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What ever shit is thrown at us, it’s what we do with it that counts. We can either sink slowly and slowly deeper into it, or we can throw it back at them.
Divide and rule; a tool in their armoury. Time to pick it up and beat them with it. It aint the immigrants taking jobs. It’s the fat cats taking all the money and our government wasting it that’s keeping the poor and the workers working, if they aint lost their jobs due to government actions or inactions.
Unemployed and angry? Use your time wisely! Get organised!! Take stock! Don’t sit around watching television. That’s what they want to you to be doing, passive acceptance. Take the technology they gave us, and make yer own TV, Computers are our weapon.
A Time For Change!? Indeed! What sort of change, well we could start with our minds, before we lose them completely., or should I say.. Give them away, because that is what people have done, because that is all they have known. Now’s the time for them to realise that in a world where everything is up for sale, and the illusion that Money brings peace of mind has enabled them to take a piece of peoples minds, that it was all a crock of shit. The free market costs, and the price people have paid has been an expensive one, and thanks to them will continue to be as governments either bail out the businesses and lenders, at our cost, or let them go to the wall at the cost to the workers. I’m sorry that people are gonna lose their jobs, but if a business is failing it’s because something aint right. MFI; Wooden crap. Woolworths; Plastic crap. Jaguar; Metal crap. We don’t need anymore crap! If firms are going to the wall open up their books and see where all the profits they previously made have gone !
Fuck New Year Resolutions! What we need is a new Years revolution, I aint talking building barricades in the streets and ripping up the pavement to get to the beach beneath it and chucking the slabs at the cops, but if that’s what you fancy doing, go for it. it’s all about breaking the barricades in the mind, the ones that people have let get built there, through endless brainwashing by a system that wants them kept in their place. Question everything, especially yourself. Everything is up for sale. What price freedom? The newspaper headlines are meant for your head, it’s what yer head does with them that matters. You are not alone, you might think you are, but that’s just what they want you to think, because that way you’re no threat to them, because what they fear most is people being united and standing against them. It’s a battle of hearts and minds. They want our minds, and we need to have the heart to tell ‘em NO! 2009, bring it on!
Below is the latest press release from the Friends of Amdani campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum and Friends of Amdani Juma
Contacts: Rob Peutrell – 07846765761
Leo Keely – 07742884335
Press Cathy Meadows 07913476905
AMDANI JUMA - SOLICITOR WILL CONSIDER LEGAL ACTION AGAINST HOME OFFICE
In a statement today, Amdani Juma’s solicitor said that his removal had been postponed to give both sides time to consider. Hani Zebeidi said he hoped reason would prevail in the case of Nottingham HIV/AIDS prevention worker Amdani Juma and stated that as a last resort legal action would be considered if the Home Office failed to exercise their lawful discretion.
Yesterday less than 36 hours before Amdani’s scheduled removal from Heathrow the Home Office postponed his deportation by 6 days until 10th June when there is a chance of a direct flight from Nairobi to Burundi his country of origin.
Letters of support are still being sent to the Home Office by national and community organizations in support of Amdani and so far 2,200 people have signed a petition.
Hani Zubeidi said
“The UNHCR are also investigating the case and we hope that reason prevails and the Minister for Immigration is able to exercise his discretion in allowing Amdani to stay-he is a true asset to the community and the country.
“As a last resort we will be considering legal action should the Home Office fail to exercise their lawful discretion in this matter.“
NOTES for Editors
Amdani Juma, a refugee HIV prevention and community worker in Nottingham, was detained by the immigration authorities on Friday 30th May 2008. He is currently awaiting removal to Burundi. He is being detained in Campsfield Detention Centre.
Amdani is a Burundian national. In 2003, he was granted 3 years Humanitarian Protection but his later application for Indefinite Leave to Remain was turned down. A further application for discretion by the Home Office was also refused resulting in his present detention. Alan Simpson MP for Nottingham South and Nottingham Council leader Jon Collins have both spoken out about Mr Amdani’s proposed removal.2 rallies have been held in Nottingham City Centre since his detention.
Amdani Juma’s solicitor is Hani Zubeidi of Fadiga and Co Solicitors, London
UNHCR is the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
http://www.petitiononline.com/amdani/pet
Ends
- Mood:
busy
At midday I went to the Market Square to offer my support with many others to Amdani Juma who is facing deportation back to Burundi on Wednesday. I have met him a couple of times at a Union Branch Committee and a Mayday meeting.
