the void

Olympic Protest

2008-04-06T18:51:00.013+01:00

This blog is now at http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com

Talking (even more bollocks) About Cannabis

2008-02-24T23:08:00.002Z

yes folks, we're still at wordpress, this is just a quick (and hopefully the last) crosspost 'cos we'd hate for anyone to miss it:

We’ve been looking for a worthy adversery in the void ever since the Ukippers stopped biting and unfortunately Debra Bell is not one.

That said while she continues to spout unscientific drivel on her lame website we’ll continue to expose her for the ignorant hypocrite she is.

For those who haven’t been paying attention, Debra Bell is a (bored housewife) writer who wrote a diary of her son’s experiences with cannabis to (get her through the grinding monotony of another wasted day) warn other parents about the evils of killer skunk.

Shamefully broadcasting her son’s personal life around the world in a bid to (stave off the feelings of self-doubt and hopelessness) raise awareness about cannabis, Debra has enjoyed a ripple of publicity after the noble drug warriors of the Daily Express took up her plight.

Recently she was asked to speak at the recent ACMD review into cannabis classification and is very clear in her view that cannabis users should face stiffer penalties and that cannabis should be reclassified as a Class B drug.

Debra thinks a criminal record and presumably a spell inside will help kids who get into trouble after toking on too many fat ones.

In her earnest quest for salvation Debra now claims to have set up a charity patroned by tory shadow chief whip Baroness Anelay. However in the small print it becomes clear that she has not set up a charity at all, merely a campaign group.

Debra is soliciting for funds and as her esteemed husband, a barrister, will likely tell her, claiming to be a charity when you are not is a criminal offence.*

We’ve informed the Charity Commission of her actions.

Elsewhere on her site Debra warns that cannabis use can trigger personality change. This seems particularly true in the case of her son, who as we revealed said of his mother:

“Frequently my parents will sit me down and tell me what they think is wrong with me, which is usually considerable. Add to this that my mum is the kind that thinks MSN messenger is ‘disgusting and pornographic’ and when I arrived on my book return day at school wearing irregular trousers, as I had somehow lost my others in a friend’s bedroom she screamed at me in front all my friends.”

William also said that cannabis was something he loved.

Poor William recently appears to have undergone a Damascene conversion and a piece written by William now states his opinion on the evils of Killer Skunk. Interestingly Debra notes in her cannabis diaries:

“I almost wonder now whether he was doing this so that I would agree to give him money.”

For once we wholeheartedly agree, particularly as her diaries reveal William was still using cannabis several weeks later.

Still, this doesn’t stop her from dishonestly using William’s insincere diatribe as propaganda to support her noble cause. After all she’s used every other aspect of her son’s personal life in her campaign which reeks of self-promotion rather than any genuine understanding of the issues.

William’s original statement can still be read here, or here just in case Debra’s getting all deletey on us we’ve kindly reproduced it here.

One thing that has disappeared is the link on the front page of her site to her blog. One of Debra’s posts attracting 34 comments, all but one from other parents and cannabis users pointing out the inaccuracies of her position. Debra is repeatedly asked to defend her position but sadly never does. Instead the blog is disappeared, although not being the sharpest tool she’s only removed the link and the blog still can be read here.

And just in case she decides to delete the blog then lucky void readers can also catch up on the comments here.

So fraudulently claiming to be a charity, exploiting her son’s personal problems to further her own agenda, failure to answer her critics, providing dishonest health advice and attempted censorship seem to be stock in trade for our Debra.

The mental health charities SANE and Rethink, who appear to back her campaign, must be wondering who they’ve got into bed with. So for that matter must be her husband.

*void disclaimer: Talking About Cannabis does not appear on the Charity Commission’s online register and in her campaign notes she talks of forming a ‘company’. If she has in fact establsihed a charity we will of course withdraw our remarks and lobby the Charity Commission as to why it thinks that spreading factually incorrect information about cannabis to the nation’s youth constitutes an identifiable public benefit as required by law.

