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aaron spiral@spiral active 4 years, 7 months ago
James added the event another test sometime ago
James added the event test event sometime ago
James Varnham wrote a new post, Call Out for Evidence – #occupydemocracy 2 years, 1 month ago
Occupy London are calling out for evidence and witness statements from those who attended the #occupydemocracy protest in Parliament Square between the 17th and 26th October. Those of you who attended at some point will have been aware of the escalating police presence, the erection of fencing and a number of arrests that were made at different points throughout the week.
We are asking for those who attended the protest to give a statement detailing their experience. You can do this through the form provided through the link at the bottom of this page.
We would like to know:
Why you went to the #occupydemocracy protest.
When you first arrived. Did you return? If so, when?
What happened whilst you were there. Try to be as detailed as you can – referring to times if possible.
What you took from the time that you were there.
If you were arrested during your time at the protest, or if you observed anyone actually being arrested, we would like to know:
The date and time of the arrest(s).
What happened on the run up to the arrest(s).
Whether there was any interaction between you and the police prior to, during or after the arrest(s)- what was said?
Describe the arrest and police tactics during the arrests. If you know who was arrested please provide their name(s).
If you have any photos of video of the arrest(s) please provide links to these in the relevant boxes.
Most of those arrested were arrested for failing to comply with a bye-law. This bye-law doesn't actually include a power of arrest but does require a person to give a name and address if an authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that person is in breach of a bye-law. The Police do have the power to arrest if a person doesn't give these details. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (PRSRA) also makes it an offence to fail to comply with a direction given by the Police Officer or other authorised persons to remove tents or equiptment that might assist in sleeping.
Powers under the bye-law and PRSRA are discretionary and should only be used when it is deemed necessary and proportionate. Case law, most recently the Gallastegui case in 2012, found that this discretion under PRSRA, whilst only exercised in exceptional circumstances, should be available if there is a compelling enough reason. [1]
Your statements and evidence will help us challenge whether the Police response to #occupydemocracy was necessary and proportionate. It may also help us argue that such a response was an unjustified interference with the right to protest.
All statements and evidence submitted will be kept private and will only be accessible by those at Occupy London who are working to collate it, Green and Black Cross and the legal teams working on the various defence cases. If the statement or evidence you give is of particular interest to the legal teams they may contact you for further information.
If you would like to give a statement, or submit evidence, please visit witness.occupylondon.org.uk
Please make sure you change the date and time below the Statement Description box so it reflects the date and time the Statement relates to. Also, tick any categories relevant to your statement.
We appreciate your help with this,
Kind Regards,
Matthew Varnham
Legal Advisor, Occupy London
[1] Paragraph 23, http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2013/28.html&query=Gallastegui&method=boolean
James Varnham wrote a new post, Angry Anons and BBC blackout 2 years, 1 month ago
Remember remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and BBC blackout! and so it was last night as thousands of UK Anons congregated in London's Trafalgar Sq. the fourth annual Anonymous 'Night of activism' the so called Million Mask March. Anonymous had announced their intention to march to Parliament Square and in the words of one Anon "see a MASSIVE Anonymous blockade of London City".
Sat with multiple browser tabs open, showing the live broadcasts from the mainstream media I waited in anticipation for the event, but as each hourly news update arrived I became ever more stunned at the silence, not a single channel aired a moments coverage! Although I have been informed the BBC had a snippet at 6:30pm. Twitter and social media were however, very different a media storm no less; with hashtagged updates so frequent it was impossible to keep up. Live streams, analysis and comment were carried by RT.com and by mutliple protestors on the ground via bambuser.com live streaming.
The lack of on the ground reporting by the mainstream media drew immediate comparison to the Occupy London protests at Parliament Square the week before. One has to ask why organisations such as the BBC so adept at bringing us on location, minute by minute updates on stories of such national importance as the colour of a celebrities wedding dress, had no journalist was on the ground to ask a protester 'what's this all about then?'
During the time of the Occupy protest I submitted a complaint to the BBC to express my disbelief at the lack of reporting and promptly received a reply stating that they had covered the events, and on three separate occasions none the less! A little research on the broadcasts revealed the most scant of stories buried on the London regional website & radio and a single national story; none of which offered anything by way of analysis of the protests themselves. The BBC was content with three short mentions, detailing little more than public disorder.
Fast forward to the Million Masks March and the BBC repeated its strategy: putting out a regurgitated summary of public disorder offences, arrest statistics and some sound bites about protester violence, adding in a single line on the justification for protest then within 36 hours burying the story in the depths of its website.
Why? Its motivation I will not guess at, it would quickly descend into what BBC defenders would label conspiracy, but its strategy seems simple. List just enough to be able to fend off complaints against it and its obligation as set out in the trusts code of conduct. If I raise a complaint about the lack of coverage, citing the obvious importance of the protests, the BBC can now defend the complaint on the grounds it did indeed cover the protest and has a web link to prove it.
But is that enough?
Is that enough for the BBC to claim it is doing its job impartially? No, no and no….. Even the Telegraph, not exactly left leaning, managed to offer a balanced appraisal of the protest and its motivations. The footage and audio from the Telegraph piece actually shows a coherent and dignified voice from the Anon protestors, people who have genuine motivations to protest and who do not believe that voting at the ballot box is the way forward.
So what would the BBC have learned had it put reporters on the ground rather than staring blankly at monitors at HQ, as hundreds of masked protesters literally banged on the windows after Anons decided that if the Beeb wouldnt go to them they'd go to the Beeb?
They would have discovered what the establishment seems so keen to ignore, normal people with a multitude of agendas, congregated under one banner Anonymous. A leaderless group targeting everything from #OpIsrael & the apartheid in Palestine to #OpSafeWinter which aims to protect the most vulnerable in society from hunger and cold. And these 'Ops' are attracting people never before engaged in politics or charity. Not in my lifetime has such an organic ground swell manifested in collective disobedient action, catalysed by the internets power of communication.
And people came, with large red anarchy flags swaying next to 'Free Palestine' flags. Throngs chanted "One Solution, Revolution" others chanted "Whose streets? Our Streets" yet others stood silent holding banners reading ' Free Assange' or 'Banks shouldn't write laws' or a multitude of anti corporate, anti corruption, anti war messages one simply stated 'Share the love'.
One protesters conversation with the police caught on camera and streamed live to the web ended with "we've got no problem with you. We love and respect what you do for us. Our problem is with them… (pointing to Parliament) You lot are people, and we are people". Another protester, having given up his anonymity mask on top his head; revealed tears of frustration at the police attempts to arrest the protest. Conversation with a riot officer ensued before they embraced then shook hands before he returned to the group sitting in on Westminster Bridge and awaited eviction.
Commentators will I'm sure be quick to label the Anons yesterday as yobs comparable to the drunken louts found in city centers on a Friday night. Yes there was unrest, some simply inexcusable, but holding that assertion to the majority simply doesnt stand. Footage from Bambuser showed protesters effectively self policing remonstrating with those that knocked over bins or acted in a way that others perceived as violent or threatening to passers by. There were those whose stated aim was confrontation with the police, but the majority people of all ages with a mesh of agendas, collectively protested at the status quo of political, economical and humanitarian injustice, angrily but peacefully.
And they are angry, using social media Anonymous sent a message directly to world government stating "To oppressive governments, we say this: we do not expect our campaign to be completed in a short time frame. However, you will not prevail against the angry masses of the body politic." saying they [the British Government] have "made an enemy of Anonymous" and that they have "angered them considerably".
And what of the future for Anonymous and of the Million Mask March? will it be a flash in the pan and fizzle out? I for one don't think so… The Anon movement has grown year on year and November 5th, 2015 will undoubtedly be a bigger event than this year.
Security agencies have already claimed to have taken out the ring leaders of anonymous web hacktivism but it only serves to prove the point that anonymous are misunderstood. They are fluid; dissipating and coalescing at seemingly random stimuli, taking whatever direction the majority chooses, unpredictable and leaderless just ask the MET, they tried to talk to Anonymous and found out that, well, that they are just that, anonymous.
Since writing this article, @BBCNews trending has released a 1min13sec video from inside the BBC HQ stating that Anonymous protesters are angry at the BBC for lack of coverage. They go on to claim that as protesters are self publishing on social media the events are being covered. As I am sure the BBC is aware this does not represent national coverage and they are missing the point somewhat!
Tom Donaghey
Tom is an OccupyLondon supporter and self proclaimed pacifist.
James Varnham wrote a new post, Occupy's #tarpaulinrevolution: When the law enables police to breach human rights 2 years, 1 month ago
By Elsa Buchanan
Crossposted from The London Economics
You may not know, but under a law called the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act (PRSRA) 2011, the local authority for the City of Westminster in London has the power to confiscate items that could be used for "sleeping" or "staying" in the square. More, the use of amplification, banners and even tarpaulins, is also illegal.
And the very law that the authorities are using to regulate peaceful protestations and the police's role in this touristic area of Central London, could be breaching human rights.
This is what believes Paul Ridge, a Partner in the Public Law and Human Rights Department at Bindmans, a London leading law firm.
"What I would like to see is a total removal of these by-laws. But how that is achieved is up in the air. The double standards, sometimes of the media, praising what is going on in Hong Kong, and the irony that people in Hong Kong may have more rights to protest than people outside our Parliament, is worrying. Deeply worrying," Ridge explains.
His comments follow a police crackdown on the peaceful occupation and protest, dubbed the #tarpaulinrevolution and #occupydemocracy on Twitter, which had decided to stage a nine-day protest on the Parliament Square.
The sleeping bag that violates the law
Protestors there say the whole idea behind the occupation is using the space for debates and to tackle issues not discussed in the mainstream media.