Press release distributed by the Friends of Amdani Juma following his detention at Loughborough reporting centre and news that he is to be deported on Wednesday 4th June on Kenya Airways flight KQ101 (Terminal 4, Heathrow).
URGENT PRESS RELEASE
Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum
Friends of Amdani Juma
May 30th 2008
Amdani Juma: HIV Community Worker Faces
Amdani Juma, a refugee HIV prevention and community worker in Nottingham, was detained by the immigration authorities today, Friday 30th May 2008. He is currently awaiting removal to Burundi. The removal date has been set for just four days time, Wednesday June 4th at 8pm. He is being detained in Campsfield Detention Centre and will be taken to the Immigration Removal Centre near Doncaster tomorrow to await removal from Heathrow.
Friends of Amdani were shocked and distressed by the news of his detention. Amdani is a popular, active and enormously well-respected refugee community worker in Nottingham, with a particular interest in HIV prevention work.
Amdani is a Burundian national. In 2003, he was granted 3 years Humanitarian Protection but his later application for Indefinite Leave to Remain was turned down. A further application for discretion by the Home Office has also just been refused. Given his track record in Nottingham, Amdani should be regarded as prime candidate for a positive discretionary decision.
Amdani is a torture survivor and a pro-democracy activist, who escaped death on more than one occasion. He has no immediate family left in Burundi. Amdani’s cousin, brother and sister have all been given Leave to Remain in the UK or the Netherlands. Human Rights organisations and the UN have reported ongoing human rights abuses in Burundi, including harassment and torture.
In a letter to Liam Byrne dated 31st January 2008, Alan Simpson, Amdani’s constituency MP wrote:
"I am not aware of any refugee who has made the contribution to the city and its communities comparable to that made by Mr Juma. He is an outstanding asset. Removing him from the UK would leave Nottingham (and beyond) much the poorer. There is no one, particularly within the AIDS / HIV field who could replace the work he does."
A spokesperson for the Friends of Amdani / NNRF said:
"He turned up to sign on and was detained without any warning with just the clothes he stood up in. He wasn’t even allowed to say goodbye to his friends who were waiting for him outside the signing centre. Amdani is an exemplary citizen and a truly good person. We want him to stay in Nottingham."
Background notes:
1. Amdani arrived in the UK in 2003 and was granted Humanitarian Protection.
2. He originally left Burundi following the ethnic conflict in that country and was resettled by the UN. He later attempted to settle back in Burundi but had to leave because his life was in danger.
3. On arriving in Nottingham, he started working at the Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum as a volunteer. Later he was employed by the NNRF as a member of their team helping refugees settle into new tenancies.
4. He has also been a key member of the African refugee community in Nottingham. As Chair of the Nottingham African Support initiative he organised training on employability and capacity building for local communities, and was involved in setting up a supplementary Saturday school for African children to support their English and Maths. He has developed close links with a number of statutory and voluntary bodies, including the Nottingham City Council. He has participated in the City Council BME Forum and as a refugee representative on the Nottingham City Homes Tenants Forum.
5. It is in his work on HIV prevention that Amdani has made a particular contribution to the city. He has been tireless in his HIV educational work, understanding the particular sensitivities and difficulties around the HIV issue amongst African communities. His experience, five languages, and wide networks have made him a unique presence in the field of HIV Prevention work in the city. Amdani was recently appointed to a project funded by the Terence Higgins Trust.
6. In 2005, the manager of the then East Midlands Consortium for Asylum and Refugee Services (EMCARS) recommended that Amdani apply to serve on the National Refugee Integration Forum. He joined the National Forum’s Community and Media sub-group. Here he was involved in ensuring that information was disseminated to refugee groups.
7. Amdani has been supported by his local MP, Alan Simpson; Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council and other MPs. At his appeal against the Home Office refusal of his Indefinite Leave to Remain, over 80 organisations wrote letters of support for Amdani, including community groups, trade unions, churches, health promotion groups.
8. For an Evening Post report on Amdani Juma go to www.thisisnottingham.co.uk Search this site for Amdani Juma.
My hopes are with Amdani but I am very concerned that he will be just used as a pawn in modern day's politiclal games as New Labour want to show that they are tough on immigration. It makes me sick that our society has come to this that an honest hard working citizen can be sent back to a country where he will probably face imprisonment, torture and possibly death.
What the fuck has happened to this country that we can allow that to happen !!!
