Anti-War Protest as Blair Resigns and Brown Takes Over
Manchester, England. 24th June 2007. As Tony Blair hands over to Gordon Brown at an Emergency Labour Party Conference in Manchester, thousands of anti-war protesters march past the conference venue at the Bridgewater Hall. Blair was forced to announce his resignation after the uproar over his failure to call for a ceasefire in Lebanon last year. Six junior Ministers resigned from his government in protest, with the possibility of more to follow if he did not announce his intention to stand aside before the end of the present Parliamentary term. The unrelenting pressure from the anti-war movement thus forced Blair out of office–effectively a self-imposed impeachment.
This clip shows some of the more memorable scenes from the demonstration and rally. It begins with a “naming of the dead”. The names of 100 dead people from all sides in the Iraq and Afghan wars are read out. At the end, Stop the War Coalition chair, Andrew Murray, says that it would take 24 hours a day from now until the beginning of October to read the names of all the dead from these wars. Other scenes show lively singing and chanting by School Students Against the War. The leaders of the Stop the War Coalition (StWC) and Military Families Against War (MFAW) hand a letter addressed to Gordon Brown to a Labour Party official outside the conference venue. This calls for a radical change of policy and an immediate withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. MFAW leader, Rose Gentle, and StWC national chair, Andrew Murray, are seen handing over the letter. Rose Gentle takes the opportunity to request a meeting with Gordon Brown on behalf of the Military Families. Blair had consistently refused to see them. The answer is evasive and non-commital. The clip ends with a shot of John Rees reminding us that it was the anti-war movement that drove Blair from office after he failed to call for a ceasefire in the attack on Lebanon last year. This was his “war too far” he said.
This video clip can be seen and downloaded in other video formats, including DVD quality (MPEG2), at:
Manchester Protests Against NHS Privatisation and Cuts
Manchester, England. 2006-7. This clip shows a series of demonstrations against budget cuts, job cuts and privatisation in the state-run National Health Service (NHS). It covers the period 2006-2007.
Tony Blair’s New Labour government claims that it has poured resources into the NHS. The reality is that it has poured the money into the pockets of private health contractors via the privatisation of elective surgery–that is surgery which is not urgently required due to an emergency. The money has also been syphoned off by the big banks via the notorious Private Finance Initiative (PFI). At the same time it has deliberately run down the state-run health service by starving it of resources. PFI is an expensive means of building new hospitals at grossly inflated prices using private finance at exhorbitent interest rates–saddling the NHS with huge debts that it will be paying back for decades. It is for this reason the PFI has been dubbed “Pay For Indefinitely.”
Private health contractors circle the NHS like buzzards grabbing the easy, lucrative, elective surgery cases leaving the NHS to cope with difficult, unprofitable emergency health care.
Money is also wasted hiring grossly over-paid management “consultants” to troubleshoot resistance from the heath unions and force through privatisation.
Then there are grossly inflated prices of medicines–the drug companies make millions in profits out the NHS–don’t get me started on them. Nationalise the lot of them!
And money is also being wasted on vast, hugely expensive, white elephant IT projects, like the proposed NHS “Spine” project, which are hugely profitable for the IT corporations. This involves uploading patients’ medical records without telling them, and WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT, to a vast national database which will be accessible by hundreds of thousands of NHS staff. Most NHS staff are trustworthy professionals, but there are always corrupt elements in any workforce. It is a privacy nightmare. The NHS Spine will be doubtless be hackable by snoopers and private detectives–given the appalling record of previous government IT projects–read the satirical magazine Private Eye for the lowdown on these.
The onus is thus on NHS patients to opt out of the NHS Spine project, but THEY ARE NOT BEING TOLD that they have this right or how to do it. So here is how to opt out:
NHS users can opt out of the NHS Spine project at:
http://www.nhsconfidentiality.org/?page_id=9
March 28, 2008
Manchester World Against War Rally–Summing Up. Part 1
Manchester, England. 1 March 2008. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, two leading opponents of the US-led occupations in the Middle East come to Manchester to talk about the reality of the War on Terror on the ground at a public rally. The event is organised by the Stop the War Coalition as part of its build up to the World Against War demonstrations that were due to take place globally on March 15th 2008.
This meeting is a chance to hear key figures from the Middle East and leading activists and writers from Britain discuss the impact of the war on terror and the continuing campaign to get the troops out.
The speakers include two eye witness reports from Iraq and Lebanon:
1. Ibrahim al-Moussawi is editor of the Lebanese Hezbollah newspaper, al-Intiqad, and one of the key spokespeople for the popular resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.
2. Hassan Juma’a is President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation, and a leader of the campaign to stop the US-led privatisation of Iraqi oil.
They are joined at the rally by Chris Nineham, national chair of the Stop the War Coalition.
Ibrahim Mousawi defies a campaign by warmongering Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, to keep him out of the country. “Governments should not censor what people have to say and confiscate the right of intelligent people to decide what to hear or not to hear. I’m a staunch defender of political freedoms and freedom of speech,” retorted al-Moussaw.
