The Internovella - Chapter 2

As Mary began to find out about the outer world, not the closeted world that she lived in, suddenly she, herself, had an earth shift. Her farther came home one evening, tired and sweating, and announced that he had had enough of the New World. There were no values, no principles and worst of all, no bloody decent music. They were to return to Ireland, within a month , sure there was poverty in Ireland but, the English apart, there was no blood lust and people had roots in their community and morals.
America was a nation full of gangsters, gunmen, rapists and robbers such as Al Capone and The Western Union. Her mother, a reasoning soul, said to the father, "What about the disruption and disturbamce to the little ones - it just is not fair", Then think on this said Liam. "

Phil Ochs at his most poetic and beautiful:-

No More Songs
By Phil Ochs
intro chords: Dm\C\B flat\A
Em
Hello, hello, hello
C
Is there anybody home?
Em
I've only called to say
C D
I'm sorry.
Em
The drums are in the dawn,
G D
and all the voices gone.
C D Em
And it seems that there are no more songs.

Once I knew a girl
She was a flower in a flame
I loved her as the sea sinks sadly
Now the ashes of the dream
Can be found in the magazines.
And it seems that there are no more songs.

Once I knew a sage
who sang upon the stage
He told about the world,
His lover.
A ghost without a name,
Stands ragged in the rain.
And it seems that there are no more songs.

The rebels they were here
They came beside the door
They told me that the moon was bleeding.
Then all to my suprise,
They took away my eyes.
And it seems that there are no more songs.

A star is in the sky,
It's time to say goodbye.
A whale is on the beach,
He's dying.
A white flag in my hand,
And a white bone in the sand.
And it seems that there are no more songs.

Hello, hello, hello
Is there anybody home?
I've only called to say
I'm sorry.
The drums are in the dawn,
and all the voices gone.
And it seems that there are no more songs.

It seems that there are no more songs.
It seems that there are no more songs.

Thanks to Trent Ochs - Gordon Moved - this is the saddest song that I have ever heard - tears roll down my cheeks each time that I play it.

Hit the post - blast! 

Gunnislake 4 Boscastle 2 - the real result but the little, fat man in black disallowed two of our efforts, due to their biased linseman who had red tinted glasses! So we only drew 2-2. Report him the the F.A. says I. 

Labout Party terrorists

attempted to throw out an octanagarian gentleman from leafy Richmond today who had the temerity to shout out "Nonsense" whilst our failed Foreign Secretary Jack Straw attempted to justify the British illegal occupation of Iraq.

This is just the behaviour that our Prime Minister wants to stop - nay not stop but whisk the culprits out of the country, or into jail without trial. Well said Tory Tony put those violent bastards in jail.

We are almost becoming a facist state where free speeech must be suppressed at all costs. Hypocites all. Stand up for our rights, in the street, in the pub, on the phone, on the net, in the media and say what you want to say. It was your birthright and do not dare let the members of this government, many of whom were once communists attempt to gag you with their suppresive and thuggish tactics. Bollocks to them all says I.
Gord Help Us.

The Internovella continued -

As Mary grew from a child into a young girl she rigorously read and read any book that she could obtain on Africa or Native Americans. Mind you books were hard to come by in her dustball but with the help of the lady from the mobile library, who visited her town on every other Wednesday, she managed to acquire knowledge and learnt what others had writtten on the subject. What she saw puzzled her - conflicting information. She often pondered on why two or three or more people would report on so called facts differently. She sought the truth, but who was she to believe?

The USA -

A country of generous and nice people but also a country that does not, or is eductaed not, to know about a global village - our earth. I once went to West Virginia and a young lady in a shop had never heard of Europe.
Come on George - educate - there is life elsewhere, you bomb it every day!

Gord Forgive Him

The intenovella continued

Mary had never had any pretentions as a young girl. No starry eyed thougts of becoming an actress or a model, although she hoped that she would be able to write a book one day. For now though it was a question of going to school and learning how to write and read using correct English grammer, in the correct way. Maths bored her, although she coped, but as well as English the subjects that she relished were history and geography.
She loved learning about the history of her nation, though she often wondered why her teachers never talked about the history of other nations. And, surely her nation had once had native Americans. Why were they never discussed as part of the history of her nation? Later she was to learn that the native Americans had almost been wiped out by the European settlers and that genocide was an uncomfortable subject for the new Americans who in many instance were fleeing from persecution and genocide in their native nations.

