headwayyouth- phil smith's blog

What's left?

Having just popped myself onto Facebook I was asked to describe my political views, I went for 'Very Liberal'. I think I stand by that, but Nick Cohen's article in the Guardian yesterday does hold some massive challenges for those of us that place ourselves on the political left;

The fall of socialism "has freed them [the left] to go along with any movement however far to the right it may be, as long as it is against the status quo in general and, specifically, America...intellectuals in particular are ready to excuse the movements of the far right as long as they are anti-Western."

I found Cohen's article difficult to read not just because it's extremely lengthy but because I realised that I am guilty. I have blogged so many times about the lies we were fed over the war and the mistakes that Bush and Blair have made, but I struggle to remember a single post denouncing militant Islam.

I guess one way of explaining that would be that, like fair trade, this is just one of the things that I'm passionate about. My worry is that my passion is not that of a libertarian but one of anti-Americanism.

Guillemots entertain...

Just stumbled across a quality video of the Guillemots playing on the streets of Paris. If you're a fan take a look it's very entertaining (and it's worth persevering for the first couple of minutes).

Zo's birthday present is two tickets to see the Guillemots in a couple of weeks time. Hoping she's going to take me!

MLK day today!

78 years ago the great man was born.

M & S goes all ethical

M & S announced today it's A Plan to go green, pledging to spend £200M over the next five years implementing their 100 point plan. The plan means that by 2012 M & S will:

• become carbon neutral
• send no waste to landfill
• extend sustainable sourcing
• set new standards in ethical trading
• help customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle

(Oh and Stuart Rose Cheif Exec is going to trade his beamer in for a hydrogen powered motor)

I like their holistic approach, not just focusing on staff welfare or fair trade, but recognising that it's all or nothing. Don't know if it's a marketing ploy or a genuine commitment, but to be honest as long as they do what they promise I'm not that bothered!

(A little bit more over at Treehugger)

Another cabinet minister graces the Tyne

At the end of an eventful week, this afternoon I went to a gathering with Hilary Benn (Secretary of State for International Development). Benn is popular up here- not least because his dad is a bit of a socialist legend- and he did his popularity no harm in admitting (unlike other members of the cabinet) that there had been no progress on making trade work for the developing world.

Unfortunately, Benn gave little cause for optimism, dodging questions and not commiting to any progress on these issue. Baring in mind unfair trade costs the developing world twice as much as they receive in aid, that's a major disappointment (especially if you're a Ghanaian rice farmer)... I guess I would say that though wouldn't I?

Back from the big smoke...

Just got back from London after a trip to the Fairtrade Foundation and Tearfund.

It was nice to see friends, walk around the city, hear a spanish man preaching at Leicester Square (see left) and visit the enormous Apple Store on Regent Street, but for the first time I'm starting to think that  living in London would not be as good as it is in my head!

iphone and other things apple

Macworld 2007 is taking place in the states right now, should you wish you can follow developments over at Engadget.
The most exciting development thus far (especially for us gadget fans) the unveiling of iphone.

Good news from Tony...

There is no pressure from number 10 to stop flying in order to save the environment!

In Mr Blair's opinion cutting air traffic (the fastest growing cause of greenhouse gases) to save the plannet is an 'unrealistic target'. Instead "we need to do is to look at how you make air travel more energy efficient, how you develop the new fuels that will allow us to burn less energy and emit less".

Genius Tony, Genius!

My afternoon with Gordon Brown & Bob Geldof

No honestly... well kind of...

This afternoon Bob Geldof, Gordon Brown, Benjamin Mkapa (former president of Tanzania), Susan George (political economist) and David Golding (Make Poverty History North East Co-ordinator and all round local legend) received honourary degrees from Newcastle Uni. It was a grand affair, but they let me in nevertheless.

The interaction between Geldof and Brown was quite interesting. They clearly get on very well. Gordon Brown made a speech (including three Bible references) and I have to say I was quite impressed.

After the presentation Brown left and the others along with Chris Patten formed a discussion panel. Some of the points in the discussion were really interesting, in particular:

• the importance of educating women in eradicating poverty
• the irrelevance of post-war institutions (UN, World Bank etc)
• the increasing influence that China (as a new superpower) is having over Africa
• there was also a discussion about whether or not aid should be linked to transparency and accountability. Geldof made the interesting point that in every country there is corruption (Watergate, cash for questions/peerages, Berlusconi) but that in poor countries this is more visible/controversial because it's a higher proportion of GDP.

As a final note there was an article in the Metro today highlighting that Britain has already emited more CO2 this year (per capita) than most developing countries will all year.

You may have seen me on the TV this evening...

I've just returned from the fields of Anfield road having witnessed a disappointing performance from the Redman at the hands of Arsenal... but that is only part of the story...

I was fortunate enough to sit in the Kop, which is always an incredible experience but this evening was something else.

15th April 1989 96 Kopites went to watch the mighty Redmen and never returned. Although I was only a seven year old Scouser at the time, I vaguely remember the effect it had; utterly devastating an entire city.

In this context Kelvin MacKenzie, then editor of the Sun, felt it appropriate to print a load of b******s about what happened that day which he still defends.

Today a new campaign launched, rather an attack on low-life MacKenzie. For the first six minutes of the match, and about three minutes before, the entire Kop turned into a mosaic spelling TRUTH and chanted 'Justice for the 96'.

It was incredible.  Uniting with 12,000 others in such a loud & proud way. Shame we lost, but glad I was there to experience it all.