THE LAST HURRAH? OR, ON TO MERRIE ENGLANDE?

by Jeremy Lee
The recent immense rally by rural Britons through the streets of London Town has, in contrast to Britain itself, received scant coverage in Australia. Over four hundred thousand people from diverse walks of life, with a minimum of organization, assembled in good-natured but determined mood, to express their anger at the destruction of the rural way of life. The pretext for such an outpouring was Prime Minister Blair's attempt to ban fox-hunting. But it was obvious that this was the pretext for an avalanche of issues, combining into a widespread indignation with the destruction of a traditional part of Britain.

THE CLEANSING OF THE SHIRE

Those familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, widely regarded as one of the great Christian classics of the 20th Century, will recall the return of Frodo Baggins and his lieutenant Sam Gamgee from horrific encounters with the arch-centralist Sauron - during which the will-to-power in the form of the Ring was disposed of - to find their Shire homeland tied up and stifled under a load of bureaucratic red tape and regulation. Local residents could not even sit on a bench outside the local inn with a pint, because some anonymous 'do-gooder' had invented a regulation curtailing such a simple freedom.
(Tolkien himself smoked a pipe, which would have been regarded with horror by the 'do-gooders' who have never read a word of what he wrote.)

Frodo and Sam arrived home at just the right time. Tapping into fuming resentment and banishing demoralisation, they routed the bureaucrats and burned the mountain of petty regulations and unnecessary taxes and fees.
Something akin to "an issue with the necessary steam" must have galvanized rural England to produce the biggest rally in the history of the British Isles. Incredulous British papers caught the significance of the moment.

Under the heading WERE YOU LISTENING, TONY BLAIR?, Britain's Daily Telegraph (23/9/02) said: "Never before have so many people taken to the streets in protest. .... The marchers represent a Britain that is often overlooked. In Edmund Burke's metaphor, they are the great cattle, reposed beneath the shadow of the British oak ...."

Another report, same paper: "... Asked what would happen if the Government did not listen to the marchers' concerns .... he said "I think the countryside will erupt in fury. What form that fury will take I'm not certain, but I have no doubts about the depth and intensity of the fury you will see. We will see a public outpouring of anger of a kind that has not been seen for a very long time .... Ben Gill, speaking for the National Farmers' Union, said many farmers were working 60 to 70 hours a week and earning about 3 pounds ($6) per hour - well below the 4.2 pound minimum wage. There had been an 'exodus' of farmers in the past five years ....
The Prince of Wales has written to Tony Blair saying he believes hunting people are victimized more than ethnic minorities and homosexuals. In a letter, the thrust of which was leaked on the eve of the ...march, Prince Charles told the Prime Minister that he agreed with a farmer in Cumbria who told him: "If we as a group were black or gay, we would not be victimized or picked upon....."

Britain's biggest-selling newspaper, The Sun (23/9/02), spoke to some of the hundreds of thousands who marched. The comments might have come from Australia: " ...."I have been a farmer all my life but the Government are forcing us out of business."
"We are trying to produce for less than it costs us to grow and we cannot do it any longer."
Farm worker William Harrison, 40, blamed supermarkets for forcing down prices. The dad of four ... added "Our small shops, pubs and schools are closing."
Gardener Denny Hawes, 51, of Orford, Suffolk, said: "My livelihood is under threat from politicians. They need to stop the towns encroaching on the countryside."
Farmhand Brian Power, 34, had a special grudge against red tape. Dad of two Brian, of Worthing, Sussex, said: "I've had enough of what the Government's doing; there's too much paperwork..... "If farming continues to do badly, my home as well as my job could be at risk because I get the house with the job."
Mechanic Geoff Davis, 41, from Edenbridge, Kent, said: "My turnover is down because farmers are doing badly and I mend their vehicles. I worry about the future."
Labourer Blair Allan, 22, of Orsott, Essex, said: "It's impossible to make a living. There might come a stage when it's hard for farmers to employ us."....

The Telegraph added the same day: "...For every marcher talking about hunting, there was another telling you about the local bus service, the closing Post Office, the price of lamb, and the greed of the supermarkets ..."

Even the prestigious Times was jolted: "This was not just, or even largely about hunting. "Only stupid Sheep hide under Bushes, Tony", one placard said, in what appeared to be about Iraq ....One marcher had clearly spent hours painstakingly printing the following argument on to her T-shirt: "There are no natural predators of foxes and deer yet they have to be controlled. Let us mirror nature." Another, rather more pithily, declared: "For Fox sake, listen!"
A group of Portuguese farmers had come to show solidarity, but found there was only space to show half their banner ...."
William Rees-Mogg, in another Times article, wrote: "... It is an expression of the alienation of a major part of British society. Apart from field sports, the issues are cultural, economic, and social, and there were some placards which referred to each of these issues ...."