At least in geography they had a globe and atlases and she could wonder what it was like in places like Spain and Australia and Africa. She once asked her geography teacher what Africa was like. "Ah my dear child", he had replied looking at her over the top of his rimless spectacles, his grey locks descending to the nape of his neck. "Africa consists of ten's of thousands of nations each with its own language and culture. If I were to talk to you about Africa then I would not know where to begin, or stop". This puzzled her and she decided, to hell with it, if they wouldn't tell her about Africa and native Americans then she would find out for herself. Indeed one day she might even meet one or become friends with one or even marry one - therfore she needed to know.

Bob Dylan - Martin Scorsese's new documentary

1. I have purchased most of his stuff but, certainly in recent years, for every song of genius there are five or six tracks of rubbish.
2. He ruthlessly exploited the folk/protest movement for his own ends and when it suited his commercial ambitions he ditched it and even worse mockingly sent it up.
3. He had a friend, called Phil Ochs - who he admitted was better than him. Ochs' looked after him in Greenwich, when he was down and out, but as soon as he became famous he ditched Ochs and did not even attend his funeral. No sincerity and a lot of unreliabilty to everyone he came into contact with.

P. S. Will Scorsese mention Ochs - I think not - we must leave that to Sean Penn.

Phil Ochs and Bach -

Bach, Beethoven, Mozart & Me
By Phil Ochs
Em F Em F
Every morning at the dawn dust is in the air.
Em F G Am
Karen rises early, runs brushes through her hair.
Em F Em F
Then she buys the paper, I lay on my back,
Em F G A
Then she feeds the monkey, then she feeds the cat.
Chorus:
G
I'll talk, I'll talk they live by the sea
D G
Surrounded by a cemetery.
Bm A
If you get tired come up for some tea
Em Bm D Em
With Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and me.
Frances is the next to rise
Powders up her nose.
She's working for the tailor
Makes the western clothes.
Andy drives a sports car
To the Warner Brothers ghost
He used to live in England
Now he loves the coast (chorus)
Some times a friend comes by
To sing the latest song,
But David fights with Susan
Nobody gets along.
Every other Sunday
It's time to make a call.
Judy has a barbecue
Play the volleyball. (chorus)
In the evening When the sun goes down
The streets are all aglow.
We walk out on the hillside
City shines below.
We sit down for our supper
The news begins to play.
Walter he is speechless
Eric speaks cliches. (chorus)
Andy plays a cricket game.
Frances holds a glass.
Karen reads and darns a dress.
I dream of the past.
Dark is spreading up now
Good evening, good night.
Karen turns the bed sheet.
She's turning out the light. (chorus)

Oh how lucky we are in Europe -

We live in the cradle of civilisation - Blair excluded - a continent rich in every harvest - our culure, our food, and especially our drinks, but most of all a longing for peace and harmony after so much fighting. The angst has gone - we love one another, a continent at peace with itself.

Europe my Europe how I love thee.

Gordown European

The Fiat Panda! 

Chinatown my Chinatown! 

Peter, Paul & Mary

Favourite song:-

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Little jackie paper loved that rascal puff,
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff.
ohPuff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on puff’s gigantic tail,
Noble kings and princes would bow whene’er they came,
Pirate ships would lower their flag when puff roared out his name. oh!
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.
One grey night it happened, jackie paper came no more
And puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain,
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane.
Without his life-long friend, puff could not be brave,
So puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave. oh!

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called honah lee.

Nice song - innocent times.

Gordon Sentiment.

The internovella continued

He was a man that had killed his wife of forty years with with five sharp stabs of a kitchen knife.
He was on the run - running away and his fate lay in the hands and minds of a few young children. "Let me be honest he said - when I was your age I most of all wanted to play, run sing for my country - but my country did not want me".

