The Cedar Lounge Revolution

Euphemism of the week… October 31, 2023

A cabinet minister has said there is no “cultural issue” with Tory MPs after Crispin Blunt became the eighth Conservative during this parliament to lose the whip over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, said all the individual incidents were separate and that the prime minister expected due process in the investigation into Blunt.

What a way to put it given the MP in question ‘was arrested by police on Wednesday on suspicion of rape and possession of drugs’.

A different take on the pre-peace process October 31, 2023

Anyone read the review of Stephen Walker’s biography of John Hume in the Business Post at the weekend? Andrew Lynch praises it, but he makes a couple of points that stood out a bit:

Although Walker’s admiration for Hume is never in doubt, he also gives the man’s critics a fair hearing. Strikingly, many of them come from within the SDLP. They accuse him of being a bad party leader who neglected its organisation, ignored the electoral threat posed by Sinn Féin and operated as a one-man band. His long-suffering deputy Seamus Mallon considered him “a remarkable genius” but also “egocentric and very resistant to criticism”.

I do wonder about that framing of this in respect of ‘ignoring the electoral threat posed by Sinn Féin’. Surely convincing Sinn Féin to move away from support of armed struggle was a far far greater prize than what party was the leading voice of Northern nationalism. 

Anyhow, be that as it may. Then there’s this which is not unrelated:

Specifically, the SDLP jury is still out on Hume’s seismic decision to start a dialogue with Gerry Adams during the late 1980s. By bringing the IRA in from the cold, he threw republicans a lifeline at a time when they had allegedly become riddled with informers. “I thought [Hume] could have given me more information,” says the SDLP West Belfast representative Joe Hendron, who took Adams’ Westminster seat off him in 1992 but lost it again five years later. “I felt a wee bit hurt.”

This seems a very novel line about ‘throwing Republicans a lifeline at a time when they had become riddled with informers’. Is the implication is that somehow the IRA and SF were on the point of collapse, that the armed struggle was impossible to continue and would have been halted without Hume’s interventions?  Does this make much sense even on its own terms? But how to square such an analysis with the fact that the conflict continued through until the first ceasefire in 1994 though the talks had been on-going since the late 1980s. Moreover that the Irish government knew of and backed the talks. Or that the British government was itself  in talks with the IRA. 

None of those latter facts sound as if those involved believed the conflict was about to run out of steam. Why bother pushing for engagement and negotiation if it was? 

In the public eye… October 31, 2023

Never fail to be amazed at how politicians seem to forget the following:

Boris Johnson was “mad” if he did not think his WhatsApp messages would become public during the Covid inquiry, Whitehall’s leading civil servant told another senior mandarin in an exchange during the pandemic.

The exchange between Simon Case and Martin Reynolds was revealed as the latter appeared as a witness in the inquiry, where he was challenged about why he turned on a disappearing messages function on a WhatsApp group involving Johnson weeks after the then prime minister announced an inquiry would take place.

Reynolds, the former principal private secretary to the prime minister, was described as “Party Marty” after an email emerged showing he had invited more than 100 Downing Street staff to a “bring your own booze” event during the first lockdown.

And:

At that point, the inquiry was told about a message to Reynolds from Simon Case, who was cabinet secretary – and continues to serve in that role – who told him in December 2021: “The PM is mad if he doesn’t think his WhatsApps will become public via Covid Inquiry – but he was clearly not in the mood for that discussion tonight! We’ll have that battle in the new year.”

Asked what this was about, Reynolds said he could not recall but said he imagined that the prime minister had not realised all of his WhatsApp messages would become public via the Covid inquiry.

Johnson, who has yet to appear as a witness in the inquiry, vowed earlier this year to pass his pandemic WhatsApp messages over to the inquiry after experts managed to recover them from an old phone he had been advised not to use for security reasons.

Though granted those who had the exchange outlined above don’t seem to have quite grasped they too might be in the public eye at some point. 

Micheál Martin’s caveat October 30, 2023

Last week, Ireland was one of only eight EU members to vote in favour of a motion (PDF, 3 pages) on “Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory” (Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain; voting record here).

