tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23243458565534901532011-10-03T01:12:49.887+01:00Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.comBlogger1191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-72874572386105403572010-06-15T22:04:00.000+01:002010-06-15T22:05:23.016+01:00

As of today, I will now be blogging at www.jamiepotter.wordpress.com

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-73727928005397237682010-06-15T11:56:00.003+01:002010-06-15T12:10:39.187+01:00

Photo by 350.org'Poor' BP is getting it in the neck right now with the US Senate announcing its intention to fine the oil company way more than first estimated for the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe.Leaving aside questions over whether the US is trying to squeeze BP until the pips squeak or if the bill simply represents real costs, it certainly seems that American politicians have woken up to the

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-7086061995714131122010-05-20T10:44:00.000+01:002010-05-20T10:45:32.597+01:00

So Clegg has declared his intention to "shake-up" our democracy with reforms he equates to a "big bang". Not only do the plans fail to match 'recent' obvious reform such as giving women the vote, I struggle to see how they come close to any kind of deep reform worthy of such rhetoric.Overturning intrusions on our civil liberties such as ID cards and the DNA and Contact Point databases are

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-65791914713146233862010-05-18T15:19:00.002+01:002010-05-18T15:25:07.203+01:00

At the weekend I joined the Labour party. For many of you this may come as a shock. I've lost track of the number of times I've spat venom about Labour-this and Labour-that as the last government trod all over our civil liberties and disappeared up its own arse on countless other policy occasions. I still have a folder of unpublished blog posts written in exasperation at Labour's efforts to

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-62289399445085148842010-05-12T14:49:00.004+01:002010-05-12T14:58:20.451+01:00

One of the key talking points of the new coalition government is the lack of women or ethnic minorities in the new cabinet. While it really is a disgrace, I think ire is perhaps being directed at the wrong target. The thing is, both the Lib Dems and Conservative parliamentary parties are lacking in female and ethnic minority MPs, which is undoubtedly going to have an effect on the composition of

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-6183942615915057472010-05-12T14:44:00.002+01:002010-05-12T14:58:57.179+01:00

Twitter has been bothering me the past few days. I can't quite put my finger on it, so excuse me if the following sounds a bit jumbled, but my feelings go a little something like this...A few days ago, I tweeted that "If anything, this #ge2010 I've learned that twitter is worse than rolling news. Moves too quickly for actual events, can't sustain itself."I saw somebody, I forget who, tweet that

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-17525785774258066942010-05-05T20:37:00.003+01:002010-05-05T20:40:57.001+01:00

Seems I've not been blogging much of late. It's not that I've lost the passion, I still have it and there sits on my hard drive a fair few unfinished and unpublished posts. However, right now I'm somewhat snowed under with uni work and after spending all day with my head buried in books the last thing I want to do when I get home is spend another two or three hours getting my head around a blog

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-4424597268498339012010-05-05T20:35:00.000+01:002010-05-05T20:36:44.289+01:00

I thought I best write something about the election, so here's a quicky. I would go into more detail but the entire build-up is wearing me out to be honest.I'm most probably going to vote Lib Dem. I say most probably because every time I think about tomorrow, my stomach lurches between hope for a Lib-Lab coalition and fear of a Tory victory. I shan't say anymore about the latter possibility, but

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-89326686519432243182010-04-19T22:54:00.007+01:002010-04-20T00:26:25.800+01:00

Image by Tbass EffendiClimate change conferences didn't end in Copenhagen, oh no! The filibustering roadshow continues in November in Cancún for the CoP16 conference and already the battle lines are being drawn between activists and organisers.Klimaforum, the alternative forum on combating climate change, just released an email condemning the decision to host the summit in Cancún, warning that

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-56382041047120610612010-04-12T15:03:00.000+01:002010-04-12T15:04:51.832+01:00

Much of the discussion surrounding biofuels understandably focuses on their impact on food production. It's a simple, emotive viewpoint - in order to continue driving our cars as we please somebody on a different continent must starve as we turn their crops into 'environmentally friendly' fuel. But nothing is ever that simple. In the case of biofuels, there's not just the impact on food prices,

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-3575576506938142612010-04-02T16:42:00.003+01:002010-04-02T17:00:57.030+01:00

Photo by Iain WinfieldA year on from the G20 protests in London and still the police have yet to be held responsible for their appalling handling of the demonstrations in the City. Earlier this week, Delroy Smellie walked free from court despite video evidence clearly showing he assaulted Nicola Fisher close to the Bank of England. And, lest we forget, justice is still outstanding for the family

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-79047333771618939722010-04-02T12:26:00.004+01:002010-04-02T12:39:47.081+01:00

Anybody who follows me on twitter is probably aware of the utter ballache I've experienced trying to correspond with my MP, Patricia Hewitt. Seems her preferred manner of dealing with letters and emails that are, shall we say, not quite in line with her own principles, is to ignore them.Nearly a month ago I wrote to her regarding the Digital Economy Bill. I never received a response and after

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-53488506075377748742010-04-01T14:58:00.004+01:002010-04-01T15:04:16.395+01:00