Phil Ochs - immense unrecognised talent -

Singer/songwriter Phil Ochs was a self-coined "singing journalist" when he began performing in New York in the early '60s. Like Bob Dylan, the rival who always outpaced him, Ochs made his reputation singing topical protest songs. He stayed with them much longer than Dylan (and indeed would never really abandon them), but eventually he too would follow Dylan into electric music and more personal, abstract, and romantic compositions. Ochs came off as a perennial second-best to critics during his heyday. It was only after his tragic tailspin and eventual death that he was properly appreciated as one of the most sincere and humane songwriters of his day, whether detailing political atrocities or more poetic concerns. Ochs moved from Ohio to New York in the early '60s, and was soon a prolific writer of the topical, left-leaning protest songs then in vogue. His initial recording efforts, heard on compilations for Broadside, Folkways, and Vanguard, were rather dry and instantly dated. By the time made his Elektra debut in 1964 with All the News That's Fit to Sing, Ochs was finding his own voice -- more melodic than Dylan (if not as lyrically innovative), its strident accusations tempered by a warm delivery and underlying compassion. With second guitar by Danny Kalb (later of the Blues Project), his first album was highlighted by "Power and the Glory" and "Bound for Glory," as well as an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Bells." The similar follow-up I Ain't Marching Any More (1965) gave the anti-war movement two rallying calls with the title track and "Draft Dodger Rag," along with a moving civil-rights piece, "Here's to the State of Mississippi." Ochs addressed all manner of anti-war, civil rights, labor, and social justice issues on his first albums, the best of which was In Concert (1966). Ochs' social criticism was deepening in acuity, as heard on "Canons of Christianity," "Cops of the World," and the satirical "Love Me, I'm a Liberal." But he also began to move into non-political subjects with equal or greater effect, as on "There But for Fortune" and "Changes," his most famous love song. In Concert was Ochs' final acoustic album. He'd already moved into electric rock with a fine (though flop) single-only version of "I Ain't Marching Anymore." In 1967, he broke from his acoustic folk troubadour image with a vengeance, leaving Elektra for A&M and moving to Los Angeles. There he plunged into Baroque folk-rock, with mixed results. Some of the tracks on his late-'60s A&M records are among the best he ever did, especially the devastating social apathy parody "Outside a Small Circle of Friends." On others, he seemed to be overreaching or straining for highbrow poetry. The L.A. session production sometimes enhanced his musical settings, but the more elaborate and pretentious arrangements worked against the material just as often. Ochs hadn't forsaken his political commitments, appearing at the violence-riddled 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. By 1969's Rehearsals for Retirement, some weariness and disenchantment with idealism was beginning to seep into both his compositions and his singing. The problems became more acute with 1970's facetiously titled Greatest Hits, when the standard of his material began to drop noticeably. Although it wasn't foreseen at the time, Greatest Hits was his last studio album. Ochs did remain active, recording a live LP (initially released only in Canada) that excited controversy with its strange mix of original songs and unexpected covers of old rock & roll tunes by Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, performed in a gold lamé suit. The '50s revival act was received poorly by an audience accustomed to a folkie troubadour, but that was among the least of Ochs' obstacles. His well of original compositions had run dry, and he was developing severe alcohol and psychological problems. In a mysterious mugging incident in Africa, his voice was permanently damaged. Ochs did record a couple of flop singles in the early '70s, but by the middle of the decade he was largely inactive, and afflicted with serious depression. In early 1976, he hanged himself at his sister's suburban home. ~

Gord Will Not Forget

Starbucks and Oxfam - read below - a good spat but

The Oxfam non apologist signed themselves:-
Ingrid Kamikazi Supporter Relations Oxfam
Good name for a customer relations advisor or not perhaps - zeroooom!

Gordon Wondering!

The Internovella continued

Joe found himself arse up in a muddle of thistles. Not only was this undignified but it hurt, pricks everywhere and his ankle to contend with. He heard the sound of cheers - his ignoble act was being applauded. A bunch of boys with a football gathered around him and grinned. But these boys - lanky and small, fat and thin, pimply and smooth skinned also had compassion in their eyes and, stranger still they all had blue shirts on with something about 1875 on their badges. I'm Bassie said one and he's Fat Buddha- pointing to yeah, a Fat Buddha, and my best mate is IP Freely, he dribbles a lot. The lanky one is our goalie - we call him Spionkop - he once saw a film of Lev Yashin and then read a book called "Goalies are Crazy" and he is, so he fits the bill.

Joe was dazed and drained, and the boys recognised that and one offered him his sacred botttle of Lucozade. At least it had started out as Lucozade but his Mom had thinned it down so many times it now tasetd like sugared water. But to Joe this was better than any beer or wine or whiskey that he had ever supped - this, to him was the sacred nectar. Bassie asked if he should run home and call an ambulance. "No please don't do that", said Joe, "We need to pow wow". "Just like the Indians did", said Bassie. Jo felt the pain in his ankle returning - what to do, what to do ..

