The White Rose Movement: Leaflet 5

Bette Middler sings 'The Rose' which I thought may be appropriate

My thanks once again to Jesses Cafe Americain blog for the article:

http://jessescrossroadscafe.blogspot.co.uk/

On the 70th Anniversary of the Munich Students Movement - The War is Lost - The Future of Europe

It is interesting to read this now, when Europe once again considers what its shape and its future will be. And the rest of the world as well.

This leaflet was written and distributed in January, 1943. Intelligent and open minded Germans could see the decline and fall coming, even while the Reich was intensifying its efforts to feed the hatred and delusion with its lies.

I was always struck by the fact that even while the Russians were shelling Berlin, there were gangs of Nazi thugs roaming the streets, hanging old men and even boys who were not in uniform, labeling them as slackers. The will to power calls out the madness. Always. If men who would be gods cannot create and sustain life as God does, then they must ravage and destroy life, and the creative impulse and diversity of art, and finally themselves in their delusion.

As Charles Upton said, "This is why true evil always exhibits a tell-tale mixture of diabolical cunning and immense stupidity." It only imitates and steals its forms from true being, but remains a souless and non-productive aberration of genuine life.

The White Rose

Fifth Leaflet

Munich, 1943

We will not be silent.

The war is approaching its destined end. As in the year 1918, the German government is trying to focus attention exclusively on the growing might of our submarine warfare, while in the East the armies are constantly in retreat and invasion in imminent in the West. Mobilisation in the United States has not yet reached its climax, but already it exceeds anything that the world has ever seen. It has become a mathematical certainty that Hitler is leading the German people into the abyss. Hitler cannot win the war; he can only prolong it. The guilt of Hitler and his minions goes beyond all measure. Retribution comes closer and closer. 

But what are the German people doing? They will not see and will not listen. Blindly they follow their seducers into ruin. Victory at any price! is inscribed on their banner. "I will fight to the last man," says Hitler-but in the meantime the war has already been lost... 

What can we learn from the outcome of this war-this war that never really was our own national war? 

The imperialist ideology of force, from whatever side it comes, must be shattered for all time. A one sided Prussian militarism must never again be allowed to assume power. Only in large-scale cooperation among the nations of Europe can the ground be prepared for reconstruction.

Centralized hegemony, such as the Prussian state has tried to exercise in Germany and in Europe, must be cut down at its inception. The Germany of the future must be a federal state. 

At this juncture only a sound federal system can imbue a weakened Europe with a new life. The workers must be liberated from their condition of down trodden slavery under National Socialism. The illusory structure of autonomous national industry must disappear. Every nation and each man have the right to the goods of the whole world! 

Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the protection of individual citizens from the arbitrary will of criminal regimes of violence-these will be the bases of the New Europe. 

Please make as many copies of this leaflet as you can and distribute them.

Source: http://jessescrossroadscafe.blogspot.co.uk/

Korea to raise 'comfort women' issue at UN General Assembly

Korea to raise 'comfort women' issue at UN General Assembly

Korea's top diplomat plans to implicitly raise the issue of so-called "comfort women" at the U.N. meeting this week, a foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday, in a move that would turn up the heat in the sensitive matter with Japan.

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan has been finalizing the content and tone of his speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Friday and the speech will include a reference to a "breach of women's rights committed during wartime," ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young said. 

"In his keynote speech, Minister Kim will definitely refer to the importance of a correct understanding of history and a breach of women's rights committed during wartime," Cho said. 

Cho said it has not been finalized yet whether the minister will directly mention "Japan" and "comfort women," a euphemistic reference to up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, who were forced to serve as sexual slaves for front-line Japanese soldiers during World War II, in his speech. 

However, it would be the first time that South Korea raises the issue at the U.N. General Assembly, although it has been discussed at U.N. committees.

Korea has repeatedly stressed that the issue of Japan's mobilization of Korean women as sex slaves should be resolved urgently as most victims are elderly and may die before they receive compensation or an apology from Japan.

 

Japan has so far ignored Seoul's demand for official talks on the matter, claiming all issues regarding its colonial rule were settled in a 1965 package compensation deal reached when the two established diplomatic relations.

Korean officials have said the issue of Japan's wartime sexual slavery goes beyond bilateral relations because it was a breach of women's rights committed during wartime as well as a violation of universal human rights and historic justice.

