Archive for October, 2009
Doth I protest too much?
I was sent the now notorious “police spotter card” through the post. It’s an official laminated card for “police eyes only” and labelled as coming from “CO11 Public Order Intelligence Unit”. The card contained the photographs of 24 anti-arms trade protesters, unnamed but lettered A to X. My picture appeared as photo H. You can imagine my reaction at finding I was the subject of a secret police surveillance process … I was delighted. I phoned my agent and told him I was suspect H. He replied: “Next year we’ll get you top billing … suspect A.”
What exactly was I doing that was so awfully wrong as to merit this attention? Today’s Guardian revelations of three secret police units goes some way to explain the targeting of protesters and raises worrying questions. The job of these units is to spy on protesters, and collate and circulate information about them. Protesters – or, as the police call them, “domestic extremists” – are the new “reds under the bed”.
Police in £9m scheme to log ‘domestic extremists’
Police are gathering the personal details of thousands of activists who attend political meetings and protests, and storing their data on a network of nationwide intelligence databases.
Sutton Hoo welcomes monumental treasure into collection
After Birmingham Museum’s breathtaking temporary display of the Staffordshire Hoard, the National Trust at Sutton Hoo have this week revealed their own treasure – a modern remake of the Royal Sceptre from the Sutton Hoo finds.
Historians Reassess Battle of Agincourt
MAISONCELLE, France — The heavy clay-laced mud behind the cattle pen on Antoine Renault’s farm looks as treacherous as it must have been nearly 600 years ago, when King Henry V rode from a spot near here to lead a sodden and exhausted English Army against a French force that was said to outnumber his by as much as five to one.
Three heroes of 9/11 die of cancer in five days
A firefighter and two cops who worked at Ground Zero in the days and weeks after Sept. 11 have died of cancer in the past five days, the Daily News has learned.
Family members and advocates are blaming their deaths on toxins released into the air after the twin towers collapsed – and they’re urging Congress to act on a bill that would help pay for their medical care.
“Everybody is denying that this stuff is connected to 9/11, but it is,” said Stephen Grossman, whose son Robert died of cancer on Friday at the age of 44.
‘Guy Fawkes’ marches to parliament
A blogger is inviting members of the public to join him in the House of Commons dressed up as the main character from the film and graphic novel V for Vendetta.
The plan follows on from last year’s November 5th events, in which ten protesters wearing Guy Fawkes masks were arrested in Parliament Square, and civil rights campaigners sent every MP a copy of George Orwell’s Nineteen-Eighty-Four.
German Soldiers Get Additive Free Swine Flu Shot
According to a report out of Germany, German soldiers have been given an additive-free swine flu shot that doesn’t contain mercury, squalene, or any of the other dangerous adjuvants associated with the vaccine, raising questions as to why this version of the shot has not been made available to the general population.
An article that when translated is entitled, German soldiers gets non poisonous vaccine, explains how 250,000 German troops have been given a “friendly” vaccine made by Baxter that does not contain “controversial mercury-containing additives or preservatives”.
Unesco Crimelab Would Confront 5 Year Olds With ‘Sex Education’
Just when you think the Unesco people have reached the upper limit of their criminal mindset, a new document emerges that proves you wrong.
An abject draft report on ‘International Guidelines on Sexuality Education’ proposes desensitizing children as young as 5 to the concepts of masturbation and preparing them incrementally for the possibility of an abortion. Although the report sparked a mild controversy in the beginning of September, the final ‘Conference Ready Version’ of the report has not removed the proposals.
EPA Promoting Coal Ash For Consumer Use
Washington, DC — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an explicit partnership agreement with the coal industry to market its combustion wastes for consumer, agricultural and industrial uses without knowing the true health risks, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
Cave paintings more than 20,000 years old found in Deba (Gipuzkoa)
The paintings, found in Deba’s Astigarraga cave, have been described by experts as the Basque Country’s most important finding since the discovery of the Altxerri cave in Aia and Ekain in Deba.
Historic royal charter restored
An ancient document that details the moment when King William the Lion of Scotland granted Royal Burgh status to Perth in 1210 has been restored.
Silchester dig reveals how ancient Britons built a thriving city
The streets and foundations of the oldest town in Britain are emerging on a low hill near Basingstoke in Hampshire – and they may cause history books to be shredded.
Gloucester body ‘is Goth warrior’
A late Roman period body unearthed in Gloucester has stunned experts after tests suggested it was a Goth warrior from eastern Europe.
Oxford Viking massacre revealed by skeleton find