Reclaim the love

2008-02-16T19:37:00.016Z

yer in the wrong place, we're at wordpress now.

http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/

For the stragglers here's some Reclaim the Love pics:

the shifting void

2008-02-11T16:08:00.000Z

the void at blogspot is so over.

We're settling in nicely to wordpress: http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/

Anything really juicy we'll cross post for now, but really, wordpress is where all the hip kids are at these days.

Back

2008-02-09T11:46:00.000Z

Seems it was more cock up than conspiracy with us being accused of being a spam blog.

But once bitten and all that, we'll be slowly migrating to wordpress over the next few weeks.

http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/

Banned by google - it could be you next!

2008-02-08T15:11:00.000Z

“This blog is in violation of Blogger’s Terms of Service and is currently visible to authors only.”

Political censorship? Conspiracy? Cock Up?

We don't care, we're over at wordpress which is much friendlier.

http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/

Punks Piknik

2008-02-06T12:44:00.000Z

Scotland's looking tempting for Mayday.

Faslane Peace Camp

Talking (bollocks) About Cannabis

2008-02-05T14:01:00.000Z

Cannabis campaigners are furious after being snubbed by the current Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) review into cannabis classification.

The Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) have been denied a speaker and been informed they may only take part in the 45 minute long open forum.

A press release from the LCA states:

“How can this review reflect the “wide range of evidence” that the ACMD seems to be looking for, when not one cannabis users is being given an equal opportunity to those who seek upgrading.”

Prohibitionists SANE as well as the far from sane Debra Bell have all been allotted 20 minute speaking slots.

Debra Bell runs the Talking About Cannabis website, a shambolic and self-indulgent tableau of lies which shrieks it's hysterical distortions with the righteous indigination only the truly middle-class can muster.

In fact, in Debra's evidence to the ACMD she is very clear:

"In the past drug abuse was often seen by the middle classes as something that happens on inner-city sink estates but now drug abuse is affecting everyone; cannabis addiction is spanning the classes. The middle classes have never known such an epidemic, leaving families in their thousands bewildered, afraid, alone and ashamed."

((((the bewildered, afraid, alone and ashamed middle classes)))

Debra got her knickers in a twist because her son 'went off the rails' using cannabis, although from her recent utterances you might ask can you blame him?

Whilst we have every sympathy with parents who's children have developed mental health problems, (whether or not caused by cannabis and this is still far from conclusive) it seems obvious that cannabis is a useful scapegoat.

Any parent who's child who develops problems, is bound to feel an inner sense of guilt, in most cases probably completely undeserved but also completely understandable.

In our experience guilt is one of the prevailing emotions of parenting ... and no-one tells you that when you start out.

Cannabis is a convenient way to emeliorate that guilt and it is no surprise that the voices shouting loudest in this debate are those whose children's lives have not panned out the way they would have liked.

In Hall's case she is particularly appalled that after sending her son to a £15,000 a year private school he still succumbed to the evil weed. Hall wrote a diary of her son's troubles and he indeed seems a troubled young man.

You have to then wonder whether having highly personal details published across the internet and splashed across the pages of the Daily Express is likely to be helpful to a vulnerable, young person?

Hall's son does give his side of the story, parts of which are revealing:

"Frequently my parents will sit me down and tell me what they think is wrong with me, which is usually considerable. Add to this that my mum is the kind that thinks MSN messenger is ‘disgusting and pornographic’ and when I arrived on my book return day at school wearing irregular trousers, as I had somehow lost my others in a friend’s bedroom she screamed at me in front all my friends.

Looking for ways to help your wayward youth? Don’t alienate them and push them away, but if you refuse to make any kind of compromise you are always going to lose."

Hall has no qualifications or experience in the drugs field yet her website still contains a page called Cannabis - the facts written by the ever-unbiased Mary Brett who is the UK spokesman for EURAD (Europe against Drugs).

Reading it is like stepping back 50 years.

A string of unreferenced claims begins with the statement that cannabis is a hallucinogen and a depressent ... neither of which is true.

