OXI Greeks vote for democracy and hope and end to austerity

OXI 61% NAI 39%

Tsipras: "There are no victors or vanquished. It is a victory for all of us. Democracy cannot be blackmailed. We have all won."

— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) July 5, 2015

Tonight is an astonishing victory for democratic Europe. Financial tyranny is losing its grip. #OXI #Grefenderum pic.twitter.com/wTViuCRn9Q

— Team Varoufakis (@TeamVaroufakis) July 5, 2015

Final thought before sleep-discipline kicks in: there was no panic. That is why Tsipras won. Wish I reported clearer by Thurs/Fri: no panic

— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) July 6, 2015

Upsum. There is no Greek default. No Grexit. The Greeks voted for Europe, against austerity. Liquidity critical. ECB has to make next move.

— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) July 5, 2015

The Greek elite who used Goldman Sachs to fiddle Eurozone entry and the euroelite which knowingly accepted this fiddle face day of reckoning

— Andrew Neil (@afneil) July 5, 2015

#Greece 99.21% of total votes counted: "No" 61.33, "yes" 38.67%

— Efthimia Efthimiou (@EfiEfthimiou) July 5, 2015

My documentary with @TheopiSkarlatos will tell this stunning story from the inside and the grassroots. http://t.co/muMxXWgHVl #Greece

— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) July 5, 2015

You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honour. — Aristotle

I send nothing but love to my friends and all people in Greece. Stay strong. — Rudolf Schenker

“In 24h we COULD have an agreement”, I said. But our toxic media rushed to report that I predicted an agreement within 24h. Go figure! — Yanis Varoufakis

For the first time in Eurozone history, people power has happened. — Paul Mason

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras has a lot more leverage to negotiate with the EU leaders after the Greece Referendum result. — Bianca Jagger

Today we celebrate the victory of democracy. Tomorrow, we will all continue our national effort to reach an agreement. — Alexis Tsipras

I want to thank the thousands of people who went out on the streets in major European cities in solidarity with the people of Greece. — Alexis Tsipras

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. — Greek Proverb

The threats and intimidation by the EU failed.

Threats and intimidation by Greek oligarchs and a corrupt elite failed

Greeks overcame fear, did not capitulate under economic terrorism.

Had Alexis Tsipras and Yanis Varoufakis signed what EU tried to force them to sign, it would have been more soul destroying austerity for Greece.

Alexis Tsipras and Yanis Varoufakis have said, enter into fair discussions, reschedule debt in order that it will be paid back, but what we will not do, is punish the poor of this country.

Lies and propaganda the mainstream media helped spread, but it was countered by social media, this blog for a week countered the lies and propaganda.

What would the day bring?

Last night in the centre of Athens singing of Bella ciao, an Italian partisan song that originated during the Italian civil war (a conflict which led to the death of Benito Mussolini and to the collapse of the Fascist regime in Italy). It is sung worldwide as an anthem of freedom and resistance.

Early afternoon, a friend in Athens told me all her tutors, all her friends had voted no. There was hope.

Alexis Tsipras called a referendum.  He was attacked by the EU for doing so. It is called democracy. He said the terms on the table were not acceptable, he asked for a mandate from the Greek people. The Greek people have responded with a resounding NO, the terms from the EU were unacceptable.

Even those who voted YES, they do not support austerity or the EU, but they were fearful of even worse to come, the wrath of the EU being brought down upon Greece for daring to oppose the wishes of the EU. And we have already heard threats that Greece will be kicked out of the euro kicked out of the EU.

The usual garbage from The Sun, Greece descends into anarchy.

Athens tonight, joy on the streets.  But it will not be an easy ride. The full wrath of the EU will be brought down upon the Greek people.

Tis dikaiosynis ilie noite is composed by the legendary Mikis Theodorakis and its lyrics are taken from a poem written in 1949 by Odysseas Elytis.

Dramatic, inspirational and optimistic, it has became a symbol of Greece healing it’s wounds. The song became a hymn for the Greeks after the establishment of democracy in 1974 — a song representing their desire for freedom and progress.

We must all show solidarity with the Greek people.

Whatever the result, oxi has won. In one dramatic week, like the referendum debate in Scotland, it has engaged people, the genie is out of the bottle, there is no going back.

The flame of hope burns bright tonight in Athens. We must not let EU cruelly extinguish this flame, as try they will. Like the Olympic Flame, it must be carried across Europe setting other flames of hope alight.

#Greece says #OXI to Austerity – Yes to Democracy. Public meeting tomorrow 6.30pm TUC London @GreekSolidarity | http://t.co/2A4YNsBHRL

— Stop the War (@STWuk) July 5, 2015

• όχι
• Greece debt crisis: Greek voters reject bailout offer
• Our NO is a majestic, big YES to a democratic, rational Europe!
• Whatever the result OXI has won
• Defying Troika, Greece Chooses ‘Democracy Over Fear’ With ‘No’ Vote on Austerity
• Referendum Result – Campaigners Call For EU Reform And Solidarity With Greece
• The cancellation of German debt in 1953 versus the attitude to the Third World and Greece
• Agora: From Democracy to the Market
• Stand with the Greek people
• What can we do to help the Greeks?
• Economic terrorism

Tax credits

Today David Cameron gave strongest hint yet that he intends to abolish tax credits, part of class warfare on the poor and demonstration of economic illiteracy.