The Ecuadorian government will fight an arbitration ruling forcing them to pay Chevron $700 million in damages over trade disputes surrounding the company's past operations in the country. The claim regards delays by Ecuador to settle contract disputes with Texaco in the '90s and is not to be confused with an ongoing arbitration case seeking to scupper a $27 billion lawsuit brought by the people

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-62128074493808826092010-03-29T13:55:00.002+01:002010-03-29T14:04:31.113+01:00

A new video from the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment asks the question: Is Earth past the tipping point? This follows a report published in Nature last year by 28 scientists who pointed out that Earth has ten separate biophysical systems that can define a "safe planetary operating space". Three of these biosphere systems have already suffered lasting, irreversible damage by

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-42092907307450321892010-03-19T16:22:00.004Z2010-04-01T15:03:51.149+01:00

Chevron latest: More wriggling. Quelle surprise! Lawyers representing thousands of indigenous people from the Ecuadorian Amazon who are suing Chevron for the dumping of toxic waste are to appeal a recent decision by a New York court to grant Chevron permission to international arbitration.The American oil giant hope to prove they have been denied due process by the Ecuadorian judiciary which is

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-91415383283892945252010-03-18T11:36:00.002Z2010-03-18T11:45:59.749Z

A guest post from Shahinaz Nabeeh on the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, "Children of Gaza"The eyes of the orphaned Mohammed said it all. For an hour in Dispatches: Children of Gaza (Channel 4) they were defiant and angry, older than his 12 years. But at last the tears welled up, though he manfully fought them back. “I am not a terrorist, I am a Palestinian,” he declared. “Would they accept

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-65104991198275905852010-02-28T13:43:00.004Z2010-02-28T14:16:43.820Z

Thanks to @WarrenPearce for sending this my way, a mini-documentary about how protest and demonstration has been brought under the auspices of the state, to amount to little more than sanctioned and manipulated cathartic spectacles. That protesters in the UK must give seven days notice of any intended demonstration or risk imprisonment for failing to do so is entirely bizarre.This disillusion is

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-29311559072309037612010-02-23T20:10:00.002Z2010-02-23T20:13:01.153Z

Here's a great video which puts into layman's terms the causes of the financial crisis. If you were stumped before, hopefully this will clear a few things up. Thanks to @hackofalltrades for the link.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-33540905708096763042010-02-14T16:48:00.009Z2010-02-15T10:22:37.310Z

One of the toxic waste pits in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Photo by Rainforest Action NetworkIt's been a while since I wrote about the $27.3bn lawsuit being brought against Chevron by thousands of indigenous peoples in Ecuador whose lives have been ruined by the dumping of waste in the Amazon, but you won't be surprised to hear their record is still stuck.The tenacious little scrotes at the

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-51407141776038264952010-02-10T21:39:00.005Z2010-02-10T21:50:48.165Z

David Miliband appeared on Channel 4 News tonight to set the record straight about a government lawyer writing to the presiding judges of the Binyam Mohamed case asking them to adjust their draft judgement.Miliband claimed that all legal propriety was adhered to and preached the independence of the nation's judiciary, saying: "There's something to defend about our political system, and one of the

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-67467625534492510752010-02-10T21:01:00.006Z2010-02-10T21:29:08.378Z

Some more of what I've been reading the past week.China's farms pollute as much as its factoriesOver use of fertilizers to increase production on Chinese farms means they cause just as much pollution (of waterways) as other sources, such as power stations, according to a study released by the Chinese government. Skeptical Science iPhone AppOften get into arguments with climate change skeptics?

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-23655059077273583872010-01-26T23:00:00.001Z2010-01-26T23:01:43.501Z

I suppose I better explain myself. I'm going to the USA tomorrow, which means I'm going to be flying. Yes, an environmental activist is going to be flying. Why? To visit my girlfriend in Boston and tie in a trip to New York, a city I've wanted to visit for as long as I can remember. See, I'm a music fan - a big music fan - much of the music I listen to originates or has its roots in the USA. For

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-54391388606208252292010-01-18T01:23:00.002Z2010-01-18T01:25:41.150Z

Why we need a cultural revolution in consumption.Hits the nail on the head. It's our rampant consumerism, the everlasting quest for further growth that is driving climate change. The inconvenient truth is we're all responsible but likewise we all have the power to stop it getting worse if we stop consuming as we do. Environmental activists killed by mining companies in Latin AmericaIndymedia

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-19376305192500468132010-01-16T14:18:00.003Z2010-01-16T14:55:30.188Z

As yet another raft of bankers' bonuses are due to be announced safe in the knowledge a doddering Chancellor will likely turn a blind eye it's time we the people had our way for a change.Billy Bragg announced on twitter this morning his intention not to pay any tax until the disgrace is sorted by the government. On a facebook group called NoBonus4RBS, he writes:"The estimated £1.5bn that RBS will

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-61225411583216967022010-01-15T12:14:00.005Z2010-01-15T12:29:08.947Z

