Author: R J Adams

Today, the British government announced its intention to turn 210,000 square miles of the Indian Ocean archipelago into the world’s largest marine reserve.

According to the BBC, the British Foreign Secretary David Milliband, said of the project:

Its creation is a major step forward for protecting the oceans, not just around BIOT [British Indian Ocean Territory] itself, but also throughout the world.

“This measure is a further demonstration of how the UK takes its international environmental responsibilities seriously.”^[1]

The British government, it seems, is to be applauded.

Or, is it?

In a recent post on Sparrow Chat, I wrote of the US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Indian Ocean chain, and how it’s presently being stocked to the gills with armaments, including “Blu” bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures.^[2]

The area fell to Britain in 1814 with the defeat of Napoleon (originally, the islands had been conquered by the French), which probably would have made little difference to its 2,000 inhabitants, except that in the 1960’s the United States decided it needed a military base in the area. Diego Garcia was perfect for the job, or would have been were it not for the locals.

The last thing America wanted was a load of curious islanders delving into their affairs, so the British (who were being well paid for their skulduggery) forcibly ejected the lot. Some were shipped to Britain, the remainder dumped on a Mauritian quayside and left to fend for themselves.

The British government responsible for this disgusting act of barbarity was headed by the Labour prime minister, Harold Wilson. Edward Heath, his Tory successor, happily continued the policy.

For forty years the Chagossians have fought a bitter battle in the UK courts, for the right to return to their homeland. Finally, in 2007, seven judges agreed that their right of abode was so fundamental the British government could not take it away.

In response, the UK government appealed to its own legislative body, the Law Lords, who happily overruled the decision.

Well, they would, wouldn’t they?

Undeterred, the Chagossians have taken their case to the European Court of Human Rights. A verdict is expected this autumn.

Meanwhile, the British government announces its decision to turn the area into a marine reserve.

Which means a ban on fishing.

Which means the Chagossians, if they win their battle, will be unable to pursue the only livelihood open to them on the island.

With no means of support, they’ll be unable to return.

Such is the devious nature of the British government.

^{[1] “UK sets up Chagos Islands marine reserve” BBC, April 1st 2010}

^{[2] “Matters We’re Not Supposed To Know About” Sparrow Chat, March 15th 2010}

^{NOTE: John Pilger produced a documentary on the plight of the Chargossians. It’s called, “Stealing A Nation”, and is available on Google video or YouTube.}

Filed under: David and Goliath

I stopped at the red light this morning, and there it was in front of me: a Honda Civic, black, the driver – murky behind misted glass, but – obviously female.

Neither the person, nor the car, attracted my attention. It was the stickers on the trunk lid that caught my eye.

On the left side was written: “LOVE WINS”; on the right: “LIFE IS GOOD”.

While it’s refreshing, perhaps, not to be assailed by hate messages, or the usual redneck expressions of insecurity: “LEAVE THE BITCH AND COME HUNTING”, or, “MEN DO IT IN HUMMERS”, I have to admit these more positive affirmations still sat uncomfortably within my head as the black Honda took a side turn and disappeared into the dawn.

Drive through any European country and the number of bumper stickers, or other printed displays of opinion, will be glaringly obvious by their absence. There’s no law against it, and the occasional vehicle may be found carrying just such an item, but, so rarely, it’s a profound novelty.

In the Western world, at least, to display one’s feelings and emotions to all around, in such a manner, is almost uniquely American. So much so, it begs the simple question: why?

Why do so many Americans find it necessary to bare their souls in this manner. It’s as though they’re afraid the things they hold dear will be whipped away from them in an instant. That, by not declaring their beliefs, someone will assume no-one has them any more, and terminate them.

Americans are pitted against each other in a way unknown to any other civilized nation. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the bitter wrangling colloquially called a ‘political rally’, or ‘town hall meeting’, though bitterness permeates not just the political scene, but almost every aspect of society.

This negativity is at odds with a general neighborliness so much revered by the American people, and often noted by foreigners visiting these shores.

I think what made me uneasy about the black Honda’s declarations was that, like all other pronouncements, torn and flapping in the breeze behind an inordinate array of US motor vehicles, they’re just totally untrue.