The tone of Kim's speech has been adjusted after evaluating a speech by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to the U.N. meeting on Wednesday (local time). 

Speaking at the U.N. assembly, Noda neither named Korea directly nor mentioned the issue of Dokdo, the South Korean easternmost islets where Japan has also laid its claim. 

However, Noda said his nation has "consistently" accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and called for strengthening the rule of law in resolving territorial disputes, in an apparent message taking aim at Korea. 

Korea has flatly rejected a Japanese proposal to take the issue of Dokdo to the ICJ, saying that no territorial dispute exists regarding Dokdo and the matter is not one to be dealt with through diplomatic negotiations or judicial settlement.

The ministry spokesman Cho denounced Noda's remarks. 

"The rule of law and the international legal procedures should not be exploited for political purposes," Cho said, when asked about the ministry's stance on Noda's speech. 

"Along with the rule of law, I would like to repeat that the correct understanding of history is equally important," Cho said. 

Diplomatic tension remains high between South Korea and Japan following the unprecedented Aug. 10 visit to Dokdo by Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who cited Tokyo's unrepentant attitude over its brutal 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula as a key reason for the trip.

Meanwhile, Kim and his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba will hold a bilateral meeting late Thursday (local time) in New York to discuss outstanding bilateral issues, Seoul officials said. 

"The planned meeting between the foreign ministers is expected to serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of developing bilateral relations in a future-oriented way as well as effective and continuous communication between the diplomatic authorities of the two countries," the Seoul ministry said in a statement. (Yonhap)

(source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/09/120_121049.html)

Art from War: Pale Armistice, Rozanne Hawksley 1991

Pale armistice 1991: Rozanne Hawksley

Early last year, I had the privilege of visiting the 'Women War Artists' exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, London (as I may have mentioned in earlier posts). One of the pieces that really hit me was 'Pale Armistice' by Rozanne Hawksley, and, due to my earlier posts today being about 'Remembrance', I thought that I would take another look at this wonderful piece. 

At the time of my visit, I was researching for my Degree Show, and had decided to highlight the plight of the Korean Comfort Women (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_women for background information on the issue) and believed that the exhibition would be of interest and more so, inspiration. As a middle-aged white male, I was having difficulty in how I would translate such an horrendous experience sensitively, without voyeurism or graphic depictions of the horrors, into something which could tell the story whilst retaining the dignity and humanity of the women involved. I felt that I was walking a minefield whereby I could inadvertently cause offence racially, culturally or through the naivety of my grasp of gender politics. Hence feeling that 'Women War Artists' might be of some help in my struggle for expression.

I was moved almost to tears by the seeming simplicity of Hawksley's work. I am not a great reader of labels at exhibitions, I prefer to make my own conclusions when faced with a piece of art that touches me, and to be quite honest, it was some months after my visit, before I did some research to read about the artist and the piece.

From a distance, I saw a simple white wreath with lilies to one side. It was only as I got closer that I could see that the wreath was made from a multitude of women's white gloves (I never noticed the bleached bones)! This was not a big piece of art, in fact it was rather small and unassuming. However, this belied the power of the emotion that it caused within me. I presumed the piece to represent the loss of the women whose hands would never hold their sons, lovers or husbands again; the fingers of those who would never wear a promised ring, or would still wear the ring of a loved one that would never return. It was a piece which simply and eloquently spoke to me of the dignity of women faced with inconsolable grief, both as individuals and as the women of a lost generation of men. There was nothing harsh about this piece of work. There were no physical edges or hard lines. The contour was broken by the fingers of gloves softly peeling back with gravity. The fabric of the gloves were soft and tactile. Yet this piece was as hard as stone, telling a story of inconceivable pain and loss with a whisper as hard as a punch. How many lonely tears had each of those hands secretly wiped away in the dead of night as they remembered their loved ones? These were my reflections.

'Themes of memorial, family history and the morality of war are interwoven in Rozanne Hawksley's Pale Armistice. A funeral wreath made from overlapped white gloves with artificial white flowers and found bleached bones, it articulates the hidden suffering of women bereaved in the First World War. The work was created in memory of the artist's grandmother . Through the 'feminine' medium of textile and stitching the artist points to the need for an exploration of the past as experienced by women. Works such as Rozsika Parker's 1984 book The Subversive Stitch have been influential in changing attitudes to sewing and embroidery, challenging the historic undervaluing of women's artistic outputs and critically re-evaluating the medium and its place in women's social interaction.'

