THE
WORD
Issue #70, Late January Edition 2022
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Equality Democracy Truth Courage
Right Royal Rogering
PAGE 5
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
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WEST SCREAMS RUSSIA IS GOING TO INVADE UKRAINE
WE ASK, WHERE’S OR IS THIS THE PROOF? ANWMOTDHELIER?
60 years since USA took the world to the brink of war if Cuba did not scrap nuclear rockets
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Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
FARRANTI’S ISRAEL ARMS FACTORY SHUT DOWN FOREVER
OLDHAM GIVES ELBIT THE ELBOW
O
pponents of Israeli apartheid are celebrating after their 18 month long campaign against the Elbit arms factory in Oldham.
Palestine Action says:
This month they finally succeeded in shutting down the Israeli drone factory for good. Years of pressure have been applied by countless Palestinian supporters across the north west of England, including intensive direct action that had caused a number of temporary shutdowns and serious interruptions to the factory’s production. At the start of 2022, Ferranti at last accepted the inevitable, closing the factory and selling the site. This is a substantial blow to Anglo-Israeli collaboration, and a source of frustration for the Zionist cause.
• A protestors was arrested and awaits trial
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If they can shut down one factory, they can shut all of them
It is by no means a lethal blow to Israel’s occupation of Palestine, as they have many other sources of weapons, in the UK, other parts of Europe, and in the United States of America. But the anti-Zionist cause had to start somewhere and they now know that if they can shut down one factory, they can shut all of them. Ferranti have made no mention of the protests as a reason for the sale but that is hardly surprising. To admit that such direct action is effective will
Merchant of Death Elba’s Hermes 900 drone can carry a mixed payload of 350kg. Flying at 22kmh and at height of 30,000 it is invisible.
encourage only more protests at its other factories. There were major celebrations outside the vacated site on Tuesday, and Manchester Palestine Action released a statement to mark the achievement. The Oldham factory has been purchased by T T Electronics, which has no known links to the Zionist regime in Israel. By Martin Odoni
Activists took action against the factory to disrupt its manufacture of engines and components for Israel’s killer drones, and have covered the factory in painted slogans The action comes the same week as news that Elbit’s Oldham factory has been shut permanently, after months of intensive direct action by Palestine Action. Days after shutting down one site permanently, the group have taken on another of Elbit’s remaining killer factories. A Palestine Action activist has been arrested after they breached security and gained entry to the Elbit factory in UAV Engines, Shenstone, Staffordshire. Action has been taken to mark the beginning of the Week of Action to Free Ahmad Sa’adat, and has been taken in solidarity with all Palestinian political prisoners. Palestine Action breached security and gained entry to the heavily guarded Israeli arms factory. The site, used for the manufacture of engines and components for Elbit’s murderous drones, was broken into with the two women evading an extensive security presence. Aiming to disrupt operations at the site, the activists have covered the factory in painted slogans. One activist was arrested. The site has been targetted as part of an ongoing campaign of direct action against Elbit Systems, which is Israel’s largest private arms manufacturer. The site produces the engines and components for Elbit’s Hermes drones – which has been used extensively to surveil, repress, bomb and murder Palestinians in Gaza. The machine has been linked directly to extrajudicial assassinations by Israel, as well as the murder of four children playing on a beach in Gaza in 2014. It also produces for Elbit’s Watchkeeper drones, which are sold to the British military and border forces to surveil migrants and conduct imperialist military interventions abroad. The Oldham factory had manufactured surveillance and targetting systems for Elbit drones, and is the first of Elbit’s 10 British sites to have been shut permanently. Palestine Action will continue to undermine, disrupt, and shut down all the sites until they cease to operate and are closed. Elbit surveillance technologies fortify the apartheid walls and checkpoints which divide the country, and their combat and tactical gear is used widely by Israeli police. The unjustifiable abuses of human rights undertaken by the Israeli police and military courts system is facilitated in part by Elbit Systems’ operations.
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POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
THE
WORD
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THE DEATH OF PROTEST
NHS HEALTH AND CARE BILL DEMO N
George Orwell
Just imagine an Old Testament tragedy acted out by the two old guys from the Muppets, to a script from Monty Python.
Well at the mass protests called to support our NHS it appears we have run out of folk willing to fight against the Health and Social Care Bill when barely 300 turned up. That’s it then, you would think. If Boris was putting the milk bottles out and smoking a Woodbine by the front door on Monday evening he would have barely noticed this tiny, surreal protest and surely he would have thought “We’ve Won!”
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“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
ye Bevan is often quoted at demos opposing the Tories’ attempts to weaken the NHS to create an excuse to sell it to the American insurance sharks: “The NHS will last as long as there’s folk with faith left to fight for it.”
When the rally drew to a close four nurses sang but were drowned out by Piers Corbyn’s posse of Strange. Twice Jeremy broke off from his crowd pleasing speech to reason with the Antivax heckling, along the lines of “Whatever your views, we need to save the NHS!”
But it wasn’t all doom, there The third time was a gem. was a strange comedic eleJeremy showed real anment to the tragedy of ger and screamed “Just the proceedings proShut Up!”. The crowd GLORIOUS, vided in no small went wild, seeing part by a Piers Corthe ‘Grand Zen MasFUNNY AND byn contingent acter of Kinder PoliDESPERATELY tually heckling Jer- HEART tics’ finally reacting BREAKING with visceral anger, emy Corbyn as he addressed the small which was beautiful. crowd. Equally surreal The irony being it wasn’t was brother Jeremy’s reagainst the Tories, Billionsponse. aires or Back Bighting Blarites but his own dear brother.
NHS HEALTH AND CARE BILL – LABOUR ABSTENTIONS Labour MPs who chose not to vote against the NHS Health and Care Bill Roll call of shame Margaret Becket, Clive Betts, Olivia Blake, Dan Carden, Feryal Clark, Rosie Cooper, Alex Cunningham, Stephen Doughton, Julie Elliott, Gill Furniss, Mary Glindon, Harriet Harmon, John Healey, Christian Matherson, Steve McCabe, Navendu Mishra, Jessica Morden, James Murray, Lisa Nandy, Charlotte Nichols, Toby Perkins, Steve Reed, Christina Rees, Barry Sheerman, Jon Trickett, Beth Winter.
There was a man relentlessly shouting “Harold Shipman!!!” to nobody in particular, who looked worryingly like Harold Shipman. Was he his loopy brother? Just shut up! There was a guy on a bike with a huge Palestinian flag stood next to a man chanting “Oh Tommy, Tommy Robinson!”. Hilarious and Tragic. The sickest joke of that wet November night came when more than 20 ‘Starmer MPs’ abstained on the Bill, handing the result to the slightly depleted Tory vote. I always wondered what it would be like to witness history being made. That day I saw the killing blow to the NHS, the death of Labour as a force for social justice and the end of protest. I also saw Jeremy lose his rag, five years too late, and with the wrong people. None the less it was glorious, funny and desperately heartbreaking. By Karl Trevor
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Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
HOME GROWN PROBLEM NOT SOLVED BY CLOSING BORDERS
Yet again,the ‘TERRORIST’ is British Terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom are almost invariably carried out by people born or brought up here
W
hat do Ali Harbi Ali, Salman Abedi, Mohamed Siddique Khan, Khuram Butt and Khalid Masood have in common?
murderer of MP Sir David Amess, may be of Somalian background, but he was born in London in the mid-1990s, and has lived in the UK almost all his life.
And the thing is, he conforms to a pattern of terrorist attacks through British history since at No, not just that they least the seventeenth century; committed terrorist atrocities in quite simply, terrorist attacks Britain, but they are/were British. in the United Kingdom are Born, or at least brought up, almost invariably carried out by people born and brought up culturally British. Salman Abedi, there. This is generally the 2017 Manchester Arena bomber, was from going back to Guy A SIMILAR true Whalley Range, less Fawkes. Indeed, a PATTERN than three miles from similar pattern stands STANDS worldwide; most where he committed his horrendous suicide WORLDWIDE terrorist atrocities are bombing. Mohamed committed by people Siddique Khan and from the country where the atrocity happens. the other 2005 London Bombers were all from Yorkshire. Khalid Masood, the Westminster Inevitably, every time one knifeman who murdered PC of these attacks happens in the Keith Palmer, also in 2017, is from West, there is a storm of outrage Kent. Khuram Butt, one of the from racists and xenophobes Westminster Bridge Attackers, on the right wing, who demand was born in Pakistan but brought borders be closed, refugees be deported, and revenge missile up in Forest Gate and Stratford. Ali Harbi Ali, the apparent launches on targets across the Middle East. Not only is this Ali Harbi Ali, knee-jerk extremism an overreaction – often going hand-inSalman Abedi, hand with under-reactions to Mohamed murders by white people (seldom referred to as ‘terrorism’ at all) - it Siddique Khan, is also completely futile, because Khuram Butt, the people such measures will Khalid Masood… hamper are almost never the ones who pose a threat in the West. all British They are or were all British terrorists.
Salman Abedi and how he was captured on CCTV walking with his bomb on his back to Manchester Arena Even with Wahhabist Radical Islam, the people likeliest to carry out a UK attack have been living here their whole lives, and were usually radicalised long after starting High School. Closing borders to fight Militant Islam is like having a flu jab after you have already begun sweating and shivering. It is too late by then. The horse has not just bolted; it bolted decades ago. By Martin Odoni
Kalid-Masood
Khuram Butt
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Mohammed Sidique Khan delayed his terror attacks for two days to take his wife to hospital
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
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THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
U
.S. President Harry S. Truman publicly announces his decision to support the development of the hydrogen bomb, a weapon
theorized to be hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan during World War II.
Right Royal Rogering Solving the mystery of Prince Philip’s secret will Village gossip may be the key to unlock another royal scandal. I was puzzled as to why the State had sealed Prince Philip’s will from public gaze for an astonishing 90 years. Then I remembered a little story actress Tilda Swinton told me a few decades ago. She said her grandmother was visiting an old friend in Surrey, when she popped into the local hairdresser’s and found herself sitting next to a woman with striking red locks who was in for quick dye. Once the ‘red head’ had left, and closed the door behind her, the hairdresser sidled up to Tilda’s gran and whispered: “I suppose you know who that was… she’s Prince Philip’s mistress… they’ve got kids too. Everyone around here knows since he comes over to see her regularly.” If this is true then the mystery of the hidden will is solved. Prince Philip surely must have, to his credit, seen to it that his secret second family were looked after with some choice properties perhaps. What other reason could there be for locking his will away for so very long? If a hairdresser in Surrey knows all about this, it must mean that our monarchy-mad media has turned a blind eye to the affair and covered up the royal’s dirty linen once again. Shunned Prince Andrew must be feeling especially hard done by. TARIQ ALI
90 years to see will Mystery read head was a very close friend
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the political and spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement, is assassinated in New Delhi by a Hindu extremist. At 11:38 a.m. EST, on January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Christa McAuliffe is on her way to becoming the first ordinary U.S. civilian to travel into space. McAuliffe, a 37-year-old high school social studies teacher from New Hampshire, won a competition that earned her a place among the seven-member crew of the Challenger. She underwent months of shuttle training but then, beginning January 23, was forced to wait six long days as the Challenger‘s launch countdown was repeatedly de-
layed because of weather and technical problems.
on live television. There were no survivors.
