prices too high. Unita regularly attacking villages, taking their food. Harvest not due for 6 months. Urgent ACTION needs to be started immediately. Cholera. Near utter disaster. Nobody doing anything to stop the war. Forced to live on a diet of rats” (BBC1, 31/8/1993). “Unita has mined the roads. More deaths. Siege of civilians. Russian, Chinese & USA hardwareheavy weapons. Unita with their lighter weapons. Troops on the offensive- a depressingly familiar pattern. The capture of another town- lot of civilians killed. 1,000 people dying each day. Been that way since 1975!” (BBC, 1/9/1993). “35,000 people killed in one besieged city. Bodies everywhere. 40 children a day dying. Hospital corridors filled with screams from children being treated for gaping wounds with no anaesthetic!! Countless orphans are struggling to survive. Filthy, dirty buildings. Both sides have prevented Aid from reaching civilians. Lost, broken children. War is an insane monster robbing them of everything including their lives” (BBC1,

The government believes this is money well spent… No effort made to spare civilians” (BBC1, 2/11/1993).

ETHIOPIA: “Ethiopia was a RAINFOREST region…” "As each country chops trees… mania sets in… in varying degrees, according to the level of destruction…" (“A life, for a life”?) (Another word for Homeless is Rootless…) “In dry, arid land, crops fail…” “In times of drought, a piece of polythene can make the difference between having a drink of water, or dying.” “Ethiopia FACES WIDESPREAD FAMINE AND DEATH from a drought which has already wiped out entire communities and claimed nearly all the country’s cattle. The UN Food & Agriculture Organisation said the suffering and death of both Human and animal populations were catastrophic” (Herald Tribune, 27/10/1973).

PEOPLE BEGGING: “Food is dried. We’ve no water…” “Don’t waste a drop!” (“Thrift. What God wants, matters.”) “Not possible to provide for children’s most basic needs.” “HUNGER IS A PAIN THAT NEVER GOES AWAY.” “Hunger is a pit that never gets filled up.” “Take away the pain!” Take away the PAIN!” (“Put yourselves in their shoes…”) “Not a hope in sight.” “Green with worry.” CURSE: “God DAMN THEM for not helping us!” “... got to bury our children.” “They’ll be reading us our Rights in 2 days!” “Muscle fatigue. Virus. Depression. A wide-range of illnesses…” “A slow, agonising death…” “£100 million raised by Band Aid / Live Aid in 1985...” “Aptly named- the charitable work was exactly that- a band aid- a bit of sticking plaster over an arm that has been cut off…” “Every penny raised from the ‘FEED THE WORLD’ record will go to someone who needs it…” (it means: famine relief in Ethiopia). “Most of the money was spent on Educational projects…” "Even after food Aid poured in, Mengistu intentionally kept people away from food... much food rotted in the trucks...” “ETHIOPIA CUTS OFF FOOD FOR MILLIONS: 10’s of 1,000’s of peasants are on the move in search of food… they are cut off from international Aid by an escalating ‘civil’ war. Millions of people face famine. Fears the migration will swell… and that uncontrolled camps will be formed across the border with Sudan. British Aid Agencies, fearing another famine on the scale of the famine in 1984-5, in which ½ a million people are believed to have died, are to launch a famine appeal… Rebels are sweeping in from strongholds towards the capital. CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development) who recently toured the area said: ‘…I saw 1,000’s of prisoners being

16/10/1991).

“Amid warnings of famine, Baroness Chalker, UK OverSeas Aid (Conservative) minister, announced a further £5 million of Aid for Angola. She will arrange for dried food, salt, seeds and tools to be distributed” (Evening standard, 19/10/1993). “After 17 YEARS of war, you’d think Aid would be ORGANISED. Not so. Britain is the only country to really have supplied any Aid. Aid = Insignificant amount. The EEC built a Hi-tech hospital which hasn’t been used for 2 years because there isn’t much need for by-pass heart surgery. 400,000 refugees have invaded one city- existing supplies at risk of being swamped. Cholera and other diseases breaking out. Medicines stolen- on sale but hardly anyone can Afford to buy. High rate of deaths among children. In this graveyard are the bodies of 25,000 children… Children’s graves line the centre of the roads... For want of a little food they died” (BBC1, 25/10/1993). “FOSSIL OIL EXPLORATION IS GOING GREAT GUNS. But this is very dangerous, nasty workmost of the oil workers want to get out of Angola.” “More people dying from starvation and disease than from fighting. Colonial architecture irretrievably smashed. Everywhere- graves. Still no doctors. Unqualified nurses do amputations… The stench. Dreadful conditions. All sides suffering MADNESS. You have to help Angola to find a solution” (BBC1, 29/10/1993). “The only ones who benefit are the arms weapons dealers. Each shell fired costs £700. 499

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marched north.’ Everywhere the burnt out wrecks of vehicles- tanks, armoured lorries, anti-aircraft batteries… Satellite pictures show that 4 million people are at risk of starvation. Relief officials in Addis Ababa appealed for 331,000 tonnes of immediate food Aid. So far, western nations have promised 113,000 tonnes. More than ½ the affected population will have no access to such food even if food sent promptly. More than 2 million people are behind the battle-lines in the war between the government and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front… Food for these people will have to be transported through Sudan then carried for 100’s of miles over rough terrain. The rebel Relief Agency (REST) of Tigray, which is operating a cross-border operation with 22 lorries, has appealed for 640 additional vehicles. ‘There is no prospect of getting that number of vehicles there. The only sensible option is a cease-fire so that food can be sent via the port and moved by some neutral Agency.’ Western diplomats believe there is small prospect for such an agreement…” (28/11/1989) (“There’s only one solution that can settle this…”) “AID DRYING UP FAST: Faced with critical famine, the UN’s World Food Programme admitted that they are in the most serious situation for 20 years. The director of the programme’s Emergency services, Trevor Page, said on returning from a tour of Ethiopia: ‘We have virtually exhausted all our food reserves. We shall not be able to meet other demands.’ The Rome-based organisation is calling for promises of at least 500,000 tonnes of food Aid for Ethiopia next year, apart from the needs of other famine-afflicted regions of Africa. He predicts there will be a serious GAP ‘in the food pipe-line.’ ‘Large-scale deaths are now going on and there will be many more’ he said. During his tour he found large areas of land suffering from drought not planted with crops. ‘… the ears of corn looked promising but when I felt them they were all shrivelled.’ This year Ethiopia will receive 400,000 tonnes of food Aid. Mr Page said 50,000 tonnes was now at the Port of Assab, but was moving ‘far too slowly’ to the famine areas. Forecasted: 900,000 Ethiopians would starve to death next year without an all-out international effort. Europe had bumper grain surpluses this year. Some estimates say it would be cheaper to send them to famine areas rather than keep surpluses stockpiled.” “INHUMANITY: Food could be delivered in 2 days but for the war…” (“OBSCENE: About 100 farmers will be paid subsidies under a £300,000 pilot scheme which is part of EC-backed moves to curb food production” July 1990). (The TV showed pictures of little children, skinnier than rakes, scrabbling in the dust for a few grains of rice dropped by well-fed soldiers…) SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. “GOD HELP US!”

“COUP CHIEFS EXECUTED: 12 Generals have been executed for leading a bid to overthrow Ethiopia’s President Mengistu. 2 other officers were jailed” (23/5/1990). “UN BLAMED FOR DEATH OF REFUGEES: Up to 100,000 refugees have died because of the diet provided by an international food Agency, a doctor claimed. The UN High Commission for Refugees failed to heed repeated warnings from food experts, said Dr. John Seaman of Save the Children Fund. At Hartisheik refugee camp, where ¼ of the children are severely malnourished, the daily hand-out is 400-grammes of wheat flour. Supplies of vegetable oil, soya milk, fruit and vegetables, which are supposed to supplement this meagre diet, have not arrived at the camps for months. It is virtually impossible to live on wheat flour- this is not a complete diet- this is deficient in a range of nutrients, principally vitamin C. The result is children get scurvy and this weakens their resistance to other diseases. There have been 100,000 avoidable deaths in refugee camps in East Africa in the past 5 years. More than 60,000 at Hartisheik camp, which is a SEA of TENTS housing 230,000 mainly middle-class Somalis who fled across the border to escape ‘civil’ war, whom developed scurvy last year. The once proud, healthy men and women who walked for days to find sanctuary have grown thinner, ill and cowed. The camp has become the 4th largest city in Ethiopia yet has no electricity or sanitation. The camp is 35 miles to the nearest water supply. The UN Commission, which funnels donations from world governments and has a total budget of $550 million, admitted ‘There are always improvements which could and should be made. But it requires money.’ Dr. Seaman added: ‘I have a strong suspicion we could run a quite healthy camp on the same budget’…” (The Mail on Sunday. 18/2/1990).

“AGREEMENT WITH REBELS AND GOVERNMENT REACHED. Some lorries have got through. 10,000 tons of dried food. They estimate teams of lorries each day for 6 months will have to make this journey if the population is to be saved.” A Conservative minister in Britain said. “Airlifting Emergency supplies is out of the question” (22/3/1990).

“28 YEARS OF WAR. GOVERNMENT HAS NO MERCY. A fight to the death. Children shot. Women shot. Eritrea now in hands of liberation movement- a messy battle, fought street by street, house by house. Hospitals now in complete ruins. Staff intimidated. People can now begin to pull their lives back together again. Distribution of food can now get under way. Have captured tons of food stored in world’s largest port… But liberation only lasted a few weeks… The Egyptian Air-force dropped bombs on towns- not military 500

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has been planted has been destroyed. LET GOD BE THE JUDGE…” (Dispatches, Channel 4, 20/6/1990). “We’re too scared to stay on our family plot… Too dangerous to sleep in house. Sleep instead in the bush… ATTACKS ON VILLAGES FREQUENT. Neglected children… victims of torture… many fleeing violence, walking great distances… These children should be integrated into the community… but the governments can’t guarantee safety. War! Problems! So many! A lamentable situation. REALITY? NO RIGHTS. War takes away Rights. EXPLOITATION. Absolute exploitation. I’m sick and tired of this endless battle.” “(Some) Children- refugees, who escaped violence in Ethiopia, came to England in hope of finding peace. Instead, having to sleep on floors in overcrowded church halls. Some London boroughs have refused to help. Conservative government refusing to allocate Emergency provision funds”

targets! Napalm bombs on shanty towns! Cardboard houses, on poorest areas! On women and children! Injured survivors hysterical. Cluster bombs dropped on school buses killing 50 children at a time. A child asked: ‘Are they going to bury us too?’ People are really desperate. Smell of death everywhere. Fear. Pain is too much. Terrible injuries! Nearest hospital is 20 miles away across roughest terrain. The napalm has done terrible work. Badly burnt children. Cluster bombs explode in the air- tremendous blast- devastating. Heavy cost paid by children, the very old- who tend to flee. Easy victims. ‘If we combat the infection…’ Treatment is so painful. ‘In Africa, we are only figures, not names. On the news nobody talks about it. They want to terrorise the population. Shock them. Did they laugh or cry in Egypt? We don’t know.’ EPLF very organised but few resources. Whole life undergroundcamouflaged. War far more about the valuable coastline than rebellious people. Food promised only 15% delivered. No ships have docked- port deserted. No government dares use it. Overland convoys not vital. Egypt also bombed grain25,000 tonnes burnt in one area. Now systematically bombing markets, warehouses, homes. Now only ghost towns. People seeking shelter wherever they can. Stay there all day. Very uncomfortable conditions. Sweaty. No water. Or food. Nothing left. People are starving. They’ve decided to burn us like wood! Women taken hostage during battles by the army. We are so vulnerable. I am so tired. Scared. Why doesn’t America help? Mengistu kills people. This valley is a prison for 2,000 soldiers. Widespread defeatism in the army. $1 MILLION DEVOTED every day to WAR. Ethiopians must pay 1 month’s pay towards war effort. Boys pulled out of bed at 2am, forcibly taken off the streets, from the country-side, 2 weeks training- sent to the front. What the people want is PEACE. Everybody is fed up. Sending children to fight! Preparing now for the last ‘great’ battle- will be massive. High stakes for civilian people. Will be a huge massacre. We can’t last another 2 – 3 months! No supplies! City on verge of collapse. All this death. Skeletons of Ethiopians litter the streets, with empty boxes of ammunition. Each night ‘life’ for civilians begins- people creep out… markets open, people go to work, move around. People don’t want to be beggars! People want to restore their country. But I’m afraid they wont be able to do it. 4 million people are suffering. NO FOOD. No nothing. NO PEACE. People still have the Right to choose their destiny? Their future? Peace talks may come too late. Not enough pressure put on them for Aid, for health. We’ll have to go with the law. We hope for a normal life. What

(BBC S. E. Region, 14/9/1990).

“Mrs Thatcher is Justifying The Need For Socialism. She sneers at ‘The Caring society’ saying: ‘Every man for himself. It does not matter to those that do not win.’ By Heavens, she is stating the need for Socialism.” ECONOMIC REALISM: “If the challenge was put on a plate, we’d jump at it.” “9 MILLION people will starve to death…” (Daily Mirror, early October, 1990).

“NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS”: That headline appeared in the press but with no story…A news blackout about what was happening in Ethiopia… “HUNGER IS UGLIER WHEN THE SOULS ARE FORGOTTEN…” (“I’ll reflect so all souls can see it…”) “In your hurry, you forgot to SETTLE the war.” “AS LONG AS MEN ARE MEN, A POOR SOCIETY CANNOT BE TOO POOR TO FIND THE RIGHT ORDER OF LIFE, NOR A SOCIETY TOO RICH TO HAVE NO NEED TO SEEK it.” “12 officials of former regime going on trial for EXPLOITING the famine. Many crimes committed against Human Rights. Many dissidents killed10,000 bodies found in one grave. Now is a time for renewal. Will we replace the devils of the past?” (BBC1, 24/5/1994). “Terrible drought…” (2000). “14 Million people still face starvation...” “FEED THE WORLD” song re-released… but the West is suffering from Donor fatigue...” (June, 2004) (ATTITUDE: ”Why does it always come down to Britain to solve these problems? “A WARM CARING HEART IS WHAT WE NEED.” (“Turn on the light inside…”) “We have failed Ethiopia…” (2004). “25,000 children still ‘sleep’ rough on the streets in Adis Adabba. There are so many kids here who want to be taken in. There’s nothing at all if you’re 501

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over 16. There’s not enough money to fund projects to help them. The girls have to walk the streets all night to try and avoid being raped & abused. It’s not safe for them to sleep…” “Their whole lives could change within a week if they don’t get any rain- their crops will start to fail. We need to do so much more to help…” (Comic Relief, BBC,

services suggest that most Monrovians hold out little hope of a successful outcome. The Bible-thumping American Baptist missionaries manning radio ELWA, known locally as Eternal Love winning Africa, have the edge of the battle for hearts and minds over the pro-government propagandists.” (“… it’s got

to flow or people will be killed…”) “600 women and children were SEEKING REFUGE in a CHURCH. Soldiers supporting the President opened fire fearing a hot bed of opposition. These people belonged to the North East region where rebels come from. Bodies piled everywhere- hanging out of windows… church floor awash with blood. 2,000 troops on scene did nothing to prevent the massacre. WE WOULD WELCOME ANY KIND OF HELP TO STOP THE SUFFERING” (30/7/1990). “They say it’s their world, not mine!” “GUN LAW RULES: ‘Justice’ on the streets of Liberia = “He was ordered to lie spread eagled on the groundand executed.”“…soldiers decide who is going to live or die…” (“That I can’t bless…” “I can think of 3 million reasons why you shouldn’t do that.” “I know they’re only underlings…”) “WE ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED LIKE PIGS BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT!” “Money separates the soul from the flesh.” “Being mercenary is part of big business.” “Whilst we’re waiting for the last of them to fade away- we’re waiting, waiting, stagnating…”“... it’s not happening, is it?” “All they need is love.” “SHOULD I BE OUT BUILDING PORTABLE HOUSING OR SOMETHING?” “YES! Refugees desperately need housing, food… Plant TREES! Do something GOOD for a change.” Women have to build using bricks they had to make themselves, and blocks, carrying all the materials on their heads, with children helpers… “THE WORLD-WIDE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. Is it too much to ask for?” “The 17 month civil war has claimed more than 5,000 lives” (8/8/1990). “’AFRICA WATCH,’ the USA-based Human Rights organisation, has called for the withdrawal of USA military advisers in Liberia. They have recently been assigned to accompany Liberian government troops, who have been accused of mass-killings in their campaign against rebels… Churchmen are concerned about brutal killings… They say some bare the traces of ritual murders… If religion does not solve their problems… they turn to juju (magical powers) … bombarded daily by news of another rash of tribal killings, even the most hard-nosed Monorovians are turning to God. In churches across the city, worshippers pack prayer services for peace, which are a curious blend of Conservative Christianity and African enthusiasm. Since President Samuel Doe seized power a decade ago, religious leaders have taken

2005).

"Floods. The UN are struggling to help 100,000 people..." (10/8/2006). GHANA: “Very few health clinics. Women in very remote areas have to walk 80 miles to get a contraceptive injection.” “A nurse cannot practice because of lack of petrol in her car. Services that could be provided if the West was to put pressure of government” (1992). KENYA: “British visitors warned by the Foreign office to be careful following anti-government riots.” “Kenya is appealing for £40 million Aid to feed millions of Kenyans made hungry by prolonged drought” (Evening Standard, 18/2/1994).

“70 people killed when a ferry sank” (29/4/1994). “The world’s biggest slum is in Kenya…” (2005). “Awaiting the 21st century. Free primary schools introduced last year. Over-stretched resources. Out of date school books. Now using pocket personal computers called E-Slates as alternatives to text books. ENJOYABLE LEARNING! A problem is the lack of power and frequency of re-charging. Are very fragile but will eventually be made encased in tough rubber. (The technology could be extended to other countries). How to get African villages connected to electricity? Big cables? ‘We need the right Environment for it to be a success.’ Africa’s IT future may be something this continent does not want to adopt” (BBC1, 31/7/2005) (“This is the time to get it right…") "Lynchings. 'The police don't do anything about it'..." (BBC World News, 10/8/2006). LIBERIA: “He says he is a God-fearing man who wont be another dictator. This is a pure civilian uprising. Ruthless, corrupt government. Troops in disarray, deserting. We have guns. We are seeking a new mandate. Links with Libya- looks like a fight to the death.” “CIVIL WAR. Reports of 100’s of deaths. Trying to overthrow General who got into power. British evacuated- 200 refused to leave. Machine guns. People are so scared” (23/5/1990). “THE DESPERATE TURN TO GOD: Pompous editorials in Liberia’s tabloids have given way to Psalms and Bible quotations… Moves to achieve a negotiated settlement between government forces and the rebels. But the crowds at church 502

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than they need be. Cholera epidemic. Stretched resources. Shunted here to avoid being seen by heads of Commonwealth visiting here” (BBC 3/3/1993). “BEEN WAITING 20 YEARS in refugee camp to return home. In mud huts- 48,000 people. Families split by conflict. Red Cross trying to re-unite. All the horrors of war they don’t want” (13/7/1993).

outspoken and courageous stands on what they regard as moral issues, such as corruption and Human rights, and are regularly accused by the authorities of political interference… The Liberian Council of Church, the grouping of Christian and Moslem religious leaders, have succeeded in bringing both sides to the negotiating table, making it clear the killings have cast a shadow over the peace talks, due to get under way in Free Town, Sierra Leone. ‘If the atrocities on both sides continue our efforts may not yield fruit. Talking cannot go on while the BUTCHERY continues’ said Bishop Dixon” (The Independent. 13/6/1990). “MASSACRE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN: Gunmen looted rice… When they left, the camp was strewn with bodies- hacked to death. Babies, with crushed skulls! Rebels blamed…” (ITN World News,

NIGERIA: “VILLAGES BURNT. Villagers raped, terribly (inhumanely) mutilated, shot, machet’edmurdered. The babies, nursing mothers, old men and women. WHY? Greed. Killed to stop the hereditary line. Who is orchestrating the violence? Nigeria = Vast oil… The local militiarebel troops kill everything. Children forced to fight in the militia. Terrifying. Kill or be killed. Kill, then get killed anyway…” “Military rule. Country divided by religion and ethnic origin / culture. Pro-Democracy activists have wanted the current power base to resign for quite some time. Results of Election annulled. Riots erupted. Mounting political crisis. President has offered to resign. ‘If it is the price we have to pay…’ We may have another General Election next year”

11/6/1993).

“20,000 DISPLACED PEOPLE THREATENED WITH STARVATION… The ‘civil’ war, started December 1989, has claimed 150,000 lives, causing 700,000 refugees who are posing enormous social and financial difficulties on neighbouring… Liberians should bury their weapons and re-construct their country” (African Times, 31/8/1993) “80% of the population displaced…” (1993).

(BBC1, 17/8/1993).

RWANDA: “10’s OF 1,000’s of CITIZENS KILLED” (1993). “CARNAGE: 2 Presidents killed- plane crashresult of rocket attack (unconfirmed). Heavy fighting / gun-fire reported. Fear wholesale tribal slaughter between majorities and minorities. Residents told to stay indoors. Security Forces told to restore order. 3 ministers kidnapped. UN Force Commander: ‘…tension is acute. We are attempting to assist those politicians who are attempting to restructure…’ (7/4/1994). “100’s & 1,000’s SLAUGHTERED including 11 nuns and a priest. Red Cross describes situation as a civil war. France & Belgium trying to get their citizens out” (8/4/1994). “UN TROOPS UNABLE TO RESTORE LAW & ORDER: UN forces stuck their base in the national stadium. Scores of terrified civilians fled to the stadium for protection. Many described how soldiers had come to their houses, demanding money and jewellery. Soldiers career about in stolen vehicles, drinking beer and questioning anyone who dares to step out. Those who did were met with scenes of carnage. Rows of injured and bleeding people lie on the ground blocking the entrance to the casualty dept. 100’s of bodies are piled outside the morgue. Massacres have occurred all over the capital and in some parts of rural Rwanda. Women hacked to death with machetes. Wrecked houses. Shards of broken glass…” (The Observer, 10/4/1994).

MOZAMBIQUE: “Many schools destroyed. Teachers attacked. 200,000 children orphaned. Bandits stealing children…” “Starving soldiers selling their guns for £3” (May 1992) (“Sick of shooting people? When you’re sure you’ve had enough…”) “16 years of ‘civil’ war. Villages and towns abandoned. People too frightened to live there. We need to build new roads to let food convoys through” (12/5/1992). “On the road to recovery… massive construction programmes. Hospitals, but no beds. UN is confident investors will move in” (ITN, 18/2/1993). “MILLIONS OF REFUGEES STILL HOMELESS, now STARVING. The ultimate nightmare- patients waiting to die. Denied basic medicines. Lost the will to live. 3,000 people in 1 camp- still arriving. Some walking for days through mine fields. Troops stand idle. Many refugees in tents- a lot will die. Situation quite shocking. Government concerned with saving their political skin. Aid frozen in protest of Human Rights record. ‘Here we are facing a lot of difficulties now Aid is restrained. Displaced people. Unsafe homeland” (BBC 2/3/1993). “1,000’s of refugees are refusing to go back to their former home, putting strain on government run camps. Have known nothing but war. Now behind barbed wire. Conditions totally inadequate. Acute shortage of doctors and nurses. Aid Agencies doing what they can. Conditions worse 503

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“Stepped up efforts to evacuate ex-patriots… Leaving behind their homes as fighting continues…” (11/4/1994). “Rebel troops fighting for control of country. Government forces have fled” (12/4/1994). “Civilians killing civilians. Those needing medical attention killed. Government troops not stopping this” (18/4/1994). “13 Red Cross volunteer workers and 21 children murdered by men in an orphanage. Went there for safety. 1,000’s of refugees pouring across the border. The UN wants to set up a huge camp there. Chaos. Bodies in the river. River running with blood. 100,000 people killed in 1 month. Logistical support might help. Britain and America do not want to commit troops to the area” (3/5/1994). “The largest gathering of refugees. Water is contaminated, disease has broken out. Fiercest fighting yet between troops. Militia loyal to the government are killing people in the countryside. Killing not due to rebels. Establishment of safe areas demanded for displaced persons, with financial support. UN not bringing much Aid in- has a weak mandate and so few soldiers now” (BBC1,

“500 people massacred in refugee camp” (30/5/1994).

“I million people have fled, I million are Homeless. 10 – 15 people taken each night and murdered. I million people are on the move in search of protection, food and shelter. The largest refugee camp is the size of a city EG. Liverpool. Relief agencies have worked wonders but only have 2 days supply of food. Britain has pledged £4 million of Aid. Rwanda worried they may be forgotten as the world tires of hearing about problems” (2/6/1994).

“Widespread persecution and starvation of Tutsi people. Soldiers pouring in to fight for key positions. Rebels not guaranteed a victory. Many of these soldiers are the children of parents who were killed years ago. As many as 2 million are searching for a home in South West Rwanda. All too familiar scenes. 1st fighting, then starvation, disease. Aid is not getting through. Families picked out for slaughter…” (BBC1, 7/6/1994). “Not knowing whether you are going to live or die is all part of their punishment. Government deliberately using this strategy to destroy the bonds of brotherhood. Women killed children. Men killed women and children. Now almost every (adult) person in the country has blood on their hands. Reports some soldiers have avenged the deaths of their families; the rebels also force people to leave their homes, to face hunger. In most densely populated country in Africa, 100’s & 1,000’s of Rwandans are going to die of famine in the next few years. GOVERNMENT POLICY OF GENOCIDE is leaving a nation of perpetrators and victims” (Dispatches, Channel 4, 8/6/1994). “Massacre in a church… 1.000’s sought refuge in a church. The militia slaughtered them…” “Massacres on both sides. Church leaders and clergy slaughtered. A war without mercy or end. They are looking for a military solution” (9/6/1994). “Delay getting UN equipment there- is still waiting to be painted. Embattled peace-keeping troops…” (15/6/1994). “200 UN troops managed to save 20,000 – 30,000 lives…”

5/5/1994).

“Students massacred… The government wants to wipe out any who oppose them. TV appeal to help innocent refugees: "The need for makeshift shelters, plastic sheeting now that the rains have come” (BBC1, 13/5/1994). “WITH NO-ONE LEFT TO KILL, THE MILITIAS ARE BORED: An 8 year old girl lay catatonic on the floor nursing a wound in her back. She had been gang-raped by militia-men 3 weeks ago and has not uttered a word since… The Rwandan government, which may have contrived the genocide of the Tutsi, said 60,000 other people have been buried in mass graves. That is almost 3 in 5 of the estimated 350,000 people who used to live in this city. The massacres of the government’s political opponents is probably an under-estimate- it could be as many as 1 million people. The murder rate- some 12,000 a day. Wide-eyed youths, armed with blood stained clubs, hammers, machetes, grenades, rifles… the air stinks of death. Red Cross workers who have lived through this holocaust are barely able to talk. ‘We have had no piped water for 4 days, there is no way these people can get food. Sooner or later they will have to emerge from the shadows and then the killing will start again. They might get 250 yards but I doubt it’…” (The Times,

SOMALIA: “1,000 children a week dying of starvation. ANOTHER FAMINE. Aid never arrives. No room in hospitals. You die in the street. Red Cross can’t cope. Cause: Civil War. The most hopeless country on Earth. If only they could eat guns- the only thing they have plenty of” (7/5/1992). “We need Britain to help us. We trust you. To us, the English are daddy.” “Save the Children Fund want a very large UN operation- the only way to deal with such a large scale problem...” (21/5/1992).

16/5/1994).

“MORE EVIDENCE… of mass slaughters… The UN may send an extra 5,000 peace monitoring troops. Rocket and artillery fire. Hospital in Kigali full- many of the wounded are children. UN unable to prevent atrocities- can only view the evidence. Their HQ is far from secure. No doubt of need for reinforcements…” (18/5/1994). 504

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BRUTAL

“4 MILLION REFUGEES face immediate starvation. Help on offer is too little, too late. Can’t watch without weeping. 250 Somali children a day die of starvation” (17/9/1992). “Some children have been helped whilst adults left to starve. Orphans wander alone, drop and die on the ground. No-one knows who they are”

POWER

STRUGGLE

in

Somalia”

(7/6/1993).

“AIR STRIKES, WAR PLANES, HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS. House to house searches. To eradicate warring factions, dash supply lines. Explosions in the city have added to fear of residents” (12/6/1993). “Anger, hatred, defiance. 2nd sleepless night. At least 20 demonstrators against UN bombing raids. Shot dead! Women and children! Dozens of casualties. A Humanitarian mission? Hospitals busy due to UN.” “A revenge attack? On peace troops? ‘Our rules say we can fire into a crowd.’ Slaughter could spell the end of the citizens cooperation, needed by the UN” (13/6/1993). “EXCESSIVE FORCE: Growing criticism of UN. Blamed for dozens of civilian deaths. More air attacks & civilian casualties today. Missiles fired from helicopter at crowded street filled with innocent civilians! Plus another night of bombardment. Houses peppered with shrapnel. UN determined to carry on use of force, denying those they profess to help! Strategy not working. Humiliation. Where does the UN go from here? The UN is weak” (14/6/1993) (H’mm. How to end gun rule?) “USA GUNSHIPS OPEN FIRE with missiles. Target: A house used by fugitive war lord- a General. A raging mob turned against journalists- 4 dead. Terrifying situation. At night, guerrillas take control of the city. The UN said operation was ‘flawless.’ The General is still free. Somalia flooded with weapons. The death toll is mounting. Aim is to enforce the peace” (ITN, 12/7/1993). “USA HELICOPTER SHOT DOWN: 3 aircrew dead. Others shot after pilot managed to land during long gun battle against the General’s supporters” (September, 1993). “50 UN PEACE-KEEPING TROOPS KILLED since June.” “Clinton sending more troops to eradicate anarchy” (GMTV, 4/10/1993). “Another 18,000 USA troops will be sent to Somalia to protect troops there- before pulling out” (October

(27/1/1992).

“FEW FARMERS LEFT. Women and children too weak to do tasks. Having to live on weeds whilst crops start to grow. This is no life” (27/11/1992). “1,800 US Marines are on their way. They could make it all happen. Poised to be spear-head to feed starving people. Getting worse here every day… Men with guns have made country uninhabitable” (ITN, 1/12/1992) (“Sending in the cavalry- it would be more constructive to send in an army of workers. Actually, with this system, there would be no need for an armed army…”) “1,000 deaths a day… Dead, swollen bodies in rivers. Children and mothers suffer most. 1 town employs 35 full-time grave diggers. Clan wars. Displaced people. Food blocked at ports by gunmen. Security has to be fully restored. Skeletal images. Wasted children see their own graves being dug. Distressing reports… 28,000 troops now on way, thanks to George Bush, to deliver ‘Humanitarian Aid’…” (ITN, 1/12/1992). “American troops arrive on beaches, armed with heavy machine guns. HORROR! The ghost of Vietnam haunts Americans. ‘They say it might not take long, but it could take them years’ said an American Female civilian. The troops may never come back home again.” “President jeered. Military opened fire- killed 60 people. We cannot cope with refugees” (ITN, 8/12/1992) “SHOOTING PEASANTS…” “STONED TO DEATH: 5 women accused of adultery were stoned to death and a 6th was lashed 100-times by Moslem fanatics in northern Somalia. The mob, video-taped the executions & threatened to stone UN officials who tried to intervene. The 6th woman escaped death because she was unmarried” (10/1/1992). “400,000 CHILDREN DIED in Somalia in 1992” (a

1993).

“UN troops sent to Somalia to rebuild. ‘We might not have the right formula this time.’ A military operation, using heavy force. Divisions…” (BBC1,

BBC ‘Comic Relief’ statistic).

“Before USA troops intervened, 350,000 civilians died in bloody ‘civil’ war. Troops say they have reversed the famine. Still plenty of guns about. 1/3rd confiscated. Now less than a dozen people a day die of starvation. ‘That’s normal.’ The UN must now restore the nation” (4/5/1993). “FOOD RELIEF HAS now SLOWED TO A TRICKLE…” (May 1993). “23 PEACE TROOPS KILLED. Aid workers held in compounds for days. Aid workers being evacuated. Emergency session Security Council. ‘Those who do not adhere to the resolution will pay a heavy price’ said the USA. A

20/12/1993).

“’Frightened’ USA soldiers opened fire on a free food queue. At least 8 people killed- many wounded” (1/2/1994). “Somalia wants economic Aid. They’ve traded guns to learn new skills. It’s a task too difficult for the UN to do. Disarmament programme only beginning after $1 Billion failure of USA & UN. The elders persuaded the bandits to hand-in their weapons. Economy has to be built from scratch…” (BBC1, 5/4/1994). 505

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“They came to my room. Said every room must be empty. You go fight. I was afraid. I did want to go and fight with them. I did fight. But when I could, I escaped.” “I listen all night for your step on the stair…” “I had to crucify a brother today…” “MEN KILL FOR REVENGE, GREED…” “The Prime minister said reforms could be won with carrots as well as sticks.” THE UPRISING. The birth of black Soul to Soul: “I am tired of all the violence.” “… it’s nice and lightfree and easy.” “We’ll be together in the end.” “We can succeed IF enough people devote themselves to it” said Martin Luther King. “I still have a DREAM for all God’s children. “I want to be black man’s brother not his brother-in-law” said Martin King (shot dead). “Malcolm X: House bombed. Shot dead. 16 bullets at close range…” 1960’s: “22 million blacks (people!) in S.A. demanded Equal Rights - the Right to determine their own lives (Self-Rule). Human Rights. Repeated calls for ‘Black Power.’ Associated by ‘whites’ as violent. 'The Freedom Association,' arranged non-violent marches. They camped in grounds of a church who then withdrew right to be there. Armed (white) police surrounded the camp, shot tear gas at people. As they lay on the ground vomiting and choking, police kicked and butted them with rifles before carrying them off as arrested. I note there is no call for whites to be non-violent.” “SYMBOL OF USA ‘DEMOCRACY’ = White supremacy. SYMBOL OF WHITE SUPREMACY = A Tear Gas canister.” VALUE OF LIFE SET SO LOW! Ruined lives… “Bring the yellow tape to seal off the slaughter.” “Nelson Mandela. The world’s most famous political prisoner has come to symbolise the endurance of all political prisoners. Mandela and others were charged with sabotage and attempting to cause a violent revolution. A former gunrunner… The prosecution claimed they had plotted to ‘create chaos, disorder and turmoil.’ Sentenced to Life Imprisonment, Mandela was sent to the grim fortress of Robben Island… for 27 years, Mandela had no access to newspapers…” “… Mandela issued a BLUEPRINT for a new era of peace… it is now the basis of a plan drawn up by President De Klerk. (=) Whites must be given structural guarantees that one-man one-vote majority rule will not mean domination by blacks. A non-racial society is the only way our beautiful country will be saved from the stigma that repels the world…” “… Mandela was released 11/2/1990, aged 71 years old… Crowds danced and sang in Soweto outside the house where he is expected to live…”

“5 women Farmers Associations in 1 region… the women work unprotected in the Sun. Each assoc. has 20 women. Between them more than 200 children to support. 90% are widows. No mosquito nets. ‘We want to help ourselves. We want to produce something and we will.’ … Ragged men and women… A flood caused by twice the seasonal fall of rain. They have plastic sheeting. No government (provided) Emergency infrastructure. 600,000 killed by clan-based militias. Looters have destroyed and dismantled everything, even removing the copper from electrical wiring…” (Guardian Unlimited, 24/12/2004). SOMALILAND: “DROUGHT. 10’s of 1,000’s at risk of starvation. No help from outside world. USA pays £450 million to rent an airstrip here for the Space shuttle in case Emergency landing is needed. Main Export: Rusting scrap metal. Farmers keep finding mass graves- people executed by soldiers who committed appalling crimes. Students used as blood Banks to provide blood for wounded soldiers- when blood ran dryexecuted. Leader caused war. ‘War lords have taken our houses.’ Clans, tribal warriors changed into a police-force by the UN. This is part of the ‘humanitarian’ assistance. Trained to resist riots, to provide role models to the children, a society of law and order. They want their independence- not reintegration with Somalia…” (2005).

SOUTH AFRICA: “APARTHEID divided the people- made ‘blacks’ into 3rd class citizens.” Called ‘COLOURED’ people… “Coloured people really know what trouble is.” “Taken into custody, not casualty!” “Bust up my flesh!” “Get out of my face!” (‘White’) government accused of intimidation…” “They’re taking liberties!” “DEATH RIDDLES”: EG. “A young black died in a police van, apparently strangled with a shoe lace, after being arrested.” “You can’t put it down!” “Blood stained protestors…” “Harassment victims…” “… A cop fired a shotgun at youths stoning a police van. Then other cops arrived and fired tear gas. Helicopters circled overhead. Police used road-blocks, armoured cars and dogs to seal off the township. 2 cops responded by opening fire. (The S.A. city of Bethlehem). “Police partly blamed the cricket tour for the unrest…” “Running street battles swept through the shanty town of Manguang. Riot cops fired tear gas at news photographers…” “Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to crush protests…” “Cops gas blacks.” 506

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People shouted: “FREEDOM IS COMING, MAN…” “PEOPLE WANT THEIR ROOTS BACK…” “President Bush (senior) refused to lift sanctions against sanctions… until blacks are allowed to live and work where they please… Mrs Thatcher immediately lifted some sanctions… “HOLD BACK THE TIDAL WAVE OF CHANGE: Whites, appalled by De Klerk’s push to integrate amenities EG. Beaches…fearing the abolition of the Group Areas Act i.e. ’residential integration’ mean: the end of the white community.’ School integration will follow… Mr. Grobler (who had much to do with Zimbabwe’s ruinous state) said De Klerk had launched whites down the slippery slope which can only lead to black majority rule. ‘You only have to look at Africa to see what that means- tribalism, corruption, one Party rule and total economic mismanagement, leading to bankruptcy and mass-starvation.” (“WHY CAN’T EVERYONE JUST BE SWEET?”) “Mandela already accused of making serious mistakes…” (driving round in a Mercedes, accused of neglecting township people- now Mandela has a beautiful huge house. 1st wife said he left her- he did not care about his children. She worries about his use of the black power salute. “The power is God’s” she said. “Mrs Thatcher accused Mandela of living it up in a £200-a –night London hotel whilst allowing his people to 'live' in poverty.” “Jessie Jackson called Mandela the new Jesus Christ. He said Mandela had won the respect of the world in the same way Jesus got it, through suffering. He described his release from jail as a resurrection. Clergymen and MP’s furious all over the insult. Mr. Jackson advised to get psychiatric treatment in a hospital ASAP. How can any sane person compare Jesus Christ with a convicted terrorist?” “Expressing fears S.A. slipping into civil war, Mandela said: ‘The position of the ANC on the question of violence is very simple. The organisation has no vested interest in violence. It abhors any actions which may cause loss of life, destruction of property, and misery to the people… but we consider the armed struggle a legitimate form of self-defence against a morally repugnant system of government which will not allow even peaceful forms of protest.’ Tracing the liberation’s struggle back to the British colonial era, he said that oppressed people had consistently resorted to force when peaceful channels were closed… Africaners were, at one time or another, compelled to take up arms in defence of their freedom against British imperialism…” “A least 50 people have died in tribal clashes between black opponents and supporters of Mandela in Natal province since Mandela’s release”

INBALANCE: Population: 14% whites, who get 62% of the profits. Whites paid 5 times more than blacks in the building industry.” “WE NEED A NEW EQUATION.” (CO-EXISTENCE means: “Act or state of peaceful, simultaneous existence of incompatible political systems, without attacking each other.”) “The obligation is to work for the removal of racial discrimination, thus removing the causes of aggression.” “S.A. needs to re-pay £5.5 BILLION of debt by 1992.” “… there are signs money is moving back into S.A. investments in the hope political instability is coming to a close…” “… the ruling National Party hopes to negotiate a constitutional settlement leaving the fundamentals of apartheid in place…” “White man has the power to deceive and tell lies.” “A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT… is a matter of life, or death…” (“A life saver is an ingenious mechanism…”) “They haven’t got a clue!” What should we do?” “You’d better understand we are a very long way from home.” “63,000 people made to mine gold and diamonds.” “The terrible conditions! Many have died throughout man’s history lured by greed.” “Which way will they go when they have independence? After white man’s machines, or their own way?” “Blacks threw stones at a car- the white driver shot 2 men dead…” “… whites taking the law into their own hands, arming themselves with guns and knives and intimidating blacks by driving through the town at speed in lorries, flying the flag of extreme right-wing organisations. Blacks chased out of town by other blacks… We fear a spiral of violence… 6 blacks hacked to death with knives…” “… appeals for calm in trouble-spots which included Sharpeville… White vigilante groups formed… blacks being beaten with whips and clubs… Security patrols increasing…” “MASS UNREST SWEPT TOWNSHIPS… 1,000’s of demonstrators marched to protest against HIGH RENTS and segregated local government facilities…The police opened fire… crowd fled in panic… police station pelted with stones and town offices set on fire. 100’s wounded by shotgun firemany were shot in the back… area resembled a battlefield... The order to fire was given by senior officers.” “MASSACRES… OUTRAGE…” “Although their new style tactics include negotiations, the police did not hesitate to use shotguns, tear gas and rubber bullets.” “A state of emergency still exists.” “WE LIVE IN FEAR.” “People are complaining about housing and 'living' conditions.” “We hate councillors.”

(13/2/1990). 507

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obstacles. Oxfam threatened by the British government!” (29/4/1990). “Childhood ends age 10 in S.A. Poverty and disease in townships are rife. A high infant mortality rate. Parents have to leave for work at dawn and return at night.” “Children have no protection from armed conflict…” “No child should have to fight!” “Will the children be allowed to grow?” “Will the ANC continue to support children’s interests?” “1,000’s of children boo’ed when Mandela told one side to take the guns and knives and throw them in the river. The Children's Army organised by the ANC is impatient. ‘We don’t understand peace. We don’t want peace.’ We can’t keep talking! Only talking!” “NO LAND TO GROW FOOD? THERE’S LOT’S OF WASTELAND…” “FREE SOUTH AFRICA!” “Mandela’s concert funds raised will be used to cover administrative costs” (April 1990). Has Mandela asked the government to improve the living conditions for people forced to subsist? “The ANC say they are doing something about it…” WHEN? “How to stop the blood(y) shed? Don’t you know yet? So many people stuck in sheds, shedding tears… “You’ve got to work it out for yourselves, for the collective…” “THE LOSS OF LIFE AND LIMB: 50,000 demonstrators… reintegration of the Home-Lands. Fighting over piece-meal territory. They want to join. They do not want to get left behind. Or forgotten. In their wake? Carnage. Live ammunition fired at crowd. Casualties described as ‘catastrophic.’ Looting followed. Police chasing, truncheoninghitting those caught mercilessly…” “In 4 days, 1,000 black people were killed” (1st week August 1990). Mrs Thatcher said: “I wish someone knew the right questions to ask.” “It’s better than being dead…” “Mr. Mandela, based at the 5* Churchill hotel in London snubbed the offer of talks with Mrs Thatcher. But he offered to meet her when he visits Britain again next month. ‘I would rather have her as an ally than an enemy’…” “IT’S TIME TO RE-EVALUATE! TIME TO TURN UPSIDE DOWN…” said De Klerk. He promised to release other political prisoners. He announced plans to abolish a law which has banned blacks from going to parks, swimming pools, and libraries for 40 years…” (21/5/1990). “The USA will seek Mandela’s advice…” (At the White House): “Mandela snubbed peace, rejecting a plea by George Bush to renounce the use of violence… Mandela said the tactics of blacks and his party were shaped by the government. Mandela said: ‘When a government decides to ban political organisations of the oppressed, the people have no alternative but to resort to

“… SERIOUSLY MISJUDGED MOOD…” “1,000’S KILLED.” “We look to Mandela to solve our problems.” “Tense, critical meetings, nervous dialogue…” “Mandela reported cases of torture against ANC supporters, adding Thatcher’s decision to end sanctions was disastrous” (16/4/1990). “The Press are heavily censored. For reading one line a black person can be sent to prison. Black S. Africans are hungry for news” (March 1990) “We want more than 1 book per subject.” “White schools are empty. Protests by white school children: “All schools are for all children.” “Apartheid keeps brothers in subjection.” “A TOURIST BOOM is on the cards after Britain scrapped voluntary sanctions. Holidays in S.A. now advertised. And industries are now free to invest in new factories despite opposition by EEC nations.” “WHITEWASH: In the interest of change in S.A. the Anglo/American Bank Corp. want to open the debate Re: one-man, one-vote. We don’t talk about group rights. Everybody says you should have the right to participate freely… How can a bank say that? The Bank has exploited and is most successful (diamond) cartel in the world” (19/3/1990). “WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY ARE KILLING FOR? The root cause? The housing shortage? Squatters shacks are being destroyed. Violence is inevitable result. 70,000 people classified as impoverished squatters. Little done to accommodate them. Folly! Administrators finding problem ‘unsolvable.’ Poor people are seeking a living place. We do not have the resources available. The facilities the poor people want? Toilets! We have to do this (squatting) down in public! Squatters arguing they are testing the socalled ‘good’ nature of capitalist whites. A dilemma for a ‘liberal’ regime. ‘We are against squatting.’ ‘Cities belong to whites.’ Bull-dozers ineffectual. New shacks spring up like mushrooms. There’s no alternative. It would appear the people’s desire to have a home where they desire is unstoppable and the costs incalculable” (ITN, 2/8/1990) “The appalling state of infrastructure…” “The stinking squalorabsolutely unacceptable.” “... it’s NOT BEING DONE BASICALLY…” “No JOY in lives…” “Tight wad DEATH DEALERS.” “Typical white supremists- ‘devout’ ‘Christians,’ dedicated business-men. A yuppie club called ‘The Crusaders.’ These are the whites who created apartheid… ‘You discreetly arrange to set one group against each other. They destroy each other…” “Britain is the pulse beat in S.A….” “Oxfam accused by Conservative government of left-wing politics for wanting to raise £1 million to help apartheid victims! Oxfam say they want to relieve symptoms of poverty, and remove 508

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violence” (The Sun, 26/6/1990) (George Bush smiled and they all applauded…) “White protestors against apartheid are still locked in prisons…” “Black killing black…” “Giving each other grief.” “A black is twice as likely to have mental health problems.” “You’ve got to make the changes in your head.” “COME ON EVERYBODY. Don’t matter if you’re black or white. LET DO it RIGHT.” “We’ve all got problems…” “People think it’s only a matter of time- apartheid will go. But that’s really not the case…” (“You’ve only got to look at the way black Americans are treated…”) “THE EXTENT OF MUTILATION & SUFFERING: Hit squads. Assassins. Death squads. Continued violence against ANC supporters…routine use of poisons… EG. Chloroform… administered in anything- is tasteless. Security Forces- arm of the military use this… such a professional air to these crimes… suggests an organisation- with contacts, technology… Top policy-makers today… know all secrets of murder squads- whole security policy… this killing machine needs to be brought out into the open to be dismantled… but government is going to strengthen the police. It is so important for S. Africa for cleansing and healing that these ruthless killers who operate with deception and lies have to be removed…”

himself. Few believe he can work miracles” (2/7/1990) (Did they expect him to rebuild the townships in 2 months?) “The ANC has now raised £2 million from their world tour…” (18/7/1990). “Private death squads are on the loose to make sure no-one feels safe. A hidden hand is paying them… 1,000’s of blacks made Homeless by attacks- they are very frightened” (14/9/1990). “SELFISH EX-PATRIOT PARASITE RASCISTS LEAD LUXURIOUS LIFE-STYLE: On the cocktail circuits of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, they have no doubt. They must do their duty. By this they mean keep the Conservatives in power, so they retain their life-style taken for granted i.e. their 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, huge garden and obligatory swimming pool. ‘Servants are so cheap’ a couple explained…” “THE PRIVACY RULES… alienating the general public. What does not have to be disclosed. A DELIBERATE, CALCULATED POLICY…” “There is no cease-fire in place…” (27/7/1990). “DEBT RE-SCHEDULED… £12.5 BILLION foreign debt on easy terms… the decision will infuriate prosanctions Commonwealth leaders… expecting substantial capital repayments and the highest possible interest rates… ‘The Banks have in effect given De Klerk £6.5 BILLION to fund apartheid’…” (1990).

“Mandela signed a Peace contract agreeing to cease a 30 year armed struggle by the ANC…” “Underlying problems not addressed…” “The young say he is not a man they can pin their hopes on” (7/8/1990). “Mandela said he heard through the thick prison walls how black people are suffering. He called for blacks to take more actions. He said: ‘The bigotry of the backward is polluting this planet’…” (8/8/1990) (“WHAT A SICK WORLD. WHAT A SHAME.”) “MANY MORE DEATHS IN SQUATTER CAMPS…” “Such AWFUL CONDITIONS!” “… Interned in child-correction centre for stealing a watch from tourists…” (“I am only a voice in the city of noise. Can you hear me this time?” “One is not any nearer for standing still.”) “CIVIL WAR HAS BROKEN OUT… each organisation accusing the other… Shacks occupied by squatters attacked… brother set against brother…” “SQUATTER CAMPS ENCIRCLED BY RAZOR WIRE…” “ANC will pull out of talks if government do not stop violence…” (18/8/1990). “Violence has spread to Soweto. 100’s of migrant workers attacked railways lines. 150 people have died. Police raiding men’s hostels.

(Dispatches, Channel 4, 1990)

“The horror of burnt bodies on the streets…” “What a pity destructive forces do not help us do what needs to be done” said De Klerk (4/9/1990).

“White supremacy? They’ve run out of wood to make cricket bats” (August 1990) “BAD LIGHT stopped play…” “A women’s march tried to bring peace but they were tear gassed” (August 1990). “White security forces led Zulu vigilantes in a massacre which killed 36 Mandela supporters in a HOSTEL… gunned down in cold blood… 23 were hacked to death…” “Attacks on TRAINS …” “Government say’s there is security…” “Fear and anger are main feelings.” “Mandela said the government are killing people, denying basic Human Rights” (September 1990). “Where do we go from here? Do you have an answer?” “I will look for one. We’ve got to learn to CARE for each other. White man and Black man. We need each other.” “DON’T JUDGE A COLOUR!” “SEGRATED ELECTIONS… extended the National Party’s 41 year majority hold on S.A. As the party claimed their 11th victory, riots raged in Cape Town…” “They’re messing up my chances…” “Neo-Nazi extremists called for Mandela to be hung… He is not God. He can’t change S.A. by 509

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The police deny plotting. Black political rivals killing each other” (16/8/1990). “WHILE POLITICAL LEADERS HAGGLE FOR SUPREMACY…” “400 people died this week…” “Today 11 men were shot as they slept in a hostel…”“CHAOTIC…” “Whoever, whatever is responsible… it’s becoming a fight over territory…” (“I’ll give you hindsight…”) “Up to 100 people were killed and scores castrated…” “The road to peace will be ardous” said De Klerk

stability- so long denied.” (“Take a positive step…”) “Ex-patriots had to leave. Couldn’t take assets out of the country. Even steel doors and shutters fitted onto the house- doesn’t rule out the risk of being robbed, murdered. Low value of currency” (1993) “METHANE GAS EXPLOSION ripped through a coal mine, killing 7 miners. Had won an award yesterday for being safest mine” (14/5/1993). “Neo Nazis marched. The AWB. Warnings of a bloody battle- many sacrifices on both sides”

(September 1990).

(29/5/1993).

“THE PROSPECT OF DROWNING IN BLOOD….”

“RAM RAIDERS: Ring-wing extremists (whites) smashed their way into the UN building using sledge hammers and an armoured truck. The building has walls of glass “ (25/6/1993). “If it means new homes, this area will be upgraded, I’m for it.” “People want something to happen but many are illiterate.” “We need your vote.” “The ANC are trying to educate black people so they know how to fill in a Poll card”

(8/10/1990).

“Conditions in Soweto getting worse…” “25 women and children killed in 1 township in 1 day…” “It is nothing but terrorism” said De Klerk (13/3/1992).

“DROUGHT LOOMS IN SOUTH AFRICA…” (Daily Telegraph, 6/3/1992).

“The violence we have endured decade after decade does not seem to be stopping…” “9,000 blacks have died in last 3 years due to violence. Whites up till now have been reasonably safe” (ITN, 4/12/1992). “LEGO TOYS are now in shops in South Africa”

(2/7/1993).

CAPE TOWN: “11 whites killed, 54 injured when masked gun-men burst into a multi-congregational church and opened fire.. ‘Can’t even go to church in safety. Followed by a massacre in a township. 40 died. Unchecked violence. Call for selfdetermination...” (25/7/1993). “LOOTING NOW SPREAD TO MAJOR CITIES: Awash with guns. Whites moving out- no longer safe behind high-walled homes. Cape Town: Tower blocks still under construction for the very rich. Living behind electrified fences, high walls is getting too much for us. Whites are not immune to violence…” (Channel 4, 27/7/1993) “Killings on trains have started again…” “Mandela said blacks are worth no more than flies. Whites could not care less.” “Rich, white south Africans like a bit of flash but aren’t happy having to pay for it. Everywhere you go apprehensive contractors know they’ll have to earn their money. This war could drag on for more decades… this land could become wasteland, unfit to govern. Few leaders understand we have to get a political solution. Years of unjust society. Can we trust each other to say this can’t go on? Can we pull out? It’s in the interests of the world that it succeeds. It is Africa’s greatest hope. It will speed Democracy” (Whickers World, ITV, 22/9/1993). “SQUATTERS CAMP CLOSED OFF by police & troops. 1,000 killed since date for Democratic Election set. 1,000’s driven out of their homes, now refugees in their own country. Homes now empty, gutted, daubed with racist slogans. Homes set alight. Vehicles ambushed… Everyone here seems on a war footing. Immense suffering. One child burnt, blinded… Victims forced to rely on charity…” (ITN, 22/9/1993).

(28/5/1992).

“They’re going to have to depend more and more on tourism whether they like this or not” (February 1993).

“Disturbing- many blacks are still dying in police custody… unexplained deaths, misleading post mortems… unsatisfactory inquest results… The scandal of torture quite disgusting… Police accused of negligence but not prosecuted. Suicide note not in person’s handwriting… was dead before being hanged… whipped… beaten… Wave of crime engulfing… Johannesburg 1992: 800,000 people detained, 16,000 murders, 255 police murdered… system relies on witnesses, witnesses no longer alive… The implications? Very worrying. President De Klerk said police no longer needed to reach political goals. 27 police generals retired early. The police are a paramilitary forcevery well protected. Motto: To protect and serve the community. This is community policing? Many police are young- lack experience of what is thrown at them. Bodies given a number.. Many very unhappy families want a proper investigation. It is within the government’s power to change the system. Foul play swept under the carpet. ‘We are dealing with situation adequately’ is the official response. All we Humanitarians want is an end to the tragedies” (Dispatches, Channel 4, 24/2/1993).

“Killings are political…” (BBC, 5/3/1993). “EXTREME INSECURITY AND SUFFERING. ONE BULLET, ONE SETTLER…” “They employ security forces against us. We will use this against them. This country needs 510

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“Mandela wants £850 million Aid - commercial investment. Trade sanctions will be lifted. S. Africa’s economy is in trouble. Stability needed before investment can be made” (24/9/1993). “Scientists fear universities and other research organisations which helped sustain apartheid will be closed down. Mandela said: ‘We recognise the individuals in these organisations constitute a wealth of knowledge of technology and expertise. They must help strengthen a Democratic S. Africa. To discard them would be to throw the baby out with the bath water.’ Too much money has been spent developing arms weapons to preserve apartheid he said. 1987- 1988: The Atomic Energy Corporation received £187 million from the government, much spent developing Nuclear weapons. Mandela reaffirmed The ANC’s promise to support The Nuclear Non-Prolification Treaty. 96% of all Engineers are white, all Scientists in S.A. are white, he said” (New Scientist, 2/10/1993). “A court case exposed ring-wing conspiracy to eliminate black political leaders / halt Democracy”

devolution of power to the provinces. Police and protestors clashed” (16/2/1994). “The chief of Inkartha rejected ANC’s offer. He prefers something called ‘self-determination.’ The ANC is not impressed. Another resistance movement are fighting for self-government” “A sovereign Zulu state?” (17/2/1994). “DAM FROM GOLD MINE COLLAPSED. 58 people missing, 13 dead. A tidal wave of toxic sludge buried a town. Over 100 injured. Cars and houses swallowed up- crushed” (24/2/1994). “HORRIFIC TRAIN CRASH. 63 dead. 400 injured” (BBC1, 8/3/1994).

“Mandela and De Klerk won a joint Nobel Peace prize. Death and violence accompanies negotiations. There are 1,000’s of radicals in the townships” (15/10/1993). “De Klerk, the man who for decades supported apartheid, now sees sense in sharing (HALLEJUAH!) but right wing white say they fought for land, and will not give land to 'Communists'...”

“WE WANT A SOLUTION THAT WILL PROTECT OUR LIVES.” “HOMELANDS: Right-wing extremists shooting locals, rioting, mass looting, indiscriminate killings, executions. 70 killed. The risk of mass violence…” “regions of unrest in large areas of the country. Army called in to restore order” (10/3/1994). “INCREASING NUMBER OF WHITES ARE UNEMPLOYED, HOMELESS, HUNGRY: A charity is feeding some of them. People are begging in the streets for food to feed their children. Lost everything. A catastrophe. White skin used to be a pass-port to everything. Now part of the underclass. Fallen whites…” (BBC1, 11/4/1994). “Mandela said he would enforce policies using the military… in the guise of Democracy” (14/4/1994). “Something great is about to be achieved but it may slip S. Africa’s grasp before they realise it...”

(16/11/1993).

(19/41994).

“WE ARE GIVING BIRTH TO A… FOUNDATION… for a good constitution” said De Klerk. ‘Whatever deal he has made should not be foisted on us’ said the Inkartha Freedom Party. Democracy? It took mass actions (demonstrations) to force a change. The National Party, opposed to ANC, will have to present a united front to stand against ring-wing white extremism” (BBC1, 17/11/1993). “There is talk of war. Citizens told to arm themselves. Millions could die. Right-wing whites are plunging the country into civil war. The ANC refused to concede a self-governing homeland. Army leave cancelled” (BBC1, 26/11/1993). “The ANC are hoping for a solution that will accommodate everyone’s needs” (31/12/1993). “The killings continue…” “The army are taking over from the police…” “The government aren’t taking it seriously. Not enough is being done to end the violence”

“Mandela voted in. Will have to work to provide the houses, jobs and health-care promised. The ANC say they wont put up taxes for rich whites. Mickeymouse politics? If they pull if off this will indeed be a great achievement” (BBC1, 3/5/1994). “Many think Mandela is a Saint capable of working miracles…” (9/5/1994) “The danger of placing SO MUCH hope in one person…” THE RAINBOW NATION: “Mandela sworn in as President. He told the audience he wants to build ‘a rainbow nation’ at peace with itself and the world. ‘We are moved by a sense of joy and exhilaration when the grass turns green and the flowers bloom. The time is build is upon us. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender & other discrimination. Let freedom reign. God bless Africa” (10/5/1994). “Mandela promised immediate improvements in free health, houses and education for all. Human Rights for all. Freedom from hunger and deprivation. Will cost £Billions and he has now to work out where the money will come from” (BBC1,

(14/10/1993).

(24/1/1994).

“Mandela’s Election campaign slogan: “Never again will our children go to jail” (2./2/1994). “Inkartha Freedom Party said the ANC should be rejected. Their policies will bring death. Inkartha and right-wing both resisting changes- attitudes entrenched” (BBC, 13/2/1994). “To appease the right-wing and avert a civil war, the ANC have made major concessions EG. The

24/5/1994).

Desmond Tutu said: “Look into the eye of the beast… and do not be imprisoned by it.” “S. Africa may set up a Human rights Commissioner to investigate abuses of the former regime- to heal 511

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the wounds left by apartheid (the Conservative government). Let the truth be told and acknowledged. The forces were engaged in a war against ANC supporters… but darkest secrets may not be uncovered” (BBC1, 7/6/1994). Aids Victims = 70% of the township’s population… Many people want to do something to help alleviate the poverty, the suffering…” (2/12/2004). “Wards are overflowing. 40% of the population have HIV. 1 ward has 80 beds run by a single nurse! People have to journey to the nearest hospital- that can be very difficult and too costly. Both his parents have died- now he doesn’t have access to medication- which needs to be taken with food. The lack of food! Only a bit of thin porridge daily. The community wants to get together. ‘Now what can we do?’ They need local health clinics. In Britain, our task is to help build their health system” (Chris Smith, Radio 4, 27/4/2005). “A NEW SOUTH AFRICA? The abuse of black farm workers continues in the country-side where there are rich white farmers. EG. ‘He was thrown to lions for trespassing.’ The blacks, still in the eroded areas, are still waiting painfully for change to come. ‘We need remedies, we need fixes, we need support’ …” (28/4/2005). “I’m tired and my shift is only just starting. The hospital tonight is going to be uncontrollably hectic. All resuscitation bays are full. There are no intensive care beds. There’s no Emergency blood, no monitors. She was stabbed in her home and shot 3 times by robbers. Find me a doctor! The hospital is closed. I don’t want to transport this critically ill patient such a long way by road! This is a fucking nightmare. We are all sick of all the violence everywhere. If we could sort that problem out we’d be on our way to Superdom” (BBC, 14/7/2005). “South Africa: 14 nations Development Committee meeting. They want economic integration. A trade block with infrastructure is vital for free trade.” Uh? “Poor infrastructure is a major challenge”

starvation. Horror. These people- civilians- need HELP” (2/2/1993) (Western media concentrating on Prince Charles’ love-life!)

“Southern Sudan is now DESERT. Area 3 times the size of Great Britain. 1,000’s are on the move - walking. Driven by freak’ish weatherDROUGHT. Whole towns laid to waste. Severe malnutrition. Catastrophe. ½ a million people need relief. Barely surviving. Harvest should meet needs but unable to transport it around. Paying the price for government’s neglect- dying” (BBC, 5/3/1993).

“1½ million people on the brink of starvation. UN airlifting Aid. Feeding programme. Massive undertaking. War over territory, knocked back life to primitive survival. Many cannot make it to the feeding centre. As if whole country-side has died. Clear water has to be flown in. The ill, dying and sick cannot wait for help. Taken years of neglect to get to this. The long procession of the needy…” (BBC, 7/4/1993) (“... it’s a support system…”) “FAMINE DUE TO WAR: Spiteful, nasty war. 3 million people need food… a Human tide is moving. Many have not survived. Feed has to be made up using pond water. Fear is written on children’s faces. Need: Political incentives” (7/5/1993).

Soldiers are well dressed, well fed and overweight… “21 years of 'civil’ war has killed 2 million people” (2004). El Salaam: Shanty town... 100's of 1,000's of people in squatter camps forced to move again... Government bull-dozing their ‘homes’... abandoned by Aid Agencies- left to hunger and disease" (23/10/2004). DARFUR: “CRISIS in the refugee camps...” “Not known how many people have died.” ”Can the government deliver a peace deal? 'Constructive motivation is what we need'..." (17/11/2004).

(BBC World News, 17/8/2006).

SUDAN: “NOMADIC TRIBES: 7 million people are short of food. Result: Civil war. Government has refused relief. Many people too weak- in desperate condition- lying around on dirt in huts. Long Term: We need it to come in now. Baby food arrived today, gratefully received. Cynical politicians continue to play with people’s lives. 1,000’s more children are waiting for their life-line”

MASSIVE REFUGEE CAMPS… women HOMELESS and children… the orphans… the old folk… the grief, the misery, so many hardships… WAITING for water…

(22/4/1992).

“6 MILLION PEOPLE FORCED FROM THEIR HOMES… Aid Agencies pulled out after workers killed. Government wants to crush rebels. Women and children dying in camps as a result. Shortage of medicine. 1 camp = 8,000 cases of Malaria. Displaced people’s camps. The effects of 512

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or on the open market for sale” (The Daily Telegraph,

… children carrying water in bowls on their heads… preventable diseases… (Toilets? Electricity?) Camps burnt down… flooding… ‘the villages can be rebuilt’…their agriculture… the border… This is the saddest place on Earth… “STARVING FOR OIL: …A country known for natural gas reserves… under the blood soaked sands of Darfur is oil… China’s National Petroleum Corp planned to invest $1 Billion to create Sudan’s largest oil refinery…” (ref. www.villagevoice.com 6/2/2005). “GENOCIDE… BOMBING RAIDS… babies burnt… driven from their homes by Muslim-Arab sponsored government… ARMED GANGS OF OUTLAWSROBBERS, RAPISTS, MURDERERS… a lost generation… child soldiers… HUMANITARIAN CRISIS… 200,000 people a day dying from starvation…”

5/6/1990).

“AT DEBT’S DOOR: A nation broken by international debt. A tropical, fertile country. People resourceful and determined. Basic education and health care too expensive for many. There is no Local authority housing because the government must spend all funds paying back debt to institutions EG. The World Bank and The International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prejudice against disabled people is widespread. The incidence of cerebral malaria has risen since Idi Amin’s regime destroyed essential services EG. Mosquito spraying” (The Economist, 9/11/1993). “VILLAGES ATTACKED… 2 million people have fled their homes. Government forcing people out of their homes arguing if they stay they will be regarded as collaborators… Fear of armed rebelswho are fighting the government… Civil war has been going on for last 18 years. The UN’s worst Humanitarian crisis. 500,000 lives lost. Many can’t survive the journey…14,000 people in one refugee camp… Shocking conditions. Little foodstarvation. Relief programmes suspended. Children targeted for years… 25,000 children kidnapped… many forced to fight…” (Sky News,

UGANDA: “When the fighting came we heard loud shooting, very close. Everyone started running around. Father told us to hide in the bush. We never saw our house again. After 3 days, soldiers came by moon light, beat our father, then took him away. I don’t know why they did that. We never saw him again. One day, Mother went to find fire-wood. At first, we heard her breaking sticks. She was gone a long time. We found her hanging by her neck from a big tree”

6/12/2004).

"... doubts over the peace talks..." (BBC World News, 13/8/2006).

(1990).

“RELIEF FOOD VANISHES: 2 British Aid Agencies, Oxfam and Save the Children, have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating health and food situation in displaced people’s camps in eastern Uganda, where the army is carrying out counter-insurgency operations against the rebels. 100’s of tons of UN relief food has disappeared- possibly siphoned off by senior officials- leading to acute food shortages in the worst hit camps at Mgora and Nyero. A survey by the International Red Cross shows that child malnutrition has soared and the death rate, especially among the elderly is alarmingly high. About 700 people are thought to have died in Ngora camp since this was set-up 3 months ago as a motley collection of mud and grass huts for 28,000 men , women and children. Over 85,000 people in Uganda’s Kumi district were ordered to leave their homes as part of a campaign similar in

ZIMBABWE: “PALM OIL ‘DREAM’: “Palm Oil Plantations = Grown on land that was Rainforest as there is huge demand for this oil in many products EG. Biscuits, crisps, soap, marg- is described as vegetable oil. Local people are displaced, land & water supplies degraded and polluted due to use of pesticides” (Friends of the Earth, May 2004). “Zimbabwe is emerging from drought- worst this century. Huge Emergency relief operation. A diet of porridge at the Red Cross feeding centres for 200,000. Recent rains, new harvest expected” (ITN, 12/7/1993).

“White settlers forced to leave- lost their land… bungled land reform… want to restore land to native owners…” “WORST PLACE to live in the world. Crumbling schools. Children desperately wanting to learn… scribbling in the dirt with their fingers, to form letters and numbers as no pens, papers, desks. The children sit on the dirt. 1,000’s of teachers have fled after schools targeted by soldiers wielding big sticks… Workers taken away, put in camps… Food being used as a weapon- is withheld by the government who refuse to allow food to reach the opposition. Not allowed to grow any crops. Sad misrule…” (November, 2004). “400% inflation. There is no support for Mugabe. He is flaunting Election guidelines. Violence characterised the last 2 elections. There is a huge

tactics in the Malayan emergency, when Britain's colonial government forced local people into ‘protective villages’ to isolate Chinese communist insurgents.

Oxfam believes the UN’s World Food Programme is regularly delivering enough maize and beans through the Ugandan government to feed up to 100,000 displaced people in the district, but that not all food is getting through. Circumstantial evidence points to the possibility that a handful of top district officials are redirecting the relief food (Aid) either to the army, 513

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defused more land mines than Britain has laid” (BBC1, 2/3/1995). “£4.5 Billion Aid promised. Only £2 Billion arrived. Government’s don’t deliver.” “Back now as main producer of crops used to make heroin” (February, 2005). “The hospital is infested! The sinks are blocked!...” (youtube video) (So awful I couldn’t watch). “… Things worse in Afghanistan now since the allies (war)... The huge sums for reconstruction have disappeared - gone to the rich. Aid has not reached the poor... The plight of girls / women... EG. The women do not have Rights to their own bodies! Girls as young as 7 sold into marriage, kept house-bound, beaten by husband, mother-in-law, not allowed to be educated, they cook, clean (are forced to remain ignorant to suit the men)... Women stoned to death! (& Executed!) Only the man can decide to divorce! One woman every 28 minutes dying in child-birth. Their husband decides if / when they need medical help! Result: Brought to hospital, too late, on a ladder… ruptured uterus! Once girl has died, the village forget all about her... so system carries on… To protest, the poor girls / women are using Kerosene to set fire to themselves... to show that in life they suffered... If they live… in pain as few drugs... Infant mortality has gone up… Orphans… 60%... do not have enough to eat… No school buildings… WHERE HAVE ALL THE $BILLIONS GONE? ‘The village hope reconstruction will come & that it will bring benefits.’ The West needs to deliver what it promised…” (re: UK TV documentary, Dispatches, Channel

groundswell of opposition but little likelihood of that filtering through. A permanent sense of threat…” “A Church leader has called for a peaceful uprising to overthrow…” “After 25 years in power, Mugabe still withholding food Aid from opposition voters who he calls traitors. Opposition leaders imprisoned. 5 million Zimbabweans face starvation- the rains have failed- fear no maize, their main food crop. Freedom suppressed. No voter education…” OTHER COUNTRIES: AFGHANISTAN: “Children under age of 14 know nothing but violence” (1991). “5 million refugees facing crippling problems. The citizens of Kabul will soon be joining them” (April1992).

“4 Aid workers killed” (2/2/1993). ”250,000 children may die in war. 100,000 children killed in last decade. Not many get a proper education. Harbouring ambitions they will probably never fulfil. Children spending their days outside on the streets or working inside factories- sweat shops from 5am – 7pm. Called ‘an apprentice’ not paid a penny. Destitute. On street begging. Earns 10p a day, competing for cash with cripples, the old. Only one orphanage in the city. So many children will die of malnutrition. 1st Aid convoy has arrived bringing food and much needed fuel. When there’s fighting, the children pick up real guns and join in. There’s no such thing as childhood- they all have to grow up quickly. 250,000 children without parents. Almost all schools closed down. The Afghan children face a violent death” (BBC, 3/8/1993). KABUL: “Children learn life-saving skills…” “500,000 people have fled over last 5 weeks. Now in camps. Strife. Agencies can’t keep up with the stream of people. ‘Houses destroyed by a shell… I’m not asking for a beautiful house…’ Blighted country. 1,000’s more are Homeless. Betrayed by their leaders, many look to the outside world for a solution but this too seems to have failed them” (BBC1, 8/2/1994) (“... it could give them their life back. They could be reborn…”) “16 years fighting with Russia, then 3 years fighting each other. The people are so sick of fighting. People are still dying… The old government have done nothing but destroy buildings… many died in the ruins” (24/2/1995). “Due to land mines, 20,000 people killed in last 3 years in Kabul. Children dig in the rubble trying to find something of value to sell- they blow themselves up. 70,000 amputees at least here. Deep psychological scars. Children in orphanage deeply traumatised. In last few years Britain has

4, 18/5/2007).

“Is there anything we can we do to help the poor women in Afghanistan? Surely, there must be some way other women can reach these women, to let them know we care, we support their wish for greater freedom/s, for education, for more equality... (Maybe this link for ‘The Islamic Human Rights Commission’ will be useful?” http://www.ihrc.org/ ). ”Muslims will never want our help. They hate UK, USA, Israel and all countries that poke their nose into their affairs. They don’t bother about … other countries coz they don’t care a damn about them. UK and USA people have awesome hearts but unfortunately the Muslims don’t want, or like people who offer to care and guide their women and men.” ”Women who are free need to help their sisters not preach 'there's no answer.' Men who are free need to educate their country-men (to put us all out of our misery). And all who are free, should insist governments ensure money is spent to help relieve the suffering!” “This is a link to RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) their website explains how to help them... ( http://www.rawa.org/help.htm ). “If ever there was a 514

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worthy cause, this is it”

should devolve to the working class… Individuals no longer judged on basis of family background- an allusion to the internment or deportation of the families of dissidents who have fled… (fleeing the country previously was a treasonable offence) this reduced to an ‘illegal frontier crossing’ up to 5 years in jail. Prisoners serving ½ their sentence released for good behaviour. The power of Local Authorities to deport whole families by administrative decision has been scrapped. Only a court can order deportation for the guilty person. This measure is to combat child abuse and prostitution. These changes made 2 days before the UN Secretary General’s 1st visit… to send a clear signal Albania wishes to take part in the conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe… Parliament has reduced the number of capital offences from 34 to 11 and abolished the death penalty for women… Economic crime remains a capital offence including theft of State property and economic sabotage, as do treason, espionage, terrorism, genocide and murder. But agitation and propaganda against the State will now draw 5 - 25 years in jail instead of death. Criticisms of the authorities voiced in private no longer actionable but if made publicly would be treated as calls to overthrow the government by violence. Demonstrators would face sentences of 5 - 10 years. Albanians given the right to a passport for foreign travel…” (The Independent, 10/5/1990). “GOD HELP THEM.” “Babies led the way… the first of 5,000 Albanian refugees fleeing the hardline…” (4th July, 1990). “Albanians trying to cross the border with Greece have been shot at by troops. Several refugees made it across despite an electrified fence. Many of the bodies were left to rot in the sun- relatives refused permission to take them away for burial. The JOYFUL arrivals held a Crucifix and crossed themselves. One man showed his joyholding his baby aloft…” “REFUGEES FLEEING BY BOAT: The refugees are sheltering in various embassies in Tirana, the Albanian capital, desperate to escape from Europe’s last bastion of hard-line Communism. Italy is preparing to evacuate 3,000 refugees by boat- some of whom want to settle in Britain, Canada or the USA…” “REFUGEES HERDED INTO PRISON CAMPS: They were trying to break free. Gun shooting reported” (10/8/1991) “Many have died in vain trying to flee to freedom.” “A 0% health budget” (1992). “THE COLD FRONT APPEAL: Oxfam warned nearly 7 million people in Albania, former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan face a slow death this winter from cold and hunger. Oxfam urged people to petition MP’s to do more to support UN appeals which are under-funded by £470 million. The international community must

(ref. Yahoo Answers,

19/5/2007).

ALBANIA: “Stalin’s last land. Dictatorship. 40 years cut off from the world. 3 boys tried to get over the fence. ‘I was caught.’ ‘You either come back or we’ll kill him.’ They go back. Boys badly beaten, then tied to a tractor and dragged round the villages. The villagers were made to beat the boys. One died. The other 2 are still in jail. ‘A deterrent’ they said. Conditions primitive. A police State. You can be jailed for making the sign of the Cross. Wire is electrified. Patrols kill children under a sign ‘All Perish Traitors’…” “GUNS to keep Albanians in, not invaders out. Peasants escorted to fields by troops. Nearby Yugoslavians say it’s heart-breaking. Congregations pray for a revolution” (New Year, 1990). “Some do escape. Risky, terrifying- hard and dangerous. 25 years in jail if caught, come out insane. So desperate to escape- left behind wife, children - whole family. No letters get through. Families seized, put away. Signs of unrest- mainly among students. 60 people arrested one night for speaking of freedom. The reality of a new Europe… the regime spreads propaganda to tourists but people are starving- they know the truth. This is a sad and troubled place.” “HOW TO SECURE GREATER INDEPENDENCE?” “Remember the dust, the dirt and the rust.” “REFORMS = The Election of Party and State functionaries… decentralised management for State enterprises… the Right of defence / representation and Appeal against court verdicts and State decrees… the participation in State planning… incomes should be used where they are created i.e. a profit-sharing inducement for workers… incentives to boost productivity where it is most needed i.e. in chromium and oil production. Wholesale prices fixed for cooperatives to reflect efficiency… the prices of essential goods would remain fixed and guaranteed… Agricultural co-operatives encouraged to sell their farm and livestock products at markets in towns at prices to compete with the State’s prices (a significant departure for a country where movement from village to village is tightly controlled). Experts worried Albania poised to unleash market forces on a highly controlled economic Environment that is suffering food shortages. OTHER REFORMS = All meeting of Party’s Grassroots organisations to be opened up- no longer held in secret. Vacancies filled by competition…1/3rd of members replaced in every Election to eliminate long tenures and more than one candidate put forward. Prerogatives and Rights held by the Party 515

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contact with another person's skin...In future, this may be the new way to greet people). The Medicine man… "Smoke the pipe of peace." THE INDIANS PRAYER FOR PEACE: “O great spirit in the sky…” “A strong, spiritual culture…” "We believe when your spirit says go..." "Go on, go FREE." "Honest Injuns." “GENTLE, FAITHFUL, lacking in all guile and trickery, no jealousy…” “We share everything fairly.” “We are proud of our culture, our heritage, our language, our elders…” ("Beautiful people...") The explorers, upon discovering ’the New World’ said: “Blessed with this Earth, there shall be no need for hunger, or landlords. Now we can build a common wealth…” = ‘Red skins’…” "They're dirty savages!" (“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”) "We are NOT ‘savages’! We are proud braves..." “During the 15th through to the 19th centuries, their populations were ravaged by conflicts with European explorers and colonists, disease, displacement, enslavement…The 1st Native American group encountered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, were the 250,000 to 1 million Island Arawaks (more properly called the Taino) of

act more decisively and urgently. According to Red Cross estimates, only 2 weeks of food stocks remained in Albania” (The Guardian, 9/12/1992). “HELP FOR MENTALLY ILL NON-EXISTENT…” “The desperate plight of babies deprived of medicines- forced to sit for hours on end on stone floors. Rusty cots. Too weak to brush away flies. Freezing water thrown over them. That was 18 months ago… Now there are warm baths. Children are realising they are actually people, thanks to Aid workers and British money. WHAT a little HELP CAN DO TO TRANSFORM!” (BBC, 5/5/1993).

AMERICA: 1776: “American freedom means: ‘Free from tyranny of Kings and Queens. Religious freedom.” “In the land of ‘the free’…” “How’s it going?” "Sweet land of liberty…” ? "Land of Opportunities where DREAMS can come true" ? "Does anybody in this country feel SAFE? Can you go to the ATM and feel SAFE? Can you walk SAFELY down the street at night? How many locks do you need on your door?" “Do you triple lock your door?” (2004) “You’re not safe anywhere these days” (2005) What’s gone wrong? “Do YOU ever feel conflicted loyalties?” "THEY KILLED THE DREAM in America. In the USA, you have to fight for everything." "What LIBERTIES are taken in the name of Freedom?" It was unforgivable what they did to the Nomadic Indians. NATIVE AMERICANS: “THE NATURALS.” “THE INDIAN TRIBES knew about LAND USE, GOING WITH THE GRAIN…” "Indians lived on a vast area of land, with rivers and lakes, long before outsiders came..." "This territory belongs to the Indians." “This land belonged to their ancestors… A life running as free as the wind was their heritage…” "The Indians believe their claim to the land is SACRED…" Indians had their own religion "... attuned with nature, creativity..." “Power to us is clean water in a river. A rain storm… Listen to the wind…” "We take care of the herd. Only if there are enough, do we hunt - for food…." (“Millions of buffalo once roamed North America…”) "The Indians did not over-populate..." The Village Chiefs… "No chief of chiefs could carry on if they had shed the blood of one Indian." Character building beliefs...” The Indian Greeting: Holding the hand up, palm facing out. "HOW?" (Healing comes from the palm of the hand- energy flows through the palm on

Boriquen (Puerto Rico), Dominican Republic (Quisqueya), the Cubanacan (Cuba), and Haiti. It is said

that only about 500 survived by the year 1550…” (ref. www.en.wikipedia.org).

“… by the 1750’s northern American colonists had occupied most of New England…” Date Gold 1st discovered? “The Indian Removal Act of 1830… authorized the President to grant Indian nations unsettled western prairie land in exchange for their desirable territories within state borders from which the tribes would be removed…Some 100,000 tribes people were forced to march westward under US military coercion… Up to 25% of the Indians, many in manacles perished on the way.” 1869: “The San Francisco Alta newspaper reports that 22,000 California Indians have died in less than 20 years from disease and deprivation…” 1870: “Gold discovered in Julian, Ca. - Reservation in area cancelled…” 1851: “Indian revolt against Warner Ranch Defeated, after burning the ranch house and stage station; Indians resist efforts of sheriff to collect taxes…” “White man speaks with a forked tongue…” "The Eagle is a Vulture..." “THE IRON ROAD”: "I'm betting on putting a rail-road through this land to make it have value. See the tepee? We'll creep up on 'em when it's dark..." "Negotiations" began whilst soldiers surrounded camps..." 516

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"The West sold guns to both sides. Anything to make money." Old Cree saying: "When you've destroyed the last mountain, the last river, tree and field, you will realise you can't eat money." "If a man loses anything and goes back and looks carefully for it, he will find it and this is what Indians are doing now" said Sitting Bull, Medicine man (shot, killed 15/12/1890). "... the plains were the last part of land to be occupied by white people since 1880...” RAIL-ROADED: “… the settlement occurred largely through the corporate will of rail-road companies anxious to provide customers for their

“THE AMERICAN HOLOCAUST”: Slaughtered, threatened, robbed... to survive, the Indian had to become Freedom Fighters. THE FORT: "Men feel they have to fight so as not to let their unit down." "Army only living I could have." "Move out!" "I got 48 hours in the saddle. The Cavalry cares nothing about men. Anyone who lags behind is a goner." "I do not agree with... I don't enjoy killing women and children! It's either that, or chaos- anarchy." "Take your marks. On the double. Fire. Bodies everywhere." "I am not responsible! I only carry out orders..." "Nobody asked how many Indians got killed. 'You people must obey our justice- our law. We will cut your food, your water, your fire-wood. This land belongs to the American government. You people are trespassers..." "The law is stark staring mad. Indians are being murdered! What they've gone through! Soldiers scalping Indians…" "If we make them cross the desert in winter, when it falls below zero..." "You made us walk 900 miles!” “You cannot force us to go back!" “The walking wounded gathered together and fled to the caves. There's no escape from the soldiers..." "The soldiers surrounded the Indians, aimed the cannons at them... They never stood a chance!" December 29, 1890: "… at the Battle Of Wounded Knee, 300 Sioux brethren were massacred by the USA army..." "Something else died there in the bloody mud. A people's DREAM died there..." “The NATIVE AMERICANS were LIVING ‘the GREAT American dream’…” "The soldiers have blood lust. The white hunters slaughtered the buffalo not for food but only for their hides. Now all hope for the Indians is gone. Malnutrition and disease..." "As we drove our cattle through, some starving Indians begged us for food..." "Oh, who cares?" "Indians only had unwatered, poor land, where they always hungered..." "Captain, do you believe Indians should be wiped off the face of the earth, along with the buffalo?" "Of course not..." "Their backs are against the wall. We've got 'em…" "Some Indians have escaped from the reservation... More bodies. And orphans." "Well, what are you going to do about it, Captain? This is hardly a civilian matter." "Your report, Captain, is not the truth. You are under arrest. You have alcoholism, brain disease... The Regulations clearly state..." "Are we to make promises to ‘savages’? Are we to run from ‘savages’?" (Who are the real savages?) "You, sir, are one hell of a son of a bitch..."

trans-continental lines, and the federal government determined to fill the gap between eastern and western seaboards...” (" The 1st transcontinental rail link was completed in 1869…”)

"Let it go." "Here, a cigar...” "NO! I'll never let it go. No. NEVER." "The steel railway lines are a prison. I want my sons to be born healthy and strong on land my people have always lived on. The land-grabbers can go where they want. I know promises were broken. All your words are the same…” “No peace was made." “Some scholars argue that extermination of the buffalo was an official policy of the US government in order to achieve extermination of the Native Americans…” “The whole world is haunted…” “LAND ACQUIRED BY FORCE...” The US government massacred the people, destroyed a sustainable way of life, stole their land, used their names on military equipment… Respectable? Responsible? How do we come to terms, with the awful knowledge, that our leaders founded the West on treacherous lies? PRINCIPLE: “You cannot build on a lie. Once you start lying you only get deeper and deeper into trouble.” Cowboy and Indian Films: 40 years of 'entertainment' for the masses. Turn on the boxsickening reminders… NEW GENERATIONS: “The Native Americans strong belief in the Spirits- voices 500 years old that keep their focus. Spirits are very sacred…” “Our Fore-fathers are waiting for something… The Indians are waiting… standing alone… so sad… Waiting, waiting…” 1970: The Wise old medicine man said: “Follow the owl. But beware. The owl is also a symbol that someone is going to die. We are going to choke… unless we listen to our hearts… Run… Find a strong place (a stronghold). The soldiers are coming. I have spoken and it is so.” “He has visions you can’t mess with.” “Don’t fight it man, just don’t fight it.” 517

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“There’s more suicides and murders here than in the whole of Dakota… The deaths are never investigated…” “People pushed off the land again for ‘National Security’ reasons i.e. Uranium mining / drilling. The government brokering land deals- land leased… but the land was not for sale… The mining contaminates the water… The people and animals got sick. Known as ‘The Dead Zone.’ They eliminate anyone who knows… People know what is going on. You can’t kill ALL of us…” “They kill us because they can’t break our spiritit’s in our DNA. We know the difference between real freedom and the illusion of freedom…”“The government wont stop until all these people are extinct- wiped out…” “It’s about power. Who has got it? Sam.” “Most of the Native Indians leaders are in jail…” “In Alberta, 30% of prisoners in jail are Indians, although Indians only make up less than 5% of the population..." “Some Indians are being held on death row...” "Prisoners need law-people to speak for them" (2004). PROTEST: “Before our white brothers came to civilise us we had no jails. Therefore we had no criminals. We had no locks or keys and so we had no thieves. If a person was so poor that he had no horse, tepee or blanket, someone gave him these things. We were too ‘uncivilised’ to set much value on personal belongings. We wanted to have things only in order to give away. We had no money, and therefore a man’s worth couldn’t be measured by it. We had no written law or politicians, therefore we couldn’t cheat but now ‘visible progress’ is everywhere- jails all over the place, and we know these jails are for us Indians. What a pity that so many of us don’t appreciate them.” “Some of the whites refer to the Indians as ‘militant traditionalists who want to reclaim ALL the land, live in tepees and live with the buffalo.’ ‘We’ll get rid of them’ say the extremists, who have no respect for anybody who is not in authority- these are ass-holes, evil bastards. They’re on the USA government’s team (unofficially). They plan and execute drive-by shootings, petrol bombings, ambushes- they have armed / manned road blocks everywhere. They kill the women, the children and the men… when they are alone, unprotected in their ‘homes’ or vulnerable out in the open… because the native Americans are regarded by these goons as ‘enemies of the United States’ …” "How are we ever going to get things done? Whilst you are carrying this darkness within you..." "The important thing about any community is the spirit of its people..." (“… it’s all about you. Don’t you know? It’s all about you…”)

"... When this Continent was inhabited by Indians, the first Europeans had only to kill them to make room for themselves. The succeeding waves of immigrants had life a bit rougher, they had to rent or buy..." INDIANS TODAY: “A conquered people…” “This is all they’ve got left with…” “Racial attacks, intimidation…” “… any excuse (white) police officers go tearing in to the reservations. ‘We’re going to rip this place apart.’ Using rifles- firing indiscriminately even though children are around… pushing people- viciously grabbing their hair… ‘Resist arrest’ = Shot. This is the US government’s Definition of: A Service to the Community: “Health and school programmes terminated…” The USA government’s ‘Peace-Keeping’ Effort = ‘We’re going to nail that sucker.’ “THIS IS STILL A BATTLEFIELD…” “They (i.e. the government) are still playing ‘Knock it off…” "THE STATISTICS are depressingly familiar and alarming: Native Indian babies die at twice the national average. 1/3rd of adults die due to violence- murder, car crashes, fires, drowning, poisoning etc. 25% under the age of 35 have some form of disability- more than triple the national average. Because many of the mothers drink, 20% of children have been born with a mental or physical disability. Native Indians age 15 - 24 are 6 times more likely to commit suicide than other Canadians. This is because they see little hope for themselves or any chance of a reasonable standard of living.” “The state of these poor people’s ‘homes’ is shocking. Too awful. "These days the Indians homes are squalid, over-crowded shacks..." "I'm sure the poor Native Indians must be sick to death of living in rickety old caravans..." “Beaten up rusted caravans- long past their sell by date- plonked anywhere among the clapped out huts on dusty ground, surrounded by scrap-metal wrecks... Only water is obtained via a rusting pump stuck in the middle of nowhere…” “We do not like walls...” “We like to listen to the Trees…” but there aren’t any TREES for miles and miles and miles!” "In this desert heat…" “Tepees replaced with telegraph poles, pylons, motels, ‘freeways’ / auto-routes, gas stations…” "Many Indians are depressed- many are on drugs. They drink and gamble. On reserves, many sit around drinking anti-freeze and sniffing petrol…" "For most Indians there are few jobs, whether they live in the reserve or in the city, the majority are existing on Welfare... as a result they have lost their self-respect and pride..." The Native Indians say: “The same old cavalry keep coming here.” “The Native Indians are harassed year after year…” 518

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("... it just takes 2 to make it come true!") ("What? You are saying you didn't have anything to do with it? Do you even know what you are saying?") The Warrior Society, based in USA: We have had 300 years of frustration, attempting dialogue with USA & Canada. Look at the 'Friendship Treaties' violated over and over again. As long as the grass shall grow, as long as the rivers run..." "Many Indians are now Homeless following a Tornado..." (2003) (Tornado Alley… lots of wind… Would Modules survive a Tornado? It’s got to be better than using plywood! Resin is so much stronger. FREE-Standing: How best to attach to the ground? Clunk-Click?) "THE FUTURE OF THE GREAT PLAINS hit by drought and dwindling Defence industry: North Dakota... what used to be a thriving tow... ½ burned down- was never replaced... now tumble-weed... 'The farming got harder and harder, the farms got bigger and bigger. Young people couldn't find work here so they moved some place else... Prairie depression.. some fear scores of small towns on the immense, scorched plateau stretching over 10 states from Canada to New Mexico, may soon share Dakota's fate... 'Historically untenable.' 'Facing Ecological devastation.' 'Could be purchased by the federal government and turned into… an immense buffalo park, where deer could roam... to attract tourists and hunters...' Declining, dependent upon agriculture, energy and missiles... after 2 years of drought, areas declared 'disaster zones' by the government. The Great Plains = 1/5th of continental America, but only have 1% population- approx. 3 million people in land area size of Western Europe... 'We have a very Conservative population, but the sight of empty storefronts has convinced them finally that something needs to be done...' Some vast cereal ranches are thriving, thanks in part to government subsidises. The plains produce ¾ of the world's wheat... Some farmers have turned away from cattle ranching... and are now rearing llamas and ostriches... The plains have the cleanest air, the smallest traffic jams and some of the most bizarre / beautiful scenery..." "The plains people will have to take up pioneering again if they are to survive." "We must try to recapture the pioneering spirit of our grand-fathers..." "I can't see any alternative to de-population..." "ARE YOU THE OUTDOOR TYPE? Adventurous? Want to explore?" "Why don't you go and live in a place like this?" "Out here with just Nature for comfort..." HOW? I wouldn't know how to survive! Give me shelter!" "I can't get no satisfaction..." "It's miles from the nearest shop!" "I don't know how to grow food!" "When it's dark, we wouldn't stand an earthly..."

( "Try eating passion fruit. It's so sweet. It'll take there!") “Wont take much for a full scale war. They’ve been at it for over 100 years. Civil unrest. What a mess.” The Native Indians said: “We believe in PEACE, not weapons.” “Unless there is some change... more acts of violence inevitable. People have died. Moderates are losing the war. Whites do not support radicalism of Indians. Whites say Indians want everybody to be afraid of them!" (18/8/1990). RIGHTS? "Many Indians are still fighting to reclaim land and their Rights! Recently, there have been a few successes... 'We have settled several disputes involving land the size of England.' Approx. 300 claims by Indians are still being negotiated. The Indians want the Right to govern themselves- this will give them their self-respect back... but progress is so slow, many Indians have resorted to protests, sitting in front of cars and barricading roads..." FREEDOM: "North American Indians are still campaigning for freedom. They live in the worst economic conditions of any ethnic minority, suffering high unemployment- they are hemmed in by metal and chemical plants. The Indians have tried to stop the developers moving in EG. in Quebec, developers now want to extend their golf course by using a Tribal burial ground and chopping down the Mohawk's Forests. An Indian said: 'We are forced to live in a few acres. We will not give our obedience.' Some white people are burning effigies of Indians! The whites will not take the Indians making a stand, lying down. 'It's scarey and it could go either way.' A Mohawk said: 'They've taken over our town. We have always held out one hand in peace but the government always spits on it'..." "4,000 troops were deployed and ordered to tear down the Indians barricades... Tear-gas was used against unarmed women and children... 4/5th of the Mohawks have now fled the reservation... Whites have recently turned their anger against the authorities, pelting police with rocks and bottles, pursuing Human Rights observers with baseball bats... Soldiers have now taken control...." (29/8/1990).

“Many white people are making bucks selling ‘Native American Art.’ Market worth $66 million. ‘This makes us angry’….” "As a member of this community, I have to ask what is best for all?" HELP THEM RE-LEARN WHO THEY ARE! ("Don't let it break your spirit...") "Do you want to live without worry?" "Is the trend towards hate and intolerance irreversible?" "Are we going to let this fire kill us all?" ".,, it doesn't have to be a tragedy." "If you want a BETTER WORLD, change! Change your ways." 519

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"You'll stay on it?" "Sure I will." ADVERT: “New Yorkers are very demanding and we know about the finer things in life…” ATTITUDE: “The belief if you want something, you got to be patient, it might come to you? Well, that might come true for fire-flies but I believe you’ve got to go and get it…” "... $100 BILLION budget cuts, 3 times amount forecast... caused by the slowing of the economy and the bailing out of the private savings industry... George Bush (senior) preoccupied with the need for a job creation scheme... Trade deficit $160 BILLION..." (1990). “... it could only happen in AMERICA!” “Greymatter all over the side-walk, people side-step it…” Ask the American Youth of today: "What is your favourite music?" They’ll say: "Suicidal tendencies…" “We were living in a house owned by the Church. The house was torn down to make a car parking lot. Now my large family is Homeless and we’re living in a car…” "Lives significantly damaged. Nowhere free of deprivation and decline. Evidence in all cities, among all colours of people. Concrete and steel horizons. 'This is my hovel.' 'All we can do is hang around.' Purposeless. 'We've got nothing better to do.' Same as 1930's. 'We're not in a position to do anything about it.' We need miracles" (Oprah Winfrey,

This is the result of a useless education. “Oh! You didn’t have any survival training?” "Who does live here?" "See the old wreck?" "Trying hard to survive... isolated communities..." "The call of the wild! Devotees of the countryside. Intuitive understanding. We depend on the Earth. A spiritual link..." "HOW TO MAKE BEST USE OF SPACE?" “Water and electricity makes all the difference between real estate or a field…” "The concept of satellite communities. We don't want to destroy the Environment by building! When will we say we have enough CONCRETE? People more and more say they want to escape the heavily industrialised world." "The Pure Prairie League say only tents are allowed in certain areas..." "Still, as Mrs Beetle, in Cold Comfort Farm, said: 'Tis flying in the face of nature, but all the same, it might be worth trying'..." “... it’s alright, a bit on the plain side…” “Is it too provincial for you?” “Of course, it’s not the b all and end all but…” ---------------------------------------------------------------“A little less conversation and more action. COM 'on baby. COM 'on. COM 'on…” (Song: Elvis Presley). “President Kennedy signified change & freedom. His vision - peace, not weapons. (JFK assassinated 22/11/1963…”)

1974: WATER-GATE: “Richard Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment..." 1978: “Democracy is… sometimes turbulent, always changing…” said Jimmy Carter. ("The Pentagon invented the desk bureaucracy.”) "Make money out of it. What could be more American than that?" “America is super Capitalist power.” "They love only money." Money is worshipped... "Money is our god- god is money." USA MOTTO: "If we don't sell it, you don't need it. If there is a demand, fulfil it." "90,000 Homeless in New York..." (1990).

re: Chicago, TV 21/3/1993).

“If you are poor, you are nobody- you are worse than a criminal…” "We don't like drifters. We like it normal (boring) round here..." Charged with Vagrancy / Resisting Arrest / Obstruction. Go up in front of the hard Judge. Fined. Can't pay? The system is so uncharitable! So cruel, mean! Uncaring. Only option is to escape... They love a man-hunt! Rifles, dogs... What bullies! So violent! Then they brag! "I know your system. Kick 'em when they're down..." Your system is not just or great- so many people fall by the way-side. "Freeze! Or I'll shoot." "Police brutality…” “The alcoholics. The depressives! The psychopaths! The numbers are increasing everyday... That vacant look…" "We'll do it as its never been done before." “Democracy is coming to the USA…it’s coming through a hole in the air, from those nights at Tiananmen square, it’s coming from the feeling this aint exactly real or it aint exactly there… it’s coming from the fires of the homeless, from the cracks in the walls on a visionary flood of alcohol, it’s coming from the sermon on the Mount which I don’t profess to understand at all. from the brave, the battered heart of Chevrolet… it’s coming through the sorrow in the street, the ‘holy’ places where the racists meet… from the wells of disappointment where the

(“New York: The Buildings scrape the sky…”)

“Oh God! They’re going to leave me wasting away on the streets, in the rain… I barely recognise myself… I can myself fading away… Oh, brother! Why do we leave each other alone like this?” (song: Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen).

“JOKES”: “300,000 Homeless. America- not a bad place to be Homeless- so many bins are full of food. If you can’t get it together here… If they haven’t got any job skills - the solution is to shoot the Homeless. Execute them! BOOM! They gotta go! Die! Punch ‘em, kick ‘em, so we got one less problem…” "Hey, you wanna see something?") THE HOMELESS SAID: "That's not funny. Quit fooling around." "We're supposed to grovel in dirt and feel grateful, and not show it..." "However long it takes? What does that mean? I year? 10 years?" 520

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women kneel to pray, for the grace of God & deserts far away… it’s coming to America 1st, the cradle of the best of the worst - it’s here they’ve got the range of machinery for change, & the spiritual thirst…it’s here the family’s broken & it’s here the lonely say that the heart has got to open in a fundamental way… it’s coming from the women & the men – Ah! baby, we’ll be making love again… it’s coming like the tidal flood…past the greed and the smalls of hate… Sail on! … it’s coming to the USA… from the squalls of grief… I love the country but I can’t stand the scene… I’m neither left or right, but I’m stubborn… Democracy is coming…” (song

lightly…” "Admit to it" (it: means: Manslaughter). “Are you going to admit it? No?” “Hey! It’s all messed up. Know what I’m saying?” “Since 1977, the method of execution in the United States has increasingly become by lethal injection, hailed by proponents as a “humane” methodology. We now know that this is not the case… (3 injections are used): 1. an ultra-short-acting bromide - effective as an anaesthesia for just a few minutes 2. … paralyzes the skeletal muscles without affecting the nerves or brain. The individual injected with Pavulon is conscious without being able to move or speak… (In the state of Tennessee, it is a crime for veterinarians to use this drug in euthanizing pets). 3. The final injection stops the heart while causing excruciating pain. The effect of this “cocktail,” according to testimony by Dr. Mark J.S. Heath who teaches anaesthesiology at Columbia, is ‘that the sodium thiopental can be inadequate or wear off’…leaving ‘the prisoner conscious, paralyzed, suffocating and subject to extreme pain…’…” (ref. www.ocucc.org 10/7/2003). AMERICA: "... the only country in the world that has the DEATH Penalty for CHILDREN." POLITICIAN: "... an indication of the growing state of depravity in this country- gangs of kids roaming... How did we arrive at sending 15 year old girls to the GAS CHAMBER? We're guilty because we've failed to provide a Safety net..." POLICEMAN: "We've got to protect good citizens…" TEENAGER: "WAH! I only wanted to be loved! Your ‘answer’ is DEATH Row! Executed in 30 days. Why did no-one listen to me? You're all BIG BULLIES!" "... and this is the Dept. of Corrections..." "Many States are coming down harder on kids.” “Should the death penalty still be enforced on teenagers who might not have understood the impact of their actions?” Q: “What could your parents and social workers have done to put you on a different path?” A: “I don’t know.” “Violence perpetuates violence” (Ricki Lake, ITV3,

released 1992, by Leonard Cohen).

"California: 6 years of drought, followed by floods..." (1992). “New York introducing a Tax on every new born baby, to raise £3.3 million…” (1993). “I don’t see a visa in your pass-port. You’re an illegal alien. We can have you removed…” "Riots..." "Things will only get worse the longer we delay it." "Americans love to do things in a BIG way." "Americans want BIG bargains." "Flash is King. Shoddy consumables, bad quality, bad construction..." “Americans need to eat a lot of humble pie…” “We all want to live like a King” ?“Cash to Flash… Is that all we care about? We want to look like a drug dealer?” “No. I’d rather do something honest. Be my own boss. Help others…” “You sick of all this shit?” “Hey, you guys are busting your balls over stuff that’s not even important.” “Hey. Are you guys doing all that crazy stuff so you can get a big fat house?” “You lot want to have it- all.” “Why don’t I give money to beggars? Because there’s one on every street corner! I give to 1 or 2, then I got to give to all the others.” “Because I already give to the established charities...” “You look like a total loser!” “I DON’T WANT TO KNOW!”“GET OVER it!” “Save it for the psychiatrist.” “You can stuff it where the Sun don’t

26/8/2005).

shine…”

QUEST: "I hold our Justice system in the highest esteem. Your honour, please restore my faith..." "Just what is ‘the American 'dream’ now?” "Can America contribute to modernisation and the survival of civilisation?" "Yeh, man. Get it on. Get it on!" “... it’s all good.” “Just what does ‘The New World’ mean? No TV, no crisps, no fun, strict discipline? There is so much CONfusion!” CONCENCUS OF OPINION: "There are a lot of cowboys out there. It's time the Indians had it." "The Indians knew how to live..."

“Talk to the hand cos the face aint

listening...” "Insulting behaviour is all the rage. Snapping / verbal abuse is the latest trend..." (1994).

“Disturbing behaviour… Let ‘the animals’ kill ‘the animals’?” "Crime spreading alarmingly. Overcrowded jails... The new electric chair delivers..." PLEA BARGAINING: “Admit to a crime you didn’t do in the hope you get a reduced sentence… to save HASSLE and Tax-payers money…” “I have to admit to something I didn’t do to get off more 521

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“For as far as the eye can see, all you can see is: A SEA OF CONCRETE…” "The USA is fiercely competitive. Companies have long gone in for bashing their rivals..." "WAH! Why does nothing cut my bills!" "He hit the bottle, taking it out on his kids..." "The State did psychological testing, recommended security and stability..." Re: TEENAGERS: "When you start paying all your own bills..." "Stop bitching about it, honey…” "Don't you dare 'whatever' me!" "Violent crimes committed by children up 50%. Murder by juveniles up 82%... Under-doing it and over-doing it is a problem..." (it means: punishment) "Crimes against children are up 50% since 1985. 3 million cases in 1993. More than 1/3rd described serious abuse.." (1994). "The Prevailing Attitude: The poor are always going to be with us. It's very painful." “New York: “War Zones. Ghettos. Not safe to be there. A few blocks away, the rich go to lunch, have parties- always afraid…" HORROR SHOWS: “There are a lot of very rough dudes…” “America is a sick country, but we don't know what to do..." "We got no brains." ("You can't say it hasn't crossed your mind..." ) “You want to save this god-damned planet?” “They’re all playing a crazy game…” “... it aint necessary. They’re CONvinced…” 1994: “60% of the population did not vote as the 2-Party system will not change their lives. 20 million people are 'living' below the poverty line.” "America has Republicans and Democrats- both are controlled by Conservatives." "Say no more!" 2000: “ELECTION RIGGING: G. W. Bush accused of rigging the Presidential Election result…” “Man Wraps Entire House In Plastic After Terror Warning: Warnings from the Department of Homeland

PRE-ELECTION SPEECHES: "We can do it! We can do it! said Bill Clinton…“I’d do my best to help America- it’s a great country with truly great people…” “Clinton breaks his Election promises... Public service cuts... Austerity program... Highest Tax increases ever... base rate Tax 36%... Fines, rigidly imposed prison sentences..." (a sly, manipulative speech, delivered to rapturous applause) (18/2/1993) “The Americans really know how to carry off an Election…” (That year, President Clinton had 22 Christmas trees…) "Is the State Department aware of it?" "American psychology is really screwy. We talk about 'The Greenhouse Effect' all the time, but then we don't do anything about it!" "This whole argument left out drastically. Whitewash. Suppress the story. Systematic misconstruction, to turn it into a cash crop. The struggle is not over, nor is people's courage..." "Everyone's got weapons." "Gun-law. Politicians too spineless to tackle." FREEDOM = Everyone can own a… Gun! Do you call your gun ‘your peace’ ? “USA GUN DEATHS: 1999: Age 0 – 17: 1776 gun deaths 1999: Age 0 – 19: 3385 gun deaths. Age 18 – 19: 1609 gun deaths. 18 - 24 is the highest crime committing group. Children who are part-time drug dealers leave school, become full-time drug dealers and are often shot. Accidental gun deaths have been falling since the 1930’s – down to 824 in 1999. Preventing depression would prevent many deaths. Drugs & Suicide = More than 2 out of every 3 gun deaths. 56% of all gun deaths are attributed to suicides.” "The average American child watches 18,000 hours of TV by age 16, much of the TV is very violent. Killing made to look easy." “Guns portrayed as exciting…” “They’re raising hell and we’re miserable waiting for it to happen…” “The Right to be TV free…” "The Freedom to GROW up without violence is a new Human Right” (1993). ANTI-GUN CAMPAIGN MESSAGE: “IF it is a dream, realise it…” “Packing Heat = Pumping lead. BANG! BANG! BOOM! Yeh, you really stood up to that guy. Now you’re going to get nailed…” “Is getting shot as much fun as you think it would be?” (“… that aint it…”) THE CRIME RATE in New York! (see

Security to get duct tape and plastic prompted a Connecticut man to wrap his entire house in plastic, according to a Local 6 News report. Paul West said that he'd rather be safe than sorry. So he bought 100’s of feet of plastic sheeting, batten boards, staple-guns, and ladders, to seal up his Winsted home. ‘I just have all

this energy from tension and anxiety and I don't know what to do with it,’ West said. ‘Basically, I'm doing what the government says we should do. I may be doing it a little more energetically than some folks, but I'm trying to be pro-active rather than reactive.’ The materials for the project cost about $250. ‘My wife's not happy, but she puts up with it,’ West said.

‘My kids think it's a good thing to do’…" (ref.

www.disastercenter.com/crime/nycrime.htm )

www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/844070/posts 2/14/2003).

"We're losing it. Everything fast, fast, fast… pushed at you. Obesity becoming fashionable! Get it and Go. Very popular..." (Some) “Americans live on junk food…” (Some) “Americans are so full of themselves they can’t see beyond themselves…”

"$1 TRILLION deficit. Our children will inherit this and have to re-pay this debt..." (2004). "NEO CONSERVATIVES: America now dominated by Conservative DICTATES... NeoConservatives believe the freedom of the individual causes CHAOS... therefore necessary 522

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parents, wont respect teachers.' 'These kids will take all your energy. Concentrate on kids who are doing well' said a principal..." (The John Walsh Show,

to unite people against a (fictional) foe...” (Woe! Can you justify deliberately causing chaos?)(see Chapter 13: WW2). “Consequently, they promote a climate of FEAR. They caused the tension between the USA and the Soviet Union... falsifying reports that Russia had superior weapons for use against the USA- this led to the Arms race... Neo-Conservatives are a powerful lobby group- are advisors to the USA President..." (BBC, October 2004). “USA addicted to militarism…” “A nation of die HARDS …” “Hey, this is the only action- action is my juice…” “PROTESTORS who want to change this corrupt system.” Slogan: "Vote as if your LIFE depends on it." "You can't vote if you haven't paid your rent, if you have a criminal record..." "The bad guys are just a bunch of silly, STUPID white men. We outnumber them. Use your power. We deserve better..." “Of course they want you to have another cup of coffee and forget all about it…” (wrote Michael Moore in his book: ‘Stupid White Men’). "Electricity prices up 800% plus more black-outs, thanks to G.W. Bush" (2004). "G. W. Bush loves cowboy boots, his cowboy image, golf… 'I gotta go get me a burger'…” (“... it’s time all you hot-shot cowboys grew up…”) "Is America a FREE DEMOCRACY? Abraham Lincoln founded the Constitution based on THE PRINCIPLE: All men are Equal... a government For the People, By the People... But money is now the most important thing. £250 million needed to run for President. Every politician in USA needs to raise money... Most money comes from corporate America via Wall Street... these contributors pay money to influence decisions- wealthy donors are big business EG. crude oil producers and the construction industry. This is all out of control... This is NOT Democracy" (Channel 4, 25/10/2004). “These companies don’t care about people. All they want is profits, to win contracts. They are assholes with bad ideas. Window dressers…” “The Constitution is a contract that can be changed at anytime?” "87 CHILDREN MURDERED in SCHOOL last year. Violence in all schools. How to make schools safe? They don't know. Choice: Metal detectors, armed security guards, better staff training + increased safety protocols. 3,500 pupils to one school, 34+ kids to a class... 3,500 students expelled last year. Teachers suffer burn-out. New group 'Parents Against Violence' said: 'We pay our taxes. We want our kids to be safe.' 'We haven't got ‘Little House on the Prairie.’ We’ve got some of the toughest housing estates...' 'I was walking, thinking nothing of it, when a group of kids attacked me (a nice, regular guy).' 'Children with a dislike for authority... If kids don't respect

1/11/2004).

“FREE TRADE means America will get richer whilst we get poorer. Demonstration against Bush and Capitalism” (Chile, APEC meeting, 20/11/2004).

“Most

Americans

are

anti-Capitalists”

(Ref:

www.morningstar.co.uk/news ).

"MOST COSTLY ELECTION EVER”: (How many TREES chopped to make all that paper for voting? 5 forests? The mountains of paper!) TV advertising used to indoctrinate voters, cost £2 Billion...” "A lot of people are voting for change in America..." (Just under ½ the population). “Queue in the waiting line…” Voters forced to queue for approx. 5 - 6 hours! "The Electorate are uninformed..." means: "The CATASTROPHIC effects of G. W. Bush's policies Re: DeForestation and Global Warming... Florida voted for Bush!" "Bush makes us feel safer." "John Kerry, had to re-mortgage his house to contend for office... He wanted America to have 'a fresh start’…” “G. W. Bush led his country to WAR, then claimed Jesus would vote for him!” ("If you were doing GOOD, you would be HEALING all.") ("No-one can ignore Jesus forever." “Jesus shines brighter. Jesus is purer…”) "G. W. Bush skilfully manipulates voters using religious rhetoric... Americans now unpopular throughout the world due to Mr. Bush..." (2/11/2004).

"The USA is in BIG trouble. We have ‘people’ calling themselves 'Christians' who are not! This vote must seem as if the USA is saying to other countries that we don't care!" “After Bush voted back in, Kerry urged unity and referred to 'the yearning for more compassion'... "America is going to go their own way, not follow an international path..." (3/11/2004). "Now Bush has received the thumbs up from such a large majority he will pursue aggressive Conservative policies..." “50 million people did not vote for G.W. Bush.” "Now Bush is in his 2nd term, he doesn't need friends any more. Will he follow Neo-Conservatives as he did during his 1st term, or will he adopt more compassionate policies?" (12/11/2004). “The US Security chief resigned” (30/11/2004) “The Attorney General resigned…” “People are leaving the USA to go and live Canada, those who opposed the war with Iraq…” "The Secretary for State, Colin Powell, has resigned... He was not a Neo-Conservative- he often put forward a more liberal view than the White House. With him gone, and more Bush supporters appointed... Hope is fading..." "... The President needs alternative views to be put him..." (Newsnight, BBC, 16/11/2004) 523

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(Ah! You want something to make the future?” “Has it been noted?” “Will hindsight make us all wise?”) “You want America to be Santa Claus?” (Why not?) "America is suffering from post-Election blues..." "The Bush administration... extraordinary skill in manipulating and controlling their message... Impartial reporting is no longer the reality... The news in America is a business profiting from advertising..." (Newsnight, BBC, 24/11/2004). “The Americans have got it all so badly wrong. Colossal intelligence failures. No ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ found in Iraq… The USA’s actions to ‘protect’ us all… Are they up to the challenge… not to get it so badly wrong again? Politicians deserve a fair proportion of blame…”

fore-front? Most people want ACTION around the world. But his idea of ACTION is to go on the offensive. He’s not one to be chastened. He will not change.” EXPERT: “He has promised he will show the world the true meaning of liberty… We’re looking for a softer administration but conciliation is not his strong forte.” EXPERT: “His policies are based on impulse, his feelings in his gut…” “He makes this speech whilst we have record Budget & Trade deficits of $60.3 BILLION. He has promised to ½ this is 5 years…” EXPERT: “All conviction and no detail. The gentleman is not returning or apologising…” EXPERT: “Bush is a unite’r, not a divider? America is more divided now… He knows the world will be stronger with unity (Anglo / European alliances…) He has an inability to listen… He isolates… He says what people want to hear… but his policies do things differently.” (“Your love isn’t fair. You live in a world where you didn’t listen or care. Our LIVES are on the line…”) PROTESTS: The ‘Turn Your Back On Bush’ Campaign = Non-violent, Democratic action. Ordinary people from 41 US states who support Grass-Roots. ‘We are concerned about what we are losing…’ Protestors stood silently during the 20 minute speech, holding signs saying ‘Liar.’ “THE AMERICAN ‘DREAM’ IS A NIGHT-MARE!” (“Your hopes and dreams are going to sleep…”) “The Mid-West: Over 2 ft of snow, blizzardsHurricane winds. 3 US States buried… schools, roads, airports closed, flights and trains cancelled… Temperature –18. Using skis to get about in New York…New York spending $17 million on the clean up. An enormous financial strain on many cities… Snow affecting deliveries… Retailers, already suffering from an uncertain consumer base… have large amounts of unsold stock.. 1,000’s are without electricity…”

(12/1/2005).

“THE WORLD FEARS NEW BUSH ERA: To create ‘The Owner-ship Society,’ G. W. Bush has plans to privatise the Social Security system- a most popular programme. Much opposition to his domestic agenda. But he might pull this off.” (What? Without having an alternative in place?) “The middle class are being Taxed more and more. The poor are suffering more and more. The rich are the only ones benefiting. There is already a crisis for young people because there is a Pay-As-You-Go scheme… House prices in the USA are going up… What can people do? What if we have another terrorist crisis? No plans to withdraw from Iraq… The cost of this war against Terrorism… Most Americans have no savings and rely on Social Security. There is a danger… privatising Social Security will add $2 TRILLION onto the $43 BILLION budget deficit- no better way to imperil people… The USA also has a pensions crisis- Bush wanting to privatise pensions…” (Newsnight, BBC2, 19/1/2005).

“Bush is the most dangerous President ever…” (Headline: The Guardian, 19/1/2005).)

“G. W. Bush’s inauguration = The biggest party in the world. Total cost £43 million- $17.3 million paid by Tax-payers. Other contributors = Soft drink companies, Banks, oil men who want to buy influence with the government and regulators)." "What's all that about?" "Oh nothing." “Bush set out his vision for the world… amid huge security… for the most powerful man on Earth.” (“The temperature yesterday was -54 in one western US state…”) SPEECH: “…The best way forward for the world is the expansion of freedom… Freedom is the cause that unites our world… We need to make a common effort to achieve freedom… America will not ignore oppression… We will widen the chances to get housing, health-care…” EXPERT: “Oh! Will he come on board for it?” “He said the words ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’ 49 times!” EXPERT: “He is on a mission. He sees it as a divine mission. How can he keep ACTION in the

(24/1/2005).

“Over $4 BILLION spent on war in Iraq- a war most of the public opposed…” “G.W. Bush has asked for a further $80 BILLION to keep the WARS in Iraq and Afghanistan GOING and there is no question of him not getting it…” (25/1/2005). “America is the guardian of freedom?” “Bush wants to spread ‘Democracy’ to Iran, Egypt, Syria and Saudi. ‘We expect them to open the door to ‘freedom.’ If you stand for ‘liberty’ America stands with you. Everyone wants freedom. Bush wants to change the world as a radical President… Iran called Bush ‘a Global tyrant’…” Re: Reforming the ‘Social Security’ and pension system: “By 2042, the entire system will be bankrupt. We have to privatise to 'save' it” said Bush. 524

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Texas: The cowboy state. America’s fattest city. Here, you must like beef, big BBQ’s and BIG beer bellies. All-you-can-eat restaurants. Obesity is Number One health problem. People easily seduced to eat more and more. Fiercely competitive. Are in denial” (Channel 4, 7/2/2005) (i.e. one man eats more than his fair share… enough for 6 – 8 people!) “We’re super-sizing everything…” America’s Image: “We’ll look after you, then we don’t.” “A school-boy on an impoverished Indian reservation went on a shooting rampage… The cause is a mystery. The Red Lake community are struggling to come to terms with it. It is a very dark day for us…” (22/3/2005). “SLOWER GROWTH in the US ECONOMY. Clothes, shoes, air travel, housing COSTS ALL UP. Inflation. Due to soaring petrol prices. Interest rates will have to go up” (early April 2005). “A 5 year old child in a nursery school had a bit of a tantrum. The police were called! 3 officers handcuffed her and removed her from the school…”

than 1 million officially are out of work- the figure is probably much higher…” (Today, 8/10/1992). “I didn’t realise till I had to fend for myself on the streets there are rats everywhere! Big ones!” “I DON’T NEED AN ID CARD. I ALREADY HAVE AN IDENTITY!” “Everywhere man is in chains…” “They tell us we’re free. Crap. We can’t do as we please. The system’s idea of freedom is bullshit.” (Anarchist's ‘JOKE’: “There’s a way to obtain freedom! But our so-called ‘Free society’ will lock you away if you try to obtain it." ”This irony. This fantasy called ‘liberty.’ Where in reality, you lie to me…” “INJUSTICE. A SHAMEFUL SECRET: …the 200th anniversary in 1988 of the arrival of the 1st British settlers… black Australia will be in mourning. The Aborigines who had been in Australia for 40,000 years before the British appeared, have suffered cruelly at the hands of the invaders… The British waged war against the Aborigines. 1937: a Commons Select Committee called for an end to ‘atrocities’ against the Australian natives… yet no-one knows about it. The reason is the British decided early on the Aborigines were a species of animal life in human form. Therefore, legally, Australia was 'uninhabited,' meaning there was no need for treaties, land purchases, reservations or any of that ‘nonsense.’ The settlers could take what they wanted and that was exactly what happened. They could take what land they wantedif the Aborigines objected- those Aborigines not killed off by white men’s diseases, could be shot, trapped or poisoned like rabbits or dingoes. Aborigines were given flour laced with arsenic. Their water holes were poisoned. The settlers organised ‘nigger hunts’ and men, women and children were shot down like rats. White Australians were still shooting Aborigines as recently as 1928- some Aborigines say 1950’s… Missionaries had a different approach- they said Aborigines could be ‘civilised’ if caught early enough and trained for domestic service. So children were forcibly removed from their parents and educated at missionary schools, never to see their families again. TREATED AS ALIENS IN THEIR OWN LAND… There is hope for the future, but not much… Some politicians feel guilty. Labour’s Gough Whitlam, in 1972, became the 1st white leader to give some land back. But then pressure from the multi-national mining companies forced PM Bob Hawke to retreat from further reform. Only lack of knowledge of the true history of Australia has prevented an enormous upsurge of white support for the Aborigines. If white Australia is going to live with themselves, they need to acknowledge 200 years of injustice and do something about it” (Documentary: ‘The Secret Country’ by John Pilger & Alan

(April 2005).

“75% of the poor in America are white…” “Bush too concerned about money.” “Downturn in consumer spending- that’s $BILLIONS less coming in- the people are spending more on Energy- but 'don’t worry about the economy'…” (Fox news, October 2005).

“67% of Americans are obese…” “Break it down. Get to the bottom of it. Know what I’m saying?” (2006). “Broad National Effort Urgently Needed To Maximize Potential of Women Scientists and Engineers: (re: Study called: ‘Beyond Bias and Barriers’ www.nationalacademies.org 18/9/2006).

“This administration doesn’t seem to know what it’s doing…” (April, 2007). “… the only way to escape gangs is to move to a better area…” AUSTRALIA: “WE HAVEN’T GOT it.” “The Freedom Charter of 1955- totally ineffective.” Western Australia: “Very DRY. Little vegetation.” “SO HOT, DRY, DUSTY in the bush, the flies get into your eyes to have a drink…” Was this once a Rain-Forest region? “... it’s an ideal occupation for surfers. Surfers know all about the dynamics…” HOMELESS: “10’s of 1,000’s of Australians spend each night under the stars, railways bridges, on park benches and each month the dole queues lengthen. A country with a population of 17 million- 4.5 million are dependant on Welfare or pensions as their major source of income. More

Lowery, 1988). 525

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“LOST HERITAGE…” “Australia uses their national symbol to make dog food.” (kangaroos), “BAN FOREIGNORS: A right-wing pressure group called for foreigners to be banned from owning land in Australia and for fewer immigrants”

“Aborigines need / want land- have a Right to land. They are Australia’s natural, national people, with native title. Now Crown land. Give land back? Whites and blacks divided. ‘Developers want a leisure centre. We see it differently.’ Clash likely to stay for next decade. Will bring huge return for lawyers” (5/5/1993). “… it COULD BE A DEVELOPMENT HERE. It’s a good way of making money and saving lives. What could be better than that? It could be very interesting” (7/5/1993). “My wife works for meat traders. Can’t complain. Most people got nothing.” “Australia wants to cut ties with British monarchy and form a Republic” (17/9/1993) “Getting cold feetwhen questioned in a Poll, 62% said they were having 2nd thoughts” (29/9/1993). “More bodies found in ’back-pack’ woods…”

(1990).

Melbourne: “The number of people seeking Emergency food Aid at Welfare agencies has risen 40% this year, triggering an increase in racial attacks at the centres… Demand for assistance has reached such high levels that many community groups have run out of Emergency relief funds or severely cut their services. Approx. 2,700 people wanted food and accommodation vouchers at the Salvation Army’s St. Kilda crisis centre last month, a 36% leap on the previous month’s figures” (24/9/1990). “The Australian government is outdoing Thatcher in ATTACKS ON WORKERS… the scrapping of Unemployment Benefit… 650,000 people unemployed will have their Welfare support cut / stopped. Each deal has only encouraged the government to attack the weakest even more”

(5/10/1993).

