ban on tobacco advertising

Since my childhood cigarettes have evoked a Third Man image of a shadowy figure in trench coat and trilby standing on a damp, grey, fog bound city street or leaning against the parapet of a deserted London bridge. An equally exotic woman would be drawn moth-like to the glowing tip of his cigarette "You're Never Alone With A Strand"

The European Union welcomed yesterday a continent-wide ban on tobacco advertising that will come into effect this week.

The move will prohibit tobacco advertising in the print media, on radio and over the Internet from July 31. It also bans the sponsorship of cross-border cultural and sporting events by tobacco companies.

Tobacco advertising on television has been banned in the EU for more than a decade. “Banning tobacco advertising is one of the most effective ways of reducing smoking,” said health and consumer protection commissioner Markos Kyprianou.

Well Guess what Mr Kyprianou. I am proud to advertise and will continue to smoke the following brands.

"You are never alone when you make a stand"

Dib, dib dib. The Decrees of 1933

This was one of the most repressive acts of the Nazi government, this one allowed for the suspension of civil liberties in the wake of the false crisis created by the Nazis as a result of the fire that gutted the Reichstag (parliament) building on the previous day. Without firm evidence, it was put about that it had been set by the Communists as the opening act in the attempt to overthrow the state. The president was persuaded that the state was in danger and, hence, that the emergency measures embodied in the decree were necessary. Even though under Art. 48 of the constitution, the decree would have been withdrawn once the so-called emergency had passed, any hope of this happening was prevented by the establishment of Hitler's dictatorship following the Enabling Act. It was in fact never withdrawn and remained until the end as an instrument of Nazi terror against ordinary citizens who ran foul of the regime.


I am a potential terrorist, I can train you in patriotic terrorism as perpetrated by the British SOE.

Boy Scouts are welcome

On my honour . . .

By giving my word, I am promising to be guided by the ideals of the Scout Oath. . . . I will do my best . . .

Try hard to live up to the points of the Scout Oath. Measure my achievements against my own high standards and not be influenced by peer pressure or what other people do.. . . To do my duty to God . . . and the Queen

My family and religious leaders teach me about God and the ways in which I can serve. I do my duty to God by following the wisdom of those teachings every day and by respecting and defending the rights of others to practice their own beliefs. . . . and my country . . .

I help keep the United Kingdom a strong and fair nation by learning about our system of government and my responsibilities as a citizen and voter. Britain is made up of countless families and communities. When I work to improve my community and my home, I am serving my country. Natural resources are another important part of British heritage worthy of my efforts to understand, protect, and use wisely. What I do can make a real difference. . . . and I to obey the Scout Law; . . .

The twelve points of the Scout Law are guidelines that can lead you, like me toward wise choices. When you obey the Scout Law, other people will respect you for the way you live, and you will respect yourself.. . . To help other people at all times; . . .

There are many people who need you. Your cheerful smile and helping hand will ease the burden of many who need assistance. By helping out whenever possible, you are doing your part to make this a better world.. . . To keep myself physically strong, . . .

Take care of your body so that it will serve you well for an entire lifetime. That means eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly to build strength and endurance. it also means avoiding non christian religions, harmful drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and anything else that can harm your health. . . . mentally awake, . . .

Develop your mind both in the classroom and outside of school. Be curious about everything around you, and work hard to make the most of your abilities. With an inquiring attitude and the willingness to ask questions, you can learn much about the exciting world around you and your role in it. . . . and morally straight.

To be a person of strong character, your relationships with others should be honest and open. You should respect and defend the rights of all people. Be clean in your speech and actions, and remain faithful in your religious beliefs. The values you practice as a Scout will help you shape a life of virtue and self-reliance.

Note that the Boy Scout Oath has traditionally been considered to have three promises. Those three promises are delineated by the semicolons in the Oath, which divide it into three clauses. The three promises of the Scout Oath are, therefore:

Duty to God and country,
Duty to other people, and
Duty to self

DUTY TO GOD AND COUNTRY: Your FAMILY and Christian religious leaders teach you to know and serve God. By following these teachings, you do your duty to God. Men and women of the past worked to make Britain great, and many gave their lives for their country. By being a good family member and a good citizen, by working for your country's good and obeying its laws, you do your duty to your country.

DUTY TO OTHER PEOPLE: Many people need help. A cheery smile and a helping hand make life easier for others. By doing a Good Turn daily and helping when you're needed, you prove yourself a Scout and do your part to make this a better world.

DUTY TO SELF: Keeping yourself physically strong means taking care of your body. Eat the right foods and build your strength. Staying mentally awake means learn all you can, be curious, and ask questions. Being morally straight means to live your life with honesty, to be clean in your speech and actions, and to be a person of strong character.


