"London and the United Kingdom"'s topics - tribe.net

My dream place at the moment!

Nicole — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:34:31 GMT

LONDON!!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 1 reply

The Poor Bloody Infantry

Charles — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:40:05 GMT

I set up The Poor Bloody Infantry Dot Com http://thepoorbloodyinfantry.com initially as simply a links page to some of the more outrageous stories about greedy bankers, politicians etc etc. I put them on the 'Golden Snouts' page. Someone is going to organise the November links for me. Thank you!

Then I began thinking about some of the positive things emerging as people respond to the current situation. And you will see this is where I've been busiest. You can find what I've managed to get done so far on the Welcome page left menu.

Finally there were the bits and pieces I liked but really didn't really have a home for anywhere else, so I dropped them on to a page called the Blob Zone.

One positive comment I've had so far is about the Media Menu on Golden Snouts. I've found it useful. Others too.

This is a work in progress. If you have any suggestions, ideas, contributions etc for any of the sections then please add them here. Or go straight to the site and enter them in a forum. The forums are completely spotless at the moment!

Cheers

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

Latest Soulful House Podcast

stevemadera — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:02:25 GMT

Yo, my podcast is now updated! Check it out on my page or via the following link to iTunes here...
http://www.itunes.com/podcast?id=325060892

Direct link to the feed here if you don't have iTunes...
http://djstevemadera.podOmatic.com

Also, I've posted new tracks I produced and remixed onto my myspace page here...
www.myspace.com/stevemadera

I'm looking for other producers to collaborate with, especially those who use Apple's Logic Pro 8. I'm reading the Apple Pro Training Series and learning lots and utilizing my talant, however, I would like to expand my knowledge on music production as I'm self taught and have had no professional guidance. If interested hit me up, otherwise, enjoy the podcast! Cheers!

Regards,

Steve Madera

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Bring your friends to a FREE DNA Activation Presentation in London

yvettesoler — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:23:34 GMT

In one hour you can have some fantastic food and learn all about a process that will awaken dormant talents and radically change your life. Tomorrow night, at inSpiral Lounge in Camden Town, is your chance to ask questions about this amazing activation you've been hearing so much about...

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 at 7:30pm
24-Strand DNA Activation and Presentation
http://www.eternallightenergy.com/bio/calendar/DNATalk_15july09.html
inSpiral Lounge, Camden Town

DNA contains two strands which hold the genetic codes for our physical environment. There are additional strands that correspond to our spiritual environment that are dormant. It is these dormant strands that contain links to our life-purpose, connection to Source, self-empowerment, and other traits that affect our physical body through our spiritual lineage.

The DNA Activation is done through etheric surgery. The etheric layer sits about one inch away from the skin and holds the power of the wills - The Will of God, The Will of the Universe, and Your Personal Will. During the process, the etheric layer from the base of the skull down to the middle of the back following the etheric spine is opened and 12 receptor sites, called codons, are illuminated with light with a crystal wand. This activates 22 of the 24 strands. The final two strands are activated by going back into one of the codons and illuminating the Spirit, Soul and Physical Body connections of our Past and Present which connect all that you have been, and all that you will be, to the elements of who you are now.

Invite all your friends to join you for this life-changing presentation!!!!
http://www.eternallightenergy.com/bio/calendar/DNATalk_15july09.html

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Blessings!

Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? tribes.tribe.net/inspirationsfrombinah

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 10 replies

Coming to UK

wapiunited@yahoo.com — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:03:25 GMT

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=16500179

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

Links to Events sites

Charles — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:01:00 GMT

I've started this thread in response to Yvette's post.

Please post links to UK (any part) 'events' sites so people know what's going on. Add a brief comment if you want.

Cheers

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

Getting the word out - Any advice how to?

yvettesoler — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:12:46 GMT

I'm teaching some workshops and classes in London starting next week. My question is, how do you learn about upcoming events in your city? I find that London is so big that it is easy to miss cool things happening. Even when you are trying to keep an eye out for things, the volume of opportunities makes it hard... it is like finding a needle in a haystack.

So with that, how do you find out about workshops, classes and interesting talks?

Blessings!
Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? http://tribes.tribe.net/inspirationsfrombinah

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

Drink Anyone?

sabret00the — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:51:30 GMT

The last couple days I've been wanting to go for a drink and no one's been about, so here I am, looking for someone new to invite.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

E-mail confirmation required for Sacred Geometry and Astral Travel on 23rd May

yvettesoler — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:30:56 GMT

It has been a wonderfully tough weekend. On a positive note, we found a fantastic space for the Sacred Geometry and Astral Travel class on 23rd May. Go-Yoga has a gorgeous outdoor patio that will be inspiring and comfortable as you learn to use the geometries and go out into the astral plane for the first time.

Unfortunately, we have had several people drop because of situations outside of their control. At this point, we are in danger of having to cancel the class. IF YOU ARE COMING, I NEED AN E-MAIL CONFIRMATION BY WEDNESDAY, 20th MAY. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to me about them before Wednesday.

This is a truly amazing class where you will learn how to use the sacred geometries for protection, to hold energy and to travel the 7 spiritual dimensions on the astral plane. You don't want to miss it!

Feel free to invite your friends to come!!!

Tribe Event:
http://uk.tribe.net/event/Sacred-Geometry-Astral-Travel-23rd-May-London/london-w12-9ql/15202e18-1a36-4751-8ad9-36c951645cc1

Website:
http://www.eternallightenergy.com

PDF of Flyer:
http://www.eternallightenergy.com/flyers/ETE/SacredGeometry_AstalTravel_23May09.pdf

JPG of Flyer:
http://www.eternallightenergy.com/flyers/ETE/SacredGeometry_AstalTravel_23May09.jpg

Confirmation required by Wednesday, May 20th either via Tribe message or e-mail contact@eternallightenergy.com

Looking forward to Saturday! Blessings!!!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

The fraud of Brown’s “crusade” for social mobility

Steven — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:25:19 GMT

Britain: The fraud of Brown’s “crusade” for social mobility
By Simon Whelan
21 March 2009

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/mar2009/brwn-m21.shtml

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has proclaimed a "national crusade" to encourage upward social mobility from the working class into the middle class. Former Minister Alan Milburn is to head a governmental commission on the issue, with a view to push ideas and policies they believe will encourage upwards mobility.

The right wing press have tried ridiculously to paint such measures as a return to "class politics" by Labour. In reality the promotion of the idea of a meritocracy is not designed to create equality, but to legitimise a society based on grotesque and growing levels of inequality.

Britain's ruling class have long been aware of the neccesity to promote the idea that those with talent can get on. In the midst of an economic crisis whose magnitude has revolutionary implications, these efforts to legitimise the profit system must be restated. However, it has become increasingly obvious that the children of workers will, almost certainly, live and die in the same social class to which they are born, regardless of their effort and intellect.

The government White Paper, "New Opportunities, Fair Chances" has an introduction by Brown and advances "equal opportunities" in education as the path towards greater social mobility. This will supposedly be achieved by such meagre initiatives as paying teachers at inner city schools more to remain there.

In reality social mobility, never pronounced, has been in decline since social inequality started to widen during the 1970s. What the government paper is actually about is preparing working class school pupils for working class employment, not creating conduits into professional employment. The paper's purpose is to update the long term emphasis Labour has placed on creating a low waged workforce to tempt transnational corporations to locate parts of their production process within the UK.

The paper claims that the world economy will create two billion skilled jobs over the next two decades, and hence more jobs for the UK. In reality economies across the world economy are shrinking not expanding. Demand for goods and services is falling at record rates, in both the developed and less developed economies and transnational corporations are drastically drawing back production, closing and mothballing international production facilties.

Even without the onset of economic recession, generally wherever modern technology is utilised within the production process living labour is expunged. Most jobs created by globalised production methods in both services and manufacturing now involve mostly routine semi-skilled tasks, together with a declining number of highly skilled jobs. What the new globalised economy requires is not more skilled workers, but employees who can follow instructions.

In terms of support for further educational reform to encourage social mobility, the White Paper relies on a Cabinet Office discussion paper, "Getting on,Getting Ahead" released late last year. The discussion paper stated that it had found "positive changes" since 2000, based on a key finding that family background was becoming less central to the academic success of 15-year-olds than it was for the same age group born in 1970.

Professor David Byrne of sociology and social policy at Durham University rejected such claims. Writing to the Guardian, he said that what the authors had found was only "a weakening of the strength of the relationship between parental income and GCSE achievement at age 16 for children born in 1990, as compared with a cohort born in 1970."

It is simply not possible to infer that such a shift in educational achievement translates into upward social mobility. Rather Byrne maintains that the most important shift since the late 1960's is the "massive decline in the proportion of the population engaged in skilled manual work," together with the decline of "the relative earnings of many ocupations which require higher levels of education... to the extent that occupations which could be accessed with five O'levels in the 1960's now require a degree."

"The net effect is that it is increasingly difficult for children from middle income households to achieve the relative, and even absolute, living standard of their parents," he concluded.

Thus the contemporary trend within social mobility for both the working class and the majority of the middle class is downward, not upward. Living standards have fallen and are now falling precipitously for the overwhelming majority of the population, not rising. The availability of skilled manual work is declining, while many jobs previously seen as middle class pay much less than in the past.

Finally, competition for work is such that jobs that do not require degree level education are dominated by degree holders who cannot find employment that requires their skills.

Last summer Brown described himself as a "child of the first great wave of post-war social mobility". He admitted that during the 1970's and 1980's these trends stalled and created a "lost generation" of "Thatcher's children".

This comes from someone who invited Thatcher herself to Number 10 as a guest of honour when he first became prime minister and who has repeatedly declared his fulsome support for her economic nostrums.

But there is no possibility of repeating the experience of the post war pre-1970s generation. As the British and world economy emerged from World War II, international economic expansion, high-tech production and the expansion of welfare provision made necessary to ensure social cohesion created employment opportunities that could not be adequately filled by the existing middle class. A relatively small number of working class pupils who attended Grammar schools benefitted from this situation. But the end of the post-war boom saw class divisions polarising once again. The state's role in running the economy was greatly reduced and transnational corporations came to dominate economic life, relocating production to the less developed countries with cheaper labour.

Working class employment has become increasingly insecure and wages have stagnated or fallen. Not only has upward social mobility from the working class into the middle class slowed to a trickle, but the prevailing movement is from the middle class down to the working class. The extension of higher education has not expanded the middle class, but rather led to a more educated working class whose own experiences will make them more receptive to socialism.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

Walk For Life- please sponsor me, any amount ok!

purrverse — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:28:39 GMT

Hello, folks- I'm doing the Walk for Life here in London under the place I volunteer for, the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard. The Walk for Life is for HIV/AIDS charity Cruisaid, and when you sponsor me you also raise money for the Switchboard, which helps gay, lesbian, bi and trans people get the emotional support they need on topics ranging from coming out to safer sex.

I'm hoping to raise at least 50 quid for my group, even better if I can manage more! So I'm asking all the Londoners I know- will you sponsor me, even a little bit? 5 quid? A tenner? Every little bit would mean worlds!

Just to give you an idea-

£15 could pay for a personal carer to help someone who is very ill with HIV with washing, cooking and other basic tasks that they could not manage on their own

£25 could help to save the lives of young people in Africa by providing community leaders with HIV prevention training packs and fund one-to-one training sessions

£40 could provide one family in Benoni, South Africa with practical and emotional help for a year, including transport to hospital, nursing care, counselling and essential food and school books

£100 could buy a fridge/freezer to help prevent treatment failure for someone who is living in poverty and unable to store their antiretroviral drugs at the correct temperature

And, even better-
If you are a UK taxpayer, the Government will pay Crusaid an additional 28p for every £1 you give if you tick the Gift Aid box when sponsoring me and fill in your name, residential address and postcode. Your residential address is a requirement for a valid Gift Aid claim, so please provide this!

http://www.walkforlife.co.uk/public_individual_sponsorship.php?ID=808

And, hey, pass it around your work, email lists, whatever. It's always the season to try to help control and vanquish HIV!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

British liberals seek alliance with right in name of defending liberty

Steven — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:11:45 GMT

British liberals seek alliance with right in name of defending liberty
By Chris Marsden
16 March 2009

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/mar2009/hutt-m16.shtml

Will Hutton was one of the most important speakers at the Convention on Modern Liberty conference in London on February 28, addressing the theme "Freedom and democracy after the market meltdown."

The Convention on Modern Liberty has the backing of several civil rights groups, as well as the Guardian newspaper. Hutton himself is the former editor-in-chief of the Observer and director of Guardian national newspapers and is now the leading light in The Work Foundation, which provides consultancy and research to business, government and charities.

His remarks exemplify the response to the worsening economic and political crisis of capitalism by a layer of the liberal intelligentsia represented at the convention—the forging of an alliance with the conservative right in a movement to defend the existing order, under the banner of preserving democracy from the threat of extremism.

Hutton painted a candid and accurate depiction of the scale of the economic crisis now gripping world capitalism. He described an ongoing collapse worse than any other in history, including the Great Depression in the Hungry Thirties, one made more serious in its implications because of the unprecedented degree of social polarization.

He began by describing an "astonishing economic background" that has seen Japan's industrial production fall by a third in the three months to January and that of the United States fall by almost a quarter. The same picture is repeated in Europe, with Britain's GDP predicted to have declined by 6 percent by summer 2009. This drop in the space of just 18 months is greater than that suffered in the four years between 1929 and 1933.

He concluded, "In many respects, I am beginning to think that what is taking place internationally is graver than what took place in the early 1930s."

Hutton then asked, "What's the impact of all this going to be for liberty?"

Internationally he described a descent into beggar-thy-neighbour protectionist measures, particularly in Europe where, "There's a real sense of ‘sauve qui peut' [every man for himself] at the moment."

Regarding the domestic implications of the economic crisis, Hutton gives vivid expression to the fears this generates within Britain's ruling elite. He knows that the acute social tensions produced by the crisis of the profit system will in turn result in an eruption of the class struggle and a political polarization between left and right.

"Everyone knows the story of the 1930s," he said. "When unemployment climbs as precipitately as it does and when the safety net is as weak as it is, people blame the other."

This danger was particularly acute, given the destruction of welfare measures over the past quarter century. Britain would see a rise in unemployment of up to two million in the immediate period, Hutton suggested. In the 1980s under Thatcher, with over three million out of work and social unrest that culminated in a year-long miners' strike, the unemployed had to live on benefits equivalent to two-fifths of average earnings. Today, Jobseekers Allowance is set at £60.50, equivalent to just one-fifth of the average annual wage of £25,000.

"It's an absolute calamity," said Hutton. "There will be, I think, demands for vengeance."

Regarding the demand for "vengeance" he declares, "This could be a moment for the left or it could be a moment for the right." In either case this would be a threat to "not just economic liberties," many of which he admits "got us into this mess in the first place, but actually political liberties. I think that there will be the rise of parties all over Europe which will be extremely unpleasant."

Hutton's reaction to the worsening crisis is that of extremely privileged layer which fears nothing more than a challenge to these privileges from below. Thus he makes the danger of fascism and socialism coeval; both being portrayed as different forms of "authoritarian statism" and threats to democracy.

Portraying himself as the defender of democracy from political extremism of all kinds, he calls for the reassertion of "the great Enlightenment traditions" and the restoration of the necessary "checks and balances" in economic and political life to prevent "a migration to a world of authoritarian statism on either the left or the right...more slump and even war."

In an earlier article in the Guardian, Hutton also declared baldly that the defence of liberty "isn't a question of left or right. We should fight together."

Despite such pretensions, in reality he and the layers represented by the convention are allying themselves with forces whose commitment to "Enlightenment values" is non-existent: the top leadership of the Conservative Party and the party's hardline Thatcherite wing, up to and including the union-busting Freedom Association, which has historic links to the far right.

