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Table of Contents: Loyalty pledge to Britain urged for all cultures "ben moretti" <bmoretti@chariot.net.au> December 2001 Le Monde diplomatique <dispatch@monde-diplomatique.fr> Sklyarov released, company not Mikael Pawlo <mikael@pawlo.com> ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 17:00:15 +1050 From: "ben moretti" <bmoretti@chariot.net.au> Subject: Loyalty pledge to Britain urged for all cultures http://www.guardian.co.uk/racism/Story/0,2763,617395,00.html Loyalty pledge to Britain urged for all cultures Alan Travis, home affairs editor Wednesday December 12, 2001 The Guardian A new agreed concept of citizenship, including a formal statement of allegiance, is needed to help bridge the polarisation between the white and non-white communities that exists in Britain's towns and cities, says the official Home Office inquiry report into this summer's northern city riots. The report of the inquiry into the riots in Oldham, Burnley and Bradford, chaired by Ted Cantle, Nottingham's former chief executive, also proposes that church and other faith schools should offer at least 25% of their places to pupils of other faiths and all schools should avoid more than 75% of their pupils from one culture or ethnic group. The Cantle report makes clear that the root cause of the summer riots lies in a segregation in Britain's towns and cities which is so deep that "many communities operate on the basis of a series of parallel lives". Extremist groups, including the British National Party, exploit the fear and ignorance generated by this gulf to undermine community harmony and foster divisions. It says the failure to communicate between communities is compounded by the lack of an honest debate as people in all communities "tiptoe around" the sensitive issues of race, religion and culture. But the report also stresses that the majority white community must make as much of an effort as minority ethnic groups in improving their understanding of other sections of society. The report criticises weak leadership from political and community figures who suffer from "back home politics", calls for quicker police action to stamp out potentially inflammatory marches and assemblies, and condemns "postcode" discrimination by private employers; it also highlights the need to "bust myths" about the distribution of government grants among white and non-white communities. But Cantle's most startling recommendation is his support for the introduction of a statement of allegiance, similar to that used by Canada for new citizens, which would establish a "clear primary loyalty to Britain". He calls for a debate over what common elements now make up British "nationhood". "This might revolve around key issues such as language and law. For example, a more visible support for anti-discrimination measures, support for women's rights, a universal acceptance of the English language (particularly important in some areas) and respect for both religious differences and secular views." The use of English, which is already a pre-condition of citizenship, should become more rigorously pursued with appropriate support, it adds. "A meaningful concept of 'citizenship' needs establishing - and championing - - which recognises the contribution of all cultures to this nation's development throughout its history, but establishes a clear loyalty to this nation. This is, after all, the responsibility of citizenship and a clearer statement of allegiance, perhaps along the lines of the Canadian model should be considered." The Cantle report is critical of the failure of all political parties to ensure full representation of all minority groups. But perhaps its strongest recommendations are in the field of education, where the review team found monocultural and single faith schools where the intake was almost 100% from one ethnic background. It says that all schools should be under a statutory duty to promote respect for the cultures in the school and neighbouring areas, including twinning arrangements to compensate for the lack of contact with other cultures. The report of the group of ministers, chaired by the Home Office minister John Denham, and published at the same time as the Cantle report yesterday, made clear that developing policies with the specific aim of community cohesion is to become an explicit objective of government when it comes to decisions over schools, housing and neighbourhood renewal. The report echoes much of the analysis of the Cantle report, describing different communities having retreated into segregated "comfort zones" partly out of fear of racist attacks and a lack of choice about housing, jobs and schools. The Denham report also stresses the importance of government taking the necessary measures to prevent disorder arising from the activities of far-right organisations. Mr Denham said in some cases that the ability for the police to respond to rumours of activity by extremist organisations was as important in preventing disorder as stamping down on actual racist activity. Main points · Segregation has left many communities operating on the basis of parallel lives · National debate needed on new concept of citizenship, including oath of allegiance · Faith schools and mono-cultural schools should have no more than 75% of pupils from single group · All towns and cities to develop community cohesion strategies including "myth busting role" · Regeneration funding should not assume ethnic minority group needs are greater than others - -- ben moretti mailto:bmoretti@chariot.net.au http://www.chariot.net.au/~bmoretti news and events in adelaide: http://www.active.org.au/adelaide __o _`\<,_ (*)/ (*) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 12:22:22 +0100 (CET) From: Le Monde diplomatique <dispatch@monde-diplomatique.fr> Subject: December 2001 Le Monde diplomatique ----------------------------------------------------- December 2001 In this issue: Palestine as Israel's last best hope, US