Finally, on January 28, the shuttle lifted off. Seventy-three seconds later, hundreds on the ground, including Christa’s family, stared in disbelief as the shuttle broke up in a forking plume of smoke and fire. Millions more watched the wrenching tragedy unfold
On the, 24th January 1986, print workers at Rupert Murdoch’s News International went on strike against the company who had opened a new, open shop, no-strike plant at Wapping in London, England. The strikers were all quickly sacked and replaced by scab replacements provided by the EETPU union. Despite holding out for over a year, the workers lost, and the dispute marked the effective death of the previously powerful organised print workers in the UK.
DID TAX PAYER’S MONEY FUND THE SORDID AFFAIR OF GREEK PHIL? The Word needs Buck house to come clean on the following questions: How much are we paying for his sex romps? Why is his will being kept under wraps if he had nothing to hide? Just how many children has he? Did Queenie know? Are there any more mistresses out there?
In 1594 Mathematician John Napier dedicates his “Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St. John” to King James VI, predicts end of the world in 1688 or 1700.
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Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
LOVE, SONGS AND VIGILS FAIL TO CHANGE THE COP RESULT
OUTSIDE THE BLUE ZONE GATES
E
very morning of COP26 I joined a procession of walkers following the Coat of Hopes through the streets of Glasgow to the gates of the Blue Zone which kept us outside the COP conference. On the coat were sewn patches of hope from communities throughout the UK. We sang for so many hours we lost our voices as we invited COP delegates to try on the coat. Outside the Blue Zone gates, I sat on the cold floor meditating with a group who daily sat in silent vigil. With them I sent prayers of hope, love and justice in my silence as delegates walked past.
On to the fences surrounding the Blue Zone I tied ribbons with messages written on them. I had carried these ribbons 500 miles from London and elsewhere around the UK. These ribbons represented the voices of those who couldn’t
be there but wanted and deserved to be heard by delegates who were there to make decisions that would affect every single life.
I danced Caleigh outside fences in celebration of the love and purpose activists shared. I held candles for those already suffering and I listened to impassioned speeches from inspiring speakers. Then in the early hours of the final day of COP26, as I sat in vigil a fellow group of activists come back from those fences holding candles. It was at that moment I cried, in grief, anger and frustration for the shared hope that had been lost. I cried for those suffering and those who will suffer from this injustice.
outside the Blue Zone so I only ever saw one side of COP. But on the final day, after the tears, I went to sing goodbye to the outside of the fences. And as I stood with a group that had shared my journey, I came to the realisation that I have been looking and expecting hope from the wrong places. The final COP report was a disappointment. It is not enough. If you were looking for hope from inside of those fences, then you were destined to be disappointed. It’s outside those gates you will find a community that inspires passion, strength and courage. They are the ones who will fight for and create change.
I cried for those delegates whose increasing exhaustion and sadness so clearly showed.
COP is a source of hope. But you must step outside the confines of the structure we live with to find the people, to find the passion, to realise our united hope for our future.
The fences kept me firmly
By Jelena Krivosic
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
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YOUNGSTERS TOLD LITTLE ABOUT THE THREAT TO THEIR FUTURE
T E AC H I N G I N A CLIMATE EMERGENCY G
iven the coverage of the UN Conference of the Parties (COP26), you may believe all young people in England have a robust climate education. However, although some schools are hugely proactive, thousands of pupils leave with the barest understanding of the catastrophy predicted to happen in their lifetime. The national curriculum for England has not been fit for purpose in raising awareness of climate change. In 1995, as COP1 was underway, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) a greenhouse gas was 358 parts per million (ppm). By 2013 and COP19, CO2 was 395ppm. Michael Gove updated the national curriculum removing almost all references to sustainability or climate change. In 2015 and COP21, parties agreed to “co-operate in taking measures, as appropriate, to en-
hance climate change education, training and public awareness”. Nothing in our schools changed while CO2 levels climbed to 400ppm. By COP26, this year, CO2 was at 419ppm and global temperatures had risen by +1.2°C, higher than preindustrial levels. Climate education might have been on the agenda at COP26 in Glasgow but it appears that we can’t rely on governments or the UN to prevent emissions rising and to secure a safe future for young people. With global heating of +1.2°C we have seen horrendous flooding, droughts and wildfires, so what on earth will our beautiful blue-green planet be like for children at +1.5°C which has been deemed safe or +2°C which is the upper target, or +2.4°C which would cover existing government pledges or even +3.6°C, the global temperature rises predicted based on existing emissions. The current Year 5s will be 88
years old in 2100 and we should fear for their futures. If we allow our governments to lead us to +3.6°C it is highly likely that the stability of the social systems we hold dear will be as tenuous as the environmental systems we depend on. Being a classroom teacher in the climate crisis is a little like walking a tightrope.
current levels before 2030. However you approach this, serious and rapid change is needed and the educational reforms suggested may not go far enough. Last November, hundreds of teachers were out on the streets of Glasgow calling for climate action and climate justice.
You can’t pretend the emergency is small or trivial to pupils but you also can’t incite them to get on the streets to take climate action.
Inside the classroom teachers are expected to remain calm and buoyant by suggesting that planting a few trees or writing a letter to MPs will help to mitigate climate breakdown.
Following recent announcements by the Department for Education at COP26, and the new Education Bill, it looks likely that schools will be expected to teach more on climate change and sustainability by 2023.
We are not allowed to talk about the problems caused by capitalism and we are unable to promote the results of activism by groups such as Fridays for Future, Extinction Rebellion or Insulate Britain.
However, there is no time to spare. To stay below +1.5°C, we need all developed countries, such as the UK, to reduce carbon use by 45%, just under half of
Educators can also get into trouble if they enthuse about particular political stances or tell pupils that school strikes are an effective action.
At COP26, one of the few real positives was that the youth voice increased in intensity and volume. Even though Greta wasn’t invited, many young people were present in strength and made their voice heard. As solutions to remove carbon dioxide are yet to reach the scale needed, agricultural deforestation, storms and wildfires are destroying vital woodland as fast as tree planting campaigns replace them. Radical and urgent decarbonisation is needed. Politicians must stop supporting any aspect of fossil fuel exploration and extraction and start focusing on young people who will be facing the coming climate emergency. To ensure those in positions of power take positive climate action, we must ensure that pupils understand the issues, facilitate any action they wish to take and enable them to call politicians or businesses to account. Dr Meryl Batchelder
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Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
THE VIOLENT INVASION ON THE PEACEFUL PEOPLE OF PARIHAKA
MAORI LAND STOLEN and given to settlers O
n the 5th of November 1881 a Maori peace camp in Parihaka, Western Taranaki, was destroyed by 1,600 soldiers and volunteers of the British Colonialist government led by Native Affairs Minister John Bryce. There were reports of rape and brutality. Maori crops were destroyed, animals slaughtered and homes were destroyed. The people of Parihaka, led by chiefs, Te Whiti o Rongmai and Tohu Kaka were known for being peaceful. Even on the day of the attack, they remained peaceful and non violent throughout. The mob was welcomed by singing women and children. The 2,500 villagers sat peacefully with their chiefs . Hundreds of Maoris were arrested including Te Whiti and
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Chief Te Whiti-o-Rongmai, John Pryce, Native Affairs minister and Chief Tohu Kaka
Tohu who were decreed by the West Coast Peace Preservation Bill to be imprisoned indefinitely without trial and if released, could be rearrested at any time. Te Whiti and Tohu were released from prison two years later, but hundreds more remained locked up leaving their families in severe hardship, worrying about their fate. The last person remained in
Following the invasion by a mob of settlers, hundreds of Maori were arrested and their leaders Te Whiti and Tohu were imprisoned indefinitely and without trial.
prison for 17 years.
Tohu and Te Whiti said Parihaka should be non-violent as Maoris had previously been through bloody battles to keep their land so many of their people had been killed.
Prior to Parihaka invasion, the British had confiscated Maori land, which is why many, Everyone was told not including Tohu and Te to carry any weapons in Whiti, ended up at public, and use their THERE WERE Parihaka, peace powers to REPORTS OF RAPE spiritual camp, a remote defend their right AND BRUTALITY, site by Mount to land, and to CROPS WERE Taranaki. stay away from any group that DESTROYED There they set followed a vioAND ANIMALS up an open farmlent path against SLAUGHTERED ing community a colonisation and year after the second assimilation. Taranki war, a bloody clash between Maori and EuroThe settlement did well peans and two years after most and attracted many likemindMaori land in Taranaki had been ed Maoris who chose to move stolen by the colonialists. there. But In May 1863, the New
Zealand Settlements Act proclaimed that any Maori tribe that asserted independence would be considered rebellious and all its land would be confiscated. It further declared that any Maori who wanted to hold land had to agree to have it officially surveyed by the British. During the Parihaka survey of 1879 the Maori became increasingly disturbed that British were rippeing out fences and building unwanted roads and paths through their fields destroying the crops. Today, there are no Maoris in the Taranaki region which spreads from the central plateau of the Northern Island to the western coast, they were all forcibly evicted.
Government for the many – not the few
A
functional government is one that fills the holes in the roads; ensures we are all treated fairly (equally would be better), that respects different cultures, does not pick fights with other countries, narrows the gap between rich and poor, puts beneficial public values and finally thinks a bit beyond the short term. People are not commodities to be bought and sold by such governments. Neither is health, education, well-being nor infrastructure. Sound bites are banished. Doctors are for the public good, not to spin for the devious. Do we still imagine that dictatorships are the finest examples of functioning governments? Messy, untidy, inefficient Britain out-produced Nazi Germany in all but one month during World War Two. Would anyone propose Mussolini’s Italy as an example of a well functioning government, even if he did lie about getting the trains to run on time? We might, however, admit that with Nazi Germany the Fascist uniforms had better style but it was a style that covered up really crap governments, not to
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Nazi and Fascist uniforms may have looked snazzy but the governments were crap
mention they were utterly evil. And so, by-passing so many other examples we might choose from both history and today’s great panoply of racist and sexist enslavers of humanity, we come to Trump. Suddenly all bets are off. My Dad spent hours working out possible score draws on the Treble Chance (Football Pools) and when it came to the gee gees seven stone nine and other carefully considered factors such as the going, the jockey, the form and the stable had to be decided upon before his five bob (25p) about £9 in todays money, left his pocket.
Political scientists and even psychologists are like my Dad when it comes to Donald Trump. Perhaps they waste their energies: but just think ‘Brand’. The constitution of the USA was, to be polite, imperfect. Like that of Lebanon it just about works if there are enough people around for whom public values are more important than power. It does not work at all when a President arrives who sees the job as an extension of his personal brand. As a qualified schoolteacher I am professionally barred from using a word such as ‘stupid’. Instead I must stretch my lexicon to find words such as ‘intellectually challenged’. Trump, our modern Greek Tragic Hero has yet to realise that by becoming President and creating a dysfunctional USA he has trashed his own brand. In the process those Americans who voted for him and appear keen to vote for a second term have also trashed the USA brand. Do they care that every day, in every way, the USA becomes more and more dysfunctional? Cliff Jones
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
THE
WORD
BAKERS UNION BOSS IAN HODSON SERVES UP TASTY MUSICAL MORSELS
ELVIS TRIBUTE SHOW
F
or those like me who n e v e r saw the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll live, but having seen many impersonators, the billing of ‘the closest ever to the real thing’ was a line I automatically took with a pinch of salt. Having paid a few quid for the tickets I was hoping that the two part Elvis Presley show, starring
more mature . Much like the Rocky Horror Show some were in full 50s Teddy Boy suits reminiscent of Edwardian drape jackets with added velvet trim and drainpipe trousers. Youngsters wearing Elvis gear or Elvis T-shirts were everywhere. The event started like all Elvis in Vegas shows , with a comedian. Here it was northern lad Larry Lard who bears a resemblance to podgy Peter Kay but with bluer jokes. He soon had the audience in stitches with his close to the knuckle repartee. A great act. A word of warning, if you sit on the front row expect to become part of the act and don’t be late!