Hutton justifies this alliance by claiming that a united struggle for liberty must not be prevented by disagreements over "the distribution of income, the role of markets." Rather the defence of liberty lies through the preservation of "a complex skein of institutions," including "government, an independent civil service, a free media, independent shareholders, free trade unions, independent universities, regular elections."

This turns reality on its head. It is precisely the polarization of wealth between an oligarchy of the super-rich at one pole and the majority of working people who face ever greater financial hardship at the other that has been the driving force for the constant erosion of civil liberties over the past decade and more. This unprecedented transfer of social wealth from the vast majority to a tiny minority has been accomplished through the destruction of living standards, the smashing up of welfare provisions and the return to the most predatory forms of imperialist militarism in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Enlightenment traditions cited by Hutton were based on the equality of all citizens before the law, but this in turn rested on the belief by representatives of the bourgeoisie that private ownership of the means of production was the basis for individual liberty. In the struggle against feudalism, such a claim was indeed progressive. But today, centuries later, the institutions created by the bourgeoisie to administer its rule preside over the most economically unequal society in world history. Even formal democracy is no longer compatible with such a diseased social order. Consent cannot be won for policies that are detrimental to the interests of the vast majority. Coercion is required.

Today there can be no successful defence of democratic rights outside of a conscious pursuit of the class struggle against the capitalist profit system based on a socialist programme. It is not the working class seeking "vengeance" that poses a threat to democracy as embodied in the institutions of the state, the "free media," etc. It is the state, including parliament, the civil service and the judiciary, as well as a media controlled by big business, that is being used to curtail and destroy civil liberties and which, as instruments of bourgeois class rule, represent the greatest threat to democratic rights. It is against this danger that the working class must be mobilized.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

I'm visiting London

yvettesoler — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:49:57 GMT

I'm going to be in London until the end of the month. I'd love to meet some Tribesters. I am a Healer and Teacher (check out my profile). If you'd like an empowerment, class, need clearing, or just want to hang out, let me know!

See you there!!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Royal Mail faces privatisation and jobs massacre

Steven — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:37:11 GMT

Britain: Royal Mail faces privatisation and jobs massacre
By Richard Tyler
3 February 2009

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/feb2009/mail-f03.shtml

In a move that threatens tens of thousands of jobs and a further worsening of conditions for postal workers, the government has approved the partial privatisation of Royal Mail, the UK's state-run postal service.

Addressing the Business Select Committee in the House of Commons, Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson said it was his hope that introducing a "strategic partner" from the private sector would bring "a gale-force fresh air, into the management and culture of Royal Mail, because I think that is needed in order to continue modernisation."

Mandelson told the committee that the government accepted all the recommendations of the Hooper Review—"Modernise or decline"—which calls for "a radical reform of Royal Mail's network". This would include establishing "a strategic partnership between Royal Mail and one or more private sector companies." The Business Secretary has already appointed the investment bank UBS to lead the search for a private partner or partners interested in purchasing up to a 33 percent stake in Royal Mail, with a deal possibly being in place as early as April.

This could cost between 40,000 to 50,000 jobs from a remaining workforce of almost 170,000, according to some observers.

Mirroring the break up of British Rail under the Conservatives into competing private train operating companies, the Times reports that Royal Mail "would be divided into different units, such as collection and sorting, with rival operators allowed to buy stakes. The ‘last mile' delivery is likely to remain with Royal Mail as a natural monopoly."

But the "last mile", a vital social service that guarantees delivery of mail to every household, is the most expensive part of the business to run and is least likely to provide profits for any private operator. In other words, big business will be able to cherry pick the most lucrative operations, leaving the unprofitable "last mile" to Royal Mail.

This latest proposal follows the steady erosion of Royal Mail's previous monopoly over postal services in the UK, with several private companies already having poached the profitable business post and mass mailing sectors, while leaving the far more expensive to run "universal service".

To make Royal Mail more palatable to any new private operator, it is proposed that responsibility for its pension fund—whose deficit some analysts put at £7 billion—be moved onto the government's books. The wipe-out of share values across the globe throughout 2008 has hit the value of the fund, but the massive deficit is due in no small part to the company having earlier taken a 17-year contribution holiday.

Once again it is the workforce that is being made to pay, with the Royal Mail final salary scheme closed to new participants since April 2008. Placing new staff on a scheme linked to "career average" earnings means that a 30-year-old employee with 10 years' service will lose almost half his or her previous pension entitlement—a fall to £8,764 per year from £15,260.

The threat to a partially privatise Royal Mail has met with some opposition from within the Labour Party. About 70 Labour MPs signed a protest motion in the House of Commons this week calling on the government to uphold party policy, which nominally commits it to "a wholly publicly owned Royal Mail".

However, clearly acknowledging the treacherous role played by the Communication Workers Union in imposing job cuts and worse conditions on postal workers, the motion also "welcomes the commitment of the CWU to negotiate an agreement which would support the modernisation of the industry."

The general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Billy Hayes told the press, "There is no need to privatise and sell stakes in key public sector businesses to get government assets, particularly Royal Mail, to perform."

For once, Hayes is speaking the truth, since he heads a union that has signed away the pay and conditions of postal workers, in one rotten concession after another to management, in order to help Royal Mail "perform".

Some 48,000 postal jobs have gone since New Labour came to office in 1997. Thousands of local post offices and dozens of mail delivery centres have closed or face closure. Part-time and casual working has increased dramatically.

When postal workers have taken industrial action to oppose job cuts and the imposition of speed-ups and inhuman working conditions, it has been the CWU that has stabbed them in the back.

Postal workers were involved in a bitter dispute over pay and conditions in autumn 2007. This took the form of an escalating series of wildcat strikes, which threatened to run out of the control of the union bureaucracy. Hayes stepped in to abruptly end the industrial action—without any consultation with the membership—telling postal workers to put their faith in the Hooper Review.

Now the report by businessman Richard Hooper has been published, and far from offering postal workers any respite from years of cutbacks and attacks, it proposes to intensify them.

Several large rivals including Deutsche Post, UPS and FedEx, are said to be "lukewarm" about investing in the Royal Mail, but the Times reports that "private equity group CVC, which owns stakes in both the Danish and Belgian postal services, is believed to be interested".

Mandelson has revealed the interest of one potential private "partner"—Dutch postal company TNT. With private postal operators having already grabbed 40 percent of the profitable bulk mail business—and after years of chronic under-investment during which any profits where siphoned off by the Treasury to help balance the government's books—New Labour is once again opening up the public purse and saying to big business, "help yourself".

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 1 reply

Student occupations protest Gaza war

Steven — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:25:41 GMT

Britain: Student occupations protest Gaza war
By Robert Stevens
30 January 2009

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jan2009/univ-j30.shtml

During the last two weeks students at more than a dozen universities in the UK have staged occupations of lecture theatres and libraries in protest at the Israeli assault on Gaza. The occupations began in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London on January 13 (See “Students at two London universities occupy campuses in protest at Gaza attacks”) and quickly spread to other universities nationwide.

Occupations have since been held in King’s College London, the London School of Economics (LSE), Queen Mary University and at universities in Sussex, Warwick, Newcastle, Oxford, Cambridge, Essex, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan, Nottingham, Newcastle and Kingston.

Protesting Israel’s war and ongoing blockade of Gaza, the occupations have demanded university heads condemn Tel Aviv’s actions and for the universities to end relations with companies helping supply the Israeli military.

A number of the occupations have ended with student groups involved claiming that their demands have been wholly or partially met. Others are ongoing, including those at Warwick, Cambridge, Bradford and Queen Mary universities. The latter two occupations began on January 27.

Among the demands being made by the students at Queen Mary are for the university to “publish a comprehensive list of all investments made in public and private bodies. If it is found that any of the shares belong to companies who are involved in arms dealings that perpetuate violence and war, we would demand that all ties be severed and the university amend its ethical investment policy”.

Students at SOAS and the LSE have ended their occupations, stating that the universities had agreed to their demands. At Birmingham, however, following a 12-hour occupation of a lecture theatre, on January 22 those occupying the room were forced to leave by a combination of police and security guards. According to a statement released by the students after the occupation, “The University of Birmingham threatened to remove the occupants with force forewarning them that they would be in ‘breach of the peace’ if they did not leave the building”.

It added, “Outside the building there were two police vans and numerous police cars, proving that the University of Birmingham was prepared to use such an extreme level of force against its students conducting a peaceful protest”.

On the same day, around 80 students began a sit-in at the University of Oxford’s Clarendon Building, part of the historic Bodleian Library. Shortly after they began the occupation, security staff closed the front gates and locked them in. In addition to those demands raised nationally, the students had called on the master of Balliol College, Andrew Graham, to cancel a lecture series inaugurated by Israel’s President Shimon Peres on a visit to the university last November.

The Oxford protest ended at 7 p.m. with the university refusing to discuss the demands of the students.

On January 23 students at the Manchester Metropolitan University began an occupation of a lecture theatre that lasted for about 27 hours. Management at the university attempted to isolate the occupation by refusing to allow staff and students into the building without identification cards.

On January 24 more than 100 students at the University of Cambridge organised a sit-in. Students including members of the Cambridge Gaza Solidarity Campaign stated that they planned to occupy the university’s law faculty over the weekend.

While students have taken a courageous and principled stand, the National Union of Students (NUS) has refused to condemn Israel’s attack on Gaza and the atrocities carried out by the Zionist state. The position taken by Wes Streeting, NUS President and a supporter of the Brown Labour government, is that both Hamas and Israel are equally responsible for the war.

Speaking about whether or not the NUS should take a stance on the war, he has said, “I know there are many students who would rather we didn’t. If we’re honest, I would hazard a guess that the majority of our members would rather we said nothing at all about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.

In his blog, Streeting claimed that war was too complex for the NUS to make a direct statement in opposition. “Students will--and should be able to--make their own views and voices heard about the conflict in the Middle East, but we shouldn’t pretend that NUS can speak with one voice on the complexities of this conflict,” he wrote.

Protests have also been held at a number of BBC headquarters around the UK in opposition to the broadcaster’s refusal to transmit the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Gaza appeal. The BBC has stated that to broadcast the appeal for humanitarian aid for Gaza would compromise its “impartiality”.

* * *

Reporters from the World Socialist Web Site recently spoke to several of the students involved in the occupations at the universities of Warwick and Leeds.

A spokesperson for the occupation at the University of Warwick said, “The occupation began on Thursday January 21. We have a board that people can sign when they come in, and we’ve had over 150 people sign their names.

“A representative of the university spoke to the Coventry Telegraph today [January 23] and said that there were only 14 involved, which is rubbish, to be honest. There are dozens and dozens of people getting involved in things. We have talks and debates and workshops on all day. So the university is rubbishing our campaign basically.

“We get the general feeling that a lot of people are in support of our campaign. The general mood is that the atrocities of the Israeli state should be condemned by institutions across Britain and by the government.”

The student said that, “The primary demand is that Warwick University should suspend all relations with companies which supply the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. These include BAE System, MBDA, Kinetic and Rolls Royce. There are many ways in which they are involved on campus. There is their funding, research and their presence at career fairs”.

The student also stated the issues raised by the war are not being discussed in any serious way by academics. He said, “A lot of us are in the politics department, and the silence from academics is deafening. There is no debate on the issue, and I think that is irresponsible on the part of these academics. These are people who are aware of the situations of the Palestinians but yet who refuse to initiate debate on it”.

The World Socialist Web Site also spoke to Richard, one of the organisers of the occupation at the University of Leeds on January 23.

Richard said, “We called the occupation because of the attacks on Gaza by the Israeli state and the refusal of the British government and Leeds University to make any statement or [take] any action in defence of the Gazan people. We specifically called the occupation as an action because it has been used recently at a number of other universities, and they’re growing day by day. A number have been successful, and we don’t think it will be beyond the Leeds University´s ability or control to meet the demands we’ve set.”

Asked how he thought the crisis in Gaza could be resolved, Richard said, “Speaking personally, I agree with the World Socialist Web Site about the need for unity of Jewish and Arab workers and for support from the international working class. It’s a question of class unity, to solve the Palestinian question with the unity of Palestinians and Israelis.

“The ceasefire has been called unilaterally by the Israelis, saying they’ll pull out when they’re ready. That could be next week or five years! It’s totally one sided, so unequal and unfair. It will be used when any militants, such as Hamas resist. This will be used as an excuse by the occupation forces. They will say ‘we offered you a ceasefire and you broke it. Now we’ve got to crush you!’”

Asked about what he thought about the new US administration of Barack Obama and his position on the war, Richard said, “He stated his position in the middle of the presidential election campaign. He was criticised for not wearing the American flag. So the next time he wore the American and the Israeli flags! He also refused to make any comment on Gaza, saying there could only be one president at a time. So much is tied up with US and Israeli material interests. There’s $3 billion a year of arms funding to Israel from the US. So they have to have a close relationship”.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Thousands more workers lose their jobs

Steven — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:59:51 GMT

UK: Thousands more workers lose their jobs
By Robert Stevens
28 January 2009

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jan2009/ukjo-j28.shtml

Thousands of job losses were announced in Britain on Monday, with the steel maker Corus announcing cut-backs of 3,500 internationally. Some 2,500 of these are to be lost in Britain—10 percent of the steelmaker's UK workforce.

Unemployment is now past the two million mark unofficially, with 77,154 jobs losses announced in the UK in the four months up to January 21.

Wales is hardest hit by the latest cuts. Some 1,100 jobs are to go across the company's Welsh operations, including the "temporary" closure of its plant at Llanwern near Newport, South Wales, with the loss of 600 jobs.

Next hardest hit is Rotherham, South Yorkshire, with the loss of 613 jobs. The remainder are to be shed at locations in the West Midlands, West and South Yorkshire and Humberside. Eighty jobs are to go in Scotland

Corus said that the job losses would enable it to cut costs by around 20 percent and improve profits by more than £200 million. Corus was established in 1999 by the merger of British Steel and Hoogovens of the Netherlands and is Europe's second-largest steelmaker. In 2007 it was bought by India's Tata Steel for £6.7 billion and employs 24,000 workers in the UK and 42,000 around the world.

The Corus factory in Rotherham is the second largest private sector employer in the area. Only last week, the clothing manufacturer Burberry announced it is to close its sewing facility in Rotherham with the loss of 290 jobs as part of a "massive restructuring programme" in its British and Spanish operations. The plant is just a few hundred yards from the Corus plant in Parkgate.

As well as the thousands of workers directly laid-off by Corus, there will be a knock-on effect on many other firms dependent on the steelmaker.

Further job losses announced Monday include 750 at the Ulster Bank, a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Some 267 jobs are to go at the children's wear retailer Adams, and 95 jobs at the furniture chain Land of Leather—both now in administration.

The Dutch food company Vion is also shedding 820 jobs, and the engineering group Atkins says it will cut up to 260 staff from its UK design arm, while a further 96 jobs are to go at the NACCO Materials Handling Group's forklift factory in Graigavon, County Armagh, in Ireland. These are in addition to 81 redundancies announced in September 2008.

Wavin, the Dutch plastic pipemaker, is cutting 165 jobs and the UK-based electronics firm TT Electronics, has announced plans to make 700 workers redundant. Last year it implemented 600 job losses and also shut down parts of a subsidiary, AB Automotive, with the loss of 157 jobs in Cardiff, Wales.

More than 680 jobs are to be lost at the parcel firm Home Delivery Network—the UK's largest home delivery and collection service—with the closure of seven depots.

The jobs of 2,500 UK employees of Philips, Europe's largest electronics manufacturer, are also in doubt after the company said that it was to shed 6,000 jobs worldwide.

Further job losses are expected to be announced shortly by ING, the Dutch banking and insurance group, which has said it will shed 7,000 posts internationally in 2009. The bank posted a 2008 loss of 1 billion euros on January 26. It employs 1,600 workers in the UK.

Some 1,400 job losses are also threatened at SeaDragon Offshore, an oilrig maker. The firm, based in the Tees Valley, has been instructed by its bank, Lloyds TSB, to cut production.