Photo by DunechaserHere's a story that hasn't got much attention in the UK press this week. Over one hundred Spanish tourists were forcibly evicted from Gatwick Airport by riot police after protesting about a last minute flight cancellation. Police were called to move the tourists when they refused to leave the building without the guarantee of being put on a new flight. (Their airline was

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-91575605210590563212010-01-13T19:55:00.002Z2010-01-13T20:04:30.379Z

"We don't want to continue dying of cancer."The Ecuadorian communities fighting a lawsuit against oil giant Chevron have made this video especially for new CEO, John Watson. The video follows an open letter to Watson from campaigners Amazon Watch at the end of last year.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-18627062006281476442010-01-12T21:28:00.002Z2010-01-12T21:37:11.048Z

Image by engineroomblogThe European Court on Human Rights has ruled the arbitrary use of stop and search powers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 illegal but for protesters who are regularly the victim of this law it may still be business as usual.The judgement is indeed welcome and a blow to a government who have come under increasing pressure for their intrusion on civil liberties.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-29892044232046988522009-12-24T20:50:00.002Z2009-12-24T20:53:49.499Z

An open letter from Amazon Watch to the incoming Chairman and CEO of Chevron, Mr. John S. Watson:Dear Mr. Watson: I write to you on behalf of Amazon Watch to express our hope that as Chief Executive of Chevron Corporation you will have the fortitude and vision to genuinely address the most painful and immediate challenge facing your company - the Ecuador disaster. Our hope is that you will not

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-15753090839311125962009-12-23T14:27:00.001Z2009-12-23T14:28:55.468Z

An English activist who marched on the Reclaim Power action in Copenhagen on 16th Dec 2009 explains why he did it.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-18250395698073574392009-12-21T13:24:00.003Z2009-12-21T13:35:15.883Z

Climate Campers swooped on the centre of Copenhagen to protest against the Hopenhagen campaign which activists claim is symbolic of the greenwash clouding talks at the climate summit.Fifty odd demonstrators sprang the surprise protest at City Hall Square shortly after seven on Thursday evening. The Hopenhagen campaign has taken over the square to provide a space for people to call for a fair deal

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-70989065672199320522009-12-17T17:54:00.002Z2009-12-17T17:57:34.221Z

Janneke Romijn of the Global Forest Coalition explains what happened inside the Bella Centre during the Reclaim the Power action on 16th Dec 2009.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-5035757687931640542009-12-15T14:45:00.001Z2009-12-15T14:47:57.978Z

Music from the party, before the police raided/Monday 14th December, 2009Throughout the week, the autonomous community of Christiania has been host to a large marquee laying on food and providing entertainment and workshops for activists. On Monday night a party was thrown for activists after a massive participatory panel discussion (more on that later).After Naomi Klein and the panel finished

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-83041428173165805832009-12-14T15:39:00.002Z2009-12-14T15:56:44.254Z

One of the main actions planned for Sunday 13th was the so called Hit the Production demo, which hoped to shut down Copenhagen harbour in a symbolic action against one of the symbols of capitalism - the global shipping trade. The demonstration would meet at the Trianglen in the north of the city and head towards the harbour but it hadn't been sanctioned by the police so arrests were likely.At

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-38023769999859804262009-12-14T15:30:00.002Z2009-12-14T15:34:14.848Z

Daniel Vockins from the Age of Stupid team talks about The Stupid Show at Cop15.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-12345825167925492652009-12-13T18:30:00.002Z2009-12-13T18:37:47.435Z

The Bus Journey. 1600 Fri 11th Dec - 1500 Sat 12th Dec.The Climate Campers were instantly recognisable, a rag tag bunch of bedraggled youths loitering beneath the bridge surrounded by backpacks and clanking camping equipment. One of the teachers - the campers charged with seeing each coach through the mammoth trip unscathed - patiently signed people in and appointed them to coaches depending on

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-89865179422881497152009-12-07T18:32:00.004Z2009-12-07T18:52:43.645Z

I've been a bit quiet on here lately, I do apologise, but I've been busy with mountains of university work (more on that later) and a bit of the sniffles. Nonetheless, the Copenhagen summit kicked off today and on Friday I'll be leaving merry old England on a coach with the Climate Camp crew for a week gallivanting around the Danish capital. I'll be blogging and updating via Twitter daily so keep

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-51389976593968346652009-11-23T19:18:00.003Z2009-11-23T20:20:06.291Z

There'll be less of thisPolice officers across London are quaking in their steel toed boots following an ominous message from a senior member of the Met. If they are hanging around with colleagues and one turns violent and someone else gets hurt, they too could be facing a criminal prosecution. If someone dies, they too could be charged with murder, even if they did not so much as shove an

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-10213344975306104192009-11-20T16:54:00.003Z2009-11-20T17:04:30.747Z

Case in point: why does Mandy gets so much room to manoeuvre? This tweet was in response to accusations that Mandy is cutting funds for adult education.Sorry to labour the point (groan...) but this is what I'm getting at regarding my earlier post about Labour, a seeming lack of criticism (at least publicly) within the party when it comes to New Labour lackeys who keep on pushing it.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-74758367194169527742009-11-19T12:27:00.002Z2009-11-19T12:30:09.815Z

Ahem...

