John Rees' excellent new tellyvision programme: Timeline. Afghanistan this week

EMERGENCY PROTEST DOWNING ST MONDAY 13 JULY 5-7PM.

Ten British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in as many days, bringing the total to 179 and equalling the number of UK deaths in Iraq. The troop "surge" which was meant to pacify Helmand province has become a nightmare for the British army.

This unwinnable war must stop now. All British troops must be withdrawn to prevent any more futile deaths, and to stop the carnage suffered by the Afghan people.

Stop the War has called an emergency protest at Downing Street on Monday 13 July, 5-7pm. Please spread the word now.

* JOIN THE PROTEST, DOWNING STREET, MONDAY 13 JULY, 5-7pm
* SIGN THE TROOPS OUT NOW PETITION: http://bit.ly/ft6BP

*Volunteer for International Womens' Peace Service in Palestine*

The International Women's Peace Service in Palestine (IWPS-Palestine) is a team of women human rights workers, who provide international accompaniment to Palestinian civilians, document and non-violently intervene in human rights abuses and support acts of non-violent resistance to end the illegal Israeli occupation and building of the apartheid wall.

IWPS-Palestine is currently inviting applicants from women who would like to join our team of volunteers. Successful applicants will serve a minimum of one three month term in Palestine and support our on-going work outside. Deadline for application 30.09.09. Please contact iiwpstraining@yahoo.com for more info

http://www.iwps-pal.org/en/index.php

No to Miss-Ogyny! Protest against Miss England 6:30pm Monday 20th of July

2009 and again we see a rise in the return of this sexist competition that our comrades fought against over 40 years ago.

One of the contestants for this years Miss England even boasts in her application of having fought in the Iraq war (liberating women military style?)

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=96686983324&ref=mf

Called for by Mind the Gap: London Student Feminists, Object, London Feminist Network, Feminist Fightback, NUS, UNISON, UCU, and Socialist Worker Student Society.

Speakers include

JUDITH ORR- author of ‘Sexism and the System’

ALEX CALLINICOS- Author and professor from Kings College

LIV BAILEY- NUS Women’s Officer

40 years ago feminist activists succeeded in banning the Miss World contest. In celebration of this eminent anniversary, we will ban it again and invite you to join us in the struggle.

6:30pm Hilton Edgeware Road.

WHY PROTEST?

The 2009 Miss England claims to be ‘Myth Busting’ including degree students, war veterans and sports women. It also supports B-eat and eating disorders charity and claims to have ‘no size zeros’. Yet, whatever shape, size, ethnicity, and occupation the contestants are, the competition still remains a beauty contest; promoting the judgment of women according to set parameters. Whether they are an Iraq veteran, or a clinical psychologist, upon that platform their worth is reduced to a vacuous stereotype.

OBJECTIFICATION

We see the resurgence of beauty pageants as indicative of a backlash against the fragile gains that feminism has won. In a society where ¼ women will experience violence, 92% of vice chancellors are women and 75% of people living in poverty are women, challenging the objectification of women is becoming widely recognised as attacking the roots of gender subordination in wider society. OBJECT sees the objectification of women as seen in advertising, lads mags, strip clubs, and beauty pageants as promoting the dehumanisation of women, that leads them to be seen as subordinate in society, encouraging and legitimising exploitation and violence. See OBJECTs website for more info, evidence and how you can take action.

DISCRIMINATION AND WELFARE

The notion of beauty attached to the image promoted by beauty pageants is discriminatory according to gender, sexuality, age, race, and disability. In a society where we are bombarded with commercial images, trying to uglify us into buy into this notion of beauty, it is almost impossible not to judge oneself and each other according to these ideals. Whether we choose to accept or reject them we are left chasing what is essentially a mirage of digitally touched up perfection, creating body disphormia that leads to eating disorders, depression, and pits women against one another in life, not just on a platform.

Only one woman can win a crown, pageants divide rather unite us, preventing us from demanding our rights and freedoms.