However, every day, after night falls, dozens of police officers swoop on the protestors, confiscating sleeping bags, sheets, inflatable mattresses, backpacks, dry clothes, coats, plastic bin bags, and even empty cardboard boxes.
Law firm Partner Ridge explains: "In practice, the PRSRA law devolves the judgment calls to individuals on the street, police officers, heritage wardens, the Greater London Authority (GLA) officers to interpret the law. They will take items that are perfectly legitimate like a coat, or a piece of tarpaulin where one might want to sit on to have a discussion group, or a forum. Yet, the GLA and the officers, without any judicial sanctions, or without any control of the courts, confiscate items. I think we are now seeing essentially them abusing that power."
Merel Prescott, 53, a protestor and qualified maths teacher from Newport, South Wales has been laying on the pavement surrounding Parliament square with her 16-year-old daughter Emily, since day one. Both their bags were confiscated on the third night. Emily draws a list of items confiscated from protestors – items deemed to violate the PRSRA.
"Umbrellas were confiscated because they were "structures". A portable mattress was dragged out from beneath my mother even after we informed the police she was disabled. Sleeping bags were also taken away. Not to mention empty pizza boxes."
And Prescott adds: "My daughter's bag contained my medication [Prescott has a disability]. I had a tent and a megaphone with no batteries in my bag, but even if there were no batteries they took the whole bag, which also contained my coat, my purse, socks and dry clothes. I still believe it was illegally seized."
While her bag was returned on the condition that she "didn't abuse the use of any of the items", Prescott daughter's bags still haven't reappeared.
"I was told to go to a station in Kensington [West London] to get mine back, but when I got there and demanded it was handed back, the officer looked confused and told me they hadn't seen it. I informed the police about it. I am still waiting to get my bag back. It's a mystery where all the things that were seized are. According to the act it could take up to 28 days before I get my stuff back."
Meanwhile, other protestors confirmed the authorities have told them their belongings would only be handed back "at the end of the protest".
As she lays on the pavement, a heritage warden kneels down to speak to the 53-year-old. As Prescott insists she is disabled, the officer asks her to show him the sleeping bag she is keeping her legs warm with.
With her faltering voice she explains to anyone who will listen, "They are warning me that I mustn't use a sleeping bag as a sleeping aid. But I'm not sleeping; I'm speaking to you and using it as an aid to keep warm. That makes no sense."
A ban on protests
For Ridge, who acted for long-time Peace Campaigner Maria Gallastegui in the now-famous 2012 Court cases during which she argued the laws violated her rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly under the European Convention on Human Rights, the difficulty with the PRSRA is precisely that the sleeping equipment definition is open to interpretation.
"Obviously, a tent or a sleeping bag are sleeping equipments built and designed for sleeping. But let's say a Japanese tourist fell asleep on a hot day in Parliament Square, would you say that the clothes that tourist was wearing suddenly becomes a sleeping equipment?"
"The definition has been stretched to incredible lengths. Now, if someone fell asleep and they happen to have a coat covering them, suddenly the coat becomes sleeping equipment. That seems to me to be an abuse of the language of the act."
This view is shared by George Barda, a social and environmental justice campaigner who shot to fame during the Occupy London protests when he spent weeks camping in St Paul's Churchyard.
"The scandal of this law, and this is a huge and increasing problem, is that it is worded so absurdly openly that it pretty much allows totally arbitrary policing. The law itself is clearly an anti-protest law that any kind of credible justice system would have shot down," he says.
"If the Courts allow protests 24 hours a day, seven days a week and it is a legitimate activity but that you cannot have shelter, it is a breach of human rights in terms of that provision. Under this law, you can do this thing [protest] but you are not entitled your human rights [shelter] while you do it."
By-laws to the PRSRA, including the GLA's Parliament Square by-laws 2012, also prohibit the use of displayed signs, banners, flags and loudspeakers within the square.
Matt Bonner, a 32 year old a freelance graphic designer from London who has spent every night since Friday on the green with the exception on Sunday confirms the police presence has been continuous.
"At 7am on Saturday as a new [police officer] shift came in, a canvas on which was outlined our 'Safe Spaces Policy', a 1.5 square meters canvas, was confiscated. We were left with very little. It is a sad irony that they decided we could have no written material. Even our plain yellow bunting, which was made by a couple of protestors, was destroyed. We're literally obliged to reinvent things every day and every night."
Further, the fifth paragraph of the PRSRA also dictates that if you want to protest, you need to get written permission.
"This is what I find so offensive," says Ridge
And he is not alone. After the United Nation General Assembly's special rapporteur report on 17 June 2013 looked into the freedom of assembly and association in the UK, the UN voiced grave concerns about the by-laws and restrictions placed around Parliament Square.
"The UN was offended that you have to go to the state to ask permission to protest against it. Again, the removal of banners is a removal of the integral point of a protest. If you remove that, those wanting to make a point about inequality and distribution of wealth can't even make it," Ridge adds.
"Even if a banner falls under a by-law, I have huge concerns about the removal of banners and I do think it is an abuse of the by-laws and certainly I share the concerns of the UN. Peaceful assembly is a long standing British right and it is abused when you remove somebody's banner."
Campaigner Barda says he was forcefully dragged off the square on the fifth day of protest. This was to enable police forces to erect metal fences around the entirety of the square "so the GLA can carry out some maintenance work" on the grass.
"Consequently, dragging me off that undamaged bit of square without explanation or providing me with any other justification other than the damage to the grass where I was not sitting on, was clearly a travesty and a breach of my human rights of speech and movement."
Barda asserts there have been breaches on both sides of the law, and confirms he intends to take his case to court.
"The law as it stands allows all sorts of breaches of human rights of the right to assemble and protest freely, the right to shelter, the right of free speech via amplification systems in a noisy environment," he continues.
Political policing
In 2012, when Ridge stated that the new act would serve as a ban on protests during Gallastegui's Appeal, the government argued that protests were not banned.
"At the time, the government pointed to an example of Barbara Tucker who was maintaining a 24h presence on the square by sleeping in a chair under a golfing umbrella. They claimed this was an example of somebody protesting. But now, when somebody is, for example sitting in a chair or has a coat covering them, they say [that person is] breaking the law for having sleeping equipment."
Ridge continues: "I am concerned the Court of Appeal has been misled, and that the police are now engaged in political policing. This is not a genuine response to civil problems. It's actually political policing. If the demonstration was there to say 'We are campaigning for more funds for the Royal Family', one wonders whether they would have the same level of opposition from the police and the heritage wardens".
He takes the example of the Royal Wedding, during which people would camp on Parliament Square, and wait to get a spot, and nobody removed a tent.
Carrying her five and a half months old son Luca, demonstrator Maria Sanders, 25, says the protestors are "not been given the chance to sit and discuss in this square as we would like to, because we are not allowed a shelter, we are not allowed somewhere to sit down that is dry to be able to have those conversations".
Instead, the young mother, who grew up in Herefordshire before moving to London, says demonstrators are mentally fighting with the police on a day-to-day basis. "But that is their choice and it is bringing more attention [to us]. We are still managing", she concedes.
"It does seem that judgements have been made about the nature and the type of the protest," Ridge believes. "And rather than the police and heritage wardens facilitating lawful activity, actually they are trying to use the act and twist the act to prohibit lawful activity."
While allegations of brutality by the police on the third night have been widely discussed on social media – videos and photos of the event show police using pressure-points on the protestors and young Emily confirms she witnessed a young woman being dragged by the front of her hair by a police officer – campaigner Barda explains most of the "brutality" has happened at night.
"When it was more difficult for people to see and there are fewer people in the square. That is not a new thing, and they always do the dodgy stuff in the middle of the night."
He insists: "From the beginning, it's important to say that the only breaches of peace have been triggered by the authorities, and even though they have been incredibly provocative and attacking us, at no point have they suggested that we have breached the peace. We've remained peaceful, we've remained democratic, we've remained reasonable. The brutality is all theirs."
When contacted, a spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the non-departmental public body which monitors human rights said, "If anybody thinks their human rights have been breached they should contact the Equality Advisory Support Service or a lawyer in the first instance. The Commission is unable to comment without knowing all of the facts."
It is also worth mentioning that legal observers such as Glyn Jukes are present on the square on the behalf of the Network for Police Monitoring (Netpol). The team also acts on the behalf of Green & Black Cross [GBC] Legal, which is not a legal firm per se, but recommends solicitors known to have significant experience in representing protesters.
While he could not comment on his observations, Jukes confirmed he is part of a co-ordinated team of trained volunteer legal observers seeking to monitor public order, protest and street policing, and making notes about what they get up to.
The Metropolitan Police wish not to comment, but explained officers were present "to prevent a Breach of the Peace".
James Varnham wrote a new post, #OCCUPYDEMOCRACY: CHURCHILL PLINTH OCCUPIED ALMOST 24HRS; TODAY 3PM – ARRESTED GREEN JENNY JONES + CAROLINE LUCAS MP TO SPEAK; MASS DEMO 6PM THURS 2 years, 1 month ago
Phone: 07751445132 / 07745651634 / 07424934658 / 07590 405 810
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Twitter: #occupydemocracy / @occupydemocracy / @occupylondon
NB. Pictures/video are available, plus interviews with people from the occupation can be arranged
#OccupyDemocracy: Churchill plinth occupied almost 24 hours; mass demo 6pm Thursday, Arrested Green Jenny Jones plus Caroline Lucas MP to speak today
• As the Parliament Square occupation enters day 6 – despite draconian policing – the Churchill plinth has been respectfully occupied by an #occupydemocracy protestor now for almost 24 hours, with around 150 protestors on the grass verge of the Square last night
• Protestors call for people to join mass assembly 6pm this Thursday for the renewal of our democracy
• Ongoing packed line up of events, including at 5:30pm today Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and Baronness Jenny Jones (chairwoman of the London assembly's economy committee and deputy chair of its police and crime committee) – who was arrested yesterday on Parliament Square, then de-arrested
• Authorities disrupting and tormenting – not facilitating – peaceful protest.