(source: Women War Artists, Kathleen Palmer, pub. Imperial War Museum, London).

Needless to say, my Degree Show was informed by this piece. I have already explained in an earlier posting the works so will not go back into that now, suffice it to say that the piece 'Hayaku, Hayaku' (above) was directly influenced by Pale Armistice!

Flanders' Field of Poppies, Royal British Legion Campaign

Further to my earlier post, I thought that I would share the campaign page from the Royal British Legion:

Flanders' Field of Poppies

In 1918, 11 November  signalled the end of The Great War; the Armistice was signed. Since 1921, the nation has come together to remember the sacrifices that hundreds of thousands of British and Commonwealth Service men and women made - not just during the Great War, but World War 2 and all subsequent wars and conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan.

To salute all these heroes and express the gratitude they deserve this Remembrance Day, the Legion is planting a "Flanders Field" of Poppies beside the ramparts of the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.

Please be part of this heartfelt act of commemoration by dedicating a poppy with your personal message. Every poppy planted is one more deed of courage remembered. The Menin Gate is unique because it is the only place in the world where the fallen of the Great War are remembered each day.

Please dedicate your poppy by completing our on line form before Thursday 1 November so we can make sure it is planted in Ypres on 11 November and plays a part in our special Remembrance Day. Your message could be to a member of your family who fought in the Great War or to remember the thousands who have laid down their lives for our country since then.

About the event

The Flanders Field of Poppies tribute will be displayed beside the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres (now Ieper), Belgium, close to the area that bore some of the heaviest fighting of the Great War. Our "Flanders Field" will be a poignant reminder of the courage and valour shown in desperately difficult circumstances.

In early November, a team from the Legion will drive to Ypres in Flanders with the poppies and  will plant them on the banks surrounding the Menin Gate and on the field above the Gate as well. Our Flanders Field of Poppies will be in full bloom for Armistice Day on Sunday 11 November 2012.

On Armistice Day itself, a service will be held at St George's chapel at 10.00am, followed by a procession to the Menin Gate. There will be a service at the Menin Gate after the 2 minutes silence at 11.00am. The service is being organised by The Last Post Association and will be attended by representatives of the Legion together with thousands of people making the pilgrimage to Ypres to pay their respects.

Menin Gate

Ypres (now Ieper) is a town in the Province of West Flanders in Belgium which was totally destroyed in the First World War and has been rebuilt. The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing is situated at the eastern side of the town on the road to Menin.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the First World War battlefields. It now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer in July 1927.

Each night at 8 pm the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate while members of the local Fire Brigade sound the Last Post in the roadway under the Memorial's arches. It is the only place in the world where the fallen of the Great War are remembered every day.

For more information or to make donations:

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/flanders-field-of-poppies/

Poem of the week: In Flanders Fields, John McCrae

Sorry that I have been remiss in posting anything this week, but we have been spending every spare minute trying to organise the event which I publicised for Saturday. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to postpone it today. This is obviously a great disappointment to us and more so to the Mtaala Foundation (http://www.mtaala.org/Mtaala_Foundation.html) who were to gain from the proceeds to further their fantastic work. Hopefully, this can be rearranged for the near future, and I will let you know in due course.

Coincidentally, an envelope dropped through my door this week from the Royal British Legion (http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/) for their fundraising campaign coinciding with Armistice Day, this year. It contained a large poppy. The intention is for people to make a donation to the charity and to send the poppy back, to be 'planted' at the historic Menin Gate in Flanders.

For those not in Britain, who are unaware of the symbolism, the poppy is worn across the UK on and before Armistice Day each year, to remember and pay respects to the fallen of all Wars, on what we refer to as 'Remembrance Day.' I have said before in this blog that I have no understanding of why anyone would wish to enlist in the armed forces, however, this does not negate the need to remember those that have, and have paid the ultimate price. I, along with the vast majority of the country, wear our poppies with pride.

Along with the poppy was a leaflet with 'In Flanders Fields' on the reverse. In tribute to this campaign, I will transcribe the poem here and share it with readers.