The motion contains 14 substantive paragraphs. Paragraph 5

calls for the rescinding of the order by Israel, the occupying Power, for Palestinian civilians and United Nations staff, as well as humanitarian and medical workers, to evacuate all areas in the Gaza Strip north of the Wadi Gaza and relocate to southern Gaza, recalls and reiterates that civilians are protected under international humanitarian law and should receive humanitarian assistance wherever they are, and reiterates the need to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians, in particular children, and their protection, and allowing their safe movement

Paragraph 6

rejects any attempts at the forced transfer of the Palestinian civilian population

Paragraph 7

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being illegally held captive, demanding their safety, well-being and humane treatment in compliance with international law;

And paragraph8

calls for respect and protection, consistent with international humanitarian law, of all civilian and humanitarian facilities, including hospitals and

other medical facilities, as well as their means of transport and equipment, schools, places of worship and United Nations facilities, as well as all of humanitarian and medical personnel and journalists, media professionals and associated personnel, in armed conflict in the region

A Canadian amendment to insert a single paragraph into the main resolution was defeated (PDF, 1 page):

Unequivocally rejects and condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting on 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages, demands the safety, well-being and humane treatment of the hostages in compliance with international law, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release

The main motion was passed. The eight EU countries , with four EU member states opposing it (Austria, Croatia, Czechia and Hungary), and the remaining 15 member states abstaining (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden).

After the vote, the Department of Foreign Affairs issued a three paragraph statement from Micheál Martin, the minister for foreign affairs:

Tonight, Ireland supported the UN General Assembly Resolution on the crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. The dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip requires the international community to speak strongly. The resolution emphasises the urgent need for humanitarian assistance which civilians in Gaza so desperately need.

We are disappointed that a Canadian amendment, clearly condemning the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, was not approved. There should be no room for doubt on this. We also recall that obligations under International Humanitarian Law fall to all parties, state and non-state actors alike.

I will continue to work for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire, the protection of civilians and regional de-escalation. Millions of civilians deserve nothing less.

In New York, Ireland’s representative made a statement to the UN General Assembly on behalf of five EU member states (Ireland, plus Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Spain) (PDF, 4 pages). In it, the five countries state that

we wish to reiterate our condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting on 7 October 2023.

The statement in New York went on to say

We strongly emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law, including international humanitarian law.

When it comes to Israel’s obligations, the language was less assertive:

We fully support the demand in the Resolution that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

Portugal’s statement went beyond calling on Israel to respect international human tights law and humanitarian law to assert that it isn’t doing so (PDF, 4 pages):

No matter the savagery of the worst terrorist attack of its history, Israel´s actions must respect International Humanitarian Law. No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law. Tragically, civilian population, hospitals, UN facilities, including schools, and other critical and civilian infrastructures, are not being protected. We are witnessing, beyond doubt, clear violations of International Humanitarian Law in Gaza.

I prefer Portugal’s approach to diplomacy over Micheál Martin’s.

Left Archive: Workers Solidarity, Number 104, August 2008, Workers Solidarity Movement October 30, 2023

To download the above file please click on the following link:

Please click here to go the Left Archive.

Many thanks to the person who forwarded this to the Archive. An edition of Workers Solidarity from the Workers Solidarity Movement it is of particular interest due to the format – A3, with 4 pages on one side of the sheet and a large centre section. Although the text version is available at the WSM archive site this PDF includes scans of the full scale of the document front and back.

The front page article is headlined ‘The Triumph of Greed Over Need’ and argues:

Although tell many politicians and developers will you that the property crash is nobody’s fault -due to market conditions -the they are simply liars. The reality is that property was bubble was entirely predictable. The problem that a significant number of cash capitalists were making shed-loads of off rising prices: developers, bankers, landowners and so on.

And it concludes by arguing that:

Demanding more public housing, opposing planning corruption, resisting evictions, protesting poor condition and many other actions can give workers some measure of control over the housing market. As the property crash intensifies, more and more people will have to choose between fighting back and penury. The sooner we start organising the better. 

Other pieces examine the role of ICTU, The Lisbon Treaty vote. There are pieces on ‘US Dockers strike against the war [in Iraq]’ and another asserting that ‘The HSE Board have an interest in running down health service’. There’s also a piece on ‘Thinking About Anarchism’ which addresses the issue of ‘Why Class Matters’. The following is the conclusion:

A truly revolutionary movement can only come from the action of the working class as a class. We arc the ones who keep society running. it is well within our ability to remove the political and economic apparatus that forces most of the population 10 work for the benefit of a privileged ehtc. Our experience of working co•opcrativcly under capitalism prepares us to take control. Victories in our everyday struggles to improve working and living conditions teach us confidence.

All politics is local? October 29, 2023

The latest SBP/RedC poll demonstrates little or no movement in the polls. Sinn Féin up a point, the other two down a point, Labour and the Social Democrats up a point apiece. What struck me was the static nature of support, but also the fact that despite the more global issues they seem to impact not at all on the polling of parties. You’d have to really reach to see any connection. I find that interesting but I wonder what, if anything, it means. After all the government has done well, all things considered, in terms of articulating a very necessary dissent from many larger states approach, and a range of parties have put persuasive analyses forward. Or perhaps people feel that these events – harrowing as they are – are largely beyond the grasp of Irish political activity at various levels and other pre-existing issues at this level (a key caveat) take precedence.