The real Vegas deal
Chris Connor, it would be a night to treasure. Inside the theatre, the audience covered the generations from the just turned teens to the
Then the main event. arrived dressed in a blue outfit. It’s clear Chris Connor has put a lot of thought into how Elvis performed, his mannerisms and vocal range have been well
studied and it’s clear to see why he has won awards for his performances over the years. He recreates Elvis at his very best. In a two hour set that includes lively banter with the audience in character - his recreation of the the Vegas shows even includes many of Elvis’ mistakes he did make.
King of Queen takes back his throne
Backing band Steel belted out the beat and the melodies Lookalike Chris Connor
enhanced by fantastic backing vocals from Sweet Harmonies. Now in the Elvis white suit the audience was in full singalong mode. The stand out tracks for me were In The Ghetto, Suspicious Minds, and Don’t. As someone who went along with a degree of scepticism, I believe real the real Vegas deal would have looked and sounded just like the night’s offering. A must see for every Elvis fan.
Talented singer-songwriter Roger Taylor of Queen fame, often referred to as one of the world’s most influential drummers of all time, embarks on his biggest UK solo tour in at least two decades as he releases his new album, Outsider. As a huge Queen fan and someone who has all of Roger’s solo works, it was an unmissable concert at Liveral Academy. Roger opened with the title track of his 1984 solo album Strange Frontier. For a man at 72 it was immediately clear his trademark gritty voice is as strong as ever. The set included such Queen classics as Radio Gaga, an incredible and beautiful version of These Are The Days of our Lives, A Kind of Magic, mixed with Roger’s classical Queen lead vocal tracks,Tenement Funster and Prime Jive, and of course I’m In Love With My Car which had the large crowd cheering and singing along throughout the show. Roger has an impressive solo artist play list too. Debuting tracks of his new album Outsider and featuring some of his back catalogue such as Nation Of Haircuts. Many of the solo tracks have political undertones, that will resonate with the left such as: Gangsters Running The World, I Wanna Fly On The Wings Of Love among them. From the album Electric Fire, Surrender, a song written about domestic violence and duetted with the incredible Tina Keys (keyboards/violinist). The incredible talented musicians alongside Roger include Spike Edney the fifth Queen member who regularly plays keyboards for the group, both Christian Mendoza guitarist and Neil Fairclough on bass adding vocals to an impressive sound and with Tyler Warren with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hammer and taking lead on Rock It (Prime Jive). With an encore of Heroes and Led Zeps Rock ‘n’ Roll the crowd were sent home in ecstasy. I give this gig a full bakers’ dozen star rating.
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THE
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Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
NOTHING STARMER DOES CAN SHOCK US ANY MORE
THERE ARE NO LIMITS
I
t’s now clear that to all but those who refuse to see that Sir Keir has been told by those who own and control media output that for Labour to be rehabilitated, he must first crush the left.
THE RULING CLASSES LARGELY DIDN’T WANT BREXIT
The ruling classes were shaken to their core by the 2017 close call. What should have been the total destruction of the Corbyn movement only fell short by 2,500 votes thanks to the betrayal of the Party bureaucracy and a large part of the Parliamentary Labour Party. The ruling classes largely didn’t want Brexit but it was the price they were prepared to pay to ensure Leave-voting Labour voters turned their backs on the Party in disgust in 2019. An economic crisis is the price they are paying to ensure a defeat and make sure there was not a repeat of 2017 close call.
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O
Will Sir Keir do what even the hated MacDonald - now undergoing rehabilitation - failed to do? Sir Keir’s strategy to crush the left is simple. Lie and deceive to become leader. Renege on all your promises; on any pretext throw left members out and disgust other so they won’t even
want to join.
rolel model Tony Blair.
Most important of all abolish one member one vote so that a Corbyn can never ever be win control then just ride it out until the inevitable next general election defeat, and blame it all on Corbyn of course. Sir Keir’s reward? Directorships and consultancies that will make him very rich, just like his
Most importantly, Sir Keir had to show loyalty to the ruling classes by ignoring the relative slaughter of people through the Covid crisis compared to most other industrialised countries, particularly Europe. Remember, it took the unions to close schools in January, Sir Keir wanted them open, “no
“A note to the organizers of #COP26 in Glasgow: it is impossible to safeguard our future and address the climate crisis, without first and foremost
Already the Bakers Union has cut ties, the FBU may follow and Unite ‘s leader Sharon Graham, has lost interest. Sir Keir revealed his ruthlessness when he attacked working class people in the aftermath of the 2011 riots. There are now no limits. By Tiff on Keef
COP26 tripped at the first step and Ayisha Siddiqa, people from low income countries, the global south and everyone being hit first and hardest.
Why? The lack of Disability Access. Something the UK’s Disabled People know all too well. A disadvantage and exclusion they experience on a daily basis. The COP26 summit highlighted this grave inequality in spectacular fashion, as well as the Government’s disabling, victim-blaming attitude and it prompted Israel’s Minster of Foreign Affairs, Yair Lapid to share this response on Twitter
The problem is, if you deal with the devil he will demand his due; the only question is, how far is Sir Keir prepared to go? There are many in and out of the Party who would like a Labour Party as distant from the wider movement as the US Democrats are.
An economic crisis is the price of ensuring a defeat and making sure there was no repeat of 2017.
n the first day of the United Nations’ COP26 summit, held in Glasgow, Israel’s Energy Minister, Karine Elharrar, found herself excluded from the Global event she was meant to be attending.
ifs or buts” up to the day Johnson closed them after the unions refused..
caring for people, including ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities” @yairlapid. This is a bit rich coming from Israel of all places, which shows no care or concern whatsoever for the conquered Palestinians. I was at COP26, with my wheelchair, to highlight the interconnection between
the Climate Crisis, Disability, Inequality, Injustice, Neoliberalism, Colonialism, Racism, Deforestation, and every other crisis in the world. From day one it was clear that COP26 was the ‘Inaccessible COP’. Not just for its lack of disabled access, but to the voices of climate activists from around the world, including Xiye Bastida
The only voices welcomes were those with power, money and the right connections and the defenders of fossil fuel extraction who are willing to see the world go to hell for their increased profits. All the time I was acutely aware of the Policing Bill going through Parliament which will remove our right to protest taking the UK ever closer to a police state. I was at COP26 representing Disabled People Against Cuts and XR Disabled Rebels. I saw COP26 as my last chance to be at a protest for all the causes I care about, even
as the Government invests billions in building super prisons to warehouse, good, caring, conscientious people they plan to criminalise in order to silence and incarcerate them into their growing, privatised prison we are paying for. COP26 failed us. Our Government is failing us. But the people came to Glasgow from all around the world with one common purpose: to sound the alarm and pressure the world’s leaders to save the planet, these people are the ones who will keep rising up until they succeed in raising the necessary awareness to bring about the total system change, social justice and climate justice our planet needs for the good of all. To fail means global suicide. PS. There is no planet B....
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
THE
WORD
11
YOU DON’T CHEER ON THE REDS IF THEY’RE PLAYING BADLY
POLITICS ISN’T FOOTBALL
C
entrist dweebs are pointing out that the Tory the voting public an attractive whining at me again government is absolutely alternative that keeps its because I’m shit, and pointing out promises and is worth voting critical of the that Starmer and his for. way the Labour Party goons are doing an WE NEED is being run. Trying to shout down TO DEMAND absolutely shit job of Its pitiful lack opposing them. anyone who complains THAT THEY of opposition, about the venal, divisive, and DO BETTER the rampant If Labour incompetent job Starmer has factionalism- by the supporters actually been doing, simply isn’t going leadersip - vote rigging, want their party to win a to cut it. the abandonment of all general election they need it of Starmer’s 10 leadership to actually oppose this horrific Politics isn’t football. You election pledges, and especially Tory government, and offer don’t just keep on cheering his mass-persecution of leftwing Jews. If Labour supporters want their party to There is absolutely no contradiction between
»
win, they need Labour to begin to actually oppose the Tory government
FREEDOM DREAMS: THE BLACK RADICAL IMAGINATION
Charlie on Books
“Graeber and Wengrow a thrilling intellectual hishave effectively overtory of how they came turned everything I about, why they perTHE MOST ever thought about sist, and what it all PROFOUND the history of the means for the just AND EXCITING world ... future we hope to BOOK I’VE create. READ IN The authors THIRTY YEARS don’t just debunk The most prothe myths, they give found and exciting book I’ve read in thirty years.”
»
The authors don’t just debunk the myths, they give a thrilling intellectual history of how they came about
Robin D.G. Kelley, Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History, UCLA, author of Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination. By Charlie
the reds, regardless of how shit they’re playing. You have to demand that they do better, and if they continue deliberately scoring own-goals, just to piss off sections of their
own fan base, you need to move your political allegiance, and give your time, effort and money to political causes that are actually going to make positive differences.
THE
WORD
12
Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
KICK ARSE LYRICS LIKE A BANNER TAKEN ONTO THE BATTLEFIELD
THE BEAT FROM THE STREET PLUG BABIES THE BUTT
T
he Butt Plug Babies! Now there’s a name that is sure to conjure up some rather obscure, and perhaps unsavoury images. Thankfully though, there is absolutely nothing at all obscure or unsavoury about this vibrant and lively band, the entire outfit turning out to be awesomely wondrous and refreshing in the flesh. Indeed, these babies kick arse big time, which needless to say is veritable Manna from Heaven to an old savoured punk like, moi. Fitting in rather well with our own left-leaning ethos, the Butt Plug Babies rips up the manual of conformity and throws the aforementioned baby into a skip, delivering hard hitting songs that leave nothing to the imagination whilst even going so far as to throw in the ubiquitous ‘C**t’ word into their repertoire, which always makes for a bit of fire if I do say so myself.
Yup. Whatever happened to that old fire in our music? Bring it on… But, who exactly are the Butt Plug Babies? Hailing from the South West of England in the port city of Plymouth, they are – Jordan ‘FatLip’ Green on lead vocals, delivering angst a plenty in a gravelled, machine gun-like delivery of suitably establishment bashing lyrics, Morv Brown taking up some very capable and technically accomplished lead axe-man duties, Billi Lee Love on Bass providing those all- necessary low-down vibes and backing vocals, and finally a seasoned and accomplished Sean ‘Muddy’ Lee providing that all-important formation and cohesive beat on the drums. Trivia time – The drummer and the bassist are Father and Daughter, which really does make this band just that little bit more special.