- Mood:
distressed - Music:What's A Simple Man To Do - Steve Earle
10 million plus pounds to find out that Lady Di was killed by a pissed driver and the paparazzi. Who pays? We do, after all she was the ‘peoples princess’ Still at least it was a fair inquest. Well....not exactly, as the judge led the jury to a verdict of unlawful killing in order to put an end to all the conspiracy theories, which confused me a bit, cos surely that’ll just add to them.
- Mood:
cynical - Music:Lady Is Dead - Chris DeTurd
Held a union meeting first thing with regards to our pay claim. The freak threw a bit of a tantrum because we weren't ready at the exact moment she was. I had a feeling she was a bit pissed off because it was something she was not in control of. It was a delight to see her face when I asked how people felt about the offer of a insulting 2 % and if they rejected it industrial action would be the likely outcome. Most people were happy to say that they would be willing to go down that road if necessary, however the freak kept schtum. We all knew that if we did go on stike that she would scab and let others fight for her. I have never come across a more self centred personn in all my life. Anyway we decided to have a private ballot, jesus you would think we were voting on insurrecting a revolution or somethimg instead of taking part in just a consultative ballot of how union members felt.
The afternoon was spent transporting a child back to his grandparents and then going on to pick up 2 lads to see their dad at his home. Now I have a soft spot for these lads and was really happy that the contact went well. This was the first time it had taken place at their father's home, he used to come to the centre to attend contact, but due to his consumption of alcohol he has just about lost the use of his legs.
I could tell he had been drinking when I arrived but he was okay, actually he sat throughout the contact taking sips of white lightening from his glass. When his sons asked what he was drinking I quickly interjected and told them it was apple juice.
He gave each of his sons £27 that he had been saving for them Later he tried to give them another fiver, I told him that he had given them enough so he turned and said "Can I treat you then Cliff", offering me the fiver. I declined his offer graciously.
Bit of a downer on the day a bit later when I realised I had lost a £20 note sometime during the day, BUGGER !!!
- Mood:
okay
Got it?
Cool...
1. Your Middle Name:
2. Age:
3. Single or Taken:
4. Favourite Movie:
5. Favourite Song or Album:
6. Favourite Band/Artist:
7. Dirty or Clean:
8. Tattoos and/or Piercings:
9. Do we know each other outside of LJ?
10. What's your philosophy on life?
11. Is the bottle half-full or half-empty?
12. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest?
13. What is your favourite memory of us?
14. What is your favourite guilty pleasure?
15. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you:
16. You can have three wishes (for yourself, so forget all the 'world peace etc' malarky) - what are they?
17. Can we get together and make a cake?
18. Which country is your spiritual home?
19. What is your big weakness?
20. Do you think I'm a good person?
21. What was your best/favourite subject at school?
22. Describe your accent:
23. If you could change anything about me, would you?
24. What do you wear to sleep?
25. Trousers or skirts?
26. Cigarettes or alcohol?
27. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?
28. Will you repost this so I can fill it out for you?
had a number of texts which have sent my head into a spin but will si and think how to cope with it all. Not much more to say really.
1. In three words I am..... Caring, Lonely Soul
2. If I'm thrightened of anything, It's ..... the future
3. If I could travel back in time I'd set the controls for.... year and a half ago
4. My favourite person in the universe is.... Jimmy
5. my least favourite person in the universe is... myself at the moment
6. The last time I looked in the mirror, I thought.... shit !
7. If I had to leave a body part to science, it would be.... my heart
8. My definition of love is.... unobtainable
9. The last time I vomited. It ws because... I had not eaten before drinking far to much ale
10. The greatest lesson has taught me so far is.... something will always kick you in the teeth.
11. The Song I want played at my funeral is... Power In the Union by Billy Bragg
12. I want my tombstone to read... at bloody last
13. In purely monetary terms, I am worth.... £35
- Location:Home
- Mood:
confused - Music:The Bishops
went to the FMC for a pint afterwards, sat there on my own having a fag when I heard some arse moaning about the smoking. Well seeing as the pub has a no smoking area then why was she sitting where you can (until 1st July) happily enjoy a pint and a smoke. It of course made me smoke profusley. I could just imagine what she would have been saying,
"disgusting, no thought for others"
"putting a strain on the NHS"
"blah blah blah bollocks"
Now it is my body and I want to be able to do with it what I want, I am sick and tired of being made some kind of leper just because I want to smoke. Let's look at it shall we. Now I smoke on average 20 cigarettes a day, if out at football I probably smoke more.