“WORST BUSH FIRES FOR 10 YEARS: 10,000 square miles burning. 1,000’s had to leave their homes, evacuated. ½ fires started deliberately. 130 fires out of control. Throughout Sydney city homes are burning. Firemen given up any attempt to put out fires. Residents trying to dampen down property using garden hoses to avoid ignition. Terrified animals caught up in this disaster. Winds feeding flames. Army called in to help. Helicopters dropping water bombs. No sign of rain. Heat-wave likely to continue.” “Whole streets are burning. Houses are exploding. Soaring temperatures” (7 & 8/1/1994). “Prince Charles shot at (with blanks) by a man who wanted to publicise the TREATMENT of Cambodian BOAT PEOPLE held in refugee CAMPS in Sydney. David Kang was charged with 6 offences including attacking an internationally protected person” (BBC1, 261/1/1994). “THE PLIGHT OF THE BOAT PEOPLE HELD PRISONER in Australia - the issue has been simmering for years. Many made the perilous voyage from Cambodia, China and Vietnam hoping to find freedom, prosperity and a better life. Instead they have been held in detention centres. According to one clergyman, The Boat People have been treated as criminals. They have been treated shamefully by the Australian government. Some are held in Port Hedland where 5 inmates risked their lives by flinging themselves from the roof of the detention centre. Others have staged hunger strikes. Villawood detention centre (which David Kang visited) has been home to 100’s of refugees for the past 4 years. Australia is taking an increasingly tough line with so-called illegal entrants. Immigration authorities approve only a small proportion for refugee status. The rest are told they will be repatriated” (Evening Standard, 27/1/1994). Country Hospital: “Why aren’t all these patients in bed?” “The roof’s leaking…”

(Socialist Worker. 1/9/1990)

“Old Black Joe’s still picking cotton, for ribbons…” “YOU’VE GOT TO BE LIKE THIS. YOU’VE GOT TO BE LIKE THAT. You don’t turn ‘criminals’ into citizens by treating them this way…” “THE POLLUTION!” “Sewage is killing the dolphins” (4/10/1991) (Oh God. Is that why the whales are dying?) “THEY ARE CUTTING DOWN SO MANY TREES!” “God, the heat in the outback is blistering…” “THE DRUG PROBLEM!” Sydney: “Is one step closer to having trams on streets again. Melbourne: Experts have approved a proposed route. The tramway would be a good tourist attraction…” (1990) “Trams used to be called ‘The Yellow Peril.’ The way they darted up and down the streets…” (causing accidents!) “You’d be amazed how many countries are re-introducing the tram…” Advert: “It wont be a Pom Tidley…” “Australia and New Zealand have agreed on Free Trade and are now stopping all tariffs and quotas” (4/7/1990).

“30% unemployment. Dying. Rotting, over crates of beer. The recession… bankruptcies. Owes over $200 BILLION to overseas. Answer: To cut ties with the British monarchy? Make Aussie a Republic? POLL: 2/3rd believe the Royals have no significance. Still strong support for the monarchy here. Real issue: HOW TO GET THE COUNTRY BACK ON it’s FEET?” (ITN, 9/3/1990). “I’m not spending $10,000 a year on your education for nothing!” “HAD TO LEAVE THE FARM: All the crop spraying! Making us sick. Plagued with bugs. I miss the farm” (1993). 526

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“At least 20 Aborigines have died in police custody over past 20 years” (28/1/1994). “2 boys stranded in the desert when their car broke down, died of thirst. Temperature 113”

BRAZIL: 1922: “Independence from Portugal." "Largest statue in the world built (38 metres high): Christ-the-Redeemer, stands on top of the mountain- a symbolic emblem embracing the people, offering peace, love, understanding their loss, residing over the vast city. It is the image of the new South America…” (In the presence of Christ’s loving gaze…) (“I’ll be watching you…”) “Disturbing poverty…” “There are 5 MILLION girls under the age of 7 who are Homeless and on the streets in Brazil.” “There are 7 MILLION children in the gutter in Brazil.” RIO de Janeiro: Known as: 'The Playground of the Rich:' “A place of contradictions.” “700,000 children on the streets... Despised. Regarded as trash! Treated as badly as animals... 1,400 children exterminated since 1984. Children’s bodies thrown on road-sides. Notes pinned on saying they- the children, are criminals... ... Offduty police-men do this saying they are ‘cleaning the streets of pollution’... Local business-men are financing Death squads! Wiping out Homeless street children... Cleared to make way for tourists!! Society grown too rich to care" (1989). "The rich in Rio are having lots of fun, have spent £17 million on fancy..." “MASSACRE: Hooded gunmen / death squad, fired at 50 orphaned children outside a Cathedral, where they had gathered to sleep. Brutality. 6 shot through the head. 2 chased to a nearby park where they were killed. As many as 25 children may have been shot dead. Police are involved with carrying out murders. Big increase in the slaughter of Homeless children. 351 killed in 1st 4-months of this year. In a city long hardened to anguish, a wave of revulsion and horror. Survivors are terrified of reprisals” (12/3/1990) “SHOCKINGLY DISGUSTING.” (Poverty linked to loss of resources caused by Deforestation?) (see Chapter 3 / Housing- Deforestation). “Are YOU still asking what good will it do?” (Is their idea of Heavenly peace?) "Over 1 million people are on STRIKE. Engineers, car workers, bank workers, electricity workers, teachers, civil servants, and transport workers have joined a strike against wage cuts and job losses. Dockers and oil workers have suspended their strikes. The strikes erupted in response to the government’s austerity plan imposed in March. A plan hailed by politicians world-wide as the solution to chronic economic problems: Inflation was running at 5,000% a year. Living standards for the mass of workers were badly hit. Support for the old ruling Party collapsed. Mr Collor beat Lula. He said he would give his life to support ‘the shirtless ones.’ He won enough support among the unemployed and unorganised workers to beat Lula. His administration was expected to produce a list of

(9/2/1994).

“A young woman and her husband, lost in shark infested water during storms. Sea search abandoned after wreckage washed up on beaches” (Evening Standard, 3/6/1994).

Western Australia: “A Gold mine so deep, so wide could sink Monaco in the hole! Been mining here for 15 years. Going to carry on for another 13 years…” (2005). “PROTESTS against Conservative immigration policy” (27/3/2005) “Australian government are trying to outlaw use of the word ‘mate’ as too friendly.” “Farmers protesting at cheap imports. Farmers want to encourage home grown food” (11/8/2005). "Australia will house illegal immigrants in off-shore camps (tents)..." (BBC World News, 10/8/2006). BANGKOK ('The Land of Smiles'): “If you could thin out the traffic… Bangkok would be a lovely place. Buildings are European style. Mayhem. Also, bamboo, cane and wood used a lot. Floating markets, floating take- aways- the water ways are terrific…” (Ah! “The very colourful floating market…) Old Bangkok saying: “Those that live by the water will never starve.” "Bangkok is BURNING." “HEAVY POLLUTION not designed for breathing, especially in summer." "400 new vehicles on roads every week. What a NIGHTMARE!” “Martial law imposed” (23/2/1992) "... 'We are not ants, to be squashed! We are Human Beings. We want to be treated right' said a protesting studenta pro-Democracy supporter..." (20/5/1992).

“TOY SWEATSHOP FIRE: World’s worst factory fire. 202 dead- most were women…400 people seriously injured. Many workers injured jumping out of the high windows… The 4-storey buildings were not strong and had no fire escapes or other safety features. Most of the bodies were found piled up in the narrow corridors leading to 2 exits and on stairs that collapsed under their weight” (Evening Standard, 11/5/1993). “INFERNO: …apparently ignited by electrical short circuit… An obscene spaghetti of twisted pipes and buckled girders. Within minutes of the fire, the masonary started crashing down. Soon after, the building collapsed like a pack of cards… This was the 3rd fire in recent months yet factory bosses had not taken any extra precautions… Rescuers fear another 100 bodies have still to be recovered…” “600,000 people in Thailand are HIV positive.”

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gardens!) A 2 room flat costs a fortune. There’s no jobs. The smell of diesel is sickly. ‘We’ve had several elections in last 3 – 4 years. 52 Parties competing! Communists voted back in again. We’re sick of them but at least they keep prices stable. But there’s inflation- value of money halved during 1994. Same as Russia- many people wandering round asking for change i.e. Western currency… their own money is no good. Very little to buy in shops. If better stocked people couldn’t Afford to buy. Nearly everything for sale is a pirated copy- fake. Some people prefer the way life was in the past” (1995). “Shall we sit around and talk about how life was in the past? I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it, but I probably will…” “… it’s all so vague. Nothing’s going to change.” “… it’s just one of those things!” TOURIST ADVERT: “God made heaven and put a little piece of it on Earth- in Bulgaria…” (2007) What? The people are poverty stricken… at night, all the stray dogs howling, nothing in the shops…

300,000 under-active public servants- he said he wanted to ensure that reforms were improved productivity, that money was spent on serving people, not the bureaucracy itself. His promised zero-inflation turned out to be 1%. There are marked signs of an industrial downturn. The increase in the number of jobless is the sharpest since 1981. Car production has halved. The main thrust of his plan was a freeze on savings. Bank accounts worth £115 Billion, 80% of all individual and company assets frozen for 18 months. But the rich could circumvent the freeze on savings. Tax increases, a new currency, plans for privatisation were announced. The government is pushing through large-scale sackings EG. 1,600 out of 82,000 oil workers, as part of a plan to cut 360,000 government workers jobs” (Socialist Worker, 1990).

"Brazil owes $120 BILLION..." “CONFERENCE ON POVERTY: They built a wall opposite the hall to hide the shanty towns opposite so sight-seers do not see the ‘eye-sores.’ Bull-dozers arrived unexpectedly. These people have nowhere else to go. One woman was not allowed to take her dead baby waiting for burial before her hut was bull-dozed. Those attending the conference flew in 1st-class cabins, taking with them with their own chefs” (The Debt Problem,

BURMA: "Military Dictatorship. Terrified villagers... homes destroyed... land-mines... Enormous suffering. Soldiers have burnt children to death. 10's of 1,000's of families have fled... refugee camps... people tortured by government forces. 'We have no hope.' 2 million victims... the Homeless... 'sleeping' out in the open..." (BBC, 17/11/2004).

19/5/1992).

“President impeached December 1992. Now a return to… a restored constitutional Monarchy? To restore calm and happiness? ‘This rich country is being misgoverned- people are poorstarving. A scandal. Not many respect the country.’ ‘Monarchy is too distant from reality.’ ‘Better that than what we’ve got at the moment.’ I’ll vote for them.’ ‘It’s my duty’ said the man who could become King” (BBC1, 2/2/1993).

CANADA: "Pollution. One province spending £50 million on new technology to lower emissions... Climatic turmoil. Summer is 130, winter is -130" (1993). VANCOUVER: "70% of the people on the streets are children..." (1993).

BELGIUM: “GENERAL STRIKE re: Government’s austerity programme. Police brutality…” (26/11/1993). “9 people killed in mini-bus when a lorry driver fell asleep…” (6/4/1994).

CAMBODIA: "20 years of war..." “Dictator made war on his own people. 1 in 3 people sacrificed for his merciless vision of a future…” "Collective Agriculture abandoned…" "... National Council will not share power..." "... Over-populated cities..." "A poor nation..." "... Wind speeds up to 120 mph. Intense heat. ... Crumbling dykes. Failures. 63,000 buildings lost. 'No easy solution.' A constant drain. People logging to make a living."

BULGARIA: "The city of discontent." Tents surround the Politburo. An enormous wave of People Power, led by students. A goat keeper said: ‘I want freedom and equality for everyone.’ Students are described as: ‘Brave, Intelligent, and well educated’ by citizens but some resent action students are taking fearing losses of jobs. Ousted- one leader. Communist Party reformed under new name. Protests. ‘We don’t want bloodshed’…” (July 1990). SOFIA: “High-Rise blocks of drab, dull (concrete) flats, daubed in adverts for cigarettes, surrounded by wasteland and industry (i.e. no

CHILE: "... designed an Electoral system that benefits large unified blocks, that leaves no room for minor Parties..." 528

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“As we flew over China, we could smell the human slurry on the fields…” “ROOF KILLS: 41 people died when a factory roof collapsed during a Communist party meeting in North East China.” "Compulsory military service hangs over every student." 1989: “For 40 years the Chinese referred to their soldiers as 'The People’s Army.' Through the bloody ‘Cultural’ Revolution in the 1960’s, through the masses of forced emigrations and the small popular rebellions that suddenly rose up and were as quickly crushed, they continued, somehow to believe that their army was just that: an army of the people…” “THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR THIS NATION of ½ Billion people to throw off Communism and seek A NEW FORM OF DEMOCRACY.” PEOPLE POWER COMMENTS: “We are going to move this 'mountain' with our pure loving hearts.” “We must fight for a life worth living.” “In Heaven love comes first…” “Give me life, or give me death. I love rice but I love truth more.” “Ask the people what they think about Freedom and dictatorship- it’s a great way of making new friends.” “There is deep smouldering resentment.” “Death with honour is better than death with no honour.” “See you in Heaven.” Tiananmen Square: “DEFIANCE FOLLOWED BY EXECUTIONS…”“Executing 100’s of proDemocracy supporters.” “The menace of military tanks confront students…” “People were sleeping inside tents thinking buses would come to cart them away… They were ground to pieces.” “Residents stopped us fighting the soldiers who had machine-guns. ‘Live for another day’…” (4/6/1989). “Nobody expected them to shoot. We were told the soldiers were the people’s soldiers. There’s a very moral tradition in China- we believe that kind of thing.’ Suddenly this was The People’s Army no longer. This was the enemy.” “I do not wish to be silent any more.” “No, say nothing. The Party elders will not like it.” “The shame is on those who abuse their power. They are laughing and lying yet I am accused of contempt!” “We have lived in silence too long. Q: What are you afraid of if you allow the people to speak?” A: “You make a mockery…” “The People’s Republic ‘Justice’ = “It will be swift, fair and impartial…” = “Televised show trials. Found guilty. Shot in the back.” “Their efforts ended in an appalling MASSACRE when the troops and tanks stormed the Square killing the students at random. The world recoiled with horror at the slaughter. The old men of Peking, who still believe power comes from the barrel of a gun are firmly in control and

CHINA: "The interest in the harvest... devices to pump water to fields... The interest in the Heavens. Physics. Wisdom..." "The priority for China? Empire stable, at peace, with harmony..." Old Chinese saying: "Those who seek power riding the back of the tiger, end up inside." "CRAFTS- products manufactured on a grand scale- coveted throughout the world. Success bought beauty and wealth. To maintain perfection cost... the consumer society..." "When Europeans first came across Chinese technology, they realised it was often far superior and tried to copy as many inventions as they could get their hands on..." "Nice people to do business with" ? 1970’s: China going out of their way to appease the West. The West refused to pay a fair price for handcrafted items. This changed leaders, made them into Capitalists." ("... it could repair diplomatic relations…") “… the Socialist system will eventually replace the Capitalist. This is an objective law independent of man’s will. However much of the reactionaries try to hold back the wheel of history. Sooner or later revolution will eventually take place, triumph…” (said Mao Tse-Tung). “… the promise China would over-take the US as a world power… calling it ‘the Great Leap Forward: Mao herded peasants into huge communal farms… All forms of relaxation banned. Chatting, laughing, reading, holding hand, even hugging children were declared ‘unproductive’ and breaches were punishable by death. Aggression was praised… Mao was obsessed with steel production and ordered every commune to build a furnace and produce STEEL ingots day & night… the people had no raw materials and so were forced to melt all the metal objects they could find… As crops failed people became so desperate they ate their own clothes… cannibalism was rife… In 3 years, 30 million people starved to death… One man ruled 800 million people… He came to power in 1949 and died in 1976, having sent 80 million people to the grave…” "Mao’s long reign of terror and repression made Mao the world's worst mass-murderer..." 1949: Mao’s ‘Great Leap Forward’ = Land taken away- overworked soil turned to dust…” “Reform through Labour = Prison camps. Hard, physical work, watched all the time by guards…” 1989: “The West did a deal with China- sold them bottled gas.” 1989: Is History repeating? “They took land off peasants by dropping market values of land and depressing Agriculture, creating swarms of hungry, Homeless beggars no-one caters for.” (A familiar story…) 529

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men of Peking, who still believe power comes from the barrel of a gun are firmly in control and the brief ‘flame’ of freedom seems to have been all but stamped out.” “I can see it in your eyes- you still despise the same old lies…” “THE PEKING REGIME: Mr. li Peng, the Prime Minister, and President Yang Shangkun should be driven from office for their part in the massacre.” “... it is needed. Make it better. Do YOU understand? China will never be the same now. China will have to ‘live’ with this shame. The world will never forget what you did to the people this day. Remember. Everything is different now whether you like it or not.” “If there were free Elections, not 1% of the population would vote for Li Peng” said Hou Dejian- a pop star and hunger-striker from Tianenmen Square. He has visited Peking’s hospitals and believes the death toll in the 1st week of June was 1,000. ‘We can’t let them relax’ he said of the government. ‘We can’t let them think that people have forgotten. There’s no pressure group so my aim is to put as much pressure on the government as possible by talking about how I feel.’ To make enough he has been selling possessions- his beautiful guitars, his car. Some of those wounded come to him for financial help. Mr Hou said these people cannot get work. Having been wounded is proof you are ‘a counterrevolutionary.’ He expects further unrest. ‘The longer it takes, the more dangerous. If it doesn’t happen in the next 4 – 5 months, the pressure will build up.’ He will return to the Square to pay his respects to the dead and expects others to do the same. Recently, he was invited to sing at an official dinner for pro-government Chinese living overseas. With relish, he described how he stood up and shocked his hosts into silence by saying: ‘I wrote ‘Beautiful Chinese’ when I was on hunger strike because all those who demonstrated or went on hunger strike were patriotic, and therefore beautiful… Slaves are all ugly, but in May and June the people of Peking became beautiful’…” “The Pro-Democracy movement is not dead.” "In CRISIS. A decade of political reforms. An experiment with Capitalism... Jobless roaming streets... Victims of continual police harassment... the break-up of Communes... migrants, stranded. Up to 5 million Homeless people on the streets... caught in the poverty trap... Tourism dried up... the grand hotels are empty... Austerity campaign... workers not producing... 'We are not part of this world.' Massive construction projects, steel is the pillar of the economy but in short supply... Can't Afford new technology to cut down pollution... Government exerting tighter planning controls, slowing down whole system... 'We no longer

believe in government.' Over-heated economy... 30% inflation... Existing factories without funds, car production grinds to a halt... Lost all sense of direction..." “Rice fields replaced with factories…” "Something really evil is happening... Needless violence... torture of prisoners, crackdown on foreign correspondents... 18 million people drifting, looking for non-existent work... the old and children are prisoners..." (1990). "Genghis Khan - blood thirsty leader/ (conqueror, with nomad armies), 800 years ago, bestowed with national hero status” (1990). "... using forced labour... vast prison complexes... little regard for health... prisoners working with asbestos. Those who run the camps will keep this a secret production network..." (1994). “GRAIN PRODUCTION down… Soil erosion… Low grain stocks… Socialism and Capitalism set to collapse…” (2001). “7,000 miners a year die in State-owned coal mines. A terrible history of lack of safety…” (2004). “China wants Taiwan back. Will use force if necessary. China is a military Super-Power. Integrity = Sovereignty. Now the world’s 4th economic Super-Power…” (2005). “China: A ½ Awake Giant…” “WORK HARD: 300 million children sent to military camp to make them loyal to the (Communist) Party. The government think teenagers are too free-thinking. You have to obey orders. Parents think it is necessary to develop a sense of team-work. Drilling- parading 6 am – 10 pm. The kids that can’t cope are punished. Such a competitive society!” (BBC4, 9/3/2005).

“MASSIVE LAND GRAB for High-Rise housing developments: Government thinks building highrise is good - but is good for corruption- is not good for the people. They say the State power company wants their land. They say it is for the good of the country, because that sounds nice. All sorts of reasons given. Those in power are doing they everything they can to get land because land is valuable. Farm-land has no strong legal protection. They are getting rid of all the peoplethe farmers all over China! Forced evictions of peasants, aided by armed riot police. The forced destruction of their homes. Government do what they like. They don’t care. No negotiation! No compensation! Not going quietly- villagers now passionate activists, resisting land seizures. 50 law suits launched against local government. What will the villagers do next? ‘Dig trenches, pitch tents and prepare to protect our land.’ CORRUPTION, GREED & THEFT. Those who stand in their way have no-one to protect them” (Newsnight, BBC2, 2/8/2005).

(“The internet is democratising ideas…”) 530

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Protests outgrew Wenceslas Square- estimated 500,000 people cheered the news of Mr. Stephan’s resignation. Stamping their boots in the frozen snow. ‘Everyone is behind is now! Nothing can stop us now.’ The People’s Forum claim the General strike cost the State 50 million crowns in lost production…” (28/11/1989). “THIS TIDAL WAVE IS SAYING I’M NOT AFRAID. COME ON. DO it. LET’S TRY, NOT CRY…” "DEMONSTRATIONS OF PEOPLE POWER: A wave of people power swept through Chezoslovakia, as 2 million workers staged a 2 hour strike for freedom. Church bells, sirens and car horns sounded across the country, while employees from 700 factories and firms joined mass rallies. Trains were left standing at stations, trams stopped in the streets and airports were shut down… A top official said the Czech Communist leaders were ‘paying the bitter price of resisting reforms’…" “The most hated man, hard-line ex-President Gustav Husak, is expected to face charges for inviting Soviet troops to invade his country… security forces loyal to the present nonCommunist government are searching the files for evidence. Husak, replaced after 20 years in power, could face another 20 years in jail…” "Now the old guard have been swept away by another tide of mass demonstrators. Anger at the violence gave rise to a week or more of even bigger protests which eventually brought about the collapse of the government. New government? By end of December, the Czech government included only 7 Communists…" (“Folks are lining up, hoping to secure a new home.” (“You can get it if you really want it…” “You suceed at last?”) “1st free Election since 1946: TV ELECTION DEBATE COLLASPSES IN CHAOS: … amid a shortage of furniture and complaints about the topic chosen for debate. The speakers talked about the economy is such complicated terms they were meaningless to anyone lacking a PhD in Economics. The Czech people asked for it… For years, the Communists spoke to them as if they were children- now they reap the whirlwind of the theory of marginal utility. The displeased leader of the Democratic Forum, blurted out: ‘It’s unfair. Why can’t we just talk about what we want?’ The other 21 Parties were exasperated at the format…” “CZECHS TO BE FREED: Up to 30,000 prisoners held in Czech jails could be freed or have their sentences reduced under an amnesty. New President, Vaclav Havel- who spent 5 years in jail as a dissident, said most sentences would be slashed by up to ½. Murderers and sex offenders are excluded.” “Havel announced 150 tons of semtex explosives were sold to terrorists in Libya by the previous

"China is censoring political data on the internet…" “… people are flocking to China to get (buy) body parts / organs taken from executed democracy supporters…” (“Oh, my good God!”) "SUPER TYPHOON: 1.5 million people evacuating from coast on buses. Taken to schools, theatres. (Using sand-bags to strengthen coast). 8th major storm this year" (BBC World News, 10/8/2006) "100 killed, 190 missing, £½ BILLION damage, 54,000 homes destroyed, boats capsized, buildings collapsed, areas flooded, power lines torn down. Hit manufacturing areas. Heavy rains, strong winds..." (BBC World News, 12/8/2006).

“Drought… peasants having to carry water to the paddy fields for 1st time…” (August, 2006). “… the nomadic existence is disappearing…” (May 2007).

CHEZOSLOVAKIA: “The heart of Europe.” “1968: Russia invaded, sending in military tanks. The world was outraged but none moved against Russia. People publicly set themselves on fire to protest. After years of oppression, Russia withdrew leaving the country devastated.” “RAPE CRISIS: ‘A nightmare. We have suffered so much- we often cannot talk about it. Women cannot say they are not going to get raped in the kitchen, or wherever. Rape knocked my dignitymade me ill- physically and mentally. What we need is a new form of infra-structure. Talk about it as soon as possible, not when tabloids are ready. Talking about it helps- we help each other. Everybody is saying ‘speak out. But where do we go?’…” "In Communist Chezoslovakia, more people own their own home than in Thatcher's England. Their rent is 3.5% of their income, same as in east Germany. They get cheap, bulk, subsidised food..." (1989). November 17th, 1989: “Events began in Prague when students demonstrating in Wenceslas square were brutally attacked by riot police…” “THE CHANGING FACE OF EUROPE: … underestimated tide, sweeping Europe, demanding change. Winning battle with government, who resent. Cost him his political career. Entire membership sacked. Drastic attempt to revitalise. National strike planned. The barometer? Vast crowds! No (military) tanks this time waiting to move in, to crush. Everyone assumed, quite rightly, today was the day. ‘New leaders wanted!’ Should emulate the best of Social Democracies. Must end era of confrontation. Climax of week of extraordinary emotion. A light snuffed out 21 years ago (1968) when Russia invaded… Now people waltzing in the square- celebrations few will forget. 531

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have guns. Worse, if you have a bit of authority, money, influence, you can do anything you want here, and get away with it... Some see abandoned children as vermin, to be exterminated... vigilante killings. Attitude: ‘I've seen better things than you floating down the drains’... Children are regarded as disposable items... you are bacteria... 170 children shot or burned to death... One man, a 34 year old executive, son of a wealthy family, called Jaramillo, ignored advice and has rescued 1,500 sewer children to date... He visits the freezing tunnels, takes food and clothes for the children... his mission... the foundation he established, Los Ninos de los Andes... He owns an oil company..." (1993) “WAH! What will happen to our children?" “Will they be dead in a storm tunnel?” "Plans to build this village are not going ahead due to lack of government support…" "The Disposables: A vision of the Apocalypse. 2,000 people work scouring the rubbish on one tip... The poor are being excluded... The dispossessed... Children born among dustbins, in sewers... There's no hospital, mental hospital closed down... Mysterious gun-men... Social cleansing attacks... in one housing block, 7 youngsters died in one month... The organised crime! Violations! The Homeless killed for their body parts! Recyclers regularly murdered..."

Czech government. Enough to last 150 years” (22/3/1990).

"Mrs Thatcher announced a package of measures ‘to help enterprise and investment’ in Czechoslovakia. Havel is said to not be comfortable in his new role- he wants to return to writing plays..." (he prefers poetic justice) (21/3/1990). “Havel met Mr. Gorbachev. Havel could return to Czechoslovakia realising the future is going to be hard. Reforms could mean the loss of jobs, goods they cannot sell. Factories not modernised for 25 years. A programme of ‘No Comfort.’ Prices increasing. Czech’s hope one day their currency will be worth something.” “Mrs Thatcher told Czechoslovakia they can join the EEC providing they privatise all their industries” (a very sickly speech). "(Posh) Car sales have gone up..." (18/9/1990). “Rock star, Frank Zappa, has been appointed advisor to Trade, Tourism and Cultural Affairs by the Czech government. Nobody is quite sure why” (he can free-flow). “He got thrown out after an ultimatum by James Baker, Secretary of State in USA” (Frank Zappa died in 1993). “President Havel has reopened a 350 year old dispute with Sweden … demands for the return of: The Devil’s Bible, one of the most valuable books, plundered from Prague in 1648. The demand will be resisted. ‘This object is part of our cultural heritage’…” “MASSIVE PRIVATISATION PROGRAMMES”

(1994).

"There are 1,000's of Homeless people 'living' in sewers in the huge cities of South America... risk of being gassed..."

(8/6/1994).

PRAGUE: “Statues and buildings all blackened by pollution. A class system is developing. Used to be classless here. The taxis are working to rip off tourists…” (18/8/1994).

CORFU: “Very hard doing building work in this heat…” Pastel coloured houses- breeze block slapped together. Facades crumbling. Tradition of building high in the hills for security against attack. There’s no air conditioning on public transport which is extremely crowded. The bus may not come, or 4 may come together and go without you. Everything runs on Greek ‘Maybe’ time. Maybe today, Maybe tomorrow. The small print is all in Greek, so tourists beware! Don’t sign anything. Watch out for beasties- they’re about. The roads are extremely dangerous- fatalities… A lot of people suffer from sun-stroke and dehydration. Temperature July – August 140 degrees C. ‘We do suffer power cuts. If you use more than one appliance this may take out the electricity to the whole block.’ There are a few solar panels stuck on roofs. Has suffered a tourist boom. Purpose-built tourist towns- low-storey but gradually building up. ‘Over here means basic. The Brits put the plumbing in 20 years ago- the pipes are too small so you can’t put loo paper down the loo.’ Sewage pipes put the raw sewage into the Sea where people swim. The sewage smells linger 6” above the ground waiting to pounce on your

COLOMBIA: "Main export is cocaine... Death staring us in the face all the time. No-one believes in our system of justice anymore..." "Drug-terrorism... more barbaric deaths... Political killings...." "A campaign of terror... about 500 people killed in more than 40 terrorist bombings in past 9 months..." (1990). "In search of a fresh start..." “BAGOTA: "5,000 children 'live' in SEWERS! The stench! You want to be sick. They brave the risk of disease or flooding because, miserable as 'life' is down here, it is not as dangerous as sleeping above ground... There is little support for abandoned children... Their parents arrived from rural areas, looking for work and a home, there is little of both, both are hard to come by, they end up in terrible slums, if they are lucky. There is no work for them, no houses, mothers cannot Afford to keep them... This is a crazy city; 'security' here is very frightening. This is a very divided society, rich and poor- nothing in-between... Many people 532

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nostrils. The smell is absolutely disgusting. You can’t drink the water as this has a high mineral content. Quarrying the mountains for stone. Corfu depends on tourism and olive oil production. Corfu has approx. 4 million olive trees- called ‘Everlasting’ (can last to be 2,000 years old). Olive trees are private property- they belong to the locals. They try to earn enough money from the summer to last through the winter. All children are obliged to go to school. Complaints of high costs for food and drink from tourists. Shop keepers say they have to charge high prices as permit charges high. There is a joke about this: How much does a Greek earn? However much they can screw from tourists. All the shops sell the same stuff. Reason: No imagination? Are too laid back? It’s never occurred to them to do any better? The women make lace table-cloths- even though these days the restaurants all use throw-away paper cloths. At night, starving dirty, flea-ridden, dying dogs barking, roaming… Island has very little livestock- no cows! You’ll be munching your breakfast on the balcony when the big rubbish dumpster truck arrives. The usual problems- tummy bugs, bowel trouble. If they could just discover why some people don’t get bitten by mosquitoes… “Buildings have had a £30 million facelift in a bid to spruce the town’s image for this month’s EC Summit (lasting 2 days). The Town hall has been revamped, outside walls sandblasted, and antique furniture installed in 3 State rooms in the palace” (Corfu News, June 1994) “The Summit did not achieve anything.”

“Cost of house too much. Cheap not goodcheap materials used.” “Tax incentive to leave buildings unfinished. Buildings currently limited to low-rise. Some areas strictly controlled to preserve traditional architecture.” “ROBBING THE PEOPLE! VAT introduced. ‘I don’t know what will happen. They’ll keep raising Taxes till BOOMPH.” “The government encouraging grape growing. 40% grants given for… wine.” “Cost of starting a business is too high. The property, the equipment, furnishings…” “Rents are too high.” “90 square miles are owned by the British military.” “Many are bitterly opposed to the British bases here- that the army uses a pretty part of the island for shooting practice. Protests. In Freedom square, an author is on hunger strike. A gallows has been erected, with a bucket which people can spit into- to be poured over the Queen of England when she visits. There is a book people can sign to lodge their protest” (Greater London radio, 19/10/1993). “THE QUEEN’S TOUR: Children were teargassed by riot police to clear the road. Intense anti-British feeling. Freedom fighters say they intend to bomb ‘British targets and buildings built during colonial times’ during the Royal visit. Protestors jeered, chanted ‘Shame’ ‘Go Home, we don’t want you here.’ One demonstrator released 50 black balloons. D. Hurd, accompanying the Queen, was boo’ed. The Queen’s route was a security nightmare lined with rubbish bags and empty oil drums. The real hazard is human. Among the spectators were many greying men- in the 1950’s, these were hot bloodied freedom fighters” (Evening Standard, 19/10/1993). “North Cyprus (hard to defend) is controlled by Turkey. Unresolved dispute over territory. Cannot cross the border” (1993). “FOREST FIRES are raging near a holiday resort. Villages destroyed. Helicopters dropping water. Fires fanned by strong wind from the sea”

CUBA: "Feed the people, not the government!" Shanty towns. " ... in the Anti-Imperialist Square..." "Fidel Castro, nearly 80 years old, health failing... What is the future for Cuba?" CYPRUS: “Going into recession. No real export commodity. Over-trading: Shops all sell the same produceoutmoded products. Temperature: Too hot. Goes up to 120. Rich soil. Best aspect: Orange and lemon trees grow freely on the streets.” “Trees dying due to lack of water. Few fields have a straw mulch to reduce evaporation. Much is waste land.” The need for (desalination,) irrigation (covered over, rubber or plastic seepage hoses) (1993). “Tradition of building mud-brick houses gone i.e. building according to the availability of local materials. Now using breeze block and render. Still using a lot of wood for each roof, floor, window, door…”

(June1995).

DENMARK: “Where the LEGO brick comes from… and LegoLand. Lego invented 1955.” Low inflation. Known as ‘Fairyland.’ Generating own… wealth. A success story…” (17/5/1993). "1.5% inflation. 12.5% unemployment. 1% growth, 50% of earnings go in Taxes. Result? We have clean air, low crime. Cans are banned- high standards of waste disposal." "Worst rioting since the end of war. 200 – 300 squatters and anarchists hurled stones and broken bottles at police barricades..." (19/5/1993).

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Jewish graves. How fragile relations have become! Extremists- members of the National Front… raised tempers- confrontation. People fighting viciously, clubbing each other with lumps of wood…” (May 1990). "FASCIST SHOCK: National Front leader JeanMarie le Pen gave a clenched fist salute and told 12,000 supporters racism today means patriotism..." “…the dossers rooting through debris…” PARIS: "Meeting of 2 sides, during winds of 115 mph. ‘There's a crisis of ideas... We are going too fast. People want change. We have no map!’ Intellectuals struggling to interpret last 200 years. 1968: The left-wing movement suddenly happened- people out on the streets. The revolution is happening! Short-lived euphoria…” ‘We do not want a genius. We do not want God.’ The author of a book called ‘Barbarism with a Human Face’ said: ‘Our duty is to help- it’s important. Help these nations, these peoples. The consumer society should not deny there is a desert.’ ‘Life with no meaning? In its most harmful state - successive betrayals.’ ‘We have not yet got to the end of disagreement.’ ‘History is a dead train.’ ‘Events thrown away as if they’d died’…"

DUBAI: "Mostly sand. They're turning the desert into lawned golf courses. They concentrate on gold and crude oil." “7-star hotels…” “Running out of oil- so building towers to attract tourists. Principle: Build it and they will come” (BBC, May 2005).

EYGPT: "In a muddle..." "... Homeless families 'living' in very overcrowded catacombs..." (1983). "Human Rights have suffered in last year. Police raids, executions, 1,000's rounded up, military courts, Right to Defence counsel denied, heavy penalties imposed, dire economic problems..." "How are we going to deal with the housing shortages?" "Cheap power? Egypt gets most power from the massive Aswan Dam. Huge amounts of silt threaten to stop production..." “... war again with Israel..." (1993). “… a nail bomb went off in an area packed with tourists…” (April 2005). Debate: "YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT in the Middle East. (At least) 80 million jobs needed by 2020. "Private jobs cut back." "What are you investing in? Corruption, or start-ups? Initiatives?" "The government is not putting it in our hands." "We all agree on that." "The government cannot do it." "Ah! The government is an obstacle to it. This recipe is putting people off. The regime needs credibility. Give youth the opportunity. A partnership is the only answer. Ah! How to grow, on a path that is quick?" (BBC World News, 13/8/2006) (“… it’s just the job for young people…”)

(1990).

"The Police (called ‘the Blues’) round up the Homeless from the streets. ‘Why are you picking on me?’ ‘You don’t look elegant. Unshaven. No decent shoes.’ ‘You mean, I’m a tramp.’ The Homeless 'live' in constant fear of being picked up by the police. Repression. Bused to a hospital outside the city. 15 miles walk back. ‘I spent a year sleeping on the Metro- 4 or 5 hours a night, after a series of calamities’…” (Cutting Edge, Channel 4, 1992). "Many people not happy with choices (re: political Parties). We offer no miracles" (21/2/1993). "Former Socialist leader shot himself dead..." (April

FINLAND: “Can no longer Afford huge Welfare bills. Facing massive cuts. Politicians are preaching need for austerity. Need to reduce debt. Farms likely to suffer- to go! 1 in 5 people need a job” (ITV,

1993).

“RECESSION HITTING France…” (June 1993). “French police arrested 52 adults and took in more than 140 children for questioning after raids on 12 cities across the country on outlawed ‘Children of God’ sect which preaches free ‘love’ (sex?) for all ages” (Evening Standard, 10/6/1993). FIRE in a chateau housing a psychiatric clinic. Fire spread very quickly- could have started in rafters, sending fireball down. 17 people killed, 35 injured…” (25/6/1993). “French economy in deep recession. ‘It is the only solution at the end of the day’…” (23/7/1993). “2,000 businesses bankrupt a month. Consumer confidence has collapsed. Exporting less. Redundancies. High interest rates. Government committed to the Exchange Rate Mechanism (the ERM). Country may continue to stagnate”

19/3/1995).

FRANCE: “The French decided to cut the ruling class down to size.” “The 18th Century French revolution also called ‘the reign of terror.’ They looked at people’s hands- if you weren’t a worker- you didn’t have blisters, cuts, they cut your hands off.” “See! We can beat them in one day! We are heroes bleeding all day. We are lovers that is a fact. Nothing they got will keep us together. We will be heroes forever and ever. Come on. What do you say? Take that, splat.” 1968: Riots in Paris. Students are always willing to throw a brick…” “Fighting between right-wing groups. 10’s of 1,000’s protesting against the desecration of

(28/7/1993).

“STAND AND DELIVER. YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE: A new-style of highway robbers. 534

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“There is a long standing dispute between France and America concerning trade…” (22/2/1995). “The Banks in France are worse than in England… Banks are still indifferent to customer’s needs… France needs new social projects to deal with the Homeless, unemployment and poverty” (7/3/1995). PARIS: “The Housing Scandal: A CORRUPT housing ALLOCATION system. Council properties rented out to the influential- rents hugely subsidised. Public funds misused…” (Europe Express, Channel 4,

‘Rammed from behind. Tailing us without lights. 3 men- stuck a gun in my ribs. Held car at gun point, robbed couple, stole the car. More than 100 hijacks and hold-ups reported on one auto-route in 1992” (7/8/1993).

“DOUBLE DECKER COACH CRASH. Tourists killed and injured. The sound of tearing metal…” (17/9/1993).

“…a plane bringing survivors home crashed- overran the runway…” (19/9/1993). “At least 17 tourists killed in an accident after a lorry burst into flames. A 40-car pile-up…”

22/7/1995).

(11/11/1993).

“TERRORIST BOMB ON THE METRO. 7 dead, 11 critically injured…” (25/7/1995). “3 MILLION UNEMPLOYED. Socialist government promised to help them during the Election but the government sent in police to break up their demonstration…” (January 1998). “The French public are out on the streets to protest / fighting to stop public spending cuts”

PARIS: “Massive demonstration in defence of the national Education system” (16/1/1994). “SUPERMARKET ROOF COLLAPSED. 4 dead, 90 injured. Flat concrete roof. All night, rescuers searched through huge chunks of rubble…” (26/1/1994).

“The

French

have

problem

schools

too…”

(Dispatches, Channel 4, 30/3/1994).

(22/1/2005).

“The French are so sick of cars speeding through villages, heavy fines imposed (£5,000), plus loss of driving licence for 5 years.” “Britons go to France to buy ‘cheap’ propertyrambling falling apart places. Houses are not professionally surveyed as in England. The old roofs leak quite badly. ‘Too cold here in winter, too hot in summer.’ ‘Spent 3 years of blood, sweat and tears on this place. We did all this work then realised we’d moved to the wrong area. We’ve got just enough energy to do all this again.’ ‘One veers from one panic to the next. We’re up to our necks, under pressure to do this. The idea was to escape the pressure. The financial pressure interferes with our relationship. Outwardly all seems calm, but inside I'm screaming. The strain is terrible.’ Unable to sell their houses in UK, extended their mortgages or got another mortgage. Banks foreclosed (after they’d improved the properties) (The French Connection, BBC2,

“France will press ahead with economic reforms despite public protests” (25/2/2005). “A SHORTAGE OF ACCOMMODATION: Authorities struggling to cope. Cheap hotels usedconditions in some appalling… A thorough overhaul of Emergency housing is needed” (Paris, BBC, 15/4/2005).

“20 KILLED: People jumped from windows or screamed to be rescued from flames… as a fire roared through a hotel used to house the needy African families… French Social Services typically place people in hotels while seeking longer-term housing solutions… an investigation for manslaughter has opened. President Jacques Chirac said it was one of the ‘most painful catastrophes’…” (Paris, 16/4/2005). “Squatters being evicted…” (3/9/2005). “Another fire in a High-Rise apartment block…” “Terrible riots…” (Candidates are) “… in it, to win it” (re: Presidential

March & April 1992).

election, CNN, April 2007).

“Jules Verne PREDICTED,130 years ago, that Paris in the 20th Century could be a city without soul, dominated by an all-powerful State, by high technology, clogged with traffic. A money obsessed society- all that counted was the pursuit of wealth. He might not have been far off the Mark” (BBC1, 22/9/1994). “2nd senior minister has resigned following accusations of corruption” (15/10/1994). “A deeply pessimistic book predicting everincreasing unemployment, poverty and social instability in Europe (by Sir James Goldsmith) is a top seller in France” (November 1994) (“So many economic experts lack vision.”) “Someone is going round libraries defacing books by removing the word ‘love.’ 6,000 books defaced so far…” (9/2/1995) I wonder why?

“The Conservative candidate, Sarkozy, won (53%). The Socialists vote = 46.94% i.e. 17 million people.” Commentator: “Yes, they’ve fixed it so now there’ll be no European referendum.” ‘Something has started that will not stop’ said Ms. S. Royal (the socialist candidate). Sarkozy (former Interior minister – who referred to the poor as ‘rabble,’ with echoes of Thatcherism), promised change. He will ‘unite the country’ i.e. ‘crack down’ on ‘illegal’ immigrants, backed by police. This is the 3rd? 4th? defeat for the socialists. Riots followed…” (7/5/2007).

GERMANY: “The Germans love efficiency, perfection, QUALITY, precision, reliability… and “are great believers in destiny.” 535

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the crumbling wall of Communism- just as Hungary’s Marxists announced they were disbanding in favour of Western-style ‘Democracy.’ The worst scenes took place in East Berlin at the end of Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit. Police used baton charges and dogs to disperse up to 10,000 demonstrators who chanted: ‘Gorby help us.’ Last night, leading dissidents said they feared the savage crackdown had only just started…” “I’m bashing my head against the wall and the wall’s getting a hole in it” (said Gustav Mahler). “DEMONSTRATIONS: The people, anxious for change, suddenly realised the government was vulnerable and open to attack. They took to the streets in their 100’s and 1,000’s…” “We want more people however, to be involved…” “The Iron Curtain.” “Shake. Shake. Shake the wall, just like that. What is this?” “They said the wall would last 100 years. A few weeks later the wall was down.” "It was People Power that brought the Berlin wall down..." (1989).

East Germany: “PENSIVE FACES, GLOOMY FACTORYSITES, DIS-USED DUMPS… The Party don’t care what’s on your face…” “TRAGEDIES: A bid by 2, 18-year old girls to flee in a tanker ended in horror 600 yards from freedom. They had hidden in containers of liquid cooking fat. When they were discovered one girl had drownedthe other died later from poisoning. In another lorry-powered escape bid in 1977, 2 men tried to speed through the barricade but were stopped and shot. A further attempt the same day was halted when guards discovered and shot dead 2 men hidden in a train. In 1962, the murder of 18-year old Peter Fechter sickened the world- as the desperate teenager made his bid for freedom, as his hand touched the wall he was repeatedly shot by border guards. Mortally wounded, he fell back and lay crying ‘Help me! Help me!’ at the foot of the wire. WHY DID THE WALL HAVE TO BE SO HIGH? It was nearly an hour before the east Germans bothered to go to him and carry him away. By then, Peter had bled to death. Another victim, Chris Gueffroy, 20, was shot as he tried to swim to the West. DROWNED IN SEWERS: A large group of escapers were deliberately drowned by Communist guards as they fled through the winding sewers under Berlin. One survivor who made it through to the West said: ‘Around 26 men and women were planning to escape. The 1st ½ dozen came up through a man-hole and told us the sewer had been blocked off under the border by steel bars. We heard screams and the sound of rushing water. God knows how many drowned. I just listened and felt tears rolling down my face.” “COPS CRUSH CANDLE-LIT FREEDOM DEMO: INHUMANITIES: Brutal police put the jackboot into a church protest in East Berlin- beating-up youngsters calling for peaceful change, as the crowd chanted: ‘WE ARE THE PEOPLE’ and ‘No violence,’ many were grabbed and smashed over the head with truncheons in a 2nd night of bloodshed. 100’s remained defiantly in the churcha centre for pro-reform groups. A fast is being held there in protests at arrests made during demonstrations in Leipzig. Nearby residents hurled eggs down on police from their housing block. The violence came the night after 1,000 protestors were jailed and at least 100 injured as the Communist State savagely quelled the people’s biggest protest for more than 30 years. Hard-line Erich Honecker, alarmed by the rising clamour for Democracy, unleashed troops armed with machine-guns and police with tear-gas to crush the rebellion. They kicked protestors to the ground… Honecker, already humiliated by the flight of 45,000 citizens to the West was furious the marchers had ruined Germany’s 40th birthday party. Their cries for freedom punched another hole in

PEOPLE POWER: “ALL THE TIME HE WAS FIGHTING FOR YOU AND YOU DID NOT EVEN KNOW HIS NAME.” “WE SHINE FOR YOU. WE BURN FOR YOU so YOU CAN SLEEP FREE.” “WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING THE GREAT PUBLIC IN A WAY WE WANT TO IN THE FUTURE.” “END OF THE WALL: The hated Berlin Wall,

which divided East and West for 28 years, was thrown wide open… The wall, a symbol of tyranny, built 1961, now seems certain to be pulled down. East Germany announced it was removing the last barriers to its people who want to escape to the West. People will be allowed to walk through the wall unchecked- or they can cross to West Germany at any border. The decision could open the flood536

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gates to another million East Germans who want to settle in the West. JOY: West Germany said: ‘Let them come. Noone will be turned back.’ The move was greeted by the East German people with a mixture of joy and stunned disbelief. One shaken young border guard said: ‘They are going to read this and say ‘There has been some mistake.’ Another said: ‘It’s not good. We will lose our jobs.’ More than 100 East Berliners crossed unchallenged through the checkpoints in the Wall last night. Some were in tears as they went over, then came back, just to see if it was really true…” (Cartoon: Historic Value,

Mrs Thatcher said: “What is unity? In the community? People in Britain fear the loss of the Queen and Parliament. War or peace is a Sovereign decision. Most people want a Superunity community” (30/4/1990). Brandt: “I do not think fears are justified.” “The new East German government, the first to be Democratically Elected, accept their share of blame… and have offered to pay compensation for the Nazi holocaust 45 years ago… and they insisted they have no ties to the Nazi past…” ELECTION: “Kohl is not clear enough.” “37% voted for Kohl.” NEW FORUM: "The popular movement which sprang from nowhere in September 1989, to launch East Germany’s revolution, is internally divided and losing ground to the other new Parties. The fatal weakness lays in their futile search for a third way between Capitalism and totalitarian Communism- a path that would supposedly lead to Democratic Socialism…” TOTALITARIAN means: “… authoritarian, dictatorial, Fascist, undemocratic, oppressive, tyrannical, Nazi." ("Sooner or later, all totalitarian governments get overthrown.”) “President Gorbachev warned the German question should not be solved on the streets. But popular pressure drives events relentlessly forward.” Christian Democrats said: “Those who OPPOSED UNIFICATION ARE NOW AT THE FORE-FRONT of unification, destabilising. This is very dangerous.” “22% voted for the fascists on the extreme right. Neo-Nazis. Not skinheads. 2,000 delegates- quite respectable looking. Police guarded their meeting.” “Germany has a strong CONSERVATIVE government…” (June 1990) (“Nobody wants to listen to the Conservatives. Tons of leaflets burned.” “It would be silly to make the same mistakes again.”) “We are looking for the support of the Americans. The lack of enthusiasm from British leaders!” “WHO IS THE ENEMY NOW?” NO TRUST IN POLITICIANS: “Anarchists take the view that it is futile and immoral to collaborate with the existing power structure.” ‘We do not place any trust in politicians or political Parties.’ ‘Say nothing. Let time pass. Give them enough rope to hang themselves.’" Ah! A CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE. BOTH SIDES WONT TALK… are playing the waiting game. “A politician was stabbed by a woman carrying flowers. She said she wanted to hurt a politician for what they are doing to disabled people. Security for politicians is being tightened up” (April 1990). “… it’s about TAKING ACTION: Meaningful change can only come through the struggle of ordinary people in their daily lives- every aspect of

unknown newspaper).

BORDER GUARDS: “Stop! I wanna go home. Take off this uniform and leave the show because I have to know- have I been guilty all this time?” “We were the instruments of a false policy.” "They can stick their medals. If only they’d give me what they have in their tool kits.” “As the Berlin Wall crumbles down, the chance of a united working class becomes even greater. For too long the ruling class has managed to divide us on the basis of East and west. Who smashed this division? Not the Thatchers, Kohls and other war mongering Western politicians, who use the word ‘freedom’ as if it is going out of fashion. It was the working class in East Germany who got out on the streets in their millions. Within a matter of weeks they had forced the Communist Party to send in the bull-dozers.” BLUNDER: “Mrs Thatcher (‘The Iron Lady’) said: “No-one can see into the future. Who could have predicted the end of the Wall?” (Popular Music group: PINK FLOYD: 1979: Album: THE WALL: “… Daddy, what did you leave me? TEAR DOWN THE WALL…” Obviously Mrs Thatcher failed to see the writing on the wall…) (“One million fans world-wide will see a spectacular version of ‘The Wall’ on live TV. More than 100,000 people are expected to be at the charity event. A wall 600 ft x 60 ft will be built with helicopters sweeping the crowdpuppets the size of 6-storey buildings, will dwarf the audience. The climax to the biggest musical production ever, will see the wall reduced to a symbolic ruin” 21/7/1990).

“Mrs Thatcher issued ‘a slow-down’ warning over the reunification of Germany. She told British Jews in London: Safeguards must be established to prevent an East-West link posing a threat to Europe. Any plan to join the 2 Germanys must be by international agreement- it should not mean Germany regaining all the land they had before WW11. Germany should remain part of NATO… She is clearly trying to put the brakes on… Her fears are shared by other European countries, including France. But she stressed Germany would become one again.” (“Trying to stop Re-union is like trying to stop the Rhine rising…”) 537

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our lives- the food we eat, the job we chose to do (or not to do), our behaviour towards others can either be a statement of dissent or acceptance. Revolutionary struggle itself can be FUN, if like us, you believe it’s about taking action and communicating, not sitting around…” said UK (Anarchists?) “FIRST UNITED MAY-DAY CELEBRATIONS: “250,000 people joined a rally, flanked by 2,000 police… 1,000 East Berliners joined the celebrations… but some masked marchers threw bottles and stones at the police… In West Berlin, police in riot gear fired tear-gas and arrested 50 people as a crowd of 20,000 marched through working-class Kreuburg” (1/5/1990) (“The pain still grows…”) “ANTI-FASCIST PROTESTS: 4,000 people from East and West Berlin marched in the 1st major antifascist demonstration in East Berlin since the fall of the Wall. In recent months, Nazis from West Germany have been trying with some success to organise disaffected young people in Germany. Attacks on migrant workers, refugees and Polish people have become everyday events… the offices of left-wing groups have also been attacked. The march was organised to protest against the establishment of an East Berlin office of 'The National Alternative'- a Nazi organisation. The Nazis hid in the building protected by a massive show of police strength.” “Now is a good time to reflect. We want Socialism but seems we are getting Capitalism. This is bad news for East Germany. We fear what is coming.” UK Media: “They’ve had 40 years of being critical of our institutions. It may not stop at their wanting sneakers and chocolate bars…” BUSINESS WORLD: “Low cost manufacturing is not the only opportunity in East Europe, although this seems to fixate most British companies. Servicing a domestic market starved of everything from decent shops to household insurance could be very good business indeed for the service sector of the British economy.” “One big problem, especially in such a time of massive political upheaval, is to break the Ganz workers ingrained habit of seeing factory management as representatives of the government. ‘I told the Trade Unions even if they hate the government, they don’t go on strike in my factory.’ Down on the shop floor, where huge railway carriages are being rolled around by a single-man using hovercraft-type ‘castors,’ there appears to be a busy and cheerful atmosphere. Everything from morale to the cleanliness of workshops is vastly improved under the new regime. With reunification, West Germany’s giant and successful economy absorbs 17 million citizens of the GDR. Many of these highly skilled workers will be thrilled to participate and push down unit

manufacturing costsbut not qualitysignificantly.” “GOOD-BYE COMMUNISM. HELLO CAPITALISM.” “The opening of the Berlin Wall has transformed Germany from a safe but unspectacular market into one which has the potential to show dramatic gains. West German companies will have far greater demands for their products and will be able to take advantage of the considerable investment opportunities and low labour costs…” “Western construction firms are wondering what the opening of the border will mean for them.” “Some prices will double overnight. 1 million people are going to lose their jobs. Wages are not going to rise.” “Antipathy…” “… EC money will have to be poured in. The EC’s fund is designed to boost living standards in poorer member countries…” “A £10 BILLION economic assistance fund might be set-up…” “The heavy cost of German unity may cost British tax-payers £millions…” “East Germany’s pensioners only get £10 a week…” “East Germany’s average salary £8,000. Inflation 2.5%. Staple Diet: Potatoes.” “FALLING APART: East Germany is on the verge of disintegration. Law and order is collapsing, the economy in tatters. The exodus to the West continues and has reached crisis proportions… 400,000 people have left in the last year… threatening labour shortages… Disorder is overwhelming. The situation is worsening alarmingly. These strikes, slow downs and other disturbances are leading to serious production break-downs. Workers are demanding wage and benefit increases worth £20 BILLION, double the budget deficit- a sum that would overwhelm the abilities of the State… many regional governments dissolving or unable to function because of anti-Communist turmoil, including mass rallies, assaults on officials and bomb threats… public transport is virtually at a stand-still, hospital wards have closed due to a shortage of doctors and nurses… ‘The country is about to collapse and everything we did will all be for Helmut Kohl. We saw off the Stassi (secret police), the government and the Communists and it seems as if it was not worth it now’ said New Forum. Scores of restaurants have closed due to food shortages…” POLLUTION: “East Germany has confessed to Ecological sins because of backward industrial practices and pledged to rid itself of their image as ‘the cess-pit of Europe.’ Almost 1/5th of their water supply is so polluted by toxic effluent the water cannot be used. Toxic waste is dumped or burned illegally, while the Baltic sea is used as a dumping ground for heavy metals EG. Cadmium. The country suffers from the highest 538

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“How to improve trade?” “LACK OF A CLEAR GOAL…” (“The German people excel in making the very best quality goods…” "You could try asking the Germans how goes it?") “BLIND ALLEY: What’s going on in Eastern Europe isn’t a defeat for the idea that ordinary people can run their own lives- like the media wants us to believe. They’re going on like the whole world is turning into Mrs Thatcher fans. And that all the Czechs, Bulgarians etc just want to make a fast buck and damn everyone else. Bullshit! These people have been out on the streets, on strike, been shot at… not for CocaCola, but to get some parasite off their back. They’re no different to your average Brit. Few people pump out ideas of getting people together and running things from where we live and work, cos they all get locked up and / or their ideas are made to appear looney- just like they’ve done here (in the UK). Many people are just going to want to go for the Western car, the coke, the bunny girl and all that stuff and in many ways, who can blame them?” (Class War) "... the mass exodus from East to West...” "REFUGEES DREAMS OF WEST ENDS IN TENTED CITY: The picturesque calm of the Bavarian village was shattered as the German army unloaded truck after truck of steel plates to form a temporary surface on what was once a swimming pool car park. This is now a tent city home for 650 East German refugees. The families face the future with optimism and little else. Their worldly belongings amounts to £300 given by the West German government, a rucksack and 2 school satchels. They left behind their comfortable 5 bedroom house and large family car. ‘We had everything but our freedom. For years we’ve dreamed of coming to the West… We boarded ‘The Freedom Express’ at Budapest…’ Only the lucky few have been offered jobs with accommodation. This week-end, another mass exodus of 6,000. A further 60,000 (people!) are waiting in makeshift transit camps. If this continues, then an old adage will soon come true- a notice on the Berlin wall saying ‘Will the last East German to leave, please put out the lights!’…” “Gaunt-eyed children and haggard men and women, laden with plastic suitcases throng the platforms before being bused to a requisitioned army barracks which serves as their temporary home.” “2,000 people in one tent.” TRAGIC! (see

level of Sulphur dioxide emissions- widely blamed for acid rain. “Germany is replacing high smoke coal with oil…” “The West German Greens are tapping public anger at the destruction of their country’s forests and rivers…” “Douglas Hurd flew to East Germany with an offer of British help and ‘know-how to establish a Democracy’ and try to reassure people they were being given Western support. The exodus continues at the rate of 2,000 people a day. A senior source said: ‘I am not optimistic the people are getting the feeling that things are going to get any better.’ The Allies are working hard to agree things West Germany has long campaigned for EG. the right for Lufhansa to fly direct to Berlin. Diplomatically hazardous talks involve the Soviet Union as the 4th power to still govern Berlin…” In her Wall Street Journal interview, Mrs Thatcher said: “German reunification would upset the economic balance of the European Community. For reunification to occur it will have to be through the self-determination of the Germans themselves. France and the US are now urgently working towards ways of satisfying long-standing demands.” Praising President Gorbachev, she said: “If we cannot visibly support him then we shall be cheating future generations. Any successor regime, would almost inevitably be repressive and flout everything we believe in and have been trying to achieve.” “GOING: CHECKPOINT CHARLIE, removed by a crane from it’s site near the Berlin wall. Checkpoint Charliethe main symbol of the Cold War. D. Hurd said: “At last, we are bringing Charlie in from the cold.” USA Secretary of State, James Baker said Checkpoint Charlie would be replaced by ‘a bridge of peace and freedom.’ The Soviet Foreign minister, Eduard Shevardnadze, declared: ‘I wish Berlin peace, calm and well being’…” (23/6/1990).

“We have to plan, save money. I want to buy a new car…” (28/6/1990). “EVERYTHING IS IN CONTROL. The government insist there is no cause for alarm. ‘Bargains’ are now in the shops- new electrical items found in the West EG. radios & TV’s.” “Fewer cars sold than expected.” “Sales of pornographic material dramatically on the increase.” CAPITALISTS SAID: “How do we convince tired eyes that have seen everything?”

Chapter 3 / Housing / Modern Building Materials).

("How to restore economic and social balance?" “Looking for an effective way of dealing with very real difficulties… A JOINT VENTURE?”) “People are attracted to where there is a lively Arts scene. You can see this in the shops- people are brought back to life…” 539

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as a bridge between Russia and America. East Germany is going to provide a laboratory for generating issues, to harmonise economies” (30/6/1990) (Song: “Take my hand, it’ll be alright. All your dreams will come true in the end… Dream Maker. Your love- the invincible winner.”) “The socially weak have the heaviest load. Just about everybody has got something to worry about...” Re: Berlin: “A real magic solution = A growing market economy.” (1992-3: The Queen and J. Major both said ‘there is no magic solution.’ (“Little do they know…”) “BANK FOR THE POOR: A bank manager stole £25,000 from accounts of wealthy clients and used the money to help the unemployed, the widows and families in danger of being evicted. Hartmut Horn, 38, got a 12 month suspended prison sentence in Hoexter, West Germany.” Leipzig: “Demonstrators, for the 2nd week, demanded the Right to leave the country… Police detained dozens- some people arrested and taken away for no apparent reason.” “West Germany arrested ‘terrorists’ hiding in East Germany since 1970’s. One is accused of harming a politician. Another for belonging to a banned group…” “GDR CONSUMERS NOW HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR WHAT THEY WANT…” “RACISM: Since the Wall came down, people can say what they like. Blacks being blamed for Aids (HIV)! ‘Blacks take our jobs.’ ‘Niggers out of Germany.’ ‘Nigger’s labour is cheaper.’ It’s a scandal to hear such opinions.” With the collapse of Socialism- racism. We are facing an exam. Either we will integrate so people form one society or there will be confrontation…” (Europe

"The East looks to the Mercedes car to power their ailing economy... “ “PROTESTS IGNORED. STIFLED: Socialists protesting in the streets. The slow pace of unification. Squatters camping on Mercedes Benz site. German Capitalists want to expand. People fear old troubles are starting again” (June 1990). “Germany- a strong economy. Doesn’t want to dominate. Only wants to be a strong member of the EEC. The Iron Curtain may have to be raised again.” Re: “The Freedom of Movement” Mrs Thatcher said she wants a wider Europe. Heseltine said that could create a flood of refugees in Britain" (8/10/1990).

“FLOOD OF REFUGEES: The East German authorities said they had accepted 3,000 Romanians + 100’s more are arriving daily. Based on the number of Visas issued, 15,000 more refugees are heading for Berlin. ‘We no longer know how to cope with this massive flood of people’ said the East German Foreign ministry. ‘The Emergency accommodation (tents) we are providing is already stretched to its limits.’ 300 refugees are being ‘housed’ in a gym! 1,100 are ‘living’ 10 to one room in the People’s Army barracks at Biedorf. The remainders are sleeping rough in station waiting areas. … A Red Cross van arrived with 2nd hand clothing… a posse of police were barely able to restrain a crowd of 75 barefoot women fighting to get children's jumpsuits. Staff at the barracks said many of the refugees are gipsies who fear an upsurge in ethnic violence in Romania and the persecution of minority groups such as their own. Others are worried the government will again close the Romanian borders…” “YOU CAN’T LEAVE US HANGING ON!” “… many go across the border to West Berlin to try and sell their meagre belongings in the city’s burgeoning flea market.” "150,000 Homeless refugees. ‘They were happy to take our money off us!’ ‘They are no longer refugees. We must stop them coming here. They are unbalancing the Germany economy!’ ‘They’ve only just been given freedom to travel so how can we deny it to others?’ “HOW can we adjust to MODERN problems?” “… the old square in East Berlin is filled with beggars…” “The DREAM is turning to DUST as unemployment soars and living standards are slashed” (1/9/1990) (“... it may all come to nothing!”) “Police in East Germany protesting. ‘Our workload has increased- the high number of car accidents. We need more police, not less!’…” (“How to make a United Germany more palatable?”) UK: “It’s important we don’t feel threatened by the development of Germany. Germany may serve

Express, 15/8/1990).

East Germany: “A wasteland of ugly housing estates, filthy pollution, poor food, high unemployment (1 million people)…” “Kohl reported selfishness is on the increase... “ “Guilt is a terrible thing…” “BRICK-LAYERS WANTED FOR BERLIN: An army of skilled British workers will soon be marching in, helping to rebuild East Germany’s economy. East Germany will be turned into ‘one giant construction site.’ There’s going to be a huge labour shortage, and tremendous demand for EEC workers, to build power stations, motorways and major factories. Firms will cash in on Transport: Only 25% of the rail system is electric. Other transport is obsolete. Building: 2 in 3 houses in East Germany are tumble-down and more than 50 years old. Industrial: Chemical plants work at less than ½ the productivity of those in the West. Energy: Lack of industrial and domestic know-how means folk use 5-times more oil and coal. Pollution: The most modern East German power plant causes air pollution as high as that 540

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plastic tubes will take 10 years to complete. Ideology: Want to produce new apartments. Have produced simple, ugly buildings using traditional materials. All need proper mains gas, elec & water supply. Daunting task. Trying to turn ruins into habitable blocks. Outside painted to hide defects. Modernisation is necessary if communities to function smoothly. Germany knows the cost of incompatible systems- no conveniences, old bulky machinery- now obsolete by today’s standards (but still functioning). Massive costs paid for by raised Taxes. Controlling the population was more important than good communications. EG. State police taped telephone calls. Microphone switched on even when phone not in use. Building the new means destroying the old? Has dangers- not everything old was bad. We need the right things to hold onto cultural history. It is necessary we learn it. Some kind of market, a social life- a more social way of life… We have to learn” (Equinox. Channel 4, 8/11/1994). “COST TO RE-BUILD NOW 410 BILLION deutschmark. Kohl wants workers to accept lower wages and higher Taxes..." Apparently Germany sees it as “the very devil itself’.” “2 HOSTELS FOR REFUGEES BURNT DOWN...” Re: RACISM: “Stop it at the very beginning or it will become a major issue.” ("...er, could I have a word in your ear? If you give all your energy to...") “A fire in a Hamburg refugee hostel left 2 children dead, 10 people injured” (9/12/1992). Dresden: “Being re-built in former style + characterless precincts. After unification, changing names of streets EG. Freedom Street now called the High Street. East Germany will be ready for tourism in 5 years” (1993). “TYRANT: Former dictator, Erich Honecker, may have the last laugh after being freed from his trial for mass murder at the Berlin Wall. He was allowed to fly to Chile after convincing a Judge he was dying from inoperable liver cancer. But a cancer specialist said he could live for another 5 years after treatment in his sunshine state, safe from extradition laws” (Today, 15/1/1993). “DREAMS ARE NOT REALITY.” “The number of asylum seekers are increasing” (Berlin, 8/3/1993). "German manufacturers crippled by high interest rates. Deeply in recession- much worse than anyone expected. Economic slow down. Downward trend…” (18/3/1993). German definition of FINE: “Delicate, beautiful, distinct, splendid…” “INDUSTRIAL WORKERS ON STRIKE” (5/5/1993). “UNCERTAIN FUTURE: The German’s have a huge burden. How to re-build a just society and remember the atrocities done? Under pressure now to provide jobs, housing. A competition for

produced by ALL the power stations in the West. Cars: … on average cars are 13 years old…” (13/4/1990).

“EXPORTS ARE DOWN due to high imports” (October 1990).

“Financial pressure and emotional strain go hand-in-hand.” (“You know the pain always hurts, so why don’t you stop? Just stop!”) “THE BEAT GOES ON…” “THE COST!! Rebuilding the roads and railways = 200 Billion dm. That is more than £300 BILLION every year for the next 5 years!!” All the energy required to reconstruct their (old) industries… (No laughter. Not even taped applause). “COLD BLOODIED CAPITALISM. Economy in a shambles. Feeling of helplessness. Demonstrations growing every week. Unemployment to be ‘viable’? Privatisation. Had no idea misery would come so soon. East Germany has a bumper crop of potatoes. 8,000 tons. No-one wants to buy” (24/9/1990). “The military in East Germany is being sold off.” “Mrs Thatcher flew 3,000 miles for a 3 hour meeting with G. Bush (senior) but admiration for Mrs Thatcher has gone. Germany now the most important nation to woo. The special relationship between the UK and USA… Bush will not be lectured to… her… personality… A few photo images was all that resulted.” “There could be 4 million unemployed in Germany next year.” “Are pay restraints the answer?” “We have a very large administration. We need a new route to the top, new infrastructure. We have no label for the quality of life for our people.” "The USA wants to ban dual-use goods, used for military purposes. for export to 3rd World countries..." (1992) ("... it's multi-purpose...") Question raised: How can we improve trade without cutting our own throat?” (1991). “NAZIS MARCHING… anarchists protesting at racial attacks- throwing stones. Police launched an attack against the anarchists. ‘Why don’t you arrest the Nazis for disturbing the peace?’…” (3/10/1991).

“PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKE. ‘We will not suffer no pay rises as sacrifices to re-building the East’…” (5/5/1992).

“An invisible wall still separates Germany. Transport, communication, power supplies, sewers. A painful process re-building Berlin. Divided into 4 sectors. After WW11, East Germany stagnated. Not modernised. Heart ripped out. No man’s land. Flattened. Fit only for a touring circus. Now biggest building site in the world. Over 100 roads have to be linked. New bridges built. One Bridge = 48 Metal sections, each weighing 170 tons! New train network. New rolling stock. New modern stations. Underpasses. Costs £50,000 to bring one FLAT up to standard! Changing facades will come later. Replacing old, leaky Gas pipes with 541

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“Volkswagen has lost £millions” (1994). “100,000 Germans a year suffer heart failure. Their heart stops pumping…” (4/3/1994). “TERMINAL INDIFFERENCE: There are 82 different fascist groups in Germany. Turmoil is breeding in Berlin…” (Evening Standard, 5/4/1994). “Germany’s greatest wish is to build a wider peace. War graves are a present witness to past folly. If we can’t focus on what we have in common, old conflicts will rise again, with terrifying consequences” (7/4/1994). “German authorities are clamping down on British building workers (brickies). Most come to Germany because there are no jobs in Britain. Life for builders here has got worse since 1980’s. Some complain they take on work and don’t get paid. Building sites now being targeted for inspections looking for illegal workers. Builders are desperate for a job” (31/5/1994). “3 killed, 6 injured in an explosion in a 8 storey block of flats. Suspected gas leak” (4/8/1994). “Berlin’s Love Parade. 1,000’s of young people celebrated on the streets- ravers, dancing. ‘Love, peace and tolerance.’ Love = Happiness.” “GOLD FEVER has hit Germany. Millions are after the National Lotto Jackpot prize. ‘We need to buy things- a new home’…” (9/9/1994). “The secret police, responsible for much bloodshed, accused of corruption and fraud… not put out of business. Are still operating. Have secret property deals. The building of a new United German city… They’re finding it even more profitable…” (7/11/1994). “ANNIVERSARY of opening of the Berlin Wall soured by scuffles, disruption- a reminder of the new feeling of distrust, outright hatred… that all is not well” (9/11/1994). “We have too much conservatism” (14/11/1994). “Politicians in Germany going to have to be breath-tested to stop drunken speeches in Parliament. Many politicians have a drink problem” (Virgin radio, 30/12/1994). “East Germany is still one big building site. Dust , dirt everywhere!” (March 1995). “The German Green Party have achieved success with their boycott of Shell’s petrol stations (to stop the sinking of an unwanted oil rig in the sea), and now plans to stop a massive quarry and reduce Germany’s energy consumption by a ½a prospect that makes the power companies shudder” (13/7/1995). “Oh, when will there be PEACE in Germany?" “5.2 million people are out of work sparking anger…” “Sales of Mercedes cars have fallen… The car giant is in trouble…” (2005). “CUTS IN WELFARE. PLANTS CLOSING. Workers replaced by robots. American-style Capitalism is taking over Europe. Crisis in politics. The Chancellor is not happy” (24/5/2005).

architects: Result: New Towns. High density” (May 1993) (Ah! Did you expect any different?) “MP’s debating new Asylum Laws. Groups of anarchists tried to blockade Parliament. Riot police arrived by helicopter. Violence broke out. Protestors said Germany will turn into a fortressno-one will be allowed in. MP’s voted 4 – 1 to restrict refugees… High number of attacks against refugees… 1,000’s of people are still locked out of their countries… The Church said Germany owes a debt to the world- that many Jews would not have survived if other countries had not opened their doors…” (26/5/1993). “GERMANY SHUTS DOORS ON REFUGEES: Legislators, ignoring 1,000’s of protestors, agreed to tighten the Asylum Laws and make it difficult for refugees to find a haven… By 521 votes to 132 members of the lower house approved the measure, designed to curb the influx of East European and 3rd World refugees arriving at a rate of 440,000 a year. When deputies arrived, approx. 10,000 pro-asylum demonstrators blockaded the Parliament building in Bonn to show, in their words, ‘what it feels like to be shut out’…” (Evening Standard, 27/5/1993).

“YET MORE ATTACKS AGAINST HOSTELS…” “2 women and 2 girls burned alive in Neo-Nazi arson attack” (29/5/1993). “A WAVE OF PUBLIC OUTRAGE. Growing nationalism, Neo-Nazism. Turkish community near rebellion… 100’s of Turks went on the rampage. 100’s of demonstrators blocked autobahns… CHAOS” (31/5/1993). “RIOTS HIT CITIES… AGAIN…” (2/6/1993). “National trauma. Clashes with police, marches. Underlying demands unanswered. German leaders jeered. 6 million foreigners live here. ‘We want you to feel at home’…” (Cologne, 3/6/1993). “RECESSION HITTING GERMANY HARD.” “We’re slipping in their sick scheme…” “They can’t cope with the strain…” “SAD CONVOY: Gypsies are being sent back to the killing fields of Yugoslavia under new Asylum Laws now in place. Gypsies marching, protesting. 200 gypsies starting a 2 month vigil on the pavement. ‘My throat will be cut if I am sent back.’ Deep concern. Hasty deportations. These people face war and persecution. Against ethnic cleansing they have no chance. Agencies said they are unable to offer asylum” (8/6/1993). “CAR WARS. Big row in Germany involving USAowned General Motors…” (20/8/1993). “MERCEDES- Germany’s Number 1 car producerlaying off 40,000 staff due to slump in car sales because of the recession. The German economy is very weak. 3.5 million Germans unemployed. Steep decline in consumer demand. Recovery expected to be long- agonisingly slow” (BBC1, 17/9/1993). 542

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PRE-ELECTION: “A Social Democrat and Green Coalition in 2002. Now Conservatives attacking policies…” “German manufacturers are struggling. Volkswagen failing to compete- cannot go on. It is time for change” (5/9/2005).

“HUGE FOREST FIRE. People forced onto the beach” (BBC News, 21/8/2006). HAWAII: “Flowers are very important in Hawaii…” “The Hawaiians are serfs on their own land…” “People are worried about over-development spoiling the land. Development out of control. People need to be more involved in the decision making process. ‘They build hotels only to make a lot of money’… ½ of the big island is cattle ranches owned by cowboys… Native Hawaiians want some of their land back… Land prices going up. ‘We have no homelands any more. Simple waiting is not enough.’ Pressured to get a better job to earn more money… There is a huge surfing community here. The latest trend is surfing for Jesus… The scene is attracting many young followers… Good, clean fun… One wave in Hawaii could light up a whole town… Drug addicts are turning to God… Boredom is one of the main causes for crime… OPERATION WIPE-OUT: Police use helicopters to target marijuana growers, spraying plants with herbicide before removing them. If caught, savings, home and land confiscated… The people belong behind bars?” (Rough Guide, Sky Travel,

GREECE: 1967: “Former King fled. Royal property will go to the State…” Population: Approx. 11 million people. “Many young people think the old traditions are wrong- slowly things are changing.” "Growing foreign debts. 3rd General Election in 10 months. Turn out at polling stations apathetic. Power struggles. Conservatives have 50% of the seats… they promise to curtail Socialist policiesall Welfare programmes. Reports of growing unrest…” (March / April 1990). “Holiday flights to Greece grounded as 1 million workers staged a 1 day strike to protest against government cuts.” “POLLUTION: 500 holiday-makers admitted to hospital in Athens suffering the effects of air pollution… victims suffering heart and breathing problems. Pollution levels dangerously high during a 3 day heat-wave. People advised to stay indoors…” “… 250% rise in departure Tax…” (1/11/1992). EXPULSIONS: “Greek police expelled 1,000’s more Albanian refugees- illegal immigrants. 150,000 – 300,000 illegal Albanians estimated to be in Greece…” (29/6/1993). “FOREST FIRE. Village destroyed. 12 people killed. State of Emergency declared” (Ikaria,

22/1/2005).

HOLLAND (“Land of Flowers”): “Everybody seems to be searching for something. I hope I find it before I pop my clogs.” Rotterdam: "Investing in specially-made cardboard boxes for the Homeless. Britain are interested in ‘the weather-proof shelters’..." (The Times, 5/5/1993) (“The cardboard box company folded…”) Amsterdam: “Legalised brothels. Prostitutes have to pay Tax. Pimps going to be called ‘managers.’ Recession- more women turn to prostitution. Police convinced there is an organised trade- in white slavery. Women lured by false promises (the money). Alarms. Forced to sell their bodies. Gangs looking for victims. Unlikely to stop now”

2/8/1993).

“Many Greeks feel depressed. Many blame the government…” (Newsnight, BBC1, 11/10/1993). “Painful measures to turn the economy round haven't helped. Usual Election speeches short on detail..." (8/10/1993). “Former King and his family denied citizenship.” “Passenger ferry abandoned by passengers and crew after fire- sank after burning for 3 days” (13/6/1994).

“ATHENS BAKES: Athens is a ghost town as a freak heat-wave compounded by high pollution levels, forced the government to extend the ban to city centre traffic and urge the population to stay at home or leave for cooler coasts. Hospitals on alert. Temperature 108” (Evening Standard, 12/8/1994). “Greece is preparing to throw out 10’s of 1,000’s of Albanians as a reprisal for expected conviction of 5 ethnic Greek Albanians on trial for alleged subversion in Tirana. The 5 claim they have been tortured by police to extract confessions” (Evening

(ITN, 14/10/1993).

Netherlands: “Floods…” (January 1994). “MODEL VILLAGES: A normal looking estate. Made from materials easier to re-use afterwards. Has longer life. Weeds on roofs to provide natural insulation. Rainwater stored to flush toilets. Air regularly filtered- quality tested. Has almost cured asthma of 5 year old child. Built-in vacuum cleaner to reduce dust. Solar powered. ‘The energy aspects we like very much.’ Costs 10% more than the average house. Much subsidised by the government- who are financing all sorts of Environment friendly programmes. Whole new town planned- 22,000 houses” (GMTV, 15/4/1994).

Standard, 23/8/1994).

“Charming. You’ve just set up home and…” “Bus transporting staff to Ministry of Public Order bombed” (19/9/1994). 543

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“Hungary is feeling the pain of sharp price increases. Life is getting harder. Hungary is at an economic cross-roads” (1/3/1995).

HUNGARY: MAIN LANDMARK: “The Fire-Watch Tower.” “GIPSIES HATED: Are regarded as thieves, dirty, unscrupled. That is not true! Most gipsies are very nice” (1993) (“Some say being serenaded by a gipsy with a violin is what it is all about.”) “Collapse of Communism. Now people have no incentive to work. Those in charge only polishing seats. Only when the old guard is kicked out will new, young ideas take over…” “HUNGRY IN HUNGARY: ‘We want to eat what we like! We’re not stupid.’ ‘We know shit when we see shit.’ ‘Give me cherries and nuts.’ ‘We’re going to work out the order of a new post-Cold War world.’ ‘Your 1st priority was to deal with social welfare? Former strategy was not the right way.’ EXPERT: The construction of a Federal State- the building will be very difficult.” “GATES OF ‘FREEDOM’ OPEN: Hungary opened their border to let in 66,000 East German refugees… approx. 6,500 had been waiting for weeks in camps to be let through. One man said: ‘We are unbelievably happy- you can’t describe it’… Many refugees celebrated and cheered: ‘We’ve made it!’…” (11/9/1989). “The brewery giant, Allied, is shipping a £100,000 pub in kit form to help Hungarians celebrate their new found political ‘freedom’...” “Mrs Thatcher visited Hungary, urging they push forward privatisation of industries. Inflation has trebled since State subsidies started to be lifted”

INDIA: “100 years ago, the British Empire ruled… The colonists…” 1975: "Population 608 million. By 1992: 839 million..." "Millions of people struggle to feed their families... Migrants to cities overwhelming..." "A Bank in India has started giving fixed, low-rate loans to poor people (crafts people). Now recognising supporting poor people has advantages" (1990) ("Let's hope it catches on.") "We're ‘living’ like animals, ‘living’ off scraps..." "... mismanaged... conflicts all based on those who wish to exploit, and those who do not wish to be exploited..." "1 million people sleep on the streets... 3,000 street beggars arrested..." (1991). "... can't move for all the beggars... shanty town fire... school collapsed...” “15 BOMBS went off at Bombay’s Stock Exchange... the Air-India building... could be religious, or international conspiracy..." (12/3/1993). “DRIVEN FROM THEIR LAND: India’s Forest Conservation Act of 1980 used to evict people from their homelands… Land is being grabbed from villagers… Natives do not have deeds… Forest laws are so restrictive, tribes now need permission to even travel through the forest they have lived in for generations… The men forced to leave to work on construction sites earning 70p a day…Their homes are now surrounded by a police camp and plantations… They are unable to grow produce on their land. The dispossessed are fighting a losing war against poverty” (Guardian Unlimited 24/1/2005). Bahar: “School children kidnapped and held for dowry money. In the slums, 'life' is brutal and short. 45 million people are illiterate and way below the poverty line” (3/2/2005). “HOW TO HELP PEOPLE ESCAPE POVERTY? Only 10% of people pay Tax as so few jobs. Should the government guarantee jobs for everybody i.e. do hard labour in return for pittance? India can’t Afford Welfare for the unemployed…” (Sky news 25/2/2005). “To attract tourists, India needs 150,000 extra hotel rooms. Where is the budget for that?”

(19/9/1990).

“We still have to do what we are told.” “Hungary suffered a peaceful revolution last year. It was a revolution that wasn’t a revolution, because nothing has changed! The hated Communists have been ousted, and they now have freedom of speech etc., and no-one is knocking that, but that’s about it. Hungary’s proud achievements since ‘liberation’ are: Diplomatic and trade relations resumed with Chile (an extreme right-wing dictatorship) and South Africa… Then, on December 20, a package of cuts was passed in Parliament. Rents up 35%, mortgage repayments up by 100%. In fact everything up by at least 200%. It’s the same old story. If you want to live under Capitalist ‘freedom’ you have to pay through the nose. The good news is the idea of having a proper revolution is gaining support, as Hungarian workers are getting themselves organised. We can predict forthcoming outbreaks of class war” (“... it will keep coming up again…”) Dubcheck said: “We have drunken ‘Democracy’…” “A serious crisis. Hungary and Romania fighting. 300 (ethnic) people killed…” (20/3/1990). EXPERT: “Is there a common denominator across Eastern Europe? Apart from radicalism?”

(17/4/2005).

“FOR 'DEFENCE': India has agreed a £40 million spending plan on the military…a week after Pakistan announced plans to buy sophisticated US fighter jets” (30/3/2005). “In India, 65% of children went to 'bed' hungry on 'World Food Day.' 83% of all India’s children suffer from malnutrition… GOA: Orphans and 544

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“… the enslaved…” “… people washing their clothes in ditches, used as sewers, also for drinking water…” “… most of the people 'live' in absolute shit-holes… reeking of urine, rotting offal, rotting vegetables and refuse…” “…inside the smoke-blackened hut…” “… box-like brick houses, dirt floors- some with sanitation…” “… the suburbs squalid…” “… tribesmen and Nomads- only their poverty in common- and pride…” “… youths spoiling for a fight…” “… in the hovels, they all believe in going to Heaven, but they ‘live’ in hell…” “… sand flies are endemic in Iran…” “… rats, rubble and lepers…” “… packs of rabid stray dogs…” ALL THE DAILY PRAYERS FOR GOD’S WISDOM, GOD’S PROTECTION… “SHOW ME THE WAY!” (Ah! How the people pray for it…) God asks: “Will they ever welcome me?” “Look upwhat do you see? Do you see me?”) "Pictures of rulers are littered all over the hoardings..." “The advertising hoardings advertise products we don’t want or need.” The HARD-LINE: Enthusiasm for Khomeini’s revolution has been dampened in Iran in the past year by rampant inflation, housing shortages and unemployment. As millions mourned the 1st anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini’s death, groups from Lebanon, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh waved black flags, wept and beat their heads and chests. The so-called pragmatists led by Mr. Rafsanjani have been playing a relatively low key role in the mourning. They are believed to be waiting for the wave of emotion to die down before returning to their task of trying to slacken the ideological bonds hampering Iran’s post war recovery” (1990) “… Following Khomeini’s death, the people tried to tear down his resting place…” “Too many countries are torn by their idolsprofits of sin…” "WIDESPREAD POLITICAL CORRUPTION. People can’t avoid talking about it. Hardships. 14 years of 'revolution.' Hard to get medicine. Value of oil exports halved. A new upheaval is not imminent" (BBC1, 10/6/1993). “Running against unknown opposition, he was voted in. Elections staged just for show, of no importance, achieve nothing" (14/6/1993). “This ID card is out of date… This card is illegal. Armed road blocks. Armed civilians- guns & knives. There are many spies and enemies of the State. ‘Enemies of the people.’ There are ears everywhere. Machine guns, sullen faces, angry men, a brooding dread. Many sides- all armed. Frightened men pull triggers. Shootings. Why waste bullets when boots do as well? Why kill them so quickly? Our ‘justice’ is quick. The smell of fear pervading. Terror. Savagery…”“…

abandoned children are growing up supported by slum dwellers… the street children may have parents or guardians living way below the poverty line in makeshift shanty huts and hovels. The children are forced to work as rag pickers… or even commit petty crimes for money, otherwise they may be beaten-up by their parents who are mostly alcoholics… One Angel of Mercy, former-nurse Anita Edgar, has already given 100’s of Homeless youngsters a 2nd chance by providing them with a home, medical treatment and an education. Now she is providing 100’s more with a nutrious meal every day… Aniat founded 'The El Shaddai Charitable Trust' and immediately set about creating children's’ homes, rescue centres and a night shelter… Their aim is to take 100,000 children under it’s wing… The Trust is planning to build a 20 cottage complex to accommodate teenagers from the homes who are seeking more independence…” (Offers of Help www.elshaddaigoa.com) (Herald Express, 30/3/2005).

“India’s one Billion people. Only 7% work in Agriculture. The frequent power cuts make life very difficult. Work is seasonal. Paid $2 a dayhigher than the national average. India’s ‘Green Revolution’ = Increased mechanisation for an export drive. It makes good social sense to upgrade Agriculture to help poor people in villages” (CNN, September 2005). "MONSOON FLOODS: 448 people died, 120,000 people homeless. Many died crushed by collapsing buildings. Road and rail travel seriously disrupted throughout the country" (Sky news, 8/8/2006) "... floods have claimed scores of lives... people stranded on roof-tops, in homes... Rains due to return" (BBC World News, 12/8/2006). “47 killed… a concrete water tank collapsed on them…” (27/8/2006). IRAN: “Land of God” !? “Iran is one of the most prone Earthquake countries. Is on major fault lines…” 1978: "25,000 people killed in an Earthquake.” “Most of the people here 'live' in SQUALOR… Power cuts. Have to use candles most evenings… Long queues for petrol… the Black market for fuel…” “… the damn heating has been off all winter…” “NOISY, cramped, DIRTY, POLLUTED, trafficjammed cities… the vehicles almost all dented and patched… the road surfaces bad- deep holes… never-ending repairs- road works… Much hooting, swearing, snarled traffic, inching along, engines grinding and over-heating, frustration building in every vehicle…” “Frequent accidents- mortality high…” “… barbed wire fences along the roads…” 545

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MAD: “… they use anything and everything to further the ‘sacred’ cause- World Power- for the Party…” EG. “Iran could dominate the Gulf, dominating the Arabs- taking their oil. Iran could over-run Kuwait and Iraq. The stupid British and Americans could equip us with weapons bought by Western loans we will never repay. The Bomb! We could gain Jerusalem and Mecca and so be first on earth…” (“Well, they’re not going to openly admit it, are they?”) “Our glorious freedom fighters…” “… it is the will of God that we are at war…” (No. “… it is the will of God.” “Do you think it is the wise thing to do?” “You know it would be wise.” “It’s as simple as that.”) “I wish I knew where the future of Iran lies…” KISMET: ”ALLAH’S WILL.” “As God wants” ? ”If you wish, so be it…” ? “Men of God are WISE. They do not seek violence and torture…” “Would the Iranians approve of it?” EXPERT: “They would probably think it is trickery” ? EXPERT: “If it could improve their national security yes- theirs and ours. Maybe they’d get around to doing it if they saw their enemy being a shining example…” “I hope to God for the people’s sake they make it…” “WHAT do you PRAY for? Deliverance from evil?” “How can we help these poor people to crawl out of The Dark Ages?” “FOR CRIMES AGAINST GOD i.e. “Thou shalt not take thy God’s name in vain…” "A DIVINE TEST: "Let us attempt to believe in each other's good faith. Perhaps a way forward might be found through the mutual recognition of mutual pain." “Another devastating EARTHQUAKE... Epicentre at sea- (7.5 on Richter scale).... hit a densely populated area (4 million people live here)... Old buildings collapsed... most devastation caused by falling buildings... 100's of VILLAGES affected- damaged, cut-off by landslides. After-shocks went on for 2 hours. Now flooding... roads blocked... Death Toll: 32,000 38,000. Deep shock... Many people now too afraid to go back into buildings... (22/6/1990). EARTHQUAKES = “BLOCKS COLLAPSE like packs of cards…” “… From his palace he called his people to mobilise... 86 countries have offered to join the relief operation... The USA willing to provide Humanitarian assistance should it be requested, but Iran, in keeping with self-reliant tradition... …The French brought a field hospital with them..."

silent and afraid…” “… panic stricken mobs, howls…” “We didn’t win the last revolution to let more lawlessness take it’s place, did we?” “This revolution was the same as all of them, a new tyranny replaces the old. The new rulers implanted their version of god’s law…” “They changed the rules…” “Iran’s NOT paradise, but a HELL on Earth for most, especially the women…” “Pah! How could a woman ever be equal to a man!” “Women are supposed to be obedient…” “A woman must not have a brain of her own. She is only a possession like so much chattel…” “… when the fear left her, there was hate. Oh! God. To be safe. To be anywhere but here…” “… God-less mobs and bandits…” “… the police are never where you want them!” “… the rape… of your soul…” “…cut throats…” “… cut his hands off!” “For adultery he will get 20 lashes with the whip! “… she was slowly stoned to death. The women could not watch…” “… rivers of blood spilt in the name of his Allah not the real ALLAH / God…” “… they are antiGod…” “… here there are men who come between man and God…” UN-GODLY LAWS: “… all enemies of ‘God’ perish…” “… lots of executions…” (“Do you want to delay God’s work?”) “… his Highness ordered it…” (“SHAMS. With all your ‘magic’ you could not achieve it. Where is your famous WISDOM? Have you no heart? Are you too ashamed to talk with me?”) "PUBLIC DISORDER: "No man can have 2 masters." "You work for us" they say. "Not God." "You try and believe in these gods. But if a person believes in God, how can that person believe in these gods, when these gods contradict God? That's totally insane! All the distress caused by this... “ "This is legal, but not moral.” “… hands upturned in the hope Allah would sort this whole thing out…” "IN ISLAMIC COUNTRIES... USERY is considered 'unethical practice.' ... it's in the Koran...” “Not so long ago evil was known as evil, and good as good, and EVIL could not wear the mask…” (“Same thing with our government, same thing with every bloody government…”) XENOPHOBIC REGIME: “… a paranoiac hatred of Americans and the British…” “Islamic militants blame America for all their troubles…” “… a hatred of decadence and pornography…” “… wide-spread political corruption (bribes to officials sometimes work). So many hardships..." 546

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(“Hospitals (tents) are made in kit form to deal with disasters…”) "THE MOUNTAIN CAME DOWN! MORE STRONG EARTHQUAKES: ... 50,000 dead, 150,000 people injured... Mile after mile of VILLAGES DESTROYED. Land now deformed... Risk of epidemics... One million people now Homeless. A tragedy without end, only grief. Towns no longer exist... 80% of all buildings damaged or destroyed... Will need to be re-built... The cost of reconstruction! CALLS for buildings that can withstand Earthquakes dismissed..." (26/6/1990) ("Jesus wept…") "British rescue workers returned, shocked... There were enough dead bodies to fill a stadium..." "They've had so many WARNINGS..." “... it’s very important we IMPROVE, not standstill…” "Each year there are an estimated 500,000 detectable seismic disturbances of which 1,000 cause damage..." "The problems are Man made." "SHORT-LIFE HOUSING…” "Annihilation caused by traditional buildings is traditional…” "The direct link between health and housing conditions?" "PERGATORY: Survivors BURIED ALIVE EG. "I'm crushed." “Hello? HELP! Is there anyone there? Can you help me? Oh! Please... Can anyone hear me? I'm trapped. I don't know where I am. I can't feel my legs... Oh! Don't! If you move this stuff it'll cave in on me.” “We'll have to wait for the experts... How's your leg?" "I don't like the squelching in my shoe. I can hardly breath. And my head is spinning. I can smell gas!” “Keep talking, keep talking...” “Suppose rescue doesn't come? I don't think I am OK..." "You’re down in there deeper than I thought…" “No, no, no! Oh no! You're too late guys. You missed one hell of a nice girl. She bled to death. I felt like I knew her all my life..." "This could happen to anyone..."

“ON BOXING DAY… ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE: 35,000 people died.” “Intense grief… Many people buried in rubble. Electricity and water supplies cut. Tents set up for survivors… A 2,000 year old mud brick citadel in Bam destroyed… 70% of houses destroyed. Ancient buildings do not withstand Earthquakes. Little modern Earthquake education… Iran suffers frequent Earthquakes. Small tremors happen almost daily. Since 1991, 17,600 lives lost, 53,000 injuriesofficial figures” (BBC, 26/1/2003) (Primitive buildings are not strong…) “Only 17% of pledged government money came through…” “Still in temporary shelters. Iran is still trying to recover from the effects of the Earthquake…” (December 25, 2004).

Islamic Militant: "We will die for it." Strong belief in paradise… but paradise is only attainable when you are dead ? Tragic! Islamic leader: "The whole world is slipping into anarchy” (they mean MAYHEM) (2004). "Iran said the only way forward, to find a solution, is to talk" (20/10/2004). "Iran has possibly the longest street in the world at 25 km... Easier here to find heroin than cigarettes... dealers give stuff for free to get you hooked... officially 30 Junkies a day are found dead on the streets of Tehran... 1.2 million addicts... Ration coupons for sugar, rice and oil... people queue for hours... labourers... beggars, some with babies / children... posh shops, boutiques, Banks, palaces... skirmishes between young people and the Security forces... prostitution / kerb crawling rife... Refusal to Speak = "... it's too sensitive"... Midtown buildings get taller and newer... monarchy gone... 'Iran's policies are wrong- everybody hates Iran now. Many would like the Shah to come back'... They see the Americans are bogged down..." (Sunday Times magazine, 31/10/2004).

Question put to Tony Blair: "Are there any concrete plans to bring justice, freedom and peace to the people of Iran? 25 years of Human Rights abuses - the lack of publicity given to these abuses..." "Iran’s military went on full alert fearing an Israeli attack…” (15/11/2004) Mr. Blair replied: “We have to proceed using dialogue. We can't force Democracy onto them…”

“… it’s a Wake-up call.” "WAKE UP! That's the only thing I can say..." “I know it’s difficult but it’s HARDER to ignore it…” ("Tell me, who does not love those who cannot come back?") ("I could not gamble with these lives. My brain shall be a match for your brute strength.") ("I remember the cut bodies. Those that have been forgotten. You'll be forgotten too, all in a flash!") “Why don’t you come to your senses? Nothing’s pleasing you. It’s hurting you.”) “DEMONSTRATIONS to protest against religious leaders who stopped Democratic Elections” (July

(17/11/2004).

“2nd attack on the British embassy in Tehran… protestors angry at Britain's involvement in Iraq, threw petrol bombs, burnt flags…” (29/11/2004). “Iran now building Nuclear power plants for an Energy (or Weapons) programme? Reactors are in highly POPULATED areas. Leaders say these are harmless!” (October 2004) (see: Laser). "2nd promise made by Iran to cease all Uranium production" (21/11/2004) (IF more energy is needed to power homes… use a viable alternative!) “IF

1999).

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complicated to develop and far more expensive to produce?” (As a prestigious 'deterrent'?) “Israeli sources link Iran’s quest for Nuclear weapons to their ambition for leadership, not only in the region, but throughout the wider Islamic world… i.e. Islamic dominance and ultimately, a Global Islamic State. Iran… compounded by an acute inferiority complex… is a non-Arab state in a predominantly Arab region… Iran’s uncompromising religious zeal… their driving political ambition coupled with a Nuclear capable military machine… will the Mullahs have respect for anyone? Can Iran’s race be halted? The experts shudder and look with alarm at the dithering… So far, diplomacy by Britain, France & Germany have achieved negligible results. As with the weapons inspectors, duplicity is the name of the game for Iran’s skilful negotiators who run rings round European infidels (non-Christian believers) sent to buy Iran off…Right to confirm nothing can be done? Military action will not be easy. Iran’s Nuclear facilities are widely dispersed in scores of sites, throughout the country- in civilian population centres… hideously difficult to destroy them all. But nothing less will do. Intelligence sources say Iran’s nuclear installations must be taken out… Special forces may already by underway to sabotage Iran’s Nuclear facilities… A long shot but long-shots are the last resort of desperate nations… It is difficult to imagine Israel… or America, facing their most daunting challenge, would sit calmly by and await the fateful announcement from Vienna that Iran has tested their Nuclear device…” (The Spectator magazine, 15/1/2005) (Dream or nightmare? Which is it going to be?) “The consensus of opinion is that G. W. Bush will go after Iran 'because they have weapons of mass destruction'…(long range missiles) (BBC2, 19/1/2005) (We have heard that ‘justification’ before…) “ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE wiped out villages of mud bricks in Iran…” (21/2/2005). Iran’s Prime Minister said: ‘We are ready to cooperate with the world.” “Russia will help Iran build Nuclear power plants…” (February 2005) (Are they experts?) (Ah! “So Joint Ventures are no longer suspended?”) “President Bush said he cannot rule out the use of force though a diplomatic solution is being sought” (Sky news, 13/8/2005) ( “... it could clear up all these problems.”) “Iran needs to start listening to the international community…” “The UN said they thought Iran is still willing to negotiate… ‘We have no alternative… but to impose sanctions against Tehran’ said Jack Straw…” (12/1/2006) ("What if Iran said now is a good time to do it?")

Iran was honest they’d admit it…” (“If you’re a man of your word, prove it…”) (“I’m warning you. We have to change. There are going to be terrible conditions…”) (“… it is only fair to warn you, before it is too late…” “If I don’t warn you, I’m as guilty as you.”) “… the IAEA concluded / declared to the UN watchdog Iran has not diverted nuclear materials – all materials have been accounted for…" (15/11/2004) “Claims the US military has run simulations of a complex attack on Iran’s Nuclear sites…” (22/12/2004) “THE DEADLY THREAT OF A NUCLEAR IRAN: … the US is draining their energies in Iraq… UN monitoring agencies are dithering. ‘We are not asking tough questions,’ a senior official in the UN Nuclear monitoring industry said… At a moment of Global crisis, G. W. Bush is actively seeking to curtail the tenure of the largely ineffective head of 'The International Atomic Energy Agency.' All this has complicated the attempt to deal with the States in the Middle East understood to be rushing headlong down the Nuclear route… the alarms now from Washington of another rogue State- a member of ‘the AXIS of EVIL,’ that Iran is on the brink of going Nuclear… Israeli senior intelligence and military officials have produced a countdown on Iran’s emergence as a Nuclear power: by 2007 Iran will have reached ‘the point of no return’ by 2008, Iran will have produced their 1st Nuclear weapon… Intelligence sources have no doubt Iran is intent on acquiring Nuclear weapons… The world is now facing a real and present danger… (The Israelis are also worried about what might be going on in Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia- just 3 of about 18 countries- mostly Moslem and ore-rich African states…) Would Tehran use Nuclear weapons??? Iran is not the only country that is governed by Islamic law, that actively nurtures Islamic terrorists and has a problem relating to destroy a fellow UN member: Israel. In 1993, a slogan was inscribed on Iran’s missiles as they were paraded on Revolution Day- ‘Israel must be wiped out.’" (Because of the Palestinian problem?) “ISLAM: “THE WILL OF ALLAH.” “SAVING LIFE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING…” “Islam- the only way for Humanity?”) “They held a gun to their heads to make them convert to Islam…” “They beat and kicked her till she bled! They said licking an ice-cream was against Islam…” "Intelligence sources are contemptuous of Iran’s claim to be pursuing Nuclear energy for strictly peaceful purposes. This simply does not add up. Iran possesses among the largest proven oil and gas reserves in the world, more than enough to fuel their domestic needs. Why would Iran opt for Nuclear energy which is far more 548

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“Reactor opened…” (26/8/2006) “The UN’s deadline to freeze…”

“Many men, women and children tortured. Population of 15 million people ruled mainly by Arab leaders (a minority group). No certain number for executions- people disappeared, poisoned, tortured. People there live in TERROR. Human Rights groups tell of similar tales supported by 'Amnesty International.' A rich country. Producers of oil wealth. Systematic State brutality, onto people who show respect to the arts and sciences. The testimonies of exiles- worries for the friends and families left behind. Books by refugeesauthors have to use pen-name. ‘Anything could happen.’ Even in exile they are afraid. ‘Taken to a security jail for being overheard to criticise the government. He was kicked. His hands tied behind his back. He was hung by a rope by his hands. He was beaten. Very painful. He was told: ‘If you don’t confess we will set dogs onto you.’ Dogs barking in the background (a recording). ‘I saw other people tortured. If one wont confess they bring your children and threaten to kill them.’ Iraq has never been a Democracy. Britain used to rule. Britain finally pulled out in 1958, allowing the Arabs to get into power. Since then, the Party has aimed to give birth to a new nation. The Arabs were at war. They sold weapons to both sides. 1,000’s of people were killed. Ruler now rules country with an iron fist. ‘Enemies of the State should be executed, tortured, in accordance with the law.’ ‘Collaborating with the enemy- must be sentenced to death.’ The use of chemical weapons! Mass deportations… The Iraqi government has systematically sought to punish people badly. Hangings- 44 people at a time. The Arabs also kill their close associates. Secret trials. People live in fear of the knock on the door at the dead of night. Talking is prohibited. ‘I say to people- laugh! Be merry! Smile when they strike your face…’ They only recognise Arab. Any outsider is a traitor, irrespective of ancestors- they don’t actually qualify to be a citizen. ‘We don’t see them as citizens- we see them as something to punish.’ Muslims are suffering- losing homes- lives. The Kurds have no State- they live in the mountains. They are not Arabs. Constitution grants them many rights but government has fought back. The military has launched a war against peasants. ‘They insisted I was on a mission. Said I had information. They have taken my son!’ An underground movement called ‘Those That Face Death.’ Food laced with poison. Rat poison found in yoghurt. People died. One man went to England where poisoning was confirmed. The government ordered the military to use mustard-gas. Many 1,000’s of innocent men, women and children were killed- people who could not fight back, or run away, or protect their children with their bodies. (Films taken of villages- wiped out; also of bodies and people now without villages, who had to run to the hills

IRAQ: “Iraq- formerly Persia- the site of The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The King instead of conquering was content to plant gardens instead…” (Babylon: “Great lands of Saudi, Jordan, Iraq… Empires.”) “… the deeply religious countryside…” “… lot’s of people in the Middle East are Nomads…” “Saddam Hussein came into power in 1979…” 1981: “Iraq invaded Iran. Israel provided weapons to both sides hoping for mutual destruction… Saddam had war with Iran to overthrow Khomeini…” “An air strike by Israel knocked out Iraq’s Nuclear weapons programme...” “War cost $1 TRILLION and one million lives.” “After the war, the British government doubled Iraq’s credit…” “REFUGEES DISAPPEAR: 100’s of Kurdish refugees returning to Iraq under a government amnesty have disappeared and at least 7 others were executed. 'The Amnesty International' report also details pressure tactics used by Turkish authorities to coerce Kurds to return to Iraq” (The Guardian, 21/6/1990) “Kurds getting ready for more attacks against them” (15/8/1990). “Iran and Iraq- apartheid against women.” “Women are 2nd class citizens. Women have to walk 3-steps behind their husbands...” “ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM: The rise of radical Islam. Women’s ‘freedom’ under siege. After 60 years of ‘freedom’ they want to return to the past! Why should they want to wear the scarf? Why can’t they be like us in the West, like Europeans. So sad, and very negative. Shanty town peasants are to be feared? They’ve avoided reforms- are fiercely cultural. In Islam, justice matters. ‘We accept the Koran word for word.’ ‘Europeans- the West, they give nothing backtear the country apart.’ Iraqis are afraid of foreigners. It may be, in future, they refuse to speak to us altogether” (Europe Express, 15/8/1990) (A simple, attractive head scarf protects the body from the ravages of sun, sand and wind. The heavy, stifling, uncomfortable, black attire is imposed on women. That, plus the Yashmak is intended to protect females from the unwanted desires of all the lecherous dirty men who stare and view an uncovered head / body as an invitation- women then accused of being harlots...) “DEATH BY DONKEY: A donkey, enraged when its master tried to separate it from its mate, to load a burden, bit the man’s throat and killed him.” “YEARS OF OFFICIAL TERROR…” 549

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loans (credits). President Bush (senior) recently loaned $250 million. Many countries are competing to give Iraq what they need to make sure Iraq’s leaders never fall from power, despite the Human rights violations” (Enemies of the State, BBC, 16/3/1990). “The people are being systematically bled..." “MASS POISONING: Approx. 400 Iraqi Kurdish refugees were being treated for poisoning in SouthEast Turkey. This is the 3rd alledged instance of mass poisoning of Kurds since they sought refuge in Turkey after fleeing Iraqi chemical attacks in 1988. They Kurds... said they suspected Iraqi agents.” GULF WAR: (see Chapter 13) EXPERTS: “Saddam is in a cocoon of his own making, insulated from reality. He has unnatural calmness… His realities are quite different from how we know them.” “His curious interpretation of events. This conspiracy!” “He actually believes he is in control of the situation… Arab opinion is against him. He has enraged Arabs. His propaganda strategy is linked to his acts of aggression.” (During this interview, Saddam remarked: “It’s getting very hot in here. Can someone turn the heat down?” EXPERT: “He is wriggling around, trying to find one way or another…” UK: Paddy Ashdown said: “Hussein has fantasies and delusions. Forces ought to have long term aims- peaceful aims, not only war aims. His toneimmersed. He’s rattled, nervous.” EXPERT: “International Peace Conference is needed. He is trying to appeal to public opinionpeople who feel victimised by Western policies” (ITV,

following terrible persecutions; large groups, mainly women and children). Soil tests carried out by news reporters show conclusive evidence gas was dropped on them from aircraft. Done to destroy resistance. The government systematically removed the people living near the oil fields. The countryside is now nearly uninhabited. Collective punishment for having committed no crime. One man in an underground group trying to lead a revolution. His whole family condemned (treason). ‘They say to this man you must do this. He says no. They kill 10 of his family. Again he says no. They take another 10. He says I have no choice but continue.’ All the people are hostages, viewing their own country as a prison. Lack of many freedoms. Refugees wont return because of government. ‘Arrested at demonstration. Blindfolded. Hung by arms from ceiling. Electrodes placed into body- electric shocks administered. An electric probe used on men and women. If they refuse to join the Party, they are arrested and tortured by ‘Security Police.’ When released, sons executed. Movement very restricted. No guarantees of housing. There are Christiansthough many have escaped. They are not allowed to teach or preserve their culture- psychological torture. The churches are controlled. ‘They invaded our villages in their machines. 200 – 300 people were burned. The invaders are armed. Violence not spared. Many children tortured, killed.’ The government denies charges. Are they lying, or are there simply no limits? ‘Violence is our heritage.’ ‘The faces, the children keep disappearing.’ ‘Baseless allegations!’ ‘Are you saying 'The Commission For Human Rights' is lying?’ (Government’s Response):‘These are individuals who are traitors to their nation. Who are these human rights people? I haven’t seen them!’ A climate of fear affects the whole country. Very large numbers of people are afraid- too afraid to speak out. A school girl said: ‘They came for my family. 1st my father, then my mother, my sisters and me. It was a very big surprise to me.’ A woman holding an infant said: ‘I have not seen my husband since they took him away. I doubt I ever see him again.’ No-one dares to ask. Most know what the secret police are doing. The government’s crimes… For once, we have to deal with reality. At the moment Iraq is like one huge concentration camp. People are made to do things they don’t want to do. The military have the strongest arsenal in the Arab world. Should we (in the West) be concerned? They are developing massive Biological and Nuclear weapons. They have had considerable help from the West (West Germany, the USA, also Soviet and Chinese help). YES. We should most definitely be concerned. The USA is Iraq’s largest trading partner. $1 BILLION given for Agriculture loans. The USA wants to resume Bank

1990).

"Iraq is a rotting cess-pool of hatred and fear.” “Iraqi people cannot speak openly to journaliststhey know the official line which is often repeated.” “Attack on Iraq is wholly justified according to international law” said J. Major (19/1/1993) “Raids on Iraq- endangering civilian’s lives continue.” “In a bid TO CURB A CRIMEWAVE, President Saddam’s government has opted to apply Islamic SHARIA law on theft and cut off the hand or foot of thieves. Armed robbers will face the death penalty. Amputation would be used against anyone found guilty of stealing anything worth more than 5,000 dinars- about £8… Meanwhile, Babil, the newspaper of Saddam’s eldest son Uday, urged the government to reintroduce a law allowing a man to kill an adulterous wife or sister without fear of prosecution…” (Evening Standard, 6/6/1994) (“Hurting people who are simply just looking for something to eat is not a good thing...” “… cutting off hands is a solution, huh?”) September 11th, 2002: Terrorist attack against America… the off-the-hip response by G. W. Bush 550

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was to LAUNCH A WAR - “to end TERROR” !Does that make any sense to YOU?) “You are either with us or against us” said Mr. Bush. “This was the moment of truth. What choice did other nations have? They had no alternative…” MASSIVE PROTESTS IN THE STREETS AGAINST A WAR WITH IRAQ. Slogans: “NO MORE WARS.” “NOT IN MY NAME.” (Ignored). “The politicians forced the pace when everything was hanging in the balance…” “Is this an example of American diplomacy?” 19/3/2003: “Over 1,000 cruise missile attacks launched against Iraq in one night…” War ‘justified’ - senior Western intelligence sources said Iraq had long range missilesWeapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)… These have not been found… “They’ve had years to hide them! “They were warned before we visited to inspect…” CAR BOMBS: “… the car bomb exploded, blowing out shop fronts, the glass and wreckage scattered everywhere. Many injured, dead or dying. Traffic jammed both ways, a hole in the road…” More killing and maiming .. Many more victims. For what???? What GOOD do bombs do? REBUILDING the shattered towns and cities..." The USA's Attitude = “On offer, $millions of profit…” Building contracts going to Western firms. ‘There's a fortune to be made. Get in there quick!’ ... Result: Western building contractors kidnapped, held to ransom and murdered, brutally... Much of the money for rebuilding will come from Iraq's oil wells. These continue to be sabotaged..." (November 2004). "To improve the quality of life... to win the hearts and minds of the people... 100,000 Iraqi civilians killed, during last year" (October, 2004). "... in an unusually strong statement, The Red Cross criticised the utter contempt for Human Rights shown by all sides in the conflict, and urged all Parties to comply with international Humanitarian law... Provisions should be made for civilians... Civilians should be evacuated... We have not seen this... People left to bleed to death.... 'People are now completely dehumanised'..." (19/11/2004). “30 – 50% unemployment. 60% depend on food subsidies. Electricity in short supply. Faulty, broken sewers have caused diseases…” “Iraq is £80 BILLION in debt… Iraq’s sewage system is broken, hospitals smashed… Iraq needs rebuilding again- almost from scratch…” (BBC, 30/11/2004) (WILL IRAQ GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD?) “Approx. 30 helicopters have crashed in Iraq…” “1,300 US soldiers killed in Iraq” (December 2004).`23 “AARGH! I’ve Lost my legs and arms in the Name of ‘Freedom’!” “War is Peace…”

FALLUJAH: “A city smashed… Residents returned to find they had no homes... The US forces have created a legacy of bitterness. Doubts this action has increased security” (24/12/2004).

“Dreadful errors made. Destabilised country. Tragic. A flawed USA & UK policy. A General Election wont solve the problem. Elections workers shot. Police recruits executed (shot / bombed). Western construction workers targeted… Many people too afraid to vote. In a state of limbo. Government has no effective control. The need to rebuild… The violence! The anger! The way the USA are ‘peace keeping’ there… Cancel the Election? All the soldiers dying for this purpose. The transition from Dictator to 'Democracy' never easy. The alternative i.e. to postpone, even worse. Why don’t ‘insurgents’ want this Election? (TERRORISTS DON'T WANT?) Power to the People? How to improve security?” (Question Time, BBC1, 6/1/2005) (“Terrorists want to

divide and rule…”) “OPERATION: Phantom Fury: Number of civilians killedunknown. Unmarked graves…1,200 insurgents killed, 51 USA soldiers killed and 400 injured. Insurgents wiped out? There was a tactical decision made to re-group elsewhereso many insurgents escaped. So why did the American administration still destroy these homes? 350,000 former residents of Fallujah are now forced to live in tents- refugee camps- as impossible to re-occupy homes. Whole city destroyed! People are trying to work out where they lived. No water, no electricity, no sewers. Trees being cut down for firewood. We’re the country of oil? We haven’t a drop of oil! No food Aid for 3 months. None of us have voting coupons! Why not? Those killed were not insurgents but men and boys who stayed behind to defend their homes- they were civilians. Everyone now has to have an ID card to get into the city- this viewed as another punishment to remove their dignity” (Channel 4, 11/1/2005). “ROBOT SOLDIERS armed with machine guns are going to be used in Iraq against insurgents… One Unit (cost) $200,000 & does not require food, clothing, training or a pension…” (BBC, 23/1/2005) (or a heart or brain!) “People queuing for ID cards needed so they can get work… targeted by suicide bomber. At least 100 people killed…” (28/2/2005). “300,000 women, children and men- their bodies dumped in mass pits by the former regime…” “The fight is on for SECURITY. Iraq still plagued by terrorism. Terrorists from all over the world are flocking there. The multi-National force is being reduced as countries pull-out. The final outcome may not be what America wanted i.e. a liberal, Democratic country. Iraq may be divided by the 551

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rivalry of groups. $100 BILLION of damage done to infra-structure in 6 weeks of bombing. There is now enormous opportunity to give people the chance to realise their potential with water, electricity and sewage…” (18/3/2005). “A major oil pipe-line blown up. Had just been repaired” (27/3/2005). “Just when is Saddam going to go on trial?” (April

Human Rights in Iraq? Mothers screaming… Their children… How to bring these communities together? The West is abandoning their dream (to end tyranny) and is handing over power to the murderous. A fear’ocratic state controlled by gangsters. Women are now being executed (shot in the back, groin) for wearing jeans! Women are now having to (totally) cover their bodies. Empty rhetoric. The invasion has failed. What is the goal here?” (Dispatches, The Reckoning 10/1/2006). “People were tortured during Saddam’s reign by being put in a mincing machine alive…The machine, called ‘The Gutter, is used in abattoirs…” BAGHDAD: “MORE BLOOD, car and bike bombs, rocket attacks. The devastation, destruction and indescribable suffering continue. The answer is more violence?” (BBC World News,

2005).

“… these young men. America spending many $millions training them. They will go out on special operations to fight the insurgents…” (25/4/2005) “We want an Iraq free of insurgents... Many are signing up for the special forces… 'to build a new Iraq' they are training in war-fare. A lot will depend on them…” “2 years after George W. Bush declared hostilities are over…” “87 British soldiers killed since the invasion…” “50 – 60 insurgent attacks a day…”

14/8/2006).

“Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging…”

(27/4/2005).

(30/12/2006).

“A NEW ERA? Iraq decided their new cabinet… for their fragmented society… At the clinics, so many amputees! So many shattered lives. He was shot by a US tank… ‘We have suffered so much! What we need from a new government is to feel safe and have jobs.’ Frequent power cuts. So hard to make new limbs. The flood of patients… Shortage of materials…” (28/4/2005). “25,000 CIVILIAN deaths since 2003. 34 people a day, mostly killed by explosions. Air-strikes have continued… Security has totally broken down…”

“Islam Respects Women’s Rights? Activists receive DEATH / threats…” (April 2007) “Are the men misogynists?” “… 30 Iraqi’s a day kidnapped for money, especially children…” “The war industry is making money in the shadows. … the World Bank, March 27, 2003, said Iraq can finance its own reconstruction bill - $50 BILLION. $13.8 Billion pledged… only $2 Billion spent in Iraq. (Oil = 98% of Iraq’s revenue. Next biggest export = scrap metal. Banking sector doing extremely well). The IMF having to fund fuel subsidies / rations… wont be fair if subsidies go. Black market petrol… Iraq’s government is up to their ears in debt. We have no money for reconstruction…” (Baghdad Blogger, Part 4, CNN, April

(BBC, 14/7/2005).

“Baghdad: Only Divine Intervention will bring about agreement” (between 'the Sunny’s and Sh’ites'…) (sorry, I don't know how to spell those words) (BBC1, 13/8/2005).

“In Iraq, the role of Islam… The communities want a Greater role…” STAMPEDE: “During a religious pilgrimage, someone shouted there was a suicide bomber. A stampede… A barrier collapsed spilling people into the river where they drowned. 841 dead, mainly children and women. 322 people injured…” (31/8/2005) (There’s safety in numbers? The dangers of being in a crowd…) G. W. Bush admitted faulty intelligence led to the war in Iraq (December 2005). “Iraq is close to civil war. The West has failed. Mayhem and disorder. Likely a hard Islamic militia government will rule, who will impose / execute their own version of ‘justice’ on the people… civilians… who live in absolute terror… People ordered who to vote for! This is not what all these soldiers gave their lives for… Militias now fighting with each other. Conflicting ‘visions’ of different regions- divided… Fundamental differences. What is it about? How to rebuild Iraq? G. W. Bush has yet to find answers to the big questions. 100’s of 1,000’s of lives lost- for what? Murderous violence now dominates. What about

2007).

“…The Iraqis need to AGREE on a vision… The need for protection, security, basic services… Nothing has happened to improve the lives of people… The need to take this challenge on…” (Newsnight, BBC2, 15/5/2007) Hey! It’s the right time! Don’t YOU need it every day, night and day? “HOW TO RECONCILE?” (The sunny’s & shites. Sorry I still can’t spell those words. H’mm). “… repair initiatives, create joint jobs, support those who want to live together & renounce violence. Give them what they lack i.e. competence, the right model. Because very few want to return to dictatorship- the bad old days of a police state. Under freedom you cannot force people – people need to be convinced. All hope is not lost” (ref. ‘Inside Iraq,’ Newsnight, BBC2, 17/5/2007).

IRELAND (The Emerald Isle): “16th – 17th Centuries: CLANS- constant skirmishes, live-stock stealing, destruction of grain stores… war, disease, hunger… Irish chiefs exploited peasants… and measured their power by the number of men with weapons that 552

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they could control… (Then) British conquest… lands owned by chiefs confiscated… new landowners required to establish colonies… peasants resettled mainly in marginal lands…” “We’re living in a flux.” “If they improved the housing conditions, that would really help to unite people…” 1845 – 1852: “FAMINE caused by potato blight / disease. One million people died. 2 million people exiled. Every country dependent on potatoes affected…” 1870’S: “MASS EVICTIONS: Distress… the huge number of evictions by landlords of tenants who could no longer Afford to pay the rent. This caused a revival in outrages and attacks upon landlords and their agents….” 1879: “The Irish Land League formed to protect the tenants against rent-racking and evictions, with the long-term objective of making tenants the owners of their own farms. In the atmosphere of agricultural distress, the League flourished…” 1880: “… a successful campaign ostracising Captain Boycott, who had bought land from an evicted tenant. Vast sums of money were accumulated by the League- much raised in America, as relief for evicted families. Eviction from a homestead usually meant total destitution. Ireland had no industrial base to soak up an excess population… their only prospects were starvation or emigration.” 1888: “Evictions were carried out by bands of henchmen employed by landlords, supported by police and the Dragoons- and all of the machinery designed to punish those who resisted eviction and the certainty of destitution. The evictions in County Clare lasted several days and turned into almost pitch battles…” (The Troubles, a Channel 4 book, 1980) “Does this trend bother you?” “A nation of beggars, priests…” 1971: “Just before dawn, on 9th August, the streets in Belfast filled with the sound of smashing doors and people screaming. British troops pulled men off their beds and took them off to be interned- jailed without trial. If the one they were looking for couldn’t be found, a father or brother was taken instead. Among the 1st to be dragged off were the father and uncle of Gerry Adams. The troops killed 9 people that day, including a priest. 342 men were rounded-up, hardly any had links with the IRA. Within weeks 1,000’s more found themselves in ‘The Cages’ (Nissan huts each housing 30 men) at Long Lesh concentration camp. The Maze prison…” “BLOODY SUNDAY: 14 protestors shot dead by British paratroopers in Derry. The next day another young man was shot dead and 2 wounded… Subsequent investigations revealed the troops claim the youths were armed was a lie… a ‘shoot to kill’ policy was exposed…”

“The Home Office denied the validity of the evidence and dismissed John Stalker who was smeared and pulled off the inquiry into the police murder squads in Northern Ireland…” 1978: BOMB BLAST: “Going into the morguesame as a slaughter house- bits of bodies everywhere. Most horrific injuries. Revulsion. The Block-Buster Bomb! Planting bombs… Evil acts.” “Bombers and planners of bombing campaigns known. Not arrested, or charged…” “HIDEOUS: 3 Irish suspects shot dead by the British army…” “2 ‘joy-riders’ shot dead by the British army. A mistake.” “2 Irish suspects shot dead by the British army.” “Proof of ‘Shoot to Kill’ policy. Executions. There is no proper form of justice.” “40 bullets pumped into 1 man, described as ‘a successful operation.’ “Why not detained and interrogated?” “An army spokesman replied to the criticism that some members of the regiment were settling old scores by suggesting the number of complaints showed how effective their patrols are.” “The British army has shown again they are not a peace-keeping force but that they exist to maintain an oppressive State. Until the troops go more innocent people will die.” “GUNS! A game you can never win!” “Who said it was a game?” “We care more for the game than we do the players.” “OPERATION CLOCKWORK ORANGE: An undercover British intelligence operation intended to prevent the re-election of the Labour party… in the 2nd Election of 1974, to prevent a coalition between Liberal and Labour, and to bring a change in leadership of the Conservative party, then held by Edward Heath…” “The IRA BOMBED THE CONSERVATIVE CONFERENCE. Dozens injured…” (1984). “POLL RIGGING PROBE: … killing of innocent men covered up… attempts to curb political figures with smears… The government admitted there had been a ‘dirty tricks campaign’… and admitted a campaign of disinformation…” “Tom King promised to look into reports of files and documents going missing...” “Children are ‘growing up’ with armed soldiers and armed tanks on the streets. Women live in constant fear of violence…” “Ulster say’s ‘No’ to politicians. Let other people govern us? Ulster wants a workable situation / solution…” “IRELAND SUFFERS EXODUS OF THE YOUNG: The Irish republic is experiencing the highest ever emigration rate for 40 years… In the last 12 months, 46,000 people left- 14,000 more than in the previous year. Those leaving are almost all young, looking for work… Ireland’s unemployment is 17.5%...” (“DIVIDE AND SCATTER…”) 553

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“Plans for the largest office development, the Atrium, will provide 23,000 sq m of offices. The buildings will cost £22 million… above these will be penthouse offices with views of the city…” (Building

(Question Time, BBC1, 22/2/1990) “We must have concrete evidence…” (“I think you have enough concrete evidence actually.”) “Bomb damage during 1990 cost £200 million.” “SEMTEX bomb found in new Inland Revenue Tax office due to be opened” (8/10/1991). NEEDED: “For all of those with families who have died, a system which doesn’t need State police, discrimination, partition or political prisoners.” “British police were shamed again when the jailing of the so-called ‘Maguire 7’ was accepted as a farce. A £3 million compensation bill could result if their 1976 conviction is quashed.” “If the British government wont talk, how can we ever put things right? Why are they avoiding it?” (April 1993) (“They are studying suffering.”) “SECURITY in NI = The military, armed soldiersusing force, road blocks. All hardens opposition.” “My country is being destroyed. I joined the IRA because I wanted to do something about it. Now I don’t know who I’m fighting.” “Outlawed freedom fighters…” “Britain should continue to rule NI in a just way. The number of people languishing in jails on the Continent is the result of successful military cooperation. This is hope. Political progress. Better security” said Tom King. (“His contribution to Britain over the years…”) “The WAR in NI costs £1 million a day” (1992). “Britain always argues they fight wars to keep the peace! I don’t believe Britain cares about civilians, only that Britain does not want to relinquish power over people” (said an Irish woman, 1992). “Very problematic. The way it is taught in schools…” “I resent my whole life has to be organised by the State bureaucracy and religion of some form” (said a Female poet in NI). “NEW CALL FOR PARTY INITIATIVE to help NI. We are expecting a white paper. Civil liberties need to be looked at, articles (of the constitution) 2 & 3 need to be amended” (11/2/1992). “56th person murdered this year… Sectarian killings.” “ALL WE HAVE LOST!” “There used to a school, a post office, workers, children and a bus service twice a week. But now it’s like all the other rural areas- depopulated!” “Get it across the way politicians can’t, if you want peace in NI” (BBC, 23/4/1992). “BOMB went off. A lot of houses with broken windows. War zone. 23 years divided by a concrete and steel wall called ‘The Peace Line’ erected to stop opposing hatred’…” “I’D BE HAPPY WHEN IRELAND IS FREE. When I am free. I’m all for it.” “A quieter night. Only 3 arson attacks- 2 houses and a shop burnt down.”

