Great Quotes
I have always had more dread of a pen, a bottle of ink, and a sheet of paper than of a sword or pistol. - Alexandre Dumas
Menu
[:en]Grenfell Tower follow up: Prof Imafidon speaks out[:]
23/07/2017
| No Comments
| Uncategorized

Prof Chris Imafidon’s home was in the shadow of Grenfell Towers so he experienced the events as they say ‘close to home’. A close friend of his died in  the fire. He believes the total number of fatalities (rumours on the ground suggest about 500) is being suppressed explicitly to prevent rioting. However I would suggest that this wording as used by senior civil servants and confirmed by David Lammy MP is code for something more brutal. Prof Imafidon…

Read More

[:en]Steven Reiner & Anne Kruger: Fake News- SHAME ON YOU![:]
09/07/2017
| No Comments
| Uncategorized

Steven Reiner and Anne Kruger, professor of Journalism at Stonybrook University School of Journalism, and Anne Kruger, lecturer Journalism and Media Studies Centre, University of Hong Kong have with others produced an online course on News Literacy They have focussed on the importance of news literacy and the critical role of journalists in respect to the importance of verification. However there is no sense of self awareness. There is no understanding of how the established news media has already…

Read More

[:en]Grenfell Tower 14 June 2017 – in memoriam[:]
26/06/2017
| No Comments
| Uncategorized

I went earlier today (25 June 2017) to visit Grenfell Tower site. This is far more chilling in reality than in the photographs. It has the impact of a large concrete grave. Even today that smell and sense of death lingers. I wandered over to the local Methodist Church where the flowers and tokens of remembrance are emotionally powerful. I was in Lagos when it started and felt a sense of horror. I had been in the past chair…

Read More

[:en]new 21st Century Silk road[:]
24/06/2017
| No Comments
| Economics

On the evening of Thursday 22 June 2017 I went to White & Case in London for a presentation on the New Silk Road, formally known as Belt & Road Initiative     (joining together 2 announcements in 2013 of i) a Silk Road Economic Belt, and ii) 21st Century Maritime Silk Road – Note 1). This is a project to link China through Asia (India and SE Asia) to Middle East/ Europe and Africa. While it is a…

Read More

[:en]Otto Warmbier & Philando Castile: look in the mirror – it is calling.[:]
20/06/2017
| No Comments
| Politics

Who are Otto Warmbier and Philando Castile? They are both US citizens and they are both dead. One had a trial and confessed to the charges the other had no trial and was executed. The police man who executed Castile was cleared at trial. The Washington Post called one trial ‘a sham’ even though the defendant confessed but not the other where no crime or offence was committed. In one case the State Attorney says we must ‘accept the…

Read More

[:en]UK Terrorism Alert!![:]
04/06/2017
| No Comments
| Uncategorized

As we come up to the General election in the UK it is crucially important that we identify some key issues. Theresa May has said that we are fighting for our values and she mentioned democracy and pluralism as key values. But she did not mention freedom of speech. History shows us that we loose our freedoms one at a time if we are not careful and that those who do not care for these values will seek to…

Read More

[:en]1917 & Africa[:]
13/05/2017
| No Comments
| history, Politics

  It seems as if  no one in Africa recognises the importance of 1917 for the history of Africa. Without 1917 the fate of Africa in the 20th Century would have been much different. Europe and America had imposed an arms embargo against Africa and the new automated weapons had allowed swift suppression of African liberties. 1917 saw the breakdown of that embargo and the possibility of struggles for independence. Many African historians have been unable to understand the…

Read More

[:en]Farmer’s Market[:]
07/05/2017
| No Comments
| fun and trivia

Well we did say we would cover some trivia!! I  am a keen fan of farmer’s markets. On Saturday mornings a Farmer’s Market comes to Notting Hill and I have been a supporter for many years now.  I have got to know several of the people there with some affection. I buy some  bread and cakes  from a lady who started her own blog. She is keen about music -n I think called Indy –  and  deeply into ecology…

Read More

[:en]Herbert Addo – vale[:]
30/04/2017
| No Comments
| General, network

From my good Kiwi friend Haydn Keenan –  there is nothing I can add: ‘Sad news has just come to me regarding the sudden death of Herbert Addo.  Anyone at Holmewood in the early sixties will remember him.  He was a most naturally gifted sportsmen and generous spirit, who’s smile and personality attracted people to him.  Everyone wanted to be his friend.  In the late fifties Hilary Dennis had been the dominant sportsman at Holmewood.  In every sport he…

Read More

[:en]Apartheid police as organised crime – now we know![:]
29/04/2017
| No Comments
| Uncategorized

Apartheid era officials stole a 25 metre sophisticated printing press, bombed the building to conceal their theft, reassembled the printing press at police Head Quarters and then began printing counterfeit money a court case reveals (note 1 and 2). Jeremy Vearey and Andre Lincoln were officers in ANC’s intelligence organisation who busted the group. Much of this is now playing out in a court in Western Cape. US intelligence became involved as these officials  had been counterfeiting US dollars. It…

Read More