Dib, dib dib. come join the jamboree, God Save the Queen,

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Oh Fuck wit

5 years ago, when I was working in the states, I dined out on the fact that my daughters were related to the USA's first president. (ok, it was on their mothers side of the family but hey, they are my daughters too).

But this beggers belief UK Deputy Prime Minister notes U.S., England ties

"The terrorists have picked a fight with the wrong people," he said. "We will not concede. We will not be cowed. We will not cave in."

err, 'Washington' was a terrorist John.

"The statistics speak for themselves," Prescott says. "Our countries have a common bond and a common quality of life."

Ermmm, in fact closer to home, isnt 'Washington' a conubation in the North East of England, and what the hell do you know about 'global economies'. You cant even organise local authorities in establishing a legal regional assembly

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Open University

Blackstone

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The Emergence of the Baltic Question

The Federation of the European Union have entered into a Border dispute with the Russian Federation. reported in Pravda

EU officials said enacting the agreement about the Estonian-Russian border was in the common interests of the European Union. Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary of Great Britain, the EU chairing state, particularly stated that the ratification of the agreement touched upon the interests of both the Russian Federation and the European Union. The ratification process should be brought to end, Straw said.

OR WHAT?

The above has reminded me of an eerily prophetic memorandum written in 1925, by Sir James Headlam-Morley, the historical advisor to the British Foreign Office, he explained the critical importance of Eastern Europe to the stability of the continent:

Has anyone attempted to realise what would happen if there were to be a new partition of Poland, or if the Czechoslovak state were to be so curtailed and dismembered that in fact it disappeared from the map of Europe? The whole of Europe would at once be in chaos. There would no longer be any principle, meaning, or sense in the territorial arrangements of the continent. Imagine, for instance, that under some improbable condition, Austria rejoined Germany; that Germany using the discontented minority in Bohemia, demanded a new frontier far over the mountains. . . and that at the same time, in alliance with Germany, the Hungarians recovered the southern slope of the Carpathians. This would be catastrophic, and, even if we neglected to interfere in time to prevent it, we should afterwards be driven to interfere, probably too late.

And prey what has become of Czechoslovakia and has not Austria rejoined Germany within a federal Europe. And as for the southern slope of the Carpathians........ 14 July - Commissioner Danuta Hübner pays first official visit to Romania.

"We want to use all the potential of Europe, and, due to Europe's recent political history, we have huge disparities," said Danuta Hübner, the commissioner for regional policy, "Every citizen has the right to benefit from growth in Europe."

oh well, Sir James Headlam-Morley warned us once before, is there another lesson from history to be drawn here?

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Revolting EU Foreign Policy

Following a popular revolt at the end of May beginning of June when French and Dutch citizens rejected the concept of an EU Diplomatic Service. The EU has now appointed a special Envoy to Central Asia. His appointment comes at a sensitive time following a popular revolt last March in Kyrgyzstan and violence in Uzbekistan in May when police and soldiers reportedly killed hundreds of demonstrators.

Slovak diplomat (Special Envoy) Jan Kubis said: "When I speak of my broad and complex (illegal) mandate, which I think is aimed positively at developing interaction and discussion about how the European Union could work better and more effectively with countries of the [Central Asian] region, it applies to all the [Central Asian] countries,"

Radio Free Europe

So what will he be telling these central asian governments?

Bye your bullets from us and just ignore popular revolt

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Oh bitch history

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

And let us all rejoice with a 2 minutes silence, while we prepare to "Piss on the Grave", of the Traitor Sir Edward Heath.

hat tip Auden

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vacuous LibDim

Back in June, I felt compelled to write to Norman Baker LibDim MP for Lewes following this on the 7th of June

Hansard 7 Jun 2005 : Column 1128

Norman Baker: Does the Leader of the House agree that, in the 21st century, it is somewhat anachronistic, not to say objectionable, that Members of Parliament who arrive here with a proper democratic mandate, having been elected, are not allowed to take their seats unless they have sworn an Oath of Allegiance to an unelected institution? Would not it be more appropriate in these days for an oath to be taken to follow the law, to uphold democracy and to serve one's constituents?

I decline to publish my original letter or his response, as I feel the essence of the exchange will be summed up in my answer to his vacuous note to me on Thursday of this week:

Norman Baker MP
Lib Dem MP for Lewes

Dear Mr Baker
Thank you for taken time to respond to my e-mail. Yes, indeed your note has been helpful, It has demonstrated that, not only are you prepared to lie to attain office but your arguments are mendacious, misleading and duplicitous.