Following more than 20 arrests yesterday at #occupydemocracy at Parliament Square, the reoccupation and eviction of the protestors from the central Square, the occupation continues with one protestor 'occupying' Churchill's plinth respectfully, even leading a yoga session this morning. Around 150 protestors took part in last night's general assembly and about 30 people staying overnight on the grass verge on the Square. [1]By 3pm today, the Churchill plinth will have been occupied 24 hours
Danny, who is up on the Churchill plinth holding a placard, which states: "The revolution will not be confiscated" said: "I'm up here because Churchill is a symbol is freedom and we've had our freedom to protest removed, with no proper explanation why. The rights of the damaged area of grass to regrow this week – rather than next week after our protest – has been deemed to be of more importance than our rights to assemble and protest, even though a significant area of the Square is intact."Today 5.30pm – Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and Baronness Jenny Jones to speak
As part of the ongoing packed line up of events, today at 5:30pm Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and Baronness Jenny Jones (chairwoman of the London assembly's economy committee and deputy chair of its police and crime committee) – who was arrested yesterday on Parliament Square, then de-arrested when the Police realised who she was – will be in attendance and speaking. Other speakers include Jeremy Leggett (Solar Century, Carbon Tracker) and Asad Rehman (Friends of the Earth). The full programme of events can be found at http://occupydemocracy.org.uk/#programme.Political tormentative policing – call for mass demo 6pm Thursday
Protestors observe that an expensive, heavy-handed political policing operation is being utilised which sees the Metropolitan Police and the Heritage Wardens – run by a private security firm on behalf of the Greater London Authority. Working in concert they are disrupting peaceful protest with an ongoing and constant campaign on harassment, physically, mentally and emotionally – which is very much at odds with the Police's insistence that they are 'facilitating' the protest.Disruption of peaceful protest includes, never-mind the acts of violence against people:
• Removing amplification equipment, sleeping equipment, sundry items such as umbrellas, tarpaulin, cardboad, and personal items including phones, shawls
• Evicting and arresting people sitting on the square
• And finally fencing off the square.
As such, with mood on the Square resolute, the occupation's General Assembly with around 150 protestors, have called for a show of solidarity with a mass demonstarion and assembly in the defence of democracy in the UK for 6pm Thursday on Parliament Square. Speakers will include performance artist Mark McGowan (aka The Artist Taxi Driver), human rights activist Peter Tatchell plus there will be a supper feast (bring food).
The protestors have also urged members of the public to register their complaints about Police behaviour by calling +44 (0) 20 7230 1212, whether you saw the scenes in person or in videos, whether you live in the UK or abroad.
1. http://occupydemocracy.org.uk/
[caption id="attachment_46941" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] George Barda – Occupy Democracy organizer tries to reason with police.[/caption]
James Varnham wrote a new post, London #OccupyDemocracy protestors retake Parliament Square despite up to 30 arrests this morning 2 years, 1 month ago
Phone: 07751445132 / 07745651634 / 07424934658
Email: email@example.com
Twitter: #occupydemocracy / @occupydemocracy / @occupylondon
NB. Pictures/video are available, plus interviews with people from the occupation can be arranged
Breaking: London #OccupyDemocracy protestors retake Parliament Square despite up to 30 arrests this morning
London #occupydemocracy protestors are trying to reoccupy Parliament Square, despite police attempting to violently crush the protest – which is calling for urgent reforms to our bankrupt democracy – by arresting 20-30 people and removing all equipment and personal items at 11am this morning.
Currently the scene is tense between Police and protestors, with news coming in that more arrests are beginning.
Notably Baroness Jenny Jones of Moulescoomb was amongst the arrestees earlier, until she was dearrested once the Police realised who she was. Donnachadh McCarthy, the whistleblowing former Deputy Chair of the Liberal Democrats and author of The Prostitute State was also arrested.
In attempting to retake the Square, the protestors say that they are resolute and refuse to be silenced by the ongoing physical and emotional torment that the Metropolitan Police and the Heritage Wardens have been putting them through, at the behest of the GLA and the Government.
The #occupydemocracy occupation, which has so far seen thousands of prople supporting them in their call for real democracy across its 4 days on Parliament Square, with around 50-150 occupying the Square overnights, is demanding reforms to our democratic process so that it serves the public interest, rather than the interests of corporations, banks and a tiny wealthy elite.
Speaking about the arrests and events this morning, Labour MP John McDonnell who came quickly to observe said: "I have contacted the Metropolitan Police Commission to condem the disproportionately large number of police officers used to break up what was simply a group of largely young people who wish to use the venue of Parliament square for a time limited period to engage in political discussion. It's what we call democracy."
Baroness Jenny Jones of Moulescoomb who was quickly on the scene was herself arrested until police realised who she was. She said: "I have never been arrested before and I didn't expect it now. It was rough and I'm very shaken up. I am proud to say that my first arrest was in support of Occupy London, Occupy Democracy and everything they stand for."
Shortly before he was arrested, Dan Ashman, now in a cell in Charing Cross Police station said: "This is not democracy, nothing is transparent. We've got secret trade deals like TTIP threatening our democracy, fracking going ahead without our consent, NHS privatisation and rapidly increasing inequality. Nobody voted for any of this. We need to stand up and fight for the things that matter. We need to be allowed to speak, say what we want, where we want. Democracy needs to be real democracy, not in name but in how we practice it. We have been oppressed and silenced this morning."
"We had Yasmin on her 21st birthday, she was the last to be arrested. She chose to spend her birthday standing up for her rights to protest. She's now spending her birthday in the cells."
"Is this what democracy looks like?"
At time of going to press, #occupydemocracy supporters who had not been arrested made their way to Charing Cross and Paddington police stations to offer support.
Complaints about Police behaviour can be made by calling +44 (0) 20 7230 1212, whether you saw the scenes in person or in videos, whether you live in the UK or abroad.
James Varnham wrote a new post, Green politician Jenny Jones arrested in Occupy London protest 2 years, 1 month ago
By Robert Booth
Police have arrested 15 demonstrators at Parliament Square including, for a brief period, the Green Party politician Jenny Jones.
Jones, chairwoman of the London assembly's economy committee and deputy chair of its police and crime committee, went to see what was happening at the Occupy London protest on Tuesday morning after her office had been contacted by protesters complaining about heavy-handed police tactics.
Jones was apparently quickly released by police because, she said, "they don't want more trouble".
Police have arrested 15 demonstrators at Parliament Square including, for a brief period, the Green Party politician Jenny Jones.
Jones, chairwoman of the London assembly's economy committee and deputy chair of its police and crime committee, went to see what was happening at the Occupy London protest on Tuesday morning after her office had been contacted by protesters complaining about heavy-handed police tactics.
Jones was apparently quickly released by police because, she said, "they don't want more trouble".
"They shouldn't have arrested anybody here," she said. "They should have just listened and left them alone."
According to its website, the goal of the Occupy Democracy campaign is to "direct the energy from current single-issue struggles into a critical mass that can radically challenge the corrupt and unrepresentative system".
Jones is on Wednesday due to give an address to the protesters on policing and civil liberties. She went to the protest on Tuesday after hearing that the police had arrived in as many as eight vans and their response to the protest was "disproportionate".
Jenny Jones goes down for defending the right to protest !!!!!! #occupydemocracy pic.twitter.com/jzSaG55xsL
— Occupy London (@OccupyLondon) October 21, 2014
The swoop by police follows a crackdown on Sunday night when large numbers of officers converged on the square to enforce a "desist notice".
Scotland Yard said in a statement on Tuesday: "This morning there were around 15 people demonstrating in Parliament Square. The group on the grassed area had been sleeping on a tarpaulin which is prohibited under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act of 2011, namely they have items with them to enable them to sleep in Parliament Square.
"We informed them of the breach of legislation and asked them to leave, this was done on a one-to-one basis. They were told that if they failed to leave they would be removed from the site and would be liable to summons for the offence.
"The tarpaulin has been removed and 15 people have been arrested for failing to provide details suitable for a summons. They have been taken to a central London police station. Our role is to facilitate peaceful protest whilst balancing the needs of London communities and minimising any disruption. We will not take sides, but we seek to apply the law fairly and proportionately."
James Varnham wrote a new post, #OccupyDemocracy Escalate Their Campaign for Real Democracy 2 years, 1 month ago
Phone: 07751445132 / 07745651634 / 07424934658
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Twitter: #occupydemocracy / @occupydemocracy / @occupylondon
NB. Pictures/video are available, plus interviews with people from the occupation can be arranged
#occupydemocracy Escalate Their Campaign for Real Democracy
Overnight in Parliament Square eight #occupydemocracy protestors prepared to commit an act of non-violent civil disobedience in support of their campaign to highlight the growing democratic deficit (1) in this country by lying down to sleep in sleeping bags on a tarpaulin in Parliament Square (2).
Tarpaulin has become the iconic symbol of the #occupydemocracy protest since their occupation of Parliament Square started at 5pm on Friday 17th October. London Police have been insisting that recent restrictions on the right to protest (3) mean that sitting on a tarpaulin is itself breaking the law. On Saturday and Sunday night police spent a substantial amount of tax payers money in violently (4) trying to confiscate the tarpaulin that protestors were sitting on. On Sunday night 140 officers were counted in opeartion "take the tarp".
