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fight the battle, win the war, third time lucky, changing the law. 

The anger of the 99% is coming to the fore with the protest movement not least because people are more than a little frightened by the uncertainty and possible chaos not only in the financial market but by the problems associated with climate change already affecting millions. Even now half of all amphibian species are in decline and a third threatened with extinction. History has shown that the more complicated the species, the shorter is its stay on earth.

Go down to part one to avoid a rant, or even for those like me who often have a 10 second attention span, do not read it all in one go. 

For now, the current global protest against the financial system should maybe take up the cause of the financial transaction tax, just a quarter to one tenth of one percent tax on shares and other city transactions, otherwise known as the Tobin tax and by the hypocritical rich as the Robin Hood tax, could raise enough money to pay much of the bills. 

Europe wants it, Barossa representing the people of Europe wants it and Angela is becoming more insistent for its implementation, but the Government of Bankers in England and America refuse even this tiny concession to their obscene greed. They remain unbelievably selfish while others suffer. American and British protesters, take up the cause .25 to stay alive. America and Britain say it would not work because it is not worldwide yet if the US and UK were involved, since they were the cause of the meltdown, it would be enough. This single issue, easy to implement, could make all the difference. 
If the selfish do not change, then they must be held accountable. 

The signs are not good. More than a million marched in London against the Iraq war and it made no difference. Much of the media is still controlled by the right and represents their interest. It does not need a million marchers, it needs a million strong pressure group with an effective press office denying the mistruths perpetrated by the right. It also needs small but effective groups ready to picket any organisation propagating mistruth. There are many needs. The pharmaceutical industry in America employ enough full time lobbyists so that each and every congressman and Senator has three full time lobbyists concentrating just on their case representing the interests of the drugs industry. There needs balance.

Most are already aware that our current chaotic financial was a stitch up caused by American financial Institutions who packaged worthless assets - the mortgages that were mis-sold to people who could not afford to pay for them- for the commissions that they would earn and these worthless assets were bundled together into packages that were then sold and sold again and again and again to other banks whose directors and brokers worldwide all benefitted massively from the enormous commissions that they earned selling assets that were worthless. The pubic purse was used to bail out the basically criminal activities of the servants running the banks and financial institutions. In the process, we the saw the biggest transfer of wealth to private individuals since HENRY VIII ANNEXED, now there's a lovely word, the Catholic Church and all its land and wealth in England. And now when the Buffett tax tells it how it is, many of the same stinking rich accuse the victims of their criminal activity of waging a class war! Yes, bring it on, we want justice, especially for the starving for we are all the chosen ones.

Mr. Cameron tells Europe to go for greater integration yet he stays out of the Eurozone. When Ted Heath was negotiating Britains full entry into the European Union, it was intended that London would be the financial centre of Europe, a zone of special interest, which would have befitted the whole of Europe. Instead the right championed a move towards the American model of fewer rules for the benefit of Big business. Mr Cameron's forefathers were refugee bankers from Germany still intent on maintaining their private interests, he should reflect.

How can our current British Government ape the antics of the American system when 47million Americans are below the poverty line with many cities no go areas at night for pedestrians because it is not safe out there as well as there being no pavements.

Europe benefits its citizens much better. You do not hear about this on Fox news. 

In America, secure and segregated gated communities are available to those who can afford them further widening the social gap between the haves and have nots. We know that stress is the biggest killer in America and we know people are stressed when they see unfortunates destitute. By comparison, citizens in Japan and Europe enjoy a longer life, due to 3 or more factors including genetics, a more egalitarian and fairer society which makes people less stressed, diet and exercise. In America, the two most favoured activities are driving and eating so that Americans now eat half their meals at the wheel.

