Archive for August, 2007

Barney gets concerned over his tenure as ‘First Dog’.

The Conservatives Anarchy animation in full. Last week’s Channel 4 News image.

Some old and pretty naïve stuff on George Bush and Vietnam.

At least Cheney would have arranged for Al-Maliki to apologise for headbutting his bullet.

Not a lot of column inches have been given to the UK Government’s decision to refuse the Palestine National Youth Football Team entry to the U.K.
Mark Steel mentions it in The Independent but there are very few mentions of it on the web.

Intriguingly, as far as I can see reported, the team was denied entry for one reason only - that they are too poor to be trusted to return home.
I believe differently but, if that is Government policy, surely the IOC should question whether Britain is fit to host the Olympics in 2012. Can you have a genuine Olympics where the host nation is prepared to restrict the field of competitors?
This was not a decision taken by an oik in an office abroad.
“The refusal has been taken at the highest level in London. It is in line with current immigration policy”, the entry clearance officer is quoted as saying.

So, when will the London Olympics Organisers and the UK Government announce the means-testing measures they will apply to sportsmen and women coming to the London Olympics in 2012 ?

How many countries will be excluded from the 2012 Olympics because they are too poor?

How many individuals will be excluded if the Olympic Committee discriminates by personal wealth or lack of it?
From what I read about the measly grants available to British 2012 hopefuls, our own Olympic Team could be decimated.
Can we trust British athletes to return to their bedsits once the Government has made full use of their propaganda value?
London could be full of beggars wearing British team uniforms who can outsprint the local constabulary when pulled up for vagrancy. Given the correct length of scaffolding, there won’t be a prison that can hold our impoverished pole vaulters (although I would recommend they forget about saving their best for the third attempt.)

I trust the Government will come to regret this pathetic deception.

More info :

Nancy Dell’Olio, (remember her?) chairperson of Truce International who were supporting the tour is quoted :
“The tour is a perfect example of disparate cultural groups working together to use the energy and camaraderie of football to positively introduce different cultures to each other. The search for excellence and the focus on improvement gives many children in impoverished circumstances a reason for living, and it definitely works to take children away from violence and guns, things they pick up when they have nothing to do, and all hope taken away from them. This decision of the British Government will be seen in Gaza, where most of the team originate, as siding with the enemy. To refuse a national team admission solely on the grounds that they are too poor and deprived to be trusted to visit the UK will not do Britain any good abroad. The lives of these boys, who have worked so hard to achieve the position they are in, are just being thrown away.”

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