UK Indymedia - Sheffield Newswire Archive

“Iran is not what you think it is”

On Thursday Sept. 16, William Beeman visited Grinnell College and gave a lecture entitled “Iran Is Not What You Think It Is.” Beeman is a specialist in Middle East Studies, Japanese Studies, Central Asian Studies, Linguistics and Performance Studies.

He proclaims views on Iran that are contrary to commonly held misconceptions—although he is a strong critic against Iran’s human rights record. In my interview with him, he shared with me a history of Iranian-American relations.

BP: The Unfinished Crimes and Plunder of Anglo-American Imperialism

In the light of British Petroleum’s grotesque crime, as yet unfinished, against humanity in the Gulf of Mexico, it is well to recall briefly BP’s no less hideous crime perpetrated in its earlier incarnation as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) and, later, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC).

Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq’s discourse at the UN Security Council session in October 1951 was one of the most tragic utterances of a country that was being raped and pillaged and striving to retain its dignity:

"It went without saying that as long as the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company had a monopoly over this source of national wealth, the government and people of Iran could not enjoy political independence. Despite its business façade, this company is to be considered as the modern counterpart of the old British East India Company, which in a short span of time extended its control over India. The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company had an annual income exceeding that of the Iranian government; its foreign trade was larger than ours; it intervened actively in the internal affairs of the country, and grossly interfered in our elections to the Majlis and the formation of cabinets, and thus conducting themselves in a manner calculated to wring the greatest profits from resources which it owned and controlled. By a complex conspiratorial network within the country, by widespread corruption of government ministries, and the illegal support to native journalists and politicians, it had in fact created a State within a State. Little by little it sapped the independence of the Iranian nation."

Even as the Iran of today and its democratically elected government face the threat of physical liquidation by the combined forces of Zionism and imperialism, the struggles and aspirations of this great humanist and architect of freedom will remain, to all who strive for justice and decency, forever green.

Anti-deportation rally for all the family Sat 25th

Steve | 24-09-2010 09:07 | Anti-racism | Migration | Sheffield

There is an anti-deportation rally outside Sheffield Town Hall on Saturday 25th September from 12.30pm to 1.30pm to support the Okpara family from Nigeria who are faced with deportation.

The organisers are encouraging families to come and show their support. There will be music and activities for children. Lib Dem Council leader is supporting the campaign and will be speaking at the rally.

Ethical reflections on the 9/11 controversy: The responsibility of the media

While it is recognized that through the use of meta-analysis and randomized controlled trials the standard of excellence in evidenced-based medicine (EBM) stands alone on a pinnacle, there is nonetheless an evidence-based methodology that can be applied across the board in other decision-making areas. Though research into the events of 9/11 has not yet attained the rigor achieved by EBM, it is still possible to rank the research in this field according to evidence-based principles. This article explains the principles, points to sources that exemplify them, and argues the ethical obligation of librarians and journalists to advance those sources.

UK Coal fails to respond to two more Minorca Opencast Objections

This press release outlines why MOPG are still mounting objections to the Minorca Application on economic grounds.

US led militarization of the European Union

The NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal on November 19-20 will inaugurate a new NATO military doctrine for the next ten years. It will confirm the bloc as a 21st century expeditionary force without geographical or thematic limits, one which will seek any opportunity to intrude itself anywhere in the world under a multitude of subterfuges.

The summit will voice unanimous support for a U.S.-led interceptor missile system to cover all of Europe. It will maintain the position that American nuclear weapons must be kept on the continent for "deterrence" purposes. And it will authorize the subordination of nations from Britain to Poland and Bulgaria under a common American-dominated cyber defense structure for war in the "fifth battlespace," for "full-spectrum operations in a new domain."

"Manufacturing Dissent": Anti-globalization Movement Funded by Corporate Elite

We need to challenge the right of the "Globalizers" to rule. This requires that we rethink the strategy of protest. Can we move to a higher plane, by launching mass movements in our respective countries, movements that bring the message of what globalization is doing, to ordinary people? For they are the force that must be mobilized to challenge those who plunder the Globe.