• David Cameron speech: I’ll end welfare merry-go-round

David Cameron is correct, yes we should abolish tax credits, and it would go some way to reducing the welfare bill.

But the way to cut tax credit is to raise the minimum wage.

Tax credit is the taxpayer subsiding bad employers. Raise the minimum wage, pay people a living wage.

If the business is dependent upon paying people low wages, worker exploitation,  then it is not a viable business.

If increasing the minimum wage puts out of business McDonald’s, KFC, Sports Direct and other bad employers, then all well and good.

And shame on Trussell Trust who pay their employees so badly that they have to top up their wages with tax credits. I would expect better from a charity that provides food banks.

And shame on Labour, the usual hypocrisy. Howls that tax credit may be cut. Why not instead call for an increase in minimum wage to make tax credits redundant?

With the exception of Jeremy Corbyn, Labour wannabe leaders were absent from the anti-austerity rally on Saturday.

David Cameron says he wants to create a fairer society. He does this by cutting money to the poor and vulnerable.

There are 3 key drivers of opportunity – strong families, a first-rate education and a welfare system that encourages work.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) June 22, 2015

David Cameron wishes to force people into low paid, mind numbing, temporary, part time, zero hours McJobs by cutting benefits and issuing sanctions that terminate benefits. In other words starve people into work. Or force them into work as unpaid slaves on workfare programmes.

Banks money launder for Fifa

Is anyone suprised HSBC and Barclays caught money laundering for Fifa?

One bunch of criminals aiding and abetting another bunch of criminals.

• UK banks named in football bribery scandal: Barclays and HSBC ‘handled millions in suspect transactions’

Time to bang up the banksters

Barclays

Is it not time we banged up a few banksters?

Each time there is a new banking scandal, more evidence emerges of their criminal activities, it is put down to a few rogue traders. Rogue traders who are not rogues until they get caught.

No they are not rogue traders, they are are criminals working for criminal organisations.

Criminal organisations like HSBC, Barclays, RBS make the mafia look like a little old lady at a  garden party.

Banksters rigged the Libor rate. Not a single bankster in gaol.

Banksters rigged the currency exchange. Not a single bankster in gaol.

Banksters engaged in numerous mis-selling scams. Not a single bankster in gaol.

HSBC banksters money laundered for terrorists, Mexican drug cartels, carried out tax evasion on an industrial scale. Not a single HSBC bankster in gaol.

Banksters crashed the UK economy. Not a single bankster in gaol. Not only UK, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Ireland.

Why does the British government not bang up the banksters? Because Tories are funded by the banksters.

When Ed Miliband was interviewed by Russell Brand he was asked would he bang up the banksters. His answer was cagey.

Ironically I write this at a meeting with banksters. Had I known beforehand, I may have been tempted to organise a rather different reception than the one they had.  But then I would have blown my cover.

• Iceland Begin To Jail Bankers
• Crooked bankers are STILL laughing at the law: Barclays and RBS are hit by new £2BILLION fine for rigging markets – but guilty men are protected by cloak of anonymity

Time to get tough on tax dodgers

When we hear, as we did during the boring election campaign, what do you wish to cut, if not hopsitals, then schools or libraries, or welfare payments, it simply is not true, not if everyone paid their fair share of tax.

It is time we got tough with the tax dodgers.

Open letter to George Osborne

rosbayeswriting

Dear Mr Osborne,

You have spoken a lot of rhetoric about “people who want to work hard and get on”. It sounds fine. Few people would argue with supporting those who want to work hard and get on. But this language automatically excludes as at best insignificant or at worst worthless one particular category of people.

There are some people who, by reason of severe, usually multiple, disabilities, will never be able to be gainfully employed. My daughter is one example. She is in her early thirties and lives in a residential care home. She has quadriparetic cerebral palsy, a learning disability, autism and partial sight. Please don’t feel sorry for her. She has a very good quality of life.

I read a policy document which your government has published on the subject of disabled people. It was called “Fulfilling Potential”. In many ways it was a laudable document. It…

View original post 1,185 more words

Vodafone hashtags get hijacked yet again

Tell us what you'd do with SIM only savings to #GetAnimated by our #SmartCookies http://t.co/W4bdYSXdYv https://t.co/GkdD4EfYjt

— Vodafone UK (@VodafoneUK) March 25, 2015

Vodafone do not seem to learn.

Please hijack their hashtags

• #GetAnimated
• #SmartCookies

and tell them what you think of their tax dodging.

How about @VodafoneUK #getanimated #SmartCookies that automates payment of the tax you owe? #tax #ukuncut

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) March 28, 2015

Of course they could pay the billions of pounds in tax they owe.

Sunrise

Sunrise at 0659 this morning.

