By becoming a “factivist,” we can learn what needs to be done to end extreme poverty within the next generation. And the facts are beyond promising. Since 2000:

Eight million AIDS patients have been receiving retroviral drugs

Malaria deaths have been cut by 75% in some countries

Child mortality rate of kids under 5 is down by 2.65 million deaths a year

Extreme poverty declined from 43% in 1990 to 33% in 2000 to 21% by 2010

Extreme poverty has been cut in half in the last 20 years, and the facts show that we can get it to virtually zero within a generation — but only if we act.

Lets think about that, he says. Have you read anything, anywhere in the last week that is as remotely as important as that number? Its great news, and it drives me nuts most people dont know this.

If you live on less than $1.25 a day, this is not just data. This is everything. If youre a parent who wants the best for your kids, and I am, this rapid transition is a route out of despair and into hope.

http://www.one.org/c/international/actnow/4625/

“We are going to win because we don’t understand politics. We are going to win because we don’t play their dirty games. We are going to win because we don’t have a party political agenda. We are going to win because the tears that come from our eyes actually come from our hearts. We are going to win because we have dreams, and we’re willing to stand up for those dreams.” Wael Ghonim

Chastening words for those of us involved in the world of politics.

A council has declared that none of its social tenants will be evicted if they cannot afford to pay the government’s forthcoming bedroom tax.

Brighton & Hove City Council has become the first local authority in the country to take such a stance.

Councillor Liz Wakefield said: “The so-called ‘spare room subsidy’ is yet more immoral and harmful legislation from this morality-free coalition government.

“As Greens, we cannot throw people out onto the streets just because they’re unable to pay it. I will therefore be bringing proposals that seek to ensure no household will be evicted from a Brighton and Hove City Council owned home as a result of ‘spare room subsidy’ rent arrears accrued solely from that household’s inability to pay this unjust bedroom tax.”

She added that steps would be taken to ensure that tenants don’t take advantage of the proposals, and that officers would have to be satisfied that those pushed into arrears by the bedroom tax were doing everything they could to pay their rent.

Brighton Pavilion MP, Caroline Lucas, is also backing the proposals. She said: “The so-called bedroom tax legislation is not only morally wrong and a cause of great potential hardship, it is also unworkable in a city with a long waiting list for smaller properties.

“The council cannot downsize households on the scale required by the government, nor would we want it to, and we should not be prepared to evict hard-pressed families, the disabled and other vulnerable people purely because they are unable to pay this unjust levy on a home they either cannot or should not have to leave.”

Chair of Brighton & Hove Green Party, Rob Shepherd, said: “This government is willing to see people thrown out onto the streets purely because they can’t pay their bedroom tax.

“They can be sentenced to homelessness simply for trying to maintain a normal, liveable family home. The Conservative and LibDem coalition government should be ashamed of itself and, as Greens, we will have no part of it.

“I congratulate the party and councillors who are taking such a principled stand. We call on the other parties to support us in protecting, in this way, some of our most vulnerable residents.”

Review comments:

This interview is dynamite. We must make sure it is seen by as many people in the country as possible.

Stunningly clear explanations – one of the most lucid narrators I have encountered.

What a smart person…best explanation I’ve ever heard…thank you.

Crystal-clear. An excellent guide to clarifying what’s going on among the confusion.

Having now watched this video interview in full, I cannot overpraise Lucy Reynolds’ forensically detailed dissection of every aspect of the current privatisation of the NHS and in addition, the historical developments which led up to it. It must rank with Pollock’s NHS plc and Leys and Player’s Plot Against the NHS as the best accounts ever given of NHS privatisation. I urge you to put the time aside to watch it and to e-mail, tweet, FB and to tell everyone who cares about our NHS to do the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=CO&hl=es-419&v=OkTnCtg_Omk

Share far and wide!

http://www.medialens.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=724:death-of-a-bogeyman-the-corporate-media-bury-hugo-chavez&catid=51:alerts-2013&Itemid=202

“What lies behind the Western media’s obsession with Chávez? Why the extreme hostility and bias? A clue was provided by the Guardian when it observed that Venezuela is sitting on ‘The world’s biggest oil reserves’.

In discussing Chávez, Craig Murray, former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, summed up the reality:

‘He applied the huge increase in revenues to massively successful poverty alleviation via social programmes, housing and education.

‘The western states of course do everything to stop developing countries doing this, on behalf of the multinationals who control the politicians. They threaten (and I am an eye-witness) aid cancellation, disinvestment and trade sanctions. They work to make you a political pariah (just watch the media on Chávez today). They secretly sponsor, bankroll and train your opponents. The death of such “dangerous” leaders is a good outcome for them, as in Allende or Lumumba.

‘Chávez faced them down. There are millions of people in Venezuela whose hard lives are a bit better and have hope for the future because of Chávez. There are billionaires in London and New York who have a few hundred million less each because of Chávez. Nobody can deny the truth of both those statements.’

One of the great tasks of our time is to appreciate how these undeniable realities distort coverage right across the supposed corporate media ‘spectrum’. Our ability to understand and respond to this problem is vital for the future, not just of Venezuela, but of all of us.”

Just for clarity – UK Methane is the same tiny band of speculators that are behind Coastal Oil & Gas – they are both based in the same small un-manned office on Bridgend Industrial Estate.