love-in with Russia and China, alienation in the Gulf, Horn of Africa on the US terror list, plus Noam Chomsky on terrorism, weapon of the powerful... also Lenin and Stalin: the last great Tsars, Nicaragua: denying the revolutionaries, the euro that people don't trust, no recession in the European flesh trade and why VS Naipaul doesn't deserve his prize... The world's new look by IGNACIO RAMONET Translated by Ed Emery <http://www.en.monde-diplomatique.fr/2001/12/01newlook> UNITED STATES, GLOBAL BULLY Terrorism, weapon of the powerful * by NOAM CHOMSKY The leaders of the United States do not realise that their desire to win at everything always has consequences, and that their present exploits are likely to have high future costs. Osama bin Laden was the price of the US victory over the USSR in Afghanistan. What will be the next bill due? Original text in English BUSH MAKES A BALFOUR DECLARATION AND RETRACTS IT Palestine: Israel's last best hope by DOMINIQUE VIDAL After 11 September the United States put pressure on Israel, and President Bush made his own Balfour declaration, promising a Palestinian state beside Israel. But the Hamas attacks at the start of December changed all that. Yet Israel will suffer badly if Ariel Sharon does destroy the Palestinian Authority. Translated by Wendy Kristianasen <http://www.en.monde-diplomatique.fr/2001/12/03palestine> Concrete realities * by AMIRA HASS Translated by Wendy Kristianasen 'MY COUNTRY WILL NOT BE AMERICA'S GAS PUMP' Gulf states: ambivalent allies by our special correspondent ERIC ROULEAU The war in Afghanistan winds down, but new targets are being selected in Washington. The Iraqi question is thus back on the table. But any US action against the Iraqi regime risks further inflaming Arab and Muslim opinion, weakening the position of the Gulf leaders. Translated by Linda Butler <http://www.en.monde-diplomatique.fr/2001/12/04gulf> WISH LISTS OF WASHINGTON, MOSCOW AND BEIJING A trio of soloists * by GILBERT ACHCAR Translated by Malcolm Greenwood WHY THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE SOVIET PAST The history of the Russian future * by MOSHE LEWIN The Soviet system created in 1917 finally collapsed a decade ago with Mikhail Gorbachev's resignation, and was replaced by the Russian Federation. But we still do not understand what the Soviet system was like. What was the relationship between Stalinism and Tsarism? How did conservatism and bureaucracy defeat the need for reform? Russia now is divided between nostalgia and rejection of its past. Translated by Barry Smerin ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA UNDER NOTICE FROM THE US Horn of Africa: al-Qaida regroups? by JEAN-LOUIS PENINOU Sudan and Somalia are likely to be on Washington's list of world terrorist targets, and it could also launch military operations in the Horn of Africa, where al-Qaida's links are well-established, although little known. Translated by Lorna Dale <http://www.en.monde-diplomatique.fr/2001/12/07horn> EURO: GODLESS, STATELESS AND UNTRUSTWORTHY? Hard cash * by BRUNO THERET The euro acknowledges no higher political or symbolic authority, only the market. Its guarantor is not God, nor a nation, nor established mutual trust but an unaccountable technocratic institution: the European Central Bank. Translated by Barbara Wilson ORTEGA 'A FRIEND TO UNITED STATES ENEMIES' Wasted sacrifices * by our special correspondent RAPHAËLLE BAIL Translated by Julie Stoker Nicaragua: a revolution forgotten * by FRANÇOIS HOUTART Arnoldo Alemán's government is unprecedentedly corrupt and so the Sandinista National Liberation Front seemed to have a chance, with its moderately reformist plans, in the November presidential election. It lost. Translated by Malcolm Greenwood EASTERN EUROPE EXPORTS FLESH TO THE EU The Natasha trade * by FRANÇOIS LONCLE There are thousands of desperately poor women from eastern Europe working as prostitutes in western Europe, often controlled by gangs of criminals making enormous profits. But the EU has no coherent strategy to help these women, or internationally agreed laws to deal with their recruiters, their pimps and their punters. Translated by Luke Sandford A business of bodies * by FRANÇOIS LONCLE Translated by Luke Sandford NOT WORTH THE PRIZE Naipaul in denial * by PASCALE CASANOVA Translated by Luke Sandford ________________________________________________________________ _ (*) Star-marked articles are available to paid subscribers only. Yearly subscription fee: 24 US $ (Institutions 48 US $). ______________________________________________________________ For more information on our English edition, please visit http://www.en.monde-diplomatique.fr/ To subscribe to our free "dispatch" mailing-list, send an (empty) e-mail to: dispatch-on@monde-diplomatique.fr To unsubscribe from this list, send an (empty) e-mail to: dispatch-off@monde-diplomatique.fr English language editorial director: Wendy Kristianasen _______________________________________________________ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 1997-2001 Le Monde diplomatique ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 23:29:04 +0100 From: Mikael Pawlo <mikael@pawlo.com> Subject: Sklyarov released, company not http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011213/tc/russian_programmer_1.html "Charges will be dropped against a Russian computer programmer accused of violating copyrights on software made by Adobe Systems Inc. in exchange for his testimony in the trial of his company, a spokeswoman for the programmer said Thursday." Regards Mikael _________________________________________________________________________ ICQ:35638414 mailto:mikael@pawlo.com +46-704-215825 http://www.pawlo.com/ ------------------------------ # distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission # <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: majordomo@bbs.thing.net and "info nettime-l" in the msg body # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime@bbs.thing.net