It then makes the claim that because THC works on neurotransmitters therefore:

"new nerve connections cannot be made properly. Concentration, learning and memory are all badly affected."

She then falsely claims that physical addiction will occur, cannabis users will become violent, impotence and infertility will occur, the immune system will be damaged, you'll go mad and that babies born to cannabis using mothers are smaller, hyperactive, have behaviour and learning problems.

Rubbishing medical cannabis she claims that:

"It all started in 1979 when an American pot smoking lawyer said, 'We will use the medical marijuana argument as a red herring on the road to full legalisation'."

Which is curious given that ayurvedic texts trace medical cannabis back over 3000 years and that any Victorian reference book will reccommend cannabis for a wide range of ailments.

Finally this diatribe of ignorance makes the astounding claim that:

"Few children, using cannabis even occasionally, will achieve their full potential."

Which may come as a surprise to the last two presidents of the USA.

If Hall and her mates think that unsourced bullshit like that appearing on her website in any way strengthens her argument then it is perhaps her is is away with the fairies.

Let's hope that the ACMD, which has some real scientists, will see this puritanical propaganda for what it is.

Finally a reminder that tonight Horizon on the beeb is looking into drugs classification. The programme will focus on research by Professor Nutt, which shows a refreshing new direction but his methodology is a crock of shit ... as we kindly pointed out last year.

Simon Hughes, 'e's still a raver!

2008-02-04T14:18:00.000Z

News comes from Ian Bone's blog that Simon Hughes is still partying as hard as ever. Hughes is holding a celebration to commemorate the Lib Dem's win over Peter Tatchell in the notorious Bermondsey by-election in 1983.

This is when the Lib Dems released a flyer dubbing the election 'A Straight Choice' whilst labour activists putting up posters in Tatchell's support found their windows attacked. Tatchell himself received hate mail, including a live bullet, and was attacked when out in the street.

Tatchell has forgiven Hughes as exclusively revealed on this very blog, however it remains to be seen what he makes of this knees up.

Now out and proud, Hughes will be 'avin it large with 24 hour party people, the Bermondsey & Old Southwark Liberal Democrats. Tickets are 20 quid off some bloke in Camden Market.

The event will take place at the Harris Academy in Bermondsey which is an all girls school. Given the way we've heard Hughes was putting it around in the 90's that's probably for the best.

the void played a small part in Hughe's failed bid to become Lib Dem leader after we were contacted by someone who had the lowdown on Hughe's nightlife ... and it seems the partying ain't stopping yet.

Work is Freedom!

2008-02-02T23:59:00.000Z

the void has received a document from our man in the DWP which outlines Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell's plans for the shake up of Incapacity Benefit. This memo will be sent to every frontline benefit advisor, read on for details of New Labour's devious scheme to get us all working for the man.

"Dear State Lacky

Firstly may I take this opportunity to thank you for your tireless work in tolerating the unemployed. Without your commitment and hard work who knows where we'd end up, ruled by bloody Moscow or some such disaster.

But there is an issue where we must ask you to push yourselves that bit harder in our shared vision to eradicate the poor.

This country has too many people claiming Incapacity Benefit(IB) when they should be working. Disease and disability must no longer be seen as an excuse not to participate in the economy.

It's time to think outside the box. To study people's so-called illnesses and find roles which are suited to them.

We should encourage people to be positive about disability and see their condition as an asset in the workplace. For example there are many jobs those suffering from depression can do admirably such as mortuary workers or professional mourners.

Agrophobics should be encouraged to become lighthouse keepers and surely alcoholics can't complain about being asked to work in a pub.

Schizophrenics with multiple personality disorders may be able to take on two or more jobs at once! The same applies to Siamese Twins.

And quite frankly there is no excuse for those suffering from autism not to become mathematical geniuses.

17,000 people commit suicide every year, many of them claimants for depression. This is a scandalous waste of deaths when the country is at war on two fronts.

A spell in the frontline and a nobel death at the hands of the enemy would be a superior situation for all concerned. Al Qaeda run some interesting schemes along these lines.

