Denile is not a river in Egypt

I know, I know, I am meant to be working on finishing my Ph.D but this set me on edge.


Bush administration accused of doctoring scientists' reports on climate change
· Inconvenient conclusions censored, hearing told
· Researchers warned not to talk about global warming

"The Bush administration was yesterday accused of systemic tampering with the work of government climate scientists to eliminate politically inconvenient material about global warming.

At a hearing of Congress, scientists and advocacy groups described a campaign by the White House to remove references to global warming from scientific reports and limit public mention of the topic to avoid pressure on an administration opposed to mandatory controls on greenhouse gas emissions.

Such pressure extended even to the use of the words "global warming" or "climate change", said a report released yesterday by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Government Accountability Project. The report said nearly half of climate scientists at government agencies had been advised against using those terms.

However, Mr Piltz told Congress even he was taken aback by the extent of the political interference, in technical reports, public meetings as well as exchanges with the media, in which scientists were assigned minders from the administration.

In the survey of 1,600 government scientists by the Union of Concerned Scientists, 46% had been warned against using terms like global warming in speech or in their reports. The scientists interviewed were working at seven government agencies, from Nasa to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Forty-three percent of respondents said their published work had been revised in ways that altered the meaning of scientific findings. Some 38% said they had direct knowledge of cases where scientific information on climate was stripped from websites and printed reports".

The Guardian, 31/1/07

I find this sort of action disgusting.

It is censorship, it is book burning , it is denile. It is seeking to sow doubt were none exist to maintain a system that is unsustainable.
Given the severity of the issue, I would call it a crime against our species.
I feel sick.

Update
WAR ON SCIENCE
I am being sick!

Posted by Evil European | at 13:37 | 1 comments

Dumbest statement ever??

NOTE: Something I never got around to posting, but tomorrows post will put this into perspective

Most likely not the case, but I can't not believe my eyes when reading some letters from the public on the Stern report in Sundays Observer

This was my favorite.

"I do not trust a government scientist's projections of disaster. If there is climate change, I do not agree that the human race is at fault. Compared with the power of nature, man is puny. Even if the human race were partly responsible, the ultimate responsibility could lie with the same scientists who invented, or did not stop, the production of goods spreading greenhouse gas pollution?"
John W Antill
Darlington, County Durham

OMG!!! Where to begin on this one!!!

Posted by Evil European | at 17:42 | 4 comments

Scotland- Land of bigotry and prejudice?

A few years ago, I went 'north of the border' to visit some friends in Aberdeen. These were guys I had meet when living in Denmark and included Scots, Irish, Danes and Dutch. I had a great time catching up with my mates (who, shamefully, I have lost contact with...must remedy), but what i most remember from the trip was how I was made to feel during a party. You see, I have been lucky to travel and live in Europe and have visited the US twice, and in all these times I have never, EVER been made to feel unwelcome or an outsider....except when I went to Scotland. During an unpleseant party I was actively made to feel like an outsider, conversation focused on what bigoted shits the 'English', how PREJUDICE they are etc. I ended up sticking with my mates, and just ended up not speaking to people. I am not very good at picking up on insults, so for it to get THAT bad, it must have been pretty blatant. By the end of the night I was so drunk and PISSED OFF that I ranted, not very effectively, about how prejudice they all were...how hypocritical it all was.
That is not the best part though....you see, I am half-Scottish. My mothers Scottish, and my Grandfathers side of the family are Scottish. It is possible to trace back the family roots to Rob Roy, who is a distant relative, and beyond. Mentioning this, I am not kidding, elicited the response that I was only half and arsehole! My, and they say the English are intolerant!
Well, it look like the prejudice will continue....

"Senior Cabinet ministers including Gordon Brown and John Reid have been warned that Catholic church leaders will campaign against Labour candidates in the Scottish elections if the government requires Catholic adoption agencies to allow gay couples to adopt."

Mario Conti, the Catholic archbishop of Glasgow, has written to five Scottish Cabinet members - the chancellor, the home secretary, trade secretary Alistair Darling, transport and Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander, and defence secretary Des Browne - repeating his warning to Tony Blair that preventing Catholic agencies from discriminating will be a "betrayal".

Senior Catholic officials said yesterday they planned to turn the controversy into a major political issue in May's elections, and pointed to the Scottish National party's claims this week that it would retain the right of Catholic agencies to bar gay couples. Church leaders will urge Catholic voters to remember the track record of each party and cast their vote for the parties and candidates who were closest to the moral stance of the church."
The Guardian, 26/1/07

Seems that the SNP in its bid for independence will use this issue as a weapon. What makes me laugh is that the whole gay adoption issue is actually light on substance but strong on symbolism. After all, adoption is not a major policy but the prejudice that an exemption would enshrine WOULD be rather unpleasant. It would not be long before other groups sought exceptions. What a wonderful, free, independent Scotland that would create. Built on the back of homophobia. There have been threats to shut down Catholic adoption agencies and given the rather long history of child abuse in the Catholic Church, that might not be a bad thing.