Even more jobs are threatened at Stylo, which owns the Barratts and Priceless Shoes footwear chains. The firm has been put into administration with a possible 5,450 jobs at risk. Barratts and Priceless Shoes are to close unless a deal can be reached with landlords to renegotiate the terms of the leases on about 400 outlets. The firm, which reported a pre-tax loss of £12.5 million to February 2008, had its shares suspended on Monday.

Trade unions defend "British manufacturing"
Many firms are also demanding pay cuts and cuts in hours. Bentley Motors in Crewe and the construction equipment firm JCB have already cut the working week, while firms such as the auto producer Nissan in Sunderland are considering imposing a three-day week. The British Chambers of Commerce, which represent 100,000 firms, released figures this week revealing that 39 percent of businesses are planning to cut hours.

The government's Department for Business and Enterprise now advises firms to cut overheads and to remain competitive by issuing the following official advice: "You can cut staff cost by restricting overtime or cutting staff hours".

Earlier this month Hans Demant, the managing director and vice president of engineering at GM Europe, said, "We have an umbrella agreement. We are looking at less work and less pay". GM Europe employs about 4,000 workers at its Vauxhall factory in Ellesmere Port, Merseyside, England, and a van making facility in Luton.

A January 12 article in the Daily Mail headlined, "Take a pay cut and keep your jobs, bosses tell Vauxhall workers", reported on current ongoing negotiations between Vauxhall and trade unions. It said, "Unions and car bosses have agreed that among the flexible options will be: workers taking pay cuts, sabbaticals on 30 percent salary, four-day weeks and cuts to shifts".

Such agreements underscore the role of the trade union bureaucracy in enforcing "restructuring" and cost-cutting measures at the direct expense of their members.

Following talks in October between JCB and the GMB trade union, a "concessions" contract was implemented, which included 170 job losses and a pay cut of £50 week for the remaining 2,500 workers.

In response to the Corus job losses the pro-business trade unions have, once again, been quick off the mark to make protectionist appeals in defence of "British manufacturing" and to identify the interests of the workforce and the company as one and the same.

Derek Simpson of the Unite union said, "We understand that Corus do face difficulties but before this recession Corus had been making extremely healthy profits. Our members have supported Corus through good times and bad and now expect Corus to support them".

"The UK's manufacturing sector desperately needs support from our government similar to the support provided by the German, French and Swedish governments", he continued. "We cannot afford to let a short-term problem deprive Britain of the skills we will depend on to compete in the world economy".

In December the union entered into negotiations with Corus on precisely such a basis. On December 11, the Financial Times reported that three British trade unions had proposed a 10 percent pay cut for the workforce in order to keep the Llanwern steel factory in southern Wales open. The Financial Times quoted a senior trade union official as saying "Representatives would accept a 10 percent decrease for everybody, from the bottom to the top of the company".

While the unions denied this report, the company issued a statement admitting that it was "actively discussing options with employees and their representatives in the UK. In the short term, payroll reductions and specific government support for temporary unemployment could be of great assistance to address the current market conditions".

A further joint statement with the trade unions stated, "Corus Management and the National Officers of the UK Steel Committee have had a series of discussions regarding the business situation and potential actions to help weather the storm, including a range of temporary options aimed at reducing employment costs and assisting the company through these difficult times".

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Local authorities slash jobs and social services

Steven — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:07:09 GMT

Britain: Local authorities slash jobs and social services
By Jordan Shilton
20 January 2009

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jan2009/auth-j20.shtml

Across Britain, local authorities have announced plans to slash hundreds of jobs and outlined deep cuts in budgets for public services.

In December, London Mayor Boris Johnson unveiled spending cuts amounting to £950 million over the coming three years. Citing the current economic crisis, he announced cutbacks in the budget for the police and the fire services, as well as transport.

Pointing to the impact of the crisis in the financial sector, he stated that action had to be taken to “support London”, something which can only be achieved by cutting services. But he also revealed substantial funding increases to a number of business projects, such as the £23 million made available to fund local businesses. The cuts to transport funding are particularly severe, coming at the same time as Johnson detailed plans to increase fares for bus and underground travel in 2009.

Transport for London (TFL), which runs transport services including the London underground, has already outlined plans to cut jobs. A number of proposed projects were also shelved in November. The aim is to reduce costs by £2.4 billion over the next ten years.

A similar picture exists in local authorities throughout Britain. In Bristol, the administration had approximately £8 million invested in collapsed Icelandic banks. Along with neighbouring councils in North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, it is to announce price hikes for its services such as parking charges. Funds for public services such as libraries will be scaled back, while Bristol City council is introducing an above-average council tax increase for its residents.

Although the government has pledged a funding increase of 4.2 percent for local authorities in 2009, steep council tax rises in a number of areas are likely.

In Oxford, the council is set to announce job cuts across the board, as it deals with a £6 million shortfall. This figure excludes the sum of £4.5 million that the council had deposited in Icelandic banks that failed last October. In the event it is unable to regain these funds, the cuts will be deeper still.

Five councils in Lincolnshire have revealed plans for redundancies and cuts to spending as they face a combined shortfall of £7 million, and in Nottingham, the city council is dealing with a £6 million shortfall. Having invested over £40 million in Icelandic banks, it is one of the councils with the most to lose.

Jobs will also be lost in Worcester, where at least 80 posts and funding for concessionary travel to be cut, while in Coventry around 200 jobs are threatened. Facing a budget shortfall of £13 million, the council is to discuss proposals to increase charges for some social care services.

In Wales, local authorities have unveiled spending reductions and job cuts. In October, when inflation was running at 5 percent, councils were given an average funding increase of 2.9 percent, with some authorities receiving as little as a 1.5 percent rise.

Although inflation may have fallen since then, the fact that councils have to finalise contracts for goods and services months in advance means that such a reduction will do nothing to aid council budgets. Since October, Denbighshire council has revealed plans to cut its staff costs by 10 percent, while Cardiff city council has indicated sharp rises in council tax bills, adding that it would be “really hard” to meet the funding gap in the coming year.

Scottish councils have also made cuts. In Aberdeen, where the council has been suffering financial difficulties for some time, a package of cuts amounting to £24 million was voted through in December. The package will mean that for 2009 the city’s housing budget will be cut by £1.2 million, education will lose over £5 million and social services will suffer a cutback of £8.6 million. At least 400 jobs will be lost across the city, including over 200 classroom assistants and other educational staff.

Earlier last year, the council announced £35 million in budget cuts and it has now been forced to borrow money from the Scottish government.

The Scottish National Party administration at Holyrood has done everything possible to distance itself from the policies of the local authority, insisting that it should be left to manage its own affairs. But the SNP has not shirked from imposing severe budget cuts in other local authorities. In Edinburgh, where the council is led by the SNP, spending cuts have been implemented, including in social work. A number of schools have been shortlisted for closure, although the council was forced to scale back its plans to close up to 20 primary schools and nurseries after strong protests.

Cuts have been announced by Scottish Borders council, and by Glasgow, Scotland’s largest local authority. It was revealed at the start of November that the Labour controlled council would have to make use of reserve funds to meet its budget commitments this year. In a bid to cut costs, the authority revealed that 400 jobs would be eliminated, including losses in social work, education and environmental protection. This is part of a plan to save £23 million by 2010. A council official stated that without an upturn in the economy after three years, the ability of the authority to provide basic services will be in doubt as its reserve funding would be exhausted.

In September, a two-year pay deal which would see wages increase by 2.5 percent each year was presented by Scottish local authorities to workers. After a series of one-day strikes that the unions were unable to prevent, they settled for a paltry increase of 0.5 percent for the first year of the contract with no change for the second year. They worked to ensure that further action in October was cancelled.

Unison Scottish secretary, Matt Smith, assured employers that strike action had been taken “only with the greatest of reluctance”, adding that he hoped to achieve a “negotiated settlement.” Not the slightest effort was made to unite the struggles of workers in different local authorities, let alone in Scotland and England.

Such cutbacks are only a foretaste of what is to come.

Approximately £1 billion of local authorities’ funds were invested in Icelandic banks which have now collapsed. A total of 116 local authorities in England and Wales had roughly £850 million invested in Iceland’s banks, while other public bodies such as police forces, fire services and transport authorities had a further £100 million. Seven local authorities in Scotland had roughly £50 million invested in Icelandic banks, including £15 million from North Ayrshire council, £7.5 million from South Lanarkshire council and £10 million from Scottish Borders council.

Additionally, Aberdeen city council had a deal worth £120 million to fund the construction or refurbishment of up to 10 schools which was funded by Icelandic banks. These projects are now in doubt. While at the time of the Icelandic banking collapse in October council spokesmen went out of their way to assure people that service provision would not be affected by the losses, the reality is clearly very different.

There are additional difficulties brought on by the economic downturn. According to a recent survey, local authorities in England, who generally hold around £26 billion in reserves, are facing a £600 million fall in interest payments alone due to collapsing interest rates. This, in addition to the £900 million lost by councils due to the Icelandic collapse, will continue for several years. Other financial pressures have been generated by falling planning applications and a collapse in the international price for recycled waste.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Office of the Public Guardian

alias-sid-rumpo — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:07:46 GMT

Anyone who’s had dealings with the Office of the Public Guardian may be interested in the petition that I’ve set up on the Prime Minister’s website at

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/publicguardian/

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

I recently saw the movie SICKO...

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:53:20 GMT

Pretty much it counts down to everyone having free healthcare. Is that true? Honestly, are there any hidden features??? I'm just a desperate american wanting to know,maybe even planning to move if all my fact are in place. thanks.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

I wish I had some serious money to bid for this:

bobs — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:53:18 GMT

Red Arrows flight to be auctioned

A flight with the Red Arrows is to be sold at auction to raise money for British troops and their families.

Proceeds from Wednesday's sale at Sotheby's will go to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association - Forces Help (SSAFA).

The charity works with 50,000 people every year, including forces veterans sleeping rough in London.

A chance to join the RAF display team is much sought after, with one woman recently paying £1.5m for nine flights.

Julie Heselden, the wife of a multi-millionaire ex-miner, placed the winning bid at a charity auction in September.

SSAFA runs Norton House, where accommodation is provided for the families of badly injured servicemen and women being treated at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, in Surrey.

It also organises holidays for the children of service personnel.

The Lincolnshire-based Red Arrows have performed more than 4,000 displays in over 50 countries since being formed in 1965.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7717154.stm

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

What going Nowhere is all about...

Cara — Sat, 24 May 2008 11:38:18 GMT

Nowhere is a 5 day event in Northern Spain, based upon the principles of Burning Man in Nevada, it is an experiment in participatory creation where everyone holds a piece of the puzzle.

A place where you cease to exist as you do in the default world, where your relationships with those around are based not on "What can you do for me?" but "What can we do together?", a place where Radical Self-Expression and Radical Self-Reliance become Radical Realities.

We truly are a Leave No Trace event. You must bring everything you need to survive in a harsh desert environment. There is no commerce at Nowhere. No money. No shopping. If You need something, You make it happen.. And everything you bring you are responsible for taking away.

Nowhere explodes into existence for 5 amazing days, it's participants bringing art, music, life, love, chaos and adventure into a world that has lost sense of the primal reasons for existence... then it fades back to the dust from which it blossomed.

A gift economy, radical self expression, radical self reliance, leave no trace and no spectators.... these guiding lights, and the natural filter of
the desert, mean that Nowhere is not for everyone. But if you are one of those who value human interaction over financial exchange, who love to create just for the sheer joy of creating, who are one of "... the mad ones, the ones mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing but burn, burn, burn like fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars..."

then maybe Nowhere is for you

Go to http://www.goingnowhere.org to find out more

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 1 reply

Notting Hill Carnival

Nemo — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:45:53 GMT

Is anyone going to the Carnival? If you are do mind if a transplanted American come along. MOved to UK in June and I've heard about this Carnival for years and it's here and I'm here, but will probably miss it because I'm still a little uneasy finding my way around. I live in Cambridge, but have no idea how to get where things are happening or where to find a place to crash near the festivities. Would love to come experience the event day and night and hang out with some locals.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 1 reply

Visiting England and the UK

somethingwyqued — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:52:29 GMT

So, I want to surprise my honey with a trip (either 2 weeks, or a month) to England. I'm thinking in April or May, since April 23rd is our anniversary, and I'm trying to plan out some stuff to do. What are the "must see" cities of the UK, England especially, and what should be done there? We're both writers, he is also a big graphic novel and video game guy. We both love England, and have even kinda talked about moving there, so I wanted to take him to several cities and see the real life (not just the touristy crap).
Any suggestions?
-Emilie

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

No Chance Saloon Fundraiser!

DontTellJosh — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:09:00 GMT

Saddle up Partners!

On Saturday the 31st of May we will be throwing a kick ass fundraiser for the No Chance Saloon camp for Nowhere 2008 (what's Nowhere? www.goingnowhere.org) at The George, (send me a message if you need the address).

It will run from 9pm with some live music in keeping with the theme and descend into a dirty mess of hedonistic excess until the following afternoon in which we plan on showing a Wild West Movie Double Bill (starting around midday).

The theme is Wild West and dress up is encouraged, though not mandatory.

We will be running a bar and there is a suggested donation of £5 on the door.

We pledge to spend 80% of the money we make from this fundraiser on the purchasing of booze to be served at the No Chance Saloon. So it’s almost like a 2 for 1 deal, but you just have to get to Nowhere to get the free drink.

A little bit of info on our camp –

At Nowhere our saloon will incorporate an all day bar serving whiskey and tequila in the cool shade of the saloon structure, a Bucking Bronco to test your Rodeo skills on and a host of Wild West characters to drink with, play with, fight with and in all probability love with. We’ll also host a party on an undetermined night.

Hope to see you there,

No Chance Salooners.

PS. Arrive early, the past few parties at The George, we've had to turn people away once we've reached capacity.

PPS. Be kind to our neighbours and be sneaky quiet on your to and from The George.

PPPS. Are you an awesome Bluegrass band? Country singer? Cowboy/girl stripper? If anyone has an act that could be deemed relevant to a Wild West Saloon and is interested in performing at the fundraiser, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Meet Up 10th May

Charles — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:49:16 GMT

Hi everyone

The next monthly meet-up is on Saturday 10th May starting at 7.30. It will be at the Spice of Life in Moor Street just off Charing Cross Road. It’s a short walk from both Tottenham Court Road (Central line) and Leicester Square (Piccadilly). I very much hope you will be able to come along.

http://www.spiceoflifesoho.com/

We had 29 people come to the Portrhouse earlier this month. Let me know if you will be able to make it on the 10th

Thanks

Charles

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

Great event in London on May 10th - Reverend Zero's Medicine Show

twinklebeezz — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:32:48 GMT

The medicine show is back! Our next show will be on Saturday May the 10th at the Ivy House in Peckham Rye!
This show will be fundraising to help get the Burrow Theme Camp back to Nowhere.

You can buy your tickets cheaper in advance; find out show times, and location at our very own website http//:www.medicineshow.org.uk

So come to the show, it promises to be a spectacular spectacular live action Victorian vaudeville, mad neo punk cabaret!

We have Mad bad bands, Naughty moustached strippers, UFO Space adventures, Howling Beauty’s, Circus Freaks and many more for your entertainment.

This is a Dress Up event so come in your best sideshow, carnie, circus, cabaret or burlesque or burner outfits.

Don’t forget to Buy you Tickets for this one off night at http://www.medicineshow.org.uk

Look forward to seeing you there!
Twink
Producer to the Medicine Show Production Company

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Happy 60th Birthday

bobs — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:53:36 GMT

To the Polo Mint!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/7348287.stm

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

The Porterhouse

Charles — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:49:47 GMT

I've had 9 positive replies so far from orkut and facebook communities today so it would be good to meet people from tribe too

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

Famous parents and children

Charles — Mon, 05 Jan 2004 18:09:56 GMT

Another game:

The idea is to name two well-known people with the same surname and with a roughly realistic parent-child age difference but who are far apart in other respects.

see example below

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 55 replies

V&A Late Friday (29/3/08)

Bobster — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:07:26 GMT

Dear All,

I'm heading to the V&A for it's monthly late-night event. The night is titled Subterreanea and includes readings, a DJ set by St Etienne (but more than likely just Bob Stanley) and a Film screening of Jacques Tati's 'Play Time' (1967), famous for its enormous, specially constructed set depicting a futuristic glass and steel Paris. Preceded by a discussion with photography expert David Campany examining architectural artifice and Tati's fictionalised view of modernist Paris.