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/flanders-field-of-poppies/

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky 

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep. though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

(Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD)

John McCrae is remembered for what is probably the best known and popular of all World War I poetry. It is believed the he was so moved by the death of his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who had been killed by a shell burst, and inspired by the profusion of wild poppies he could see in the nearby cemetery, that he wrote 'In Flanders Fields'. Sadly John McCrae did not survive WWI; he died from pneumonia whilst on active duty in 1918.

Source: British Legion Campaign Leaflet 2012

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/flanders-field-of-poppies/

Mtaala Foundation: Hope for children in a cruel world

I have made reference through this blog about the Mtaala Foundation on a few occasions, the latest being that the event that we are having next Saturday night is going to be a fundraiser for an exhibition space that we are creating which will give 20% our profits to Mttala. As an artist who works with 'The Detritus of War' as a starting point of my art works, I am really proud to be able to support and to try to publicise this fantastic cause. Nick and Clara took over the Foundation a few years ago after visiting the orphanage while Nick was researching his book 'Guerrilla, Gorilla,' and found that the children were being used as prostitutes.

Imagine that you are abused and made to be a child soldier, to then be abused by those that 'rescue' you. Nick and Clara have put their financial lives on the line to make this work for the children. To keep these children safe they 'bought out' the charity in Uganda, and now run the school from the UK. Why would artists with a conscience not be proud to align ourselves with such good people and with such a good cause.

If you have the ability, here are their details; please donate to them if you can. A small amount can make a big difference!

You can make a difference.

Your donation can change the life of a vulnerable Ugandan child.

http://www.mtaala.org/Mtaala_Foundation.html

We’ve come together with a passion for changing the world.

Through our Educational Partnership and Student Sponsorship programs, the Mtaala Foundation works with individuals and communities in Uganda to develop projects begun by these very same Ugandans.  Instead of dictating projects that people don’t really need using methods that aren’t very effective, we work with Ugandans to help Ugandans. It’s effective, empowering, and rewarding.     

We rely primarily on volunteer support and donations. The communities we work with have big dreams, and we’re here to make sure they have an opportunity to realize them.  Check out our programs.

The Mtaala Foundation is committed to building better schools with the resources they need to educate students, and to connecting these students with sponsors worldwide so that they can obtain the education every child deserves. 

In order to achieve our education initiative, we have developed two integral programs: Educational Partnerships and Student Sponsorships.  Explore our programs.

RECENT NEWS

1.             • Spring Art Exhibit! Original Mtaala artwork for sale at Espressit in Haddon Township, New Jersey.

1.             • Porridge and Greens: Our dedicated volunteers successfully raised $2000 to provide breakfast and greens for our students throughout 2011. Help us provide breakfast for our students in 2012.

1.             • Desks, Meds, and Beds: In 2009, Rosa International Middle School in Cherry Hill, New Jersey raised enough funds to build a well for water at Awegys School in Uganda.  In 2010, they built a library at the school.  In 2011, they raised funds to purchase science equipment to support the school’s science curriculum.  

This year, help us make our goal of raising funds for classroom desks, beds and medical supplies for the health clinic.

Mailing Address

USA

Mtaala Foundation
230 Kings Highway East, #136, Haddonfield, NJ 08033  USA

Uganda

Mtaala Foundation, P.O. Box 31434,  Kampala, Uganda

info@mtaala.org

E-mail

We want to hear from you!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  We will read and respond as soon as possible.

CONTACT US

UK

Mtaala Foundation

1 Glyn House, 43 Burgh Heath Rd, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 4LY, UK

Tel: +44 7730 676824

Charity No. 1138251

     230 Kings Highway East #136  Haddonfield   NJ  08033  USA   Registered 501(c)3 Charity No. 0101002595

1 Glyn House, 43 Burgh Heath Rd, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 4LY, UK   | Registered Charity No. 1138251

P.O. Box 31434 Kampala, Uganda     Registered NGO No. S.5914/5727

© 2009 Mtaala Foundation         

http://www.mtaala.org/Mtaala_Foundation.html

Veterans lack mental health help: Comment

The Pogues sing: "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda"