One of the eight protestors taking part in this act of non-violent civil disobedience, Claudia Grigg-Edo, said:
"We don't know how the police are going to react but we are prepared to be arrested if that's what it takes to raise the alram about how rotten our democracy has become and to carve out a space for a debate about what needs to be done."
#occupydemocracy supporter George Barda said:
"We've had to face immense torment from the police who are making it as unpleasant as they can for us to be here. In spite of everything we are committed to remaining on the square and building a new movement for radical democratic reform. We want a government that serves the interests of the 99% – not just corporations, banks and a tiny wealthy elite. We have a great programme of speakers lined up for the rest of the week. Come down and help us build popular pressure for change."
John McDonnell tables Early Day Motion in Support of #occupydemocracy
Labour MP John McDonnell will table an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons tomorrow morning calling on the authorities to allow the Occupy movement its democratic right to protest.
(1) In their 2011 report Unelected Oligarchy, the think tank Democratic Audit detailed how: "Corporate and financial elites have inserted themselves into the heart of government over successive administrations, and … continue to exercise a predominant influence over it – through the financing of political parties, think tanks and lobbying organisations, membership of advisory bodies, 'revolving doors' and joint partnerships with government." http://filestore.democraticauditarchive.com/file/de232c951e8286baa79af208ac250112-1311676243/oligarchy.pdf
(2) Footage of the ceremony involving laying the tarpauline and people getting into sleeping bags can be found here: http://bambuser.com/v/5013501 (please do not use without contacting us first).
(3) Provisions of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 seem to have been particularly designed to target the Occupy movement and their use of tents as an effective form of protest.
(4) Police officers were witnessed using choke holds on protestors. The whole operation was recorded by citizens "live streaming" the event. Here is a three minute film by one supporter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nb1J8JsR3w (please do not use without our permission).
James Varnham wrote a new post, Occupy Democracy Livestream Channels 2 years, 1 month ago
Anyone of them at any time could be livestreaming. They are swapping around shifts x
James Varnham wrote a new post, #OccupyDemocracy in Parliament Square: Hands Off Our Tarpaulin! 2 years, 1 month ago
By Tom Fielder
Crossposted from Huffington Post
At eighteen minutes past six on Sunday evening, as soon as the Sun had set, police closed in to break up a group of peaceful protesters sitting together in solidarity on the lawns of Parliament Square. Beneath the helpless gaze of Nelson Mandela, one protester after another was manhandled and forcibly dragged from the neck by encircling gangs of policemen – not because their protest was deemed illegal, but because the tarpaulin they were sitting on is classified as "sleeping equipment" by the Met, and is consequently, since the 2011 Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act, banned from the gardens of Parliament Square.
The protest in question had been organised under the banner of "Occupy", a slogan most recently celebrated in the context of pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong. Britain's#OccupyDemocracy campaigners are demanding reforms to our democratic process "so that it serves the public interest, rather than the interests of corporations, banks and a tiny wealthy elite."
"We know that democracy is not just about having a vote every four, now five years" say the group, who are now four days into a proposed ten day occupation of Parliament Square Gardens, "It is about having the power to make your voice heard."
In the UK today, record numbers of people are homeless, record numbers rely on food banks to feed their families, and record numbers face fuel poverty as energy prices rise eight times faster than wages. At the same time, inequality is back on the rise, making us one of the most unequal countries in the developed world… Nobody voted to be made homeless, hungry or unemployed. It is clear whose voices are being heard. We need to start a movement for real democracy… We need to give ourselves the tools to hold our politicians to account, and to end the corporate lobbying power that drowns our voices out.
Having already been supported with talks and workshops delivered by, among others, Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and Labour MP John McDonnell, speakers on Sunday afternoon included Ann Pettifor (New Economics Foundation) and John Christensen (Tax Justice Network). While the former emphasised the importance of understanding financial markets — and especially of the dangers of deflation in a world enmeshed with debt — the latter exposed the injustices of corporate tax evasion and "competitive" taxation rates.
The #OccupyDemocracy campaigners, are, in other words, not a bunch of disengaged criminals. Described by Russell Brand as "like radicalised ninja turtles", they consist of men and women from a variety of social and ethnic backgrounds, all intent on building a bigger democracy, a better democracy, a real democracy that speaks for the 99%… even if that means being pulled apart by policemen with no better laws to enforce, being forced to sit and stand and sleep in shifts on the muddy lawns of our renowned democracy.
Parliament Square was created as a place to hold protest and democratic assemblies. This is where women gathered in the early years of the twentieth century in order to (often violently) demand their right to vote. Today by contrast, in the early years of the twenty-first century, campaigners are peacefully demanding that they be allowed the right to sit on tarpaulin; that their basic dignity be recognised as peaceful protesters concerned with the direction of Britain's democratic tradition.
Please, if you have any sympathy for these campaigners — even just their right to sit on tarpaulin — then come on down to Parliament Square, if only to toot your horn. The full schedule of speakers and workshops over the coming week can be found here.
The reaction of the Police and the State to the #OccupyDemocracy protest is in complete juxtaposition to David Cameron's recent comments regarding the Occupy Central pro-democracy demonstrations in [H]ong Kong, when he said that "rights and freedoms, including those of person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of travel, of movement, and, indeed, of strike … These are important freedoms … which, most of all, we should stand up for."
Follow Tom Fielder on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mindbollocks
Occupy Movement Occupy Occupy London Democracy Hong Kong Protests
James Varnham wrote a new post, RECOVERY ECONOMIC MYTH DECONSTRUCTED BY OCCUPY 2 years, 1 month ago
Recovery myth promoted by TheCityUK.
Employment in London's financial and related professional services industry has reached a record high, according to TheCityUK. This proclamation of good news needs to be considered in the context of the City's unique role in shaping the economic landscape, recent history and the wider economy, both nationally and globally.
TheCityUK is part of the extensive lobbying machine for the City. In 2011, the City spent £93 million pressing for favourable treatment by legislators and regulators. TheCityUK is a key player in the negotiation of TTIP, CETA, TiSA and other so called "free trade agreements urging deregulation at every opportunity.
One of the major weaknesses cited in the run up to the 2008 financial crisis was the UK's excessive reliance on financial services which has driven out real, wealth creating, economy activity. Yet the banks have got bigger and these employment figures demonstrate that reliance on the illusory benefits of the finance industry is greater than before the crisis.
Financialisation of the global economy has facilitated a dramatic widening of the gap between rich and poor, in the UK and beyond. The latest figures show that only 67 individuals hold as much wealth has half the global population (some 3.5 billion people). Income inequality is now greater than immediately before the Wall Street Crash of 1929 – this rising inequality is a function of the economic system. Such tensions cannot be sustained indefinitely and the current hubris, like the chimera of recovery, will evaporate.
TheCityUK crows about the City's competitiveness versus other financial centres but we all know that self-imposed deregulation and lower taxes are a "race to the bottom" while voluntarily applying the Shock Doctrine, even more vigorously, to the economy. That way madness and chaos lie.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-09-11/us-income-gap-soars-widest-roaring-20sPreview Changes
James Varnham wrote a new post, Police move to clear Occupy protesters from Parliament Square 2 years, 1 month ago
Between 50 and 100 Occupy Democracy protesters remain after police arrest one and evict others after three days in square
Police made one arrest after hundreds of officers converged on Parliament Square in London on Sunday night in an attempt to remove Occupy Democracy protesters.
A Metropolitan police spokesman said that officers were enforcing a notice to desist. The demonstrators, who were in the third day of occupying the square, were given 30 minutes to leave or face arrest.
Possessing items that could be used for sleeping in Parliament Square was made illegal under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.
One protester used a smartphone to send a live video stream of the eviction to the Bambuser website as others condemned the police action on social media.
Officers could be seen dragging away some of the protesters after they refused to leave.
An Occupy spokeswoman described the police action as "absolutely crazy".
She said offficers told them that they could not sit on tarpaulins, which were deemed to be "structures".
Officers did not remove all of the protesters and between 50 and 100 remained in the square late on Sunday night.
The person who was arrested was being held in custody at Charing Cross police station.
Occupy London said on its Twitter feed: "David Cameron supported HK pro-democracy protests but is intent on crushing them in UK w[ith] violence."
The group planned to remain in Parliament Square for another week. According to its website, the goal of the Occupy Democracy campaign is to "direct the energy from current single-issue struggles into a critical mass that can radically challenge the corrupt and unrepresentative system".
James Varnham wrote a new post, Lies Lies Lies 2 years, 1 month ago
By Nathan Shishjamo
As children we are told, lying is bad. That we should never lie to somebody because that's a mark of disrespect. So when does our opinion of lying change? At what point does lying become acceptable in modern society? The political system that we are controlled by does this on an unprecedented scale. And we do nothing. We just let it fly over our heads.
Well let me tell you something, lying is still bad. That fact hasn't changed. But the system has twisted that fact, so now it reads; "lying is bad…for everyone but us." Trusting a politician is like leaving a chunk of meat in front of a hungry lion and trusting it won't devour it. It's insane. But yet we follow them into war. To me war is a filthy word, violence against each other is something that baffles me. But mass violence and murder for causes that aren't clear to us is supported by members of our society! A popular lie for Governments is the word; 'civilise'. They say they are just going across to Afghanistan or Iraq to fight a mystery bad man. One that they basically created by the way, they are going to help the people. Ha! No, to help themselves and the corporations that control them more like. Therefore creating a circle of events. Our Governments invade counties for oil (or other economical benefits) then use that to fund and create weapons to do what with? Invade countries for oil. Companies have been founded on this very systematic flaw. But you're lied to about this, there are so many excuses. "Oh shit! ISIS, this random terrorist group that has just cropped in the middle-east when our excuse for being there was getting a little shaky! What a coincidence!". Is it really though?