And for many of the citizens of Russia and China, although theur autocratic regimes can benefit growth bulldozing though enormous projects, its the 1 percent who benefit. Most citizens suffer dreary lives in polluted overcrowded cities or suffering starvation in the countryside because prices of basic commodities have risen so fast. In Russia, half of all males have been imprisoned at some point as an instrument of repression by the state. In China, there were reported over 60,000 cases of civil disturbance in one year repressed by the largest state apparatus.
Is it any wonder that the family is so important in these two countries, both populations having to suffer enormous deprivation because of the psychotic actions of their own leaders.
And the rich all over drive bullet proof BMW and Mercedes. 

Europe has had its own problems but we should count our blessings and recognise that in an imperfect world, its 99% have it better than elsewhere.

Since Thatcher, Britain has joined America for unfettered capitalism and the twin towers of enormous wealth and extreme deprivation and it does not have to be that way. The rest of Europe without the UK, have worked on building a Community for the benefit of its citizens who collectively are better able to take on big business. 

The community originally came into being and Germany and France said after WW2 how could they ensure that Europe after a thousand years of fighting forged a lasting peace, seriously! to put an end to a thousand years of fighting! 
They agreed to share the coal fields on their borders that were the ultimate reason for the war and this economic cooperation led to closer ties in many areas of common interest. The well oiled German Industrial machine combined with the science of French bureaucracy and Benelux and the Netherlands at its heart then over time invited the rest of Europe to join their club providing they followed the rules. Now with 27 members with the aim of bringing everyone up to the standard of the richest. Unfortunately, Europe Agricultural policy of large subsidies has cost the community dearly but while the system is not perfect, it is by far the best there is more for the benefit of its inhabitants. Europe has more of all the best there is to offer Russia is a gangster state and China a totalitarian one and the state insists you follow the official line and prison or worse for those that do not. China does not benefit its citizens, there are reported to be 60,000 anti Government demonstrations as for one half of the population in the country get poorer as prices rise and those in the City have to endure weary lives in dreary towns. The only plan is more industry with all its worst effects of low wages and pollution. Change has to come and a united Europe has shown the way!

After the second World War in the UK, the people thru the Government owned the coal pits and the steel mines, the electricity gas and water companies, as well as the train companies, nationalised, owned by the Nation. Many who worked for these companies were proud to continue the practice of public service and by and large these utilities worked well for the benefit of the community. We need to turn back to this model. 

During that early postwar period in the UK, the National Health service also came into being and I was also able to benefit from a free education and financial assistance while at Uni. England for a while and was a truly socialist country and its people truly pulled together for a better future. In many ways since Thatcher the UK has gone backward while much of the rest of Europe has continued its European Community ways only more recently polluted by the effects of privatisation.
It needed the shock of a war when people had to work together to produce the socialist and labour reforms of 1945-51 and it maybe needs another war on some financial institutions to effect dramatic change. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Europe should now go on its knees to Germany so different from 60 years ago. The Germans hard work and efficiency in production and design and labour relations have enabled them to be rich and compassionate enough to bail out the rest of Europe.  They export more goods than America. Europe balances its trade. The Governments of America and England are now calling on the Eurozone to get it together yet they seem to forget that the euro has increased its value against the £ and $ by about a third since it came into being. I guess one consequence of a reduction in value of the pound and dollar is that they pay in real terms less interest on their outstanding trillions debt to the Chinese and the Arab countries, how very convenient.
The USA and British Governments are calling on the EU to raise a 2 trillion dollar bail out fund to further transfer money to the financial sector. Maybe the EU is right to be cautious as their plans could just further enrich the super rich.
Maybe its the swing of the pendulum. After the German activities of six or seven decades ago, they have tried to make up for it to the extent that the German Government is the only Government to take responsibility for the welfare of animals recognising them as sentient beings. There is little animal testing in Germany. 

Germany is the only country whose Government has accepted their electors decision of no new nuclear generators and for the phasing out of existing ones. This is despite the fact that Germany is surrounded by countries with nuclear power. They are setting a standard for others. This will result in German Industry investing in alternative energy that will benefit their industry and eventually everyone else too.