But anyway, having watched BPB play on numerous occasions, I cannot reiterate the fire that they generate in each performance, never failing to rouse the audience into participation as they do, and entertaining in a style that leaves them enthralled and eager for an encore, or two. Indeed, this band delivers the goods. Perhaps a part of that is due to the need of the many right now for a voice to exemplify their dissent at this nation’s current political woes and f**kuppery, who knows, but it’s intoxicating regardless, and with lyrics carrying like a banner going onto the battlefield to kick arse, they can’t lose. And lord knows there’s a battle ahead of us… Notable tracks from an already released first album include – ‘Pussy Domination’, which despite its connotations is about Cat’s taking over the world rather than a takeover
of Men by Women. But I could be wrong. ‘Cont’servatives’, which is a clever, if not obvious Tory-Bashing play on words. ‘Meme Song’, which is about the controlling aspects of social media and how it dominates our lives. And ‘MP’, which plays along to Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ with suitably adjusted lines like ‘You ain’t nothing but an MP, lying all the time’. I want more! And lo n behold, I
am reliably informed that there is an imminent second album that promises to be every bit as antagonistic and fire breathing as the last so, can’t wait for that. The Butt Plug Babies have played numerous venues all over the South West and have made quite the name for themselves on the Punk circuit. Indeed, you’d be a very foolish alternative today if you were to decide to give these guys a miss, because they certainly do epitomise the veritable kick up the arse that this country needs right now. Seriously, if you see them on a band line-up anywhere, just get out there and watch them. Tell them Adrian sent you… In the meantime, you can find out even more about them right here - https://www.facebook.com/ButtPlugBabies Photo Credits – Martha F Photo By Adrian Angel
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
THE
WORD
13
HYDROGEN IS ABOUT TO UPSTAGE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
CARBON CAPTURE IS A NO BRAINER
T
he battery of an electric car is often denigrated as rolling hazardous waste. A battery system consists of steel and alloy, lithium, copper, cobalt, and nickel. In addition, there are other materials such as plastics for insulation or liquid electrolytes.
»
High voltage batteries are classified as dangerous goods
Today, at the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party, we submitted a motion urging the Chief Whip to restore the Parliamentary whip to Jeremy Corbyn. The motion was proposed by Ian Murray (Fire Brigades Union representative) and seconded by Nadia Jama (CLP representative). On the 17th November 2020, a 5-member NEC panel lifted Jeremy Corbyn’s suspension from the Labour Party, a month after he was initially suspended over his response to the EHRC report.
An industrial recycling network must be set up for obvious reasons such as environmental protection, conservation of resources and, in the long run, also from a cost perspective. It is true that dealing with them is by no means trivial or risk-free as anyone handling large amounts of energy should always be careful – high voltage batteries are classified as dangerous goods. We don’t have a recycling network as it requires tightening the legal framework not only to
protect the environment but also to relieve the car industry and electric vehicle owners. Battery production has a very large carbon footprint.
ture CO2 from their exhaust systems, which can then be taken to recycling plants to process into new materials or energy. In 2019, a truck was able to capture 40 per THE UK cent of CO2 from its BACKS BLUE exhaust pipe. H
Saudi Arabia captures up to 40 milYDROGEN lion standard cubic W H ICH ONLY feet of CO2 every Between liqCAPTURES day, enough to fill uid hydrogen and 95% OF CO2 440 Olympic-sized hydrogen fuel cell swimming pools. airplanes and cars, They have also been hydrogen is quickly working on capture solubecoming the favourite tions for cars and trucks to cap- source of clean energy investing.
While lithium-ion batteries have been leading the way in clean energy technology advancements, hydrogen is about to take the spotlight. The UK are backing Blue Hydrogen which only captures 95% of CO2 as it uses gas – others are backing renewable energy which is totally green. A hydrogen plant using renewable energy produces hydrogen, black carbon and ammonia used by farmers and Zero CO2 and is totally green, it’s a no brainer. By Rabbie
CORBYN STILL NOT WELCOME IN THE NEW RIGHT WING LABOUR PARTY That panel was democratically constituted, according the rules of the party. Despite his reinstatement by the NEC, the leader made an about-turn and said that he had taken the decision to withdraw the whip from Jeremy Corbyn, imposing a further sanction when the NEC panel had ruled
Jeremy Corbyn for 14 months and counting.
that there should be none. This opaque and unaccountable procedure has been used to exclude
That decision has been an incredibly divisive one. Alongside a series of decisions made by the party, on internal and disciplinary matters especially, it has prevented attempts at presenting a united front in the face of a destructive, amoral and dishonest
Tory Government. Today’s motion was a chance for members of the NEC to do the right thing, to restore the whip to Jeremy Corbyn, to back the democratic decision of its own NEC panel and to respect the democratic will of local Labour Party members in Jeremy’s constituency, Islington North, where he has been a popular Labour MP since 1983.
THE
WORD
14
Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
THE TRUTH ABOUT
T
met while hunting on December 7 at a dacha where, after considerable consumption of vodka, they decided without any public discussion to dissolve the state that had emerged from the October Revolution of US HAD 1917.
he American owned media tell us that Ukraine left the USSR because that is what their people wanted. This is what really happened:
It was not the THE “Ukrainian people” INVESTED who decided in 1991 FI VE BILLION to dissolve the SoviThe Ukrainian D OLLARS et Union, of which rich change their IN REGIME Ukraine was an inpolitical orientation CHANGE tegral part, but three and their internationStalinist officials: Boris al alliances as required. Yeltsin (Russia), Stanislav Shushkevich (Belarus) and LeFor example, the richest man onid Kravchuk (Ukraine). They in the country, Rinat Akhmetov
The coup the USA bought The elected president, Yanukovych, who had been manoeuvring between Russia and the Western powers, was hounded out of office with the help of fascist militias and with the open support of Washington and Berlin and replaced by Poroshenko. Victoria Nuland, then Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and now number three in the US State Department, personally paraded on the Maidan to cheer on the protests against Yanukovych. She publicly boasted that the US had invested five billion dollars in regime change in Ukraine.
»
The biggest financial fraud of the 21st century
(estimated wealth by Forbes: $7.6 billion), was long considered pro-Russian. Among other things, he controlled the Donetsk Basin’s coal and steel industry, which has since been largely destroyed, and was for a time a deputy of the “Party of Regions” of President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted in 2014. This did not prevent him from continuing to increase his fortune even after Yanukovych’s fall.
have since revealed that apparThe fourth richest ently Zelensky also profUkrainian, Ihor Koloited from this fraud. He moyskyi ($1.8 billion), and his entourage own is considered a promotseveral shell companies er and mastermind of in international tax hathe current president, vens, into which funds in Volodymyr Zelensky, the tens of millions have who won the 2019 presflowed. BILLION, idential election on an PETRO anti-corruption ticket. Petro Poroshenko, the POROSHENKO, Kolomoyskyi stands acseventh richest Ukrainian cused in the US and oth- THE SEVENTH with $1.6 billion, was the RICHEST er countries of looting a UKRAINIAN, country’s president from bank he owns of more WAS THE 2014 to 2019. He made his than five billion euros COUNTRY’S fortune exporting sweets in “the biggest financial PRESIDENT to Russia, was a minister fraud of the 21st centu- FROM 2014 for a time under Presiry.” The Pandora Papers dent Yanukovych, and TO 2019 then turned ultranationalist and darling of the West.
$1.6
Who Boris Johnson wants us to fight alongside A key role among the 80 or so far-right militias built and equipped to fight the eastern Ukrainian separatists is played by the Azov Regiment. Founded by Andriy Biletsky, who was freed from prison during the events in the coup, where he was serving a sentence for murder, the Azov Regiment has never made a secret of its admiration for the Nazis. Biletsky professed his support for the “crusade of the white nations of the world against the Semitic-led subhumans.” The Azov Regiment’s symbols— wolf’s hook and black sun—were used by Hitler’s SS in World War II
Now he stands accused of treason. He is alleged to have made lucrative deals with the separatists in eastern Ukraine while fueling the civil war against them as president. Poroshenko denies this and accuses Zelensky of wanting to get rid of a political opponent.
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Yours Mr. T Fury from Morecambe. MAGGIE SAYS – I just Googled you and established you are a top Pugilistic Traveller and
Bojo’s Diary October-ish; Holibobs in Marbella!!! Me, Cazza and little Wotsit#7 and Bump#8 all flew to the Blackpool of the Med for some Sun. Once upon a time it would have been Sun, Sea, Sex and Sangria but with the Mrs being knocked up its more like Spew, Paella, Sangria, Repeat. I discovered a few bottles of Spanish Absinthe at the Villa and it got me all artsy, so I started painting for the Tabloid camera’s. It all got a bit trippy in the heat and my painting ended up being of a crucified Domenic Cummings, being tormented by an army of disembodied Vaginas and Lobsters with switchblades. Don’t really know what it means now I’m sober. Whilst I was unavoidably away from the office some of those democratically elected MP committee types started bitching about how slow we were shutting down for Covid. See with hindsight, repeating what they said at the time is just playing party political ‘whataboutery’. I came up with the catchphrase ‘Hands, Face, Space’ after a couple of months, what else needed doing? I imagine the media have already forgotten about it now. Baaaah. November ish – Started a new diet, the VPS, Vodka and Pork Scratchings, I haven’t lost any weight but my sleeping patterns are much better, as is my ad-libbing. I made three speeches the other day about Peppa Pig and woke up in the scaffolding of Big Ben. Despite all the sleaze I’m still ahead in the polls, no-one cares anymore and those that do are too busy or too disenchanted to protest, even for the NHS. Chrimbo. Everyone appears to be hacked off about last year’s round of parties at my gaff! You see we, in the Tory Party, are like an extended family, with not just your 7 or 8 legitimate kids and their several mother’s but all of the bastards as well. If I keep my head down some other story will take over the headlines.
THE
WORD
15
Mad Madge Talks Across Oceans Of Time
MAGGIE THATCHER, MORE AGONY AUNT ANSWERS FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Dear Maggie As a gypsy I am very worried my local council won’t let me park my caravan. They are very intimidating. What shall I do?
Late January 2022
Gobshite who’s name actually is Tyson! I mean to say your Roadbound Northern parents actually named you after Mike ‘Earbiter and convicted rapist’ Tyson. Ironically you then went into, guess what, duffing people up. Whilst your heritage is fundamentally abhorrent to my One Nation Conservativism, I can only admire your ‘off the grid’ avoidance of Poll Tax and Stamp Duty. Keep on beating people up big lad!
Dear Margaret As A Saudi Arabian supporter of Newcastle United. Can you tell me where the half time stonings take place? Anonymous from Riyadh MAGGIE SAYS – I imagine civil rights are a tad different in Newcastle than the Kingdom of Saud. For a start Geordies are more likely to drink ‘Broon’ to excess, which is of course
The World View Of DAISY MAIL Hello again readers, it’s Daisy here with another well judged, MSM informed, slice of good old British common sense in your Leftard Newspaper. With all those Foreign workshy drivers staying away and our own brave lads down with the Omnickeron, I’ve been hoarding Easter food in my freezer for weeks now. I’m not getting caught out with my pants down like with the Covid Toilet Paper situation again. I saw in Aldi they had Hot Cross Buns on sale so I bought a trolley full of them, I’m not having my Easter ruined by not having a yeasty fruit flavoured crucifix with my mug of Yorkshire Tea on Good Friday. Quite why our noble Duke of Prince Andrew is having his name dragged through the dirt by some slutty Madame I will never know. I mean if she wasn’t being flown around the world to meet him, she would probably have been fingered in the playground by some spotty teenager doing his O levels. And it was all over 20 years ago, I mean you’ve got to realise he was only a naïve 41 year old War Veteran at the time. Cut the poor fella some slack. Boys will be boys, especially if you knock about with suicidal millionaire Pimps and Courtesans at your daughters 18th birthday party. Or Pizza Express.
alcoholic and always caused me chronic biliousness. They are more likely to take their shirt off and eat a Scotch Pie, or Stottie than stone anyone. As far as filthy Northerners go Geordie’s are fundamentally okay. Don’t ever go to Hartlepool though, they once hanged an Ape for being ‘a bit French’, I dread to think what they would do to an Arab. Dear Maggie Please don”t let me be sold to Newcastle. I don’t want their new official job. Yours, John Stones from Manchester. MAGGIE SAYS – Stonsey stop bleating, you could end up back in the Socialist Republic of Barnsley having your Bentley keyed. You Ponce. Dear evil one Now my home town has become a city does it mean I will be rich? Yours, Thorpe T Bay, from the posh bit. MAGGIE SAYS – Essex boys, you can’t beat them. They are all bloody Farmers Boys who aspire to being East End Gangsters. So what if your town is now a City, your Football team is still in the Vanarama League Division Infinity, you Whelk!