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-24940209122394937212009-11-18T23:35:00.004Z2009-11-19T09:58:36.823Z

It's going to take more than a loin stirring video to pull me over to Labour. See, this is the thing that has been annoying me about the Labour party for some time, that there seems to be a complete inability amongst the Labour government and Parliamentary party to admit that they've been a complete let down on many values. It's all very well and good bleating on about how, historically, Labour

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-66527420633770897832009-11-16T13:06:00.005Z2009-11-16T14:01:31.566Z

Chevron Texaco's latest effort to evade a multi-billion dollar lawsuit for dumping toxic waste in Ecuador is collapsing like a house of cards. Secretly filmed videos which supposedly show Ecuadorian officials agreeing to a bribe as part of a remediation contract for the Amazon disaster suddenly have more plot holes than an episode of Lost. The four edited videos were posted to YouTube by the oil

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-2424263197888500912009-11-10T14:38:00.002Z2009-11-10T14:47:14.215Z

My own definition of green is something that does not create harmful waste for the environment and I doubt I'm alone in thinking that. This means that nuclear power for example is not 'green'. It still produces radioactive waste that is harmful to its immediate environment. Likewise, cars with internal combustion engines are not green because they still produce emissions, no matter how efficient

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-50387345988361504272009-10-27T17:46:00.004Z2009-10-27T17:55:20.513Z

The Guardian have done some sterling work in digging into the use, or rather misuse, of surveillance and intelligence gathering by the police into the activities of protesters and dissenting voices domestic extremists this week. This being work that is overseen by a body neither democratically accountable or bound by Freedom of Information law.The comments from those in power seem to have been

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-24197566140848604922009-10-22T20:41:00.005+01:002009-10-22T20:55:25.358+01:00

The DECC/Met Office visualisation of global temperature changeNew data was released today showing the carbon emissions from consumption of energy for every country in the world, as well as the worldwide effects of a global temperature change.The figures from the US Energy Information Administration show emissions up until 2007 and place China ahead of the US for the first time. The same agency

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-43690643563849721292009-10-20T10:44:00.005+01:002009-10-20T11:18:07.440+01:00

British based oil traders Trafigura were catapulted into the limelight when their legal minions Carter Ruck spectacularly mismanaged their reputation by trying to gag press coverage of their gross environmental crimes in western Africa. If it wasn't for Carter Ruck's ineptitude, few people would know who Trafigura are, let alone what they've been up to in the Ivory Coast.What even fewer people

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-53591666730473510522009-10-15T23:30:00.002+01:002009-10-15T23:40:53.491+01:00

Watching BBC Question Time, yet again people opposed to giving the BNP a platform throw up the "legitimacy" argument. This is something I struggle to understand. Saying that giving them coverage grants the BNP legitimacy fails to realise that nearly one million people already DO think they're legitimate, as shown by the number of votes for the party in the European election. By saying they're

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-19210975729131460912009-10-12T23:05:00.003+01:002009-10-12T23:17:55.589+01:00

Tory blogger Iain Dale thinks the Greenpeace protesters occupying the roof of the Houses of Parliament should be brought down with water cannons. "Legitimate protest is one thing. Invading the parliamentary estate like this is quite another. Just leaving them up there on the roof with no intervention by the Police sends a simple message to others who might have the same idea: come on in, we’re

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-70021292093001980842009-10-09T16:06:00.003+01:002009-10-09T16:16:07.366+01:00

On the same day E.on announced they would be putting on hold the construction of a new coal-fired power plant at Kingsnorth, news that an open cast coal mine will be created in Telford quietly slipped through the net. Secretary of State John Denham granted UK Coal permission to extract 900,000 tonnes of coal near The Wrekin, a beauty spot in Shropshire, despite opposition from local councillors

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-57219662049936097902009-10-08T19:28:00.004+01:002009-10-08T19:39:17.744+01:00

Remember when the people of Iran took to the streets to protest against the outcome of their Presidential election? Remember how social media, particularly twitter, were used to give coverage in the West to events and to some extent, aide protesters on the ground? Remember how the US State Department asked twitter to hold off routine maintenance in order to help the Iranians using the network?