A Nation is meant to be judged on how it treats those who are less able to protect themselves; the very young and the old; the poor and the sick and those with disabilities. The 'Con-Dem-Nation' of a government that we are afflicted with in the UK fail in my eyes in every one of those areas. Their right wing reactionary policies dictated by the desire to destroy the NHS, tax the Working Class and destroy the system of benefits relied on by those that are unemployed (through government cuts and a recession caused by the wealthiest in society) and the severely disabled, to finance tax brakes for those that need it the least, are destroying the lives of those at the lowest end of society. It is not just a cancer that afflicts the Millionaire Ministers of Her Majesty's Government in the UK. We saw exactly what Mitt Romney and his party think of the '47%', the poorest in society (see the video below)! Why would multimillionaires and Billionaires in the Republican Party care about feeding the poor or medicating the sick other than I believe it to be a basic human right to have sustenance and health?

Mitt Romney on Obama Voters

Even more sickening to me is a report in today's papers about lack of support for veterans of our Armed Services suffering from mental health problems.

I am not a militarist, I have no understanding of why someone would choose to be cannon fodder for an uncaring and aloof government and outmoded system of power and influence through force. In my mind the answer to Plato's question is 'Might is NOT right'. I do not have any comprehension of why someone would choose to become a trained killer and actually utilise these abilities, however, young men and women are asked by this country and every other country to do just that and it is not for me to comment or to vilify those that make that choice for what ever their personal reasons.

War is not glorious. As Wlifred Owen put it in Dulce et decorum est:

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

War is dirty. It is vicious. It kills and maims women and children, the aged and infirm. Innocents are brutalised alongside the professional soldier; Freedom Fighter; Terrorist, what ever we name we give to those who take up arms for what ever cause and with what ever justification. I thank God that I have never been put into the position to make the choice, to do so or not.

This being said, those that do make the choice to 'Fight for Queen and Country' deserve to be treated by the government of this Realm with dignity and respect and uphold a duty of care to those who have done so. 

It was piteous and lamentable that in the run up to the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Blair government allowed troops (against the wishes of the majority of the people of these islands) to go to War. He allowed troops to be deployed without the necessary means to protect themselves, with a lack of basic equipment. This cannot be undone, however lessons must be learned!

In the last few months we have learned of front-line troops receiving redundancy notices while still in active service in these countries, and of a lack of specialist help for those sustaining 'life changing wounds' in the field of battle. The arrogance and callousness of the government in the former is at least being balanced by improvements in the latter. However, once these men and women leave 'the forces' there seems to be no follow through.

In today's papers, there is a report that states:

As many as one million military veterans in the UK could be suffering from mental health problems, the former head of defence clinical psychology at the MoD (Ministry of Defence) has said. 

Many of the UK's five million ex-service personnel do not have access to adequate treatment services, according to Professor Jamie Hacker Hughes-and the problem is growing as an additional 24,000 people leave the armed forces every year.

Professor Hughes, visiting professor of military psychological therapies at Anglia Ruskin University, said 20 per cent of military veterans who develop mental health problems also face a postcode lottery of treatment.

"There are lots of excellent services for veterans but not everyone has access to them," he said. "There are large areas of the country where there are no specialist mental health provisions." Veterans also see mental health problems as shameful and hide their symptoms, he added.

Steve McQueen 'Queen and Country' detail

Having to witness and participate in the carnage and horrors of war and conflict, is there any wonder that some troops would have mental health problems? And in the Ivory Towers of government, the 'Con-Dem-Nation' stick their heads up their arses as they whistle 'Rule Britannia' and award themselves another pay and pension rise, while clapping them selves on the back at just how well they are doing in destroying the NHS, The Working Classes, and the ability of those with the most severe disabilities from retaining a dignified existence, in the name of 'reducing the deficit!'

They can try their weak justifications in other areas and believe that they may be winning the argument, however, in the treatment of those damaged in the belief that they were fighting for 'Queen and Country,' there can be no justification of this crass and immoral lack of resources!

This and every other government will be judged by the people that they claim to represent, and I believe that judgement already exists: that they are morally corrupt and socially ambivalent to the needs of those to whom they have a duty of care. 

War Poem of the Week: "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" - Eric Bogle

For this weeks 'War Poem of the Week'  I have chosen the powerful anti war song "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" so eloquently and painfully sung by Liam Clancy. I read an article in the paper today about the treatment of Veterans of the British Armed Services that has prompted this decision. I will write a post about this particular article later today, in the meantime, I hope that you are as moved by this song as I am.