I'll be there at the front at 6pm. Let me know if you're interested.

Link:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/activ_events/events/friday_evenings/friday_late/events/friday_late_mar08/index.html

All the best,

Bobster

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Active members

Charles — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:57:43 GMT

Are there any here? I've been inactive for a couple of years and want to see whether it is worth reviving the tribe.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 11 replies

Tribe Pictures

Charles — Wed, 07 Jan 2004 09:23:01 GMT

A thank you to everyone who has contributed to the pictures we now have. Please keep them coming in. More pics of other parts of the UK would be great! If you live there or have visited you will know what has significance more than I. For instance I have only been to Northern Ireland briefly on two occasions. Other pics related to the UK (look through, we have some) are also welcome. Thanks again.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 135 replies

Pillow Fight Club, March 22nd

purrverse — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:18:16 GMT

On Saturday, in the afternoon- Pillow Fight Club!
http://www.mobile-clubbing.com/eventsweb/public/mobileclubbing/default.aspx
It's going to be way fun, guys.
Anyone going? I'll be in bunny gear!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

The Big World Gathering - Take Your Power Back

truthgathering — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:05:55 GMT

THE BIG WORLD GATHERING
http://www.worldgathering.net

What is The Big World Gathering?
The Big World Gathering is happening now wherever you are by you sharing with others what you really feel and think about life today, and by distributing information you believe is important. At a later stage, perhaps soon to happen, all our individual actions may help lead to something quite surprising; a major world change.

"Awake, awake, the world is young,
For all its weary years of thought.
The starkest fights must still be fought,
The most surprising songs be sung."
~ James E Flecker

Surprising Songs for The Big World Gathering ...
The Big World Gathering Theme Tune 1 ~ (5+ mins):
http://www.worldgathering.net/wwwmp3/wg1.mp3
The Big World Gathering Theme Tune 1 ~ (1+ mins):
http://www.worldgathering.net/wwwmp3/wg2.mp3
Big World Gathering Love Song ~ Time ~ (2+ mins):
http://www.worldgathering.net/wwwmp3/time.mp3
World-Action Big Gathering Theme Tune ~ (1+ mins):
http://www.worldgathering.net/wwwmp3/wa18.mp3

Special Images for The Big World Gathering:
http://www.worldgathering.net/logos.html

Subscribe to the BWG NEWS List at Google:
http://groups.google.com/group/worldgathering

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'THE GATHERING' by Sitting Bull

It is very important that as many people as possible, in different places, should take part in the Gathering. Decide where and when and how to gather. Your participation is needed.

This is the beginning of the break we are all waiting for; for you all on Earth and ourselves out here. This is the beginning of the turn around. We have waited so long for the change. It is time. This is the beginning of the end of the old ways; the turning of the tide.

State what you believe is true. Courage is the ability to go beyond the familiar. Exchange the information and hopes you have. Always in the world, a change starts with a few people. These few speak the feelings and thoughts of a multitude. They speak the heart of humanity's soul.

The people and ETs who will come together shall ring in a return, a turn around. There will come a flow on Earth which will burst the dark energies surrounding you and your planet. That which you believe is true must be stated. The truth is the key.

May strength and vision be yours as you establish the new. Follow your hearts. Let your inner light be your guide. Realise the beauty and greatness you have within yourself and step ahead. This is the time so many have waited so long for. Never doubt it has started.

The young of all nations are looking for a new direction. It is time to light a beacon to show the way for all humanity. Let your feelings, thoughts and beliefs be your guiding light. The power of the moment. The wishes of the people. The good times ahead.

It is time for the gathering.

Tatanka Yotanka - The Sitting Bull
(This message is through a clairvoyant in Holland, Europe, in recent years)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Special Words for The Big World Gathering:
~ The Rainbow Dream Vision of Hope: "This prophecy is a dream and vision that is a potential reality for mankind. It is not an ultimatum. But it is ours to behold and to create if we only dare to create it together." ~
~ A Central American Mayan Elder: "Human beings must come together in support of life. At present, each person and group is going his or her own way. There is hope if people can come together and unite." ~
~ E F Schumacher: "We must do what we conceive to be the right thing and not bother our heads or burden our souls with whether we will be successful. Because if we don't do the right thing, we will be doing the wrong thing and we will just be a part of the disease and not a part of the cure." ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'The Gathering' by Matthew

Last night I had a gathering for all my departed friends
I asked Jim Morrison where he'd been
He just laughed and smiled,
Spoke of what he'd seen

He said "I've been to the end of the rainbow"
He said "I've seen supernovae burst"
But before I could ask a question,
He said "Let me finish first"

He said "I have something to tell you",
This really is the MASTER KEY
ONLY! ONLY LOVE!
Will set this planet free

He then spoke ok Atlantis,
And what has come to pass
In an alien war of genocide,
He and his friends escaped the blast

* * *
Now these ones are returning,
They see our hearts are burning
The Universe is yearning,
For us to break on through

Well now you see here is my request,
The letter to your heart
Will you join us now,
Let the healing start

First there came THE question,
Then I found THE door
Now I have come through it,
A stronger man for sure

I will ask you the same question,
I can lead you to this door
If you will walk through it,
You will be Wiser than before

Yes now I have this question to put to you
Are you going to resist,
Will you break on through?
Will you break on through?

I am waiting for you...

The Gathering

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Special Images for The Big World Gathering:
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The Big World Gathering is happening now wherever you are by you sharing with others what you really feel and think about life today, and by distributing information you believe is important. At a later stage, perhaps soon to happen, all our individual actions may help lead to something quite surprising; a major world change.
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posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

listen to this

LEA — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:20:17 GMT

http://asx.ljcentral.net/mp3/eir/tls/2008/tls080301_en_hi.mp3

http://www.schillerinstitute.org/economy/phys_econ/2008/lym_inflation_art.html

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Turning of the Tide - WGFT

truthgathering — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:34:31 GMT

http://www.worldgathering.net/news24.html

Turning of the tide …
By Matthew,
Warrior-Poet from the Isle of Man, UK

We say we have it tough
But we always have enough
We say we are trying but the children are still dying
We read the news - got to get our daily blues... ohhhh

But we are ready
Ready for tomorrow
We got each other
From me you can borrow
They say you can never change a leopards spots
But they can’t see how we rearrange the dots

We are the power in everyone
We are the dance of the moon and the sun
We are the hope that will never hide
We are the turning of the tide

We will look to the stars and we will see the light
WE are powerful because we know what is right
We are ready
Ready for tomorrow
Sinking the ships of jealousy and sorrow

We are the power in everyone
We are the celestial dance of the moon and sun
We are the hope that refuses to hide
We are the turning of the tide

In your eyes a vision
In my heart a fire
We will unite our powers
To expose the Liar

We will not swallow any more excuses
We will not be party to your war on humanity
We have heard all your delusions
We are sated with your profanity...Liar

We are the power in everyone
We are the celestial dance of the moon and sun
We are the hope that refuses to hide
We are the turning of the tide

http://www.worldgathering.net/news24.html

---------

WORLD GATHERING FOR TRUTH
http://www.worldgathering.net

Subscribe to WGFT Newsletter at Google:
http://groups.google.com/group/worldgathering

Guide and index to all resources at WGFT website:
http://www.worldgathering.net/menu.html

WORLD-ACTION: http://www.worldgathering.net/world

STOP CHEMTRAILS: http://www.worldgathering.net/stop

INSPIRING TIMES: http://www.worldgathering.net/times

WORDS WAKEN WORLD: http://www.worldgathering.net/words

WINDS OF TRUTH: http://www.worldgathering.net/winds

CELTIC ISLAND: http://www.worldgathering.net/celtic

WORLD-ACTION 2: http://www.worldgathering.net/world2

Slideshow Videos:
http://www.worldgathering.net/menu.html#video

Sounds and Music:
http://www.worldgathering.net/menu.html#audio

Spacecraft in Scotland:
http://www.worldgathering.net/scotland

"We must do what we conceive to be the right thing and not
bother our heads or burden our souls with whether we will be
successful. Because if we don’t do the right thing, we will be
doing the wrong thing and we will just be a part of the disease
and not a part of the cure." - E F Schumacher

Subscribe to WGFT Newsletter at Google:
http://groups.google.com/group/worldgathering

The Rainbow Dream Vision: This prophecy is a dream
and vision that is a potential reality for mankind. It is not
an ultimatum. But it is ours to behold and to create
if we only dare to dream it together.

Central American Mayan Elder: "Human beings must
come together in support of life. At present, each person
and group is going his or her own way. There is hope
if people can come together and unite."

World Gathering For Truth
http://www.worldgathering.net

Please send to friends and contacts and groups

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

5.3 mag Earthquake hits northern England!

bobs — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:23:31 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7266136.stm

Anyone feel it??????????

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 1 reply

Business networking and Events

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:43:07 GMT

i would like to invite my Tribe network to join me on www.connectture.com - its a social business network based in Europe with a growing base of users from all over the world. Easy way of keeping track of your Business Network.

Cheers

Sarah

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Mobile Chai Cafe and Puppet Theatre, based in Amsterdam

lizz Daniels — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:51:27 GMT

Hello we are a collective seeking like minded individuals who are interested in living a creative life and would love to travel. Please visit our tribe to find out more about us http://tribes.tribe.net/cosyconnection

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Role Call!

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 22:29:12 GMT

Come on then, lets see who is actually paying attention, who's here and where are you from?

I'm here, obviously, and I'm in London ...

Next!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 35 replies

UK visa extension?

Eli — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:29:47 GMT

I'm American and my visitors visa expires on March 13th, and I really really want to stay until end of May. Apparently it costs £395 to get it extended and even then you still need emergency reasons. Any experiences with going to continent and back to get re-stamped, espec. when you've already done that twice? Or what would happen if I just stayed longer and violated the expiration? Any thoughts?

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

SAMBA DE RAINHA - a 8 women samba group directly from São Paulo playing in London

nanaspogis — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:30:54 GMT

05 february 2008

Tuesday is the peak of Brazil’s carnival week and will be one of the most overwhelming nights of Guanabara’s carnival as well.

All the way from Brazil comes SAMBA DE RAINHA, an 8-piece female band that plays the most authentic and powerful rootsy samba, mixing charisma, talent, beauty and sensuality.

They started playing at home, then at parties and small bars. Suddenly everyone was conquered by their talent and exuberance. A contagious, vibrant live performance, making our 5th day of carnival a very special and unique one.

To keep up with the party mood, DJ LIMÃO will be on the pick ups, playing lots of great carnivalesque tunes.

Parker Street, Corner Drury Lane, London - WC2B 5PW

0207 242 8600

www.myspace.com/sambaderainha

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

An American question (band new to this tribe)

JimJ — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:31:39 GMT

More of a poll, really.

Through one thing and another, I've found that I've had a chameleon-like way around accents that are different from my own, and I not only pick it up when in the presence of the accent-speaking speaker, but I often find myself parroting it back. Mind, this is not to offend the person, but actually an unconscious flattery on my part, to better connect with the speaker-of-the-accent-which-is-different-from-mine. I've had vocal training for accents, and I've found a particular affinity for British accents.

I have learned, however, to pay attention to my vocal mannerisms, as many times this *has been* viewed as an insult from me to the speaker, a mocking-ness, making fun of the speaker's accent (it isn't. Really, it isn't). So for years now I've making sure to keep my own Northern East Coast American accent going, while keeping my predilection for copying someone else's in check.

Okay, my point is: If someone with a accent outside of your own were to do this around you--morph from their own accent into yours--would you be insulted, flattered, intrigued, or would it make no difference to you? or would context also play a factor?

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 11 replies

Need Couch in Scotland

Shawnda — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:40:24 GMT

theres two of us, both girls. will be in glasgow and or edinburgh from the 28th-31st of this month. need a place to stay. please let me know. thank you

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

b&b's or hotels

Maharaja Tajeshwar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:00:02 GMT

Anyone know of any dirt cheap hotels or b&b's in central london?

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

Coming Home

Anouska — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:44:14 GMT

Hello my fellow country men and women!

I was born in Glasgow and raised there for 10 years. English (Londoner) Ma and a German Pa - been living in Australia for the last 17 years...I married an Aussie and now finally...possibly....we are coming to live next year woohoo!!!!

Will be moving to the midlands area - husband is in IT I am in healthcare - anyone got any info or tips for us????

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

Britishness?

bobs — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:25:18 GMT

Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian
beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on
the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese
TV.

And the most British thing of all? Suspicion of all things foreign!

Only in Britain can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.

Only in Britain do supermarkets make sick people walk all the way to the
back of the shop to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy
cigarettes at the front.

Only in Britain do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a DIET
coke. Only in Britain do banks leave both doors open and chain the pens to
the counters Only in Britain do we leave cars worth thousands of pounds on
the drive and lock our junk and cheap lawn mower in the garage.

Only in Britain do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have
call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to
in the first place.

Only in Britain are there disabled parking places in front of a skating
rink.

NOT TO MENTION..

3 Brits die each year testing if a 9v battery works on their tongue.

142 Brits were injured in 1999 by not removing all pins from new shirts.

58 Brits are injured each year by using sharp knives instead of
screwdrivers.

31 Brits have died since 1996 by watering their Christmas tree while the
fairy lights were plugged in.

19 Brits have died in the last 3 years believing that Christmas decorations
were chocolate British Hospitals reported 4 broken arms last year after Xmas
cracker-pulling accidents.

18 Brits had serious burns in 2000 trying on a new jumper with a lit
cigarette in their mouth.

A massive 543 Brits were admitted to A&E in the last two years after trying
to open bottles of beer with their teeth.

5 Brits were injured last year in accidents involving out-of-control
Scalextric cars.

And finally...

In 2000 eight Brits were admitted to hospital with fractured skulls incurred
whilst throwing up into the toilet.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 13 replies

NCEF! Media sabotaged! Hijacked by lone wingnut! Accused of fraud and embezzlement!

White Rabbit — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:15:11 GMT

NCEF! Media in Humboldt County, Ca. is accused of fraud and donation embezzlement. Caution! Do not support this lone wingnut's scam! Other legitamate groups exist in the area. Caution! Do not be fooled by NCEF! Media and his fraudulent outreach. Shunka Wakan exists completely seperate from any active affinity group. Read about how he perpetuated a lawsuit under the guise of EF! against a legitamate environmental nonprofit:

Dog Days
From: http://northcoastjournal.com/100407/cover1004.html
October 4, 2007
Money On Trees

Big cash nearly fell into Shunka Wakan's lap. Other Earth First!ers are kinda happy it didn't.

by Heidi Walters

As the jury trial for the civil suit Kathryn Miller v. the Trees Foundation puttered to a start last week inside Courtroom 3 at the Humboldt County Courthouse, Shunka Wakan — a key witness for the plaintiff — spent mornings sitting on the hard wooden benches in the long hallway outside the courtroom. During breaks, Miller's attorney Linda Mitlyng, would come out of the courtroom to join him. But otherwise, as other people and their legal affairs swirled around him in a warm, odiferous bath of humanity, Shunka sat alone. Or, sometimes, he stood alone, straight-spined, his small, stocky body swallowed by the huge, stiff blue suit out of which his newly shorn, razor-scraped bald head poked vulnerably — as if, at any moment, the suit could gulp once more and he'd disappear completely. Always, he clutched a paper folder with a wolf's face on its cover.