16
THE
WORD
Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
BIZARRE NEWS MEDIA BLACKOUT THE “Kremlin, China involved WORK OF ALIENS SAYS URI too.” GELLAR Geller added: “It’s a huge The TV psychic and serial mystery for social networks. attention seeker believes “They have to come that extra-terrestriup with some kind of WEIRD als were responsible STUFF FROM an earthly explanafor the social meTHE INTERNET tion.” dia systems going A user then THAT YOU offline on Monday asked: “You saying DIDN’T NEED aliens caused a serv(04.10.21). Facebook blamed the outage for er crash?” TO KNOW 3.5 billion users across Geller replied: “My the world - was blamed on feeling, yes. What’s the big a technical issue that caused the deal for them?” servers to crash but Geller has blamed aliens on social media. FANGS FOR THE MEMORY He tweeted: “National Secu- DENTIST rity Agency, Pentagon are frantiDanielle Watts suffered secally investigating.” vere gum disease after her Den“Alien technology can do tist closed in 2015 but was forced this.” to take matters literally into her “Nuclear ballistic missile sys- own hands as she was unable to tems are in danger. find another NHS dentist.
Watts, from Bury St Edmunds, told The Sun newspaper: “I am in constant pain and feel so disheartened because there is just no help out there. I have had really bad gum disease over the last couple of years and my teeth have started dying off one by one. It has got to the point where I squeeze them and they just pop out. I have lost 11 so far and I think I am going to lose them all at this rate.” ROBOCOPS ON THE BEAT IN SINGAPORE The ‘Xavier’ Robots are equipped with seven cameras to detect “undesirable social behaviour” and groups who are violating the nation’s strict social distancing rules. The robocops have been met with suspicion
from the population as they fear that Singapore is sliding into a “dystopian” nightmare. Local Frannie Teo said: “It reminds me of ‘Robocop’. It brings to mind a dystopian world of robots... I’m just a bit hesitant about that kind of concept.” Digital rights activist Lee Yi Ting said: “It’s dystopian because of the extent to which we are visibly surveilled. But I think that what’s more dystopian for me is that it is normalised and that people are not responding much to this at all.” CHRISTCHURCH SACKS WIZARD The wizards annual salary of $16,000 from Christchurch City Council was paid for the
Mystic Mandy Horoscopes AQUARIUS January 20 February 18 If you start the week trying to do everything at once it is inevitable that acid indigestion will occur later on, so take things a step at a time and don’t worry what friends and relatives and colleagues may be doing. Lucky cheese Dairylea PISCES February 19 - March 20 Stay calm and resist the urge to fight fire with fire, especially when dealing with people in positions of authority. No matter how much they might annoy you the fact remains they have the power and you do not, so stay ahead of the game and go on the attack first. Avoid Vauxhall Astras. ARIES March 21 - April 19 Make sure that any tasks remaining from the weekend and the week before are finished be-
fore you get out and about and have some fun. The planets warn if you leave a job half done it will prey on your mind so much that it spoils your Chippy Tea. Lucky sauce Worcestershire. TAURUS April 20 - May 20 The sooner you recognize the fact that perfection is not possible the happier you will be. By all means set high standards for yourself but be kind to yourself too. Failing that have a Mental Breakdown and go on an online spending spree. Lucky Dance routine American Smooth. GEMINI May 21 - June 20 It should be easier to push ahead with your plans now that Saturn is ending its retrograde phase, so don’t worry if you have been falling behind a bit of late – not only will you catch up fast but soon you will be racing ahead of your rivals.All 11/12ths of the world population. Avoid
Processed Cheese. CANCER June 21 - July 22 If you owe a friend or colleague a favour they will want to collect on it today, so be ready to give back to the same extent, and in the same spirit, as when it was given. If that seems painful, don’t be a scrounging parasite in the first place. Lucky breakfast Golden Grahams. LEO July 23 - August 22 If your sixth sense tells you that what you are being told, even by someone you usually trust, is unlikely to be true then you must listen to it. Not everyone wants you to know that you are paranoid. Avoid open spaces. VIRGO August 23 - September 22 Make sure you have a clear idea of what it is you are aiming for and make sure you are in the best possible place to get it. You cannot afford to be vague, either
about your own aims or something, whatever. Lucky words ‘Flange’ and ‘Contemporaneous’ LIBRA September 23 - October 22 Do you stick with what you know and trust or do you embark on a new way of doing things? Only you can decide but now that Saturn, planet of limitation, is ending its retrograde phase at some point, you’ll be able to see the pitfalls as well as the possibilities. Avoid adverbs. SCORPIO October 23 - November 21 Try to avoid making quick decisions concerning family and financial issues. There is a lot of information that needs to be digested and you won’t make sense of it all in one go, so take it
past 23 years but the authorities have now decided sack him as he doesn’t fit with the city’s modern image. The Wizard of New Zealand, who is also known as Ian Brackenbury Channell, slammed the “bunch of bureaucrats” who have terminated his payments. Channell had been employed to perform “acts of wizardry” to citizens of the area. He told Stuff: “They are a bunch of bureaucrats who have no imagination. They are not thinking of ways to promote Christchurch overseas. They are just projecting an image of bureaucrats drinking lattes on the boulevard. Their image of Christchurch is nothing to do with the authentic heritage of the city. I am the original image of Christchurch.” a step at a time. Maybe try hiding in the Bathroom. Lucky fluid, Lighter fluid. SAGITTARIUS November 22 - December 21 You may decide to do something provocative this weekend, for no better reason than you feel you have been held back so much in recent weeks that you need to make a statement of intent. Since when have you ever given the slightest toss? Lucky number – Planck’s Constant. CAPRICORN December 22 - January 19 Saturn ends its retrograde phase at some point this month, making it easier for you to see things as they are both in your personal life and in the world at large. Others may say you are being too logical in your thinking but as far as you are concerned they are Losers. Avoid the Welsh.
thewordmedia.org
SATIRE
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Early October 2021
THE
WORD
17
THE
18
WORD
Early October 2021
POLITICS AND EVENTS
thewordmedia.org
UK: The UK got its first low-cost rail service. A low-cost, low-carbon rail service launched in the UK this week, promising a greener, more comfortable alternative to flying on one the UK's busiest domestic route The inaugural Lumo service pulled out of King’s Cross station, London, arriving in Edinburgh 4.5 hours later. Tickets on the allelectric trains cost from £14.90, with free wifi included. Lumo said that its service is “a blueprint
for
low-carbon,
affordable long-distance travel in the UK” at a time when the UK needs
to
drastically
reduce
transport emissions. New Zealand:
Africa:
Rail expert, Mark Smith, was
In a win for inclusivity, the
on board the first service. He was
country has appointed its first
racing Simon Calder, the travel
female Māori governor-general.
editor of the Independent, who flew. Although Calder won it was by just 15 minutes.
Being able to roll out the
A Malaria vaccine has been given the green light for Africa. Although proven effective six
Dame Cindy Kiro will be responsible
for
carrying
out
opened next month offering GP
vaccine on a mass scale is thus “a
consultations,
historic moment”, said Dr Tedros
showers, haircuts as well as
dental
Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-
financial
general of WHO.
therapy assessments.
literacytraining
care, and
years ago, the World Health Organization
(WHO)
is
now
London:
Mayor Sadiq Khan has been
constitutional duties on behalf of
recommending that the vaccine be
A Big Issue - backed project has
supporting the scheme for a
Lumo backed by First Group, is
the British monarch, who is the
rolled out across Africa since pilot
converted two London buses into
number
a brand new, low-cost and eco-
head of state. Kiro vowed to use the
immunisation
programmes
healthcare and support hubs for
"...buses are thearteries of the city
friendly
job to reach out to marginalised
conducted in Ghana, Kenya and
rough sleepers.The Driving for
and are usually the lifeline for us to
communities.
Malawi proved a success.
Change initiative has been
service
train
service
committed to using 100% electric high-speed trains as well as a menu
launched by coffee shop,
and
stated
get around. Now they are a life saver".
She said “I will connect to new
As 94 % of cases occur in Africa,
to make our waste easier to
migrants and former refugees, and
the new jab has been widely
trains homeless peopleas
See The Big
recycle.”
celebrate
diverse
welcomed by experts, particularly
baristas, paying them a
Issue 1484
living wage.
October 18.
many
cultures and religions gifted to our
as children are disproportionately
See more at
nation by those who have chosen
affected.
https://tinyurl.com/nve2m35y
to make New Zealand their home.”
children died from malaria in 2019.
More
than
Please,
years
that is, “…at least 50% plant-based
the
Change
of
260,000 The hubs will be
which
THE
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
19
WORD
Women who made a Difference W
hist
the
the island of Lesbos. When the motor
Olympic Paralympics
I
found
broke down the sisters jumped in the
more
inspiring
papers to stay in Germany.
on
water. Even though Yusra was a strong
Being selected to be part of the
many levels than the able bodied
swimmer and could have swum to
first-ever Refugee Olympic Team in
Olympics I was interested in the
safety she responded to her sister
August 2016 catapulted the athlete to
number (29) of members in the
shouting for her to help two men who
a global stage, and later address world
refugee team.
had also jumped in order to try to
leaders such as Barack Obama at the
attach a rope to tow the dinghy to
UN General Assembly. She has also
Whilst ALL the team members
shore. With their combined effort they
met the Pope and honoured with
will have inspiring back stories I have
managed after three and a half hours
several awards, making it into People
chosen Yusra Mardini who was the
to reach the shore.
magazine’s 25 Women Changing the
flag bearer for the team in Tokyo.
World list. Their journey didn’t stop there -
Refugees were first represented
the sisters then walked from Greece to
Although she did not perform as
by a smaller team in the Rio Olympics.
Germany on foot, travelling through
well as she hoped in Tokyo, coming
seven countries before eventually
third in the heats, it is her work outside
finding a refugee camp in Berlin.
the pool as the youngest Goodwill
Olympic Opening Ceremonies are quite unlike anything else in the world
Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN
but For refugee athlete, Yusa Mardini
It was here Yusra got back into a
refugee agency which marks her out.
when she walked out under the IOC
swimming pool. After hearing about a
Refugee Olym-pic Team flag at the
club train-ing young athletes, she
“IT'S LIKE YOU ARE LIVING
Opening Ceremony in Rio 2016 it was
joined the team and a trainer helped
BUT THERE IS NO FURTHER
quite simply life-changing. Then aged
the sisters get
GOAL IN LIFE”
17 Yusra won her heat of the 100m butterfly at these games.
Such is the power of Mardini's will to inspire all who listen. Her
Her prowess in the pool was inspired by her dad, who swam
story
resonated
swimmer
with
Katie
US
Ledecky,
i n i d r a M a r s Yu
for the Syrian Olympic team,
widely regarded as the
faced along the way. I think a lot of that
countries
and raised both of his daughters
most dominant female
has formed my feelings towards
ambassador.
to love the water. Their training
swimmer of all-time. She
immigrants and refugees and the
as competi-tive swimmers came
shared part of her own
challenges you face.
to a halt when the family were
family history with Yusra.
stopped from going to the pool, with dad Ezzat being arrested and beaten up by regime soldiers. The family felt they had little
Her
in
her
work
as
an
Speaking for refugees globally through sharing her own inspiring
Interestingly Yusra once watched
story and has become a powerful
paternal
Ledecky swim on her television
voice for the forcibly displaced across
grandfather, Jaromir, was
screen in Syria at the urgings of her
the world and an example of their
from Czechoslovakia, since
dad. Such is the transformative power
resilience
and
determination
to
split into the Czech Republic
of the IOC Refugee Olympic team and
rebuild lives and positively contribute
choice but to leave their home. So in
and Slovakia. He received an
the message of solidarity that it
to host communities.