Just as not doing ‘it’ in a Hummer doesn’t mean you’re not a man, and treating your wife badly will probably achieve nothing short of being brained by a frying pan, so neither does love always win, or is life constantly good – at least, not in a general, all-embracing, sense.

The car’s occupant may be convinced that love will eventually conquer the world, rather than the enormous firepower of her nation’s military, and, for her, life may well be a bed of roses, but it isn’t the case for everyone.

To publicize such an assertion is to demand others feel the same way, as if to not be so is, in some way, a weakness. But isn’t that the case with all these US bumper stickers – they’re just a declaration that, “I’m right, and you’re wrong.”

The owner of the black Honda has given no thought whatever to the lives of the many people caught up in the grimness of civil war or unrest throughout the world; the plight of the starving; the diseased without hope; those afflicted by the results of her own nation’s depleted uranium bombs.

For millions in the world life is vile, and death a blessed relief. As for love, it belongs no place there are weapons. And in America, weapons are everywhere. No-one can look down the barrel of an AK47, or a Walther P38, and love their victim.

Sadly, it’s hate, not love, that wins out every time.

The owner of the black Honda Civic is either incredibly naive, or totally self-obsessed.

Filed under: Something about wood and trees

The state of America today is aptly represented by the foul-mouthed, ignorant, knuckle-dragging, Neanderthals so heavily indoctrinated by the Limbaugh’s and Beck’s of this country, who see fit to make abusive telephone threats to politicians not prepared to do their evil bidding.

Whatever one’s opinion of Bart Stupak (and the writer has an extremely low opinion of the man) he no more deserves to be subjected to this……

Congressman Stupak, you baby-killing mother f***er… I hope you bleed out your a**, got cancer and die, you mother f***er.^[1]

……than any other human being, in America or elsewhere.

The individuals responsible for such abuse (and there were many) are obviously unfit to be members of any civilized society. Many of us hold strong viewpoints on matters political, and it’s for that exact reason democracy was invented. When a minority, of which these people are members, uses threats of violence and intimidation to procure their wishes, democracy falls apart and fascism takes over.

The abortion debate in America is wildly out of control. It has lost any credibility as a worthy movement and has, instead, become no more than a tool of the far-right; a stick to beat the opposition.

Mainly due to the involvement of megalomaniac preachers whipping up fervor among TV congregations, and certain talk-radio jocks lying through their teeth to an already fanatical audience of brain-dead punters, the issue of abortion is only useful politically as a means to split America right down the middle.

Those who hold the reins of power in this nation have used similar tactics successfully for years. Hate is a far more virulent and effective power than love, and hate has been the means of pitting one American against the other politically for generations.

Regarded logically, whatever the pros and cons of the abortion (Pro-Life) debate, support for America’s preemptive wars, large scale assassination of innocent civilians, and the blood-lust of the death penalty – all viewed by many US citizens as perfectly acceptable occupations – negates utterly the arguments these same individuals continuously voice in favor of banning abortion.

Whether one favors abortion rights, or not, it is first and foremost a decision only properly to be made by women. In the 21st century, no man should dare to express so much as an opinion on the subject.

How often do we see men at Republican rallies, declaring, “I’m Pro-Life?” Probably, after a long conversation with their compatriots on how well the Iraq war is progressing, how many Taliban were killed last week, or “Thank God we executed that evil murdering bastard in Texas, yesterday.”

It’s doubtful men will lose the power to decide what women do with their own bodies, at anytime in the near future. They could at least learn not to differentiate, though, between human life and – human life. ‘Pro-Life’ should mean exactly that.

The health care bill recently passed by the US government will save lives. Personally, the writer would choose to preserve conscious, fully functioning, life outside the womb rather than give precedence to a small bunch of fetal cells lying deep within a woman’s uterus.

Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to understand how foul-mouthed, ignorant, knuckle-dragging, Neanderthals could find it difficult to reach that sort of decision.

^{[1] “Bart Stupak Received Threatening Messages for Health Care Vote” CBS News, March 26th 2010}

Filed under: Ugh and other noises