Design, 1/9/1989).

“HOMELESSNESS in Northern Ireland is similar to levels in London and is not confined to the cities…” (Shelter report, 1990).

“WE HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE A BRIDGE to fill that GAP. Issues have not been resolved” (1990). “BID TO DEPORT IRISH CROOKS: The Cabinet considered massive deportation of Irish and ‘coloured immigrant’ criminals… public opinion in an Election year… helped quash the plan.” “It’s up to the Home Office to decide their fate in the years ahead” (1990). “Dirty tricks are doing rather well…” “We can take immediate possession…” ADVERT: “The rewards are here for the reaping!” (UK, national TV, 1990). Newspapers carry pages of adverts for houses for sale in N.I. EG. “… a 54 bed hospital… The estate was home to one of the country’s richest families before passing onto the health authority, and was a nursing home until spending cuts forced closure…” “You’d think they’d invite us to a public meeting!” “You’re only allowed to discuss what’s on the agenda.” “Keep on your toes!” (“Mrs Thatcher is flat-footed.”) “DRIVING FORCE: Princess Diana, the regiment’s colonel-in-chief, refused to disappoint soldiers by cancelling her visit- her 3rd to the province. Wearing a combat suit, a closely-guarded armoured convoy rushed her through the republican enclave on her visit to the Royal Hampshire’s Regiment” (Daily Express, 26/1/1990) (“Publicity vehicle…”) PROTESTS: “Why don’t you do something your children can be proud of?” (“With a word unspoken, with a voice unheard. A heart is heard when a heart if free.”) “An incendiary device has been sent to the Princess…” (18/7/1990). “4 soldiers died. Hit a land-mine. Blowing up their Land Rover. The bereaved families…” “PROTESTS. Britain must withdraw from NI.” Mr. John Cope, the NI Security minister said: “Their apologies are empty when they so often take so little account of any human lives in making their plans or carrying them out.” “The IRA only want to bomb- terrorise innocent people! Take over Ireland.” “Do the people of NI really want the British army out? We don’t know. Not for sure.” “The media is controlled by the government.” “If the IRA put their view across in an intelligent way…” “We should allow NI to have a say in the politics of their own country!” “The last time the majority voted, they wanted a United Ireland.” “Yes, but when suppression goes, borders go! We need to be sure of our security” 554

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“The Irish people don’t know what to do to protect themselves from attacks…” “We are being ripped off badly.” “VICTIMS, VICTIMS, VICTIMS…” “It was unbelievable. There was blood everywhere. A leg got blown off…” “Terrorists continue their campaign against ordinary folk. Danger, disbelief, despair” (Belfast, 14/11/1992). “IRA ATTEMPTS TO BLOW UP CANARY WHARF in London. Insurers say they can’t keep offering insurance for bomb cover for offices” (15/11/1992). “IRA BOMBS AN OFFICE BLOCK. Bomb went off too early. Many people trapped by fire, showered with glass- injured. Then another explosion. Police said there cannot be any such thing as total security” (1/12/1992). “GLASS RAINED DOWN. Devastation. 2 bombs exploded in Manchester city centre. 65 people injured, many horribly cut by flying glass… British towns and cities have seen all this before. As life returned to normal, the resolve of the people only hardened” (Evening Standard, 3/12/1992). “Ambulances drafted in from Liverpool to ease the burden. £3 million of damage to buildings. Businesses now closed. City in turmoil, evacuated. Police wearing flak jackets. IRA blamed. IRA’s idea is to shift features of ‘life’ in NI to streets of Britain. No political support but manpower to continue their violent campaign. We must negotiate to find the solution” (3/12/1992). “Insurance claims could exceed £10 million”

“We pray for an end to the slaughter. Everyone is disgusted, appalled. The increasing desire and demand for peace… the end of the dead lock…” “Less than 2% support the IRA’s bloody campaign.” “TALKS CAN’T HURT” (7/4/1993). “MAIN PROBLEM IS HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT. 2nd & 3rd generation unemployment.” “The government lacks the political will to do for NI what the people want.” “Society must pay a high price to stop terrorists” said a Conservative. “Brutalisation of children… very worrying. A culture of hatred.” “We should aim to have no force, or gun-law ruling NI. People should be independent- selfgoverning.” ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURE: “We need a society where people know each other better.” “MASSIVE BOMB BLAST shook Belfast city centre, just restored after a bomb attack 17 months ago. The bomb was left in a builder’s skip lorry. Terrible damage done. Cost £millions to repair” (20/5/1993) (Ah. They are still rebuilding…) “SHATTERED… One bomb can destroy one main street. Commercial buildings increasingly being hit. 4 bombs in 1 week. Total cost £20 million. IRA wont break the economy, make the Tax-payers tired of paying. ‘That wont happen’ said the government. ‘It wont be a panic reaction’…” (BBC1, 24/5/1993) (“There is a limit to Tax-payer’s finance… The government has a £50 BILLION deficit” said Labour). “The whole community is hungry for peace” said Mother Teresa (3/6/1993). “A SICK, FALSE ECONOMY. A SICK DOMINATION. Little or no local Democracy. Politicians over-powerful- become very big fish in a little pond- hogging the media. How to create jobs for everyone, every religion, with greater prosperity, to end community strife? It will all come together…” “It’s being driven by international politics. They are doing their best to eliminate it. They amend it. They = The benevolent government of ‘Great’ Britain. They want more USA $’s to create jobs used to support discrimination.” “They concede enough to placate- so people don’t question structures set up 70 years ago.” “Now a very run-down area. Was grand-once. Now people shot dead. We can ill Afford this.” Q: “What have they got against it?” A: “Government afraid of community owned cooperatives. Threatens their existence. They want Housing Associations to control us. Consultants tried to persuade us to build a big building we didn’t want. We’re a community group- the community put money in each week.”

(4/12/1992).

“Throughout the day relatives, friends and sympathisers left floral tributes…” “The society was quite close knit. But now, is broken up quite a bit.” MAINLAND BRITAIN: More bombing of shopping centres. Most serious, severe, horrifying injuries and deaths caused by flying glass and metal. More massive floral tributes… “PEACE RALLY: 10,000 people gathered to show they are against violence. No-one knows where this will lead” (28/2/1993). DUBLIN: “Peace campaign. People met to show they are against the IRA’s bombings” (24/3/1993). “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. There’s got to be another way.” “The road to violence is a road to nowhere” (27/3/1993). “It strikes a chord among the public. Peace Campaign: ‘We want the government to get off their backsides and act.’ ‘I just hope it does work. Over 3,000 deaths in NI” (2/4/1993). “What chance is there for peace? Little faith in peace movements. We’ve had huge demonstrations. That’s the reality. The killings go on…” said a church leader (ITN, 5/4/1993). “John Major has agreed to talks. Press ahead with the urge for a settlement…” Bill Clinton said: “Violence is never justified.” 555

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‘We work with and for the police.’ Not solving the terrorist problem, containing it. The need for a political solution…” (ITN, 16/8/1993). “The British government will not negotiate with those who advocate violence or the use of it” said an Irish minister. “A formula is still a long way off” (27/9/1993) “Only be negotiating will we have peace” (1/10/1993) “J. Major confirmed the British government will not negotiate with any who are connected to violence or terrorism. NI will remain part of the UK” (7/10/1993). “Discussing it could be the 1st step to peace in NI.” “Para-military loyalists have stepped up their violent campaign” (11/10/1993). “IF only they would sit around a table and say ‘Hey, what’s it all about, man?’ Communicate with each other. Break these barriers / divisions.” “We need fast communications to function effectively.” “You know we’ve got to get together sooner or later…” (Popular 1960’s song). “They don’t know how boring life is in NI.” “10 people died when a shop was bombed. Most were civilians. The bomber was killed when bomb detonated prematurely” (30/10/1993). “More police and troops being deployed on streets. Rising tit for tat remorseless killings. Total carnage. More dead, more funerals to organise. Events out of control. They’re running out of options” (BBC1, 26/20/1993). “BUILDING WORKER GUNNED DOWN. Killed by terrorist / IRA, who said he was doing work for the security forces- building bases for the police and army” (22/10./1993). “An impossible situation. Nothing will change quickly. Cold, callous killings.” “Lobbing bricks…” “The Sectarian fence… another Berlin Wall.” “I don’t like Catholics.” “I don’t like Protestants.” “This place will never know peace. Hope, optimism is running out” (BBC1,

“Despite all the rhetoric about enterprise, getup-and-go, many still depend on the State. How are we going to solve this?” “Achieving equality means the people could change the structures in this society by peaceful means and it is this the government doesn’t want.” “They flaunt they are doing ‘good’ – lot’s of celebrations, society do’s, pomp, ceremonies- in fact, propaganda.” (“Bigging it up.”) “Every building that goes up- lots of glossy brochures etc to sell the political position. A big machine that sells the slick and very well financed, switches into action- an economy is on the up! Blowing these up frustrates ministers who say ‘we’ll do this bigger and better than before.’ Economic apartheid.” “They impress the cameras, not us." “Picture of NI. Hardened ghettos. A bomb site. Full of criminals, with blood lust. This not true. Only a small minority are this way.” “The lack of opportunity! The call for change threatens to break the old structures, the old traditions. No-one would deny that this is the way change comes about- that change can be very painful but change can also be beneficial.” John Major said: “Multi-storey car parks are a sign of ‘healthy’ development. A few years ago, Belfast had none, now they have 6 or 7. The people should be very grateful to those who brought it about” (Discussion, Channel 4, 7/6/1993). “TOWN ROCKED BY A BOMB. A massive bomb ripped apart 70 homes and a hotel, leaving families on 2 estates Homeless” (22/6/1993) (John Major visited. Result: Carnage). “BURNT OUT class-rooms after riots. More violence will follow if the jack-boot tactics of the authorities continues” (4/7/1993). “TOWN CENTRE BOMB. Surrounding windows blown out. The IRA are stepping up their campaign” (6/7/1993). “Suspected terrorist on trial. Plotted to bomb J. Major’s country home (?) Born in London but supports a United Ireland” (12/7/1993). “UK government asked to restore accountable Democracy in NI by Ulster Unionist party. Government has sectarian policies, is denying jobs to NI” (ITN, 22/7/1993). “... Civilians shot dead through the window…” “We should be allowed personal protection weapons” (12/8/1993) “Police on streets armed with sub-machine gunspersonal protection weapons…” “19,000 British soldiers deployed. ‘Care taken now can save lives later.’ Rifles checked for accuracy. 300 miles of border. New walls, watch towers going up. Fortresses. 24-hour check points. Big Brother cameras. Soldiers live in cramped confinement, playing board games when not on duty. ‘You worry. You get used to it.’ Road blocks.

28/10.1993).

“A MASSACRE OF INNOCENTS: There is no depth to which the terrorists will not sink…” “The UK government dictates to the Irish government…” “DENIED DEMOCRACY:… 20,000 armed troops, 12,000 armed police on streets ‘to provide security.’ Haven’t stopped the killings. Dialogue is our best hope. ‘We want the government to act on it.’ ‘Listen to what a stricken community is crying out for.’ A process is needed to end division. What is the most constructive way forward? The best security for the community, with agreement on all sides?” (re: Greysteel area, BBC1, 30/10/1993).

“Only 1 school in 4 teaches children of all religions. Plans to open 3 more. Should be more schools like this to work towards peace. Catholics and Protestants live separately- on either side of the divide…” (BBC1, 5/11/1993). 556

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end.’ ‘What option does the government have left?’…” (9/3/1994). “The government stated they have no economic interest in Ireland.” “Most realise nothing has come out of all this.” “Keep your eye on the goal. If there is any doubt, make it clear. Don’t leave it to the IRA to decide. The IRA claim to be interested in peace whilst committing acts of terror. The IRA will try and make propaganda out of it” (14/3/1994). “I have a great deal of difficulty understanding it” (it = the UK government’s position) (said Dick Spring,

“As I’ve said before, Ireland is a testing ground for repressive ways of controlling people that could be used against any country” (9/11/1993). “In NI, 1,000’s have been butchered. 100’s of 1,000’s of people have been mutilated” (16/11/1993).

“The people are crying out for peace” (BBC1, 20/11/1993).

“WHO IS AGAINST PEACE AND FOR WHAT REASONS?” “The Search for peace will go on and on” said J. Major. (Will they ever find it?) “Talks have sparked fear and scepticism.” (4/11/1993). A Loyalist Para-military: “I know nothing about it whatsoever.” “Loyalists to the Crown have killed more people in NI than the IRA.” “This year 82 people killed (6 police officers). Bigger Roman Catholic churches being built (in Londonderry & Belfast). In 5 years, could Catholic majority rule? Protestants leaving following intimidation from Catholics. Could end up completely divided. A United Ireland? Many nationalists would leave” (ITN, 13/12/1993) ? “The people in NI don’t have a better option” said J. Major. Groups willing to participate in Democracy might be allowed- eventually. The people have seen so many false dawns…” “After 25 years of conflict, a peace pact =. unconditional surrender” (November / December

16/3/1994).

“Peace. Yeh. I’d love some. But I don’t believe it’s going to come here for a long, long time. People are permanently divided. People of different religions can’t get on together.” “The search for a lasting peace. The cessation of all violence…” “VIGILANTE GROUPS who set themselves up to ‘protect’ the community may be responsible for the murder of a woman- whole community shocked” (12/4/1994).

“NEW FACTORY BUILT ON GREEN FIELD SITE. Cost £160 million. (£100 million of public money)” (3/5/1994).

“There is a tide in the affairs of men- the tide is moving towards peace” (7/6/1994). “NATIONAL SELF-DETERMINATION. The people themselves should decide their future.” “The IRA are trying to find a peaceful solution” (21/7/1994). “25 years ago, British troops installed on streets to stop violence between Catholics and Protestants. The bad housing conditions contributed to the violence. The housing is now better quality i.e. people queued for 2 days to try and get a house in a ‘safe’ area. One thing people are united about is the need to keep the so-called ‘Peace Wall.’ Some would say build the wall higher. ‘Rocks thrown over the wall land on our roof. Our children can’t play in the garden’…” (BBC1, 9/8/1994) (“The government are our friends? Children who can’t take any more (crap) throw stones.”) “NEIGHBOURHOODS: If the number of British troops on patrol are reduced, the Royal Ulster constabulary could not keep the peace. The splinter groups declared war today. The community are the hostages of gun-men. Situation deteriorating. Many roads too dangerous to travel on. A long conflict costing 100’s of army lives” (11/8/1994). “There is no-one to help us now” said kids on the streets. “We’re on our own. Everyone’s afraid” (12/8/1994). “Ireland wants a cease-fire- a satisfactory settlement for everyone” (BBC1, 30/9/1994). “The IRA have agreed to an unconditional ceasefire- to help Democracy i.e. ensure they are included in talks- and ensure the de-militarization of NI. But will there be anything to hold it in place?

1993).

“The BLAST damaged houses…” “The IRA is resuming their fire-bomb terror campaign.” “Flats in London’s Oxford street evacuated following fire-bombs” (26/1/1994). “Gerry Adams said the gun should be taken out of politics in NI. He PREDICTED the future generations will see peace. He was anxious for the formula to be put to the IRA to guarantee peace but said that he did not yet have it” (1/2/1994).

“BIGGEST POWER CUTS in province. 70% of houses hit. Power out for more than 3 hours” (3/2/1994).

“I wouldn’t try to start it here.” “DELAYS implementing peace due to Britain refusing an amnesty to IRA prisoners” (8/2/1994). “J. Major is arguing for peace but frustrating it” (25/2/1994).

“Now is the time they should all say that’s it, now calm down.” “Sinn Fein’s BLUEPRINT FOR STABILITY: Emphatic they want a Bill of Rights. All Parties involved in the Peace Process” (28/2/1994). “The IRA have nothing to offer- only violencemurder and crime.” “Anglo-Irish meetings finding it difficult to meet the challenge for permanent peace. ‘We are close to it.’ ‘The government are up a blind alley’ said a Unionist. ‘There is no peace process. It’s a dead 557

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This could be a fragile cease-fire. False hopes so often result in bloodshed…” “The IRA twice came close to blowing up the British Cabinet… striking at the heart of Britain's financial centre… 200 attacks on mainland Britain. 60 people killed, over 1,000 people injured…” (BBC1, 31/8/1994). “NI must negotiate a peaceful settlement” (6/9/1994). “No sign the IRA’s other criminal activities have stopped. Ruthless intimidation. Knee-cappings from punishment squads. Limbs broken. Beating any who fall out with them, accused of antisocial behaviour. Their concept of justicevigilantes, same as the Mafia. Men with baseball bats with nails in them. ‘They wont change. They still rule this area.’ If the Royal Ulster Constabulary don’t do their job, the IRA step in. A Sinn Fein councillor organises the violence- maybe this is why a bomb nearly blew up their Press office? Victims say IRA will continue beatings. Scores, possibly 100’s of people exiled to mainland Britain in sheer terror. Protection rackets. Hijackings. Bombings may have ended but that is all” (Channel 4, 7/9/1994). “… the main device failed to go off…” “Irish and British governments are trying to establish ‘The Framework document.’ ‘We are pressing ahead with it as hard as we can.’ Complaints they are moving too slowly. ‘If we can establish what the people in NI want’…” (BBC1, 23/9/1994). “Gerry Adams has changed his mind that violence is the way to bring about peace.” “Terrorist loyalists have announced a cease-fire to last as long as the IRA cease-fire lasts. The dawn of a new era of peace. But will a lasting peace be found? ‘It should very much feature in future talks.’ ‘It heralds a whole new series of opportunities for us.’ ‘I hope it is for real.’ Can the government satisfy the aspirations for the communities? J. major said: ‘I am delighted.’ He called for time ‘to analyse it, consider it and decide what is the best way forward. Let us firmly resolve to never again permit our political circumstances to degenerate into bloody warfare.’ Over 900 people died due to Loyalists actions over the last 25 years” (13/10/1994) “Dublin believes terrorism is over” (16/10/1994). “The army are still restocking weapons but there are plans for rapid de-militarization… Doubts anything will really change- there will not be a United Ireland. Border roads will be opened for crossing. The British government’s basis for discussions is not changed. How can permanent peace be ensured? If groups will take part in perfectly peaceful methods- are committed to the Democratic process… The government do not want ‘the peace’ derailed… The struggle for words… Will life be easier? Will there be a peace dividend? It must now be developed. It is a major challenge… and there must be agreement

on the economic front. People must be given the Right to have a life, and a roof over their head. The British government promised NI a referendum- and lots of money. People are expecting hand-outs but these may not be forthcoming” (20/10.1994) (“... it is not something to be considered at this time.”) “... it is a serious miscalculation. Up to 40 IRA prisoners may be prematurely released… The IRA have not given up their weapons. The IRA targets were leading politicians, buildings and men, women and children they had no quarrel with” (8/11/1994).

“Paramilitaries on both sides are still carrying out punishment shootings. The cease-fire could hold or all go drastically wrong…” (14/11/1994). “Gerry Adams is trying to find an answer to knock-for-knock culture and doubts he will succeed” (9/12/1994). BELFAST: “The £200 million being saved that would have been spent on the security force is reaping a dividend. The atmosphere on the streets is quite good. Now experiencing a property boom. Estate agents can’t believe their luck. Before, there was very little demand for housesnow speculators coming to look for houses to rent out. Values doubling… Tourists now coming” (BBC1, 7/12/1994) (“From terrorism to tourism…”) “The EC will donate £250 million to promote peace projects in NI, to help deprived people- victims, young children- people like that” (7/12/1994). “Fire badly damaged Stormont castle- the old Parliament building following extensive renovation…” (2/1/1995). “The wording for the final ‘framework document’ is paramount to the peace agreement…” (2/2/1995). “SEMTEX bomb found in a holdall outside a DIY store” (7/2/1995). “The long awaited joint framework document… (decided upon by Irish & British governments) sets out how Ireland- whether North & South Ireland are United or not, should succumb to British law. ‘This will not be imposed’ promised J. Major. ‘If the people don’t want this- come up with something else.’ ‘Government is promising a lot of money if the people accept this.’ Is this the best way to keep guns off the streets, to bring peace? It’s time for discussion. ‘Policies will be introduced incrementally- by stealth. This document is riddled with contradictions’ complained Ulster Unionists. ‘This document is a failure setting us back 10 years. There is not one word of comfort’ said the Democratic Unionists. Parties cannot agree on power sharing… The benefits… But they do agree it must be a long process. Let’s take it slow. Get over one hurdle at a time. Keeping the momentum going is the Key to success, believes J. Major” (BBC1, 22/2/1995). 558

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1922: “Mussolini formed a cabinet…” “GANGSTERS: Years of silent frustration… The Mafia killed politicians, Judges- anyone who stood in their way. Much bloodshed. Income average £3 Billion a year. Their bosses arrested, thanks to an informer…” (1993). “The Mafia flourished because those in authority didn’t give a fig.” GANGLANDS: “I grew up in a hard neighbourhood ruled with fear.” Northern Province: “Dozens of bombs planted by extremists. Bolzano now placed under 24 hour police guard… 1/3rd speak Italian, 2/3rd speak German. They do not mix. ‘Can you imagine a mixed culture?’ ‘I think it is important we absorb aspects of each culture.’ 5% are mixed marriagesthey are optimistic. ‘I hope our children make progress’…” “… the police chased protestors up to the steps of the Church, truncheon’ing them, firing tear gas…” “The Battle of the boys. The Battle…” “IN THE DARK: A man pumped 3 bullets into a fortune-teller, wounding him… because he did not like his predictions. The police said: ‘Unfortunately, he did not see it coming’…” The Italians would say: "You've got to give the people what they want EXPRESSO." “HOMELESS EVICTED: Police evicted Homeless people from cages in Milan’s abandoned zoo that had been considered too dangerous to keep animals in… Dozens of immigrants had fled to the zoo fearing deportation. The zoo had become home to over 100 Homeless people who sneaked in through holes in the fence to ‘sleep’ in the empty cages before the zoo was demolished.” “GENERAL WORKER’S STRIKE: 10 million people took part to protest against public spending cuts. Ruling parties are fighting for their own survival” (October 1992). “HOLLOW MEN. OLD, WORN OUT, TIRED PARTY. They hope they’ll rise out of the ashes like a phoenix. The old guard… Political scandals for traditional Parties...” “Finding a way out of the chaos will be a nightmarish task. Those who have no faith… Flabby government. A fresh political culture has to be re-fashioned. No-one is quite sure how it will turn out. Deep necessity to re-new, for new rules, new personnel. This is our task. To make a transition. To make a new system.”

“It’s a concrete step” said a peace negotiator, (22/3/1995).

“The government’s Framework document has been rejected by 2 of the 3 main political parties. British government accused of delaying Unification” (14/4/1995).

“Now that NI is back in the tourist’s brochures…” “… and onslaughting Capitalism has won…” “Troops withdrawn from streets in Belfast. 1st time for 25 years” (24/3/1995). “Violence flared, erupted again…” (July 1995). “… it would be a peaceful process… going beyond talks… a policy agreeable to all parties… prisoners in the Maze could play a vital role, guaranteeing a permanent cease-fire…” “There is little sign of a new beginning that was hoped for” (1/1/1998). “STILL NO PEACE…” “We can’t do it on our own.” “It still has not been solved. Another critical phase…” (29/11/2004). “CHANGE? WHAT CHANGE?” “40 years of HELL… because Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley will not share power… they shout… but the IRA wont get rid of their weapons…” (Channel 4, 5/12/2004).

“PEACE PROPOSALS: … it’s agonisingly close… A Settlement means: a 2 Party government? What does it take to sort this out? ‘It is going to require extra effort’ said Tony Blair. He is going to keep at it. ‘We don’t want anything less than the people deserve’ said the Irish Prime Minister. ‘We are weary… We are just waiting for it to happen. We just hope they have the vision and the courage to make it happen- that one last step.’ Economic deprivation… Almost back to normality… they don’t want to go back to troubled times in Belfast. What is the solution?” (BBC, 10/12/2004).

“The suicide rate in Ireland has gone up since ‘the troubles are over’…” “Since drinking laws relaxed in NI, drinking alcohol has increased by 50%, health costs risen by 150 million Euros- cases of serious liver damage + associated health costs also risen. People hardly able to cope” (2005). “The IRA have agreed to end their terror campaign and hand in their weapons. The time has come for peace.” EXPERT: “People will need to know actual destruction of the weapons has taken place. But this does not mean that violence in Northern Ireland will end. There are other groups…” (27/7/2005). ITALY: FASCISM: “Authoritarian and nationalistic rightwing political movement, founded by Mussolini in 1919; any extreme right-wing, anti-communist or racist party or movement, right-wing military dictatorship.” “Fascists feed off anger, corruption…”

Q: “Is Socialism now finished?” A: “In deep problems. We are renewing leadership.” Q: “Will there be a different pattern of power?” A: “Before we had the block power system… with Socialists in opposition. Now this is ended. People feel the necessity to have Alternative power. A 559

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referendum. After this, we need a large majority- for Parliament to be committed to do it” (replies by the

“AUSTERITY PROGRAMME IMPOSED: Cuts in pensions + other ‘Social Security’ benefits. Broken Election promises. Riots- tear gas canisters fired…” (5/10/1994). “Amid allegations of corruption, Italian leader has resigned” (22/12/1994). “SOMETHING IS MISSING in politics in Italy. Here you are much more likely to hear cries of ‘Long live the Revolution!’ than ‘Full house.’ If you live next-door to an opera singer you definitely need excellent sound insulation…” “Italy: 54 governments in last 60 years…” VENICE: “A city surrounded by water is eroding...” “118 islands separated by miles of canals. Could become one giant puddle. Population has dropped from 1950 levels. 1,500 young forced to move out every year. Desperate shortage of Affordable homes. Rents rise faster than the water level. Buildings are corrodingunder constant Environment attack. Most ground floor flats are boarded-up. Tourists outnumber residents 4 – 1” (Rough Guide, BBC2, February 1995). “MASS PROTESTS against austerity budget. Taxes raised to cover joining European currency”

Environment minister (ITN, 9/3/1993).

“ITALIAN SOCIALIST LEADER, Giorgio Benvenuto, QUIT to protest at opposition to his efforts to sweep out the old guard tainted by wideranging corruption scandal” (20/5/1993). “THE EARTHQUAKE SCANDAL: The misappropriation of funds ($45 million) for Earthquake victims. Much wasted on unusable motorways, on bribes to family and friends…” “CORRUPTION SCANDAL: Most powerful, heavy industrialist (chairman of IRI) (largest employer, employing 42,000), arrested, and leading executives of the energy conglomerate giant ENI (State-owned) arrested” (12/5/1993) Corruption = “Taking a bung.” NAPLES: “1,000’s of unemployed workers holding a demonstration. 200,000 have no job, feel cut-off. Naples is bankrupt. Lawyers on strike. ‘Whole ruling class is corrupt, have lost their legitimacy.’ Too difficult to install justice. Operating from a temporary building. Cannot equip buildings” (25/5/1993). FLORENCE: “A huge bomb wrecked the Uffizi gallery. 6 people died. 50 injured by flying glass. Some famous works of art saved by bullet-proof glass. (In 1966, a flood damaged 800 paintings and destroyed 1,000 manuscripts)” (27/5/1993). “THE ROT. Since WW11 we have had corruption. We need to find a political solution” (21/6/1993). IQ: “The average Italian spends 20 days a year queuing due to bureaucracy.” “NEO-FASCIST GANGS gaining ground in Elections feeding off the discontent about high unemployment…” (22/11/1993). NAPLES: “Poverty, neglect. Result of corruption. Waiting for salvation. Houses damaged by Earthquake in 1980 still not repaired! A planned orphanage is still a building site” (BBC1, 3/12/1993). “ELECTORS NEED A MIRACLE. They may not get it. A right-wing media tycoon voted into powerhe was the newest thing on the market” (29/4/1994). “The mayor of Montaquila has banned the town’s 3,000 citizens from using their own toilets. ‘Our sewage system can’t handle any more! People should use the fields instead.’ Now residents have to rush into the country-side to relieve themselves. There have been some messy accidents” (The

(October 1996).

VENICE: “The Environmental protestors are losing the battle against the new motorway…” (April 2005).

JAMAICA: “... it’s no problem, man.” "70% unemployment. Violence at an all time high..." “Yo. I’m so lonely. I took all the bull-shit. One day, I couldn’t take no more. My whole life came crashing…” JAPAN: “The Land of the Rising Sun.” "... it has long been popular with poets." Favourite expression? "It can't be helped." "Men are perplexed. Money, money, money... are scared of breaking rules, of chaos..." "Manufactures everything for the car..." "COM’ON boss. Save their lives!" (You could concentrate on miniaturised solar energy devices…) "There is a big demand for wooden houses. Japan is at the centre of the destruction of the RainForests..." “The West must find a way to get Japan to cooperate..." “Japans economic success fails its citizens. 122 million citizens. Japan is the world’s number 1 economy. ‘Despite a shift in 1986 away from export driven to domestic led growth, there is a substantial discrepancy between the country’s economic strength and the relatively poor quality of life’ said a survey by 'The Organisation for

People, 12/6/1994).

“Parliament again came to blows over corruption” (21/7/1994). “Many Brits have moved to Tuscanny. The purchase of your ruin is only the beginning. Can cost £150,000 for a 2 bed barn and that’s without fixing the leaking roof. You can easily spend £100,000 doing this up. If you want light, water, this can be a problem. Hard to get electricity” (The Travel Show, 18/8/1994). 560

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opposition Parties and signalled to big business, to the ‘chaebol’ (corporations) that dominate South Korea, that the government was going to get tough with strikes and Unions. Government-backed vigilantes have raided Union offices, broken strikes and beaten up Union organisers” (Socialist Worker,

Economic Co-operation and Development.' Japan has become the World banker with the largest holdings of net foreign assets. The quality of life is affected by poor housing and the extraordinarily long time the Japanese spend at work. There is official smugness…” (The Independent, 19/10/1989). "Here yes means no, maybe never... The government's policy of playing reisei - playing it cool and quietly in trade disputes with Washington..."

12/5/1990).

“NO WONDER THEY FIGHT. The country’s economic miracle brought little reward to workers until they fought. Up to 1987, the (heavy) working week was the longest in the world- officially 57 hours, but often 78.” “Exhausted…” “The world is dizzy with ‘Democracy’…” “WHAT’S BEHIND THE WORKER’S REVOLT? There are fewer than 6 homes for every 10 families. Estimated 2 million people, 1 in 5 of Seoul’s population, are squatting. Imported foods were only available on the Black market until 2 years ago. Now they are in the shops but enormously expensive. Bananas cost £1.60 each. Taxes are heavier on workers than on the wealthy and business, and there is still no State Welfare system. Strikes have pushed wages up 70% in the past 3 years. Strikes closed plants owned by Hyundai, Kia Motors and Daiwoo for 2 months last year, forcing them to pay wages at 75% of Japanese levels… FIGHTBACK: The Unions have successfully organised in IBM and Motorola, the 1st time either USA multi-national has recognised an independent Union anywhere in the world. Also, in foreign Banks EG. Lloyds… but an attempt by teachers to set up an independent Union last year was broken by sackings. The newly formed independent Union Federation… was also banned.” “The ‘miracle’ economy of South Korea was convulsed by strikes and street battles with police. Workers at the biggest shipyard, Hyundai in Ulsan, fought riot police sent in to break their occupation. The South Korean Stock Exchange crashed as solidarity strikes spread. Subway workers refused to collect fares, bank workers refused to wear uniforms. Students boycotted classes. Investors demolished stockbroker’s offices. The tensions that produced the flare-ups have not calmed down. South Korea was, until recently, the world’s fastest growing economy- supposed to provide a model for development and proof the market provides the best of all possible worlds. Now South Korea is in trouble. Exports fell in the 1st 3 months of this year. Inflation is rising, housing costs are soaring, and President’s Roh Tae Woo has largely failed to deliver promised reforms… Roh put a 10% ceiling on wage rises… Now the USA bosses magazine, Businessness Week, has said: ‘The fate of South Korea’s economic ‘miracle’ hangs in the balance’…” EXPERT: “We have gloomy satisfaction.”

(1994).

KOREA: “THE UGLY FACE OF DICTATORSHIP: South Korea has a 650,000 strong army and repressive laws. There are more than 100 USA military bases here and 40,000 USA troops in Korea.” History: Korea Divided between Russian dominated North under Dictator Kim II Sung and USA-dominated South under Syngman Rhee. 1950: War between North and South. USA sends troops- backs South- 1,250,000 dead. 1960: Rhee overthrown by student-led revolt. 9 months of ‘Democracy’ ended by military coup, leading to 25 year military rule. 1979: Dictator Park Chung assassinated. 1980: Uprising in Kwangiu, city taken over by workers and peasants, before bloody suppression by army- 200 murdered. 1987: Protests and strikes force President Chun Doo Hwan to quit, but his chosen successor Roh Elected President.” South Korea: “RIOT: 50,000 students clashed with police on campuses in at least 11 cities. Battles broke out in central Seoul as groups of up to 2,000 students, outnumbering police, dashed out from pavements to occupy main streets. Some 5,000 attacked the USA cultural centre. Radical students and dissidents had called for nationwide protests to demonstrate their opposition to the inauguration of Mr. Roh’s newly-formed Liberal Democratic Party, which they called ‘dictatorial and Undemocratic.’ The protests were the largest since 1987” (10/5/1990) (“We’ve had everything we can stand.”) “Korea was transformed from one of the poorest countries to a major industrial economy within a generation. Today, 10 of Korea’s companies rate amongst the world’s leading corporations. But the development went hand in hand with a military regime that policed one of the world’s most exploitative and repressive societies. Roh was the ruling Party’s successor to General Chun, after months of strikes and demonstrations. His promise of reform averted the immediate crisis but the high levels of strikes continued, bringing big advances in wages and conditions. 3 years on, with the economy slowing, Roh is out to take on the working class. His government cracked down hard on student protests in 1989. Then early this year, the Party merged with 2 Conservative 561

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“South Korea is going to deal with Russia…” (June

“The threat of nuclear war has flared again…”

1990).

(2005).

“Dissidents refused permission to cross the border promised to be opened” (13/8/1990). "Serious rioting has broken out. North and South Korea were to be re-joined. Like East & West Germany, the changes in the borders seem far away. Much torment felt by whole of the community. Students engaged fighting the police. People praying…” (15/8/1990). “SNOW, ICY ROADS and rough seas injured 100’s and stranded 1,000’s of South Koreans. Nearly 750 people were hurt in more than 640 car accidents as heavy snow and strong winds swept the country” (9/2/1994) ("Get to grips with it!") South Korea: “Large scale civil defence exercises i.e. evacuating people from high-rise buildings in event of chemical attack.” “South Korea suffering a string of disastersexplosions, buildings collapsing…. 100’s have died… structural failure blamed” (June 1995). NORTH Korea: “Unstable government. Building up vast army on border with South. Close to making a Nuclear bomb. USA has threatened international sanctions” (23/11/1993). (“If you think of it, what could be better a strategy for Asia? There is a high demand for their exports…”) “North Korea could start a Nuclear war leading to Global destruction.” “FEAR Plutonium from a Nuclear reactor in North Korea is being used to make weapons. Inspection denied.” “The UN may impose sanctions.” “North Korea has more than 1 million troops. Aggressive attack could come from North Korea. The constant fear of invasion. War- enormous cost in people and property. Men armed to the teeth, with array of Soviet-made weapons. Ready to use biological and chemical war-fare. Some military analysts believe war is now inevitable” (ITV, 8/6/199). “NUCLEAR PROLIFICATION: North Korea has agreed to drop their Nuclear weapons programme. Crisis averted, for now…” (23/6/1994). “CHOLERA EPIDEMIC in North Korea. Trains ordered not to stop” (30/9/1994). “STEEL BRIDGE COLLAPSED: Buses and cars fell 50ft into the river. 48 dead, many injured. Bridge not built to withstand such heavy traffic. A government minister has accepted responsibility”

KURDISTAN: 1992: “Atrocities committed by the Turkish State. 20,000 civilians arrested. 680 civilians killed by death squads. 320 villages burnt and depopulated. 14 journalists killed. 5 towns bombed for days on end” (statistics on poster produced by National Liberation Front for Kurdistan to dissuade tourists from holidaying in Turkey).

LIBYA: “Libya is mostly DESERT. 3rd largest oil revenues in the world. Very few people…The shortage of water is very apparent…” “SPREADING THE WEALTH: Cash bonus: Colonel Qadhafi is to give every family between £4,700 and £6,800 as he hands out the nation’s oil wealth in cash grants. ‘… each family will have a bank account without offering anything in return’ he said in a nationwide broadcast. He said ½ the oil revenues would go on health, education, agriculture and ‘other things.’ In his speech, he added each family would have full access to the money ‘providing you do not ask to receive it all in one go.’ Libya says sanctions, in effect since April, which ban international air travel and Weapons sales and curtail diplomatic relations, have cost £1.6 Billion” (Daily Telegraph, 20/11/1992). “QADHAFI THE HANGMAN: Pictures from a videotape smuggled out of Libya, bear witness to the spate of public hangings carried out on the orders of Colonel Qadhafi. They are extracts from a documentary film repeated every day on Staterun TV in June & July as a warning to opponents of the regime. They demonstrate the ruthless tactics employed to stifle opposition. 9 men accused to trying to overthrow the regime were summarily tried by revolutionary committees and later hanged. They were denied defence counsel and the Right to Appeal. Some were tortured before they died. Each hanging was accompanied by the excited cheers and slogan-shouting of Qadhafi supporters. One man was contemptuously slapped on the face after he was strung up. In the case of another victim, Qadhafi supporters interrupted his interrogation with slogans: ‘We want hanging, no more talking.’ The execution of Sadeq El Shwedi, an engineering student trained in America, was 1st reported in the Observer. The film of this show trial shows him weeping, his hands tied behind his back, as he sits cross-legged on the floor of a basket-ball court in Benghazi. The head of the committee who is not named, accuses him of conspiring with American secret agents to find ways of overthrowing the government. Shewedi tearfully agrees that he was contacted by a man who asked him to find a safe house but he says: ‘I

(South Korea, 21/10/1994).

“North Korea’s Nuclear power stations will be converted into peaceful use (!?) Will cost £Billions. Japan will help pay for this” (22/10/1994). “The threat of Nuclear war has flared again…” (1994).

“Political suppression…” “45% of the children are chronically malnourished. 6 – 8 million people rely on 'The World Food Programme.' Shortage of food in shops. If the US imposes sanctions, that would be a terrible punishment on the people…” (2005). 562

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“Has diesel power (diesel imported). 25% of power comes from Hydro-power (reservoirs + steam turbines) + 5% of power comes from windmills. Would like to have more wind power but problem where to place…” (December 1994). “Used to be self-sufficient in sugar but now imports.”

could not help him.’ His statement is interrupted by Qadhafi supporters. Shortly afterwards, members of the committee hustle him off to a makeshift scaffold where he is hanged from a cross bar. The Libyan-based National Salvation Front estimates more than 3,000 people, arrested after an unsuccessful coup on 8th May, are still languishing in prison. A spokesman said: ‘the revolutionary committees, a law unto themselves, have been carrying out arbitary arrests” (The

MALDOVIA: “Poorest European country (neighbour of Ukraine). High unemployment. Have to sell your kidney to a Westerner to survive. The trafficking of Weapons, people & drugs. Country run on a very low budget of $5 million and a lot of sacrifices i.e. making do with very little…” (2005).

Observer, 21/10/1984).

“Trial / Guilt by Television…” (that little box that we devote so much of our precious time to…) Colonel Qadhafi’s ‘Green Book’ say’s ‘All Property is Theft.’ Therefore, squatters occupied the Libyan embassy in West Germany and London to show him ‘we must take him at his word.’" (1986). “POISONS MUST GO: The USA accused Libya of manufacturing mustard-gas- a potential source of Chemical Weapons for terrorist groups. (The USA has huge stockpiles of mustard-gas, which blisters skins and lungs). The USA cannot rule out military action to close the factory in Rabta. Libya says factory is used to make medicines. West German factory builders confirm Libya is not using to make medicines. Factory mysteriously burned down…”

MORROCO: “This lush garden in Marrakech is (cool) very GREEN and BLUE… So many plants! Paradise!” “Land of leather, side shows, wicked smells. Treking country- hard walks. Ancient buildings.” “SO MANY BEGGARS! Crowds of children hassle you…” “Please buy! Or my family don’t eat!” “Sick-making to be a tourist and not be able to do anything to help them.” “Close to civil war” (September 1993). “Many steal the sand off beaches for building”

(“The most powerful nerve gas is Sarin- a lethal, colourless, odourless toxic. Has been developed by the USA since 1945. In early 1950’s V-agents Notablyt VX10 times more toxic, were developed at the Chemical Defence experimental Establishment in Wiltshire, UK. Sarin is 30 times as toxic as Phosgene used in WW1).

(1994).

“A new King in 1999. He is young (41). There is hope he will do something to help the people. The King here is not for decoration. He has absolute power. He owns 10, maybe 15 palaces? No-one knows how many for sure. The rich, employed own large houses left empty 50 weeks a year- used only for holidays. The poor shelter in hovels. The main source of income is agriculture yet 80% own no land. The poverty is appalling. The poor can do nothing but sit and watch the world with tired sad faces. The women who beg with children are too weak to say a word. A deeply religious Moslem country. Does the smell in summer bring you to your knees? In markets bleeding decapitated goats… bits of broken electrical goods brings crowds of poor people pouring across the border into the Spanish quarter… No photographs allowed to be taken! A real problem is illiteracy- school is not compulsorydifficult to provide schooling in rural areas where people live so far apart. Many of the women cannot read and write… men boast they make ‘good country wives who know nothing about equality.’ Children must look after parents when they age. If they do not, a Judge in a special court will decide. Many new buildings going upconcrete, bricks- very little mortar- rendered / painted over. How long will these last – who can guess? The medina, stone labyrinths built 600 years ago (crumbling exterior) in need of a major clean up- white paint, floor tiles… Everywhere very

“THE GREAT MAN-MADE WATER SUPPLY PROJECT: 1953: The search for oil also discovered vast quantities of water trapped in 4 basins. Water 38,000 – 7,000 years old. Idea is to pump this water to the coast for 5.6 millions inhabitants and irrigation. Plan conceived in 1960’s, to make the desert as green as the flag. Finished project cost $14 BILLION. Work will take 25 years to complete in 5 phases. To form the artificial underground 'river,' they are using ¼ of a million sections of MASSIVE concrete pipe (each transported by lorry). 2,001 contracts awarded for the next phase. October 2001, project awarded $82 million for the construction of major new pumping facilities…” (Ref: www.water-technology/projects/gmr ) MADEIRA: “Called ‘the Land of Wood’ by 1st settlers. Since then woods cleared to make way for housing. Timber also used to make furniture, wine presses, fishermen’s boats, other buildings- once dense forest cut, hard to stop- control.” “Slaves were shipped in from Africa. The slopes were made into terraces. The irrigation problem was 'overcome' by an elaborate network of channels- called levades- artificial streams, 1,000’s of construction workers died.” 563

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traditional but they are using plastic washing-up bowls…” (2005).

PHILLIPINES: "Power cuts. Broken, out of date, faulty equipment..." "Earthquake. Death toll 600? 40 tourists trapped underneath a collapsed hotel" (1990). “1,000 people dead after typhoon and mud-slides caused by illegal logging. Another storm due”

NEW ZEALAND: "... has highest suicide rate in the developed world. ’Be a man. Handle it.’ When it's obvious, I couldn't handle it'... " "... 5 significant Earthquakes a year. On the fault line. WAITING for 'the big one.' Advice is: Hide under the table. Whole towns could move. Wooden houses, some mobile... Night-life = Bars & booze..."

(2/12/2004).

“Logging suspended. 1 million Homeless. Shortage of food. Flood - 11 ft of water…” (4/12/2004).

POLAND: “The Polish people kept alive an alternative sense…” THE DREAM: “Oh! To be FREE!” “All that is Human is on our side.” “Oh! Those big City dudes- they’re taking our dance. We’ll give them fair warning.” “We’re going to say what we like, do what we like, go where we like, look how we like. Maybe you don’t think having good, clean fun is right? Don’t worry! We wont take out clothes off till we get home…” REALITY: “MISERY. It’s hard to subsist.” “All the queues! It’s very upsetting really.” “Subsidised rents. An arable society. Average annual salary: £3,000. Inflation 240%. Staple Diet: Potatoes.” “STRONG ARM OF SOLIDARITY: Choice and availability something of a dream. The British know how to fund. We don’t know how to feed ourselves. Visiting UK, looking at British equipment (tractors) to see if can be used on farms in Poland. They are surprised by the size and scale of British super-markets. To work less manually, use more machines = Have more time to dream. The scale of production is confusing. Maybe it’s difficult to check quality and get feed-back from your consumers?” “VICTIMS SCORNED BY STATE & CHURCH: Aids (HIV) has begun to stalk the streets of Warsaw. People in their early 20’s have taken to squatting on city centre pavements with a battered cardboard box, begging for support. On their knees, they have a battered piece of paper which often reads: ‘I am HIV carrier. My family has rejected me and I have no job. I have no means of support. Please help.’ Some passers-by stare at them, as if they have some visible outrageous deformity and most walk on by looking for street bargains. Most people don’t want to know… The Communists routinely swept the matter of HIV under the carpet. Even the Catholics, who rule most hearts and minds here, seem unwilling to do much… 100,000 Poles are thought to be injecting themselves with all sorts of drug mixtures. An unknown number have venereal disease (VD). A lot of sufferers are forced, by lack of choice, to sleep rough and few come forward for medical treatment. There is no national education campaign to

NICARAGUA: "Residents barricaded in their houses whilst an army of rebel soldiers fight government troops... The government's promise of new houses and land have not been fulfilled. Many rebels have died..." (1993). PAKISTAN: “Plastic City: Also known as ‘The Living Graveyard,' Jalozai Refugee Camp in Pakistan is one of the worst places to end up as a refugee. Some 80,000 are attempting to survive there under the worst of conditions; no food, little water, soaring temperatures, and no shelter other than plastic or blankets hung on poles. Jalozai is a place where Pakistan's attitude of not wanting more refugees to enter the country merges with the desperation of the Afghan people to create a place (ref. of supreme misery and death” www.afghanwomensmission.org ).

PERU: "Shanty towns, no water, no electricity..." "A state of confusion. ¾ of the population below the poverty line..." "The most Basic Human Right is the Right to have a life." "... The army behead and crucify peasants indiscriminately... They are organising other people’s destruction..." "The government's 'answer' is repression..." (1989 - 1992) ("Armed gangs of bandits...") “40,000 miners of gold have no legal recognition… There’s no rubbish collection… Pollution (mercury) causing high rate of domestic violence…” (2004). “CAN’T BUILD ON SAND”: “I’m building a house there. Costs a fortune to remove the sand to get down to the bedrock for the foundations… The house is still only ½ finished- I’ve run out of money…”

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Ceausescu’s idea for building an industrial base…” “… the evil dictator has ruled for 24 years…” “The empty shops- there are shortages of everything, unlit streets…” "The lack of food! “…allowed only 300 grams of bread a day.” ”People start queuing at 5am for food. Eggs, potatoes and tomatoes are almost unknown. Romanians rarely see meat. There are few fresh vegetables…” “23 MILLION PEOPLE driven to the brink of starvation by exporting food…” “Disease: Rickets is rife…” “Every family here knows cancer.” “Births are not registered for 6 months to disguise soaring infant mortality…” “Fuel is in short supply…” “Lack of heating, because the country’s 23 power stations cannot generate enough power…” “Life in Romania is the bleakest in Europe. This winter, millions will starve and freeze in sub-zero conditions…” “… fierce blizzards. I was stranded for 14 hours by a wall of snow… The men in the snow ploughs did not even have gloves! Come dawn, some freezing, poorly dressed women, staggered through the snow, trudging the 10 miles to work…” “TV limited to 2 hours a day usually filled with political broadcasts…” “… state controlled newspapers…” “Romanians have not heard about the Berlin Walleven if they had they would be too scared to ask about it…” “Ceausescu is a genius at keeping people under his power…” “1 in 4 is an informer for the ruthless State security service. Opponents simply disappear. Telephone calls are bugged. Policemen with vicious dogs roam the streets everywhere. All typewriters have to be registered to prevent dissidents producing underground newsletters… The prisons are full…” “Every time you walk down the street you are a target… you try and keep out of the cross-fire between the army and bandits… the rebels have night-sights and are better trained than the nervous conscripts- many of the bodies have only one shot in them… When one drunken man ran through a road block, soldiers pumped 23 bullets into him… a young girl died standing at her window…” “… the 71 year old dictator is taking steps to ensure the succession. Approx. 40 members of his family are on the State pay-roll. His deputy is his wife, Elena. His son, Nicu, is regional Party boss and is being groomed to take over…” DEBT: “Romania is in big trouble owing £6.8 BILLION…” “… systematic stripping Romania of its wealth… the hated Ceausescu’s spent staggering amounts on luxury palaces, yachts and trains for themselves…” “… at the Communist Party Congress, Ceausescu rejected Gorbachev’s plea for more open government…”

combat the disease… The beggars, whilst still small in number, insidiously multiply… Sufferers are turned out of their homes, their employers don’t want them, their children may be taken from them; and doctors and nurses in some areas are refusing to treat them… The all-too familiar price of sharing dirty needles” (22/6/1990). “HEAVY AIR. POLLUTION. DUST. Reduces life expectancy. Problems at the fore-front of the revolution. The setting-up of 'The European Environment Protection Agency.' Eastern blocs signing agreement.” “USED TO LOW RENTS, factories with crèches. All these benefits are going to go. Paradise, but with nothing to sell. Sub-standard living conditions. Homes without water…” (8/10/1990). “Why did the Communists roll over so quietly? Well, really they didn’t. After they’d failed to crush the unrest, they put Solidarity in power to let them extinguish all the strikes etc. The thing is, they are failing too. No matter what flag the government flies, their reliance on bureaucracy, power, deceit and greed will never offer the workers what they want. A growing number of Polish workers now realise this, as the struggle continues and intensifies.” “People here are the sickest in Europe. POLLUTION- a death trap. Contaminating everything. Fresh food unfit to eat. Acid rain destroying woodlands” (1992). “Used to be no competition. Now economy accelerating by 5% a year. A massive ‘Social Security’ budget and growing crime…” (15/3/1995). "The government are going ahead building a road through valuable wetlands without doing an Environmental impact study! Repeating the mistakes of Western Europe..." (Country File, BBC, 21/11/2004).

"Highly enriched Uranium removed from a Nuclear reactor to prevent terrorists getting hold of it" (BBC World News, 10/8/2006).

PUERTO-RICO: "20 murders on streets every week. You don't have to watch American films to see violence..." "... Campaign against hotel developers... People who have lived here for generations need this land..." (1993). ROMANIA: “A country full of oil fields. Up to 1945, Romania was rich in oil but in a war zone. Surrounded by other countries wanting oil… Oil installations badly damaged. Not bothered to reinstate. Much oil found / exploited. Main oil field at Ploesti used to supply Hitler with oil…” 1989: “Once there were fruit trees. Now there’s pollution. Life expectancy 47. Mining is 565

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know it better than you.’ Ironically, the couple were dealt with under a law introduced 21 years previously by Ceausescu, which allowed serious crimes to be dealt with by the military with no Right of Appeal. They faced 5 charges at the military tribunal (they were charged with Genocide- the

“As the Berlin Wall comes down… he has ordered a wall to be built to stop his people fleeing to neighbouring Hungary and Yugoslavia… more than 30,000 have escaped in the past 2 years…” “… whilst the juggernaut of ‘Democracy’ bulldozes through… Romania is bull-dozing 8,000 historic farming villages as the population is herded into concrete tower blocks…” “… the anonymous blocks of flats do not have heating…” “… his plan to re-house peasants has attracted international condemnation…” “… the ruins of Churches… flattened to make way for the leader’s plans for the city…” “… Ceausescu is building himself a massive imperial palace and razing old Bucharest to build a boulevard in his honour…” “… The cost in human terms to provide these frightening, ornamental buildings = The Destruction of towns and villages.” “I kept looking all around me for something I can’t get. I don’t see any easy way out of this...” (“Men under a dictator can only seek the truth.”) “MASSIVE FREEDOM DEMONSTRATION: … around 10,000 protestors marched…" “… the protestors, who lived under iron rule, finally snapped…” “… frightened Communist bosses ordered (military) tanks to regain control…” "... troops charged a crowd of 5,000 students with bayonetssecurity forces fired indiscriminately from helicopters… 100’s of people fell on the pavements… In a morgue, 1,000 bodies… a woman died- crushed beneath the tracks of a tank… 4 soldiers died. The shooting began after 1,000’s had marched to the home of a priest- Laszlo Tokes, a Human Rights activist, to protest against his deportation. He appeared at a window- his face bruised, his hands stained with blood- and appealed for the crowd to go home…”

deaths of 60,000 people, undermining state power through organising state actions against the people and the state, destroying public property and public buildings, undermining the national economy, attempting to flee the country by taking advantage of more than £625 million deposited in foreign bank accounts). The tyrant and his wife were sentenced

to death 2 hours later. Just before his death, Ceausescu managed a cynical smile for the cameras recording their last moments The evil pair remained arrogant and unrepentant to the end. When Elena laughed she was told by her interrogator: ‘This laugh says all that needs to be said about you.’ ‘It is the death of tyranny’ said one of the men as TV started playing Romanian hymns. The pair were shown sprawled at the foot of a grey wall- death by firing squad. The people poured into the streets rejoicing. The chant: ‘Dracula is dead’ rang through the streets as Romanians celebrated their execution on Christmas day. ‘Romania is free! The supreme moment has come!’ A TV announcer cried. ‘All of us wanted to see the dictator shot. You have seen it.’ Guards at a crossing on the border with Yugoslavia deserted their posts to watch the historic scenesthey saw the dead dictator’s face and erupted in joy… 3 men had been chosen from 300 volunteers to end the lives that had held the people of Romania in the grip of terror and poverty for 24 years” (27/12/1989) “A TV announcer apologised for having ‘lied’ to viewers in the past… Christmas and Santa Claus had been banned… but now, said the announcer: ‘Santa Claus is here!” (“Now you lift me up and make me strong.” “Give me TRUE love. I need to feel it in my heart.”) “Since the revolution the air is lighter…” The new Prime Minister, Petre Roman said: “We were in a situation which did not allow us to wait.” “The new guard say they acted to prevent young hotheads from gaining control because political debate was stifled for so long…” London: "David Owen condemned the trial and execution as ‘disgraceful.’ He said: ‘The West should make very clear this sort of behaviourwhatever the provocation- is not the proper way of dealing with things.” George Robertson (Labour’s spokesman) said the execution was "a sad birth to the new nation… but perhaps this has exorcised the ghost.” “China, whose own massacre of protestors had been supported by Ceausescu said it would maintain ‘friendly relations’ with Romania. Iran and

(19/12/1989).

“How many died?” “TOO MANY HAVE DIED.”“The dead will be remembered.” “Many young died… children too.” (“With you by side, I have to think twice…”) “… the revolutionaries realised if they took over the media…” "1,000’s died trying.” “1,000’s of protestors were killed a few days before the people overthrew the regime…” “… the army conscripts turned the tide of the revolution by siding with the people…” “END OF A TYRANT: …An interrogator demanded: ‘Who ordered the shooting of the people?’ Defiant, Ceausescu replied: ‘I will not answer a single question..’ ‘You destroyed the Romanian economy…’ Ceausescu retorted: ‘…The population had everything it needed.’ Elena, clad in a fur coat stared in front of her. Ceausescu said: ‘I do not recognise this court. Read the Constitution.’ An off-screen voice answered: ‘We 566

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Greece joined Britain, the USA, Russia and other nations in backing Romania’s new government.” France said: “Naturally, we prefer public trials, but these are tragic and at the same time, very hopeful events.” “The new regime confronts a grave economic crisis near anarchy. Rationing for food and oil still exists…” “Around 10 new political parties have emerged… 'The National Christian Peasant Party' published a draft program… Reawakening… calling for religious education in schools, religious freedom and an end to the destruction of the Romanian peasants and villages…” “Romania’s new President emerged… rebelCommunist boss Ion Ilescu. His government immediately scrapped the plan to bulldoze the villages and force people into concrete complexes. Restrictions on foreign travel will be eased. The notorious ‘birth squads’ will be outlawed (their tasks involved compulsory pregnancy tests at factories where girls worked and spying on women to make sure they did not abort illegally.”) “Patrols have been reduced. But to cross the city centre still requires passing through ½ a dozen checkpoints…” “The fate of Ceausescu’s family is unclear. Nicu, described as ‘a depraved monster’ ‘a heavy drinking rapist’ is under arrest. Zoia, their daughter, an alcoholic, driven away from her luxury flat… Using stolen money, they are bartering to escape execution… only they know where the stolen £700 million can be found… “… most Romanians would like to see them face the death penalty- others said they should be made to live in a squalid Romanian flat and queue for butter and other essentials…” “FOR THE HOMELESS: Families whose homes were destroyed will move into spacious apartments intended for the now-outlawed Securitate forces. (Overthrown leader Ceausescu had ordered 110 apartments to be built in the Capital as his pet project- the Boulevard to the Victory of Socialism. The apartments have lain empty for 4 years awaiting the completion of the still unfinished Palace of the Republic.”) “… an enormous sum of money was spent building shabby flats on the outskirts of towns EG. Brasov, to house the villagers… Now this destruction has been stopped, these blocks will either remain ½ built or empty. No-one would want to live in them…” “… in Buzios, a small village, the residents are celebrating their reprieve from ‘systemisation’ but are mourning the loss of manuscripts- at the same time they are mourning the loss of so many villages…” CRONIES: “Former henchmen will go on trial charged with executing 50,000 people…”

“Romania thought they were going to wake up to a new dawn but they are finding out instead how long twi-light can be. There are a few more goods in the shops but the people’s clothes remain threadbare. They are still waving flags in the cold…” (The Observer, 31/12/1989).

“GRAVES FOR HEROES: Even before the frost could bite, the joy of Romania’s freedom was blighted by the sight of what it had cost. 1,000’s killed by the marksmen of the Securitate. Bucharest’s grave yards were too small to hold all bodies… a makeshift new cemetery, the Young Martyr’s, was carved out of wasteland… throughout the day the family groups streamed into it… a HUGE OUTPOURING OF RELIGIOUS FEELING is the most striking consequence of the revolution… after the revolution found it’s voice… Resting on their shovels, the women wait for the speeches to end so they can heap on the earth. All over eastern Europe, women do hard physical work- on building sites, driving lorries. By comparison to many jobs, this is a light one. It leaves women with enough energy to mourn.” (“A HERO has done something beyond the normal range- saving a life, or sacrificing himself…” “A hero, when alone, has his own heart with all the world.” “Nothing will drive heroes away. You can only beat heroes for one day. Heroes last forever and ever. So what do you say? Let them be lovers? Don’t make them blue. You could make their lives safer in one day.”) “KILLING THE EUROPEAN DRAGON OF GREED…” “Progress will be slow. But tyranny will fade away…” (hopefully). “Good citizens initiated…” “Joy! The lid is coming off.” “All it needs is that diamond in the dark- a smile.” “COMMON CAUSE: The current feeling for breaking down international barricades, within the tearing down of the Iron Curtain, will push us towards a United Europe. Not just for the Capitalists who even now are attempting to bring the newly ‘liberated’ States into the EEC, but also the working class…” “YESTERDAY WAS ANOTHER DAY OF MOURNING for 1,000’s of families who lost relatives in the bloodshed. Processions made their way through the sulphurous streets accompanied by priests. They took candles to the spots where anti-Ceausescu fighters had fallen…” “… the rebel security forces are kill-joys… Brasov’s hospitals have held 100’s of bodies- men, women and children- all random victims. Last week, 400 bodies with more than 1,000 injured… hard to extrapolate total figures… the fighting was everywhere in the country… the total must be horrendous…” “Middle East governments and groups alleged to have supplied mercenaries to fight alongside the security police, sought to knock down rumours and distance themselves from the fallen regime…” 567

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schools! Essentials need to be provided. Emergency care for the malnourished or HIV positive. £10 million is needed.” “Children covered in excreta, walls, floors, bedding covered…” "PORTA-LOO. WHERE ARE YOU?" “George Harrison’s wife is trying to raise money for wash-basins, toilets, showers and mirrors for orphanages…” “KEPT IN THE DARK: These children have never seen day-light! Children coming out of The COLD, DARK AGE. The world must know about their needs. Children left in dark rooms filled with excreta, naked. Those that might hurt themselves, tied up in sheets. Anti-Humanitarian. AntiWoman. The effects of tyranny.” “Children age 2 – 3 still can’t sit up.” “40% died last year of infections.” “NO BABY FOOD!” “’UNWANTED’ KIDS WERE DUMPED ON THE STREETS. Heart-breaking…" “I was poverty stricken. I had no choice. I had to give my child up.” “…some children were sold abroad to boost Romania’s currency by up £2,000 a child…” “Couples in Britain who (now) want to adopt a Romanian baby have to pay councils £2,500 for a report to verify their parental responsibility…” “SOON THE MONEY from Britain for the orphanages will run out…” “ORPHANS IN DANGER: 10,000 Romanian orphans could die this winter from cold, hunger and disease, The European Parliament was told. Euro MP’s called for Common Market cash to save the children by providing heating and renovating their orphanages before winter sets in.” “STRUGGLE FOR POWER TEARS THE NATION APART: A month after the downfall of tyrannical… students are back on the streets again. The sound of protests fills the air… the revolution seems to have gone sour. Troops and tanks are lined up against the demonstrators… having tasted freedom the radical students are in no mood to let it slip away. This is exactly what the caretaker government have been accused of trying to do. 100,000 people showed their defiance to the ruling National Salvation Front.. Ion Illescu knows time is fast running out. People Power is once again on the march… Unless he comes up with a solution to appease, he faces the prospect of a nation split in 2. The students see the reemergence of Communists as repressive and little better than the previous hated regime…” “… young conscripts will again have to decide which side to take. Many may turn again and this time Romania could be gripped by a far bloodier revolution as the political parties battle it out for supremacy…” (“The vitality to save yourself… will save the world.” “Is your hand on your heart? True love.”

“ARMY TANKS IMPOSE ORDER. Lynchings have begun. People know who was with the secret police…” "ORPHANS: …… the doctor takes a British reporter for ITN to an enormous building… the 1st thing he notices is the stench. He is on what he believes is a ward full of young Aids victims. As he walks through ward after ward of equally emaciated figures, he realises the children are suffering from malnutrition. This is Orphanage Number 2. ‘Home’ to 1,000 children. There are 12 such orphanages in Bucharest- over 200 Orphanages in Romania. Incarcerated in these human dust-bins are roughly 400,000 children. It is a measure of the neglect they have suffered that no-one bothered to count them. Most are confined to iron cots, having literally spent their childhood behind bars! The mattresses serve as their toilet- there are no nappies. The children are the victims of a political scheme. Romania’s dictator outlawed contraception and abortion to build a work-force for his ambitious economic strategy. He used the orphanages as recruiting grounds for the Securitate- his vicious secret police. So, a terrible chain evolved; neglected children, raised without love, became unfeeling killers, in turn creating more orphans…” (December 1989) (Condemned in institutions…”) “THE HEALING HAS BEGUN…” February 1990: “… an English woman visited the orphanages… Mary finds some children terrified of water- their contact with water being an ice-cold dousing once a week. Because of the shortage of staff, children too weak to feed themselves simply starve to death. Terrible! The way lonely, neglected children, unused to contact, are unable to play or even unable to look at each other. They have never learned how to. And because their cries were never answered, they have forgotten how to cry… She returned to the UK, set-up a Trust and by March1990, the 1st team is sent out, taking with them 20,000 nappies. Many of the children presumed to be mentally-handicapped are actually in a state of arrested development due to lack of stimulation. Many have never been touched by a human hand! They just need to be cuddled. Tragedies occurred because of lack of expertise EG. an attempt to provide vaccinations, injected 100’s of babies with Aids from shared needles… By April, there are 2 teams of 5 helpers” (How many helpers needed? 1,000?) “The scale of the problem… Many parts of Romania only have water for 2 hours. The Trust starts to build water towers. Plastic baths and bubbles transform (some) of the children. Orphanage Number 2 is now transformed. Hugs, toys begin the long process of mental rehabilitation. But there are another 199 orphanages still to go! These contain more children under 6 than all of London’s primary 568

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“Find your bliss and follow it.” “Go with it. Go with its requirements.” “If a man does not listen to himself, or his heart, he is putting himself into schizophrenia.”) “Romania exporting £24 million and importing £97 million in the 1st 9 months of this year with Britain…” nd (1990) “Romania is the 2 largest sheep rearing country in Europe…” “Ceausescu used to say he planned for Romania to be a Hi-tech manufacturing country- the Taiwan of Eastern Europe. But the workforce is unskilled, apathetic even. Ceausescu spent large amounts of money on grandiose industrial projects EG. a planned Nuclear plant in the Danube basin…” “WE NEED NEW IDEAS TO ORGANISE: … at a meeting of students, where some of us argued for a strong, free union to defend our interests… how to fight against those bloody bureaucrats who are still running things at almost every level? FORBIDDEN: We have now decided to make links between students and workers- obtaining enormous power to force any government to satisfy our need for real Democratic reforms… workers have the same convictions as us. They don’t trust any Party because they’ve suffered enough from the dictatorship… Still we don’t have any access to information people have in real Democratic countries. That is why we are asking you if you could send us: Some information about the history of ideas of your Socialist Workers Party. Some ideas about forming a revolutionary party in our country. Information re: the formation and structure of Poland’s Solidarity free Trade Union. The effects of a free market economy on people and the Environment…” (letter from Romania, Socialist Worker, 3/2/1990) (“Please tell us how to do it…”) “Now we have to reconstruct…” “God knows how many people are part of the revolution…” “The Party must listen to our opinions…” VILLAGES: “… they ask for rent but I don’t have any butter or cheese…” “Poor housing, deplorable hygiene. Malnutrition…” “… huddled 8 to one shack. Since the revolution getting fresh bread. Relief agencies bring fresh fruit…” “In the village of Copsa Mica, where the main industry is tyre production, factory chimneys emit coal-based clouds which cover all who live and work in the village. Since Ceausescu’s death, filters are said to have been fitted in an attempt to clear the air, but pollution continues…” “I don’t know what to do. I’m always in the dark, thinking about spots.” “Once upon a time, there was a light in my life…” “It hurts.” “I’m going straight to Heaven…” “We keep unearthing monsters! Deception had become a way of life. A cover-up policy in the Public Health service. They wouldn’t accept disease

existed. They wouldn’t accept their land was anything other than perfect. DISEASE DOESN’T EXIST IN A PERFECT SOCIETY… Those said to be searching for imaginary diseases were punished. Scientists were denied the right to prevent virus, not allowed to screen or get treatment- vaccines, effective. Told to keep mouth shut. Now known children are HIV positive- 1,000’s of carriers- young people will die in their 20’s and 30’s- 3 times more than thought. Medical problems with social aspects EG. living conditions for people near the chemical plant… 75% have respiratory illness. The windows there are so corroded they have to be replaced every 3 months! The Sulphuric acid is everywhere in the air. Children become ill but nothing done about it! Patients have the lowest standard of living- they can’t stand in queues for food. The use of psychiatry for political ends (on a lesser scale than Russia). Used discreetly and secretly against certain individuals. Henchmen made sure there were no political opponents. Forced internment- 600 patients. Students, accused of ‘terrorist acts.’ Very few had the courage to stand up and be counted. Sacked for criticising. Singled-out for harsh treatment. Claimed he was mentally-ill. Hospitals used to isolate ‘trouble-makers.’ For complaining about the authorities- severely beaten up. GBH by an unknown assailant. Told to shut up to save your life. ‘I would have rather been tried in court.’ Abuse in civilian and military establishments can now be revealed. All the years of dictatorship have caused social schizophrenia, fear, dishonesty, loss of identity, disaster- ecologically. What we need now is intellectual Aid- stability. The public must realise how carefully planned their operation was” (BBC, 25/4/1990). “The exiled former King of Romania was refused a visa and banned from returning. Swissair would not fly him with his wife, Queen Anne… after ignoring warnings to stay away…” “I am totally sickened by the level of terror, the poverty and the sickness that seems to be everywhere” (said the former King Michael).

“Romania is appointing The King of Gipsies to help form the new government.” “1,000’s of ethnic Hungarians and Romanians clashed in the worst violence… tanks sent in to quell rioting…” (“Once you and me had harmony, harmony, harmony. You and me had plenty of time. You held out your hand and I could pray…” “We’re going to make some new music.”) Bucharest. “SPECIAL SONGS are being sung repetitively by the crowd of protestors who, at night, wave blazing torches. Their anthem declares: ‘Better 'scum' than traitors. Better ‘hooligans’ than dictators.’ On the wall, in giant red letters: ‘Illescu, who shot us?’…” HUMAN CRY: “We are one 569

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people! THIS is the beginning of peace!” “WE ARE NOT PEASANTS! WE ARE THE PEOPLE!” “An activist on crutches led the rally which rejects the postponement of the Election…” “MOBS IN POLL FURY: Police separated chanting demonstrators during a bitter pre-Election confrontation…”“For 3 weeks, they have camped out in Bucharest and Timisoara, demanding that no former Communist should be allowed to stand as candidates.” “Whose law is it anyway?” “COMMUNISTS ARE ON THEIR WAY BACK TO POWER in Romania, 4 months after being thrown out in a bloody revolution. Officially, Communists may be dead, but there are 4,000 former senior Party members very much alive who seem set to regain power if opinion polls are correct. There is real fear here that if Illescu wins and uses force to assert his authority he will let loose a potential civil war” (19/5/1990) “NOT GOOD. THE COMMUNISTS HAVE GOT IN, AGAIN. We need a new revolution” (23/5/1990) (“My Grand-mother told me not to take candy from people like you.”) (“Their souls need to be lifted up. They have had so many years of being pushed down.”) “Children of the revolution don’t get fooled again.” “1,000’s protesting every day last 2 weeks. Camping in the square, calling for resignation of the old guard. Protests are against the ruling old school. ‘Down with the governments. The old regime’…” “Letters are still censored. We will fight again for a new freedom. Our so-called leaders are Communists in fancy dress.” “The people want law, order, Democracy and the truth…” “Didn’t we almost have it all?” “END OF ERA DOUBTS: … the Front has handed back land to the farmers, confiscated by the Communists, and farmers given huge pay rises and a shorter working week given to industrial workers. The Front kept a tight hold over the Election, controlling TV, radio and most newspapers. In rural areas, Election marred by intimidation, violence and opposition candidates have been unable to hold meetings. The Peasants and the Liberals beaten up… Romania has a history of brutality and corruption…” “Families now have more heating, lighting and food…” “Basic essentials remain in short supply, or another way of putting it, as happened in Poland and Hungary, have been subjected to massive price increases- due to the influence of Western Capitalist institutions EG. The World Bank. … The struggles seem to have been taken over… by the remnants of the old order who have hastily switched sides to save their skins. But we should not despair. The revolutions are by no means over. They are just only beginning. The brave efforts of the students and workers, which have been

beamed all over the world, have shown the true power of a united working class and will be a source of inspiration for many years to come” (Ref. reports by Class War).

“EC FREEZES AID PACKAGE to Bucharest…” “Britain had promised to help create ‘a free market economy’…” (The Guardian, 21/6/1990). “Gipsies miss out as Europe’s ‘Democratic’ caravan hits the road…” “They wont even talk about it!” “IF ONLY WE COULD…” “… it brings tears to the eyes and a firm resolve to the heart and soul…” “Students protesting their resolution had been stolen…” “… buildings are burning. Dawn raids by police on students. Some students on hunger strike. Police cleared square of camping protestors, using truncheons viciously against anyone who moved, including women and children! TV station reoccupied but now under guard of heavy troops. Violence blamed on anarchists. Government say this was a coup attempt. Government then blamed the police saying ‘they had crushed unrest.’ Fierce street fighting. Journalists blamed. ‘Irrational violence.’ Miners (pro-government supporters) attacked protestors. People rounded-uparrested, taken away in unmarked vans. No-one knows where to (most sinister). Police now mere onlookers. Miners roaming the streets- a very strong force, brandishing iron and wooden clubs. Romania now has a dictatorship again. Troops saturated Bucharest, threatening and beating anyone they think is against the government (PEASANT PARTY SUPPORTERS…) Government concealing signs of unrest. Police are ‘wild-eyed.’ The army are now in control… Suppression of protests condemned in USA & UK. Opponents are unlikely to be silenced for long. The extent of the crisis here? The storming by the people of the main newspaper” (14/6/1990). “Iliescu went on radio and appealed to the workers. 1,000’s answered the call. ‘The workers are with you’ they chanted. “Would-be national saviour, dissident exile, Ion Ratiu… his flat ransacked by miners…” “500 students returned to the square to put the police and troops to flight. Throughout the night the protestors invaded the TV station, burned down the police HQ, torched buses and trucks… 100’s injured. The blood flows…” “Miners paid huge pay increases just after the revolution. Now doing the government’s dirty work- picking on people at random, beating them up, hitting them with whips, knocking them unconscious, bundling them into vans, taking them to god only knows where… About 1,000 miners. Statement issued: ‘Remain calm and carry on with your work’…” “CITIZENS TRAINED BY THE STATE…” “The state of mind of citizens…” 570

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How have things improved for the Romanian children? “Nurses educated. Facilities (no details given). A well rounded programme. Children now see the sun. Now eating solid food. It’s a very slow process. We need a lot of support to get it to manifest into something” (October 1991). “Sailors from a British war-ship are cleaning an orphanage- scrubbing, bringing chocolate and medicines, a generator to beat the black-outs, a washing machine- bought thanks to a whip-round. They have 10 hours to complete their mission” (ITN,

“They want to stay in power irrespective of the wishes of the people!” “THERE’S MORE POLICE THAN TREES!” In Britain, Foreign Office minister William Waldegrave warned: “There is a danger of anarchy.” Picture in newspaper: “A gang ruthlessly beats up another victim…” “They’re having a hell of a time…” “Where are you guys coming from?” “You know, we could make this easy on ourselves!” “This is INSANE!” “The terror meted out by 5,000 workers- mostly miners, armed with iron bars, staves, axes and hammers. The miners enjoyed what they were doing! Girls were carried away- lifeless… There was terror- brutal, ugly, violence- carried out at the behest of President Iliescu. Last night they were counting a new death toll…” “THERE’S NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO…” ? “No sign of weakening of the power of state. No changes in nature of power itself…” “MINERS ACCUSED OF FASCISM. Government now setting-up a new National Guard” (16/6/1990). “Protestors barricading roads… holding candles. Confident. The voice of opposition is not lost. Young and old are joining together seeking… revenge… on miners. ‘We want everyone in every country to help Romania to be Democratic. ’Petre Roman (Prime Minister) said: ‘Protestors have to be dealt with.’ Someone who was injured said: ‘They hate us! That’s awful. A great many of the working class are not with us students. They don’t want to listen’…” (18/6/1990). “STAY SAFE AND NICE…” “The greatest majority of people do not believe in violence…” “The State makes the rules.” “They’ve made an occupation out of hurting us.” “Oh, why do they have to be heart-breakers?” “I’m only being what you want me to be.” “... it’s passing us by…” “The miners could win the revolution if they knew which side to be on…” “At the end of the day, we’ve got to keep on crying because that’s the way it’s always been done…” (“Do not expect a revolution if there is no new ‘baby in the womb’...”) “3 leaders of opposition Parties in strife torn Romania were arrested…” (19/6/1990). “Romania BANS DEMONSTRATIONS: Antigovernment protestors have been gathering every day in University Square, shouting slogans. Demonstrations have now been outlawed…”

3/12/1992).

“Orphans are getting very little from the ‘new’ authorities” (June 1993). “PLIGHT OF THE RAG & BONE BABIES: 2 Christmases ago, I watched as trucked rolled in packed with Aid- they almost gridlocked the city of Brasnov as they queued to disgorge their loads of food and medicines. Today, the streets are frozen again- but silent and empty. The Aid has moved on- to Albania, Somalia, Bosnia. The pictures of the Romanian children that moved us into action are fading in our minds… Conditions here are actually worse than they were. The orphanages are as full as children are still abandoned by parents too poor to feed them… One little boynothing but huge eyes and a scrap of hair, weighs only 5lbs at 5 months old. He is 2 but looks 80; his skeleton frames a face made ancient by the horrors of life. Little bodies are strapped to tables to have tonsils removed without anaesthetic. Dozens of children who have operations end up with septic wounds. The doctors are crying out for antibiotics to keep them alive. A whole floor holds babies they politely describe as ‘dystrophic’ the truthful word is starving. But even their milk is watered down. As the bitter wind of winter bites, many are losing any chance of seeing the spring” (Appeal or raise money, The People, 21/11/1993) “There is a direct correlation between the increase in the price of bread (and potatoes) and the number of children put in orphanages.” “The BBC’s Blue Peter Romanian charity appeal raised over £6.5 million for training of nursery nurses, laundry and cooking equipment, toys, new orphanages and ½-way houses” (1994) (Brick built?) “Is Romania still Communist?” UK: “You see the people in such poor clothes! You feel sorry for them, but what can you do?” (1994). “People speak of the need for change… but revolutions do not always bring the desired changes to social conditions.” UPDATE: Re: Orphanages: “… some have been closed, replaced with fostering programmes, hospitals, institutions… newly built show-homes for visiting MP’s etc. Aid workers facing arrest, expelled for reporting the truth… System overwhelmed, under-staffed and under-resourced. Hospitals like a zoo. The shameful, shocking

(29/8/1990).

“Workers, students and ethnic minorities need to protest together.” “The workers who played a Key role in bringing Ceausescu’s tyranny down, are demanding action over working conditions and food shortages. There is increasing disenchantment” (Socialist Worker, 1/9/1990). 571

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abuse of the forgotten children… abandoned, without hope, dumped… imprisonment, without hope… Driven mad in appalling conditions EG. rocking back and forth… a common side effect, in loveless wards…until they die, victims of institutions. Some starving… Some children have their hands tied behind their backs to stop selfabuse… Physical and mental abuse… facing a life of neglect and cruelty… Children are still being abandoned, mostly from gipsy families who are desperately poor… children sold for money…”

dirty, disorderly force capable of toppling the ‘new’ Soviet order. Their legitimate fear- the peasants controlled the food and the economic survival of the ‘new’ urban order…” Ah, that explains a lot about agricultural policies… (“Educated doesn’t mean you have common sense…”) "LENIN intentionally starved the masses to quell the revolution..." “Communism under the OLD GUARD CORRUPT: … a revolutionary movement seeking to establish the dictatorship of the Proletariat… The State controls rural areas- farms. The State takes most of the produce, pays people only enough to keep them there, arguing ‘this is ‘Socialist’ policy.’ FACT: Old guard enjoy riches. Communism = All people are equal, except the governments, the police… All our equal but some are more ‘equal’ than others (the elite). “When Stalin forced ‘the peasant’ into farms, millions of people perished due to famines. Ideology can kill…” 1930’s: “Stalin’s 5 year old plan. Train-loads of volunteers told to go to the country-side to build a new ‘modern’ industrialised city. On arrival, report to the site manager. 1,000’s of others forced to join them. Gigantic projects EG. Steel works. To rebuild the shattered economy. The dreams became a nightmare. The engineers were put to death. They believed in a machine-like society. More and more factories built. Idea: A nation of engineers (only narrowly educated) to take over America. It was called ‘the Magic City.’ And was planned around a giant steel mill. People thought they were building the New World. The City of Steel. ‘We dreamed of palaces, houses and parks. There wasn’t a single tree.’ American architect catalogue housing- for the American part of the city- the elite- foreign technicians. Administered by Technocrats. Then another purge- Stalin removed all the experts- the specialists- he had them shot… Then, a planned Utopia. ‘We will work as in war. All we wish for we will have. We, the great Soviet people.’ State designs, controlling the industries. The palace of Science. The grandeur was the seeds of its downfall. The State ruled all aspects of life- every detail. The KGB, the scale of arrests, prisons, the demand for coffins- the malignant power of Stalin- absurd. When he died, the brutal machinery of terror died? 1957: Planning attacked i.e. the more metal and wood used the better? The cost must be taken into account! 25 million items came under scrutiny. 400 experts to show this system is rational. Attempts to reform failed. “THE GULAGS: 15 million people died in the death camps. Bad conditions kill. Made to work laying railway tracks. 1,000 men at a time. Slave

(ITN, 4/9/2006).

RUSSIA: “How the Russians love to dance!” “We must not go to war. War always causes terrible defeats. The victors are always guilty. Then comes revenge and… trivia…” WW1: “7 million Russian soldiers died after Germany declared war on Russia. God only knows how many peasants- children. Nobody counted. The Tsar blamed…” “The Whites (the Conservatives and monarchists) are a very strong force…” “… dressed in his imperial gold uniform…” “… the people are starving!” “Go away. I can’t do anything to help you…” 1917: “The Russian monarchy learnt the hard way that the monarchy is responsible for the peoplethey make them what they are…” “We’re not jealous- no, we’re just green with it.” “The Russian Royal Family were murdered but the regime that ruled with the iron rod remained…” “There are so many conflicting groups! The Marxists, the radicals, the Bolsheviks…” MARX’ISM: “Capital will always exploit. The only way to break free is for labour to take control of capital” (i.e. money). LENIN: (pre-election?) “Revolution now! Power to the Russian people! We shall construct the Socialist order…” “TERROR, ARSON & MURDER usually makes a revolution. The majority of people don’t want that.” COMMUNISM: IDEOLOGY: The principle behind Communism is that all people are EQUAL and ENJOY AN EQUAL SHARE. “Theory all property should be vested in the community, each individual receiving according to his capacity…” OLD STYLE: “Over-centralised planning. The State determined the type of saucepan a consumer could buy…” COMMUNITY (means: “Society of people linked together by common conditions of life, beliefs; ownership in common. A group growing together in natural conditions…”) 1920: “Russia was a rural country. 85% of it’s population were peasants.” “The Communists, urban-based and educated, saw the peasants as a 572

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labour. Gruesome. These bodies are under the ground because of Stalin…” “… in one building, 850 poor men with their children. A picture of Stalin on the wall. Psychological warfare. The only way out was death. Those poor Human Beings!” “Russia. An IRON CURTAIN country…” “HEAVILY SUPPRESSED people. ‘Stalin is watching you (and listening). ‘Can I see your papers?’ Regular intrusions into privacy. ‘Where are you going? What is your business? ‘UPSTART!’ Almost everyone suspected of being a criminal. Heavily armed KGB raids- houses searched. ‘We want the utmost co-operation… and we’ll forget the whole thing… we’ll hear no more of it.’ ‘What is it to us? It is a freedom we don’t enjoy.’ KGB: “Russia’s secret police. As bad as the Nazis. Nobody knows how many people were imprisoned… writers were the 1st to feel the effects of Stalin… writing a poem was like signing your own death warrant… 2,000 writers were shot, 1,500 perished, 1,500 disappeared… Stalin wanted to get rid of them all. He called them ‘saboteurs’ … surrounded them with slogans. His reason? He wanted to hide the truth. Afraid of people who can think for themselves. The State want/ed to control everything- the hearts and the minds of people. Don’t believe those who said we were enemies. Our moral sense is not to cram down people’s throats. The horrors they kept from the outside world! 1956: Stalin’s crimes were exposed. The KGB were a terrorist organisation that helped him carry out his crimes… This problem is a Holy matter to us. We have to establish honest facts. This is our responsibility. They know- the more they help us open up the past, their positions will be jeopardised. They block change to stop the process of rehabilitation… We must kick out the people without personalities at the heads of governmentthe people who always say yes to everything…”

1989: NATIONWIDE STRIKES: Miners strikes. The trigger of discontent- empty shelves, poor living conditions. Many of the small one-storey houses have no hot water, some have no running water at all. Some miners are so poor they cannot Afford any soap! The slogan on one houses declares: ‘Welcome to The Stone-Age.’ Another cause of anger- 500,000 inhabitants are being poisoned by chemical-laden clouds billowing from huge Stalin-era factories…” “BLOODY-MINDED BUREAUCRACY: 3rd winter. ½ the population died. Spitak promised help. Town still in ruins. Still existing in tents! No gas. No water. Some new houses built. Disputes held up food supplies. Still food shortages for survivors. Aid did not reach those intended for” (1990).

“Russia is the world's largest oil producer, producing 12 million barrels of oil, a day, exporting 4 million barrels a day. The Azerbaijan only produces 3% of the total output, but is home to 2/3rd of the country’s oil services industry- the factories needed to make valves, pipes etc needed to operate oil wells ..." BAKU: …is an oil port. Gorbachev must retain control of Baku…” “…a bloody 2 year dispute costing 120 lives… the latest crisis followed the axe-killing of a Azerbaijani… Several hundred thousand of Azerbaijanis massed in the city and vowed to drive out all the minority Armenians… MOB TERROR: 2 women were thrown off upper-storey apartment balconies, an old woman was shot in the chest at point blank range, 3 people including a pregnant woman were doused with petrol and burned alive… A state of Emergency declared… Gorbachev ordered in 100’s of crack troops. ‘The situation is now out of control’ reported Tass, the Soviet news agency… 1,000’s of Azerbaijanis, armed with automatic weapons, attacked VILLAGES in Shaumyan. In Yerevan, a crowd of 300,000 decided to form self-defence units and order total mobilisation. Militia units grouped at the airport to fly to help their comrades. There were reports of armed bands roaming the streets…” (15/1/1990). “A sacred duty of the troops is to protect people? No. They only follow orders. People must want to succeed. The Union does not workdoes not fulfil their duty. THERE IS CIVIL WAR! We must set a date. Today, we must negotiate a Treaty. We do not want an artificially created Soviet Union- the sort responsible for causing these sorts of conditions. 70 years of brainwashing! We must decide all problems at the same time- economic, political, geographical. Every person has the Right to live Democratically. No need for troops to stop people leaving! People must be paid back (rewarded) for their investments in the country. We must look after refugees- every one of

(Signals, Channel 4, 24/1/1990).

"The KGB killed 700,000 dissidents..." "Any excuse to send in the troops..." “1,000’s of political prisoners went into the Lubenka and never came out…” THE SECRET LAB: “Russia’s KGB specialise/d in developing and experimenting with poisons…” 1961: "We have constructed Socialism’ (Communism)” (UKTV History, 25/4/2005). “Sackirov died in 1989. He was our conscience. A sincere hero who struggled for all mankind. His simple dream? A better world- for everyone.” "Such a large, boring country. Nothing to do but go bed and bonk." “No say and nowhere to go. Love will see us through if all we do is true.” 573

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them. We can’t Afford not to do so. We must not leave behind poor countries… Without disintegration, integration is possible. All their policy is hypocrisy. They’ve made death in this country. People are not monsters! Just remembered what we have suffered. They have not been working for the good of the Soviet Union as a whole. They are a minority. Our resources are exhausted now thanks to them. Bull-shitting excuses… We are facing the break-up of the big Empire’s structure. It will be very beautiful taking back what is ours. Can you imagine, in 5 years time Multi-Party Democratic Elections with Communists? The forthcoming Elections are irrelevant. They are One-Party. We must use the Human Rights Bill- Socialism. There’s no time to waste. Now, we must do it. It is inevitable. Will it be managed by the Party in a smooth way? There is no other way. I am optimistic. The strength of the apparatus! Gives the optimism to us. This process should be coupled with the present Party. We need this system- the quicker, the better. Only the participation of everybody will be proper Democracy. Patriotism / nationalism should not be destructive. There is always the possibility of a military coup to establish strict dictatorial rule. Technically possible, but the actions of insane people… The KGB exploit socialism to satisfy their own ends… Our nonviolent demonstrations- we have to make it very clear when we are in the streets… We must not have it their way… We have people who are called ‘Democrats’… I don’t believe our country, without these changes, has any future… We must have no monopoly of the media. Are people still apathetic? There are working people who are interested but they cannot get into power. 20 million Russian people will soon be scarecrows! It is good we can say this here- thanks to Peristroika. Realise the dire straits we are in. It will happen again like it did in the 1930’s. What matters is a frame-work of society? The real progress. We have APART-I. It will be interesting for our British colleagues. The same applies to them. They have no real power now. Gorbachev? Why talk about him? There is no alternative world figure? He has lost the opportunity…As a Human Being does he have a good prospective to go forward for the good of this nation? He has the power to go either way. That is wrong…” (Soviet

good to sing.” “All countries should work together are equals.” “Most people in Russia are poor. The health services are poor. The typical grey housing blocks crumbling…” "The people have no choice!" THE PEOPLE’S FRONT: “Homes without water, food, or electricity are bound to affect the people. We only have power at night to make factories work, limited TV- we have to save energy. We trust the Russian people, not the government or the Press. In February, 1990 food rationing ‘started.’ I give food to people even if they have no pass-port (ID), even if they don’t live here. All people are equal. We have nothing. Capitalism has everything…" "… People are dissatisfied. We don’t want ‘socialism’ or Capitalism - so they call us ‘extremists.’ The next stage is going to be much harder. No way to get out of it. We have genuine problems. They’ll have to negotiate soon.” “VICTORIAN SLUMS: Many 'live' in communal flats, sharing cooking and washing facilities. Each summer brings a crop of mass salmonella poisonings… cholera and diphtheria… The poor diet available to Muscovites and the shortage of vitamin supplements make for a vulnerable population. Many are without drinking water because pollutants have leaked into the river…” “THE PROBLEMS WITH HOUSING: In very cold climes, concrete blocks are hard to heat… buildings must be raised up off the ground to prevent subsidence. The difficulty keeping warm… Double-Glazing? The growing population… The Housing shortage… sometimes, 3 – 4 families have to share one apartment. Problem is not thought out. We need more central areas where people can have fun, relax, meet friends- recreation areas. The nearest place is miles away- a tram journey away. I would like to see more money invested in providing homes” (Open University, BBC2, 7/6/1990).

“We were promised flats BUT…” “CRUMBLING EMPIRE: 1.5 million people are Homeless. Pre-fabricated industrialised flats crumbling. The housing shortage increases the crime rate…” “173,000 Homeless families. Plenty of hardliners would like to see us smashed…” “BEGGARS: Hopeless, pathetic bundles like rubbish on the slimy floor, or stand mumbling just inside the church doorways- they turn out to be old women. I’m always touched by the way they bless those who give, rather than curse those who don’t.” (“Bless their souls.”) “President Gorbachev denied he has any intention of resigning his post of Communist Party Chief (rumours had sent stock markets plunging) and declared he was preparing for important decisions

Spring, Channel 4, 18/2/1990).

“DEMILITARISE! Let’s publish a schedule- show how it would work. Let’s call real Elections for once! Let’s call it ‘De-militarization.’ We do not want an aggressive ‘majority’ who, in effect, Elect themselves…” “RADICALS ARE CALLING FOR CHANGE.” “Friendship is a good thing. Of friendship it is 574

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Gorbachev… with a Bible in one hand, and the Koran in another…” JOKE: “What are you playing at?” “Persecution of the community.” “The authorities wont let us speak. Newspapers only voice. We’re not allowed to say anything. What’s the matter? Don’t you like our Grammar?” “... it’s a MIS-UNDERSTANDING between us!” EXPERT: The Press in one-sided. Not giving the Russian people’s view- only the Soviet view.” Conclusion: “The Press are not inflaming the situation.” Uh? “To carry on living this way makes no sense.” (“... it’s started to get to them…”) “Screw you!” Outbreak of violence: “Armenians have kidnapped her children… An Azeri woman tears her hair in grief…” “Moslems conducted services, praying for peace and tranquillity, not revenge or blood.” “Can someone please tell me why people can’t live together in this world? Everyone wants to be together…” “Peaceful co-existence. Is that too much to ask for?” “How can people do this to other people?” “I don’t want this happening ever again.” “I hate violence.” “The ANGER that’s running on our streets!” “Kill ‘em all street.” “If we can’t beat ‘em, we’ll kill ‘em.” “NEGLECT OR SLAUGHTER: Gorbachev defended his decision to send in the Red Army to stop the fighting. Defence minister Yazov said this was a major disaster and mobilised army reservists… the airlift of 1,000 extra troops hit trouble as Azeris blocked military airfields and main roads. Another 4,658 Armenians fled Baku…” “SEND IN THE TANKS. THAT’S OUR IDEA OF REVOLUTION…” “3 cabinet ministers have been severely reprimanded for trying to send 12 new Soviet T-72 tanks to the West for an $8 million profit. The 3 have been charged with negligence in foreign trade operations” (The Times, 11/2/1990)

on the future of Russia’s power supply…” (Nuclear power?) “Russia is the largest untapped market in the world. Their mattresses are stuffed with moneythey’ve got nothing to spend their money on” said a Western Capitalist. “Russian Parliament voted to back sweeping new executive powers for President Gorbachev. Premier Thatcher is to offer him a life-line to help his shattered economy. She will tell him Britain is at his disposal to train young business managers who hold the Key to ending 70 years of Communist stagnation” (June 1990) (to install Capitalism). Mrs Thatcher said: “It could only take place against a background of stability and security” (implying that such a day was still a long way off?) “It is not, surely, a lot to ask of anyone who understands that peace, security and stability of themselves can only be achieved through our existing alliances. To me the important thing is to get Democracy throughout Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, with a much greater move toward a market economy. So it depends whether you are prepared to put yourself before anything and anyone else or whether you are prepared to consider it in a wider context” (Mrs Thatcher rebuked Herr Helmut Kohl for putting nationalistic goals before the long-term interests of the Continent, and tried to heal the rift between Moscow

and leaders in Lithuania where activists plan a demonstration to demand independence from the Soviet Union). “Gorbachev is trying to switch the people onto a market economy.” Q: “Does he know what a ‘free’ market economy is?” A: “Does anyone?” CARELESS: “Perestroika was hasty and poorly thought out- insisting no reformist economist had yet found a scientific and properly reasoned programme to lead the country out of the current impasse…” “WHERE ARE THE SAUSAGES? …the people’s anger at massive food shortages could be the biggest threat to reforms…” “My children don’t get to eat any fruit- it’s too expensive! My son does not even know what a cherry is!” “You’re starving and you still don’t get it!” EXPERT: “Mr. Gorbachev is pursuing a dicey policy. The more freedom he grants, the greater the threat to his own power base. There are very nasty right-wing associations springing-up which want a return to the old-style communism.” “Gorbachev is determined to win the reforms battle. He was determined not to appear to be rattled by the ailing economy, and continued to show the country it’s business as usual. He wrapped himself in the flag of national unity, in contrast to radicals who would only break up the country amid bloodshed… This is classic

(wrong sort of tanks sent. Water tanks are needed…)

UK: “The Russians have great big hearts. They just want to be like us basically… I prefer Russian to American- there’s less bull-shit in Russia…” “The Party wishes to preserve a corrupt system. The Party are destroying peace and freedom. Politicians are not workers. They know nothing about life! The people don’t trust Party leadersthey wont improve anything!” EXPERT: “Get the economists to do the work i.e. get the country out of difficulty. Get rid of the communal farms- this is no way to feed the population.” Uh? EXPERT: “Younger people feel more radical solutions are needed.” EXPERT: “There are only 2 certainties. Gorby’s words are no solace and Soviet tanks can’t help.” 575

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“ORDINARY CITIZENS INCREASINGLY demand to know what is happening to their lives.” “We are hungry for information.” “We’ve just got to know…” “GORBACHEV SENDS IN THE ‘PEACE' TROOPS: The USA said they agreed with the action if minimum force is used…” “Snipers pinned down Russian troops in Baku as 10’s of 1,000’s of nationalists demonstrated in the streets. Petrol bombs and grenades were thrown. Grieving women, many tearing their hair, poured into the main square, to mourn the dead… the Azerbaijani President accused Russians of using heavy calibre weapons to kill ‘young peoplemen, women and children.’ Both sides are mobilising huge forces… as the death toll rises… leaders called for a General Strike until Russian troops are withdrawn. Transport is paralysed and communications cut.” “A soldier or ‘security’ police can kill, but you cannot kill if you have no uniform.” “GUNSHIPS MOW DOWN FREEDOM MARCH: … troops smashed through barricades… those killed were mainly civilians- women and children… shot or crushed…” (“Yeh. You’re pumping… pumping out something… with no meaning… and everyone is sad. Just listen to your engines! In time, you’ll hear it pumping… and it’ll really be something worth hearing, doing a lot of healing…”) (“You’ve not changed the format for years. This wears thin.”) “You know, we have got to find a new social, economic community for the future.” “Are you going to waste us, man?” “Near death experience…” “You can’t make markets by Authorisation. People could make life better.” (“Can’t you think of a better way to settle quarrels, or make sure quarrels don’t start?”) “IF YOU WANT INDEPENDENCE surrender all your weapons to the Kremlin. People refusing. Instead, are signing up to the people’s militia. Gorbachev sending troops to line borders. Protests. Why wrap Russia in barbed wire? Government provoking aggression, to justify Kremlin’s existence” (23/3/1990). “Soviet TV concentrated on protests against independence. A very dangerous situation. Americans told to stay out of Lithuanian’s quarrel with the Kremlin. ‘These people want to close the door’ said independence supporters. The people have no choice. Lawlessness” (22/3/1990). “…Gorbachev is only worried about losing his authority” (23/3/1990). “KREMLIN COUNTS COST OF UNREST: Ethnic and labour unrest costs the Soviet union over 7 million working days last year and approx. £100 million (a Billion roubles) in lost production. Equal to 30,000 workers being absent from their jobs every day of the year.”

“Too many people think Capitalism has no problems. That is a problem.” “FIXATED BY WEALTH: Joint Ventures with the West are stagnating as business-men wait for clarification of the vague laws operating and cooperatives- intended to spur the revival of private industry, are widely hated as excuses for shady operators to become millionaires” (19/1/1990). “REMOVING BARRIERS: Azerbaijanis demanding closer ties with neighbouring Iran set fire to a border fence near the Soviet town…” PEOPLE POWER: “I’ll cut their communication. Beginning with the telegraph poles. We prefer living trees.” “What I want is the real thing.” “I’m leaving this ghetto.” “The rusty wire can’t hold the anger. Suddenly, it’s day again.” “Take us out of here!” “I’m on the last stretch.” “I’m on a home run.” “We’re the freaks- not the heavyweights. I’ll be the stunt-man. I’ll give it all I’ve got.” “It’s time to kill the oppression.” “We should all be living together as equals.” “CONFRONTATIONS HAVE SPREAD to the Turkish border where protestors also wrecked frontier fortifications. After the crowd insisted on crossing the border, the border guards decided to stand aside to avoid a blood bath. Troops then sealed off many of the roads to the border. The People’s Front are meeting officials to try to find a solution to the unrest…” “100’s of Moslims have abandoned their homes…” (in villages?) EXPERT: “Ancient Russian fear of Moslems. Roots go back 1,000 years or so. Fundamentalists / Extremists… Racism prevails. We are talking about ethnic conflict. War. Moslems want equal treatment. This is the price for Democracy.” “SOMETHING REALLY HORRIBLE IS GOING ON: Artillery, helicopters, machine guns and tanks clashed in bitter race war. 200,000 militants armed with anti-aircraft, massed on the hills… trenches dug and other fortifications to defend the villages… approx. 2,000 Armenians were evacuated by ferry and plane as fighting raged… troops were delayed from reaching battles by crowds blocking the roads… The Azerbaijani People’s Front seized 4 tanks… a large cache of explosives were found in rail trucks headed for Armenia…” (Soviet Radio). PEOPLE POWER: “Party bosses flee after rioting… when huge crowds turned against their rulers… the entire Communist Party leadership were driven out of a remote town…” BAKU: “Antigovernments riots left 150 injured. Now the power is back in the hands of the people, the Party, the police have no power whatsoever…” “A 2nd massive riot happened along 85 miles of the Soviet border with Iran sparking diplomatic protests from Tehran.” 576

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“Gorbachev has difficulty sleeping…” (June 1990). “Western experts say the strife has disrupted oil production in the Soviet Union…” OIL WELL? “Soviet oil production is in deep decline. The entire economy is in such a dire state Gorbachev cut short his holiday. Siberia: Tons of oil to be plundered. Could represent a total bonanza for the Russian people. Industry built to get reserves rusting to bits. Much equipment idle. Unable to cope. Also combine harvesters. Russia could capitalise on it’s good fortune but for strikes and bad industrial policies” (BBC Radio, 16/8/1990). “The gloom was lightened only by the unexpectedly good sugar-beet harvest…” “REBELS IGNORE KREMLIN: Nationalists are obstructing troops in every way setting up new barriers made of lorries and buses. Troops opened fire ‘by mistake’ on 2 buses and a worker’s hostel… A General Strike was declared… ‘Terrorist’ groups are hindering the restoration of the border… Troops entered Baku by land and sea… tanks smashed barricades… the hospital is full… Gorbachev spoke of ‘tragic events’ and appealed again for wisdom and constraint… more troops flown to Baku. The Azerbaijani regional Parliament appealed for all world governments to help.” “BOYCOTT HUMAN RIGHTS MEETING: 450 academics from almost every university in Britain, signed a statement urging the British government to withhold support for a proposed Human Rights conference in Moscow ‘because Civil Rights are still being abused in the Soviet Union.’ This follows similar statements from 212 MP’s, 228 Euro-MP’s and 50 student unions… ‘It is the same old story of the difference between what Mr. Gorbachev does and what happens on the ground. The idea of this conference is part of Gorbachev’s charm offensive. In the circumstances it would be inappropriate if the British government did attend” (The Times). UK: Douglas Hurd said: “Let’s now do what we can to help Gorbachev survive.” LABOUR: “The Warsaw Pact is crumbling! A time of danger when an Empire crumbles. Disarmament talks in Vienna- i.e. what to do with military equipment? Troops could be mobilised in 40 days. Let’s get Gorbachev to disarm. Now is a great opportunity for multi-national disarmament. A steady, slow process…” (“Now would be a great time to get it together, sunshine…”) “... it’s GOING TOO SLOWLY!”

if you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, nor lose the common touch, if you can dream and not make your dreams your master... if you can wait and not be tired of waiting, if you can stoop and build them up, with worn out tools, yours is the earth and everything in it, and which is more, you’ll be a man, my son!”)

“CRIME IS SWEEPING RUSSIA with a giant 22% leap in rapes, muggings and murders this year. Police blame ‘difficulties in the economy, the decline of social discipline.’ Criminals face harsh penaltiesmurderers are shot” (August, 1990). “Now it isn’t what you say, it’s what you do that matters. Action against dissidents has stepped up since Gorbachev got into power…” “Gorby has let 1,000’s of political prisoners out, but he didn’t do it in the right way…” “The people will NOT give up their struggle… not now, not in the 11th hour.” “Food, services, goods, housing. The needs of man approaching critical point…” “Gorby said it was like a star that died long ago. People see light coming from it. People have a very vivid imagination but Gorby does not see the potential!” “A NEW CALL FOR POWER THAT FLOWS FROM THE BOTTOM UP...” “A political design? A solution? Gorby said he has no policy!” “...Wounded soldiers were airlifted to Moscow…” EXPERT: “The bells are ringing in the supreme Soviet Union.” BORIS YELTSIN said: “Gorbachev loves power. He refuses to have anything to do with people who submit their own ideas. We call them demi-gods. There’s no legislation to oust him. Make him instigate reforms.” “SPLIT IN THE PARTY: Boris Yeltsin and other rebels going to form a new Party. Sick of wavering about. 100’s, 1,000’s may leave the Communist Party. The people are knocking at their door only they don’t hear it!” “HIGH LEVEL CORRUPTION & GREED: Battling Boris has lifted the lid on the luxurious life-style enjoyed by the Communist elite. Whilst 100’s of millions of Russians queue in vain for simple things, 400,000 Kremlin fat-cats are allowed servants, Western fashions, exotic fruits, private health care, exclusive jet travel and opulent country mansions. The top ‘people’ are living in the same splendour as the French King Louis XV1th and his pampered wife before the French revolution. Yeltsin said: ‘I cannot swallow excellent medicine knowing my neighbour can’t get an aspirin for her child.’ Other perks for the Politburo include limousines, green lights all the way, bodyguards, silk, French perfumes, produce at ½ price not available elsewhere in the Soviet Union, homes with extensive grounds and tennis courts, alarms, high fences, antiques, rooms filled with porcelain,

(“IF you can think... if you can force your heart, nerves and sinews, to serve long after they are gone and so hold on when there is nothing left in you, except the will that say’s ‘hold on,’ if you can keep your head when all about are losing theirs and blaming it on you, but make allowance for their doubting too, don’t deal in lies, don’t give away to hating, if all men count with you but none too much, 577

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crystal, chandeliers, huge private rooms in hospitals, treatment agreed by 10 doctors, including top specialists, they can jet off in private planes any time they like.” “High officials can bring in translated porn films.” “BLACK MARKETEERS make excessive profits.” Moscow: “500 Prostitutes work the streets …” “Gorbachev instructed people not to talk to nationalists about who owns what. Delegates are more concerned with choosing a new Party emblem than dealing with the crisis in their economy” (20/3/1990). “Russia is to cut back meat production because they have run out of grain to feed cattle. Meat rationing is already in force in most areas.” “100% VOTE. Unanimous. Agreement: Our leaders have failed to produce the goods.” “Now we have a good chance to get the changes we all need. We need more energetic measures… Our aim is to hand-over resources to the people working here. More strikes if demands not met. Strikes are a last resort. If only they would use what they have at their disposal, strikes would not be necessary” said the leader of the miners. “We need a proper social contract. So what if we have leasing, collective and private property? Using the experience of Humanity – the common people have a Welfare state- a market economy with social guarantees, which everyone is involved with running the economy- they are share-holders.’ ‘Grave, unpredictable consequences whilst these people remain in power. The situation cannot be reversed. A Co-op is private enterpriseI own all my business- others come to help me. Coop movement nearly dead- strangled by governments. We should share, mix- take knowledge to Africa, Japan, America- where there’s poor- those in need- help through worker’s productiveness. Reforms? We must not let these poor, least privileged people starve!” “The Free Union of Independent States. People will understand it is to their advantage. Everyone should have the Right to decide”

“A VERY COLD WAR: Oil and gas supplies to Lithuania stopped. Petrol rationing. Landbergis said: ‘Before 1947 we were independent. We did very well. We traded with other European countries. Moscow will lose the money made transporting oil through Lithuania. The loss of heating is not such a big problem… Spring is here! Authorities are trying to destabilise… Gorby is same as Stalinhe’s an imperialist.’ The Army said: ‘We do not want to serve in an army of occupation’…” (20/4/1990).

“TANKS ROLL IN TO CRUSH REBELS: A convoy of 15 personnel carriers and… the number of troops top 30,000. KGB secret units sent in to back troops lining the borders… now tougher travel curbs and border checks in a crackdown…” “DEFIANT: 3 million Lithuanians vowed they would rather be dead than lose their battle for independence… Mrs Thatcher threatened to scrap her summit with Mr. Gorbachev unless he abandoned plans to cripple the tiny republic… Landbergis said: ”…we have no tanks. Our struggle is a peaceful struggle. If food supplies start to dry out Lithuanians will begin starving to death.” “America is threatening to withdraw tax incentives to USA companies setting up there…” “CONFLICTS. TORTURE. INERTIA. Our legacy is violence.” “Lithuania imports 90% of coal from Soviet Union. Good Friday: Threats to cut Lithuania’s supplies off. Energy high on list to block. George Bush said: ‘… goes against policy of dialogue and Democracy.’ Mrs Thatcher said: ‘Not a matter that can be solved by force.’ Conscripts, who want to protect mothers and sisters, do not approve of being sent to kill someone else’s mother and sister.” “Population of Lithuania took to the streets on bicycles in a massive show of defiance… Now food rationing… running out of firewood” (29/4/1990). (“I’m a man who wants to share. I cried. And I’m not alone.”) “We need to provide a basic range of cheap food products to reduce social tension and we need to get these delivered across the country, perhaps using the resources of the armed services for transport. A package to calm unrest over shortages” (said Andrei Orlov, deputy chairman of the

(Channel 4, 18/2/1990).

“A FREE MARKET TO SUPPORT GRASSROOTS = ‘Radicals’ who want to introduce (more) rationing in shops, selling houses / sectors for a profit, hoping that prices compare with the West. The price for change is going to be high…” “Public waste / refuse being put to private tender. Public opinion is divided. A wall of disillusionment. ‘It’s a serious test for us.’ “People are demanding immediate changeschanges they can feel.” “I don’t understand what they demand. The consequences of these policies is inflation, unemployment. There is no way out of this crisis. We have to pay the price” (10/4/1990).

State Commission for Economic Reform).

“GORBY’S ECONOMIC PLAN: BOOM TIME AHEAD: Housing: Western architects and construction firms queuing to build flats and villas. Major car giants will build more cars for the Russians. Food: Farms will become family businesses instead of State-run co-operatives. Owners will produce more food because of incentives to make money. Russia will have shops full of food- just like Hungary, but at high prices. Fashion companies will move in. The Sun 578

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People must earn their money- not live off the State”

newspaper will hit the streets and go down like a bomb. A new commercial TV channel. Big, grey department stores, shopping centres with small shops, funded by advertising. A growth predicted in pornography and prostitution…” “Gorbachev promised Western firms will be allowed to take their profits out of the country. A pledge worth £millions to private companies.” “2 Communist leaders were stoned to death…” “The President of the Communist Party had a heart attack…” BALTIC: “More States are demanding independence…” “GAS COSTS UP 10%, ELEC UP 100%, SHOES UP 35%, FOOD UP 300%, TRAVEL UP 50%...” “Massive Pro-Independence Rally… in the midst, a crucifix. People chanted: ‘Shame, Shame. Politburo out!’… a string of media articles detailing economic decline…” “…Troops attacked deserting conscripts and print workers…” (1/5/1990). “Gorbachev again called the people ‘extremists.’ ‘There must be no return Stalinism’ he said. The people said: ‘Resign. Resign.’ Joint Venture delegates had lunch to discuss it…” “Rebel Lithuania is set to evacuate 1,000’s of people from the cities to the country-side… their crisis plan will help save food and energy”

(BBC, 22/5/1990).

Gorbachev, riding in a golf cart, said: “The COLD War is behind us. Let’s not wrangle over who won.” “Siberia offered Lithuania petrol but has to be transported via Moscow…” EXPERT: “The Soviet Union is a sick society. Will push through reforms even if they hurt. I have civic conscience. Important, decisive time for fundamentals. In a year or 2, all should be resolved. This isn’t a time to look back…” EXPERT: “Policies increasingly pushing confrontation on the streets. Program of disintegration? No, renovation of the Federation. Synchronised restructuring program. I wont go off this road- a uniting Democratic process” (6/6/1990).

FAMOUS SONG: “Gorky Park, where the children are dreaming in the winds of change. You can feel it everywhere, blowing in the wind. It’s the freedom bird, bringing change…” (“… it is in people’s hearts.”) Gorbachev said: “I HAVE A VISION! There’ll be new ‘armies’ fighting hunger, disease, poverty. New winds are blowing.” “Fighting is going on in more than 30 towns and villages around Osh…” “The death toll continues to mount…” “Moscow urged to send more troops to prevent civil war erupting in Kirghizia, Uzebekistan and Tajikstan.” (“To Russia with love I flew. I suddenly knew what I could do?”) “Mrs Thatcher’s visit was supposed to be a major boost to morale to the city still trying to recover following the 1988 Earthquake which killed 25,000 people… she enjoyed a night at the opera… and was forced to abandon her walk about as KGB guards thumped women and trampled children clambering to get a glimpse of her at the new £5 million British-built school. She described reforms as ‘exciting’…” (10/6/1990). “SHELVES CLEARED OF AFFORDABLE FOOD STUFFS. Will re-think policy to triple bread prices. 1lb of beef costs £11. How to transfer to a market economy???” (14/6/1990). “COMMUNISM has always been, and always will be, a morally and financially bankrupt system. The idea that Britain and the rest of Europe might give £11 BILLION to help prop up the Soviet regime was like suggesting you give a fiver to a wino” (The Sun,

(23/5/1990).

“1,000’s of protestors tried to storm Parliament of 2 rebel republics in a bid to halt moves towards independence… Estonia sent a SOS… the radio urged Estonians to ‘go and protect the government.’ In Latvia, MP’s were discussing how to avoid conscript for Latvian teenagers…” (“At this rate I think it will take forever.”) “APPALLING LIVING STANDARDS. Poverty giving cause for concern. Socialism abolished poverty. Now the (true) Communists are very angry. The down trodden are sleeping on rough floors in train stations. ‘We have principles but they have no idea in the Party.’ ‘Living standards for the people are breaking down. This is unacceptable. A coalition would make a great future for us. Chaos would be a blow for Democracy’…” EXPERT: “An unfair burden on the people. I voted for this program of reforms because we need something. Better than voting for nothing.” “QUEUES FOR FOOD WORSE THAN EVER. Put up with un-Affordable food prices… for 5 years? Reforms? We need a true Socialist policy.” DIRECTOR OF THE JOINT VENTURES ASSOC said: “Gorby’s position is not in danger. He makes traditional decision. He gives tangible results. No short term answer. There are no alternatives. No options. By doubling costs in the private sectorsocial counter balances. Worsening poverty?

26/6/1990).

CONGRESS. "500 delegates warned by Gorbachev of ‘extreme trends.’ An attempt to take revenge. Hard-liners sure of a majority. ‘We can find common ground.’ ‘Most of our Party believe in real Socialism. I don’t like to divide our people into Conservatives and radicals. This is our last chance.’ Conservatives demanded Gorbachev’s Party resign. 579

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“The Russian mind is clever, Capitalistic…” “The Russians have shown themselves to be very crafty…” “... it’s always the basic things that people need that are subject to price increases and shortages.” “3½ days wages to buy a chicken! Privatised markets. Fears of a potato shortage. People don’t know what it means. Gorbachev given more power! Power in the hands of one person is very dangerous” (24/9/1990). “… even the KGB have been drafted in to help save the potato crop… the pot-holes don’t help lorries. Whole country could become an ungovernable disaster zone… more Cholera outbreaks… work on the hotel has been suspended….” “40 MILLION PEOPLE MAY BE THROWN OUT OF WORK if new plans go ahead” (September, 1990). “Economists warned of hyper-inflation. There’s a cry of despair. Economy is going down the drain. They want people to be independent. No, they don’t want people to be independent…” (“How to create a new Common-wealth from the rubble of the old regime?”) A RADICAL ECONOMIST said: “I have no idea how to do it.” “THE MILITARY TRY TO SEIZE POWER: Using tree logs, concrete, metal spikes etc to keep tanks out of Parliament. More people are organised (!) serious, more determined. Tanks are advancingthey’re after Yeltsin. Will there be civil war? ‘We can do without self-appointed leaders.’ Yeltsin is heavily armed. The people are unarmed and waiting. The people are the real heroes”

‘Dark times are in store’ said Gorbachev… Protestors outside…” (2/7/1990). “STALL: … deliberately stalling peace talks because of fears re: the unification of Germany… changes in Eastern Europe meant the Soviet military had ‘put on a brake.’ Gorbachev pleaded with Mrs Thatcher and other Western leaders to help his cause by not carrying on like an elephant in a china shop in negotiations… In Russia, it’s crunch time for the 285 million people who live there. Nothing is working…” (2/7/1990). “NATO foreign ministers ended a 2 day summit by offering Moscow ‘a hand of friendship’ and look forward to a peaceful Europe…” Headlines in the Press: “East and West abandon their Cold War…" “Lulled people into a false sense of security…” “Mrs (‘Cold-Heart’) Thatcher claimed credit for the richest nations DECISION TO BLOCK cash AID to the Soviet Union (whilst offering massive new World Bank loans to China). (She was a Key player in the 17 nation summit in Texas) (11/7/1990) (the summit struggled to reach a compromise deal over agricultural subsidies). “There is no way to bring back yesterday” said Gorbachev… “Landbergis wont compromise… is now printing his own money. No sign of stress or panic. New pass-ports being issued. We will give our country honour, correcting injustice. Queues for petrol continue + lack of food (has more food as not sending food out). A calm, unflustered attitude will see them alright” (Channel 4, 8/8/1990). “WE HAVE TAKEN SOCIALIST SIGN OFF THE DOOR.” "Socialist? Soviet Union going to be called ‘Sovereign State.’" Director of Central Economic Planning: “I think we need a revolution. The old power don’t want it to happen because they fear they will have nothing left to do. It wont keep them as we know them today. It is a decisive radical plan and it’s a move in the right direction. But privatising land to sell ‘council houses’ will be hard to implement.’ Could Russia become an economic rival?” (Channel 4,

(20/8/1991).

“HARD-LINE CONSERVATIVES HAVE WON. Russia is now so dependent on the West. The situation is critical. Change = Deprivation and isolation?” PREDICTED: “Communism may live on but under a different name.” “AID CUT… to protest against the coup.” So much for a united Europe. ‘Britain has no influence’ said D. Hurd. Politics means you have to do business with whoever is in power? This will upset G. Bush’s plans for a New World Order. Officials in USA caught on the hop. ‘It’s a tight-rope’ said an expert on East West relations (the Cold War). The USA will send an ambassador. An unstable USSR. People at this time should be united! ‘It’s very grim. No solution is ever simple.’ ‘Yes, it’s very difficult. Impossible for us to know’…” (20/8/1991). UK: “Hey! If we knew how to do it, we’d tell you.” ON WORLD ANIMAL DAY: "Russia asked for £9 Billion to save live-stock from slaughter. The West decided on limited Aid (£2 BILLION creditinterest may be postponed). There’s no progress. The Russian economy disintegrating into chaos.”

8/9/1990).

“SOVIETS BATTLE: 50 rebels killed… 800 Armenians fought 2 detachments of soldiers for 10 hours… 100 homes destroyed… Armenia will form its own army, interior troops and security force…” (24/8/1990). “SEVERE BREAD SHORTAGE DUE this winter. 1/3rd of Russia’s crop may be lost due to transport problems- grain is rotting in the fields, the land is fertile but farming on such a huge scale- not doing enough to help the harvest. Gorbachev and Yeltsin compromising- setting-up a team to advise how to formulate a market economy” (2/6/1990) (“A peasant can recognise a sheep in wolf’s clothing.”) 580

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PREDICTED: “The peace process is going nowhere” (Institute of Slavonic Studies, 4/10/1991). “We know of no way how to help Russia- to help Russia pay off debts” (Spectrum Radio, 10/10/1991). Q: “Is it luck or skill?” A: “Both.” “Huge debt. The Russian government is part of the problem, not the solution.” “EXPERT”: “There’s not a lot the West can do about it.” “SHOCK THERAPY: 200 million Russians (and Ukrainians) had their 1st dose when subsidies that had kept prices at low prices for 7 decades were lifted on most goods in the shops. Price rises between 200 – 1,000%...” “Their children are unhealthy. Their homes are as unsavoury as latrines and the standard of hygiene is terrible. Their teeth are rotten. Their bodies obese or emaciated. SLUMS: An apocalypse of congealed urine, broken glass, lift shafts with no lifts, concrete passage-ways, dust, obscene graffiti, frightened children and mothers so full of mistrust and despair they are frightening to behold. £BILLIONS have been spent building a suburb. Evil. The concrete spews out by the ton. A prison. The sight of blocks is enough to effect anyone. Graveyards. The people condemned to live in society’s dustbin. Wrecked cars, rusting bodywork, souped-up cars, burnt tyres, cartridge cases, condoms and spittle. Instead of throwing themselves off balconies, some people take the lift that isn’t there and fly 5-floors down the empty shaft. Everything is filthy. Here they sell crack, cocaine and heroin. Anyone who is shocked by such things is pretending not to know. Drug-dealing is so normal in this area you get stopped by total strangers who ask if you know where they can get drugs. Symbols of power, wealth and social advancement = Many Junkies buy motor-bikes, smart cars, 3 or 4 TV’s, flashy, expensive furniture, watches, gold- as much gold as they want. This economy does not produce well-being or health” (The Guardian, 3/1/1992). POLLUTED: “The death rate has exceeded the birth rate the pollution is so ‘great.’ Radiation levels high. LEAVES no longer on Trees. Respiratory problems. Noxious fumes. Slag heaps surround the town. Domestic water infected with radioactivity. High rate of leukaemia, genetic abnormalities. Zinc, Cadmium & lead poisoning. Babies are victims of Environmental damage. A sorry tale. Chromosomal damage. Birth defects increasing. Public mortality is very high. Cancer centre shrouded with secrecy. Workers live in high-rise tower blocks. Move the town? It’s cheaper than closing down the industrial plants. We need clinics. The town is dying. Economy, or ecology? Concrete the town over? The 2nd Chernobyl?”

USA: “Arguments raging. Should we send Aid when we have so many problems?” (April1992). “It is beyond our understanding” (the impact of recent events) (5/5/1992). “You can compare Russia with a man that has been diagnosed clinically dead” said Yeltsin. (It’s over? No. No. No. You are wrong). PROTESTS: “People want to get rid of Yeltsin’s reformist government.” “Most people want to stop the Capitalist reforms. Turn back the clock…” “ONE man is trying to help 100’s of the Homeless children in Moscow, marooned on the streets during winter” (ITN, 28/11/1992). “We’re going down, down, down.” “Not allowed to have demonstrations. Still audible unhappiness. People very angry” (ITN, 1/12/1992) “After all we’ve said and done… what can we do? We feel so insulted…” “RUSSIAN POLITICIANS CAME TO BLOWS: Congress is mentally unstable- wont listen to President. ‘You are tying its hand behind its back. If you take away its independence…’ said Yeltsin. He offered a deal but this was rejected. It would lead to a shift of power… Now many bankruptcies. ICI, well established in Moscow, said: “We see very little movement towards helping the economy” (ITN, 3/12/1992).

“WAR DECLARED ON GROWING GANGS: Crime fighting is now a military operation… troops carry out random checks, viciously bash suspects… Civil Rights abuses… attention diverted from economic problems. 2.7 million crimes in 1992. Russia is facing a breakdown in law and order” (BBC, 19/2/1993). “Russia is desperate for money. Selling weapons to fill order books. Worry - they may sell to anybody” (1/3/1993) (Russia armed Yugoslavia…) “WE NEED a new leader with the strength to see it through.” “We will stand like a wall before the Kremlin.” (Response): “We should rule with an iron fist.” Yeltsin, Congress, the military ignoring concerns. The people are starving…” (BBC, 9/3/1993).

