Blogs

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Duke Street civil rights march in Derry. Images of the Royal Ulster Constabulary brutally attacking unarmed demonstrators on 5 October 1968  were sent around the world. The true nature of the British colony in  the north-east of Ireland was exposed to a worldwide audience. The attacks on the Northern Ireland civil rights movement before and subsequent to the march on 5th October, resulted in a shift in peoples attitude.

I wrote to the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man two weeks ago asking for urgent assistance to help the needy on the Island AHEAD of this winter. I applauded the Island overseas aid commitment but urged that the same spirit was shown to those in difficulty at home (link):

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1837382359643850&id=80...

‘A British colonial Magistrate called Todd. If he is alive he’s a criminal who should be charged with genocide. If he’s dead then if there is a hell I hope he’s burning in it!’

Several people messaged and others wrote comments after my recent post about the Chagos Islanders saying they were unaware of the crime perpetrated against them by the United Kingdom over half a century ago.

With the Chief Minister and Treasury Minister having spent some days at the Brexit obsessed Tory conference I thought I would reproduce this article. The German online website Taz visited the Island a few months ago and interviewed myself and various others. Even the gulls get an opening mention which should please Jason Moorhouse MHK. Here is the transcript.

I should warn that I’ve used google translate so there will be a few minor glitches in the text. The sub headings - by the way - are in brackets.

The world's most expensive bottle of whisky has been sold for £848,000 at auction in Edinburgh. The bottle of 1926 Macallan Valerio Adami was particularly sought after due to its rarity, vintage and unique Valerio Adami artwork. It is 60 years old, having been created in 1926 and remained in a vat until bottled in 1986. Macallan commissioned artists Peter Blake and Valerio Adami to design labels for a limited edition of 24 bottles; 12 by each artist.

The 2nd October 1263 is the date of the Battle of Largs. It was an important point in Scotland's history as an expanding state. Although it was an indecisive engagement between the kingdoms of Norway and Scotland, it signalled the beginning of the end of Scandinavian influence over Scotland. For centuries the Norse - Gael kingdoms of the Hebrides and Isle of Man came under the influence of Norway, as did the Northern Isles of Shetland and Orkney.

The British government and its Army forciby evicted the Chagos Islanders from their home fifty years ago to make way for an American military base.

The used intimidation and violence. The gathered the Islanders pets and gassed them in front of them some of the older Islanders said in recent interviews they were so frightened they thought they or their children would also be gassed.

Not sure what point Juan is making here but if what he is saying is that the judicial system is ‘a law unto itself’ well I agree with him 100%.:

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/turner-hits-out-at-faile...

Last year The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum celebrated its 150th anniversary. This year The McManus is celebrating another anniversary associated with the Scottish city of Dundee (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Dè). The children's comic the Beano is celebrating its 80th birthday and is published by the Dundee based publisher DC Thomson. The comic first appeared on 30 July 1938. Its characters include Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx, The Bash Street Kids, The Numskulls, Roger the Dodger, Billy Whizz and Tricky Dicky.

I’m quite fond of Howard Quayle MHK (our Chief Minister) in an abstruse sort of way. The very fact that I’m writing about him when in the throes of almost deathlike fits of coughing induced by ‘the murran’ - indeed the sort of coughing attacks that are normally only experienced when Manx Radio’s John Moss calls Travelwatch ‘respected’ - says it all.

Howards trump card for me is that he is not Alf Cannan MHK and every day he stays at the helm of COMIN is another day of torment for Alf who thinks that should be his chair.