The Crude Awakening, Mass Action 16th Oct

The Crude Awakening | 22-09-2010 11:09 | Sheffield | South Coast

THE CRUDE AWAKENING
A mass action to switch off oil
Saturday, 16 October 2010, Central London

The Invisibles are Coming! Menwith Hill - Sat Oct 2nd

Invisibilii | 21-09-2010 18:22 | Anti-militarism | Sheffield

Powerful protest at Menwith Hill from 1pm. Start at Kettlesing lay-by, HG3 2RF, for walk around the foremost US spybase in the world - and just outside Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

BNP members finding favour with sonic rock sympathisers

The sad story of those who turn a blind eye to BNP members in their midst

English Defence League leaders accused of stealing money by EDL members

The English Defence League leadership have been accused of stealing money by the rank and file members of the English Defence League [EDL]. At a meeting held by EDL members the leadership were accused of stealing money. The leadershipe are now saying that they will stop selling the EDL merchandise, clothing and so on following the accusations of theft and misusing EDL monies.

Minorca Application lacks a through Traffic Assessment

As the Minorca Opencast Protest Group prepares to put it's case to Leicestershire County Council on why UK Coal's Minorca Surface Mine Application should be rejected it has begun to publish it's detailed objections. This Press Release out lines the first of these.

"United Against Nuclear Iran": America's war propaganda mouthpiece

Those who regularly follow the developments of Iran might have come across to the website of "United Against Nuclear Iran", a "non-partisan, non-profit advocacy organization" that seeks to "prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons"

UANI has compiled an elaborate list of the foreign companies and firms which do business with Iran and calls on its readers and visitors to send condemnatory letters and complaints to these companies so as to persuade them to withdraw their capitals and resources from Iran and stop doing business with a country which the United States and its European allies consider to be an emerging nuclear threat in the Middle East.

In a nutshell, UANI's objective is to impair the Iranian nation. They already know that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons. UANI's seeks a weak, demoralized and unstable Iran without an active role in the international community. UANI is not United Against Nuclear Iran, it is United Against the Nation of Iran.

Real versus fake crises: Concealing the risk of an all out nuclear war

We are living history but at the same time we are unable to comprehend the events which shape our future and which are currently unfolding in front of our very eyes.

The details of ongoing war preparations in relation to Iran have been withheld from the public eye.The media is involved in acts of camouflage.

The devastating impacts of a nuclear war are either trivialized or not mentioned. Meanwhile, public opinion has its eyes riveted on what might described as "fake crises".

The fear campaign underlying a fake crisis is intended to obfuscate the real crisis --including the danger of nuclear war-- as well as disarm all forms of meaningful resistance and opposition.

leeds 2nd Queer Film Festival

Leeds 2nd Queer Film Festival - 22nd to 26th Sept 2010

English Defence League sing "Aint no black in the union jack" at EDL protest

The notorious racist and Islamophobic English Defence League were shouting "Aint no Black in the Union Jack" at an EDL protest. The EDL have rioted across the country. Their protests have been attended by the National Front, Combat 18, the BNP, Blood and Honour, Nationalist anarchists and lone racists. They have attacked Muslim women, attacked Mosques & Temples.

Why we love to hate conspiracy theories: 9/11 Truth as threat to intelligentsia

Especially left and liberal professionals and service intellectuals but also right-wing members of the intelligentsia vehemently attack and ridicule “conspiracy theories” such as the present 911 Truth movement.

Why? It’s as though power did not covertly orchestrate its predation of us? Is that not the modus operandi of power?

Ttrainer to face inquiry after greyhound doped with cocaine

Tony Peters | 15-09-2010 11:01 | Animal Liberation | Sheffield

"Only the tip of a very large iceberg" - greyhound protection group

US and its allies should look at their own nuclearpolicy before criticizing Iran

For years, the United States and its allies have accused Iran of being a major nuclear threat because it has violated the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Ironically, the real violators of the NNPT are the same nations accusing Iran. The U.S. and its allies have never been able to confirm their accusations with concrete proof since they are based entirely on suspicion. While the media continues to attack Iran, illegal nuclear activities made by the West remain widely unknown to the public.

New Opencast Applications likely to be less successful ?

This press release highlights the publication of our new Briefing Note which explains why the Minorca Opencast Protest Group believe that a change in Government Energy Policy makes a successful Minorca Surface Mine less likely.

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