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-46195215286705022072009-10-08T00:05:00.003+01:002009-10-09T16:25:19.528+01:00

E.on have delayed building a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth, citing a lack of demand due to the recession. The energy firm don't think a new plant will be required until 2016.It's a shame it's taken economics for them to put a hold on the project rather than science, but nonetheless this is still good news. Or is it? I'm unsure how exactly this postponement constitutes an actual

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-36442366939458795372009-10-07T21:25:00.003+01:002009-10-07T21:39:17.335+01:00

Last week the National Minimum Wage rose again while Gordon Brown pledged to increase it every year for the next five years, much to the consternation of business. However, the disparity between the adult and youth rates still exists. Despite the (slight) increases a 22 year old will now earn £5.80 per hour compared to £4.83 for 18 to 21 year olds, and just £3.57 for 16 and 17 year olds.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-86486354293887720632009-09-29T19:09:00.001+01:002009-09-29T19:11:35.976+01:00

The case of two police officers being told by Ofsted they must stop their reciprocal childcare arrangements comes hot on the heels of another childcare story, that of the checks people must undergo as part of the Vetting and Barring Scheme.Understandably, many people are up in arms about both stories which are considered an intrusion of the state on people's lives, but a more important point

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-10813983518184055902009-09-25T21:19:00.003+01:002009-09-25T22:00:35.455+01:00

Unbeknownst to many people in the UK the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh has been a focal point for protests and demonstrations over the past few days, some of which have been met with some bizarre policing including the use of sonic cannons to dispel crowds. These cannons have been accused of being capable of breaking eardrums and even causing fatal aneurysms. If that seems like something out of

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-71866098507918466822009-09-22T23:57:00.003+01:002009-09-23T00:12:13.013+01:00

Airlines have vowed to halve their carbon emissions by 2050 in what seems like an obvious ploy to take the initiative before they get hit with a can of whoop ass at Copenhagen. Aviation and shipping were of course left out of the Kyoto Protocol but will be included in any new agreement at Copenhagen. I've seen varying figures on these industries' emissions contributions, from between 1.6% to

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-38195872964566997382009-09-15T21:26:00.005+01:002009-09-15T21:49:18.813+01:00

Environmental activists have hung a 70ft banner from a bridge over the Niagara Falls in an effort to draw attention to the damage done by tar sands in Alberta, Canada. Greenpeace activists also stopped operations at a tar sands mine in Alberta by chaining themselves to a dump truck and scaling a giant excavator. The Niagara protesters were from Rainforest Action Network (RAN), an American-based

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-51806114606278246382009-09-14T23:22:00.007+01:002009-09-30T21:56:10.124+01:00

"We're returning to the 30s!" scream the headlines. Only a week after a second English Defence League demonstration turns ugly in Birmingham, another demonstration at a mosque in Harrow also descends into chaos with anti-fascists and Muslims clashing with riot police. This time, the Harrow protesters are from Stop the Islamification of Europe, a group opposed to Islamic extremism. These two

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-34637529699810205832009-09-09T22:11:00.005+01:002009-09-09T22:42:16.116+01:00

It's been a week now since Climate Camp dismantled the tents and compost toilets and beat a lazy retreat. If anybody is wondering, Blackheath was left near enough perfect. Overall, I'd say it was pretty successful. The police kept their word and left us to it; numerous direct actions were executed in the City of London; the media fawned over the camp (well most of the media) and hundreds of

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-34137648049091741422009-09-08T21:55:00.004+01:002009-09-08T22:13:20.380+01:00

Today, a myriad of arms manufacturers descended on London for four days of exhibiting and selling their wares to dignitaries from such utopias as Libya, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia at the world's largest arms fair, DSEi. Earlier this week I republished an article I wrote in December last year, which focused on allegations of bribery made against BAE Systems, the world's third largest defence

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-90251008644613719032009-09-06T22:58:00.007+01:002009-09-06T23:29:21.484+01:00

I've just watched the first episode of "The Century of the Self", a short documentary series by Adam Curtis from 2002 which aims to show "how those in power have used [Sigmund] Freud's theories to try and control the dangerous crowd in an age of mass democracy." And there's one bit I absolutely must share.But first a little context. This first episode focuses on Freud's nephew, Edward Bernays,

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-57567896449749718322009-09-06T16:04:00.010+01:002009-09-06T17:31:24.219+01:00

Roll up, roll up, the circus is in town! For four days this week a little bit of London will be turned into the largest arms fair in the world. What, London! you say? Surely that kind of thing happens in tents in the arse end of Libya? Well, actually, it happens on our own soil with the Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi) fair which brings together "senior international trade and

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-2924225419648724432009-09-04T22:43:00.006+01:002009-09-04T23:03:44.535+01:00

Photo: winterofdiscontentA new campaign to highlight the dangers of water waste from using showers was launched yesterday and featured in a Guardian article by Ed Gillespie today. This is important for two reasons. First, heating water uses a great deal of energy, second in the home only to heating space in general. According to Waterwise, "the energy used to pump, treat and heat the water in the

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-56448361145720589092009-09-01T19:02:00.006+01:002009-09-02T12:24:29.991+01:00

Not everything at Climate Camp is planned with military precision. On Saturday I noticed a little tent had popped up adorned with signs made out of cardboard, its contents of fruit spilling out onto the grass. A few campers were busy chopping up the fruit, piling it into a pedal-powered blender and dishing it out for free. Turns out the fruit, which was stacked in boxes inside the tent, all came

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-71279966730782935822009-08-30T12:16:00.000+01:002009-08-30T12:20:14.236+01:00

The chef in the London neighbourhood tells us what's for dinner.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-54504449258880208012009-08-29T11:48:00.002+01:002009-09-01T21:09:22.131+01:00