This particular clip shows Part 2 of Chris Nineham, national chair of Stop the War, speaking at the event.
A higher quality version of this clip can be found at:
Manchester World Against War Rally–Summing Up. Part 2
Manchester, England. 1 March 2008. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, two leading opponents of the US-led occupations in the Middle East come to Manchester to talk about the reality of the War on Terror on the ground at a public rally. The event is organised by the Stop the War Coalition as part of its build up to the World Against War demonstrations that were due to take place globally on March 15th 2008.
This meeting is a chance to hear key figures from the Middle East and leading activists and writers from Britain discuss the impact of the war on terror and the continuing campaign to get the troops out.
The speakers include two eye witness reports from Iraq and Lebanon:
1. Ibrahim al-Moussawi is editor of the Lebanese Hezbollah newspaper, al-Intiqad, and one of the key spokespeople for the popular resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.
2. Hassan Juma’a is President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation, and a leader of the campaign to stop the US-led privatisation of Iraqi oil.
They are joined at the rally by Chris Nineham, national chair of the Stop the War Coalition.
Ibrahim Mousawi defies a campaign by warmongering Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, to keep him out of the country. “Governments should not censor what people have to say and confiscate the right of intelligent people to decide what to hear or not to hear. I’m a staunch defender of political freedoms and freedom of speech,” retorted al-Moussaw.
This particular clip shows Part 2 of Chris Nineham, national chair of Stop the War, speaking at the event.
Apologies for the abrupt end of this clip–my camcorder came to the end of the tape.
A higher quality version of this clip can be found at:
Manchester World Against War Rally–Chris Nineham. Part 1.
Manchester, England. 1 March 2008. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, two leading opponents of the US-led occupations in the Middle East come to Manchester to talk about the reality of the War on Terror on the ground at a public rally. The event is organised by the Stop the War Coalition as part of its build up to the World Against War demonstrations that were due to take place globally on March 15th 2008.
This meeting is a chance to hear key figures from the Middle East and leading
activists and writers from Britain discuss the impact of the war on terror and
the continuing campaign to get the troops out.
The speakers include two eyewitness reports from Iraq and Lebanon:
1. Ibrahim al-Moussawi is editor of the Lebanese Hezbollah newspaper, al-Intiqad, and one of the key spokespeople for the popular resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.
2. Hassan Juma’a is President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation, and a leader of the campaign to stop the US-led privatisation of Iraqi oil.
They are joined at the rally by Chris Nineham, national chair of the Stop the War Coalition.
Ibrahim Mousawi defies a campaign by warmongering Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, to keep him out of the country. “Governments should not censor what people have to say and confiscate the right of intelligent people to decide what to hear or not to hear. I’m a staunch defender of political freedoms and freedom of speech,” retorted al-Moussaw.
This particular clip shows Part 1 of Chris Nineham, national chair of Stop the War, speaking at the event.
A higher quality version of this clip can be found at:
Manchester World Against War Rally–Chris Nineham. Part 2
Manchester, England. 1 March 2008. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, two leading opponents of the US-led occupations in the Middle East come to Manchester to talk about the reality of the War on Terror on the ground at a public rally. The event is organised by the Stop the War Coalition as part of its build up to the World Against War demonstrations that were due to take place globally on March 15th 2008.
This meeting is a chance to hear key figures from the Middle East and leading activists and writers from Britain discuss the impact of the war on terror and the continuing campaign to get the troops out.
The speakers include two eye witness reports from Iraq and Lebanon:
1. Ibrahim al-Moussawi is editor of the Lebanese Hezbollah newspaper, al-Intiqad, and one of the key spokespeople for the popular resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.
2. Hassan Juma’a is President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation, and a leader of the campaign to stop the US-led privatisation of Iraqi oil.
They are joined at the rally by Chris Nineham, national chair of the Stop the War Coalition.
Ibrahim Mousawi defies a campaign by warmongering Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, to keep him out of the country. “Governments should not censor what people have to say and confiscate the right of intelligent people to decide what to hear or not to hear. I’m a staunch defender of political freedoms and freedom of speech,” retorted al-Moussaw.
This particular clip shows Part 2 of Chris Nineham, national chair of Stop the War, speaking at the event.
A higher quality version of this clip can be found at:
Editor of Hezbollah Newspaper Speaks in England. Part 1
Manchester, England. 1 March 2008. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, two leading opponents of the US-led occupations in the Middle East come to Manchester to talk about the reality of the War on Terror on the ground at a public rally. The event is organised by the Stop the War Coalition as part of its build up to the World Against War demonstrations that were due to take place globally on March 15th 2008.
This meeting is a chance to hear key figures from the Middle East and leading activists and writers from Britain discuss the impact of the war on terror and the continuing campaign to get the troops out.