But after the storm the calm. 

Storm clouds over the bay. 

Europe my Europe - the cradle of civilisation -

A dream come true. We have forgetten all of the wars and the hatred. And we stand united as a continent for democracy, art, and civilisation. Civilisation = what a word and we have it in a United Europe.
Gordon Brown Black and Blue!

The intenovella continued

why - from my perspective it had been a vicious attack on an old lady. I was taught always to expext the unexpected but this appalled and saddened me. Malon clearly read my thoughts because he said, "Son is it right to let a human being that you love waste away in agony and die a hopeless unfitting death - I think not - far better to end it quickly and help them on their way to their god whoever he or she may be".

"But why the violence", I asked. Bur Malon had faded and no answer was forthcoming. The river wended its way to the sea and a lone heron plucked a fish from its waters. Another violent death - why is there death I cannot understand the reason for it. I have three beliefs - 1) that we were put on this earth for a purpose; 2) that fate rules everything and, three, that when we die our atoms are transferred and we become a single drop of rain or a mushroom and that when somebody eats that mushroom that its components form a part of that body and if that body produces children then a part of me will exist in that child. Perhaps after all we don't die we merely become something or someone else. I think too much dear reader back to our story

Oxfam volunteers in their shops get a bad deal.

No union, no meetings - in my shop we have had two meetings in two years where we were told by our manageress, "You will do as you are told".

In Africa they have a fair employment policy - it is a shame they do not have one for their UK employees.

Gordon Fuming

No apologies - Matthew Arnold again -

REQUIESCAT
Strew on her roses, roses,
And never a spray of yew!
In quiet she reposes;
Ah, would that I did too!

Her mirth the world required;
She bathed it in smiles of glee.
But her heart was tired, tired,
And now they let her be.

Her life was turning, turning,
In mazes of heat and sound.
But for peace her soul was yearning,
And now peace laps her round.

Her cabin'd, ample spirit,
It flutter'd and fail'd for breath.
To-night it doth inherit
The vasty hall of death.

Gordon drowning!

An unknown Blues fan risks death to get to the match! 

A good spat here Oxfam v Israel - read on -

BOYCOTT ISRAEL CAMPAIGN
CAMPAIGN AGAINST OXFAM AGREEMENT WITH STARBUCKS
18 October 2004
VICTORY: Oxfam Announces End Of Relations With Starbucks (28 Feb 2005)
BACKGROUND:
Innovative Minds and IHRC are calling on campaigners to contact Oxfam Great Britain and protest their decision to collaborate with multinational coffee chain Starbucks. In an agreement announced last week[1], Starbucks has agreed to contribute £100,000 to Oxfam's rural development programme in the East Hararge coffe growing region of Ethiopia. There are a number of critical concerns regarding this partnership, outline below.

1. Starbucks pro-Israel stance
Campaigners will be aware of Starbucks pro-Israel stance, for detailed information please see our Boycott Starbucks page:
http://www.inminds.com/boycott-starbucks.html
In summary. Starbucks’ chair Howard Schutltz is an active zionist whose own activities include running propaganda seminars on behalf of Israel across campuses in both North America and Israel. In recognition for his support of Israel Howard Schultz has been presented with "The Israel 50th Anniversary Tribute Award". Starbucks has sponsored the bowl4isreal event, and despite pulling its stores out of Israel has maintained that it will return in response to questions raised by the Zionist Anti-Defamation League (ADL). We are of course concerned that a humanitarian organization is getting involved with a company that supports apartheid Israel.

2. Oxfam's double standards
Oxfam’s double standards in co-operating with Starbucks need to be brought to light. A couple of years ago Oxfam turned down a £5000 donation from Prof Honderich because he defended Palestinians right to resort to violence to fight occupation.
The reason Oxfam gave was quoted in the Guardian (9 Oct 2002):
”The charity said in a statement: "The decision to decline Prof Honderich's donation was taken for one reason alone, that Oxfam cannot accept, endorse or benefit from certain opinions given in the book. Oxfam's purpose is to overcome poverty and suffering. We believe that the lives of all human beings are of equal value. We do not endorse acts of violence... No other facts were considered in taking the decision."
Jewish Chronicle (18 Oct 20002):
”An Oxfam spokeswoman told the JC: ‘We said: No thank you,’ because you condone acts of terrorism and we can’t accept donations from someone taking that standpoint.
’Oxfam spokes-woman maintained: ”We can’t condone violence in any form.” She added that the charity would doubtless have been criticised had it accepted the money.”
At the time Bob Cartridge, head of campaigns for War on Want, when asked about this opinion said:
"It is absolutely legitimate to question the sources of donations particularly when they are associated with business or (in this case) a business deal. Accepting a donation implies a degree of endorsement. But in this case I suspect Oxfam has reacted to a vocal pro-Israeli minority and concerns about potential damage to its future fundraising. All NGOs working in Palestine are well aware of this lobby, which complains on a daily basis about any support given to the opposition."
Full articles and more information on it please see the "boycott news" page on it:http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-news-0357.html