2015 Yusra d- and her sister Sarah were
academic scholarship to study
inspires.
told to leave as it was impossible for
in the United States in 1947
the whole family to escape together.
but was urged by family to
Yusra's personal mission is to help
telling part of Yusra and her sister's
Yusra’s parents knew people who
stay there and defect rather
others better understand the plight of
story, called Swimmers, is due for
refugees; that ultimately all they are
release in 2022.
could get the sisters to Turkey and help them kickstart their new lives.
than
return
to
the
communist country they
A Netflix film is due out in 2022
seeking is safety and opportunity.
said was unsafe.
Another film may be in the offing
The story of their 25-day long voyage
captured
headlines
around the world show-ing her tremendous courage and tenacity for life. In a dinghy
Yusra has spoken on behalf of Ledecky said, “I have
so
Stephen Daldry who said:
much
Forum in Davos and many other
respect for
global stages. She also supports
“Yusra reminds us of the human
UNHCR campaigns and events and
cost of the tragedy and the incredible
fundraising activities. This has taken
fortitude, perseverance and hope of
what
he
for seven, 20 people were cramped in for
UNHCR at the World Economic
from Olivia Award winning director
accomplished
her to Jordan to spend time with
one young woman who struggles for a
the
short
in his life and the
fellow Syrians living in Zaatari Refugee
future,” he said. “Yusra’s dream of
crossing
to
hard times that he
Camp. She has been to a number of
living in peace is the story of our time.”
20
THE
WORD
Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
thewordmedia.org
ANOTHER WRONG KIND OF JEW, THIS TIME IT’S THEIR COLOUR NOT THEIR OPINIONS
RACIST ISRAEL WORKING HARD TO
T
he leftish Jewish Voice
In a decision that smacks of
Knesset (Parliament), and direct
in 1970), the “threat” posed by this
In virtually every way imaginable,
for Labour has informed
discrimination, Israel is set to expel
negotiations with the Ministry of
community to Israeli society has
the African Hebrew community has
its members: The Times
135 members of the community,
Interior itself, Minister Ayelet Shaked
manifested in the following manner:
not
of Israel has reported that even
most of whom were born here and
has made it clear that “there is no
the highest rate of enlistment in the
ideologically
when Black people are fully
have relatives that served in the IDF
room to change the presiding policy
Israeli
multiple
aforementioned groups, but has
engaged in Israeli society, that does
(army).
that has been in place thus far.”
representatives sent to represent
demonstrated their aspiration to live
Israeli
as an integral part of Israeli Jewish
not necessarily mean they have any citizenship status or protection from deportation.
by Yirmiyahu Danzig, Times of Israel
What policy, you ask? One that unapologetically against
the
discriminates African
Hebrew
The small community of African
For eight months the small
Hebrews’ “right to return” was
community of African Hebrews in
members
retrospectively stripped in 1970
Israel has been engaged in a
presence in the State of Israel.
shortly after they were initially
bureaucratic
welcomed.
Ministries
Campaigners against deportation
battle of
Immigration
Interior
to of
with prevent
of members of this community note
deportation
the different treatment of 400,000
community members.
7%
of
constitute
a
To
quote
African
Hebrews,
Israel propaganda on the international stage by its community members.
attorney
and
the
society. For all of these reasons, the unique circumstances is particularly
community
has
been
discriminatory in light of the broader picture of Israeli demographics.
Yona
targeted with repeated bouts of
the
Sherki from the Israeli Immigration
deportation (1973, 1986) because, as
Notably, not being considered
their
Policy Center, “(this community, like
far as the government is concerned,
Jewish hasn’t prevented these same
minority communities in Europe)
the community isn’t Jewish.
ministries from providing for the
presents a problem to the social fabric One-hundred
from
itself
unreasonable approach to their
Yet, despite this the African
thirty-five
immigration and accommodation of
of the society.”
The fact that this community
people, 70% of whom are minors For
in
distinguished
consistent efforts to confront anti-
Hebrew
and
society
the Eurovision competition, and
foreign
the
non Jews arriving from the USSR. Only racism can explain this.
community on the basis that its
military,
only
immigrated Setting
the
Israel
explicitly
more than 400,000 non-Jews from the former USSR.
the
born in Israel, many of whom have
palpable
because of their identification with
deportation
relatives that have served or currently
animosity expressed by these words,
the Hebrew nation, from which the
It also hasn’t prevented them
nightmare
serve in the Israeli military, 51 of
it
Jewish people hail, should have been
from providing official status to
continues
whom are facing the threat of
characterization
a
hundreds of children of migrant
immediate expulsion from their
Hebrews as an adverse, outside, or
negotiations and for the parties to
homes, and all of whom are lacking
foreign presence is not based on the
find a meaningful solution.
official status in Israel.
facts, or on this community’s
is
aside
to
indisputable of
that the
this
African
contribution to society. After consistent appeals on
source
of
inspiration
for
workers from the Philippines. This Wednesday, January 19 the
Instead, it has served as the
African Hebrew community and its
source of animus for rejecting the
allies (were due to) report to the
local media outlets,
In the 53 years since the first
African Hebrews. An animus that is
regional court as part of the ongoing
endless hours of
African Hebrews were welcomed
most often justified by conflating the
legal battle against the Ministry of
with
granted
African Hebrew community with
Interior’s discriminatory and callous
politicians
citizenship under the Law of Return
extremist Hebrew Israelite groups in
effort to uproot people from their
in
(only for it to be retroactively stripped
the US.
homes and their community.
l o b b y i n g the
open
arms
and
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
VEGAN COOKING WITH CHRIS WILLIAMSON
Roast Vegetable Couscous Salad Ingredients ● 1 cup pumpkin cubed ● 150 g potato quartered ● 1 1/2 cups mixed
vegetables chopped ● 6 cherry tomatoes ● 1/3 cup couscous ● 1 tsp olive oil ● 1/4 garlic clove crushed ● 2 tsp white wine vinegar ● 1 tsp dijon mustard
THE
WORD
Chris Williamson is the ex Member of Parliament for Derby North. He has had a varied career having been both a bricklayer and a social worker as well as a politician. Chris was unfairly purged from the Labour party for simply being on the left. He has been a vegan for many years and is also strongly anti hunting.
Ingredients • Place all vegetables except, tomatoes, on a baking tray. Coat lightly with cooking spray. • Cook at 200C for 40 minutes. • Add tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes more. • Meanwhile, prepare couscous according to directions but without butter or oil. • Whisk together oil, garlic, vinegar and mustard. • Spoon couscous onto a plate. Top with vegetables. • Drizzle with dressing.
Last lines of films - can you name the film?
Film Quiz Answers:
Cartoon
answer?' • 'A man's got to know his limitations.' • 'Good. For a moment there, I thoughtwe were in trouble.' • 'I do wish we could chat longer, but... I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye' • 'And oh, Auntie Em, there's no place like home.' • Well, nobody's perfect.' • 'Go ahead! I take your f***ing bullets! You think you kill me with bullets? I take your f***ing bullets! Go ahead.'
• Planet of the Apes • The Shawshank Redemption • Gandhi • Pi • Magnum Force • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid • Silence of the Lambs • The Wizard of Oz • Some Like it Hot • Scarface
• 'You finally really did it. You maniacs! You blew it up! God damn you! God damn you all to hell!' • 'I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope..' • 'There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it. Always.' • 'How about 748 divided by 238? I got it! What's the
21
22
THE
WORD
Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
thewordmedia.org
Answers
Answers
• Spiro Agnew • Michael Heseltine • Albert Einstein • Iceland's (the Althing) • Whig • Lyndon B. Johnson • California • Denmark • Betty Boothroyd • Jefferson • Aneurin Bevan
• Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power in 2002 in which country? • Which once box-office star was a former American ambassador to Ghana and to Czechoslovakia? • Which Labour Party politician was, from 1996 to 2008, owner of the New Statesman political magazine? • Who was the first prime minister to live in Downing Street? • The Storting is a parliament in which European city? • Which Prime Minister was mostly remembered for the 'Winter of Discontent'? • What is Theresa May's maiden name? • 'Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac', is attributed to which politician? • The Vale of Leven in Scotland, Chopwell in England and Maerdy in Wales have all been labelled which term to signify that their populations hold extreme left-wing political views? • As of 2014, how many MPs are there in the House of Commons? • With little diplomatic experience Peter Jay was made British Ambassador to the U.S. in 1976, who was his father-in-law? • In 1973, which American Vice President resigned office? • Boris Johnson became the Conservative candidate for Henley due to which MP's retirement in 2001? • Who declined the offer to become Israel’s second President in 1952? • Which country's parliament is the oldest still acting parliament in the world? •nWhich political party did Britain's first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole belong to? •nWho was J. F. Kennedy's vice president? •nWhich American state was Ronald Reagan governor of before becoming President? •nFormer Labour leader Neil Kinnock's son, Stephen, is married to the former prime minister of which country? •nWho became the first female Speaker of the House of Commons in 1992? •nWhat middle name is shared by both William Hague and Bill Clinton? • Which MP was the main architect of the British National Health Service?
Answers • Turkey • Shirley Temple • Geoffrey Robinson • Robert Walpole • Oslo • James Callaghan • Brasier • Henry Kissinger • Little Moscow • 650 • James Callaghan
Politics Quiz
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
THE
23
WORD
CHESS
SUDOKU WHAT IS THE QUESTION? WE LIST 10 ANSWERS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FIND THE HIGHEST
NUMBER
OF
CORRECT
QUESTIONS
TO
EACH ANSWER. FOR EXAMPLE IF THE ANSWER WAS JUPITER THE QUESTIONS COULD BE: What is the biggest planet in the solar system? Who was the king of the Roman Gods? In Holst’s planet suite which planet is the bringer of joy? A LIST OF ANSWERS WILL BE PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE. PLEASE
YOUR
ANSWERS info@thewordmedia.org
• A tale of two cities • Red • Star trek • Breakdance • Tea • 1819 • Ferret • Torquay • The Sun • Chelsea Answers
24
THE
WORD
Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
thewordmedia.org
THE
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
WORD
25
You say protesting Israeli crimes
is a cover for anti-Semites W
e have all heard a
refrain
among
Zionists insisting
What difference does that make?
opposition to Israel is antiSemitism; protests against Israel are really just an outlet to antiSemitic feeling. The sadly dim-witted Shelagh Fogarty of LBC Radio even declared last year, during the Rebecca LongBailey/Maxine Peake furore, that all support for Palestinians is cloaked anti-Semitism,
protests
against
Israel are a front, and nothing would ever change her mind about that. (On that note, let me just say to anyone who has ever said, "Nothing you can say will ever change my mind," congratulations on explicitly declaring yourself an unthinking bigot.) John Ware argued the same without demonstrating it in his 2019 Panorama documentary, Is Labour Anti-Semitic?