"And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda"

- Eric Bogle

Liam Clancy sings "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda"

Now when I was a young man, I carried me pack, and I lived the free life of a rover

From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback, well, I waltzed my Matilda all over.

Then in 1915, my country said son, It's time you stopped rambling, there's work to be done.

So they gave me a tin hat, and they gave me a gun, and they marched me away to the war.

And the band played Waltzing Matilda, as the ship pulled away from the quay

And amidst all the cheers, the flag-waving and tears, we sailed off for Gallipoli

And how well I remember that terrible day, how our blood stained the sand and the water

And of how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay, we were butchered like lambs at the slaughter.

Johnny Turk he was waiting, he'd primed himself well. He shower'd us with bullets,

And he rained us with shell. And in five minutes flat, he'd blown us all to hell

Nearly blew us right back to Australia.

But the band played Waltzing Matilda, when we stopped to bury our slain.

We buried ours, and the Turks buried theirs, then we started all over again.

And those that were left, well we tried to survive, in that mad world of blood, death and fire

And for ten weary weeks, I kept myself alive, though around me the corpses piled higher

Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head, and when I woke up in my hospital bed,

And saw what it had done, well I wished I was dead. Never knew there was worse things than dyin'.

For I'll go no more waltzing Matilda, all around the green bush far and free

To hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs-no more waltzing Matilda for me.

So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, the maimed, and they shipped us back home to Australia.

The legless, the armless, the blind, the insane, those proud wounded heroes of Suvla

And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay, I looked at the place where me legs used to be.

And thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me, to grieve, to mourn, and to pity.

But the band played Waltzing Matilda, as they carried us down the gangway.

But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared, then they turned all their faces away

And so now every April, I sit on me porch, and I watch the parades pass before me.

And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march, reviving old dreams of past glories

And the old men march slowly, old bones stiff and sore. They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war

And the young people ask, what are they marching for? And I ask myself the same question.

But the band plays Waltzing Matilda, and the old men still answer the call,

But as year follows year, more old men disappear. Someday no one will march there at all.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

And their ghosts may be heard as they march by that billabong, who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/e/eric_bogle/and_the_band_played_waltzing_matilda.html ]
***********************************************************************************************

NOTES:
"Matilda" - the backpack and associated gear used by livestock drovers and prospecters
In remote areas of the Australian outback.
"Swag" - canvas sleeping bag
"Billabong" - creek or estuary, generally with an outlet to the sea and containing more or less brackish water.

Historical Note:
The Gallipoli Campaign (April 25, 1915-January 8, 1916),
A major land and sea operation of World War I, in which
British, French, Australian, and New Zealand forces
Unsuccessfully attempted an invasion of Turkey.
The action was confined to the Dardanelles Strait
And the tip of the Gallipoli (Gelibolu) Peninsula near
Istanbul. The purpose of the campaign, devised by British
Munitions minister David Lloyd George, first lord of the
Admiralty Winston Churchill, General Herbert H. Kitchener,
And Admiral Sackville H. Carden, was to open up a new
Theater of war as an alternative to the stalemate in
France, to relieve Turkish pressure on Russian forces
In the Caucasus, and, by gaining control of Istanbul
And the straits, to provide a direct link with Russia
Via the Black Sea. This campaign is also significant
For Australians in that it marked the first time a major
Australian military force was commanded by Australian,
Instead of English, officers.