3. Fair Trade
The Oxfam – Starbucks agreement is being heavily criticized by campaigners for Fair Trade. According to the Organic Consumers’ Association a similar agreement between Oxfam America and Starbucks was an exercise in ‘greenwashing’ i.e. Starbucks getting endorsement from a humanitarian organization in return for a minimal donation towards a project that helped its image.
For an analysis of the discrepancy between the image and the reality please visit:http://www.organicconsumers.org/Starbucks/0805_starbucks_greenwashing.htm
[1] Starbucks tastes Oxfam's brew, Alison Maitland, Financial Times, 14 October 2004

SUGGESTED ACTION
We are calling on all campaigners to write to Oxfam asking them to protest Oxfam’s decision to enter an agreement with a pro-Israeli multinational given that they previously rejected a donation from a pro-Palestinian donor on the basis that Oxfam should not be seen to “condone violence in any form…” and that by accepting it Oxfam “would doubtless have been criticised had it accepted the money.”We also requests campaigners to raise the issue of greenwashing with Oxfam whose credentials as a promoter of Fair Trade are surely undermined by such an agreement.Donors to Oxfam may consider these issues before making future donations, and consider charities less prone to political manipulation and lobbying.
A sample letter is provided below, although we suggest it is more effective if you write your own letters using the points mentioned above. The letter can either be posted or otherwise sent on-line via a complaints form that is available on the Oxfam website:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/contact/forms/complaints.htm
In either case please email us at boycott@inminds.co.uk with the subject line "Oxfam campaign" just to let us know that you have complained, that way we can accurately gauge the response to this campaign. Also please forward us any replies that you receive - this is very important - thank you.

SAMPLE LETTER:
Barbara Stocking Director of Oxfam Great Britain 274 Banbury Road,Oxford, OX2 7DZUnited Kingdom
The Date
Dear Ms Stocking,
Oxfam Collaboration With Starbucks
I am writing to complain your recent decision to enter an agreement with the pro-israeli multinational Starbucks. As you will know Starbucks is the target of a worldwide boycott for its support of Israeli apartheid (see www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-starbucks.html). It is shameful that a humanitarian organisation like Oxfam can be bought out by a multinational, and that for a paltry £100,000.
Two years ago you rejected a donation of £5000 from Prof Honderich who supports the right of Palestinians to use violence to resist occupation. At the time Oxfam said
"The decision to decline Prof Honderich's donation was taken for one reason alone, that Oxfam cannot accept, endorse or benefit from certain opinions given in [Honderich's] book... Oxfam's purpose is to overcome poverty and suffering. We believe that the lives of all human beings are of equal value."
So then by accepting Starbucks money Oxfam is clearly endorsing their support for israeli apartheid. Apparently the lives of Palestinians, suffering under occupation, are worth less to Oxfam and can be bought for £100,000.
You cannot claim to help people with one hand whilst at the same time with the other hand endorse their oppression.
I am disgusted by this sell out and double standards. I will no longer support Oxfam and will urge others to do the same.
I would like an explanation for your decision in partnering with Starbucks whilst knowing that it supports apartheid Israel.
Awaiting your prompt reply.
Yours faithfully,
Your Sign
Your Name & Address
Sample Letter (Word Format)