Patiants with terminal conditions should also be encouraged to think about military service as well as being made aware that many jobs are temporary these days anyway so there's no excuses.

The Labour Party fundraising offices is currently recruiting amnesiacs, whilst those with personality disorders may find a home in politics or the police.

It is therefore clear that those on IB for so-called mental health problems are lazy and selfish and and it's time they 'got off their arses' to use their language.

Physical disabilities represent a greater challenge but can still be overcome.

Obviously cripples aren't good for much, but for example coma-victims make great doorstops whilst those who are basically a vegetable could apply to become Community Support Officers.

Two wheelchairs lashed together makes a useful trolly which could be used in hospitals, meaning even hospital in-patients could be used as a kind of 'human trolly' saving the NHS a fortune.

Those who's physical or psychological needs are too great to allow them to participate in the workplace will be able to take part in the soon to be announced euthanasia assistance scheme.

As ever I remain confident that with your help we will be able to rid the country of the poor permanantly.

Warmest regards

James Purnell
Work and Pensions Secretary"

once a month

2008-02-02T23:30:00.000Z

just once a month the sun comes out
clouds creep away
laughter dapples dull soaked skies
sliced by colour, young, blue eyes

small hand grips
crushing, dragging, crashing, rushing
scatterbrain through bright green fields
sticks, strange stones and autumn leaves
chasing pigeons, climbing trees

bedtime stories, three or four
toys covering every inch of floor
and then once more

ice bites as silence takes it's place
clouds crack, rain spills and chills my face

back to grey
tears freeze my throat
it's been just two days

alone, all quiet, again without
just once a month the sun comes out

The race for mayor

2008-01-30T15:07:00.000Z

The bunch of fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists in UKIP have announced a candidate for London Mayor who has been described as Enoch Powell's spiritual heir ... step forward not so closet a racist ... Gerard Batten.

In a debate on Serbia last year he complained that if Serbia joined the EU, this would "import their historic hatreds and blood feuds onto British soil". He also referred to Britain being "swamped with immigrants and asylum seekers" ... which does have a familiar ring.

True to form, if he's elected (stop laughing) he plans to slash funding for minority groups and cancel gay pride, a sure fire election winner in one of the most diverse and tolerant cities in the world.

For an (out of the) closet racist he does have some interesting views claiming that Italian PM Prodi worked for the KGB and has also supported the Chechnyan mujahideen. Don't get excited, he don't like Muslims, he just really hates Russians ... fucking commies.

Poor Batten seems to be confused, in a talk about calls for an amnesty for illegal immigrants, Batten spoke of the rights of the indigenous British citizen and says any amnesty would be grossly irresponsible ... unless of course they are Chechnyan terrorists here to blow up a few tower blocks.

Batty Batten bizarrely claims that Britain has no immigration controls at all, saying that anyone in the world is free to come here and melt into the woodwork. Try telling that to the families being held in detention centres around the UK.

As we mentioned Batten doesn't like Muslims, unless they happen to be Chechnyan, and last year attended the Counterjihad event held in Brussels where he got to hang out with some real fascists such as Flemish Interest.

Perhaps he learnt something, he claims that support for minority groups is 'cultural marxism' (if only) and that he would get rid of 'all that rubbish'.

Hot on the wannabe fuhrers heels will be weirdo Matt O'Connor who's standing for the English Democrats. It's been revealed on the we hate foreigners forums that there are currently twelve English Nationalist parties who are all competing with UKIP and the fractured BNP for a handful of votes - and they accuse the left of sectarianism.

One other candidate who would get along well with UKIPpers is Brian Paddick who turned up briefly on website urban 75 last night to plug his new book.

We revealed Paddick was due to stand back in May 2006 although he denied it at the time. Paddick was asked why he didn't do more to disassociate himself from BNP counsellor Barnbrook who was pictured with him on the Police March.

Paddick declined to answer which led some to question his record on fighting racism.

So we thinkt it's a good time to bring up the four black men who died at the hands of police whilst he was in charge of Lambeth policing.