Liz from Plane Stupid explains the Adopt a Resident initiative, part of the campaign to stop a third runway being built at Heathrow.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-76392432239085232042009-08-29T11:38:00.005+01:002009-09-01T21:09:43.094+01:00

My third day began by wandering around the perimeter helping a couple of guys from the defence group secure the fencing, which had taken a bit of a battering during the night from wind. That's the beauty of Climate Camp, there's always something to get stuck in with and never a shortage of help if you're in need. This was soon followed by the fencing team coming to the rescue of an Italian guy

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-46501810180927722502009-08-28T12:45:00.002+01:002009-08-29T11:53:14.792+01:00

Renewable energy at Climate Camp 2009 from Jamie Potter on Vimeo.Tom from 3V Power talks us through the wind turbines at Climate Camp 2009.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-68538518016339878732009-08-28T11:15:00.004+01:002009-08-28T11:26:27.433+01:00

Day Two of Climate Camp started with the first of the promised non-violent direct actions in the City of London. A number of campers donned their finest garb and locked sights on the Climate Exchange on Bishopsgate, target of the G20 Camp in the City for its role in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, one of the world's biggest carbon markets.I set off to get some video but by the time I got there

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-78234899567780059882009-08-27T10:07:00.005+01:002009-08-28T10:39:58.228+01:00

At one point I thought it wasn't going to happen. I arrived at Stockwell tube station a few minutes before noon, to a low key police presence and around fifty odd campers waiting outside by the shrine to Jean Charles de Menezes. There were a few media folk there including somebody from Channel 4 News who we gently ribbed by suggesting he actually worked for the Met. The numbers swelled to about a

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-20669403116858269962009-08-26T10:16:00.008+01:002009-08-27T10:07:13.580+01:00

In less than two hours, environment activists from across the country will be gathering at locations around London, ready to swoop on an as yet undisclosed location to set up the 2009 Camp for Climate Action. Thanks to the insane policing at a mini-camp in the City of London back in April, it's no doubt going to be a media circus as all eyes turn to the policing of the event. It will be

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-53127183329082891962009-08-17T21:00:00.007+01:002009-08-17T21:13:43.209+01:00

Another week and another face in the temp job of all temp jobs as Alistair Darling covers for Gordon Brown during the summer holiday. And what's this? A couple of Tories trying to make mud stick by whinging about Darling running the country from Edinburgh rather than London. Because Scotland isn't part of the UK is it? Paul Waugh of the Evening Standard blogged about it, exclaiming: "If a

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-34841252902116643402009-08-13T22:10:00.004+01:002009-08-13T23:55:47.455+01:00

A week after activists formed a climate camp at an opencast coal mine in Scotland, another mine in Wales has been targeted by campaigners protesting against the hypocrisy of an authority that is apparently dedicated to fighting climate change but continues mining fossil fuels.Both camps aim to draw attention to the business-as-usual agenda of their respective governments while exhibiting

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-19024570371682569562009-08-12T23:10:00.006+01:002009-08-12T23:49:52.021+01:00

With all this toss about US healthcare reform dragging the poor NHS into the American right's woefully ignorant and misguided argument, aided and abetted by their willing accomplice, Daniel Hannan MEP, why are British diplomats in Washington so mute? According to the Guardian:The British embassy in Washington is quietly trying to counter inaccuracies. A spokesman said: "We're keeping a close eye

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-69673368629196186552009-08-11T21:45:00.005+01:002009-08-13T23:01:21.725+01:00

You'd think getting rid of plastic bags is a no brainer but some green folk would have you think otherwise. In The Guardian today, Leo Hickman wrote a Comment is Free piece, spurred by the Welsh Assembly's consideration of a tax on plastic bags, and poured cold water all over the idea. The crux of his argument is that it detracts from the larger problem of climate change, the same line espoused

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-37106407544489623012009-08-06T10:19:00.001+01:002009-08-06T10:21:35.142+01:00

I just sent this via The White House website.Dear Mr President,I know you're in a dilly of a pickle trying to figure out what to do with Guantanamo Bay, but I believe one of Britain's finest (sic) journalists may hold the answer. If I can direct you to this link you will begin to understand the absolute anguish that our middle-aged women go through just to get a good barnet these days. Personally

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-466587279617986932009-08-05T21:21:00.005+01:002009-08-05T23:11:55.980+01:00

I did something stupid yesterday. I ran in guns blazing to comment on somebody's blog when I didn't know the entire story and hadn't made an effort to fully understand the issue before putting my foot in my mouth.The victim of my wrath was the [Tory] Thunder Dragon blog, who published a post denouncing Harriet Harman's call for the leadership of the country to always include a woman, at which

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-57591170371210542262009-08-03T23:53:00.007+01:002009-08-05T22:09:52.984+01:00

People should be welcomed to this country, rather than be put through some ridiculous finishing school to test their worth, but that's exactly what the government have in mind for testing immigrants' rights to UK citizenship.In plans revealed by Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, immigrants seeking citizenship will have to earn points to become a fully fledged citizen of these fair isles. Those

