THE WORD

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.

thewordmedia.org

POLITICS AND EVENTS

Late January 2022

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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

»

Mohammed Sidique Khan delayed his terror attacks for two days to take his wife to hospital

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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

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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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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

EMAIL

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.