Not to mention the aggresive and heavy handed policing of the demonstrations that occurred after these deaths.

All ex-coppers are bastards.

Agitpop, 1968 - 2008

2008-01-30T11:35:00.000Z

London Print Studios is holding an exhibition which "celebrates the changing art of utopian rebellion and activism in an exhibition, and will feature international and contemporary work alongside a unique display of posters from 60s to 80s Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove".

They're based on the Harrow Road and it opens on the 21st February from 6 to 8pm.

£7m up for grabs ... do you know this woman?

2008-01-29T13:14:00.000Z

The woman who gave evidence against the Securitas gang has had a £7 million contract taken out on her life according to the Evening sub-Standard.

Michelle Hogg who made masks for the men out of latex and false hair and claims she had no idea why she needed them is reportedly 'living in fear'.

Amateur assassins can get a pic of her face easily enough, splashed as it is over the Standard's front page. The paper goes on to reveal that Hogg is 33, a policeman's daughter from Plumstead and a graduate of the London School of Fashion.

Criminal overlords have expressed thanks to the paper for the research.

Scientology vs teh interweb

2008-01-29T11:40:00.000Z

Anonymous, the group who have declared war on Scientology have announced a day of action against the 'church' on February 10th.

The campaign began on the website http://www.4chan.org/, a tits'n'manga message board who had previously orchestrated campaigns against companies and organisations who have annoyed them in some way.

These have been fairly low key pranks, such as ordering hundreds of pizzas to company offices, but it seems that they have caught the mood of the moment with this new offensive.

The video above has 237,733 views so far on youtube and takes itself very seriously indeed.

Scientology websites have been hit with denial of service attacks around the world, but now Anonymous are calling people to take to the streets and take action against the thetan warriors in the real world.

Meet at Scientology HQ, 146 Queen Victoria Street EC4, 11am on the 10th Feb and wear a mask, if you want ... more info.

the void was rejected by the Scientologists when after a 30 minute discussion at their Tottenham Court Road offices, two very large men in black suits gently explained that they thought Scientology wasn't for us.

What kinda religion is that!

In anarcho circles this protest has had a mixed response, the following from indymedia is worth a read.

Fighting Scientology - an anarchist perspective

Don't vote ...

2008-01-26T15:49:00.000Z

The race for mayor

Hackney Cops in Illegal Squat Raid!

2008-01-26T09:57:00.000Z

Hackney police attempts to illegally evict a squat on Tuesday night were thwarted after 30 local activists turned up to help defend the building.

The space which is intended to be used as a Social Centre was subject to a violent attack from the property owners (Howun Estates Ltd) who were quite happy to risk six months imprisonment and force entry to the building.

When those inside called the police to report this offence the coppers turned up and supported the criminals by attempting to force their way inside, almost injuring several people in the process.

Full story and more pics on indymedia.

Whilst we're on the subject of dodgy police we'd just like to say hello to:

Domain Name pnn.police.uk ? (U.K.)
IP Address 212.137.45.# (PNN)
State/Region : Essex
City : Bletchley

who's visited the void no less than 10 times in the last couple of days. Whoever they are they seem very interested in the piece about this old porker ... could it be the infamous pie-thief himself?

oh and for the record this hippy twat isn't me.

Police demo ... behind enemy lines

2008-01-23T17:50:00.000Z

A report from today's cop demo

A spot of impromptu fare-dodging followed by a lot of impromptu FIT team dodging meant that I didn't even get close to the Class War meet up point.

Instead I was met with a wall of cops.

The fake police stall at the start of the march was a giggle, if unthreatening, but with FIT teams starting to stop and search I decided it was best to attempt to find the anarchist contingent.

Being the only (far from undercover) anarcho in a crowd of thousands of cops was at best surreal, punctuated by quick flashes of extreme anxiety and a compulsion to occasionally scream 'I'm not with them'.

But, trapped as I was, I shuffled down Victoria Street generally avoiding eye contact and wishing I was somewhere else.

