Links relating to 100-day Gaza Fast
(York Minster)

• The Press (York)
• York Minster statement
• York Green Party
• Jonathan Cainer, Daily Mail astrologer and feedback (not all of it complementary!)

American values
I just came across this horrifying report about five American soldiers who raped a young girl oin Iraq, and then murdered her and her family to cover up the crime. One of them was later “Honourably discharged” from the US army (Washington Post, Wikipedia: Mahmudiyah_killings).

• How can this happen?
• How many more such events get covered up?
• Is this part of a My Lai syndrome in the US military - a culture of aggression and violence that pervades civil society, and goes back to the extermination of American Indians?
• Is the British army any different? (I sincerely hope so.)

"Old Moanies", and proposals for a "Brown pound"

My comment on a recent posting regarding "old moanies", headed "Pensioners believe their lives are getting worse and that they suffer greater discrimination than ever":

I agree we should support our youngsters and look at things from their point of view as well. It is dreadful that there is so little contact between over-60s and under-30s.
However, as an over-60 myself I can tell you it is no fun growing old - even if health is maintained (which it is not).

A simple way of dealing with things - rather than issuing big cheques to bankers - would be to give EVERYBODY an extra £1000 to spend. This could be paid automatically, just like the old people's winter fuel payment, and if the same amount was paid to everybody it would be an equalising measure. For some people it could really change their lives.

Further to the above, if we want people to spend their money NOW, why not issue evyerbody with "Brown pounds". These would be timed to expire at the end of next year, or would 'taper' out in some other way. This gives a method which is

• reviving for the economy
• egalitarian
• swift
• simple
• does not subsidies the bankers!