The season for goodwill?

24 December, 2007 - 01:00
As the tabloids criticise French charities for encouraging asylum seekers stuck in Calais by offering a Christmas meal, the Refugee Council's Poliblog asks "Would the promise of one meal, once a year, really be enough to persuade people to leave their homes and loved ones to make an often dangerous journey to seek asylum in Europe?".
Social Justice & Equality

British withdrawal from Basra welcomed by Iraqis

17 December, 2007 - 01:00
As the British army leaves Basra, new polls show 66% of Basrawis believe security will improve immediately, and 72% believe it will improve long-term. 86% of respondents believe the British troops have, overall, had a negative effect on the Basra province since March 2003, and 68% felt unfavourably towards the British people.
Social Justice & Equality

Maya Evans wins Liberty campaigner of the year

16 December, 2007 - 01:00
Maya Evans, the activist prosecuted for reading the names of British soldiers killed in Iraq near the Cenotaph, joined INQUEST and lawyer Shaheed Fatima in receiving a Human Rights Award on Dec 10, Human Rights Day. This came a week after one-man peace camp Brian Haw effectively won the Turner Prize for Mark Wallinger, an additional accolade to add to Haw's "Most Inspiring Political Figure" of 2007 award.
Social Justice & Equality

Innovative action drives home flaws in "database state"

15 December, 2007 - 01:00
Following the Government's loss of millions of confidential records on CDROM, Manchester NO2ID took to the streets to distribute CD-ROMs labelled "Confidential Data" to the public. The CD wallets contained NO2ID flyers, and information about the HMRC data leak and the threats posed by ID cards and a central identity register.
Social Justice & Equality

Innovative action drives home flaws in database state

15 December, 2007 - 01:00
Following the Government’s loss of millions of confidential records on CDROM, Manchester NO2ID took to the streets to distribute CD-ROMs labelled “Confidential Data” to the public. The CD wallets contained NO2ID flyers, and information about the HMRC data leak and the threats posed by ID cards and a central identity register.
Social Justice & Equality

Concerns grow over biofuel impact

15 December, 2007 - 01:00
It has long been known that growing ethanol and other biofuel causes deforestation in South America and Asia, as well as being inefficient even in the UK, but the news that growing palm oil releases 30 times more CO2 than in saved from not burning petrol may have influenced decision makers in Bali.
Social Justice & Equality

Last-minute petition to get CO2 reductions at Bali

13 December, 2007 - 01:00
AVAAZ managed to present over 200,000 signatures online by Friday to help convince the US, Canada and Japan to come into line and drop objections to ball-park reductions in the COP-13 climate agreement. No mention of Contraction and Convergence either, alas, and the final agreement was a little bit of "Share" without any of the necessary "Cap" as yet.
Social Justice & Equality

Indigenous Peoples shut out of Climate Change Negotiations

8 December, 2007 - 01:00
Despite pouring rain, thousands of people joined rallies in London, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin against climate change on Saturday. The Global Day of Action started with 5,000 protesting in New Zealand and 10,000 in Taiwan, and involved 45 other cities. On Friday, indigenous peoples from around the world symbolic gags protested outside the climate negotiations in Bali, after an invited delegation of indigenous peoples was forcibly barred from the meeting between Yvo de Boer of UNFCCC and CSO representatives.
Social Justice & Equality

Stonehenge saved!

7 December, 2007 - 01:00
The plans to "redevelop" Stonehenge with a widened A303 and tunnel or overground bypass were scrapped on Thursday 6 December, saving habitats of the stone curlew and 20 other bird species, butterflies and rare plants. English Heritage is still intending to build the new visitor centre.
Social Justice & Equality

Call for immediate end to Gaza siege to enable medical aid

6 December, 2007 - 01:00
The siege of Gaza means medical shortages and hundreds of patients waiting permission to leave the territory, which it is alleged is denied unless they inform on friends and relatives. 85% of the population are reliant on food handouts, but John Ging of the UNWRA says they are unable to meet nutritional requirements. The Palestinian Medical Relief Society is calling for an immediate end to the siege.
Social Justice & Equality

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