The BBC (i.e. British Broadcasting Corporation - Ed.) is England's number one enemy." The economic issues are keenly felt. They are expressed in various, often quite specific, statements: "14p a litre for milk is not a living." Down in Somerset, where the rain and the grass provide an ideal environment for milk production, we all know that it's true. In recent years Somerset farmers have been going out of milk in large numbers. One slogan neatly combined the economic with the hunting issue: "50,000 foxes can't be wrong! Eat British Lamb!"

THE NEED FOR A SANCTION

A FAINT WHIFF OF HISTORY

Britain's Sun newspaper recorded that three women marchers from different parts of England - who had probably never contemplated such a thing before - marched topless among the 400,000. Such a thing has happened before in Britain at moments of intense crisis. The famed British warrior Queen Boadicea, whose two daughters were savagely raped by Roman foot-soldiers during the invasion of Britain, appeared topless before her army and made the following speech, according to the historian Dion Cassius:
"I appeal to thee as a woman. I rule not, like Nitocris, over beasts of burden, as are the effeminate nations of the East, nor the Semiramis, over tradesmen and traffickers, nor like the man-woman Nero, over slaves and eunuchs - such is the precious knowledge these foreigners introduce among us - but I rule over Britons, little versed in craft and diplomacy, but born and trained in the game of war, men who, in the cause of liberty stake down their lives, the lives of their wives and children, their lands and property.
Queen of such a race, I implore thine aid for freedom, for victory over enemies infamous for the wantonness of the wrongs they inflict, for their perversion of justice, for their contempt for religion, for their insatiable greed, a people that revel in unmanly pleasures, whose affections are more to be dreaded and abhorred than their enmity. Never let a foreigner bear rule over me or these my countryman; never let slavery reign in this island ...."

Boadicea's statue, riding her chariot, stands at one end of Westminster Bridge, over which many of the recent marchers trod. When the immense liner Queen Elizabeth was preparing to depart, packed with troops, for the Falklands war, a number of British papers commented on the lone girl who stood on the wharf topless, at the sight of which a roar of anger and determination like nothing heard before, engulfed the whole ship. Perhaps one can read too much into these things, but there is something in the mystique of femininity beyond sex which, if applied correctly, brings out the best in men. When women truly become women again, men will become men. Watch out, Tony Blair!

ISRAELI REFUSENIK

A public meeting was held at the University of Technology, Sydney, September 17th, 2002, for Rotem Dan Mor, the young Israeli soldier who served a term in prison rather than continue to serve in the Israeli Army. The meeting was hosted by "Jews for a Just Peace, Sydney".

Advertised as a meeting on: "Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue & Peaceful Co-existence", the flyer we received explained Rotem Dan Mor is an Israeli 'refusenik'. He is 20 years old, and has recently been released from the Israeli Defence Force after conscientiously objecting to serve. He spent 28 days in jail for his stand. In a political statement that he published shortly before his arrest, Mor wrote:
For a long time I have had my doubts about the honesty of military service. These questions began to arise long before I was drafted. They stemmed from information I had acquired about the Israeli-Arab conflict, and from discovering the false information about it, to which I was exposed for years. As I learned more, I was increasingly skeptical about the official Israeli version of what happened. This official version is the basis on which most Israeli youth justifies its military service. I started to understand to what extent fear and hatred had been instilled in me from a very early age. I discovered that I do not believe in the existence of an 'enemy', but rather in the existence of people of different cultures, who are frightened and angry, just like me."

Let's believe Rotem Dan Mor learns 'to grow roses', that he learns to 'engage with beauty' (OT, September 27th, 2002). It would seem many young Israelis need to feast on the beautiful things of Life, not fear and hatred.

WHAT DID WE TELL YOU?

"The word from the CIA: it's the oil, stupid": Melbourne Age:, September 23rd, 2002.

"France and Russia have oil companies and interests in Iraq.
('France' and 'Russia' in this context is not the same thing as the nations - the peoples - of France and Russia. I doubt that the peoples of France or Russia get a franc's or rouble's worth of benefit from the oil fields in Iraq. The above sentence should read: "Oil companies with headquarters in France and Russia have oil, commercial and financial interests in Iraq. " ... ed.)

"They should be told that if they are of assistance in moving Iraq towards decent government, we'll do the best we can to ensure that the new government and American companies will work with them. If they throw their lot with Saddam, it will be difficult to the point of impossible to persuade the new Iraq government to work with them. Former CIA director James Woolsey, quoted in "The Washington Post", September 15, 2002.