REPLY
One of our campaigners forwarded us the replies he received from Oxfam:
OXFAM: REPLY TO SAMPLE LETTER
Thank you very much for your message to Oxfam in which you expressed your concerns regarding the involvement of Starbucks in supporting Israeli actions in the Middle East. Your feedback is important to us as it enables us to assess how our work is being perceived.
Oxfam is an internationally established and renowned aid organisation that delivers projects in over 80 countries around the world aimed at reducing poverty and suffering. We work largely with other organisations and due to Charity Commission guidelines take great care in choosing those who we develop partnerships with. This maintains our integrity and professional reputation.
It is important to note that this collaboration with Starbucks is purely about working with coffee farmers and improving their livelihoods. We believe that by working together we can achieve a great deal for these farmers.
Independent organisations have verified that of all the specialist coffee companies Starbucks leads the way with its policy of ethical purchasing and corporate social responsibility. It consistently pays more than double the current market price for its coffee compared to other major coffee roasting companies. Nevertheless, it has pledged to increase further their purchase of Fairtrade coffee and also to develop ways to benefit coffee-growing communities.
With respect to your concerns we have found no evidence that Starbucks as an organisation is pro-Israeli. Starbucks have made it clear that any comments made by Mr. Schultz were made as a private citizen and not in his capacity as chair of Starbucks. At the time of the original allegations against Mr. Schultz, Starbucks said: "Starbucks is an international company, wherever we operate we embrace diversity and strive to be locally relevant. Starbucks has no involvement or interest in politics anywhere in the world."
We are therefore happy to enter into collaboration with them and accept a donation to fund the work in Ethiopia. Starbucks UK already has some experience of relief work in southern Ethiopia. They have been working on developing health, clean water and education schemes in Bensa Ware. However, if we feel that any of Starbucks business practices are or become inconsistent with the aims and goals of this collaboration we will review our relationship with them.
We are viewing this collaboration with Starbucks as an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the benefits that can come from non-governmental organisations working with private businesses. It will also further publicise Fairtrade practices to other organisations.
You also mentioned Oxfam's rejection of Professor Honderich's donation in 2002. The reason for that was due to the gift being from the royalties of his book in which he justified targeted violence against civilians. I hope that you appreciate that our collaboration with Starbucks is very different from the Honderich case as that would have severely compromised Oxfam's principles.
Oxfam has a considerable presence in the Palestinian Territories and is working hard to prevent humanitarian disasters and the urgent need for civilian protection.
Oxfam has been working in the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza Strip) and Israel since 1949 where we are advocating for a just and peaceful solution to the conflict.
For more information on the work that Oxfam GB does in the Palestinian territories and Israel please visit our website at:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/where_we_work/israel_palterr/index.htm
I hope that this has addressed your concerns and if you have any other query please do not hesitate to contact us.
With best wishes,
Ingrid KamikaziSupporter RelationsOxfam
CAMPAIGNER: 2ND LETTER TO OXFAM
Dear Ingrid,
I am disappointed by your reply. Its interesting how you so easily separate Schultz from his company in order to facilitate your business with Starbucks.
If the Chairman of a company was a proud nazi would you do business with the company if they said that their CEOs nazi activities were a private matter not related to the company even though they proudly displayed his award for best nazi on their company website?
OXFAM: 2ND REPLY
Thank you very for taking the time to get back to us. Please allow me to explain further what prompted Oxfam to enter into a partnership with Starbucks.
The initial contact between Oxfam and Starbucks was caused by the developing coffee crisis in 2001 when coffee prices slumped. This resulted in Starbucks providing information on its coffee purchasing practices for a report by Oxfam entitled 'Mugged: Poverty in your coffee cup'. A recent update has found Starbucks to be a leader in responsible coffee purchasing including Fairtrade.
Starbucks has imposed upon itself purchasing guidelines that are much more rigorous that those set out by the Common Code for the Coffee Community. Starbucks rewards suppliers who meet key quality, environmental, financial and social criteria.
Oxfam and Starbucks are both very concerned about the coffee crisis as neither organisation wants to see the production of coffee curtailed. This joint vision has under-pinned the drive towards a mutually beneficial collaboration between Oxfam and Starbucks.
During the negotiations Oxfam has remained independent from Starbucks. This is essential such that we maintain our credibility, reputation and therefore our influence as a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Oxfam remains fully independent of Starbucks, we are not spokespeople for the company and we would criticise Starbucks as we would any other company if we felt that any of their business practices were inconsistent with the goals and values of this collaboration.
Starbucks will also help Ethiopian farmers get a fairer price for their products and open up new markets for their coffee. This contributes to the economic recovery and stability of 700,000 smallholders in Ethiopia that depend upon coffee for their livelihoods. Starbucks UK already has also some experience of relief work in Southern Ethiopia.
Just to reiterate , we believe that Mr Schultz remarks were made as a private citizen, not as his capacity as CEO of Starbucks, and therefore should not affect the collaboration between the companies.As a commercial organisation they do not get involved in international or local politics.
We will continue to work with Starbucks for as long as we consider the collaboration to be contributing to the reduction of poverty and suffering, and only while we remain happy that Starbucks are continuing in their commitment to consistently improving their buying practices and making efforts to help poor farmers.
I hope that this helps understand the choice Oxfam has made when entering into this collaboration.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
With best wishes,
Ingrid KamikaziSupporter Relations Oxfam
CAMPAIGNER: 3ND LETTER TO OXFAM
Dear Ingrid
You have totally ignored the two points I raised. Please answer them.1. If Schultz was a nazi instead of a zionist would you still conveniently separate him from his company and do business with Starbucks?2. If Schultz support for Israeli apartheid is personal and not related to Starbucks then why did Starbucks proudly display the "The Israel 50th Anniversary Friend of Zion Tribute Award" given to Schultz which "salutes leaders who have played key roles in promoting close alliance between the United States and Israel", on their Awards and Accolades page until recently?If you think that you are still independent of Starbucks, you are deluding yourselves - the blood on their hands is now on yours - that is the price you pay for getting in to bed with such a multinational. Your credibility and reputation are gone - was the £100,000 worth it?