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-373410688303485292009-07-29T23:26:00.006+01:002009-07-30T10:59:07.457+01:00

Why the kerfuffle about David Cameron's comments on Twitter this morning? Watch the extended video. He says he doesn't use Twitter because politicians must be careful about what they say, before making the now infamous remark about too many twits making a twat. He then goes on to add that politicians should be able to convey their message in few words for ease of memory. Now, I don't necessarily

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-71415883088072083642009-07-28T22:44:00.007+01:002009-07-28T23:14:35.345+01:00

This video shows BNP leader, Nick Griffin, speaking at the European Parliament in which he draws attention to the efforts of UAF to disrupt the BNP's election campaign.Whilst comparing Iran to the UK is a wholly unfair comparison to make, and I'm not entirely sure what he means about taxpayers' money being used to fund UAF, his point about "intimidation" is a fair one. I'm not going to repeat

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-27270223052063132512009-07-20T22:18:00.001+01:002009-07-20T22:22:10.561+01:00

Ed Miliband has been spouting rubbish again. On the Guardian's Comment is Free blog, Miliband has just written about how the fight against climate change is similar to the challenge of putting man on the moon; a huge technological feat, but possible nonetheless.What stands out the most for me are his words on a shift in energy policy:First, if we are in the persuasion business, all of us have to

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-21515104390592155932009-07-09T23:44:00.006+01:002009-07-09T23:55:34.003+01:00

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) couldn't have picked a better day to release the analysis of their campaign against the BNP during the European elections. In an interview with a BBC reporter, BNP leader Nick Griffin made some utterly revolting remarks about "sinking immigrants' boats" as they try to make it to Europe. Such hideous views do a lot of the anti-fascist campaigners' work for them,

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-57942036487178643032009-07-08T20:55:00.007+01:002009-07-08T21:03:04.523+01:00

This was the scene in Parliament this afternoon, shortly after Alistair Darling delivered a statement on proposed financial regulation. I think Channel 4 News' economics correspondent, Faisal Islam, sums it up best:

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-29151939477497264402009-07-08T08:12:00.005+01:002009-07-08T08:18:26.644+01:00

An Israeli tourism poster has been found to breach advertising standards after it misleadingly implied that the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Golan Heights were part of the state of Israel. The 'Experience Israel' poster showed a map of Israel which included the disputed territories, prompting 442 complaints from members of the public as well as from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Jews for

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-84879478205052390182009-07-05T20:07:00.008+01:002009-07-07T12:18:28.247+01:00

More than 1,000 people formed a human chain around the Kingsnorth power station yesterday to protest at plans to build a new coal fired power station on the site. The 'Mili-band' was made especially for energy minister, Ed Miliband, who has the power to reject the E.on proposal. A new coal plant at Kingsnorth would create more than six million tonnes of CO2 per year, which is more than the

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-6272892092378246182009-07-05T13:24:00.003+01:002009-07-05T13:27:22.374+01:00

A quick one to say I've just made a Tumblr at www.jpotter.tumblr.comI'll be using this to share links, pictures, video and audio that I find of interest but don't have the time to write about in more depth on this blog. Don't forget you can also follow me on twitter.Nuff love.

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-88721004460933180692009-06-30T22:47:00.004+01:002009-06-30T22:58:02.963+01:00

Israeli forces have seized a humanitarian aid ship in international waters which was bound for Gaza, detaining 21 human rights workers and confiscating medical and reconstruction aid.Those on board the Free Gaza Movement's 'Spirit of Humanity' include Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, as well as a number of UK nationals. The boat, which was searched

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-78113589374058683522009-06-29T23:00:00.003+01:002009-06-29T23:07:30.952+01:00

When the chamber of a weapon is empty, pulling the trigger will result in an audible click.Well here's one of our chambers of Parliament, discussing Parliamentary standards, devoid of many MPs. Where's the click, the uproar, the discontent?Photograph from Rob Fenwick's blog at Northumbrian.org

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-47477198440749843192009-06-27T16:58:00.005+01:002009-06-27T17:13:41.252+01:00

I returned home to Bridlington this week for the first time since before the European elections to the disappointing sight of an opinion piece in my local newspaper recommending people not vote.Anonymous columnist, Paper Clip, had written ahead of the elections asking people not to vote because they don't know what it is MEPs do, because MEPs probably have outrageous expense claims, and because

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-87864078757845507762009-06-23T20:16:00.004+01:002009-06-23T21:35:45.049+01:00

The ongoing turmoil and unrest in Iran has thrown up some astonishing images and video, delivered via such sites as Twitter, YouTube, Picasa and Demotix, not to mention a number of live blogs aggregating the copious amount of content flying around the internet at the moment. What will perhaps come to be regarded as one of the defining pieces of content from the current unrest is this video of

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-29478339644717197512009-06-22T21:06:00.000+01:002009-06-22T21:10:17.213+01:00

