Silent Singing and John Maclean

 George Gun has written this article first posted on bella caledonia.  It commemorates the 100th anniversary of John Maclean’s death on November 30th 1923.  It argues against Maclean’s death being viewed mainly as a historical commemoration for academic historians, but that his politics in the last year’s of his life are highly relevant to the…

Critical viewpoints to the media onslaught over the West Bank and Gaza

The following four  statements and an additional link examine the escalating war in the West Bank and Gaza from the viewpoint of a) Republican Socialist Platform b) Asad Rehman on behalf of War on Want; c) from Gilbert Achcar, a Lebanese socialist in an article posted by anti*capitalist resistance; d) from Daniel Finkelstein a Jewish…

EL&SD coverage of Palestine, Zionism and Israel since 2002

EL&SD COVERAGE OF PALESTINE, ZIONISM AND ISRAEL SINCE 2002 2023 Uday, One Day Ukrainian Letter of Solidarity with the Palestinian people The Separation Wall – George Gunn Why Ukrainians should support Palestinians The UK establishment is using war to attack protest at home  The Middle East and the world after October 7th, and Israel’s war…

The never ending Murdoch empire

This article by Mike Small on Rupert Murdoch’s ‘retiral’ was first posted on bella caledonia. THE NEVER ENDING MURDOCH EMPIRE The Long 1980s never seems to ever end, but a sign of that era’s departure into the rear view mirror came this week with the announcement of the retiral (ish) of Rupert Murdoch. No-one personified…

Welsh government follows its Scottish counterparts in opposing the anti-boycott bill

The following article by Stephen Topple was first posted by The Canary. It highlights the anti-democratic nature of the Tories’ Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill. This is opposed by both the Scottish and Welsh governments, a welcome development. WELSH GOVERNMENT FOLOWS ITS SCOTTISH COUNTERPART IN OPPOSING THE ANTI-BOYCOTT BILL The Welsh government…

Life imprisonment from the age of 14 – a Turkish show trial

The following article, written by Sarah Glynn, was first posted by bella caledonia. LIFE IMPRISONMENT FROM THE AGE OF 14 – A TURKISH SHOW TRIAL Nobody seriously doubts Mazlum İçli’s innocence. He was 140 km away when the murders took place, as has been proved through many different forms of evidence. But the state needed…

Charity loophole lets US donors give far-right groups $272m in secret

The following article by Lydia Namubiru was first posted by openDemocracy. It highlights the role of US corporations secretly channeling money to far right groups opposed to LBGT+ and women’ rights , especially abortion.   CHARITY LOOPHOLE ALLOWS US DONORS GIVE FAR RIGHT GROUPS $272M IN SECRET A loophole in US charity law is letting…

Challenging the constitution – a review of Pete Cannell’s ‘Scotland after Sturgeon’

Allan Armstrong writes a review of Pete Cannell’s Scotland after Sturgeon CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTION   Anyone reading Pete Cannell’s Scotland after Sturgeon will acknowledge his fair-minded approach to Nicola Sturgeon.  In terms of mainstream politics, Sturgeon, whilst leader of the SNP and Scotland’s First Minister, was “easily the most popular politician in the UK”.  Pete…