OXFAM DID NOT REPLY
This photo of a boycott banner was recently taken in the middle-east. It shows Oxfam's logo along side companies supporting Israel (next to Sara Lee). Interestingly Starbucks doesn't appear on the banner - perhaps this is to highlight the hurt caused by Oxfams betrayal to people who had once regarded it highly. Oxfam's reputation in tatters - all for a meagre £100,000.

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS:
This campaign is also being supported by the following organisations:
Palestinian Return Centre
Friends of Al-Aqsa
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Camapaign
Muslim Association of Britain

MEDIA CONTACT:
To arrange interviews regarding this campaign please contact:
Islamic Human Rights CommissionEmail: info@ihrc.orgTelephone: 02089044222Mobile: 07958522196

CONCLUSION:
28th February 2005:
We are proud to announce that, following a series of discussions with Oxfam regarding its agreement with pro-Zionist multinational coffee chain Starbucks, Oxfam has decided, just 4 months into the contract, that it will not be renewing its 1 year contract with Starbucks, which terminates this September.
We would like to thank all activists and organisations who have campaigned to ensure Oxfam adheres to its stated values and principles. This victory shows what is possible when people come together and stand united in the struggle for justice.

28 February 2005ALERT UPDATE: Oxfam to Announce End of Relations with StarbucksBackgroundSuggested Action The Islamic Human Rights Commission and Innovative Minds, supported by Friends of al-Aqsa, the Palestinian Return Centre, the Muslim Association of Britain, and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, have been in a series of discussions with Oxfam regarding its agreement with pro-Zionist multinational coffee chain Starbucks. IHRC is proud to inform campaigners that Oxfam is soon to announce that it will not be renewing its 1 year contract with Starbucks, which terminates this September. In October 2004, it emerged that Starbucks had agreed to contribute £100,000 to Oxfam's rural development programme in the East Harare coffe growing region of Ethiopia. (Please see the Innovative Minds page dedicated to this at: http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-oxfam.html). Starbucks’ chair Howard Schultz is a pro-Zionist activist whose own activities include helping student projects in North America and Israel give presentations on the Israeli perspective of the Intifada. Starbucks has sponsored the bowl4isreal event in addition to supporting occupation troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. For further information, see http://www.inminds.com/boycott-starbucks.html IHRC and Inminds would like to thank all campaigners and organisations who have struggled to ensure that Oxfam continues to adhere to the humanitarian values and principles which have guided it throughout its history. It is a sure sign that victory is achievable only when those struggling for justice stand united in their efforts for the common good.IHRC requests all campaigners to contact Oxfam to show them your appreciation for what is a huge victory for common sense. Barbara StockingDirectorOxfamOxfam House274 Banbury Road OxfordOX2 7DZ
URL: http://www.inminds.com/boycott-oxfam.html

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Herumm!

The Internovella continued

there may have been a fourth party - him, her me and something spiritual. The Holy Ghost or some other watchful spirit - they are all around, maybe I will go and meditate, down by the river, and ask them. Malon is the king of the pixies in Kernow - he sees all and knows everything but the mist and the drizzle and man's rape of his native soil have aged him and he is weary of the humankind.

