EDL - We can stop them says Hope not Hate‏

In the past few days Hope Not Hate has been getting reports scraps of that English Deefence League's "The Big One" - the violent and racist groups event in Bradford - will be bigger and more dangerous than first http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/StopTheEDL

Scotland local government workers reject pay cut

UNISON Scotland has announced that 80% of those voting in a consultative ballot have rejected a three year pay offer of 1% in the first year, 0% in the second and 0.5% in the third. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2010/julyaug/0208.htm

Why British pensions should go Dutch - Rather ironic don't you think?‏

A pro-pension fund article in the Torygraph, yes the Torygraph, advocates the establishment of the Dutch pension system or something similar for the UK and urges the government, trade unions and employers to meet and discuss the key points of the recommedations. The article is penned by David Pitt Watson, a friend of UNISON, who once addressed a fringe meeting at national delegate conference in 2007. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/7921778/Why-British-pensions-should-go-Dutch.html

Con Dem Spending Challenge - Glorified Suggestion Scheme or Consultation with the Condemned?‏

On Friday of last week, Prime Minister Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister wrote a personal ‘Dear Colleague’ letter to public sector workers praising the ‘magnificent response’ to their June request for savings suggestions - “so we can cut public spending in a way that is fair and responsible” – apparently 63,000 responses were received. http://bit.ly/drBFnX

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Remembered - Events in London ‏ 2-11August

2nd August:
The Enduring Legacy of the Bomb
Chair of CND Kate Hudson and Quaker Caroyln Westgate will discuss the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the development of the peace movement in the years following the bombings.
Friends House, Quaker Centre, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ, 7pm–9pm

Urgent request on behalf of Miami 5 prisoner Gerardo Hernandez‏

Since 21 July, Miami Five prisoner Gerardo Hernandez has been held in the ‘hole’ – a windowless cell of 7x3 feet which he shares with another prisoner, with little ventilation and reaching temperatures of 95 degrees. He is unable to take a shower and is taken outside in a cage for just one hour every other day.

Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Exhibition in London 2 to 12 August‏

Timed to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, ‘After the Bomb Dropped: How Hiroshima and Nagasaki Suffered’ is an exhibition that explores the destruction of the two cities by nuclear weapons through photographs and artefacts recovered from the wreckage. Transported from Japan and on display in London for the first time, this represents a unique opportunity to see firsthand the destructive capabilities of nuclear weapons.

Public spending cuts will undermine economic recovery‏

The lesson of the US economic slowdown is that increased public spending will be necessary to secure economic recovery. As the New Statesman points out, this is the complete reverse of Con Dem slash and burn fiscal policies: “The danger for Britain is that the coalition is currently planning to do the complete reverse, slashing spending in pursuit of what a recent New York Times editorial accurately described as a pointless structural Budget surplus".
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/07/double-dip-growth-economists

Con Dem U-turn on A&E and Maternity Ward closures‏

The Government is reneging on General Election campaign promises to reconsider the possible closure of hospital wards and accident and emergency departments in England, according to Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham: "This U-turn proves that Lansley was playing politics with the NHS at the election and has now had to face up to reality. His opportunistic pledge to halt A&E and maternity closures has lasted less than two months," http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/jul/30/conservatives-accused-over-hospitals-policy

Factory by Nikola Vaptsarov‏

A factory, Clouds of smoke above.
The people – simple,
The life – hard, boring.
Life with the mask and grease-paint off
Is a savage dog snarling.