“EMERGENCY RULE ANNOUNCED… Clashes, competition, disputes… Yeltsin wants the people to decide who will rule Russia. ‘Everything we do will be voted for by you’ said Yeltsin. Hardliners - Conservatives opposed” (19/3/1993). “Parliament seeking to remove Presidential powers arguing Yeltsin’s actions are against Democracy” (21/3/1993). “Yeltsin has seized power of the media ‘to protect the people’…” “A REVIVED NUCLEAR THREAT?” “Fear: Fullscale civil war in Nuclear armed Russia. Anything could happen. Russia has 300,000 Nuclear Weapons.” “America said it is the greatest international challenge and wants Aid increased. 2 Presidents with opposing views? Disastrous.”

(re: Kaberbinlinski, ITN, 1/5/1992). 581

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“Gangs demand protection money… Moscow’s murder rate is up 50%” (18/8/1993). “Yeltsin celebrated his Election coup by walking around factories making wall-paper and roof-tiles. Mass demonstrations. Life has got harder…”

“Yeltsin PLEADING FOR MODERATION. “May all branches of power reach an agreement.” A compromise solution. There is little sign of peace here. Congress- a hard regime. They could make it almost impossible. Not sure if hard-liners are going to allow it- help it. No project financing if no governing body” (27/3/1993). “SAVE RUSSIA!” “Technical Aid is to be increased by Britain ‘to help them reach concrete measures” said D. Hurd (29/3/1993). “If Russia wants to make money, small holdingswhere fresh excellent food is produced, could be their best tourist attraction” (BBC Radio). “Russians are in need of real support. A pity the USA is only supporting one person- Yeltsin. Aid promised = £7 per person. Most will have to be repaid. It’s a domestic issue…” (ITN, 5/4/1993). “Typhus alert in Moscow among growing Homeless population… virus-carrying lice…”

(20/8/1993).

“Yeltsin dissolved Russian Parliament- as not Democratically elected. Power struggle. Parliament wants to strip Yeltsin of his powers. The West backs Yeltsin for at least wanting Democratic reform. People manned barricades. Another nationwide strike threatened” (21/9/1993) ”Yeltsin is fighting for the re-birth of Russia!” “Passenger plane shot down. 87 dead. Desperate civilians are trying to get out of Russia. Threat of an army take over” (Georgia, 23/9/1993) “Yeltsin is waiting for the re-birth of Russia!” “FORCES ORDERED TO SHOOT TO KILL if there are any more attacks on government buildings. Russia is on the brink of catastrophe.” GEORGIA: “100’s of civilians killed. No electricity for weeks. Life has come to mean very little. Harrowing scenes as people try to board ships in the desperate scramble to leave. City fallen to separatists. Leader fled” (BBC, 27/9/1993) “Georgia resembles Beirut” (1/10/1993). “Some say life was better under Stalin.” “PARLIAMENT BESEIGED: No heating, only emergency (dim) lighting. Members now armed. Yeltsin threatened serious consequences against any who oppose him” (1/10/1993) (“I’m in over my head! I can’t help the swell! I’m too lost in everything! I can’t sing. I can’t think what to do!”) (“You could think of me shivering without light. Help me. Save me from these attacks before I lose my mind. May it come true. Ah! But I’m not allowed to speak… I can’t make it clear to you…”) “UH-OH! WE’RE GOING DOWN LIKE A STORM AT SEA…” “Parliament retaken by force. Running street battles. 50? dead. World leaders agree with use of force” (BBC1, 4/10/1993) (Are they battling so you can’t find your way? What do YOU say?") “Russia needs a counter-inflationary plan”

(Evening Standard, 6/5/1993).

“My husband is away building pre-fabricated houses for the poor people…” “Thin walls of planks of wood without insulation are no comfort.” “DOWN A FROZEN PATH TO A FROZEN REFUGE: A refugee crisis of huge proportions. The 5 year, undeclared war between Armenians and Azeris… has cost approx. 3,000 lives… following an explosion, a crucial gas pipeline ruptured… left with no heat and limited electricity… rely on foreign Aid to survive. 39,000 Azeris fleeing the fighting passed through refugee centres. 5,000 people unaccounted for. 15,000 people missing" (Red Cross figures). ‘39,000 people driven from their homes in 1 week! We fear a very high casualty rate… even young men are exhausted and in thermal shock. Numerous cases of severe frost-bite- more than 40 deaths reported. Some people carrying infants- snowburned and in shock after 6 day trek. The Refugee Commission is trying to secure a corridor to the mountain to evacuate refugees by helicopter. Prospects bleak. 4 army helicopters ferrying refugees and wounded crashed last week… The greatest obstacle to the rescue effort is the governments refuse to negotiate a ceasefire…” “1,000’s of Azeris are camping in the hills… as shells rain down on the town. A plea for help… ‘The conflict will not be stopped by giving military Aid.’ The UN Commissioner in Baku holding Emergency talks re: how to transfer 27,000 Azeris civilians trapped in villages seized by Armenian forces…” (The Guardian, 8/4/1993). “£1.34 BILLION AID PACKAGE: G7 leaders agreed a fund to help Russia restructure and privatise state industry (loans from the World Bank)” (8/7/1993).

(5/10/1993).

“INSTABILITY: State of Emergency & curfew imposed. 2ND coup attempt. Death toll 127. A sad loss of life. The army said killing was necessary to stop a civil war and save the world from Nuclear war.” “'Aliens' rounded-up i.e. non-ethnic Russians. Herded into prisons. The Press is suppressed. The ‘freedom’ of the individual is diminishing” (13/10/1993).

“State funding for fundamental scientific research has collapsed…” (BBC1, 15/10/1993). “60,000 people living in wintry conditionsappalling. Desperate, scared, cold. Homes destroyed- looted, burnt out. Several refugees 582

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bus- which helped a boy who fell from a 4-storey block of flats. They can’t help his brain damage, but on these awful roads, he will at least have a comfortable journey. It’s surprising what you can do in a few days, isn’t it! Building materials, paint etc have been arriving. Now we’re looking for a posse of tradesmen to come and cut wood etc” (That’s life,

drowned. ‘Only God can help us now.’ Widespread sickness. Came seeking sanctuary but tents close to flooding. Camp resources stretched to absolute limit. More tents needed” (Azerbaijan border, BBC1, 5/11/1993). “RECORD COLD TEMPERATURE: -12 in Russia. Siberia - 53.5 degrees C” (19/11/1993). “So much of the land is unused! Russia = The world’s largest continent. In some parts, the temperature falls to - 80…” “Problem. HOW TO MODERNISE schools? Can’t Afford books, equipment… relying on donations from parents” (BBC1, 7/12/1993). “It’s simply not clear to us how to do it basically…” “Miners on strike. Government plans to close many coal pits. Dangerous, arduous conditions. ‘Yeltsin is not bothered with our problems’…” (BBC 8/12/1993). (“To lose time is to slip into the grave.” “On thin ice you move very quickly.” "I wish they would smell the ice...") “MANY VOTERS APATHETIC. Don’t know how to use ballot forms. Many resent Yeltsin’s shock therapy reforms” (BBC1, 9/12/1993). “If we could Elect the younger generation things may change. Better able people. We need it. Every man should be free. Democracy. Many voters don’t want this hardship anymore. (Government) Reforms- so many dangerous consequences” (12/12/1993). “A NEO-FASCIST leader- an extremist, who once said he would drop the bomb on Germany, who pins his hopes on troops, is making gains in the General Election. He could be our next Prime Minister”

BBC, 5/2/1994).

“Several oil and chemical installations hit by bomb blasts. Storage tanks and pipeline damaged. Fires broke out…” (14/2/1994). “Yeltsin’s priority is to fight crime. Russia is short of solutions.” “VILLAGE SWEPT AWAY after river burst its Banks, killing 50” (Tusoi, 10/3/1994). Re: Armenian Conflict: “Civilians bombed indiscriminately. ‘Men can fight wars, but civilians should not be involved’ said a man returning home to find his house bombed and his pregnant wife and 2 children dead” (BBC1, 9/5/1994). “Military ammunitions base exploded. 3,000 people evacuated from their homes.” “Prince Charles visited Russia. He said there are no quick answers to their problems” (17/5/1994). “3rd mass kidnap of bus passengers” (30/6/1994). “Russia is experiencing the worst violence for decades.” “There is a worry criminals may obtain Nuclear Weapons” (BBC1, 22/6/1994). “Tobacco giants are moving in on Russia.” “Russia’s largest private investment company collapsed. Corruption. Millions of Russians lost their money and their belief in Capitalism” (July 1994) “How do the people feel?” “Cheated.” LATVIA: “86 prisoners escaped” (1/8/1994). “COMPANIES ARE IN FREE-FALL. Yeltsin, the man who ended Communism, still has to prove Capitalism works. But he is behaving strangely- the result of alcohol? His support is down 20%” (26/9/1994) “Yeltsin has lost his former cheer…” “PAINTING THE TOWN: Russians are doing a quick paint job, boarding-up to cover rust and repairing roads in Moscow where Queen Elizabeth is likely to go. ‘Why is the Queen visiting?’ ‘The Queen is a great ambassador for Britain.” (Did The Queen see the broken dreams?) “A time of change is not a comfort” said the Queen who wearing a mink coat costing over £100,000” (October 1994). “Orphans as young as 9 are locked away in state prisons because of alcoholism…” “People can either live as beggars or criminals. People are in a state of shock, feeling helpless. There is no Democracy…” “Under Communism taxes paid automatically. Under Capitalism, 50 new Taxes introduced. Companies systematically not paying Tax. 50,000 companies investigated- not one of them clean. Tax police now hiring ex-KGB armed with machine guns…” (BBC1, 26/10/1994).

(15/12/1993).

“Russia is developing a new nerve gas. 10 times deadlier… Scientists put on trial for telling the truth…” (6/1/1994). “FARMERS will be given huge subsidies…” “STATE INDUSTRIES CRIPPLED: No wages for workers for months. No longer know what to talk about as there is no economic policy. Over ½ of shops and factories privatised. Program rolling forward. Repaying £Billions of Aid depends on low inflation. Trying to spend their way out of trouble. Talking of panic is too extreme…“ (Channel 4). ”Russia is heading for a social explosion…” (BBC2, 26/1/1994).

GEORGIA: “Sunk deeper into debt. Yeltsin promised State Aid to help rebuild the army. ‘This is the New World? You have to pay for independence’ said the President of Georgia. Can’t Afford to buy petrol. ‘We need energy’..." (BBC1, 3/2/1994).

“THE CHILDREN in need. In hospitals, the fabric of walls is disintegrating. Terribly dilapidated. Needs painting !?) They need ambulances. So much suffering. Shortage of pain-killers and other drugs. One woman, Anne MacKay, devotes her life to raising money, awareness. She sold her car and carried suitcases of Aid- she got them a 583

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show horror of what is happening. ‘How can Yeltsin do this to his own people?’ He is now a dictator (31/12/1994). “HEAVY Russian troop deaths / casualties. Ground assault failed. Yeltsin ordered more air raids.” “Attacks on civilians is hardly going to win the way for Russia. 100 people killed in one small village… Moscow strongly criticised Yeltsin for causing instability in other regions. Dozens of dead bodies lie in the streets. ‘Yeltsin is a traitor surrounded by criminals.’ ‘The government has gone too far.’ ‘The violation of Human Rights should be a cause for international concern’…”

“MOSCOW HAS GONE CAR CRAZY: The luxury car market continues to grow. Cadillac’s, Mercedes. Black is preferred as this still a statement of power in this country” (Ride On, Channel 4, 22/11/1994).

"CHECHNYA: … wants independence…" “The Mafia has control of everything, including the oil. The importance of Russian oil to America…” “Yeltsin has sent in the troops… A Russian General refused to use military tanks against the civilians saying this would be ‘criminal activity.’ Yeltsin has to pursue policy of aggression or he may lose face with the military” (13/12/1994). “Heavy civilian losses / casualties” (22/12/1994). “Ignoring the expressed wishes of Parliament… SICKENINGLY POWERFUL BOMBS detonated in heavy air raids against civilian houses. Blocks of flats hit, oil refinery hit, innocent bystanders wounded. Reckless, indiscriminate bombardment provoking a military and political crisis. There is complete confusion in the senior ranks of the army- many of whom are opposed to civilian bloodshed. Wave after wave of aircraft have bombed the capital. Café destroyed, killing 15… Yeltsin is trying to terrify them into submission but is inflaming them into opposition, defiance. The armed rebels now say they will fight to the death, taking to the hills if necessary. A huge blunder committed by Yeltsin…” (BBC1, 22/12/1994) (Not even a positive force). “Heavy bombings throughout the night. Civilians hiding underground. The city- Grozny, is in ruins.” “Children screaming. Children weeping over the bodies of their dead parent/s.” “The citizens do not understand why this has happened.” “1,000 civilians killed in one day of bombing.” “IMPERIALIST Russia wants to keep the Federation together. Yeltsin justified killing innocent civilians by arguing the bombings are necessary to remove the armed criminal element” (Boxing Day, 26/12/1994). “Despite Yeltsin’s promise to only hit strategic targets, orphanage bombed (luckily children sheltering underground…) Troops advancing on capital. The people are still hoping for peace”

(3/5/1995).

“Russian air-force is using deadly cluster bombs to kill / maim their own civilians! Bombs dropped at night on a village. Why are the Western governments keeping silent?” “Other nations are worried. Yeltsin has told them to keep their nose out of Russian affairs” (4/5/1995) Maybe there is a governmental conspiracy? (Note: Every time people demanded greater freedom and Democracy, this was followed by visits from Mrs T. and attacks on civilians…)

“THE MASSACRE is a military criminal offence” said Russian protestors. Yeltsin accused of being a war criminal. Russian journalists blame Yeltsin’s advisors and said Democracy was being attacked. Congress refused to stop the bombing raids. The military may be out of control” (6/5/1995). “Grozny is still suffering heavy pounding… There are 15,000 refugees in desperate need. Humanitarian relief supplies dogged by Russian bureaucracy” (14/5/1995) “What are those bastards in Moscow thinking of?” asked Time magazine. (“Look into the sky and Ask: Why?”) “Intense rocket attack. Huge explosions! Several a second. The city is on fire. Whole neighbourhoods reduced to ash and rubble. There is despair in the underground shelters. The living-dead women are in the flats. She has lost her mind. No food for 5 days. Have to stay hidden in the bathroom. The handicapped can’t flee. ‘We shall perish here.’ They are clutching religious icons…” “Yeltsin has declared a victory.” “GROZNY: “Shattered masonry. Shattered lives. Unfit for human habitation. Shell shocked survivors have to leave their cellars to search for water”

(28/12/1994).

“Russian forces don’t seem to care who they hit. A bridge was hit used by fleeing refugees… Oil refinery hit again- threatening an Ecological disaster. A huge black cloud hangs over the city; the fire is near a very large ammonia store”

(BBC1, 10/2/1995).

“Because there is so much brutality against new conscripts, many mothers are against their children being forced to join the army…” “President Yeltsin needed triple-bypass heart surgery. He, apparently, no longer has an ache in his heart” (October 1996). “Russian business leaders believe something more needs to be done to help the economy”

(30/12/1994).

“Remorseless, massive assault. Shells landing every few seconds…” (They could have sent a very different KIND of shell… to help… ) “… missiles crashing down. Many buildings on fire. Gas pipe lines spewing out flames. Heavy civilian casualties. Russian tanks in city. Residential palace and apartment blocks hit. Russian media under immense pressure not to

(11/4/2005). 584

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“THE SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT formed the 1st Trade Union in the Soviet Union… Now 2 million unemployed. There is now a need for a new solidarity without divisions…” (31/8/2005). BESLAN: “… school taken over by Chechnya terrorists… Approx. 1,000 hostages… over 300 victims, mainly children, women and the elderly. The lack of water was an acute problem… A professional military operation handled so ineptly…” (3/9/2004). “The leader of Chechnya’s fight for freedom poisoned- murdered (by the KGB?)” “PUBLIC ANGER directed at the authorities. Official corruption and unaccountability. ‘Getting the truth here is impossible. People in authority are inhuman or irresponsible’…” (3/9/2005). President Putin (an ex-KGB colonel) said: “No government can guarantee against terrorism.” “Criticisms raised of President Putin’s re-election. ‘Is Russia a real Democracy?’”

RUSTLING. Slowly, the greed of these gangsters is turning Spain’s wilderness into a charred wasteland. Now many of Spain’s ancient forests of oak and pine are burnt to a black stubble. Arsonists are torching TREES so they can buy the burnt wood at a low price and sell this to the PAPER mills. Over 4,000 FIRES broke out this summer in the hilly, north-western region. ‘We are faced with a new sort of Ecological terrorism.’ Last year, 500,000 acres, 1/3rd of Galicia’s FORESTS were burnt by arsonists who devised a variety of devices to start fires. 1st they set fire to bicycle tyres filled with petrol and launched them into the woods with toy rockets, or cats and rabbits were drenched in Kerosene, set alight and made to run madly into the DRY Forest. A farmer said: ‘A few days ago, strangers came and offered to buy timber. They said my price was too high and left. The next day someone set fire to my trees.’ There are signs that professional arsonists, in turn have been copied by other fire-starters EG. mental patients and villagers feuding with neighbours. Police this year have arrested 2,000 suspected arsonists but charges against most of them have failed to stick. The Spanish branch of Greenpeace is alarmed enough at the government’s inability to stop the arson that they are to carry out their own inquiry into the blazes. In Galicia, 4,000 volunteers, backed by helicopters, have carved out over 700 miles of fire breaks into the hills, but still the FIRES rage. Ecologists say it may take several 100’s of years to renew the destroyed forests and they fear the erosion may turn the region into near DESERT.” “The HEAT!!! It’s TOO HOT to work. I’m not used to inactivity…” SHORTAGE OF WATER: “Water here is a precious commodity.” “You have to drink (expensive) bottled water" (Bottles recycled?) FINCAS: You see many abandoned / deserted old Spanish houses in rural areas / villages as too expensive to get mains water / sewerage and electricity installed. Only bottled gas available as an alternative for cooking. Squatting is illegal. No State built / council houses. You are expected to save, get married, go to the Bank for a loan- a mortgage, if you want a home of your own. The elderly are expected to be looked after by the family. There is precious little State care provided…” “Old cities… crumbling faded Roman ruins…” “THE BREEZE BLOCK SET”: “Estate agents selling ‘villas’ built from breeze blocks slapped together. No price controls. Many estate agents bump up the price so very difficult to re-sell and make a profit. Can inherit last occupier’s undisclosed debts. Corrupt solicitors.” Properties have metal bars on all the windows to stop thieves… (no escape route!)

SAUDI ARABIA: "Women not allowed to have a say in it!" ("I cannot believe..." "They treat you like you got no brain- it's enough to make a girl insane. They make me worried & depressed." "You can't blame a girl for trying?" ) "Women beheaded and stoned to death for (alleged?) adultery, yet a man can abandon a woman very easily!" “King Fahd who ruled Saudi Arabia since 1982 has died. Old problems face the new King… Saudi is a major target for al-Qaeda. Bin Laden is a Saudi. (See Chapter 13, Terrorism). Saudi is a real thorny problem for Western governments. It would be nice to set Saudi on an honest and wise course” (1/8/2005).

SPAIN: “800 years ago, the last Sultan signed away his land to the Catholic monarchs, and he went into exilethis spelt the end to Muslim rule in Spain and caused the separation between Islam and the West…” (Dan Cruickshank, BBC2, 23/4/2005). “JUSTICE. To interpret it, ONE HAS ONLY THE NEED OF A HEART” said the anarchist Minister of Justice during the Spanish civil war. “Spain was once heavily wooded. You can tell by the amount of coal buried along the coastline.” “A French count in the 18th century, once noted that a squirrel could scamper from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean without alighting on the ground.” “FEW remaining FORESTS cleared to make way for the new-build cement / block villas, apartmentsproviding homes for Germans, English…” “In Spain, organised crime has broadened activities away from drugs, prostitution and gambling into a new line of business- Timber 585

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future developments. Road works everywhere! The noise is terrible!” (1994). “Spain could produce perfect, high quality olive oil. Olives spun dry, not pressed. The Institute of Fats holds a record of all the oils Spain can produce” (re: Expo, 1992, 23/6/1993). “More than 1 million people demonstrated in cities throughout Spain. Talks bogged down. Unemployment 24%. ‘We don’t have the productivity…’ Unless the economy improves…”

“MANY PROPERTIES ARE LEASEHOLD. They charge £1,000’s for maintenance they never do.” “Typically Spanish. They threaten to cut the electricity off when you’ve paid the bill. They charge what they like. They even forge your signature!” (“… it don’t Costa a lot! ) ON A GO-SLOW: “When it turns up, that’s when we have it.” “You know what they say about tomorrow. It never comes.” “Spanish bureaucracy- they drag everything out.” “RAW SEWAGE IS PUMPED INTO THE SEA. Sewage gets into the mains water supply…” “No longer a Tax haven since Spain joined the EEC.” “DEATH TRAP ROADS: Many tourists have been killed in horrific accidents…” “Price of food and housing has gone up often beyond the reach of local people’s needs who blame tourists…” "Smouldering resentment..." "COSTA LIVING: Corruption. …A Spanish mayor tried to raise local Taxes by 500%... local villagers stormed his office, beat him up and tossed him onto the plaza. When he attempted to return with a posse of civil guardsmen, a mob of farmers assaulted the Town hall and over 20 people were injured. His wife, reportedly committed suicide over his troubles… at her funeral, Pens was almost lynched… We wonder how the towns-people of Cangas would react to the Poll Tax?” (Class War,

(25/11/1993).

“General strike” (27/1/1994). “Riot police replaced shoppers. Government accused of breaking Election promises. A new law allows for lower wages, longer hours and laying-off workers. Airport in chaos…” “Villagers prayed for rain and got buckets of it. Locals appealed for divine intervention after a severe drought threatened to wipe out crops. But the driving rain wiped smiles from 1,000’s of sun-seeking tourists” (The People, 17/4/1994). “Heavy rain held up golf. Greens and fairways flooded” (Spanish Open in Madrid, 13/5/1994). “200 FOREST FIRES are sweeping across Spain. Worst inferno for 20 years” (5/7/1994). “FOREST FIRES sweeping popular tourist resorts (Catalonia). More than 1 million acres of forest destroyed. Cause: Soaring temperatures” (10/8/1994).

“HEART-BREAKING: The development company got a loan for £1 million using homes on the estate they had built and sold as collateral. Company then went bust. When loan not repaid, the Bank seized the property. A ruthless process of repossessions. ‘They’ve taken everything, including all our furniture!’ ‘We wanted to retire here. This was our dream home.’ (Typically) the director of the development company has gone missing. Staff as confused as mortgagees. Lawyers are not enough” (BBC, Watchdog, 26/9/1994). The Balearics: 700,000 gipsies live here. 3 out of 4 live in poverty in deprived gipsy ghettos. Labelled thieves and drug traffickers. Many are in prison. The authorities want to integrate them to curb racism. Many gipsies are Evangelist Christians. Many of the under-30’s believe in Jesus. ‘I listen to God and let God mold my life’…”

1990).

“TIMESHARE: No guarantees. Escalating maintenance costs is a big problem. ‘We thought the place would be finished in 2 – 3 months. 2 years later, work still not finished. The hard hats have disappeared but the bills keep coming.’ Throwing good money after bad.” “Time share deals collapse.” “Are you living in a tourist town closed down for the winter?” “Tourism in Spain has dropped by 50%. Spain holding a crisis meeting” (27/7/1990) “Wanting to increase tourism but locals oppose another resort with high density, high-rise blocks.” (“... it could be a model for all the world. A village, surrounded by a park…”) “A soap opera on TV could spread it’s popularity…” ELDORADO: “The BBC spent £10 million building an entire Spanish-style village in 5 months for a TV programme- village scrapped 1 year later despite popularity, to boost TV ratings!” (1992-3) “CAR BOMBS: All the windows blew out… They cover the blood with sand” (21/6/1993). “HELLDORADO TOURIST COMPLEXES. Tower blocks all along the coast…” “The Spanish dislike the loud, rowdy, drunk British who think life is one long party…” “UNDER-DEVELOPED REGIONS. They’re building motorways hoping to pave the way for

(Rough Guide, Sky TV, 30/12/2004).

“Most of the people here are happy to be in the EU which has spent a great deal of money here laying in new roads…” (2005). “Some parts are now classified as near desert areas…” (March 2005). “The Mayor was sent to prison for permitting building on Green Belt land…” “Charging UK prices for property but housing is not built to exacting UK standards…” So many new buildings going up! What a mess. Construction sites and road works everywhere! Many large blocks of flats. The transition of rural 586

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people moving into the towns & cities is almost complete… The noise of all the traffic!” (2005). ADVERT FOR TOURISM: "Come to Spain for Sand, Sand, Sand..." "More than 500 FOREST FIRES Burning... 7,500 fire-fighters... using seawater..." (7/8/2006) "... fires started to clear land for grazing, by professional gangs... re-zoned for (traditional) housing... They're trying to stop the fires reaching Airports and power stations. Flames approaching the city centre... Appeal to EU for help - equipment... A losing battle with human chains and buckets..." (BBC World

“During a storm, I was just walking down the road when a sheet of corrugate metal from a roof came flying towards me- I just managed to duck! Bloody thing would have cut my head off!” “A stable Democracy.” “No more war” (with China…) “We want freedom!” (see: World War 3). “Exporting knives- meat cleavers…” “TAIPEI 101 is the tallest GLASS tower in the world…” “5,000 children in one school…” TENERIFE: (The Canary Islands): “SO HOT HERE! So few TREES! The hills barestill got soil here- small bushes growing. Did they chop all the trees? Trees replaced with car showrooms! They repair the roads in the heat of the midday Sun! You’d think they would at least do this work at night! The elderly aren’t sillysitting under the few remaining mature trees in the towns. No rivers left- just dry beds evident. Why doesn't Tenerife suffer badly from mosquitoes? "There isn’t any damp from stagnant water, where they breed." "They are carving out hill-sides putting up massive lots of concrete housing. ½ finished. Walls, walls- everywhere. So much effort put into building (thin) walls! 7 Kilometres inland, there’s no air… Very fine, calico-colour plastic netting used to make large, walk-in ‘cloches.’ The other end of the island is betterthere are forests there and it does rain…” (2005).

News, 12/8/2006).

SRI-LANKA: "... is close to civil war... Heavy fighting between rebels riding bicycles, and troops..." (1990). “60,000 people have fled, 30,000 are trapped. 100’s of 1,000’s are caught between the intensified fighting between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels” (August, 2006).

SWEDEN: “Unemployment high. Cuts being made in their enviable Welfare system” (9/12/1996). "Choking on carbon monoxide. Decrepit heavy industries..." SYRIA: “Barren, unforgiving land, below freezing to burning. Scanty vegetation. An exploding human population. 3 million in 1950’s. Now 18 million. Used to be rich, fertile. Now desert. Cracked Earth. The UN tried to reverse desertification (doesn’t appear to have been successful). How can people use meagre resources wisely? Now trying to raise awareness within Nomadic communityBedouin farmers whose animals need grazing land... Land now divided into nature conserve… Local people would benefit from bio-diversity”

THAILAND: "Illegal logging continues..." "Decent, Affordable housing hard to find, avoid the tap water. They only patch things up..." ("I suggest you apply your minds to it.") “Prisoners crammed 47 people to one roomconditions very basic. Only food served is rice & fish heads…” “My (British) son got a gambling debt- to pay that off he was set-up as a drug mule. He was sentenced to 50 years. He made a big mistake and he is paying with his life” (Sky TV, 22/4/2005).

(2005).

“… a crime to speak against corruption. Regime built on bones of opponents. Freedom, reform, Democracy promised, then we were sent to prison. All power here flows from the centre. The young here like experimenting. One day speculations could lead to the truth. We need to come up with a plan we can implement because the regime is not capable of coming up with such a plan. We need Democracy but we are against bad changes. Syria is under siege from the West (capitalism). The tide of revolution has reached Syria with protests against Big Brother. Lack of work- the men hang around. The secret police- a whole network…” (BBC, Newsnight, 16/3/2005).

TUNISIA: "Record temperature 136 degrees!" "Everywhere you go, dumps of building materials, the obligatory dusty building site..." "80% own their house, but houses, the size of a single garage, are only ½ finished." "They've never heard of a spirit level…" "Everywhere, decay, despair. Men sit all day in 'liberation cafes.'..." TURKEY: “… since the collapse of the autocratic Ottoman Empire, Turkey’s brief periods of unsuccessful Democratic administration have alternated with

TAIWAN: "Pooh! What's that awful smell?" "That's my husband. I can't Afford to bury him." 587

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sceptically. Secret police have not been disbanded- they still get their instructions. Crowds increasingly frustrated. ‘We will certainly apply the law. Any guilty of crime we shall know about it. But we will not start a witch hunt.’ ‘They wont dare bring me to trial’? Ruling class are afraid. They actually know too much- they fear what they may reveal. ‘We shall let them live and witness their disgrace.’ Flowers are waved. Songs are Sung. Yet for those who suffer, justice appears elusive. ‘We can only remember lost comrades’…” (Panorama, BBC1, 14/5/1990) (“… something in our minds will always stay… unless we forget our friends…”) “FLOODS: Ankara: A flood triggered by a rain storm killed at least 42 people…” (21/6/1990). “DEATHS AT ISTANBUL’S BIGGEST RUBBISH DUMP: 18 bodies have been pulled from an avalanche of rubbish triggered by a methane gas explosion which buried squatter’s huts. More than 30 people are still buried under the smoking heap. As many as 100 people, including children, were feared trapped under tons of rubbish that slide down a hillside into a gorge where the slum dwellers has erected their shacks. Rescuers fought fires ignited by the explosion which dislodged the 15-yard wall of rubbish. 1,500 policemen, firemen and volunteers searched under floodlights until midnight when the search was halted. There is little chance of finding survivors because the methane gas could smother victims… One survivor said he barely had time to save himself from the avalanche that buried 3 of his children” (Evening Standard, 29/4/1993) “Death toll now 30… Tragedy has prompted the government to spend £32 million building rubbish disposal plants." “… the President has promised to clean up… he has waged war against Kurdish people. Convoys of troops and tanks advancing daily. Turkey denies their international Rightssuppressed. Persecution gets steadily worse. 400 Kurdish VILLAGES, 6 towns destroyed. Torture is common method of interrogation i.e. rounded-up, kept in sub-zero temperatures- men killed- no trial, executed. A bloody last 50 years. WHY no room for Kurdish aspirations? May not practice their culture- not allowed to educate people! What is so dangerous about that? ‘Will lead to division’ say’s President. Kurds say they have ‘a State problem.’ Violation of Human Rights. Don’t have freedoms they would like. ‘Are all people slaves in Turkey?’ asked the President. Why not make Human Rights abuses a thing of the past? ‘If it comes to our attention it is a crime… if anyone is able to bring a case, I will study it’ said Suleyman” (The World This Week, Channel 4, 10/7/1993). South East Turkey: “1,000’s have died in the struggle for independence. Tourists advised to

years of oppressive military rule- civilian rulers were imprisoned or executed…” "Persia, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Red Sea, Libya- all used to belong to Turkey. Turkey is now ‘fanatically militaristic’... " (1990). “Along the Turkish border- barbed wire…” “More than ½ of Turkey’s ‘gainfully employed’ population work on the land. Per capita income is 1/3rd that of Greece. (In Greece the figure is 1 in 3)…” “Turkey’s reputation as ‘The Cruel Man of Europe’…” “TORTURE: A detailed report by 'Amnesty International' said torture continues to be ‘widespread and systematic’ in Turkish prisons. Brutal ill-treatment is routine, even for those detained for a few days on trivial charges. In some cases, maltreatment has been so severe, this results in death. Early 1990, 5,000 political prisoners- among them members of political organisations, Trade unions, Kurdish groups, journalists and religious activists, were under detentionthe majority for non-violent, straightforwardly political reasons. Legal proposals made by the Turkish government last Autumn in an effort to reduce ill-treatment have routinely been ignored by the government’s own officials.” (“... it’s all Greek to me…”) “Turkey wants entry to the EEC by 1992.” “Turkey’s leaders are seeking membership insisting their country is a European power, not a Middle Eastern State. The Ataturk revolution was, they point out, a calculated challenge to Islam, which created a secular Republic and forced Turkish men into European dress, whilst insisting women should appear bare-headed in public. The military coup which took place 10 years ago, was prompted more by a fear of Islamic revivalism than by worries about Communist or Neo-Fascist influences. Measured against their (south-east) neighboursIran, Iraq, Syria- Turkey is indeed an enlightened, stable and prosperous State. But until Turkey takes a determined stand against the systematic illtreatment of prisoners, a distasteful regional custom, Turkey will remain vulnerable to critics” (1990).

“… the refugee Iranians in villages, on the edge of starvation…” “HOUSES DESTROYED. RAPES & MURDERS: ‘We want those responsible brought to justice, as quickly as possible.’ The victimisation of a minority casts suspicion over ‘Democracy.’ The people responsible are at the very top- in power. Documents destroyed by evil minds. ‘I want the regime to admit they are responsible. I’m not one for vengeance.’ Some officials deny murder took place querying the cause of death. ‘He was suicided.’ ‘It’s farcical really. What more evidence could one get?’ How the interiors of ministries work- no documents kept. Disclaimers issued, treated 588

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stay away” (11/8/1993) UK: “Turkey is the most popular tourist resort” (September 1993). “ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER: Oil tanker carrying 100,000 tons of crude oil collided with an empty freighter. Both ignited immediately- on fire all night. 2 dead, 23 missing, 29 injured. 5 explosions- oil and fire spread all over the sea. A 3rd ship was possibly involved. 3 compartments on tanker burning. 4 remained intact” (The Bosphorous

“Ukraine in serious crisis. Devoid of foreign currency- assets to buy basic medicines and equipment EG. walking frames. Since Russia broke up, decline in economy. ‘My people are drained.’ Food is too expensive. Over-crowded hospital wards. Disastrous attempts to introduce capitalism. Corruption is wide-spread. Inflation 2,500%. Drugs only available on the Black market. 1 tin of food = 1 week’s wages. ‘We sold everything when our son became ill.’ ‘My country is going to pieces’…” (World In Action, 1993). “SUB-STANDARD drab apartment blocks with same corridor, same furniture, same bathroom. Housing used to be free. Now so expensive nobody can Afford to buy. All the documents you need for a journey! ‘We take bribes’ is written all over the official’s faces. ‘There’ll be something in it for you.’ There is bigger despair on the people’s faces than ever before. People are treated as animals. Their hopelessness at the way they are mistreated. They are hurting still. Gothic-Stalin architecture… The currency is in free-fall- so not worth a penny. Paper money. 2 cucumbers cost 50,000. Her weekly pension is 200,000. Shoes cost 2 month’s wages. How to make capital is on everyone’s minds. ‘They wont let us do anything but go hungry.’ ‘We can’t Afford electricity? What’s happened to the accelerator?’ ‘I’ve given up my career in Physics. We can’t carry on. I hope to make some more money.’ They change the Tax laws- backdate everything. Food suddenly Taxed at 28%. We are passing through poverty, anarchy- maybe war. Freedom is a station we have to reach. We may never get there but we have to try to reach. In 50 year’s time, we could have Africans teaching us how to do it” (Travels With My Camera,

Strait, 14/3/1994).

“Lots of hotels have gone up along the coastbuilt with poor regulation. Hopefully the powersthat-be will stop the developers covering over everything that is attractive, unlike other parts of the world” (BBC1, April 1994) (ADVERT: "Overdone it? Undo it!") “Local Elections held. 48% of seats now held by Islamic candidates (Muslim extremists). Fixed so they would win- Syria and Iran financing. Possibility of war or military coup if extremists get the majority. Mass redundancies, Pay freeze. Loans to Turkey frozen. Currency gone haywire. Really bad poverty. People cannot Afford to live. Very Westernised over last 10 years. In a very vulnerable situation. America buried in there with NATO. Turkey gets weapons from the USA…” (April 1994).

“Tourist shot dead by a shepherd boy” (30/6/1994). “Unable to join EEC due to unacceptable level of Human Rights abuses. Prison conditions said to be the worst anywhere” (1994). “We are fanatical about keeping our way of life…” “They are wondering how will the EU benefit them? Grass-Roots Turkey is siding more with their neighbours (Iran) than their former allies (the Americans). It will take more than an Election…” (March 2005).

Channel 4, 22/8/1994).

“4 bombs have gone off” (29/8/2006).

" ... believing the Election stolen from the proDemocracy supporters... the government has fixed the vote... 11,000 Poll violations... 118% of the population voted- vote figures not credible... 10's of 1,000's- people packed in Independence Square demonstrating i.e. waving flags, placards... in freezing sub-zero temperatures... all the cities are coming out... they will not accept the vote result. Civil resistance urged. 'I want to live in a Free country.' Security forces will put down any trouble firmly and swiftly. Van loads of police waiting in the streets... Radicals blamed for organising protests" (21/11/2004) ("You want to be like the West? Do they realise they are embracing Capitalism?") “… the government using stone-walling tactics… hoping the people will freeze / go home / end the protest…” “HERE WE GO AGAIN…” “Ukraine could be on the verge of civil war… Military police urged to join protests. Protestors advised to march on

UKRAINE: "Khrushchev starved up to 10 million Ukrainians in one year..." (1932- 1933). “RIOTERS SHOT: Soviet troops opened fire in a Ukrainian prison housing women and children, killing 4 inmates. The women and children had been demanding better food and housing conditions” (15/6/1990).

“Former political prisoners led by 10’s of 1,000’s of people calling for Ukrainian independence.” Kiev: “TRANSPORT STRIKE. Need transport people can Afford but transport costs have risen 4,000%. Difficulty getting spare parts. Re-introduced borders. Goods can’t get across. Transport workers get $15 a month- not enough to live on. Hard hitting reforms” (ITN, 18/2/1993). “SHORTAGE OF OIL: Rich soil. Food shortages. Cold temperature. ‘If there’s an incentive to do it…’ ‘It’s management’s problem.’ How to get it started?” (1993) “We’ll get around to it in due time…” (“We’ll work it out?”) 589

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Let’s go.’ ‘We got to follow orders.’ ‘You will fight.’ ‘Expend everything you’ve got.’ ‘Get me a medic.’ ‘Move out.’ ‘Pull back.’ ‘Fall back.’ ‘Get moving.’ ‘Move it. Move it.’ ‘OK boys. Fry ‘em.’ ‘I’m out of rounds.’ ‘Oh! No. They were our men!’ ‘Calm down son. Take the pain.’ ‘Get a line in there.’ ‘Where are the choppers?’ ’Doc. Bag ‘em and tag ‘em.’ ‘They’re still counting the dead from the slaughter.’ ‘The war is over but it will always be there still. Our obligation to make it, to find a goodness, a meaning to this life’…” “… nice villages and farms were blown to hell, sand-bags and barbed wire were all over the place…” US ARMY: “You will search, destroy, hunt & kill… if a bush so much as moves, kill it. I don’t care if it’s a woman or a child hiding there…” “…Civilians targeted by USA bombers… massacred…” ‘They fired at us!’ VILLAGES, schools, hospitals destroyed… New type of bomb used- steel pins fly out… Whole war was based on a lie i.e. that war necessary to stop Communism. True story never told…” Washington: “Congratulations for your war effort.” Soldier: “Yeh. Perhaps you’ll explain it to me sometime?” “It took the American public 10 years to end the war..." “3 million Vietnamese killed. 38,000 USA dead & missing. The war ended with a Communist victory…” Then… “Mrs Thatcher banned powdered milk to Vietnamese children…” “VIETNAM NOW = Cheap labour. Is deep in debt to those who profited from their suffering. Their previous excellent health service destroyed in the war, now mainly privatised… patients are 2 to a bed, doctors on very low pay, now diseases EG. Malaria, are back. Capitalism has arrived. ‘We are in danger of losing our soul.’ No longer a Socialist country. Now no equality. Rich landowners and poor tenant farmers. Co-ops, that paid for schools and health, now a thing of the past. Education is no longer free- children have to work long hours to pay for lessons. Many children now excluded from education. The Homeless swept off the streets and sent to detention camps… Vietnam was a bountiful country. Rain-Forest was completely destroyed using ‘Agent Orange’ a toxic chemical / herbicide- Dioxin. Cost = Deformed children… No compensation awarded… Millions of trees have been replanted… President Clinton lifted the trade embargo… Property developers have taken over… Office towers, retail centres, exclusive clubs (for expatriot companies), apartment blocks… All previous invaders are back, taking control, doing what they couldn’t achieve with war…

Parliament in a peaceful way… May call a General strike…” “A mass upsurge of feeling… Ukraine is on the brink of… anarchy…” “… the police changed sides and the people cried and cheered, driving the crisis toward negotiations and not violence…” (“Did I hear you laughing? What is just a dream?”) “A Good-natured crowd…” “… been outside in the bitter cold for 10 days now, camping out in tents…” “THEY ARE MAKING it INTO A LONG, HARD, EXHAUSTING PROCESS…” “… it would be good to get it all over with…” Now Yushenko voted in, turning away from Russia, the Ukraine will need to find a new economic basis” (December 2004). (“I saw you try…”) “What’s it going to be? The decadence of Capitalism or the austerity of Communism, or something in-between?” (“Look up! See the stars? How they spark what’s going on between us! Don’t they catch the light? Boys and girls, are you starving for something better? I’ll take you over. Will you ever welcome me?”) VIETNAM: "... During the war, more bombs dropped on Vietnam than during WW11. Farming land hit, not military targets... Called: OPERATION: Destroy RAIN-FOREST..." Uh? Why? "NOT BAD, huh?" “… Even the soldiers didn’t believe in what they were doing. The villages burnt. TERRIFIED CIVILIANS… The abuse, the illegal killings and rape of ordinary civilians.’ ‘There’s no court here…’ ‘You soldiers are all animals! ANIMALS. These are Human Beings! You just don’t get it, do you?’ ‘Let’s blow ‘ em all away.’ ‘You worthless piece of shit.’ ‘All this killing stuff is out of control.’ ‘We’ll get into that later on.’ ‘Yeh, man. Later.’ TERRIFIED SOLDIERS… ‘Hang in there partner. It’s going to be alright in a minute man. ‘Struggling to keep their sanity. It’s all a blur. All this hate. Where is the enemy? Both sides thinking the same thing… ‘ Hey! You men. Make do. I don’t want to hear your problems.’ ‘I can’t take this any more.’ ‘You’re going to make it. Don’t give up!’…’3 divisions are down. Get me 2 more squads…’ 'Report the situation.' 'Shut up or I'll rip your spine out!' ‘I’ve got a bad feeling. I’m not going to get out of here.’ ‘The vibes are bad here.’ ‘Get back in your fox-hole. We need every body in the field.’ 'Stay low.' ‘Oh God. There’s 100’s of them coming at you.’ 'You've got 3 seconds.' ‘My leg!’ ‘My back!’ ‘My face!’ ‘My eyes!’ ‘My stomach!’ ‘My chest!’ ‘Oh man. I never thought I’d get hit.’ ‘Oh shit. Leave the wounded. Let’s go. 590

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material for building a homestead. Goes back 1,300 B.C. Building with mud was quite common all over Europe. Another method: New Mexico: Mud bricks laid without any mortar. Weight eventually forces them together. Saves labour costs…” (BBC2,

The Americans made movies deceiving History… the Vietnamese find these offensive. The Vietnamese are kind people… The British government advises investors that Vietnam is a gold-mine to be exploited. There are no Unions here, no safety precautions in the industrial sweat-shops… People here are going hungry while rice is exported to pay debts… True prosperity will come from a new agricultural crop…” (John Pilger, UK TV History, 5/12/2004) ("Hey! Do any of you guys out there know how to fly a plane? Could you drop some leaflets? Tell them oil seed grows well even in wet soil - a valuable source of vegetable oil…") ("... it's a Green Village project?") "... it's for the general good..." "The People's CHOICE = Peace. COM’on EVERYBODY. PRAY for peace!" "Be loyal to the Planet, not the club." "HARDWOOD is major export. Crops cannot be guaranteed... Everyone uses firewood for cooking. ... Un-official wood cutting, DEFORESTING at an alarming rate...” "... Lacking a viable alternative..." “Vietnam celebrated the 30th anniversary of the end of the war with parades of military tanks & soldiers. 10’s of 1,000’s of Vietnamese joined in. 2/3rd cannot remember the war… Young people are demanding change…” (30/4/2005) ("Love keeps coming. Who decides they don't need it? )

4/7/1994).

“Political freedom? Inflation 100%. Trying to install Democracy… ‘but we must overcome economic difficulties.’ Britain has cut trade, Aid… Human Rights activists going it alone, now arrested” (17/5/1993). “Keep the flame of resistance burning!” “North and South quarrelling about slow unification… War has now broken out” (5/5/1994). “Foreigners fleeing. 100’s stranded. 800 Britons may be evacuated. Fierce battles” (7/5/1994). “Many killed, including children…” YUGOSLAVIA (former) (Central Europe): “A beautiful… tourist resort…” “Little farm houses with red roofs. A well cultivated area…” (prize pickings?) (A Communist country. GLASNOST: "The collapse of Communism. And more outspoken demands for greater Democracy and Rights…") "Squalor and poverty. The Cold! The Damp! The Wet! Long bouts of Boredom, Depression…” Then AGGRESSION…. “THE DESTRUCTION OF VILLAGES: Forced out of their homes…” “… Kosovo’s 1.7 million ethnic Albanians have little desire to be part of neighbouring Albania, nor are they strictly Muslim, despite the skyline of a dozen minarets… they feel the majority of the wealthier 200,000+ orthodox Christian Serbs discriminate against their religious and ethnic roots, who control all aspects of life in Kosovo and Belgrade- the Federal Capital… Since Tito’s death in 1980, the Federation rotated among the 6 republics… growing nationalism… many Yugoslavs have aired the view another Tito is needed to hold the jumbled Federation together... the Federal authorities took over the administration of Kosovo from Serbia… 100’s of security forces on the streets… troop movements… fighter planes buzzed Pristina, showing off with 360 degree rolls over the town. Human Rights groups said the police carried out ‘mass reprisals’ against the Albanians and that urgent measures were needed to prevent civil war…” “Serbian police began rounding up Albanian suspects alleged to have used the poison scare… among them prominent doctors who had been treating Albanians for suspected poisoning… police units were now in charge of all towns and settlements... Propaganda from either side… Serbia took control over security… the hard-line leaders reassured Serbs they would stamp out

YEMEN (neighbour of Saudi Arabia): "A humble building material = Mud. Yemen- a Manhattan of mud. A city- a stopping place for caravans, is 5,000 years old. Each tower 7-8 storeys, houses one extended family. Walls built from mud bricks, mixed with chopped straw to reinforce, sun dried. 12,000 bricks a day produced by hand, measured in wood frames. Is one of the oldest forms of house construction. (The Egyptians used slaves to make their mud brick buildings. The captive Israelites complained of being ordered to make bricks without straw). Is very stable” ? (see: Divine Test: Iran). “3 layers of mud plaster protect the wall. The final mixture is made with sand. Defence is one reason for the height of the houses. Culture is the other- 1st, 2 storeys for food storage and livestock, then the men, then the women’s floor, then a roof garden which makes up for the lack of a garden- with room for newly weds. (Wooden columns support the floors / ceilings). (High ceilings). (Large rooms, small windows). Limestone protects vulnerable parts from rain. Fantastic mud palaces- imposing designs. Colonial architecture. Restoration under way. Must be protected from drains and underground water or structures will collapse. Some last 300 – 400 years. Concrete retains too much heat - mud is cooler. Mud is a time honoured 591

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separatism… their programme to bring in 100,000 Serbian settlers whilst expelling Albanian immigrants… Western governments warned such a move would have serious repercussions… The UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees demanded further information… The mystery of the illness which gripped 2,000 Albanians has not been cleared… Serbian politicians spoke of a new psychological warfare intent on plunging the country into civil war” (orchestrated by?) “The take-over by Serbia is bound to strengthen Albanian resistance” (The Times, 27/3/1990). Q: “Don’t people need / want a mix?” A: “Certainly.” “We have no Yugoslavia! We have total chaos! Fighting everywhere…” (4/10/1991). “Fear this war cannot be contained- could spread across Europe- start WW111.” “Grudge fights.” “Passions enraged.” “BURNING THE NIGHT.” “Jealousies.” “Tender-less rage.” “I think they should forget the past and think of the future.” “Life’s too short to be bitter.” “Hey, you don’t want to get all bitter and twisted.” “BOSNIA DISARMED BY THE UN” (1990-1). UNILATERAL DISARMAMENT means: Disarming both / all sides equally. “A call for all men… to fight. Heavy fighting. Casualties…” “Karadzic is another Hitler” said an anguished woman. “WE’RE GOING TO BE OVER-RUN UNLESS WE CAN THINK OF SOMETHING!” “We could board the place up to make the house stronger.” “No, they’re vicious. They’d soon get in here…” “The hounds of hell are at my door. Isn’t it a bit late for this sort of thing?” THE DANUBE: “… the people sleep in dingy cellars. The nightly bombardment. Attacks from the forces getting worse. They are animals.” “5,000 people are fleeing their homes. Troop leaders promise they wont storm the town”

“Military policemen took all males to concentration / detention camps…” “It seems Europe is leaving us until everything is destroyed!” (7/5/1992). “SUFFERING A SHELL ATTACK: 1.4 million refugees… lost their homes… 20,000 new refugees each day… Camps are full. ‘We are swamped. We lack resources to help them.’ Senseless carnage. Fleeing terror. ‘The refugees desperately need temporary shelter.’ The UN’s resources are very over-stretched. ‘We are the only people helping here.’ 100 UN reps. Some children no food for 2 weeks… ‘We want to defend ourselves’…” (Channel 4, 20/5/1992). “Some refugees removed- taken to other countries EG. Norway, Malaysia… have now lost their land to murderers…” OIL EMBARGO PLANNED. Effort to end war. Trade restrictions will hit the community hard” (May 1992).

“People crammed into underground shelters. People are increasingly living underground…” ((26/5/1992).

(Mort, mortal, mortality, mortar, mortgage, mortify, mortise, mortmain, mortuary…) “GRUESOME: 20 people killed attacked with a mortar whilst queuing for bread. There’s bits of bodies everywhere. People blown apart!” (27/5/1992). “... it could be an un-stated aim...” (ITN World News, 27/5/1992).

“… 100,000 people are trapped. 30,000 refugees. 10,000 children in desperate circumstances. Surrounded. If they take the city over there will be a massacre” (11/7/1992). “Orphanage fired at. 200,000 children at risk” (10/10/1992).

“They’re trying to help the poor refugees but they don’t know how…” “We need… BOND. James Bond? A secret agent? to fix… cure…” “400,000 refugees. Has Britain done enough to help them? No-one is content with the situation. War profiteers making their pound of flesh against ordinary civilians. A blockade may end the carnage. Give Bosnians arms so they can defend themselves? Surely there has to be some structure so the Aid to refugees can be orderly? Driven out of their homes- facing persecution. British government is taking a callous, obstructive line. Inhumane. 2 million now made Homeless. For those who survived the massacre, no safe haven left. Obviously the refugees need a safe haven- a platform to help them start a new life until they can return to Yugoslavia” (16/11/1992) ("To you, it is just a political platform.") “GRAVEYARDS FILLING at an alarming rate. Dismal living conditions. Under siege. People in very bad shape. Queues for miles for water. No clean water soon. Disease spreading. Skinny

(26/10/1991).

“ORDERED TO TURN BACK: Refugees refused entry into another country- boats turned back. Gun shots fired” (October 1991). DUBRONIK: “Made Homeless. The people huddle in fear. Mortar attacks on the wooded mountain sides. One woman with 4 children died trying to escape the shelling" (bombings) (3/11/1991). “We are surrounded! We have no water, no electricity…” (22/11/1991). “THE CITY HAS BEEN TORN APART… many fires… holes in buildings. Destroyed roofs… Few want to live in ruins. Brutal reprisals against villages in Bosnia… streets & gullies strewn with corpses of men, women and children. ‘Cleansing’shot in the back, executions. In a ravine, dozens of corpses have been left. No mercy.” “We have no safe place to treat casualties” (28/4/1992). 592

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Convention agreed by the UN- which guarantees political asylum for people facing persecution on grounds of race, political conviction or religion. Up to 35,000 Yugoslav refugees have entered Britain, swamping Aid organisations and councils… Refugees have become the focal point for fascist attacks. Germany wants the status of such refugees changed so they can be sent back when peace is restored” (Evening Standard,

children on streets begging for food. Warehouses empty now. Adults lost so much weight no longer resemble their ID photos. 1 shell fired every 3 seconds. Crisis. UN troops shot at again. Peace keeping troops can’t FIRE back even in self-defence! Reinforcements may be necessary. Answer: More aggressive peace keeping” ? “The Secretary General to the UN said politicians need to bang their heads together.” “Oxfam is appealing for clothes to stop 1,000’s dying from cold in Yugoslavia” (8/12/1992) “Oxfam reinforced the UN High Commission view that 100’s of 1,000’s could die if more was not done. The UN appeal received only 18% of the £336 million required for shelters. There was a massive shortfall in the amount coming from the international community, whilst on the ground, the situation was getting worse” (The Guardian,

22/10/1992).

“THE COLD IS POTENTIALLY MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE WAR. Sub-zero condition. One woman froze to death in a door-way having stopped to rest a while. Most windows shot out by snipers. ‘In the 2nd world war, we had heating. This is worse! This is terrible! Winter is just beginning to bite.’ They are searching for firewood- anything to burn” (ITN, 30/12/1992). “Meanwhile, life for the people is a daily struggle. They are asking their leaders to talk about their opinions in Geneva” (4/1/1993). “FROZE TO DEATH: 10 patients in an old people’s home in one night… Lack of heating, blankets. Not lack of warning. Bureaucratic muddle is costing lives. 8 stoves have arrived, with no flues, so can’t use. Old folk- left with no hope”

9/12/1992).

“Another cease-fire to exchange dead bodies failed” (December, 1992) (“OH GOD. THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY. PLEASE let me find it.”) “People killed and injured whilst queuing for water. One boy lost both his parents” (14/11/1993). “… the UN are carving out the side of a mountain to make a supply route…” ("Man! How do we do this?" "You're going about it all wrong!" "Have YOU Got the Right APPARATUS?" "I'm an inventor...You need this thing!" "You're a nut!" "This isn't a contest! This RESCUE Operation is going to take all of us working together. It's up to you to save lives, or let them die. With the Lord's help... and a lot of prayers... I believe the Lord has a plan for all of us... it will unfold for us the best... I wonder how it'll all turn out?") “WINTER IS COMING. A human catastrophe is looming whilst politicians argue.” “PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS: … draughty cattle sheds… huddled together for warmth… a muddy compound… trenches for toilets. Horror! Something must be done.” “There is little comfort in cattle sheds in winter. If they stay here most will die. The large scale of civilian suffering… a lot have died” (17/11/1992). “PLAN TO BLOCK REFUGEES SEEKING ASYLUM: EC Community officials plan to disqualify many refugees from claiming political asylum in member states. A document leaked to the BBC proposes denying refugee status to groups fleeing a civil war, and would require those suffering repression anywhere in the world to redress through the courts of their own country before attempting to claim asylum. People fleeing the Yugoslav conflict would be denied refugee status in any EC country. The document- a draft report ordered by EC Immigration ministers, including Kenneth Clarke, appears to attempt to side-step the amended Geneva

(5/1/1993).

“WARSHIPS ON THE WAY to the Adriatic to help the UN troops under increasing fire. UN troops fired back many times…” (ITN, 11/1/1993) “Reinforcements being sent…the Ark Royal, more troops…” “Our Vietnam. Going to be a long, costly conflict. Fighting is the reverse of human objectives. More people will be killed” (said Tony Benn). “Peace process- not much time left. Big talks in trouble. President isn’t here!” “We need some kind of autonomous society.” “Peace plan dictates- you must have a sovereign State.” “Peace talks collapsed.” “We are not seeking full independence.” “Divide into 10 provinces. Deep division. They must accept agreement. They could still run themselves with the help of militia. The UN could use force.- send artillery.” “Want more territory. Wont accept the map. Sentiment- a proud nation. Don’t take happily to being bullied.” “Threat of military intervention, no fly zones? Wont achieve a cessation to hostilities, or impose a settlement.” “Blame at the conference is being shifted around.” “The protagonists want a solution.” “A pity the ‘peace’ plan will reduce many villages to battlefields” (25/1/1993). “Both sides reject the Geneva peace plan.” “We have DOUBLE STANDARDS in the UN.” “I hope any plan does not enforce the divisions between people…” (“THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU COULD CHANGE YOUR NEIGHBOURS…”) “The battles rage. More dead than wounded. Unconditional compliance with UN Resolution 593

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commit troops to this ghastly war.’ It’s a battle over territory, security. UN troops prepared to take a risk to help these people. Nothing can be done? G.Kaufman said: ‘It would be an unwise policy to impose a solution. I believe the British people are opposed. There is no solution. If there were I would be sympathetic. We need a sensible solution’…” “CONFUSION OF POLICY… hard to protect people getting Aid through. Options are being studied. 100’s and 1,000’s of people without guns are starving to death.” Ultimatum: ‘Let us give food to them or we will suspend Aid altogether.’ The militia have to do more than a good will gesture. 120,000 people are dying in towns. SARAJEVO: 300,000 people in wretched conditions. Starvation rations- food and water. Running out of wood- furniture to burn” (BBC1, 19/2/1993). “TOTALLY INDISCRIMINATE (?) KILLING. 8,000 civilians died in one city. Shells have wrecked so many lives! Time-table for relief is slipping… Grave-yards overflowing…” (BBC, 24/2/1993). “In Bosnia, the last soup kitchen closed down”

expected. Troops lack a clear mission. Aid must reach the heart of the people who most need it…” (26/1/1993).

“IF ONLY WE COULD RISE ABOVE ALL THIS UNPLEASANTNESS…” “We have to persuade those that are doing the fighting there really is another way, using better skills. Who is going to organise this peace-keeping ‘force’? The UN?” “The UN is an ineffective organisation.” “Maybe we could open a stable gate-way for them?” “CAN PEACE… BE ENFORCED?” “The only plan we have- the 'Peace' Plan. It must be co-ordinated. Going to be very difficult to force the peace. We did not take preventive action… To achieve peace is a big problem. Not optimistic about that. Politicians don’t have the will- blow the people is the concensus. All wars are appalling. The effects on women! To achieve a settlement that maintains Humanity… cannot do this without sending in the troops. What could make the Peace Plan stick?” “We’re pouring in lives without looking at HOW we can stop war. You can’t stop war by military action, unless large, properly organised…” “Unfortunately, it is the sort of lesson people need to learn…” (Question Time,

(28/2/1993).

“WE NEED A QUICK GET AWAY…” “20,000 civilians fleeing in one region…” “… airdrops can’t be accurate- drifting. Much criticised project. Emergency meeting at UN. Talks said to be bogged down. Serb leader accused of floundering. ‘He’s going to think about it’- without being clear what he is thinking about”

BBC1, 11/2/1993).

“SELFISH, CRUEL MEN…” “No-one took Hitler seriously when he started. Look at what happened. (Piles of dead children). We have same thing happening here. They don’t want the USA to get involved.” “UN convoys unable to get through to starving women and children. Many have died as a result. UN now stopping convoys…” “We are doing this to show the international community how important it is that Aid gets through…” (60 Minutes, ITV, 18/2/1993). (“CALLING INTERNATIONAL AIR SEA RESCUE…” “Why don’t you change the way you are going about it? Tell me why. Why don’t you do it? Do it for love?”) “What’s happening here is horrific. This could happen to YOU! DO SOMETHING ABOUT it WHILE YOU HAVE TIME. Remember the importance of a secret hiding place, of not having glass doors, remember the need to protect yourself is of paramount importance. Do it now before it is too late. Don’t wait to make the decision until you have nowhere left to run and guns pointed at you, or until the food and fuel runs out…” (18/2/1993). “JESUS! WE’RE SITTING DUCKS…” “OUTRAGE at shelling of besieged town. 60,000 people at risk. Using bombs to shower people with hot shrapnel. No shelter. Dozens dying. More are being horribly injured…” “The Town Hall could fall and others could follow…” “The UN troops feel humiliated. Nothing is being done to help those people. ‘We cannot Afford to

(BBC, 3/3/1993).

BOGGED DOWN. “Convoys can’t go any further… are bogged down in snow. Can’t get minimal Aid through to 1,000’s of refugees who are starving and dying of cold. One town has fallen after 10 month siege. News teams not allowed in area…” “The UN are trying to open up a corridor to evacuate the wounded” (BBC, 6/3/1993). “Enclaves destroyed. Unable to save civilians. Injured people lying about! Inconceivable in this day and age. 25 houses filled with wounded. No help in sight” (BBC, 8/3/1993). JOKE: “I bet they wish they had thicker skin…" (“If only I could get it through to the village people…” How to defend villages? Don’t make BUILDINGS so vulnerable!) “AID IS STUCK IN A HUGE TRAFFIC JAM. Going nowhere… Aid is being taken back!” (9/3/1993) (“Is this the best you can do?”) UK: “They wont send coal to freezing peoplethere’s no money to be made doing this! They wont give the mountains of potatoes, apples and pears to feed the starving! They’ll let the crops rot to make fertiliser they can sell.” “CIVILIAN POPULATION WAITING FOR AN EVACUATION THAT NEVER CAME: …Aid is a matter of life or death. Sick, starving people dying… 594

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Lots of operations- amputations done without anaesthetic. A British medic said: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’ … trying to open an airfield. Lives depend on it. British Army still unclear about what to do. Families not eaten for 4 days, living in a shed. Wounded, unable to walk to beg for food. 1,000’s of people on the street… huddled round small fires… only one blanket…” (BBC, 14/3/1993). “FRUITLESS NEGOTIATIONS. People dying each day as a result” (18/3/1993). “Women, children, the injured out in the open, without shelter…” (19/3/1993). “No arms! Legs blown off…” “Shattered remains…” “Children’s screams filling hospitals…” “… rescued, but no joy. Have lost everything they had.” “Tears, grief and bandages. What hell spattered this young child with shrapnel?” “Refugees desperate to get out…” (22/3/1993). “We are talking about Human Beings here you know.” BOSNIA: “In PAIN… Serbs stopped helicopters airlifting some of the many injured soldiers. Shelling the wounded! Despicable. Refugeesdesperate, frightened. Panic. Wounded peacekeepers. Airlift halted” (24/4/1993). “… malnutrition, exposure… 1,000’s are 'sleeping' in snow! No shelter…” “Aid convoy stopped…” “... it depends if both sides agree to it…” (Uh? Who cares what the aggressors say? Do it anyway!) “Will a cease-fire really be achieved?” “No-one really believes…” (27/3/1993). SREBRENICA: “30 people a day dying of starvation alone. .. serious injuries are killing them slowly and hampering their fight for a share of the few supplies available…the people have only received 3 convoys of food and medical supplies in the past 7 months…” “STAMPEDE BY DESPERATE CIVILIANS: People fought, screamed, clawed and battered their way on board lorries. Horrendous scenes. The elderly and women carrying small children were trampled underfoot and killed. They crammed themselves into the UN vehicles, often trying to haul those on board out to get a place. Many more were injured. ‘This was not loading. This was a stampede.’ UN officials were helpless, lacking resources to embark refugees in an orderly way. ‘A brigade could not control people this desperate’…” Boarding procedure? “A grandmother had to pay men to get on board. A mother had to chose literally which son to save…” “3,200 refugees packed in so tight into 19 trucks, hard to breath. Bitterly cold. Some uncovered. At least 12 women and children were crushed to death en route. The tailgate came off one over-filled truck25 women and children spilled out onto the road- a baby was killed. Begging for a drink. Many were carried off the trucks in a state of collapsesome looked to close to death on arrival. What they

have to go through to reach safety! Now they need urgent help. Many left family behind. So much sadness. Far worse is to come. Young men, terribly injured, trapped behind Serb lines. Serbs refuse to release them” (29/3/1993). “A BARBARIC DISREGARD FOR HUMANITY: Aid convoy halted again…” (31/3/1993). “Children survived by eating straw and cattle-food.” “Refugees from convoy being settled in temporary camps. Overwhelmed… everyone has endured appalling conditions for months… The UN has to try every option to help these people.” “How long will we be saved for?” Life expectancy? “Here we are killing each other and we call ourselves civilised!” (“... it quells anger.” “There’s nothing quite like it for soothing the blood…”) UK: “We want more to be done for the population” said John Smith. “Another example of our standing in the side-lines, wringing our hands, saying nothing can be done?” asked Paddy Ashdown. John Major did not answer questions (1/4/1993).

Cyrus Vance (Peace negotiator re: the broader resolution) said: “It is important it is dealt with quickly” (BBC1, 1/4/1993). “Worry about delays of Emergency help arriving…” The UN said: “We are not suspending convoys. We are trying to come up with a clear mechanism so we may evacuate these people. It’s not clear how it can be done with more speed and humanity” (1/4/1993) (“I could spend my whole life trying to make it clear for you.” “The procedure will have to be changed. Don’t hold an inquiry. It’s about time they updated… got decent responses to this kind of difficulty. We could be there in an instant to save them… Home in on it. A smooth operation, done double-quick before people get injured or sick.” “... it sounds good to me. Can you see it the way I do?”) “We could put in a super-effort red Alert team” (October 1993).

The idea was put down by Conservatives in the UK as “Dan-Dare idealism.” “EXPELLED FROM THEIR HOUSES: 1,000’s of people are desperate to leave. Evacuation? Assists ethnic cleansing. Better to help them defend themselves? As usual, people are caught up in the middle- are pawns to the political games of their political leaders. Snipers firing at UN soldiers trying to rescue 200 trapped civilians…” (ITN, 5/4/1993) (“You don’t get on by sniping.” “You don’t results by insulting people…”) “We have to evacuate. These people are wounded, sick, starving, dying. Suffering from exhaustion and exposure. We can’t leave them to die because of a principle!” said a UN rep (6/4/1993). “We aim to rescue 15,000.” “Convoy halted, turned back- empty” (7/4/1993). 595

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“We aim to deliver food Aid but that is all.” (Why? That is stupid.) “Troops role in Yugoslavia is still unclear.” “NO-ONE LEFT ALIVE IN THE VILLAGE… women and children burned alive. Up to 6 children burned in a cellar- were hiding. Died agonising deaths” (23/4/1993). “100 people died today- all killed in their homes” (28/4/1993). “The USA is threatening airstrikes (bombing) if violence continues…” “BOMBING WOULD ONLY RESULT IN MORE CIVILIANS GETTING KILLED. Risk to UN troops…” “The threat of airstrikes could spell the end to the Owen-Vance 'Peace' Plan…” QUESTION TIME: “We might not find any answer” said a Conservative. (Response): “Stop talking about it. We need some action NOW!” “Stop the killing especially of women and children.” “Military intervention will only make matters worse.” “Enclaves. Hard to set up.” “The dithering has to stop or we’ll have enormous losses of civilians.” “Turn the UN into a war force, not a PEACE Keeping force? The violence could spread.” “Yes, we need an armed force to put down bullies. Bullies only understand force.” “You can’t it both ways. You can’t” said a Conservative. “We need consistent rules throughout the world. No matter if you’re white or black. We must have equal opportunities.” “How to prevent these terrible problems? We don’t seem to learn from history. We need something more imaginative.” “Policing? How long will it take? 50 years?” “Solutions cannot be imposed on the people.” “There are 33 ‘civil’ wars in the world where the cameras don’t go.” “Aid budget cut every year in UK!” “33,000 children die each day due to BASIC problems EG. lack of water.” “Leading politician’s image-makers always portray them as great home-makers!” “Compassion fatigue. People tired of seeing pictures of starving, desperate people.” “Soldiers act as executioners, death squads…” (BBC,

men who’ll find a way around sanctions, who can be exploited by any with cunning…” “EXTREMISTS WITH BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS WILL NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT… Military intervention could persuade them… 1,000’s of troops will be sent from Russia, USA, UK, Germany, France…” (7/5/993). “5 TOWNS ARE TO BE ‘SAFE HAVENS’ / zones so we are ready for peace, manned / policed by UN troops. More horrors discovered daily… people killed in their beds… Only 7 people remain in this village!” (8/5/1993). “… ATTACKS… continue… 4,000 shells fired… scores of dead and dying lying on the streets. Due to constant shelling no-one dares approach the wounded crying out for help” (Bosnian Radio, 12/5/1993). “Both sides seem intent on destroying the city…” (WHO IS FINANCING THE COST OF MUNITIONS? WHEN WERE THESE BOUGHT? HOW ARE THESE DELIVERED?)

“Sanctions? Trains carrying concrete, barges on the Danube loaded with coal, 1,000’s of tonnes of oil still get through- supplies sustaining the war… The losers are the civilians” (12/5/1993). “Civilians held in prison camps. Another call for their release has been ignored” (12/5/1993). “A new offensive has started. Territories taken by force. UN sending in border monitors. NEEDED: ‘New safety requirements to protect Yugoslavian people’ said Russia. They want to be seen to be doing something whilst they urge caution. ‘We need effective action that must not be problematic’…” (“GIVE it a FAIR CHANCE…” “... it’s very easy to install…”) ("Terrorist threats made against the West- the allies. Implications- grave. West is vulnerable in many ways…” Channel 4, 17/5/1993). “Russia recommended forcing the 'Peace' Planimposing the terms. Lot’s of pressure on the USA to do something, to change tack. Is a transAtlantic rift developing? Britain will consolidate the Russian’s point of view. (Sigh). All options are still on the table…” (“Take it as it comes- don’t force it.”) (They could say: “It’s my final offer. Take it or leave it.” “It’s an offer you can have confidence in.” “... it is very lovely in anyone’s language…”) “EXTEND THE ‘SAFE’ AREAS? It has been urged. It is the easiest option…” “The Preferred Option: Not recognising Serb gains. A non-military solution. No armed intervention). ‘If you bomb me, I’ll bomb London’ i.e. Serbs will fight mercilessly. Set to take on the world! Serbs have enormous stocks of weapons. Their brutal army is ill-organised… Bludgeoning- too much violence- even Serbs sick of this.“ Owen-Vance 'Peace' Plan hinges on: ‘Divide land into 10 States, aim to protect the minority groups…’ ‘You would have to give up land- it will

29/4/1993).

“'PEACE' PLAN REJECTED: Very bad news. Vote 51 – 2. What this means to the besieged towns is unclear. Plea: ‘Do not take military action against us.’ These are critical days. Air-strikes means all sides will get more weapons. Bill Clinton has huffed and puffed. He’ll have to go through with it now. It’s back to square one. It doesn’t surprise me that it’s not been delivered. I hope the murderers are brought to justice. The people here are very friendly- only a small minority can kill a family” (5/5/1993) (“Next, it’ll be our turn if they don’t do it…”) “Sanctions against Yugoslavia imposed” (6/5/1993) “There are 10’s of 1,000’s of corrupt business596

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‘I didn’t know a human could do these things to another human.’ Families split apart. Exiled. ‘Will I ever see my family again? What can I do?’ “We didn’t believe it until one evening they burst into the house- 8 of them, shouting and swearing. They wanted my husband- he was in the orchard. They threw me all round the room- smashed my head against the wall. ‘Take her out and kill her.’ My eldest son burst into tears. An automatic rifle held under my throat. One soldier said ‘let her be. That’s enough.’ My husband could have escaped but he wouldn’t leave us. They killed him. Shot him dead. Cats and dogs ate his remains. Cleansing! I still can’t believe it!” (2/6/1993). “The Red Cross warned: ‘If left to exist, will become unmanageable, violent refugee camps.’ One ‘safe area’ has no water or electricity. People barely existing” (3/6/1993). GORAZDE: “… ‘Safe haven’ turned into a mass grave. 60,000 people trapped without Aid. People 'sleeping' on streets…” (3/6/1993). “EPIDEMIC FEARS GROW: … bodies of civilians killed by shelling or snipers lying uncollected in streets as summer temperatures soared.” Gorazdo: “Fierce attack last 13 days. Tank & infantry battles… 4 villages burnt down…”

have to be surrendered. Give it back’…” (Are they hoping they’ll be able to patch things up?) (What’s wrong with equal protection? Equal distribution of land? “Surely land is to be enjoyed? It is not a case of ownership! Just looking after, CARING for, protecting and preserving the land, for the good of all.” “Would it be alright with you if we worked it out with no pressure?” “I don’t want to fight any more…”) “Bosnian Serbs voted 96% in favour of an independent State, saying ‘no’ to the Owen Vance plan. ‘The vote is meaningless.’ The UN met for a photo-session- lot’s of expensively dressed men posing with smiles. The EEC is male dominated. Many secret meetings” (19/5/1993). “People are still good basically. People just want to be able to behave properly. But in war, people just go crazy. The desire to protect the family is very strong. They always blame the other side… The UN could take out their artillery positions. If this had been done a year ago…” (ITV, 20/5/1993).

“The stench! Sewage in the main river…” “SO SAD. A pair of lovers lie dead, shot in the back trying to escape…” “What matters now is kindness, not nationality.” “33,000 people trapped in one town… 100 shells land on the streets each day” (26/5/1993). “HOUSES TORCHED… night after night…” “The UN troops are housed in wooden huts… Their only protection? Sand-bags on the roof.” “…In canvas tents… in the tent camp… living like Nomads… in tents given to them by the UN… women crying. Want war to stop. A harsh world”

(8/6/1993).

“You can burn me in hell for as long as it pays.” “OLD GAME. To the victor the spoils.” “They’re collaring everything.” “I can sense the danger.” “What’s it about? Oh nothing. Just tactics.” “The fear of being slaughtered by rampaging soldiers…” “The UN are here to save lives…” “The UN rescued terrified women and children from a monastery surrounded by snipers, evacuating them by allowing them to travel in their lorries. Taken to a camp…” (9/6/1993). “… machine gunning civilians running into woods for cover. Unable to defend themselves. Many spending 2nd night in the forest, lashed by torrential rain. More towns seized…” (Evening

(Central Bosnia, 29/5/1993).

”9 MILLION displaced people. So many HOMELESS people…” “’SAFE’ AREA = Only security is that of the concentration camp. Water controlled by Serbs. No sanitation. Under siege for 1 year…” “Harrowing. The conditions in concentration camps. ‘They killed us mentally and physically. They degraded us. PROPAGANDA: ‘We are the pits. They are God-given people. They would stand in lines, with truncheons- beat us. They didn’t care how.’ The survivors resettled? 3,500 people waiting for the UN to decide their future. Much form filling. Is your name on the list? Detainees. I cannot help you. Wives, children flocking looking for their men, for shelter. ‘Mummy!’ People exterminated. Mandatory camps. Barbed wire. They say ‘wait.’ What else can we do? We have no choice. I’ve waited for lists to be made. How long can we wait? It’s our fate.’ ‘We have no place for these people.’ "28 people suffocated under tarpaulins. Only the strong survive."

Standard, 9/6/1993).

“So CHAOTIC nothing could be ruled out. Murderous gangs- some extremely ugly characters roaming about. Roadblocks. Rumours of massacres” (10/6/1993). “450 Aid convoy vehicles not being escorted by UN, attacked- ambushed. 8 drivers dragged out and shot in cold blood. Women angry. ‘You are feeding them! We are starving.’ Gangs of gunmen. Looting. Shooting. A UN tank robbed of arsenal of weapons” (10/6/1993). “UN will set-up air surveillance; air cover to defend troops.” MACEDONIA: “Risk of war spreading there.” “300 more USA troops will be sent.”

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“Killing is relentless. Country is littered with abandoned vehicles…” (EG. an overturned jeep pulling a trailer). UNRESOLVED: HOW TO PREVENT CIVILIANS FROM BEING ATTACKED? THE ARMY = “When the going gets tough, you can’t rely on us. Whatever may come, whatever may go, you can try to move to another town… Life’s never been easy.” (“So many men, all with needs. Thick skinned i.e. they wont listen. I can hear right and wrong so clearly. There must be more who can hear like this, who also get so scared. We’re so far apart. If only love would make a noise…”) “Sanctions are counter-productive” (11/6/1993). “SITUATION IS DETERIORATING. Any military deployment must have a way out… Troops will be withdrawn if necessary. Commanders not in charge of all their troops. High state of alert. Troops have no idea of ideal solution- no more than politicians. NO obvious, simple solution that people here are crying out for” (BBC1, 11/6/1993) (“They’re as lost as the next guy…”) (“WHAT DO WE DO NOW?” “It’s obvious, isn’t it?” “There’s one easy way isn’t there?”) “More than 60 people have died in last 24-hours in ‘safe areas’…” (14/6/1993). “UN IMPOTENCE UNDER FIRE: The UN’s peacekeeping role in the world’s trouble-spots came under fire with calls for clearer political direction. Michael Meacher said it was now a ‘desperately worrying situation. Recent events had shown how the UN’s role was being undermined amid an upsurge of regional conflicts in more than 20 areas around the world” (14/6/1993). “GENOCIDE FEARS…” “The situation is intolerable.” “Terrified of being killed- women and old men pleading: ‘Take us away!’ Told: ‘Stay in your house. We cannot take you in our vehicles.’ The UN did rescue, throwing the rule book out of the window…” (Smiles. The UN pleased to be doing something…) “Wounded civilians in a church- conveyed to ‘safety’ on buses” (the AGONY over every bump and pot-hole…) “We do not want our own State. We want to live all together.” “ONLY ‘SOLUTION’: Come back and suffer, or stay and die?” “They came at us with guns. Expelled us from our house. Told us to drown our grand-mother so we could carry more. They killed our babies, our children…” (21/6/1993). “DEEP GLOOM Re: Peace talks. Ethnic Partitioning. ‘We are leaving the door open for future negotiations. We will not lead them into any settlements they do not wish to go into.’ SUMMIT:

Trying to find a strategy for peace, over dinner. They’re looking for a face-saver” (21/6/1993). BOSNIA: “The railway station is ablaze…” (25/6/1993).

“… everybody was sleeping in huge plastic tents on mud floors. 50 to a tent. There was non-stop rain. I had mud up to my knees. The camp is full of rats. In winter, wide-spread epidemics. The medicines we get are part of a political game. We can’t get inoculations and preventative medicines. The biggest problem is feeding… there are no vegetables, no vitamins and people here are always ill. There’s no hot water or electricity. The makeshift camp has 2,300 residents….” (Evening Standard, 28/6/1993).

“Makeshift hospital… rocket attack- all 52 patients killed. Bodies litter bombed out streets. Horrific crimes against civilians. Protection demanded from the UN. It could be too late.” “Food Aid to refugees in Bosnia could be halved tomorrow. Shortage of money and escalation of violence blamed” (Newsnight, BBC, 1/7/1993). “SARAJEVO: Many tower blocks. 1.25 million people trapped. No electricity to pump water. No water = No hygiene. Soon victims of typhoid & dysentery” (4/7/1993). “THIS IS A WAR AIMED AT CIVILIANS!” “Grim housing estates. Life harder here than anywhere else. People growing food on balconies, collecting water any way they can- queuing for 10 hours. Will have to soon buy flour on the Black market. They should forget their divisions and concentrate on peace” said a young mother (6/7/1993).

“Time is running out for the people of Sarajevo…” (7/7/1993). “The life is being choked out of it…” “IN DITHERS. Wont accept division into 3 States. Bosnia: War without end. If they had the capacity to fight, but they haven’t. Aid convoys hijacked daily. Starving them into Petition. The Owen Map = A jigsaw of ethnic divisions. Muslims squeezed into ghettos. Scenario? The biggest movement of people this Century. ‘Security’ will be left to the ‘tender mercy’ of the Croates. They’ve lost their nation, their land, their homes” (ITN, 9/7/1993) (Ah! “They’re voting with their feet!”) “NEW PLAN: Bosnia should be a Federation.”“... it is a fair and balanced approach.” “UN is failing to deliver… food…” “UN asked for more money to help Aid. Serbs have stopped oil needed to pump water.” “12 people killed queuing for water. Mortar attack. Greedy thugs at roadblocks getting most of the food Aid- it is not going to the children, the elderly…” “Coach loads of displaced people, TRAPPED in war zones… Problem: Can’t get a visa- can’t get out without. Some smuggled out by Aid workers. ‘I 598

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hope for a normal life. Re-building a life- a struggle’…” (12/7/1993). “UN OPERATIONS BOGGED DOWN: Voices around the world are worried. If the UN can’t act as the world’s peace-keeper and fire brigade- who can? If the UN goes- no hope of a New World Order. THE WHOLE WORLD: An atmosphere of desperation and hopelessness. ‘We assure you, we are doing whatever needs to be doneassistance, rehabilitation have been successful’…” (ITN). “Dwindling UN Aid supplies. The UN could withdraw…” (BBC1, 13/7/1993). “EXTRA MONEY PROMISED. £152 million to last until October. Food shortages, riots inevitable. Refugees competing for food with residents in towns and villages. There are no shops, no supplies. No petrol. Fertile areas are battlefields. It’s winter. Aid Agencies worried. How to get Aid through continued fighting?” (BBC1, 16/7/1993). “TERRORISED CITY: Serbs close to taking Bosnian Capital Sarajevo. The victims of fierce fighting… UN soldiers can only watch and take cover. Many civilians caught in the heavy shelling… left to lie in the streets” (22/7/1993). “Staff fled a home for 200 mentally handicapped children who were left to fend for themselves. A team of 8 doctors are on their way from the UK.” “British troops are there changing nappies…(Hurray!) In a nearby home for 450 elderly- only one old man on the staff remains”

“President Clinton backs limited air-strikes. Time to get tough with the Serbs. Targets well dug in. The supply of UN convoys could grind to a halt. Serbs are trying to cut a vital supply line. From the air they are simply monitoring Genocide” (ITV, 28/7/1993) (“Is this the easy way?”) “UN troops anguished only being able to watch whole villages be massacred. ‘Yes, you do use force to defend, if it’s necessary, to protect civilians’…” (GMTV, 28/7/1993). Peace Talks: “Proposal of 3 divisions along ethnic lines (a Beirut-style division) is not acceptable” (30/7/1993).

“… threatening to level the area. 2 villages captured. Nothing UN could do- soldiers can only witness the civilian’s suffering… Bloody Bosnia. 3.5 million people now refugees- left with nothing” (31/7/1993).

"...People forced to scavenge and steal. The children are suffering so much! 43% of the population struggling for survival... "The slaughter of innocent, defenceless people is totally unacceptable nowadays" (said J. Smith, leader of the UK’s Labour party, 11/8/1993).

SARAJEVO: “RESCUE Operation = Bitter argument- Britain & UN. Who should be saved? RAF team horrified by conditions. Hope raised in a lot of mothers. Neuro-surgeon decapitated by shrapnel fragment. Heavy fighting over ruins in other parts. 1,000’s of civilians wounded- killed. House to house fighting. Used to be allies…” (“Hard to love, when there's so much to hate...") “15 countries offered 700 beds for the wounded. ‘Mercy flights are a drop in the Ocean’ said a plastic surgeon. TUSLA: No evacuation or safety. Many doctors and nurses have fled. A medical team is working 16 hours every day operating to repair bodies. All supplies scarce. Equipment antiquated. UK hospitals now treating evacueesonly 7 children on list- a PR exercise. Help long overdue” (ITN, 16/8/1993). (“UN BOSSES WASTE £MILLIONS: Corruption amongst top UN officials is costing £1 million a day. Officials on 6-figure salaries do little work yet run up huge expenses, safe in the knowledge the UN answers to no-one for their massive expenditure. One such official lives in a luxury apartment close to the UN’s palatial offices in Geneva. Beside his salary he gets a generous allowance, but spends most of his day sunbathing and in the evenings doing the round of elegant parties. His job was to run 'The International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction'- an operation which failed. He is one of 39 ‘jobless’ UN staff who cost £2 million a year. In the same city, 'The UN High Commission for Refugees' has appealed for more funds, complaining her department could run out of money. 2 years ago, the USA expressed grave concern over the ‘seriousness and number of cases of fraud’ in

(23/7/1993).

“Girl raped by 7 soldiers…” “More women are opting for abortion. Cannot bear to bring children into this world. 10,000 births a year before this war. Now 2,500. More premature births. Still-births have trebled. Unborn son starved. Increase in mentally retarded. Babies weighing much less. Sarajevo is dying in more ways than one” (23/7/1993). BOSNIA: A country on the verge of extinction. ‘We aim for an agreement all accept, not 'peace' at any price.’ May have to accept peace at any price. Know they can’t win the war… Leader (the infamous ‘Slob-Along’) offered to give some land back- maybe 30%...” “NATO WAR PLANES will provide cover for UN troops. Tornados & Jaguars are already within striking distance.” “… ‘We are wondering why it is taking so long?’ 1,000’s of refugees are fleeing their villages along a dusty track, heading toward Serb front lines. Women and children loaded onto trucks. So desperate to leave! Soldiers looted their homestook everything. ‘My children are left behind. Oh, my God!’ It is too late to find them. The truck left. The road is blocked… She lost her husband and son… So much grief. So little trust in the processes in Geneva” (BBC1, 28/7/1993). “YOU might be young and sent to a camp that’s all shot up…” 599

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“Food is still waiting to be distributed” “The number of Homeless hungry increases every day. They are going to take a mobile bakery to the area to bake 10,000 loaves a day” (Radio, 28/8/1993). “BOSNIA: “I million Homeless driven out of their homes by mass-murder and terror. Land lost. Peace talks failed. Bosnia wanted more land given back- this refused” (31/8/1993). “More villagers slaughtered-butchered…”“… without a solution, this situation is unclear…” “TO PROTECT AID CONVOYS: Radio transmitters fitted onto lorries, satellites track their positions, plotted on map, can exchange messages to warn of danger EG. return to base. To avoid sniper’s bullets- conventional Armour Plating too heavy to be fitted to aircraft fuselage. ‘NEW’ Material = Heat treated GLASS ceramic, which smashes into 1,000’s of pieces. ½ the weight. Moldable & cheap. Currently being fitted in general into military aircrafts” (Tomorrow’s World, BBC1, 19/9/1993). “MISERABLE, 2ND HARD WINTER. No electricity. ‘How will we keep warm?’ Cupboards bare. No Aid being delivered. UN food stocks very low. Mayhem may break out. Besieged towns cut off from outside world. Desolation. Cries of grief in the graveyards. Neighbours divided by hate fuel this war… 40 people ‘living’ in one class room. Winter kits (blankets, jumpers) blocked by Serbs. ‘We can never forgive. We can never again live with’…”

'The UNCHR,' the agency set-up to help the Homeless in countries hit by famine, disaster and war. A new report which is sending shockwaves through member countries, was prepared by a former USA Attorney-General, appointed to the UN to root out corruption and waste” Today, 16/8/1993). “Houses blackened and burnt. Whole situation here is beyond sanity.” “Orphans forced to scavenge and steal… Children are at the bottom of the pecking order… Fighting is the way to power in this place and those with least power are the most hungry” (re: Bjelave Orphanage) (Evening Standard, 18/8/1993).

“Sarajevo may become UN protected for 2 years.” TUZLA: “35,000 civilians trapped. Conditions quite desperate. Things are very bad” (20/8/1993). “FETCHING WATER- TERRIFYING! Most now so tired of war will accept 'peace' at any price. MOSTAR: 55,000 civilians trapped without water or electricity. Rapid collapse of law and order. Hospitals need help. Population does not deserve lack of Aid. Croates have received Aid but turned Aid away from Mostar. People very scared. Terrified. Facing winter” (BBC1, 20/8/1993). “MORE WEAPONS THAN WISDOM…” MOSTAR: “Fighting is worse. Once again it is the basic commodities that are used to further war. No food, water, elec. No progress UN negotiating convoys through. Food lorries are at a stand still”

(16/11/1993).

(BBC1, 23/8/1993).

“Time this stupid rift was HEALED. Put all this behind us. Positive thinking. We all know why we got upset. Wont each of us be pleased if we got it together?” “... it teaches me to stop living in the past and live for the future- what could happen…” SARAJEVO: “Over 1 million people will not survive the winter. Fuel convoys can’t get through. Firewood like gold dust. Hospitals have no heating.” “D. Hurd threatened to pull British troops out if Aid continued to be blocked” (19/11/1993) (“Just when we need Aid most, they threaten to withdraw it.”) “The shortfall of Aid is so great… the army are heavily guarding a UN food supply store to stop the poor and hungry helping themselves to flour” (BBC1, 24/11/1993). “Bosnia warned by Lord David Owen: ‘Accept a smaller Bosnia, with defensible borders, or UN troops may be withdrawn.’ People suffering mayhem” (25/11/1993). BELGRADE: “Soaring inflation. People unable to Afford bread. ‘I have no food to feed my family’ a woman weeps…” “The convoys saved our livesgot us out. Thank you for helping us.” “OPERATION: ANGEL: 7 children evacuated. An expensive operation. Complaints this didn’t help those left behind” (20/12/1993) “Could more have been done to rescue civilians?” (“If you made a

“Hospital has taken 3 direct hits. Pharmacy destroyed. Residential areas targeted. Areas covered in broken glass, rubble and shrapnel. People here very thin. Only water from polluted river. Lot of sniping- people killed. Violence rising” (24/8/1993).

“UN got 27 lorries through to Mostar. Much delayed… not clear if food reached the 55,000 starving besieged Muslims. UN air dropping food into Bosnia. Last 3 months 7,000 tons dropped. Needs are very great. It will take more than a few airdrops or convoys. Shells still landing. Shrapnel coming down on hospital roof…” (BBC1, 25/8/1993). “Convoy is now trapped” (26/8/1993). “City rocked day & night. The wounded pour into the hospital. So badly hurt! A soldier is weeping… Caravans of pack horses struggle in on only route carrying medicines & mortar shells. 150 UN troops 'held hostage' by women and children who say if they leave the shelling will resume and they will be killed. Wounded, evacuated children crying out in pain on bumpy road out. The Bosnian President said: “It might be a good foundation for future talks.” Bitter clash over who takes over. End petition or withdraw. We need to have it liberated in order to function. Road and pipe-lines all cut. Many Serbs & Croates displaced” (BBC1, 27/8/1993). 600

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MAGLI: "16,000 people cut off. Starvation rife”

deal with God… Isn’t it you and me that doesn’t want to be unhappy? Don’t you want to be an Angel? If you made a deal, God wouldn’t swallow places. It could be built with no problem.”) (“There is none so blind as those who wont listen.”) SARAJEVO: “Heavy shelling continues. Humanitarian Aid flights stopped. Unable to fight back due to UN arms embargo. More children buried. Red Cross managing to give elderly 1 subsistence meal a day. An orgy of murder” (BBC1,

(28/2/1994).

TUZLA: “… it’s essential we get it operating ASAP. The need for urgent Aid…” “An independent Aid worker, not helped by the UN, said she wants to reduce bureaucracy, to save lives / rescue people. She believes the UN does not want competition.” “The UN desperately need protective vehicles that go in the snow, up hills very quickly.” (SnowCats were developed at least 10 years ago. Are like motorbikes on skis. Very noisy. Also larger versions with caterpillar treads). “We want the place demilitarised very quickly.” “Endless photo opportunities don’t make a foreign policy” (a snipe at D. Hurd, dubbed ‘the weak man of Europe’) (21/2/1994) (Britain is still advertising holidays to Croatia…) SARAJEVO: Wrecked. The cities could be rebuilt again at massive cost.” “J. Major and Bill Clinton sending planners to help rebuild. A special UN fund could be set-up” (2/3/1994). “Aid package £12 million…” “There could be a reoccurrence of the war. This struggle could happen all again, God forbid.” “The war isn’t over. The ethnic cleansing, sniping and killing goes on in other parts…” JOKE: “We have no solution to Human security. Seek consolation in the prisons of the past.” Q: “Why do we keep rebuilding when everything’s been destroyed?" A: "We live in hope that next time we’ll get it completely right.” “Yugoslavia used to be proud to be multicultural.” “1,000’s dream of a time when Bosnians, Serbs & Croates all live together happily.” TUZLA: “Airport may re-open for Aid flights. Experts being sent to reconnect the electricity and water supplies” (1/3/1994). “… the General needs extra forces to separate the conflicting parties- keep them apart. Britain is sending more troops- Britain is taking the lead”

6/1/1994).

“Latest peace talks ended in failure. It’s not going at all well. Chance of a full-scale war. We must put off that evil day” (19/1/1994). “Babies in incubators died due to power cuts.” “Children blown apart whilst playing in the snow…” “Children not receiving an education. 1 school in defiance of war trying to provide 30 minutes education a day but no heating and on the front line, facing mortar attacks from 3 directions. 3 teachers for 800 pupils. ‘They are no longer the children I knew’ sobs the headmistress. ‘They have grown old’…” (BBC1, 27/1/1994). “Following death of an Aid worker…. They’re trying to work out how to make the road less of a shooting gallery” (1/2/1994). “9 killed in queue for bread. A mortar shell exploded. Bodies lay sprawled- as the injuredsome with limbs missing, tried to crawl to safety” (4/2/1994).

SARAJEVO: “A HUMAN ABATOIR: 1 mortar exploded, 63 people killed in a busy market. Revulsion. A tortured country. Will this tragedy bring about a settlement? People very disillusioned with UN’s failure to stop the massacre of civilians” (5/2/1994) (Ah! Butchered). “There is no military solution.” “The British government said air-strikes may be the only answer.” “RAVISHED CIVILIANS… no Aid for 6 months…” “Aid workers very scared, worried. Family men are risking their lives to feed the children and distribute toys…” (BBC1, 8/2/1994) “The children will be stressed for years…” “We’ve had enough of talk…” “6 out 10 houses destroyed” (BBC1, 9/2/1994). ”WE NEED A FORMULA!” “The USA promised ‘they wont block it’…”

(BBC1, 7/3/1994).

“… their welfare is my concern…” said a UN officer. JOKE: “The UN are constipated, feeling complicated. All too difficult to do…” MAGLAI: “Under heavy bombardment as citizens starve. Deplorable conditions. Hardly a building that hasn’t been damaged. Daily queues for food. Malnourishment. Aid route blocked by Serbs- who want territory. Vicious… ‘All we get is shells and promises.’ Snipers. Women shot, injured, killed. No surgeons. Nowhere is safe. Cellars overcrowded at night. Under siege. Lost limbs. These bombed, hungry people feel let down” (10/3/19094). “The need for further reinforcements. 10,600 extra troops needed. Britain sending 900- to reduce the

(11/2/1994).

“Anything that contributes to the reduced use of heavy weapons- we welcome it” said the UN. UN: “Those who use excessive force must be taught a lesson… Air-strikes must be used against them.” David Owen: “The threat of force is very useful to us.” (Bad power). “800,000 citizens- only 4 days supply of food.” “The UN are trying to feed 2.7 million people in central Bosnia." 601

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burden. Government dithering. Delay- putting peace at risk. Getting heavy equipment there- a 10 day voyage” (10/3/1994). “CONDITIONS FOR THE HOMELESS TERRIBLE. 50 men and women to one room… having to eat nettles and grass. Home-made water wheels are providing a little power…” (BBC1, 14/3/1994). “AID AGENCIES AT BREAKING POINT due to lack of supplies… people died of water-borne diseases… “ (Appeal, 17/3/1994). “THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ARCHITECTS is to hold a competition for a project in Sarajevo to symbolise peace. Site details are being finalised for the project, which is intended as a link between architects and their colleagues in Sarajevo” (Building

anything about it. I can’t believe that. The Security Council can’t influence the state of security in the country! Attitudes, actions are not Human” (BBC1, 19/4/1994). “Hospital shelled. Red Cross building hit. Dozens died. Most UN soldiers waiting around. ‘It’s something I have to do’ said a volunteer…” (20/4/1994).

“THEY WANT TO EXTEND THE ‘SAFE AREAS’ into one protected zone- they’re wondering how. A threat of a terrible escalation of war if airstrikes continue. Russia is against the use airstrikes. The allies have got to find a way to respond positively” (21/4/1994). “Last cease-fire across Bosnia lasted only 4 hours. The fragile blocks of peace are in place but…”

Design, 1/4/1994).

(8/6/1994).

“GROSS HARASSMENT OF POPULATION. People want to get out- given tickets, told to join a queue,. Tickets sold. Situation quite extraordinary. Arson, murder, rape, raids, attacks on civilians still going on. Situation quite unstable. Intensive shelling / artillery fire on refugee camp. Residents very nervous. What’s happening- very fragile. Optimism tinged with reserve” (BBC Radio,

"Greater efforts must be made to find / establish peace..." (29/6/1994). “A British plane flying relief supplies to Sarajevo hit 4-times by ground fire. A USA plane was hit 5times. A small UN plane was also hit. ‘This is worrisome’ said the UN’…” (21/7/1994). “Fighting on the ground. 'Peace' Plan rejected. Air strikes threatened. Citizens running for their lives. This woman was killed on a tram… Russia now advocates air-strikes. The shelling continues…”

3/4/1994).

“NATO BOMBED Serb positions to stop the invasion of a UN ‘safe’ enclave (Gorazde) after repeated attacks on civilians. To protect UN forces” (not civilians!) (10/4/1994). “Serbs over-run 30 villages. Fighting has not stopped. Serbs now talking to the UN. Refugees fleeing heavy shelling” (11/4/1994). “22 children killed. Diplomats, diplomacy going nowhere. Step by step we are closer to World War.” Yeltsin said: “Tasks cannot be resolved by force. Talks are the way forward?” (BBC, 12/4/1994) (“Did all the talking get us anywhere?” “Talk it over.”) “WE’RE ALL WAITING!” “Serbs launched an attack- are 500 yards from the main General hospital…” (15/4/1994). “UN personnel kidnapped. Hostages wont be hurt if there are no more air-strikes.” “Heavy impacts around Gorazde. The buildings are shaking… with all the shelling. 100’s of people fleeing. ‘We’re scared to death.’ ‘Bad’ weather is holding the UN back” (18/4/1994). “A DESPERATE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS: The UN General Secretary has asked for air-strikes to protect UN ‘safe’ areas and civilians. This is supported by the Security Council. ‘It is not a solution’ said the Russians, ‘and we condemn it’…”

(2/8/1994).

“The Serbs Peace Plan is Petition- that cannot be expanded. 800 Serbs dead in Gorazde alone. The Serbs have suffered dreadfully. A terrible toll. The trouble with sanctions- don’t work to a timetable, takes decades. Have to be superviseddifficult, complicated. Sanctions continue to be broken. The Serbs are being pressurised to accept what is, in their eyes, suicide. ½ peace, ½ war is something we do not want to continue. The international 'Peace' Plan means: Peacekeeping troops will pull out! The USA insist on this, but the troops do not agree this is the best solution…” (3/8/1994). “Radovan Kardazic, leader of the Bosnian Serbs, told his people to prepare for all out war” (4/8/1994) (“That was kind of him?”) “The public transport system (buses & trams) in Sarajevo will cost £40 million to repair…” “Attack on UN arms dump. UN Retaliation = Humanitarian Aid into Sarajevo halted again. Bosnian Serbs positions bombed. Disincentives + increased pressure to accept ‘the Peace Plan.’ Warren Christopher said: ‘”This is positive action.” A military stale-mate. Their backs to the wall. Are now at their most dangerous. Are now outcasts. ‘Peace' Plan’' means at least 1.3 million Bosnian Serbs will no longer be allowed to live where they have lived for Centuries, as land is carved up. This is unacceptable.’ ‘We haven’t got time to go into details like that” (Newsnight, BBC2,

(19/4/1994).

“UNHCR office hit. 2 refugee camps and houses hit. The plight of the people… can’t get wounded out, UN can’t get access for Aid. The Homeless in the town… It was a night of screams and pain. This was a large city. There’s no roof for them. They’re ‘sleeping’ on the streets. The hospital is a hell-hole. No beds, no supplies.” “The UN can’t do

5/8/1994). 602

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is

“Following heavy shelling- use of heavy weapons on both sides, the UN may bomb both sides ‘to teach them a lesson’…” “They level everything and kill everything in their way”

under

the

control

of

the

government”

(22/11/1994).

“1,000’s of refugees are fleeing in several directions. Conditions in Bihac getting worse… Serb army has now penetrated a ‘safe’ area. UN troops feeling uneasy. USA’s policy of wielding a big stick infuriates. War planes wont help these citizens. There is no strategy to protect civilians. There is protection for NATO and UN equipment. Situation ever more dangerous- a collective failure. ‘We have served these people quite badly.’ Houses are still being burned…”

(10/8/1994).

“Bosnian arms embargo may be lifted if peace not established by October. If by November, peace not established, the USA will go it alone. The war goes on” (BBC1, 11/8/1994). ”Because of USA pressure, the UN is stepping up plans to evacuate peace troops. The population don’t wish us to go. A fighting retreat? To hurt civilians? Unthinkable” (12/8/1994). “We’ll fight to the last man. Better that we finish the war than our children continue the war” said a soldier. (“His idea of heat…”) (“This could make or break. What do YOU want when the heat is on you? Do you want action? Yeh. What kind of action?”) SARAJEVO: “3rd winter under siege. Run out of firewood- chopped down all the trees- now digging for tree roots. Elec supply controlled by Serbs. Demoralising long queues for water. Food will run out this week-end. If the airport doesn’t reopen… 60% of the adults are suffering from mental illness. 20% are mad” (BBC1, 5/10/1994). (“Can’t you think of a way to settle this?” “Can you imagine any other way that does not involve murder?”) BIHAC: “Fierce fighting… the plight of the people in the so called ‘safe zone’ critical. Bosnian government appealing for help. Croates continuing their advance- are only 2 miles away. Town under bombardment… the UN are surrounded. The balance of force is shifting…” (15/11/1994) (“You had your chance and you’ve blown it!”) (“These people need a strong bond between them…”) “Shouldn’t the underdog be armed? Look at the face of this 7 year old victim. A dreadfully one-sided warhas effectively helped Serbs maintain their advantage. If embargo lifted, a flood of weapons. Soldiers encouraged by governments… Why are the aggressors so favoured? Britain and France accused of operating a hidden agenda. Strongly denied. Long term needs more important. Arming the other side would let in fanatics and prolong the agony” (ITN, 16/11/1994). “LIFE’S TOO SHORT.” “Wouldn’t we be better off helping each other rather than fighting?” “39 NATO WAR PLANES attacked a Serb air base in Croatia. Force in Sarajevo on high red alert. A highly unstable situation. 1,000lb bombs dropped. A block of flats was hit… Russia criticised the scale of the attack… Serb army advancing, have retaken 50 miles. Many villagers have simply run away leaving everything behind” (21/11/1994). “… UN in danger of being over-run. NATO’s retaliation has not worked… In Serbia, the media

(23/11/1994).

“Serbs

have

taken UN

soldiers

hostage…”

(24/11/1994).

“50,000 civilians in Bihac are at the mercy of Bosnian Serbs…” “In the hospital designed for 700, there are 2,000 injured people… shortage of medical supplies. UN in state of crisis. Peace conference attacked by a missile. Instead of peace what comes instead is bombs and bullets. 8,000 people have fled. Nowhere is SAFE” (BBC1, 2/12/1994). SARAJEVO: “FROZEN INHABITANTS. Temperature is -20. Firewood no longer regarded as Humanitarian Aid. Water pipes frozen. Having to illegally tap into the infrequent gas supply. More people recently have died due to gas explosions than anything else. All they can do is sit in the cold” (BBC1, 20/1/19995).

“2 UN planes hit…” (17/3/1995). “… sliding out of control. 4 UN ‘safe areas’ missile attacked. The UN may use missiles to stop these attacks against civilians” (27/3/1995). “All this tragedy, public execution, pain… just 2 hours away from London… Bihac is crumbling…” (2/4/1995).

“This war could drag on for another 10 years…” “A MASSIVE RE-THINK OF THE ROLE OF PEACE-KEEPING = Britain is getting toughersending 5,000 more troops. Parliament recalled. Can we stand idly by? If UN hostages harmed, leaders will be held responsible. Meanwhile, fierce fighting… There is no clear solution” (31/5/1995). “The UN’s mandate means troops have to stand by and watch citizens be brutally massacred. Surviving refugees are terrified.” “HUGE REFUGEE CRISIS: 14,000 displaced civilians have arrived at one camp. UN trying to provide some kind of basic shelter but only to a very small percentage- tents are given out. Food, medical supplies due to run out tonight. 11,000 more civilians are on their way packed into buses. The look on the faces of the women and children! Sweat, tears running down their faces. Despair. Soldiers look bewildered. A few are handing out water but essentially there is no-one here to help them…” (Radio, 13/7/1995). “Another ‘safe haven’ has fallen. Men and boys down to the age of 12 taken by Serb forces. No-one 603

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expects to see them alive again. All roads taken over by the military for military purposes. No way to bring Aid in. Will have to come in slowly on dangerous mountain roads. The children, elderly and women left exposed in the open fields. The UN are trying to put up tents on a runway. The ‘Rapid Reaction’ force will not be in place until the end of August” (14/7/1995). “It has taken the ‘Rapid Reaction’ force 3 years…” “RAW ANGUISH: The safety of relatives and friends is unknown. .. 3 air-strikes to stop Serb atrocities. Trouble is air-strikes could hit civilians and UN personnel” (20/7/1995). “600 male prisoners taken to a stadium and executed by Bosnian Serbs.” “A 3rd ‘safe area’ is due to fall. UN troops being withdrawn. USA policy in disarray. Buses carrying women and children disappeared. 1,000’s of civilians are missing. Absolute horror stories. International conference held. ‘There is no perfect solution’ said M. Riftkind, Britain's Foreign Secretary. Whole situation spiralling out of control” (19/7/1995) (“Oh, there’s no answer to it?”) “Of course we cannot save all the lives we would like to save” said M. Portillo, Britain's Defence Secretary. (Why not?) “The ‘safe’ enclave of Zepa has been abandoned as though the people there are already dead and buried! Loss of faith in the international community” (20/7/1995). “The ‘Rapid Reaction’ force will not protect civilians only UN personnel!! Huge guns are being installed by the peace-keepers on Mount Igman.” “17,000 children have been killed in Bosnia” said the Prime Minister, almost in tears, demanding the Right to self-defence” (25/7/1995). How many men have been killed? “Lifting the arms embargo would fuel all out war. 25,000 UN soldiers would be pulled out. The nightmare scenario- a military conflict enlarged. The USA would arm one side, the Russians the other, Islam is raising funds to buy weapons… Even supporters of this agree this is a policy of despair”

KOSOVO: “1 million people forced to leave their homes at gunpoint. Young men shot. Women, children, the elderly forced to leave their country. At the borders the majority refused entry- stuck in no-man’s land, in the cold and rain, starving, exhausted. Fights over a loaf of bread… Risk of disease- no sanitation. Aid refused by military police. Terrible scenes of appalling misery. Temporary camps set up using tents and barbed wire for 1,000’s, days after arriving. 300 people to one tent..." ("What do you think it would mean to them?") ("Talking of disappointments...") "... £200 million spent on bombs- missiles for one night of NATO’s campaign to stop ‘Slob-Along’ ethnic cleansing. Is this the 3rd World War? Russia & China opposed to action against Serbia. Plastic sheeting handed out. Aid workers in tears. More body bags arriving than food. Politicians arguing over what should be done. Airlift them out to other countries? ‘We’re determined they should go back.’ Whole villages burnt. Serbia is not a Democracy- only way people can get ‘SlobAlong’ out is by civil war. State controlled media , falsifying news reports to Serbian people. NATO knocking out military installations, oil refineries… That contrite little phrase: ‘We’re doing everything we can’…” 2 WEEKS LATER: “630,000 Homeless in camps. Food rationing introduced… People in Britain donated money, blankets etc., horrified by the living conditions… Inadequate, chaotic response by the international community…” “They are going to send the refugees back and give them tents to ‘live’ in!” (March / May 1999) (“FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST ALMIGHTY…”) “THE NEED FOR A HUGE HUMANITARIAN PACKAGE: £13 BILLION donated by the public to charities.” (What was this spent on?) “Don’t know if war will spread or how long war will go on for. A military 'solution' is being applied, growing in intensity. Can’t sit in the sidelines fearing failure. President Clinton is desperately seeking a peaceful solution, phoning everyone he knows… Something effective must be done to bring stability…” (CNN, 6/4/1999). “HEAVY BOMBING in Belgrade by NATO- bridges and much of the infrastructure destroyed. Will have to be repaired. Cost? Terrible errors. Civilians killed…” “HEAVEN HELP THEM.” “1 million Homeless refugees stuck in (canvas) tents. Approx. 0.5 million in Kosovo in the hills with no foodscavenging for scraps… God only knows what state these poor people are in! Serbian troops withdrawing, leaving burning villages, poisoned water, mass graves and mines in fields and houses… Serbian villagers fleeing fearing

(BBC1, 27/7/1995).

“… leaving the sweltering heat of the camps by lorry… tired and exhausted, hungry, having lost their husbands, homes and possessions… they’re absolutely terrified…” (27/7/1995). “Aid workers have risen to the challenge. ‘We just get on with it; build shelters, get food, construct water stations. There’s no time to sit around and say ‘Oh! What are we going to do?’” She added, sadly “There are some very emotional scenes…” “Britain has fewer and fewer resources to help international peace efforts. The Household Cavalry is leaving to help Bosnia…” (24/8/1995). 604

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reprisals when those that were tormented return…” (“It makes us feel better…”) “REVENGE? Will revenge make them alive again? Revenge is a road with no end.” “We need JUSTICE, not revenge.” (“I know it’s a human sign, when things go wrong… Jealousy burns! Sweet deceit comes calling and negativity lies… with no boundary. Each misunderstanding builds up, we lose direction… We can keep on misunderstanding, it’s no sacrifice… it’s no sacrifice at all…” (song) ” “The need for forgiveness…” (What else is there but to forgive? A life consumed by hatred?) “LEARN ALL LIFE IS PRECIOUS. NONE CAN BE REPLACED.” “LEARN SELF-CONTROL, discipline, good manners…” “No hard feelings, man to man?” “What is the best way to deal with force? Prize PEACE and quiet above victory. Run away. Do not meet force head on. Hurt rather than maime. Maime, rather than kill” (Tibetan Philosophy). “… as the armed forces enter Kosovo… OPERATION: JOINT GUARDIAN: The International Peace-Keeping Effort… torrential rain… The cost of rebuilding… the burnt out, wrecked, pillaged houses…” (12/6/1999). “A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO: Refugees, refusing to stay in camps, going ‘home’- in queues 12 miles long. Wont wait. Who can blame them? ‘We can’t get basic necessities over-night’ explained a UN soldier. Why not?” (16/6/1999).

“Why couldn’t they protect their HOME? How can a simple homesteader best defend his family?” “They couldn’t shake it down or break it down…” “So, you think it’ll work?” “Absolutely. I thoroughly recommend it. You’ve got to think of Humanity. Hey, just think! We wont need to panic anymore.” “Is anyone really interested in Domestic SECURITY?” “Fundamentalism is rising in the Middle East…” “A life lived in FEAR is a life ½ lived.” “… it is going to be a world-wide release…” DEEP THOUGHT: "No-one has the organisational ability required to do the job, simply." “We should draw a line in the sand and say do it by this time…” “On the 60th anniversary of the UN, leaders will discuss lessons learnt and the rocky road ahead…” “SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE… Kofi Annan has called for changes… A ‘radical’ overhaul… The Security Council needs to be much more pro-Active…” “Plans for greater intervention. UN Reform = The UN will sanction increased use of… FORCE…” (30/11/2004). ("Say not the struggles nought avail’eth, thy labour and wounds are vain, the enemy faints not, nor fear’eth, and as things have been, so they remain..." Ref. Poem)

“Hey! We can work it out at the speed of light. What do you need? A cannon ball, or a decent roof for roof-top living? The answer for the future is…” “… when you’ve got to leave, just get away… We ALL know the song…” “… it’s KILL, OR CURE!” “Will we ever do it justice?” “DO YOU DREAM OF WORLD PEACE?” “ARE OUR DREAMS THE SAME?”

SUMMARY: “The 1st responsibility of any government is the safety of its citizens.” GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS:

BORDERS & IMMIGRATION: A typical sight: Dust. Barren land. Barbed wire. Razor wire. Military installations. Patrols. Cameras. Machine guns. Warning signs. (You are in Hell). “The new East German government said they wanted people to go freely across borders” (4th July 1990). How the USA government works their borders: ATTTUDE: “Christopher Columbus was our 1st illegal immigrant.” “Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.” “They’ll come in their hoards if we let ‘em.” Therefore: “Queue for a visa.” “1981 – 1987: Only 2 in every 1,000 refugees given asylum in the USA came from outside the Communist bloc or the Middle East. Thus anyone seeking to enter the USA from Cuba or Nicaragua is generally admitted without a screening test; anyone from another Latin American country who has no visa is rejected.” “The ‘Open Door’ policy may be closed. Squatter camps (over 200 squatters camp in one area) are tarnishing California’s golden image. California- a country made rich by immigrants (originally lured

(Note: BLANK space). "Private Disorder = A recipe for Disaster." There seems to be a definite pattern… "MORE BLOODY REVOLUTIONS, THAN HOT DINNERS…" "So many HORROR stories..." "It's dog eat dog, all over." (Ah! Did an evil thing happen?) “As Capitalism spreads around the world…”“There isn’t a government in the world that isn’t corrupt." “ALL COUNTRIES ARE BECOMING MORE ALIKE.” "... it's all going to the dogs." “What do you think of the Management we’ve got now?” “Is anything in its right(ful) place right now?” “... it’s all messed up…” "... it looks further away the more they try..." “Convince the enemy he is wrong, that the solution is long. Let’s not drag it out anymore. What’s done is done.” “POPULATIONS UNDER SEIGE! Do as you want. I can’t stop you. It seems the safest and most exciting occupation is to become a paramedic…” 605

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Indian sub-Continent who are being kept out of Britain. ‘Keeo out illegal immigrants’: The new Act has also led to the tightening of entry requirements. EG. The number refused entry from Jamaica almost tripled in 1989. The number of people deported from Britain also trebled since the Act became law. The 890 deportation notices served in the 1st ¼ of 1989 compared to 290 in the same period in 1988. The new law removes the Right of Appeal against deportation for those who have lived in Britain for less than 7 years. Immigration officials have more powers while MP’s have lost their authority to challenge deportations” (1990) “Foreign nationals wanting to visit Britain can suffer ‘inordinate delays’ getting visas even after winning Appeals against initial immigration refusals, a report said” (April 1990.”) HOW THE UK TREATS Illegal Immigrants: "... pushed onto a plane- dumped 1,000’s of miles from your place of origin. Have to sell last possessions to bribe your way back into your country. Now no money to get back ‘home.’ On the streets, became seriously ill…” OSCAR couldn’t endure ‘life’ hanging out with the crowds on the streets in Mexico. He saved money by not drinking beer with his brothers, and when he had enough money to leave, he arrived in the UK as a tourist, then didn’t want to leave- he became an ‘illegal immigrant’ on the run. He couldn’t get a job without a permit. He had to squat, exist on handouts. He got a job working for a removal companyand a hernia lifting a wardrobe. He couldn’t go to a doctor. He got a job as a kitchen porter- suffered long hours, low pay, disgusting conditions. 3 years later, Socialist workers helped him get medical treatment- and looked after him till he was better. His dream? To study linguistics at University. More than a desire. He fears he’ll die because he’ll never have the opportunity. He was born in the wrong country. He recalls his homehe feels proud of his people- he dances, clicking his heels as if putting out a fire… He’s glad he’s Human. He has no hate or malice. In his spare time he writes poetry in long flowing spirals. Every day he fears being caught, detained, bullied, locked away, then deported. His ticket? A loan he will have to repay. “It is my sadness” said Oscar (1989) (“He’s looking for home because everyone needs a place…”) Immigration Rules: “DESPAIR. She was detained for 5 hours, interrogated, strip-searched, and booked back on a plane- the immigration officer didn’t believe she was here for a holiday. Visitors can be deported simply on the say of (unelected) immigration officers. Visitors from the West Indies have been worse hit. There doesn’t seem to be any reason to these new restrictions. It’s no good asking the Home Office about it- they pass the buck to their immigration officers, who are a law

here by gold mining), is now over-populated. Immigrants now called ‘illegal aliens.’ Many are eeking an existence in makeshift tents & shanty towns, drawn here by the education and healthcare. Residents are angry the ‘illegal’ immigrants are given food and grants for clothing and bedding- that they received Aid for Earthquake victims. Undercurrent of ethnic hostility. Hatred could fuel a future explosion. Benefits for ‘illegals’ cost the State $3 BILLION. There is a dwindling water supply. ‘We have a tremendous immigration problem here- we really should do something about it.’ There are dozens of right-wing groups who want to deport the ‘illegals’ and close the borders. Their ‘answer’: ‘They can go back’ even 3rd generation families, born here). One teacher is campaigning for a reduction in education for ‘illegals’! ‘Reducing education creates an underclass which will work against us’ say’s an opponent. Vicious racist attacks EG. beaten with an iron-pipe, firebombed, property ransacked. Sad victims of backlash- caught by new clamp-down. In ‘bad’ weather many get ill- are denied health-care. The community is up in arms. People hang around the DIY stores looking for a job. ‘Illegal’ labour. ‘They take our jobs. We can’t pay high rents.’ Most work in construction. There is high unemployment. ‘Illegals’ still pouring in. Are smuggled in by notoriously dangerous gangs. Human cargo. Are slaves to the gang till their fee is paid. Subject to torture, to exhort money. Abyssmal conditions aboard ships. Beaten if they dare to ask for more food or water. ‘Illegals’ that are caught are housed in DETENTION centres- in dorms for 80 people, called ‘Pods.’ In limbo, often for months, denied asylum EG. ‘because they didn’t ask for it’ at the airport. Held in cells for punishment. ‘I decided to leave my country because I don’t have freedom of speech and I want to be a teacher’ say’s an inmate. ‘This jail keeps criminals. Crazy. More aggressors’ say’s a resident. Many outstay their visas. Close the borders? Goes against the dream of freedom- the thing America is proud of. But California is not in a multi-cultural mood. ‘Unless we all work together, we are all going to diehate is going to win.’ Most of those deported will come back but the door may soon close behind them” (Assignment BBC2, 3/5/1994) (“Such a shame. You discriminate and say that right is on your side…”) (“Can friendship be measured in gold? You fool…”) “I’m looking for work, the chance of a life…” UK: “If you are Black, they are bound to pick you out…” “CONSERVATIVE LAW FUELS RACISM: The Tories1988 Immigration Act has been used to step up the harassment of Black & Asian communities in Britain. It is not only those from the 606

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PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ACT: The Home Secretary can ban any person entering the UK giving no reasons. Doesn’t stop terrorism, but uses terrorism against people. Rather than be repealed, Act is to be extended. Opposers say there is increased harassment. Police want increased powers of stop and search” (BBC1,

unto themselves” (1990) (“We are SICK of being jerked around…”) “FULL BODY SEARCHES ARE HUMILATING.” “They’ll be de-briefed (diplomats are exempt.”) “Children born here… Mother deported.” “Average WAITING time 27 months for issuing a pass-port to a Commonwealth citizen, already resident in UK. Bureacratic delay is a form of control” (1990) (“You need a large wad of papers just to get a horse across the frontier.”) Re: Asylum: “Conservatives want ‘tighter laws to control economic migrants’…” (re: The Queen’s speech, 3/10/1991) (“David Waddington changed the UK’s immigration rules.”) (“Jews were labelled ‘economic migrants.’ Consequently many died in the shadow of the swastika.”) (“Relax. You were born in the wrong place. You can never leave.”) Terribly desperate people trying to reach the UK risk their lives hiding in container lorries, under the carriages of lorries, inside airplane wheels… “Many people walk 100’s of miles- even across the Sahara desert. Takes over a year. They will climb over barbed wire- anything, they are so desperate to leave Africa. Others use boats. Many don’t make it across. When it’s foggy, the men tell them to jump out of the boat- the shore is only a few 100 yards away- but then they realise they are out of their depth and they drown. How can a heavily pregnant woman swim over a mile? Every day, the wreckage of boats washes onto these shores…” UK’s government’s response: “Make it harder for them…” (“THIS HURTS!”) “THE STRANGLEHOLD”: “We cannot accept mass migration of people in flight” said the Home Office (1/11/1991) (“They want to own you.”) “No Right of Appeal. 1,726 foricible deportations in 1992. Right of Appeal withdrawn from those refused entry into Britain. Labelled ‘bogus refugees.’ Said not to be in danger! Vote 293 for, 243 against” (12/1/1993). “9,000 people held in prisons or detention centres awaiting deportation in 1992. Heavyhanded tactics used. ‘They’re not sympathetic. They don’t want to listen. They want you out, without any hassle’…” (4/8/1993). “You’ll come quietly”: BOUND & GAGGED: Use of 4” wide sticky tape to stop people shouting. Legs bound, sat on… The use of hand-cuffs, restraint belt. JOY GARDENER, age 40, died as a result of suffocation- lack of oxygen to brain. Case fuelling race hate” (August 1993). “6,000 deportations from Britain this year. Most have to stay in detention camps. Racist, BRUTAL policy” (October 1993). “People should have the choice of voluntary repatriation- to go home- where they consider home to be.”

9/11/1993).

“People are being deported at week-ends, on Bank holidays when access to legal resources are not available” (3/12/1993). “I can TASTE THE FEAR and I can SMELL the SORROW…” “Increase in illegal refugees stowing away from Eastern Europe. SO SAD AND AWFUL! 4 people found dead inside a shipping container. A survivor may be repatriated” (15/1/1994). “The Foreign Office’s attitude is very NEGATIVE. They’re sticking their heads in the sand.” “... it’s borderline… I hope you comprehend…” “DESPERATELY SEEKING REFUGE: London is Britain's main port of entry for refugees. RAP was set-up in 1989 to give short-term assistance to asylum seekers, handling 4,000 referrals a year1/3rd of the total who claim asylum on entry to the UK. The RAP office- windowless corridors- an administration complex. A pokey WAITING room, with picture of the Queen on the wall. The HOSTEL where RAP accommodates refugees is confidential (B & B’s housing them have been attacked and a family fire-bombed). These people come from places where they can’t trust anyone in authority- some have had horrific experiencesrape, torture- members of their family shot in front of them... RAP sees to their needs in the 1st week. After that they are on their own. The hostel backs onto a motorway. At Heathrow’s Terminal 2, there is a detention suite run by private security, where refugees are detained without charge… in the interview room, chairs are attached to the floor with a chain. Airlines now face a steep fine for carrying passengers with insufficient documents and so are turfing refugees onto the tarmac before take-off. If their plane stopped to re-fuel they can be ‘bounced-back’ never to be heard of again. Approx. 60% of asylum seekers are held here. Approx. 3,000 are imprisoned nationwide without charge, some for more than 7 months. Some asylum seekers die in prison, some attempt suicide. Unofficial policies: East Europeans are rarely detained. Detention is used to target refugees from countries such as Angola, Algeria and Zaire (the Home Office does not recognise that political persecution takes place in Zaire). Britain is a signatory of the 1951 UN Convention of Refugees and is therefore required by international law

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car at gun-point- suspected criminal- not told anything at arrest. Ignored, shut-up – told ‘we don’t speak English.’ Rushed at very high speed to police station- children very upset. Handcuffed, finger & hand printed for Interpol. Held in isolation behind bars. 24 hours later taken before a Judge. Case of mistaken identity. Judge didn’t believe. A major police investigation. Faulty police evidence. 30 hours after arrest- released. No apology! Still a marked man? Records destroyed? Withheld info. When a long way from home who knows (WHERE or) who you are? One woman accused of terrorism for 10 years. 3am, 3 men armed with machine-guns came into her room. Hands up. Room searched. Taken for interrogation. Body searched, touched… Painful confusion. Another time, a policeman put his gun into back when she was getting into her car. Another time, 6 men came to her flat to arrest her. People are on the move. So is the info. The cost of computer data exchange… World is very mobile. People used to travel, very cheaply. Criminals taking advantage of travel without being checked. To contain international crime- intelligence (raw data) collected- as much info. about people whether correct, valid, or not. Info. can hang around for a very long time. Special Branch came to call. Arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act. House searched. Took videos away. They went through everything. Humiliating. Put in cell, examined, photographed, then interviewed. Do you have any contacts with Northern Ireland? Trouble started when on holiday- crossed border into Spain, gave a lad a lift to Portugal- an alleged terrorist. Only released on bail, but suspended from work till cleared. No explanation! Data Protection Actuninformative. Protecting personal privacy- police can refuse- law enforcement impeded. In interests of ‘National Security’? Some countries, no chance of getting info. rectified. You may commit a crime in future. Discussed behind closed doors. The need for one central agency- a 10 Billion character computer in new building, equipped with very latest IT. Multi-national. Exempted from Data Protection! No obligation to rectify mistakes made! Info. lying around- very personal level. Consequences can be serious. Untrue info. ‘Held in prison, charged with possession of cannabis- sentenced to 2½ years! A dossier of info. held against me! No chance to deny allegations. Snippets, heresy info. Used in court. Painted picture of major drug dealer!’ In wrong place at wrong time. ‘Crack police swung into action- armed police- rifles and guns, pointed a machine-gun at my head. Pushed to ground. No Right to speak! Speak, kicked in the neck. NIGHTMARE. Carted off to station. Pushed around by police. No notion of what was happening. Interogated for 3 hours, then released. My car was supposed to have belonged to a terrorist but I

In theory, should qualify for full refugee status but in practice… A letter of refusal… He shook his head in disbelief and wept. A death sentence! People fleeing from some of the world’s most oppressive regimes must now get a visa… Those who are accepted, who arrive without any money or contacts, are directed towards the DHSS to claim Housing Benefit (for B & B) and Income Support (Welfare). After 6 months, they can apply for a work permit.” “Under the stringent Asylum & Immigration Act 1993, increasing numbers are turned away before being given a chance to lodge their asylum application. The Act has been condemned by the UN Commission for Refugees and 'Amnesty International' as unduly restrictive at the possible cost of Human life” (Evening Standard magazine, 11/2/1994).