We will be leaving Bridgend at 5.30pm

BEDROOM TAX U-TURN: HUGE WIN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, BUT NOW EXEMPT
DISABLED PEOPLE FROM THIS CRUEL AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE MEASURE, SAYS
GREEN MP

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, led the Opposition Day debate
on the Government’s bedroom tax policy in February together with MPs
from Plaid Cymru and SNP.

Responding to Iain Duncan Smith’s announcement today, she said:

“The eleventh hour decision to exempt foster carers and families with
children in the armed forces from the new bedroom tax is a huge win for
social justice – and a clear sign that the Government is beginning to
recognise just how flawed and unfair this policy is.

“However, ministers should now go further and exempt disabled people
too in order to protect the most vulnerable from losing their homes to
this cruel and counterproductive measure.”

Links:

Keith Ross’ speech at the Anti-Fascist Rally in Swansea on Saturday 9 March

The instigators of today’s event set the theme as Pride.

So I thought I would just share a few of the things that Im proud of with you.

I’m proud that Swansea is a City of Sanctuary, in recognition of all the hard work that has gone on in this city over the years to make it a place of welcome and safety for all.

I’m particularly proud of my personal role in making that happen.

I’m proud of Swansea City Football Club winners of the Capital One Cup captained by Ashley Williams; goals scored by Nathan Dyer and Jonathan De Guzman.

I’m proud to be British.

I’m proud to live in a country that, despite the best efforts of government and certain sections of our media, is still renowned the world over as a place that offers a welcome and safety to people from beyond our borders.

I’m proud to number among my friends and neighbours people from many countries; people of all faiths and of none; some of them here in the crowd today.

This is 21st century Britain. Multi-Ethnic; Multi-Cultural; Multi-Faith.

We’ve had immigration in this country since way before the English arrived. That’s the way we want it, and that’s the way its going to stay.

This is our country. This is how it is.

If you don’t like it tough. Crawl back down whatever hole you came out of and learn to deal with it. And don’t come back onto our streets until you have.

Swansea – City of Sanctuary – Fascists not welcome.

Well said Keith!! They are not welcome in Bridgend either!

The artists of Artists Against Fracking worked together to create this music video for “Don’t Frack My Mother,” Sean Lennon’s very own anti-fracking anthem.

Recognise anyone in the video?

Here’s a list of all the artists who appear in it:

• Adrian Grenier
• Alexa Chung
• Ben Lee
• Carrie Fisher
• Daniel Pinchbeck
• Devendra Banhart
• Fred Armisen
• Ione Skye
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt
• Josh Fox
• Liv Tyler
• Lindsey Wixson
• Maggie Gyllenhaal
• Mark Ronson
• Melissa Auf Der Maur
• Michael Skolnik
• Natasha Lyonne
• Penn Badgley
• Reggie Watts
• Sean Lennon
• Susan Sarandon
• Yoko Ono
• Zoë Kravitz

And band members from:

• Au Revoir Simone
• Black Lips
• Cibo Matto
• The Citizens Band
• The Like
• The Strokes
• Wilco
• Wild Belle

“Bridgend County Together is the new partnership plan for Bridgend County written by the Local Service Board (LSB). Bridgend County Together is out to public consultation from 7th January to 31st March 2013. The plan is for everyone who lives, works or studies in the county. It is important that you tell us what you think of the draft plan before it is finalised in April 2013. We want to make sure that the plan covers the issues that matter to you and that is why we need your views.”

http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/surveys/sipp_2013-8/en/sipp_2013_18.htm

“Who would have imagined that Unite would be holding a snap election for General Secretary so soon after the last one? Who would have guessed Len McCluskey would be seeking to renew a mandate after only 2 years in office and with 3 more years still to go?

So who did demand this election? Especially at a time when the union should be concentrating all its resources on fighting the cuts to services, pensions, jobs and attacks on members and their families livelihoods.

Was it the thousands of Branch Secretaries? No!

Was it the hundreds of Unite committee chairs? No!

Was it the tens of thousands of workplace reps? No!

Whatever good Unite has done over the last 2 years has now been tainted, and what is happening is wrong. This election has been called on a flawed premise, its being fast tracked, its an election tailor made to suit one member above all others – 1.5 million others, and that far from seeking to renew a mandate it is an affront to democracy.”

As a member of Unite, I am a big fan of some of the things that McCluskey has helped achieve – especially the Community Membership scheme that has helped give a much needed additional voice to those out of work in particular http://www.unitetheunion.org/growing-our-union/communitymembership/

However, this snap election just 2 years into a 5 year term is a cynical ploy to re-inforce McCluskey’s status as the figurehead of the union. His support for New Labour also rankles. He has overseen £6 million of member’s money being handed over to Labour with next to nothing back in return. This has got to stop.

Fortunately, there is a candidate that we can trust to address this issue; a passionate supporter of the our campaign to create 1 million ‘Green’ jobs; and a candidate who is not in it for self-aggrandisement and the six-figure salary.

That candidate is JERRY HICKS – who will live the life of the members he would represent, on an average members wage not a six figure salary.

I would therefore urge all Green Party members in UNITE to look out for ballot papers in the next few days and VOTE FOR JERRY HICKS