Bernard Moffatt's blog

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 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...

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.

‘ALDERDI EGUNA - ONE FOR THE NATIONALIST TO DO LIST?

On Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September the basque nationalist party (Eaj-Gnp) organizes each year the ‘alderdi eguna’ or day of the party during which it regularly invites political parties from other colonized nations in struggle for their self-determination.

The ‘alderdi eguna’ takes place on Saturday in the northern basque country and on Sunday in the south basque country This year the party of the occitane nationalists (P.N.O.) which spans France and Italy was one of the guests.

I may embrace poppy day this year if not by wearing the emblem at least in spirit.

No! I don’t mean ‘that poppy day’ sometime in November but the one being organised throughout France for October 5th and aimed at highlighting the damage that pesticides are doing to the planet.

Here’s some links to a couple of sites in Brittany at Nantes and Morlaix (the latter town I know well) which are promoting the event. The objective is to focus attention more adequately on the damage that pesticides are doing to wildlife, plant life and insects not least the humble but vital bee:

The plan for gold mining in The Sperrins has ‘resurfaced’ with an Australian company mooting project to establish the mine near Magherafelt in Co Tyrone. A TV personality is lending his support to opponents of the plan (link):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-45730901

Postal Workers Union Official Terry Pullinger has issued a fairly caustic denunciation of the Post Office Board - here’s a clip the full interview apparently is on Mandate:

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/post-office-boards-crede...

He asks if ‘they are up to the task’ it's a question that could have a wider airing as the Island lurches from crisis to crisis.