The North Coast Earth First! Media guru had shaved off his woolly rust-tinged brown hair and beard the night before jury selection started, after discussing it with attorney Mitlyng. Now, it took an uncertain moment to recognize him. Then, of course: Shunka's light blue eyes in the pink-pale face, Shunka's closed-lip smile, Shunka's trademark husky murmur, "Mm-hmm, for sure," in response to a comment.

In Courtroom 3, the amiable but no-nonsense Judge Christopher Wilson's domain, the fate of a $185,000 donation dangled. Would the plaintiff, donor Kathryn Miller, prevail in her claim that the defendant, the Trees Foundation, was not in fact the intended recipient of her generous gift? That Shunka Wakan's NCEF! Media Center and the treesitters were? Or would the Trees Foundation convince the jury that, in fact, the money was intended all along for Trees, with no instructions attached for funneling it elsewhere?

Richard Idell, left, who is defending the Trees Foundation against a lawsuit filed by Kathryn Miller, confers with Doug Wallace, community support coordinator for Trees. Photo by David Lawlor.

In her opening arguments, Miller's attorney, Mitlyng, said the case came down to "fraud and broken promises." "She believed [Trees] would hold [the money] in trust, for the benefit of North Coast Earth First!" said Mitlyng. The defense's attorney, Richard Idell, countered in his opening argument that the donation was an unconditional gift and Miller never wrote letters of instruction — as Miller claims she did. "Ms. Miller ... didn't do anything. She took the check [from her mother's estate] and flipped it over and wrote on the back, 'Payable to the Trees Foundation,'" said Idell.

Miller's claim sought the return of her $185,000, plus interest.

Out in the hallway, Shunka waited to tell his side of the story. Maybe he thought about the magical donation that never materialized, and now probably never would. Maybe he thought about the other times he'd been in this courthouse — dozens of times, along with other activists, often before Judge Wilson, answering to charges of trespassing and other forms of civil disobedience in the woods. Likely, he wondered when they were finally going to call him in to testify — it was taking forever in there. He'd even sent out an e-mail prematurely to the several hundred subscribers to his NCEF! online group erroneously announcing he would be first up to testify.

By the end of Friday's court session, Miller was still on the stand. Perhaps Monday it would be Shunka's turn. Whenever it was, he would be testifying on Miller's behalf; but he wasn't a party to the lawsuit. And in the end, after hearing all of the evidence, the jury would be determining who was telling the truth about intentions and letters of instructions. Shunka was just there to provide context and evidence in a contract dispute.

But to a number of forest activists, including a half dozen or so who appeared in the audience last Friday to watch the trial unfold, that context matters more to them than the legal questions. They say this lawsuit has placed a strain on the environmental community that could do as much damage as an ill-felled redwood that takes down other giants in its descent. They disapprove of the lawsuit, and they blame Shunka for it. And, they say, it's just another example of how Shunka has commandeered the North Coast Earth First! identity and used it for purposes that nobody else in the amorphous but consensus-driven local Earth First! movement has agreed to.

"For a lot of us, when we read about the lawsuit, this is kind of like Shunka on trial," said long-time forest activist Deane Rimerman last Friday, calling from Olympia, Wash. "And, to what extent is he worthy of that money?"

Kathryn Miller wanted her money to go toward saving trees, she said on the witness stand last Thursday. The slender 59-year-old was dressed in a pink print skirt and white sweater, with her gray-streaked dark hair pulled back into a neat, thin braid tinted slightly green. (Little did the jury know that Miller had spent the night in jail, in blue jail duds, and then had been "dressed out," in court lingo, in her street clothes before being escorted into the court by the bailiff. Miller had been arrested the week before, on Sept. 17, when she arrived in civil court for the pre-trial readiness hearing; according to the misdemeanor criminal charges filed against her, Miller allegedly had made annoying phonecalls to Barbara Ristow of the Trees Foundation all hours of the day and night.)

On the stand, Miller described how she became an activist. She remembered how, when she was a child in Orinda, her mother decided to stop spraying the beautiful oak trees on their property after reading Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. "And then, when my son was 9, we were watching the news on TV about the Chernobyl nuclear power plant meltdown. And my son said to me, 'I wish I'd never been born. I don't think I'll get to live a full life.'"

She protested the building of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. She started a peace action group in the late 1980s in San Jose. She did nonviolent protests at the Nevada Test Site. And in 1990, she came up with some of her fellow protestors to help set up the camp for Redwood Summer, and to take part in demonstrations. She's been on and off involved in Earth First! actions in Humboldt ever since, she said, including huffing in supplies for treesitters and huffing out their garbage. She'd also, at one point, bought a condo in Arcata.

In 2004, Miller sold her condo and bought an acre of farmland, already planted with coffee, in Guatemala. She put in fruit trees to shade the coffee. That same year, her mother, who lived in Sonoma, died. "The last time I saw her was in 2003," said Miller. "She told me when she died, she was going to leave me some money. I told her I'd use it to further my work for the forest. And she was pleased, because she loved the treesitters and the forest."

Shortly after learning of her mother's death, Kathryn Miller sought out Shunka Wakan in front of the food co-op in Arcata, where he "tabled" to raise funds for the North Coast Earth First! Media office — selling T-shirts, and stickers, offering pamphlets, accepting donations. She'd known Shunka for about five years, she said.

"I said to him, I was going to inherit some money: What was the best way to get that to the North Coast Earth First!?"

In the spring of 2005, Shunka Wakan was floating above the treetops. "I was so excited," the 32-year-old said in an interview a few weeks ago, sitting inside his tiny but colorful North Coast Earth First! Media office in Arcata, walls covered in art and topo maps — including one of Buckeye Mountain, where in 2000-2001, during the "Mattole Free State" action, Shunka and others hiked 14 miles through waist-high snowdrifts to save trees.

Kathryn Miller, he recalled, had come up to him excitedly as he walked along the sidewalk outside the Arcata Co-op and said, "I just donated $185,000 to North Coast Earth First!'"

She'd talked to him the year before about making the donation — she'd said she was anticipating an inheritance from her mother's estate, and she wanted to make a big donation to his group. He'd told her to make it through the Trees Foundation, which handled the NCEF! Media office's finances through an arrangement that had been established years ago. (The Trees Foundation is an umbrella organization formed in 1991 to assist smaller environmental groups. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, it can accept large, tax-deductible donations on behalf of affiliates, and provide professional resources. And it can lead large campaigns, like the one to save the Headwaters Forest back in the '90s.)

Well, now she'd finally done it.

Miller and Shunka agreed to meet at Fiesta Café in Sunny Brae, so she could tell him how she wanted the money spent: She wanted, straight away, for someone to organize a mediated workshop for the local Earth First! activists on ageism and sexism, issues she thought were fracturing the movement. And, she wanted the bulk of the donation to help support the forest activists who blockade logging roads and hunker up in ancient redwoods to fend off loggers' saws.

Not long after, Shunka was on his way to have lunch with some folks from the Trees Foundation, where they'd talk about Miller's wishes.

"Our media outreach was going to get a big boost," Shunka said. "The donation would keep the EF! office going for many years. So I walked into the Wildflower Café feeling elated, thinking we got all this money."

Barbara Ristow and Doug Wallace of the Trees Foundation were there. "I was super excited," Shunka said, "and I said, 'This is great, this big donation. Isn't it wonderful?' We ordered food, and still I'm all excited, talking about the money, but I notice they're looking nervously at each other. [Finally], they said, 'Well, we're just shocked that you think this money was for you.' And I was like, 'I just met with the donor, and that's what she said.' And they're like, 'Well, let's go ahead and plan the workshop and deal with that later.' I remember that, because it put me at ease."

After that, Shunka said he gave Trees a list of people he thought might benefit from the mediator-run workshop. "Some were people I knew had beefs with me, but I was willing to bring 'em into the circle and talk about it."

According to some vague accounts, the workshop was a disaster. One person who was there claims that Shunka, at one point, pounded his fists on the floor, blustered, then got up and stormed out, yelling as he walked away. Shunka says that's overblown.

"The letter from Kathryn Miller to Barbara Bristow said she wanted the mediation to be a safe place, safe to be emotional," he said. "And I think people are saying 'I freaked out.' The freak-out reports are exaggerated. It's just part of this ongoing character assassination. People say I was 'red-faced.' But my face is naturally red."

In late 2005, while Shunka was in Seattle, a friend called him from Arcata to say a woman had come by asking for the office key. She had a list of equipment she wanted to take away. The friend didn't give her the key.

When Shunka got back from Seattle, he discovered his reimbursement funds from Trees had been "frozen." He also learned about a letter someone in the NCEF! movement had circulated for signatures and then sent to Mark Knipper, who handled the Trees Foundation transactions for the NCEF! Media office. It said, in essence, "We don't want Shunka running EF!"

"I called the Trees Foundation," Shunka recalled. "I was sick, it was the middle of the winter, I'm trying to table, it's raining, it's cold. And Barbara Ristow told me, 'You just need to have a meeting [with the other Earth First!ers] and come to a group consensus on what the Trees Foundation funding should be used for."

The meeting never happened — nobody could agree to meet, said Mark Knipper, also in an interview last week. Knipper is a social worker and a long-time activist who had been the contact person between Trees and NCEF! Media. "So it ate itself," Knipper said. "And although I'm former Navy, a mariner, I said I'm not going down with this ship. So I divorced myself from it ... and signed it all back to Trees."

The NCEF! Media office was dropped from the Trees Foundation altogether.

Shunka and the NCEF! Media office never did see any of the big donation. Miller didn't even know that, he said, until she phoned him up in the summer of 2006, more than a year after she made the donation, to ask about a guy named "Jungle," who had been reported as missing on the NCEF! hotline. Miller was spending much of her time in Guatemala now, where she was raising fruit trees; after she'd made her big donation, Hurricane Stan had struck — she spent the ensuing year mopping up the mess.

First, Shunka told her Jungle was still missing. Then he told her about the money.

"I said, 'Yeah, they told me it wasn't for us,'" said Shunka. "And she said, 'I meant for all of it to go to you guys.' She sounded real upset. And I was like, 'I knew it! I knew it!'"

Shunka tried to sue Trees in small claims court, but it went nowhere.

Miller filed a claim against the Trees Foundation on Oct. 5, 2006, in Humboldt County Superior Court, seeking the return of the $185,000 plus interest so she could distribute the money herself.

And if she wins? "She may just spread it out more," said Shunka. "She's got tree planting ideas. Maybe she could buy a grove. She'd maybe not give it all to Earth First! this time. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Trees blew for us."

On an uncomfortably hot afternoon last week, four forest activists who'd agreed to an interview for this story — Jeff, Shaggy, Sparrow and Farmer — sat on the ground at the Arcata Marsh next to a log bench on which a teeming crew of red ants worked a splintered notch. Someone had come along here in 1999 and carved a grouping of faces — bearded, grimacing, possibly mourning faces — onto the log and signed it Daniel. The carving had been drenched in red paint, and burnished by years of sitters.

"It kind of reminds me of the memorial for Gypsy," said one of them. "With the red paint."

Gypsy was the forest name of David Nathan Chain, who in September 1998, during an Earth First! action at Grizzly Creek, was crushed to death by a tree felled by an enraged logger. Farmer, actually, was there — he was just 16, but had a year of activism already under his belt. And Shunka was there — it was Shunka's first forest action.

Farmer, Shag, Sparrow and Jeff first made it clear that they spoke for themselves alone, although they participate in various forest defense affinity groups: Farmer works for the Mattole Wildlands Defense Group now, watchdogging the California Department of Forestry for new timber harvest plans, and keeping an eye on a Pacific Lumber Co. watershed analysis. Shag, who saw his first redwood about five years ago, helps keep the Fern Gully treesit village in Freshwater functioning. Jeff, who grew up in the high desert, and fell in love with the woods, works with the Nanning Creek treesit just outside of Scotia, as well as other groups. Sparrow, who was drawn to forest action because the cultural landscape was "like a folktale" he couldn't resist, is with the Fern Gully affinity group. These groups are all part of the Humboldt Forest Defense Association, a collective with a website but no formal structure.

The HFDA sprang into being six years ago — about the time the entity called North Coast Earth First! had essentially dissolved. It would take a book to describe that drawn-out dissolution — a book of lost causes, won causes, waning media interest, Judi Bari's death, Gypsy's death, ego-spurred squabbles, interpersonal catastrophes, a war overseas, hurricanes. And while the HFDA activists might still cherish the Earth First! name — the movement — in their hearts, it's now been further complicated by what you might call the Shunka effect.

"I still feel in many ways solidarity with the greater Earth First! movement abroad," said Farmer. "But in this county, in this climate, if you say you're with the North Coast Earth First!, many people associate you with North Coast Earth First! Media."

Shunka revived the North Coast Earth First! office around 2002. And he did what previous office managers had done — tabled, put out news releases, wrote articles for other publications. But it wasn't like the old days, in the '90s, when hundreds of people were getting arrested in forest actions and the jail support phone and legal resources were in constant use.

Shunka first worked in an office in Eureka, then later moved to Arcata. He called his outfit the NCEF! Media Center. For a time, he and other "affinity groups" tried to work together. But he alienated some people. He took over the North Coast Earth First! website. He controlled the North Coast Earth First! email list of 300 or more subscribers to the news alerts. He sent out press releases on his own.

"I felt the North Coast Earth First! Media Center was a unilateral effort on Shunka's part," said Farmer. Whereas, in the old days, "spokespeople were decided on by the group. And if you wrote an article it was passed by everyone. I feel Shunka appointed himself spokesperson at some point."

Many also claim they've been subject to a lashing anger from Shunka.

"I won't work with him because I pledge nonviolence in my actions," said Shag. "I don't believe he pledges the same thing. He has exhibited violent behavior towards me and towards other activists in my presence."

"He's a bear," said Jeff, making claw-fists with his hands.

But the sad thing is, all of this infighting probably has done nothing to help the actual trees. And the mediation workshop Kathryn Miller wanted didn't fix matters. Now, there was her lawsuit.

"When I heard about this lawsuit, I thought, the Trees Foundation does not deserve to be attacked in that way," said Farmer. "There's much bigger issues that need to be dealt with — with Maxxam and old-growth logging. ...If you look at Fern Gully and Nanning Creek (the Bonanza timber harvest plan), there's hundreds of old growth acres still standing whose fate is unclear."

Shag put it more bluntly: "If [Miller] knew Shunka and wanted to get the money to North Coast Earth First! Media, she should've given it to Shunka. But if she was trying to get it to treesits and forest defense, then the money went to the right place.

"My problem is this whole representation thing. There's people in the trees — how do you know who to get the money to, to help them?"

Shunka knows that a lot of fellow activists aren't happy with his role in the donation dispute. He also knows how some people talk about him and say he's hard to get along with. "I'm just standing up for the truth," he said. "And people don't like it. To me, it feels like a small clique of people who don't like me. I feel a lot of love and support in this community."

He certainly doesn't come off right away as someone who's angry, or who lashes out, or who locks the office and doesn't let people in. Why, recently, he helped a young woman hook up with the treesitters so she could learn the ropes. (Shaggy said that's proof Shunka doesn't have direct connections with the people doing direct action; but you can't deny it's a connection.)

It's probably a bad idea to ask Darryl Cherney, one of the founders of the local Earth First! movement, what he thinks of Shunka Wakan, whose real name is Jason Wilson. (Shunka tells a story of how he was named by a Lakota medicine man on the banks of the Cheyenne River in South Dakota in 1995. "Shunka Wakan," meaning "great dog," is only part of it. There's a secret part after that — altogether, his name means "the humble man called horse.")

"Shunka's a wingnut," Cherney said over the phone last Friday, sounding cheerfully vitriolic. "I have a 10-verse song about Shunka."

Here are the last few verses:

Who's at the co-op spanging a donation
Shunka, Shunka
Who's got a lawsuit 'gainst the Trees Foundation
Shunka, Shunka
Shunka, Shunka
Who's gonna keep on fighting the fight
Shunka, Shunka
With four of his friends at swimmers delight
Shunka, Shunka
Shunka, Shunka (Shunka voice: It's the last of the revolution)

There's no other word for it but "mean." But Cherney and Shunka have history — not all of it sour. Cherney said Shunka laughed when he heard the song, at least the first time.