For example and I quote "I have no intention to subvert the state! Indeed I would argue that those who hold the notion that power should be vested in the hands of the un-elected are more open to that charge"

Well, Mr Baker, in what you term our parliamentary sovereign system, over 50% of our laws are now made by an un-elected foreign institution. An Institution to which individuals who are appointed swear an oath of allegiance to subvert the British State. If I am not mistaken, you are a supporter and promoter of this undemocratic process, yet I do not hear you condemn the provisions of Article 213 (2) (ex157(2)) of the treaty establishing the European Community.

Let me remind you, that these un-elected law makers swear an oath before the Court of Justice of the European Union "To perform my duties in complete independence, in the general interests of the communities; in carrying out my duties, neither to seek nor to take instruction from any government or any other body; to refrain from any action incompatible with my duties."

Oh, you may argue that submission to these undemocratic provisions have been made by an elected democratic parliament and are a solemn treaty obligation. You suggest in your note "that we require a "thoroughgoing" reform of the constitutional arrangements in Britain so that the sovereignty of the people is recognised" But let me remind you, the Bill of Rights 1689 is a treaty, a treaty which already recognises the sovereignty of the British people. An act for declaring the rights and liberties of the subject and settling the succession of the crown. The provisions of which require you, before taking your seat, to swear an oath of allegiance.

I ………. swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, . So help me God.

Under the Treason Felony Act 1848, it is treason if "any person whatsoever [shall, within the United Kingdom or without] devise or intend to deprive our most gracious Lady the Queen from the style, honour or Royal Name of the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom".

It also states that it is treason if "any person whatsoever shall, within the United Kingdom or without devise or intend to put any force or constraint upon both Houses or either House of Parliament".

Juramentum est indivisibile, et non est admittendum in parte verum et in parte falsam. (An oath is indivisible; it cannot be in part true and in part false).


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'EU Citizens' Bomb London

Well, well, well

'Home Grown' EU citizens and carrying documents which disclosed their own identity. As for funding, 10 to 1 they were drawing on the dole.

Conclusion

Draw your own!

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O LIMP PICS

Anti-EU Sentiment Rises

For the first time in three years, public opinion in Finland has swung in opposition to the European Union

According to a poll commissioned by the daily Aamulehti, 46 percent of Finns would now vote against EU membership. 43 percent are still in favour. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

The figures represent a drop in support for EU membership by nine percentage points since March.

Newsroom Finland

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compulsory voting

The Leader of the Commons Baff (Geoff) Hoon has called for the introduction of compulsory voting at general elections to reverse the sharp decline in voter turnout.

Mr Hoon warned that "serial non-voters" - particularly among younger people and in the more deprived areas - could threaten the long-term legitimacy of the political system.

Yes, Mr Hoon and lets look at your "serial none voting"

between the 7th of June 2001 and 11 march 2005 Baff Hoon attended 563 votes in parliament out of 1246, i.e. 45.2%.

In a speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research, Mr Hoon said that the turnout at the last general election of 61.5 per cent was way below the 75 per cent plus which had been the norm for most of the post war period. With voting rates highest among older voters, he said that the situation was likely to get worse as the years progressed unless action was taken to stem the decline.

I agree and I think, that any proposed legislation should include the compulsory attendance of those MP's elected to attend the voting process in Parliament too.

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Swan Up Manship

WELCOME
UK
PRESIDENCY
OF THE EU
2005



Logo embarrassment for Government

Lord Lamont demands answers from Jack Straw for possible infringement of Bruges Group copyright

A copy of Lord Lamont's letter to Jack Straw is below

1st July 2005The Rt Hon. Jack Straw MP
Secretary of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH

Dear Jack,

I am writing to draw your attention to the curious fact that the logo that has been chosen to represent the British Presidency of the European Union is strikingly similar to a Bruges Group logo, which was designed for the Group in the early 1990’s and was used in some Bruges Group publications.

No doubt you are aware that breach of copyright is a serious matter. The Bruges Group has taken legal advice and before we consider launching an action for any possible breach of copyright we will give you the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the creation of the British Presidency logo and how the similarities came to arise.

The remarkable parallels between the two logos in question is a matter of great concern and if you cannot adequately explain those similarities then we may seek an injunction to stop the Government using it and demand compensation.

Please find below copies of the logos in question, I am sure that you will agree with me that they are strikingly similar



I look forward to hearing from you by noon Friday, 8th July 2005, failing which we may have no alternative but to refer this matter to our lawyers.

Yours sincerely,

Lord Lamont
Co-Chairman