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The Tragedy in Somalia
Somalia is experiencing the worst crisis in 15 years, 3586 civilian deaths including infants, children, women and the elderly, and the toll rising by the day. Rape, fear, displacement, misery and suffering on an enormous scale while the Western governments stand by and watch.

The reasons superficially appear local and particular, chaotic government for over 15 years, invasion by neighboring Ethiopia, a bloody conflict between the Transitional Federal Government and the Union of Islamic Courts, but in reality all the players involved are being manipulated by the Western Superpowers.

America and China are fighting out a war for resources by proxy using the poorest nations on the planet as pawns in their game for gain. The US backs Ethiopia’s occupation of Somalia with logistical, financial and political support, and occasionally takes matters into its own hands, dropping missiles on the Kenyan border village of Dobley.

Throw into the equation the “War on Terror” and the threat of Al Qaeda fleeing from Afghanistan to the coast of Somalia and you have the recipe as seen in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, the list is ever expanding.

As the West’s greed for resources grows and the battles are fought to get access to ever dwindling precious resources to control the prices and keep the capitalist economy afloat – Billions and billions of $s of business – while the people who the land belongs to live in miserable poverty and suffer the consequences.

It is shameful that the British Government stands by and watches, as always patsy to the US foreign policy. Is Brown any different to the toady Blair? Or will he stand by and let his US counterpart continue to exacerbate the humanitarian crises? Respect demands that the British Government takes action and makes a statement to condemn the Ethiopian occupation and supports the Somali people.

The Somali people in Britain are strong and organized but ignored by the politicians because they do not have political power - Respect is inviting all the Somali activists in the UK to join forces with the party that believes in fighting Imperialism and campaigns for Peace and Justice, because together we are even stronger.
 

News and articles of interest

Here are some articles and news reports we think are worth looking at

From Triumph to Torture by John Pilger
Two weeks ago, I presented a young Palestinian, Mohammed Omer, with the 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. Awarded in memory of the great US war correspondent, the prize goes to journalists who expose establishment propaganda, or "official drivel", as Gellhorn called it.

SATs school tests criticised by official report by Harvey Thompson and Linda Slattery
In May, millions of school children throughout England undertook their Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs) in English, mathematics and science. The statutory tests are widely considered to be flawed and almost universally reviled by teachers and children alike.

Health: Who asked for choice? - Morning Star
IF Health Minister Ben Bradshaw believes that there is political capital to be made by taking on our NHS doctors, he will quickly come unstuck.

Afghanistan troop deaths outnumber those in Iraq by Angela Balakrishnan and agencies
Militants in Afghanistan killed more US and Nato troops than those in Iraq in June after a fresh spate of rebel attacks that highlighted the growing strength of the Taliban.

Iran legally entitled to develop nuclear energy, says UK MP
Iran is legally entitled to develop nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, according to a British MP visiting Tehran for the first time. George Galloway, who was expelled from Britain's ruling Labor Party for his outspoken opposition to the Iraq war, also criticized the hypocrisy of Israel's belligerence towards Iran, which has its own illegal stockpile of nuclear weapons.

In the Cause of Fear and Ignorance by John Pilger
Muslims are alone as they watch the British state, with its "obstinate incomprehension" of their faith, do to them as it would never do to those of other faiths. Imagine Jews treated this way. You cannot imagine it; the profanity is too great. The silence of British Jews, who have the history, is also great.

Migrant Myths by Adam Ford
As part of her degree course, Kurdish migrant Filiz Celik researched the conditions that workers from overseas face in the United Kingdom. The full text of her study can be read here, but this summary by Adam Ford gives some idea of the reality behind the media-generated myths.

Tesco shareholders reject TV chef's chicken welfare call
Tesco shareholders today voted against a resolution from TV cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall which called for the retail giant to improve its chicken-rearing standards.

Academies expelled 10,000 pupils
Academies have been accused of excluding disproportionately high numbers of students after it emerged that they excluded nearly 10,000 pupils for poor behaviour last year.

Let companies run state schools for profit, says Sir Simon Milton
Private companies should be allowed to run state schools at a profit and be free to dismiss teachers who are not up to the job, the head of the Local Government Association (LGA) said yesterday.

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