“We got to get out of this place…” “We want to put roots down, especially now that the baby is coming but the government’s policy wont allow us to. It’s a terrible thing to be in limbo.” “LIMBO = HELL.” “A very INSECURE feeling = Not knowing.” “They tell me if I get a job I will be committing a criminal offence!” “WAITING for a work permit. It may take years.” “Kept out of sight of you and I… Do you ever wonder why? Do you ever feel ashamed?” “DETENTION CENTRES RUN OUT OF SPACE: Despondent, depressed and desperate. Watched 24 hours a day… Conditions intolerable. Some WAITING 2 years in prison with criminals. Incarserated UNFAIRLY. 80 inmates in one detention centre are still on hunger strike. The government sees no solution to the problem” (BBC1, 23/2/1994) (“This is OBSCENE. How would YOU feel if they made YOU stay in the place where you were born, and refused to allow YOU to work?”) “LOOK at where YOU live NOW…” “They fled here for SAFETY because of the fear of being tortured. Now imprisoned.” “Demonstrations held by Socialist workers who want the detention centres closed. Slogan: ‘Refugees Welcome Here’” (28/4/1994). “…deported with ‘undue haste.’ Protests…” “INMATES RIOTED. Windows and furniture smashed. After a fire inside a large number managed to break out into the yard. 6 detainees escaped / are on the run / managed to scale the perimeter fence. Campsfield house, run by Group 4 (private) security, houses illegal immigrants- has reputation for INHUMANE TREATMENT. Had recently been refurbished- cost £5 million…” (6/6/1994).

“CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE IN DANGER: Borders are coming down all across Europe. Policing the 'new freedoms.’ Police co-operating. Innocent people arrested- computerised info. wrong. Pushed into a 608

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round the world. Exchange…” “Aspirations…” “Let’s make our minds up to be KINDER, clean and tidy. Let’s make all the PAIN go away now.” “NOBODY IS INSIGNIFICANT.” “FREE CHOICE OF TERRITORY = Remain a citizen of the government to which Taxes (a contribution) is paid (made) and for whose officers (managers) he / she votes. He / She may at any time change citizenship, his / her allegiance to another government offering more attractive Tax rates, better pensions, personalities… This is to remove them from the grip of governments who are not diffusing power but the citizens themselves. This would avoid putting a large number of citizens in jail, and war would be administratively impossible. If implemented on a worldwide scale it could reverse the traditional polarity, making governments fearfully dependant upon the favour of their citizenary” (Ref: Book, Systemantics, by Jogn Gall,

bought the car quite legally from a dealer.’ Massive amounts of worthless data. ‘Accused of being a terrorist sympathiser because I had been on a youth hostel holiday in Ireland! Now listed as an IRA supporter!’ Shocked. Anyone can become a suspect. Labelled ‘a political activist.’ Info. sent to all secret services. People arrested on demo, for squatting, for parking their car! Info. held on worker’s Parties, about people who write things on walls. To maintain the security of the forces. Night vision systems- technology racing ahead. UNACCOUNTABLE! This is the ‘new free’ Europe! Don’t go on holiday. Don’t look like anyone else. Or have a name like anyone else. Don’t know any acquaintances who might be doing something they don’t like. You never know who might be listening. Is this a Big Brother State?” (Channel 4, 28/10/1992).

“A fundamental principle of the EEC is the Right to live and work in any of the EU countries.” “A borderless Europe?” “BARRIERS ARE GOING UP to stop the inter-change of people. Going to be WORSE than during the war. Living conditions… Locking people into one place is TOTALLY WRONG.” “Central computer system, ‘WANTED’ posters at all borders, and a ‘hot pursuit’ system is needed to stop terrorists” (15/6/1990) (BIN LADEN said: “They got computers but they still know nothing about me…”) “The EC has opened a discussion many would rather hide behind doors. There are approx. 9 million refugees. The EC hope for better conditions for them EG. freedom to travel, but this has been blocked by Germany. Many refugees arrive in containers in Antwerp, Belgium hoping to find a better life. 1 in 20 is allowed to stay. Deciding who can stay involves racism” (16/2/1994) “Rounding up s on the border…” “Politicians co-operate with the interests of high finance.”(“You buy and sell people- make money out of their suffering, you took money and jewels off refugees- then told the military. Evil.”) Switzerland: “Hailed as a modern ‘Democracy.’ One of the world’s richest countries. Actually has a secret police holding files on citizens. State surveillance. 30,000 people protested. Public outrage. 100,000 demanded immediate access (to their files). State control. State snooping. Slowly this country is becoming a nightmare. We want brother set against brother, sister against brother?” (July 1990). UNKIND: “The frontiers are my prison.” THE DREAM: “RELEASE ME! THERE MUST BE SOMETHING BETTER!” “Finding Heaven would help.” There’s no Borderline.” “We want the abolition of all State borders.” “Liberation.” “Decentralisation.” “THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE…” “We want enrichment of cultures

1977).

(“… it is YOUR BIRTH-RIGHT.”) “... it’s the one we’re waiting for. It’s the best way to relieve over-crowding. How uplifting to have it integrated into our lives. Talk about it. Don’t put your head in the sand in the hope it’ll go away…” COSMOPOLITAN = Multi-national. “I am Neutral.” “I was born a creature belonging to the Universe. My home? The Planet - Earth.” (“That I was free in my mind- lit my mind! I suddenly knew as though I were discovering for the 1st time the source of freedom is the HUMAN SPIRIT. I had lived away from it. Afterwards, I experienced an emotion of well-being so intense I have lived off it ever since. I came to believe life is Holy. I then became a man of principle.” “Lord, I’m going to make it happen. Look at the world in a loving way. Take the world in a loving embrace…” “WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS IS LOVE!” “ENTITLEMENTS: Cultural minorities- slightly neurotic. Some quite happy. Others at each other’s throats for Centuries. They don’t want to know about borders being taken down. Different languages, songs… They are not mixed. And they do care about the significance of culture…” “Some people don’t want to change. They are very proud of who they are.” (“... it’s something of a cultural exchange…”) “Different races don’t mix. They never get on. There are too many differences” ? (“… it’s the same in anyone’s language.”) “PEOPLE ALL ROUND THE WORLD ARE THE SAME” said John Lennon. “Try to see it my way. Do I have to keep on talking till I can’t go on? We could get it wrong and still think it’s alright. Only time will tell… We might fall apart before too long. We can work it out…” 609

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“Labour have suggested there should be an amnesty for illegal immigrants who have more than 2 British born children and who are selfsufficient…” “The EC want to remove passport controls at borders within 15 member States. But J. Major is resisting. ‘Britain will keep their fair immigration policy.’ New Asylum law introduced in Britain. Right to a 2nd Appeal will be withdrawn. Britain has a backlog of 56,000 asylum seekers. ‘We need a common foreign security policy’ said Jacques Santer (to stop a flood of immigrants) (15/2/1995). “We have waste and disintegration- not good for helping immigrants.” “A woman due to be deported by the Home office hung herself and her child” (2/3/1995). “… Migrants viewed as invading armies. In future their boats may be blown up. They may be shot, to be made an example of- to stop others coming… We need to keep the chaotic world at bay. In a sizeable part of the globe order is breaking down. So many local gangs… ‘religious freaks,’ crazies… The need for citizens to defend themselves… the danger is that you join them…” (Panorama, BBc1,

“Omnia Vincit Amour” said Virgil. (Love Conquers

All). RACISTS: “I can’t see what it is they despise.” “I don’t see a colour. All I see is a HUMAN BEING.” “Do you have a dream that you share?” “Do you dream in colour?” “GENERALISED PREJUDICE. UNREASONABLE opinion reached on inadequate evidence; biased, harmful, detrimental. Blindness. Bigotry.”

(What has a person’s skin colour got to do with it??) Here’s one word Enoch Powell never used: RESPECT. “Do it with respect.” "I LAUGH, I LOVE, I HOPE, I TRY, I HURT, I NEED, I FEAR, I CRY, I KNOW YOU DO... THE SAME THINGS TOO... SO WE'RE NOT THAT DIFFERENT, ME AND YOU." “The ‘alternative’ if you don’t want it, could be a raging war across Europe…” “OF MIXED BLOOD: Ethnic ‘mongrels’ have a lack of identity- they are mixed. They do not identify with one popular culture. They are a minority.” “These people are important. They are not tied to either side. And can help each side to establish links…” “He’s 3/8th Pakistani, 1/3rd Chinese…” “I don’t mind gypsies, Asians, blacks, whites… but I do resent the State interfering with our peace…” “Do you want us to sound like lounge-lizards or birds, set free to fly?” “He came from camps, war. Unknown. Illegal. He’s dead.” (“... it means the difference between life and death for millions of people.”) ADVERT: “... it’s your pass-port to a bright new future.” ZAIRE: “The government broke up a proDemocracy march. Pro-Democracy supporters imprisoned. UK government admits situation there is ‘uncomfortable’ but is still sending refugees seeking asylum back there” (BBC1, 26/7/1994). “CRAMMED IN: A CALL to end indefinite locking-up of refugees held in prisons and detention centres. Campaigners have launched a Charter of Rights. EG. Asylum seekers should have access to medical treatment and legal advice. The Home Office has ruled out any changes. A change in immigration policy is needed” (UK, BBC1, 29/9/1994). “Engineers have demolished Camborne house (where RAP based?), a 2-storey block at Heathrow which partly collapsed after a landslip during tunnelling on new airport link” (Evening Standard,

20/3/1995).

“The government intends to make a crack down on illegal immigrants the centrepiece of the Queen’s speech” (24/3/1995). “Britain has refused to join 'The Freedom of Movement' agreement within Europe. Queues at pass-port controls, rubber stamps etc will continue…” (24/3/1995) “INTEGRATION will take a long time…” “Other countries then followed with severe restrictions…” “Britain fears a flood of criminals, drug pushers, illegal immigrants once doors are open to anyone who has been checked at point of departure...” (“Point is, IF Britain removed the causes for these activities…”) “Crack down on illegal immigrants seeking hospital treatment…” (UK, 18/7/1995). “... OUR FREE-RANGE days could soon be over…” (1998). Illegal immigrants = “Are People we’ve been programmed to despise.” USA: “10 MILLION 'illegal aliens.'” “When you arrive in the USA you feel uneasy. Immigration is about 40 years behind the times…” “There is a ground swell in the UK. Nobody should be allowed into the UK- only millionaires” (said the winner of a TV competition called ‘Vote for Me’).

“Conservatives, if Elected, want a new border police force to curb immigrants…” (29/3/2005). Pre-Election DEBATE: Conservative: M. HOWARD said: “IMMIGRATION to UK is at RECORD levels. 160,000 (3% of the world’s) refugees settle in the UK every year. The result of deteriorating 3rd World nations. 17 million economic migrants… 13% go to the Western

2/11/1994).

“Increasing number of deportations causing a climate of fear” (October 1994). (There would be far fewer asylum seekers when Britain & America help other countries to provide AFFORDABLE HOUSING…) (“...it would ease pressures on ever worrying minds…”) 610

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A woman said: “140 states are signed up to it. Your policies sound very anti-Human Rights…” A man said: “I am an asylum seeker and I’m telling you, you are treating asylum seekers like dirt. You don’t know what it feels like. I think you are very evil” (comment made to M. Howard), (Question Time,

world. Poorest countries are taking in the greatest number. Conservatives will introduce new barriers to asylum seekers i.e. detention centres outside the UK. Cost to run one of the centres is £2 BILLION. Only genuine refugees fleeing torture will be allowed in.” (How does Mr. Howard define torture?) “The Conservatives will limit the number accepted.” Labour: Tony Blair said: “ID cards are the answer to dealing with immigration. 2,000 people a month are claiming asylum (was 8,000 under the Conservatives). Backlog of claims 10,000 (was 60,000…) Labour will introduce a points system to deal with economic migrants, will remove Appeals…” Host: Jeremy Paxman said: “Shouldn’t you have done a bit more homework on this critical matter? The number of economic migrants you will allow in is?” Tony Blair replied: “Don’t know.” EXPERT: “Their plan is racist and will keep immigration levels high and will encourage smugglers. A permit, point system is neither new or radical” (Newsnight, BBC2, April 2005). Pre-Election DEBATE: M. Howard said: “At the moment we have a system that is desperately unfair and inhumane… so we have to break the link… and put asylum seekers in overseas processing centres- same as Labour’s plan. Labour hasn’t done this but we will… withdrawing from the 1951 UN Convention for Refugees… No other country has done that. The Convention is out of date. This will limit it. This will get a grip on security & ease housing. There have to be limits & controls… If my criticisms offend people, that’s tough…” PROTESTS: “His utter hypocrisy! If the system had not allowed his parents in, he wouldn’t be here…” “I feel sad politicians are not listening to us. They are not doing what we want them to do. We are all victims in one way or another and we need them to put it right.” “Labour accused Conservatives of exploiting people’s fears over asylum…” Tony Blair said: “It’s not about racism. It is about fair… for hardworking Tax-payers. We are listening and we do get it. It is an attempt to exploit people’s fears out of political desperation… Cultural diversity was a reflection of its strength. We are a tolerant and decent nation and tolerance should not be abused nor should it be turned on its head.” “Liberal Democrats want a proper controlled immigration policy. ‘Set up an independent review and base a fair and proper system on that’ said Charles Kennedy. Commentator: “They are saying ‘cool it’...” (22/4/2005). DEBATE: M. Howard said: “We need tighter controls to limit people traffickers. The Geneva Convention is out of date and we would pull out of it.” He added the number of immigrants allowed in would be restricted to people “whose skills are needed.”

BBC1, 28/4/2005).

“The British National Party (the BNP) said: “No illegal asylum seekers should be allowed in Britain” (29/4/2005) (the other Parties refused to allow the BNP to join in their discussion) “The BNP may be banned” (August 2005). “Many immigrant workers are doctors, dentists, nurses…” “Immigrants are working hard to support our economy and we need them.” “A ‘Hands Across The World’ attitude works best.” (“...I see friends holding hands, saying ‘how do you do? Ah! What a wonderful world…”) “REFUSED ASYLUM SEEKERS: NEW ‘GET TOUGH’ MEASURES: Will now be told ‘Go Back or Benefits will be cut.’ They will be supported till they go back- or, no support. When destitute, Social Services will become responsible! Their children will be taken into care and become the responsibility of the Local Authority. INHUMANE decision by the Home Office. Families split up. No legal entitlement to be a family together! This is a very strange, IMMORAL definition of care” (Channel 4, 4/8/2005) ( “You’re not thinking! Get it Right.”) “…Children being held in immigration removal centres are being damaged by their imprisonment…” (Daily Mirror, 27/7/2005). UK: "Council Taxes will have to rise due to the strain on Local Authorities put on by immigrants..." (8/8/2006).

“Multi-Culturism doesn’t work. In many places, battle-lines are being drawn up…” (Ah! “Obviously some groups have failed to integrate properly…”) (UK, 24/8/2006).

“… established British families should be given priority for social housing over legal immigrants…” said the Labour government (20/5/2007). THE ENVIRONMENT: “What a glorious place God made for us!” FRAGILE EARTH: “The AGE of the EARTH is estimated to be 4.5 BILLION years OLD…” “Do you want to continue living on Planet Earth?” “We all need a home…” "If I forget thee, oh Earth..." “Home. There’s no place like it…” “300 years ago, the industrial revolution began and started the war against the Earth…” “The old industrial system is wrong…” “Is the destruction of the Earth a good thing, or not?” TIME BOMB: “CHAOS and bedlam are engulfing the world.” "Overall deteriorating pattern..." “The 611

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world is going into decline…” “Now we’re paying the price!”“What can we do?" "Get into bed with industry? Let them hijack it?" "We've got to steer them in the right direction. We can boot them where it hurts..." "The story of 'Mankind': The world is dying... to get better." "I can't tell how close we've got to the end of the world. We must give back and not only take." "SAVE THE WORLD!" 1960’s: “THE NATURAL WORLD IS DYING. E. Goldsmith’s campaign to end Global destruction: His conviction. Simple is best. He went to a small farming community… He went to India and Shri Lanka looking for a new social model. The alternative way I saw the world? Self-governing Villages.’ He started an ecology magazine. ‘We explained our policies hoping things would change. We created a Blueprint for a more sustainable way of life.’ After 6 months, millions of copies later… 3 million signatures backing demands… it took 25 YEARS to get this matter put on the UN’s agenda. Extraordinary meeting- Global Environmental Emergency. He asked to see the Secretary. ‘Too busy- other concerns.’ What could be more pressing? We need a new society that respects and provides a more fulfilling way of life. A decent Environment for all men- not a better world for poor men- is our aim. His preoccupationscientific knowledge. (In Britain, this gave birth to The People Party, now called The Green Party). The technology that put man on the Moon seems incapable of solving world problems EG. starvation. Sacrificing land to maximise profits has been devastating. Millions of farmers forced into debt… have to go to cities… Development refugees. Soon the bulk of Humanity will occupy slums. The Human garbage dump…” (documentary,

“Nature achieves perfection...” "Once again, we are drowning in problems." (“Let’s take it one step at a time…”) "We could pretend. Let it drift by. Then find we've missed our chance... The time might never come again..." 1972: “Greenpeace emerged, risking their lives…” “When the Earth is sick... there will come a tribe of people from all creeds, colours and cultures, who believe in (good) deeds, not words and who will restore the Earth to its former beauty. This tribe will be called 'The Warriors of the RAINBOW. GREENPEACE hopes its embodiment of ancient Red-Indian legends, carrying out peaceful direct actions throughout the world, will stop Environmental abuse and reverse the slide to Eco-suicide..." “It’s a man’s world…” “Man has made a rubbish out of a Paradise… Man has ransacked the Planet for fuels and now man stands, like a brutish infant, gloating over his meteoric rise… on the brink of a war to end all wars and of effectively destroying this oasis of life in the (barren?) solar system. The countdown to destruction has begun…” 1989: “The Ecology crisis is proof of the urgent MORAL need for a new solidarity... but no plan or organisation will effect changes unless all the nations are really convinced of the need for cooperation." "... our delicate Ecological equilibrium is being disturbed... by careless use of resources" (Greenpeace, September). “MAN IS IN TROUBLE. In the 1960’s, the Civil Rights marches. Enormous activism. 25 MILLION people took to the streets protesting progress was moving in the wrong direction. Pollution main platform. (Now) 40% of families own more than 2 cars. 86 million cars on the roads… To be an Environmentalist in those days was ‘wacky.’ The insults flung at us! Nuclear power under scrutinythe economic issues. 20 YEARS LATER… What a legacy to leave us! EARTH WATCHERS say we are now at a cross-roads. The Rain Forests are our lungs. $1 TRILLION spent on weapons. Can this money be saved? Spent on helping people to LIVE? Aim: Change the way we are treating the world. Everything is in our control. When those people in power go away – we’ll have the chance. 87% of Rainforests gone now. We are destroying the Eco-system bit by bit. We’ve got to protect these areas. We’ve got to make it work now. We’ve got to win. It’s a wonderful, wonderful world” (1990). “GROW TREES!” “Are you with me?” “We can reverse the process… We can repair some of the damage done…” “ONE GOAL, ONE VOICE, ONE TRUTH, ONE WORLD… “ "... it’s the Key to our survival…” “We’re going to make the world a better place. The party has only just begun. The

ITV, 1991).

“GREENS TOLD TO OVER-HAUL PARTY: The Green Party was urged to overhaul it’s organisation and become more professional. Mr. David Icke demanded a radical shake-up to sharpen the Green’s approach to politics and convince people of their vision. ‘We must not allow that vision, human decency and common-sense to go to waste for want of sharpening up our organisation.’ He criticised the existing structure…” (UK, 1990). “MAN IS CONTROLLER OF THE UNIVERSE? Is man’s ‘design’ really superior to God’s? In this meaningless world pleasure is derived from violence. Man only responds to problems to make profit. Man’s way of life is a disaster. We need a less destructive way of life” (said E. Goldsmith) (Strange how the beauty of the natural world makes us breathe deeper but stress caused by man’s system makes us (want to) stop breathing!) “For a world that has lost its meaning…” “What do you want? Perfection?” (“Yes.”) 612

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malnutrition. Man is the problem but he is also the solution…” “QUALITY MANAGEMENT = Excellence, doing a job well, satisfactorily, perfectly.” “Just a purified country, Mr. Executive, is that so wrong? 1993: “EMERGENCY ON PLANET EARTH. An increasingly volatile world. Global Crisis…” “Can you do without it?” "God knows, we love this world" ? ARMAGEDDON: "Future scenes of disastrous conflict." "The rebellion of the EARTH..." "The Mountains came crashing down, the EARTH gave a mighty roar like a beast … The last time I won a world, I made it into a moon..." EG. “IT’S A GLOBAL GEO-PHYSICAL EVENT: America’s favourite national park, Yellowstone, is sitting on top of a super volcano with the power to kill us all… The ash… Last super-eruption was 70,000 years ago. It could happen again anytime…” “There is a Justice higher than that of man, and we shall be judged by that.” JOKE: "EARTH! THIS IS GOD! I want to tell you people to clear out before the end of the month, because I have another client who's interested in the property…" “I love the world…” "... it is real. It is real. It matters. It's too serious a matter to leave to the politicians." “Can we do it the way institutions work, politicians? Should we leave it now? No. We are going to put this technology into process. It’s going to hurt a lot of people (!?) but I’m afraid we’ve got to do it (!?) The people have to get going. Deal with masterly inaction. Do we by-pass governments with Supernational Organisation? No. Better in co-operation. If you don’t know how to run a country- civil war. The public are crucial. They must push. Killing millions of people would be very harsh. Using the Tax incentive isn’t working. Pollution is still there. Energy not renewable. Pool sovereignty. Central pool now for technology exchange. A Community level trust fund for Research & Development. Very real problems- devastating, frightening. If the 3rd World don’t co-operate, we can’t save the world” (Nature, BBC2, 4/3/1990). “It counts HOW we make it work…” "It is time to stop the damage. There is still time..." “It is TIME for ACTION!” “Don’t YOU see? It’d be perfect!” “Strong words. The mind is willing, but the bodies are weak…” “Where on Earth are we going? (Mrs Thatcher’s policies…) Government’s have abandoned ethics of Christianity. Time is going to run out on us! Greens bring ethics and morality back. Our crystal ball is muddy. Have we got enough time to implement change? Changes are pretty radical. Forces out there really powerful. I believe we can escape this trap. So many needs to be met! We need a fresh injection of energy. If we fail, in 10 –

good guys believe in innocent love- sighteverything.” “Some want to slow this down. Some do not believe this can be slowed down…” (“Their dark side, dealing with death is the nature of the beast.”) “The ‘great’ nations act as gangsters and the small nations as prostitutes.”“… they have not got rid of the bureaucracy that is slowing it down” (8/9/1990) ("I guess it all depends on how much you want it done.") (“One day, you’ll learn how to apply Natural Energy… it’s called a LifeSaver. Make it your destiny…”) “And what did society do whilst all this was going on? Play trivial pursuit parties! Thinking: ‘What can I do about it on my own?’ Most people believe: ‘There’s nothing I can do about it.’ That’s so sad.” ("What can you do about it?” "Don't put it off.") “They are not listening. They’re still not listening. It’s nearly the end of our world and nothing has been done to avert this! The air unbreathable- pollution- a thick blanket. Ozone layer destroyed. No protection from radiation. The Planet Earth became uninhabitable…” PEOPLE SAID: “It’s getting late…” “Is it the end of our world?” “It’s almost too late!” “It’s never too late.” “It’s not over yet!” “Play it cool.” “Do we have to wait till hell freezes over?” “Are they going to wait till we can’t breathe?” “How bad does it have to get before people will do something about it? Will it be too late then?” “... it will help keep our heads above water…” “... it will change the Earth tomorrow…” “Today would be nicer!” (“You will see it come to fruition, I hope…”) “The joy of life is achieving things you need / want to do. You dance when you’re happy.” "How to persuade people Peace has long and short term benefits?" "Millions are involved in destruction, to make a ‘living,’ or a killing... They think Peace will make them suffer!" "Friends of the Earth calling out to every mind... " “The Green Party is raising consciousness, along with social organisations, authors etc., but nothing is moving governments… Green speeches prior to Elections. Once people become concerned, action is taken? Look at the smog… The Clean Air of 1951. No, we only exported smog by building higher chimneys. None of the political institutions today are really addressing problems… It’s in the politician’s interests to do this for us. Institutions must bring this about…” “LEAVE it to the EXPERTS?” “It’s a UNIVERSAL PAIN.” “Data gathered for many years. Every indicator confirms systems underpinning economies affects Environmental degradation. Our economy is degrading. Pollution, 613

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15 years we could all lose. Lots of people dying now because their Environment can’t support them. If it doesn’t happen, there wont be any 3rd World left. So profound is this crisis in the Human world. Is concern growing enough to stop us being taken over by this forthcoming, huge crisis?” (BBC,

“Now we live so separated, disconnected from nature…” “When we’ve ALL begun to see the world we’re on, to see the state we’re in…” “I think it could actually change the world for the better.” "Oh help thy children when they call, that they may build from age to age, an undefiled heritage"

6/8/1990).

(said Rudyard Kipling).

“SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS…” “Deserts are expanding across the world…” “It’s a dead, big world. That’s where it’s at…” “Will it really make any difference?” “Ecological disaster widely predicted.” “Nothing’s right cos it’s so wrong.” “Time to say enough is enough…” (“Learn it fast and learn it well…”) “Individual action is needed to save the planet.” “We had everything. Clear blue skies, fresh blue Oceans, green land. We’ve so nearly ruined everything. Why? When are we going to stop this madness, and tidy up?” "We are heading for Environmental Armageddon… We are on the verge of a huge world-wide calamity: Global Warming, acid rain (withering leaves on trees), the gradual erosion of the Ozone layer (no protection from radiation), destruction of Forests, soil erosion, mass extinction of plants and animals, Sea pollution, un-breathable Air, over consumption of energy (the combustion of fossil fuels) (the gas produced from fossil fuels), industrial waste (and the spread of harmful industry), the use of harmful fertilisers and pesticides, polluted rivers, poisoned food... the damage to the Atmosphere and the Environment has reached critical dimensions... " Science Minister: "It's true! We should support it." “It’s not worth it.” Uh? (“... it’ll be worth it in the end.”) “We 'care' about the world but we really care more about the money. How much longer can this go on? How much longer can the Earth Endure?” “Situation deteriorating!” “Message of the Year: NOW is the time to make YOUR decision.” “It is not enough to have theories, debates, seminars. There’s a simple answer to everything…” “If we were part of the debate- who knows? It might get going…” (We now have the knowledge and the ability to create what man has dreamed of since man lived in caves… Don’t throw this opportunity away!) “Man has cried a billion tears for what he never knew. In the year 2025, IF man is still alive, IF woman can survive, he might find…” “The world is filled with sad, ageing Hippies…” “The majority of people have sold out…” (“Oh, give me a sign…”)

"Will our Grand-Children Have Anything? We are now squandering resources as if there is no tomorrow. By 2030, we will have blown their inheritance. How will we get our energy, our fuelbread? How to save the world? The World Watch report: Looks at how the world will be in 40 years time. Aim: Viable Economic Stability. We’ve got to get trends turned around. Our decline spiral is totally unmanageable. Human activity is the problem. We are trying to squeeze more and more out. Fresh water is in short supply- the amount available per person… Brazil wants land to grow food. Rainforest in Brazil could be gone in 20 years! Damage to Ozone a new major disaster. ..” “They’re talking - hoping this will save the planet.” WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: “We aim to put as much pressure on the government as possible. People all over the world are asking the industrialised world to reduce pollution- they really want this to happen” (5/6/1990). EXPERT: Re: THE FUTURE: “ENVIRONMENTAL REFUGEES. When people from the north, come south- to where the food is- will we have to shoot them? Presently 2/3rd of acre of land per person, going to be ½ an acre. What we feed the soil… Grain crops are mainly eaten by animals. In future, grain will have to be for people. Food only for the rich? Livestock will have to be reduced. Protein will come from fish farming; increasing 5fold. Soil erosion- selling soil… We will need new natural systems… Land Stewardship. Brazil now has 90% Sustainable Energy. Solar will play a big part. Wind-farms will be big business. Deserts will be used for solar power- exportedcost 2/3rd of Nuclear price. Many countries are now using renewable energy, BUT NOT BRITAIN! You’re talking about wind power covering most of our coast-lines! Surely that’s not feasible? Our cities are not sustainable. By 2030, best if people worked from home. The Electronic Cottage. Some cities by then will have 25 million population. Sewage will have to be saved, and used. Water will have to be re-used. Distribution of food- we now have just enough to feed the world but in future that could mean going without butter, cheese, eggs. New crops = We have to hope science & technology will help. None of these new crops of wheat do the job. Industry: Energydrive comes from different sources. The ThrowAway Society: non-essentials* will be avoided, reusing, recycling- last resort, burn to extract 614

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energy, dump. Energy forever. 2/3rd cut in use of energy. Present pollution from power stations too expensive, too dangerous. Sub-ways will experience revivals. Train & bus will be the main transport. 10% growth in bicycles. How to heat bath water using solar? The solar light bulb- smaller yet 7-times more powerful- more life- so much science applied- perfect. Insulation standards will be so high. Can be achieved with current technology. People will reject the consumer society- will reject too many possessions. Yes, the problems are this serious. The crunch will fall on the next generation. Destroying belief in Humanity...” (*Governments don't define 'luxuries' or 'essentials' accurately!) (Heat water using solar + microwave technology?) “TOGETHER, SAVE THE WORLD: … responsible politicians are worried… An Ecological Conscience is being formed… If man is not at peace with the Earth, the Earth itself is not at peace… the Earth is in mourning- and those who inhabit the Earth languish… in some cases the damage is irreversible… in many areas there is still time to repair the damage… It is therefore necessary that the entire Human communityindividuals, States and international organisations seriously assume responsibilities. The most profound moral question behind the Environmental crisis concerns the lack of respect for life... The organisation through which action must be carried out is still inadequate… but no plan or organisation will be able to effect changes unless all the nations of the world are really convinced of the need for this new cooperation… … uncontrolled deforestation… damage to the Atmosphere and the Environment. The effects are a danger to health and may lead in future to destruction through flooding” (said Pope John Paul 11) (New Year’s day, 1990). (“I sometimes think no-one can remember what it is…” “Oh, it’s enough to lead the Pope to drink…”) “CARS, or THE PLANET?” “DO WE HAVE THE GRACE to begin the race, do we stand the pace, or do we let the case go to waste?” “DREAM OF THAT NEW WORLD. THEN MAKE it.” "The Crusades were a good way of making money..." ("Oh, when the Saints, go marching in...") (“There’s just one little thing we’ve got to make come true...” “... it’s the Answer.”) “The future is optional. It may not be so bleak…” “How to make America Greener?” “We can’t carry on doing nothing, or we will be in serious trouble.” “If everyone was less materialistic- giving it a chance, this would really save the planet.” “Governments have the choice to stop Environmental degradation.”

“Will we be in office when the effects of our policies are shown to be wrong? No. Then why should we care?” “Later we’ll do something about pollution. Later, we’ll do something about the population explosion. Later, we’ll do something about Nuclear war…” (“Soon, someone has to care before it is too late!”) "... it’s on my to do list…” “... it’s not in my hands to stop the destruction” say’s the President of the USA. (“Have you no spirit man? Are you thick?”) (JOKE: “HE’S A PLANK.” “He’s a nice guy trying to save the planet whilst living on another one.”) “... It’s in all our hands, Mr. President. The force destroying the Earth is already here- not come from outer space- but man. Committee’s will do nothing. ALL WORLD LEADERS must make it their number 1 priority. Come together, put away petty hates, join for the good of the common man. We’ve only got such a short time. If we don’t there wont be any generations to come. Do something now. The pollution of water, nuclear waste, the destruction of forests, Ozone…” “THE GOVERNMENT’S GREED IS DESTROYING THIS PLANET FAST! Our ‘freedoms’ are disappearing- fast!” “… recognise the world is controlled by the forcing of governmental, military and industrial greed for wealth and power…” Q: "Anxious question is: What remedy can we find to restore the damage done?" A: “Recycle! Buy (?) Environmentally safe products.” “Aim for a Green economy, clean technology that provides for the people.” “Wouldn’t YOU like to see Green homes?” “If it catches on, it would clear the air for everyone.” The Green Party said: “We need to prevent disease. We need to find a peaceful way” (the public laughed- sceptically, in opposition?) (Question Time, BBC1, 20/9/1991).

SLOGAN: “Protect and Survive” (September 1991). Q: “What can we do to achieve a free market economy?” A: "We need a Super National Agreement. One world, one community." "We dream the same dream. We want the same thing. Then the valleys can bloom again." “We’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden, to where there are songs, butterflies.” “Imagine: A Universal Garden of beauty.“... it’s Heavenly.” “Let’s make Planet Earth really beautiful.” “... it will help make an ideal world.” “... it’s the plain truth.” “... it’s our last chance.” “Grow it. Eat it. WAKE UP to it.” “The garden is the lost Paradise. Bring the garden to the city. Add colour, texture, character, new emotion. Smell the qualities, the volume of established plants. Be satisfied. Find your own happiness” (said Robert B. Marx ‘the world’s 615

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“Pick plants for it.” “It’ll make the world a nicer place to live in.” “We can grow together.” “... it’ll make a world of difference!” “... it would suit the country-side and keep the inner-cities in fashion.” “Wait till you see it next to the cherries on the tree…” (a song). “... it’s a better view.” “I hope you have a fruitful stay.” “Here, you can gather all you want to. No-one will stop you.” “Fruit fields forever!” “... it keeps cropping up…” “... it’s second nature to you. It can’t be bad.”“... it would be appealing doing every little thing to spread joy.” "... it’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine..." “We will never reach the Sun without trying…” “Do YOU want the best- as natural as the tides in the Sea? Then make it work.” “... it’s an Environmental issue…” “Why not contact the Dept. of the Environment and campaign to make them make it today?” “In my opinion, it’s all moonbeams and fairy-tales…” PREDICTED: “Growth will be gradual. Too gradual” (1992). “The Green Party were accused of having a nogrowth policy” (UK,1992). “A new report confirmed children are affected by the Environment…” duh “... it will encourage youngsters to take interest in their Environment. It’ll help them learn, give them something to do.” “... it’s a healthier lifestyle. Encourages people to get out and about, think about their Environment, makes them want to contribute…” “The country’s leading Environmental laboratory is to close with the loss of 150 scientist’s jobs. The decision by Michael Heseltine, Conservative Trade & Industry Secretary, comes on the heels of a £25 million sale of the laboratory at Warren Springs, Herts., which provided data on factory emissions, acid rain, recycling, land contamination and industrial waste. Heseltine announced he was considering the future of 4 other labs: Government Chemist, National Physical, National Weights & Measures and National Engineering” (The Guardian, 12/5/1993). “We need to ensure a CLEAN, SAFE Environment by the 21st Century” (BBC2, 5/6/1993). "What difference does it make?" "Let me run it past you just once again -

been designed by a new group of Environmental ‘militants’ for ‘attacks’ against construction giants and other big businesses. The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) (and Earth First!) activists are also making DIY radio jammers to foil the police… a leaked note, spells out how to sabotage road developments, super-stores and other sites… causing £millions of damage…. Firms using wood pulp said to have come from Rain-Forests and big timber importers have been targeted… ‘The activists are becoming more aggressive’ an expert said. The new militants are described as middleclass and well educated. They embody many young people’s deep frustration over world government’s Environmental policies and the apparent impotence of pressure groups. Earth First! until now were the most extreme Green group, with ideas that include civil disobedience and sabotage. Earth First! said: ‘We would not go along with bombs or anything that puts lives in danger, but the law protects the very people and institutions which are destroying the planet. So once you don’t recognise those laws any more, you are a lot freer in your actions’…” (Evening Standard,

greatest landscape gardener / artist).

20/7/1993).

“1/3rd of all the Earth’s resources have been consumed during the last 30 years. Only 50 years of resources left” (October, 1998). “When time is running out for everyone, we’ll wish that new day had begun…” “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HELP SAVE THE WORLD? If you want to change things, then campaign and protest- and do not rest until your voice is heard. If you do nothing, then you are a silent part of the evil which is corrupting and destroying our world. What have you done to fight cruelty and injustice? More important, what do you plan to do in future?” (Sunday People, 1/2/1998). “How sad the indigenous people of the Earth are being replaced! They respected the world, they recycled, They didn’t destroy the Environment. We should learn from this...” “THE NATURAL SOLUTION: It is obvious to everyone, except perhaps those in government, that the millions of unemployed are not simply going to go away. We need to seriously to examine other ways to provide a good life to families society is discarding. We could try an experiment. I suggest we try and harness nature to people’s needs. There is a (tumble-down) village in Dyfed, Wales, which has been largely self-sufficient for more than a decade. Modern amenities EG. TV and lighting are powered by wind & water, the organic farming produces little pollution. Villages could be re-populated. Village schools could once again provide high standards of education. We have Environmentally conscious unemployed people, we have set aside land. The government is much too busy closing hospitals and building

it's going to SAVE THE WORLD. Now it's in your head, it's in your hands." “You’ve just got to have the courage to do it.” “You can’t go home without it.” “God, give us time to work it out.” “If you ask me, they saw it coming and proceeded as if nothing had changed- so they deserve whatever happens to them.” “FIREBOMB GROUPS SET TO ATTACK BUSINESSES: Incendiary bombs made from ‘green materials’ EG. used Ecover bottles, have 616

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coming… Exotic military virus could get loose. A terrifying prospect. All over the world anti-biotic resistance is surfacing in almost cataclysmic proportions. We have strains of disease that are incurable. There is grave danger we will be back to an era in 6 – 10 years where once again we have primary killer diseases. Disease is a symptom of an uncertain world- chaos. Are we at the end of the ‘modern’ world? There are secret, mysterious organisers at work- a linking principle in the universe. We are entering a dangerous era. Is this really the world we are destined to live in? Do we really want to go back to that sort of Age? Maybe it could bring the freedom to choose, or maybe we will have no future at all?” (Back to The Future, BBC2, 28/11/1994). "... Think of the technology for personal computers, phones... Did they not become smaller, easier, cheaper, flourishing?" (Re: The Future of Mobiles, 10/8/2006) “Just get it right before this place falls apart.” “If it’s the last thing I ever do…” (“... it will hopefully, all work out.”) “The Ion-sphere has dropped 8 miles towards Earth… because of THE LACK OF OXYGEN... Caused By: Deforestation and amount of fuel emissions?” (see: Ions) WAH! “WE CAN’T WAIT ANOTHER 100 YEARS WHILST THEY…” WAH! “The world’s coming to an end and noone’s doing anything about it!” “WAKE the President! In less than one day of talking…” "Is this what YOU want? Year 2015. We're still sweating it out. Hell, what do I know? Suppose it looks like we're not going to make it?" "The world has died, Mr. President. Enjoy your Christmas tree. You got what you wanted, Mr President." PREDICTED: “The next 15 years could see lively People Power protests” (March 2005) (“Nuts. To survive we need safe shelter. Got it?”) “At the end of the world, politicians will say: ‘May God be with you all’…” (Ah! You decided to save money, not LIFE!) "WAKE UP! Before you say ‘I've had it. It's all over’..." “What difference will it make to the Environment?” (4/2/2006) “At this rate, none whatsoever.” (It took God just 7 days to make the world but it’s taking us years to change a simple light bulb…) “Call for (additional) new Green Taxes to make people adopt Environment-friendly life-styles”

massive highways to find time to dwell on the basics for the healthy Environment all Human Beings need” (Peggy Mitchell, Evening Standard, 18/8/1993).

“At the heart of Disneyworld USA (Disney was the King of make-believe) is the largest technology theme park. The theme is the future. An experimental Proto-type community of tomorrow. Testing, demonstrating new USA inventions and materials. More than 5 million visitors each year. FutureWorld. A 21st century. Shared impressions. Amusing. We’re asked to laugh at how inadequate past projections of the future were but at the time they weren’t funny. Projections: Farming the

desert using automated equipment, mining the Sea for riches, or they’re living in Space… The world is seen as ever-increasing markets- they’re trying to assure us there will always be more and more consumer ‘goods,’ that technology will always get better. They don’t ask us to participate in the products we need- we only feature as consumers of their ‘goods.’ Ideology neither new or accurate. The vision of the future at World fairs rarely changes. We have a very traditional view of the future, heaped with nostalgia. Technology far from simple… gives us the belief we can’t do anything about it. The promise of jam tomorrowsold and packaged for us- we should use it. What we have is blind faith that technology will be used well. But we are experts. We know ourselves better than anybody and we know what kind of world we want to live in- and that kind of expertise is needed to use our technology in a constructive and hopeful way” (White Heat, BBC2, 31/10/1994).

“An ALTERNATIVE view of the future: Anxiety about the end of the world… Though politicians still talk of progress and modernisation, the 21st century is beginning to look like a time ruled by robber barons and plagued by disease. In short, it is a ‘modern’ world we find ourselves living in but a medieval one. The new Middle Ages. It hasn’t happened! There are elements of it out there but we have only to look at the crisis in ‘modern’ architecture- the desired future has not come about as we expected. Where does that leave the future? Some see the future as a new Dark Age. We are coming back to the natural order of the world- lasting disorder, which feeds on itself (war). Overwhelmed with ethnic rivalry and Global competition. Competing leagues of parasites within each nation. Some sort of sovereignty- the law making body- but there are huge areas without the law. The police are losing control to sinister bodies. The Grey Zone: A place where power does not exist anymore- vast abandoned areas. No more school children, no teachers, no social workers- the only economy organised by drugs. Difficult suburbs- tower blocks. The Black Death is returning. Plagues used to be everywhere in the 15th century. Now new plagues are

(8/2/2006).

“G.W. Bush wants nations to agree goals to reduce emissions by the end of next year! (To replace Kyoto re: Climate Change). Greenpeace said ‘… this is a diversion’…” (31/5/2007) (See: ACTION PLAN).

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“If you undermine the health of ½ your population you under-mine the economyeverything. You know, time is running out. We need a new beginning...” AFRICA: “The average woman has 6 children”

POPULATION LEVELS: “During Christ’s time the population was 250 million…” 1960’s: 3 Billion. 1987: 5 Billion. 1990: 6 Billion. "The birth rate goes up every time there is a power failure..." Population set to be 10 Billion in a few decades.” “1 million people are born every 4 days. Every minute 180 babies are born...” “MAIN CONCERN: FOOD. Famines could dwarf anything ever experienced before. Grain stores are shrinking. The growing GAP between what we eat and sow… Many now go to bed hungry… Africa can no longer feed itself. Going to be another 3 Billion people to feed soon…” UK: “Foreign Aid has not increased for 6 years” (1990) (ATTITUDE: “We don’t want you people breeding like rabbits!” “My heart is hungry. We got to save the babies, right?” “Oh, when will there be a harvest to feed the world?” “There is no greater JOY in life than giving milk to babies.” INDIA: "Known for last 18 years that 700,000 formula-fed babies die of diarrhoea each year (600 babies a week) in India. Mother's encouraged to buy artificial powdered baby milk products (market worth £5 Billion a year), instead of using breast milk. People illiterate- can’t read… powder has to be reconstituted with boiled water especially as there’s no sanitation and water is contaminated with sewage. To boil water, Kerosene is needed but that is in short supply and expensive. The anti-diarrhoea drugs are too expensive. Over-use of these drugs encouraged. Drug given with fatal consequences. Drugs = A big market… Nobody knows the number of total deaths over how many years" (ITV, 6/6/1990) (Vicious Circles) (“Oh! You poor, poor things.”) (“No parent can ever imagine anything worse than her own child dying.”) “The contraceptive injection was tested on women in India (and UK).” “Dramatic increase in parent’s killing daughters. Cannot Afford to bring girls up because of the size of their dowry. 1,000’s are poisoned, choked, smothered… Government wants to stop the killings- is leaving cots for mothers to put their baby in outside clinics. Ultra-sound is being used to detect sex of foetus. A FEMALE result is as good as a death certificate. India has a shortage of 2.5 million women” (BBC1, 28/9/1993). “Girls regarded as a financial burden, not breadwinners. Illegal abortions of females- female infanticide. 36,000 pregnant women die every year. Delays, limitations getting health-care. In the poorest villages, many changes are needed… it could be a vital life-line to the women and children in India” (re: UNICEF, August 2006).

(1992).

“People traditionally have large families fearing a high mortality rate.” 3rd WORLD: “Family Planning has run into major opposition. Outrage against abortion. On average, a woman there will have 6 children.” USA: “200 anti-abortion campaigners in prison. They say: ‘Each child belongs to God.’ ‘Abortion is destructive.’ ‘Abortion should not be used as contraception’…” “Abortions always end in tears.” CHINA: “Couples limited to having one child since 1979. Over 100 million abortions. The price paid by women!” “China has ‘successfully’ controlled the birth rate using authoritarian measures considered quite heartless in the West.” "Murder of daughters…” “China’s one child policy causes severe abuses of Human Rights. Unwanted (?) children left to die at the railway station… Abandoned girls. People told: Less people means more riches. Maternity hospitals still full. Pregnant- so goes into hiding. Policy executed to the extreme. Families rounded-up. If rich, can buy a way out. Some people who have more than 1 child have fled. Millions are growing up without brothers or sisters. Fewer hands to bring in the harvest…” (BBC1, 6/9/1994). “Being able to select the gender of a child will change the balance. In China, abortions have resulted in 1.7 fewer girls being born” (Channel 4, 16/11/1994) “Compulsory sterilisation of women…” “30 countries need help with Family Planning yet Agencies have pulled out! Why?” “Kenya and Mexico have the highest birth rates in the world. Hit hard by USA withdrawal of funds for Family Planning Clinics for women who cannot Afford birth control. Funding may be reinstated but George Bush has made sure that it is not despite his pre-Election promise that funding would be resumed” (Nature, BBC2, 19/4/1990) (“BOREDOM will out-survive pompous rhetoric…”) “Most babies are unplanned.” “Most people have children by accident.” 1990’s: Making it” means: “... it doesn’t mean anything...." “... you’ve left us to fantasise” “... we’re just fucking around.” “Oh yeh baby com’on…” “Adversity creates strange bed fellows.” “You’re living in a fantasy with no meaning. It’s not OK. Save me!” “Can’t you change your fantasy? It’s not working. I don’t feel safe…” “It is not ideals that bind us together but failure.” “Keep your pants on. It takes time to make it right.” 618

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“The London Gender Clinic can help you determine the sex of your child… A storm of controversy…”

“People need contraception but priests tell them God will be angry if they use them!” (God’s name used to substantiate the very-male belief that women are only baby-making machines… to satisfy male ego / show-off male fertility). EXPERT: “Put contraceptive in food? In flour. The world would be delivered from a great threat. The suffering of unloved children would be reduced. Couples who want to have children could change their diet for a week for fertility to return…” (Sir Graham Hills, The Sun, 31/7/1990) (Unloved? What a hard life. Give up your beloved child, or starve to death yourself). “BABIES used to be the focus of society. In recent times we have focused on… selfish and thoughtless…” UK: “Main method of birth control is Abortion. The pill is a liberator with a price- side-effects are still the underlying concern EG. cancer, cysts, tumour, thrombosis, weight gain…” “200,000 abortions a year… can abort up to 24 weeks.” “A terrible dilemma for staff. In one room they fight to save a premature baby whilst in another room, babies are left to die on draining boards…” (“A baby born at 25 weeks weighing 1.5lbs stands a 50/50 chance of survival.”) To have an abortion or not to have an abortion = “... it’s left to your conscience…” “The USA Janus Report: “The more educated people are, the less inclined they are towards having babies” (21/3/1993) (“A simple change in attitude is all that is needed...") “…The United Nations Population Fund warned that without a steep drop in birth rates, especially in developing countries, the world population could reach 14 Billion by 2010” (15/5/1990). “LESS PEOPLE, MORE WEALTH. Prince Phillip told the Pope birth control is the most crucial weapon in fighting the world’s Environmental crisis. ‘There is only a limited quantity of Earth’s goods. The more people on Earth, the greater demand for them’…” (4/6/1990) (“I think I can tell what’s on your mind…” Instead of using resources wisely…They think there is too much life! “Alarms sounding. The military alerted…”) “All the people on Planet Earth could stand in a space the size of the Isle of Wight.” “Every Human Being on Earth would fit 3 times over in Loch Ness (in Scotland) (Loch Ness measures 21 miles long, by 900 ft deep.”) 1992: “Every minute 180 people are born. World head count: 5.3 Billion. If populations continue to grow, by 2025 the planet wont be capable of supporting the Human race. We have to create the conditions where people feel a small family is good for them” (She magazine, January) (“For the new family, small is beautiful?”) “We wanted a boy. We got a girl. Tried again. Got another girl. Then had twins. Tried again…”

(1993).

“A harsh vision of a Brave New World in which prospective parents may require a licence to have children is outlined in a report by 'The Office of Health Economics'… a genetic bill of health… before they are allowed to reproduce…” (Evening Standard, 19/1/1993).

“ABORTION IS A WAY OF LIFE: Easier to abort than use contraceptives. One woman has had 15 abortions… ‘Children are a luxury we can’t Afford.’ Birth control is not on the curriculum. Subject is taboo. Men say family planning is a woman’s problem” (ITN, 8/6/1993). “She needed an abortion because she didn’t have any option. Only Choice: Legalised abortion or backstreet? Don’t you want this sort of thing stopped?” “NORPLANT is under trial. The poor and teenagers will be targeted. Made of plastic, coated with hormones. Is implanted under the skin. The prospects- terrifying!” (Greater London radio,8/10/1993). “I know plenty of people who have got pregnant with a coil fitted…” “Use a cap? Nah. I can never be bothered…” “A new contraceptive should available in 2 years. Guaranteed to have no side-effects. All girls have to do is persuade their chap to go to the doctor for an injection once a week, every week. That’ll catch on wont it?” (The People, 17/4/1994). “World population is exploding by 94 million a year. Will double in 60 years according to a UN report. The UN wants to keep growth to 8 Billion” (BBC1, 17/8/1994).

“FEMALE castration is viewed by some governments as a way of reducing the population! 84 million girls have been castrated in 30 countries. Mutilation continues in Africa, USA, the UK. A dangerous act of oppression, to control Female sexuality. A very unfair tradition said to make crops grow, for hygiene, to please men!!!” “Men tend to stray more than women but women do not insist upon the castration of the male species…” (yet? “If men had the balls…”) “MALE SPERM COUNT HAS FALLEN 50% due to pollution…” “Imagine- our children’s children could be barren. That could spell the end of the Human Race.” “It is possible to annihilate the Human Race simply by not having babies…” “SAVE THE CHILDREN! DON’T HAVE ANY?” EGYPT: “When pyramids built population 7 million. Now 57 million. 96% of land is desert. 1 hectare has to support 22 people. Land used for export crops! Huge gains could be made from irrigation and water control projects. Imports 70% of its food! Population growing by 120 people an hour! The needs for housing… Desperately cramped conditions. At breaking point without breaking down. A familiar story. Large families still the norm 619

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especially in rural areas. Reduced death rates. Over ½ the population is illiterate. An extraordinary campaign to educate the women. Broadcasts, adverts. For some villagers, program has come too late. Becoming pregnant every 10 months. 3,000 clinics. Average number of children per woman is 4. 50% of families now use contraceptives…” (Sex, Sin & Survival, Channel 4,

hardest thing is giving up your baby for the promise of a better life.” “How much do you want your baby?” GIRL: “I’m feeling very insecure, scared…” EXPERTS: “She’s unstable.” “It’s not an option.” “What matters is what is in the best interests of the child.” “5 million children in America are being brought up by grand-parents” (Riki Lake, ITV2, 4/9/2006).

UK: Debate: “Should we teach 11 year old children about abortions?” “It would be better to educate about the need for protection. It is mostly teenagers who are contracting Aids (HIV) due to being unprotected…” (9/9/2006).

8/9/1994).

Colombia: "ONE SIMPLE IDEA: Distribution centres for contraceptives. This works! A small fee is charged. Wide range of services for men and women offered. Educates older children. Raised awareness. Reproductive Rights. To empower women, to bring new energy into the New World. 'Pro-Familia' has no government backing. Promoting Women’s Rights is what family planning is all about. Such programs should be an absolute priority in developing countries. With these measures it should be possible to stabilise the population at 8 Billion by year 2050. Replacement level is 2 children per couple. Or we will get to have a living hell on Earth- an apoplectic future” (Sex, Sin & Survival, Channel 4, 8/9/1994). POPULATION TIME BOMB: Overseas Development Minister Baroness Chalker, said: “We have to help people with children to have children by choice, not chance… If we can’t agree on a meaningful plan of action, the goal of stable populations and sustainable development will not be achieved. Health Education programmes, including advice on contraception has to be at the heart of strategies…” (Conference in

SUMMARY: “… Our advance… has brought us near-dominance of the world, and a rapidly accelerating understanding of it. Scientists now say we are in a new stage of the Earth's history, the Anthropocene Epoch, when we ourselves have become the globe's principal force. But several eminent scientists are concerned that we have become too successful - that the unprecedented human pressure on the Earth's ecosystems threatens our future as a species. We confront problems more intractable than any previous generation, some of them at the moment apparently insoluble. From population to cars to forests… the increasing pressures on our planet…BBC News Online's ‘Planet under Pressure’ series takes a detailed look at 6 areas where most experts agree that a crisis is brewing: Food: An estimated 1 in 6 people suffer from hunger and malnutrition…Water: By 2025, 2/3rd of the world's people are likely to be living in areas of acute water stress. Energy: Oil production could peak and supplies start to decline by 2010. Climate Change: The world's greatest environmental challenge, according to the UK prime minister Tony Blair, with increased storms, floods, drought and species losses predicted. Biodiversity: Many scientists think the Earth is now entering its 6th extinction phase. Pollution: Hazardous chemicals are now found in the bodies of all new-born babies, and an estimated 1 in 4 people worldwide are exposed to unhealthy concentrations of air pollutants. All 6 problems are linked and urgent… It is pointless to preserve… habitats if climate change will destroy them anyway, or to develop novel crops if the water they need is not there. Air pollution is a serious problem in the world's biggest cities. And underlying all these pressures is a 7th- human population. There are already more than 6 billion of us… Poverty matters because it leaves many people no choice but to exploit the environment, and poverty fuels frustration. … poverty condemns them to stunted lives and early deaths - both avoidable. Difficult dilemmas. … What sort of lifestyle can the Earth

Cairo, Daily Express, 9/9/1994).

“The only ones at Action stations are the Military.” “Are you Pro-Life, or do you believe in abortions?” “At the conference, the Global hope was for one consensus. But the debate re: abortion- that abortion should not be used for contraception, resulted in discord, verbal battles. Delegates bemused. Women are very angry” (9/9/1994) “There is good news from the conference. We no longer need to talk about ‘population control.’ The needs of the individual are much more important. How can all the fine words be translated into actions to help developing countries? There is a Blueprint but only if the governments take it seriously will it be good news” (ITV, 13/9/1994). GIRLS: “I want to be able to tell my baby everything is going to be fine for the rest of her life. Can I do that?” “I don’t see why I should get rid of it…” “I’ll have no life. There’s no child-care. I have nowhere to live, no job. I didn’t have an education…” “Things aren’t good. He can’t keep a job. Financially… I can’t… I have no choice…” EXPERTS: “She needs to figure it out.” “If you can’t provide, you need support. What is the alternative? Adoption.” “The 620

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sustain? …And how can we act when sizeable … parts of society say we are already overcoming the problems, not being overwhelmed by them? Species survival: As many see it, we are not doing too badly. More people are living healthier and longer lives. For increasing numbers, the future offers living standards undreamt of even a generation ago. But we do have to think through the implications…Living within the planet's means need not condemn us to giving up what we now assume we need for a full life, just to sharing it. The challenge we face… is about the growing recognition that, as the human race, we stand or fall together. Ingenuity and technology continue to offer hope of a better world. But they can promise only so much… facing up to the Planet's pressure points is about survival…” (ref. BBC News

"½ the world is starving, the other ½ is on a diet." "At the summit to further Children's RIghts, no children were allowed. CONTEMPTIBLE!" ("Protect me from the government...") SUMMITS = "Very expensive lunches, ostentatious luxury, and lots of police..." "The most expensive poker game..." “Such a boring life… Banquet after banquet…” “They should read this and weep.” (“Has it even brought a tear to their eye?”) “What good will it do?” “Oh! SYMPATHY. WHERE HAVE YOU GONE?” “If they practiced what they preach…They got me asking where is the love?" "STOP SACRIFICING THE CHILDREN!" EG. “The World Health Organisation believes there is no alternative to the 'over-population' problem. Rather dead than alive and riotously overpopulating…” “DDT blamed for increasing 3rd World population…” 1960’s: “DDT used to protect crops… caused mosquitoes to become immune. No link to cancer or mutations to humans or animals proved. DDT spraying of swamps was very effective. Stopping this programme was a crime against Humanity." ”40% of the children will die in poor nations”

Online environment correspondent).

JOIN THE HUMAN RACE: "Talent is God-given..." "You have a talent. Use it! Or God will be angry!" "Hear The Cry of the Earth. I’m starving!" 1989: I contacted 'Voluntary Services Overseas' (VSO) who told me they don’t need help from designers! They “only want people with professional qualifications.” (Ah! "... it takes more than raw talent to make it work.") “Heavenly Father. Please send an angel to help them…” "100 million children world-wide are forced to work, to buy food. ‘We've no choice.’ Labouring 14 hours a day, for 16 pennies. Too tired to study..." (1989). The United Nations World Conference boasted: “By 1990, within a decade, no child will go to bed hungry” (thanks to high yielding wheat). Re: THE GLOBAL 2000 REPORT: “Can science & technology solve Global problems? Has been giving us a more progressive life- not a poorer life. A longer, richer, healthier life should continue forever.” 1998: “30,000 children a day are dying in the world today. We should care more. Too easy- to sit behind a desk saying it doesn’t matter- it does!” (BBC1, 14/10/1998). "800,000 children will die from preventable illnesses during the UN summit... ... Kings, Presidents, Prime Ministers from 70 nations met to lament the plight of 100's of millions of the world’s 2 Billion children... and list their goals... A realisation we can save millions of lives through under-utilised low-cost technologies... Approved: A plan to cut infant deaths by 1/3rd, reduce the number of women dying in child-birth by ½, and guarantee all children access to education and clean water by the year 2,000...” (1990) (But nothing came of it!)

(1999).

“If you give something for nothing, they don’t know what it’s worth…” (said Ken Palek, 4/5/1999). “19.8 MILLION people are refugees…” (2002). “… refugees often lose everything…” “THE GLOBAL FUND: ... shortage of mosquito nets... malaria deaths..." (2004). “Malaria afflicts 300 – 500 million people every year causing up to 2.9 million deaths, mainly women and children under 5” (1999) “Cost of one malaria net £3” (2005). HOW TO ELIMINATE GLOBAL POVERTY? (“I’ll get straight to it here…”) “It’s a big world and people have got to live somewhere…” “There’s so much land we could we could live on…” “900 million people exist in slums round the world, with open sewers. In the slums, the carers are worth their weight in gold. A sea of rusty corrugate… Flying giant cockroaches. Mud / dirt floors. The smell! Rows of ‘houses’ made only with plastic bags. 8 people ‘living’ in a space no bigger than a box. I never thought it would be this bad…” (“If you’re going to do it, do it right… make it your inspiration…” “MEND! Do it today. Get into the groove. Make that change. It will make you feel so good.”) "WORLD LEADERS DEBATE: GLOBAL STABILITY: There is deep anxiety... A select gathering of world leaders meet to discuss poverty... the oil crisis... the war against terrorism - could it ever be won? There is no 621

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"Iran is using an elevator, you are using steps. You will arrive too late... Do justice to people. Be fair to them and you would do well...." (The British minister for Europe flared up): "We have to take it on and defeat it" (aggressive, meaningless, dangerous waffle) (HEAVY sighs) (they ignore him). "Peace for our children... ... We have to deal with hope and equity... We need to extend it... We can't wait to talk about fundamentals until we have defeated the terrorists...” (BBC24, 4/9/2004). "... it's still not happening…" “Politicians have the whole world in their hands. What a pity they are too intoxicated with high living to achieve what needs doing.” “FUZZY GOALS: Too used to not having to produce anything tangible and being paid from public coffers.” WHY don’t THEY understand what WE need? ("... talking, talking, happy talk? You've got to have a DREAM, if you don't have a dream, how are you going to make a DREAM come true?") (“I know because I think about it all the time…”) “I’m seeing it so clear. I’m sitting here, too afraid to open my heart to all that bitterness… and ridicule. I only wish you could see it too… If you would just admit to those bad mistakes you made. You know it was never in doubt…”) (Ref. song: ‘Babylon’ by David

confidence in Security... There is a need for a New World Order... What is the standard for use of force? Countries need to sit around a table... Is there a Western World Order? America more alone than ever. Cannot get what they want by military force... If America does not take on this problem with the terrorists, who will? What is the root cause of terrorism? POVERTY! Much criticism of America... going it alone." (it means: The fight against terrorism). "I don't believe the USA has imperial interest (in Iraq). USA simply want to keep the world free." (Really?) "USA divided, CONfused. We're not comfortable with being a Super Power... its not whether we should go about it, it's how? USA in need of allies, friends..." "WORLD POPULATION: “6 Billion people now, soon 8 Billion. In developing world... look at fundamentals for dealing with poverty... A unilateral effort, or multilateral..." "We need a platform… A decision. Otherwise it's meaningless - we're talking about nothing...” Re: Iraq: "Chaos, bloodshed, suffering... ‘Democratic’ Imperialism? Real, deep concern right around the world... We want to find effective ways of advancing USA interests... make a coalition that serves everybody... find basic support for a right (i.e. correct) policy... Does USA want to go it alone? No. But HOW do we do it? It's a very complex question... What is USA's role and how should that change?" "USA's conflict with Iran. Got to engage in dialogue. It's happening already. A Nuclear armed Iran is unacceptable to many countries. We must work together to find the solution. We cannot remain indifferent. Iran centre of terror (65%). Has openly threatened to destroy Israel." (Surprise expressed). "Political pressure, economic sanctions, then military actions are our options... It will be extremely difficult for USA to win war with Iran... If Double Standards continue, it will be very difficult. We must have an honest approach..." "... it could serve to unify the world with a purpose.... it's not enough to fight terror. We must talk about Peace, and Hope... We need to get it into the Security Council. It's very urgent. Iran comes to Nuclear capability is approx. 2 years... So many young Iranians desperate for modernity... How do we get it through to them? Let us simply focus on the problem…" "… You said it was unacceptable last week! Saying the same as Britain - we are not divided on this…" (Uh?) 'The Iranians have stuck their finger in your eye... USA and Russia need a time table. Let us be very clear... " (yes, please!)

Grey)

A NEW WORLD ORDER? “I’m not confident they’ll get to the root of it.” CREATE the New World based on caring (genuinely), sharing, giving, receiving... If people have nothing – give them something to SAVE THEIR LIFE i.e. a decent starter Home. (it is that is needed). YOU ORGANISE PRODUCTION / DISTRIBUTION… paid for if necessary by Taxes / donations / incentives / premiums… Remember, money shouldn’t really even come into the deal. Let them get back on their feet. They will be so grateful… You’ll have good friends for LIFE. You will never go without. If people only have a low income, be fair- help them get a decent starter Home- make it so that it is truly Affordable. A New System = Equal / FAIR i.e. available irrespective of race, religion or gender. If you are wealthy- you don't need one, but if you want one for yourself, buy it, and pay an extra premium…Another way of putting it, if you’ve got a roof over your head- you don’t need it right now… so you can wait. (“Yes, it’s shaping up. Yes, I’m relying on my own judgement. I know what it is to be hurt…”) (“... it could all happen so naturally and last forever… just like a star…”) "... it explains a lot about horror." INTELLIGENCE: How are we, the people, going to eradicate ALLTHREATS & Acts that cause TERROR ? "All 622

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preferential quotas. We need a comprehensive recovery programme. Standardised principles of which governments operate… What obstacles stand in the way? The G8: The US can block any vote. The US always votes in favour of Wall Street… Not equal decisions. The rich bully the poorer nations. Hypocrisy of the worst type, ripping off the poor in every way they can. The US has total control of the International Monetary Fund.” (Who contributes to the IMF?) POLL: 99% believe in the immediate doubling of government Aid / clear, decisive government ACTION. We need the political will of governments around the world to do it. It’s up to the people to make a difference, to make the government/s do it. This is the year for doing something. Let’s make poverty history” (Channel 4, 24/1/2005) "I think it's going to be better the second time around…") “The G7 are in favour of providing 100% Debt Relief to the world’s poorest countries” (5/2/2005). “3rd World health plans discussed…” “… doubling Aid to £50 BILLION a year… but the USA opposes this. 37 nations could benefit…” “USA more interested in spending their money on the military than helping the poor” (said antipoverty campaigner, Max Lawson). Nelson Mandela said: “Poverty is man-made.” “A child dies every 3 seconds of preventable diseases…” “I wish I knew what we are supposed to do…” “Don’t you understand? Life is not the way it ought to be…” “Technology seems to have taken us in the wrong direction. Missiles instead of personal promised goods…” “211 million children world-wide are forced to work often in dangerous jobs (EG. in quarries, mines…) due to poverty” (February 2005). “The British government is making new antiterrorist laws that could be used against G8 protestors” (Hard Talk, BBC2, 12/3/2005). “100’s of millions of lives depend on The World Bank which needs to be a compassionate organisation led by professionalism…” 4 LEADING EXPERTS SAID: “We require very big changes to really put it behind them. The need to think the world is precious. What would it take? Pulling together to think of ways to avert catastrophe. We are crippled by greed. Are we too selfish to save it? We will have to become altruistic if we are to overcome. Our future depends on our ability to take action. ‘The Roots & Shoots’ project in 87 countries… Our species is the cause of the problem and the solution. What is the challenge? Changing people’s attitudes towards the positive- of what could be done. In many countries The Green movement is very

security concerns should work together..." “... it’ll cut both ways” means: “… it will reduce corruption & help the deprived!” 'We’ve got to do something… 2005 will be a make or break year to help the poorest countries' said Gordon Brown, Britain's Chancellor. A bid to generate more Aid to help development…” (CAFOD, 10/12/2004). “Oxfam said the rich nations had cut their Aid by ½ since the 1960’s putting lives at grave risk” (6/12/2004).“… “Increasing CONCERN Aid is not being spent wisely EG. on temporary buildings. If decisions left to the Jakarta army, the money will certainly be misspent- the governor recently charged with massive Embezzlement… Misappropriation of IMF money- concern money will not go to the needy. The need for transparency Re: rebuilding. Every dollar should be spent in the right fashion. Reconstruction cries out for an independent overview. $10’s of BILLIONS spent by the US government. Rich countries are spending their resources in the wrong way. How to make the world a SAFER place? Everybody is striving for Global security… How to alleviate poverty, tasking care of health, education & alleviating the needs of the poor?” “… it’s like there a cancer at it’s heart...” “… it is only the lack of political will...” (“Sorry, sir. Something’s come up…” “… see all the greedy men staring in disbelief?” "... it’s quite a challenge for capitalists, isn’t it?" “… all they really need is love. Keep on praying for it…” ) “AID = it has to go very fast now for the Millennium goals to be met…” ("All the hopes we are building. May it come true, for all of us.") “Could Global Poverty Be Eliminated by 2025? Very sceptical. It will take a tremendous amount of campaigning. POLL: 75% said they do not want Tax increases to increase Aid. Aid could be doubled and Tax-payers wont even notice it. On the table there are Affordable solutions. Millions of lives could be saved for very little investment. It could greatly relieve the poverty trap. 10 million people a year die of starvation / poverty. 30,000 people died this week of preventable poverty” (said the UN). AID = "Governments don’t deliver. Only $1 in $5 goes to the poor… How do we get reforming governments? The cycle of misuse of Aid has to be broken… Aid should only be given to governments who have transparency… Problem cannot be solved by throwing money… We need to create the conditions whereby the poor can solve the problems of poverty by themselves- by helping them to help themselves. Poverty needs to be dealt with by a different approach altogether. We need Free Fair Trade- not unbalanced tariffs / 623

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Change. What impact will that have on the human species? Not clear. It is clear Climate Change has been here before not due to man. Involved loss. Process we are going to see is a major change in next 25 years (scientific modelling…) Can existing Bio-diversity survive? How do we get food? Are any of us approaching this in the right way? The Key is time. We are facing a sudden change, when we could go over the edge. I believe it is critical conservationists sit down with the climatologists. We could lose 70 – 80% of our animal species if this should happen. What are we going to do about it? To ensure our survival, to pull us together, galvanise our politicians? They operate on such a narrow spectrum. Can people break out of these boxes? How do we bring together these sources on Earth? Many of us spend time in talkshops and we think - how can we get things done? Do we need an enlightened dictatorship? It is politicians who have to press the buttons. They have to think it is the people’s wishes. Every media organisation should ventilate these issues, not just paying lip service. If they don’t think the natural world is precious… People are so separated from nature! Conservationists are trying to be too pure. I’m optimistic. Working with youth is my hope for the future. They use the internet, they share their thoughts and the future belongs to them. If we can’t give them hope, then there’s no hope. We have to raise our children to be better stewards than we have been. The young are changing the world collectively as we speak. I think it is within our powers to make leaders make the changes. I think it can be done. The world is changing. The media has witnessed that change. There is an Environmental concern, within governments and organisations unheard of 20 years ago. We must keep the pace and keep going and shift funds. We can do it IF we have the will”

real. Ist: Address poverty. Open minds to knowledge because people are bigoted and fundamentalists. The fundamental causes of mass-destruction is to allow for the increases in the number of people. People are trying to live in too small an area.” (see: Overcrowding) “Decrease population growth, by reducing material wealth is the popular view. What can never be undone… the extinction of the Eco-system is irrevocable. We need ways things can go together- Eco-systems, people, nature. Not possible? Very hard to reconcile conflicting interests. We are all tied together for the support of a healthy planet. Will we be any worse off if we lose animal species? A disregard for our own species? Spend less trying to save animal species. Which should disappear? US? Level off population growth. Reduce what elite communities think they need. Life isn’t only about money. Alleviate crippling poverty that is disfiguring and persuade them not to copy what we have. Insolvable? Nature is a unity- a complex, fantastic, marvellous inter-locking mechanism- plants, insects- the whole loteverything is central. Very few things can be eliminated without having unthought of consequences. The loss of any are a serious diminution. Some humans can only think in the short term. People will push politicians for greater Democracy, to take positive action on Environmental issues. Politicians may do nothing. They do nothing because we want to make a lot of money. Saving the World can be likened to saving the elephant from poachers. The answer was game parks. How do we resolve ever growing cities? People’s demands for land? It’s all about how and what we value. If something has no economic value… But Eco-systems have a value. Can we not make that that the issue, same as we have with Human Rights? Costa Rica abandoned their military- used the money saved to better its population. There are grounds for hope! Illegal now to take down any trees in Ethiopia- who are reforesting (slowly). A Land Commission in Kenya registered people’s concernthere was nobody who wanted to cut down the forests for firewood but… A Tax on rich countries could help poor countries provide an alternative for fuel… TACRE: In 34 villages there are Tree nurseries… educates children, helps women, provide scholarships, family planningthere is lack of funding- they use wood to burn in stoves…Free hand-outs of energy? I don’t think people want free hand-outs. Only Nuclear energy is cheap. AFRICA IS GOING FOR HydroElectricity. That’s NOT the right way- going through wire. Nuclear energy could change the face of the Planet. We’ve got to look at ways of providing clean, cheap Alternative Energy. But we haven’t got that at the moment. Climate

(BBC7, March 2005).

“It is time to give something back...” “WHAT DO WE NEED TO SEE US THROUGH? Jesus… on a mission… Come on everyone…” (If Jesus went on a mission, what would he say? “Focus your eye on the new data and adjust accordingly?” “If I had some influence on the powers-that-be, maybe you’d see… everyday seems so incomplete… until you can walk inside…” “No pressure. I just want to let you know it’s time to invest in me- I, who have nothing...") ? "THE PLANET NEEDS A SAVIOUR…” (Ref: Article July 27, 2005: www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1536760,00.html ) (see Chapter 15 / Historic Significance).

“... it will take more than a spirit up in the sky…” “Do You All Know What We Should Do Right Now?” "GO FOR it!" "… it will reduce poverty." "… it could take all the weight (the burden) off you." 624

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”Emergency situation ignored since March. The children suck their thumbs, chew on a stick, or a scrap of plastic. There is nothing they can do but wait for Aid that may come too late…” (ITV, 31/7/2005) (“Oh, GOD!” “… it will work. I mean it has to…”) "BAND AID: They hand out coloured plastic bracelets to determine the level of starvation. EG. A Yellow band means Mothers will be given flour and oil…” “Cash is definitely needed. Sacks of rice have been delivered…” (2/8/2005) “130,000 British people pledged £5.4 million in one night…” (“A Euro-Lotto winner won £80 million!” What a waste!) A French minister said: “We don’t want big announcements at summits and rock concerts and afterwards nothing. More is needed than speeches and music…” (3/8/2005). “WHEREVER THERE IS POVERTY, WE SHALL FIGHT it…” said Gordon Brown (TUC Conference, 13/9/2005) (Yeh, yeh…) “TO GET RID OF THE USELESS BURDEN OF DEBT, £55 BILLION wiped off by The World Bank and the IMF…” “11 MILLION people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya affected by severe drought. Low rainfall. £85 million asked for in Emergency food Aid. Animals dying…” “The money is not there…”

"... it's all yours for the keeping." "... it's yours straightaway." "… it will cost us nothing babe, not even shame." “If it could help us, yeh, why not?” "… it could make you into a bread winner..." “… it’s going to make me work!” “… it pays for itself” means: “Let's make lunch, from our trees heavy with fresh fruit, bring your friends- share a meal with them, bought collectively for a few pence, with wholesome goodness. Oh! Be optimistic. Get real. Will you have an accident that hurts you deep? "Oh, it will work. It will. I just know it." "… it's Priceless!" means: it is an invaluable asset." "… it's a champion idea." And so simple! It will make us all equal, and it will all be worth it in the end." POVERTY: “It’s an aged old problem and I’d have thought you’d be glad to be rid of it…” EXPERT: “I tell you it is do-able!” G7 MEETING: “G7 ministers said oil prices pose a threat to world economies. No sign of a breakthrough over debt relief” (5/4/2005) (“We’ll get round to it. Other things always seem more important…”) (The Dreamer -v- The Capitalist. Who will succeed?) “WORLD POVERTY DAY: Speeches calling for substantially increased Aid for the developing world. Aid is firmly on the agenda and no political Parties can be seen to ignore it. ALL Parties AGREE on focusing on world poverty- even the Conservatives think there is something positive in it for them” (24/4/2005). “Last October, the UN warned of a crisis… but the world was caught up with the need to focus Aid on the tsunami victims…” “The British government pledged £2 million Aid…” (25/7/2005). “EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR AID LAUNCHED: NIGER: “A vast, arid State- 5 times bigger than Ethiopia. Population: 12.9 million. Normal life expectancy 42 years. DROUGHT: There’s nothing in the fields. Farmers wept… at the mercy of rainfall… and Locusts… 3.6 Million people face famine, including 1 Million children. Millions of people in danger. If rich nations don’t help now… a disaster 4 times the scale of the Ethiopian famine 5 years ago. Doctors and nurses exhausted. In one camp, 2,000 seriously malnourished children. ‘I’m afraid it will be late’ said 'Medicenes san Frontiere'- the only Aid organisation working there…" “Campaigners Bob Geldoff and Bono must be mortified the Live 8 concert failed to get the G8 summit to agree on free fair trade for Africa. It’s about self-sufficiency’ said Jamie Oliver. Aid Agencies have warned Africa will still be crippled by unfair food tariffs. Theirs was a business decision, not a moral decision” (Daily Mirror, 20/7/2005).

(9/1/2006).

“UN PLANS TO RELEASE $7 TRILLION TO SOLVE THE WORLD’S PROBLEMS: … an unprecedented outbreak of co-operation between countries… a UN development programme… an admission the Nation-State is an old-fashioned concept… in a modern Globalized world… a push to get countries to account for failed policies…could take years- decades… Their ‘Alternative Solutions.’ Where do we stand? Higher Aid of $140 Billion could be ‘unlocked’ to countries in distress” (The Independent, 30/1/2006) (No change? Every ‘solution’ concerns how money is transacted. Is focused entirely on money – nothing else!) IS THE SYSTEM IS GOOD ENOUGH? Ask yourself, what is wrong with the system- and what could put it right? On balance, is it a good idea? HOW to make poverty history? THE simple ANSWER: PROVIDE Decent Affordable housing/s! "Are you up for it?" “We are (now) on the verge of something truly great. What do you say to that?” “Gordon Brown will urge world leaders to help 800 million go to school. The Chancellor wants them to pledge the huge sums needed to help poor families around the globe… Britain, the only major country abiding by its promises, has pledged £8.5 Billion over the next 10 years – 92% of what campaigners asked for. In contrast, the US gives 22% & has 625

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been asked for an additional £2.7 Billion a year. Germany is on 39%, Italy 17% & Japan 30%. The Global Campaign for Education says if the G7 group gave just £5 Billion more a year, 60 million children could go to school…” (re: Brussels, Daily Mirror, May 2007).

“20 million more children are now at school due to debt relief… The G8 programme (worth $15 BILLION) is falling apart… No trade deal to help Africa help itself. Countries EG. Germany, not living up to pledges… Has the ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign (i.e. Geldoff & Bono), lost credibility?” (Newsnight, BBC2, 15/5/2007). (Hey! Money shouldn’t come into it… with the best intentions… I’m praying you will understand… We deserve so much better…) “SAVE US!” Just have the heart to see it through.

626

problems you experience everyday.” “… it brings peace of mind.” “WHO DO YOU TAKE YOUR TROUBLES TO? And what do you do with the answer given to you? Do you enable it to come through to you?” ”It is a matter between me and (my) God. It’s my choice what I believe in and who I help…” "Surely what matters most is a person’s own relationship with their God?” “Do you at least believe in the principle ‘Thou shalt not kill’?” (“Is nothing sacred anymore?”) "Our images of God... images can block God's communications... We can refuse to take them seriously. We prevent God by inattention, by failing to listen to what GOD is trying to tell us..." "We don't need idols. We need noble ideals to UNITE us." “Students are not being taught the Koran- only how to read the Koran. FRUSTRATION leads to extremism” (BBC1, 2/8/2005). “How to curb extremism? (The British) Government wants to take on their concerns. Can respected Muslim leaders reach them? Series of meetings arranged”

CHAPTER 15: RELIGION “Are YOU searching for something with meaning?” “Seek, and ye shall find.” "2,000 years of misunderstandings." "See him over there, with his worry beads..." "Religion has caused more wars..." "Wars are mainly about religion. That's why I'm not religious. Religion is supposed to be about CARING and LOVE and PEACE, not killing your neighbour because he believes in something different!" "Don't bring religion into it." That is very sensible advice. “You’re staying out of it? Leave it to God? You’re not worried about a thing?” "Religion and politics are taboo subjects- never talked about..." (“Sex used to be ‘too taboo’ to ever talk about. That caused a lot of repression, perversion, unhappiness…”) (“Are we going to have more tolerance in a multi-cultural society or have more taboos?”) “Traditionally, where does most of the CONFLICT come from?” “DIVISIONS. The over-crowded graveyards are testament to that." ("OVERCROWDING IN GRAVE YARDS: Old coffins are being dug up so graves can be dug deeper to allow for stacked coffins" UK, August 1993). "DIVIDED by religion, seeped in tradition…” "Organised religion..." "They want to keep things are they are..." "I'll probably be crucified for saying this...but one life to save many... I like the odds - it's worth it... if there is a chance it could CURE them- make them HAPPY… "Somebody has to do it you know... Somebody has to make it perfectly clear..." (Poor me! Was I born to set it right? May I find peace in my dreams!) "… it's about to be writ again..." RELIGIOUS FANATIC: "Anyone who makes a mockery... must be silenced- killed.” "Is that the devil in you talking?" (“Many people are CON-Fused…”) WAH! “How does that fill our hearts with peace and love?” "Your attitude is too narrow, too difficult..." “There are some very closed-minded people in this world who can be very vindictive.” (“No matter how empty a heart, no matter how closed a mind, no matter how closed a soul, love conquers all.”) “There’s good and bad in every religion, in every race, in everybody… That’s why you shouldn’t Generalise…” “Before we were Jews, Arabs, Christians, Muslims, we were HUMAN beings…” ("I'm trying to help, not make trouble." “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”) “GOD IS A KEY TO HELP YOU SORT SOMETHING OUT. To guide you to humility.” “ABSOLUTE SALVATION.” GOD = “Something to help you overcome the

(London, 3/8/2005).

“MAY GOD DELIVER YOU FROM DARKNESS.” "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?" “What are we going through all this for?” “We don’t laugh any more!” “Does this SUFFERING, PAIN, TURMOIL have any purpose? There must be a purpose or the Universe means nothing. This is man’s greatest problem.” “Are we born only to struggle?” “Did we come here to look at grave yards?” “Life is more than a string of days to get through…” “It makes you wonder… What are we doing here?” A: To discover... explore... the true meaning…You still haven’t worked it out? Ah! I BELIEVE it’s destiny… “ “I believe things happen for a reason- in the greater scheme of things.” (“Let this remind and refresh you.”) God said: "TRUE WISDOM keeps crying out in the streets... it keeps giving forth its voice... How long will you stupid ones keep hating knowledge? I have called out but you keep refusing all my counsel..." Scholars interpret this as meaning: "As long as we keep trying to understand it we have hope." LOVE: “Love is a feeling…” Ah! There is something deep in us…” Ah! Inside all of us is a deep, deep desire…” “There’s a thin line between love and hate.” “How can a love so strong, be wrong?” Ah! If it’s too strong…” “Love will show us how best to use this feeling.” “Life is strange if we, without love, ride the 627

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“Love will guide our journey.” “To give without receiving is like having no feelings.” “TRUE love is the only love worth having.” “If love is True = It never dies.” “I will love, always.” “Without it, time is wasting in every way in the world, we’re falling behind. Don’t you see? It’s a higher love. Face your fear. It’s a pure desire. Don’t you want to be as free as a bird now?” “It means so much.” “It is your nature- you must never be afraid of that.” “Speak the language of love like you know you know what it means…” “Love is magic- a miracle.” “Finding love, that’s really magical.” “There’s a love that’s divine- and it’s yours and mine…” “If loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.” “There’s nothing wilder or stronger than the old oak tree. I will hold you forever. Faithful as a morning Sun-rise. As sacred as love can be. That’s how I will love you, endlessly…” “LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND.” (GOD’S LOVE). “There’s a love that’s divine, as strong as the Sun. And we should give thanks, and pray there’s no-one above you…” Love = “Will it always keep growing strong?” “… my love has grown… it gets bigger- as high as a mountain, it gets deeper every day, it gets stronger as it grows… it goes on like a river flows…” Love = “Somehow we make it better…” “Love lifts us up where we belong, far from the worlds we know, up where the clear winds blow… There are mountains in our way, but we climb a step everyday…” (song by Buffe Saint Marie). “Lovers of the world unite…” “Let’s make it for all those who love…” Ah! “Our day will come. We’ll always stay in love this way…” “The love waits… waiting for the world to change…”

quicksand…” “If only love was as simple as take aim, fire.” “Love is not a game to be played by both sides.” “Lost and all alone. I always thought I could make it on my own. I try to find the words to make it right. I’m lost without your love. I’m as helpless as a ship without a wheel. I can’t believe it’s real…” “… When you feel old - about to give up - you’re all on your own - reach out! LOVE will comfort you. I can tell the way you hang your head- you’re afraid. Darling, reach out. Love will give you all you need…” LOST IN LOVE: "Lift your eyes, I'll show you a plan. No man is an island. You should know, you're the right stuff. Lost, and FOUND ... it's pulling you straight back again. It's a revelation to keep you going... it's over-riding. It doesn't know where you're going. Till the next time...it's going to take time. Get your head straight." “If you’re honest, you’ll admit you still don’t know what love really is…” “Believe in truth…” “When all you’ve got is sinking sand, love is a raven when it flies…” “Are you trying to find a way of loving them in a world that is lost?” “Love must not die…” “The best part of love, there’s so much to believe in. I’ve figured it out…” “Love means we can rise above…” “May it be, in your darkest hour, that your part is true… If you are true, it will find you, be an answer be an answer to your prayer…” “MANKIND. Love = “You need to work at it.” “Love can hold your eyes in place. Love’s a gift- it’s natural.” “Love gives us the strength to live.” “Strength comes from love. Courage comes from wisdom.” "LOVE is patient. Love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, inflated, and rude. It does not seek its own interests. It is not quick tempered. It does not brood over injury. It does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes in all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. So these 3 things remain... Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is LOVE." “Love is worth all the gold in the world.” “Love is a wonderful thing.” “It only takes a minute to fall in love.” “Love- you can’t ignore it- you have to do something about it.” “Love is like the Ozone layer- you never miss it till it’s gone.” “The purpose of man is to love woman and the purpose of woman is to love man.” “MAKING Love i.e. Let your AFFECTION show.” “LOVE = STOP HURTING ME…” “Love is the best HEALER.” “Love = Tenderness.” “Love is HONEST devotion.” “It’s so important to make someone HAPPY.”

ONE GOD: “AN ‘UNBRIDGEABLE’ CHASM IS OPENING UP between rising radical Islam and the West… ‘We have to be more constructive’…” (4/2/2006). "HERE WE GO AGAIN! Another war is looming... What's happening?" "The religions are all alike... They all want SUPREMACY! They are power MAD!" AWFUL TENSION / FURY can be PROVOKED between the ‘religions’... Each faith devoutly (rigidly) believes their Deity is Supreme... EG. Christians believe in The Bible, which states: "You do believe there is one God, do you? Let there be one God now and forever." Therefore, Christians believe their God is the one and only God. The Muslims believe Allah is Supreme... The Jewish religion believe Jehovah is Supreme... Then there are the Hindus and the Buddhists…That is how many 'Supreme' Gods? “180 different 628

religions all believe they are the one…” Therefore, there are WARS… Christian’s -v- Muslims -vJews... “QUIT slaying your brothers…” “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WESTERN RELIGION: All the major religions of the world come from the East, including Christianity…

You Are ALL Talking About the SAME ENTITY. This is: 1. Ever present i.e. always with you / all around you. Is similar to Gravity (means: You can't see gravity, but gravity is there…) 2. A HIGHER INTELLIGENCE: AN ALLKNOWING non-physical? GREAT spirit? This energy ensures the vital BALANCE of the Universe. “… it has to be equal…” i.e. Newton's 3rd Law: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction..." “YOU NEED HAVE NO FEAR: It’s very careful. It wishes you would admit that it’s magic, it loves you, it’s wise- a sweetheart. But it will question every man-jack… It’s got nothing missing. It knows bestwho’s near it- whether a trapper or a peacemaker…” Interpreted As: “God is watching us from a distance…” “What will you do when its message reaches you? Will you go off like a phantom, or will you sing along? I don’t know, but I know it’s finding you…”

Christianity was exported from Asia into Europe. the churches are strongest now in Western countries- those Churches were shaped by Western culture- though not all churches…”

“Oh! For the love of Allah. Get on with it” And END ALL THIS HASSLE!” WHO IS ALLAH ? “Mohammed- the prophet of Islam: … the chief occupation of his tribe was trade. He led a life of simplicity and poverty… he lacked an oil lamp. He was illiterate but had an aptitude for concentration and had a reputation for honesty and integrity. The Birth of Islam: Mohammed had a vision: … The Angel Gabriel appeared and said to him: ‘Rise, for thou art the prophet of God. Go forth and preach in the name of thy Lord. Your God is merciful. ’Mohammed denounced the evil of drunkenness and impurity… He proclaimed there was no God but Allah. …Allah = the Master of the masters” (i.e. Mohammed changed God’s name…) (“God has many names. Mohammed proclaimed God has 3,000 names…”) “Worshippers attacked him… he fled… He returned to Mecca with an army of men and succeeded in converting fellowmen to the new faith… Mohammed had great compassion. He tended orphans, the sick, aged and Homeless. He was humble. He restored Freedom to many slaves.” “Selflessness and service to suffering Humanity are the watchwords of Islam…” "... it sows the seeds of Christian and Muslim unity..." Praying is something most religions do… “All religions believe in one God for which there are many different symbols- all believe in protection from evil. Ceremonies are a little mixed…” (Call it what you like..." "… it's a new religion...” “… it's all about how YOU FEEL about the world...") “… this girl’s got a different story. Sweet liberty that’s what it says…” “If you don’t try, you’ll never know what you are worth. I will try to fix you…” (song). You don’t have to religiously believe in Jesus or Mohammed to follow the principles taught – just carry love for these principles in your heart, to be good Human Beings, and step into the light… Something else as well - of vital importance: God, Jehovah, Allah... are the names man has chosen to describe:

(song).

“… the Native American Indian admits there is one God everywhere…” This perfect natural energy is a GOOD energy CREATING, and RE-CREATING... a series of inter-linked occurrences… may not be clear these are related, at the time…. but nonetheless, are directly related… THE DIVINE TEST IS: Will man CARE for OTHER beings as much as himself? INTERPRETED AS: “NATURAL JUSTICE.” “The Lord give’th and the Lord take’eth away.” “It’s ying and yang.” “What goes around comes around…”“WHAT HURTS ME, HURTS YOU…” “What effects me, effects you, effects everybody else. If we can understand that principle maybe…” “WISDOM will come when we understand our actions consequently always affect others directly or indirectly. EG. “Stomachs as empty as promises.” As many people have died as trees…(“The world is a connected whole…”) People who do NOT care, DENY this presence exists. (“If they were right, I’d agree…”) (“Maybe I am not explaining this well? Please forgive me. Somehow I need to get it through to you. Please understand… I have no wish to upset.) (Yes, I am floundering in the dark. Will you help?) THE DEAL IS: “Every man could love better. LOVE LIFE. You should believe in my dream. There is none better. I offer you change without bloodshed. It is for everything we once were and must be again. It is your choice. It is Judgement Day.” For the sake of all our future well-being, and the future for this (fragile) Planet… understand this

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a supreme being. I believe when you die that’s it.” Ah! “You mean this heaven and hell stuff- is there anything to it? You can’t buy it…” “DOES GOD EXIST? Many scholars have pondered this…” (You can see evidence of God’s existence all around you- see the water, flowers, the bees, the trees, the sky, an egg, an orange. A butterfly- something so BEAUTIFUL and light, flying and making no so’und! Could man make those?)

Natural Energy / Spirit Does Exist. “… it’s one simple act? of faith…” (“Blessed are those who believe who have not seen…”) “Simple Acceptance = We STOP THE DIVISIONS AND FIGHTING NOW.” "HEAL THYSELF: Stop fighting each other. You don't have to believe what some church tells you. Not if you want eternal life and the Earth HEALED" (said David Ikes, Radio 1, BBC, 18/8/1993).

“Accepting is so… Liberating!”

"Glowing Butterflies Shine With Natural LEDs: … 30 million years old. Glow-in-the-light African swallowtail butterflies essentially have highly efficient LEDs embedded in their wings… Found in computer monitors, brake lights, flashlights, and other electronics, efficient LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) were only recently perfected (?) by humans. But the same basic structures that make the new technology possible—tiny mirror systems and crystals—have apparently been lighting up butterfly wings for millennia… It ‘means that butterflies are smarter than MIT students’" (20/11/2005, www.news.nationalgeographic.com ).

THROW-OUT THE NATURAL BALANCE = A GOD-LESS WORLD! “… it is hanging in the balance…” "…a simple act of faith... is all it takes... a celebration now... or we'll all be dead in the water..." (act means: Doing something.”) "… it's quite an Awakening..." I hope you can follow me…No? It’s too complicated after all the centuries of HEAVY indoctrination? Can't get your heads around it? Don't run amuck, slaying each other again! OK? (“So many have died on the altar for ‘freedom’….” “All these people willing to throw their life away for nothing!”) That’s been DONE TO DEATH. Q: “What are WE praying for?” A: “NEW HOMES. A BETTER WORLD…” “… it can’t happen by itself!” Don’t you understand? “… it’s the greatest work a man can do…” “Oh to hell with it?” “The men on the ground… lay down their lives. The most tremendous acts of bravery. “For God’s sake, kill me!” “Death to all those…” How many more DEATH scenes will we see? “The abandoned women and children…” “This man is dead. Only his spirit remains.” “What was it all for?” “I don’t know.” Betrayals. Dead friends. THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE DONE. “Light/en up as if you have a choice…” Don’t fight it. Don’t you want to ride in it? Get inside it? Love is no mystery- it’s the one thing I know for sure…” “… it will put a smile on YOUR face…” TRY THIS: Think of this ENERGY as being an energy like the wind... The wind is a natural energy. How many different names are there for the wind? 20? How many different ways are there to describe the wind? "The wind blows..." "The wind was like a giant..." You are describing one, powerful, Natural energy- the same energy. Do YOU understand now? "You might as well face it... " "… it's CALMER..." “How to effect good Karma between…?” (Karma = “Do good things & good things will happen for you.”) "Keep on praying for it. Whatever gets you back HOME..." An Atheist = "I can't make head nor tail of it." ATHEISM: “Disbelief in the existence of God; godlessness. I cannot concede to the belief there is

“ALL THE NON-BELIEVERS: For those who do not believe in God, heed this: "God is in Heaven. You are not." “Do it and you’ll see God does exist.” "Evidence exists there is an unidentified energy... There is a web of matter or an energy field of a type which cannot be measured directly using present knowledge... (Russian developed- not a recent science) Kirilian photography shows an energy field... a Bio-Energy flow Scientists still cannot explain this aura... called The Nth Energy... It is linked to HEALING, Telepathy..." “I’m soul sick. Can it fix that?” (“THEIR TRUE COLOURS”: Medical and criminal science (politics) (marriages etc) could greatly advance if Kirilian photography was used in physical and spiritual diagnostics- the colour of the aura changes according to the level of well-being EG. a highly creative person has long white / golden light auras emanating from their fingers... A diseased area shows as a dull/ed colour… You can see the state of the person’s body and spirit…) (also see: ‘The Colour of Truth’ a book by S. T. Manning).

TELEPATHY: “… it’s also called having a “sixth sense.” “THERE IS A COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUS. No-one can say that it doesn’t exist” (said a scientist, BBC24, One-to-One, 22/12/2004) (“A psychic unity of Mankind…”) “Life is a puzzle- it’s pieces blown apart…” “Life is not the chaos it seems.” “Things do not happen randomly. There IS an exquisite pattern in the overall design…” “…it’s not beyond our understanding…” “Things happen for a reason, right, but sometimes we just can’t make any sense of it so we push it away- just let it go, but sometimes everything comes clear, everything we learnt comes 630

the god/s happy / when God angered i.e. transgressed against = God wants spilt blood? Ugh! How horrible! CRAZY! GOD does NOT want blood offerings! People kill, weep and bleed... to make God HAPPY? Cheerful songs would make God happy! The MAD belief there is nothing wrong in sacrificing LIFE! The blood(y) shed must go on? "... a sacrifice of sweet smelling odour..." interpreted as: Blood! Kill! Knives at the ready… WRONG! Surely we are being advised to STOP using foul smelling substances we think pleasure us EG. petrol, but in reality cause us more pain and suffering- if we give up these, a pleasant smelling substance will reap bountiful wonders! The confusion re: the word: 'Altar.' People built a sacrificial table... on which to slay their victims (i.e. slaves, children, animals).Surely this word should read: ALTER meaning: CHANGE (FILTHY ways)! Profit Or Prophet? No doubt people will say: “What about our profit? The only thing that will change will be our profit!” Whilst they are sitting there hoping it doesn’t happen… "In olden days, (the Middle Ages) women of wisdom, who practiced healing, were most feared by the church, who labelled them 'heretics' (i.e. anyone who does not conform to church doctrine). HERESY: "Heretics paid with their lives." The church labelled heretics as 'witches' and started 'witch hunts.' “The word ‘Witch’ is a Christian product of fear. They used the label to murder people of the crafts. The murdered Herbalists, Bone setters, Animal callers, Dowsers, midwives, healers, potion makers, etc., and called them Witches because of a rotten translation of the old testament where Witch was placed in translation of a Hebrew word that translated correctly as sorceress…” Burning the healers at the stake, and drowning people." (If you drowned you weren't a witch... if you floated- you were...) “There were good and bad ‘witches’...” (“Luckily, scientific fact is not heresy!”) "COMMON SENSE is the heresy of all Heresies." Because: "The truth will set YOU free." "Modern medicine started with the church, which took over from the village healers and became 'the people's doctor.' Latin used (to name body parts), as Latin was a language used throughout the world. (“Pharmacy institutionalised 1841.”) Latin then taken off the curriculum. Latin is now ‘a dead language’ (causing many potential doctors to turn away from studying medicine. Latin is off putting / too hard / boring to learn...)

together- we get the message…” “EXTRA SENSORY PERCEPTION: The collective unconscious.” “We all have a bit of psychic potential- intuition…” “Science goes to great lengths to always dispute the paranormal.* There are many fakes who profess to be able to tell your fortune…” (*Science can’t admit they’re in the dark). “ALL Religions Declare: Light is divine… The truth about Light = The truth about everything = Light and Truth go together = Understanding light… could change everything!” (BBC4, Light Fantastic, 23/12/2004).

"... 'Faith in Nature' is a group that brings together all religions..." (1989) “All cultures have links…” “The Koran recognises Mary and Jesus…” (mentioning it how many times?) "THE HINDU FESTIVAL OF LIGHT: Diwali. 'We'll go for it! We'll celebrate light! Better than cursing the darkness. We get together, forgive everyone. We sing, dance.' Lots of light bulbs, fireworks..." “Diwali: The Garden of Light, to remember the young and old, rich and poor, to show homage…” Hindu Belief: “The animals & birds are the other spirits struggling towards Nirvana- the place of Heavenly peace…” “… an immortal light hid from our eyes…” “… the light will show the way to Holy salvation. May your love become perfect…” “GOD IS LOVE.” GOD = The Environment: God dwells in the Trees, Rivers, Mountains, Sky, all creatures… GOD is Divine, Super-Strong, Eternal, Pure. GOD = Creation. GOD IS Highly Intelligent. Wise. True. Merciful… GOD = NATURAL ENERGY (bright, Golden light). “May your God be / go with you…” “May your God bless you.” “May the spirits protect you and make you into a great Human Being.”

BIBLE STUDIES: (All quotes ref:

The New World Scriptures). The Old Testament (The Holy Scriptures): "A fascinating political study applicable to those (ancient) times..." (You need to read between the lines, don’t take every word for granted…) "Translated many times..." “400 different authors” means: "The Good Book" is an interpretation. (Not known who originally wrote 1,500 years ago). “Has religion LOST something in TRANSLATION?” EG. The word 'sacrifice' not interpreted as: "Do not be Greedy" but interpreted to mean: Kill life, to appease ‘God's’ relentless appetite for bloodfor salvation! Sin offerings are necessary to make

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God i.e. salvation… Simply, an inner experience in life? Life - a nightmare, until you hear God's voice... Life is tragic, but at the same time beautiful. A central experience- it changes everything!" “Jesus built a bridge to Heaven…” "THE ACTUAL WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST (early Christianity) labelled 'Heresy'! Church scholars today say: 'That material considered rubbish in the 2nd century, still rubbish now.' Rubbish !? Agnostics want the Church to release that material. Jesus's Teachings = A political necessity. One of the reasons why so long-lived. The Suppression of His words means: A loss." "AGNOSTIC law is important to our civilisation. An Agnostic is one who says: 'I don't believe, I know.' The alien systems we have created are totally alien to God. Agnostics say all you can do is accept what people tell you. The CRISIS of Conscience and Estrangement... Our collective conscience was the same 2,000 years ago... Did a good God create the world full of countless suffering? Agnostics do not blame God! Suffering, sin? All part of the fabric of existence i.e. living without God. Our strange world- our spirit does not actually belong! Without faith, the true message of God remains abstract. Attitudes, distress, and hope, ignorance, unconscious of self... God is preparing us for full consciousnessshowing us the way to our heart..." "People want to compare Agnostic principles with the New Testament - to begin to see how IMPERFECT religion formed; to understand (Christian) tradition. Jesus’ words challenge the Roman Catholic and mainstream Churches who think they have the final word... on all kinds of topical issues today" (1990). THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS: "2000 years old. Publication withheld. Adding to conspiracy theory. We should be able to read them." ("70 rare Hebrew manuscripts have gone missing..." Jewish Chronicle, 6/7/1990). MOSES: "God's 1st son.” (Born approx. 3,000 years before Christ). Homeless: Moses found in a basket… in the bulrushes, on the river Nile, by the queen of Egypt… The king- terrified Moses would usurp him, was persuaded to test the child. He offered Moses the king's crown in one hand, or hot coals. Moses, led by God, chose the hot coals- put hot coal in his mouth- Moses became dumb. (His brother, Aaron spoke for him).” "Moses was against the Master Builders.” Moses saw slaves being whipped. The CUTS all over their backs… “GOD! THEY are NOT KIND to their slaves…” SLAVERY = 'If you don't do this work- you'll starve.' “Slaves live in fear.” Slave-Driver: "Put your backs into it slaves!" Moses said: "Mercy! Blood makes poor

mortar..." "They worship Gold as (their) god! They flaunt the grandest vice!" God said: "I bid you people to make bricks without straw. Until then, bricks shall not diminish...") (see

* SYMBOLIC RELIGIOUS MEANING: (“Bricks without straw! This seemed an impossible task...” (“It would easier to get blood out of a stone...”) “Moses killed a guard to save a slave. Moses was punished. Exiled. He wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Moses became a shepherd, a Nomad... God spoke to him… God said he had heard his people cry…” "Deliver us from bondage!" “Lord, deliver us the promised land!” Moses became the leader of the Hebrews. "Trying to force people to like what they don't likeit's not on." "We've tried to escape but none of us have made it - we're too afraid. Whatever they want- we do. We're in their power. Haven't the courage to fight back. Don't know how." ("To a condemned slave, it could make all the difference between life, or death on the spikes...") HOW SLAVES YEARN TO BE FREE! “God, I will deliver my people from slavery” said Moses. Moses became a political agitator... Moses said: "You! Master builder, shall not muddle the art. How can you have peace when our people's blood is spilled? ... Jewels offer no warmth! ... Hear God's word and obey! God is not flesh but spirit. I know His light is inside you... Be sure your sin will find you out." The cruel slave-drivers (Pharaohs) said: "Quit rebelling. You're here to work, not to think, not to talk. If the schedule's too tight, don't sleep. It's useless trying to defy me. Put your backs into it. By the sweat on their brow… I want to build an Empire… Moses is mad. Let him rave...” “The waters shall run red with blood..." There were terrible plagues, famines, riots.. Eventually, Moses was told: “Take your people and go…” The slaves were set free. The former-slaves said: “Now it’s clear… we can smile…” “Now the Nomads are free and happy, they can live with dignity…” NOMADS: "Traditionally, tribes of free roaming people, with their animals, wandering to find pasture. Nomads live in tents made of goat’s skins… They have donkeys / camels to carry heavy loads, flocks of sheep and herds of goats. These animals give them meat to eat and milk to drink. The Nomads use the wool and skin for clothes, carpets. Water is very precious in the desert…" MARY, JOSEPH AND JESUS were Homeless: "NO ROOM HERE" (only a crib in a stable for a bed...) Jesus = “There was NO ROOM for this little one…” ("The Journey of the Magi: ...A cold time we had of it. The weather sharp. The very dead of winter... Yemen).

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using the slaves; this led to conflict and turmoil...." "Our prisons are full." "He's a slave- a runawayan outcast." "Take the prisoners. Slaves, you'll remain. You'll be crucified. I will have my own way." "Why are they fighting?" "Same reason as always- for the freedom of the people..." "It doesn't work- badly using people." "My desire for vengeance…" "Don't make it any worse!" "The rivers of blood..." "At least we showed them there is no buying us." ("You still don't see it, do you?") "When slaves say 'no' that's the wonder of it. To hear them sing! They fight, then they die. By fighting they won something- their pride, but they were afraid all their lives- they could only spit in the eye of those that commanded so cruelly- keeping them chained, buying and selling the people as though they were flies- worth nothing more than machines to do their majesty's dirty work..." This SAGA, on and on, throughout man’s history - a nightmare! "What do you pray for?" "I pray that my children will be born free! It strengthens my resolve..." "Humorists burned whilst Rome fiddled." "Nero fiddled whilst Rome burned." JESUS: God's 2nd son. A prophecy told of a child who would replace the king. Jesus viewed as a threat i.e. as a leader of (another) potential uprising of the people who were against the Roman Empire – the fear of ‘a revolutionary stirring up people…” “The king had 1,000's of babies butchered. But Jesus escaped…” Jesus exposed HYPOCRISY: Jesus said: "I have come to fulfil the Law, and add to it." Jesus contradicted Rome's Monetary policies: Jesus went among the money-lenders in the Temple, over turning dealer’s tables, describing them as "an abomination." This was the only time Jesus displayed anger. JESUS WAS AGAINST ALL VIOLENCE: EG. The way Romans fed Christians to the lions. EG. A traditional form of execution was to dig a pit and sink the person in, and throw stones at the head. Jesus tried to break the cycle of violence. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Jesus said: “We are all God's children…” Jesus wanted people to LOVE one another. Jesus CARED. Jesus = LOVE. Loveable. "A deep, saintly heart.” “A magnificent Human Being." Jesus = GOOD deeds. Jesus was a (miraculous) HEALER. Jesus = God’s power over disease… WALK ON WATER = "When you are feeling on top of it all..." = Weightless... Jesus tried to teach love and charity. Jesus advised people not to hoard wealth - to stop them worrying about how to secure their wealth, the

lying down in the melted snow... there were times we regretted... the night fires going out... the lack of shelters... the villages dirty and charging high prices... exceedingly dangerous... through the black tents - a nation of thieves and cut-throats... the hills of robbers..." Poem, by T. S. Eliot). MARY: (The Madonna): A virgin. Not to be defiled by man. A symbol of love and purity. Dressed in blue. “People have a huge affection for Mary Jesus’s Mother. Wise, loving, merciful and forgiving. The epitome of what a good Mother should be like…” (“Tenderness is a by-word to a mother.”) “Mary tries to cleanse the Earth…”: "Hold her in your memory, and begin to make the shadows disappear..." "There to comfort and guide you through trouble and strife..." "When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom 'let it be, let it be'..." (‘(Let it Be’ was voted ‘The UK’s favourite song’ in 1997?)

(America’s ‘Madonna’: "I'm just a material girl..." (“The spiritual world is more than the material…) (Ah! You hope it will materialise? How can it be? How can it be? ) ROMAN TIMES: "No. Rome was not built in one day..." "The Romans were very powerful people. They conquered many lands, Bible lands too.” (Throughout history, invaders came to rape and pillage. Always a big problem: How best to deal with interlopers?) “Rome invested in gold…” “The Romans… developed and installed glass in their windows…” "The lands became known as the Roman Empire. The Romans ruled very strictly..." "Slaves were made to entertain their masters. In Rome, dignity cost you your life. Slaves had no option. Either do as we say or be killed straightaway. The dead remains of men litter the landscape. 'Your only purpose in life is to die.' 'You water the swine'..." "Each part of the Empire had a governor. The Roman army was very strong... Battle Tactics = Cut, cut, cut. "I'll cut you up real bad." Soldiers armed with swords, spears and shields. Virtual suicide. The extravagance of the period! Ostentatious architecture... Lot's of pomp. 'Yes, your magnificence...' Roads built so their armies could travel quickly, and to bring produce to the towns..." "All roads lead to Rome." "Farms were of fundamental importance. The wealth of the country provided the wealth for the towns. Vessels for carrying oil... The pattern of trade? Most firms employed less than a dozen slaves. Camps for ordinary, resettled people..." "Slaves were cheap. The rich enlarged their estates (1990)

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value of their land because they had to pay money in taxes. Jesus told them to give money to the poor…” (“The HAPPIEST people are those with the least possessions.”) Jesus said: "… it is for each of you to choose." Jesus said: "Suffer little children to come unto me" (means: You will unfortunately suffer until you come round to GOD’s way of thinking and change your BAD ways). Jesus said: “… TURN THE OTHER CHEEK…” Interpreted As: If you are struck on one side of your face, offer your aggressor, the other side of your face. (More accurately: To be beautiful, look away from aggression, don’t sink into evil- then you hear the Heavenly harp - it’s MUSIC plays! Santa Maria! A noble act, most truly felt… Only the successful enter that portal i.e. the entrance or gateway to something…) (Ah! The Pearly gates…) Jesus said: "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Interpreted as: “Jesus built a bridge to Heaven…” Q: Why did Jesus weep? A: “Jesus felt and expressed the emotions of the people.” Jesus said: "Are you without perception like them?" Jesus spoke about the sewer system... (Mark 7:17). (The time was known as: "Sigh and Cry…") His Disciples "... began to question the illustration..." (Was Jesus a designer of Affordable Homes!?) What was Jesus trying to warn people about? Jesus, sitting on The Mount of Olives... (OLIVES = OIL…) detailed the ONCOMING CALAMITY: “Wars, food shortages. Earthquakes are a sign there is Wickedness (EVIL) in the world...” Jesus said: "... just as the days of Noah, they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away..." But Jesus Reassured His Disciples: "See that you're not terrified... " Jesus said: “SPREAD THE WORD… This GOOD NEWS will be preached in all the inhabited Earth... ... My words will by no means pass away..." Jesus was A TRUE martyr: “Jesus accepted His fate. Jesus sacrificed Himself, to SAVE The PEOPLE. Jesus explained the atrocity against Him would make people want something new…” Jesus was betrayed by Judas for 30 pieces of silver (money) (Judas then lost his mind). Jesus was captured by soldiers and accused of blasphemy by the High Priest of the Temple. “Jesus even forgave Judas…” “This is the Messiah who can cure the sick? He is an impostor. No more than a beggar from the wretched rabble…” Jesus said: “Do not be afraid of the truth about

God. The truth will come from the Father…” “… it has begun” said His mother, Mary. Jesus was TORTURED terribly by soldiers – (whipped, beaten, punched, kicked, spat at, denied food and water…) His poor body covered in 100’s of CUTS. Jesus bled, and bled… Jesus was ‘crowned’ with a wreath of thorns…(the extent of the suffering Jesus endured, depicted in: Film: The Passion of the Christ).

Jesus was forced to carry (a weighty burden) (the instrument of his torture - in the form of) a HEAVY, massive cross of WOOD up the hill… Jesus was paraded so His followers witnessed his ordeal, to keep them in fear i.e. to stop any uprising. The Romans were very cruel to people who believed in Jesus. Therefore, no-one could stop the soldiers. The DRUNKEN SOLDIERS enjoyed their work. Jesus was CRUCIFIED (by the Romans). NAILS were smashed through His hands and feet. (Oh God! NO! Not nails!) Jesus was bound / tied to the Wood. Then Jesus was hung by His arms… The soldiers mocked: “Where is your God now? Why doesn’t he save you?” (Ah! They didn’t UNDERSTAND…) (Ah! You see! You behave as brutish animals. You are really not ready for it yet..) (Jesus = "God created himself as a man who would suffer all the tribulations of being a man, to demonstrate what it is like to be a Human Being… i.e. now do you see / understand how WRONG your leaders are? This is how they MISTREAT GOD.") (“A time of cruelty is a time to understand.”) Jesus said: "Father, FORGIVE them for they know not what they do." One soldier eventually tried to end his terrible suffering by stabbing Jesus. Jesus said: “… it is accomplished” just before he died (i.e. God’s mission). After Jesus (physically) died… Jesus re-appeared (in the flesh) and said: "I am the light..." "Behold, I AM ALIVE FOREVER more..." (Jesus miraculously resurrected… so people could be sure Jesus was the TRUE Messiah) (so none could doubt it…) Jesus = “I am the star that keeps shining so brightly. I will still be with you…” 634

historically recorded. Some believe Jesus was black. Some believe Jesus is a fable, a myth spurned by the Church..." (1990). EXPERT: “If we’re all God’s children, what’s special about Jesus?” “Christ is thy strength and Christ thy right. Christ is it’s life and Christ it’s love. Lift up thine eyes and seek His face. Life with it’s way before us lies. He and His mercy will provide…” CHRISTMAS = ”To celebrate the birth of Christ – the saviour of the People.” “It’s about a BABY being born and how that baby saves the world, isn’t it?” “… star of wonder, star of light. Guide us to your perfect light…” Christmas 2004: “They sold me a ‘dream’… Now we’re all doing cold turkey…” EASTER: “…when Christ rose from the dead...” (means: “… it’s a new beginning…”) "Now commercialised. Easter now means: 'Death by Chocolate.' People spent £150 million on 117,000 tons of chocolate treats. Sad. Chocolate causes tooth decay, migraines, heartburn... but chocolate may be comforting as this contains an anti-depressant" (UK, 13/4/1990) (GUT ROT: “…ingested sugar rots teeth and guts…”)

Jesus = “Have a little faith in me…” “… in a power that can’t be seen…” = “Jesus is in my heart…” = “Jesus gives us the loving power…” JESUS = “Here I stand, with Everlasting love, right by your side. Love will grow with my eternal love…”= “I know Jesus is alive forever…” Jesus = “When your dreams have ended, REMEMBER ME. Time can be transcended…” “JUST BELIEVE!” WHAT LED TO THE ROMAN’S DOWNFALL? “Rome – invested in gold…” “Ignoring Jesus’s warnings of Armageddon…” “Many things did. Especially, the fact they got over ambitious. They wanted control of the trade lines across the Sea... so they built cities near the coast in the Mediterranean where there were rich, fertile lands... but they chopped the TREES down, causing rivers to carry the top soil down to the ports- thus RUINING the Environment..." (Ref: Dr. Iain Stewart, BBC Open University) ("Ponchos Pilot washed his hands of it, let it drift on, and on...") "BIBLICAL PLAGUES… Only 2 toilets in Jerusalem were discovered by archaeologists. Scientists from the Thames Water Board investigating sewage found..." (31/4/1994). “POMPEII- the world’s most licentious city: Destroyed By ‘the Wrath of God’: 18 Centuries ago, Rome was mistress of the world. Pompeii- a vast treasure house of art and luxury- the resort of the wealthy patricians of Rome- a city of 30,000 souls, built at the base of Mount Vesuvius, sank to ruin- the volcano suddenly threw up a mighty cloud, followed by a storm of burning dust, boiling lava- an overwhelming torrent of red-hot stones. Over a 50 mile area, the sky was blotted out. The eruption was accompanied by torrential rains, by Earthquakes and tidal waves, so that those who fled the city found no escape… For 3 days & nights the blazing volcano flung fiery hail upon the city, burying every living thing, every building and monument… converting the dead into statues… in 1709, Herculaneum- the sister city was buried in the same fatal hours…” “CLEAN THE EARTH OF WICKED people, then by removing sickness and death…” “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GOD. God can do anything, just like that!” “JESUS = Understand the cross… (on the hill i.e. the obstacle we have to get over)

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: THE SECOND COMING: The NEW Millennium = "Period of Christ's future reign on Earth. A future Age of peace and prosperity.” “Christ's message will be repeated…” ”The one with right comes..." PREDICTED: "A time thought to coincide approx. with the year 2,000." "There will be an exciting happening in the future- we will be told about it." "A chastisement. People will scoff at it." PEOPLE SAID: "Let's hope they know the right time when it comes" (UK, 1989). THE SECOND COMING = “Behold, the power of GOD…” Therefore: "WE ARE WAITING for a MIRACLE…" (“If we could resolve some of these issues that would be working miracles…”) THE MILLENNIUM: 1/1/2000: Should have been THE GOOD defining moment in man’s History. Something really special should have been put in place to signify the END of man’s cruelty. “… it’s SHOW TIME!” No way to. I was unable to do anything about it because the competition to come up with the most appropriate way to commemorate Jesus celebrate the millennium, was restricted to the under-25’s. Such a shame! Folk were not allowed any opportunity to suggest an ALTERNATIVE. “MAKE it REAL!” it could have been made good and ready for when that wonderful day came... it could have been shown in London - it could have been put in place all over the world. But that

(“… it’s a problem that is as old as the hills...”)

“Oh, sweet Jesus. I will remember your prayer in the bleak mid-winter… in a time of snow…” (means: “When all else fails, in the darkest hour, I will remember Jesus…” "Some people doubt Jesus ever lived. Some argue Jesus was born 2 centuries earlier than 635

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significant day passed (stolen by the Conservatives). In its place: Fireworks, a massive tent (sited in London's Docklands), a mere theatre for clowns). Plus other monoliths: London’s (shakey) Millennium bridge… Things have gone wrong- but worst of all - the principles Jesus tried to teach the world cannot be put into effect. A (JEWISH) MAN SAID: “We’ve been waiting for all our lives for the Messiah. When do you think he will come? This place is hardly the Garden of Eden. Oh well. What is a home anyway? We have been forced out many times and so were our forefathers…” HOME: “Place of origin, and a goal - a destination to a rightful place…” ”A comfort zone.” THE SECOND COMING: "Don't worry about it. It'll come along. It will happen soon." "The song will begin again, once 2000 years have gone by, to the sound of a baby's cry.” WAH! “And the whole world will know why…" "I don't understand it!" “A lot of people are very confused about it.” Ah! They don't understand me.” "I heard you calling..." "Due to TORTURE... He's back!” “... in CRISIS..." "Unconventional Wisdom = BE PART OF A (THIS) MIRACLE.” SPITTING IMAGE: A TV comedy: Depicted Jesus as an unemployed, drug-taking Hippy (October 1992) (Hippy / Jesus = Long hair…”Jesus loved organic food…”) MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT it: "He'll come again. He'll walk in the door, his body looking better. He'll look into my eyes. All he has got to do is smile. And there will go all my defences..." PREDICTED: “He’s going to come back and WAKE the dead.” (Just think about it!) PREDICTED: “… another man is what you’ll see, who looks like you and looks like me, & yet somehow He will not feel the same - His life caught up in misery, He does not think like you and me cos He can’t see what you and I see…” "THE MESSIAH SYNDROME: ... Many end up in psychiatric hospitals. 200 'messiahs' a year! Cases often referred to the police..." (Jerusalem, 22/3/1993) (Also happening in other countries EG. America…) STIGMATA: "The true Messiah will have the marks of the crucifixion." "What is important is not the ability to show suffering but the ability to HEAL. God heals for a purpose not a party trick!" (29/4/1994) (Ah! You are expecting Jesus to reappear? Perhaps as he was i.e. still bearing the burden for man? So Jesus can impart more words of God’s wisdom... because you still need to understand the meaning of God, to enlighten minds, greatly unburden lives and uplift troubled spirits? Did Jesus not suffer enough? Jesus should

come back and go through all that again !? Jesus came to Earth and He was crucified! "God sent you an Angel but it's not good enough?" Our saviour endured all that pain once - was that not enough? Do we honestly believe Jesus, in the dark times we are now in, Jesus could even reach a podium? Long before the stage was set, our controllers would swoop, cuff Him, rapidly despatch Him, under the cloak of secrecy and darkness, to a cell in a maximum security prison. Once discredited EG. with mental illness, He would have no chance of ever saying a single word that people would ever listen to. NO. God has already given us Jesus- His precious, beloved son… Such a diabolical spectacle will not happen again. “He wont fall for the same tricks twice…” (THEY THINK it’s ALL OVER, BBC, November 2004) (“They think it’s all over, but it might not be…”) (“… it’s only over, when it’s over.”) "The Second Coming will be something different..." “Is it a boy or a girl?” (“… it’s neither!” “A boy or a girl is not an ‘it’!” This time it is not a person). (That means, they’ll probably crucify it). “Oh, I get it now…” “Who am I to tell you?” “I’m a very lonely man. My feet are on the ground. I’m doing what I can. I think I understand. We’re going to keep growing – wait and see…” "Is there a Higher force at work here?" “Some sort of divine intervention because we hoped something would show up?” (“How many coincidences do you believe in?”) (Something made me do this. Something helped me… (I believe my late-father guided me…) (Also, it may help you to know…) ("I know this kid, who had this strange vision"): 1985: I was somnambulant- trying to rest… the room was warm and full of sunlight… gradually… an Angel appeared beside me… The Angel was ALIVE! The (pure) white, soft, feathered wings were long- tapered almost to the ground. The wings were moving – lifting, wafting… ever so slightlyand as they did, I could feel the air move… the wings had a strange, dry (bird-like?) smell – and were (slightly) powdery! The Angel was real. And yet, what I was seeing was, somehow, just an image (transmitted how, I don’t know!) The Angel emanated (golden, yellow, white) light... (The image? of) the Angel was so large, it did not fit in the room… somehow I knew the Angel reached up into the sky! (Or came from the sky?) (Did other people see the Angel? I know other people have said they have seen Angels but drawings of wings are wrong…) This Angel wore leather sandals... I studied these. The sandals were beautifully crafted, ancient – yet so well looked after636

preserved... The Angel was... so beautiful! I just felt deep love for the Angel. The Angel did not speak, just somehow made it clear what the message was. This was the ANGEL of CHRIST. The Angel Came To Earth To Confirm: Christ is RESTORED, Thanks to the Divine Grace of God. Christ is Immortal. Christ does watch over us. Christ is our Guardian. The Angel of CHRIST also appeared to make it clear it is for each of us to do. (THIS IS ALL PERFECTLY TRUE). Do you not know what ‘it’ is? ("THE TRUTH no-one wants to hear" ? “The Truth: It’s often hard to find. It brings you into the light, showing you wrong from right…”) "I have it on very Good Authority..." "... something is coming..." The Angel’s Message was: “SAVE THE EARTH FROM DESTRUCTION.” PEOPLE SAID: “We’re late! For a very Important date…” PREDICTED: "God will punish the Earth - before the year 2000? Those who do not believe in God will be wiped out?" ("… it will cleanse the Earth of all sin...") “People do not understand this, therefore... many scholars etc., are looking for a rational explanation: God does not want us to suffer. HELL = HORROR! HEAVEN = No more pain, no more tears?"

achieve... This Book = HOW To Change Our World... to make GOD's promise come true. “I guess it is up to you. How do YOU feel about it?” “It’s our World… and we’re going to take it back” ? “It’s crazy! HOW can we?” HOW can we make God’s promise come true? How will it happen, PEACEFULLY? (“… it will come to me…” “I’ll have a little talk with Jesus…” Ah! yes. “If you have access to other people, power and influence, request healthy change to help all the people who are waiting for it to be viewed seriously…” THE MESSIAH = “… & He shall reign FOREVER and ever, Hallelujah…” EVIL: The Devil Destroys Lives! "... the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked / evil one..." (i.e. The Devil). (Evil is Live spelt backwards). “DO NOT UNDER-ESTIMATE THE POWER OF EVIL.” "The Devil wants you to destroy yourself." The Devil is BAD - evil. The Devil can make you do really BAD things. “The Devil wants your soul.” “FIRE sustains the Devil.” “What made the Devil?” Greed, hatred, anger… (“St. Michael cast the devil out of paradise…”) “The devil is a loser…” Now, the Devil is BACK! With vengeance. "SATAN IS GROWING STRONGER EVERY DAY... and folks don't know it..." “Devil Worship: Blood Letting, to appease the Devil. Is a regular occurrence." "SATANISM: (Devil Worship) involves robbing victims of identity, usually using a drug- destroys brain cells, and victim loses memory so no longer knows who he / she is. Becomes a 'human animal', only fit enough only to obey orders but no more. Are walking corpses, separated forever from their loved ones." "Do you LOVE your fellow man?" "Do you value your IMMORTAL soul?" ("... it is GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL…”) "Most people do nothing for their soul." “You are soul-less = You don’t value it” (it means: your soul). “The rich are poor in spirit.” "Hell and Damnation are not words to be taken lightly." “Satan’s ‘greatest’ trick is convincing the world he doesn’t exist.” "The Devil is ‘the King of LIES." (OCCULT SIGN: A Pentagram) (Not The Pentagon). "Evil is seductive..." "He who carries on with the Devil is sinning..." "SIN is lawlessness. Sin is a violation of GOD's LAW. GOD’s PERFECT STANDARD. Everyone

(Network First, ITV, 29/4/1994).