Germany has long been admired for its workers rights and their kids gave have a much better chance of getting training and jobs, because they do things properly.

In every area, Germany are the pioneers of Europe and demonstrate a better way, even though you might not want to live there. 

Manufactures of packaged goods in Germany are responsible for recycling this packaging collected at the point of sale. Return the empty packets to the shops you bought them from. We should all be following this green model not the unbridled consumerism and waste of America.

Many energy experts believe we passed the point of peak energy last year or this year, the point where demands for petrol or oil exceeds supply hence the US wars in the Middle East. Petrol Companies have a tendency to overestimate their reserves to bolster their balance sheet. And in the short term, things could get serious, yet in the middle term, the outlook is rather positive. Europe with Germany and France at its centre is putting in a system of energy carrying cables that will eventually connect Europe to The deserts of North Africa for solar energy to the North pole for hypothermal energy, and any wind and wave production, including even using nuclear until it can be replaced. And our homes will have a device that will switch automatically from one energy source to another depending on the sun shining and the wind blowing, all within maybe 30-40 years. In the meantime, we have to ensure that the minority who have their freedom value it.

Unfortunately, Murdock continues to set the agenda including criminal mischief. He does not like the Community of Europe as it is able to limit the power of their companies. So their TV and press have been biased against Europe. The press Industry has virtually no controls at all. They are allowed to print lies and affect attitudes of viewers and readers. Their greatest crimes are the lies that their papers continue to spew out thru the TV and press reducing the lowest common denominator to the norm. Shock jocks with the Tea Party ferment outrageous attitudes, all controlled by a small club of rich and selfish men, even denying the benefits of the Buffett tax. 
The biggest demo in the UK ever was the anti War march and not one of Murdoch's 176 newspapers was against the War, distorting not reporting. And despite the ongoing criminal investigations, their corrupting powers and campaign of misinformation for the benefit of big business and not e community continues unabated. They should be charged for crimes against humanity.

And our British Government of rich men is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

It seems that every generation in England has to discover for themselves how corrupt and self interested are the Conservative ruling elite. Cameron's only job previously was as a banker, he does not represent the interests of the community. He promotes for private profit in the Health Service, the Prison and education services as well as defense and private security and others when the firm evidence from America shows that for profit companies do not benefit the community. Standard go down, the customer become a client, a number, holding on the phone for hours, waiting for a machine to answer, and being charged 10p a minute for the privilege, For profit for public service stinks. 
I will not mention the barbaric US penal system imprisoning for profit over 10 times per head than Europe, keeping prisoners in solitary being standard practice. Cameron is promoting this way of life, the 1% benefit.



Part 1

The right are all powerful,
all pervasive, all strong,
controlling the media,
confusing right from wrong

for an answer to the problem,
a reply to a whispered prayer
there has to be something out there
a life force I'm not aware

moving though a vacuum,
filling an empty space
the power of unseen forces
the willingness to embrace


Lovedup, Reasons to be cheerful had the privilege of getting drunk with Ian Drury when he was with the Blockheads and I was Marketing Manager of Pye Records with a drinks cupboard. I guess I was one of the crew that Keith Richards described as white twits in the business that did not know their ass from their elbow yet still the one eyed man flourished. But this is no reason to be cheerful, it was a thousand years ago. How about the news that some mega rich are offering to pay more taxes. Is this not an answer to our current financial woes, and good for business too


I know lurking near 
a gem will appear,
a moment in time 
when life feels fine
liking myself
and loving mankind

for my own mental health
accept the inevitable
if I cannot change things
make them acceptable
only think about 
things I can change
starting up close
within touching range

Keep life simple, keep life sweet,
get closer to nature, choose with your feet,
create heaven on earth, do not pretend its in space
Mother nature provides for the whole human race.