A pretext only work when ele s me of it are nts grounded in truth
Now I concede this has a loud echo of truth. Anti-Semites do
The
most of
frequent this
sometimes use the Palestinians as a
manifestation
pretext for unfairly persecuting
discussions of the Holocaust, when
history's
Jewish people. I have witnessed it
anti-Semites in the room hurriedly
humanity.
on social media. But these types are
"whatabouterise"
easy to spot. Their weakness is they
terminating all further exploration
cannot resist driving discussions
of the Shoah. My impression is that
happens, it is idiotic, as Fogarty
that are only loosely-related onto
there is near-total overlap between
does, to leap from there to insisting
the subject of Palestine, and also get
these vile people and Holocaust-
that every protester against Israel
an evident kick out of making their
Deniers, or at least Holocaust-
must be pulling the same trick. I am
Jewish interlocutor feel personally
Downplayers. So desperate are
completely sure that it is not all (not
guilty about Israel's persecution of
these fools to believe that Jews are
Arabs.
the arch-villains of all-time, they
the
is
in
need to believe it impossible for Jews to have been victims of one of worst
crimes-against-
Nakba, But
while
this
certainly
The
when elements of it are grounded in
least because I am a protester
motivations of the protest may
truth. Underlying motives give
against Israel, I am Jewish, I have
prove less altruistic, but that does
reason to check what protesters
never downplayed the Shoah, and I
not change the nature of what is
claim, certainly, but not summarily
have never tried to shift discussion
being protested against, or make it
to dismiss what they claim.
of it onto Palestine), and reasonably
unreal. When Israel steals land from
sure it is the practice of a tiny
Palestinians; when it bombards
What matters is not who claims
minority.
Gaza with airstrikes; when its
that Israel commits crimes. What
soldiers shoot Arab passers-by dead
matters is that Israel clearly does.
But for now, let us indulge the
Seriously,
so
what?
for looking 'different'; those crimes
Otherwise, anti-Semites among the
pro-
do not become justified, just
protest movement would stop
Palestinian activists really are using
because the Palestinians' advocates
using the issue as a pretext. There
Israel's crimes as grounds to give
have motives other than the
would be nothing in it for them to
Jews grief. This raises a question: So
declared ones for highlighting
exploit, and the protests would
what?
them. No, a pretext only works
have ended long ago.
argument.
Assume
all
26
THE
WORD
Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
thewordmedia.org
Landmark report proposes financial penalties for racism in cricket THE RACISM SCANDAL THAT HAS ROCKED ENGLISH CRICKET
DCMS acts on Yorkshire racism T
he Department of Culture
published its report into the
Azeem Rafiq during his career, has
reform at Yorkshire. The club has
Media & Sport
racism scandal that has rocked
led to sixteen officials on the club
been put on an indefinite ban on
English cricket throughout the
board and the coaching staff
hosting England Test Matches, and
winter.
recommendations
resigning in disgrace. The club was
is already facing a potential
include the withholding of public
extremely unco-operative with
financial crisis. If there is a cut in
funding from the game unless
outside investigations, and the
public funding, the club's survival
there
attitude of its internal inquiry was
may be in jeopardy.
h
a
s
Its
is
demonstrable
"continuous, progress"
on
shocking, with officials treating
eradicating "deep-seated racism".
the word “P-ki” as “friendly banter.”
Worryingly, the DCMS report has offered hints that the racism
The scandal, centering on experiences as a player at Yorkshire
County
Cricket Club of
If there is cut in pub a funding, t lic club's sur he viv may be in al jeopardy
The DCMS wants
problem
regular
suspected,
updates
every quarter on the process of
is,
as
not
was
already
exclusively
at
Yorkshire, but may be widespread across the County circuit.
THE
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
Late January 2022
Chairman out, Headingley international ban, over Rafiq racism
WORD
Football Quiz - Premier League
Back in August, our popular colleague Robert Price died unexpectedly. Just a few days earlier he had devised a three-part quiz about football, which we are now releasing over the next few issues. Here is the first part, focusing on the English Premier League.
Yorkshire Cricket Club’s racism quagmire It
Club is often gridlocked by
investigation only. It then refused to
Headingley
in-fighting, but it has
publish the full report into its
Matches until the club musters a
found new levels of turbulence in
findings, only releasing a heavily-
response
an ongoing racism row rocking
redacted version to Rafiq’s legal team
Sponsors such as Nikeand Yorkshire
the English game.
under orders from an employment
Tea are pulling the plug on deals
judge. Even then, the redaction only
with the club. Yorkshire’s chairman,
arrived five days after the deadline.
Roger Hutton, his position now
on
an
internal
the whistle in September 2020 on
Board
has
formally from
equal
banned
hosting to
the
Test crime.
untenable, resigned on the 5th of
his experiences of racially-motivated
Then the website ESPNcricinfo
mistreatment at the club. Born in
published an article at the start of
unreservedly" to Rafiq, but claiming
Pakistan in 1991, he played for
November, claiming a racist term
he "experienced a culture that
England at youth level, and even got
about Rafiq's Pakistani background
refuses
to captain Yorkshire in a T20 match
was regularly used towards him by
challenge" at Yorkshire. This will
in 2012. But his time at the club was
team-mates and coaches. Most
sound painfully familiar to club fans,
devastated by what he describes as,
shockingly in all of this scandal, the
who have lived with stubborn
“Institutional racism.”
article
internal wranglings for generations.
stated
that
the
November,
"apologising
to
accept
change
or
investigation dismissed
"friendly
dismissed
and
due
to
insufficient
Politicians have
as
become
involved,
good-
Yorkshire officials,
natured
enough for the club to admit Rafiq
raising severe doubts
was a victim of racist bullying and
about the investigators’
Mark Arthur, and
harassment.
attitude.
club
Yorkshire
banter,”
and
Rafiq and senior
evidence. The seven were more than
However,
Former
including
Hutton,
club chief executive director
England batsman Gary
when ruling in late October this year
Ballance has publicly
Moxon,
that no action would be taken
expressed regret about
questioned by MPs in
against anyone involved still at the
being one of the players
club.
guilty
Martyn will
be
November.
casually
deploying the racist Traumatised by the struggle
cricket
of
shocked cricket fans worldwide
of
10. Who was the first foreign manager to lead a team to victory in the FA Cup final?
slur.
Other directors are expected to resign in the
lasting over a year, Rafiq has
days ahead, with pressure
2. Aston Villa (2nd) and Norwich (3rd)
slurs
them, 7 were upheld, the others
9. Name the first siblings to captain their respective clubs against each other in the Premier League?
3. Peter Beardsley/
43 allegations of racist treatment. Of
8. Who was the goalkeeper for Arsenal during their 2003/04 undefeated season?
4. Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and Everton
t h e s e
7. In May 2010, which then Manchester City player was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations?
5. David Beckham and Wayne Rooney
slow
6. Who was the first England player to be sent off at the new Wembley Stadium?
6. Steven Gerrard (2014 World Cup Qualifier versus Ukraine)
painfully
5. As of 2014, which two players have both received two red cards whilst playing for England?
9. Gary and Phil Neville
a
4. Which four EPL clubs did David Ginola play for?
10. Ruud Gullit
During
investigation by the club, Rafiq made
3. Name the only footballer to have played for Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United?
7. Patrick Vieira
Former player Azeem Rafiq blew
insisted
2. Which two teams came second and third in the first ever Premiership league?
8. Jens Lehmann
Y
orkshire County Cricket
1. Who was the first player to represent England who had been born after the 1966 World Cup win?
in
in some quarters for the
1. Tony Adams
in the face of denial and procedural
turmoil, largely self-
whole board to go, and
Answers:
obstruction. The club’s secretive
inflicted.
The
the investigation to be
conduct throughout has not helped.
England
Cricket
admitted to having suicidal thoughts
Yorkshire
is
re-done independently.
27
THE
28
WORD
Late January 2022
POLITICS AND EVENTS
thewordmedia.org
THIS UNITED DO NOT HAVE, OR NEED A RONALDO
FC UNITED IN EUROPEAN COMPETITION
MICHAEL VAUGHAN IMPLICATED
M
IN YORKSHIRE RACISM
y friend has long
been a supporter of FC United and told
AFC DWS, Amsterdam , Holland.
T
he Yorkshire Cricket
hostile remark during a match at
Club racism uproar
Trent Bridge in Nottingham, to
continues to spiral.
the
me he was visiting Warsaw for a
AS Lodigiani from Rome, Italy.
few days. While there he would be
FC United, Manchester, England.
The club’s former star batsman
Yokrshire’s
watching his team play against a
AKS ZLY, Warsaw, Poland.
and one-time England captain,
remark is xenophobic at best,
local side. They were competing in
Prague Raptors, Prague, Czech
Michael Vaughan, has become
ouright racist at worst; -
a new competition for 8 teams
Republic.
embroiled. He wrote in the Daily
from 7 European countries in the
CD Cuenca-Mestallistes,
Telegraph
lower tiers of soccer called the
Valencia, Spain.
November that one of Rafiq
Fenix Trophy.
HFC Falke, Hamburg, Germany.
Azeem’s allegations was against
it was conceived after the failed
FENIX is an acronym of:
attempt by 12 elite football clubs to launch a breakaway European Super League, a venture driven by greed.
Friendly
European
Non-
on
the
4th
of
four
Asian
players
then-squad.
in The
“There’s too many of you lot, we need to do something about it.”
him personally. According to
Vaughan denied emphatically
The controversy is enormously
Rafiq, in 2009, Vaughan made a
in his Telegraph column ever
damaging to Yorkshire County
uttering the words, and stated that
Cricket Club, which has already lost
the accusation hit him “very hard.”
its chairman, Roger Hutton, over
professional Innovative Xenial
the former
to
penalise
any
According to the tournament
(from the Geek meaning attitude
Pakistan
personnel it had found guilty of
initiators, Milan outfit Brera Calcio,
of hospitality towards strangers and
seamer Rana Naved ul-Hasan, who
racist conduct. Outside companies
the clubs have been chosen for their
mutual respect of cultures).
was on Yorkshire’s books at the
such as Emerald and Yorkshire Tea
time, has now stepped forward to
have terminated sponsorship deals with the club.
exceptional social, historical and
However,
refusal
cultural distinctiveness, clubs rebuilt
My friend reports that although
back Rafiq’s testimony, insisting
and run by fans, clubs featuring
FC United beat the Warsaw team 6-1
that he was there and also heard
significant
he was impressed at the friendliness
Vaughan making the offensive
But the damage is far more
of their hosts and the ability of the
remark. Naved has declared his
serious on a personal level. Rafiq
200 English fans to mix freely and
willingness to provide evidence to
himself has admitted that the
amicably with the home fans, both
any inquiry.
ongoing denial by many of his
social
and
cultural
projects....' While teams will all want to win, the tournament is meant to highlight
during
best
Refreshments were available after
practices
professional
within
football:
nonsporting
and
after
the
game.
the game on the club premises.
former colleagues is seriously Whether
Vaughan
actually
damaging his mental health.
made the remark or not, we do not
conduct, bonds with the local
yet know, but it does not seem
Now one of the club’s most
be
noticeably out-of-keeping with
celebrated former players - one of
technologies, and friendship among
provided by FC United in the return
some of his attitudes; social media
England’s most successful captains
clubs.
fixture.
users have responded to Vaughan’s
- has been implicated in the
community, sustainability, use of
Similar
hospitality
will
denial by pointing out past remarks
scandal, the fall-out from the club’s
Teams competing are:
See more at
he has made on Twitter that have
dismal failure to deal with casual
Brera Calcio, Milan, Italy
https://tinyurl.com/4mrt2prv
had a certain ‘reactionary’ quality
racism is likely to spread all across
to them, to put it politely.
the game.