What initially was to be exclusively a naval operation
Failed in February 1915 when several British and French
Ships were damaged by floating mines. A land invasion was
Then decided on, but it was not begun until late April.
An amphibious landing at that time was met with heavy
Resistance by the Turks. Excessive caution and timorous
Leadership by the British commander, Sir Ian Hamilton,
Resulted in several lost initiatives. Little headway
Was made beyond the several beachheads. In early August,
After three months of stalemate and stagnation on the
Beaches, a new major offensive was begun. Once again,
However, the excessive caution and indifferent leadership
Of the British command offset the effect of heavy
Reinforcements. The Turkish forces, on the other hand, were
Inspired by the leadership of Mustafa Kemal (Kemal Atatürk,
Later president of Turkey) and the skill of their German
Commander, Otto Liman von Sanders. After a few more months
Of stalemate, Hamilton was replaced by Sir Charles Monro,
Who was sent to evaluate the situation. Monro recommended
Evacuation, and the allied forces were withdrawn in December
And January. British casualties were 205,000 out of 410,000;
The French sustained a rate of 47,000 out of 79,000; Turkish,
250,000 to 300,000 out of 500,000. The fiasco badly
Stained the reputations of Churchill, Hamilton, and Kitchener.
Despite it's overall failure, however, the Gallipoli campaign
Weakened the Turks enough to facilitate the British seizure
Of Palestine in 1917. The action also distracted the Germans
From a plan they had in 1915 to begin another offensive in France.

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/e/eric_bogle/#share

Amnesty International Campaign: Support a bulletproof Arms Trade Treaty

Here is a campaign by Amnesty International that I thought might be of interest to readers of this blog. Find out more at:

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10079

Support a bulletproof Arms Trade Treaty

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people suffer because of an unregulated arms trade.

Musician and activist Emmanuel Jal knows more than most about the human impact of an arms trade that is out of control. Aged just 8 he was forcibly recruited as a child soldier to fight in Sudan's bloody civil war.

This year for the first time we had the opportunity to disarm dictators, warlords and childsoldiers. World leaders met in New York to draw up an historic document: the first ever international Arms Trade Treaty.

Their talks ended without agreement but a reasonably strong draft Treaty. Now, we have a second chance to make it a reality as leaders prepare to meet again for the UN General Assembly later this year. 

We're optimistic we can still get an Arms Trade Treaty that saves thousands lives and improves many more, but it can only do so if it rules out transfers where there is risk that they would directly contribute to human rights abuses.

• The focus of our work
• The background of the campaign

It's over but we're not done On the final day of month-long negotiations to agree the first Arms Trade Treaty a small number of the 193 countries gathered at the UN wasted the opportunity to make history. Led by the US, one by one they scuppered the chance to disarm dictators, war lords and child soldiers by stalling agreement. But it is nowhere near over. An incredible 12,000 of you wrote to members of the UK government, urging them to stand firm on human rights in the final hours of talks to agree an Arms Trade Treaty. Your voice was heard loud and clear and the UK did us proud. Thanks in no small part to your hard work, and the commitment of the UK government to a robust treaty, the talks ended with a reasonable draft treaty and a second chance. We get to take this draft back to the UN in October. And when we do, we do not need consensus for it to be adopted. We just need a two thirds majority. It won't be easy - there is a lot to do to keep up the pressure between now and then - but we are optimistic that we can still get the Arms Trade Treaty we have all worked so hard for. And we will not give up until our dream becomes a reality. Read our full reaction  Find out what happened on the final day Get up to date on the ups and downs of the talks by reading blogs from our campaigners at the UN Verity Coyle and Olly Sprague

Campaigning for a robust Arms Trade Treaty

No arms for atrocities

AnaBarrero Democracies and arms control treaties: causation questionsbosco.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/09/… #ArmsTreaty

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ElluinA Syrie : le lourd bilan civil de la campagne d'attaques aveugles | Amnesty International France amnesty.fr/AI-en-action/V… #ArmsTreaty

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A BIG THANK YOU

Thanks to you, our team headed off to the UN with a bounce in their step. we might not yet have the Treaty we all worked so hard to get but the incredible campaigning that took place up and down the country in the lead up to negotiations at the UN - from signing the petition to dressing up as a banana and taking the campaign message to a high street - meant that Prime Minister David Cameron made a positive statement, just in the nick of time. 

Check out what you got up to

ARMS SUPPLIES FUELLING UNLAWFUL KILLINGS AND RAPE IN DRC

The ease with which weapons and ammunition are available to government forces and armed groups alike continues to fuel multiple human rights violations in DRC including rape, looting, abductions and unlawful killings. The main arms suppliers include China, Egypt and USA.

Senior DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) officials often sell or give weapons to armed groups, including those they are fighting against. Armed groups also frequently obtain weapons and ammunition left behind when FARDC units flee combat zones. And civilians bear the horrific cost of such lack of control, diversion of weapons and impunity.