Lovedup 
is the way to be
music and dance
the universal therapy
who gives a dam
the way you look
follow the beat
not a story book

We know that dancing is good for us and we have the evidence from recent research. We know that the Muslim World a thousand years ago prescribed certain types of music depending on the ailment as medicine.

You might think that feeling good is very good but that it does nothing to help the situation but you could be wrong. Has anyone seen Darren Browns experiments. If your cup is rather half full rather, rather than half empty, then you influence for a better result. Though I guess it depends on what's in the cup


On a practical level, we should hand over all the worlds financial institutions and trade practices to Germany. If anyone can sort it out, then they can. They do it properly
A New Europe needs to centralise those things that need centralising and de-centralise everything that can be handled on a local scale. 
And celebrate the differences 
Germany with France and Benelux and the rest of Europe have shown through their existing policies that they offer the best plan for the community. Get out and see. 
While including Greece might have been a mistake, it does not take away from the founding fathers original magnificent aims of eventual economic equality for those involved, the richer helping the poorer. Invite Switzerland to join if it follows the rules and if that idiot Cameron wants to stay outside, make Switzerland the financial centre.
Its all very well America and Britain bullying Europe to put up another 2 trillion Euros into the kitty, but if it ends up again mainly going in the hands of American and British financial institutions, then maybe its time to bring up , make again the subject of the quarter of one percent financial transaction tax on those same financial institutions before handing over any more money. VIVA

Its not exactly rocket science, it needs an all inclusive system which is also accountable, the very model for the European community, and the people of the rest of the world should be protesting to join despite what Murdochs press and TV say. VIva the 99%! With Justice in the Hague. I Am R U?


These matters make my appeal against driving dangerously under the influence of marijuana pretty low on the list of priorities yet legalising and cultivating non t.h.c (the active ingredient in Marijuana) crops for their many benefits could play a part in repairing our planet. Cotton has destroyed vast tracts of land and Cannabis Sativa plants can heal this soil as well as being a fantastic and improved alternative to cotton, and America continues to object. 

Whats all this got to do with my case which after about 6 years is due in the Supreme Court some time next year. 

For me, I am taking up the case the only way it has been offered..

America's business interests continue to dominate the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as their drones patrol enemy territory. 
American business interests also dominates the body that is tasked with controlling the the Worlds drugs policy - the International Narcotics control board the I.N.C.B. 

American interests set that policy. Even now, Obama is unfortunately taking action against the medical marijuana policy policy that has grown up in California. 
American foreign policy affect our lives and their foreign policy is as messed up as their domestic situation.

Europe has to set the agenda for the cause of the community, the 99%

I am asking too much, though my cup is filling.

I was in the middle of a Santo Daime work having drunk two large glasses of thick brown almost bitter honey, the brew called Santo Daime in the Santo Daime work and known as ayahuasca, an ancient brew used in Shamanic works and medicine in Brasil and other parts of South America.
The Santo Daime ceremony is based on the Christian ritual and prayer to include masses of singing and dancing, and boys on one side, girls on another, dancing the same steps to the same rhythm 1-2-3 to sublime music. Some of the time, when its good its very very good, and when its not, its not. 
It is a very safe environment and with so many involved appears to be quite normal. 
Santo Daime translates as Saint Give-me, a favoured highly flavoured cup of tea 
Santo Daime Christian based ritual puts a lot of people off and I must admit my prejudice supports this view, for years beating myself up with the contradictions. Now I realise it provides a beautiful ritual and a safe environment for singing and dancing. That's all that matters. During the ceremony, everyone tries to stay in their own space. If it feels good, then its doing you good. Everything else might be garbage.
Hallelujah, and pass the plate.

Viva Amsterdam, Viva Germany, Viva Europe.

Legal Update, June 2011

Ramblings through Thailand

November 2010

Christmas 2009

Travel Update 13 Oct 09

Sailing Update 13 Oct 09

Story

Evidence (so grand the gift, so small the sin)

Cannabis and Driving, a scientific and rational review

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