Look, I don't have an issue with Scottish independence, and while I would be sad if Scotland left the UK, at least I could get two passports. However, given the way that parts (PARTS, I doubt even a large minority are anything like what I experienced at that party) of Scotland seem to be heading, I would have to consider hard if I wanted a Scottish passport. An independent Scotland built on hatred or fear of other, be they English or gay, would not be a good thing. In a world of ever growing interdependence, interrelationships, and common fate, identifying oneself as one thing or another is only an issue if it is built out of fear or hatred. We are not one thing but many things, what matters is not the identity as much as how we use it.

All this talk about nationality and identity, does leave me wondering......who am I?
Brother, British, son, Southern, student, colleague, grandson, uncle, friend, European, gay, lost....human? All and more I hope!

Posted by Evil European | at 13:50 | 0 comments

Human rights for FUCKING IDIOTS!!!!

Bah, still cutting back on the caffeine...STILL IN A BAD MOOD! This time, Human Rights will be getting it in the neck, but unlike SO many FUCKING morons, I will be sticking up for them
Far to often I hear 'human rights bad', 'bloody unelected EU judges poking in OUR business', 'next prisoners will be allowed to rape babies otherwise their 'rights' will be infringed' and other horse shit like comments based on half truths and fear in the Daily Bile, The Sun, Express, Times, Telegraph.
The funny thing is, most people don't even know what these rights are. Well, here they are.

YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS!

1 - obligation to respect human rights
2 - right to life
3 - prohibition of torture
4 - prohibition of slavery
5 - right to liberty and security
6 - right to a fair trial
7 - no punishment without law
8 - right to respect for private life
9 - right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
10- right to freedom of expression
11- right to freedom of assembly and association
12- right to marry
13- right to an effective remedy
14- prohibition of discrimination
15- derogations (allows countries to derogate during times of war/emergency)
16- exemption for political activities of aliens
17- prohibition of abuse of rights
18- limitations on permitted restrictions of rights

Maybe I am a total fucking idiot but I really dont see anything offensive here. If anything, these seem like traditional British values, democratic values. I wish the fucking idiots who pipe on about these evil Human rights would actually fucking read them!

I can think of two reason why people bitch about them. The first is confusion. For starters, these rights are up held by the European Court of Human Rights, under the Council of Europe...NOT the EU (large number of people just HATE ANYTHING that is EU). The Council of Europe came about after the horrors of the Second World War, and the UK was the LEADER in drafting them. This period of post-War active engagement with mainland Europe gave war to arrogance regarding Europe, until they started making huge amounts of money and the UK economy went tits up.
The UK was also tardy getting the act into UK...1998, 48 years late. Up until then, if you had a problem with the government, you had to go to Strasbourg to get justice. You can get it in the UK now. This lateness has also meant that there is only a limited number of judgments resulting from previous cases. Many cases are being brought forward that would have otherwise been resolved years ago. The UK also lacks a written constitution with in which many of these issues would have been addressed.
It is also important that just because someone has a case, it does not mean they will be successful. But then, this FACT does not make an interesting headline within which the daily Bile can make 'middle england' foam at the mouth.

The second issue I feel is far more worrying. I get the impression that part of the problem is that these rights apply to ALL, and not just specific self-proclaimed groups. They don't like the fact that they no longer have total control over everyone else, and would seek to use these rights to deny the same rights to others. I don't know who they are, but they are out there. Maybe I am prejudice myself but I can't help but thinking its the 'little englanders', the British version of American Christian fundamentalists. Thankfully they are so disorganised, at the moment. (I am going to have to look into the creature that is the 'little englander'!)

Look, to be fair, I would rather have a tonne of pointless cases than not have these Human Rights. The thing about rights is that they impact on each other as much as on ourselves. These rights are not set in concrete, the only way with which to keep them alive, relevant and useful is to keep pushing and poking, that way we can see what nation we live in and what values we have.
I believe these rights are admirable and worth protecting.
If you disagree, I respect your right to disagree, but I also think, YOUR A FUCKING IDIOT!!!!!!

Posted by Evil European | at 09:38 | 3 comments

Killer T-Shirts!