One small further aspect, isn’t the FF support level incredibly low in these particular polls? Is that likely to be replicated come a vote?

Culture Thread 29/10/2023 October 29, 2023

gregtimo proposed in comments recently the idea of a Culture Thread.

It’s a great idea. Currently culture is a bit strange, but people read, listen to music, watch television and film and so on – spread the net wide, sports, activities, interests, all relevant – and any pointers are always welcome. And it’s not just those areas but many more. Suggestions as to new or old things, events that might have been missed, literally anything.

Sunday and other stupid statements this week October 29, 2023

Away this morning so any examples from the morning papers welcome. But the week provided some good ones.

How’s this for an Irish Times heading to a Newton Emerson piece?

Promoting the advantage of ‘two Irelands’ for business would challenge everyone’s political convictions

Would it? Would it really?

This from the same paper:

The fundamental function of government is to deliver a budget and run the state accordingly.

Curiously others seem to think there is no single fundamental function of government, however expedient it might be to some on the right to present it this way. 

It doesn’t seem to have occurred to an Irish Times columnist that some things aren’t either/or.

Swathes of Irish immigrants have long settled in London – whether that be those who came to Camden in the 1970s or the cohort of young Irish in Hackney now. The sweeping generalisations – that we don’t like the Brits or their so-called imperialist apologia – don’t really hold a candle to the actual evidence of Irish people making Britain their home.

Though note the direction of travel in the following (which in may well be peak McRedmond):

We see it, too, with the likes of restaurateur Richard Corrigan setting up a new restaurant on the roof of Britain’s National Portrait gallery; the slew of young female Irish novelists who seek literary agents in London; the impact of the Irish on the British media landscape, from Sharon Horgan’s hit comedies to Patrick Kielty being a firm favourite in Britain long before he arrived on The Late Late Show. This kind of international exchange is not a frivolous concern, but precisely what defines Ireland’s global impact.

Stealing from the library October 28, 2023

A depressing tale from the UK.

A £1 book sale at a town library was “sabotaged” when people filled their bags with dozens of library books.

The fill-a-bag sale at Batley library in West Yorkshire was “decimated” when people raided the shelves, taking children’s books, adult fiction, cookery books and graphic novels – as well as Lego from the library’s Lego club.

 

Steve McGrath, a volunteer who was managing the event, said he was ringing a bell and telling people only the books on the sale table were for sale. Posting on Facebook, he said he had lost his faith in humanity.

What happened is telling:

“Far too many people filled their bags with actual library books from the library shelves, not from the sales tables, even though I stood on the balcony, ringing a bell and constantly telling people that it was only the books on the tables that were for sale.

“The people who decimated the children’s library, adult fiction, graphic novels and cookery sections of books, have actively stolen Kirklees libraries stock.

“This was atrocious behaviour by some who, through social media, decided that all stock was available to take regardless of my continued announcements. Even arguing and quoting the internet posts saying fill a bag for a pound.

“This wasn’t a purge of books from a closing-down library, as some used it as. It was a regular book sale fundraiser, to provide Batley library events for our children and customers.

“People were even seen putting Lego from our library Lego club in their bags to take. It was like the worst of all jumble sales. I am shocked, saddened and disappointed that this has happened.”

The sense of entitlement or disregard is something else. Though one could argue that in some ways it is amazing that this sort of thing doesn’t happen more often and that somehow what is effectively an honour system seems to hold much of the time. But that does raise the question, for those who have worked in libraries, how much stock is simply just taken?

‘Ordinary phenomena’ October 28, 2023

Mention this last week or two in the media of this:

The Pentagon and the U.S. intelligence community believe that as better data becomes available, the “unidentified and purported anomalous nature” of most of the hundreds of UFO reports they have been investigating will likely be explained by “ordinary phenomena,” according to a government review of the incidents that was released on Wednesday.

The number of accounts of unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs — which is the official name now used for what were known as UFOs — has grown to 801, with an increase of 291 additional reports from Aug. 31,2022, to April 30 of this year, according to the new government review.

The numbers go back decades. I think though that the assessment is correct – that otherworldly explanations are unlikely to be supported and that the overwhelming majority will turn out to have fairly mundane causes.

But even more interesting:

In late August, the Pentagon launched a new website to serve as a one-stop clearinghouse for unclassified information about UAPs.

The platform includes unclassified videos and photos of resolved cases as well as links to reports and other resources. It will soon have a feature enabling AARO to accept reports “from current or former U.S. Government employees, service members, or contractors with direct knowledge of U.S. Government programs or activities related to UAP dating back to 1945.”