Orwell

Never read Orwell’s 1984, you haven’t lived! Get to this site (1984 by George Orwell: A searchable online version at The Literature Network) where the whole book is available online to read. When you see the pictures of Saddam being ripped up across Iraq, you can go some way to imagine what those piercing eyes following you around must have been like. Shame in the UK we have more CCTV than every other country in the world, and you are being watched everywhere you go.

I’m reading Anthony Burgess’ 1985 – a critique of 1984 which is definitely worth a read. I can also recommend Polly Toynbee’s Hard Work, showing just how impossible it is to live on the minimum wage – sometimes don’t realise just how lucky I am to have a job and an education.

The end of the war

Having watched the amazing scenes in Baghdad today, I truly hope that the last of the bombs have been dropped from US and British planes, the destruction of Iraq can now stop and rebuilding can take place.

It was a momentous day, the bronze statue of Saddam being pulled down was a symbolic moment in this countries history – quite why a US soldier had to drape the stars and stripes around Saddam’s head is anyone’s guess. Hastily removed, a shabby Iraqi flag took it’s place. Once pulled down, people began to spit and slap the statue with their shoes – the mob were annoyed, but able to show their anger without any fear of retribution.

I just hope the coming days, weeks and months will bring forward a stable government and steady rebuilding of this once great country – not like the shambles that has been the democratisation of Afghanistan where Kabul is secure and the rest of the country is run by tribal warlords

not in our name music

The Not In Our Name music project is a collaboration of artists dedicated to forwarding a culture of resistance worldwide. Saul Williams, DJ Spooky, Coldcut, Ninjatune, and Synchronic Records have created some anti-war tracks that can be downloaded for free off the website – the EP will arrive shortly.