Hearing a scuffle I fell to the back of the march where a woman was being violently arrested (pics below). Ringed by aggro cops (trying to block photographers), it was hard to find out why, although one of the Met's finest grunted at me: 'Section 5, she was swearing'. Meanwhile the FIT team were photographed in Starbucks stocking up on doughnuts.

The cops all wore white caps, whether this was to symbolise their submissive, lackying to the state or a symbol of the preferred skin colour of officers was unclear. This march was very male, very white and very, very dull.

Out of uniform all coppers still look the same and still look like coppers. Some conspiracy theorists have speculated they were all cloned from a single pork sausage.

Cops marched in silence with nothing in the way of support from the general public who seemed to view the whole affair with mild disdain. And reports of 25,000 demonstraters in tonights sub-Standard are bollocks, you can halve that and then knock off a couple of thou'.

The mass lobby of parliament was also an abject failure with barely a handful committed enough to stay out of the pub. So much for the '7,000-10,000 policemen and women queuing outside the Palace of Westminster' trumpeted on the Police Federation's website.

Brian Haw and co were good value for money as ever, ranting at the cops mingling around Parliament Square after the march ended. But for this vegetarian the smell of bacon and cheap aftershave was a bit too much so I sloped off home before I got meself in trouble.

The good news is that, despite two arrests, the Class War counter-demo has been hailed a success. Early reports also reveal the BNP's presence at the front of the cop's march.

Fun and japes at the start of the march

Stop and search

Pig City

Arrested for swearing?

A quick doughnut break

Coppers are definitely getting younger

Brian Haw and co doing what they do

The failed mass lobby, you can never find a copper when you need one

Where were all those missing coppers?

Police trash littered the streets of Westminster

Meanwhile those in the know warn us that the freemasons are behind the latest teen stabbing in London ... keep it under yer (tinfoil) hat!

America's Most Wanted

2008-01-22T13:57:00.000Z

Judicialwatch have just released their list of of Washington’s “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” in 2007, read it here.

Barack's on there as is Republican crook Guiliani but topping the list is el presidentess-in-waiting: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Judicialwatch claim they are: "Promoting Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in Government, Politics and the Law" ... we reckon they'll have a long wait.

Drugs, The Frank Truth

2008-01-20T17:46:00.000Z

We haven't picked on poor old talktofrank for a while but his new video warning da yout' about the dangers of drugs kinda got us going. In his own trendy-uncle way Frank will be spamming youtube, bebo and the like in the hope of giving net-savvy kids a stark warning ... drug's ain't cool.

Being responsible types at the void we thought we'd help out and offer up some propaganda of our own.

So here's the void's lo-tech guide to warn kiddies about druggies.

The Coke Taker
Supermodel Kate Moss has been known to indulge in God's own marching powder to help her manage her busy work and social life. Part of the trendy Notting Hill set, fashion icon Kate is seen at all the best parties and has million pound contracts with leading designers.

Look how beautiful she is girls, what perfect skin and so slim ... we bet she can get any guy she wants. Coke is it!

The Pill Taker
Despite being christened Quentin, Fatboy Slim is one of the biggest selling dance artists in the world. As a pill popping youngster Fatboy flew all over the world playing to hundreds of thousands of adoring fans.

Once a hit with the ladies, Fatboy is content with his wife these days, TV sexpot Zoe Ball. Although he won the Ivor Novello Award last year these days Fatboy is most likely to be found counting his money or driving one of his many sports cars.

The Stoner
Someone else who's no stranger to platinum selling records is West Coast hip hop mega-star Snoop Dogg. Snoop loves the ganja and it can only have helped inspire some of the biggest ever hip hop albums ever released. His first album, Doggystyle, was the first ever debut album to enter the US billboard at number one.

Snoop has also featured in several Hollywood movies and has his own clothing label. Effortlessly good looking Snoop know's what he wants from his 'Hos' and may have 99 problems but we're betting a bitch ain't one.

Snoop is less well known for his fine and incisive legal mind which has helped keep him on the straight and narrow for many years.

and now for the geeks ...