So there you have it. The Bush administration may be telling the world that the reason the UN Security Council has to approve an allied attack on Iraq is because of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capability, but the real reason France and Russia are being told to get on board the US military bandwagon is Iraq's oil reserves. According to "The Washington Post", all five permanent members of the Security Council - the US, Britain, France, Russia and China - have international oil companies with major stakes in a change of leadership in Baghdad. The Washington Post is one of the major media vehicles through which members of the American establishment talk to each other. It is clear the real issue here is who controls Iraqi oil.

Neither the US nor Britain - nor Australia for that matter - has produced any credible evidence to back up the ostensible reason for an attack on Iraq, or 'regime change' (read assassination of Saddam)... There is nothing new in the US/British policy in the Middle East and in Iraq in particular. Iraq was a client state or, in polite terms, an ally. Client states are defined, according to US academic Noam Chomsky, by their obedience, not their values. Saddam was given diplomatic cover for as long as he was obedient to US interests. Now, he is damned as a monster.... If Australia follows its present course - a more sophisticated version of "all the way with LBJ" - we will share the cost, but without the minor benefits that might be available to the four members of the Security Council, which the US wants on side to provide a moral fig leaf for its policy in the Middle East..."

BRIGADIER SPEAKS OUT ON IRAQ THEATRE OF WAR

Under the heading "Limping as to war" the Sydney Morning Herald reported retired Brigadier Jim Wallace, has come out 'with all guns blazing' against the proposal to send Australian troops to yet another theatre of war, this time in Iraq.

"In mid-2000 Brigadier Jim Wallace, one of the Australian Army's most experienced commanders, turned down the offer of promotion to general which would have crowned his career. Instead, he gave notice of resignation - a decision born of fury and frustration. Fury at the civilian defence advisers whose strategic planning over years he claims have corroded the army's readiness for engagements in East Timor, Afghanistan and potentially Iraq. Frustration at the fact that even the army's most senior officers apparently had limited influence to change anything."

Brigadier now Executive Chairman of Christian Lobby Group
According to a pamphlet sent to us, the Brigadier, now based in Canberra, serves as Executive Chairman of the "Australian Christian Lobby". The ACL is, "Unashamedly Christian and putting value back into the Christian vote." The pamphlet reports on three issues in which the ACL has been involved.
Euthenasia
40,000 letters in just four weeks helped influence government decision.
Criminal Code
ACL helped generate 35,000 letters that challenged the Federal Attorney General and Criminal Code Committee about laws which would have effectively decriminalised incest between parents and their children, permitted sexual relations as young as 10 years old, etc.
Sexuality Discrimination Bill
30,000 letters from Christians said a resounding NO! to this Bill which would have removed all exemptions for the Church, schools, etc., forcing them to employ homosexuals, transsexuals, etc.

Bravo to Brigadier Wallace and the ACL, and welcome to the frey!

LETTER TO EDITOR

MISSING OR DELAYED 'ON TARGETS' - WE NEED TO KNOW

WESTERN AUSTRALIA - CONSERVATIVE SPEAKERS' CLUB

HAVE YOU FINALISED YOUR PLANS FOR THE NATIONAL WEEKEND?

From Friday, October 11th (New Times Dinner) through to and including Sunday, October 13th, 2002. It promises to be an outstanding event... make every effort to be there! We expect to see the Victorians and New South Welshmen turn up in large numbers. Every year, for the last fifty-five years, interstate folk have travelled many hundreds and/or thousands of miles to be at the National Weekend in Melbourne, whereas the locals have only had to hop on a bus, train or tram. Now it is the Vics and NSWelshmen's turn to make the effort.

"NEW TIMES" DINNER - "Celebrating the Year of Jubilee": Friday, October 11th, 2002. Dinner Guest Speaker is Mr. Phillip Benwell, MBE, and his address is entitled: "The Queen on her Jubilee". Venue is Main Function Room, The Hume Motor Inn, 406 Wodonga Place, Albury, NSW, 2640. Dinner price: $27.00 per person for a buffet style 3-course meal; bar facilities available. Dinner bookings no later than Friday, October 4th, 2002.

SEMINAR - "Heralding the Year of Jubilee": Registration from 12.30pm. Commences, 1.15pm, Saturday, October 12th. Admission to Seminar: $15.00 per person. Four excellent speakers have been invited for the weekend. Seminar speakers: Nigel Jackson, Melbourne writer, schoolteacher and author of "The Case for David Irving". Nigel will focus on, "The Queen's Justice and the International Criminal Court". Michael Lane, editor of American social credit publication "Triumph of the Past", "One Successful Experiment Would Do More Than $Millions in Advertising". Phillip Benwell, MBE, National Chairman, Australian Monarchist League. He observed "we have gone from despotic rule to an elective dictatorship!" The title of his paper is, "Our Developing Democracy". Jeremy Lee, authority on the New World Order, writer, author and lecturer will be speaking on "The Crunch and the Critical Moment". 2002 is also the fiftieth year since the death of C.H. Douglas, which we will also commemorate - another 'jubilee' event. Whilst the situation looks grim, Jeremy Lee reminds us of Douglas' observation, "Every aspect of evil appears to be in the ascendancy..." His implication is that when every hope of a breakthrough is lost, the momentum of evil exhausts even itself. At that moment a lever applied in the right place by an absurdly small number can help change things!