"THIS IS A TESTING TIME" (means: it concerns: GOD's PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE i.e. THIS is the Time in our history for when GOD promised the People PEACE, Prosperity and Happiness. God promised the people it will come to fruition.

☺

“… it will be a time of HAPPY government…” The trouble is- most people don’t know about it… or what time this is!” “… it HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN BY MANY PEOPLE...”: “... the water, the food was all put here by GOD, for people to ENJOY, for FREE." “FREEDOM was Our Gift from God.” "GOVERNMENTS HAVE TAKEN AWAY BASIC FREEDOMS…" ("Money-men have taken over the water…") (That is not God's fault!) “In our souls we are waiting for HAPPINESS. “We are all waiting…” GOD is waiting.” HAPPY? What does that mean? Happy means: “How do you feel about where you are?" “I’d certainly feel much happier if we could be at peace with our Lord.” "... it will be good to find serenity..." (“Remember, happiness is a journey not a destination.”) “THE AGE OF AQUARIUS HAS YET TO DAWN…” This is WHAT we NEED to do to 637

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that, in 1995, Steve Jackson knew the entire plan of the Illuminati. They know that, after Antichrist arises, 10’s of millions of people worldwide are going to be taken in … the Illuminati has already spun the lie that will explain this event to their followers… This role-playing card game is PROOF… too many details are presented in these cards too close to the actual event to be accidental. If ever you doubted that a global conspiracy could or did exist, you can doubt no longer. This game demonstrates both the existence of the conspiracy and its main details. Are you spiritually ready? Is your family? Are you adequately protecting your loved ones? This is the reason for this ministry, to enable you to first understand the peril facing you, and then help you develop strategies to warn and protect your loved ones…These perilous times are also a time when we can reach many souls for Jesus Christ, making an eternal difference… Once you accept Him as Saviour, you are spiritually Born Again, and are as assured of Heaven as if you were already there. Then, you can rest assured that the Kingdom of Antichrist will not touch you spiritually…” (ref.

who practices sin, also practices lawlessness." “To say ‘it’s all MINE,’ is a SIN.” (“To despair is a sin.”) How do you fight EVIL? With Light! Lots of

Light… “Get thee behind me, Satan…” YOUR CHOICE: Are YOU going to be Good, or Bad ? Are YOU a Human Being, or a 'human animal' ? Who is your leader? Who do you listen to? What do you believe in? Good or Bad? "The Devil May Take You" = "Some men have no vision." TYPICAL ATTITUDE: "We don't know what we're doing here. We'll carry on regardless. Stupid really..." THE ANTICHRIST: “In 1990, role-playing inventor, Steve Jackson, was planning his newest game, which he would ultimately call the "Illuminati - New World Order" Game… a game that would hit very, very close to the actual plan of The Illuminati to propel the world into the New World Order - also known as the Kingdom of Antichrist. 3 of Jackson’s playing cards foretold the events of 9/11, (other cards) predict future events just ahead of us… the last 2 events the Bible foretells will occur during the final birth pangs that will produce Antichrist. How did Steve Jackson know the Illuminati Plan so precisely? In fact, he knew the Plan so exactly he got a surprise visit from the Secret Service, who tried their best to shut him down and prevent him from publishing his game… The Rapture card shocked me greatly. The RAPTURE is something the Born Again Christians are aching for, not the Illuminati… an article I posted nearly 5 years ago, entitled, "The Rapture of the Church May Be Close, and Both Sides Are Waiting For It." … Occultists are also looking forward to the Rapture… Beginning in 1987, 'Guiding Spirits' of key New World Order leaders began to inform these leaders to START preparing… for a spectacular Global event… What was this spectacular event to be? These 'Guiding Spirits' explained, when The Christ appears, there will be many people throughout the world that could never accept his views or his teachings. These people would prove to be a ‘great’ obstacle in the way the New Age Christ wanted to move the peoples of the world… These 'Guiding Spirits' said, to suddenly snap these people into another dimension… these recalcitrant people would be retrained in spirit, so that, when they reenter the 'Reincarnation Cycle', they will be fully persuaded as to the merits of the New World Order… when these people get back to Earth in reincarnated bodies, the New World Order will have been in full swing for several 100 years, and everyone will know then how ‘wonderful’ the system of The Anti-Christ is! The Rapture card depicted this… David Icke, speaks volumes about the fact

www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1753.cfm ).

Ah! “To you HAPPINESS is just an illusion. Your world is crumbling down…” Ah! “… the war on disorder…” Illuminati also known as: ‘Golden Dawn,’ ‘Keepers of the Light’…” The Illuminati are the INVISIBLE government - a secret group of controllers, pulling strings… of world leaders, the media, educational establishments, executives… Neo-Paganism. They enjoy significant advantages… They watch over ‘the truth,’ to manipulate us, based on prejudice…” “THE GROVE: Another ‘skull and crossbones’ organisation… A secret occult, worshipping Satan. Luciferian ceremonies EG. a black altar, cloaks, effigies, demon idols involving a metal symbol of an owl… Black spirituality! Top leaders are members EG. Ronald Regan, Jimmy Carter, John Major, Bill Clinton, G. W. Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger, big bankers, some Royalty i.e. the elite of the wealthy elite. Males only. The Grove govern everything… Political decisions are made here! ‘Death brings life’ belief, with propaganda… (Their aim): A One-World Government… (means:) they want to keep us ignorant… slaves… Hippy (Earth-lovers) protest outside…” (ref. www.info.wars.com View video called: The Order of Death 14/3/2006 By: Alex Jones, on Google) (re: The owl: This is not Moloch).

Q: ‘Is Evil Beating the World?’ A: “GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS: 1. There will be terrible times in the last days.

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2. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy. 3. Without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good. 4. Treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 5. Having a form of Godliness but denying its power… 6. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires. 7. Always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth” (Yahoo Answers, 16/5/2007). “FICTION IS BEING PRESENTED AS FACT, FACT IS BEING PRESENTED AS FICTION. This is deliberate…” (to confuse). “Who raises doubts? The devil?” (ref. The Science of God, 11/1/2007, video:

remember what’s been said by all the good men this world’s ever known…” “See the protestors? Their saddened faces, their anguish unsaid. If only they were to speak these words: “It’s true!” “One day, we’ll dance with the JOY of freedom…” “When the realisation sets in…” “… All the Angels sang for Jesus, the King of ALL the World…” "CAN ANY AFFORD TO DISPENSE WITH THE CREATOR?" God said: "The Heavens are my throne and the Earth is my footstool. Where then is the house that you people build for me and where is the resting place for me?" (Ah! Build a humble abode according to God’s wishes. God needs to rest!) God said: "If any of you are lacking in wisdom... he who doubts is like a wave driven by the wind... indecisive... unsteady in all his ways..." (i.e. "You are OVER-TIRING the Guardian Angel that watches over you.") "GOD needs YOU now more than ever. GOD is true. GOD loves you..." "With GOD all things are possible..." "BUT MAN CONTINUES TO DEFY GOD, and some argue man is doing rather well…" (1990). THE REALITY IS: GOD IS TESTING you, me, us! “… it is a test of skill and patience (like sailing in the wind.”) (“They’ll say ‘life isn’t meant to be plain sailing’…”) God said: "... the error shall be searched for... I have laid a snare for you... you yourself did not know it. For it was against God that you excited yourself..." Interpreted as: "GOD is keeping score..." "What shall we say to these things? If GOD is for us, who will be against us? Who will separate us from the LOVE OF CHRIST?” "EXPERT": "Jesus did not get his priorities right. He only cured people with miracles, creating long queues for a health service, he only fed 5,000 people when millions were starving, then he went off and did something else" (UK, 1991). “’Jesus taught a violent philosophy’ said an overweight church spokesman. Church in USA now taking up guns to protect clergy. ‘To deal with immigrants.’ People who serve the church are increasingly becoming targets. An altar was taken! (Made from Mountain of Olives timber). A reverend was killed in a car park. A Rabbi shot (killed, died in the church!) Sisters muggedthreatened for money” (23/6/1990). “WHY IS EVIL ALLOWED TO EXIST BY GOD? We are told God is omnipotent… all powerful and loving… Why does God therefore not prevent evil? I have not been able to find a satisfactory answer from any source…” Evil emanates from greedy men. God could

www.youtube.com ).

“IF the Devil wins, all the world will come to DARKNESS, and there will be no Humans.” “… Turn around… don’t you see? Without, you can’t get in… the trail is always dark…Don’t you see?... it’s the chance to live your life and discover…it’s what you need…” “Choose the right – its light is forever shining for you, and God will bless you forever more!” “… it’s your chance to think about it…” “Look around you people!” Q: Is there really a spiritual battle going on in this world between light and darkness? A: “Yes. There is a spiritual battle going on for your soul right now. Those who do not accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour are fodder for the devil. Those of us who are protected by the blood are saved, but we are under attack, the devil trying to destroy our witness.” A: “Yes, it has been going on for many millions of years, yet the light will banish the darkness. Weigh it out with light being intelligence and darkness being (the) ignorants. Jesus said, they like the darkness rather than the light. It was said, they have eyes and they can not see, they have ears and they can not hear. God the Creator is the true light. The darkness are spirits that rebel and destroy against the True Light.” A: ”Yes, good and evil exist in this world and they are diametrically opposed to each other. Read the gospel of John- the first few verses. So yes there is a battle going on, a spiritual one at that, that we can't see, but it's there. A battle between light and darkness, good and evil, God and Satan. Let the truth set you free” (ref. Yahoo Answers). “… when angry voices are carried on the wind, a beam of light will fill your head, & you’ll 639

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eradicate evil, by severely admonishing… "We don't know the price we will pay for CHEATING..." "IF we continue to destroy the Earth... GOD could kick away his ‘foot-stool’..." "It's so hard to determine the truth. People believe what they want to believe." "If we LOVE GOD... we will want GOD to be able to rest sweetly. We should do what God wishes us to do..." “We must do what ‘The Good Book’ says, no?” "One must endeavour to find peace with the Almighty." “Evil pays more… Virtue is its own reward… But virtue is… boring?” (Ah! You’ve tried to shake it off…”) “I don’t believe that is true. Mundane is boring. Not being allowed to spend your time working on something that gives honest fulfilment is maddening…” (“Being patient is a virtue.”) God said: "... a pity you were tested and found to be wanting..." "OPERATIONALLY, GOD IS BEGINNING TO FADE…” (1990). "The Son of GOD breaks up the works of the Devil..." "What the Prince of DARKNESS offers you with money, I offer with SKILL…" Do YOU Believe in: “The Holy Ghost?” “Do you know what you are hungry for? Human Rights. Be what you have come here for…” Sooner or later… “Let it be your light in darkness when all other lights go out.” "... it is a MORAL IMPERATIVE." (I believe “… it was meant to be.” “… it is in God’s plan…”) "I hope it wins the hearts of men, women and children throughout the world." "Thank God for it..." “JESUS HAS RISEN!” “What Difference Does That Make?” (Just think - about it.) "Have YOU seen the light yet?" "I've seen the light! 1,000's prayed in a rugby stadium..." (1990). “I’ve got to weigh up the pro’s and cons first.” God said: "The lamp of the body is the eye. If then, your eye is simple…” (means: If you have simple needs “… your whole body will be bright. If in reality ‘the light’ that is within you is...") “Hey! There’s only light inside me!” God said: "No-one can slave for 2 masters, for he will either hate one and love the other. You cannot ‘slave’ for riches AND LOVE GOD. Stop being anxious about what to wear. Observe intently the birds of heaven..." (i.e. birds fly in flocks without crashing... and fly very long distances…) God said: "... it is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness.""... the upright ones are the ones finding it..." (means: Not those who lie / cheat). "God teaches us humility." HUMBLE = MEEK. "A Wise man is Humble."

God said: "The wise one fears and turns away from badness but the stupid are becoming furious and self-confident..." (means: They will say: “…it's just not possible..." “We can’t adapt because of tradition!” “It’s a lost cause.” ( i.e. “… it will come to pass…”) “So, you are denying it?” “PEACE ON EARTH is a mere DREAM to be tossed away like saw dust?” Woe. (“Woe is my middle name…”) “You are walking away from the light…” God said: "Just a little while longer, and the wicked ones will be no more. You will certainly give attention to his place and he will not be." God said: "Whilst man is transgressing against God, man cannot know God." ("... it's the opportunity of a life-time..." “… it’s beautiful…” “Oh! For the beauty for the Earth….” “… listen to what Angels say…”) ("... it is the chance to start over..." means: "If you pull this off, you may just redeem yourselves.") God said: “For though they may be punished… their hope is full of immortality. And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.” "The reward for a good deed... is to have done it." ("... it gives a warm glow...") WHAT is destroying the Earth? GREED (EG. Man's transport, energy and construction systems…) PEOPLE SAID: “How, in God's name, are we supposed to get rid of cars? We depend on cars to get to work, to buy food...” “We idolise / worship our cars...” “There is no task greater, than the power behind you.” God said: "Beware of false idols..." POLLUTION (in the Bible) = The Shedding of Blood: God said: "A city shedding blood till her time comes, that has made dungy idols... I must make you an object of reproach to the nations and jeering to all lands..." "You have robbed GOD of PEACEFUL death…" (i.e. “Death is common to us all but to fear a VIOLENT death, makes death all the worse.”) God said: "... every metal worker shall feel ashamed... his image is falsehood... they are vanity, mockery. They will perish..." (means: Metal will become much less favoured?) God said: "There is no PEACE for the wicked ones..." Re: “SACRED MOUNTAINS”: God said: “They will not do harm nor cause any ruin in all my HOLY mountains. ALL THESE THINGS MY OWN HAND MADE…” God said: “… LIKE THE DAYS OF A TREE, WILL THE DAYS OF MY PEOPLE BE.” (i.e. Cut down trees, people get cut…) (Leave, and 640

Gentile (Biblical Definition) means: People who are not Christians, Jews or Muslims...” (Gentles?) Magnify = Curved glass, lens, Modern optics = Create wonderful changes / enhancements with Light EG rays / beams… God said: "First, let the children be satisfied..."

let live…) “God will save us!” ? “We must save ourselves by doing the things that will PROTECT us..” There is ONE way we can save the Earth... that will give people an ALTERNATIVE, SUSTAINABLE (i.e. AFFORDABLE) (new) way of living, in accordance with GOD's wishes… “God wants us to make His Kingdom on Earth.” “God and sinners reconciled…” ATONEMENT: “Reconciliation of God & man, expiation of sin.” (means: “You could have it all, with my blessing.”) “God gives us hope of a better life.” “God never closes one door without opening another door.” “From the darkest clouds come the greatest transformations.” “DOES SCIENCE ALWAYS RULE OUT GOD AS THE CREATOR? Scientists obsessed by evolution. Professors are not crazy… Professors believe there must be some sort of creator… something else shaping life… intelligence… a Super-Natural power… Intelligent Design! Proven by science, not by religion. An enormous amount of evidence. This is an alternative scientific theory receiving attention from the top… The RC church supported the theory in an article in New York Times (July 2005), breaking the silence. It (i.e. Intelligent Design) is compatible with Catholic faith. Critics say it is going destroy science and religion. Controversial. Theory put on trial in USA. Outcome: ‘Intelligent Design explains nothing. It doesn’t explain anything.’ Who is the designer?” (Horizon, BBC2, 26/1/2006). Q: “Why is it difficult for scientists to find evidence to support a theory of the beginning of life???” A: “Because they can't believe that a divine being created all of this. I'm not trying to argue, but there is so much evidence out there that points towards God. You should read the book 'The Case for a Creator' by Lee Strobel. I'm currently reading it. It is a good book that is all science, and it interviews top scientists, and it shows how their views have changed from being atheistic to more open to the fact that there is a divine creator.” “GOD is not a man! God is Perfect, Pure Energy.” "IF / WHEN we devise pure, clean, safe, natural energy... that will be like finding God. Maybe this will lead us towards a far better understanding of our Creator” (and our transport system). (Ah! Yes, "GOD MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS...") “We are entering a golden age of physics. We need a new belief system…” God said: "The MEEK ones themselves will possess the Earth and they indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace..." "The Divine purpose in it. I speak to you Gentiles. I magnify my office…” (“… it’s a divine building.” “… it’s divine…”)

THIS IS THE TIME WE ARE NOW PREDICTED TO BE IN: “Oh ye of little faith…”

“God will destroy those who are destroying the Earth. God will decide on the basis of who LOVES and UNDERSTANDS Christ (they will be saved). Those who deny Christ (and by so doing, deny God's existence…) (i.e. the ones who disregard God's wishes how we are to look after the Earth, who are causing un-Godly conditions on Earth) they will perish.” God said: "The faultless ones will not be ashamed in the time of calamity..." Interpreted by scholars as: "God is bringing ruin to those that ruin the Earth." Also: "There will be 'The Righteous war' i.e. God selectively destroying the wicked i.e. those who say: 'I'm alright - so long as it doesn't affect me'..." Supposing we fail. The necessary changes do not occur. What then? God said: "... among the nations an outcry itself will be heard... every man has behaved so unreasonably..." (“It’s just your soul crying. Can you hear it?”) God said: "Adroitly you set aside the command of God in order to retain your tradition, which you handed down and many things similar to this you do. Listen to me, all of you, get the meaning..." (God, I never thought it would be so hard to get them to go into the light… “I’m pushing an elephant up the stairs…” Having a baby would be easier than this! At least that would be over in 1 or 2 days! "Just one final push... that's all it needs... just one, last final push...") God said: "I keep looking for a man from among them... standing in the GAP before me, on behalf of the land, in order for me not to bring ruin, and I found no-one. With the fury in my heart I will exterminate them." "The end of it will be by flood. And until the end there will be war. What is decided upon is DESOLATION." "At the end of the world, there will only be piles upon piles of scrap metal." JOKE: "May you rust in peace." “Do you believe in Divine Retribution?” (i.e. punishment) “God’s wrath?” Which ‘vision’ do YOU prefer? Heaven, or Hell? (HELL means you and all that you love burns. Eternally damned…”) "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND HELL is within you” (see: Guilt). 641

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HELL = TORMENT. All I ask is that YOU study this CARE-fully... Or, consign it to the rubbish heap if you must… i.e. “It’s constructive criticism. Accept it, or leave it.” Ah! “Hate it, or love it.” Means: You choose how you spend your days, and nights… “Make of it what you will- it’s your call.” “The only thing for the TRUIMPH of EVIL is for the good men to do NOTHING.” (“Nothing is the opposite to something.”) “I say let God do His thing! Or we’ll be hell-bound…” How to Ensure the Future Survival of Human Beings? Let Us Pray: A (new, updated version of) the Lord’s PRAYER: “Our Father, who art in Heaven, Halo'd… Thy Kingdom Come, May it be done, on Earth, as it is in Heaven... May we Forgive those who trespass against us. May power NOT lead Us into temptation. For GOD is the power and GOD is Glorious, Forever and Ever. The Lord Guides us to Eternal Light and Life. May our Love Be as Perfect.” Ah. Men! “I just wish we could do it right.” “The best way to deal with temptation is put it out of harm’s way…” “SPREAD THE WORD” revisited: You should by now know what the word is, that needs to be fully understood... Pass it on… 2005: “The world is waiting...” "When will it be delivered?" (Ah! We’re waiting for deliverance!) “The seeds for happiness have now been planted and there’s not much anyone or anything can do to uproot them.”

Cruel world’?” “… he wondered if everyone ended this way, overwhelmed with regret…” (“…did they regret not being able to enjoy more of what life has to offer?” “Love is a blind man who sees when he dies?”) “What happens to the souls of the departed?” “Ghosts are caught between this world and the next… unable to let go…” “BLESS THEIR SOULS.” “Maybe they are trying to warn us, or tell us something?” “The memory of love held back is the only pain that follows us there. Remember that all your life.” “Do you know what we have to do so our friends rest in peace?” “We owe it to the dead. Their deaths must count for something…” “If you don’t want all these deaths to be meaningless…” “How can we set their spirits free? By lighting… a candle?” DEATH: “We don’t understand death. Some people see death as a release from the hell on Earth…” “See the worry lines and tension fade from her face…” “Death is eternal darkness” ? “Death is a dark space- a void?” “An everlasting sleep? I will simply cease to be?” “They say people who commit suicide stay in their hell forever…” “If it’s not your time, you can’t fool with the way its got to be.” “Dying is easy to do. It’s living that scares me to death.” “You are a long time in your coffin. You can sleep then. Meantime, I’ve got living to do…” “None of us know how long we’ve got, that’s why we’ve got to make the most of it now…” “Death teaches us our physical bodies are not immortal. When someone dies, it is a time to reflect on your life and wonder if you are getting it right.” “If you only get one go at this life, you’d better make sure you get it right.” “Your spirit leaves the body. Your body dies but your spirit lives on. Each life is a new spirit?” REINCARNATION: “The belief we have previously lived before. Some people recall uncanny details. Regression possible through hypnosis. Most don’t remember because experiences traumatic.” “What if… we were sent here to do a job, until we are ‘recalled’… we (have to) keep coming back until we have each achieved what we were sent here to do?” (That would mean: Our pain is self-inflicted…) (Also, we rarely achieve the desired state... of…?) THETA: There is a school of thought that believes we all belong to a main body of spirit called: Theta, and that our spirits are called: Thetans. This spirit is in all things. Theta knows, sees, understands… Thetans are sent, recalled… a process whereby weak spirits become clear (pure) spirits… NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES: “I (my spirit) was standing away from my body watching- I was

THE CHURCH TODAY: “The Church = Man’s need to inter-act with God.” “Churches have charitable status…” (for Tax purposes). “Our Churches are much loved buildings. Built by the people, for the people, to hear the word of God. People want to hear the clear messages from the Bible EG. The Revelations. EG. Adam and Eve (symbolic: means: Man and Woman coming out of Hell into Paradise, with the power of praying). The Church- the centre of Christian religion and events- exists to show what it is to be a good Christian…” "Sinister, dark, gloomy, beastly churches, seem to be constructed for the dead, not the living!" "I wouldn't like to be stuck in here when the lights go out..." "This place sure looks spooky. Do you think there are ghosts?" GHOSTS: “The spirits of those who have died.” “I wonder what killed them?” (“For what reasons did they die? Tell me why.”) “Their last thought before dying- was it ‘Good-bye 642

completely disinterested in my body. I saw them doing things to me. Leave me alone! I had a great sense of belonging. Then I felt pain. I don’t want to be here! All that pain.” “I can’t stay. I’ve got to get back. I’m needed!” “Suddenly a feeling of panic. I’m not going to go back! No control over it. Being sucked quickly. A feeling of wanting to go to the bright, golden light. Afterwards, I felt cheated, depressed, ungrateful. The other way would have been so much nicer, so much more welcoming...” “I’m glad I didn’t die. But the garden seemed to go on and on forever…” “A timeless state. A mystical experience. A spiritual contact…” “TRADITIONAL CHURCH DOWNPLAYS. Tragic.” “There is something behind this knowledge we don’t understand. It is for us to get into this state in this physical body- get into that higher level of consciousness. It is not for nothing. It flows…” “It is up to us to enhance lifemake it more meaningful (acceptable)” (BBC1,

ANGELS: “… we are on the side of angels…” ? “Do we know what’s right and wrong?” “… I sit and wait… When I feel love is dead, I’m loving angels instead… When I’m feeling weak, I look above & I know I’ll always be blessed… Wherever it may take me, I know life wont break me… I’m loving angels instead” (ref. song by Robbie Williams).

"I believe there are Angels amongst us, sent down to us, from somewhere up above. The answer to our prayers- they come to you, & me in our darkest hour, they greet us with their mercy, in our hour of need, to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with the light of love. When life held troubled times, & had me down on my knees, there's always been someone to come along & comfort me - with just a ray of hope. A kind word from a stranger- to lend a helping hand, a phone call from a friend- to say they understand. Well, aint it funny… that someone lights the way?" (ref. song 'I believe there are angels amongst us' by Alabama).

“Faith? Who can say for certain?” “ … I believe that Angels believe… & that love will love on and will never leave…”

11/7/1993).

“I needed to get it out of my system. It’s on my mind all the time. I need to purge myself of it. I know there’s a bright beckoning place. The ultimate bright light…” GOD = “You’ll meet me on the other side…” ? “Death is a long tunnel- with A BECKONING LIGHT at the end of it?” (That is also what BIRTH is like…) “Experience is self-less. The world is seen as an inter-connected whole…” “I could see you… I was on the ceiling, looking down…” “The similarities in near death experiences all over the world. If there’s nothing, how do you explain that?” TRANSCENDING: Rising up… (“… it has aspirations to reach Heaven…” “… it will uplift you…”) “HEAVEN = God’s beautiful Perfection.” “At the end, love is all we’ve got.” “You don’t take nothing with you, only your soul.” “God is a being… to be feared…” ? “Most of us are worried about dying” (1993) (Ah! ”I want a PEACEFUL death.”) “I want to make the final transition on my own terms.” “When I die I want to go to the place that’s the best…” EUTHANASIA: “… we humanly put animals to sleep to relieve their suffering… Why can’t we assist Human Beings…” “… sometimes a patient is not the best judge…” “I think he’s arrested. Take him to trauma! The crash unit…” “Most people these days die in hospital…” Could we make it easier on ourselves? “Don’t we ALL want to give up this life in PEACE?” “Shouldn’t we be able to kiss it good-bye when our ‘world’ comes to an end?”

“… it’s belief that gets us there i.e. where we want to be, in life, and death…” “The Church imposes control and order on a chaotic world…” "People have to confess, they've made such a mess of their lives..." “,,, in the time it takes to say your 400th hail Mary…” Ah! To be sin-free! “To reach the state of no sin! Imagine the knowledge that awaits! Imagine what we could achieve!” (ref. Film: The Sin Eater). "The Church is a good place to worship the memory and teachings of Christ..." “A Church. This is ‘God’s House’…” "The Church teaches us morality...” ? “The 10 Commandments, give us a code to live by..." "GOD influences our spirituality... " "Spirituality is a lovely thing to have. Some of us have got more of it than others..." "God is patient, caring, protecting, and compassionate. God provides consolation (comfort) during desolation... Unparalleled. Nothing else is like God..." “God = GOOD / ness.” "The Church of God…." (Do the Church really understand… God?) "The Church are serving A HIGHER MORALITY?" “You can’t see God, you can’t smell God, or touch God. Yet an awful lot of money is raised in God’s name…” "Donations are gratefully received." "Please put money in the box on your way out." "When you enter the Temple, you are supposed to give money..." 643

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"We want to build a Church on this green field site, with a leisure centre, to show God how much we worship him..." (UK, 1992). "WE WANT YOUR MONEY to build an edifice..." "A flock have raised £405,000 for a new Church hall in one day. 'It is miraculous' said the vicar, but he added: 'I still need £100,000'..." (Daily Mirror,

We cannot break trusts. It would be immoral and illegal.' Large Land Owner: The Church owns 162,000 acres in Britain (this excludes glebe land & redundant churches in parishes) (and prestigious property abroad). No figures available how many units of housing provided for the poor. 10 developments pending... will be sold privately at full market value..." (27/12/1989) ("The public are shocked.") PEOPLE SAID: "Money is his religion." = "Church is against my religion. What I want is the real thing." "Going against what I feel." "You get on my nerves, that's what." "You're putting down people." "We're the damned." "Oh, give me understanding." "In God we trust." "St. Francis was a good role model..." “The vicar’s alright…” “The priest does his best to help us, but his hands are tied. There’s a limit to what he can do. It must be hard for him…” "AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE: ... the Church has a duty to use resources in a way which is a sign of the commercial and outside world- at the moment the Church is a licence to every developer in the country to do as we do and set aside community interest in the name of maximum profit... He is not suggesting the Church should give land away, but he believes the issue of Homelessness is one the Church must address... The Church is still selling off Church property to the highest bidder, failing tenants, destroying the supply of Affordable housing, and destroying communities by shifting them out of the parish...” "NO ROOM IN THE CHURCH…" (for the Homeless…) "The poor traditionally steal the lead off the roof..." "Churches (with big, heavy wooden doors) now lock their doors to stop the poor people stealing..." (1990) “… locked to stop it being a refuge for the night…” "There'll be no hand-outs here today. Go on! Clear off." “FAILING THE POOR CAUSES LUNANCY…” "The origin of the black gown worn by priests etc., symbolises: 'We have no personal fortune.' The idea is to convey simplicity and comradeship. Show people we remember we are the children of the Almighty. No scoring over neighbours.") "Men of the cloth take prime cuts." "All the colleges that go to make up this life-style..." "The Church is mainly concerned with how can we keep the life-style to which we have become accustomed?" (1990). "Some say the Church is not doing enough to help house the poor- that more could be done if the desire existed. Mick Carroll, of St. Mungo's Housing, which helps the Homeless, said: 'We have some (unused) churches (now) being used to shelter the Homeless- we are planning a psychiatric rehabilitation centre in another, but I'm

27/7/1993).

"A new Temple cost £20 million to build and took 10 years to get the money" (12/12/1993). “The cost to maintain one church is $50,000 a year…” “The cost of HEATING the Church…” “All the intricate workings... the rich icons and paraphernalia made of gold and silver...” “Huge amounts of money- raised via charitable public donations- has been spent repairing / replacing (traditional) Church roofs & building very grand i.e. very costly places to worship...” “GRAND ARCHITECTURE is only grand if you are impressed by opulence.”

"Holy Double Dealing!" "God's representatives on Earth, put on a pedestal, held in high esteem, are above God’s Law?" "(The church are) re-introducing the Blasphemy laws" (May 1990). "The Church sees it as taking power away from the Church..." ("… it is an issue that has never been properly addressed...") "THE CHURCH IS BIG BUSINESS: EG. The Church of England owns property worth £1,330 million, (annual?) income from that worth £53.8 million. Stock market investments £55 million, loans £15.3 million. Wages cost £145 million. £4.5 million spent on maintenance of church buildings. 'We are not allowed to re-direct funds. 644

Hell’ (Damnation)…” “God’s wrath…” If the Church,’ the men of God,’ cannot make a stand against the love of money to help set the world straight, what hope have WE got of ever finding God? PEOPLE SAID: "The Church wont save you. Sad fact." "It is sad so many are interested in God, because no-one in the Church is interested in serving them." "They're running circles round my head- they always want to be 'the King of pain'..." "The rich man in his castle. The Church seems to think that is right!" "Thatcher's breath I know is purity. She's god- the church..." "Let us pray for... Oh, to hell with it." "Let's drink a toast to declining standards (moral squalor.”) "Someone fetch a priest. They can't say ‘no’ to beauty and the beast." "The puppets will give you the illusion, but they wont help you build a home." "We are sick of the killing game- in Jesus's name" (i.e. "The Church EXPLOITS ‘THE MADONNA SYNDROME’ raising money in the name of God, Jesus and Mary..." i.e. raises MONEY (supposedly) to help the poor downtrodden, in the name of Jesus. ("Thou shalt not take thy Lord's name in vain…" ?) "Churches leave me unimpressed." “Father, if I could tell you what you need to know, will it help you to get on with the show? Father, will you tell the children what they need to know?” (song by Super-Tramp). “The Church is a theatre… using light- from candles, the sun via stained glass… to inspire… and dark… to control their flock… The Church wanted to master light… The Divine Nature of Light… Light = Creation, Enlightenment, Life. Understand Light… and we could understand God. The Brightness of Light = The centre of faith. Light = Vision…” (BBC4, 1/12/2004). SURVEYS: “97% of people believe in GOD.” 1989: 10% go to Church.” 1990: “6% go to Church.” PEOPLE SAID: "Religion and politics have screwed up many peoples lives. It is time for something new..." "I'd rather get married under a Tree." "At our wedding, a simple ceremony. We promised to be eternally true...” "With it I shall be blessed." "We are going to go Green diplomatically. We are the stewards of the Earth..." "... it could restore faith..." "Take the politics out of it- it is a matter of faith- believing in it." "We must have faith, in people." "FOLK MUSIC is close to Grass-Roots... is undergoing a revival- to raise the spirits of people in England" (May 1993). "Plans to turn a historic church, empty for 20 years into an up-market restaurant, is at the centre of a planning row. Churchmen claim they have exhausted all ideas. 'Only a commercial interest would have the resources to maintain the

afraid they are Baptist, Methodist and United reform Churches who seem more amenable to the ideawe don't have a Church of England church on our books... We would love to have more dealings with the Church of England, because they have the most central, and the biggest number of empty buildings..." "The Church must find a solution (to dwindling congregations)" (1990). "The Church is failing THE POOR on the issue of Housing" said the Rev. Ken Barlett, assistant director of the Housing Corporation. The Church has a head start because of years of endowments and I'd have thought more generosity would be possible. I believe there is a massive mismatch between the response of the Church as an organisation to the needs of the poor..." "The Church of England, referring to the PITIFULLY INADEQUATE living conditions faced by many (people), said: 'The causes of this unacceptable situation are complex and varied. The remedies mostly difficult. In these circumstances there is a real danger of hopelessness, apathy and even despair. If society lacks a firm moral framework, the vulnerable individuals can easily be caught up in the destructive forces of greed and envy, violence, drugs and sexual licence" (1990). "... in the last 3 years, 600 sites and vicarages have been sold and replaced. Most went for private sale. Some redundant churches have been used for social housing. 53 sites of demolished churches were sold to Housing Associations..." (The Independent, 27/12/1989). "Westminster Cathedral's hall is being thrown open every night for a few months... Hostels due to open- should ‘solve’ the problem. Call for more money to make Affordable homes. £7 BILLION could be made available. Cardinal Basil Hulme desperately concerned- calling for an urgent review. 3,000 people are in BITTERLY COLD cardboard cities…" (1990). LOSS OF FAITH: "I don't believe in God any more. I've had such a hard time." "The last time I cried, Lord you have forsaken us..." Sermons not made clear! Is what happened mans fault? Does a Divine reason exist? The BIBLE Makes This Perfectly Clear: "MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL." The Bible states: "You cannot serve both God and money. Whoever loves money never has enough. The love of money is the root of all Evil. Be on your guard against GREED. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Not the will of flesh or man, but the will of God." “The Church used to speak a lot about a ‘Fiery 645

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building'..." (12/5/1993). "CHURCH BLAZE: The Church was destroyed after flames ripped through the roof..." (20/8/1993) "This used to be a Church but now they mostly do flood damaged carpet sales." "The Church was accused of only being interested in protecting their image" (1993). "Vicars told to charge fees for attending to people who are dying" (10/12/1993). “One vicar is allowing sheep to graze in the churchyard- this saves the cost of having to cut the grass…” “NATURAL BURIALS: Buried next to a tree. With a living Tree you’re still here. Better to fertilise a Tree than line the pockets of Britain's death industry. DIY funerals much, much cheaper. Cemeteries and graveyards are a waste of land. People could make their own coffins. Plastic is used inside today’s chipboard coffins. The Natural

"… ‘GOD'S BANKER’ was found hanged murdered under a bridge on the river Thames…" . "A Pope could bring the Middle Ages back again." 1992: "½ a Billion people believe in Christianity" “Attendance in Churches is up 200% in rural areas due to Church tourists…” “Cathedrals want government support to help maintain buildings…” (2004).

“The trend now is to take your congregation where you can find it…” (UK, December 2004). "The Church may have ‘the solution.’ In Southwark, they have the highest debt ratio per household. The average person is £10,000 in debt. The Credit Union = People come off loans = Can get loans for 12% interest from the Church… ‘to stop the vicious circle of borrowing from loan sharks.’ Sometimes people borrow, find they can't pay the interest, and end up having to repay for the rest of their lives" (BBC, 25/6/1990). "THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IS IN MAJOR FINANCIAL CRISIS: The value of assets owned by the Church has fallen to £2 BILLION largely because of unsuccessful property deals in the last 10 years... Future bleak... Cuts. Bills will not be paid and salaries not met..." (15/12/1994). "TRYING TO OVERPOWER WITH DOCTRINE..." "Religion dominates many people’s lives..." (1993) ("The Future for ‘spiritual’ Enforcement?") "Oh! God. We are reaching crisis point. Have our policies not borne fruit?" "In 30 years, there could be no such thing as the Church- this is what the Church fears most" (1993). "The fight is on to save the Churches" (7/2/1994). "10 of the 37 Churches in central London face closure. There are too many Churches- some only have a congregation of 25 people" (27/1/1994). "The Church will spend money raised by donations (for the poor) on TV adverts, costing £1.000's per second..." (21/12/1994). "The government and the Church attacked & blamed each other for the rise in violence"

Burial centre in North London say you don’t need Planning Permission- you only need to check the grave will not be near a water course. They suggest using cardboard which will bio-degrade in 1 – 2 weeks. One woman buried her husband, wrapped in canvas, in their back garden. Some people are now campaigning for

burials in back gardens” (Here & Now, BBC1, 13/4/1994) (That’s not very nice for neighbours, or people taking over the property). "The Bishop of Durham, Dr. David Jenkins, branded Conservative government ministers 'narrowminded and blinkered' for failing to look after the poor. He said they were fleeing their responsibility to 'love thy neighbour in a practical and down to earth way.' 'Ministers are blinkered by the total market dominance and freedom of choice for people with money. They just wont face facts.' Dr. George Carey has warned that social divisions were getting worse with massunemployment the norm. He said: 'A very substantial minority are cut off from a reasonable share of hope, status, security and prosperity'..." (The Sun, 5/4/1994).

PEOPLE SAID: “This is the Pot calling the Kettle black...” “They're passing the buck... a lot of that goes on...” "The government must act. The Roman Catholic Church described Homelessness in London as 'intolerable,' blaming government policy, the lack of privately rented homes and council homes, and cuts in housing benefits, for putting people out onto the streets. Priority must be given to housing. Without a decent roof over your head, you cannot survive at all" (1990) ( Look, if you want a decent society…) Q: "Why doesn't the Roman Catholic Church (one of the richest organisations in the world) redistribute some of their gold?” (Unanswered). “There are 1 Billion Catholics in the world…” "The Roman Catholic Church want money from the poor- those who can't Afford it..."

(25/11/1994).

"Young children run off to cults when traditional religion sells them short... when they have difficulty coping..." "USA and UK fastest growing CULT is ‘The Central Church of Christ.’ PARENT: 'Cult most dangerous! They demand unquestionable obedience! Evil. Aimed at vulnerable groupsyoungsters, in search of the ultimate truth (God). Youngsters have immense difficulty dealing with reality. Group is creating damage. My child is not interested in us anymore. They split us up.' Cult accused of 'brainwashing.' PARENT: 'She was unable to sort her head out. Emotionally disturbing... Going to kidnap her back. She wont speak to us. Not spoken to her for last 2 years but normal personality can be recovered...' 'Emotional 646

(re: birth control / contraception…) He likens women to the role of Mary.” “He campaigns for the dignity of women, that they be respected…” “Benedict the 15th was a man of peace who tried to bring peace during the 1st and 2nd world wars. Leaders got rather tired of him.” “Some are disappointed… Some negative comments:” “That I have mixed feelings is putting it kindly…” “The Church needed to reach out to a changing world. I’m wondering if they made the right decision.” “I’m not happy by the result. He has the reputation of being quite a hard man…” (Vatican

blackmail. I am annoyed I could be so easily taken in' said an ex-cult follower." "We try and help those whose lives have been messed up by cults. We brainwash them back to what society considers 'normal.' We provide them with temporary accommodation..." "... Ministers are over-stretched. Upsurge in religious retreats - people wanting to get away from materialism. Bit of a contradiction - many cannot Afford the £20 per night cost..." (3/4/1994). Church leaders want racism to be known as: "It's a sin" (The One-Race campaign) (18/5/1994) (RACISM = "All this ‘we are the superior race’ bullshit...") “Many churches now have no congregation. We need to find another use for them to benefit the local community… but the high cost of maintenance…” (30/12/2004). “I ANNOUNCE TO YOU A GREAT JOY…”: “The election of a new Pope. A new spiritual leader: “Catholics hope it will be speedy and fruitful.” “Who will he be?” “Will he issue a prayer for the man of God?” “Will he energise us?” “Such a tremendous task!” “A task for Super-Man.” “He is now the vicar of Christ covering the whole of the Church. What direction will he take?” “Will the Church retain the mysticism?” “Hopefully, he will have a lot of wisdom.” “He may take us in a new way- a new style.” The crowds cheering. (What a wonderful sound!) “The drama. The significance… “ “The smiling, delighted faces. Very moving.” “What can he do to help the problems around the world?” “Say a lot of prayers!” “So long as he is aware… that Humanity has become one…” (Heavy rain has started…) “The new Pope for the 3rd Millennium is: Joseph Ratzinger. 78 years old. The 1st German Pope for 1,000 years. (He was in Hitler’s youth army). His Papal name will be: Benedict 16th.” He is known for his Conservatism. For over 20 years he was a close associate of John Paul 11 (who sadly died 17 days ago) (who was also referred to “as a Conservative” by the popular media.”) “We go with the joy of the resurrected Lord. He will help us. Many will be on our side” said the 265th new Pope. “I am a simple and humble worker in God’s vineyards.” EXPERTS: “He will make an impact on the world. He has a very strong personality.” “A man of uncompromising views. A great theologian. He is a very Holy man. He lives in a simple apartment block.” “There never was any chance of the election of a progressive Pope.” “His message: We on Earth are the friends of Jesus. We can expect more the same.” “He has unyielding views regarding the Catholic Church. He will be a great governor of the Church.” “He will work with other Churches. He is very keen on establishing traditions.” “For women this suggests no change

City, ROME, 19/4/2005).

“INAUGRAL SPEECH: (“Heads of State were in attendance.”) The Pope said: “The external deserts are growing because people have neglected their spiritual lives...” EXPERT: “He is saying abandoning faiths is causing poverty.” “The new Pope appealed for unity amongst Christians. He said he will listen to the will of God and be guided by it. (He looked tired). He now has biggest challenge of his life, with Global Warming...” THE HOLY LAND: Interpreted as: ONLY the land where Jesus was born! Zion means: "Land of Promise." Palestine: Tribal lands. Name Romans gave to Philistine. A Palestinian = The non-Jewish people in that area - the most prominent group.” Jerusalem: the word means: "A City of Truth." (“There is a green hill far away, without a city wall…”) Jerusalem is the site of 2 former Jewish temples. 1st temple destroyed by Babylonians. (Babylon: Capital of any ‘great’ Empire or vicious city…) 2nd temple destroyed by the Romans- forcing the Jewish people into Diaspora (i.e. scattering...) The Jewish people only have one wall left: 'The Wailing Wall,' where devoutly religious people go pray... ("Praying is great, and it works…so long as praying is not all you do." "I think it's going to take more than prayers to see us through...")

The New Age is ALSO CALLED: The HAPPY AGE - it will be signified by the coming of the 3rd Temple. This was also GOD's promise to the people. Re: The building of the 3rd Temple- intended to be a SANCTUARY - a Holy GARDEN: God said: "I will bring Israel back to PASTURE ground..." "Here is a man whose name is Sprout... From his own place he will sprout and he will certainly build the temple of God. Behold the man whose name is Branch..." (i.e. GO GREEN! PLANT! An abundance of lush Greenery. TREES! FLOWERS. Crops... Start in 647

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1936: Jews exiled by Hitler. Diaspora. No country of their own. Some went to Palestine. The British were in charge of Palestine... there were makeshift camps... lousy / poor conditions...Terrorists sprang up... to get the British out. The terrorists won. 1939: "Haifa Oil Refinery operating... The Suez canal used to transport..." 1947: The British wanted to (rigidly) petition i.e. separate, Jerusalem... The British abandoned Palestine... Handed problem over to the UN. (Land could now be taken over... The cause of the war). The UN divided Palestine… Israel created. Land given to the Jews: West Bank, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip - the Jews got land "no-one wanted." Israel fighting for the Jews, for political authority. Israel are not willing to share with the Arabs. "The lack of Good leadership..." Consequently, every Arab State is at war with Israel. The Arabs riotedand armed dispossessed Palestinians... And so, in recent times, Palestinians have no country... the Palestinian people became Stateless. 1948: "250,000 Palestinians pushed into 'temporary' camps, where they have been ever since..." "We will die and fight for our nation!" “... the UN had had enough - leave 'em to it - the whole area has gone mad!” "100 YEARS OF BLOODSHED AND VIOLENCE: Fighting in the old city... armed soldiers occupying the streets, fire tear gas and (live) bullets at anything that moves... Clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians... many deaths..." ("In the Israeli army, many are conscripts who can't wait to get out of there.") 1988: "A breaking bones policy..." EASTER: "The time of Christ's resurrection. 'Can you really give life to the dead?' 'I know we have to transcend Earthly difficulties that bind us- we have to free ourselves from the difficulties that keep us apart.' 'No-one understands it- so they argue fiercely over it.' Easter! A time of new life. Stepping out into the light... leaving the dark tomb behind... Finding the light... We are searching for the truth because we still feel the pain of Christ, our Lord." "JERUSALEM IS LOST!" "COPS TEAR GAS DEMO: Police attacked clergy-men and pilgrims with clubs and tear gas in an anti-Jewish Easter protest in Israel. Christian and Muslim priests led 200 people into the street against the settlement of a 150 Jews in buildings in Jerusalem's old walled city... Witnesses said police intervened after a priest tore down a Jewish Star of David pasted over a cross..." MORE TEAR GAS: “Israeli police lobbed tear-gas grenades at Palestinian mourners of 7 Arabs after a crazed Jewish gun attack. Witnesses said police dragged screaming women into vans..." "CRAZINESS: 66 Arab babies were injured after

your backyard... The Temple will come / grow NATURALLY...) "Starry temples are azure floored..." (i.e. The temple’s roof shall be… the Sky!) (“Lord of all creation, of water, Earth & sky, the Heavens are your tabernacle, glory to the Lord, God of wonders beyond our galaxy, you are Holy… the Universe declares your Majesty… sing hallejuah to the Lord of Heaven & Earth…” (song by Chris Tomlin).

Ah! “You understand you need to chose… so go further with your choices.” God has NOT ordained that man is to use (stone…) BLOCKS... God said: "... better is a dish of vegetables than a bull with hatred along with it..." "... it yields peaceable fruit. Pursue peace all my people..." "... the journey in its pathway means no death..." "To be sure it is a great gain this Godly devotion along with self-sufficiency..." "...it will set people free from enslavement to corruption..." "You see that a man is declared righteous by his works, and not by faith alone. Indeed as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead..." "Show me your faith by my works and I shall show my faith by my works..." "By his work his faith was perfected..." Re: The New World: God said: "... it will not be uprooted or torn down anymore to time indefinite..." "True, loving kindness will stay built..." "... the durable abiding place..." "Peace! It is I' said the Lord (of the lords.”) "… it will be blessed." "Next year in Jerusalem" (means: "We shall be happy and free" i.e. in a true (garden) paradise...) THE TABERNACLE: "A fixed, or moveable habitation, usually out of slight construction... EG. a tent. Used as a sanctuary in the wilderness by Jews." "A mobile / portable, QUICKLY assembled church... a central focal point- something Holy, to provide a place for meetings. Made by craftsmen EG. a weaver, embroiderer, using linen, blue thread, wool, dyed reddish colour. Panel frames. Overlaid tops, joined together. A screen door. Hooks, bars, tent pins. A row of lamps. All its utensils. A bowl with water in it. 4 rows of stones (to weigh down)…” ("The

ALTERNATIVE Tabernacle?") "In Palestine, prior to 1850, only a handful of Jews... then Jewish agriculture- oranges, the vine... They drained swamps... 1920's: Attracted interest of Jews all round the world- a freer Environment, fertile soil. Jews then saw Palestine as an attractive homeland, animated by religious motives, and encouraged by the British..." "The Jews say Jerusalem is their Holy City..." 1900: "Population of Jerusalem = Jews, Christians and Muslims..." 648

which wants them. Protest near Rome... Jews complain the USA should accept them as citizens." (I wonder how the women will cope?) "Will you please get me out of this? I've got my son to consider..." WAH! "I can't get any peace!" A Jew: "I have a great heaviness in my heart..." ("... it's in Israel's interests...") "1.6 million Soviet Jews want to go to Israel." West Bank: "Get up in the morning, slaving for breakfast..." Israel: "Civilians are learning how to fire guns, to kill..." "... all the wailing, banging their heads against the wall..." (1991) ("… it's not so much about what you say, its about what you do...") (Children indoctrinated to believe 'the other side' are their enemy...) Israeli citizens being attacked- the threat of missiles launched against Israel. The threat of a Chemical attack... Q: "Should Israel react with violence?" (asked

Israeli soldiers exploded 3 tear gas grenades in a maternity clinic. 14 babies and toddlers had to be put on respirators to keep them alive..." CONFRONTATION STREET: "... the attacks against unarmed civilians and children..." "... brave youths took on the army with their bare fists..." ("If you manage to break a vicious circle in time...") EXPERT: "Confrontation politics- always stupid. Always involves dirty tricks by a politician. A statesman negotiates peace." (“There are no rules laid down for statesmen…”) (Statesman means: a senior politician- impartial, and highly respected for their integrity and concern for the public good).

1989: “A TRADEGY. SLAUGHTERED YOUTH: 700 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army... Religious ceremonies clashed. Orthodox Jews tried to lay a (heavy) FOUNDATION STONE* at the Temple Mount site (the first block!) Result: Total MAYHEM... border police... many hurt by fragmented high velocity plastic bullets... shattered brains desecrated the site...” 'We're fighting about a wall built 1,000 years ago...' Jews say this site belongs to them. 'The rock must be moved to Mecca'... much confusion... Muslims urged extremists to defend... M16 rifles fired from top of wall, not clear by who..." "... gunmen mowed people down... rubber bullets, grenades flying... " (* "... thus you make the word of God invalid by your tradition...") “Arafat is the leader of Palestine Liberation - he is a former WEAPONS dealer.” (JOKE: “We have flaws. Mine is being wicked.”) “Arafat ordered his terrorists to wipe out Jewish immigrants in Israel.” “Millions of Palestinians driven from their homes... Palestinians now dispersed world-wide. Their Dream? To return. To end compulsory exile. "They want self-government but is the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) up to the job?" “Arafat described himself as a 'Freedom Fighter with a gun in one hand and an olive branch in the other.' 'Do not let me drop the olive branch,' he said.” The PLO and Arab States appealed to Russia unsuccessfully to stop the emigration of Jews from Russia- expected to top 250,000 by end of 1990. Another Palestinian leader, also wicked and weak, Abu Daoud, announced Jews, and those who help Jews, should be killed. The shoot-tokill policy was delivered at a meeting of military personnel in Baghdad, and again in Kuwait. "Soviet Jews forced to leave Russia. Arriving by the plane-load into Arab-occupied Palestine, where they will be hopelessly outnumbered. They bring with them new hope for the battle-weary" (February, 1990) "Few want to go to militaristic Israel,

during the Gulf war).

A: "We do not know when it will come" (replied the Israeli government) (it means: an attack? Or a sign / help from above i.e. The Almighty?) (Re: War / Quarrels: God said: "Instead of iron, bring silver..." (means: “It’s much better to appease your enemy with KINDNESS.” "If I am being good to you, and you are being good to me...") God said: "If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking food, say to them 'go in peace, keep warm and well fed' but if you do not give them the necessities of what benefit is it?" "To meet the thirsty, bring water..." "Stop storing treasures for yourself..." "Oh! you deadly wicked chief of Israel... I shall judge you.. .I will pour out upon you my denunciation with the fire of my fury..." "... the one making unjust profit is bringing ostracism upon their own house..." "... let no corrupt communications proceed out of your mouth..."

"Those who advocate violence are the deceivers..." "... the deceivers are the antichrist..." "He who walks with wise people will become wise but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly..." "Oh, you abounding in confusion... each of you given to the purpose of shedding blood. Interest and usury you have taken and you violently keep making gain... defrauding, and me you have forgotten... Know God. I will put my law within them and in their heart write it..." "... do not become envious of the man of violence, nor choose any of his ways..." "Turn back, turn back from your bad ways for why is it that you should die?" 649

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Success depends on how they perceive it. It will work if backed by Gulf wealth" (1/9/1993) "We must demonstrate tangible peace" (said Warren Christopher

(i.e. "A thinker does not react with violence.") “Mr. Shamir, Israel's Prime Minister, rejected a Kremlin ultimatum to prevent Soviet Jews from settling in the occupied territories. He said 'Israel was not prepared to create ghettos'..." "… An Israeli soldier was killed- so the Supreme Court ruled Israel could bull-doze Palestinian homes! Settlers may take (more) land from Palestinians!” An Israeli General said: "Now we can get on with our work." "Intense rivalry... More than 1,000 injured in one week of fighting..." "The Middle East, despite their oil wealth, many are discontent..." "The Middle East, oil well for the world..." UK: PEOPLE SAID: "There is only greed and evil in the politicians today." "Something weird is definitely going on. Strange! You also have problem Terror-Tories." "This is the classic move... How they organise things is a joke, isn't it? All done to confuse us, so we don't get what we want!" "That's par for the course. They say 'it's nothing personal.' I'm a professional. What I say goes'..." "They find out what it is that you want, then use it against you! Then they say there's nothing you can do about it- you've got nothing." "As long as you fools are messing with guns, aint nobody going to find their way home." ZIONOPOLY: The Israelis started building State Concrete housing blocks on disputed land. Housing blocks are spreading..." (May 1992) (COLONISATION: "Hey! Have you ever considered your chosen style is WRONG?" ("What people need is a way to make them smile..." The New Age is about having fun...) UK: PEOPLE SAID: "… it's obvious. Light weight is better than Heavy weight. When God said 'Let there be light...' God Didn't Say: 'Add some Heavy'..." (Surely ALL these HOMELESS people need COMFORTABLE, PROTECTIVE (modular) accommodations, that can be QUICKLY installed with MINIMUM UPHEAVAL and EXPENDITURE, flexibly and CONSIDERATELY INTEGRATED, something that could be moved easily if needs change?) EXPERT: "The Age of Aquarius- a time of great change. What people thought was solid... Time now more stressful than during WW11. Fighting evil... During the blitz people were singing. We must remember the brotherhood of man." EXPERT: "It doesn't happen overnight. It's a question of knowing the right people at the right time, and persevering." "HISTORIC SECRET PEACE TALKS: Israel said: "It has to be looked at as a 1st step…" (no clarification!) "Israel and Palestine set to recognise each other formally." "The Gaza Strip has 800,000 Palestinians ‘living’ there. Gaza badly needs money.

1/10/1993).

1994: "Power cuts. Electricity is too expensive..." “Palestine wanted their own electricity supply but the Intifada broke out...” (“…the Palestinians experienced every conceivable violation of human rights. their land confiscated and Israeli settlements built on it; their sons and relatives killed, imprisoned, or deported; their homes demolished; and collective punishments, such as the closures of schools and curfews imposed on entire communities. The Palestinians, frustrated and unhappy under an occupation that deprived them of their Rights and subjected them to continuous harassment and humiliation, took matters into their own hands and rebelled…”)

"Israel controls the West Bank... Israel has stopped Palestinians from drilling for water and using existing old water wells for the past 40 years..." "RAINFALL = "… inconsistent- little / none in summer. It is not the quantity of rain that is the problem, but storage of water... of pumping & distribution..." "Israel wants the USA to fund Desalination... a very expensive operation... pumping this up the mountains to the West Bank... Palestinians unable to Afford this solution..." (Why not collect rainwater at the top of the mountains, using open / shut umbrella type funnels…?) EXPERT: “When I was designing the national irrigation system in Israel…”(using lots of concrete) (2005).

"WE ARE IN NEED OF PROTECTION FOR OUR CITIZENS…" said Arafat. "… Arafat became a statesman when he signed a Peace accord." "His deal does not guarantee what will happen to refugees. ‘All we've got is some dusty land. For him to come in out of the wilderness, he sold his people short.’ The deal is only at the beginning stage..." "The Prime Minister of Israel is opposed to the creation of a new independent state." "We will build it as a fate accompli. It is none of his bloody business" said a PLO rep. "… We have accepted a mixed model. Lands under control - almost total sovereignty. It will be lived dynamically... " Israel said: "52% of land taken - 52% of land will not be returned. Settlers will not give this land back.” "Worrying issues. How to solve? There could be more settlers..." "Settlements’ are going to be reversedevacuated. Were illegally built- are inflexible… We are being reasonably unreasonable" said the PLO rep. "In 1948, 500 people were killed in a massacre in one village. Might is right? They say 'piss off. We're not going to give you anything’…” 650

Peace Treaty. All the jail cells are empty. The new Palestinian police who will patrol the sprawling refugee camps seem very popular..." (18/5/1994). "SPRAWLING REFUGEE CAMPS... Overcrowding, unemployment, curfews, squalor, burnt out cars, litter and rubble everywhere..." "WE NEED WHILE WE WAIT..." "... windows keep getting broken by stone throwers. The windscreen on the workers bus has to be replaced about every 3 days..." "... they do not know HOW to protect settlers... Authorities are building fences to seal off Gaza. Gaza heavily fortified..." (10/12/1993) "Violence getting worse…" Palestinian "These are 3rd Generation (HOMELESS) refugees" (19/12/1993). "Israel sending rockets into heavily populated refugee camp- full of captive civilians. 88 people recently killed in a week- many are women, 24 are children. Homes, schools demolished... Intifada uprising now killed 7,500 people. The killing is cruel and deliberate'... 'A reprisal to Palestinian rebel rocket attacks’…” 'Israel has a scorched Earth policy. Israel is asking us (Palestinians) to deliver Israel security!' 'Can you deliver it?' 'Well, no, not really… We need a course of hope to help both sides… to change the dynamic on the ground... We are hoping for 3rd party intervention'..." (5/10/2004) ("... it is Heaven sent. A blessed thing." “A gift from Heaven.”

“I would rather die than go to an Arafat controlled State.” "It wont be his State. It will be a people state. Gradually obtaining our Rights." "There wont be any deal, will there? You signed this deal because your organisation is running out of money." "There are many reasons to be sceptical. It may be an imperfect document but I hope we will build it. Whose geography is important. Now hope has emerged. We hope to bring in more people over the next few years." "The PLO will be the police force there?" "We hope there will be no tension. There will be State building." PLO: "We are going to develop it, and give back Rights, dignity, to end those slums." "What is your bargaining chip? asked Israel. (Unanswered). "The PLO are in a weak positionmoney is running out..." "Town attacked by Israeli - a military offensive..." "... family exiled for 35 years in Kuwait... then told to leave Kuwait... on return, he had a heart attack..." (What are these poor people? Yo-Yo's?) "There are 5 MILLION Palestinian refugees..." "Israel must apologise for the wrong done to Palestinian people..." "Not much support for deal in refugee camps. This deal offers them nothing..." "Celebrations and demonstrations. Community split as never before. If many more people would come to its support... Each family is torn apart. Gaza cannot be controlled. Israel offering crumbs. Unjust deal. Much dependent on their good will. Anxiety legitimate. No-one should be happy about this deal.” "Mistrust. Intentions? A plan of phases. This is phase one. ..” (I still don’t know what ’it’ means!) "The world wants stability in the Middle East, not regional instability." "Every Palestinian citizen is now planning the return to their homeland" said the PLO. “Bitter disappointment- fear, they will not return. Bitter dissent. HOW to build on what has been achieved? Is it a practical way forward? Make up your own mind" (Channel 4, 27/10/1993) Uh? PALESTINE PEACE TALKS: "It's all or nothing" (22/12/1993) (“… it's in Palestine's interests...") GAZA: "WIDESPREAD SERIOUS RIOTING after radical leader (fundamentalist) killed. At least 30 Palestinians shot by Israeli soldiers. Stones against bullets. So many Palestinians seem to reject Arafat's so-called Peace Pact" (25/11/1993). "Due to spate of killings, Israel may Seal off Gaza Strip" (21/12/1994). "After 27 years of enforced occupation, Israeli troops pulled out, under the cover of darkness. Arab youths threw stones. The Israeli soldiers fired tear gas. Then men let off repeated gun fire to celebrate their withdrawal. The municipal gardens have opened. There are high expectations from the

"Is it within man's law? We shall see.") HEBRON: "Massacre. Troops beat Palestinian youths... at least 45 Palestinians killed, dozens injured, by one (Jewish) gun-man. Many incidents against new settlers. Revenge avowed" (25/2/1994).

"People should not be allowed to freely hold guns! (Britain supplied the weapons.”) “It is hoped this fanatic, most negative, extremist action does not deter the peace process. Protests followed. A city of chaos. 'This so-called ‘Peace Process’ is a dance with death. We will be another Lebanon!' The exile of 15,000 people… Hebron- the most fortified settlement. 'Most settlers are not fanatics! The settlers and the Palestinians want a quiet, peaceful life, in pleasant surroundings. This we haven't got.' 'The PLO are in danger of losing.' 'What should its price be?' 'The release of a few political prisoners is not enough.' ''We may have lost some ground but we hope to contain the extremists'. 'The authorities are to blame'..." (1/3/1994). JERICO: "Violent protests- stone throwing, met with rubber bullets and grenades. Raging daily street battles. Deaths" (2/3/1994). "The PLO are virtually bankrupt... are spending donations on capital projects- new buildings... arguing they have no money to pay doctors, to 651

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the effects can be relieved by opening a window. The change in ion balance in cities… 1972: Russia Make-it-Yourself: A neg-ion generator kit became so popular authorities issued a warning: ‘You are in danger of keeping yourself too alert and active to sleep.’ In USA, manufactured but can only be advertised as ‘air cleaners.’ Only permitted to be used in Universities for experimental purposes…” (Ref. The Ion Effect by F. Soyla & A. Edmonds, 1977). (ARE THERE ANY TREES? Flowers? Grass? Water Fountains?) "... Natural orchards covered the hills 2 millennia ago... Olives = A major crop used by Palestinians for lighting, making soap... Since Israeli occupation in 1967, Israel has imposed restrictions on olive harvesting... farmers who violate can be shot, ID cards confiscated, detained indefinitely without charge or trial, equipment confiscated... Israel uses chemical agents against crops... Palestinians therefore, unable to look after their families. Militant Jewish settlers attack olive harvests, seizing crops, killing Palestinian farmers. Israeli soldiers allow Israeli settlers to occupy and take control of Palestinian agricultural land, in breach of International law… Farmers forcibly evicted... Olive TREES bull-dozed... some trees replanted to provide ready-made decorations for Israeli roads... More than 1 MILLION TREES UPROOTED... cleared to facilitate Israeli colonisation of the occupied Palestinian territories... to build housing blocks... bypass roads and the segregation wall... Uprooting Trees = Part of Israel's policies of collective punishment and intimidation. The wall affects 126 Palestinian communities who are now separated from their land and olive groves. 280,000 Palestinians are cut-off, ‘living’ in ghettos..." (Ref. www.grassroots.org & www.arij.org ). WAH! I’M SO UNHAPPY! "WEST BANK BARRIER constructed despite international condemnation..." "Israel has built a Berlin-style wall around their territory to separate and ‘protect’ Israelis from repeated Palestinian terrorist attacks..." "The USA is backing Israel..." 2001: “Troops and tanks invaded- demolishing Palestinian police stations and other government buildings. Political leader’s assassinated... towns and civilians bombed by planes and helicopters... Army positioned for strikes against Palestinians. 600 citizens killed, 1,000's wounded... Israel granted £4 BILLION for military & economic Aid (USA has to date contributed $100 BILLION to Israel's coffers). (USA's strategy = To anchor military control over area- to have a strategic base to dominate the region, and the Arab's vast oil wealth...) Area made poorer by imperialist governments..." (“This is your opportunity to do something for your fellow man, to help

meet running costs..." (9/6/1994). DISCUSSING PEACE: "If we could reach something that's better than nothing." "If the Arabs could make peace with it..." "The HUGE COMMUNICATION GAP! “… it could build bridges in the gulf that separates us..." “If we could get on top of this mystery...” “COME THE NEW JERUSALEM!” JERUSALEM: "Gunmen mowed down commuters at a bus-stop... sirens ringing for Holocaust Remembrance Day" (7/4/1994). 1999: "A HUGE RAINBOW was created in front of the Palestinian HQ as a symbol for peace... (made by a visionary artist called the Rainbow Maker, info. www.lightparty.com) (How do you feel in the

presence of a rainbow? i.e. “God’s symbol for reconciliation.") THE MIDDLE EAST: "MILES OF SAND DUNES..." Everywhere is the colour of sand- some buildingsvery square looking, paint peeling off, all heavily pock-marked, are badly crumbling... Everywhere looks so dry and dusty! (BEDOUINISM: “If you leave men on guard duty in the desert they become depressed and apathetic and suffer from a malaise- they cease to be alert, effective fighting men. Everyone flops around like dying flies… Heart attacks are more common during sand storms. Ill-WINDS. In the Middle East, 1,000’s of tons of dust and sand is picked up by the wind as it crosses the desert- ions attach to the sand. SHARAVOV SICKNESS: Ion sensitive people report mental and physical anguish. The Arabs call this Hamsin. Almost everything is blamed on it- murders, suicides, asthma, aching joints, depressions, unbearable tensions. Their body chemistry is completely thrown out of balance when the pos ion count is the highest. ‘The Brown Wind’ so called due to the amount of sand picked up… blows in Jerusalem for 150 days a year. … 1960: USA Dept. of Agriculture scientists grew seedlings in ion-enriched air and produced cucumbers 18 inches longer than normal… There are approx. 5,000 scientific documents reporting experiments with ionization- all support the conclusion an overdose of pos-ions is bad for you – produces stress - an overdose of a hormone called Serotonin... General health & tranquillity are improved by neg-ions. ION THERAPY is particularly of benefit to people… Neg-ions are vital to keep the cilia of the respiratory tract working at maximum efficiency, thus quite possibly helping people with lung cancer… The USA National cancer Institute now consider this a most promising area of investigation… Almost 80% of patients under psychiatric care ‘responded beneficially’ to ion therapy… IONIZERS: “Neg-ion machines have been in use since before WW2. Table-top generators no bigger than a paper-back book for installations in cars etc. Cars produce pos-ions652

Palestinian crisis to the attention of the world..." "What power struggles will happen now?" "There is hope now the road (peace) map will be back on track. The USA have laid the 1st building block, saying they consider the fate of Palestine very seriously..." (11/11/2004). "The crowds in the Ramallah compound... under the huge helicopter blades... THE DUST as the helicopters landed & took off! "It is taking such a long time to convince people... and time is so precious now... I'm afraid it is all falling on deaf ears...” Uh? "…unable to control crowds during efforts to bury Arafat... beneath one of the very few remaining trees, so he will have shade... in this intense heat...” "Very dangerous. So many weapons here. When they fire guns up in the air- bullets can travel for a mile and hit / injure / kill people..." "In memory of Arafat, people are chanting..." "… such an outpouring of emotion..." "What do you make of it all?" "Arafat had not delivered the peace craved..." "The dreams, the promises unrealised..." "THE REFUGEE PROBLEM..." "These impoverished people are very tired / weary... They have no home- so many homes have been bull-dozed... There is a lot of grief. We underestimate how much love these people have. There is so much corruption in the administrators and mismanagement..." "… it is a dream... that can still be fulfilled..." "It is a nightmare... to many, Arafat was Palestine... it seems now it has happened... now he has now been buried... A very sad day... Palestine's only (stateless) President..." "... he gave them hope. Noone now knows if the dream will die with him..." "... he was a symbol... he served his people for 40 years- he did not move into rich villas, leading a flashy life-style like so many others have..." "There are militant groups of Palestinians... so many divisions... some believe in armed struggle, others believe in negotiations. Arafat united both these beliefs, making him a unique symbol..." "… it goes without saying... President Sharon will be thinking just what will it now mean to Israelis... to address a new Palestinian leadership- their chief negotiators?" "... the former architects of the interim peace agreement... Will they be able to give it more status- produce a final settlement? The new generation of leaders... There are some good people..." "The big issue is what attitude will be adopted in the future?" "... fears in Israel it could unite popular discontent..." (it means: Arafat's death). "Could it mean a New Era of Peace in the Middle East?" "This is an opportunity to be born again for the Palestinian people..." "There is a window open

Mankind…”) "Arafat incarcerated in a crumbling building in Ramallah- a former military compound..." 2002: “THE APARTHEID STRUCTURE: The peace movement in Israel is growing... Most Israelis are fed-up with the occupation... Marchers tried to deliver 10 truck-loads of food and medicines to Palestinians in Ramallah... Many Israeli people, opposed to shoot-to-kill policy, are stepping into the fray to protect these people with their own bodies... Anti-war protestors attacked by occupation forces and police... Objectors increasingly shunned by media...” “The Courage to Refuse: Their fight for freedom... Students refusing to enlist in the Israeli army sent to prison..." (“Ariel Sharon- a former General, Prime Minister of Israel…”) "Sharon criticised by hard-liners and doves..." "The onslaught of terror / suicide bombings silenced the Peace movement in Israel... A deflated Israeli population..." 2003: “Holy Land Olive Oil. A volunteer project set-up to help Palestinian farmers export olive oil to the USA..." 2004: "... Terrorism stepped up..." Back to 'Divide and Rule' old-style... "Until there is peace in Palestine, there will be no peace in the world" (said a Palestinian spokesman, 8/10/2004).

"100 suicide attacks last 5 years. Oh God! So wrong to use young children- make children strap bombs to their bodies... and make them blow themselves up in crowded places, to kill and maim other innocent people..." WAH! These kids obviously don’t have a clue how to better themselves. HELP THE KIDS! GIVE THEM DECENT HOMES! CLOSE THE CAMPS. GET RID OF THE TENTS. "We will not negotiate. We will not restart peace talks whilst these attacks continue" said Israel's Prime Minister (1/11/2004) (whilst his attacks continue...) (Who is really orchestrating the violence? "NeoConservatives taught them how to make these bombs..." Is there a subversive plot here?) "There were no concrete incentives in place to help the peace process whilst Arafat alive as he was seen by the Israelis as someone who approved of terrorist actions against civilians" said the Institute for Strategic Studies (Sky TV, 10/11/2004) ("Oh! COME ALL YE FAITHFUL..." "... it only takes a bit of faith..." "Take your passion and make it happen... it's a great feeling, knowing you could have it all... it just needs believing...") "Arafat died..." "...still much loved by his people..." "... an idol..." "... the man who tried to founder a Palestinian nation..." "... who brought the 653

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support terrorism (whilst both he and Bush liberally use covert State-induced terrorism...) EXPERT: "Israelis are no less intransient now than they have been for years. I see no hope for optimism... Any negotiators will be accused of making compromises, being stooges... Will it be an honest broker? A 2-state system? I can't see any backing for a return to old borders...” “Bush could persuade the Israelis... IF the American (leaders) had the will for Peace, we would have peace overnight... The American (leaders) do not want peace" ? ("Seize the moment!" "We can do it.") "USA & UK urged to help the establishment of peace i.e. arrange to get the Israeli military tanks out of the Palestinian areas. 'We need independent peace monitors. We need to get rid of the checkpoints'..." (12/11/2004). "1,000 Israelis killed, 3,000 Palestinians... Both sides are sick and weary from war. There is a will for a better life. (Can we do it our own way?) There has to be an accommodation. It is so clearly in the USA's interests..." (said the former Middle East

now- it may not last long..." "The word has gone out this is not the time to fall apart." "The need to pull together..." "Well, they've managed to pull it off (it means: the funeral). All the groups abided by the need for peace during this difficult time..." EXPERTS: "If it doesn't work out this time, the risk of an armed struggle / revolution." "The men with guns will try and fill any power vacuum." "Chaotic. This is how the desperate / impatient want it." "Now is not the time to come up with any new proposals but I expect a lot of people will try and stir up the people. In the last 30 years, you would have won money if you had bet on it not going anywhere..." (WHY DON’T THEY WANT it?” “Because it’s the one thing they can’t control. They can’t make so much money out of it.”) "G. W. Bush and Tony Blair meeting... the Middle East is top of their agenda. Blair has to come up with something substantive- his relationship with Bush has cost him dear..." G.W. Bush said: "It is in the interests of the world that we establish a free state... I believe it is very possible. It can happen... We are going to see it through to a successful conclusion..." EXPERT: re: Bush: "No matter how many promises he makes, he fails to deliver..." EXPERT: "... all been said before. Very little detail..." VOW: Tony Blair said: "We will do whatever it takes- to make an everlasting peace... It needs an institution built around it... It's their choice. Free elections mean there isn't corruption... If you want a State that is not corrupt- we will back you... “ (Means: Although the Palestinians had a leader, he used violence...) (An institution? Marvellous poppycock!) (Elections = No corruption? Well, in an ideal world this would be the case... but in today's climate? Huh. Election processes are corrupt. Many leaders are corrupt. Policies in general are corrupt). "Is it something the Israelis want?" asked Tony Blair. "We must say what it means in terms of their security, economy, politically...” (Clarity would indeed be most helpful). "It is such an evil thing" said Blair. (it now means: terrorism). "It is such a difficult thing to defeat. It is important we defeat Global terrorism wherever it is..." (without pause for breath, he went on) "It is an important alliance" (it now means: Britain's relationship with the USA). "Let us be quite clear. It is in our interests... We've now agreed a strategy for it. That's what's important." (Tony Blair has got it all worked out?) Tony Blair said he wants ‘a 2 State solution’ (without any clarification), 'free' elections ('Democracy' whatever that has come to mean) to appoint a new Palestinian President who does not

peace negotiator, 17/11/2004).

George

Mitchell,

BBC

Hard

Talk,

MISSING PLO MONEY: "... £900 million was invested in Blue Chip institutions / Banks all around the world... PLO accounts are now transparent... but there may be very little money left... funds were not applied where money needed- no evidence of it in the streets, schools- where it is needed... people are still starving..." (Newsnight, BBC, 17/11/2004).

“… it could create mutuality of trust on both sides... so it's a win, win situation..." "A Durable Peace = All issues resolved. Because it is now an issue that affects all of us, a conference will have to focus on all parts of the disputes..." (“It” means? I’m still lost what they’re talking about, but I’ll go ahead and ask my questions anyway. “Do YOU want it? Do you want it?” “… it’s a task best friends can share. Will you be able to stand the heat without it?” “… it is something for fun for all Parties… we are all rooting for it, aren’t we?” “Is that a thumbs up then?” “Are we going to do this, for the ladies because there is not one decent loo?”) "We want to achieve decency... We don't think there will be change..." said Ehud Olmert (Israel's deputy Prime Minister).

"There are 474 new construction sites expanding Israel..." (BBC Hard Talk, 19/11/2004). "Israel wants to expand ‘their’ territory... to build a new airport, accommodate more office blocks etc... so they are planning to build artificial islands in the Mediterranean Sea (will be tear-drop shaped). These islands, each costing $1 BILLION, will be along their shore-line, and linked via roads. Construction process will take 5 - 10 years..." (How 654

following a suicide attack… If no talking, no concessions from Israel…” (14/1/2005) (Just get on with making it for the people… the gun-men will then have an alternative… “They’ve got to beat their boredom somehow.”) “The calm is very fragile… A mutual cease-fire has been requested…” (22/1/2005). “CEASE-FIRE AGREED. They’re now on the road… to a new era of peace. A long, hard roadboth sides have been here before. How long will it last this time?” EXPERT: “Israelis want to keep control of their land, their water. Israelis want to stop Palestinian resistance. These are incompatible agendas. That USA can help is a joke. Reality is if USA was impartial then we could have hope. Who is prepared to pressure the Israelis? That is what this matter is about at the end of the day…” (Hard

will rising SEA levels affect these?) (“Because it’s a non-event…”) "The men with guns and bombs may shape the future as they have the past. They will not compromise. They will not be ignored..." Israeli spokesman: "Israel will do everything in its power..." An Israeli woman said: "… it may give us a chance..." “The violence continued…” “A General Election is due soon…” “We all have to WAIT… (everyone’s faith put in the General election… no other solution openly offered…) “10 more Palestinians killed today…” WAH! HOW LONG does it take to get a decent settlement? “Britain is training the security force in Palestine. This is the best way of helping the ME peace process…” (December 2004). “We have to have a situation where everything is being done that can be done. I hope we can help Palestinians do what they want to do… Israel want to see it through” said Tony Blair (22/12/2004) (“I believe in the Israelites…”) PREDICTED: “More trouble in the Middle East”

Talk, BBC, 8/2/2005).

EXPERTS: “Sharon’s grip on Palestinian lands has never been tighter…” “Palestinians fearful this is not going to work- Palestinians want an improvement in their lives…” “Some of the Israel settlers are putting a lot of pressure on Sharon… who is pressing ahead with the eviction of some settlers in the West Bank…” “Israel will sit back and wait till July?” “ANOTHER CAR BOMB to de-stabilise…” “10,000 Palestinians are still being held in Israeli jails…” (March 2005). “Jericho handed over to Palestinians, the 1st of 5 towns” (16/3/2005). “The new Pope diplomatically refused to issue a statement condemning Palestinian attacks, or backing Israel…” “FOR SECURITY: Egypt has agreed to deploy 750 troops along the border of the Gaza Strip as Israeli troops prepare to pull out… ½ of the 9,000 Jewish settlers have refused to relocate despite the compensation offered... they will be removed forcibly along with 100’s more from the West Bank settlements. A caravan park has been opened for approx. 300 families. 20,000 Israeli troops have signed a petition vowing to refuse orders to remove the settlers…” (BBC, 1/8/2005). “The American view is that the Road map negotiated in 2002 should be adhered to…” “Settlers will demolish 3,000 (glass) greenhouses rather than leave them for Palestinians. The US Agency for International Aid & Development had been in talks to buy them for £8.4 million- but they will be bull-dozed” (Daily

(BBC, 2/1/2005).

“Our guns will only be put down when we get our Rights” said a Palestinian (6/1/2005). “68 Palestinians killed in run up to the Election.” “THE MODERATE candidate won the Palestinian election (66% of the vote). But experts (in the UK) had little optimism. The obstacles… internal politics…” “No, I don’t think it’s going to happen. No, some things will change but not drastically. There is prospect for movement… We have to wait to see if there’s movement on the ground… If the players are serious” (Dateline London, BBC 9/1/2005). EXPERT: “The new President faces an uphill task. Too many expectations on his shoulders. A man put on a platform. Can he get them to agree? It’s not very hopeful. How can he get them to stop the violence? Secret conferences held. Lay down your arms. Israel will stop killing Palestinians. Sharon takes a very hard line. Not a moderating influence. Israel has to understand they have to do something… a package… Israel only pretending to be peace loving but playing a game- they are not really…” “We need access to our own resources...” Q: “Is it going to be a big issue? A: “It’s going to be too difficult for him to solve. We need transparency. We need to make it clear where our funds are going. He wants to improve our economy so we have a very clear agenda to bring about peace and prosperity.” “Americans have said they are willing to do business with him…” “Arafat couldn’t do it. Abbas wont be able to do it.” “All the hopes may come to nothing” (10/1/2005) (“If he can turn it round…”) “Sharon has frozen relations with Palestine

Mirror, 5/8/2005).

“It will be done” (it means: eviction). “It’s a hard moment.” “It’s an emotional, difficult operation.” “Approx. 1,000 Israeli protestors in a synagogue (a Holy, scared place) given 10 minutes to leave. 4,000 families already forcibly removed- largest settlement in Gaza cleared forcibly- people 655

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to replant. 1,000’s of Palestinians were working in the Greenhouses. Now worries there will be unemployment. The Greenhouses are now being bought to be handed over to the Palestinians- will be worked to help feed their children… but the remaining houses will be destroyed- then it’s up to the Palestinian people. In one Palestinian refugee camp, who felt the weight of the Israeli army, they have noted the comparatively gentle way the army are dealing with the Israeli protestors. These people had 16,000 homes bull-dozed… ‘The World Bank’ was involved in Gaza for many years… Israel are still constructing buildings…” EXPERT: “Were only 8,000 settlers here to be evicted but perhaps bridges will be built by this? Still the West Bank to be evicted- will be a different ball game. The West Bank is overlooked by the population centres in Israel and is regarded as their homeland. 250,000 settlers to be forcibly evicted? Wont happen for some time. This will have to be digested… there will be much soulsearching. The next stage will be a challenge to make it into a success…” (BBC24, 18/8/2005). “Ariel Sharon fell into a coma and has not regained consciousness” (January 2006). “Things in Gaza are bad - Palestinian fighting Palestinian. Part of a power struggle. Could spin out of control…” (May 2007). “… Many settlers have not left. Their homes have been demolished but they are living in caravans nearby…The Israeli authorities turn a blind eye…” (KINDLY NOTE: The problems of Palestinians – v- Settlers could all be solved if THE PEOPLE stuck together to demand better housing from their governments who are orchestrating chaos. Just say out loud: “All’s forgiven.” You’re all Human Beings. Care about that and respect that).

dragged along by their limbs- including women and children. Neve Dekalim- the town now empty. People screaming insults at the soldiers. Will be put on buses and taken to Jerusalem. Psychologists are on hand for any in evident distress. THE SOLDIERS ARE COMING! 4 soldiers to each man or woman. People are crying, singing, praying, chanting ‘God is King’ and swaying. They are praying for a miracle. They believe in the power of God. Their Biblical attachment to the land… A peaceful protestpaper aeroplanes and water thrown. It’s a very sensitive situation the authorities wont want to mishandle. The looks of disbelief that it has come down to brute force, not an Act of God!” (“… it’s not how it’s meant to be!”) EXPERT: “The impact of these scenes- so hard to witness. The trauma- how this will affect future generations…The Israeli army in action against their own people. Disturbing. There will be regret. Everyone wants a dignified solution. ‘Blame me’ said Sharon. He organised the settlers, now he has arranged their eviction. The land captured by Israel in the 1947 war, should not have been colonised to become the occupied territories. Arabs are stunned. They never thought this would happen but this may sow some hope and trust that if Sharon means it, and does expel some settlers… Most Israelis relieved this is happening i.e. that it is reaching a conclusion. Many Israelis now feel betrayed. Sharon has the support of world leaders who hope there will not be bloodshed / violence.” EXPERT: “The removal is not going to solve anything. It will be done (it means: eviction). It’s a hard moment, an emotional & difficult operation. This is the new policy of the Israeli government. Those who do not accept this law say it is illegal. ‘It is a combat operation’ said the police. The border police will provide ‘security.’ A mutually acceptable solution was needed to reduce the threat to both sides. How do you see it in the future?” EXPERT: “Uncertain, insecure, angry because this has put Jew against Jew- brother against brother- corrosive. How this eviction will affect Jewish & Palestinian people (relationships). Already so much friction between these groups.” EXPERT: “In any negotiated settlement, Jews had to be forcibly removed.” EXPERT: “The risk of the Palestinian political position weakening… Israel will retain control of the borders. Isolated settlements… some fear Israel will block routes into Gaza. Then there is still the wall to overcome… No agreement yet. Wont have free and easy access… to manage their own land in the way they want to. Gaza is a tiny strip of land- has a depressed economy- will be occupied only by Palestinians… Farmers are going

LEBANON: (referred to in the Bible as ‘The Land of Milk and Honey’…”) “Tribal, ethnic, cultural groups…” 1917: “2 English Generals organised Arab rebellion. Promised independence… ‘Everlasting life.’ The Middle East cut into various strips. Palestine given to the English- Lebanon was French. Moslems, Christians, Kurds (was called French Indo-China). Lebanon, north of Israel. Typical of Britain- not enough fore-sight.” DESOLATE: “Alone, to ravage.” DESPERATION: “Hopelessness.” BEIRUT: “Armed thugs. Armed and very dangerous.” “Fighting for power…” DESPERADO: “This is how I figure it- search and destroy!” (“Isn’t that heavy on the overkill?”) (“You’d better let someone love you before it is too late.”) “10 YEARS of civil WAR. We want to be left alone. Our land is occupied. Do you know what Beirut looks like?” 656

“A 'CRACK' IN THE SKY SHOWING A LITTLE BIT OF GOD IS BETTER THAN NO 'CRACK'…” “Women in South Lebanon: ‘We used to press olives to make olive oil. Today, I organise a demonstration march, demanding freedom from soldiers. I was hit, covered in blood. I was living in a small VILLAGE when the Israeli tanks invaded. I’ll never forget how that felt. The soldiers would pick on the healthy men, spit on them, slap them; besieged, held prisoner. I could feel the Earth suffering, crying out. Everyone suffered. The mothers hungry for food for their children. They had our men and our one source of livelihood. We decided to do something- to rebel. We’re all going to resist!’ They said: ‘Get out or we’ll shoot!’ I said: ‘Shoot.’ Gun pointed at me for wanting to buy bread. They turned dogs on us. Broke into our homes past mid-night. People of the south- be careful! Throwing stones at soldiers. Soldiers shooting. We inhaled onions to fight the smoke. We pushed the men back. They attacked us over 50 times, each time more viciously. I hit a soldier with his own stick. I grabbed a soldier by his neck. ‘Keep going!’ I shouted. As we parted, we said: ‘Till we meet again.’ I stood on a sand hill and cried ‘Allah is good!’ We had been told people would be released from prison but none were. The prisoners in the camp heard my cry and came to the edge of the camp and began shouting ‘Allah is good!’ Mothers called for their sons. One suffering mass. The tanks arrived, started shooting everywhere. They whipped us. Prison camps for men, women and children. That was my last demonstration. I could rarely sleep. Then they took me, leaving my child alone screaming. My hands were tied behind my back. He started kicking me a lot. They injected me with drugs. 4 days later, 7 of them raped me. I held onto all I believe in. ‘I have nothing to tell you’ I kept saying. They threw me into a cell. 13 days laters, they put a black bag over my head and took me to a prison for terrorists. All the South is under siege. I can’t die twice… The Earth here is so fertile. So too are the women; sweet, gifted in nature. A source of inspiration… ‘If you don’t get out, we’ll bring the house down on you!’ They blew up the house. ‘I’ll put up a tent.’ ‘Take me too’ I said. They captured my son. They killed him. I told the soldiers they are not men. I started fighting. How much the universe owes to women. (Without) the sacrifice of women (make) there would be no joy. Women work in the fields to feed their children, left alone, with no husband.’ ‘They approached us with bull-dozers. Lifting the young girls up, hitting me with his gun. She was shot through the head for standing on that rock over there. It tore my heart.’ ‘The women and children fought back. I threw boiling oil on the soldiers. They shot me in the leg. They killed my father and brother…’ ‘In 1985, another suicide operation. We

“KILLED BY SHELLS: A savage 10-hour tank and artillery battle brought the death toll in Beirut’s latest agony to 200 yesterday. Families huddled in cellars as shells fell- one every second. The clash is between 2 Lebanese Christian factions as their Muslim rivals look on. Church bells were drowned out by the sound of gunfire.” “Butchers on all sides…” “The Homeless huddle in basements, bewildered. 'Christians' are killing one another… A callous disregard for health” (February 1990). “SHELLS KILL 21: At least 21 people died as tanks and artillery of General Aoun’s militia blasted rival Christian forces…” “School bus blasted by terrorist…” “… the familiar nightmare emblems of modern warchildren blown apart, grieving faces. This assortment of visual body blows, quieter more thoughtful compositions… utterly painful.” “Seen Enough Blood To Last A Life Time.” “Unless a miracle occurs Beirut faces another year of war…” “GO HOME. NO MORE FIGHT…” “What have I got to go back to? The army are my family now…” “A bus carrying school children exploded when caught in the cross fire. A bullet hit the petrol tank. All the children died…” (19/4/1990). “Ironically, water though scarce to find, is provided by Iran.” “PEACE IS LIVING. War is dying. Children are very positive. They will bounce back- will recover from ordeals. Young people are thirsty for something. You know better what you want when you can express it properly to someone. Correctivesomething he feel he needs. Something he wants but cannot see. A peaceful existence.” CHILD: “I wish all the liberated would come home, and that all the people in the streets had a home to go to.” “People described as ‘enthusiastic from scratch’; it doesn’t need a pleasant face to sell them the idea….” “If people can’t see through the web of politics, its no good at all…” “Children have normal hopes- are yearning for a normal adulthood. ‘When will there be peace on our streets?’ Terrorism thrives on alienation (of the international community). Terrorism could happen to us- it effects the whole world. We need the SYMPATHY of leaders. It’s going to be a starting point. It takes the Humanitarian message all over the world. Sometimes all you can do is follow your instincts. ‘See how war has torn Architecture apart in Beirut?’ Climbing over each other no matter what the cost! New President shot- only a few hours in office. (Buried 25/10/1989). Now an impossible task to unify and pacify nation?” (December 1989). 657

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As attacks launched, the Israeli government gave the population of a dozen villages an ultimatum to leave the area or take the consequences. The same warning was issued to 2 refugee camps. 1,000’s of Lebanese civilians were reported to be leaving towns and villages, heading for Beirut where they hope to be safe” (Evening Standard, (accompanying picture of terrified 26/7/1993) children covering their ears). “Baby, we were born to run… Oh! When there’s no place left to hide…” “FORMIDABLE: 1,000’s of villagers are fleeing. A forced mass exodus of civilians. Towns and villages pounded by shells. ‘To rid the area of guerrillas.’ USA-backed Israel... A massive traffic jam as they fled trying to flee violence. Damage extensive. Many buildings destroyed. Lebanese government blamed for failing to control terrorists who are elusive” (ITN, 27/7/1993). “More than 1,200 missiles blasted a UN area… Israel: 150,000 people huddled in shelters” (Daily

were taken to a cold, dark tunnel. No toilets, no electricity in cells. We were stripped naked. The police-women were very cruel. Most girls became ill. Were we Human or animals? Told: ‘Don’t any of you cry. It is forbidden.’ May God punish them! We used to hear shooting at night. Below us was a cell used for torture. They used us to carry TNT and other explosives. I was 9 months pregnant. They used me to hide a B7. God willing, we’ll all come back safely. We made explosives. I’ve been on 10 operations against the collaborators, planting bombs. Then I was arrested…’ The women gather to mourn the dead. ‘Where have you gone my dearest? My beloved! My only wish is to be your side.’ ‘In prison, I found a little plant* growing in the dirt. I called others to come and look. We each took turns at watering it. That made the warders angry. It made me think we would not be in prison forever. When we were released people lined our route. All the way home, they threw rice and flowers. But the occupation isn’t over yet. Go as God wills. The hard times will change. My love. I guess everyone suffers? I’m not the type of person who can accept the way things are without a lot of questions. I started to rebel and fight. I was not going to cry any more. I know what was wrong…’ The shelling has intensified” (Channel 4, 6/3/1990) ( * “Every bud deserves the chance to bloom.”) “SUSPENDED LIFE.” “I feel 5,000 years old.” “What becomes of those who have loved but become broken hearted and are now departed? No comfort inside. Hoping and praying for someone to care. I’m searching. I’ve been searching everywhere. All’s that’s left is an unhappy ending? I know I’ve got to find some peace of mind…” “TANKS ARE ABOUT TO TAKE OVER BEIRUT. Beirut is facing its very last siege…” (12/10/1990). “How many TREES are there left now?” “Not a lot.” “RIOTS: Protestors marched on homes of politicians” (6/5/1992). “TV news rolls on… Even the horrors of the 1992 Beirut refugee camp massacres it seems, can be forgotten…” “Israel launched heavy attack against South Lebanon. TARGET: VILLAGES” (25/7/1993). “Further bombardment. Refugee camp, a town hit. Dozens died. Emergency services hard pushed to keep up with the rate of casualties. One man trapped beneath tons of rubble, pulled out alive!” “NEW RAIDS concentrated mainly on a Palestinian refugee camp. The camp was also attacked during the night by Israeli gun-ships. At least 16 people were killed and 60 wounded- to avenge the killing of 7 Israeli soldiers. HEZBOLLAH (means: Party of God) guerrillas retaliated by raining rockets into Northern Israel, killing 2 and wounding 15 people.

Mirror, 27/7/1993).

“CHILDREN SCREAMING IN ABSOLUTE TERROR…” “Deplorable: The UN condemned Israel for creating a new refugee crisis. Scores have died. 100’s injured. 250,000 people made Homeless. Deserted villages. Dead and injured still being brought to hospital EG. young children. Men crying. Clinton called on both sides to stop the fighting. A solution needs to be found. For refugees the most pressing question is shelter, Not politics. Fervour, militancy in Israel. Today, Israel restarted bombardment, in earnest. Rockets landed again in Israel- they can still fight back. Israel will use any means to stop Hezbollah. Israeli government and opposition both agree on aggression to crush Hezbollah- only a few (official) individuals opposed. Complicating peace talks. All Parties urged to use restraint. New flow of displaced persons. Renewed hostility- mistrust throughout the Arab world. ‘We ought to do whatever we can to stop the fighting’ said Clinton. Ferocious bombardment going on tonight. Many resent Hezbollah’s presence in South Lebanon, bringing more pain and suffering to many refugees” (BBC1, 27/7/1993) “THERE’S NOTHING MORE HORRIBLE. MAKE THEM STOP, MAKE THEM STOP.” “Relentless, ruthless firepower concentrated on 70 villages 'to expose guerrillas.' Civilians cowered. Left to fend for themselves. Hysteria. Panic. Children among them. Children killed. Will Israel send in tanks? Tonight, a city targetted. A military campaign is laying waste to whole areas of South Lebanon” (ITN, 28/7/1993). “Israel has THREATENED to make South Lebanon uninhabitable in order to crush Hezbollah. ‘Islamic Jihad’ announced this morning, that they, not Hezbollah were responsible 658

for the attacks into Israeli territory. During the night, Israeli fighters flew low over Beirut and Sidon, breaking the sound barrier and terrifying the population. They had not dared to move overnight because the Israeli demand for a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Hospitals report children in deep shock after seeing their homes and villages destroyed, with some deafened by stun grenades fired at random. They are also treating a series of heart attacks and miscarriages brought on by the violence and uprooting” (Evening Standard, 29/7/1993). “MORE HEAVY SHELLING. Diplomats trying to bring an end to this crisis. Anger, militancy- much against America. A few are seeking shelter with the UN, with little hope. Schools and shelters have been opened- mainly by Hezbollah” (30/7/1993) (most are 'sleeping' on the floor). “Attacks have increased support for Hezbollah. Tanks arrived (on backs of lorries). Tanks firing. The forces in Lebanon… roaring overhead. Extensive damage” (31/7/1993). “THE MILITARY BLITZ: Onslaught left 147 people dead, nearly 500 wounded, and 500,000 people displaced” (Evening Standard, 9/8/1993). “Church bombed” (27/2/1994). “Lebanon- once ‘The Pearl of the Orient’ with the reputation for ‘a luxury life-style’ needs help to rebuild the shattered economy and tourist trade. The country is still a long way off normality but is working hard. Beirut airport has been partially rebuilt and 'new' buildings are starting to rise alongside the bombed out shells of the old. There are building sites and piles of rubble in every direction. Currency has been devalued. Many big hotels were destroyed in the war…” (Evening Standard,

“It’s all going off there again? A car bomb in Beirut… Syria blamednot clear who orchestrated…” (2005). "Hezbollah won the (democratic) Election... much to the shock and dismay of the West..." "Hezbollah wanted some prisoners back... Kidnapped 2 Israeli soldiers..." Israel demanded the entire de-militarization of the Lebanese army... How could this be achieved?" "MIDDLE EAST CRISIS": "Hezbollah firing rockets into Israeli cities..." "What else can we do but fire rockets indiscriminately?" asked Israel, as residential apartment blocks hit in Lebanon..." "... people frantically tried to dig in the rubble with their bare hands for survivors, usually too late..." EXPERT: "America is doing everything they can to deliberately prolong the war in the Middle East..." ("The US flies weapons to Israel...") The Lebanese Prime Minster said: "We would like to solve this problem. It could bring peace to this area..." (it means: A new UN draft resolution). "Is the resolution, a solution?" "We are looking at all points..." "... the need for a longer term framework..." "We are not looking forward to the destruction of Lebanon..." ".... military might alone will not achieve victory..." "... a major oil spill has devastated the Lebanese beachesan environmental disaster..." "Hezbollah forced the Israeli withdrawal. Hezbollah are not a militia but a resistance / deterrent force to stop Israel- after 4 DECADES of war... Hezbollah do have the support of the Lebanese people and government- Hezbollah want national unity- that’s important.” "Hezbollah are part of the population...." "The Border issue = A (barren) buffer zone. (Military) troops, tanks..." "The Israeli troops should be part of the solution… doing essential repairs..." Tyre: "... settlements cut-off, olive and citrus groves targeted..." "Any moving car will be targeted..." "The people are extremely scared, looking up at the sky; the next Ariel bombardment..." "A school used as a shelter hit..." "BEIRUT: A whole city block devastated... " "The SMOKE of war continues to block the sky..." SOUTH LEBANON: "1000,000 civilians suffering, cut-off. Only bridge- way-out bombed.” “How do we get them out of there?" asked the Red Cross... "The 87th Israeli soldier died today. Much grief... A wounded soldier said: 'There is no other choice'..." (July / early August 2006). "Hopes are pinned on the UN..." "Many past UN resolutions have failed..." "How long to implement it on the ground?" "... in Tyre, conditions... sleeping on the floor in schools- they've only got school desks! No food, water. No Aid left! Flies..." "... if no work, cannot

4/5/1994).

“17 YEARS OF BLOODY WAR. Descended into chaos. Country was fragmented. Nationalism flared. Buildings gnawed to the bone. Hard to imagine the amount of flying metal that could do this. War ended when men became weary of war. They’re not sure what it is was all really about. Little surviving cedar Forests. Now motto is make money not war. Beirut wants to restore reputation as the business centre of the Middle East. Used to have lots of night clubs here. Beirut rivals Berlin for the world’s largest building site. They have a problem with town planning. $14 BILLION restructuring programme. You can go around the swanky stores and try to find something you can Afford. It is safe’ish to visit here” (Travelog, Channel 4, 25/1/1995). “Israel withdrew from Lebanon” (2000). “Syrian troops withdrawing from Lebanon. Will there be an everlasting peace? Christians and Moslems. So many ghosts! We are still afraid of the future… Until there is change in the Middle East…” (BBC, Newsnight, 16/3/2005). 659

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(Protesting MP’s escorted out of Parliament). “We will continue to build Israel. We will sacrifice until the job is done. It is a time of trouble for Israel. Our need for security… a policy of strength… Unilateral withdrawals wrong. Our strength is our military spirit…” (BBC World News,14/8/2006) (“All THEY’VE MADE IS A MESS!” “They are a sandwich short of a picnic!”) “PEACE PACT FALTERING: 10,000 UN troops… Britain will not be helping as too heavily involved in Iraq…” (The People, 20/8/2006) (“Just grasp the concept will you please…”)

afford to pay many workers. Situation worsening daily. Israelis need to know they have made many massacres..." "Lebanon's debt is $40 BILLION..." "Iran is supplying weapons and money to Hezbollah..." "Hezbollah wanted to started something... The UN are starting something... Whether what they want will work, I don't know." "What will it take for you to build securely?" "Listen more to what people are asking for. Joint decisions." "You will not get Hezbollah out of herethey are from here. Problem is- what to do with all the weapons?" "24 Israeli soldiers killed, 60 injured in clashes" (11/8/2006) "... towns and other villages cut off..." "Hezbollah said they wont stand in its way. They will abide by it..." (After both sides agreed to the UN resolution): "... 1,000's of Israeli soldiers pushed further into Lebanon.." "Can diplomacy work?" "Under UN rules of Engagement, you try and talk them out of it" (it means: Use of Weapons). "Not using force is something of a dream" said a UN rep. "... with every Air-Strike people are bleeding to death..." said the Red Cross. "What's it all for? Cannon fodder? asked Israel's newspapers. Israel said their offensive is to ‘clean up’ Hezbollah's infrastructure left in place" (12/8/2006). "30,000 Israeli soldiers are involved in some of the fiercest fighting yet..." "As usual, it will come to the wrong conclusion?" "... it could be over that much quicker..." STOP THE FIRING! "20 missiles fired in 2 minutes, aimed at Beirut... All the SMOKE! The people buried under there... the children... they've got only one digger... Intense firing... Israel (Haifa) hit by more than 200 rockets fired by Hezbollah... the firing of shells will go on all night..." “More than 1,000 Lebanese killed and 155 Israeli soldiers…” "The Israeli government have a very weak mandate. What tangible difference can they show the people?" "... the test will be it's implementation on the ground" (it means: the cease-fire due to start tomorrow / the occupation of UN troops). “The people in this area believe in their leader- that is why Israel took action against them. Israel do not want peace!” (BBC World News, 13/8/2006).

“An EPOCH CONFLICT- it could bring a whole new prospective on the Middle East…” “One million Lebanese are Homeless. The psychological stress of being inside (these) ‘shelters.’ The injuries! I have a dream to rehabilitate both sides of the border because the suffering is immense” said an Israeli doctor. Exploding munitions as they return ‘home.’ Many villages destroyed. They will rebuild (whatever that means when it’s at home!) Israel: SPEECHES by Ehud Olmert and Netanyahu: “… we will not forgive dissent…” 660

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and the reddish clouds of hydrogen existing throughout about 63% of most observable galaxies. The only area where these gases are not apparent is in the hot nucleus of the galaxy itself… … at the centre of the galaxy… Man is not positioned at the centre… (Western scientists have reported): ‘Space, instead of being an empty vacuum as previously thought, is actually filled with billions of particles of matter all in a constant state of activity and glowing with a weird fluorescence of their own’… as though billions upon billions of fireflies were flickering everywhere, moving in all directions… I saw a good many large, luminous objects passing through space… glowing…” (wrote

THE UNIVERSE: = “Billions of Galaxies." "There are countless galaxies. Our solar system is a grain of sand in an endless ‘desert’ - an insignificantly small part of the Universe. Our Sun is but a small speck in our home galaxy- the Milky Way. There are so many other stars- more planets than our minds can imagine..." “The Universe is immensely old. The stars, the planets have life-cycles just like plants- it is constantly evolving…” “… several hundred thousand inhabited planets could easily be in existence in our Milky Way alone i.e. they are our neighbours… Billions of giant Milkyway systems or galaxies, like our own, are known to exist throughout the vast reaches of the neverending Cosmos… ” (George Adamski, 1961). “100 Billion Human beings have lived on the planet. There are the same number of planets in our milky way / galaxy. Awesome thought – for everyone who has lived, there is a planet…” (Arthur C. Clarke). “… as the galaxy expands outwards… stars cool and planetary systems are born… As an old planet disintegrates a new one is built to replace it – it goes back to a gaseous state, the cycle starts again… … its ceaseless activity and endless wonders… expressions of the one creator…” (wrote

George Adamski, 1961).

"Looking at the night sky is magic…" "There are 5,000 - 6,000 stars that can be seen with the naked eye from Earth. Selected by brightness and location- are used for navigation i.e. learn their names, where they are in the sky, so no matter where you are pointing, you can always find a couple of them. Tell a computer this information, combine this with the information the computer already knows about the speed of your craftyou can fly without help from the ground. Mariners and the Arabs have used navigation by stars..." “It is very difficult to accurately measure the distance to stars…” "The closest star to Earth is Alpha Centauri, over 4 light years away..." Q: What is a light year? A. “The distance that a (light) photon will travel in a straight line (Light travels at 186,000 miles a second, in a perfect vacuum…) The distance light travels in one year is 5,865,696,000,000 miles = 6 trillion miles. It is the theoretical distance light travels in one Earth year. Is used to indicate the distance of other stars and galaxies from the Earth.” “… our galaxy is approx. 100,000 light years across…” “Stars vary in colour, size and brightness varies… Stars generate their own energyemitted in the form of light…” “The light streams from the planets…” “A vast number of stars are very big…” STAR MAP: "Scientists believe they have mapped out The Universe" (October 1990). Hey, all you stuck in over-crowded cities..." “… once beneath the stars, the Universe was ours. Do you ever think about it in your widest dreams?” "Space beckons us!" "THIS IS THE SPACE-AGE!" (in case you have forgotten!) Space = Room. "Looking for a place to stay? We believe in the very best." "I want to EXPLORE- see the sights, gain knowledge..." "I want to be out there, to live life to the full in the Heavens, for infinity, to find eternity..." “Who is with me?”

George Adamski, 1961).

"SPACE = INFINITY." "The Universe is expanding. The expansion is accelerating..." "I see the stars grow..." "Don't count the stars or you may stumblesomeone looks down and sighs." "... in the high and mighty un-trespassed sanctity of Space... I reached out my hand and found the face of God..." GOD = "The Divine Natural Order of the Universe." "The Only True Freedom." HEAVEN: "The Abode of GOD (or Gods) (or state of virtuous souls and Super-Natural beings) place or state of spiritual joy, delightful; awareness of God's presence; intense pleasure; sky; one of various spheres forming the Universe." “The dwelling place of Angels.” CELESTIAL: "Belonging to the sky or Heavens; Divine, Heavenly." "Out there, it is pure and clean... All untouched and wondrously beautiful..." “… it’s not black out there but amazingly dark blue…” “…to an observer, outer space looks like a dark, vast void, filled with billions upon billions of tiny specks of light… … outer space is a dazzling vision of multi-coloured brightness… it is very bright and coloured like a rainbow because inter-planetary gas shines with multi-coloured light, whilst thousands of millions of stars shine through it, forming almost solid looking pinky-gold or dazzling white shapes… … photographs show great bluish clouds of oxygen, 661

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walking on the moon- easily kept their balance in the strange gravitational field where everything weighs 1/6th of Earth weight... Giant steps are what we need to take on the Moon..." "... the Eagle only has enough Oxygen for 1 more day. The engine had better work, or we'll be stranded forever..." "The Eagle left behind the bottom ½ on the Moon- this acted as a launch pad for the top ½ ..." A PLAQUE LEFT BEHIND stating: “When Man 1st set foot on the Moon we came in peace for all Mankind.” "... the docking went well- a bump, then a wild lurch..." "Well! We finally did it" people said. "It's amazing what you guys can do when you put your minds to it!" 1971: "The 1st automobile on the Moon..." "The Moon is nearly ¼ of a million miles away from the Earth- approx. 238,000 miles. Has no atmosphere. On Earth, if I weigh 165Ibs. On the Moon only 27Ibs. The Moon is not nearly as large as the Earth. On Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, I would weigh 436Ibs..." "In deepest space, the temperature can go down to -270 degrees centigrade." "If something goes badly wrong here- not much chance of survival- that's why we must be readyright. Have we got what it takes?" "... with an Earth-shattering roar, the rocket took off..." "The BOOST that POLLUTES..." THE WORRY: "Man is spreading his CONTAMINATION everywhere he goes." "So many missions have ended in failure. Do you think we've got it wrong?" Do you think our Creator could be trying to tell us something? (EG. "You will never have a smooth path whilst you are attached to a potential trouble source.") "Apollo 1 - ended in disaster. A FIRE on the launch-pad." ("Will this end the contamination?") ("... it wouldn't go up like rocket fuel...") 1969: "Apollo 11: "THE LUNAR MODULE = Takes a lot of thrust- a monster, taller than a football field set on end, filled with KEROSENE i.e. Highly Combustive, Polluting, HEAVY Fuel, plus Hydrogen and Oxygen… Lift off thrust 7.5 million pounds. GIGANTIC Engines. Launch very Hazardous time. You have to put your life in someone else’s hands. TERRIFYING wind blasts. Engines FIRED / Ignited. Clamps holding us down released. Jerking back & forth. Very NOISY. 2.5 minutes later, the 1st stage: Shuts down, falls into the sea. 2nd stage: 5 engines take over... after 9 minutes, discarded. 11.5 minutes after lift off, in orbit, 100 miles up, speed 18,000 mph. No sensation of speed / propulsion. 3rd stage: Speed increased to 25,000 mph. Small rockets on side of craft fire to change position. One rocket to slow it down, one rocket to boost it

"We're a captive audience. We are struggling on... gazing at the stars... so far, far away..." "Oh fly me to the Moon, then to Mars and the Stars." THE SPACE RACE: (Race as in competition, with winners and losers). 1959: "Russia blasted off and hit the Moon..." ("... and God shuffled his feet...") ("I was impressed when man learnt to fly, able to disturb the cosmic sand...") “…outer space may be compared to a vast sea (oceans)… (In space) there are various types of currents (rivers) moving…activity so great as to be incomprehensible to our scientific instruments… (explosions, rockets) disturb this so-called peaceful state… the patterns of state… and this causes aftershocks (agitations, violent upheavals)…” (wrote George Adamski, 1961).

"In the SILENCE of the Universe..." THE GOLDEN RULES OF THE UNIVERSE: "Do not disturb the PEACE." "Come in peace." “God over the Universe must reign.” "I'm going to bring you straight back down to Earth. And not for nothing..." THE Mission for Mankind = Recognise the errors are universal. Step onto a new path… MAN’S TRUE DESTINY. The hope of redemption... WHEN we have made Heaven on Earth... (Heaven for Eternity) i.e. “Man is cautious, logical...” ”Man can then begin a new chapter (in life), sanctified. A Divine state." (2/1/1959?: Lunik 1?: “… the 1st lunar probe… It is possible it was used to photograph the far side of the moon…” “Lunik 111… accomplished what?” October? 1959: ”… an announcement over the BBC which stated the Russians had discovered vegetation on the far side of the Moon…” Re: Photos: “… he detected brush strokes…” “… may have been retouched before releasing them… to keep secret the vegetation (trees)…” “… possible better pictures taken were not released…” “… we were officially told ‘no pictures were taken until the probe was 42,000 miles away’…”) 1969: "The world turned away from the mess on Earth... as Man went to the Moon..." “So what? We’re making money…” (Picture: Late 1960’s - early 1970’s tin & plastic, battery operated toy called ‘Space Ranger No.3 Flying Saucer’ by Matsudaya of Japan).

"The Eagle has landed... Astronauts found no difficulty 662

1970's.') Approach not guaranteed to bring a rush of orders..." ("Yes, we make rockets when food in Russia is a luxury, when budget cut by 25%. We are still smarting about it…") (Ah! They can manufacture artificial silicon in Space, ‘economically,’ this must mean this could be done (more safely) on Earth even more economically, albeit, a little more slowly...) “NUCLEAR ROCKETS: Burning hot-rods. Uranium / Plutonium fuel. Unless someone comes up with a better idea... Space rockets in the future will be Nuclear powered... The National Research council pointed out that nuclear power would almost certainly be needed for so long a mission, although public support for this could not be assured." PEOPLE SAID: "Atomic energy applied in Space poses a serious threat to the Security and Peace of other Planets." "What is the alternative?" "There is no alternative?" "Assholes don't understand the plain simple truth. They got to turn it all around, twist it all up, and turn it into shit." "Greed. Whilst children bleed. 21st Century schizoid man..." "Just remember, you'll never get to Heaven if you break our hearts." ("If we could have games without tears...") "Soviets are going into Nuclear power packs... Going commercial. There's no such thing as a free launch" (1991). "ROCKET MAN: The risk of sweating, roasting, burning, freezing all his blood." "Plenty of unmanned rockets have exploded..." "We'll EXPLODE into Space?" "Rockets for war, war-like missiles..." "There is no alternative" ? "France is a testing centre for rockets... "

into orbit." "Fire retrograde rockets!" "Inside a tin-can you can be fried like a mouse in a microwave." 1971: “Soyuz 11. Crew found dead in craft after automatic landing. Cause: Loss of pressurisation.” 18/3/1980: “A Vostok rocket exploded on launch pad during refuelling, killing 50 people at the Plesetsk Space Centre.” 28/1/1986: “Challenger broke up during re-entry, killing all 7 crew.” "The most DANGEROUS part of launching into SPACE is the preparation done on Earth i.e. separating Hydrogen and oxygen. This is stored on board, in giant insulated 'thermos' bottles. The module gets its Electricity from fuel cells... and puts cooled Hydrogen & Oxygen together, to get water. Weighs a lot less than using batteries and a separate drinking supply..." A C02 Purification system = “Supplies can run out (this happened on Mir- space station.”) ("A Russian called Konstanin Tsiolkovsky, designed advanced space-craft. He thought plants should be grown aboard space-craft to purify the air- using plants to produce Oxygen for the crew to breathe" (see Biosphere). (“… an experimenter took a bell-jar, put a mouse inside = The mouse consumed the oxygen and died. Plant put in water, in a bell-jar, with a mouse = The mouse lived. Light shone on the plant, the plant flourished. Light = Causes a powerful and chemical reaction… can alter what it touches… Light/s = Plants flourish… Light = LIFE!”) "ROCKETS SPEW HIGH TEMPERATURE EXAUST GAS: "You don't have to be a scientist to know rocket fuel is not good for you OR THE PLANET!” "THE FUTURE OF SPACE TRAVEL: We've got to find a way of getting from A to B far more quickly. Rocket technology is far too dangerous and costs too much..." (1990) ("Oh, Lord, I can't wait for it to happen...") "Piston and jet engines are no good in space- they need air to operate- mix with fuel before burning. In the vacuum of space there is no air. Rocket fuel has oxidizer added…" "WEIGHS 95 TONS." "A space rocket has 2 million pieces. Each piece crucial. If any piece mal-functions, catastrophe threatens..." "ROCKETS AS PRODUCTS: The Russian Space Agency has space technology and techniques for sale... Rockets, as products for customers! The Furnace- recently launched into space will produce chips- the metal plate used to produce Giant SILICON crystals* (for use in electronics). Can make these quicker in space... Going to have a factory in space. Rockets built in their 100's. 30 made each month. Proton 4-stage rockets. ('Russian rocket design not really altered since

(28/10/1994).

"THE ROCKET MEN ARE DETERMINED to fire their missiles into Space... 100's of amateurs are building rockets. One rocket was the height of a 4storey building. Solid fuel rockets. Dusk to dawn launches. 1,000 men from 18 USA states gather to fire... Built to look like missiles. Warheads replaced by parachutes. Their Aim? Bigger and ‘better’ rockets. Building... something... that can fly into space. Launches from a specially made tower at 3,000 mph. Kerosene, SULPHUR, liquid Oxygen. In Australia, rocketeers have attracted government and industrial sponsorship. Their test launch was postponed due to windy conditions and cloud cover. Trials suffering many delays. Firing is a hazardous operation. Their rocket fires and travels 3 miles up. Their next rocket they hope will travel 3,000 miles" (Channel 4, 25/6/1995)

"All this rocket stuff is really outmoded now." "BLAST. The personal Rocket ship in 20 years time?" "The World That Grows No Grass stumbles on... The Ethics of changing Natural Beauty never 663

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questioned..." "RE-ENTRY = Too shallow angle- might skip back out of atmosphere- miss... Too steep, we could burn up. 2 drogue parachutes open to slow us down. They jerk back & forth, then 3 main parachutes open- each 80' in diameter- we float down into what we hope is a calm Sea. Splat! The instant we hit the water, throw switches to release chutes, we could topple over... Drat! We ended up upside down. We have no choice but to wait until we are rescued.” (Ah! The Craft is water-tight with rivets?) "A very insecure feeling parachuting - you never know if you are going to make it." "There is always a danger the parachutes will fail to open." "The HEAVIER they are, the HARDER they fall." "Russia is interested in Re-entry... A Soviet device survived pressures and heat... Russians want Americans to welcome them through the door... 'We have a lot of good ideas. Ideas they will pay for. Would the West ever buy such sophisticated devices, without computers?" (19/8/1990) ("TEST THE RUSSIANS, NOT BOMBS!") EXPERT: "Because we do not yet know how to travel at the speed of light... people wanting to visit more distant solar systems would have to set out knowing they would almost certainly die en route, hoping their descendents might some day reach their destinations safely. I believe a lot of people, young people especially would volunteer tomorrow for such a flight..." (“… it’s a time capsule!”) "Children in America no longer want to be Cosmo-nauts" (1990) (Naut / Nought means: Big fat Zero... What's in a name? Everything!") ("Could we please get the New Generation interplanetary soon?") "More than 600 people have put their name down on a Thomas Cook Waiting list to go to the Moon. Thomas Cook has issued a new set of certificates and luggage labels for the 1st lunar tour" (News of the World, 24/10/1993) "No doubt these will be overbooked and too expensive for the vast majority." ("All we can do is moon about." "Maybe we could have Space journeys for real?") "BRITISH SPACE PROJECT HEADS INTO A BLACK HOLE: Financial backers of the Juno mission... are £14 million short of the £16 million needed. Plans to put the 1st British astronaut into space cannot be guaranteed... a leading British astronomer confirmed industries views that it was doubtful it could be saved... A spokesman for the Juno mission said it could not proceed in its current form, without financial backing, adding that British industry had 'its own reasons for deciding it did not fit their marketing plans.' The Science programme and sponsorship has been disappointingly slow... The Juno board are working hard to create a new set of conditions,

in the USA and UK that could allow it to go ahead. 1 of the 2 candidates selected, who beat 13,000 hopeful competitors to be the 1st Briton in space, Helen Sharman, said the news was 'shocking'..." (1992?) An Astronaut said: "The only way to live on the Moon more or less permanently would be to put up a plastic bubble, fill it with air, and stay inside it. Of course, it is going to take a long, long time before anyone begins to live on the Moon inside bubbles. It would be very complicated and expensive getting all the equipment there..." (Bubbles? Whatever happened to Modules? Arrive in them, live in them, depart in them...) (Guide to unlocking the imagination: Think of Flying Colours...) "BIOSPHERE (1989): A massive, live-under-Glass (and metal scaffolding) experiment. 'The latest idea'. A proto-type for a 'self-sustaining' space colony, built in the Tuscan desert, USA. 8 occupants. Mission: To grow their own food, recycle Oxygen, water & waste. Can people survive in a sealed Environment, against weather conditions, if the external atmosphere is hostile? Result: Just enough oxygen was produced..." (How was the Glass tested for weather resistance?) PORTABLE Biospheres? "BIOSPHERE 2 (1993): A man-made ‘Eco-system.’ A 3 acre self-contained world, a giant plastic Dome... Result: Many problems. Pigs would not eat all the waste... Oxygen had to be imported. A crew member had to be removed for an operation..." (What happened to making compost?) COLONY: "Imperial, sovereign territories… semi-independent settlement of emigrants… outpost… " Invaders? Exploiters??? Ah! “Space cowboys…” "SPACE COLONIES: A new country in Space: Material hauled from the Moon would be used wherever possible. Moon rocks contain plenty of metals (and silica) so buildings would be made of METAL EG. aluminium and titanium skins..." (NO! From the Earth, Moon rock may look like grey plaster but inside are Beautiful crystals... ) You plan to turn the Moon into Quarries? Someone has to tell you, you are WRONG!)

664

,

(Picture: Toy called ‘UFO Moon base, made by Cannon).

“… the Moon could have an atmosphere… the lunar landscape does not change… meteoroids seen burning up on entry, and no sign of impact…” “… the discovery of an ionosphere above the Moon…” “…the Moon could have water under the surface…” “… ‘ strange spots of changing shapes and locations’ have been observed at the bottom of certain craters…” “… the concept of the Moon as a ‘dead’ world needs revision…” "OUR PLANET IS DYING. The only industry we have left is space ship manufacture... We are running out of metal on Earth. We need more and more BIG METAL space ships... (Huge, heavy, Meccano-sets). Therefore, we must mine OTHER PLANETS... The miners will be our slaves..." (NO! Stop! Hold it right there. In the Future: Do WE want METAL space ships?) HIGH TECH: “Picture a gigantic, FOUL space ship… in which the ‘designer’ has striven to reproduce ‘life’ in back street alleys and come up with the 3rd wing of Sing Sing prison with cages and sheet steel…” FUTURE MATERIAL FOR SPACE TRAVEL = Titanium? "Aerospace metal. Strong, light. Makes up 0.57% of Earth's crust. Twice as strong as steel and aluminium. 45% lighter than steel. 60% heavier than aluminium. Not corroded by salt, acids... Used in rockets / missiles, to make propellers. Resistance to high temperatures. HIGH COST. (Used also to make jewellery & body implants). Burns in atmosphere of pure nitrogen..."

Oh! My God.