The Tripper
Bill Gates* was a regular LSD user as a youngster but that didn't stop him going on to build one of the most successful businesses in the world. Gates has been named the richest person in the world, with recent estimates putting his net worth over $56 billion USD.

Gates has received four honorary doctorates as well as an honorary KBE (Knighthood) from our dear Maj'. He may not be much in the looks department, but hey with a bank balance like that we're betting the lovin' comes easy.

So there you go kids, drugs are bad. Meanwhile look what can be achieved by a life of abstinance and purity. This old lump has been MP for Maidstone for over 20 years.

Just say yeah baby, yeah.

*void disclaimer: Bill Gates is a cunt.

Pie Shortage Hits the South Coast

2008-01-20T14:24:00.000Z

Panic buying has set in across Brighton bakeries after a visit from FIT team officers at the weekend caused major food shortages.

Donuts are believed to be trading hands for several hundred pounds on the black market, with cake and biscuit supplies almost exhausted.

The shortages have been blamed on the man above, an officer from Sussex (no. CS47) who is believed to have eaten all the pies in Sussex and surrounding counties. Him and his buddies were in town to celebrate the heavy handed tactics increasingly being used by the Brighton police.

150 people gathered in Brighton town centre to protest at the continued violence and intimidation which has been used against local protest groups such as SmashEDO. Several people were arrested after police responded to non-violence with violence, nicely confirming the point of the day.

Organisers have hailed the day a success and FITwatchers were out in force to keep an eye on the lumbering boys in blue. Pics and report at indymedia.

Now this is industrial action

2008-01-17T19:07:00.000Z

You've got to hand it to the French workers when it comes to taking no shit they really take no shit.

Ice cream factory boss Prakesh Patel was held hostage for 12 hours on Monday night after telling them he planned to sack half the workforce.

Patel was seized during a meeting outlining redundancies at the plant owned by multinational bastards Unilever.

The workers frog-marched him to his own office and locked him inside overnight, demanding he reverse plans to axe 250 staff at the Cogesal-Miko factory.

The siege only ended when armed police stormed the building leaving 14 workers injured.

Union activist Herve Mazelin said: "The workers became angry and lost control. Their jobs were under threat and this was all they could at the time to defend their livelihoods."

Perhaps the Police Federation could learn a few lessons from the French. A few hours in the cells might help some chief-supers ponder the error of their ways.

Fit Up the Cops: It's Pay Back Time

2008-01-16T14:56:00.000Z

January 23rd
meet 9:30 - Tyburn Pub - Edgware Road (nearest tube Marble Arch).

On January 23rd, the police will be marching through London demanding higher pay.

Present will be violent trouble makers and threats to public order, including veterans from J18, Mayday and G8.

Fit Watch are determined that this small minority will not wreck havoc through Central London.

We will therefore be providing an overt surveillance presence with the aim of deterring anti social behaviour.

The cops have been violently crushing our struggles for years. They are violent thugs who don’t deserve any money, let alone more money.

Let’s show they’re not welcome on our streets.

http://www.fitwatch.blogspot.com/
‘BOO A BOBBY’ - JANUARY 23RD - BE THERE!

1968 and All That

2008-01-14T14:31:00.000Z

An international conference is being held to mark the 40th anniversary of the events of 1968.

Speakers have been invited from France, USA, Russia, Germany, Eastern Europe and Britain.

It's at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1 on Saturday, 10 May 2008

More info at http://www.1968andallthat.net/

Brian Haw, Nicked and Assaulted

2008-01-13T12:00:00.000Z

"during the freedom to protest assembly this afternoon, brian haw (who was peacefully filming events in whitehall) was violently attacked by a territorial support group policeman who lashed out at him, smashing his camera into his face and causing a deep cut. police then arrested brian for an unspecified public order offence and further assaulted him in a police van."

more info on indymedia

As of 2am last night Brian and up to 8 others were still being held at Belgravia Police Station.

pic courtesy of www.terencebunch.co.uk
rights reserved