Everything we see in this world is based on lies, you look up a product on the internet. Go on do it. What you'll see is an advertising scheme that tells you nothing on that product. But just how great it is. Worded in such a manner that you subconsciously bypass. Because you are so use to it; "Red Bull gives you wings", "I'm loving it", "Just Do It". Our culture is corrupted with lies, and it's leaking into our daily lives. Have you ever found yourself just lying, for no real reason- you just do it? It's not your fault. It's because you are falling into the trap that society has been set up in. Making us change our perception of this precious value we are taught as a child. To not lie.
I fear for humanity, I love life. I'm a very spiritual-being. But when I look around I see a society of sheep. Always wanting. Forced to want, want, want. This can't become our legacy. It's a scary prospect that it can, but it will be set in stone if we don't do something about theses corporate entities polluting the world. Not only with fossil fuels; which is going to have a profound effect in the next ten years. We are in for a huge climate shock. This has been coincidentally blocked out by the media. But more on that another day. What this article is about, is the pollution of lies our Governments and the media feed us, that is being carried through into society by society. Stop it. Wake up. And look at the world. Is this the best humanity can do? I don't think so either.
Nathan Shishjamo
website: shishjamo.wordpress.com (link it please)- it's all about a revolution.
I'm a visionary, I think that we as a community deserve better than what we've got. I've been to numerous occupy protests all around the globe and I am hoping, one day with the help of others to become a true revolutionary.
James Varnham wrote a new post, Update: London police torment #OccupyDemocracy protestors on Parliament Square 2 years, 1 month ago
Phone: 07751445132 / 07745651634 / 07424934658 / 07590 405 810
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Twitter: #occupydemocracy / @occupydemocracy / @occupylondon
NB. Pictures/video are available, plus interviews with people from the occupation can be arranged
Update: London police torment #OccupyDemocracy protestors on Parliament Square
Overnight in Parliament Square,#OccupyDemocracy protestors aiming to draw attention to the growing democratic deficit in the UK, have been enduring systematic torment from the Metropolitan Police and Heritage Wardens, who have been zealously enforcing new restrictions on the right to protest and assembly in the Square (Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011).
The reaction of the Police and the State to the #OccupyDemocracy protest is in complete juxtaposition to David Cameron's recent comments regarding the Occupy Central pro-democracy demonstrations in Kong Kong, when he said that "rights and freedoms, including those of person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of travel, of movement, and, indeed, of strike … These are important freedoms … which, most of all, we should stand up for." [1]
Timeline of #OccupyDemocracy
5pm Friday 17 October – Occupation begins on Parliament Square with an overnight vigil to mark the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty with speakers from groups including War on Want, Fuel Poverty Action and Reverend Dr Keith Hebden (author of Seeking Justice: The Radical Compassion of Jesus). Throughout the night protestors' right to assemble and protest were contravened – with protestors not being allowed to rest and being forced onto the pavement.
Daytime Saturday 18 October – Protestors support the TUC March.
7-10pm Saturday 18 October – Scuffles instigated by police against protestors as Heritage Wardens instruct that the protestors should be removed. Police kettle the protestors. Two protestors are assaulted, several personal items removed. Banners calling for "Real Democracy Now!" and a small, battery-powered sound system – used by speakers such as Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and Labour MP John McDonnell to address the crowd – were all confiscated by the police. Later witnesses say that journalists and photographers were denied access to the protest by the police and removed from the Square. At around 10pm the police back off.
2am Sunday 19 October – Whilst protestors try to rest police arrest attempts were made with further harassment of the group who were huddled together in the mud. Police also confiscated cardboard that protestors had been using to keep warm. One protestor, a 24 year old woman from Manchester, reported that she was not permitted to lean against her own bag as it was camping equipment. Another woman, 65, has an air mattress literally pulled from under her, casting her to the ground.
7am Sunday 19 October – Things calm until 7am when the police entered the gathered crowd to remove printed materials including banners, hand held signs and a flag displaying a rainbow and the word 'Peace'. A woman had the occupation's Safer Spaces sign ripped from her hands as she shouted 'No' – this sign set out the ground rules for behaviour to ensure every individual feels safe, comfortable and welcome.
10.30am Sunday 19 October – Another protestor arrested – police allege that he cut a piece of string.
Upcoming – Sundays' theme is "taming the power of finance" featuring speakers and workshops from UK Uncut, Tax Justice Network, New Economics Foundation and the Robin Hood Tax campaign
On Monday the focus is on the attacks on our public services including NHS privatisation and cuts in welfare benefits.
Details of planned events for the rest of the week at the #occupydemocracy protest can be found at http://occupydemocracy.org.uk/.
The protest, organised by #OccupyDemocracy – a group that grew out of Occupy London – is demanding reforms to our democratic process so that it serves the public interest, rather than the interests of corporations, banks and a tiny wealthy elite.
Alison Playford from #OccupyDemocracy said: "The way the State has responded to our protest with this political policing just shows how frightened the elite are of a new movement pushing for radical democratic reform."
Amongst the flurry of support coming in via social media, support includes:
Labour MP John McDonnell who also spoke at the protest said:
"When politicians and parties ignore them, people have no other option but to take direct action. Occupy Democracy is a way people can have their voice heard."
Donnachadh McCarthy, the whistleblowing former Deputy Chair of the Liberal Democrats and author of The Prostitute State:
"Our political parties have been hijacked by the corporate lobbying classes, our media perverted by a handful of extreme right-wing billionaires, our tax system plundered by the tax-haven elite and our think-tanks, schools and universities increasingly corporately manipulated. Britain is no longer a democracy but a Prostitute State, which is reflected by the rise of UKIP. We desperately need a 21st Century Great Democratic Reform Act to re-gain our democracy for the sake of social and political justice and the very future of our planet's ecosystems."
James Varnham wrote a new post, Breaking: London police attempting to violently and illegally evict peaceful #OccupyDemocracy protestors from Parliament Square 2 years, 1 month ago
9:45pm 18th October
As the #OccupyDemocracy protest in London heads towards the end of its second day, police are attempting to violently close down the peaceful occupation of Parliament Square. [1]
The violent turn of events follows thousands of people marching in London as part of the TUC march against austerity and for a living wage. With around 100 protestors currently kettled and at least 150 around the square, police have tried a number of tactics throughout the protest to remove the protestors, progressively becoming more violent and oppressive in their actions. A number of protestors have already been assaulted and police have confiscated banners and personal items.
Currently the protestors remain determined and resolved, and demand that their right to protest and democratic assembly is facilitated – the very purpose of Parliament Square.
1 Occupy Democracy: http://occupydemocracy.org.uk/ (Overall press release for the nine day occupation below)
A nine-day occupation of Parliament Square[i] starts this evening (Friday 17 October 2014) at 5pm with an overnight vigil to mark the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
This will be a candlelit event with speakers addressing the causes of the rising inequality both in the UK and globally including John Hilary (Executive Director, War on Want), Ruth London (Fuel Poverty Action), Reverend Dr Keith Hebden (author of Seeking Justice: The Radical Compassion of Jesus) and Kofi Mawuli-Klu (Pan-African Reparations Coalition in Europe).
Matilda Wnek of Occupy London said "We will stand in solidarity with those suffering acute poverty and homelessness in the UK, and with the victims of our foreign policy abroad which impoverishes and exploits our fellow men, women and children through economic, diplomatic and military means. We invite members of faith, development and poverty groups to join us. Just bring a candle in a jam jar and in case of rain, an umbrella – yellow if possible."
In the UK today, record numbers of people are homeless, record numbers rely on food banks to feed their families, and record numbers face fuel poverty as energy prices rise eight times faster than wages. Yet while the poor are getting poorer, the rich are getting richer:
– In 2013, 85 individuals owned the same amount of wealth as that owned by the poorest half of the world's entire population. In 2014 that number went down to just 67 individuals.[ii]
– In the UK the disposable incomes of the richest 20% of the population rose by £940 while the rest of the population's declined by £250. The poorest 20% got poorer by £381.[iii]
As Oxfam reported in Tale of Two Britains[iv] in March: "Inequality is a growing problem in the UK. While austerity measures in Britain continue to hit the poorest families hardest, a wealthy elite has seen their incomes spiral upwards, exacerbating income inequality which has grown under successive governments over the last quarter of a century."
George Barda of Occupy London said: "Nobody voted to be made homeless, hungry or unemployed. The 80% of Britons who got poorer over the last year never voted to transfer their money to the rich. Rising inequality is yet another symptom of our broken democracy which we will continue to challenge and expose over the course of the coming nine days in Parliament Square."
Your browser does not support iframes.
[i] http://occupydemocracy.org.uk/category/press/
[ii] http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesinsights/2014/03/25/the-67-people-as-wealthy-as-the-worlds-poorest-3-5-billion/
[iii] http://inequalitybriefing.org/brief/briefing-42-incomes-increased-for-the-richest-last-year-but-fell-for-everyo
[iv] http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/a-tale-of-two-britains-inequality-in-the-uk-314152
James Varnham wrote a new post, NoTTIPers in the London School of Economics Pro TTIP talk – Livestream Audio 2 years, 1 month ago
Occupiers paid a little visit to the pro TTIP talk at the London School of Economics on Monday October 13th.