MAN HAS NO UNIVERSAL LAW TO PROTECT PLANETS! WATCH THIS SPACE! "Twinkle, Twinkle, little star, How I wonder how you are..." Do YOU want to look up into the night sky and know the Moon is being stripped and destroyed plus everything else with it? "Are governments above God’s Law?" “I don’t accept the Universe is God’s little laboratory…” “Denying The Existence of God = Attacks ‘Allowed’…” Are YOU sure there is intelligent life on Earth? "JAPAN HOTEL IN SPACE PLAN: ...a Japanese business approach to charting new frontiers... if their dreams come true, their 1st hotel in space will open in 30 years... One of Japan's largest construction firms, Shimizu, is a leading player in the new space business... 'Japan's 1st big step takes place, weather permitting, when a rocket called Muses is launched... the plan is to land 3 people around the year 2010 and set-up a temporary Moon base... 'We can carry it out if we use the technology Japan now possesses.' ... Japanese planners envisage other lucrative projects which include high-speed cultivation of ‘seeds and agricultural products’ in zero-gravity space stations" (1990) Ah! MOON CITY: A manned moon base, used for other forays into space... A city, with hotels, research labs, farms, offices and a sports dome. The development of a new type of space vehicle to shuttle people and materials back and forth between Earth and low-orbit space stations. Success hangs on the development of a Japanese rocket- the H2, powerful enough to put large payloads into space... H2 was due to be launched 1993, but fuel costs are said to be much higher than European or USA rivals. Money is a problem. Japan's Space development budget for the coming year is $1.2 Billion but government estimates put cost of the space 'module' alone at more than $4.5 BILLION... With 9 government agencies involved in developing space technology, and a powerful (but unconvinced?) Ministry of Finance... the ‘great’ space race might turn into a bureaucratic tug of war." ENERGY SUPPLY: "Hydrogen would need to be brought from the Earth..." NO. A NUCLEAR POWER STATION ON THE MOON… “Nuclear power is going to be necessary - to build a space colony…”

THE FUTURE? "One day, we may have to flee our planet to escape all the Ecological damage... We may become refugees..." Year 3,000: "Do you still need to know how to make transparent aluminium strong as 6 bricks, but only 2" thick?" INTER-GALATIC VANDALISM! EXPLORATION = "They come here to mine." "Galactic NAZIS." "Environmental RAPISTS." "They'll go to any lengths..." "They will break every rule..." ("Yeh. (The) Dead. Boring...") ("Who ‘owns’ the Moon?" GOD!) "The question of lunar ownership. The UN's international treaty determines the Moon and other Celestial (i.e. Heavenly) presences are the Heritage of and to be shared by all Humankind. In other words, we all own the Moon and the Stars. That's a nice surprise for anyone who's dreamed of owning beachfront property next to the Sea of Tranquillity" (Omni, March 1993) “They’re selling bits of the Moon!” "USA lawyers are moving in, to Capitalise..." "The Moon is becoming a minefield..." 665

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(NASA’s definition of a MODULE) (made of metal…) “… added to a base BLOCK. The station is the size of 5 coaches stuck (Uh?) onto a central module. There is an escape

(So, whilst workers are wearing Oxygen packs, they will, in zero-gravity, use oxy-acetylene cutting equipment, to carve out Moon rock? How Dense. "MANKIND'S FATE IS IN THE HANDS OF FOOLS." “Where will it all end?” Q: "Will they use Nuclear Explosions in Space?" A: “They will, arguing these are 'harmless’…” STOP THEM! "Far better the Earth's gravity- our anchor, than NO sense." COST TO BUILD: "... $600 Billion to build one colony on the Moon. The 1st of many we hope" said the USA (1989) ("The way things are going...") "LET'S TRY DOCKING..." The word DOCK has bad associations. “1,000's of tons... of metal... coming together... left a bit, right a bit, to me, to you...” (Use Magnets?) "Are Americans likely to pitch in $800,000 for the military to achieve space flight?" (2/10/1991). "Our current position is that the military is the centre piece of man's ‘civilisation" (1993). “Metal gunships, laser guns, cargo refiningworrying trends... “ ("I believe there is something going on...") An Astronaut said: "NASA is not telling the whole story about the benefits we can get from the Space programme..." PEOPLE SAID: "They only tell us what they think we need to know." "WHY do THEY want to go into Space? To research? Research what? HOW?" BASES FOR SECRET MILITARY PURPOSES? Are governments trying to escape the problems on Earth?" “Have you ever wondered what they are really shuttling?” "They could be living up there now for all we know!" "IF YOU VOTE ANY OLD SUPER-POWER BACK INTO POWER, they'll get control of Space 'Exploration.' They will take control of it, say you're not allowed to do it." "Clementine, an 8 month mission, launched January. Dream Nightmare of the Moon mined for minerals... A military project- to locate and track missiles - for the next generation of Space weapons" (Tomorrows World, BBC 10/3/1994). "12 men have gone into outer space. Is the cost of the Space programme really necessary?"

‘module.’ (Details?) The need for protection from radiation- the cancer risk... Crew hindered by zero-gravity... Crew has little free time...” "LIGHT filled the windows- my eyes hurt. Constant Sunlight 24 hours a day. The space-craft has to be rotated or one side gets too hot, the other side too cold..." (What colour is Mir?) MAINTENANCE: “When Mir was 4 years old ... Senior scientists admitted cosmonauts spend more than ½ of their time fixing malfunctioning equipment..." “Awkward running of cables. Astronauts bruise themselves daily thunking against panels etc. “Urine is recycled into drinking water and Oxygen for breathing. Air piped by tube…” “Solid waste has to be removed from Mir by visiting shuttles...” “Crew have to exercise, on bikes etc. to keep bones and muscles strong…” “Enormous power need. Power dependent on solar panels facing the Sun. Without power- cold, computers down, zero-speed, no cabin light, no control panels… Mir smells of oil and mould.” “Design flaws... A hole ½ the size of a postage stamp can cause massive decompression...” (Ah! The material is too soft, weak, not robust, thick or light-weight enough, the construction is all wrong…) “An increasingly sceptical world... “ “HORROR: A main computer malfunctioned, then crashed. Hard to inspect / repair exterior damage…” (Why isn't there a roving robot?) “Solar panels punctured, then malfunctioned..." MIR DISASTERS: Oxygen generators failed... there was a fire- you name it, it happened. A disastrous year... the rusting Mir station was hit by an unmanned cargo ship docking to remove waste... ½ of Mir's power supply cut. The Oxygen system failed and the crew had to deal with a flash fire. The crew may have to evacuate..." (26/6/1997). "NASA is trying to win finance for a permanent space station" (15/1/1993) (I hope they alter the design specification!) "NEW SPACE STATION: Joint project (NASA) USA, Russia & Japan. New era of space exploration- if it comes off. Massive costs- shared (great). Shuttle will make regular visits (Uh-oh!) Plan to be put to governments" (5/1/1993). "THE SHRINKING SPACE STATION: THE FREEDOM SPACE PROJECT: Originally planned

(October 1991).

"They've spent at least $50 BILLION on a shuttle to get 6 men into space. Is that meaningful? Good value for money? All to conduct some fruitless research... How has Humanity benefited?" “That’s a staggering amount of money!” = "We have to justify the cost. We'll go shorter distances." ("I believe the time will come when the bits all fall in place...") "MIR SPACE STATION: Weighs 130 tons. Cost to build $20 BILLION. Orbits 240 miles above the Earth's surface. A series of ‘modules’…” 666

in the 1960's. Had commitment to build by 1984. A full-fitted space-age compartment... to be in orbit for 30 years = Astronauts will have to assemble parts in space- in weightlessness!” (Totally absurd / unfeasible?) (Depends on the interlocking technique?) “Hard. Trial: Result? Exhausting work. Extra mechanical back-up insisted upon by astronauts. Was going to recycle all water. Re-think ordered by Bill Clinton. Water now going to be shuttled up once a year. Not going to be spacious! 4 people will live there. Whatever happened to the dream of LIVING in Space?" (BBC, 24/2/1993). "USA SPACE STATION: Detailed planning since 1984. Was to be a stepping stone to the planets. Complicated. Costly. Now settling for something slimmer. Cost $12 Billion. Still going to be assembled in space. Vital for European space project. Will be used for research. Complaint: ALL countries should be involved in it, pooling knowledge and costs" (17/6/1993). "3 shuttles are grounded due to Hydrogen fuel leaks. Originally scheduled to take-off 1986. Refuelling has cost £millions. Trouble all round the Space Programme" (18/9/1990). Nickname: "THE FLYING BRICK." "Shuttles are like flying bricks..." HEAVY!! "Can't slow down. Use most power getting out of Earth's atmosphereonly enough power to commit to re-entry orbit... if calculations wrong...” "Only has one chance of (power-less) landing!" “If decelerated (reduced speed) is going too slowly EG. 2,000 mph, craft wont burn during re-entry." Uh? "The shuttle has 300,000 (ceramic) tiles on the underbelly, each costing $25,000..." (Madness!) “Space shuttle Discovery takes more than 15,000 people to prepare for a mission... is the most complicated machine ever built. Is re-useable. Has twin solid rocket boosters, packed with explosives to aid the launch. Carries ½ a million tons of fuel. 'Engines are up and burning.' Travels at 1,700 - 17,600 mph. They burn all the fuel getting into orbit. External tanks burn upare not re-used. Can circle the Earth every 90 minutes. 'We are polluting the final frontier with piles of space junk which could be hazardous to other missions.” “… the space shuttle Discovery burns ½ ton of fuel a second. There are 3 engines. The shuttle leaves earth at 750 mph, at 2 minutes the speed is 2,600 mph, at 3 minutes 2,000 mph…” “5 men cooped up, crammed into 2 cabins no more spacious than a caravan. 'The inside of the shuttle is small and not much fun. I wouldn't like to have spend months in there.' Requires 3.5 miles of landing strip. Base hits the atmosphere 1st. Ceramic tiles- made from sand, protect it from incineration. Then it becomes a glider. Hurtling through the atmosphere at 12,500 mph. Double sonic BOOM. Parachute slows landing. Exploring

the cosmos? A mission to nowhere until NASA decides where it's going. This is going to happen whether we want this or not. If you want take command of your own space shuttle, you'd better get into training" (28/11/1993) (WAH! "I want my own pad...") "POOR WEATHER forced space shuttle Columbia to divert to California landing site instead of Florida, at end of 10-day mission chartered by Germany" (6/5/1993). "Launch of Discovery space-craft delayed twice in one week due to technical difficulties" (25/7/1993).

"SHUTTLE DELAYED BY ‘BAD’ WEATHER and MECHANICAL FAULTS... many times.” "SOMETHING UP THERE REALLY DOES NOT WANT us to succeed in these missions..." "Maybe it is a signal?" (“There is no maybe about it.”) "The Shuttle is a DEATH TRAP: The Endeavour was branded a death trap by engineers at NASA. Their fears centre on DEFECTS in booster rockets which lift the shuttle fleet off the launch-pad and into orbit. Abnormal behaviour detected by NASA's instruments is giving officials so much cause for concern that approx. 30 meetings were called to discuss the problem. But NASA decided to waive the safety fears to keep the shuttle flying. Scientists were so fearful, they leaked information to the media. One went on TV to warn of 'catastrophe' and to call for the fleet to be grounded. NASA discovered an unusually high build-up of pressure had occurred in 1 of the 2 booster rockets. Sudden surges of pressure can threaten the safety of the shuttle and crew. But NASA insists 'We have a very powerful rocket motor. There is nothing wrong with it'..." (6/12/1993). "£671 MILLION MYSTERIOUSLY LOST IN SPACE: USA space chiefs have lost touch with a satellite 3 days before this was due to orbit Mars. The unmanned observer probe took almost a year to travel there. Scientists were hoping the probe would reveal secrets about ‘The Red’ planet but tracking stations are not getting any signals..." "Probe out of control... could fly past Mars without sending back any pictures. Events to date are fruitless. Probe intended as 1st stage to sending ‘humans’ to inhabit Mars" (August, 1993). "Columbia finally blasted off with live rats on board…" (16/10/1993). "We can't go any faster, not with this technology." "We have not yet invented perfect space travel." "... could take us 100 years to get to the nearest star..." (1994) ("Funny how the eye always takes us on the shortest journey...”) "MARS BARS: Despite spending cut backs... plan to send 4 unmanned space craft to Mars in next few years- space agencies all planning missions. 1998: Russian robot rover due to land. Their 1st lander crashed there... Advanced robotic rovers have become quite a boom industry. Rovers must 667

CHAPTER 16: SPACE

not topple over- uses cameras..." (6/1/1995). "We have to make it work for Mankind. We have to develop cheaper ways of getting into space. Eventually space travel will become no more expensive than jet travel. Colonisation of the solar system might happen over the next few hundred years. The compact cellular unit will provide another revolution" (said Arthur C. Clarke, BBC,

“Huston. I confirm we do not have air…” “Operation terminated. Praying wont help us now.” (Ref. Fictional). (HOW LONG WILL it TAKE TO RESCUE THE CREW?) "Launch of Endeavour stopped with only 1 second to go after 3 engines fired. Fault with fuel pumping system on one engine. Computer cut system just in time to avert terrible disaster"

5/4/1994).

Uh Oh! "A new power supply could help the authorities colonise the Universe!" "67th SHUTTLE LAUNCHED a day late, due to ice- a leak in the thruster rocket. Weighing 4.5 million pounds, ½ a million tons of fuel ignitedlighting up the sky for miles around, rising on twin pillars of flame- blasting them 170 miles over the Earth, in 7 minutes. A new era of space cooperation between USA & Russia. rivals, now joining forces. Will share knowledge about long space journeys. Does this mean the space race is over? 'It is a matter of prospective.' Total budget $30 BILLION for international research, hopefully to help the entire world? Construction for the new space station will begin June, in orbit. Shuttle will go up again for 1st docking with Mir- the Russian space station" (3/2/1995). "The mission may have to be aborted due to fuel leaks from the steering system" (6/2/1995). "GOD WILLING... this dinosaur design will deliver the pay-load..." "There are about 17,000 things that can go wrong with the space shuttle. Things go wrong all the time...” “Congress could cut NASA off at any time.” “There is a press black-out... They wont re-design because of the cost, and the delay to the project.“ “Our fuel tanks are at pressure... Ignition...” Astronauts know they may have to give up their lives to further.... mankind? Those poor sobs are sitting on 500,000 tons of dynamite. Lives put at unnecessary jeopardy. Payloads more important than lives." ("... it's written on the cards...") "A valve malfunctioned... lift off aborted..." "The fuselage is damaged... the silicon tiles... they'll burn up during re-entry..." POSSIBLE SCENARIOS: "Someone has tampered with this programme? Is someone trying to sabotage the shuttle project?" "Someone is scrambling our communications!” "This is Major Tom, calling Ground Control. I'm sitting in a tin can. You really made the grave. There's nothing I can do. Planet Earth was blue. Can you hear me?" “Huston. We have a BIG problem. We’re not going anywhere…” “The thruster’s not working! I hate this machine. The fuel line’s frozen…”“We are armed and ready for detonation… Watch that fuel guage! The fuel is pumping… We have a fuel leak! We’re on fire! This thing is going to blow! Oh God! Get out of there!” “He’s stuck… oh no! It’s too late!” “Oh, sweet Jesus. I’m cooking!”

(18/8/1994).

"Launch of shuttle delayed for 5 weeks due to wood-peckers making holes in fuselage" (June 1995).

"30th anniversary to celebrate Man on the Moon, ended when shuttle launch delayed due to a Gas leak" (20/7/1999). 1/2/2003: "TERRIBLE & SHOCKING: The Columbia shuttle burnt up shortly after re-entry... disintegrated in a fireball. 7 crew perished. Speed: 12,000 miles per hour. Cause: An insulation tile fell off from external fuel tank during launch. Chunks of ice breaking off a fuel tank and damaging the heat shield..." “Will the shuttle now be permanently grounded?” “4 HURRICANES, one after the other, impacted NASA's centres... delaying plans..." (2004) ("... it's clearly an omen..." “No doubt about it.”) (NASA’s HQ = mainly Glass). "TIME FOR THE NEXT NEW GENERATION OF SPACE AGENCY: What kind of space agency would endlessly re-design a space station, cutting its performance? Spending $½ a Trillion to plant a flag and footprints on Mars? NASA spends nearly $15 BILLION every year not getting us into space! We can't even have a rational debate about space policy because any change of status quo ‘threatens’ the survival of NASA and their contractors. NASA is out of touch and out of time. Let's replace NASA with a New American Space Agenda whose goal is opening up the frontier of space to the American people and their enterprises... (Uh-0h!) This new agency should take responsibility for funding through to finalproto-typing phase... whilst also creating a customer base for emerging space transportation and infrastructure industries. We humans need to expand our civilisation towards the stars" (Omni,October, 1993).

“The symbol the masons use for Sirius is known as the blazing star… a Pentagram on fire…This is the symbol on NASA…”

PEOPLE SAID: “Everyone at NASA is a shit-hot genius…” “NASA’s geniuses. This is their plan? That’s pathetic!” “NASA. A marriage made in Heaven?" "They want heavy investment..." "They want to corner the market..." "There is a free-forall coming. Let's harmonise." "A show of hands would do?" "What matters is HOW we do it. That we do it with VISION..." "To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe." "What a great 668

Ah! What speed does information travel at in fibre optics? i.e. What is the speed of light in a fiber optic cable? “… Science uses confusing language…” “The data rate is not directly related to the velocity at which electromagnetic waves (electrical or optical) travel through the transmission channel… we call the velocity at which electromagnetic waves travel through the transmission media, the velocity of propagation…” "Speed of Light = 186,000 miles per second, in a vacuum." ("Space is not a complete vacuum - hydrogen atoms are spread out very thinly...") "What is the alternative?" "A machine zooming along that sucks? Can't suck in a vacuum. Would be too expensive..." “ZERO POINT ENERGY (ZPE): The ZPE is a mysterious force, which comes from the vacuum. It is called CASIMER EFFECT named after the Dutch physicist, who forecasted it in 1948. In the meantime this could be proven and many ideas for free energy are based on this effect…” "It is easier to travel at 1,000 miles an hours when there is no atmosphere..." (Einstein said: "I want to know God's thoughtsthe rest are details.") “Einstein was a genius. He focused thinking on light, overturning 3,000 years of scientific thinking. He gave people the idea: If you could travel like a light beam… He showed natural light travels in curves… this created a puzzle, a long lasting mystery…“ ("... caesium gas speeds the speed of light x 300 times..." "QUANTUM BARRIER: ... speed of light exceeded 4.7 times..." "Particle Acceleration = Faster than light: This technology is used for signalling...") ("… it will give you a buzz when you know what it does…") (“Free wandering spirits of the Universe. Is hibernation valid? It may have its uses- a better night’s sleep, a healthier, fresh diet, the best thrills…”) Here's a thought: ("... it's not rocket science...") Man should travel LIGHT. Have a silent craftNOTHING dangerous. 1993: Summary: DISCUSSION: (between 2 unemployed British Designers) (who in America would be called ‘Fashion Engineers’’): 1: "Make a light weight space craft... to carry a small group of people. It does not need to carry any heavy equipment. Discard anything surplus. Less Weight = Less Energy required for Lift-Off... Instead of carrying heavy fuel, it carries lightweight cargo to assist trade. We need water. Water is heavy. Making the craft lighter / no fuel to carry = Water is not a problem. You can carry a fair quantity of water. I am dreaming of laser-powered propulsion. Needed: The smallest ‘power pack’ you can make-

adventure it could be." "THE REBEL IS HERE, BY PUBLIC DEMAND..." "How could it help NASA, how could NASA help it?" “Huston. Do you copy? Now you have a visual. Can you go to work on it?” (NASA should know how to make HOUSING air and watertight...) FAVOURITE NASA SAYINGS: "OK, team. Let's do it." Mission Control: "Let's do it." "It's a Go." "There will be a delay of 15 minutes until they receive the message..." “If we can't communicate with mission control..." ("Mission control is 1,000's of miles away…") ROVER: “The Apollo Lunar Rover had battery power sufficient for 55 miles…” "NASA needs a versatile space vehicle... a (non-robotic) roving vehicle using Alternative Energy as opposed to chemical combustion for propulsion..." "The need to protect the vehicle (& people) against solar flare..." (Enclose the vehicle! Don’t leave human occupants exposed!) "THE SPACE SUIT weighed 220Ibs (the Apollo suit). On Mars, would weigh 80Ibs. Not designed for bending, walking. Stops our blood boiling, our bodies from inflating..." (Equinox, Channel 4, 1992) (What if you get a hole in your suit?) If we manage to develop a super-strong, lightweight material that resists extreme temperatures for our space-craft, a softer, more flexible version could be made into space suits… Ah! We need shell suits! (Unfortunately the design of these has been naff). “Skin tight ‘Spider-man’ suits are being developed for future generations of astronauts. The outfits represent a giant leap for space fashion and are a far-cry from the bulky gas-pressured suits used today. The spandex and nylon Bio-suit, designed by engineers at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) in the U.S. will stretch over the body, and allow complete freedom of movement” (ref. Press Association, 23/7/2007). "LET'S HOPE WHAT GOES UP, STAYS UP: A 7 ton satellite is expected to crash back into Earth today. One of 3,600 placed into orbit. Was servicing Mir space station. Throughout Italy, police, fire and ambulances are on full alert" (3/3/1994) (“The IMPACT should one of those things hit us!”) "Soon there'll be ships exploding into space salvaging space debris..." "Man is making a mess in space. Bits flying off, bolts exploding- all floating out there in space. If just one of those bits hits us... We've got to get this under control... “ "They will suspend a huge net to catch debris before these impacts with the space station..." PEOPLE SAID: “… it's got to be perfect. We don't want, nor will we accept anything less." EINSTEIN: THEORY: "The speed of Light is the fastest it is possible to go." (Theory of Relativity: "The speed of light always remains the same…") 669

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(this not a battery). It creates light... for its energy supply i.e. your own 'power station.'” 2: “To get the energy to power the laser, or light beam/s, use powerful solar collectors- draw on the light from the Sun, Stars? (see Chapter 6 Energy). Also, needed: Another simple device to create Energy that can be stored for Emergency back-up, by taking advantage of the momentum of the craftthe thrust of movement? 3: “LIGHT BEAM/S produce electrical magnetic flux- produces force... (translooping = Light not expended.”) (MAGNETIC ENERGY = Attract- are pulled together. Repelpush away…) (Magnetic amplification & reduction? Is that possible?) (“Magnetic plastic is possible- just depends how much powder is added…”) 4: “If we can just get one object to move a little way with this (pure) technique = We've got it! This is very basic physics. A particularly strong Electro-Static vector (force) transgentary (i.e. has force going off in a tangent) (i.e. these forces captured / harnessed...) combined with what is in effect, an anti-gravity machine (which is based on the same type of force used to hold planets in place- reversed...) should effect safer travel, nearing the speed of light...” Uh? (“Anti-gravity system propulsion is fundamental technology.”) “Ultimately, it has no physical moving parts, no friction + no (unwanted) heat loss.” Q: “Why do any of this?" A: "We don't need mission control on the ground. We will not enter the Atmosphere like a stone... We will effect gentle entry (therefore lessening flare / heat). We will float, glidecontrollably, to effect a SAFE, PERFECT LANDING. No parts discarded. Everything longlasting / reusable. Practical. Zero maintenance. Less to go wrong. Not explosive. Does not pollute or harm... Is AFFORDABLE.” "… it sounds so good to me." “PEACE OF MIND. An excellent idea!” "GO IN PEACE." "… it will be fun all the way!" "You wont be under any pressure.” “Come over to my place, where it's nice and quiet." "You'll see, it'll be so nice." "You've found true paradise." "… it's your home in the sky!" "… it will be out of this world." "… it's not about profits and power. ONLY HAPPINESS." “And helping people. That is very important.” “… it just gets better and better..." "On Earth gravity keep houses on the ground- but in space there is no reason why we shouldn't have floating structures…” EG. A HALO of light (pure photon energy) = A base for crafts to rest on?

Ah! The Lord of the Rings… “THE PHOTON BELT: Is a band of intense photon (light) energy… it is (thought to be) on a collision course with Earth, first predicted to arrive by the end of 1996. When it gets here, things are predicted to change dramatically. There are reports of five days of darkness (although this could be metaphorical; mankind in his darkest hour), no more electricity, mass UFO landings, photon energy conversion devices, psychic abilities for all humans, transformation of our human bodies into higher dimensions, and much more. Generally speaking, the photon belt is a topic which generates very enthusiastic response. Everyone who has heard about the photon belt wants to know more: What is a photon belt really like, when is it coming, and what will our planet be like when it gets here? Why so much interest? Is this because people are remembering that it is coming, people need a explanation for what's happening, intuitive and psychic people know it is coming? … I'm sure we'll all find out why in this lifetime…” (ref. internet). (Further Information: Book: ‘You Are Becoming A Galactic Human’ by Virginia Essene and Sheldon Nidle). Ah! Instead of 2 worlds ‘colliding’… think of what is happening as: We are Between Two Worlds… "This idea has not really been gone into- not even thought of- as not considered viable because all the super-powers really care about is missile / rocket technology." "LASER GUIDING FIRING SYSTEMS technology, developed by the military, used to advance pea shooters…" (1994). LIGHT -v- HEAVY: “Speed and agility outstrip bulk.” "THE LIGHT CRAFT is a new space craft being tested. Propelled by laser… the laser engine stays on the ground... and projects light... Height achieved so far is 60.’ Trouble is, a tiny bit of wind throws it off track... They haven't found a material to make the craft with that the laser does not melt or split" (BBC, June 1998) (Bingo! Put the laser inside the craft... Don't point the laser at the craft!) ("Theory has it..." "… it's a little too early for euphoria...") Ah! A BEAM of LIGHT = Particle charged... collectors on craft use... beam shines where you want to go... freely. The light is an energy transmitter… “High energy protons…” ? “MAGNETIC ENERGY STORAGE EFFORTS: Integrating energy storage into an electric power system has long been recognized as a way to maximize a utility's generation and/or transmission capacity. Electric power can be stored during offpeak periods and then recovered during high-peak conditions to offset the need for larger generation or expanded transmission capacity. In Japan, load-levelling or diurnal usage of stored energy is currently accomplished at pumped-storage installations, which are considered to be fairly inefficient, having only -70% turnaround efficiency... The Japanese have thus been 670

missions if lightening likely, loosing $BILLIONS. ‘The weather is our enemy’ said NASA. The weather patterns around the Cape are volatilestorms can develop in 30 minutes. ‘We have a lot of lightening activity going on right now, a lot of discharging… Let’s issue a warning…’ Launch scrubbed if storm 10 miles away. Detection (using computer technology) is NASA’s best protection. Clouds closely monitored to see if lightening going to be produced…” (BBC4 18/12/2004). “JAPAN launched a huge rocket 15 months after their last attempts ended in a huge fireball… China has now put a man into space…” (BBC

exploring alternative storage technologies, including… flywheels…” “… Japan's International Superconductivity Technology Center conducted a 3 year feasibility study.. As part of this study, the subcommittee on Energy Storage recommended... the design using available technology of a smallscale..." (ref. www.wtec.org/loyola/scpa/02_06.htm ). “MIR is now looking OLD- Mir is 12 years old - in 1999, Mir due to be dismantled... for cremation on re-entry... Equipment being developed... " (Channel 4, 22/12/1997).

“The Ariane 5 SUPER-ROCKET (weighing 10 tonnes, 160 ft high) spun out of control and exploded dumping £410 million worth of satellite equipment into the Atlantic Ocean” (2001). “The European Space Agency (ESA) is spending £31 million on a new generation of cheaper, smarter space craft to save time and money. Could lead to lighter, better performing space craft. ESA has asked leading aero-space companies to come up with ideas for what to build” (BBC, 25/10/2002). (I trust their designs take the need not to pollute into consideration). “The Space Business is now in a rut with a glut of rockets…” (BBC, 18/11/2002). "THE GENESIS PROBE crashed on landing- was destroyed. Had been collecting particles from the sun..." (September, 2004). "The 1st privately owned rocket (owned by Sir Richard Branson) succeeded in 2 separate missions... £670 million was awarded in prize money" “The Exhaust Blast was Horrendous.” (They still haven't linked launches with the damage to Ozone & Global Warming). “They are still TOTALLY PREOCCUPIED WITH: “HOW TO GET it UP?” “I can’t get it up. Man’s biggest fear. He can get very excited, or in a temper. It’s puzzling… even to the best mechanics. He may need help. He holds back. He tries again, only to find he can’t keep the engine running. He worries about his gear (box), the transmission… about how he dumps his load off quickly and cuts time off his journey. He is on his own…” (2004) (“TRY a spring loaded ‘catapult’? Something Really simple and Really fun!”) "MAGNETISED BEAM: The University of Washington is proposing using a magnetised beam to facilitate speedy travel in space... a unit positioned EG. in orbit around Mars, would send a beam, powered by nuclear energy, to a craft with a magnetised sail..." ("There is dissatisfaction with mainstream science and fanciful theories...")

26/2/2005).

“VIRGIN GALATIC: 7,000 people have said they want to fly into space in one of Richard Branson’s space ships yet to be built (using composite materials as opposed to metals). The Virgin Galatic plan is due to take off in 2008. For space tourists… ‘Affordable’ space travel. Cost per passenger £115,000. In 5 – 9 seaters. Journey time 3½ hours. Will experience weightlessness for 6 minutes. Will drift back without overheating. Fuel = Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) ignited, & rubber…” (BBC, 28/2/2005).

“The SHUTTLE IS BACK! After (minor) modifications made. 2 weeks ago, a pre-launch problem. A malfunction. (A sensor in the Hydrogen tank failed) (a shortage could cause an explosion). NASA is bending the rules- the launch will go ahead anyway” (25/7/2005) (“Hey! Good luck. You’re going to need it…”) “Lift off! A piece of debris was seen falling off. This will be studied by 100 cameras. The new exterior robotic arms…” (26/7/2005).

“Mission Control has decided to ground all (2) shuttles remaining in service. The debris falling off was an exact repeat of the previous catastrophic problem with the tiles. That there was no catastrophe was a matter of luck. The same fault occurred but this time the debris did not hit the shuttle. Is there a fundamental design flaw or do we need an entire new generation of space plane?” (28/7/2005) (“… it’s my cosmic gateway…”) ”The shuttle Discovery will stay longer in space to restock the space station. The crew will spend their time learning how to do DIY repair work. The crew had to take a space walk to check for damage” (31/7/2005) “… a piece of torn thermal blanket has been spotted outside the cockpit…” (4/8/2005). “SPACE ELEVATOR: A Seattle company is planning to connect the earth to space via a cable running between a floating Ocean platform and a satellite. Passenger pods and cargo could travel up and down the cable by 2036 - 2040…” (In the Bible, Jacob was told to build a ladder to the Heavens…) MARS COLONY: A small colony of scientists and explorers will be entirely self-sufficient, growing food in large greenhouse-style pods by year 2046- 2050…” (Ref: the Futures Market, BT’s Futurology

(2004).

"... another rocket launch... the ripples of the sound of fury... The ground vibrates 5 - 6 miles away! The huge burst of NOISE! The BURN..." “… sounds as if they are splitting the sky!” “HAS it COME LIKE A BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE?” “NASA’s high towers are very vulnerable to lightening strikes. ‘We use earthing wire to channel the power away.’ NASA will abort

dept., Daily Mirror, 26/7/2005). 671

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station include unique opportunities scientific research, serving as a way point for exploring the rest of the solar system and as an alternate venue for human civilization. To succeed… such a station should have a goal of being as self sustainable as possible, that is the station should be able to function and expand using materials available on the Moon, with minimal re-supply from Earth… 1990: In a separate submission, I… proposed to deliver key light elements, thought then to be absent from lunar soil, at a much lower cost by building supply craft as much as possible out of plastic or wood… Establishing a continuous source of power is a major problem faced by designers of any lunar station. Solar power would be ideal but for the month long rotation period of the Moon. The long lunar night forces storage of enough power for 2 weeks of station operation. Equipment to store that much energy would be too heavy to transport from Earth… Nuclear power is also bulky and expensive and would be very difficult to fabricate locally…. This proposal shows how a station located at the North or South pole of the Moon could enjoy continuous solar power month and year round… … locating a solar powered lunar station at a high point (of terrain)… If high enough, the solar collector will always be in sunlight and thus a source of continuous power. Depending on the actual topography this might require putting the collector on top of a tower or other structure… this might seem impractical. Indeed such at tower on the Earth would be prohibitively expensive, if not impossible given known materials…such a tower would have to be 355 miles high! … the feasibility of erecting a power tower taller than the Sears building on the Moon… Or (a) series of collectors could be built around the crater and connected by a electric grid… If construction progress were slower than expected the would be plenty of time to return personnel to Earth for another try next summer. Or a nuclear generator might power the facility during construction… Relay mirrors, constructed from locally refined or imported metal, could be set up on the ground or on near by hills to increase the power density at the collector during the summer and to fill gaps in coverage during the winter… solar collectors and mirrors could eventually be made from lunar materials… The solar constant in vacuum is 1.353 Kw/sq meter, so a collector of 50 x 100 meters could produce 1.7 MW of electricity, assuming a 25% conversion efficiency. NASA estimates electrical power requirements of 25 to 200 kW for a lunar outpost, 500 kW for an interim base and 2 MW for a permanent base… The station would experience a power availability cycle but would always have enough power to sustain life and agricultural processes…As the lunar settlement developed, a chain of manned stations could be established, linked together by an electric grid and/or network of relay mirrors. It is not

“SPACE… it’s in your head, it's in your hands. If you don't know that by now, you never will.") (“Go in Peace. And may your God be with you…”) “DEEP IMPACT: The rocket blasted off… to discover the origins of the Universe” (12/1/2005).

“Shuttle launch hit by lightning…” “NASA is going back to the former, old-style… ORION HEAVY-lift (25 ton) rockets will go to the Moon in 2020, can carry up to 6 astronauts. Cost $3.9 Billion…” (1/9/2006). “HISTORIC SPACE FLIGHT: The Scaled Composites team made history on October 4th 2004 by flying the first ever commercial aircraft and pilot into space twice within the space of 2 weeks while carrying the equivalent weight of two passengers. The rocket powered SpaceShipOne, piloted by Brian Binnie, and the White Knight carrier plane, were built at the Mojave, California facility of Scaled Composites. This flight, together with the previous flight by pilot Mike Melvill on September 29th, met the conditions required to win the prestigious X prize. The project, known as Tier 1, was started in 2001 with funding from investor Paul G. Allen. Burt Rutan, founder of Scaled Composites and designer of SpaceShipOne, can now add another world-first achievement in aviation to several records already under his belt. The airframe of SpaceShipOne was built using LTM45EL prepregs manufactured by the Advanced Composites Group (ACG) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The low

temperature curing, high service temperature prepregs permit the use of low cost tooling and manufacturing techniques and have been successfully used by Scaled Composites and others for a number of years to build prototype and limited production aircraft. ACG is in the process of introducing the next generation of low temperature cure prepregs, including a material

known as MTM45, which will deliver improved performance while still permitting cure at low temperatures. The material will also be supported by a full design data set which is being produced with oversight and approval by the FAA…” (ref. www.advancedcomposites.com 5/4/2007).”

“A… STATION AT A LUNAR POLE: December 1989: The Bush administration directed NASA to set up an Outreach Program to solicit ideas for future space exploration. … led by former astronaut Gen. Thomas P. Stafford… a report titled ‘America at the Threshold, Report of the Synthesis Group on America's Space Exploration Initiative.’ … Confirmation of the

presence of water ice crystals at the Lunar polar regions by NASA's Lunar Prospector spacecraft … there is some controversy over the feasibility of extracting water from the low concentration of ice observed …There is currently a great deal of interest in establishing a permanent, manned station on the Moon. Reasons for building such a 672

plastic (the Ranger missions attempted this with balsa wood). One way to use the plastic material might be to mix it with lunar soil and heat it, yielding CO2, H2O… metals, etc. Further economy could be achieved by using such supply modules to transport waste material (which would be valuable on the Moon) from Earth orbiting space stations. Indeed economies might dictate that equipment on a space station that otherwise might be made out of metal should be made out of light elements to maximize their scrap value on the moon. Conversely, on the Moon, ceramics and metals might be used… Screw and nut fasteners might be in place of rivets, etc… Elimination of landing rocket and metal spacecraft structure would yield additional efficiencies…” (ref. Arnold G.

inconceivable that moderate temperature superconductors could be fabricated on the Moon and buried below the lunar arctic soil at suitable temperature level and used for power transmission… the extreme cold at the poles. Estimates… close to absolute zero. But there should be no difficulty maintaining adequate temperatures inside the living quarters despite the extreme cold since high grade insulators are easy to build in the near vacuum of the lunar atmosphere. Indeed most space station designs face the problem of dissipating waste heat… By contrast Surveyor 1, which landed near the equator recorded temperature variations of from 235°F at noon to 250°F an hour after sundown… the solar wind … (underground) gases might be recoverable in economic quantities… partially buried station buildings might freeze and be trapped in the soil from which they could be periodically recovered… Soil mechanics is another issue. The heat escaping from the station may cause local thawing which could result in shifting…A small unmanned relay station could be established there that would provide constant communications… The relay station might be connected by a fibre optic cable or by a chain of microwave or laser links. It might be powered by wire or by solar storage battery or by a nuclear thermoelectric generator. Power requirements would be quite modest… satellites would probably work. … a station on the backside of the Moon could be built…. Such a station could survey the celestial hemisphere over the entire spectrum, free of electromagnetic pollution from the Earth. … There may also be morale issues…A location far from the Earth's equator is undesirable for launching and recovering spacecraft…. the ease of providing shielding from solar storms. Methods might include burying part of the station, locating it in a crater that is always shaded, building a wall to shade the station or a shelter area, and building a barrier that could be erected on short notice... A major risk factor is the possible lack of a suitable site at either pole… Setting maximum self sufficiency as a major goal of a lunar station design should result in many more beneficial spin-offs. A wide array of new manufacturing, construction, agricultural and resource management technologies will have to be developed… there is a real opportunities to involve students in the work… A Consumable Lunar Supply Craft: One way to reduce the cost of importing… materials from Earth is to build supply craft out of plastics and composites with a low atomic weight composition. Then the entire structure of the supply craft would be usable at the Moon, ameliorating the normal rocket logistic equations with their low net-payload efficiencies. Also since many supplies would not be shock sensitive, a landing deceleration system could be made of crushable honeycomb, again made out of

Reinhold, http://world.std.com/~reinhold/lunarpolar.html ).

“Astronomers Find First Earth-like Planet in Habitable Zone: … the most Earth-like planet outside our Solar System to date, an exoplanet with a radius… 50% larger than the Earth and capable of having liquid water. Using… this super-Earth…” (ref. ESO: European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere, www.eso.org 25/4/2007).

“THE SPACE JET FOR THE SUPER-RICH is due to launch in 5 years. A 90 minutes ride = 3 minutes of weightlessness, for a £135,000 ticket. Carries 4 passengers. Is a jet and rocket. Produces less carbon…” (re: Astrium, Sky news, 12/6/2007). ("If you've made a mistake and see it now, that's a miracle.") ("If we get it right in the end that will really be something.") "IS THERE ANY BODY OUT THERE?" Re: Pre-Bible times: “…interplanetary communication was normal… most of our early records have been lost and our education since… has not admitted the possibility of anything of the kind… Many sightings during the centuries…” "... unseen Electro-Magnetic waves fill the Universe and exist among all matter..." (2004). "Scientists have discovered ‘dark’ energy... produces a repulsing force (i.e. anti-gravity) (Vanderbilt University, July 2004).

‘DARK’ ENERGY: There is some energy spread throughout Space… the Universe is expanding all the time, and there is something powering that- ‘a force,’ that attracts and repels… What role will this Energy play in the future? Why are we here? Scientists don’t know. They are looking for that at the moment. When there is one basic truth and suddenly it all comes together... We are only at the beginning of our exploration of the Universe. The Key is what we still don’t know. That is the challenge for the next Century” (Channel 4, December 2004).

“52% of the Universe is made of ‘dark’ energy we can’t see…” (“Why do you call this ‘dark’ light? I don’t think 673

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away Greenhouse Effect? A volcano?" "Violent storms…” MARS: “65 million miles away…” “… thin atmosphere mainly CO2… temperatures vary widely - noon time near the equator a comfortable 65 degrees… to below –140 C… the (frozen, polar) Ice Caps, shaped by prevailing winds… there is probably subsurface water almost everywhere…” "½ the size of Earth, a sandy-orange, desert-like surface…” “…the red soil contains silicon…” “They have already found primitive life here, in the form of an amoeba- a single cell, the 1st, most simplest form of life" (1985?) "More evidence life existed on Mars. A meteorite which landed in Antarctica contains evidence Mars once had water there rivers" (21/3/1995). "… was to be colonised in the 1980's. This may happen in 2022..." (Then comes Earth, then…) JUPITER: "Huge. Vast swirling storms... Jupiter’s immense magnetic field…a dynamo driven by fast rotation… Jupiter emits twice as much energy as absorbed by the Sun…” (EUROPA: “One of Jupiter’s moons, has an ocean & is probably capable of supporting life.”) SATURN: “The most beautiful, with many satellites, including Titan, and many Moons… 100’s of rings of alternating light…” URANUS: "Huge, cold - -215 C, gassy- methane, ammonia… rings… red light…” NEPTUNE: A blue planet. “Temperature estimated -230 C…” (The need to cope with very different weather / atmospheric conditions…) PLUTO: "Very far away from our Sun..." “Smallest… Temperature – 235C… methane frost… icy crust?” “Pluto declassified as a Planet…” “Automated probe now heading for Pluto. Will take 10 years to get there” (23/8/2006). Sorry. Like most people, I know very little about space- even our solar system… Go to: www.hubblesite.org/gallery/album/ "Are ALL the (other) Planets in our Solar System DEAD? WHY? Was there life on those planets? And WE STILL DON’T VALUE LIFE?" "WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THEY FIND LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS?” "Life is so precious. Life must be Protected." "If they did find life, would they kill it, like the whale?" Man has not AGREED to any UNIVERSAL LAW to PROTECT other LIFE -forms... "Pre-empt the situation. Don't hold an inquiry." "I hope they never find life on other planets. If they do, they'll only Abuse, Exploit and Destroy it. "They have a desire to purge anyone or anything that is different to 'normal' society." "Aliens are trash- animals, and must be treated as such?" "Aliens are inhuman?" "A HomoSapiens only club?" "We specialise in pest

so. But what do I know? I don’t understand so many things you’ve said. White light? No. It’s golden light, as precious as sight…” Song, 2004). "Out there in the Heavens we will see that we are not alone..." "If we assume that nearly all of the planets are unfit for humans, we will have a number of habitable planets. Astronomers believe there are at least 1,000,0000,0000,000 planets in the Universe capable of supporting our kind of life. It is the height of conceit for us to decide our planet is the only one which has produced intelligent life. A more reasonable assumption might be we are in the middle, compared to life on some of the more advanced planets out there..." "Our belief that we are the centre of the Universe will be altered when we transverse the universe." “There could be something spread throughout the Universe and beyond…” “If there’s intelligence out there… why don’t we see it?” ask cosmologists. “For 40 years, they have looked for radio signals…” USA INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: "There is definitely intelligence out there but I don't know what it is." “They are looking for something more advanced than humanity…” = “They are looking for species (living organisms) that embrace technology… colonisers.” “IF we found it, it could be so weird we couldn’t deal with it…” “The search has been concentrated on finding planets with water…” “A million, million planets could be like Earth…” “Is there an individual landscape… on every planet, everywhere? … Life’s basic building blocks / compounds… are found in space dust… everywhere! In rocks… are dormant… until water acts… The pre-cursors to life… There seems to be a common denominator… that says ‘go ahead, life, diversify!’ We could spread life throughout the Galaxies… Maybe that is why we are here?” (…if the life you create is GOOD). “THE HEAVENS: PLANETS: MERCURY: “Closest planet to our Sun… volcanic activity… a silica-rich crust… ‘atmosphere’ of Helium, trapped by solar winds…” VENUS: (Planet 2nd nearest to our Sun). November 1959: “The discovery of water vapour in the atmosphere of Venus by U.S. scientists…” (“Heat belts surrounding planet’s could prevent any accurate measurement of another planet’s atmosphere…”) "The Venus probe circled the Sun, is now orbiting Venus. Scientists photographing entire surface. Likened to Earth but much hotter. No water. Carbon dioxide atmosphere. Studying to help Greenhouse Effect research. Temperature is 500 degrees. Clouds of Sulphur Dioxide. The result of a run 674

the supervision of Luftwaffe designers Rudolf Schriever and Richard Miethe… Some of the Luftwaffe's top engineers did end up in Moscow…”

control?" "Some ‘humans’ can be really nasty animals." "What about alien’s Rights?" "Have aliens already been shot down and killed for medical / research?" "THE EARTH IS AN OASIS IN THE BLACK OF SPACE." "From space, what you notice most is the blue of Earth's Oceans. The green jungle is not distinct at all. The rust coloured sandy deserts are quite visible. How beautiful the Earth appears. The Earth also appears very fragile, as if a giant hand could suddenly reach out and crush it..." "The astronauts know better than anyone that the Earth is our home...” "The Earth is Our Mother - our Home. She is small, and fragile, so very, very fragile..." "The Earth is a beautiful blue gem… The Earth looks fragile- that surely must be protected?" ALIENS: "We shouldn't fool around with something until we know what it is... Anything could arrive- vaporise us in seconds... Something that is not vulnerable to our weapons..." "What if ALIENS are not kind and lovable? What if they are aggressive and hostile? What if they want to treat us the way we have treated 'primitive' races?” For us, it may now be too late to hide." VOYAGER: "The most distant picture of the Earth was taken by Voyager 2 spacecraft from nearly 4 Billion miles away. Our planet looks like a blue dot. On board Voyager is information to tell any alien that the Earth is inhabited" (1990). Man's Aspiration: "No force beyond our control." "Come as a visitor, not a ruler." The USA AIRFORCE: "Er... We have a hell of a situation... an inward ‘bogey’... We're going ballistic..." “OUR TECHNOLOGY COULD BE TOTALLY USELESS AGAINST THEIR ATTACK.” NASTY – are really ALIEN… =

“… In an article in a British UFO magazine, writer Palmiro Campagna revealed a connection between the

Canadian government and the history of German saucers... a S.S. technical liaison officer, Count Rudolf von Meerscheidt-Huellessem, contacted the Canadian government in 1952, offering technical information about a German saucer which could attain speeds ‘limited only by the strength of the metals used in the saucer's construction.’ … Huellessem wanted a large sum of money as down payment… the Canadian government declined the offer but the American government may have taken over negotiations and accepted…” (ref. http://missilegate.com/rfz/chapter5.htm ).

“… a very special compass developed by the Germans to use in their flying disc program. Actually, there may have been more than one type of compass for this purpose… called: ‘Himmelskompass’ or ‘heavenly compass’…” (ref. http://missilegate.com/rfz/chapter5.htm ).

“… It is that the Germans were interested in the manipulation of space and time itself. It is said that time and space can be manipulated or time and space can be created or obliterated through the use of an electromagnetic longitudinal wave. Normal electromagnetic waves, such as light waves, are transverse… Could this lost technology provide us with a window into time or into another dimension? Would our scientists of today be able to unlock this technology given their restricted scientific outlook? Has the reconstruction and piecing together of this puzzle occupied our scientists since the end of the Second World War?” (ref. http://missilegate.com/rfz/chapter5.htm ).

"How far did they get?” "…documents from the CIA archive are full of accounts by former German scientists of their desperate work to save The Father-land with revolutionary circular aircraft supposedly capable of enormous speeds….” “Have the Germans lost interest in it?” “The Coanda Effect: A turbojet provides thrust; by sucking in air, also creates a vacuum above the wing thereby producing extra lift.” GETOL: “Ground Effect Takeoff and Landing: Lift on a cushion of air expelled from a peripheral slot on its underside… taxi until it had enough forward speed to climb and fly like a conventional air-plane...” 1950’s: “PROJECT Y: The Avro-Car or VZ-9: A secret joint British-Canadian venture… The vertical take-off and landing craft… designed by the British engineer John Frost… An idea that came tantalizingly close to breaking all the ‘rules’ of the sky, before collapsing in bitter disappointment for lack of money and faith…” “Original Concept: A true flying saucer. A smooth metal disc…

IF they are out there, can we handle it? UN/ IDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS: “… THE REAL FLYING SAUCERS: Stranger than Fiction: Andreas Epp worked for the Soviet Unionhe built a flying disc that responded to controls, take off vertically – had vanes under – takes off like a jet. Hitler plotted to use these saucers as attack weapons. Was versatile / could reach vulnerable places! So need to put lid on operation i.e. ‘saucers are from outer space!’ = Unbelievable! Airfields blown-up & burnt but scientists who built them survived. Allies fought to obtain this technology…” “There is plenty of evidence that, in the closing stages of WW11, the Nazis began to experiment with secret weapons (built around the Coanda effect…) a German aeronautical engineer, George Klein, claimed he worked on a flying saucer under 675

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… a large central fan. A single flat turbojet to sucked in air from the upper side (i.e. from above(!?) and force air out (expelled air) through nozzles around the edge (!?) of the craft. It would

Force pilots reported being pursued by flying saucers). The sense of dread was turning to frenzy, and the CIA decided something had to be done… the CIA were concerned the Soviet Union was developing a secret weapon based on the "flying discs"… in a memorandum Mr. Chadwell sent in 1954 to his department heads, demanding reports on ‘the use by any foreign power or nation of nonconventional types of air vehicles, such as or similar to the 'saucer like' planes presently under development by the Anglo/British Canadian efforts’..” 1955: “… having failed to squeeze funds out of the British government, the Avro project was handed over to a bigger sponsor- A.V. Roe, welcoming the Americans with open arms… The project became the U.S. Defence Department's ‘Weapon system 606A’… and the cult of secrecy deepened yet further…”

be kept aloft by a cushion of air and pulled upward by the Coanda effect.” “… This is exactly the scheme designed by Dr. (ref. Richard Miethe…” http://missilegate.com/rfz/chapter5.htm ).

“The AVRO Canada VZ-9A: … designed, built and tested just outside Toronto… shaped like an obese discus, it was intended to use GETOL… the machine would lift… on a cushion of air expelled from a peripheral slot on its underside and directed by a sliding ‘focusing ring.’ The ring would then ‘focus’ the cushion rearward, driving the flying saucer forward. The craft would thus taxi… until it had enough forward speed to climb… and fly like a conventional airplane.” “… it was intended to fly at 2,500mph.” “It flew well at low altitudes of 5 – 6 ft feet, but when it tried to rise further it became unstable / wobbly… Troublesome- the jet engine blew so hot it melted the steel … violent shaking popped rivets... 3 small jet engines around a central fan that would suck in the air through a circular intake at the centre of the disc. The pilot would sit in a little oval cockpit to one side (!) under a Perspex bubble.” RE-DESIGNED: “To solve problems of stability: Stability problems overcome by a simple pneumatic analogue control system…” “… using the huge vertical-axis lift fan as the sensing element. The obvious wobbliness of the ship in its original configuration completely disappeared thanks to this light, simple solution.” "…’There was a stupid rumour going around the plant that we were building a flying saucer, and everybody was laughing about it. Then one day I was called in by security, and I was told I needed clearance because we were building a flying saucer. My first impression was that this was ridiculous,’ but when he was taken past the guards, through Project Y's double doors, and saw the smooth metal disc taking shape, he was speechless. ‘It was a sense of 'Wow!' Just real awe.’…" “… the news… set off alarm bells at the CIA… the CIA set up a study group in 1952… the Cold War was at full chill. (UFO sightings were spreading like an epidemic across the United States. Even Air

(NOTE: A WEAPONS designation, though the craft was never designed to be Armed). “It was to be called the Avrocar, and it would spawn a string of civilian and military spin-offs. There would be an Avrowagon for the family of the future, an Avroangel (an air ambulance that would zip to the scene of an accident and land on the spot) and an Avropelican for air-sea Rescues and anti-submarine warfare. John Frost planned to make one 4 x times as big, to move troops in and out of battle, like helicopters do now. The giant troop carriers would drop their passengers and then zip into the stratosphere… Mr. Frost excitedly visualised the craft bouncing off the upper layers of the atmosphere, crossing continents in a single bound.” “The vehicle would have been almost invisible to radar because of its slim cross-section. It would also have been more likely to evade enemy missiles because of the lower heat output through the numerous jet outlets…”

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all funding for the company's researchers. The project was abandoned (?) before the plane had its first test flight.” “It is not known why it never went into production.” “It is technology that Britain just (reportedly) ‘lost’ and it is a pity the project was ‘abandoned.’ Who knows what would have happened if they had pursued it…" “… the prototype is gathering dust in a corner of a Maryland warehouse that serves as a storage facility for the National Air and Space Museum…” “… Mr. Frost told the local press that he had been robbed of credit for inventing the Hovercraft by Sir Christopher Cockerell. The irony was that… Mr. Frost's eyes had been so set on the skies he failed to spot the Avrocar's ground-hugging potential under his nose. Within a few days of leaving his job, he died. He was 63…” (ref. Numerous articles, especially:

“… wind-tunnel tests suggested that secret weapon 606A had severe stability problems and was in constant danger of flipping over like a stiff pancake once the throttles were opened on its jets…” “The USAF wanted to fit it with a tail-plane to test whether that would correct the problem, but Mr. Frost, a design purist, refused…” “… Mr. Frost and his assistants tinkered away at the problems for another year, but had still not mastered them by the winter of 1960 when Spud Potocki, a former Polish air force flier, took the prototype for its 1st flight… Ernie Happe, another British engineer, was one of the few allowed to watch. ‘… it was tethered with 3 cables to stop it flipping. It just went up a couple of feet off the ground, and Potocki was sitting in the cabin fiddling around with the controls, trying to make it do what it was supposed to.’ Over the next few months, as Mr. Potocki attained a feel for the delicate controls, he was allowed to roam around the Avro compound, dodging in and out of hangars. Mr. Raeburn would often look out of his workshop window and see it floating by. ‘He would go up and down and hover over the concrete apron and look in the doors of the hangars. I remember the wind would suck the ice off the puddles and they would float around in the air like plates of glass’…” (Ah! HOVERING…No excessive down-drought / whirlwind effect!) “The Avrocar hovered happily close to solid ground but became dangerously unstable at heights over 2.5 metres, however much Spud Potocki struggled with the controls.” “Avro's management was overjoyed to see its flying saucer take to the air. The publicity department began designing brochures to capitalize on the aircraft's boundless potential for the day when the shroud of secrecy would drop away…” 1961: “A huge project. Avro’s team built a huge plant to make a flying saucer…… World shown the design… Could fly faster than any military craft. ‘It was ideal. It had 6 powerful jets to provide manoeuvrability & super sonic speeds’...” 1961: “After spending $7.5 million, the US halted

The Guardian, 25/9/1999 ‘Canada's Avro 'Flying Saucer' - And German Disc Technology’ By Julian Borger, plus documentaries including The Sunday Times, 26/3/2000).

“…The Avro-car was probably a cover project for something else. This "something else" was more advanced. The Avro Aircraft’s limited experimentation with saucer-craft was always an open secret which was at times exploited by the government…” 1953: “George Adamski’s book ‘Flying Saucers Have Landed’ was published…”

(Picture: Adamski’s Coniston saucer).

1955: George Adamski published ‘Inside the Flying Saucers.’ “By 1958 the technology had developed silent, electro-gravitational, Biefeld-Brown type drive…” “The Biefeld Brown Effect is a natural phenomenon that let a simple structure fly without moving parts by using high voltages. We call this structures 'flyers'…” November 1959: “The International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation announced that its scientists had developed a device which produced high voltage electricity from the radiant energy of a sunbeam. The firm said its device could produce extremely high voltages to provide power for propelling space ships.” “Several months earlier, a prominent physicist, Dr. Y.C. Lee, announced that electrical propulsion could speed earthmen through space at velocities ‘reaching 3 million miles per hour’…” 1961: George Adamski copyrighted the manuscript for his book ‘Behind The Flying Saucer Mystery.’ Extracts: re: Design of interplanetary craft / Electromagnetism: “… Planets being negative attract from outer space the particles they need…… 677

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using Nature’s energy… smoke and dirt are not produced… our lack of understanding of nature’s principles… along with greed, has led us into a war with nature… we have set-up a chain reaction which will be found to affect all life… our scientists have demonstrated magnetic propulsion on a laboratory scale but the sceptics were still unwilling to admit that flying saucers could be propelled by anything so simple… the energy they generate will have to be converted into propulsion power…… by generating its own gravitational field… the resonating gravitational field… causes the craft to be weightless… can therefore move with very little thrust… As in the north pole attracts the south pole, similar poles repel each other… uses an outward pulse; it moves away from the planet – inward pulse, moves toward – alternating pulse it hovers… does not float on magnetic current… blends in harmony with the planet’s geomagnetic field… our explanation of gravity must be in error in some way…2 types of electricity (repel, attract)… electrons pulled together at great speed…… electrostatic attraction… The Van de Graaf electrostatic generator…A cathode ray tube, or vacuum tube (found in TV’s) gives off electrons in great quantities… electrons are negative, protons are positive… A cathode ray tube, or vacuum tube (found in TV’s) gives off electrons in great quantities… electrons are negative, protons are positive…… there is a gigantic current of electricity encircling the earth… … the multiple wall construction required for safety… the outer negative wall… this electrostatic force field negatively charges / ionizes space debris coming within its field… Our scientists are just now admitting the natural force of gravity can be controlled… chief aeronautical engineer of Gruman Aircraft Engineering, N.Y. listed 14 other companies engaged in some type of gravity research…” ”1973: “British Rail was granted a patent for a 'Space Vehicle,' which explains in detail how to construct a nuclear powered flying-saucer seating 22 passengers. The proposed space craft works on the basic principle of nuclear fusion. The jet of fuel which could be types of hydrogen - is fired through a nozzle at the bottom of the saucer. A generator activates pulses from laser beams which are trained on the fuel. Each pulse starts a nuclear fusion reaction, releasing large amounts of high energy particles. Some of these hit the bottom of the saucer, providing momentum. Others are deflected downwards by electromagnets, giving added momentum. The charge from yet more particles is collected by electrodes as the main electrical power source for the saucer. A lead shield above the fusion point protects passengers and crew from radiation. The potential means of rapid intercontinental - or even interplanetary travel was the invention's chief attraction. However the patent expired in 1976 as British Rail decided

that, technically, the saucer was too far in advance of its time. Did the BAC and British Rail persist with their registered 'invention' which was actually fully operational but highly classified? Were they being tested in the USA in October/November 1975 when high security bases along the US/Canada border were the scene of many UFO reports? Many of the sightings occurred over areas used for the storage of nuclear weapons” (ref. http://greyfalcon.us/restored/UFO.htm ).

UFO’S: "Numerous sightings over the years..." EG. “I saw the light…” “… it had a dome (on top of it)…” (What could that be used for?) "... it took off straight up..." "... this perfect round shadow of this thing, going over the tree-tops. Then it was going across this field. I noticed it was leaving twin vortices of dust swirling..." "... it had round windows - the light behind the windows was not white, it was pale yellow..." "... bright lights - lights either side of it, flashed in regular sequence. Bore no resemblance to conventional craft…" “… a loud buzzing noise…” "... an ion exchange resin..." Uh? "... a crackling noise similar to an electrical hightension corona discharge..." “… it had a dome on the top of it, a corona discharge. Radar tracked it at 1,800 mph…” “… on radar screen 1,700 mph…” “… distinct on radar i.e. a metallic object. They used high voltage electrical flux…” “… a pulsating transformer…” “… it emerged out of the water- an orange glow, travelling at approx. 700 mph… it shot into space…” “… can move at 2 – 3,000 mph (in the sky). They formed into a circle and rotated…” “… coalesced…” “… ability to make our weapons no go / deactivated…” "... material similar to Teflon, basically organic..." “… black material like bakelite…” "... it disappeared at very high speed. Blinking lights. It stood still in mid-air, gave off a big flash of light from the central yellow light. Great speed..." (UFO's often observed to disappear almost instantaneously) "... high speed turns, abrupt stops, instant re-appearance. The absence of sonic booms despite speeds..." "... 2 pulsating lights on its sides. During vertical movement it rotated- rotated round its axis. Performed vertically and horizontally..." "... steady pace..." "... skimming..." "... illuminated, hovering, pulsating, and swishing noise..." "Flight speed directly related to flashing side lights; more flashes, more speed. While hovering, extinguished its lights almost completely. Had somehow come to terms with gravity. Movement not accompanied by sound of any kind. Startling manoeuvrability..." "... suddenly accelerated- incredible speed; playing hide and seek with military planes, there was logic in its 678

movements..." "... it disappeared as if weightless..." "... wingless..." "... circular shaped, had opening on one side, and had a battery of lights on the top..." "... it landed on extended legs / pods. Panel on side of the craft slid open. A ramp was extended..."

"SPIN WAVE ANTI-GRAVITY TECHNOLOGY: Much research done by the military, now in public domain..." "Spin wave technology can transfer energy to produce anti-gravity... " (some information available on the internet). (The authorities

(The fictional film: 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' showed a thought prevoking extending ramp design…) *The horizontal manoeuvring is unique and

are arguing that because terrorists are using the internet to transfer information, the internet must be controlled or shut down, July 2005).

warrants discussion. We have all heard reports of flying saucers in flight making seemingly nonaerodynamic turns instantaneously… Mr. Zollikofer proposes a simple method to accomplish this. It involves angular momentum… a child's top spinning on a smooth floor… when the top nears a piece of furniture and hits it, the top shoots off instantly in the opposite direction. This happens because contact with the furniture caused a change in the top's angular momentum. The top's momentum was braked on one side. A sudden slow down on one side caused an imbalance whose force drove the top to the opposite direction. In this same way the intentional slowing of one engine (on one side) on this saucer design would cause the rapidly spinning saucer to instantaneously change course, shooting to the other side… The rapidity of the course changes is tied to the degree of slow-down or breaking of the saucer's angular momentum and to the degree (revolutions per minute) of that momentum. Even when stationary, increased spinning would serve as a "bank" of angular momentum to be drawn upon at a moment's notice…” (ref. http://missilegate.com/rfz/chapter5.htm ). “OTHER OBSERVATIONS: UFO's seem to be reported as ‘small craft, not for inter-stellar travel, but designed to be operated freed from a Mother ‘ship’... Very large UFO's reported not to land…” “… many of the early sightings of so-called UFOs noted a heel-shaped plane-form…” (ref.

WEIGHTLESSNESS: "How do we do away with weightlessness i.e. everybody & everything floating about uncontrollably?" (Instead of trying to entirely do away with weightlessness... you should focus on how to create weightlessness, so you discover how to control gravity…) “GRAVITY REDUCTION: …. it was discovered that above a fast rotating, superconducting disk a 2% weight reduction took place. With the help of this phenomenon energy can be produced. In addition, this would be an ideal " drive " for spacecrafts. Apparently NASA is conducting large research projects in this area” (re. FINLAND, home.datacomm.ch/hb9abx/energy.htm ).

DEBATE: “… NASA is working on disc rotating very fast in vacuum… ha ha… they are close… but still so far… but maybe they are only reacting… I just suspect they know the technology very well but they don’t want to make it public for military reasons… its my biggest problem to know that my knowledge can be used for making weapons… fighter/s with anti-gravity technology = superiority… able to shoot down any currently in use i.e. whole armies… Here is the problem: Fear of governments… Danger to their power, influence, wealth and world balance… I feel beaten…” (Contributor’s name withheld).

re: Military uses: Yeh, I've heard those arguments... & I still don't support: 'we'll keep silent cos they'll only misuse.' The answer is to inform the voters & tax-payers, make them fully understand / realise what's going on anyway (behind the scenes) i.e. the practical possibilities, so corrupt powers don't get away with the technology, leaving Humanity behind, still in the dark, to suffer without it (which is what the corrupt are already inflicting). Think about it... if they have already have developed it... How is keeping silent going to benefit anybody except the corrupt / military?” EXPERT: "Centrifugal Force... if we designed the station to spin... there would be weightlessness only at the centre..." (OK). EXPERT: "By picking the right rotation rate, we could be as heavy or as light as we chose..." (This will get you airborne to effect speedier travel. Only the bottom of the outer casing spins... ) EXPERT: "Tests have shown if you turn in a large enough circle, you don't get dizzy. The centre of the station could be used for a manufacturing facility i.e. crystals, for electronics..." (No. You need the very centre (the core) to create & store Energy...)

http://greyfalcon.us/ROSWELL%20CRASH%20MAY%20HAVE%20BE EN%20A%20US%20BUILT%20AIRCRAFT.htm ).

6/7/1947: “Unknowns (‘flying discs’) tracked on radar… 100’s of witnesses also confirmed…” 8/7/1947: USA military put out a press release stating they had a UFO. Then, next day, story changed to ‘we have a weather balloon’…” That is asking too much of anybody’s imagination! “30 years later, the intelligence officer (a Major), who went to the crash site said there had been a massive cover-up…” (re: Roswell) Re: Retrievals: 1948: “Discs 30 – 100 ft… 6 of these discs stored in a hangar…” “… disc 30 ft in diameter, took 6 men to lift it… Material could not be marred… Central column… wave drive to direct gravitational field… conveyor apparatus…” "DID ‘NUTTERS’ MAKE THESE OBSERVATIONS? Witnesses reliable, patriotic, intelligent, sane, honest, with integrity... Many reported by pilots (professionals) with backing of radar tracking..." Unbelievable hoaxes? "60% of sightings thought to be genuine..." (Many UFO’s in photos look like aluminium). 679

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Gauges i.e. turn to low setting = no thrust needed, up the anti when it is. A dual core? How to Create All-Round Vision with a central core? You need one level / floor where there is no central core, with small viewing windows all round = the control room (or bridge) (+ cameras fitted inside, looking out). Think of Star Trek – the Enterprise space-ship design. (Note: Tail-plane). (Wasn’t Captain Kirk looking at a large screen to see where they were going?) EXPERT: “Seems the technology is in advance of ours but not beyond our understanding. (What creates the spin on the outer-casing? Did the whole of the flying ‘saucer' shape thing, spin, or just the bottom section? Why spin? To produce electricity?) "HEAVILY GUARDED MILITARY RESEARCH..." EG. Soviet-banned UFO information... rumour of a large UFO crash near Omsk in late 1980's- the military removed the wreckage... then a film purported to depict a UFO hovering near Odessa in 1992..." “UFO operations analysed by Naval Observatory in Washington DC, the National Security Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House Intelligence Agency, the Defence Intelligence Agency and the Naval Intelligence Support Centre..." "Some material still completely exempt from disclosure..." "The CIA kept a detailed account of investigations since 1947... There are reports of aliens being captured alive... (aliens called EBE's i.e. Extra Terrestrial Biological Entities) EG. An alien (or aliens) apparently gave this information to a USA delegation in 1980: "Out of your world: The time has come for you to understand... aliens are fearful you are going to attack. Their intent is peaceful. Aliens want to start 'an educational programme' for the people on Earth. 'We have allowed you to remain. We have interfered with your lives very little. Do not cause us to do something you will regret.... (aliens are) nothing to be scared of.” Uh? “It is necessary for you to find another source of energy because you are very close to being destroyed. You are contaminating your planet and space. It is very easy. What you call electricity is an eternal energy- it is free. It is possible for you to get tremendous energy if you know how to disassociate Electrons. This way you have the free energy you need, without pollution, or contamination; this is what we use to travel in space..." " (They say it is not up to them to accept us, rather it is up to us to accept them… IF our leaders heed their warnings, we will find ourselves a lot better off") (True or False?) "Aliens believe in a Universal religion. The Universe as a Supreme Being..." Ah! “the whole universe declares your majesty…” "... the aliens want us to know about it..." (Disassociated Electrons? Was anything done

Re: ENERGY SYSTEM IDEAS: … trying to visualise the central core (inside the module). … the core is a sturdy hollow (thick, resin) tube (this also helps to supports floors), approx. size = think of an old oak tree trunk…lined on the inside with 100? Solar collector/s / cells i.e. a bank. (Each solar cell fitted into a slot that pulls out (like a drawer? What could be inside each “drawer”?) Inside that tube, in the centre, is another (vertical) hollow (transparent / clear) (magnifying?) (glass?) (must be super-strong / crack & shatter resistant) (sealed i.e. water must not penetrate the core) tube of laser light (approx. diameter = make an O shape with your forefingers & thumbs). (The yellow / white light in this area has a blue tinge – dunno why! Ah! When / if people enter… so not blinded). (A service robot is ideal / useful for maintenance etc). Ah! If the central core (tube) had (clear resin) “windows” = will light rooms (just fit a slide over cover). (Light channelled into rooms via bendy? tubes?) (Does this tube move up & down?) (Does captured light from above shine down into this tube? Ah! No, the powerful solar collectors / cells (not panels!) fitted outside the module = a limited amount of energy / electricity - that energy is used to power the laser). The laser (light) pulses up / down the inner tube. A mini-version of this = The G-Whizz energy source (under the cushioned floor) (connected to underneath apparatus). Elec / power fed into a console fitted around the exterior of the core = control panel (in safest locality) (= minimum wiring). (Cordless appliances recharged here- simply plug into power supply). The needs for electrical power kept to a minimum EG. a (commercial / very powerful / large? Microwave to heat water for hypocaust + new-style light-weight heated wall panels?) (+ excellent insulation = can maintain pleasant temperature without excessive heating) (+ economic gadgetry) = Surplus energy to provide thrust… (Hot water: A sealed system = no steam. Steam does not retain heat. Steam = pressure + need for release… That could be useful for?) (Traditional houses have no need for thrust = more power for heating. Fit a core into existing unused chimney, under stairs, in cellar or loft if roof is super-strong). (Hot water: Use to heat radiators). (So, light is collected, channelled, & then) stored – how? In lightest form of “rechargeable”? battery / batteries, at the bottom of the core? inside each “drawer”? (i.e. the same natural energy used to power homes & provide propulsion?) MAXIMUM OVERLOAD: What if too much energy being made? Needed: Control switches / Auto on / off / Computerised + manual over-ride… for safety. 680

about it?) “EBE’s communicate via Telepathy…” (i.e. what was recorded had to be interpreted by a psychic). “‘DREAMLAND’ in Nevada. Highly restricted airspace. 'You are in a military corridor.' Test flying very unusual aircraft. Witnesses. Secret projectsinvolve 'force-field technology,' 'gravity-drive systems' even 'flying saucer' designs... ‘The Alien Technology Centre’ is real... Mike Hunt claims to have been present on a number of occasions when it was taking off or landing. 'I would be told 'it' will be landing, in so many minutes,' or 'we will be taking 'it' out of the hangar.' I remember many referrals to 'it' ... at no time did I hear an engine…" “PROJECT: RED LIGHT: Examination of UFO Hardware, UFO Propulsion systems, weaponry. Reconstruction of 3 captured UFO's- attempts to fly: 'What held it up?' 'Nobody could figure it out. Did not operate on lift, moved solely on it's propulsion source.' ('... made of an unknown clear material - not glass, or plastic... No dents, no bumps. We could not mark it with hand tools- drills, saws- nothing! No joins, no rivets, no weld marks...' '... extremely light and tough’... ‘people operating it also very lightweight...') "HOW DO THEY DO it? The Drive unit = A room approx. 25' across... no wires or cables... the fully equipped console caused movements of the craft in relation to the stars... a translucent wall rendered opaque by a beam... in the centre, a huge carbon rod going through the roof..." 1989: “Lazar went public… he was hired to ‘backengineer / analyse the 1947 Roswell craft at Area 51 aka the USA Air-force base in Nevada (also known as Groom Lake & Dreamland). He said: ‘… it had no sharp corners anywhere, everything rounded, curved- seems all to have been out of one-piece’…” “GROOM LAKE: "... a physicist claims he was employed to work on 9 aircraft of highly advanced, extra-terrestrial design- built from parts, basically being analysed. Some are intact and working perfectly... A propulsion expert, Robert Lazar, was also hired to study the aircraft there. The door... 'no obvious hinges...' The Craft... 'it was roundedlike it was melted. Made of wax? Heated for a time and cooled off. Everything- a soft round edge to itlooked like everything was cast out of one piece.' Admiral Sumner Shapiro (former director of Naval Intelligence, an engineer by background said: "One of the things that was fascinating was the discovery of how they had INTERLOCKING COMPONENTS on the craft. The whole thing comes apart in pieces- apparently, when it's locked together it's like an eastern puzzle- you can't get it apart unless you know the precise places to push, and everything has to be done in specific sequence. It's a real intricate process but relatively easy once you know how!" (His book: 'Behind The Flying

Saucers,' 1950 reported a retrieved craft that was eventually discovered to be assembled in segments, which fitted in grooves and were pinned together around the base. 'Ingeniously put together,' he wrote..." “THE DRIVE MECHANISM: "... a hollow central column, extending to the top of the craft, goes up through the centre of the craft- the gravity wave is channelled through there... this doesn't get warm... a bizarre field, like pushing together 2 magnets... the crafts have 3 anti-gravity amplifiers underneath- they focus on where they want to goit pulls that point to it- the gravity generator shuts off- the spacecraft follows that line- it actually pulls towards, then releases...” "During a radio announcement on 30/12/1973, a recently retired Air Force General stated the government had unlocked the secret of UFO propulsion and had duplicated it." "I personally believe this could be 'it,' wrote Jim Shults, the editor of the USA military magazine 'Gun-Ho, in 1988. 'Everything is looked at from the weapons point of view. I have no intention of disclosing precisely how everything works. The potential for the construction of a super-bomb and advanced propulsion system- it is not something you would want to fall into the wrong hands." Lazar said: "It's unfair not to put it in the hands of the overall scientific community." "Nobody knows for sure if any success recreating the drive... What's going on could be the most important event in history- physical contact and proof from another system, another planet, intelligence." "It's real. It's there!" said Lazar (1990).

"MAGNETIC ENERGY suppressed by government fear..." ( www.lightparty.com This website had a lot of information about magnetic energy but when I returned to the website early 2007, the information had been removed).

EG. “A large number of experiments were performed with magnetic energy and/or a combination of electrostatic and magnetic effects. In my opinion the most successful project in Free Energy was ‘the TESTATIKA, (also called ‘Swiss ML’) which produces an output power of 1 to 3 KW accordingly to many eyewitnesses... A persecution of the inventor, Paul Baumann, began and as a consequence, the development team of the Testatika decided to stop further public information on this project…” "… it’s SCIENCE FACT, NOT science fiction.” 1992: Debate UK: “They will exploit any peace plan...” “They'll turn it into something monstrous!” “… it must NOT be made so that it can endanger lives.” “We must use it wisely.” “Super-Strength must be put to GOOD use.” “They could control the market as they do now.” "How can the military hide behind the guise of 681

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A breakthrough in aero-space engineering. Could transform air travel. Could carry 2,500 passengers... Models tested did not achieve stable flight. Could be in full production in 3 years... could take off from any flat surface. The race is on to get there" (BBC, 25/5/1994). (Energy system? Made of what material?) “THE AMAZING FLYING MACHINE is taking shape in Russia. The aircraft, Code Name: EKIP, can touch down and take off on land or sea.

National Security?" "It's high time governments revealed what they have hidden away." “…Despite The Freedom of Information Act, bits of important information concerning UFO crash retrievals, still blacked out from any released documents. Witnesses threatened...” WHY?” “Publication Forbidden. Why?” "… it's on the 'defence' scrap-heap. A scrap heap we know nothing about!" "To help the public accept it more readily, information may be released over a period of time." WE HAVEN'T GOT TIME! Our days are numbered!” “We live and die by the time. Let’s not turn our back on the time…” “In our ‘civilised’ world, we keep track of the time. We never forget what the time is. We do everything by the clock. Don’t we? Can’t we push it a bit to make up for lost time? Relentless is my middle name…” “We are suffering because we are having to chase this matter.” “God’s speed.” “God made the world in 168 hours. How long will it take God to…” "The Pentagon has released a statement categorically denying the existence of UFO's following an exhaustive study of over 22,000 cases dating back to 1969...” “Are we really supposed to accept that? There is too much at stake here. Not only would the government's have to admit to ½ a century of lying to the people, the effects on our social fabric could be cataclysmic... which is reason enough for the dollar conscious Americans to keep quiet. If the truth is out there we deserve to know..." (April 1997). "THE AURORA SPY PROJECT: The technology with stealth weaponry has already been developed… At a top secret military base experimental craft of different shapes, using retrieved UFO technology, test piloted. Many UFO's seen in local area, photographed... 'There it was! Just hovering, like a humming bird, without making a sound!' Remarkable resemblances..." “… it’s OFFICIAL: It's emerging from the twi-light zone of the defence industries...” “Russia's 'Flying Saucer' at a former Top Secret defence base. A revolutionary proto-type.

Will be able to carry 400 people or 40 tons of cargo, at speeds of 400 mph. If the High-Tech craft works, it will be a world beater. Every country in the world will buy it earning £Billions for Russia's economy. 1st flight for this version due 1999. Scientists have developed larger models over the past 10 years. Biggest to fly so far was 49' long x 35' wide. On the drawing board is a version as big as a Jumbo" (The Mirror, 26/6/1997) Where did it go? THE DISCLOSURE PROJECT: (After a 70 Year Cover-Up): 350 military

personnel, credentials verified, admit to

UFO’s (& $40 - $80 BILLION a year black / secret budgets) willing to swear under oath to Congress statements are true … all willing to speak regarding secrecy as secrecy illegal… to request release of currently classified technologies to forestall the Environmental & Energy crisis…” “We have the ability to manufacture these (space crafts). We don’t need fossil fuels or nuclear energy. It is time for a new era. It’s put down as little green men. There are over 50 types of (alien) species - some humanoid… They are concerned about our hostility / they don’t want us to develop space weaponry but we are going down that route… (ref. 9/5/2001 682

to a huge push to develop these – Project Excalibur). Aliens asked that we give up all nuclear programmes… There was an agreement made (with the aliens)… Testings (of their crafts) were done… (in return, was agreed aliens could research our genetic material (hence abductions). Soviet Union (also) interacting with them. 1955: Aliens broke the Treaty… Their prophecy warned man would self-destruct, World War 3 would start in the Middle East leading to nuclear holocaust, the Second Coming (would happen in) year 2011. The Jason Society studied that… they drew up alternatives: • Alternative 1). Change culture from exploitation. (The Jason Society rejected this as an option). • 2). Build underground tunnels, vaults, cities etc., leaving humanity to defend for themselves. Microbes used to control population. (Option accepted). Aids is one of these. (Hence America’s Doomsday policy i.e. underground bunkers, command posts… for only those considered to be important enough i.e. senior Pentagon officials, military officers… managed by FEMA… so they can play the ultimate high stakes shell game. … USA facilities (now =) 75 (+ 22) underground bases. Cylindrical (design)… (each =) 7 levels, hub at the base level…Transport = small electric cars / shuttles… magnetic trains in vacuum tubes linked via tunnels. Own power plants. Water provided by springs. Communications via satellites. Silos, from which the (alien’s) discs take off from hatches. Vertical shafts to access – capped off… the elevator system… the ventilation system hidden… • 3). A select few to colonise other planetsthe Moon, then Mars. (Option accepted). (They) have made significant progress… Plan worldwide… CIA now controls. Mandates allow funnel(ling) of money into black markets (& holes). Colonies already exist… There are plants growing there & a few lakes… water taken there by alien crafts who pumped (our) water… to change (a part of) the Moon… atmospheres can support life… (The) vacuum (of Space) is not a problem… inert gases… a science known to deep-sea divers… don’t need a space-suit… can walk about… you just decompress… Photos taken- published in a book…The Cold War: A shroud to disguise… supervised by Majestic 12 (MJ12)… all witnesses murdered. The Space Programme is a farce & a huge waste of money (orchestrated). … The big picture not made clear to technicians… ordered to stay silent or suffer death (suicided)… use of disinformation… The book called ‘Alternative 3’ (re: the conspiracy)… Meetings held… We now have nuclear powered craft… We have been lied to… Alien (crafts) (often) seen near water & a few lakes. Water taken to the Moon by alien craft to change

www.disclosureproject.org) (Drawing by: Brad Sorenson) (view videos: www.you.tube.com ).

Re: “We are drifting towards a horrible catastrophe and we all want to stop it”: July 2nd, 1989: Seminar: An ex-USA Naval Security & Intelligence officer Exposes The Illuminati: “…The CIA was formed by President Truman to deal with the alien presence… The original intent was protect us… Covert activities to hide presence from the public… procedures not approved… illegal practices… parasitic to economy- misses accountability… risk of abuse is obvious. The desire to protect Americans has been turned against them… Secret money laundered via an impenetrable web via Congress & USA Navy… transferred after J.F. Kennedy’s assassination. (Was reason for his assassination?) Nelson Rockerfella handed power by Eisenhower…(Worst mistake. (… a closed door policy decision that has allowed all this to happen). Later, Eisenhower warned of ‘disastrous misplaced military power.’) The 54 Committee, George Bush (Senior)among them… Dept’s. of State & Defence, FBI, Council of Foreign Relations, the Jason Society (also called ‘The Wise Men’ & ‘The Stolen Keys Society’)… George Bush (Senior) agreed to help… (Many names of rich people involved provided). (CIA) acts as a buffer… Victims of the cover-up… The National Security Agency (NSA) controls all secret programmes, is exempt from all laws – is a lawless organisation! (HQ is in Geneva). The NSA has led to a secret world – government now controls everything! Crashes of saucer-like objects have contained (human body parts &) aliens. Some crashes (crafts) not damaged at all (intact) but not recognisable (by earth standards). 1950’s: This stuff (alien crafts) stored deep underground for secret research…(+ in top secret Airforce bases…) Water used as fuel… (aliens) employed levitation technology… laser light, photon absorption- gas, no limits to this process. Aliens have tremendous control over light phenomenon – the speed of light (aliens) can shine it slowly… refract, bend, truncating it… Lasers, mirrors used to send signals into outer space… EB gave startling information… led to Project Yellow-book & Dreamland… EB used electro-magnetic energy. (Before EB died, transmissions from Earth into outer space to try & contact those who knew how to save EB). EB died 1952. … (Alien) crafts… intelligently guided… (vulnerable to affects of radar) (brought down by radar) (so radar deliberately pointed at them…) …True film exists – I do not know where. … Aliens said their planet was dying – they were genetically dying - aliens came to us for help. Regarded as suspicious… (aliens equipped with) superior weapons using sound waves… (this discovery led 683

CHAPTER 16: SPACE

the Moon & it’s working. (Already) there are plants growing there… Photos taken (by NASA) (of secretly established Moon base) published in a book… On Earth, we only see part of the Moon… The Moon orbits Earth every 27 days… the dark side of the Moon… there are parts we don’t see… Vacuum is not a problem. Inert gases… a science known to deep-sea divers. Don’t need a space-suit – can walk about… you just decompress… (meaning: within the base?) Some aliens still alive today… (they are) still interacting with the aliens today… The Trilateral Society (he describes the emblem / insignia worn on their uniform) (copied from the alien’s group) is linked to secret government (& Henry Kissinger whose personality was changed…) Research everything I’m telling you…This information is important to our survival as a species & to the world… I’m doing this (not because I expect to be believed but) because I want The Constitution put back where it belongs for concerned Americans. (Large audience applauses him). It’s about time… The fear of economic & religious collapse… Stop fighting each other…Change things! Are the bits now starting to fall into place?” (William Cooper was murdered

answer to it? There are a lot of theories... Hiding its existence... No-one should have the Right to make that decision about it." DOCUMENTARY: “Hitler’s ‘wonder weapon’ was a top secret- a round disc with a central cockpit and jets for all around for propulsion; to be a flying gunnery- for use as a bomber for the final battle of the 3rd Reich against New York. That never happened- as Russians advanced… the scientists at the secret Skoda base in Italy blew them updestroying the saucers. 1947: 9 ‘flying saucers’ seen… fuelling interest.. Project Overcast & Project Paper-Clip: To snatch the Nazi scientists / A secret war to obtain secret Nazi technologyto control it. Russia acquired the technology and built them. They had Epp- the engineer. He concentrated on the steering / Guidance systemhow it could move. It was extraordinarily versatile and moveable. Could travel very high at supersonic speeds. America became increasingly paranoid about the control of the skies (at the start of the Cold War). Strategically sensitive parts of America could be reached EG. nuclear installations…” (Reactolite resin? It changes according to the colour of the sky? That = A cloaking system…) “So THEY PUT ‘THE LID ON’ the speculations, denying anything was happening. ‘The Thing!’ They then started rumours ‘the saucers were from outer space.’ Any threat to USA denied. All clever and very simple. To make us laugh at the concept. Press statements, movies used. A fantastic cover story keeping up the pretence for years…” (Ah! They’ve made it seem alien). “This sparked / prompted a religious belief in space intelligence EG. ‘It’s fantastic but possible!’ (i.e. the cover-up story caused religious fanatics to believe aliens had landed…) “1957: Epp recreated his saucer plan from memory for the West. Lockheed, Boeing- all working on ‘saucer’ designs for the US air-force. They all had a central engine- a jet. Then work on designs that could be invisible to radar- a stealth craft i.e. a disc sends back confused signals…” (That’s weird… alien’s technology reported to be vulnerable to radar yet ultra-sophisticated…) “Projects so highly classified it was not supposed to exist…” (i.e. above top secret). “Projects never declassified. …The 606A model, with fuel cells… the fuel line… the fan… A radical new source of energy developed by Lockheed using a domestic electricity supply & a coil of wire (produces levitation). 1991: 100’s of people saw a demonstration of this technology (clear photos taken of ‘flying saucers’ with an orange glow coming from underneath the crafts). ‘The USA have things in the desert that are 50 years advanced of anything you can comprehend’…” (Channel 5, 15/6/2005). “MARS IN 3 HOURS: HYPER-DRIVE: Scientists

5/11/2001 “for speaking out”)

"DECEIVING THE PUBLIC: THE Disinformation Argument: There is a gigantic governmental conspiracy... the USA government could ill-afford to risk losing technological data obtained from sightings and landings, and ‘alien’ crafts. One reason is public reaction... afraid the public would panic if the public knew the whole / full story. The UFO situation is apparently considered so serious... it warrants a consolidated oversight mechanism and planning force, on par with management for Global conflict... The film 'ET' was supposedly made to condition the public to determine their reaction to extra-terrestrials..." "HUSH it UP": "Until we can give solid answers it must remain a lunatic fringe that believes in it. It means sticking with the Party line. It's unbecoming for a man of your position to get involved in such things. It will make you look ridiculous. It isn't science as we know it." Ah! Hence Attitude: “It’s not science, it’s craziness.” "Why do the military want to keep it a secret?" "To discredit it?" "It has an important purpose, for the good..." "Because they can't find an 684

said it is possible to build a device to propel a space-craft based on ideas of a German physicist who modified Einstein’s theories… a superconducting coil… the forces of gravity and ElectroMagnetism are fused together… should cause the ring to rise and gather speed…” (Daily Mirror, 9/1/2006). “NASA has filmed over 100 UFO’s near Earth…” (during the release of a tailplane) (view video/s on

“… escaping the Earth's gravitational field. The speed it takes to do that depends on how far away from the Earth you are, but very close to the Earth (as we are) you need to be going about 25,000 MPH, which is about 7,000 MPH more than our orbital speed. So once you have reached low Earth orbit, you need to be able to boost yourself by at least another 7,000 MPH just to leave the vicinity of the Earth. … the next step is getting out of orbit to further destinations like Mars, the moon, and asteroids. Here is where the Space Station can really help us… as a test platform for the 2 key technologies we need to really get out and explore the solar system: power and propulsion… instead of burning the fuel, we can use electrical energy to accelerate it… Potential Energy: …use conservation of energy… at least as much kinetic energy as the increase of potential energy required to move to …… a spacecraft called ‘Deep Space 1’ used an ion engine… The combination of a nuclear reactor plus a plasma engine could provide a delta V capability of 30 to 100,000 MPH. This is plenty for exploring the solar system. The exciting part is that NASA has decided to start just such a program, known as ‘Project Prometheus’…”

Google & www.youtube.com ).

“Gary McKinnon searched for files in top military & NASA computers re: The UFO question / suppressed technology: Gary said it’s the ‘biggest secret because of its common value. We are being trickle-fed by military / defence contractors who do have anti-gravity technology. Free energy should be available’… He is facing life imprisonment” (in the USA for hacking!!!) (April 2007). “The Vatican library also holds information re: UFO’s.” “Prophet Yahweh summons UFO on TV” (1/6/2006 USA Action News Channel 13 view on www.youtube.com ).

"Pilot Sees Large UFO Over the UK: Captain Ray Bowyer, a commercial airline pilot, has reported spotting a stationary UFO ‘twice the size of a Boeing 737’ while en route from Southampton to Alderney. Passengers on the plane and other aircraft also witnessed the phenomenon. The pilot said the objects were "bright like the sun" but didn't cause any eye pain when he looked at them. A former UFO investigator for the MoD said that pilots are less likely to misidentify ordinary objects as UFOs. ’Such light effects are often… thought to represent alien visitors but many UFO researchers believe they more likely represent natural… phenomena not yet fully understood by science,’ said John Spencer from the British UFO Research Association” (ref. www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=62...

(ref.http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/crew/exp7/luletters/lu_lett er8.html ) (Prometheus stole fire from the Gods…)

THE FUTURE? "Our orders are to exterminate all Humans." "We have 31 cities under attack from non-Humans. Look out! The whole building's going to topple! Our central area has no defence. Our water supply's cut off... We're on fire! We have no hope, no choice. You don't know what it's like. The colonies are all gone. The fleet is all but destroyed. We're defeated, doomed. Our warships have no food or water for a prolonged voyage. We cannot get far. I can’t promise anything. We'll have to leave people behind. Our planet shot to pieces. I have a ship filled with starving people..." "We've been hit! Will the hull hold together? We've lost ½ our fuel…" "LONG? SPACE COLONY WARS?" Alternatively: “Did it ever occur to you we are going to make it?” “We heard our destiny calling…” “WOW! We made it. It saved us! Now where are we? Free from disasters that haunted us! Free of conmen. It was a real goal. Something that satisfied all ages. No more Bang! Boom! No more winners and losers. Now there is no creature going without. Now everyone is happy. In ‘The Enlightenment Years’ we will do our best. Now it is our speciality we realise we can cure… We now realise how wrong we were…” “Exploring other options was the best thing for Humanity.” “Now we’re flying through the stars aint nothing makes me feel happier.”

Source: news.bbc.co.uk, April 27, 2007).

“I hope that someday flying in space becomes as commonplace as getting on an airplane. Everybody should get a chance to see this view! … some exciting new developments that could really change the whole field of space flight. The 1st has to do with getting off the planet cheaper… Before that can happen though, the cost and complexity of launching things into space will have to come down. A lot of groups and small companies are working on just that…What most of these groups are trying to do is build a ship that can reach a speed of about 3,000 MPH, which is enough for that ship to coast up out of the atmosphere to an altitude of around 60 miles.. to get into orbit around the Earth, besides just getting out of the atmosphere, you have to attain a speed of around 18,000 MPH. That means none of these privately built ships is going to reach orbit at first, but rather will coast up into space, and then gravity will

pull them back down to Earth - hopefully with a soft landing…” Ah! If the space craft can achieve weightlessness i.e. anti-gravity, then no gravitational pull back to Earth, so easier to get into orbit… 685

CHAPTER 16: SPACE

SUMMARY: “…worrying.. The inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents…” “What do YOU want to do now? (“I know what I want to do…”) “Of course, you can go back to how things were…” “Heaven can wait…” ? “… they might get it right in the end.” “… it may not happen in our life-time but it will happen… it’s a wonderful thing to look forward to…” “TO DREAM THE ‘impossible’ DREAM, to fight the ‘unbeatable’ foe, to bear with unbearable sorrow, and to run where the brave dare not go… to right the ‘unrightable’ wrong, and to love here and chase from afar, to try when your arms are too weary, to reach the ‘unreachable’ star. This is my quest, to follow that star, no matter how ‘hopeless,’ no matter how far. To fight for the right, without question of heart, to be willing to march into hell for that Heavenly cause. And I know if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest, that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I’m laid to my rest - and the World will be better for this: that one man- scorned and covered with scars- still strove with his last ounce of courage, reached the ‘unreachable’ star – and I know I will be better for this…” (song. I prefer the version by Luther Vandross). Ah! “It’s a bitter sweet symphony…” “… having the desire! Isn’t that what we call it?” “Could it be the dream that comes shining through?” Ah! “I now possess the Keys to heaven…”

(on Earth). “We could walk around heaven all day…”

“Can you take it from here? I sure hope so.” “… seeing the job through till it’s done…” “… it’s our best chance of living HAPPILY ever after.” “I love HAPPY endings, don’t you?”

686

ACTION-PLAN / CHECK-LIST

NEEDED: TO SAVE THE PLANET & HUMANITY 1). It's about having the heart rapidly changing

& INTELLIGENCE

so we ADAPT to a

Environment.

(That means accepting there IS a looming crisis). (Currently, economies are precariously over-dependent on resources EG. chopping down Trees

Non-sustainable

to make houses, & paper).

2). Realise... it's not about money (i.e. the need to make, or save money). The PRIORITY is to SAVE LIVES & REDUCE SUFFERING. 3). For a change, by AGREEment , we decide to adopt a KIND, PROTECTIVE, Healthy new way of living to ensure the survival of the Earth, and its people. 4). Housing, Energy & Transport Needs Upgrading Quickly. We need MODERN (Space-Age)

designs (see: Designs / Project it).

5). The IDEAL material to make HOUSING/s (for shelters & transport) is (WATER-PROOF) resin (NOT derived from oil = BETTER HEAT Resistance & Insulation...) 6). MASS-PRODUCE (Tested) new shelters & vehicles... marketing these based on ability to pay i.e. GIVE FREE shelters to the poor, subsidised by the wealthy. (Yes, this IS a TRUE socialist policy, but it doesn't matter what you call it). to reinvest in new 7). Large companies (EG. Shell), should use profits Healthy products that are DURABLE - of Guaranteed Quality for a Long-life, providing these at LOW cost, to world-wide markets. 8). To strengthen communities, teams all over the world need to be trained in the art of making these (universally-sized) new shelters and vehicles. Co-ordinate, share information, Technical know-how etc. 687

ACTION PLAN / CHECK List

Form a new organisation

for JOINT VENTURES (via the UN).

9). Each country needs these new shelters and vehicles to (especially the Homeless i.e. the poor, & survivors of disasters).

its citizens

This BASIC need is something we all have in COMMON. By focusing on, & satisfying that, we could end Wars, Corruption & significantly reduce crime & drug / alcohol addiction i.e. help end depression & confusion. INTEGRATE the estranged... form united, self-sustaining communities. NOT using traditional building materials = We Survive + we PROGRESS (as a result of Affordable, sustainable growth to Benefit The People). 10). Harness Alternative Energy to Ensure A SAFE Future. Use a Wise combination EG. Powerful solar-corporation quality Solar cells + mini Wind (resin) turbine/s... so that EVERY HOME & building HAS THEIR OWN ENERGY SUPPLY. (To avoid dependence on a national grid / ugly pylon system, with power cuts, + eliminate Pollution from power stations). (Existing power suppliers could reinvest in Renewables & sell the new, LOW-cost Equipment). 11). De-commission Nuclear power stations BEFORE the STORMS come! (Outer) Seal Radioactive waste in NON-Biodegradable, Water-proof, Super-Strong resin. 12). Don't consume! It's time to give something back. Don't mass-incinerate "rubbish." Communities, not private companies, must benefit from this valuable resource. Don't make anything that cannot be recycled. Package goods using re-usable containers (i.e, switch to a HEMP based Economy - make Bio-Plastics & Chlorine-free paper). 13). Use (rich) Human waste to make dried pellets = Fertiliser. Encourage everybody to plant new TREES & use this FREE resource to Speed the Growth of TREES - so our (thin) Oxygen supply does not deplete. 14). Use redundant farm-land, waste-land, brown field sites, & sites designated for traditional new-build houses, to make Beautiful Parks for the new-styles of shelters, to enable young and old, who care about the Environment, to live as SELF-SUFFICIENTLY as possible i.e. widen CHOICE, to Facilitate GREEN LIVING… Aim: Organic agriculture & Prosperity via FREE Abundant food. 15). We need Desalination units, by the sea, using Wave, Wind & Solar power to pump... to avoid drinking water shortages i.e. (Nation-wide / world-wide) Community-owned resources. (Start by helping to cool the Palestinians...) 16). SET A DATE for a complete switch-over from combustion to Alternative Energy. Meantime, don't BURN precious Bio-oil. 17). Governments must URGENTLY legislate 688

a). to stop private companies drilling HUGE HOLES in the planet b). to PROTECT existing FORESTS (using the military / force if necessary) to STOP illegal logging c). to ban nuclear weapons i.e. we need a unilateral 'demilitarize' programme. (For DEFENCE against any incoming… Asteroids – employ METHEL (Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser/s). 18). By focusing & concentrating our efforts on our survival as a species, we will, one day soon, be able to produce AFFORDABLE, Non-polluting, SAFE SPACE CRAFTS for CITIZENS who yearn for inter-planetary PEACEFUL

Space Exploration.

19). This IS the FORMULA - the ONLY sane, Practical way forward (I have identified after 18 years of research).

20). TIME SCALE: We may only have Approx. 5 YEARS to Get

it Together (i.e. by 2012).

21). The government’s 1st responsibility is to ensure the safety of citizens. But citizens have NO defence against aggressors, rampant exploitation, or bungling

bureaucrats.

Due to policy-makers Failing to make progress - TAX-PAYERS NOW need to pressure governments to ensure the necessary changes needed to save Humanity are effected. How to ACHIEVE that? HUMAN POWER = Educate the influential... We can "shout 'it' to the top." 22). We need TEAM-WORK- all policy-makers & citizens working CO-OPERATIVELY to SAVE THE WORLD (our HOME). 23). If the Human Race fails to meet these requirements, man faces the real possibility of government orchestrated DOOMSDAY... or a natural Armageddon. SCENARIO? HUMAN Beings become EXTINCT. (That is how serious this situation is).

24). Work TOGETHER - our children deserve a Secure, Decent future, and a HAPPY life. 689

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

KEY-words ALPHABETIC INDEX

Age (-Discrimination (also see: Ageism, Progress Report, Competition), (Stone-), (Space-), (Ageing also see: Senior Citizens, Longevity, Fountain of Youth, Durable) Dawning of Aquarius Agent Orange Agoraphobia (AGGRO-Phobia) Agnostic/s Ah! (Aha!) (Ahh!) AHDD (ADD) (also see: Hyper-active, Ritalin, Adjustment Disorder) A House Is Not A Home Aids (HIV) (Dirty Needles) (also see: Syringe, Heroin) Aid (Workers also see: Charities, Convoy, Emergency), (Aid for Arms), (Instant-), (-Frozen), (Budget UK), (At Breaking Point) Air (Aircraft designers) (-Ambulance) (-Bags) (Bubble) (Clean Air Act) (-Cleaned) (Clear the air) (Cold air also see: Draught) (Compressed air) (Conditioning) (Damp air also see: Damp) (Driven), (-Fares), (-Force), (Fresh Air), (Future of Air Travel), (Grow in Air No Soil), (-Heating), (Hot air also see: Warm air), (Ion/izing air), (-Lifted), (Lock), (Open air), (-Pocket/s), (-Pollution), (-Pump), (Purified / recycled), (-Quality), (-Surveillance also see: drone), (-Suspension), (-Tight), (-Vent/s), (Warm air), (also see: Deforestation, Pollution, Breathe, Asthma, Oxygen, Static) Aircraft (also see: Aeroplanes, Aviation, Anti, Emergency, Cockpit) Air Foil Flair Boat Airphibian Air (Raid/s) (Strikes) (also see: Ariel) Air to Air Refuelling/s Agoraphobia (Aggro-Phobia) Agnostic/s Agri-Chemicals Agricultural Tenancy Reform Bill AHDD (also see: Hyperactivity, Ritalin) Alcohol (Binge) (Drunk) (Sleeping Sickness) (Impaired) (Sin Tax) (Ration) (Sober) (Rowdy Hell Hole) (also see: Prohibition, Tourism) Alaska Alexander Parkes Alien (-Systems), (Alienation), Aliens also see: Illegals, Migrants, Asylum, Racism) Algae ALLAH (also see: God, Jehovah) Allies Al Qaeda (also see: Saudi Arabia, Gulf, Gap, Desperado, Fundamentalist/s, Militant/s, Terror) All-Sorts Altar (also see: Sacrifice, Modify) Alternative/s (-Blueprint also see: Project it), (Employment also see: Job/s), (-ENERGY Movement), (-to Cadmium), (Alternative 3) Alternative Oils (Hemp), (Sunflower/s), (Lupins), (Canola), (Coconut), (Vegetable Oil), (Corn / Maize), (Oil seed/s / Rape seeds), (Cress), (Olive),

A A basic NECESSITY (see: Project it) Aborigines Abattoir/s (also see: Slaughter Houses) Abortion/s Abraham Lincoln Abundant (-Energy), (also see: Sand) (Abundance also see: Permaculture) Abuse (Child-), (Action on Elder-), (-of Power), (also see: Bully, Mental Cruelty, Emotional) Accident/s (Playground) (caravans) (Chain Saw) (Ladders) (in the Home) (Black Spots) (also see: Massacre on the Roads, Hazard, Public Services, Accident & Emergency, Fire) Accommodation (Alternative-), (Affordable-), (Modern-), (Family-), (Hotel-), (-For the Homeless), (Temporary-), (Emergency-), (-For Singles also see: The Single Market), (Rent-Free-), (Student’s- see: College Boxes Clever), (also see: Religious Retreats) Acid (-Rain also see: Sulphur), (Acidity) Acoustic/s (Metal also see: Sing Sing) (Misc) (also see: Sound) Action (-Station/s), (-Plan) (also see: Masterly Inaction) Active (also see: Hyper-Active, Ritalin, Action) Activist/s (also see: Campaign, Protest, Demonstration/s, Rainbow) Activity (-Centre), (Activities) Accountable (also see: Transparency, Unaccountable) Accumulator/s (also see: Alternator, Kinetic Recharge, Solar, Fly-wheel/s) Acrylic/s Act/s of God (also see: Insurance) Adam and Eve Adamski (George) Adapt (Adaptation/s) (also see: Modify) Adjustment Disorder (also see: AHDD, Retalin) Administrative (Fiddle/s) (Charges) (also see: Bureaucracy) Advanced/ (- Composites) (- Materials) Advertising Advice Service/s (Knock & Wait) Aerated (-Concrete), (-Polybutylene) Aeroplanes (Fuselage also see: Aluminium), (Jumbo/s), (Planes), (Airbus), (also see: Aircraft, Security, Jet, Sky, Light, Comfort) Airport/s (also see: Terminals), (Expansion), (Runway/s) Airlines Air crew Air-Ship Affordable (-Homes), (-Housing), (-Houses), (Low Cost Homes), (Affordable / Cheap Starter Homes), (Cheap Housing) (also see: Prefabricated) AFFORD (When Will You Get…) A Fresh Start (New start) 699

Area 51 Ariel (Sharon) Aristocracy (also see: Elite) Ark (also see: Noah, Biblical Prediction) Arlington House Armageddon (also see: Divine) Arm/s (also see: Weapons, Amputees) Armed Forces (also see: Army, Bully, Conscription, Defence, Military, Recruitment, Security, Weapons, (New Model Army) Army (Recruitment), (Bullied), (Navy) (RAF), (Conscription / National Service), (Troops), (Soldiers) (also see: New Model, Military, Volunteer) Armour Plating Arms (Dealers also see: Marcos Khashoggi, Switzerland) (also see: Weaponry) Arnold Schwarzenegger Arson (also see: Fires) Art (Outsider Arts), (New Art), (Arts & Crafts Movement), (Artech), (Art Prize) (also see: Design) Artic / Antarctica (also see: Base, Shacktown) Artificial (-Island/s) (-Limbs also see: Amputate, Amputees), (-Wood and Metal) Asbestos Asset Stripping (also see: Feudal Thiefdom, Bit by Bit) Asteroids (also see: Meteor, Meteoroid/s, METHEL) Asthma Astronaut/s (Cosmonaut/s), (Crew) Asylum (Definition) (Seekers also see: Boat People) Atheist (Atheistic) (also see: Does God Exist, Intelligent Design, God’s Little Laboratory) Atom Bomb (also see: Hydrogen Bomb), (Atomic), (also see: Nuclear Weapons, Hydrogen, Hiroshima) Atonement Attention Hyperactivity Deficiency Disorder (AHDD) Attitude Aura (also see: Light, Halo, Their True Colours) Aurora Spy Project Auto (-Dry), (Autonomous Car), (-‘Lid’), (Generator), (-Open / Close), (-Pilot), (Rechargeable), (-Routes), (-Stop/s), (-Suggestible), (Automated) (also see: Manual) Auschwitz Austerity Autism Authoritarian Automated (also see: Robot) Avarice (Love of Money) Aversion Therapy Aviation Fuel Avro (-Car), (-Pelican) Azure (also see: Morocco)

(Palm), (Soya Bean/s), (Soy), (Almond, Walnut, Sesame, Lavender) (also see: Sugar, Coal, Shale) Alternator (also see: Accumulator, Recharge, Solar, Fly-wheel/s). Aluminium (Tin) Alzheimer’s Amber Ambulance/s (also see: Mobile Health / Out Reach) Americans America’s (- Most Wanted) (Doomsday plan) (also see: USA, New York) AMICUS (The Energy Workers Union) Amnesty International Amplify Amputate/d (Lost in the Name of Freedom!), (Amputee/s) (also see: Artificial Limbs) Anarchy (Floating Anarchy) Anarchists (Anarchic) Ancestor/s (also see: Father) Ancient Woodland Andreas Epp Animal Rights (The Treaty of Rome) (also see: Intelligent, Hunting Inhuman, Treasure, Gun, Clay Pigeon) Angel/s (Torn), (Fallen), (The Guardian Angels), (Cake) (-of Death), (-Investor/s), (Gabriel), (Guardian- / -of Christ), (-message), (Avro-) (also see: Wings, Feather, Aura, Halo, Return of the Saint: Project it, Good Example) Anger (also see: Supply and Demand, Rage, Understand the Cross, Mask, Strap), (Angry Men also see: Desperado, Terrorism, Suicide) Angular Momentum Answer (also see: Cure, Heal) Anthropocene Epoch Anti-Capitalist/s / Anti-Capitalism (Stop The City), (Genoa) Anti (Aircraft), (Anti-Arson), (-Biotics), (Carcinogenic/s), (Antichrist), (-Enterprise), (Establishment), (-Fascist), (-Freeze), (-Fouled), (Gun), (-Humanitarian), (-Gravity also see: Gravitational, Spin, Magnet), (-Nuclear), (-Poverty), (-Semitism), (-Social), (-Stab), (-Terrorist Measure/s), (-Vandal Plastic), (-War) Apartment/s (also see: Flat/s, Condo) Apartheid (see: South Africa), (Housing-) (Against Women), (Economic-), (Apart-I also see: Lonely) Apartment/s (loft-style) (also see: Flat/s, Condo) Apocalypse (also see: Doomsday) Apathy Apparatus Aquarius (Dawning of-) Arab/s Arches (also see: Bridge, Dome, Mosque) Architect/ure (Landscape see: Progress Report) (Training), (Le Corbusier), (Follow The Sun), (-For Humanity), (also see: Docklands, Glass Towers, Build, Developers, Design Competition/s) (also see: Superadobe, Mobile Clinic/s) 700

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

B

Big (Super Sizing) (A Large Potential Target) (Brother also see: Civil Liberties) (-Bang Theory) Betrayal/s (of the Modernists) Biblical Prediction/s Big Brother Bigot/s / Bigotry Bill Clinton Binge Drinking see: Alcohol) (Eating see: Diet, Fast, Aversion) Bio (-Refineries), (-Plastic/s), (-Degrade), (-Diesel), (-Energy), (-Homes), (-Mass), (-Sphere), (-Fuel/s) Bionic (Buildings), (-Legs also see: Amputees, Mine/s) Bird Flu (also see: Quarantine) Bits / Pieces Blade/s (Propellers) (also see: Wind Turbines, Cutting Edge, Helicopters, Fan, Guard, Shield, Power from the Bottom Up) Black (-Death also see: Rat, Rubbish), (The Black Hand), (Blackballing also see: Con), (-Hole also see: Disappeared), (-Market also see: Piracy), (Blackouts also see: Power Cuts), (Black Power also see: Black Silicon) Blame Blasphemy Blast Resistant Plastic Blind (-Faith),(-Eye) (also see: Morals Violated) Bliss (also see: Peace, Joy, Tranquilisers) Block/s Blockbuster (Bomb) Blood (-Clots / DVT), (-Money), (-Lust also see: Diminished Responsibility, Seriel Killers), (-Bank), (Donor/s), (Bloody), (Rivers of-) (also see: Bloody, Bleeding) Blue (-Blues & Greens), (Azure) Blueprint (Alternative- also see: Project it / Map, Peace Plan, Experimental, Prototype, Regeneration) Bread Not Bombs Campaign Board & Lodgings (also see: Bedsitter, Hotel/s) Boat People (also see: Floating Anarchy, Pirates) Boat/s (Crew) Bob the Builder (Project: Build it) Boiler/s Bolted Down (Bolt On) Bomb (Time Bomb), (Who Taught These ‘Animals’ How to make bombs?) (Doodle-Bugs), (Atom / Hydrogen), (Nuclear), (Blockbuster bomb), (Suicide Bombers), (Nail-) (Car-), (Bus-), (Train-), (Bike-), (The Baltic Exchange & Belfast Effect), (Bomb Shelters see: Civil Defence, Anderson, Morrison, Bunker, Blast) (also see: Semtex, Missile, Rocket, Buried Alive, Hero, Campaign Against Militarization, Peace) Bond Bondage (also see: Slave/s, Enslaved, Chain/s) Bono Boom (-or Bust) Boot (Camp/s) (also see: Car)

Back (-Pain), (-Break/ing) (“Put your back into it”) Backyard Baby (No new- in the womb), (also see: WAH!) Babylon Bakelite BALANCE (Crazy balance) (Off-balanced) (Balanced) (Re-balance/d) (Unbalanced) (Imbalanced) (Equilibrium) (also see: Newton's 3rd Law, Natural Justice) Ballast (see: Project it) (also see: Float) Bangladesh Bank/s (Financial Institutions), (Building Societies), (The End Game), (European Bank for Reconstruction & Development), (Central European Bank), (The World Bank), (Financiers), (Bankers) (also see: IMF, Economy, Repossessed, Mortgage, Debt/s, Bounty) Bankrupt / Bankruptcies (Foreclosed) Ban The Bomb Barbarism (Barbarians) (The New Barbarians) (also see: Brutalists, Nazi) Barbed (also see: Wire, Border/s) Barrack/s Barrage (also see: Wave Power, Dam) Barter (see: Free Exchange, Swop, No Strings Attached) (also see: Nomads, Native) Base (for Scientists) Basic/s (Get back to) (Essential/s) (Instinct) (also see: Fundamental) Bathroom/s (also see: Prefab, Tile, Toilet, Sewage, Cassette) Battery / Batteries (also see: Mercury, Cadmium, Waste Incineration) BBC Beast/s (Beastly also see: The Devil, Sacrifice) Beautiful Bed & Breakfast Hotel/s (B & B) Bedouin/s (Bedouinism also see: Malaise) Beef / Burgers (also see: Cattle) Bees / Bee-line (Hive) (also see: Honey) Beg (Begging) (Beggar/s) (Plea/d/ing) Beirut (also see: Lebanon, The Architects Debate) Believe (Belief) (also see: Faith) Benders Benefit Culture (also see: Welfare Benefit, Social Security) Benzene Berlin (Institute of Construction Technology) (Wall), (-Love Parade) Besieged (also see: Siege) Bespoke Housing (see Project it) (also see: Pattern Books, Catalogue Housing, Pre-fab) Betrayal (-of the Modernists) Better (-World Technologies) Between Two Worlds Beveridge (William) (also see: Welfare State) Bicycle/s (Bike Bombs) (also see: Cyclist) Biefeld Brown Effect 701

Business in the Community (also see: Charity) Business Parks (UK) Butterfly (also see: Progress report) Buyers (also see: Vulture Culture)

Border/s (see: Project it) (Typical - also see: Berlin Wall, Borderline Disorder, Barbed, Wire, Barrier, Fence, Boundaries, Barricade/s) (-Guard/s) Bore (Holes), (Boring), (Bored), (Boredom) Boris Yeltsin Bottle (Banks) (Plastic also see: Bottled Water) Boundaries (also see: Rule/s, Border/s) Bounty Hunters (Bailiff/s) Box (Matchbox see: Introduction, Project it, Progress Report, Model, Demonstrate), (Steel-), (Clever), (Shelter-), (Boxy), (Boxed), (Boxing,) (Box Room), (Kick-Boxing), (Boxing Day), (Think Outside The-) Brain Drain Brave New World (also see: New World) Bread (Not Bombs Campaign) (-Winner/s), (BBC Comedy) (also see: Shape / Hovis) (Loaf) Breakdown (also see: Mental) Bribe/s (Backhander) (also see: Corruption, Fraud, Con) Brick/s (also see: Mortar, Mud-) Bridge/s (Jesus built a -), (also see: Arch/es) Bring it on! British Petroleum (BP) British Space Project Brittle Bone Disease Brown Field/s Bruce House BSE Bubble (Wrap) (also see: Air, Bio-Sphere) Buckminster Fuller Budget/s (Mini-) (Property Owning Democracy) Building Regulations Building (Inspector) (Control also see: Standard, Surveyor, Quality), (Services Research & Information Assoc UK), (Site/s) Builder/s (Master), (Crew), (Jerry (Builders), (Selfbuilders), (also see: Developers, Cowboy, Planning Permission) Built On Stilts (Pilotis) Bullet Proof (Structure), (Plastic ‘Glass’) (also see: Kevlar, Armour Plating) Bullet Train Bully (-Boys), (Bullies), (Bullying), (Bullied also see: Harassment), (also see: Cruel, Mop, Self-Defence, Aikido) Bull Shit Bumpers (Fenders) Bunker/s (also see: Concrete) Bureaucracy (Bureaucratic), (Bureaucrat), (RedTape), (More Paper Now) (also see: Admin) Burgers (also see: Slaughter House, McDonalds, Deforestation, Junk, Over-weight, Cow, Cattle, Methane, Sewers) Buried Alive (also see: Guarantee) Burglary (Burglars) (also see: Steal) Burn (Hot Fire) (Burning with the Devil) (also see: Fire) Bus/es (School / Mini), (Mobility), (-Bomb) (Bus Shelter/s) (also see: Coach, Double-Decker)

C Cabin/s (Fever also see: Rage) (Log-), Cable/s (Cabled Up) (Fibre Optics also see: Glass) (Cordless) (also see: Wire, Metal) CAD/CAM (see: Progress report), (also see: Computer) Cadmium (Cadmium Alternative) Caesium (Gas) CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development) Cage/s (also see: Zoo) Calm (also see: Chill-out, Karma, Cool, Peace, Rest) Camp (-David), (-Camping), (Boot Camp/s), (Training -), (Hello Campers), (Campervan/s), (Refugee Camps: Dafur) (also see: Gazza, Death Camps, Tent/s) Campaign (-For Change), (-Against Militarization), (-For Nuclear Disarmament CND), (Bread Not Bombs-), (Band Aid), (Make Poverty History), (Against Climate Change) Cancer (House-), (Lung-), (Stomach-), (Bowel-), (Skin-), (Growths), (Radio Therapy), (Harold Huxsey), (Photo Dynamic Therapy PDT), (Research), (The Big C), (Leukaemia), (-Concrete), (also see: Radioactive, Chernobyl, Nuclear) Canary Wharf (see: Progress report) (also see: Docklands) Candle (-Stick Park), (Candles also see: Naked Flames, Ghosts) Caning Cannibalism Canola Oil Capitalism (Capitalist/s), (Capitalise), (Capitalistic), (also see: Avarice, Exploit, Slavery, Class, Elite, Competition, Anti-Capitalism, The Dream, Free) Cardboard Cities (also see: Makeshift, Rough Sleepers, Shanty, Slum, Begging) Car/s (Car-Based Economy), (Car Parks), (Clamping), (Road Rage), (Gas Guzzlers), (Lean Burn), (Electric-), (Hybrid-), (Hydrogen Highway), (Zero Emission-), (Solar-), (Super-Car), (Flying Car), (Avro Car), (Plastic Engine), (Autonomous Car), (Tracking Devices), (-Boots), (also see: Spares, Rage, mpg / miles per gallon, Ethanol, Biofuel/s) Car Bomb/s Car Manufacturers / Factories: (BMW), (Ford), (Fiat), (General Motors), (Honda), (Mercedes), (Nippon), (Nissan), (Rover also see: Robot), (Skoda). (Toyota), (Volkswagen) Carpet/s Caravan/s (see: Progress report), (the Non-rigid Caravan), (Plastic Caravan), (Planning Consent) Caravan (Site/s also see: Park) 702

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Carbon (Dioxide / CO2 (also see: Greenhouse Gases, Climate Change), (-Trading), (Monoxide), (Carbon Glass), (-Fibre/s) Carcinogenic (also see: Anti) Cardboard City / Cities (also see: Box) Care Home/s Carer/s Care In the Community Cartel/s (also see: Price Fixing, Con) Cassette Toilet (also see: Container System) Castle (Plastic), (also see: Planning Permission) Castration Catalogue Housing Catalytic Converter/s Cathedral Cathy Come Home Catalytic Converters Cattle (-Shed) (also see: Ranch, Cow) CCTV (also see: Big Brother / 1984, Police State). Cease-Fire (also see: Amnesty) Celestial Celluloid Cement (Hemp cement), (also see: Mortar) Central Column (also see: Core) Centrepoint Ceramic/s (also see: Glass, Tiles) CFC’s C-Flex Chain/s / Chained Chain Saw/s Challenge Champion (see: Progress report) Chaos (Disorder) Charity (Charitable), (True Charity- Definition) (Charity Commissioners re: Financial Records) Charities: (Action-Aid), (Age Concern), (Band Aid), (Business in the Community), (Child-line), (Comic Relief, (Centrepoint), (Christian Aid), (Crash), (Crisis), (Disaster Emergency Committee DEC), (Dr. Barnado’s), (El Shaddai Charitable Trust), (Help The Aged), (Medicenes san Frontiere), National Children's Homes NCH), (NSPCC), (Oxfam), (Red Cross), (Red Crescent), (Salvation Army), (Save the Children), (Shelter), (Shelter Box), (World Vision), (also see: CAFOD, Cancer Research, Imperial, Trust, Emergency, Convoy, Asylum, Hare Krishna) Charlie Chaplin (also see: Tramp, Dosser/s) Chassis Cheap (Perfume), (Cheaper), (also see: Low cost) Cheat/ing (also see: Conscience) Checkpoint Charlie Cheek Chemistry Chernobyl (The Forgotten Children), (also see: Nuclear) CHILD / Children (-Minders) (Latch-Key Kids), (Tax Credits), (Children's Rights), (-Rights Commissioner), (Run-Aways), (Young Offenders), (Children's Homes), (Respite Care Home), (Child

Poverty Action Group), (-soldiers also see: Conscripts), (also see: Baby, Babies, Orphan, Orphanages, Teenagers, Kid/s, Young, Youth, Youngsters, Children's’ Homes, Charities) China (also see: World War 3, High Rise, Land Grab) Chip (Board) (also see: Sawdust, MDF) Chloride (see: PVC) Chlorine Chlorophenols Choice/s (Hard ‘Choice’), (Hobson’s Choice), (The Choice Row) Cholera Christ (also see: Jesus) Christian/ity (Christian Aid) Christmas (Trees), (Santa Claus), Churchill (also see: Winston Churchill) Church (also see: Cathedral. Temple) (The Alternative Tabernacle), (Neo-Pagan Sect/s), (also see: Heresy, Blasphemy) CIA Cigarettes (Smoking also see: Saltpetre, Tobacco, Stress, Tax) Citadel City / Cities (City Farms) Civilisation/s / Civilised Civil (-Aviation Authority), (-Engineering), (Liberties), (-Defence / Protection), (-Rights), (Servants), (-War) Civilian/s (also see: Innocent, Population, Public, Community) Cladding (also see: Façade) Clan/s (also see: Tribe/s) Clare Short Classic (Classicism) Class (Room/s), (Class War), (Working Class), (It’s a Class Thing), (Classless), (Ruling- also see: Rulers, Elite) Clay (Pigeon / Skeet Shooting) Claw/s Clean (Air) (also see: Cleaner & Greener, Hygiene) Cleanse (also see: Ethnic Cleansing) Climate (-Change also see: Temperature) Global), (-of Fear also see: Big Scare Tactics) Cloche / Poly-tunnel Clone/s Clue/s Coach Coal (Petrol / Plastic from Coal) Coanda Effect Coast (also see: Sea Walls, Sand-bags, Flood Guard, Flood Plains, Swamp) Cob Houses Cocaine Co-Exist (Definition) Cockpit Cockroaches Coil Cold (the Common cold also see: Hypothermia), (Bloodied) 703

Co-op/erative/s (see: Community) Conscience (Conscientious Objectors) Conservation (UK Conservation Area Regulations) Conservatism Conservative/s (Tory), (Tories), (Neo-) Conservatory (also see: Extension) Console CON (re: Actors see: Acting Ability), (Hush Hush), (Duplicity), (it’s all a giant CON), (also see: Conspiracy, Deception, Plot, Cartel) Conspiracy (-of Silence also see: Wait), (-of Science) (also see: Game, Dirty Tricks, Suppressing the Market, Cartel, False, Hidden Agenda, The Illuminati, Shadows) Conscription (National Service), (Conscripted), (Conscripts) Constipated (also see: Evacuate, Diet, Fruit) Constitution Construct (also see: Build, Built, Erect, Make), (Constructive also see: Productive, Improve) Consultant/s Consume (Consumer/s also see: -Durables), (Shoddy Consumables), (Consumed), (Consumes), (Consumers), (Customer/s) (also see: The High Street, Vulture Culture, Green Purchasers, New Generation, Fashion, People Power, Human Power) Container (-Homes also see: Steel), (-System Toilet also see: Cassette Toilet), (-Packaging also see: Tupperware, Paper, Hemp) Consultants (also see: Professional) Contaminate/d Contingency (Contingencies), (also see: Plan, Design, Civill) Contraception (Pro-Familia), (also see: Protection, Aids) Control (Quality) Convention/al (Unconventional), (also see: Fashion, Design, Tradition) Convoy/s (Aid), (Military), (People), (Nuclear) Cool (Cooling) Coral Cordless (see: Cable) Core (Inner), (Central -) (Central Column) Corner/s (Cornering) Corona Corporal Punishment Correct (also see: Right), (Correction Centre also see: Custodial) Corridor/s Corrosion (Corrode/d) Corruption (Corrupting), (also see: Bribe/s/d Bribery, Back-handers, Confirmed Suspicions) COSIRA Cosmopolitan Cottage/s (also see: small) Cotton (also see: Hemp) Council for the Protection of Rural England CPRE Council/s (Local Government), (Regional Government) (-House/s), (Rent Arrears), (also see: Community Charge / Poll Tax)

Collective (Un/Conscious also see: ESP), (Conscience), (Telepathy), (Social also see: New World Order, Commune), (-Agriculture) (Eco) (Punishment) Colony (Definition), (Colonists), (Colonies), (Colonisation), (Colonised), (Colonial) Colour/ed (Ethnic origin) also see: Supremacy, Racism, Black Power) Colour/s (see: Project it), ( -of Caravans), (Flying-) (Their True- -), (also see: Hue, Rainbow, Aura) Combust (Definition) (Combustion / Combustive), (Crash & Burn), (also see: Fuel Economy, Burn) Comet Comfort (Programme of No Comfort) (-Zone) Commandments Commercial/ised (USA Motto) (also see Building Regulations, Instant Offices) Common (Ground also see: Mutual Pain), (-Land also see: Middle Ground, Wasteland), (-Sense also see: ESP) (-Wealth), (-Market) Communicate (Communication/s also see: Mobile/s), (also see: Bi-Lingual, Language Difficulties, Latin, The Generation Gap) Commune/s (Communal), (-Farms) Communism (Definition) (also see: Reds) Community (Definition), (-Care), (-Charge also see: Council Tax, Poll Tax), (-Co-operative/s), (Programme/s), (-Resource Centre/s), (Centre of the-), (-Support Officers), (-Action), (-Recycling Centre/s), (Communities) (also see: Population, Public, Civilian/s). Compassion (-Fatigue) (also see: Sympathy, Empathy) Compatible Competition (Competitive/ness), (Competing) (also see: Race, Winning or Losing, Pyramid, Game) Composite/s (also see: Glass, Fibres, Carbon, Advanced, Polymer/s, Smart) Computer/s (Heavy Reliance) (Diagnostics) (Aided Design & Manufacture CADCAM also see: Project it) Compost Compressed Air Compulsory (it’s not -), (-Conscription) (also see: Hitler) Con (Giant-), (also see: Disinformation, Misinformation, Conspiracy, Game, Dirty Tricks, Suppressing the Market, Cartel, False, Hidden Agenda, The Illuminati, Shadows) Concentration (-Camps) Concrete (-Cancer), (Ferro-Concrete), (Polymer Concrete), (-Brutalists) Condensation (also see: Misting) Condo/minium/s Confess (Confessed) (also see: Sin/s) Confusion (also see: Chaos, Disinformation, Fiction is Fact, Con, Conspiracy) Congestion Charge Coniston Saucer by Adamski 704