The speakers include two eye witness reports from Iraq and Lebanon:
1. Ibrahim al-Moussawi is editor of the Lebanese Hezbollah newspaper, al-Intiqad, and one of the key spokespeople for the popular resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.
2. Hassan Juma’a is President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation, and a leader of the campaign to stop the US-led privatisation of Iraqi oil.
They are joined at the rally by Chris Nineham, national chair of the Stop the War Coalition.
Ibrahim Mousawi defies a campaign by warmongering Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, to keep him out of the country. “Governments should not censor what people have to say and confiscate the right of intelligent people to decide what to hear or not to hear. I’m a staunch defender of political freedoms and freedom of speech,” retorted al-Moussawi.
This particular clip shows part 1 of Ibrahim al-Moussawi, editor of the Hezbollah newspaper, speaking at the event.
To download a high quality clip of this speech, got to:
http://www.archive.org/details/hezbollah_editor
March 28, 2008
Editor of Hezbollah Newspaper Speaks in England. Part 2
Manchester, England. 1 March 2008. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, two leading opponents of the US-led occupations in the Middle East come to Manchester to talk about the reality of the War on Terror on the ground at a public rally. The event is organised by the Stop the War Coalition as part of its build up to the World Against War demonstrations that were due to take place globally on March 15th 2008.
This meeting is a chance to hear key figures from the Middle East and leading activists and writers from Britain discuss the impact of the war on terror and
the continuing campaign to get the troops out.
The speakers include two eye witness reports from Iraq and Lebanon:
1. Ibrahim al-Moussawi is editor of the Lebanese Hezbollah newspaper, al-Intiqad, and one of the key spokespeople for the popular resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.
2. Hassan Juma’a is President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation, and a leader of the campaign to stop the US-led privatisation of Iraqi oil.
They are joined at the rally by Chris Nineham, national chair of the Stop the War Coalition.
Ibrahim Mousawi defies a campaign by warmongering Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, to keep him out of the country. “Governments should not censor what people have to say and confiscate the right of intelligent people to decide what to hear or not to hear. I’m a staunch defender of political freedoms and freedom of speech,” retorted al-Moussawi.
This particular clip shows part 2 of Ibrahim al-Moussawi, editor of the Hezbollah newspaper, speaking at the event.
To download a high quality video clip, got to:
http://www.archive.org/details/hezbollah_editor
March 28, 2008
Basra Oil Trades Unionist Speaks in England (2008). Part 1
Manchester, England. 1 March 2008. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, two leading opponents of the US-led occupations in the Middle East come to Manchester to talk about the reality of the War on Terror on the ground at a public rally. The event is organised by the Stop the War Coalition as part of its build up to the World Against War demonstrations that were due to take place globally on March 15th 2008.
This meeting is a chance to hear key figures from the Middle East and leading activists and writers from Britain discuss the impact of the war on terror and the continuing campaign to get the troops out.
The speakers include two eye witness reports from Iraq and Lebanon:
1. Ibrahim al-Moussawi is editor of the Lebanese Hezbollah newspaper, al-Intiqad, and one of the key spokespeople for the popular resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.
2. Hassan Juma’a is President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation and a leader of the campaign to stop the US-led privatisation of Iraqi oil.
They are joined at the rally by Chris Nineham, national chair of the Stop the War Coalition.
Ibrahim Mousawi defies a campaign by warmongering Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, to keep him out of the country. “Governments should not censor what people have to say and confiscate the right of intelligent people to decide what to hear or not to hear. I’m a staunch defender of political freedoms and freedom of speech,” retorted al-Moussaw.
This particular clip shows part 1 of Hassan Juma’a speaking at the event.
For a higher quality video clip of this speech go to:
Basra Oil Trades Unionist Speaks in England (2008). Part 2
Manchester, England. 1 March 2008. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, two leading opponents of the US-led occupations in the Middle East come to Manchester to talk about the reality of the War on Terror on the ground at a public rally. The event is organised by the Stop the War Coalition as part of its build up to the World Against War demonstrations that were due to take place globally on March 15th 2008.
This meeting is a chance to hear key figures from the Middle East and leading activists and writers from Britain discuss the impact of the war on terror and the continuing campaign to get the troops out.
The speakers include two eye witness reports from Iraq and Lebanon:
1. Ibrahim al-Moussawi is editor of the Lebanese Hezbollah newspaper, al-Intiqad, and one of the key spokespeople for the popular resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.
2. Hassan Juma’a is President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Federation and a leader of the campaign to stop the US-led privatisation of Iraqi oil.
They are joined at the rally by Chris Nineham, national chair of the Stop the War Coalition.
Ibrahim Mousawi defies a campaign by warmongering Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, to keep him out of the country. “Governments should not censor what people have to say and confiscate the right of intelligent people to decide what to hear or not to hear. I’m a staunch defender of political freedoms and freedom of speech,” retorted al-Moussaw.
This particular clip shows part 2 of Hassan Juma’a speaking at the event.