"I met Shunka in 1998," Cherney said. "And I know he knew Julia ["Butterfly" Hill, whom Shunka had come west to find]. That was a good thing, helping Julia. That was good Shunka."

Cherney had even pushed for Shunka to go to Houston to talk with Charles Hurwitz, whose Maxxam Corp. bought out the old Pacific Lumber company back in 1985 and quickly became the forest activists' number one villain. Shunka went.

But now? "The current status of Shunka and me," Cherney said, "is that Shunka has sent me five or eight or nine e-mails threatening to sue me. Shunka is a joke."

Cherney can talk for hours about the problems he's had with Shunka over the years. His main point, though, is what has Shunka done for the trees lately?

"My question is, where's your topo maps?" he asked. "Where's your wilderness preservation proposal? Where's your lobbyist team in Sacramento?"

It has to be that, on some level, even the people in the movement who don't like Shunka understand somewhat where he's coming from. So he's emotional. Passionate. Perhaps he's caught up so completely in the cause he can't let go. Or, who knows — maybe he's a phony, like he accused Knipper of being back in 2005.

But being a forest activist comes with perils beyond the obvious physical ones.

"I'm really trying to have compassion for Shunka, even though he's kind of attacked us," said Susy Barsotti by phone from Laytonville a couple of weeks ago. Barsotti is president of the Trees Foundation board, and she says the lawsuit has held Trees hostage, unable to function fully. "I've been mystified and dismayed that he's participated like this in the suit. But Shunka witnessed Gypsy's death. And I think he may have post-traumatic stress syndrome. I don't think he's recovered from it. And that can affect your behavior."

A number of people mentioned this, actually, about Shunka. And he often refers to Gypsy's death himself. In an article titled "What Luna has taught me," posted on the website of Julia "Butterfly" Hill's organization, Circle of Life, Shunka writes: "I decided to commit to doing ground support after witnessing the death of David Nathan "Gypsy" Chain on September 17, 1998 ... I remember looking across the valley as we hiked up that day, seeing the rolling hills of forests and clear-cuts, and thinking out loud, "That's why we're here!" Seeing Gypsy's life taken from him, and then seeing the corruption and lies of the Humboldt County Sheriffs ... really opened my eyes to the situation our old-growth forests face."

Later, he did ground support for Hill in her second year in Luna. And in the same article on her website, something else Shunka writes indicates how ready he was to devote himself to a cause: "Being on the support team was the top priority in my life, and I was happy knowing that everything else revolved around when I'd be needed for the next supply run. I never felt lost because I knew what I was doing. That was a feeling I had not felt in years, between feeling dissatisfaction with life in college, and then more dissatisfaction with life as a minimum-wage worker after college. Before joining Julia's ground support team I was unhappy, even to the point of tears, wondering if my entire life was going to be a minimum-wage nightmare ...."

Pure devotion, without benefit of a little hypocrisy, could drive anyone batty. Deane Rimerman, the activist from Olympia who said it is Shunka who is on trial, said it's not uncommon for intense, stressful movements like Earth First! to produce an army of walking wounded. And he's been around, in forest actions up and down the coast, for long enough to know; he was the one, in fact, who "got the maps and led the first hikers up to the hill" to the Gypsy Mountain campaign and Luna treesit.

"In the forest activist movement, there's very little that's rewarding," Rimerman said. "There's a lot of post traumatic stress syndrome. All of us get it. Once you've been through the court process, and the jail process, and seen 1,000-year-old trees get cut down that you really cared about and thought you could save — it's devastating."

That alone, setting aside the troubles with Shunka, could explain the many rifts that have occurred within the local EF! ranks over the years. Josh Brown, who moved to Humboldt in 1995 right before the peak of the Headwaters campaign, said one of the unique qualities of Earth First! is that it "is primarily a youth movement."

"A lot of people that come through are young, are passionate — and it's a wonderful thing," he said. They get thrown into leadership positions quickly — and then they get burned out. Many move quickly on to other things. Brown stayed in longer than most. "When I left [in 2001], I was 30 years old. And I'd been a full-time activist since I was 18."

Paradoxically, said Brown, the youthful draw and the departure of seasoned activists leaves the movement with "no elders to kind of sit around and coach the [new kids]."

The movement also draws strong personalities, he said. Tenacious ones, too, like Shunka's.

"Shunka, I think he really does have a big heart," said Brown. "And I think he does care for the forest."

Last Friday, following the morning session of Miller v. Trees, a group of the Humboldt Forest Defense Association activists stood on the courthouse steps talking. The door opened, and Shunka walked out and down the steps toward the group. They didn't greet him. After a time, he tried to talk to one of them, Jeff. Jeff walked away. Shunka followed him, then stopped and talked to another guy. Then he stood alone again.

From: http://northcoastjournal.com/101107/news1011.html

Trees Foundation Wins

October 11th, 2007

The jury in the civil case Kathryn Miller v. the Trees Foundation decided in favor of Trees, after deliberating all day Tuesday. (See "Money on Trees," Oct. 4).

Miller is the long-time forest activist who inherited a bundle from her mother and then signed $185,000 over to the Trees Foundation. In her lawsuit, she claimed she had intended the money to be passed through Trees to one of its affiliates, North Coast Earth First! Media, run by Shunka Wakan. She claimed she had made her intentions clear, verbally and in writing, and that Trees had agreed to the conditions, then broken its promise and kept the money. Trees denied making such promises, and said it had never seen any letters or heard of instructions to give the money to NCEF! Media. (Also, somewhat relatedly, in criminal court on Tuesday Miller pleaded no contest to charges that she had made annoying phonecalls to Barbara Ristow of the Trees Foundation.)

So, that's that. Now, there are only the pieces to pick up.

For Shunka Wakan — featured in last week's Journal as a central figure in a messy nest of infighting that has fractured the current ranks of local Earth First!ians — it could be a long, lonely patching together of lost friends and broken alliances. Not only did he and Miller lose their attempt to retrieve her donation, but now he's been banned from the North Coast Co-op.

Yes, that happened last week. It was Thursday, around 4:15 in the evening, and two activists with the Humboldt Forest Defense Association were tabling — hawking brochures and such — outside the Co-op. It's an activity Shunka himself has spent many a day doing in that very same spot, raising cash to pay for his NCEF!Media outreach work and other causes. And, well, these two fellows, Jeff and Farmer, were on Shunka's shit list, now. They'd spoken gently, but unfavorably, about Shunka's doings in the North Coast Earth First! arena — said he lashed out at people, said he commandeered NCEF! resources, and so forth. Here's a snippet of Jeff's account of what happened, which he sent to the NCJ in an e-mail on Friday:

"Shunka was removed from the Arcata Co-op yesterday after a scuffle with myself and another activist around 5 p.m. Well, he wasn't exactly removed, but APD was called. He was asked to leave after threatening to flip over the HFD donation table while stating he was 'like Jesus in the marketplace ...'"

Sue Coulter, manager of the Arcata Co-op, recounted on Friday how an employee walking by heard the argument and went inside to get her. "So I went out to talk to [Shunka], because it's not the first time we've had problems," she said. "Most of the time, he's fine. Most of the time, I stick up for him." One time, she said, she even called the police to protect Shunka after someone had threatened him. "But he gets into arguments. I tried to talk to him. I told him to leave. ... He was causing a scene, right by the door, and I can't have it. He refused to leave. ... I said, fine. I went into the store. He followed me into the store, and he was still yelling at me, 'Oh, now you're going to call the police on me.'" Coulter called the police, but Shunka left before they arrived.

Shunka, waiting in the courthouse for the jury verdict Tuesday, said Coulter did indeed ask him to leave and he did, indeed, refuse to. As for the HFD tablers, he said he merely asked them why they had Trees Foundation literature on their table. "I said, 'Why do you want to represent these people?'" And then, he said, "Jeff accused me of embezzling — he said this in public. He said, 'You've embezzled thousands of dollars from the Earth First! movement through the years.' And I complained to one of the employees who was walking by. Because that's serious, accusing someone of embezzling."

But Shunka said the whole thing's yet another attack on him. "I don't consider I was yelling. We were talking. I'm an emotional person, I concede to that. I speak from my heart. I don't scream at people. I would love to — but I don't."

In his email, Jeff with HFD predicted Shunka would leave town within weeks, if not sooner. But at the courthouse, even before the verdict, Shunka said he wasn't going anywhere.

"I'm just going to continue to run the Earth First! office and continue to call Humboldt County home," he said. He's also going to write a letter to the Co-op, complaining about how he gets scapegoated and booted out of there even when other people, he says, are the culprits. And, as for the Miller v. Trees case, he said, he and Miller may now take their complaint to another venue.

-- Heidi Walters

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

who wants to get married?

alex — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:23:46 GMT

i'm serious. i've been living in london for a year and a half. i want to stay because i LOVE the uk and don't particularly love the USA. i grew up around nyc, am 25, and am in music. help a sister out!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

big party in october!! nudity, music, art, drunken spelling bee etcetera!!!

emily — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:54:38 GMT

yeah! heres the press release!! i'll be heading the Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge performances, if you're interested in learning more, or performing let me know!
Blender Press Release

For over 7 years the Forest (3 Bristo Place) has provided an egalitarian art space, free internet access, free events, inexpensive veggie grub, and, according to The List, “the most bohemian environment in Edinburgh.” During that time The Forest has fostered such artistic talent as Aberfeldy, The Very, St. Jude’s Infirmary and The Abdominal Showmen.

“Now,” says Dan Seizure— control freak, local musician, political Svengali —“We want to take it to the next level. We’ve cleared the baddie on level 3, and now, we just want to freak out and f-ing party!”

On the weekend of October. 11th – 14th the Forest will be getting a liquor license (usually it’s BYOB), staying up late (3am) and housing events in their majestic church hall. Things kick off on Thursday (Oct. 11th) with our tribute for John Peel Day. Festivities start at 7pm and include a documentary, hot new live acts from the emerging Scottish scene, as well as Djs spinning tunes at the incorrect speed. Adam Neil, the event’s curator says, “We, like Peel, just want to see people loving the music we like while exposing people to new sounds.”

Friday (12th) is a puree of the Forest’s best. Forest regularly provides free workshops to the community so from 4pm we are offering a relentless sampler. There will be a bevvey of craft workshops: mask making, badge making, eco-bag construction, free massage and whatever else can fit into the family friendly cafe.

This will glide into the evening’s entertainment, beginning at 8pm with astounding acoustic pop-punk from our favorite Billy Liar who has toured with punk legends Oi-Polloi. From there we’ll be riding The Black Diamond Express: a rollicking, swing alt. country combo with impeccable stage flair, followed by the unstoppable Asazi Space Funk Explosion -a mixture of African rhythms, ska and electric folk that is guaranteed to shake booty. We’ll also have free dramatic performances, a program of accoustic Anti-Folk and plenty of mysterious and Julianna surprises.

Saturday (13th), from 2pm, we’re throwing a Rumble in the Jumble Sale where you’ll be able to find amazing bargains and buy other people’s junk! During this time, internationally renowned artist, Mike Bowdidge, will be putting together a site specific art piece with all the furniture and Danny Mullins and Free Loadin’ Frank will be performing acoustic randomomitry all the while.

In the evening we’ve got the launch of Forest Record’s new 10 inch featuring John Crave (via Satellite in New York), The Hemulen (via satellite in Berlin), Kyon and Dyems, and The Pendulums as well as the bring-down-the-house klezmer party-jams of Black Cat. In between sets there will be a “sex Slave Auction” so bring some disposable cash. Upstairs, in The Hall, from 9pm will be a patented freak out featuring Silk, Pandacetamol, short art films, and many shocking and inflatable treats.

Sunday features the return of the World Famous “Open Mike and Terry’s Dirty Caberet”: a open mike style cabaret of infinite proportions featuring a pseudo-scatological performance art piece entitled “Let Them Be Cake.” There will be nudity, singing and songwriting, black lights and bubbles. Meanwhile upstairs the joy of your 1980s birthday party is recreated with a swinging, sliding, spraining, thudding into the walls Roller Disco. International DJ Lo-Fi Hi-Fi will be helping the boys and girls twirl with magical musical mash-ups the whole night. While the Forest will be able to supply a well-lubed floor and a few skates, punters are encouraged to bring their own.

“We’ve done this a few times,” gushes Jane Flett, Forest Secretary General, “We’ve thrown amazing parties, gotten drunk, and ridden the Festival beast, but we have never attempted something like this. Four sustained days of complete carnage. For this weekend the party will definitely be at the Forest.”

-Take a galaxy of mashed pop-indie-folk-jazz-ska-punk; add face-painting, mask-making, free badges, jumble sales, sex slaves, massage, Dadaist party games; toss in liberal amounts of ball crunching toe-tapping live music, throw in a roller disco and puree for four days of Par-tay.

Thurs, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Oct 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th. All day. Till 3am.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

The Green Note - November 30 and December 1st

jenga — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:53:24 GMT

I'm flying over from New York city the last weekend of November to catch a side project of the band String Cheese Incident called Honkytonk Homeslice at the Green Note near Camden Town. If you like your music folksy and bluegrassy -- come check it out!

www.honkytonkhomeslice.com

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

searching for free or cheap magazines, fasion or anything with pretty pictures...

moondrop — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:56:32 GMT

oh hi everyone,
basically I need magazines to slice up for collages and inspiry pictures and that sort of thing. Fashion magazines are my 1st choice, as that's what I'm studying, but really anything with interesting pictures of other design stuff, nature, stuff from countries that are far away, etc....

Buying loads of new ones all the time doens't really work with my current money situation. So I'm wondering if anyone knows where I could get my hands on some for cheaper.

For example if you have loads you have read and don't need anymore,
or if you know where the magazines that shops don't sell, and send back to the publishers, go. If I find out where they go that would be perfect actually.

Any tips appreciated!
Thanks,
Meta

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Affordable Hotels In London?

jenga — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:06:41 GMT

I'm heading across "the Pond" for some music in November and with exchange rate, hotels seem crazy expensive. Anyone have any suggestions .. preferably in the city limits, and not a hostel. Thanks!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

London's First Vegetable Oil Powered Event

synnovemathe — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:00:22 GMT

London's First Vegetable Oil Powered Event!

***** The 4th Annual Festival of Life *****

Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September
11am to 7pm@ St Paul's Steiner Project
1 St Paul's Road, Islington, London N1 2QH [how to get there]

Day tickets £8 (concessions £5) Weekend ticket £12, Under 16s Free
All tickets on the door. Advance booking not required
No additional charges for talks, workshops and performances

Grand Opening Saturday 12.30pm - Sacred Sound Ceremony
Conscious Dance Party Sa turday 6pm -10pm - £3 in advance £5 on the door
Drum Circle - Guided Dance - Tribal Rhythms from DJ Charlie (Sacred Sound Collective)
Uplifting Trance with Anima - Live World Beats with Maha-Ra

Celebrating Compassionate Lifestyles, Sustainable Living, Raw/Live Food and Holistic Health. Over 40 talks and workshops including:
World renowned scientist and social-activist Dr Mae-Wan Ho, Nutritionist Dr Gina Shaw, Veggie-oil power entrepreneurs: Chris Kennett and Mat Bulba, Sustainability Consultant Steve Charter, Raw life-coach Jess Michael, Angela Stokes, Matt Monarch, Rima Morrell PhD. Hugh Newman, Guy Gladstone…and many more

Huge festival market place:
Gourmet Raw Food Cuisine, Organic Clothing, Raw Chocolate, Juicers and Blenders, Books,
Raw Superfoods, Information stalls, Therapies and more

Life affirming activities and performances for all the family:
Yoga, Laughter Workshops, Ecstatic Dance, Rawfood Masterclasses, Holistic Therapies, Kid's Space, Clowns, Music, Storytellers, Alternative Technology Demos, Meditation, Permaculture [more]

Full Details including how to get there at:
www.festivaloflife.net

The Festival is a smoke and alcohol free zone
We are a not-for-profit organisation affiliated to the Permaculture Association Part Sponsored by :
Jess Michael www.totalrawfood.com, Living Earth Europe MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "www.living-earth.co.uk" claiming to be www.livingearth.co.uk , the Raw Chocolate Company www.therawchocolatecompany.com and Lifescape Magazine www.lifescapemag.com. Veg Oil Power supplied by Blooming Futures www.bloomingfutures.com. Going out on the Web courtesy of Veggie Vision www.veggievision.co.uk

Contact Us: 0870 7344 888 info@festivaloflife.net
Help Steward the Festival, see website for details or contact above
Traders contact fol_chris@hotmail.com 02392 611607 or see Traders Information on website http://www.festivaloflife.net/

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

It makes me so proud, 95% of Britons have urinated, vomited or defecated in public

Abhorsen — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:20:02 GMT

" Others take more drastic steps. Research by ENCAMS, an environmental charity, showed 95 percent of Britons had urinated, vomited or defecated in public because no toilet was available.