• Read the blog: An AK-47 - often the 'credit card' for FARDC soldiers
• Get the details in our new report If You Resist, We'll Shoot You (pdf)

The Control Arms Campaign is an alliance of organisations calling for a robust Arms Trade Treaty. Follow the negotiations at controlarms.org

POLITICIANS RESPOND

In response to your hard work and action taking, we've had four very positive statements from key politicians supporting a robust Arms Trade Treaty: 

• Prime Minister David Cameron reacted to your campaigning - which included 23, 786 petition signatures, MP lobbying and direct appeals from his own constituents - by assuring us, '[We] want to see a Treaty that contains strong provisions on human rights, international humanitarian law and sustainable development'. Read more of David Cameron's statement
• Labour leader Ed Miliband responded to over 7000 emails by reinforcing his commitment to a 'robust and effective global Arms Trade Treaty with comprehensive scope and robust parameters'. Read Miliband's full statement
• UK foreign Secretary William Hague responded to your lobbying on Facebook by stating that the 'UK Government remains totally committed to securing a robust and effective Arms Trade Treaty, with strong human rights and international law provisions at its core'. 
• Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that the UK will 'lead the charge for a robust, legally-binding treaty, covering all conventional weapons' Read Clegg's full statement on independent.co.uk

Many thanks to everybody for taking action. You are being heard!

See the overwhelming cross-party support from MPs across the country 

OUR FOCUS

The final negotiations have begun. They run until 27 July. This is our last opportunity to ensure that the treaty is robust and not just hollow law.

We are urging the UK government to ensure it continues to champion robust legislation and lobby for a Treaty that:

• Protects human rights by preventing any transfer of arms where there is substantial risk that they will directly contribute to serious human rights abuses, war crimes or poverty
• Has a comprehensive scope of equipment to include all types of conventional weapons and equipment, their parts and components, as well as technology to develop, maintain and produce them. This must also include small arms, light weapons, ammunition and munitions of all kinds and weapons used for internal security.
• Includes all types of international arms trading so that it covers commercial sales and government deals, gifts and loans as well as all essential services to support these activities - including deals arranged my middle men (brokers), and arms transportation.
• Is enforceable and transparent to ensure all governments adopt strong national laws, rules and regulations to strictly control all weapons transfers from, into, via and through their territories, including all individuals and companies operating under its jurisdiction. All Governments must publicly report on their arms sales so they can be held accountable for their actions
• Enters quickly into force because, believe it or not, even once the Treaty is agreed it will only be binding if a set number of states introduce national legislation to ratify it. This number is to be determined during the negotiations. 

BACKGROUND

Every day at least 1,500 people die from armed violence and conflict.

We have been reporting widespread misuse of arms in serious human rights violations and killings for decades. Most recently, we highlighted the use of UK-supplied defense vehicles being used in the crackdown against peaceful protestors in Libya; the ease with which weapons and ammunition are available to government forces and armed groups alike in DRC and South Sudan - fuelling human rights abuses. 

Although there are global regulations for all sorts of things - from postage stamps to dinosaur bones - the arms trade, with all its violent consequences, has so far been allowed to function largely unrestricted in the absence of effective international regulations.

In 2006 the world took a major step forward - 153 governments voted at the UN to start work on developing a global Arms Trade Treaty. By 2009 the UN general assembly had launched a time frame for the negotiations, including one preparatory meeting in 2010 and two in 2011.

At these meetings it became clear that not everybody involved wants a robust Treaty - as it stands weapons such as tear gas and crowd control vehicles and even bullets may not be included within its scope.

The formal negotiations have started. With so much at risk we must work hard throughout these negotiations to ensure that human rights are enshrined in the Arms Trade Treaty.

This is vital because any legally-binding piece of legislation connected to the arms trade which is not comprehensive, nor includes binding human rights commitments, has the potential to be far more dangerous than having no treaty at all. Such a weak agreement would allow countries to continue  to transfer weapons where they may be used to commit human rights abuses. 

REPORTS

• Year of rebellion: The state of human rights in the Middle East and North Africa (PDF) 9 January 2012
• Arms transfers to the Middle East and North Africa: Lessons for an Arms Trade Treaty(PDF) 19 October 2011
• Arms Trade Treaty: National Licensing or Authorisation Systems (PDF) 12 July 2011