Nice to see that the Battle of Good against Evil, or freedom against tyranny, them and us and a million and one other horse shit slogans in this War of Terror, which seem designed to treat the general public like mushrooms (kept in the dark and feed shit) to stop us from actually thinking, keeps those freedoms alive by jumping all over them!!! (De-caffinating my body....SLIGHTLY WOUND UP!)

Image is from Wayodd.
From the BBC via Pam's Place.

"A passenger barred from a Qantas airlines flight for wearing a T-shirt depicting US President George Bush as a terrorist has threatened legal action. Allen Jasson said he was sticking up for the principle of free speech by challenging the decision by the Australian flag carrier.

Mr Jasson was stopped as he was about to board the flight from Melbourne to London last Friday.Qantas said the T-shirt had potential to offend other passengers.+

The T-shift features an image of President George W Bush, along with the slogan "World's Number One Terrorist".

"I am not prepared to go without the t-shirt. I might forfeit the fare, but I have made up my mind that I would rather stand up for the principle of free speech," he told Australian media.

A Qantas spokesman defended the airline's decision, saying: "Whether made verbally or on a T-shirt, comments with the potential to offend other customers or threaten the security of a Qantas group aircraft will not be tolerated."
BBC News, 22/1/07

I can't help but think back to the Mootoons.....Kettle, meet pot!

However, what really got me was the fact that a t-shirt could be considered a security threat! Is there something that the airlines, t-shirt manufacturers of the world, the government, is not telling us? Are t-shirts being secretly recruited into Al-Qaida? Are they going to turn on use all when we least expect it? Are other items of clothing in on this? Trousers? Underwear?

This would be silly if it was not so over the top. Those cheerleaders of conflict keep on about our freedom of speech in the face of Islamist groups. Yeah, right. There is something very 1984 about all this. i doubt it is the first example, or the last.

I wonder if he would have got into trouble if he had a picture of the Mootoons, or one saying how great George Bush is?

Posted by Evil European | at 12:09 | 0 comments

Ruth Kelly needs a new job

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to remove Ruth Kelly from the position of Minister for Women and Equality.

'Ruth Kelly is incompatible with this position as she holds views about homosexuality (and other issues) which are contrary to the equality agenda which it is her ministerial duty to promote. She has voted for motions to deny homosexuals rights to adoption, hurting chances of equality for homosexuality. The government would not find it acceptable to have a minister with a non-existent record of opposing racism in Kelly's position, and it should not be acceptable for Kelly to be in her position with a non-existent record of opposing discrimination against Homosexuality.'

CLICK HERE TO SIGN!

I am sure people will harp on about 'her freedom of speech blah blah blah' but thats not what this is about. She has a job to do, that as Minster for Women and Equality, and it is becoming clear that she, as a result of her beliefs' is unable to provide me and other confidence in her abilities to undertake her work. As such, she should be replaced/moved into a position that won't cause conflict.

SIGN IT!

Posted by Evil European | at 09:59 | 3 comments

That was quick

Didn't take long for the bile to flow from the Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty.
From The Independent via Nosemonkey.

"Mr Stoyanov, of Bulgaria's Ataka Party and the parliament's youngest MEP, had denied being anti-Semitic but said he opposes the "Jewish establishment", which uses normal Jewish people "like pawns". Justifying criticism of Roma communities, he argued: "If you put the children in a bad parental environment you cannot expect them to integrate. If you turn a daughter into a prostitute when they are 12 years old you cannot expect them to develop a moral awareness.

"They are sending their daughter out begging or selling them to older men. Sometimes you forget about human rights because of ethnic rights."

Last night, Mr Mote said: "I think the comments... reflect the inexperience and lack of political nous of the young man concerned. I have twice given him the opportunity to make a statement and he has rejected the opportunity to do so."
The Independent, 17/1/07

So not only does the antisemitism and Roma bashing start at the launch press conference but we also see the way the members think. Notice, how the criticism would seem to imply not so much what he said but that he said it in public.

I am sure that this is not the last we will here of them.

Posted by Evil European | at 23:34 | 0 comments

There goes the neighbourhood

Something smells bad in Brussels and it ain't the mussels.

"The far-right caucus in the European Parliament was officially launched yesterday with anti-immigration and a defence of "Christian values" to form the backbone of its political platform."
EUobserver, 16/1/07

The Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty (ITS) group is made up of MEPs from The Front Nationale (Fr), Vlaams Belang (Be), Greater Romania party, Freedom Party (Au), National Union Attack (Bu), Alternativa Sociale & Fiamma Tricolore (It) and one former member of UKIP (UK). To be honest, I am surprised that some of the Conservatives and UKIP members from the UK has not joined up!