Question and Answer Time
The Talk
The Event was advertised as such:
Date: Monday 13 October 2014
Time: 6.30-8pm
Venue: Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building
Speakers: HE Sylvie Bermann, Pascal Lamy, Sir Peter Ricketts, Peter Sutherland
Chair: Professor Maurice Fraser
A deal on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership would be a powerful shot in the arm for the world's anaemic economy. But does the political will exist to reap the gains from trade?
Sylvie Bermann is French Ambassador to the UK.
Pascal Lamy is former Director General of the World Trade Organisation (2005-13).
Peter Ricketts (@HMARicketts) is British Ambassador to France.
Peter Sutherland is Chair of the LSE Council, Chairman of Goldman Sachs International and former Director General of the World Trade Organisation (1993-95).
Maurice Fraser is Head of the European Institute at LSE and Professor of Practice in European Politics.
The LSE European Institute (@LSEEI) was established in 1991 as a dedicated centre for the interdisciplinary study of processes of integration and fragmentation within Europe. In the most recent national Research Assessment Exercise, the Institute was ranked first for research in European Studies in the United Kingdom. The LSE European Institute has been a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence since 2009.
The Franco-British Council (@francobritish) was created on the joint initiative of Président Georges Pompidou and Prime Minister Edward Heath in 1972. The Council's purpose is to promote better understanding between Britain and France through seminars and events on topical subjects of the day.
Suggested hashtag for this event for Twitter users: #LSEFBC
This event is free and open to all with no ticket or pre-registration required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For any queries see LSE Events FAQ or contact us at email@example.com or 0207 955 6043.
Media queries: please contact the Press Office if you would like to request a press seat or have a media query about this event, email email@example.com. Please note that press seats are usually allocated at least 24 hours before each event.
From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend that if you plan to attend this event you check back on this listing on the day of the event.
James Varnham wrote a new post, Europe Wide Day of Action Against TTIP 11th October 2 years, 2 months ago
Over 400 actions in 22 different countries took place on 11th October: The Europe Wide Day of Action Against TTIP. Over 1000 protest in London, Parliament Square.
By Inka Stafrace
Information about the planned actions was illustrated wonderfully on the Stop-TTIP-CETA-TiSA website which promptly crashed on the 10th of October due to an overwhelming amount of hits (220,000 in a day) on this unfunded website ran by three individuals. They managed to get it running again but without their piece de resistance; the interactive map. Unquestionably an overriding success for the movement.
Occupy London played a big part in out-reach and spreading the word and still does about not only, the day of action, but also about TTIP itself. It was a day that we showed anyone interested that we are still here, organizing and participating in the change we want to see. We have worked closely with World Development Movement NGO, who helped finance bits and bobs like flyers and banners etc.
So what it TTIP?
Its a free trade agreement that has as much to do with the corporate take over of democracies all over Europe and the US as it does with trade and services. Please visit this semi crashed site for a clear journey into understanding the deal, and the Occupy London page for informative videos.
TTIP was initiated in total secrecy and now that it's existence is known to the public, support for TTIP has become more vocal and sophisticated. Although the finer details of this 'agreement' are far from comforting it should be sufficiently disturbing to know that it is still being negotiated in secret. The public and media have no access to the text and MEPs have limited access despite it being stipulated in the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union that they are to be 'fully informed' of EC negotiations.
Do you trust corporations to serve your best interests?
We began the day faced with another demo happening in the same spot! The Kurds against ISIS demo. We negotiated with them and all went smoothly. They occupied one corner … we kitty kornered from them.
38 degrees people came in force, setting up their tables and giving out flyers.
The banner we worked on for a few days took centre stage . Many protesters involved themselves in holding it and thank heavens for that. As organizers we would not have managed without them.
The photographers had a field day.
About 1000 people turned up.
We set up a ladder and a megaphone for the speakers who included in order of appearance in livestream below.
John Hilary : War on Want – not on livestream
David Babs : 38 degrees (0:00)
Vica Rogers : Occupy London (2:30)
Sam Lowe : Friends of The Earth (4:35)
Someone from the Kurdish protest to tell about their cause (8:14)
Tracey Worcester : Farms not Factories. (9:40)
Housekeeping (14:34)
Annie : Unite the Youth (19:06)
Jan O'Mailey – Keep Our NHS Public (22:11)
Gentleman from the Lewisham Hospital Campaign (27:55)
Jean Lambert : MEP Green Party (32:00)
Morten Theyson : World Development Movement (40:02) (Q&A)
Sara Calloway : Global Woman's Strike (40:41)
Inka Stafrace: Occupy London + Polly Tikke Productions (45:51) (wrap up)
But there was more… oh so much more!!
After the last speaker spoke, we trundled off onto the street , up onto the bridge with the intent of making our voices heard and doing a 'banner drop'.
Once we got onto the bridge , with enormous acknowledgement that we should have thought a few things out through a little more thoroughly we dropped the banner! At least 30 people helped make this possible. The media coverage this action created was moderate on the mainstream press *BBC, and awesome on twitter and other social media.
It is somewhat amazing the things us unpaid activists need to do to get the largest free trade agreement ever negotiated covered by the mainstream media. TTIP is set to give corporations the power to sue national governments, if the governments pass laws that negatively effect their investments. These laws would include environmental laws, health and safety laws to name a few. In a weeks time maybe we can get some young man or woman to jump off Big Ben in a tutu with a parachute , with NoTTIP sprayed on the fabric, so that this dangerous 'trade' deal stays in the media and is repeated as often as it deserves to be. The fight for our democracy (all be it a deeply flawed one) is somewhat important to cover, I should think.
To be fair the main stream press have 'noticed' it in the last month. It has been being negotiated for over a year but whose counting. What is heartening to know is that there are many people working hard to stop TTIP both within the establishment and on the grassroots level. They need all the help they can get. The European Citizen's Initiative against TTIP was rejected by the European Commission but the organizers chose to go through with it anyway to see what the interest is out there. The ECI needs 1,000,000 signatures from all over Europe to transpire and is given over a year to gather them. The Stop TTIP initiative has gathered over 500,000 signatures in less than a month! Join in and be part of the change you want to see. Spread those leaflets, talk to family and friends. The more horrified members of the public there are, the more likely we are to collectively stop TTIP.
The short march onto the bridge and the behind the scenes looks at the banner drop!
Images : Fanny Malinen , Polly Tikkle, Peter Marshall. Livestream : Obi-Live
Coverage :
RT embedded .
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29584889 (note footage taken after rally rather than during it)
More info
The End 🙂
James Varnham wrote a new post, NAOMI KLEIN: TTIP & FRACKING : OCTOBER 11th 2 years, 2 months ago
Naomi Klein supported both actions on October 11th: The Global Frackdown Day and the European Day of Action Against TTIP, at her fantastic, life affirming (for activists at any rate!) talk last night.
Naomi plugged these actions at the very end of her talk and did not quite get the chance (maybe she was unaware) that in an attempt to address the awkward result that both actions are on the same day, the organizers have made sure that both actions on October 11th are at different times in the day and close by, location wise, so that supporters can make it to both!
TTIP and fracking are closely related in essence because TTIP is the legal framework that would render the fight against fracking legally impossible to truly "win".
Global Frackdown is in the morning :
11 October 2014
11:00 am Golden Square, Soho, London W1R 3AD
NoTTIP is in the early afternoon
11 October 2014
02:00 pm
Parliament Square Westminster, London SW1
[hozbreak]Fracking is the fuel extraction process that threatens our water supply, air cleanliness and promotes further climate change while sending a clear message to the UK that Westminster does not represent the people but in fact energy companies.
TTIP is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership that promises to give corporations the right to sue governments if governments pass laws that will affect their investment via the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provision. There are many other matters to fear about TTIP not least the fact that it is being negotiated with such tenacious 'confidentiality' that many believe it defies the regulations as stipulated in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Both actions are international days of action and both causes are phenomenally important as both TTIP and fracking threaten our lifestyles and the future well being of both planet and people.
It is important to accept that there are people within the establishment who are fighting the good fight, but their fight is hard and they are outnumbered so they need the public support both emotionally and logistically via contributions through letters, petitions, and involvement.
Believe that this world can be a better place and join the movements that encourage positive, socially conscious, planet loving change.
James Varnham wrote a new post, OCCUPY DEMOCRACY VIDEOS 2 years, 2 months ago
More detailed explanation from George on why we need a revolution in democracy.
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text:
Thanks in part to the popularity of "The Hunger Games" book series and movies, more and more people are taking up archery.
According to the Outdoor Foundation, the number of Americans participating in archery has grown over the past year.
Before you head out and take on this new sport, consider these tips before you get started:
- Find a qualified instructor. According to USA Archery, there are numerous clubs and instructional programs offered around the country to teach people the fundamentals of the sport.
- Rent before you buy. Before making an investment in equipment before you've decided if archery is a sport you're going to stick with, consider first renting equipment. This will also help you determine what kind of equipment you'd like to eventually purchase.
- Be patient with yourself. It may take a while before you've mastered archery and are hitting the center each time.
- Get your arms ready. Those with more upper body strength may find it easier to compete in archery.
- Practice! Just like any sport, the more you practice the better you'll become.
Have fun! While it may be frustrating to watch arrow after arrow miss the target while you're learning, try to have fun and keep perspective

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Togo projects
|Projects in Togo
|This page is a listing of all Projects in Togo.
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Oscars' Best Pictures in posters: 1928-2014
Published On: Feb 17 2012 08:47:15 AM CST Updated On: Apr 01 2015 01:55:10 PM CDT
Since the Academy Awards started handing out Oscars in 1928, more than 80 films have received the Best Picture Oscar. With this year's Oscars right around the corner, take a look at the posters for the winners through the years.
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Coaches at Utah's Union High School suspended the entire football team -- both varsity and junior varsity -- right before the big homecoming game.