The Guardian newspaper has obtained footage of two activists being arrested for trying to document the policing of a climate change demonstration last summer. Val Swain and Emily Apple, members of Fit Watch, a group campaigning against police surveillance of activists, were arrested after they tried to note officers' numbers and photograph them. Unfortunately, the video has been edited and

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-85470865713356627272009-06-15T22:07:00.000+01:002009-06-15T22:45:27.655+01:00

Apart from a brief, Friday night, 200 mile wild goose chase around the Midlands, looking for a train that would take me to Sheffield and onwards to East Yorkshire, that ultimately ended in tequila fueled sorrow in Leicester, I've spent most of the weekend glued to the unfolding events in Iran. Just as big a story as the actual mass protests and revolutionary fervour on the streets of Tehran is

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-88446416144513313352009-06-15T22:03:00.000+01:002009-06-15T22:06:13.940+01:00

Here's an interesting video I came across this week. Commercial air traffic across the world over a period of 24 hours. World Air Traffic Over 24 Hours

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-59149869867856987982009-06-09T23:05:00.001+01:002009-06-09T23:23:04.129+01:00

A quick point, further to what I said previously about not resorting to prejudicial language against Nick Griffin and the BNP. What does throwing eggs at Nick Griffin achieve for the anti-fascist campaign? I'd love to throw an egg at the bastard, I'd love to throw more than that at him, but when we resort to such brownshirt tactics in the face of fascism, where does it get us?When Nick Griffin

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-54289513966759588612009-06-09T21:59:00.000+01:002009-06-09T22:42:13.367+01:00

Nearly two weeks after the human rights case brought against Shell by the family of Ken Saro-Wiwa was postponed at the eleventh hour, the oil giant have agreed to pay $15.5 million in an out-of-court settlement.Most of this money will go to the families of Saro-Wiwa and the other eight activists executed by the Nigerian government in 1995, but $5 million will also go into a fund to support

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-82347514720126211902009-06-08T21:57:00.000+01:002009-06-08T22:11:56.852+01:00

Enough of the Yorkshire/North-west bashing already. Twitter was awash with comments along the lines of the region being full of racists. Wrong. Without wanting to sound like a broken record, the number of votes for the BNP actually fell compared to the last European election in 2004. They gained seats because other parties, mainly Labour, haemorraghed even more, thus increasing the BNP's share of

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-1732802773792981192009-06-02T23:02:00.000+01:002009-06-02T23:15:01.356+01:00

I was hoping to update you all with news from the Saro-Wiwa vs Shell trial, but we still have to wait until 3rd June for further developments, when a pre-trial conference will be held. So to make up for the lack of news, I've put together some of the interesting 'stuff' I came across in the past few days that is worth sharing. First up, funny man Marcus Brigstocke lampooning MTV's 'Cribs' to

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-48868846696792872102009-05-30T10:53:00.000+01:002009-05-30T11:16:35.674+01:00

I like Barcelona. In fact, I love the place. So it’s a shame that it just hosted a hideous rabble of bankers and investors punch drunk on the rich elixir of carbon trading, clamoring to learn how such an egregious, misguided ‘solution’ to climate change can earn them a bit more coin in the future. These deluded beings were at Carbon Expo, an annual “global meeting point for companies operating on

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-60984762257187309952009-05-28T23:45:00.000+01:002009-05-28T23:57:57.427+01:00

The legal action brought against Shell by the family of Ken Saro-Wiwa has been postponed indefinitely. The case was due to start on the 27th May at a federal court in New York City, but Chief Judge Kimba Wood ordered the trial postponed.No new trial date has been set, but a hearing has been arranged for 1st June and jury selection will start no earlier than 2nd June. According to Sahara Reporters

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-53021701467405395282009-05-27T08:55:00.000+01:002009-05-27T01:06:44.007+01:00

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell will today be dragged kicking and screaming into a federal court in New York City to face allegations that it is complicit in human rights abuses in the Niger Delta.Most notably, Shell will be taken to task for its role in the public execution of activist, Ken Saro Wiwa in 1995, who along with eight others, was hanged after being found guilty of incitement to murder

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-91785857194811838602009-05-17T18:17:00.000+01:002009-05-17T18:29:10.759+01:00

On Friday I wrote briefly about the situation of the indigenous people of the Ecuadorian Amazon, who have been treated like dirt by oil company, Chevron Texaco. Now it's emerging that indigenous people in neighbouring Peru are facing repressive measures from the Peruvian government, who haven't taken kindly to protests against a decision to open the country to oil exploration and development by

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324345856553490153.post-56351625372995179952009-05-15T22:18:00.001+01:002009-05-17T18:30:51.538+01:00

Recently I wrote how Tesco's £3 billion profits were in part reaped from the hard working, underpaid clothes workers in Bangladesh. Now fruit pickers in South Africa who provide the once-grocery-now-life-consuming behemoth with produce have told The Guardian about their low pay and struggle to simply get by:Sitting against her living room's bare brick wall, under a banner that reads "God will

Jamie Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094643234423126934noreply@blogger.com1