Public urination ``is one of the unfortunate aspects of London,'' said Aidan Onn, 36, who runs a toyshop called Playlounge in Soho. ``The streets always stink.'' "

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=akPWXasbGxbo&refer=exclusive

I mean really what is this country comeing to? Even china has better toilets than us,

"In Beijing, where the average salary is a 10th of London's, there are 7,700 toilets, or one for every 1,948 people. China's capital plans to renovate 3,700 in time for the 2008 Olympics. London, which will host the 2012 games and has one toilet per 18,000 residents, has no such plans."

I love the wounderfull excuse's as well, but what type of country do we live in where are local councils would rather sell off toilets than spend the cash to upgrade them so the disabled can use them?

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

England what has become of you ?

chilambalam2013 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:37:52 GMT

this is a MUST see

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUHgfN0VZfE

*LD

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

free and easy way to help homeless children

beckeyla — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:37:57 GMT

Please use www.railwaychildren-friends.com/email.asp as a search engine for your internet searches and you'll raise a massive 10p per search! please set it as your homepage for ease of use and start raising money today ;)

You can have a snoop on the charities efforts at www.railwaychildren.org.uk

They are mainly a preventative charity which in terms of being a street child can mean the difference between a world of pain and heartache and a life worth living. Railway children endeavour to meet runaway children before pimps, pushers or abusers do. They are even getting to help the kids in Siberia who are living in the sewers.

80% of their money goes straight to the projects, 17% fundraising, 3% admin etc, so they are a 'fair-enough-trade' charity.

10p a search is phenomenal and it means that the average amount spent per child -£44- will take 440 searches...its fairly usual for me to search 20 items per evening, so that means in 22 evenings that ground level support for a child is reached. www.railwaychildren-friends.com/email.asp

There is a snag with the search page which is that on entering a search it automatically redirects to a normal search page for the results. So inorder that you keep raising money for the charity you have to go back to the root page with the picture of the child and the green bits for each new search subject to raise another all important 10p.

Thanks very much for your efforts and please do enjoy your days. Also if there are any forums that you can forward this message or indeed your own personal email contacts please do send this on, more the better. ;) *

Has an email ever changed your life? Lets do that help for the ones who don't have internet access or in alot of cases protection or food

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

George Melly RIP

bobs — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:41:03 GMT

Obituary: George Melly

With his flamboyant suits, oversize hats and Havana cigars, George Melly was a good-time Renaissance man who indulged, often over-indulged, his passions for jazz, film, art, fishing, writing, drink and sex.
He was born in Liverpool in 1926 and educated at the ultra-liberal Stowe public school in Buckinghamshire, where he pursued his interests with vigour and without inhibition.

At school, he first became interested in art, particularly Surrealism.

He served as an able-seaman in the Royal Navy towards the end of World War II, where he got into trouble for distributing anarchist literature.

He moved to London in 1948 to work in an art gallery run by Belgian artist ELT Mesens, a leading light in the International Surrealist movement.

Melly became recognised as an authority on the subject and later wrote a book, Paris and the Surrealists.

According to his memoirs, it was at this time that he augmented the promiscuous homosexuality of his schooldays, indulging in a series of menages a trois, initially with Mesens and his wife Sybil.

He had also developed a love of jazz, and started singing with Mick Mulligan's band in 1949. His voice was described by John Mortimer as possessing "the raucous charm of an old negress".

A fan of Bessie Smith and Fats Waller, he was to become famous for his routine of singing jazz numbers from the 1920s, interspersed with ribald jokes and saucy asides.

'Too respectable'

The band's drink and sex-fuelled wild adventures were recalled in Melly's first book, Owning Up.

His first venture into journalism came in 1956, when he started writing the captions for the Flook newspaper strip cartoon, a job which continued for 15 years and inspired two books.

In 1965, he joined The Observer as pop music critic, and, over the next eight years, graduated to television and film.

But he returned to jazz singing because he thought the Observer work was making him too respectable. He joined John Chilton's Feetwarmers whose clarinettist, Wally Fawkes, had drawn the Trog cartoons.

With his loud hat and suits, modelled on the old gangster movies of the 1930s and 40s, he became a favourite on the Dixieland jazz circuit.

His love of fly-fishing, which began in childhood, never left him. In later life, he sold several important paintings to enable him to buy a mile of the River Usk in Wales.

George Melly suffered from arthritis, psoriasis and a condition which precluded his drinking wine.

The latter did not hold him back, however, and his seemingly endless stream of amusing anecdotes made George Melly one of British showbusiness's most colourful and sought-after personalities

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3493375.stm

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

All the Way from Cali

Eli — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:21:49 GMT

Well, I'm visiting from CA (starting a year-long adventure in Europe), but I'd be honored to call this great city my home. Just joined this tribe and wanted to say hi. I'm looking for musicians, open mics, music scenes, new friends, interesting art, zen-esque satsongs and meditation groups, and tips on busking on the London streets. I also stilt walk, so I may be looking for a miracle in the way of a wood shop to make some new stilts. Anyway, talk ta me! (and check me at elisalzman.com if ya like).

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 7 replies

Police avert car bomb 'carnage' in London

revo101 — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:39:07 GMT

Phew!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6252276.stm

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

Floods

bobs — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 08:28:21 GMT

Hope you're all OK.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 7 replies

Looking for space to crash in London on June 27 to july 27.

Valerio — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 07:10:30 GMT

I am coming to London On June 21 till august 20. I will
be attending festivals(doing workshops), deffinatly
swing over to Amsterdam and so on during this time and
i would love to rent/sublet your place/room/floor space for a part of that
time..

I have been to London a couple of times before and it
is still my most favorite cities in the world.

A little bit about me=0) I was born in Latvia during
the Soviet regime, immigrated to US at 16.
Currently I live in Alameda, California. It is an
Island next to
Oakland and very close to San Francisco.
I am pursuing a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology.
I yoga, run, and meditate, most days.=0) I've traveled
all around the world in the last ten years, looking for other
alternatives to the current social structures. Hoping
to find the ones that afford more dignity to the
humanity and this beautiful planet.
I've been to places like; India for Maha Kumba Mela,
Australia for the First International Rainbow Gathering, Oshos
community in Puna, Burning Man 8 Times, and so on...
I am clean, considerate,honest to the bone, good
conversationalist, and easy to get along with,
and all I really need is a shower and some floor space.

My regards, Valera.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

Hello!

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 21:42:59 GMT

Hello everyone, I'm new to the Tribe and wanted to say hi! I'm Caz and I live and work in London :)

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 16 replies

UK photos? want to share? come aboard...

Isis — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:03:30 GMT

@

http://tribes.tribe.net/flickring

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Acro Yoga ...taking London by storm....

Jesse — Tue, 29 May 2007 10:28:32 GMT

There is a new form of yoga about and its incredibly fun!

There were some demonstrations at the Mind Body Spirit festival in victoira, and there are regular classes and workshops in Finsbury Prk and London Bridge.

If you want to trust and connect with people in a playful environment, this is definately worth checking out! If you dont, its still probably worth checking out some of the photos that are about. Some people can do amazing things together!

For details of classes in london go to http://www.bodyenergetics.eu/acroyoga.htm
For more information, pics and stuff go to http://www.acroyoga.org

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

World Gathering - 25 & 26 August 2007

truthgathering — Sat, 26 May 2007 06:01:33 GMT

World Gathering - 25 & 26 August 2007

http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering
--------------------------------------------

Please forward to friends, contacts and mailing lists.
---

World Gathering
- 25 & 26 August 2007
- Saturday and Sunday
http://www.worldgathering.net
http://www.michael-irving.com
(These 2 websites are mirror images of each other.)

http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering

- WORLD GATHERING 25 & 26 AUGUST 2007
- All Night Gathering On Hilltops Worldwide
- Use Powerful Flashlights To Signal Other Hilltops
- Time For The Gathering - New Dawn Coming
- Truth For The World - Peace For The World
- Global Meetings - Global Powwows
- The Truth Is Coming
- 25 & 26 AUGUST 2007 WORLD GATHERING
- HILLTOPS WORLDWIDE - BE THERE!

------------------
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - Goethe
------------------
"A very great vision is needed and the person who
has it must follow it as the eagle seeks the deepest
blue of the sky." - Chief Crazy Horse
------------------

WORLD GATHERING - August 2007
Saturday August 25 and Sunday August 26
Three Events In One .....
(1) Saturday - DAY: Meet with friends and
contacts and discuss the world situation.
(2) Saturday - NIGHT: Meet on a hilltop and
shine a beacon of hope through the night.
(3) Sunday - DAY: Meet with friends and
contacts and discuss the world situation.

The main details for the World Gathering are here:
http://www.worldgathering.net/gathering.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/gathering.html

Arrange Meetings, Powwows, and Hilltop 'Beacon'
vigils for Saturday and Sunday, 25th & 26th August.
Then, send your event details to the email on this page:
http://www.worldgathering.net/contact.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/contact.html

Details of LOCAL 'World Gatherings' will be displayed
under fourteen 'World Regions'; then by Country/Nation;
then by area, state, etc. The main index for the details
of LOCAL 'World Gatherings' is on this webpage:
http://www.worldgathering.net/events.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/events.html

The World Gathering is being launched at the end of
May, 2007, so there may not be many details at our
websites for Local Events until the end of June.

'What should I organise in my area for the World
Gathering?' - Ideas and suggestions on this webpage:
http://www.worldgathering.net/yourevent.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/yourevent.html

Join our Google and/or Yahoo Newsletter lists:
http://groups.google.com/group/worldgathering
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/worldgathering

Discussion and Planning at TRIBE:
http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering

Watch a short, 'World Gathering' slideshow video at
either Google Video or YouTube. Search at Google
Video or YouTube for: 'WORLD GATHERING'.

Please help publicise this unusual and unique global
linkup. Print out posters; place a WG banner on your
website; forward our Update mailings to your friends,
contacts, and mailing lists; and tell friends about the
World Gathering video at Google and YouTube.
Ideas and materials for WG promotion here:
http://www.worldgathering.net/publicity.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/publicity.html

------------------
"Use every letter you write, every conversation
you have, every meeting you attend, to express your
fundamental beliefs and dreams. Affirm to others
the vision of the world you want."
- Dr Robert Muller, formerly of the U.N.
------------------
“We are at the final stages now… so as our prophecy
says. Then it must be up to the people with pure hearts
that will not be afraid to help us to fulfil our destiny in
peace for this world.” - Dan Evehema, Hopi Nation
------------------

Additional 'World Gathering' inspiration here:
http://www.worldgathering.net/worldgathering.html
http://www.michael-irving.com/worldgathering.html

- WORLD GATHERING 25 & 26 AUGUST 2007
- All Night Gathering On Hilltops Worldwide
- Use Powerful Flashlights To Signal Other Hilltops
- Time For The Gathering - New Dawn Coming
- Truth For The World - Peace For The World
- Global Meetings - Global Powwows
- The Truth Is Coming
- 25 & 26 AUGUST 2007 WORLD GATHERING
- HILLTOPS WORLDWIDE - BE THERE!

World Gathering
25 & 26 August 2007
http://www.worldgathering.net
http://www.michael-irving.com
(These 2 websites are mirror images of each other.)

http://tribes.tribe.net/worldgathering

Please forward to friends, contacts and mailing lists.

Thank you. World Gathering.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

I love London and England.......

faeriebud — Sun, 20 May 2007 17:56:24 GMT

my first trip to England was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I loved London though I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of people. I enjoyed evensong at Westminster Abbey. I particularly admired all those who spoke out against what is happening in the world with Iraq as well as the committed few who showed enough pluck to demonstrate outside the Palace of Westminster! Everyone was warm and friendly. It was fun sharing a laugh with everyone on the Tube when we were leaving London on the day of the Marathon!

Can you imagine? When we arrived in Eastbourne and asked directions, we were escorted on the bus by a local woman who took us home served tea and biscuits. She, then, drove us to our Hotel!

The Pier Hotel in Eastbourne gave us a wonderful room for a good price. My partner and I were greeted and welcomed as though we were family. Windsor was a thrill, Oxford was awe inspiring and Brighton amusing. I love the British and I send you all warmth and good wishes!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

Alan 'Fluff' Freeman 1927-2006 RIP

bobs — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:33:01 GMT

Obituary: Alan 'Fluff' Freeman

With his familiar welcome of "Greetings, pop pickers" and triumphant, brassy theme tune, Alan "Fluff" Freeman was an institution in British radio.
He spent more than 40 years in broadcasting, but his enthusiasm never waned.

Freeman's unbreakably sunny personality, gift for intimacy with his listeners, as well as an ear for a good tune, all established him as one of the UK's leading disc jockeys.

Despite working into his 70s, Freeman's enduring good humour and ability to laugh at himself meant he stayed a favourite with his youthful audiences, long after younger DJs had moved away from the microphone.

Even when he was satirised by Harry Enfield in his famous Smashy and Nicey sketches - based on a pair of ageing disc jockeys - Freeman laughed along, and shared the joke by appearing in a cameo role.

Fluffy jumper

Born in 1927 and brought up in Melbourne, Australia, Freeman originally wanted to be an opera singer. Two years of training convinced him otherwise, and he became a disc jockey in Tasmania.

The nickname Fluff, earned by a favourite jumper he wore until it was covered in fluff balls and made him look like a sheep, came with him to London in 1957.

After a brief period with Radio Luxembourg, Freeman joined the BBC in 1960. His American-style energy and insistence on playing the Pick of the Pops chart in reverse order soon made his Sunday afternoon show required listening.

The show ran on the Light Programme and Radio 1 until 1972, when Freeman transferred to an afternoon slot, adding the Saturday night rock show to his portfolio the following year.

Presenting Top of the Pops, advertising soap powder and Brentford Nylons on television all helped establish his celebrity.

Freeman's career continued to flourish into his 40s, transferring to London's Capital Radio in 1979, where he was named radio personality of the year.

'Tireless dedication'

He returned to Radio 1 a decade later for a revival of Pick of the Pops. After a spell at Virgin Radio he brought the programme to Radio 2 in 1997, as well as hosting a classic cuts programme, Their Greatest Bits.

Arthritis and increasing problems with asthma forced Freeman to move into a residential home in 2000. Nevertheless, for a while he continued to make the journey to Broadcasting House to record his two weekly shows, before handing Pick of the Pops over to Dale Winton.

The same year, Freeman was honoured with a lifetime achievement award for "tireless dedication to UK radio" - presented by Winton.

But Freeman had always considered himself fortunate, rather than talented. He had found a profession he excelled in, one that brought him the pleasure and satisfaction to carry on long after he could afford to retire.

Single all his life, and nervous of any lasting attachments, he called his own radio "my friend, my lover, my everything for most of my life".

By the time of his retirement, Freeman's love for radio was reciprocated by his peers.