FOR MORE INFO

Mind the Gap http://londonstudentfeminists.blogspot.com/ (flier)

Object http://object.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/beauty-pageants (includes useful FAQs and factsheet)

Miss England http://www.missengland.info/

Info and press enquiries contact londonstudentfeminists@googlemail.com or call 07595672964

COMING SOON>>>>>

20th of July

Before Miss England we will be holding a rally in the afternoon at the GLA consultation on rape crisis centres (email to follow this one)

Rees on Lukacs on Lenin

Everyone's raving about it. Unfortunately I missed it at Marxism 2009 and still have a wild Trojan trampling round my computer so have no sound and, therefore, cannot watch it myself.

Take note that most of the contributions are from our well respected Scottish comrades-what are they doing so well that makes them so theoretically knowledgeable? A fair bit of theory-praxis in equal measure me guesses. Ah, if only we could say the same.

Halo von Berlin in a Burkhini

Ok, so I don't mean to show off but, yes, I am on holiday. Berlin man, the geilest place on earth.

In Kreuzberg where there is a large Muslim/Turkish population I came across this halal swimsuit-the Burkhini!! There is a discussion on the usefulness of these fine piece of ingenuity HERE

Off to Hoppetosse at Treptower Park for finest 'Reggae Party', namely Reggae, Ragga and dancehall. On a boat on a beautiful part of Berlin-will send photos in morning.

Tscheuss

Let me know if you need anything from here...

Lobby of Home Office TMRW 5.30-6.30pm: Our cleaners are not criminals!

Let them stay..

Our cleaners are not criminals!

Staff and students at SOAS are calling for Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for the Home Office, to grant leave to remain with permission to work for Marina Silva and Rosa dePerez, two of the SOAS cleaners picked up in a brutal immigration raid on 12^thJune. Marina, who is 63 and has applied for asylum, following het brutal honour killing of her husband and threats to her own life, and Rosa, who has four children to support in Nicaragua, remain in detention following the raid. Their colleagues, including six months pregnant Luzia, were deported within 48 hours of the raid.

Cleaners at SOAS had demanded and organised for dignity at work with many joining a union. They had succeeded in winning union recognition from the privatised cleaning firm ISS and raising their pay to the London Living Wage—higher than other colleges in the area. It is of grave concern that the raid, organised by ISS, took place shortly after this campaign and on the very day on which UNISON was due to protest in support of an activist who had played a leading role in organising the cleaners at SOAS.

Please support our campaign:

Lobby the Home Office, Tuesday 30^th June, 5.30-6.30pm

2 marsham st, millbank, Sw1

Sign the letter requesting leave to remain is granted to Marina and Rosa

http://freesoascleaners.blogspot.com/2009/06/send-this-letter-to-home-office-now.html

For more information go to: http://freesoascleaners.blogspot.com/

Stop the Deportation of SOAS University Cleaners!

Supported by SOAS SU, UNISON and UCU

State the bleeding obvious

I know it looks like a razor but this lovely, ergonomically designed state-of-the-art piece of equipment is actually a vegetable peeler. Mind you, either one could be potentially fatal if used incorrectly so I am so thankful to the kind manufacturers for warning us of any impeding danger.

On a more serious (no really) note, I actually want to recommend this lovely friendly item.

When I worked in restaurant kitchens I actually really enjoyed peeling carrots-i can speedpeel which made me VERY popular! But the trouble with most peelers is that they are only designed for use in one direction only. This one, however, clever little thing, has a swivel head for use left handed, right handed, and either horizontally or vertically (i personally prefer the blade the other way round to in this photo-it makes it easier to peel quickly).

And the blade is made from non-rusting silicon so will not blunt and hence last for years .

Great, fab...

So, hope you are all now inspired to rush out and buy this beautiful thing.