DIVINE SERVICE & ACTION CONFERENCE - Sunday, October 13th: It is planned the Sunday will be a full day for those who can stay on. Make every effort to do so. Plan to travel back home on the Monday. Michael Lane is making a special effort to be at the weekend - all the way from the USA! We will give him extra time on the Sunday to further develop the ideas he is keen to present. New books to be launched: Another League initiative! A number of 'hot off the press' books will be launched at the weekend, including two of Michael Lane's. Venue is the same as last year: The Hume Inn, 406 Wodonga Place, Albury, NSW. No more time-wasting and frustration trying to find parking spots in busy, hectic Melbourne. Good reports were received from those who attended last year. A wide choice of accommodation is available in Albury, plenty of service clubs for good meals, and the food, facilities and accommodation at the motel very satisfactory. We have 'block booked' a number of rooms for League people at the motel - The Hume Inn in Albury, NSW. Phone early and make your bookings: Phone (02) 6021 2733 or Fax (02) 6041 2239.

HELP YOURSELF TO GOOD HEALTH

IMPORTANT BOOKS

"The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" by Greg Palast: $66.00 posted. Greg Palast has dug deep to unearth the ugly facts that few reporters working anywhere in the world today have the courage to cover. His uncanny investigative skills as well as his acerbic wit and no-holds-barred style have made him an anathema among magnates on four continents and a legend among his colleagues and his devoted readership worldwide. Palast is the first investigative reporter who revealed how Katherine Hams and Jeb Bush removed thousands of Democrats from voter rolls before the Presidential election. The explosive stories from Salon .com, the Washington Post, and the Guardian are included here, expanded with new evidence. There is the story behind his cover operation "Lobbygate"; of corruption at the heart of Tony Blair's government, which earned him the distinction of being the first journalist ever berated on the floor of Parliament by a prime minister. Palast, working with a cache of documents from inside the World Bank, IMF and WTO shines a light on the dark machinery of the Iron Triangle of Globalization, what Jude Wanniski of the Wall Street Journal called, "Great writing on the Evil Empire of the IMF."

"Fascist Europe Rising" by Rodney Atkinson: $46.00 posted. Author Rodney Atkinson's latest book "Fascist Europe Rising: the Repression and Resurgence of Democratic Nations" is a reading must for those interested and concerned with what is happening in Britain and Europe. There are many lessons for Australians to learn. As the constitution of the Danish people rightly asserts, "It is by law you build the land" and no other regime in world history has achieved so much imperial conquest by merely generating the law to build their land as has the so-called 'European Union' (EU). Eastern Europe wants only to trade freely with the countries of Western Europe but the EU forcefully prevents that, offering to remove trade barriers only when those nations surrender their hard-won constitutional nationhood. In the modern era of the universal franchise each parliament only represents (for its statutory term) the true sovereigns, the People. The end of sovereignty is the end of democracy. During the 1930s and 1940s, as today, there were few terms with which European Fascism was more happy than The New World Order reflecting as it does notions of power, global ambition, order (i.e. control) and contempt for democratic nationhood.

"In This Age of Plenty" by Louis Even: $32.00 posted. This book presents the concept of a saner, more balanced world. It presents a view of a money system, that would free society from purely financial problems. It takes the power away from the fraudsters, the manipulators, of the present system and it makes money a simple servant, a mere book-keeping system, and a just one. The author Louis Even outlines the Social Credit financial proposals, conceived by the Scottish engineer Clifford Hugh Douglas. It proposes to reform the money system in order to release the 'social credit' of the community. The production system does not distribute purchasing power to everyone. It distributes it only to those who are employed in production. And the more the production comes from the machine, the less it comes from human labour. In this technological, automated, industrialized age, production continues to increase, whereas human employment decreases, so there is continuing conflict between progress, which eliminates the need for human labour, and the system, which distributes purchasing power only to the employed. Everyone has the right to live, even those who are not employed. This is why, without in any way disturbing the system of reward for work, Social Credit would distribute to every individual a periodical income called a "Social Dividend". This dividend would allow everyone to enjoy the fruits of progress.