Presenting Freeman with his lifetime achivement award, Winton said he was "a man who has served, and is held in the highest affection by, quite literally, every sector of our industry".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2940413.stm

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

poly in the UK ?

elo_celtic_moore — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 19:36:05 GMT

is there anybody polyamorous in the UK or are we all prudes here ? I was wondering if there is enough interest to start a poly uk tribe ? for those not sure what poly is, check out this tribe

http://polyamory.tribe.net/?_click_path=Application%5Btribe%5D.Tribe%5Bfd4b6257-b172-45c4-8007-87ed19a40b43%5D

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 9 replies

Art Goes Beyond Borders : LA to the UK

Common — Thu, 10 May 2007 17:13:51 GMT

Hi…I’m new here…hoping to make some friends. My primary interests are art, new media and environmental stewardship. I’m looking to connect with Digital Artists, to include them in an international touring art exhibition called Common Ground www.commonground2008.com. The theme for each piece in the collection will be about the Environment. We launch our exhibition in Beijing to coincide with the Olympics in 2008, then on to cities in Europe and the Americas in 2009 and 2010. Would love to hear from you and support you any way that I can. Please join my community of friends and our tribe, Common Ground 2008. Peace.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

The Butlins Phenomenon

Sun, 06 May 2007 00:43:08 GMT

I have just set up a tribe dedicated to this. I'd be excited and interested from some input...cheers.

The Butlins Phenomenon is for fans, critics, anthropologists, would-be anthropologists, and anyone who has an interest, idea or opinion, to make observations and express ideas about what Butlins is, was, and could be. Subjects range from Butlins Anthropology, Politics, Business, Culture, Entertainment, Imagineering, Retail, Accommodation, Catering, History & Trend Prediction, what you love and hate about Butlins, and the changes you would like to see.
http://tribes.tribe.net/thebutlinsphenomenon

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Cheap Hostels?

Adrienne — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:40:27 GMT

I'm looking to get back to England this year, maybe in the summer. I lived there when I was a kid, but I haven't been back since, and I was wondering where a good, inexpensive hostel might be. Or where a good resource to find a hostel would be. I'm looking to stay in London. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 5 replies

Anyone Know Daniel Coleman of Parkn'Fly Crawley?

Pablo — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:04:42 GMT

This guy owes us money and won't identify himself to court bailiffs. Don't let him park your car!!! If anyone has a photo please get in touch .

Case number 6QZ62854 Walsall County Court. 13 April 2007

Full story is here www.people.tribe.net/1dc88f7d-d017-44fd-8c51-138268f7e49a

Richard Gardner of Lichfield

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Anyone from Matlock in Derbyshire?

Fri, 04 Mar 2005 16:50:00 GMT

Or its environs - Chesterfield, Alfreton, Clay Cross, North Wingfield etc
I miss home

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

Chips are crisps for !@#$'s sake

spacekitty11 — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 21:45:04 GMT

My first ordering experience in London went like this:

(Me )Vegas chick: .......Can I have a bag of chips please?
London dude: ..............Alright then.... go on .. have a seat.
Vegas chick: ................ *okay*

(thought process "You could just hand it to me....I'd like to know what kinds you've got".)Anyway , I took a seat..didn't want to offend him..figured he probably had good taste buds like me and it would just be like a surprise or something.. whatever..kewl

Vegas Chick...................Looks at her watch...2 min. has passed
London Dude.................Nowhere to be found
Vegas Chick...................Looks at her watch...another 5 minutes has passed
London Dude.................Nowhere to be found
Vegas chick :..................Tummy rumbeling

(Thought process ...Now this is just ridiculous. How long does it take to grab a bag of chips of the shelf? I mean it's pre-packaged for !@#$'s sake...

London Dude: ................Comes flying around the corner with a basket full of hot yummy
freshly made fries and offers her some *tomatoe* ketchup
Vegas chick: ...................Confused...biting lip out of politeness...musters up "Thank you"
Vegas chick.....................? ? ? ? ? ?

It was later explained that Chips are fries and crisps are chips

Here are some others that I learned along my journey:

Bathroom......Loo/Toilette
ciggarette......Fag
trash...............rubish
Line................queue

Can't think of any others...Can you?

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 6 replies

John Inman Has died

bobs — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:59:20 GMT

Actor John Inman, most famous for the comedy Are You Being Served?, has died in London aged 71, his spokesman said.
Inman made his name in the 1970s show as Mr Humphries, whose catchphrase "I'm free!" entered popular culture.

In recent years he was a pantomime regular, most often taking the role of the dame. He also made appearances in BBC comedy show Revolver in 2004.

The Preston-born actor died in hospital and had been suffering from a Hepatitis A infection for some time.

The infection, usually caused by eating contaminated food, forced him to cancel the opening of a pantomime in London in December 2004.

It was initially hoped he would be able to return to the production of Dick Whittington, in which he was due to play Wanda the Cook, but he never worked again.

His manager Phil Dale said: "John was known and loved throughout the world. He was one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain.

"John was known for his comedy plays and farces which were enjoyed from London's West End throughout the country and as far as Australia, Canada and the USA."

Inman's Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "John was one of the wittiest and most inventive actors I've ever worked with.

"He was a brilliant, brilliant pantomime dame and he was a very good all-round actor, really. He was a true professional."

Are You Being Served? ran on the BBC from 1972 to 1985 and depicted the antics of the staff of Grace Brothers, an old-fashioned department store.

'Innocent quality'

Mr Humphries became one of TV's best known characters, and in 1976 Inman was voted funniest man on television by TV Times readers. He was declared BBC TV's personality of the year the same year.

Actress Rula Lenska, who worked with him on TV and in pantomime, paid tribute to his comic style.

"It was suggestive but never in your face or aggressive. It had an innocent quality that you rarely find today.

"He was a joy to work with and even after an exhausting day in pantomime he would have time for the fans who crowded round the stage door."

Inman's long-term partner, Ron Lynch, is said to be "devastated" at his death.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6429425.stm

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

R.I.P. HP

roisin0908 — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 14:02:51 GMT

WIll HP ever be the same again?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6455565.stm

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

UK No. 1 this week - The Proclaimers

roisin0908 — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 01:14:12 GMT

Here's a revived oldie for you - it's the No. 1 in UK this week in aid of Comic Relief

See how many 'oldies' from the past you can name in the audience - there's even a 'wanted' figure lurking around somewhere - can you spot him ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEMYYNLbEtw

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Charles advises banning McDonalds

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 07:20:45 GMT

Prince Charles made the recommendation that McDonalds food should be banned:

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/27/prince.charles.mcdonalds.ap/index.html

I guess that will do it for the Royale with Cheese. ;)

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

hello

gilly — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 12:39:21 GMT

hello big uk tribe,
i'm a little canadian kid from the kootenays. have lived this side of the atlantic for about 10 yrs.
moved to london from edinburgh about a year and a half ago, and with my weird schedule (student midwife) find i haven't had nearly enough time for exploring ... hoping to make some discoveries and share some too!

here's to random adventures.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 1 reply

London calling

postpunktrash — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 01:17:56 GMT

So my boyfriend and I are traveling to London FROM SAN FRANCISCO.... April 26th returning april 30th

looking for anyone who can help us with things to do and or see... I have exhosted the Internet and would rather have feedback from actual Londoners... who can help us... we are verry laid back relaxed kind of people...

museums exhibits... off the beaten path kind of things to do... we love to drink and have a good time...

would love to meet new and intresting people... who maybe want to show us around... as we would return the favor if anyone is ever in SAN FRANCISCO....

so far I know I want to go to FABRIC... night club... and if anyone knows of any SHows.... Indie rock... Punk... ELECTRO .. FUNK...
alternative... anything you can dance too...

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 6 replies

Looking for some fun new English friends.

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:21:28 GMT

I've been in England for quite awhile now, but I don't have many friends here. I'd love to meet some new interesting people. I have quie a detailed profile so take a look and add me if you think we would get on.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 3 replies

What's on (for FREE) in London

bobs — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:43:26 GMT

The Geological Society is celebrating it's Bicentenary with a series of FREE monthly lectures for anyone who'e interested. They're being held at Burlington House Piccadilly. Imformation on the lectures and speakers can be found at : http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/template.cfm?name=public_lectures

Tickets must be pre booked..... I couldn't for the life of me find how to do it on line so e mailed the organiser : Alys Johnson <alys.johnson@geolsoc.org.uk> and she kindly e mailed the form to print off and send.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Advise for a newbie :-)

Cindy — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:25:20 GMT

Greetings

I will be moving to London in October. Finding myself excited, scared and nervous all at the same time I am reaching out here to make connections, find out information and get your views of this new country I will be calling home.

I lived in NY for some years and hear many people compare the two cities, are they really similar? Public transportation is good, I hear better then trying to drive. Do any of you know of any frame drum instructors? Would love to take a few classes.

Any advise, stories or thought are well appreciated. Here is to new experiences….

Cheers,
Cindy

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 13 replies

Cheap and good eats?

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:45:35 GMT

Hi all, I'm headed to London on Friday. Can anyone recommend cheap and good eats that I should check out while I am there? Thanks so much!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Anyone have kids with British accents that live in the U.S?

david — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 22:52:54 GMT

Disney Channel needs kids age 8-14 who were born in Great Britain, and now live in the United States, to star in a brand new Disney Channel TV show! The key is they still have to have their British Accents! When picked, they will be put on a well-compensated contract with Disney Channel and flown in to Los Angeles every time we record a show. The show will air in the United States and around the world on Disney Channel. Please contact David Glasgal at 323-464-6789 x208 or send pictures and info to david@7ate9.com Thank you.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

festivals?

moondrop — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 23:36:57 GMT

I'm new to Britain and haven't had much luck finding out if there are any multi-day festivals anywhere in europe over new years....are there?

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

A food question, if you please.

GrrrArgh — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 02:46:10 GMT

I asked this of a Tribe friend who happens to live in England, but he's on a short holiday this week, so he can't reply! Maybe you kind people can?

I'm planning on making either a traditional English Christmas dinner or a traditional Swedish/Norwegian one (mine and my hubby's heritage). If I were to go with the former, what would you consider to be a "classic" menu? Is it a bird, or a roast, or ?? Are there particular side that are deemed necessary (like Yorkshire Pudding...or is that just in novels <lol>)?

And does nearly everyone go out for dinner on Xmas in the England? Seems like *every* pub or restaurant that we passed last month had a "Make your Christmas reservations now!!" sign on the door...and with some urgency, as if they expected a fulll house. That was interesting to me, as nearly everyone stays home here...or gets Chinese food (don't know why, but that's really big here).

Thanks for any menu input. I'm talking very classic and traditional, if there is such a meal. Appreciate your thoughts a lot!!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 5 replies

Too much time looking at the Underground map

revo101 — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 10:19:49 GMT

http://www.animalsontheunderground.com/index.html

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 2 replies

Faith School Petition

grimtales — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 09:55:13 GMT

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/faithschools/

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 17 replies

Apartment trade? You..>London Me...> San Francisco <near>

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 01:39:12 GMT

I live in Marin County only15 minutes away from San Francisco one hour away from the Napa Valley and looking to trade apartments in either June or July.
I need pictures and will send pictures as well.
You would be sharing with my 20 year old son and 2 cats.
Full kitchen privileges and very comfortable private bedroom with pillow top bed. Great energy

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Guinness in Ireland

genghis_don — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:41:42 GMT

In an episode of "Ballykissangel", there's a pub in Ireland where they consider not serving Guinness anymore because the patrons mostly drink Bud Lite.

Tell me it isn't so!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 6 replies

Guardian editorial - "Thank you, America."

Unsilent — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 21:24:49 GMT

Lot of people across the pond were made very happy by Tuesday night's festivities, I see...!

Thursday November 9, 2006
Guardian UK

http://www.guardian.co.uk/leaders/story/0,,1942796,00.html

For six years, latterly with the backing of both
houses of a markedly conservative Republican Congress,
George Bush has led an American administration that
has played an unprecedentedly negative and polarising
role in the world's affairs. On Tuesday, in the
midterm US congressional elections, American voters
rebuffed Mr Bush in spectacular style and with both
instant and lasting political consequences. By large
numbers and across almost every state of the union,
the voters defeated Republican candidates and put the
opposition Democrats back in charge of the House of
Representatives for the first time in a dozen years.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Sunday 5th November

bobs — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 18:38:20 GMT

Old crocks London to Brighton run:

http://www.vccofgb.co.uk/lontobri/index2.htm

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Finding a job in London

Amanda — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 19:52:41 GMT

Hello,
I am an american with a university degree and several years of work experience here in the US. I am thinking of moving to London but am a little concerned about how easy or hard it will be to get a decent paying job in the city as a foreigner. Any advice/suggestions/insights would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Amanda

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 1 reply

London-Best place to live

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 19:20:30 GMT

Looking to move to London next yr and would
like to know a bit more of the city; as far as best places to live
and raise a family.

Thanks for the help.

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 1 reply

Nov 4th '06 International demonstrations on climate change

bobs — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 09:55:51 GMT

(Also posted in Power & Beauty of nature)

Global Climate Campaign

http://www.globalclimatecampaign.org/

UK details: Count in the Square - Trafalgar Square, 4th November
Join us for the biggest event of the year to stop climate chaos.

With street bands, entertainment, film, performance and speakers - come and be part of the greatest climate chaos event of the year.

Thousands of people delivering some ear bending political noise - right on the eve of critical international climate talks, and just over a week before the Queen's Speech which could see the introduction of a bill to help stop climate chaos.

To count you have to be there.
And so do your friends.

There are over 40 coaches coming from around the country http://www.icount.org.uk/events/transport__from_around_the_uk_and_locally_in_london/34.asp

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

British weather rant

JON — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 09:02:02 GMT

Why do we get samples of weather? I've lived here 48 years and it still baffles me. You know how it goes, heres what a monsoon's like, right stop that's enough, this is what a blizzard is like, wo! that's enough. Never full on, never consistent. There just has to be a divine being with a sense of humour! lol
Jon

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 4 replies

what's new?

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:00:19 GMT

sending many blessings! :) :) :) :) :) :)

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 0 replies

Meet Up In London 14th October

Charles — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 19:13:55 GMT

Meet-Up In London
Reporter Charles Palmer
When 7:30 PM, Saturday 14 October 2006
Where United Kingdom
All Bar One
108 New Oxford Street,
WC1A 1HD
Phone: 020 7307 7981

Bright airy chain bars with a good range of beer, wine and spirits offering reasonable gastropub style food. Comfortable, with plenty of tables, leather sofas, polished wood floors and large plate glass windows. The drinks are slightly pricier than your average London boozer.

Over 21s only.

We will be seated in the downstairs area. This All Bar One doesn't get packed out on a Saturday night, it's non-smoking downstairs but you can go and have a cigarette upstairs if you need to and it's easier to move around and mix.

Travel:
Tottenham Court Road Underground 2 minute walk to the West
Covent Garden Underground 8 minute walk to the South East
Goodge Street Underground 8 minute walk to the North West
Leicester Square Underground 9 minute walk to the South East
Holborn Underground 9 minute walk to the North East
Parking:

Holborn NCP 4 minute walk to the East
Upper St Martins Lane NCP 7 minute walk to the South East
Bloomsbury Square Car Park 7 minute walk to the North East
China Town Masterpark 7 minute walk to the South
Drury Lane NCP 7 minute walk to the South East

http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Bars_and_Clubs/All_Bar_One/fd78/
Details 'Meet Up In London' is a 'curated' community for socially active people who want to make new friends.

We hold regular fortnightly 'meet-ups' as well as a wide range of other social events.

If you are not yet a member but would like to be kept informed about upcoming events, please contavct me.

As a member of 'Meet Up In London' you are requested to show respect to other members (any complaints will be investigated and action taken) join in any activities that appeal to you and if you're feeling particularly pro-active, set up something yourself and invite others!

posted in "London and the United Kingdom&quot - 1 reply