I bathe my hand, in the mist rising from my beloved Tamar and pray to Malon to help me. A badger sniffs the darkening breeze before allowing his cubs to leave his set - the buzzards sleep on chimney rock, and a lone salmon celebrates her return from oceans crossed. "I'll tell you what boy I saw it all; the knife, the blood but nothing was done in malice - I ordered it to be so", said an echo down my valley. But

Blimey - shrinking penis story!

Man claims hiccup treatment shrank his penis
A Malaysian coffeeshop owner claims a treatment for hiccups left him partially deaf, damaged his throat and shortened his penis.
A hospital administered an intravenous drip and also gave him oral medication. In the next 10 days his left ear became covered in blisters, he could not eat or speak well and he partially lost use of his left arm and his penis was smaller. Fearing he may die, the man discharged himself.
The hospital says he had a case of shingles of the ear and throat, which caused his hiccups. They were giving him antiviral medicene when he discharged himself.

Gord 'elp us all!

Mossad, Savak, the Stazi and *.pol.uk from Leeds.

The four that I Kernow most about are the Leeds lot *.pol.uk - easily tracked and not very clever.

Savak - run by the Persian Emporer or Shah - who colludded with the west to keep the Iranian population under control - cruel bastards.

Stazi - East German lot - very cruel, but clever.

Mossad - very efficient assasins, full of ruthless killers who should be on trial for killing many innocent people - mostly Arabs.

Gordon Undercover

The Internovella - continued

Dear reader, time for me to intervine, to provide the truth, at least my perspective of the truth. Did the events, as described really happen, any one single persons account differs from anothers - what is truth? Truth says that Jesus Christ existed - have you interviewed him - did the chronicolors of the time write down the truth, Matthew, James, John and Mark were journos - they reported the truth as they saw it but was it the same truth that Jesus Christ saw? I think not. Have you been at the scene of a disaster, an accident, a murder or a rape? From what angle did you see it, how far away were you, what did you hear and smell? Video cameras always lie, the eye deceives - an old maxim - truth lies in the eye of the beholder.

And what did I see, smell and hear on that fateful day; only what my brain perceived. If my brain is faulty then my reportage is faulty, my evidence of events warped - even twisted by my own emotions. My upbringing has taugth me to say what I perceived not what actually happened. Truth is a lie and sometimes lies are the real truth. Lies protect and the truth hurts.

So - what did I see, or thought I saw - this is important - am I a witness for the defence or the prosecution - criminal cases hang or free the accused on my evidence, and yet my evidence, without another human being having heard, or smelt or seen what I saw is garbage. However

Birmingham City fans might recognise me:-

Agent Speck's private parts! 

Between a rock and a hard place - somewhere in Argentina.

The Internovella continued -

catch a train. On a train, at least in those days, you could drop off a bridge and onto a truck going anywhere - a journey of 10 or a thousand miles. He broke his ankle - dropped onto a carriage instead of a truck. The fucking pain, the blood the sticky out bone - no way was he going ten miles let alone a thousand. He crawled to the caboose, screaming: to some pain is a friend, but to him it hurt - he could not drop down onto the platform so instead he cried out, " help, help, help. "
Nobody heard - the companionship of metal on metal - curump curow, curomp curow, gotta get there, gotta get there provides a continuity on a train journey that rubber on tarmac - whirr - whirr - cannot compete with.

Then his brain kicked in - he had just killed his wife - to drop to the caboose would mean a certain meeting with the iron lady - but the pain

Amazing! 

Year of the Dragon! 

The dominant country in our 21st century! 

Back from Argentina - next stop Chile -amazing people -

they are a hardy race. They have suffered invasions, cruelty and torture and despite having elected President Allende, in a democratic election, they were crushed by Uncle Sam and their Junta - rock on Chile.
Gordon - soon to be PM!

BCFC

Known in Argentina , and, moreover respected, in this wonderful Latina continent, governed by the USA, should they step out of line, like Allende in Chile's great days - they will be herded up and shot. This is official USA foreign policy- by sticky out tooth, who agent Hoots met - poor bugger.
BCFC have had playing for them Lucho - now with the Villa and Tarrantini -
Buenos Nochas

Not Blogging until 18 September on holiday in

Latin parts.
Buenos Dias