21 December 2010

Police Violence and Media Propaganda





Below is an interview with student protester, Jody McIntyre. 

I am not sure which is more shocking. The fact that the police in London pulled this sufferer of cerebral palsy out of his wheelchair and dragged him across the tarmac, or this shockingly biased and agenda driven interview by none other than the BBC, who are supposed to remain balanced and impartial.


One has come to expect the police at such demonstrations to take the side of the State against the public, but note the role of the Established media in defending the indefensible on behalf of the Government. Luckily, the gross incompetence of this presenter and his bias here makes the propaganda obvious to most. Everyday media propaganda is usually more subtle.


18 December 2010

The Very Real Price of the Austerity Programme

Did anyone see the headline of yesterday's JEP? A pensioner had to be treated by paramedics because he could not afford heating and was standing in front of his cooker to keep warm. This should not be tolerated in an affluent island such as Jersey. Senator Ozouf's cuts will lead to more of this type of incident as GST hits pensioners and the vulnerable most. Meanwhile corporations and the super rich have their tax bills slashed.

09 December 2010

The GST Party Win Again

Below you will find a list of those States Members who voted against freezing GST for a further 6 months until January 2012, in order to give islanders who are already having to contend with tough economic conditions a much needed breathing space.

Note the voting patterns. Out of 12 Senators, 10 voted to increase GST at the earliest possible opportunity; 9 of 12 Constables, but only 10 of 29 Deputies.

Senator Terry Le Sueur
Senator Philip Ozouf
Senator Paul Routier
Senator Jimmy Perchard
Senator Freddie Cohen
Senator Alan Maclean
Senator Ben Shenton
Senator Ian Le Marquand
Senator Terry Le Main
Senator Sarah Ferguson

Constable Ken Vibert
Constable John Gallichan
Constable Dan Murphy
Constable Peter Hanning
Constable Len Norman
Constable John Refault
Constable Juliette Gallichan
Constable Mike Jackson
Constable Silva Yates

Deputy Ben Fox
Deputy James Reed
Deputy Jackie Hilton
Deputy Anne Pryke
Deputy Ian Gorst
Deputy Phil Rondel
Deputy Anne Dupre
Deputy Eddie Noel
Deputy Andrew Green
Deputy Angela Jeune


Also, please take a look at the videos that have kindly been uploaded of the GST demonstration in the Royal Square, on Saturday, by our very own cameraman from Time4Change TV. These can be viewed at isthisjersey.com.

04 December 2010

THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED TODAY'S RALLY...

and braved the elements. Weather-wise, it was truly a miserable day, but it was warming to see some familiar and some new faces in the 100 or so strong crowd to protest about the Treasury Minister's proposed increase in GST which is a slap in the face to ordinary residents, families, pensioners already struggling with Jersey's high cost of living. 
photo bbc jersey

Thanks to all those who spoke. We were particularly please to have two special guests: one Mark Thomas, comedian and political activist; and local young musician/songwriter Jordan Delap, who performed an impromtu (acapella) version of sing song '(NO MORE) GST APATHY'. The song was composed especially for the event and the words can be seen below.

Videos and photos to follow.

In the meantime, here is a link to the bbc coverage (which is fair)

NO MORE GST SYMPATHY
NO MORE GST APATHY
NO MORE GST SYMPATHY
NO MORE GST APATHY

Let's run these politicians out of town
They want to burn our lives to the ground
By making us pay for their mistakes
The corporations don't pay and they just take
They say there's a blackhole they need to fill
And so they screw the poor, it makes me ill
Public opinion says NO WAY
But they just do it anyway
Cuz they don't care for you or me
They just want to get their money

NO MORE GST SYMPATHY
NO MORE GST APATHY
NO MORE GST SYMPATHY
NO MORE GST APATHY

Ridiculous prices in the shops
I can't even afford to buy new socks
This capitalist system has to go
Along with GST, Osouf and co.!
So let us make our resistance known
Enough of this apathy, lets put on a show
Tax the rich, not the poor
When you say no chance I'll scream some more
If we stand together there is chance
We can destroy political-corporate romance

NO MORE GST SYMPATHY
NO MORE GST APATHY
NO MORE GST SYMPATHY
NO MORE GST APATHY


01 December 2010

INCREASE IN GST IS A THREAT TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND HITS THE MOST VULNERABLE



 DEMONSTRATION
SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER 12 NOON. ROYAL SQUARE.

Families, workers, retailers, charities and pensioners as well as those who are regular users of threatened frontline services – such as the recently closed hospital hydrotherapy pool - are invited to attend a demonstration in the Royal Square this Saturday to oppose cuts in frontline services and an increase in GST.

‘We are not advocating inaction. Nobody is denying that economically, times are tough. Rather we are asking the Treasury Minister and other States Members to acknowledge that neither the recession nor the introduction of zero-ten, which have led to the cuts and the proposed increase in GST, are the fault of the public. Yet, it is the ordinary citizen, family and pensioner who will be hardest hit by the latest budget proposals, with increases in taxes – direct and indirect – from which big business is immune. This cannot be right. We are also concerned that local retailers some of whom are already struggling with high rents, administering GST and competing with internet sales will be disproportionately affected. We are concerned that the Chamber of Commerce position ignores this fact.

‘Despite the global climate, Jersey remains a world leader in terms of GDP and the proportion of GDP that we spend on the public sector is very low compared to other jurisdictions, including the Isle of Man and Guernsey. We have no national debt, rather we have savings of over £500m.

However, this wealth is by no means evenly spread and this is also true of the tax burden. Jersey is a small place where multi-million pound corporations, some of which pay no local tax on their profits, sit alongside the homes of ordinary families who are struggling under 20 means 20, social security, GST, increasing education fees and general living. This budget will lead to even greater inequality.’

‘The real backbone of the economy is not one industry or another, rather it is the workers present on the island, who require hospitals, schools, roads, a good postal service etc., and indeed those workers who provide these excellent services.’

If times are tough, it is right that any additional funding (or cuts in spending) are borne by those most able to bear them. What is actually happening is the exact opposite. In recent years, we have seen taxes on profits go down, whilst personal taxes have gone up. Our message to Senator Ozouf is to reverse this: to optimize the contributions of those making huge profits on the island and to ‘let up’ on ordinary residents who are increasingly feeling the pinch, but do not have the same lobbying power of big business.

Members of the public who are unhappy with this state of affairs are invited to join us for the demonstration on Saturday 4th December, 12 Noon in the Royal Square.

THE DEMONSTRATION

DATE:            SATURDAY 4TH DEC 2010
VENUE:         ROYAL SQUARE
TIME:             12:00 NOON

The meeting will be opened at midday by a young local musician, who will perform  a couple tunes as the crowd assemble.

Whilst being organized by Time4Change, there will be contributions from various other groups and individuals, including environmental groups, charities etc. Invites have been sent to Age Concern and other civil society groups, who will be affected.

There will be an opportunity for members of the public to speak. We would particularly like to hear from families who are currently struggling to make ends meet; those who have been affected by 20 means 20 and others who may be struggling to put their children through University. Alternative fiscal policy will be discussed and we invite States Members to listen and take comments on board. There will also be an opportunity for people to leave comments anonymously, or otherwise, some of which will be published.

We invite people to wrap up warm and join us. A different, better Jersey is possible.