The Cougars have had a few academic issues this season, as well as some attitude problems.
Last week, the coaches learned that a player or players may have been involved in the anonymous cyber bullying of another student.
"It just felt like everything was going in a direction that we didn't want our young men going and so we felt like we needed to make a stand," said head coach, Matt Labrum.
So after Friday's home game, the coaches made all of their players hand in their jerseys. Players left the locker room in tears telling their parents the team had been disbanded.
But their season wasn't over. Players were being given the option to play again under some very specific terms outlined in a letter signed by the entire coaching staff. The letter called for the election of new team captains, two days of community service instead of practice, mandatory attendance at a character education class and at a study hall session.
Some feared the punishment might be too extreme, while others said Labrum knows his players and what's best for them.
The school district and the school said they've had nothing but support from parents.
So far all of Labrum's players are on track to earn the privilege of wearing the black and gold again. They're also learning the lessons their coaches hoped they would.
"It's not all about football, you know," said player Gavin Nielsen.


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Red Kap® - Short Sleeve Striped Industrial Work Shirt. CS20
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Over-the-top outdoor Christmas light displays have lately become a holiday trend, and one South Carolina home doesn't want to be left behind.
An Anderson county homeowner unveiled the dancing triple-colored Christmas lights in his front yard. The LED lights his family shaped like Christmas trees synced up to holiday music.
The alternating green, red, and yellow lights flashed on and off to the beat, and slinky bright lights hopped to and fro his lawn.
The neighborhood attraction lures many passersby to stop and enjoy the light display. The light show happens every night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 190 Rice Circle, Anderson, South Carolina 29625.
"We expect no donations. Stop by and listen to the lights," said the Ulocal user who submitted the video.


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Best of the worst: Mug shot hall of shame
Published On: Jun 18 2012 09:56:31 AM CDT Updated On: Mar 08 2016 11:25:47 AM CST
Check out these lookers who ran into the law.
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Troll Science
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Recent Awardees
How It Works
The Cheezburger Collectibles program is ending on January 15th, 2012. Your existing Collectibles will still be featured and viewable on your Cheezburger Profile.
Gift: We've extended the end of the gifting period by a month -- trade your extra collectibles with others to complete your sets through May 15th, 2012.
Buy: On January 15th, 2012, every previously offered collectible will be available for purchase at the price of 1 coin until the completion of the program on April 15th, 2012.


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Ava Casias isn't just any 2-year-old -- born with Profound Hearing Loss, Casias was referred to the Presbyterian Ear Institute, where she would be given a shot at hearing.
Two Cochlear implants were surgically attached to the back of her head.
Now the only difference between Casias and other 2-year-olds is those implants. Since the procedure, Casias has been more excited about talking and playing with her cousin.
Mercedes Benz of Albuquerque is sponsoring a tournament benefiting PEI, that will be held at the Sandia Golf Club.
It's $500 for a two-person team, and the winners will compete in Hawaii in November.
The deadline to enter is Aug. 20, space permitting. The tournament will be held Friday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m.


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A Bel Air teenage boy did something that most men wish they had the guts to do. He asked a Sports Illustrated and International model to prom.
Jake Davidson, who is reportedly a senior at Milken Community High School in Bel Air, posted a YouTube video 5 days ago asking the bombshell beauty to his high school prom.
Kate Upton is not the first celebrity to get a YouTube invite from a fan. She joins the ranks of Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Betty White, Linda Hamilton, and Jeremy Lin.
As the video began to go viral, Upton replied via twitter saying, "How could I turn down that video! I'll check my schedule ;) ".
So what happened next?
The Today Show brought the young man on their show on Wednesday and hoped to get a final answer from the model on live TV.
Well, Kate is still checking her schedule and now Davidson and many others wait with bated breath for Upton's final answer.
Watch the gutsy prom invite by Jeremy Davidson below.


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Actors who have played presidents
Published On: Oct 24 2011 11:23:37 AM CDT Updated On: Aug 12 2013 08:51:50 AM CDT
Robin Williams and an all-star cast of actors portray past presidents in "The Butler." Take a look at other actors who have played the Commander in Chief.
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The Web's Most Excellent Pics Of 4.24.13!
Posted by Break.com Staff on Apr. 24, 2013
So many controversial and buzzed about movies came out this year, but what ...
Hey Break fans! Check out our latest compilation, Failing at Life II! Let u...
Learn everything you need to know about how to survive a plane crash!
Posted by Break.com Staff on Apr. 24, 2013


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Vt. arms dealer sues over Romanian semiauto weapons
At a time when talk of gun control has led to a run on weapons and ammunition sales at gun shops around the country, a Vermont company thats the largest importer and wholesaler of surplus weapons in North America, is engaged in a legal battle with a Colorado company for allegedly siphoning off as much as $4 million in profits.
Century International Arms of Georgia alleges in its federal lawsuit that M+M Inc. of Eastlake, Colo., solicited business from C.N. Romarm S.A., the Romanian government-owned weapons company, in violation of what the company says is tantamount to an exclusivity contract to import and sell certain Romarm weapons in the U.S.
On Tuesday, eight months after the lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Vermont, M+M Inc. filed a response denying all of Century Internationals allegations while seeking dismissal of the case.
Century International Arms (www.centuryarms.com), which operates a manufacturing and distribution center in the Arrowhead Industrial Park in Georgia, imports a variety of surplus weapons, including the popular Romanian WASR-10 semiautomatic rifle.
Century takes the imported weapons and makes modifications at its Georgia facility to meet U.S. gun laws. The modified firearms are then sold to gun dealers as the GP/WASR 10/63 KR.
Centurys corporate address is in Delray Beach, Fla.
As a result of M+Ms interference with its contracts with Romarm/FAC, Century has been unable to fill its customers orders, harming Centurys reputation and crippling its ability to meet demand, according to the companys June 2012 lawsuit.
FAC (S.C. Fabrica De Arme Cugir) is Romarms manufacturing subsidiary.
Century and Romarm have been doing business for 10 years. The latest contract dated March 2011 requires Romarm to sell a specified number of weapons each month.
In exchange, Century agreed to pay Romarm, on average, a minimum of $1.35 million per quarter and a minimum of $350,000 a month, the eight-page lawsuit stated.
But Century said while it has lived up to its part of the agreement, Romarm/FAC has failed to deliver the required quantity of firearms to century under the 2011 contract.
In addition to the contract, Century points out that the companies also signed a Business Promotion and Protection Agreement. The companies agreed to be loyal to each other and to work jointly to promote the sales of Romanian firearms and accessories in the United States.
Century is barred from filing suit against Romarm because the contracts are subject to arbitration.
The lawsuit points out that the agreements require both Century and Romarm to participate in arbitration in Paris under international rules.
Century alleges that its inability to meet demand is based in part on Romarm selling surplus weapons to M+M Inc (www.cogunsales.com). At the time the lawsuit was filed, Romarm had already supplied M+M with 12,405 firearms and accessories in the previous 18 months and agreed to supply the Colorado wholesaler with an additional 24,000 firearms and accessories from August through February 2013.
Century argues that it is entitled to all weapons and accessories sold to M+M.
M+Ms usurping of those firearms and accessories has deprived Century of millions of dollars in revenue and close to $2 million on profit in the last twelve monthsm, the lawsuit said. If M+M receives shipment of the remaining 24,000 firearms and accessories through February 2013, Centurys lost profits will more than double.
In a letter dated Sept. 2, 2011, Century notified M+M of its exclusive contract with Romarm. M+M replied in a letter five days later that it would take Centurys letter into consideration.
Centurys lawsuit alleges that since at least May 2011, M+M has taken action to disrupt Centurys relationship with Romarm and advising Romarm to violate its agreements with Century.
The lawsuit further alleges that two foreign companies, InterOrdinance Austria and CIT Bahamas are helping M+M in its dealings with Romarm.
In its eight-page response filed with the court, M+M alleged that whatever damages Century incurred were caused by the acts or omissions of third parties (Romarm) beyond its control. The Colorado arms wholesaler also argued that the contracts in question expired prior to M+M doing business with Romarm. In addition, M+M alleged that the exclusivity provision violate the laws of Romania and the European Union.
Century is asking the court to award damages of at least $4 million, plus punitive damages and attorneys fees.
M+M is represented by Pamela Moreau of the Burlington law firm of Murphy Sullivan Kronk and John Zakhem of Denver, Colo.
Century International Arms is represented by Andrew Manitsky of Gravel & Shea in Burlington.
Attorneys representing Century and M+M declined to comment for this story.
firstname.lastname@example.com IN World/National BusinessWASHINGTON Long-term U.S. Full StoryNEW YORK Its not just the musical Hairspray that will air live on NBC tonight. Full StoryOXON HILL, Md. Far from the Las Vegas Strip, MGM Resorts International opens its $1. Full Story
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Reversible Black/Crystal Drop Hoop Earring
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The inside story: Hand-cast hoops reverse from a sparkling crystal solitaire to a black enamel dot. Wear with the Silvertone Circle & Square Bracelet and Necklace. Glass crystal/epoxy; rhodium-finish, nickel-free metal. Drop hoops slide off the huggie closure with surgical steel snap-post. 1.6".
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Silver disks catch rays on a black leather sandal sitting on a wood-stacked wedge. Leather upper. Imported.
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'Amour' a powerful tale of love measured through loss
You know that phrase "Till death do you part"?
"Amour" is what that looks like. »Read Full Article
Milwaukee Rep adds Janis Joplin show to lineup
The Milwaukee Repertory Theater has added a new production, featuring the music of Janis Joplin, to the end of its current season.