Cant and hypocrisy of Bristol and Sheffield Cathedrals

Bristol Cathedral - Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

The key issue is a theological one … what do we stand for as a Cathedral. Economic justice is the Number One issue in the Bible. — Giles Fraser, former Canon Chancellor St Paul’s Cathedral

One reason many do not like the church in particular and Christianity in general is the appalling cant and hypocrisy. Do as we preach, not as we do.

A religion of the poor and oppressed hijacked by Emperor Constantine to become the official state religion of a military empire. Overnight the oppressed became the oppressors. Religion turned into what it had always been, a tool to control the masses, not a means of liberation and salvation for the masses.

St Paul’s learned the hard way when Occupy London Stock Exchange turned up on their doorstep and St Paul’s decided to close for a week on bogus health and safety grounds. Having learnt the lesson the hard way, the clergy of St Paul’s are now working closely with the camp, having been forced to re-examine the core values of Christianity.

Lessons that have yet to be learnt by the administration at either Bristol Cathedral or Sheffield Cathedral. Both located amidst pockets of acute deprivation.

The Deans of both Cathedrals say they want their grounds back, that it is public space, are threatening eviction.

Are those in occupation not the public? Are they not engaging in wide discourse with the wider public? Have they not shown willingness to engage with the clergy of both cathedrals?

If there is a problem, then why are the clergy not talking to resolve it?

Why is Bristol Cathedral working in lockstep with the local council to mount an eviction? Since when has a local council represented local people, let alone acted for local people?

Sheffield Cathedral, a place for all people, unless you happen to be living in a tent as a protester, then pick up your tent and depart.

It is even claimed the camps are not making a difference. Jeremy Paxman made a similar crass comment on Newsnight two nights ago in his dumb preamble prior to an excellent interview with Giles Fraser, former Canon Chancellor at St Paul’s, when he said nothing has been achieved as it has not changed capitalism.

Nothing has changed?

Would Giles Fraser have been on Newsnight two nights ago? Would David Cameron yesterday have been saying action has to be taken against corporate tax dodgers? Would the issues raised by UK Uncut have been on Newsnight last night?

The entire political landscape has changed. The only reasons these issues of social justice and tax avoidance are being raised at all is thanks to St Paul’s in-the-Camp and the numerous camps across the country including Occupy Bristol and Occupy Sheffield and UK Uncut targeting tax dodgers like Sir Philip Green and Vodafone.

As Giles Fraser said two nights ago on Newsnight, minor issues of inconvenience in the greater realm of things are far less important than the issues being raised, issues which go to the core of Christianity and why churches like St Paul’s and our great cathedrals were built.

Giles Fraser was preceded by an odious woman from the Church of England General Synod, lacking in grace and lacking any understanding of the message of Jesus. People like her give all Christians a bad name.

– College Green update
– Sheffield Cathedral Media Release: Occupy Sheffield 5 January 2012
– Occupy the New year!
– The Occupation Continues

Persecution of HMRC whistleblower Osita Mba

Osita Mba HMRC whistleblower

Osita Mba the solicitor at HM Revenue and Customs who has blown the whistle on dodgy tax deals at HMRC is now being persecuted by HMRC. His ‘crime’ to tell a parliamentary committee of the dodgy goings on at HMRC.

He has been told not to enter the Revenue’s building in Westminster without a personal escort from his line manager.

This is disgraceful treatment of a decent man who has exposed wrongdoing within HMRC.

A petition has been set up in support of Osita Mba and all future whistleblowers. Please support and sign.

The man who should be driven out of HMRC is Dodgy Dave Hartnett, the most wined and dined civil servant, the tax dodgers friend.

Be careful what you wish for. As a write I learn he is to be ‘retired’!

Why is it that corrupt and incompetent what are jokingly called public servants are nearly always retired, rarely fired and almost unknown to be prosecuted and thrown into prison?

For Dodgy Dave Hartnett, retirement on a fat penison, nice little earners from dodgy tax dodgers as a thank you is totally unacceptable, his retirement must be behind bars stripped of all pension rights.

He does not go until the summer of next year. No, he must go now, a nice Christmas present for hard working HMRC straff and ordinary tax payers on PAYE who pay their taxes.

Osita Mba is not the only rebel within HMRC.

Calling themselves Dissent, a rebel group of 324 tax office staff with members in every ofice have set up a whistleblowing network to expose what they see as ‘corruption, ineptitude and mismanagement’.

Morale is at rock bottom within HMRC with only 17% of staff having confidence in senior management.

Were HMRC to tackle the tax dodgers there would be no need for public sector cuts.

To anyone who says UKUncut and OccupyLSX are having no effect, would Dave Hartnett be getting the boot if they did not exist?

– Whistleblowing and tax: called to account
– Goldman Sachs whistleblower threatened with the sack
– Quids-in!
– Dave Harnett to step down from HMRC
– Press release: UK Uncut respond to Hartnett’s ‘retirement’
– Rebel tax office staff ready to blow whistle on ‘inept’ HM Revenue & Customs bosses
– HMRC tax deal with Vodafone ‘may have been illegal’