I have to make it clear, I don't think these MEPs should be banned or funds with held. They were democratically elected to the European Parliament, even if said parties don't support either the European Parliament or democratic principles for that matter. However, that does not mean I have to like it! It should provide a bit more drama and comedy for that matter as such groups tend to be lacking in political substance beyond xenophobia.

It will be interesting how long they can hold that xenophobia off from attacking each others countries.....far-right political groups do have a habit of turning on themselves......and having seven nationalistic groups 'working' together.......well, just sit back and watch the implosion.

Posted by Evil European | at 14:35 | 2 comments

Ohhh la la!

This is enough, depending on your geographical location, to give your average Franco-phobe/Anglo-phobe a nervous breakdown.

"Britain and France talked about a "union" in the 1950s, even discussing the possibility of the Queen becoming the French head of state, it was reported today."
The Guardian, 15/1/07

The BBC will being running a documentary on the subject, 'An Unlikely Marriage' tonight on Radio 4. It came to nothing, though a few months later the Treaty of Rome was signed which signaled another, different type of 'union'.

I know that it is very unfashionable...you know, being pro-anything European, but I am Evil after all, but I have always thought of the relationship between Britain and France as one akin to a marriage. While segments of the press and blog world might harp on about 'Johnny Foreigner' the reality is that the UK and France have a very close and effective relationship. However, like many such relationships, they tend to be fraught with tensions. Like close friends and family, you should be able to disagree, fight and tear chunks out of each other. And at the end of the day know and ultimately acknowledge that the relationship is one built on trust, respect and mutual inter-dependence.
Much is made of the 'Special Relationship' between the UK and the USA- shoulder to shoulder? More like head up arse. That relationship is very one sided, with little respect and mutual dependence from the US side. This is not to say that the UKs relationship with the USA is not important, its just that the limitations and realities of it are rarely, publicly acknowledged in London.
The relationship between Britain and France is very much one of equals- economically, politically, and militarily . We share similar concerns and have similar issues. Also,we can screw them up as much as they can screw us up.

In many ways, the UK and France are already in a union of sorts, and the concerns and issue that effect us also impact on other countries, European countries in particular. What we need is some sort of 'European Union' in which issue that are off collective concern and mutual interdependence, such as trade and the environment could be discussed and action coordinated. Maybe have common defence issue as well. Now that would be an idea!

I only speak for myself, but.....

France...mon ami!

Posted by Evil European | at 15:22 | 0 comments

Hell freezes over as the world warms up

It looks like reality might actually trump political dogma.

"George Bush is preparing to make a historic shift in his position on global warming when he makes his State of the Union speech later this month, say senior Downing Street officials."

It seems that events int he real world have finally forced the Bush regime to acknowledge what the global scientific community and their own scientists have been saying.....that climate change is real, that it is being caused by humans, and that if we don't do something about it, we are screwed!

"A change of heart on the environment was signalled earlier this month when the US administration unexpectedly announced that polar bears were now an endangered species because their habitat in the US state of Alaska had suffered from melting ice sheets caused by global warming. The government is now required to act on threats to the bears' survival."
The Observer, 14/1/07

Welcome to the real world! However, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

Climate change was the 900lb Gorilla sitting in the corner. It was big in the 90s, but unlike so many 'fashions' it did not go away. The world moved on, became interested in other 'issues', such as the Monica's (as in Friends and stained dresses), and saw the environment and climate change as 'so 1990s'. The problem was, not only did the 900lb climate Gorilla come back, it brought its mates and started tearing up the place.

Climate change has moved a fringe issue to THE issue. The Stern Review made the case for action from an economic (ie money being the only thing politicians understand) point of view, the EU is making (another) push, the science is being refined.

The immediate future will most likely see one last push from the every more vocal and ever more marginalised 'flat-earth' brigade (why are most of these groups/individuals American?). But remember, being loud does not make you popular or right!

Posted by Evil European | at 16:23 | 3 comments

Blogger '2.0'

Two weeks into the new year, and this is my first post, sickness, Ph.Ding, and general 'can't be botheredness', but finally got round to doing something.

Something being playing about with Blogger 2.0. I have have no knowledge of html etc and so I have found the new Blogger to be a breath of fresh air. More to the point, with the elements side of things, I am less likely to totally louse up everything.

Hopefully, I will settle on a nice pretty colour scheme, maybe with less blue! Also added contacts and am thing about the future (I AM going to finish this chuffing Ph.D)...and how I would like to expand the blog into something 'else' (in the fullness of time).

A belated happy new year.

Posted by Evil European | at 21:35 | 0 comments

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