"One Night With Janis Joplin," starring Mary Bridget Davies, will run May 3 through June 2 in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, 108 E. Wells St. »Read Full Article(1)
Milwaukee Music Video: See Calliope's treatment for 'Miller City Blues'
Should Apple ever decide to resurrect the iconic dancing silhouettes featured in its iPod commercials, Calliope's latest music video would make a strong audition reel.
I was impressed by the Milwaukee band's spirited set at Riverwest Fest last December and a sound that knocks loudly on The Doors. But as the title of this song, "Miller City Blues," will attest, this is a blues tune, seasoned with tangy harmonica. Victor Buell IV, Calliope's vocalist and guitarist, directed the video, embedded below. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
New MKE Music: Dana Coppa & Mammyth - Just Doing Ill. A Tribute
New music dropped today from rapper Dana Coppa and producer Mammyth in honor of the late great J. Dilla. A couple weekends ago we held "Raise It Up: A Celebration Of J Dilla" (footage coming soon), where all Milwaukee MCs, DJs and artists got together and held a tribute for J Dilla. Everyone put their own spin on Dilla's work but Dana Coppa and Mammyth did something pretty special, as he explains below: »Read Full Blog Post
Alkaline Trio show at Rave among new concert announcements
Pop punk institution Alkaline Trio, hailing from across the state border in McHenry, Ill., is making a tour stop at the Rave June 1.
Milwaukee Air & Water Show dates announced
The annual Milwaukee Air & Water Show will be held Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 along Milwaukee's Lakefront, organizers have announced.
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, celebrating their 60th anniversary, will headline the show. »Read Full Article(2)
Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards at Turner Hall April 14
The Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards are returning to Turner Hall Ballroom for the 33rd annual showcase April 14—and will be preceded the night before by a five-venue music festival dubbed "Downtown Alive."
Semifinalists announced for James Beard awards include Bryant's, Aprahamian, Swanson
Wisconsin semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards announced Tuesday include Bryant's Cocktail Lounge for best bar program, and the Madison restaurant Forequarter for best new restaurant.
Elizabeth Dahl of Nostrano in Madison is nominated for outstanding pastry chef and Daniel Bonanno of A Pig in a Fur Coat is nominated for rising star chef of the year, for chefs under 30. And L'Etoile in Madison is a semifinalist for outstanding wine program. All are national categories. »Read Full Blog Post
Design Ideas: A History of Future Cities
It is one of the great questions of our time: How can developing countries and cities modernize without losing their indigenous qualities, their unique regional characteristics.
Tracy Morgan to perform at Pabst Theater May 5
Nearly three years after a scheduled Riverside Theater appearance was abruptly canceled due to a filming conflict, comedian Tracy Morgan will return to Milwaukee on May 5 with a show at the Pabst Theater.
Morgan, a "Saturday Night Live" alumnus who played unhinged TV actor "Tracy Jordan," an exaggerated version of himself on NBC's recently concluded "30 Rock," is spending his initial post-"Rock" days doing stand-up comedy. His Milwaukee show will be part of what's being dubbed the "Excuse My French" tour. »Read Full Article
Channels 18 and 24 face DirecTV blackout
Here they go again.
This time, Milwaukee stations WVTV-TV (Channel 18) and WCGV-TV (Channel 24) face a blackout on DirecTV. It is the latest in a string of retransmission disputes between satellite and cable services and content providers »Read Full Blog Post(10)
On Tap Today: Milwaukee garage bands through the decades
Rock and roll, in its purest form, isn't about sex and drugs and fame and fortune. For the vast majority of amateur musicians interviewed for the new book "Milwaukee Garage Bands: Generations of Grassroots Rock," playing in a band was primarily about "how great it felt to play loud music with their buddies," said the book's author Peter Roller.
Canadian power trio Rush to headline Marcus Amphitheater on July 4
The loud booms of fireworks will have some strong competition in Milwaukee on July 4: Rush has been confirmed as Summerfest's Marcus Amphitheater headliner on Independence Day.
The Canadian progressive rock trio - Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson - is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year and will be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April. Rush released its 19th studio album last June, "Clockwork Angels." »Read Full Article(77)


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Does the occurrence of an ovarian cyst affect a female's chances of becoming pregnant? According to the Mayo Clinic, certain types of cysts can affect a woman's fertility.
The Mayo Clinic states that two types of cysts are most likely to affect chances of pregnancy. Those include endometriomas and cysts resulting from polycystic ovaries.
Endometriomas are cysts caused by endometriosis, which is a condition where the tissue that is meant to line your uterus grows on the outside of the uterus, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is when a female suffers from many, small cysts on her ovaries and may also suffer from irregular periods and high levels of certain hormones, the Mayo Clinic states.
There are also some types of cysts that shouldn't impact a woman's ability to get pregnant.
According to the Mayo Clinic, functional cysts (cysts that form during a normal menstrual cycle), cystadenomas (growths in the ovaries) and dermoid cysts (cysts that contain tissue instead of fluids) should not affect a woman's fertility.


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Posted 14 February 2013 - 03:17 PM
Dude had absolutely zero skill but big ups to you in the sky still. Up there you can scam all the white women youn want.
Posted 14 February 2013 - 05:29 PM
Posted 14 February 2013 - 07:14 PM
Posted 15 February 2013 - 12:52 PM
Posted 15 February 2013 - 01:06 PM
Me and my boys had plenty of laughs listening to it. But it was never a real thing for me. I kind of class him in with Bon Jovi. Albums I put on for a laugh. The beats are good, and I guess his whole Fuck Compton thing was understandable, but kinda unnecessary I mean no disrespect. But I laughed at his tunes more than dug em. Just my opinion.
Posted 16 February 2013 - 04:48 PM
Shit. All respect due.
Dude had absolutely zero skill but big ups to you in the sky still. Up there you can scam all the white women youn want.
This has to be the most disrespectful RIP thread I've ever seen. Really, are you trying to impress us or something by suggesting you listen to more skilled MCs, because personally I don't give a shit.
You don't have to be Rakim or Kane to have dropped a classic album. Penicillin on Wax is a classic album. Most hilarious diss record ever released. I listen to it for the same reason I listen to Eazy E, to laugh my ass off.
The Ultra record he did with Kool Keith was also a great record. He has plenty of credibility.
And fuck diabetes.
Posted 16 February 2013 - 08:32 PM
And fuck diabetes.
Posted 16 February 2013 - 08:54 PM
And read up.
Me and my boys had plenty of laughs listening to it. But it was never a real thing for me. I kind of class him in with Bon Jovi. Albums I put on for a laugh. The beats are good, and I guess his whole Fuck Compton thing was understandable, but kinda unnecessary I mean no disrespect. But I laughed at his tunes more than dug em. Just my opinion.
Posted 17 February 2013 - 10:50 AM
I admit I felt kinda bad J-Syxx for saying he was a joke, but that was what his rap career was to me, more than anything else. He came out with a super hardcore diss album aimed at Compton and Easy E and did jack squat else ever. Then, last year, he pops back up on tv because he was busted conning silly white women. Apparently, the joke continued. Then he died. Sorry. But a nice arc in my opinion.
And read up.
Tim Dog has like six albums, and he has classic guest spots on stuff like Ultramagnetic MCs - A Chorus Line. He just didn't suddenly dissappear after POW and that wasn't the only thing he did. If he never got maisntream attention again, well, the record industry is a bitch. I'm not going to judge him based on that. But if you kept tabs on underground shit, chances are you have heard his name name since 1991. Tim Dog is a real MC from the Bronx. Plenty of people in hip hop, including prominent MCs and even people from the westcoast, respect him. He just wasn't some creation. Frankly, I enjoy his super hard, over the top delivery and persona for the same reason I like westcoast gangsta rappers in the same vein. I never listened to him and thought he was weak either.
As for whether or not that diss concept album was a "real" thing, I think it's totally beyond the point. When I listen to NWA, for example, I don't think I interpret all the shit they rap about as the god given truth. The reason I love Eazy E is he goes so over the top to the point it was ridiculous, rapping like he was the hardest person on Earth and would shoot anyone, even your grandmother. I can for example, listen to the Chronic, and then put on Eazy records where he disses the shit out of Dre and Snoop and laugh my ass off over it. In the same way, I can play NWA and then play POW right afterwards and enjoy both. I don't know if people on the westcoast caught feelings over that record, but I don't think it should be interpreted that way. I also think it was a good thing to do at the time in the context of NWA and westcoast hip hop getting endless media attention for their gangsta image. In some way, it may have helped other hard New York shit that came out later like Wu-Tang or whatever else indirectly by helping create the context in the public concisouness for a more hardcore New York gangsta rap image.
As for him catfishing some chick, I just thought it was irrelavanet. A good amount of the MCs we love have done stupid egregious shit and I don't think their work as artists should be judged on that. When I think about Slick Rick, for example, I don't think about him trying to blast his cousin. I must have been out of the loop recently on this stuff, becuase I didn't even hear about this internet scam until yesterday. I just know him for his musical output.
Posted 19 February 2013 - 11:28 AM
- gEEchieDan likes this
Posted 16 May 2013 - 01:20 PM
- DJ Primate likes this
Posted 17 May 2013 - 05:13 AM
Posted 26 June 2013 - 10:18 AM
White women, you have been warned.
Kool Kieth Says He Is a Alive. "TIM DOG. I"M THE MUTHERFUCKING MAN."
Posted 16 September 2014 - 03:52 PM
Nope, he dead.
Posted 16 September 2014 - 04:50 PM
Posted 31 October 2014 - 12:39 PM
this shit made Dateline NBC news haha:
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