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Death (-Wish), (near Death Experiences), (-Camps), (-Row), (-Squads), (-Watch Beetle), (-Trains), (Penalty also see: Euthanasia, Lethal Injection, Electric Chair, Gas Chamber) Debt (Students) (also see: Bankrupt, Bounty, Banks, Capitalism, Mortgage, Trade, Pay Back) Debt Relief DEC (see: Charities) Decadent Deceivers Deception (Hood-Winking), (Whitewash), (also see: Conspiracy, Fraud) Deck / Decking (Permadeck) Decompression Decorate (Decorating), (Decorated), (Paint) (also see: Maintenance) Deeds (Bad), (Title-), (Good-) Deep (-Space 1) DEFENCE (see: Civil) (Budget/s UK, USA: Military), (Self-Defence) Deforestation (Illegal Logging) (Tree Protection) (Saplings) (also see: Fires, Wood, Pollution, Oxygen, Paper, Seeds) Deterrent Diet (also see: Weight) Deliverance (also see: Deliver) Delusions Dementia (also see: Alzheimer’s) Demilitarise Dept. of Corrections Democracy / Democratic (Definition) (Democratic), (Democratic Socialism), (Social Democrats), (Democratic Imperialism) (also see: Community, Dictator, Dissent) Demonstrate (also see: Progress Report, 1960’s, Poll Tax, Protest) (Demonstration/s also see: Dissent) Denial (Deny) (also see: Defy) Dependence (also see: Reliance) Deprived (Deprivation) (also: Taking Candy off a Baby) Depraved Depopulated (also see: Priced Out) Dept., of Health and Social Security DHSS (also see: Social Security) Dept. of the Environment DoE Depression (Depressed) Deregulation (Deregulating) (also see Privatisation) Desalination (also see: The Power Tower) Desert/s (Deserting also see: Depopulated) (Desertification), (also see: Drought, Desalination, Water / Tanks, Solar, Hanging Gardens) Design (Advanced), (Arch-) (Cabin-), (Double Hull), (Engine), (Flood Guards), (Futuristic House), (Good-), (Hospital-), (House-), (Hovercraft-), (Integral Features), (Intelligent-), (Joint-), (MassProduced Modules), (Modular-), (New Base), (New ‘Boat’-), (New Energy System), (Packages), (Plants), (‘Portable’ Modular), (Pyramid), (Ramp-), (Research), (-Safety), (Settlement), (Space-Age-),

Court/s Cow/s (BSE / Mad Cow Disease) (also see: Cattle, Slaughter House, Beef, Livestock, Deforestation, McDonalds, Diet, Weight) Cowboy/s CND Crack/s (Cracked), (Cracking), (Crack Resistant) (also see: Subsidence, Drugs) Craft/s (Craft Homes), (Arts & Crafts), Crash (-Test Dummies) (-Pad/s), (also see: Impact) Craze/s (Crazy) (‘Goods’), (Crazed also see: Mad) Create Creator Crisis Crocodile Crucifix (Cross), (Cross-Road/s), (Crucify), (Crucified) Crop/s (also see: Alternative Oils) Crude Cruelty (Cruelty Free Living), Cruise (Missiles also see: Greenham), (Cruising), (Cruisers), (-Ships) Crumple / Zones Crusade/s (Crusader/s) Cryogenics Crystal/s (Silicon), (Liquid), (also see: Glass) Cube House CURE (Cured), (Curing), (I will cure the world) Curve/s (see: Shape) CUT/S (Public Services also see: Austerity, Reform, Knife, Gang), (Cut Price), (Cut Off re: People (re: Supplies) (also see: Seige, Maroon) Cult/s Culture (Cultural Awareness Programme CAP), (Perma-Culture), Curse (the-of the traveller), (Curses), (Cursed) (also see: Haunted, Ghosts) Cute (see: Project it) Cutting Edge (-Technology) (also see: Glass, Metal, Knives) Cyberport (also see: High Tech, Glass Towers) Cyclists Cyclo Jet Stream Oven

D Dam/s Damp (-Resistant), (Damping), (Dampners), Dance (Dancing) (also see: Disco, Club) Dan Dare Dante’s Inferno Darfur Dark (-Age/s), (‘Dark’ Energy) Day-Light Robbery David Gilmour (see: Progress report) (also see: Pink Floyd) David Icke David Steel DDT (also see: Mosquitoes, Malaria) Dead To The World 705

Dope Dolphins Dome/s (Glass-), (Modular Concrete-), (also see: Minaret) Domestic (Dwellings), (Violence) Domino Effect Doomsday (UK War Plan) (America’s Doomsday Policy) Do something Dosser/s (also see: Tramps, Drifter, Rambo) Double (Decker/ also see: Project it) (Triple Decker), (Holy Double Dealing), (-Hull), (Standard/s) Douglas Hurd Downing Street (Iron Gates) (also see: Westminster) Down & Out/s Drain/s (Man-hole/s) Draught/y Drawing Board (also see: Project it) Dreadnought Battleship Dream/s (is it only Make Believe?) (The Impossible-) Dreamland Dresden Drifter/s DRILLING (for Oil ), (for Gas), (Platforms), (Rigs), (for Nuclear Test),(for Mining), (-Waste), (Water Drill), (also see: Bore Holes) (Army) (also see: Spiral) Drink (see: Water, Soft-, Alcohol) Drone Drought (also see: Cracking, Subsidence, Famine, Irrigate, Desalination, Tank) Drug (Rehabilitation), (Prescription also see: Anti-) Drunk (Driver/s also see: Alcohol), (Driving) Drunkenness (also see: Alcohol) Dry (-Rot), (-Seal), (-Lining), (Home and-) Dual (-Use Technology), (-Core) (also see: Twin) Duh Dump/s (Dumped), (also see: Waste, Nuclear, Toxic) Duplex (also see: Portakabins/) Du Pont Durable (-Security), (Consumer Durables), (Durability), (Duralite), (also see: Rigid, SuperStrong) Dust (also see: Asthma) Duty Dynamic Isolation (also see: Dampner) Dysfunctional

(Standards), (Unconventional), (Vehicle), (Village), (Windmill), (Re-design), (also see: Projects) Design (Awards for Architecture) (-Competition/s also see: Toshiba, Architecture for Humanity), (Exhibition) Desmond Tutu Despair Desperado Detention Centre/s (also see: Immigration) Destiny Deterrent De-Tox Developers Developing Countries (also see: Third World) Development/s Devil (also see: Satan, Satanists, Luciferian, Antichrist, Evil, Altar, Hell, Identity, Right and Wrong, Demonised) Diagnosis Diagnostics (Computer-) (also see: True Colours) Diaspora Dictator/ship/s (Economic Dictatorship) Die Hard/s Diesel Diet (Vegetarian/s), (also see: Agriculture) Dig/s Diminished Responsibility Dioxin Diplomat (also see: Statesmen, Negotiator) Dirty (Low Down), (-Tricks), (-Needles also see: Syringe) (also see: Filthy, Infested, Mud). Disabled Access (also see: Less Able Bodied) Disarmament / Disarm (Demilitarise) Disaster Relief (also see: The UN, Rescue, Aid, Victims, Survive) Disclosure Project Disconnection/s Disease/s (also see: Epidemic, Quarantine, Cure) Disincentives (also see: Block/s) Disciple/s Discipline (also see: Compulsory, Caning, National Service) Disc/s (also see: Flying saucers, UFO’s, Shape) Disinformation (also see: Misinformation, Propaganda, Con) Disorder Displaced Disposable (Plug-In Houses), (Nappies) Dispossessed Dissent (Dissident/s also see: Protest, Demonstration/s) Diversify (Bio-Diversity) Divide (-and Rule), (Division) Divine Retribution (also see: Armageddon) Diwali DNA Docked (Docks), (Docking) Doctor/s / Nurses (Dr. Harold Rose), (Dr. Vernon Coleman), (Dr. Kilroy Silk), (Spin-), (also see: Latin, Paramedic/s, medic, General Practitioner GP)

E Earth (Crust), (-First), (-lovers) Earthquake/s (see: Techtonics), (A Divine Test), (The Big One), (Fault Lines), (-Triggered by Nuclear Bomb/s), (Quake / Resistant also see: Engineers: Seismic, Modular Housing) Easter 706

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Ebonite Eco (-Homes) Ecologic/al (Plastic Homes?), (also see: BioPlastics, Bio-Refineries, Hemp) Economy / Economies Economic (Growth see: Growth), (-Migrants) (Realism) (-Stability also see: Hemp) Ecstasy (also see: Joy, Serenity, Bliss, Heaven) Education (-Budget also see: Investment), (also see: Nursery, Pre-School, Primary, Secondary, School/s, College/s, University, Learn, Rule/s, Bullying, Bullies, Religious, Study Student, Hall) Edward Heath EEC European Economic Community (Social Contract), (New Social Chapter), (MEP’s), (also see: Europe, EU) Einstein EKIP Election/s (see: Democracy, General, Referendum, Vote) Electric (-Car/s also see: Hybrid), (-Power Tools also see: Tinnitus), (-Compulsive Shock Therapy ECT) (also see: Power Cuts) Electricity (also see: Grid, Power Lines, Cables) Electrified Fence/s Electric Chair Electro (-Magnetic also see: EM Pulse), (Electromagnets), (-Static) Electron/s Elephant/s Elevate (Elevator), (Space Elevator), (Elevatory Mechanism), (also see: Pilotis, Lift, Levitation) Elite (Definition), (Aristocracy), (the Yah Hoo), (High Ranking), (The Status Quo), (The Upper Crust), (Richest 1%) Elixir of Life (also see: Rejuvenate) Embezzlement (also see: Fraud, Fiddle/s) Emergency (-Action / Plan also see: Contingency), (-Accommodation also see: -Shelter/s, Caravans, Rough Sleepers, Hostel, Caravan, Box: Cardboard, Makeshift, Anderson, Morrison, Pre-fab, Civil Protection), (-Aid also see: Convoy), (-Back Up Energy), (-Boarding Procedure), (-Care), (Committee), (-Co-Ordination), (-Distribution), (Drops), (Economy), (-Evacuation also see: Unprepared), (Flood Protection also see: Flood Guard) (-Food also see: Food) (-Health-Care also see: Field Hospital, Mobile), (-Lighting), (Management), (Nuclear-), (-Safety Measures), (Services), (-Supplies), (-Vehicle/s also see: Helicopter, Life-Boats, Convoy, Hovercraft, Amphibious, Rapid Response), (-Water Supply), (UN Meeting/s), (also see: Rescue, Civil Protection, Charities, International, Thunderbirds) Embedded Emissions (Zero-) (also see: Greenhouse Effect Carbon, Sulphur, Filter/s, Hybrid) Emotional (Starvation), (Security?), (Abuse), (Destruction), (also see: Mental) Employment (see: Job/s)

Empty (Property also see: Voids) Enchanting (also see: Magic) Enclave/s Endangered (Countries), (also see: Extinction) Energy (-Policy), (-Trade Deficit), (-Efficiency / Conservation) Energy (free, safe, clean -), (- storage also see: alternative storage), (Magnetic-), (also see: Engineer/ing (Aerospace), (Alternative Energy-) (Chemical-) (Civil -), (Education), (Employment), (Fashion-), (Future / Research), (Genetic-), (German-), (Housing / Building), (Hydro-), (Nuclear / Energy), (Sanitary-), (Structural-), (Seismic-), (Social-) Enterprise (LENTA also see: Progress report), (Zones) (‘Free’-) (Herald of ‘Free’-), (Social-), (also see: Invention/s) Enslaved Environment (-Agency UK), (-Emergency), (Friendly) (also see: Eco, Green, Better) Environmentalist/s (also see: Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Conservation, Rainbow Warriors), (Environmental Militants see: Earth First) Environwise UK Epidemic (also see: Germs, Hygiene, Screen, Mobile Health, Quarantine) Equilibrium (see: Balance) Erect/ion (can’t get it up?) Erosion Ersatz Scheme Escape/d Estate/s Equal Rights Equality Estates ESP Extra Sensory Perception (also see: Collective Conscience, Telepathy) Ethanol Ethane (also see: Wax) Ethic/s (Ethical), (Unethical) (also see|: Moral) Ethnic (Cleansing) (Cleansed) Eugenics Eureka European Regional Development Fund (Europe Finance), (Maastricht Treaty), (The Exchange Rate Mechanism ERM), (European Security), (Torus), (-Unity), (EU European Union), (also see: EEC) Euroforest Europa Euthanasia (also see: Play God, Lethal Injection) Evacuate (i.e. Flee) (Evacuation), (Evacuated), (also see: Rescue, Tent, Emergency, Asylum) Evicted (Evictions) (also see: Rent, Harassment, Landlord, Bounty) Evil (The Axis of Evil) (How Do You Fight Evil?) (also see: Devil, Beast, Wicked, Inhuman, Cold bloodied) Evolution (Evolving), (Evolve), (also see: Adapt) 707

Fat (-cats), (also see: Weight, Diet) Father (Fore-fathers also see: Ancestors) (Grandfather/s) Father-land (also see: New Man) Fat (also see: Animal Fat, Over-Eating, Roly-Poly) Fatwa Fault Lines (also see: The Big One, Techtonics) Favourite Fear (Big Scare Tactics), (Scare), (Scared), (Scarey), (Spooky), z(also see: Climate of Fear, Paranoid, Terror, Terrorism, Stress, Heart) Feather (also see: Light, Weightless, Angel) Feed the World (Band Aid), (also see: Famine, Drought, Bread Not Bombs, Harvest, Food) Feel Good Factor Fence (Posts), (Barbed), (Electrified), (Fencing), (also see: Barrier, Wire, Better World Technologies) Ferry (Roll On, Roll Over) Fertiliser (see: Project it) (also see: Slurry, Sewage, Environment Emergency) Fibre (Carbon-), (Diet), (-board), (Glass- also see: Glass), (Hemp-), (Hollow-), (Paper-), (Plastic-), (Optic/s also see: Speed of Light) Fiction is Fact Field/s (Muddy), (Idle), (Green), (Brown) (Hospital/s), (Playing Fields also see: Parks) Fiery (also see: Fire, Devil, Arson) Filter/s (see: Project it) (Air- also see: Catalytic), (Water-) (also see: Air Conditioning, Mask) Fire/s (Regulations), (Arson), (Anti-Arson), (Towering Inferno), (Inferno), (Building Fires also see: Domino Effect), (Plastic House Fire), (Forest Fires), (Bush Fires also see: Heath-land fires), (Blaze), (Fiery), (-Resistance), (-Retard/ancy), (Flame), (-Retardant) Fire-Fighting (Boat/s), (Extinguisher), (Halon), (Robot), (Water Bombs), (Mass-Foam), (-Crew) (also see: Building Regulations Smoke) (-Escape Hatch) (also see: Space) Fire (Place / Home Heating) First Time Buyers (see esp. Modern Building Materials, Pre-Fabricated, Cost of Buying a House, Start) Fish (Fishing), (Fishermen) (also see: Boats, Wall of Death Nets, The Sea, Sea Bed Trawling, Mammal) Fix Flashing Strip Flask/s (Nuclear-), (Thermos- also see: Project it, Energy Efficiency) Flat/s (also see: Apartment) (Tyre) Flat Pack/ed (see: Project it), (Ikea Flat-Packed Houses) (also see: Fold) Flexible (Partitioning) (Your Flexible Friend), (Inflexible) Flies (Fly Swat), (Rights to a Fly?) Flee (Fleeing) (Fled) (also see: Exodus, Diaspora) Flip-Flops (also see: Project it – ideal floor-covering, Foam, Float)

Exchange (Baltic-), (Cultural-), (-Rate Mechanism ERM), (Fair-), (-for Land), (Free- also see: Barter), (-of Food), (-of Ignorance,) (Int. Petroleum-), (Nuclear-), (i.e. Share), (Stock-), (Technical-), (Tenants-), (The City) Exciting (also see: Adventure, Fun, Discovery) Exclude/d Exocet Missile/s Experiment (Housing) Exploration (Explore) EXPLOIT (Definition), (Exploited), (Exploitation), (Exploiting) Extinct / Extinction Explode / Explosion (see: Hitler, Combust, Bomb, Blast, Morgue) Exodus (also see: Diaspora) Export/s (Exported) (also see: Trade Balance Deficit) EXTRA SENSORY PERCEPTION (ESP) Extra Terrestrial Biological Entities EBE’s, ET, (also see: Alien/s) Extremist/s (also see: Angry Men, Militants, Loyalists, Fascism, Right-Wing, Saboteurs) Eternity (also see: Forever, Fountain of Youth) Expert/s Exxon

F Fabric (Social), (also see: Material/ism, Skin, Soft) Facet/s Façade (Facia also see: Cladding) Fairgrounds (‘Fair’ Grounds) Fair Trade (also see: Free) Faith (Blind-), (No Faith), (-in Nature) (also see: Questioning) Falklands False (-Alarm/s), (-Advertising), (-Economising), (Ceiling), (-Dawns), (-Hope/s), (-Idols), (-Information also see: Disinformation), (-Policy), (-Pretences), (Promise/s), (-Security) (-Flag Operations also see: CIA, Neo-Conservative/s, The Illuminati, Antichrist) Famine/s (Starving) (Starvation) (also see: Emergency / Food, Farm) Fan (Mechanical / Mini Turbine) Fanatic/s (also see: Extremists, Snuff) Farben (-Industries also see: ICI), (IG-) Farm/s / Farmers (Prison-), (Solar-), (Wind-), (Wave-), (Communal - also see: Peasant) Fashion (Parrot-), (-Engineers), (Fashionable also see: Cool, Street Cred), (Fashioned) (Living) (Trend/s) (Minimalism), (In Thing), (The Thing!), (Re-Fashion), (also see: Predicted, Forecast, Futuristic, Building Regulations, Progress Report, Rage) Fast Food (Get it and Go), (Take-Away), (also see: Junk, Over-Weight, Aversion, Starving) Fasting Fascism (Definition), (Fascist), (Neo-Fascist), (also see: Anti-) 708

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Standing see: Project it), (-Thinkers), (-Time), (Launch), (-Lunch) also see: Something For Nothing), (Freecycle), (Chlorine-), (Hazard-), (Sin-), (in the Land of the-), (I feel-), (Tax-), (Pain-) (Everyone’s Favourite Price) Freedom (-Of Choice), (-of Information Act), (-of Speech), -(of Movement), (Everyone Wants-), (Fighter/s also see: Radical, Fundamental, Desperado, Terrorists), (Freedoms also see: Liberty, New World Order, Civil Liberties, A New System), (Freer), (Freed) Freeze (Freezing), (Anti-freeze), (also see: Ice Age, Cold, Common Cold, Snow, Frost, Permafrost) Friend/s (- Of The Earth) Fresh (-Air also see: Clean Air, Oxygen), (-Fruit), (Vegetables), (-Herbs), Fruit (Banana), (Cherry / Cherries), (Exotic), (Apples), (Orange/s), (Smoothies), (-Machines also see: Gambling), Frost also see: Cloche) Feudal Thiefdom (also see: Asset Stripping) Fuel (Cells see: Hydrogen) (-Economy), (also see: Bills, Heating) Fun (Real Laughter), (Good, Clean-) Fungus (Dry Rot), (also see: Mould, Damp) Fundamental/s (Definition) Fundamentalist/s, (Fundamentalism also see: Militant/s, Extremists, Antichrist) Funding Funky Furnace/s / Kiln/s Furniture (see: Project it) (Swivel), (also see: Kitchen, Bathroom/s, Prefabricate) FutureWorld Futuristic (Public Conveniences) (Houses), (Project 2020), (New Base), (also see: Bionic)

Float (Re-float) (Floating) (Floating Anarchy) (Buoyant) (also see: New Boat Design, WaterTight). Flood/s (also see: The Weather) (The Thames Barrier), (-Guards), (-Lights), (-Lighting), (Dyke/s), (Levee/s), (-Plains) (Foul-), (Flash-) (also see: Sand Bags, Towyn, Boscastle, Environment Agency, Unprepared, Tsunami, The Humbling of America Flock Flower/s (see: Project it), (1960’s Flower Children / Flower Power), (Sunflowers) Flu (Bird-), (also see: Cold/s, Germs, Viral, Epidemic, Quarantine, Cure) Flux Flying (Cars), (Doctors), (Saucers), (Without Wings also see: Project it), (Flywheel/s, Fan) Foam (Styrofoam), (Play-mats), (Poly-) (Flip-Flops), (Mass-Foam) Flywheel/s Fold (Folding Caravan) (Folding Bike), (Folded), (Foldable), (also see: DIY, Packaging) Folk (Music), (also see: Senior Citizens) Food (Curb Production), (-Mountain/s), (Long Life-), (Fast also see: Junk), (-Waste) (-Scraps), (Storage), ((also see: Vegetarian/s, Grain, UNESCO, Famine) Fool-Proof (-System), (-Flat Pack) Football Forecast/ed Force (Forced), (Force-Field Technology) Fortune (also see: Luck) Ford Motors Forecast (Weather-), (The Henley-) (also see: Predicted, The Future, Trend) Forest/s (also see: Trees, Deforestation, Global Warming, Fire/s, Wood, Timber, Sapling, Seed, Backyard) Forgive Formula (also see: Solution, Cure, Plan, Chemistry) Fort Fortune Fossil Fuel/s Foundation/s (Bolted Down), (also see: Subsidence, Free-Standing, Hurricane) Fracture/d (Burst), (Ruptured), (also see: Cracked) Foul (Play) Fragile (Feeble) (also see: Bubble, Weak) Frame Frank Zappa Fraud (Fraudsters), (Fraudulent), (also see: Embezzlement, Asset, Conspiracy, Corruption, Misappropriation, Fiddle) Freak/s Free Base (see: Cocaine) FREE (-Child Care), (-Country), (-Exchange), (Health Service), (-Choice of Territory), (-Fair Trade), (-For All), (-of Disasters & Conmen), (-of Enslavement to Corruption), (-MARKET ECONOMY), (-Nursery Education For All), (-of Deprivation and Decline), (-Safe, Energy), (-

G Galvanised Galactic Nazis (also see: Nazis) Gamble/rs (Gambling), (Casino/s also see: Fruit machines) Game (Competition), (Loser/s), (Win), (Player/s), (Team), (Victory), (The End Game) (also see: Conspiracy, The Illuminati). Gamma Rays Gang/s (Gang-Handed) (Gangsters see: The Mafia) (also see: Yob, Crime, Protect) GAP/s (Mind the-), (Gaping) (also see: Gulf, Malaise, Missing) Garden (-Make Over), (Hanging-), (front Gardens) (also see: Gardening, Allotment, Shed, Organic, Grass, Landscaped, Low Maintenance, Irrigate, Hydroponics, Heaven Here on Earth) Gas (North Sea- also see: Running Out), (-Boilers), (Propane-), (Tear-), (-Guzzlers), (-Cylinder / Bottle/s), (-Chamber), (Helium-), (Methane-), (Nitrogen-), (Caesium-), (Chlorine-), (Phosgene-), 709

Laboratory also see: Hubble) (also see: Great Spirit, Allah, Jehovah, Creator, Holy, Divine) Godless/ness god/s (also see: Gold, idol, Horus) GO FOR it! Gold (Black Gold also see: Orimulsion), (-Fever), (Mine/s), (-Plating), (Super-), (White-) (Goldy) Golden (-Age), (-Dawn), (-Rule/s) Golf (also see: RV) Good (-Example), (-Deeds), (Goodness), (-Men), (News), (Is God Good), (Goodyear), (also see: Gentle, Meek) Gorbachev (see: Mikhail Gorbachev) Gordon Brown Government/s (-Subsidy Programmes) (also see: MP) Grain (also see: Wheat) Grand (Architecture) Grant/s (also see: Subsidies) Graveyard/s (Graves) Gravity / Gravitational (Anti-Gravity), (Gravity reduction) (also see: Magnet/ic, Electro-magnetic, Coanda Effect, Gyroscope, Adamski) Grass (Lawn/s) (Grassed) (Roots) (also see: Green, Golf) Great (-Leap Forward), (Greater) Greed (Greedy) (also see: Gold) Green (-Belt land), (-Guide to Building Materials), (Dot Scheme), (-Field/s,) (-Fingers), (-Homes), (Light/s), (-Industries also see: Hemp) (also see: Environment) Greenpeace Greenham Common (also see: The Campaign Against Militarization, Missiles) Greenhouse Effect (also see: Climate Change, Gas, Pollution, Carbon) Greenhouse/s (also see: Glass Houses, Plastic, Cloche) Grid (also see: Power Lines, Leukaemia) Groove/s (see: Project it) (Groovy) Ground Water Ground Zero (also see: The World Trade Centre) Growth (i.e. Economic) (also see: Crop) Growths (see: Cancer) Guarantee (see: Project it) (Warranty) (also see: Longevity) Guard (Flood) (Fan) Guardian (-Angel), (-Angels), (also see: Steward, Angels) Guide/s / Guiding / Guidance (System) Guilt (also see: Conscience) Gulf (Iraq War 1990), (Iraq War 2003) Gun/s (Gun Deaths USA) (Machine-), (Shoot To Kill), (Shooting), (Stun / Taser), (Ray / Microwave), (Tranquiliser) Gut Rot Gutter (-Snipes), (Guttering also see: PVC), (Gutters) G-Whizz (also see: Project it) Gypsum (see: Plaster)

(Sarin-), (also see: Hydrogen, The Greenhouse Effect, Hitler) Geldoff General (Generalise/d), (-Practitioner/s GP’s) Gene/s / Genetics (Genetically Modified GM) General (see: Project it), (Generalise/d also see: Stereo Typing), (Generally), (-Election) Genesis (Probe) Genghis Khan Genius (Land Of), (also see: Intelligence, Intelligent, Gift, Brain Drain) Genocide Gentile/s Gentle (-Giant) Gentleman (also see: Good) Geoffrey Howe George (-Adamski), (Bush - Senior), (G. W. Bush / Mr. Bush, -Bush), (-Orwell), (-Klein) Geothermal Energy More Energy Out Than Put In Gerald Kaufman Gerkin The (also see: Glass) Geriatric Gang of Murderers Germ/s (Bug/s), (Bacteria), (Virus /Viral Infection/s), (also see: Plague, Sterilised, MRSA, Hygiene, Epidemic, Quarantine, Cure, Mold) Gerry Adams Gestapo (also see: Hitler, Nazi) GETOL Ghetto/s Ghost/s (also see: Haunted) Giant Gimball Gipsy (also see: Romany, Travellers, Ethnic) Ghost/s (also see: Haunted) Glasnost GLASS (see: Project it) (Broken- also see: Shards, Belfast Effect, Saboteurs Dream, Skywall, Domino Effect), (-Ceiling), (Crystal), (Double / Secondary / Triple Glazing), (Glassing), (-House/s also see: Greenhouses), (Plate-) (Priva-light), (Laminated-), (Spectacular Roof/s), (-Top), (Toughened-), (Windscreen-), (Sticky-Back Plastic), (-Tower/s also see: The Gerkin, Taipei 101), (also see: Furnace, Heat Loss Through-, Global Warming), (-Fibres) (also see: Ceramics, Bullet-Proof, Bottle, Sand) GLC Greater London Council Global (-Recession), (-Destruction), (-Dimming), (-Warming,) (-Warning), (also see: Climate Change, The Heat Islands Effect, Mega Projects, Deforestation, Sea Levels / Surge) (Globalisation also see: World-wide, International, Countries) Glue (Adhesive), (Sticky) Glycerol GOD (-Help The Outcasts), (-Save The People), (Blame-), (Does God Exist), (-Complex), (God’s Promise To The People), (One-), (God’s Wrath (also see: Noah, Retribution, Godliness, Judgement Day, Yellowstone, Evacuation, Rainbow, Emergency Shelters) (Good -), (God’s Little 710

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Gyroscope / Gyroscopic G7 G8

Henchmen (Henchman) (also see: Hitler) Henry (-Ford), (-J. Keiser), (-Kissinger) Herb/s (Fresh-), (Herbicide) Heresy Hero (Heroes) Hezbollah Hijack *Hijacked), (Hijackings) (also see: Terrorism, Hostage, Kidnap) H. G. Wells Hidden Agenda Hilary Clinton Hill/s High (-Rise also see: Tower Blocks, Fire, Glass), (Rise Syndrome), (-Tech also see: Hi-Tech), (Temperature see: Furnace), (-Street), (Highways see: Road, Freeway, Candlestick Park, Toll/s, Road Rage) Hindenburg Disaster (also see: Hydrogen) Hindu Hip Hippy (Hippies), (also see: 1960’s, Sunflower, Freedom, New Age Travellers, Earth-lovers, Rainbow) 1960’s 1984 Hire (see: Lease) Hiroshima (Nagasaki) History Hitler (Halted Progress) (Hitler’s Henchmen) (Hitler’s Final Solution – Ghettos, Death Camps) (Feudal Thiefdom) (also see: Nazi) HIV (see: Aids, Free Health Service) Hobo (see: Tramp/s) Holiday (School-), (Homes-), (-Parks), (B & B), (Hotel/s:), (also see: Trip, Tourism, Transport) Holocaust Holland HOLY (Land/s see The Holy Land), (-Mountains) HOME (Humble Abode), (Durable Abiding Place), (Alone), (-Grown also see: Bionic Buildings), (-Helps also see Senior Citizens), (-Office), Homeless Homes For Votes Homing Instinct (see: Instinct), (also see: Sense) Honey (Honeycomb) Honour Hook/s Up (Hookers see: Prostitution) Hooligan (see: Vandal, Yob, Football) Horror (Movies) (also see: Fear, Terror, Mortuary, War) Hose (Pipe/s) (for Irrigation) Hospice Hospital/s / Medical Facilities (also see: Field Hospital/s, Outreach, Clinic) Hostage/s (Ransom) Hostel/s Hotel/s (also see: Bed & Breakfast) Hot Water Hour-Glass

H Habitat (see: Progress Report) (- For Humanity), (Habitation) (Habitable) Halabja Halal Halley V1 Station Halo (also see: Photon/s, Light, Alternating circles of light) Halon (also see: Bucket Drop, Mass Foam) Hammer (see: DIY) Hamsin (also see: Malaise) Hanging Gardens (Babylon) (also see: Urban Initiatives) HAPPY / Happiness (Definition) (Happy Land) (Happy Days Are Here Again) (Customers) (Smile) (Laugh) (Laughter) (Funny) (The Happy Age) (Government) (also see: God’s Promise) Joy, Bliss, Serenity, Nirvana, Theta) Harassment (also see: Eviction/s, Invade) Hard (Core also see: Pornography) (-as Nails) (Way) (-Ware also see: Mortar, Gun, Rocket, Shell, Tank, Weapons), (- Gambling) HARD (-ship), (Hardwood also see: Deforestation, Wood), (-Labour Plan) (also see: Difficult) Hare Krishna Harlot/s Harold Huxsey HASSLE Hate Haunt/ed (also see: Ghost/s) Haven/s / ‘Safe’ Areas Hazard/s (Hazardville), (also see: Accident) Head (Injuries) (Ache/s), (King size/d-) (Migraine), (& Neck Rest) (also see: Stress, Cure) Heal (Healing), (Healed), (Healers) Health (Budget), (-Clinics also see: Hospitals / Medical Facilities, Mobile / Out-Reach), (- & Fitness (also see: Action),(- & Safety also see: Standard) Heart/s (Heartless) (-break), (Heart –v- Budget) (also see: Human Animal, Cold bloodied, Bless) Heat (Hard To Heat) (-Loss) (Heating) Heaven (Heaven Here On Earth also see: The Lord’s Prayer, Let it Be, Paradise, Rainbow, Garden, Border) (- can wait?) (Heavenly compass) HEAVY (-Metal), (Heavies), (-Propulsion also see: Dinosaur/s), (-Lorries also see: Juggernaut/s) Helicopter/s (Chopper/s) (also see: Fan, Guard, Shield, Power from the Bottom Up, Avro, Rescue, Hover) Hell (-House), (-Raiders), (Go To-), (The Kingdom of Heaven & Hell Is Within You), (Hells Bells also see: Noise) Helter-Skelter (also see: Lift) Hemp (-Seeds) (also see: TCH, Bio-Plastic, BioDeisel, ) 711

ICI (see: Imperial Chemical Industries) ID / Cards Idea/s (also see: Clue/s) Ideal (-Diet), (-Home/s also see: The Ideal Home Exhibition) Idealism (also see: Perfect) Ideology / Ideological) (also see: Dan Dare, Thunderbirds) Idealist/s (also see: Anarchists) Identified Flying Objects Identity Cards (ID) (also see: Implant) Identity Theft (also see: Satanism) Idol/s (False) IF I G (-Farben), (-Chemie) (also see: IG) Ignorant (Ignorance), (Ignorants) Ignore/d Ikea (also see: Prefabricated, Flat-Pack/ed, BoKlok) Illiterate / Illiteracy (Read and Write) Illegals (also see: Migrant, Alien/s) Illuminati (also see: Pyramid, Secret Government, Stolen Keys, Keepers of the Light, The Rapture, Antichrist, Neo-Pagan, Sect) Image Imagine (Imagination) Imbalance/d Immigration (Migrant/s / Worker/s) (Asylum Seeker/s) (Joy Gardner) (Overseas Processing) (Alien/s) Impact (Collision) (Crumple Zones) (also see: Shock Absorption, Rubber, Strong) Imperfect Imperil Imperial/ism / Imperialistic (Democratic Imperialism) (Imperially Impossible) (Imperial War Museum) Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) Immigration / Immigrant/s (Joy Gardner) Immortal Implant/s Improve (Improvement/s) Indigenous People (see Native/s, Nomad/ics) Incentive/s (also see: Bonus, Dividend, Reward/ing, Motive, Motivator) Incineration Independent / Independence Indifferent / Indifference Individual/s (also see: Hitler) Indoctrinate (also see: Religious School) Industry / Industrial / Manufacture/rs / Manufacturing (Hoover), (Mass-Produced: Bulk Order Discounts), (also see: Diversify, The Market) (Destroying The Planet) (also see: Industry, Need, Research) Inefficient / Inefficiency Inequality Infanticide Inflation (Inflatable) (also see: Hemp) Information Technology (IT) (IT Magazine) (Cyberport) (also see: Internet)

House (Fires see: Fire) (-Prices also see: Mortgages, Islamic Banking, Priced out, Rent), (Built of Junk), (also see: New Build, Jeremy Sandford) Housing (Action Trust HAT), (-Apartheid), (-Associations), (-Consumers Association), (Property Ladder), (also see: Project it, Flat/s, First Time Buyers, Loans, Harassment, The Housing Shortage, Prefabs, Catalogue-, Bespoke- Ikea, Base) Hue/s (also see: Rainbow, Colours) House Of Commons (Defence Committee) (Select Committee) Hovel/s Hover Craft (Hovering), (Hovered), (Flymo Hover) (also see: Levitation, Hoover, Avro-Car, Coil) (also see: Fan) Hovis (see: Shape) Hubble Huf Haus (also see: Wood) Human Being/s (Definition also see: Gentle, Meek), (-Abatoir), (-Zoo), (-Animal/s), (-Power), (Spirit) (-Excellence) (- Race) (-Waste also see: Sewage, Slurry) Humane (also see: Euthanasia) Humanity (Humanitarian), (Crime Against- also see: Genocide) HUMAN RIGHTS (also see: Mankind, Kind, Humankind, The Human Race) Human Shield Hurricane (Andrew) Humble (see Project it) (also see: The Humbling of America) Hunger (also see: Starvation, Famine/s) Hungerford Hunt/ing (also see: Animal Rights, Inhuman, Treasure, Gun / Shooting, Clay Pigeon) Hush Hush (Hushed) (also see: Conspiracy) Hut/s (Nissan Huts) Hybrid (see: Car, Hydrogen) Hydro-Electricity (see: Dam) Hydrofoil (also see: Air Foil) Hydrogen (also see: Hiroshima) Hydroponic/s Hygiene Hypnosis Hypocrite/s (Hypocrisy) Hydraulic (Damping / Dampners) Hydro (-Engineering), (-Power), (-Electric/ity), (Static) (-Carbons also see: Gas, Oil) Hyper Active (AHDD), (Over-Tired) Hypothermia (Wind Chill), (also see: Heart, Heat, Freeze)

I Ice (Age) (Bergs) (Antarctica) (Artic) (Polar) (Scott) (British Antarctic Survey) (also see: Cold, Snow, Climate, Global Warming) 712

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

INFRASTRUCTURE (Schools), (Health), (Not Enough), (Creaking), (Under Strain), (Overwhelmed), (Under Water), (Crippled), (Collapsed), (In Tatters), (Wiped out), (Destroyed), (Smashed), (Appalling State of), (-Charge), (Industries), (-Schemes), (Rebuilt), (New-), (also see: Foundation, Subsidence, Flood, Mains) Inherit (Inheritance Tax UK) INHUMAN (Inhumanities) (also see: Human Animal/s, Cruel/ty) Initiative/s Inner City (also see: Regeneration) Ion/s (Ionosphere) Insane / Insanity Insects / Fly / Flies / Insecticide Insecure (the Insecurity of Uncertainty) Insider Trading Insomnia Instability (also see: America has only to sneeze, Wind Tunnel Test) Instant (-Housing / Homes) (-Offices) (also see: Small Businesses, Commercial) Instinct/s (Homing), (Survival), (also see: Sense, ESP, Conscience) Institution (Institutionalise) Insulation Insult/s Insurance (also see: Acts of God) Insurgent/s Integrate Integrated Living Systems Intelligent (see: Project it), (IQ see: Progress Report), (-Disposal Network), (-Design & Tomorrows Buildings), (-Design) Intelligence (-in Animals) (-Gathering), (-Failures), Interest Free (Loans to MP’s) Inter-Active Homes Inter-Connect/ing INTERLOCK (Interlocking also see: Project it, Module, Joint, Modular Toy) International (Rescue) Interest Rate/s (Money Lending) (also see: The Koran / Qur-an) Internet (also see: Information / Technology IT) Integrate / Integration Interloper/s (see: Invade, Territory) International Rescue Corps (also see: Thunderbirds, New Model, Emergency, Rescue) In Thing Invent (Boffins) (Eureka) Inventor/s: Wolfgang Feierbach, Sir John Harrington, James Dyson, Trevor Bayliss, Sir Christopher Cokerell) (also see: Competition/s) Inventions: The Submarine see: Progress report) Innovation/s (Enterprise), (Entrepreneurs) (also see: Vision, New Discoveries, Prince Charles, Patent) Invade / Invasion / Invaders (i.e. Acquisition of Territory by Force) Invest (Investment), (Investor/s), (Angel Investors)

Invisible (also see: Stealth) Ion/s (-Therapy) (The Ionosphere) IQ / Intelligence Quotient (see; Progress Report, Intelligence, Tent, Millennium) IRA (Gerry Adams) (also see: Loyalist/s, Sect) Iraq (also see: Oil, War) Iron (Spike), (Railings), (Curtain) Irresponsible / Irresponsibility (also see: Responsible, Responsibilities) Irrigate / Irrigation (Make The Desert Green Again), (Porous Hose also see: Rubber), (also see: Libya, Dam, Desalination, Hanging Garden, Water Tank, Plastic Dispenser, Storm Channel) Isaac Newton (Making Rainbows) Islam / Islamic (Birth of-), (also see: Iran, Koran, Mohammed, Allah, Yashmak) (also see: Muslims, Fundamental/ists, Extremists, Militant/s) Israel (Israelites) “… it’s EASIER THAN TORTURE…” it can’t be done? (also see: Challenge) it’s somewhat Taxing it Will Never Work? Ivy League (also see: Job/s)

J Jack (Boot), (Legs), (Jackers), (Man-Jack), (also see: Hijack) Japan Jealous/y (also see: Revenge) Jehovah (also see: Allah, God) Jeremy (-Sandford) (-Paxman) Jerry (Builders), (Rig) Jerusalem Jessie Jackson JESUS CHRIST (also see: Saviour, Second Coming, Lord) Jet/s (- of water), (Harrier Jump-), (-Age Bedouins) Jew/s (Jewish), (Holocaust), (Russian), (Settler/s) Jiffy Jihad (Holy War) Jinking (Jinky) Job/s (Skill/s) (Trade) (Youth) (Creation also see: The Ivy League , Egypt) (For new Workers– see Unemployment / Unemployed) Jockey Wheel John (-Lennon), (-Smith), (-Major), (-Prescott) Joke/s Joint/s (Join/s), (Joint Framework Document), (Joint Venture/s), (also see: Seamless, Project/s, Operation/s) Joy (Ride/r/s), (Gardener) (-of Life) Jubilee (re: Land Reform) Judgement Day (also see: Apocalypse, Armageddon, God’s Wrath, Divine, Biblical Juggernaut/s (see: Heavy Goods Vehicles) Jules Verne Junk (Food also see: Fast Food), (- Mail), (Junky) (Junky Disposition), (Junkies), (also see: Waste) 713

Valley, Own, View, Wasteland, Docklands) (Wetland/s / Marshes), (Swamp-) (Pasture-) (also see: Garden) Language (also see: Communicate, Mobiles) Laser/s Laser Powered Propulsion Late (Later) Latin (Dead Language), (Latin America) Launch (Pad) Law/s (God’s-), (also see: Rules, Legalisation, Authority, Council/s, Government/s, Anarchy) Lawlessness (also see: Anarchy, Godlessness) Lawn (see: Grass, Pesticide/s, Cancer, Low TCH) Lead (Heavy Metal) Leader/s (World- also see: Summits), Community-) (also see: Owl, god/s, Fatwa, “Be Your Own”) Lease/d (Hold) (Hire/d) (also see: Rent) Leak/s / Leaking (also see: Lid/s, Roof) Le Corbusier Leonard Cohen Light-Emitting Diodes LED’s Lego (see: Modular, Toy) Lenin LENTA (London Enterprise Agency see: Progress Report) Leprosy (Leper/s) Less Able Bodied (also see: Ramp, Adapt, Weak, Vulnerable, Wheel Chair, Morals Violated, Amputees, Limbo, Lift, Levitation) Let it be Leukaemia (also see: Power Lines, Nuclear Power) Levitation (also see: Hover, Avro Car, Coil, Magnetic Energy, Identified) Leukaemia (see: Cancer, Nuclear) Lie/s (Detection) Lincolns Inn Fields (also see: Park) Liberal Democrats (also see: Lib Dem, Paddy Ashdown, Charles Kennedy) Liberty (Liberates), (Liberation), (Liberating) (also see: Free, Freedom) Lie (-Detector also see: Truth Serum, Eyes, True Colours), (King of Lies), (Liar), (also see: Parole, Plea Bargaining) Life Boat/s (also see: Rescue, Rapid Response, Hovercraft, Amphibian/s, Emergency, Flooding, Surge, High Tide, New Boat Design) Life Style Life-Saver Life Support System Lift (the Roof), (-Not Working Again), (also see: Raise, Elevate, Levitation, Move, Walk on Water, Light, Weightless, Anti-Gravity) Light/s (- Weight), (Travelling -), (Lighter), (Flood Lights), (- Year also see: Space and Time), (Golden - also see: Aura, Halo, Protons), (The -), (Lighting), (-Beam), (- Bulb), (Lightly also see: Walk on Water, Weightless, ‘Dark’ Energy), (- Party), (- craft) (also see: Isaac Newton, Rainbow, Electrons, Laser, Oscillation) Lightning (also see: Static, Nylon)

Jupiter Justice (also see Police, Court, Law, Plea Bargaining, Prison) Justified / Justify Juvenile (-Delinquency) (also see: Child, AntiSocial, Anti-Vandal, Dept. of Corrections, Evolution)

K Kaleidoscope Dollshouse Kiln/s (also see: Furnaces, High Temperature) Kamikaze Karma (also see: Calm/er) Keepers of the Light Ken Livingstone Kerb (Crawling) (also see: Pave) Kerosene Kevlar Key (-Home Buy Scheme UK), (also see: Stolen Keys, Keys to heaven) Khashoggi, Marcos Kidnap (Kidnapped also see: Hostage) Kids (also see: Young, Youngsters, Teenagers, Child, Children, Yobs) Kill-Joy/s Kind / Kindness Kindergarten Kinetic Energy (also see: Vortex, Corona, Flywheel, Spin) King of Lies (also see: Devil) Kings Cross Homeless Project Kirilian Photography (also see: Lie Detector, Diagnosis, Light, Aura, Halo, Ring) Kismet Kitchen/s (also see: Chip) Kit/s / Kitted KGB Knife / Knives (also see: Blades, Gang) Knock on Wood Syndrome Kobe Kofi Annan (UN General Secretary) Konstanin Tsiolkovsky Kristallnacht (The Night of the Broken Glass) Kurd/s / Kurdish People Kuwait Kyoto Agreement (also see: Climate Change, CO2, Greenhouses Gas/es, Deforestation, Pollution, Global Warming, Ice Age).

L Labour (Hard-), (New-), Ladder (Accidents) (Property Ladder) (also see: Housing /) Lake/s (also see: River) Land Availability also see: Site) Land (Farm-), (Landfill), (-Grab), (-League), (Landlord), (-Mines), (-Reform), (Landscaped/), (Acquired By Force), (-Slide/s), (-Slip), (also see: 714

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Malingerers Mall/s (see: Shops) Mammal/s MAN (Man’s Best Friends) (Man-Made) Man-hole (also see: Drain/s) Manipulate/s (- the Weather) (-the Environment) (Manipulating), (Manipulation of space and time) Manage/ment Manifesto Mankind / Humankind / Humanity (also see: Mission) Man-Made Manufacturers / Manufacturing (see Industry, Car Factories, Sweat Shops) Manure Mao Tse-Tung Map Marcos (also see: Khashoggi / Imelda) Margaret Thatcher (Vision) (Thatcherism-Definition) Market (Huge- Gap), (Untapped-), (Buoyant- also see: Float/ing), (Free Market Economy), (The Single/s-), (Common-), (-Traders), (-Stall), (also see: Fair, Free, Trade, Commercial, High Street, Shop/s, Business Premises, Instant Offices / Regus, Monopoly, Consumer/s, New Generation Shoppers, Divine Retribution) Maroon/ed (also see: Stranded) Mars (Colony) Marriage Martin Luther King Martyr/dom Marxism (also see: Lenin, Stalin) Marshes (see Wetland/s) Mask/s Mass-Murder (also see: Genocide) Master Builder (also see: Moses, Slaves, Mortar) Masonry (see: Stone) Mass Burn Incineration (see: Waste, Bio-Mass) Mass-Produced (Housing see: Project it, Prefabricated) Material (New) (Smart) (also see: Fabric, Skin) Materialism (also see: America’s ‘Madonna’), (Materialise) Matt Pye Maximum (-Security), (-Credible Accident) McDonalds Meadowcroft Meaning (The - of Life also see: What meaning could it possibly have), (Meaningful) Meat (Sausage/s), (Burgers), (Dead-) Mechanism/s (The Missing Mechanism) Media (Newspaper/s), (Press), (Printing), (TV) (News Reporter), (Newscaster’s Joke) (Journalist) Medicenes san Frontiere Meek Mega (Disaster) (Tsunami) (Projects) Mental Health (also see: Emotional, Psychological) Melt / Melting Membrane Men

Limbo Livestock (also see: Slaughter House, Animal Rights) Loan/s Local / Regional Government Log Cabin (also see: Cabin Fever) Logic / Logical London’s Water Table Loner/s Lonely (also see: Apart-I, Going it Alone, Not Made to Do it by Ourselves) LONG LIFE (also see Project it, Guarantee) Longevity (also see: Senior Citizens, Elixir) Lord (House of Lords), (Lords), (Chief Justice Wolf), (David Owen) Lorry / Lorries (also see: Juggernaut/s, Heavy) Lost (At Sea also see: Life Boat, Unsinkable?, New Boat Design, Rescue) (- and Found) Lottery Loudspeaker (also see: Public address). Love (also see: Valentines Day) Low (-Cost), (-Energy), (-Heat), (-Life), (Standard/s), (-Maintenance), (-Tech), (-TCH) Loyalist/s (also see: Ireland, Militants, IRA, Dirty Tricks) Luck (also see: Fortune, Romany) Luftwaffe Lumps (Like it or lump it?), (also see: Growth, Cancer) Luxury (also see: VAT)

M Maastricht (see: Europe) Machine (also Moving Parts, Robot/s, Auto) Mad (-Ministers Disease), (-Dog also see: Pavlov, Desperado), (-Scientists), (-Architects), (Madness), (also see: Crazy, Borderline Disorder, Schizophrenia, Suicide/s, Insane, Sane) (also see: Individual, The God Complex, god, Un-Godly gods, Godlessness, Mental Illness) Mad Cow Disease (BSE) (see: Cow) Madonna (Mary) Mains (-Water also see: Grid) Mafia (also see: Gang) Magic (Magical) (also see: Wish/es) Maglev (also see: Monorail) Magnet/s / Magnetic (-Energy / Suppressed), (Magnetic Storage), (-Levitation see: Maglev), (Magnetised Beam), (-Devices), (-Plastic), (Testatika) (also see: Electro-, Super Conducting, Coil, Spring, Zero Point Energy) Magnify (also see: Light) Maintenance (Renovate), (Refurbish), (Repair/s), (Repaired), (Disrepair), (Patch) Make Poverty History Campaign Makeshift Shelters (Bender), (Slum), (Hovel), (also see: Box, Emergency Shelters, Civil Defence) Malaise (also see: Limbo) Malcolm (-X), (-Riftkind) 715

Mental (Illness), (Health), (Asylum Definition), (Lunacy), (Loonies), (Cruelty), (Depressed / Depression / Depressives), (Psychiatrist/s / Psychiatry), (Funny Farm), (Counsellor/s / Counselling), (Gardening Therapy), (Animal Therapy), (Schzoid), (also see: Crazy, Borderline Disorder, Schizophrenia, Suicide/s, Sane, Individual, The God Complex, god/s, Crazy, Mad) Mercy Mercury (also see: Battery) Merlin Reece Message (Messenger) Messiah (The Messiah Syndrome) Messianic (see: Progress Report) Metal (-Fatigue), (-Corrugate), (Shrapnel), (Aluminium / Tin), (Titanium), (Steel), (Gold), (Copper), (Knife / Knives), (also see: Clunk, Cutting Edge, Mine/s, Rust, Pipe/s) Meteoroid/s (also see: Asteroid/s, Comet) Methane (also see: Gas) Methanol METHEL: Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser MDF (Hemp MDF) MJ12 Michael Howard Microwave Middle Ground (also see: Common Ground) Middle East Migrant/s (Migrate), (Emigrate/d also see: Brain Drain, Depopulated, Asylum, Illegals, Alien) Milk (also see: Cows, Livestock) Military (Virus), (Militaristic), (-Service see: Conscription), (Defence Budget/s / Spending on the Military), (Hardware), (Weapons), (Arm), (also see: Civil Defence Army, Peace, Uniform) Millennium Mikhail Gorbachev (Gorby) Militant/s (also see: Loyalist, Extremists, Fundamentalists) Minaret/s Miniaturisation Mini-Budget Mine/s (Mining), (Miner/s), (Yellow Cake), (also see Coal, Gold, Uranium, The Moon) Minimalist / Minimalism Minority / Minorities Mir Space Station Miracle/s Mirror/s (also see: Magnify) MISC14 Misinformation (also see: Disinformation, Propaganda, Con, Massaged) Misogynists (also see: Apartheid Against Women, Respect) Mismanagement Missile/s (Cruise-) (Exocet-) (Pershing-) (Trident-) Rocket / Bomb / Mortar / Shell Attack/s (Air Strikes) (Civilians Targeted) Missing / Missed (also see: The Missing Mechanism/s)

Mission (Crazy-) Mixed Blood (also see: Bi-lingual, Language, Culture, Ethnic, Migrant) Mobile (-Home also see: Portable), (-Health see: Outreach, History of Caravans, Ambulances, Avrocar), (Mobility Bus), (Mobile/s see: Communicate) MODA (also see: ICI, Resin, Silicon) Model/s Moderation Modern / Modernist/s / Modernity Modernise / Modernisation / Updating (East Germany) (Modernism) Moderate / Moderation Module/s (Education-), (Lunar-) Modular (-Concrete Domes), (Housing) (also see: Construction Toys, Lego, College Boxes Clever, Base for Scientists) Modify (also see: Alter) Mohammed Mold (-Making), (Mold/ing) (also see: Techniques, Cold Press, Cure) Monarchy (Faltering), (The Queen) (also see Prince Charles) Monopoly (Monopolies Commission) Monorail Moon (see The Moon) Moon City Moor Lands / Moors Money (-Lend/ers also see: Banks, Interest Rates, Loan/s), (-as Debt) (also see: £, $, MILLIONS/S, BILLION/S, TRILLION, Penny, Cost, Capitalist/s, Capitalism, Slave/s, Anti-Capitalists) Monorail (also see: Rail/lings) Monsanto (The Monsanto All-Plastic House of the Future) Moon (- Base) ( Who owns the Moon?) Mop / MOP (Member of the Public) Moral/s / Morality (Morals Violated) (also see: Ethic/s) Morgue (Mortuary) Morris Ward Mortar Mortgage/s (re-Mortgage) (Loans) (Mortgage Phobia) Moses also see: Bricks without straw) Moslem/s Muslim/s Mosquito/es (Mutant), (Stagnant Water), (-Net/s), (Malaria), (DDT) Mother Theresa Motivator (Motivation) Motor-ways (see: Road) Motor (-Bike/s), (-Homes) Mould (also see: Fungus) Mountain/s (God’s Holy-), (Hardcore- also see: Spoil Heaps), (-of Plastic), (Food-) (also see: Waste Paper) Move (-it) Moving (-House), (-Parts) MP’s (Members of Parliament) (What Do MP’s Do?) (Mad Ministers Disease) (Self Interest) also see) 716

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

(Perks / Expenses) (Freeloading) (also see Government, Summit/s) MTM45 Mud (Bricks), (Bricks Without Straw also see: Moses), (-Slide/s), (also see: Cob) Mullahs Multi (-National/s), (-Cultural also see: Culture, Neutral, Free Choice of Territory), (-Purpose also see Dual Use) Murder/ed (Serial Killers), (Psychopath/s) (also see: Infanticide, Genocide, Snuff)

New (-Man), (-Thinking), (Advanced Materials), (Style), (-Discoveries), (-Technology), (New Build/s / Houses) (New-Age), (New-Age Travellers), (Generation Shoppers) New Model Army: The People New Model Army: (also see: The Military, Robot Tanks, Fully-Automatic Weaponry, Armed Robots, Laser Guns, Robot Soldiers Armed with Machine Guns) Newton's 3rd Law (also see: Balance, Natural Justice) New World (-Order - A New System), (also see: Rainbow/s, Make History Poverty Campaign, Era of Big Government Is Over, Illuminati, 3rd Temple) Newspapers (also see: Good, Bad, Paper, Media) New York Nigeria Night Shelter/s Nissan Hut/s (also see: Hut) Nitrogen Noah (also see: Ark, Float) Noam Chomsky NOISE (Pollution) (Boom) (Bang) (Blast) (Thunder/y Thundering) (Noisy) (Tinnitus) (also see: Soundproofing) Nomad/s / Nomadic Non-Believer/s (also see: Atheism, Faith) Non-Biodegradable Non-Ethical Investment Non-Profit Making Group/s (see Community CoOperatives) Non-Violent Direct Action (also see: Peace Pledge Union) No Regrets (also see: Plan A, Plan B) Norman Tebbit North Sea Nostradamus -----------------------------------------------------------NUCLEAR (-Fission), (-Fusion), (-Power Plant/s), (Reactor/s), (-Fuel Reprocessing), (Yellow Cake), (Uranium), (Plutonium), (Appalling Safety Record), (Fire/s), (Leaks also see: Radio Active, Cancer), (Concerned Scientists), (Lousy Security), (Terrorist Threat: / Bomb / Hijack / Theft /Piracy) Pollution: (Discharge into the Sea), (The Artic), (The Atlantic), (The Irish Sea), The Pacific Ocean), (Contaminated Land) Nuclear Waste (Storage also see: Concrete, Glass), (-Flasks), (-Dump/s), (The Plutonium Dustbin) (Transporting see: Dante’s Inferno, Death Train) (also see: Ferries, Roll On, Roll Over, Road, ‘Maximum Credible Accident’) (Incident Planning Management, Deterrent) (Chernobyl: Gave Us A Warning), (also see: “Perilous Threat,” Siberia: Explosion) (Decommission/ed/ing), (Storm Damage) (“We need to diversify- find alternative energy (oil) sources”), (“We have no Energy policy”),

N NSA (National Security Agency) NASA (National Aeronautical Space Agency) NSA (National Security Agency) NATO Nail/s Nagasaki National (Health Service NHS), (-Health Insurance also see: Chiropodist, Eye Test), (also see: Screening, Mobile Health, Outreach, Consultants), (-Security also see: Defence of the Realm, Security), (-Service also see: Compulsory Conscription, Defence, Military), (-Socialism Party also see: Nazis), (-Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children NSPCC), (-Sea Defence Plan also see: Sea Walls, Concrete, Sandbags, Flood Guard, Resin) Nationalise/d (-Oil) Native (American Indian/s) Nature / Natural (also see: Eco) Natural Justice (also see: Balance) Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) Nazi/s (-Architecture), (-Scientists), (National Socialism / Party), (Galactic Nazis), (S.S.) also see: Neo) Neanderthal (also see: Extinct) Near Death Experience/s Nebuchadnezzar (Hanging Gardens also see: Solar Water Pump, Anti-Gravity), (Babylon) Need / Needed / Need/s (Want/ed Fixed Costs), (A True Socialist Policy), (Due to Economic Pressure), (A Global Formula), (A Vision), (Something Greener, That Endures), (Partnership), (Build From Scratch), (Alternate Views), (Irrigation & Desalination), (New Social Projects), (AntiTerrorism Measure), (New Safety Requirements), (A Formula), (Reinforcements), (Humanitarian Package) Neglect / Negligence Neighbour/s Neil Kinnock Nelson Mandela Neo (-Classicism), (-Conservative/s), (-Fascist/s), (Neo-Nazis), (Neo-Pagan/ism also see: Nazis) Neste Chemicals Network Neutral (Neutrality) 717

Over-Crowded / Over-Crowding (also see: Refugee Camp/s) Overseas Development Administration ODA Over-Weight (Obesity) (Aeroplanes) Oxfam (see: Charity) Owe/d (also see: Promise/d, Debt) Owl (Follow the-), (Moloch) (also see: Nocturnal, Twi-light) Own (Ownership) (It’s All Mine) Oxygen also see: (Bottled), (Supply Controlled) (also see: Air, Deforestation, Asthma) Ozone (Depletion), (Hole), (also see: Cancer)

(Britain's Future Energy? Nuclear Power?), (-Test/s / Testing), (also see: Fault-line/s, Ozone Depletion) (- Proliferation), (Trade Nukes?), (- Weapons Stockpiled), (What Happens When A Nuclear Bomb Goes Off?), (also see: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Doomsday) (Anti-Proliferation also see: Gorbachev, CND, Peace, The Campaign Against Militarization) (“Armageddon Is Coming!”), (War Plan), (also see: Civil Defence, Emergency Shelters) (-Submarines), (Polaris), (-Fleet/s), (Fire/s) (Crashes also see: Death Trains) (-Deterrent -To Be Replaced?) (-Rocket/s), (-Power Packs), (-Power Station/s on the Moon?) Nuclear Plasma Engine ---------------------------------------------------------------Nursery / Infant /Primary School/s Nut/s Nylon

P Pacifism (also see: Feather) Packaging Pad (Padded also see: Project it) (Plastic Padding) (Crash Pads) (Skypads) (Launch Pad) (also see: Cocoon, Bubble, Soft) Paddle/s Paddy Ashdown Paedophile/s (also see: Abuse) Pain Paint/ing/s (see: Decorate) Pakistan Palestine (-Liberation Organisation PLO), (Palestinians also see: Olive Tree/s, Tent, Camp, Refugee, Landless, Displaced, Water Pump, Hezbollah) Palm Oil (also see: Plantations) Panel/s (Panelised) Pandemic (see: Bird/s / Flu, Epidemic, Germs, Sterilised, Hygiene, Quarantine) Panic (also see: Stampede) Paper (Newspaper/s), (Toilet-), (Papercrete) (also see: Chlorine, Packaging, Hemp) Paradise (Adam and Eve), (also see: Heaven, Nirvana, Heaven Here on Earth, Caravan Parks) Paranoid (Paranoia) (also see: Climate of Fear) Parent/s (Single- also see: Widow, Mother, Mum, Mom, Father, Dad), (Parents), (-Against Violence), (Parental) Park/s (Municipal), (Lincoln’s Inn), (-Homes), (Holiday), (Caravan-), (RV-), (Car-), (Business-) Parkesine Parliament Parole (also see: Lie Detection, True Colours) Particle Acceleration Partition/ing Party (Parties) (Party Of God see: Hezbollah) Passenger/s / Travellers Passion Pasture (Pastoral) Patch / Patched Patent/s (see: Progress Report) Path (also see: Way) Patient/s Pattern Books (see Bespoke Housing)

O Oceans (see: The Sea) Off-Gassing Oil (Fossil Fuel) (Fields) (Drilling) (Crude) (Hydrocarbon/s) (Reserves) (Consumption) (Shale) (Refineries) (Rigs / Platform/s) (Spills / Slick/s) (Sumping) (Safety of Tankers also see: Super Sizing, Page Number ) (Pipe-line/s) (Depot/s) (Independents) (Revenue / Wealth) (see: OPEC) (Barrel Price) (Oil For Food Programme) (Embargo – also see: Sanctions) (Services 582 also see: Pipe, Valve) (also see: World Record: Fuel Economy, The War in The Gulf, (-Price/s), (-Peak) (also see: Polyester, Resin, Alternative Oils, Silicon) Old (Folk also see: Senior Citizens, Elderly) One (-Friend), (-God), (-Piece), (-Under), (-Voice), (World) OPEC (The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) Operation (-Angel), (-Joint Guardian), (-Clockwork Orange), (-Desert Storm), (-Destroy Rainforest), (Wipe-Out), (-Desert Shield), (-Fog), (-Nomad), (Phantom Fury) Option/s Opportunity / Opportunist Orang-utans Organic/s Orimulsion Orion Orphan/s / Orphanage/s (also se: Foster, Social Services) Osama Bin Laden Oscillation (also see: Vibration) Ostentatious Outcast/s Outreach Oven 718

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Pave (Paving), (Pavements), (Kerb), (Slab/s also see: Concrete) Pavlov’s Theory Pay (As You Drive see: Road / Toll Booths), (-Back), (-Loads also see Heavy Goods) PEACE (A Durable-), (-Dividend) (-Keeping also see: the UN) (-Makers), (-Pipe Ceremony), (Process), (-Troops), (-Plan), (-Plan Union PPU, (Owen / Vance), (Negotiators also see: Diplomats), (Road Map) (also see: The Peace Movement, Human Rights, Civil Rights, Campaign Against Militarization, Amnesty, Ceasefire), (Peaceful) Peasant /s (Revolt) (also see: Farm) Peel Peer Pressure (also see: Friend/s) Pension (Funds), (Pensioners) People Power (also see: Power From the Bottom Up, Power To The People, The People Power Movement, Human Power, The People’s Forum) People Said (also see: Public) Pentagram (also see: NASA, Illuminati) Perestroika Perfect (-Village), (Perfection), (Perfected) (also see: Nothing Dangerous) Permaculture Persecution/s (see: Harassment) Perspex Pesticide/s (also see: Hemp, Organic, Crop Rotation) Peter Lilley Petition/ed (also see: Flexible) Petrol / Petroleum (also see: Cars, Con) Phobia/s (also see: Syndrome, Agoraphobia, AggroPhobia, Xenophobia) Phoenix Photo Dynamic Therapy PDT Photon/s Photovoltaic Cells Picnic Philippines (also see: Imelda, Marcos Khashoggi, Mrs Marcos) Pills (Happy- also see: Tranquilisers) Pink Floyd (The Wall), (also see: David Gilmour) Pioneer (Pioneering), (Pioneered) Pipe/s (It’s in the Pipeline?), (Pipeline), (Stand Pipes), (also see: Plumbing) Piracy (Black Market) Plague (Black), (also see: Epidemic) Plan A, Plan B (also see: No Regrets) Planning (-Permission), (-Consent), (-Law/s), (Control), (SERPLAN), (Exceptional), (Wind Farms), (Sea Protection), (Farmers), (Agricultural Pursuit), (Waste Incinerators), (Flood Plains), (More Metal, Steel?) (also see: Castle) Plant/s Plantation/s Plasma Engine Plaster/ed (Dry Lining) Plastic (Definition), (Material), (Acrylic), (Bakelite), (Ethane), (Fibre-Glass / GRP), (Modar also see:

ICI), (Perspex), Parkesine), (PVC), (Star-Lite), (Vulcanite), (-Caravan), (-Car), (-Engine), (-for Automobiles), (-Warships), (-Compounders), (Virgin-), (-Water Tanks), (-Dispenser), (Container), (Tupperware), (also see: Ford, Silicon, Automated, Bio-Plastic, Hemp, Synthetic) Plastic City Plastic House/s / Housing (New York), (Tomorrow’s World BBC), (General Electric GE), (DuPont), (Keiser), (Plug-In Disposable Houses), (Quake Resistant), (Blast-Resistant Plastic Walls), (Bullet Proof), (Cloche), (Modular Greenhouse), (Monsanto), (Futuro), (Kengo Kuma), (De Zen), (Kaleidoscope Dollshouse) (also see: Neste, Shell, BP, Jetsons, Experimental Plastic Housing, Composite/s, Seamless) Platform/s Play (God) Playground/s (Playing Fields) Plea Bargaining Pleasure (also see: Fun) Pledged Plot (Plotters) Politicians (also see: Members of Parliament, MP) Plutonium (see: Nuclear) Plywood (see: Building Regulations, USA Trailer Parks, Tornado) Pod/s Poison/s (Poisonous Bushes see: Progress report) (Gases) Police (Do We Need More Police), (Secret-), (Security-), (-State), (KGB) Poll (see Survey) Poll Tax (UK) (also see Community Charge / Community Tax) Pollution / Polluted / Pollute/s / Polluting / Pollutants (also see: Hazard) Poly (carbonate) (-thene) (-ethylene) (-gal) (styrene), (Polyester also see: Resin), (Polymer/s also see: Plastic), (-tunnel also see: Cloche) POOR Population (also see: Public, Civilian, Community) Porous Portahome Portable (Portable Architecture) (also see: Mobile) Portakabin/s Potential Energy Poverty (-Trap), (-Reduction Strategy), (- in UK), (‘Make Poverty History’) Post Mortem/s (see: Diagnosis) Poundbury Power Cuts (Black Outs) Power (Generator/s), (Portable), (Stations also see: Coal, Electricity, Gas, Nuclear, Hydrogen, Acid Rain, Pollution, Filters, Orimulsion, Climate Change), (-from the bottom up), (-Struggle/s also see: One God) Power (Mad-), (-Struggle/s), (-To The People also see: People Power), (-Tools see: Electric Power Tools) 719

Protect (Protection Racket) Protestants Protest/s (Protestor/s) (Rally / Rallies) (Dissent) (March/es) (also see: Resist, Tiananmen Square) Proton/ Prototype (also see: Patent, Invent, Plastic Houses, Experimental, Test) Psalms Psychic (also see: ESP, Telepathy) Psychopathic Public (-Money), (-Services), (-Transport), (-House / Pub) (-Public address system also see: Loudspeaker), (Member of the Public also see: MOP), (-Private Partnership) Pulse/s Pump/s (Water-), (also see: Hanging Gardens, Irrigation, Lift), (Solar-), (Pumped also see: Mains Water), ( Pumping Iron) Pure (Purify), (Purification), (also see: Refine) Push (-Power), (also see: Jockey Wheel) PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) (see: U/PVC) Pyramid/s / Pyramid System (also see: Pharaohs, Moses, Slavery, Cruel, Antichrist)

Practice (Sharp-) Pray/er/s (Praying), (New Prayer) (The International – for Peace) (also see: Psalm) Precision Timing (also see: Synchronise/d) Predicted (also see: Nostradamus, The Future) Prescription Pressure (Peer), (it’s all in your head), (Water- also see: Mains), also see: Suicide, Mental Illness) Preventable (-Disease/s) Primary School Prince Charles (see: Progress report), (Prince of Wales Awards for Innovation) (Poundbury) (Books) Principal/s Priority (Priorities) Prison/ers (Strangeways), (Grass), (Prison Farms), (also see: Prefabs) Pre-Fabricated / Pre-Fab/s Predict/ed / Predictions / The Future / Projections / Forecast (Farming The Desert) (also see: Nostradamus, The Henley Forecast) Pre-Site Assembly (see: Pre-Fabricated) Prescription Drug/s Pressure/s / Pressurised Price Fixing (H. Schact) (also see: Cartel, Con) Priced Out Priority / Priorities (Safety has got to be the first) (First, let the Children) Prison/s (Building), (Farms), (Imprisoned), (Prisoner/s), (Young Offenders Reform Trust), (Death Row), (The Electric Chair), (-Camps), (Strangeways) (Sing Sing prison) (also see: Plea Bargaining, Torture) Private Developers (see: Property) Private (Secret), (Nursery), (Education / School/ing Fees), (Health also see: USA Health), (Nursing Fee Home/s) Priva-Light Privatisation (Privatising) (Privatisation) (Deregulation) Pro-Democracy (also see: Democracy) Professional Profit/s (-Maximisation), (Windfall-), (HSBC), (BP), (Shell), (Profiteering), (also see: Con, Greed) Project/s (-Impact), (Build It / BBC), (-Red Light), (Y) (Yellow-Book) (-Prometheus) Progress Prohibition Promise/s (False), (Broken), (Unrealised), (Promised ), (UN), (You Owe it to the People / People Power), (also see: Compromised Pledged) (God’s Promise To The People) Propaganda (also see: Disinformation) Propulsion (Across Water) Property Developers (Speculators), (Barratt), (Redrow), (Builders Infrastructure Tax), (Infrastructure Projects), (Slump also see: House Prices) Prophecy (also see: Vision, Predicted, The Future) Prophet Prostitution / Prostitute/s (Hookers)

Q Quality (-of Life (also see: The Shorter Working Week, Free Time, Building Control) Quango Quarantine (also see: Flu, Virus) Quantum (Barrier), (Mechanics) Quarry / Quarries Quartz Quest Queue/s / Queuing (also see Wait/ing Lists) Quicksand

R Racism (Racial / Race Attack/s (also see: Ethnic Cleansing, Holocaust, Combat 18, White Paint), (Racist/s, Supremacy, Eugenics, Apartheid, Xenophobic, Fatwa, White Wash, Mixed Blood, I laugh, I love, Agreeculture) Radical Radio (Music Box), (Therapy) Radio-Active (Waste / Storage- also see: Concrete, Glass), (Contamination) (also see: Nuclear, Cancer) Radiation (Sickness also see: Cancer), (Heat Flash also see: Doomsday, Hiroshima, Hydrogen) Radical/s (Radicalism) RAF Royal Air Force Rage (smarting) (also see: Cabin Fever, Riot) Rail/way/s / Tracks (Derailments), (Bullet / TVG / Maglev Trains), (Train Crashes), (Nuclear Trainsalso see: Dante’s Inferno), (Ultra-speed / Monorail), (Tubular Rail), (Bridges / Arches), (Rail Stations / Terminal), (Attacks / Killings on Trains) Rail-Road/ed 720

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Rainbow/s (also see: Sir Isaac Newton) Rain (Rainwater) (Storm Channel also see: Project it) (Monsoon) (rained) Rainforest/s (see Deforestation, Reforestation Projects) (also see: Seed, Sapling, Paper, Hemp, Breathe, Oxygen, Native, Extinction, Survive) Rambo Ramp (Retractable) Rape / Raped / Rapist/s Rapeseed (see: Alternative Oils / Oil seed) Rapid (-Action Teams), (-Reaction Force), (Response), (- City Flood Disaster) Ranch/es Random (Cluster Bombs) Rapture Rasta Ration (Rationing), (Card/s), (also see: Apartheid) Rat/s (Super-Rats) Ray Gun RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) Real (Estate), (Reality), (Get Real) Realm Rebel/s (Rebellious), (Rebellion), (Uprising) Rebuild (Rebuilding), (Rebuilt) (also see: Regeneration) Recession (also see: Austerity, Reform) Reclaim The Streets (also see: Anti-Capitalist, Socialist) Recharge/able (Energy), (Batteries) (also see: Solar, Kinetic, Accumulator) Reconcile (also see: Diplomacy, Common Ground, Revenge) Reconstruction (also see: Rebuild) (also see: Aid) Recreation Vehicles (RV’s) Recruiting (Army) (Terrorists) Recycle/d (Recycled Oil), (Plastic), (also see: The House Built of Junk, Scrap Yard Bits Into Tomorrow’s Home), (Freecycle), (Recyclers) Red Cross / Crescent (see: Charity, Painting) Reed Bed (also see: Sewage) Reefs (see: Coral, The Sea, Desalination) Re-Entry Referendum (see: Vote) Refineries (also see: Bio- Refineries, Pure, Smell) Reforestation (also see: Species, Seeds, Backyard) Reform/s (USA) Refugee/s (Environment-) (also see: Asylum, Migrants, Illegals, Aliens, Missile / Bomb Attacks, Emergency Shelters, Tents, Civil Defence, Immigration) Refugee Camp/s (also see: Darfur) Refuel/ling Refurbish/ed (see: Maintenance / Renovation) Refuse (see: Waste) Refuse Derived Fuel (also see: Incineration, Methane) Regenerate / Regeneration (see: Project it) (also see: Growth, Rejuvenate)

Regime Regus Rehabilitation / Rehabilitate (Kids), (Mental / Emotional), (Health), (Drug / Alcohol), (Prisoner/s), (Homeless / Disaster), (War), Reincarnation (-Cycle) Reisei Rejuvenate Relationship/s Relief (Relieves) Religion / Religious (Other References), (Divine Intervention), (-Schools), (-Dogma), (Indoctrination), (Roman Catholic), (The Vatican), (the Pope), (God’s banker), (Alternative /Tabernacle), (Moses), (Christ also see: Roman Times), (Christian/ity), (the Bible), (The Church), (Jehovah), (God), (Miracle/s), (Mohammed), (Temple/s), (Hindu), (Atheist), (Agnostic/s), (Muslim/s), (Sect/s), (The Occult), (it’s a new-) (also see: Light, Love) Remand Remote Control/s (Key Pads) Removals (see: Move, Mobile) Renewable/s (Energy) Renaissance Renovate (also see: Maintenance) Rent (-Free), (-Rental), (-Arrears also see: Evicted, Eviction/s, Bounty, Bankrupt, Foreclosed), (Landlord also see: Harassment) Repossessed / Repossession/s Republic/an RESCUE / Rescuing (also see: Helicopter/s, LifeBoat, Hover-Craft, Amphibians, Thunderbirds, Dan Dare, Evacuation, Rapid Response, Emergency Action, Rescue International, Survivor, Brave, UN) Research Resiform Resin (Definition), (Bond), (Bonding), (also see: Polyester, Teflon) Resist (Resisting), (War Resistors International), (also see: Protest, Dissent, Tiananmen Square, Demonstrate, Rebel) Resistant (Fire-), (Scratch-), (Corrosion-), (Weather) Resources Resettlement Unit (see: Hostels) Respect (Self-) Respite Care Homes (see: Hospice) Responsibility / Responsibilities (Diminished-), (also see: Irresponsible / Irresponsibility) Rest (Homes), (Give it a rest) Resurrect/ed (also see: Embers) Retirement / Retire/d Retractable (see Project it) (-Steps), (-Wheels), (also see: Ramp, Robot) Re-useable Revenge (also see: Forgive) Revolution (Cultural-), (Green-), (Silen-t), (also see: Evolve, Demonstrate, Mini Turbine) Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) 721

Ruin/s Run Away/s (Children), (Energy Consumption) Runners Rust (-Buckets) Rural (see: Conservation, COSIRA, Cottages)

Rich (Riches), (Eat the Rich?), (also see: Tax Haven, Invest, Bowel Cancer, Sugar, Baby) RIGHT/S (- right and wrong) (chose the -) (also see: Human Rights, The King of Lies) Righteous/ness Right-Wing White Extremists (also see: Racism, Fascism) Rhodium Rigid / Rigidity (Rigid Plastic) (THE TUBE!) Rip-Off Rio de Janeiro Riot/s / Rioted Risk / Risky Rising Damp (also see: Damp) (-Tide also see: Surge, Flood Barriers) Ritalin (also see: ADD & AHDD) River/s (Lake/s), (Streams), (Ponds) Rivet/s Road/s (Fly-Over), (Roundabout/s), (Crash Barrier), (Cones), (Black Spot/s), (Speed), (Camera/s), (Traffic Light/s), (Highway/s), (Freeway/s), (USAstyle Super Roads), (Deaths), (Pay As You Drive / Toll Booth/s) (also see: Rage) Robert (Lazar), (Majko) Robin Hood Robot/s (Aid/s), (Cyber-nauts), (Fire-Fight / Rescue), (Robotic Legs / Arms), (Rover / -Vehicle), (Roving-), (-Manufacturer), (Robot people) (Weapons) (also see: Unmanned) Rocket/s / Rocketed (also see: Fire, Fiery, Combustion, Weight, Missiles) Rolling Stock Roll On, Roll Over Roman (-Times), (-Catholics also see: God’s Banker, The Vatican, The Pope, CAFOD), (Rome also see: Reptilarium / Perspex) Roof /s (see: Tile/s, Metal), (Spray On), (Lifting the Roof On Homelessness), (Asphalt), (Gently Curved), (Too Rounded,) (Roof Lights / Skylights) Room (No-in the Inn), (No-for this little one) (also see: Space) Romany / Gipsy (Travellers) (Definition) (also see: Nomad, Ethnic, Travellers, New World) Rome (see: Roman) Roswell Rot (Rotten) Rotate/s / Rotation Rough Sleepers Round (i.e. No Sides) (Rounded) Rough Sleeper/s (also see: Tramp) ROVER (cars / land- also see: Rover factory), (lunar-) Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA Royal Society for the Protection of Birds RSPB Royalty (The Royal Family), (Buckingham Palace), (Windsor Castle), (The Monarchy) Rubber (Tyres), (Dingy / Dinghies) (also see: Hose, Porous) Rubbish (also see: Waste, Trash) Rudolf Schriever

S Saboteurs Sacrifice/s (Sacrificing), (also see: Duty) Saddam Hussein Sadism Safe (Make The People Safe!), (-House), (As Safe As Houses?), (also see Building Regulations UK), Safety (-Net), (-Harness) (- Belt/s) (-Lessons), (Standards), (-of Oil Tankers) Saint (-Francis) ( St. Mungo’s) (Mother Theresa) Saltpetre Salvation (Army) Sane / Sanity (also see: Logic) Sanctions Sanctity Santa Claus Sanctuary (Plastic-), (-/3rd Temple) (also see: Refuge, Asylum, Church) Sandwich (-Construction) Sand (Abundant Element), (Bags), (Blasting), (Castle also see: Planning), (Can’t build on -), (dunes), (-hill), (-Flies) (fusing), (Grain/s), (head in the sand -), (draw a line in the -), (to make silicon), (-Storm/s), (Quicksand), (Slippery-), (Whirlwind) (also see: Glass, Silicon, Desert/s) Sane (Definition), (Insane) Sanitation (Sanitary Engineer) Santa Maria Sapling/s Satanism (Satanists) (also see: Cult/s, Sect/s, The Devil, Evil, Antichrist, Illuminati) Satellite/s Saudi Arabia (Emir), (Sultan), (Kuwait Investment Office) (Not Allowed Any Say in it) (Gulf War) (also see: Oil, Terrorism, Al-qaeda, Osama) Save the Children (see: Charity) SAVE (Planet In Peril), (Only Hope For The Planet), (“it’s not necessary”), (Crippled By Greed), (re: Scorched Earth) Savings (also see: Pension/s) Saw Dust / Mill/s Scaffold/ing Scan/s / Scanner/s Science (-& Technology) (-Fact not – Fiction), (The of God), (How Can - Improve Your Love Life) Schizophrenia (Schizoid) School (Run), (Enjoyable Learning!), (Religious-), (also see: -Holiday/s, -Bus) Scorched Earth Policy (also see: Desert) Scorn / Scorned Scotland (Scottish) Scott (Robert-) (-Polar Institute) (-Island) (-Inquiry) Scratch (Itch/ing) 722

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Screen (Wind-), (i.e. Shield), (Screening also see: Scanners, Mobile Health) Screw/s (Screwed), (Screwy) Scrounger/s (Something for Nothing) Seagull/s Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD) Seamless (also see: Gap, Joint, Joins, Waxy) Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD Seat Belts (also see: Safety Harness) Sea Walls (National Sea Defence Plan) (also see: Concrete, Steel, Corrosion, Flood Guard/s) Seawater Greenhouse Second Homes Secret (-Government), (Secrecy) (also see: Conspiracy, Freedom of Information) Secure (Security), (Durable Security), (Security Council) (also see: Defence of the Realm) Sect (Sectarian), (also see: Cult, Neo-Pagan) Seed/s / Seedy Seige Self (Determination) (Harming) (Govern/ing) (SelfGovernment) (Rule) SECURITY / Secure (A Global Society) (National Security), (New World Order), (Future Security?), (We Have No Answer To Human Security), (also see The UN Security Council, Safe, Realm) Self Build (also see: Done For You, Do It Yourself DIY) Self Defence (Aikido) (also see: Defence) Self-Governing (also see: Anarchy, Independence, Home Rule) Self (-Help), (-Harming) (-Sufficient) (-Sufficiency), (-Sustaining) Senior Citizens (Old People), (Old Folk), (Pensioners), (The Elderly), (Retired), (Hypothermia also see: Heart), (Park homes), (Help The Aged also see: Charity), (Alzheimer’s), (‘Action on Elder Abuse’), (Pension/s), (Geriatric Gang also see: Bigot/s) (also see: Youth, Green Fingers, Lonely) Sense (Common-), (No-) (also see: Instinct, ESP, Conscience) Separatism Serial Killer/s (also see: Genocide) Service/s (Public-) Settlement/s / Resettled Settlers Sewage (Sewerage), (Sewer/s), (Cess Pits), (State of the Art Sewage System), (Sanitation), (Children Living in Sewers), (also see: Slurry, Toilet, Cassette, Porta-loo, Foul Flooding) Sex (see: The Battle of the Sexes), (Harassment), (Will it Feel Good Inside), (What’s Size Got To Do With it?), (Erect/ion/s), (Can’t Get It Up), (Bondage), (Sadistic / Sadism), (Cock Pits), (Stop Cocks), (Mine’s Bigger Than Yours), (How Can Science Improve Your Love Life), (I’m On Top Of it), (Phallic see: Shape), (Taboo), (Pornography), (Masturbate), (also see: Population Levels, Rape) Shack/s (Future Shack also see: Shed) Shale (Oil)

Shanghai/ed (also see: China, Land Grab) Shanty Towns / Slums (see Makeshift Shelters) Shape (Square/d), (Slug-) (Hovis also see: Project it) (Ball / Earth) (Curve / Curves / Curved) (Gentle, Rounded), (Round (i.e. No Sides) (Rounded), (Disc), (Saucer), (Squat), (Blob / Egg), (Phallic), (Pod), (Pyramidal), (Dome/d), (Re-Shaping) Sharavov Sickness Share / Shared / Sharing Sharia Law Sharon Shed/s (also see: Shack/s) Sheep (also see: Flock, Pasture) Shell UK (-Research), (Ventures) Shell/s (i.e. Explosive Weapons) Shell/s (i.e. Modular- see Module/s) (-Shock) Shelter (-UK Charity), (-Box UK Charity), (Sheltering), (Emergency Shelter/s) (also see: Box, Outsider Arts, Bender, Gobi, Nomad/s, Refuge). Ship/s / Boat/s (also see: Lost At Sea) Shipping Containers (also see: Steel, Container Homes, Papercrete) Shirk (also see: Divine Retribution) Shock Absorption (Shock Wave) (also see: Impact) Shop/s/ Mall/s (USA Auto-Malls) (Sweat-), (Lifting), (also see: Consumer/s, High street, Regus) Short (-Fall/s) (Short Life) (Shortage/s also see: Supply) Shrapnel Shuttle/s (Shuttling) Sick Building Syndrome (also see: Air Conditioning) Side/s (Effects) Shrapnel Shuttle/s / Shuttled Sick Building Syndrome Side/s Siege (Besieged) (also see: Invade) Sigh and Cry Silica Silicon (Artificial-), (Black-), (-Laminates), (also see: Solar, Sand) Silicone Simple Simplified Alternative Energy Devices Sin (-City), (-Free), (Sins) Sing Sing prison Single Parent/s Sir (-Clive Sinclair), (-Denys Henderson), (-Terence Conran), (-Bob Reid), (-George Young) (also see: Invent) Site/s (Building-), (Caravan-), (Travellers-), (Field/s), (Brown Field), (Sites of Special Scientific Interest SSSI), (Siting) Site Safety Skim Skis Sky (lights see: Roof Lights, Fly) (Scrapers also see: Tower/s, Fire, Glass) (Skywall) (Sky-Pads also see: Jetsons), (Quiet Skies), (Sky High Wastage), 723

SPACE (Programme / Fires), (-Colonies), (-Debris), (-Shuttle), (-Station / Mia), (-Suit/s), (- Shuttle) (Tourism / Hotel), (-Vehicle/s), (-Weapon/s), (-Age), (Space and Time) (also see: Room, Over-Crowding) (-Queen) Spare/s (also see: Mountain, Mercy) Speed (Drug) (-of Light) Spike/s Spin (Spinners) Spirit/s (Spiritual) (Human -) (A Soul) (also see: Theta, Aikido, Native, Alcohol) Something Spoil Heaps Sponsor/ed SPREAD THE WORD Spring (also see: Coil) Squalor / Squalid Squat/ters / Squatting S.S. (also see: Hitler, Nazi/s, Luftwaffe) Stability / stable (also see: Secure, Foundation/s, Economic Stability) Staff Quarters Stairs (see: Steps) Stalin (Stalinist) (also see: Steel) Stamp Duty Standard/s (Double - also see: Health & Safety, UK Building Regulations), (Sub-standard also see: Shoddy), (Standard Oil) Star (-Chart), (-Map), (-Wars) (also see: The Stars) Start (Right), (Starter Homes), (also see: New Build, Caravans) Starvation (Starving), (Starve/d), (Malnutrition & Disease), (20 Million People), (also see: Famine/s, Hunger) State (Stateless) (also see: System, Imperial, Capitalism) Status Quo (see: Elite) Steal (also see: Burglary) Stealth (The Gradual Approach), (Creep/ing), (Bit by Bit) Steel (Galvanised-), (Reinforcing-), (Acoustics of Metal), (The Magic City), (Heavy Investment), (Sing Sing Prison), (-Box), (-Shipping Container Homes) Steam Stereo-Typing (also see: Individual, General) Steward/s (also see: Guardian) Stampede Star-Lite Static Steering Steward/ship Sterilised (also see: Hygiene, MRSA, Hospitals) Stranded (also see: Marooned) Strap/ping Strange Strangeways Prison Strategy (also see: Blueprint, Plan, Agenda) STRENGTH (Super) (also see: Strong, Safe) Street Children Sticky-backed Plastic

(Airlines), (also see: Aeroplane, Shuttle, Rocket, Missile, Rained) Skill/s (Unskilled) Slab/s (see: Pave, Kerb, Landscape, Mortuary) Slag Slate Slaughter/ed (Slaughter Houses) Slave/s (Slavery), (Slaving), (-Driver), (Bondage also see: Yearn/ing), (-Trade/rs) (also see: Whip/s) Sleazy Sleep Slick/s Slums (see: Shack/s, Shanty Town/s, Makeshift Shelters, Cardboard) Slump (see: House Prices) Slurry (see Project it, Fertiliser) Small (School/s), (Businesses), (Expansion via Portable Buildings?), (Holding/s / Small Holders), (Little Homes), (- local Hospitals) Smart (- Material), (Smarting), (Smarter) Smell (Stench), (Sweet Odour) Smog Smoke (Smoking), (Tobacco) (also see: Saltpetre) Snap (Snapped), (Snapping) Snipe/r/s (Snipes) Snow (SnowCats) SNOW (UK Organisation see: Squatters) Snuff Videos (snuffed out) Social (-Cleansing), (-Engineering), (-Enterprise) (Fabric), (-Key Home Buy Scheme), (-Housing see: Progress Report), (-Justice), (-Pruning also see: Apartheid, Inherit), (-Responsibility), (-Services), (Workers), (-Security also see: Welfare) (-Time Bomb) Socialist (Socialism also see: True, Rainbow) (also see: Hitler, Communism) Sod (Sod’s Law) Sodium (Amytal) Sodomy Soft (-Drinks) (-Furnishings) (-Play also see: PVC, Foam) (-Landing) Soil (Microbes) (also see: Fertiliser, Hydro-ponics) Solar (-Panel/s), (Photovoltaic / Cells), (Collector/s), (-Drill/s for Water), (-Steam Generator), (-Heat Pump), (-Water Pump), (Photocapacitor), (Module/s), (-Car), (The Solar Trade Association), (also see: Alternative to Cadmium) Solidarity (Poland) Soldier/s (BLOOD LUST) Solitary Confinement Solution/s (also see: Cure, Answer) Something for Nothing (also see: Freeloaders) Song/s (Sing/ing) Soul (Dead Soul), (Soul-less), (-Searching), (Soul to Soul), (-Sick), (also see: Spirit) Sound (Proof/ing) (Absorb sound), (Hear Every Sound), (also see: Acoustics, Noise) Sovereign/ity (Definition) Soya Beans 724

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

Stigmata Stock-pile/d (also see: Mountain) Stone/s (-Blocks), (-Age), (Blood Out of…) (also see: Stoned) Stonehenge Stoney Cross Storage (Interior), (Water- see: Tank), (Reusablealso see: Tupperware) Storm (-Channel see: Project it), (-Damage also see: The Weather), (Stormed) Strasbourg Street Cred Stress (Panic Attacks) (also see: Heart) Strong (-Hold) (Super-), (also see: Strength) Student/s (Hall/s), (Dig/s), (-Loan/s) (also see: University, College) Stun Gun/s (also see: Taser, Tranquiliser Gun) Stupid White Men Styrofoam Sub-contractor/s Subduction Submarine/s Subsidence (also see: Foundation/s, Land Slip. Drought, Tree Roots) Subsidise/d (Subsidy) Suffer (Suffering), (Suffer Little Children) Sugar (Sweet), (Love Shack), (Chocolate / Easter) (also see: Gut Rot, Bowel Cancer) Suicide (-Attacks) (-Bomber/s also see: Saboteurs Dream, Terror, Car Bombs, Bike Bombs, Recruiting Terrorists, Camp/s, Conscience, Ghosts), (Suicidal), (Suicided) Sulphur (also see: The Devil) (De-sulphurised) Sultan of Brunei Summit/s / Conference/s (Rio) Sumping Sun Flower/s / Oil Sun Fuel Sun Power (see: Solar) Supermarket/s Super (-Conducting), (-Natural), (-Power/s), (-Sizing), (-Unity Community), (-Strong), (-Strength), (Superdom), (-Casinos also see: Fruit Machines, Alternative Blueprint, Regeneration) Supply & Demand Suppressing the Market (also see: Conspiracy) Supreme (Supremacy) Surfer/s Surge (also see: Flood Barriers) Survey/or/s (also see: Building Control), (also see: Guarantee) Survivor/s Sustainable Subtopian Superadobe Emergency Shelter Suppressed (-Magnetic Energy) (-Technology) SUV’s Swamp Land (also see: Wetland/s), (Swamped) Sweat Shops Sweet (Sweeter) (also see: Sugar)

Swellhouse Switzerland Sword Synchronise/d Synthetic (Oil), (Rubber), (Nylon), (also see: Artificial) Syringe (Needle-less) System

T Tabernacle (Alternative-) (the sky is your-) Talent (also see: Genius) Tanks (Military) (Water Storage) Tankers (Oil) Tarpaulin/s (Plastic Sheeting) Taskforce Tax (Tax Payers also see: Public Money), (-Credits), (Stealth Taxes), (-Burden), (Poll- / Council Tax / Community Charge), (Stamp Duty), (50%-), (Sin-), (-Havens), (VAT), (Taxed), (Taxes), (Taxation), (it’s somewhat Taxing) Techline Technology (Mobiles) Techtonics (also see: Earthquakes, Fault lines). Technocrat/s Teenager/s (also see: Teens), (Teen Pregnancies), (Young), (Kids) (also see: New Model Army) Teflon Telepathy (see: ESP) Telescopic Temperature/s Temple (3rd Temple) Temptation Tenant/s (Tenants Association) Tenants Exchange Scheme Tent/s (Germany 1989:) (The Millennium Dome) (Shelter Box) (Pop-Up) (also see: Camp/s, Refugees) Terminal/s (Terminate/s) Termites Territory (Preserve), (also see: Land, Border) Terror (Terrified), (Terrifying), (Terrorist/s also see: Desperado, Mask, Mad Dog/s) (War on-) (-Storm) (Terrorism) (Recruiting), (Training Camps), (Osama Bin Laden also see: Saudi), (Al-qaeda), (also see: Threat, Climate of Fear, Snuff, Antichrist, Illuminati) Tesla Test (The Divine-) (Wind Tunnel-), (Tests), (Testing Time) Testatika Thamesreach UK Thames Water Barrier Thatch (Roof) Thatcher (see: Margaret Thatcher) Thermal Efficiency (see: Energy Efficiency / Conservation & Heat Loss) Thermos 725

Transcending Transfer Transparent (also see: Transparency, see-thru) Trashed (also see: Mass-incinerate) Trauma (also see: Drama) Traveller/s Treasure (also see: Hunt) Trees / Forests (The Tree of Life), (Tree Roots also see Subsidence), (Forest Fire/s), (The Tree Protection Act), (Saplings), (also see: Forests, Deforestation, Reforestation, Backyard/s) Trench Foot Trend/s (also see: Rage) Trespass (Trespassed), (Trespassing) Tribe/s (also see: Clan/s, Cult/s) Trick Trident Missiles Trip (Tripped) Travellers (New Age-), (-Sites), (i.e. Passengers) Tropical Truancy True (also see: Truth) Truncheon/s Trust (El Shaddai Charitable-) Truth (-Serum), (also see: right and wrong, Lie detectors) (also see: King of Lies) Try (Tried) Tsunami (also see: Tidal Wave, Hurricane) Tuberculosis (TB) Tyrant / Tyranny / Tyrannical (also see: Dictator) Tyre/s Tubes (also see: Neste) Tube Trains (see: Underground) (Metro) Tundra Tunnel/s (Vision) Tupperware (Tupperware Fleet) Turbulence TV / Film/s / Movies / Video / Entertainment (StateRun) (also see: The Media) Twin Twin Towers (see: World Trade Centre, Ground Zero, Skyscrapers, Glass) Two Worlds Tyrant (Tyrannical) (also see: Dictator, Stalin, Mao, Romania, Regimes)

Theta / Thetan/s (also see: Spirit/s) They think it’s all over Threat / Threatened (also see: Terror) Theft (Feudal Thiefdom), (Day-light Robbery) (also see: Crime, Gang, Fear, Jesus) Thermo-set /s Think (-Tank) (also see: it’s Food For Thought) Thorn / Thorny (also see: Project it) Thunderbirds (also see: Dan dare) Tiananmen Square Third World / 3rd World (also see: Developing Countries) Tidal Wave Tile/s Timber (-Building/s), (Log Cabin/s also see: Cabin Fever), (also see: Wood, Forest/s, Deforestation, Chain Saw/s, Arson, Lumber-Jack) Time (hard-), (-Bomb), (-Share), (-Capsule) (also see: Set a Date, Draw A Line, Manipulation of space and time, Transcending) Tin (also see: Aluminium) Titanic Titanium Tobacco (also see: Cigarettes, Saltpetre, Cancer, Growth) Toilet/s (Cassette toilet) (Porta-loo) (also see: Bath/room/s, Sewage) Tom King Tomorrow Land (see: The Monsanto House of the Future) Tony (-Benn), (-Blair) Torture (also see: Sleep) Toshiba Toys (Kaleidoscope Dollhouse), (Modular / Tubular), (Lego) Torture (Sleep), (Tortured) Totalitarian Tourism / Tourist/s / Resort/s (also see: Hotel, B & B, The Weather, Aeroplane) Tongue & Groove (T & G) Tow (Towing) Tower/s Block/s (also see: Fires) Townships Toxic Trade (Union/s), (Free-), (-Balance Deficit / Gap) Traditional (also see: Conventional, Model) Trailer/s Training (Youth YTS), (Youth Clubs), (Camps), (also see: Job, Conscription, Army Recruitment) Train/s (Death-), (Tube-), (- in vacuum tunnels), (Bullet-), (MAGLEV-), (Mono-rail), (Tubular rail), (RailTrack), (Sleeper/s), (Rolling stock) (Nuclear-), (Unmanned-) (also see: British Rail, Passengers) Tramp/s (Down & Out/s), (Dosser/s), (Drifter/s) (also see: Rough Sleepers) Transgress/ed Tram/s (Yellow Peril) Tranquil (see: Joy, Bliss, Peace) (Tranquiliser Gun), (Tranquilisers see: Prescription drugs, Pills, Prozac, Valium),

U Uh? Ultra-Modern (see Modern) Ultra Speed Rail Ultra-Violet Light (UV / Stability) UN (see: The UN) Unaffordable Unemployment (Unemployed), (Jobs Lost / Cut: (Construction Industry), (Health Workers), (Coal Industry), (Nuclear Plant Workers), (Car Assembly/Manufacturers), (Ship Builders), (Aerospace Industry), (Farmers), (Youth), (Local Government), (BBC), (Industry), (Firms), (Troops), 726

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

(Defence Manufacturing), (Plastics Industry), (Oil Workers), (Scientists) Un-commercialised Unconventional Underground Tube Trains (Metro) (also see: Tunnel) Understand (also see: Human/e) UNICEF Unite / United / Unity Unification Union/s (also see Marriage, Joint, Interlocking, The Missing Mechanism/s) UNITA Unity Universal Universal Religion (also see: One God) Universal Natural Energy Universe (see The Universe) University (-of Life), (also see: Student/s) Unmanned UNPREPARED U/PVC (also see: PVC) Unmanned (-Cargo)) Unrequited Love Unsinkable? (The Titantic) Unsustainable Upside Down Untapped Market Urbanbaby Utopia (also see: Sub-topian) Urban (Decay) (Initiatives also see: Hanging Gardens) Uranium USA (Agriculture), (Trade), (Deficit), (Army / Military, (also see: The Vietnam War), (re: Climate Change), (Energy), (Environment), (Foreign Policy re: Palestine –v- Israel), (Health also see: Private Health), (Native Indian Americans), (USA –v- UN) Utility (Utilitarian) Utopia/n

Venice Venture (Joint-), (Sponsor/ship) Venus Vent/s Ventilation (Autovent), (see: Project it) (also see: Caravans, Air) Vet/s (Bills) Vibration (also: Oscillation) Victim/s (also see: Harassment) Victorian/a (Queen Victoria) Vietnam War Vigilante VILLAGE/S Violent / Violence Virgin Mary (see the Virgin Mary) Virtue (Virtuous) Virus / Viral (see Germs / Bugs) Vision (see: Project it), (‘New’ Vision For Britain), (Rubbish Vision Effect) Visionary (John Kennedy), (George Orwell ‘1984’), (Brave New World), (Bill Mollison), (George Adamson), (John Lennon), (Europe’s Vision Needs Rescuing), (Follow The Owl), (Anita Edgar - The El Shaddai Charitable Trust), (Sackirov), (E. Goldsmith: A New Social Model), Volcano/es (Mount Vesuvius) (Krakatoa), (Yellowstone) Volunteer (-Army), (Volunteers) (also see: Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), National Service) Vortex Vote (Protest- also see: Monster Raving Loony Party, Are You For or Against it, Not Allowed To-) Voter (-Indifference), (Floating-) Voting (Electronic-), (Proportional-), (Postal-), (also see: Democracy, General Election/s, Illiteracy) Vulcanite Vulnerable Vulture Culture (also see: Cannibalism, Harassment).

W WAH! (Waaah!) (also see: Baby, Christmas, Jesus, Second Coming, Hippies, Peace, Safe) Wait (Waiting Lists), (Wait for it), (The Waiting Game also see: Conspiracy) Wake (waking) (Wake Up) Wagon Wales Walk (also see: March) Wall (Paper Thin), (Built to Last), (Not Built To Last), (The Berlin Wall), (-Paper also see: Acoustics), (-of Death Nets), (Wall Street), WAR (The Battle Of Wounded Knee), (The Righteous War), (Charge of the Light Brigade), (Cold War), (Gulf), (Iraq), (-Ships), (-on Terror) (- on Disorder) (also see: Vietnam, Army, Military, Hardware, Civil Defence, Emergency Shelter, The Campaign Against Militarization) Warning!

V Vaclav Havel Vaccine (Inoculate) (also see: Syringe) Vacuum Vagrant (Vagrancy) (also see: Tramp) Vain (Vanity), (Mockery), (Be Sure Your Sin…), (Shallow) Value (Added Tax VAT) (-for Money) Valve Vandal/s / Vandalism (also see: Anti-Vandal) Vapour/s (Vaporised) VAT Vatican (see: Rome, Church) Vegetable/s (veg) (also see: Peel), (Oil/s see: Alternative Oil/s) Vegetarian/s Venezuela 727

Wood / Timber Houses Wooden (Play Huts) Woodworm Work (see: Job/s) (its not hard work…), (Hard Work Never Killed Anybody?), (Both Have To- also see: Latch Key, Tax Credits, Mortgage), (Load Put On…), (Dirty Work), (also see: Sweat, Unions, Trade, Training, Skill, Robot, Volunteer) Working from Home: (Home Office see: Project it), (The Electronic Cottage also see: Fibre Optics), (Work House) World Energy Consumption World / Record/s (Homelessness), (Fuel Economy), (Crossing The English Channel) World War 1: (Shell Shock) World War 2 (Lest We Forget) (also see: Nazis, Hiroshima) World War 3 World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Wreck/ed Wow

War Resisters International WRI Waste (-Disposal), (Toxic-), (Nuclear-), (also see: Rubbish, Trash, Refuse, Incineration, Dustcart, Collection, Freecycle, Community Recycling Centre, Intelligent Disposal Network – also see: Project it) Wasteland (also see: Training, Camps, Border, Brown Field) Water (-Borne Disease/s also see: Cholera), (Elixir of Life), (Circulation also see: Plumbing), (-Purity), (Filter/s), (-Drill), (-Well/s), (-Meter/s), (-Test/s), (Grid), (-Proof/ing), (-Power) (-Wheels also see: Flywheels), (Hydro-Electric/ity also see: Dam), (Proof/ing), (-Shed), (-Tight also see: Leak, Gap, Penetration, Interlocking, Joint, Weather Resistant), (-Proof), (Grey- Recycling), (-Speed Record), (also see: Tanks, Hose, Irrigate, Shortage, Leak, Mains, Pump, Hydrogen, Desalination, The Sea) Wave Power Weather (-Resistant), (-Proof) (also see: WaterTight, Water-Proof/ing) Wax (Waxy) (also see: Ethane, Seamless) Weapon/s (-Manufacturers) (-Dealers see: Khashoggi), (Chemical-), (-Sales), (-of Mass Destruction WMD), (also see: Gas, Laser, Gun/s, Missiles, Amputee/s, Artificial Limb/s) Weed/s Weight (Over also see: Heavy), Weightless/ness (also see: Gravity) Welfare (-Benefit also see: Benefit Culture, Social Security, DHSS), (-State), (also see: Beveridge, Most Humane) Westminster Wet (-Rot), (-Affairs -v- Dry Affairs), (The Wets and The Dries), (Wetland/s also see: Marshes, Swamp Land, Flood Plains), (-Waste) What Is In the Best Interests Of Our Country Wheat Wheel Chair (see: Less Able Bodied) Where Did All The Money Go? White (-Goods), (Whitewash) Wild (-Boys), (-Life), (A well fed animal) William (-Beveridge), (-Cooper) Wind (-Fall), (-Shield / -Screen) (-Chill also see: Hypothermia), (-POWER), (-Mill/s), (-Tunnel), (Turbine/s also see: Propeller/s, Blade/s), (Mini-Wind Machines) (also see: Spinners, Fan, Hurricane) Window (-Seals also see: Rubber, U/PVC), (Cleaner (also see: -Wipers: Project it), (Picture-), (also see: Glazing, Glass, Plastic Film, Shards) Wing/s (Wingless also see: Project it) Winston Churchill (Nationalised Oil) Wipe (-Clean also see: Hose), Wipe-Out), (Operation Wipe-Out) Wire (Barbed) (Razor) (Wiring) (also see: Cables) Wireless (see: Radio) WISE / Wisely / WISDOM / Wise-Up Wish (Wishes) (also see: Pray) Witch Wolfgang Frierebach Women

X Xenophobia (see: Xenophobic also see: Fatwa)

Y Yanmami Indians (also see: Brazil, Amazon) Yashmak Yearn (Yearning) Yeltsin (see: Boris) Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Yob/s (Thug/s), (Hooligan/s), (Youth/s), (Louts), (Scum), (also see: Riff-Raff, Vandal/s, National Service) Young (-Offenders Institution/s), (Youngsters) (also see Child, Teenagers, Youth, Kid/s) Youth (-Clubs), (-Training) Yuppies Yugoslav/ia (former)

Z Zealot/s / Fanatic/s / Extremist/s Zeppelin Zero Energy Zero Emissions Building (also see: Zero Carbon) Zero Point Energy (ZPE) Zeta Zevcat Zoo (Human-)

728

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

THE

The Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill (UK) The Defence Industry The Design Awards For Architecture The Devil (also see: Sulphur, Burn, Fire, Claw, Evil) The Dick Whittington Effect The Disclosure Project The Divine Test The Division Bell The Domino Effect The Doomsday Greenhouse Effect THE DREAM The Dream For SAFE CLEAN FREE Energy The Drive Mechanism The Drug Crisis The Drug Problem (also see: The War On Drugs) The Duck The ‘Dump The Petrol Pump’ Campaign The Eagles Nest The Earth The Earth’s Crust (also see: Save the Earth) The Economy The Elite (Definition), (Aristocracy), (the Yah Hoo), (High Ranking), (The Status Quo), (The Upper Crust), (Richest 1%) The Elixir Of Life THE ENVIRONMENT (Earthquake / Fault-line Threat), (Ozone Depletion), (Environmental Rapists), (also see: Save The Earth) The Environment Agency (UK) “The Era of Big Government Is Over” The European Commission The European Court of Justice The European Environment Protection Agency The European Space Agency (ESA) The Falklands The Fair Rent Act The Fear Factor The Feel Bad Factor The Final Solution (Hitler) The Flow The Flower Children The Freedom Of Mobility The French Coal Industry The French Revolution The Forced March Of The Convoy The Forestry Commission UK The Forgotten Children The Freedom Association The Freedom Charter 1955 The ‘Freedom’ Glass Tower The Free School The Freedom Space Project The French Resistance Movement The Future (also see: Predicted) The Futuristic House: Project 2020 The Future of Space Travel The Future World Exhibition The Garden of England The Garden of Eden (Adam and Eve) The Generation Gap

The Ark The Adult Commission The Affordability Review The Air Force The All seeing Eye The Alternative Energy Movement The American Dream (also see: Native) The ANC The Alternative Tabernacle The American Dream The Antichrist The Arch Bishop of Canterbury The Architect’s Debate (1989) The Architects Journal (AJ) The Atomic Energy Corporation The Atomic Mess The Authorities Think They Are God (also see: The gods). The Bad News (also see: The Good News) The Baltic Exchange Bombings The Battery Accumulator The Battle of Trafalgar (1989) The Belfast Effect (also see: Ireland, IRA,Terror) The Berlin Wall (also see: Border) The Best New Product Competition (1990) The Betrayal of the Modernists The Bible (see: New World Scriptures) The Biefeld Brown Effect The Black Hand (A Hidden Hand) The Blitz The British Antarctic Survey The Building Industry Assoc of California The Building Research Establishment UK The Budget The Campaign For Bread Not Bombs The Campaign Against Climate Change The Caravan Club The Caravan Site Act (UK) 1968 The Children's Society The Choice Row The Church The City (Stop the City) The Civil Aviation Authority The Civil Rights Movement The Clean Air Act (1951) The Coanda Effect The Collective Unconscious The Commandments The Commission for Social Justice The Common Cold 194 (also see: Germs) The Commons Select Committee The Common Wealth The Compulsory Purchase Trap (also see: The Ownership Society, Mortgage/s, Debt/s) The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) The Constitution (USA) The Country Land and Business Association (UK) The Country Landowners Association (CLA) The Countryside Commission 729

The Institute of Economic Co-operative Development (UK) The Institute of Public Policy (UK) The Institute for Strategic Studies The Intelligent Disposal Network The Imperial War Museum The Impress Project The International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Prayer for Peace The International Union of Architects The Idle Rich (Ostentatious Wealth) (Opulence) (also see: Tax Havens) The Iron Curtain The Ivy League The Joy of Life The Kingdom of Heaven & Hell Is Within You The Kingdom of the People The Kogi The Koran (Forbids Usury), (Using Religion As A Vehicle), (Kill All Those Who Believe in Freedom?), (also see: Mohammed, Allah, Islam, Leader, Fatwa, Shirk) The Kuwait Investment Office The Kyoto Agreement The Labour Party (UK) The Land Owners Association The Last Straw The Local Authority Recipe (UK) The London Building Regulations 1987 The London Tree Officers Association The Light Craft The Light Party The Madrid Train Bombings The Madonna (Mary) The Mass Burn Incinerator The Market (The Futures Market) (The European Market) (The Common Market) (also see Free Market Economy, Wait/ing List/s, Queue/s) The Master Builders Federation (UK) The Meaning of Life (also see: What meaning could it possibly have? Fate, Destiny). The Meat Trade (also see Halal, Abatoirs) The Media “The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth” The Middle East The Millennium Dome The Missing Mechanism (also see: Missing) The Monarchy The Money Men The Money Mountain The Moon The Monsanto House of the Future The Montreal Protocol (1990) The National Alternative (a Nazi organisation) The National Health Service (NHS) The National Indian Institute The National Grid The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) The National Trust (UK)

The Geneva Convention The Global Campaign for Education The God Complex The Good News ‘The Gerkin’ The Golden Rule/s The Good Life The Good News The Government’s Strategy The ‘Great’ Divide The Greater London Council GLC The Great Leap Forward The Great Plains USA The ‘Greed Is Good’ Campaign Was Bad The Green Building The Greenhouse Effect (Runaway Greenhouse Effect) The Green Party (UK) The Green Revolution (also see: Evolution, Organic, UN) The Grove The Gulf (also see: Gap, Mind) The G-Whizz (also see: Project it) The Health & Safety Commission Regulations The Heat Islands Effect The Henley Forecast The Herald Of ‘Free’ Enterprise The Hidden Agenda, (Axe The Welfare State), (Privatisation of Health and Education), (Military Intervention), (Close Local Authorities), (Out-Mode Money) The High Street (also see: Consumer/s) The Hindenburg Disaster The Homeless Family Unit HFU The Holy Ghost THE HOLY LAND The Holy War The Home Builders Federation (UK) The Home Front The Home Office / Secretary (UK) The House of Commons Energy Committee (UK) The House of Lords (UK) The Housing Act 1988 The Houses of Parliament The Housing Bill (1988, UK) The Housing / Property Market/s The Housing Shortage (also see: Starter Homes) (New Build/s / New Houses) (Pre-Fabricated) (The Ownership Society) The Howard League THE HUMAN RACE The Humbling of America The Hyatt Brothers The Hydrogen Highway The Illuminati The Immigration Act (1988) (UK) The Impossible Dream The Independence Party (UK) The Institute of Construction Technology (Berlin) The Institute of Economic Affairs (UK) 730

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

The National Mobility Scheme (UK) The National Romany Association “The Natural Law Party The New Barbarians THE NEW WORLD (New World) The ‘New’ World Power Company Limited The New World Scriptures The Next Big Thing? The Nth Energy The Old Testament The Official Secrets Act (UK) The Oil Business The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) The Ownership Society The Pangaea Theory The Passion of the Christ The Peace Pledge Union The PEACE Movement (also see Peace, Ban The Bomb, The Civil Rights Movement, Human Rights, War, Noise). ‘The Perfect Alternative.’ The PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation) The Peasants Revolt The Photocapacitor The Plastics Federation The Plastics Historic Society The Politics of WAH! The Pope (John Paul 11:) (Benedict 16th) The Power Tower The Prevention of Terrorism Act (UK) The Promised Land The Public Accounts / Audit Committee (UK) The Qu-ran (see: The Koran) The Realm The Rainbow Warrior (Greenpeace Ship) (also see: Greenpeace, Rainbow) The Ramblers Association The Rapid City Flood Disaster The Refugee Commission The Refugee Problem The Ring of Steel The Rising Tide (also see: The Sea) The Rocket Men The Rocky Mountain Institute The Royal Courts of Justice The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) The Rubbish Vision Effect (also see: Vision) The Salvation Army The Sea (Sea Bed Trawling) Sea (Levels also see: The Rising Tide), (Wave Power), (Pollution also see: Nuclear Power Plants, Sewage), (The Baltic Sea), (The Irish Sea), (also see: Ocean) (Sea Walls also see: Erosion, Teflon, Sand-bags, Flood Guards, Resin, Deck) Sea (-Weed), (-Gulls), (also see: Krill, Coral, Reef) The Second Armageddon The Second Coming

The Science of God (also see: Intelligent Design, Project it) The Shape Of Things To Come The Silent Revolution The Single Market The Social Democrats (UK) (also see: Democracy) The Social Justice Commission The Social Security Act 1986 The Socialist Workers Party The Soviet Union The Space Suit (also see: Vacuum, William Cooper, Pressure) The Speed of Light The Shorter Working Week The Stirling Prize The Stock Exchange The Stolen Keys Society The Superadobe Emergency Shelter The Super Car The Sustainable Forest The System The Technology The Teflon Effect The Thing! The Titanic The Town and Country Planning Order 1987 The Treasury The Truth (also see: Right and Wrong, Lie detector/s) (also see: King of Lies, Parole, True Colours) The Tube (also see: Tube) The United Nations UN, (World Food Programme), (The UN Food & Agriculture Organisation), (Massive Construction Programmes), (Weak Mandate / Can’t Prevent Atrocities), (UN Bombing Raids), (UN Ram-Raided), (UN Relief Food Vanishes), (UN’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis), (UN Tried To Reverse Desertification), (The UN Commission) (Budget $550 million), (Held Hostage), (UN Corruption), (UN Will Bomb To Teach), (Will Sanction Increased Use of Force), (1951 Convention of Refugees), (UN in Palestine), (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR), (UN Convention of Refugees 1951) (The UN Declaration of Human Rights), (The UN Population Fund), (UNESCO see: The Green Revolution), (The UN Security Council), (The UN World Conference), (UN International Treaty) (The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights The UNIVERSE (also see: Galaxy, Cosmos, InterPlanetary) The University of Life The US Agency for International Aid & Development The Vatican (see: Rome) The Venus Project The Virgin Mary The Wailing Wall 731

it’s a… flying house? they pretend it’s a joke it’s an expression of the people who live in it it’s alright (2) … it’s a bit more like it! … if it’s appropriate… But it’s all over now it’s an alternative to conservatism it’s a very good way to give something back … somebody got to do it it’s a big but it’s a major security issue it’s a step up, isn’t it? it’s a heartache it’s all so surreal! it’s also trying to warn us? it’s as important to me as breathing it’s a maddening situation it’s all in your head it’s all inside churning it’s a sure thing it’s a lonely road it’s a way to stop all this brawling it’s a sobering thought it’s a celebration of life it’s a new frontier it’s a class thing it’s all about supply and demand (2) it’s about facilities available to young people it’s a wipe out that’s what it’s about, right? it’s a knock off it’s all under control it’s a travesty of justice it’s all coming together (2) it’s a man’s world it’s love / hate thing it’s all going up… in smoke! it’s a new kit! it’s a great way to boost self-esteem it’s a great way to spend your time it’s a complete new world it’s a meeting place it’s Food For Thought it’s a little gem it’s a great idea! it’s as tough as… it’s an essential bit of kit it’s a beauty! it’s all gone now it’s all a load of rubbish it’s absolutely bonkers it’s a universal picture it’s all going to go away it’s a simple message it’s about not running away from responsibility it’s a great cause it’s an organisation it’s a plan it’s all about how we respond to…

The War of Giants The War of Liberation The Warrior Society (USA) The Warriors of the Rainbow The Warsaw Pact The Weather (All-Weather), (Fog), (Snow), (Gale/s), (Hurricane/s), (Heat Stress), (Heat Wave), (Storm/s), (Lightning), (Tornado), (Typhoon), (Super Typhoon), (Freak), (also see: Wind, Flood, Ice, Global Warming, Climate, Temperature) The Wet And Dries The Winter Of Discontent The Wish Dream of the 1960’s The World Bank The World Conservation Monitoring Centre The World Food Programme The World Health Organisation (WHO) The World Trade Centre The World Watch Report The WOW Factor The 3rd Eye 9/11

it’s it’s a learning journey it’s a special thing it’s a kid’s thing it’s all about making them happy it’s a doddle! it’s all good! it’s an opportunity to show we care it’s about mothers who want it’s a cool, chill-out area it’s a good thing it’s a cry for the children it’s a living, giving thing it’s a new address for this young man it’s a new start it’s a part of me, it goes deep… it’s a life changing opportunity it’s a true love it’s fine life it’s a real treasure it’s a craft if it’s a problem … find out what it’s all about when it’s a commodity it’s all that we know it’s a new art it’s a favourite dream when it’s all going downhill it’s a garden paradise it’s a song as old as time it’s a mere technicality it’s as sweet as honey when it’s a complete unknown it’s a contender you being happy that’s what it’s all about it’s a very satisfying… 732

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

it’s a miracle it’s all too much it’s all just bits of paper… it’s a goal! it’s a load of old balls it’s a completely different ball game it’s a way you could save your face it’s about what’s best for you it’s a talking point it’s a topic we all have in common I know it’s a lot for you to think about spreading happiness, that is what it’s about it’s about making successful communities … that’s not what it’s about! … that’s not the way to do it! it’s a common mistake to confuse… it’s a return to innocence it’s a support system it’s all about you it’s alright, a bit on the plain side it’s a great country it’s a good thing to do it’s an ideal occupation it’s all so vague it’s a great way to make new friends it’s about taking action it’s a wake-up call it’s agonisingly close that’s the way it’s always been done it’s a misunderstanding it’s a move in the right direction it’s always the basic things… it’s all Greek to me if it’s a woman or child it’s a green village it’s human sign it’s all going to the dogs it’s all messed up it’s coming from the feeling this aint exactly real or it aint exactly there it’s an environmental issue it’s about friends and family… it’s about quality time it’s a solid counter-inflationary plan it’s all about attitude it’s all moonbeams… it’s a healthier life-style it’s all yours for the keeping it’s a champion idea it’s about to be writ again it’s a new religion it’s all about how you feel it’s a problem it’s a new beginning they think it’s all over, but… it’s all mine it’s a divine building it’s a great feeling it’s a win, win situation it’s an admission

it’s a boot it’s a two second wonder they think it’s all over but… it’s almost too late! it’s a splendid idea it’s a very snappy idea it’s a top story it’s a set-up it’s an alternative blueprint it’s a… hierarchy? it’s a pain… if it’s a real bargain it’s a buoyant market it’s a good job it’s a done deal? ... it’s a trick or something! if it’s a good product… it’s all good, OK (2) it’s an easy way to save quite a lot of money it’s all about accountability it’s a task best friends can share it’s a non-event … when it’s at home! it’s a time capsule! it’s a little too early for euphoria it’s a wonderful thing to look forward to

ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES & PLACES: Bangladesh, Borneo, Ontario, Fiji, Indonesia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mexico, Niger, Sierra Leone

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KEY-Words: INDEX

700

KEY-Words / Alphabetic INDEX

A

also see: Senior Citizens, Longevity, Fountain of Youth, Durable) Dawning of Aquarius Agent Orange Agoraphobia (AGGRO-Phobia) Agnostic/s Ah! (Aha!) (Ahh!) AHDD (ADD) (also see: Hyper-active, Ritalin, Adjustment Disorder) A House Is Not A Home Aids (HIV) (Dirty Needles) (also see: Syringe, Heroin) Aid (Workers also see: Charities, Convoy, Emergency), (Aid for Arms), (Instant-), (-Frozen), (Budget UK), (At Breaking Point) Air (Aircraft designers) (-Ambulance) (-Bags) (Bubble) (Clean Air Act) (-Cleaned) (Clear the air) (Cold air also see: Draught) (Compressed air) (Conditioning) (Damp air also see: Damp) (Driven), (-Fares), (-Force), (Fresh Air), (Future of Air Travel), (Grow in Air No Soil), (-Heating), (Hot air also see: Warm air), (Ion/izing air), (-Lifted), (Lock), (Open air), (-Pocket/s), (-Pollution), (-Pump), (Purified / recycled), (-Quality),

A basic NECESSITY (see: Project it) Aborigines Abattoir/s (also see: Slaughter Houses) Abortion/s Abraham Lincoln Abundant (-Energy), (also see: Sand) (Abundance also see: Permaculture) Abuse (Child-), (Action on Elder-), (-of Power), (also see: Bully, Mental Cruelty, Emotional) Accident/s (Playground) (caravans) (Chain Saw) (Ladders) (in the Home) (Black Spots) (also see: Massacre on the Roads, Hazard, Public Services, Accident & Emergency, Fire) Accommodation (Alternative-), (Affordable-), (Modern-), (Family-), (Hotel-), (-For the Homeless), (Temporary-), (Emergency-), (-For Singles also see: The Single Market), (Rent-Free-), (Student’s- see: College Boxes Clever), (also see: Religious Retreats) Acid (-Rain also see: Sulphur), (Acidity) Acoustic/s (Metal also see: Sing Sing) (Misc) (also see: Sound) Action (-Station/s), (-Plan) (also see: Masterly Inaction) Active (also see: Hyper-Active, Ritalin, Action) Activist/s (also see: Campaign, Protest, Demonstration/s, Rainbow) Activity (-Centre), (Activities) Accountable (also see: Transparency, Unaccountable) Accumulator/s (also see: Alternator, Kinetic Recharge, Solar, Fly-wheel/s) Acrylic/s Act/s of God (also see: Insurance) Adam and Eve Adamski (George) Adapt (Adaptation/s) (also see: Modify) Adjustment Disorder (also see: AHDD, Retalin) Administrative (Fiddle/s) (Charges) (also see: Bureaucracy) Advanced/ (- Composites) (- Materials) Advertising Advice Service/s (Knock & Wait) Aerated (-Concrete), (-Polybutylene) Aeroplanes (Fuselage also see: Aluminium), (Jumbo/s), (Planes), (Airbus), (also see: Aircraft, Security, Jet, Sky, Light, Comfort) Airport/s (also see: Terminals), (Expansion), (Runway/s) Airlines Air crew Air-Ship Affordable (-Homes), (-Housing), (-Houses), (Low Cost Homes), (Affordable / Cheap Starter Homes), (Cheap Housing) (also see: Prefabricated) AFFORD (When Will You Get…) A Fresh Start (New start) Age (-Discrimination (also see: Ageism, Progress Report, Competition), (Stone-), (Space-), (Ageing 701