THE
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
29
WORD
Late January 2022
EVERTON LOSE SIXTH MANAGER IN AS MANY YEARS THIS MOVE BY OWNER FARHAD MOSHIRI DOES SEEM RASH AND ILL-PLANNED
Benitez n got a cha ever fashion a nce to t of his owenam choosing
RAFA SHOWN THE DOOR E
verton
have
ways yet
another
parted
fanbase who have been at boiling
with
point for weeks. Dismal defeats by
coach,
Liverpool,
Watford,
and
on
firing Rafael Benitez at the
Saturday at Norwich City, have led
midway point of the Premier
to a full-on revolt. At Carrow Road,
League program. The Spaniard
one Everton fan attempted to
only took charge in July, to general
invade the pitch to confront
grumbles
from
Benitez
fanbase.
Many
the
Toffees’
Evertonians,
directly,
while
others
unfurled a banner instructing him
perhaps pettily, could not forgive
to
him his past successes with
manager only enhances the real
Liverpool, nor his careless remark
problem; Everton have not found a
in 2007 that Everton was a “small
coach who can last more than two
leave.
Firing
yet
another
club.” He even faced thinly-veiled
especially left-back Lucas Digne.
This violated Premier League
Injuries also limited playing time
seasons in the role since David
threats from Everton fans when
This led to Digne’s surprise January
Financial rules and had nothing to
for
Moyes left in 2013. Moshri must
he joined.
move to Aston Villa.
do with Benitez. Benitez did very
Richarlison and Yerry Mina.
other
key
players
like
well under tight restrictions to
stop being so triggerhappy and blindly hurling excessive money at
Still, Everton have looked as
Even so, this move by owner
secure five new players. Demarai
So Benitez never got a chance
players who are not good enough.
bad this season as they have at any
Farhad Moshiri does seem rash and
Gray, Andros Townsend, Salomon
to fashion a team of his own
The club needs stability and a
time since the early-1990s. With a
ill-planned. It seems more an
Rondon, Asmir Begovic and Andy
choosing. He had to cope with
strategy it can persevere with, and
dismal five wins and nineteen
attempt to service fan hostility to
Lonergan all signed for a combined
handicaps passed to him by
changing managers all the time is
points from half their Premier
Benitez than to resolve the team’s
£1.5 million. But these were not the
previous managers who paid too
the epitome of neither.
League fixture program, Everton
problems. For certain, Benitez had
players he really wanted.
much for players offering too little.
are hovering increasingly near the
a luckless time at Goodison. On his
relegation line, are out of the
arrival Everton were slapped with a
League Cup, and had FA Cup scare
severe transfer restriction. The
misfortune of seeing his young star
against lowly Hull City. The cold
club registered losses of over £250
centre-forward, Dominic Calvert-
Benitez also had problems seeing
million over the previous three
Lewin, unavailable for most of the
The decision, to repeat, appears
eye-to-eye
years, all of which were in the red.
first half-season due to injury.
to be purely about placating a
with
his
players,
It is difficult to picture anyone else Benitez
also
had
the
Wayne Rooney, currently doing
in the same position as Benitez
a
good
job
managing
Derby
doing any better.
County, and former coach Roberto Martinez, currently Belgium boss, are now being linked heavily with the job.
30
THE
WORD
Late September 2021
POLITICS AND EVENTS
thewordmedia.org
Football roundup M
arcus Rashford says he does
condone
"This picture has been brought
discrimination "of any
to my attention which I understand
kind" after being criticised for
now, given context, could easily be
posing
misconstrued,"
for
not
accounts closed down.
a
photo
with
controversial rapper Wiley. Rashford
and
England
striker Rashford added.
Manchester
"I would like to reinforce that I
United team-mate Jesse Lingard
do not and will not condone
were pictured with the grime artist
discriminative
this week in Dubai.
behaviour of any kind aimed at the
language
or
Jewish community or any other Wiley, banned from Twitter last
community."
year for anti-Semitism, shared the photo, now deleted, on his Instagram account.
Rashford
has
previously
spoken out against racism and was widely hailed for his response last
"I
believe
tackling
anti-
year after becoming a target for
Semitism in and outside the game
abuse following his missed penalty
requires a greater level of attention,"
in the Euro 2020 final.
Rashford tweeted. He has also been praised for his Wiley was dropped by his
activism,
most
notably
against
management company after his
campaign
hampionship side Hull City
successful in whatever his next challenge
outburst two years ago and has had
poverty, and was made an MBE last
have sacked manager Grant
is.
a number of his social media
year.
C
child
his food
McCann, less than a week
after they were taken over by the Turkey-based Acun Medya Group.
"However, now is the time for change and for me to start to build, in what I believe will be an incredibly exciting time for the
McCann, 41, was in his third season in
club."
charge of the Tigers, having steered the club back to the Championship last
term
following
relegation.
In addition to McCann's departure, assistant boss Cliff Byrne has also left the Tigers, as the Acun Medya Group prepares to bring in a new coaching set-up.
He departs the Tigers despite back-toback
wins
McCann's first season at Hull seemed to
which
unravel following the January sales of
moved the club 10
Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki, with the
points clear of the
club plummeting down from mid-table
relegation zone. "These are
A
t least eight people were killed and 38 injured as fans struggled to get
in
with a second part of the season slump into
Cameroon
Olembe Stadium on Tuesday, and
League One.
Yaounde.
and
Comoros
in
later said he was "sad and hurt" by the incident.
The Northern Irishman restored their
All Nations Cup matches will
and
second-tier status in leading Hull to the
remember victims with a minute's
owner Acun Ilicali
League One title the following year, and
silence.
said."During
had steadied the side enough so far this
the
supporters
hospital and the scene outside the
easy,"
chairman
injured
access to a match between hosts
matters
never
Caf president Patrice Motsepe visited
including
beating
take responsibility for the crush along with the local organising
process, Grant has
term,
promotion
The Confederation of African
always remained
contenders Blackburn and Bournemouth
Football and world governing body
professional and
in his last two games in charge.
Fifa have sent condolences to the
fully focused on
Motsepe added that Caf must
affected families.
committee and the Cameroonian government. "We have a duty to find out
the team, and will
"I have a philosophy and a belief that
exactly what happened and more
forever be a friend
our project should start as we mean to
Two children, aged eight and
importantly to put in preventative
of the Tigers. I'm
carry on," Ilicali added. "And that involves
14, were among the dead, and
measures to ensure that what
sure Grant will be
having my team in place.
seven
happened never happens again," he
people
were
injured in the crush.
seriously
said.
THE
thewordmedia.org
POLITICS AND EVENTS
31
WORD
Late January 2022
One match with three final whistles and one brawl at another
Farce and fighting at Africa Cup of Nations
THE TWO MOST MEMORABLE MATCHES SO FAR WILL BE THE ONES THAT ENDED IN BIZARRE AND UGLY SCENES
he Africa Cup of Nations' first
T
Bilal Toure was sent off for an
The teams soon left the pitch and
received instructions to get back into
It later emerged that Sikazwe was
few days have had a bit of
innocuous challenge. The Mali
returned to their dressing rooms, but
their kits. Injury time was going to be
suffering from dehydration and heat-
everything, including one or
players begged Sikazwe to check
incredibly, the farce had still not
played after all.
stroke,
two things it could probably do
VAR, but he stood by his decision.
ended. Just as the players started
without. The football has been good
Then, with the atmosphere on the
getting changed into their regular
The final element of farce though
quality, even with crowds down
field starting to boil over, the referee
clothes, and the Mali coach had
was that, while the ten men of Mali
Two nights later there was more
partly due to Coronavirus issues, and
blew the final whistle again... with
started
press
did return, the Tunisia players
chaos as Ghana drew a bad-
while goals have been infrequent,
only 89 minutes 48 seconds on the
conference,
refused to come back to the field, in
tempered match with Gabon 1-1.
most matches have been quite
clock. More protests from the
t h e y
protest at the refereeing. Fourth
Ghana took the lead thanks to a fine
engrossing.
Tunisians followed, as there should
official, Helder Martins de Carvalho,
strike from Andre Ayew on eighteen
took the place of Sikazwe, and he
minutes. But from there, they
blew the final whistle for the third
surrendered control of the match,
time.
and substitute Jim Allevinah struck
have been at least four minutes of Sadly though, the two most memorable matches so far will be the ones that ended in bizarre and ugly scenes. Firstly, referee Janny Sikazwe was
officiating
a
group-match
injury time added.
his
post-match
The refere e
shocke everyoned ... when he b le w the whistle fo r full time with only minutes o85 the clock.n
for
which
he
needed
hospitalisation.
a splendid and deserved equaliser for Gabon late on. The Ghana players, already under pressure after losing their first match, lost their tempers, and there was an
between Mali and Tunisia. Mali were
angry confrontation on the pitch
1-0 up in the closing stages of a match
between both teams and sets of
that had three Video Assistant
coaches as the match reached full
Referee checks, a water-break, and
time,
two penalty kicks. Sikazwe shocked
emphasised that only a small
everyone in the stadium when he
number on each side actually threw
blew the whistle for full time with
punches. Ghana's Benamin Tette
only 85 minutes on the clock. The
was given a post-match red card as
Tunisia
matters calmed down
bench,
understandably
although
it
must
be
distraught, made a scene. Sikazwe checked with the other officials, and eventually resumed the match. Then things got worse in the penultimate minute when Mali's El
The tournament continues, with the third string of matches in the 'round-robin' first round getting under way.
The man that managed England to defeat against Iceland takes over at Watford – God help them.
Watford have appointed Roy Hodgson as their new manager
T
he establishments “safe pair of hands” could not even lead his country to beat a nation of some
300,000 odd. Watford might be having their problems but they may have been better asking their ex owner, Elton John to take over. If his record is anything to go by Hodgson might struggle to lead his new team to victory against Aldi and the Co-op, let alone Iceland. It should also be noted that Hodgson coached in apartheid South Africa.
Hodgson will be tasked with securing
and Watford become the 17th club he has
Having departed the Reds after only six
Premier League survival as they sit 19th,
managed in eight countries, while he has
months, he joined West Brom in February 2011
two points from safety.
also had spells in charge of the Switzerland,
and guided the Baggies to two mid-table
United Arab Emirates and Finland national
finishes.
The former England and Liverpool boss, 74, returns to the Premier League after
Ray Lewington, who managed Watford
leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last
between 2002 and 2005, will join as
season.
assistant, filling the same position he did under Hodgson for England and Palace.
The Hornets sacked Claudio Ranieri on Monday, the 15th managerial change since the Pozzo family took over the club in 2012.
Hodgson
has
been
in
football
management for the best part of 50 years
sides. Hodgson, who will extend his own He worked for the Pozzo family during a
record as the oldest person to manage in the
brief spell in charge of Udinese, and led
Premier League, spent nearly four years as
Fulham to the Europa League final in 2010
Crystal Palace boss having replaced Frank
before taking over as Liverpool boss that
de Boer in September 2017 with the club
summer.
bottom of the table.