Now each packet costs me around £4.70, of that total I would say £3.50 ish is tax. That means I pay around an extra £24 a week more in tax than a non-smoker or £1277 a year. Now me and other fellow smokers are not putting a strain on the NHS, we are fucking paying for it. Over the years we probably payed enough to own it, it's our NHS. This means I do not want to go to a hospital and be slaged off for smoking, if anything I should receive preferential treatment. If people are there with a heart attack or a stroke and I stagger in breathless, the call should go up SMOKER HERE ! straight to the front of the queue. And if necessary I should go straight into surgery, the dodgy lung removed and a new clean one inserted so i am able take my place back on the street puffing merrily away so I can start adding to the NHS coffers again.
And how can the government say they are banning smoking in public places for health reasons, one week and then moan another saying they have to raise retirement age to make us work longer because people are living longer. Fucking Shite.
Jim had his hair cut short today, will take getting use to especially seeing as I liked his hair long, but he old enough to make up his own mind, think he got his eye on a young lady.
Think I will go car booting tomorrow, what a rock 'n' roll lifestyle I lead
- Location:on the wings of a dove
- Mood: annoyed
- Music:Oh Suzy Q - Dale Hawkins
At times I am prone to alienate myself from my friends, well people in general really, but my close friends are so important to me and there is nothing I wouldn't do for them if I could.
I sometimes think people won't unburden themselves with their shit because I having tough time myself at the moment or maybe because I'm male. Well I hope you all realise I got all the time in the world for you.
Was going to go to Asda tonight but just could not face it. I actually drove into the car park but then straight again, looked far to busy for my short fuse. Think I will have to get up early tomorrow and do the fucking dreaded thing then.
That stupid cow S at work kept trying to take my photo on her mobile today. She really is an annoying person and so sad with it. I know why she wants to take it, so she can show it to a female friend of hers. Now straight away you have to question this woman's intelligence if she is friends with S don't you ?
- Mood:
blah - Music:yusuf Islam in concert on bbc 4
tonight been a bit hectic. Went to meet john but before i did got a text off a friend who was having shit off her boyfriend. so got diverted and went to help her, lets just say meaningful discussions took place with him. Unfortunately he caught me at a time when I can't be arsed with people and he got the wrath of that.
I so angry with the world at the moment, can't think of one thing that does not piss me off. Just not prepared to put up with the crap that people want to hand out.
For instance was sat in the Hogshead when some useless no-hoper came in drugged out of his already tiny mind. He firstly sat at a table with two females who were just having a quiet drink and chat. Obviously they were intimidated and so moved on. Then he came over to John and myself and tried to ponce a fag off me, just told him to fuck off. He muttered something incomprehensible so I reminded him to go and get fucked. He tried to stare me out but even in his fucking addled state I think he knew better and he moved on.
Went to the social with John then to see Money Mark, what a bastard dissapointment, full of self-indulgent bollocks. But saw 2 people I knew from years ago. They use to belong to a group who went out together. When I knew them they were with different partners but obviously they were together now. Now for the fuck of me I could not remember their names but just remembered she had the most enticing chest, glad to say she still has.
Well off to bed, only one more day of the working week left.
- Location:who knows
- Mood:
sleepy - Music:Woke On A Whaleheart - Bill Callahan
A no-hoper father made a guest appearance to see his son today, he looked rough. The whole procedure seems pointless to me, months and months of these desperate characters thinking they have a chance of getting their kids back. Whilst all the time you can usually tell after one session that they have no chance, oh well keeps me in cigarettes and alcohol I suppose.
Attended a review this afternoon of a mother who is dependant on weed. Now I quite like this girl, she is one of those who is not nasty but so vulnerable. However although the plans are for rehabilitation I just know that even if her son did return it would not be the last we would see of her. Sadly in the future she would be in our grasp again.
Phoned a really old friend today who is getting married to her partner of 25 years. Now I played a rather large part in these two getting together, if I had known that it would have come to such a tragic end I would have not bothered. She told me a list of people who would be attending, hope some of those ladies don't bear grudges or it will be interesting for me, gulp !
Cath came for the holiday flight money today. Informed me that places do not have English breakfast. What the fuck is all that about. Is this what we fought the rampaging Nazi droves for, so some bloody Greek island can choose not to serve a full English breakfast years later. I DON'T THINK SO !!!! I am sorry it is every Englishman's right that no matter where he is in the world that a full English is available. Cath said that last year her and Jim had bread and Jam !!!! Sorry but am I bloody six years old again,no I'm not!!
