Welcome to Bennett's World: a collection of articles and references covering a wide variety of topics in which I am involved. I am a very political person but I have no allegiance to any political party. Follow me on twitter @colinhove

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Another couragous whistle blower

 People will be interested in this email and perhaps will sign the petition. For the moment I have decided not to sign the petition because I am not a U.S Citizen. The petition is aimed at the U.S. Government. I might be wrong in this decision and others might act differently. Anyway, it is good to know that there is growing support for Reality Winner. 
 
This week is a critical moment for Reality Winner, an NSA contractor like Edward 
Snowden.

Hi, this week is a critical moment for Reality Winner, an NSA contractor like 
Edward Snowden *who has been arrested by the FBI and charged with printing a 
document regarding potential hacking of the U.S. election, and mailing it to 
journalists at The Intercept.* 
 
http://click.actionnetwork.org/mpss/c/4gA/ni0YAA/t.28j/vSCo17JuSO6A4oICeKJtKQ/h0/WQ-2BlIwq7W2eCmkkcwbDiBV0Frf8aO-2BhheoIczpshG3DlxvMYMDoONP2EAmU0yryA-2BuU4RcX5tQmJGGWhiAGTYlk4lrMBAnqleEoQnKXikfdkZAomChYQbFpELQhX-2Baucr6vHPe9Ig0RGJkNObYAgYaLlm0RXj9H-2Bqu0-2BjuWvwv2dq9GofwozthsLGPHfPhNd1YBaYwzi-2BF42X-2B7j6ttxl6IMc-2FekVoixa9W5tO455iPMqczN9u1sEFQ0SPCXRsI5b4ISZGevkt2Hh53plWqy0s4pFs94tZWfmjFnh7pg0bg4eP5yK9Qft-2Fn1VeZOGaN0
  
There are lots of questions, but one thing is clear: this woman acted 
courageously to inform the public and shed light on an issue that affects all of 
us. She saw the direction her country was going and decided to do something 
about it.

Pundits and anti-transparency politicians are already swinging into action, 
demanding that the government “make an example” of Reality and slap her with a 
long prison sentence.

*We need whistleblowers now more than ever. Sign the petition telling the 
Department of Justice to drop the charges against Reality Winner.*  
 

Friday, June 23, 2017

Wonderful news of a result in the UK Courts

I received this email from PSC. It is indeed excellent news and I congratulate all those who made this happen.
Here is the email:

"Dear friend,

We have some wonderful news. As you know, last week we took the British government to the Royal Courts of Justice to fight for our right to boycott.

Today the judge delivered his verdict: WE WON!! (https://www.palestinecampaign.org/government-suffers-defeat-court-palestine-campaigners-boycott-divestment-sanctions/)

The government was trying to stop local council pension schemes divesting from companies complicit in Israel’s human rights violations. Theresa May’s disgraceful attempt to silence Palestinian voices and restrict our right to peaceful protest has failed.

It’s a moment to treasure and a key victory for local democracy, the rule of law and for Palestine.

We know the public is on our side, as our recent YouGov polling showed 43% of the British public thought BDS was reasonable.

We now know that the law is on our side too. We couldn’t be happier that our right to boycott has been upheld by the court in the month that the illegal military occupation turns fifty years old.

To fight this case, we needed your help and financial support. You came to our aid magnificently, and we were blown away by your generosity. Thank you for making this possible.

We couldn’t have done it without all of you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

Our task now is to take forward our campaigning with renewed vigour. We will as a priority be sending this judgment to all local councils and LGPS fund managers to let them know that the Government regulations have been ruled illegal, and that they once again need to ensure they are not investing funds in companies complicit in Israel’s violations of human rights and international law.

Today we have drawn a line in the sand against the attempts to suppress the right to boycott and to stand up for Palestine.  Tomorrow lets  pick up our campaigning with a renewed vigour and spring in our step.  Free Free Palestine!!

Action concerning Radiohead and Palestine.

I received this important email from PSC this morning. I urge you to comply with their suggestions. I know that a lot of Pop groups claim to be progressive but in fact they often are not. Sometimes it is just that they don't know anything!

"Dear friends,
We need your voice on social media! Radiohead are planning to cross the Palestinian picket line and entertain Israeli apartheid on July 19, 2017, helping Israel whitewash its oppression of Palestinians.

Today, Radiohead will headline Glastonbury, Europe’s largest festival. With your help and social media voice, fans will be on hand making sure the message gets through to Radiohead: Don’t endorse apartheid!

Negative publicity (https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/874919631319969792) has plagued Radiohead’s European tour (https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/877101731590664192) , where supporters of Palestinian rights have urged the band to cancel the show and respect the call from Palestinian civil society to boycott Israel until it respects Palestinian rights. In London, Radiohead’s corporate offices were picketed (http://pitchfork.com/news/pro-palestine-group-pickets-radioheads-accounting-office/) .
Today, can you tweet messages to @radiohead using the hashtags #Glastonbury2017 and #LoveRadioheadHateApartheid to tell them what you think about crossing the Palestinian picket line?

Here are some sample tweets:
* Don’t play apartheid Israel, @Radiohead. You don’t belong there.
* No one regrets boycotting Apartheid South Africa. @Radiohead, cancel Apartheid Israel.
* Don’t be a creep, @Radiohead. Respect the Palestinian picket line. Cancel Israel gig.
* It’s #NotOK, @Radiohead, to cross the Palestinian picket line. Cancel show in Apartheid Israel #OKNotOK
* Hey @Radiohead, if your support for justice isn’t “mere rhetoric”, you’ll cancel gig in Apartheid Israel
* Hey @Radiohead, during apartheid South Africa, artists stayed away. Time to do the same with Israel.

For more tweets, ideas and social media actions, check out the BDS movement’s page here (https://bdsmovement.net/news/help-us-tell-radiohead-you-dont-belong-apartheid-israel) .

In solidarity,

the PSC team"