SOAS Occupiers host lunchtime filmshowing & food at Marxism

HANDS OFF OUR WORKMATES

Please join the Facebook group if you are coming so we know how much food to prepare.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=96483986237&ref=ts

If you are not on facebook, leave your name and number of people below in the comments on the blog: http://freesoascleaners.blogspot.com/2009/06/soas-occupiers-host-lunchtime.html

Saturday, 4th July. 1-2pm on SOAS grass.

Please join us for an outdoor filmshowing of a number of our videos and photos's. Followed by discussion, Q&A's and Equadorian food.

===================================

On 12th June cleaners at Soas were rounded up by immigration officials at an early morning meeting.

9 people were detained consequently 5 have been deported, one was over 6 months pregnant and one has had a heart attack and received absolutely no medical assistance not even water.

SOAS students, staff and supporters occupied the Directors offices from 10am.

We filmed the whole thing. We want you to show you what we did and will answer questions and discuss where next for the campaign.

Start up your own campaign. If this can happen at SOAS of all places it can happen anywhere. This needs to be stopped. Our fellow workmates should not be living in a state of fear.

HANDS OFF OUR WORKMATES

Including food and discussion.

PLEASE RSVP so we know how much food to prepare.

If it is raining we will transfer to our common room.

This is a truly SOAS affair-we hope you join us.

Why soldiers quit the army. A letter speaks a thousand theses.

I have been trying to talk my cousin out of joining the army for a while now: I have sent her websites, leaflets, blog posts and all sorts to make her realise the realities of what you sign up for.

I don't think anything can put it as strongly as a heart felt letter from a currently serving, although AWOL, soldier. My Dad would have written something similar.

The following letter was sent in to Socialist Worker.

Why soldiers quit the army

British soldiers are not deserting the army due to mental illness or cowardice. They go Awol because the army puts soldiers through so much harassment and bullying.

The army and government don’t tell you that you will be treated as a slave. The only professionalism in the army is from the ordinary soldier not our leaders.

I’m Awol have no intention of returning, and sorry, no I don’t feel bad about it! The army turned it’s back on the lads but expects us to give a crap? What hypocrisy!

If I had known how unfair, unprofessional, sadistic, demeaning, racist, and bullying the army is I would have never ever signed up for the biggest lie ever!

The army turns brave young lads into fearful oppressed cowardly men who do as their told or else. This is not a professional way to go about doing things.

They can’t get soldiers to respect them so they get them to fear them! It’s an ungrateful evil backstabbing institution.

A Soldier

Our response to the Iranian election crisis

Campaign Iran has issued the following statement on the ongoing crisis in Iran.

Campaign Iran is an organisation which works solely with the aim of halting the threat of war and the continuing sanctions on Iran. Therefore, we clearly do not express an opinion on individual candidates within the Iranian election, nor any particular preference.

However, as an activist based campaign we always support the right of protest and condemn the repression of any demonstrations in Iran from the state. We support democracy and human rights in Iran and believe that the current movement which has taken to the streets vindicates our position that the Iranian people, and only the Iranian people, have the ability and the right to

make change in Iran as they best see fit. It is clear that the democracy movement can fight its own battles and we support their struggle.

Read the full article HERE

A deeper analysis from Counterfire is HERE

There are a couple of main points we must pay attention to:

• we must throw our full support behind those who have taken to the streets in Iran against their rulers
• At the same time we must also highlight the hypocrisy of our own governments and media organisations
  
• we must warn against the dangers of imperialist powers abusing the situation by continuing to our campaign against the existing suffocating sanctions and any catastrophic plans for war. That way, we allow the Iranian democracy movement to continue without foreign intervention or interference

Lowkey helps launch Campaign against Islamophobia 'KAFA!'

Stop the War is launching a campaign against Islamophobia called KAFA (Arabic for “enough”), alongside a number of Muslim organisations, George Galloway's office, the rapper Lowkey and other well known figures.

This is in response to increasing police and government attacks on Muslims, widespread media bias and racism, now encouraged by the election of two BNP MEPs.