Can anyone remember who sang Gimme Just A Little More Time. Think it was either late 60's or early 70's
- Mood:
cranky - Music:Black Session - Herman Dune
had Sunday dinner with the old crones today, they off to Tenerife for 2 weeks on Tuesday. That means I've got the unenviable task of trying to keep my father's plants alive whilst he's away. Oh bugger. Dinner marvellous though, the full works Roast Chicken, mashed spuds, roasties. peas, carrots, Yorkshires, stuffing followed by chocolate gateaux !!!!!!!!!!!!! Heaven. Just love my ma's cooking so much. Jim was obviously fawned over as if it was the first time they had ever met him. He plays them so well the little sod. But in a nice way.
Oh well the weekend's almost done back to that hell hole tomorrow.
- Location:A bit brighter place
- Mood: okay
- Music:Little Ole Wine Drinker - Dean Martin
- Mood:
tired - Music:Neither washington nor moscow - redskins
My two managers left work early today. Now that's nothing unusual, this happens quite frequently. Apart from being pissed off with the injustice that they are able to go whenever they like, there is the bonus that they are not hovering around full of self-importance. This left 7 of us there by the end of the day. Now of those 7, 3 were in contacts until 5.00 p.m. leaving 4 of us to lock up all the cabinets, clear all the pots away, draw the curtains and all the other mundane jobs that need to be done before we can escape. So if there was 4 why was it that it was only myself who ended up doing these jobs, whilst the rest sat around yapping. Now I don't know what they were talking about and having had to listen to what they had talked about all day, I feel relieved about this. But come on, surely in there lazy selfish hearts they must have thought "I wonder if any jobs need doing before we go". But then again I'm just kidding myself as if some of them would think about that. You see the problem is some are happy to sit and let their colleagues do all the shit.
TV has held no interest for me tonight, I really can't believe the bollocks that is put on nowadays. just one night of brain munbing programmes after another. All designed to stop you from thinking too much. Is it any wonder that Blair and others of his ilk are capable of getting away with all the shit they pour upon us. It's no coincidence that when revolutions take place that some of the first things to be taken over are the organs of mass communication. but I suppose people get what they deserve but for fuck sake, wake up people.
- Location:End of my patience
- Mood: cranky
- Music:Balls - Broken family Band
but pay day tomorrow and pleasant surprise to see I had gone up a pay point, and me not being an easily pleased person. I had a nice chat with the geordie lass at work today, my respect for her grows by the day, she such a nice person. Not much more report today except I still drawing breath which is a bonus.
- Location:moving slightly away from the dark corner of the room
- Mood:
calm - Music:Last time I did acid I went insane - Jeffrey Lewis
To those who want to know what is going on with me, then I have to dissapouint you. If I could explain I would but it is by far too long and complicated and I can just picture your eyes glazing over as I told you. But thank you for the concern and really I just too tired to try to explain it all.
- Mood:
blank - Music:Black Mountain
Now I'm home though with too much time to think. Can you believe the person I didn't want to see was at my workplace again today. I just packed my stuff and took some toil. Why is it that i go from one hideous situation to another, seems to have happened throughout my adult life. I suppose there is some store in the idea of thinking before leaping. Pretty tired now both physically and emotionally, if people keep chipping bits of me away, what happens when it's all gone ? I know threough my life that I have not lived a completely blameless one but I'm sure I don't deserve what has happened this time. perhaps it is something to do with the sort of person I am.
I think of myself as an intelligent, sensitive human being with the soul of a clown which always forces me to blow it at the most important moments
- Location:In a revolving door
- Mood: confused
- Music:Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
To those who have expressed concern about me, I thank you. But don't worry I will be okay, it just seems that it gets harder to get over another dissapointment each time they occur. I suppose my posting what I am feeling at the moment in this journal is to let those who are close to me know what is going on inside my head without having to open up face to face. You all know that I'm shit at that, again though thank you for caring.
Been putting together a few cd's for Paula's party tonight, an enjoyable exercise, such a male thing. I'm sure people will moan, they always do.
Work was a trial today, the effort it took to get through the day. This was not helped by the fact that the one person I did not want to see, was one of the first people I bloody saw. I managed to keep it together during work though, however people could tell something was wrong. Only the very brave or foolish know by now that it is best to give me a wide berth when they see me like that. Like I said I kept it together at work but driving home my emotions came out a bit,deepest apologies to my travellin companion. Bless her, don't think she knew what to do.
Well the battle begins again in about 8 hours.
- Location:Not where I would like to be
- Mood: exhausted
- Music:Paula's Lounge music party disc