The campaign will be launched with a press conference in Parliament on Thursday 25 June and by this London public meeting on Friday 26 June. Speakers include:

Daud Abdullah, Muslim Council of Britain

George Galloway MP,

Anas Al-Tikriti, British Muslim Initiative

Diane Abbott MP

Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition

Ismail Patel, Friends of Al-Aqsa

Abdulrahman Jafar, Muslim Safety Forum

LOWKEY

Muslims in Britain are facing attacks on many fronts.

Read the full statement: http://stopwar.org.uk/images//kafa_statement.pdf

Venue:

Bishopsgate Institute

230 Bishopsgate

London, EC2M 4QH

http://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=980

Download the leaflet: http://stopwar.org.uk/images//kafa_launch_leaflet.pdf

STOP THE WAR'S WEBSITE HAS BEEN HACKED

STOP THE WAR COALITION
22 June 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

STOP THE WAR'S WEBSITE HAS BEEN HACKED

Unfortunately our website has been hacked. While we fix it we have set up a
temporary method to enable access to the website and a temporary email address
for you to use to contact us.

TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE:

http://stopwar.org.uk

(This is the same as the old address with the www. removed)

TEMPORARY EMAIL ADDRESS:

ukstwc@gmail.com

TWITTER USERS
If you are following Stop the War on Twitter, you will have received tweets for
all updates to our website since we were hacked, as updates are always tweeted
to our followers. Anyone wishing to join us on Twitter can do so here:
https://twitter.com/STWuk

Our apologies for any inconvenience while we sort out the technical problems
due to being hacked.

Stop the War Coalition National Office

Kiarostami's Shirin

As an avid fan of Iranian film I can't wait to go to see this film. For anyone who hasn't seen any of Abbas Kiarostami's films, or any other Iranian films for that matter, be prepared to be amazed.

Most Iranian films come in the epic 3hr long format (well, at least that's how long they feel sometimes!) so this one at a mere 90mins is short by industry standards. They have the most beautiful way of drawing you right into the story and you will leave feeling like you contributed somehow to the telling of it.

This one seems to be no exception. In fact the film is even about an audience of more than 100 women who are deeply absorbed in watching a film we never see. Based on an Persian poem as famous as Romeo and Juliet, Shirin is a love story and 'offers a feast for the imagination of a wholly unexpected kind'.

'What matters here is the art of screen acting, the perceptiveness of the camera and the power of cinema to manipulate. Moreover, Kiarostami confounds the fundamentalists by celebrating the expressive beauty of the female face in evocative close-ups ... As a powerful artistic experiment, this is near perfect.' Empire

The BFI offer what promises to be a feast for the eyes from 26 June.

Directed by Abbas Kiarostami with Mahtab Keramati, Golshifteh Farahani, Mahnaz Afshar, Niki Karimi, Juliette Binoche

Visit www.bfi.org.uk/releases for more information.

Defend the right to organise in Carphone Warehouse! ***Please forward!

> Dear friend,
>
> *** Please forward!
>
> Carphone Warehouse is victimising trade unionists. They have sacked
> one active member at their Wednesbury Logistics Centre already, and
> now they want to sack the CWU rep, Kulwinder Plaha, as well.
>
> More information here:
> http://carphoneworker.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/carphone-union-busting-at-wednesbury-protest-now/
>
> Our members need your support! We know from past experience that
> messages of protest make a difference. They show the company that our
> members are not alone; that they cannot persecute trade unionists
> behind closed doors.
>
> Please take the time to send a message of protest to Carphone
> Warehouse CEO Charles Dunstone, over the sacking and victimisation of
> active CWU members. If you can, please make up your own. Otherwise,
> please use the draft text below.
>
> We want to deluge them! Please send messages to dunstonec@cpw.co.uk
> and cc: CWU organiser Tom Dale tdale@cwu.org
>
> ***Please forward this message!
>
> Tom Dale
>
> Field Organiser
> Communication Workers Union