Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Bees

 

Exhibition Review

Hive Mind

You are probably not familiar with the word melittology: it is the scientific study of bees (from the Ancient Greek word for ‘bee’). ‘Bees: a Story of Survival’ is an exhibition at the World Museum in LIverpool, on until early May, designed by the artist Wolfgang Buttress. It uses sound and visual effects in a variety of ways, often very striking and sometimes based on reactions by visitors, to put across informative points about bees.

Bees play a crucial role in propagating life, as they pollinate trees and plants, including wildflowers, fruits and vegetables. They have 170 smell receptors, and use scent, as well as vibrations, to communicate with each other.

Altogether there are twenty thousand bee species, and in the UK alone there are over 250 (including two dozen bumblebees but just one species of honeybee). Bees have lived on Earth for 120 million years, since the time of the dinosaurs. Their existence is now under threat, however, because of climate change, loss of natural habitat, use of pesticides and increased air pollution. The UK, for instance , has lost 97 percent of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s. According to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (www.bumblebeeconservation.org), bumblebee numbers in Britain declined by almost a quarter in 2024, compared to the 2010–23 average.

So bees are far more than annoying insects that may sting you. They play a vital role in life on this planet, besides being fascinating creatures in their own right. This exhibition is an intriguing reminder of their characteristics and benefits.

PB


Monday, April 28, 2025

Crackers capitalism

 

The effects of tariffs.

‘The successes of industrialisation did not at all mitigate the internal contradictions. On the contrary, the circumstances under which the industry of Spain, a neutral country, flourished under the golden rain of the war was transformed into a source of new difficulties at the end of the war when the increased foreign demand disappeared .Not only did the foreign markets disappear… but the dictatorship was compelled, with the aid of the highest tariffs wall in Europe, to defend its domestic markets from the influx of foreign commodities. The high tariff led to high prices, which diminished the already low purchasing power of the people. That is why industry after the war did not rise out of its lethargy, which is expressed by chronic unemployment on the one hand, and the sharp outbursts of the class struggle on the other.’

Leon Trotsky The Spanish Revolution

Television critic misunderstands socialism.

‘Yet I can almost guarantee the Tardis will, henceforth, never randomly land in the following settings: The Soviet Union during the Stalinist purges of 1936-38, Budapest in the brutal crushing of the 1956 uprising, North Korea at any time and China during either the cultural revolution (1966-76) or the great famine of 1959-61.

Or indeed anywhere else that would remind BBC1 viewers socialism is one of the most lethally stupid ideas in the whole history of mankind.’

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/34621290/doctor-who-ratings-political-bias/

War propaganda

A former defence minister has warned people across the UK to stockpile now for a Russian attack. Tobias Ellwood, who was a captain in the British Army before becoming a Conservative MP, said Russia would sow “confusion and panic” by crippling Britain’s water, gas and electricity supplies and bringing down computer systems.’

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2046219/uk-households-stockpile-food-waterhttps://

Scientists unaware of law of unintended consequences.

‘UK scientists are to launch outdoor geoengineering experiments as part of a £50m government-funded programme...

Geoengineering is controversial and some previous planned outdoor experiments have been cancelled after strong opposition. Most geoengineering proposals aim to block sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface, for example by launching clouds of reflective particles into the atmosphere or using seawater sprays to make clouds brighter.’

www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/22/uk-scientists-outdoor-geoengineering-experiments






Saturday, April 26, 2025

Repeating the past

 



On April 26, 1937, Guernica was bombed by Nazi Germany's Condor Legion and Fascist Italy's Aviazione Legionaria, in one of the first aerial bombings. The attack inspired Pablo Picasso's painting Guernica, depicting his outrage at the attack. Wiki (and image).

Where is the outrage now when capitalist states continue to bomb and kill thousands of innocents?





Friday, April 25, 2025

SPGB Meeting TONIGHT 25 April 1930 (GMT + 1) ZOOM

 

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS? (Zoom)


Event Details

  • Date:  – 

Discussion of recent events
Host: Howard Moss
To connect to a Zoom meeting, click https://zoom.us/j/7421974305

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Billy, Karl and Georgie

 

In William Shakespeare’s play, Henry V, Henry’s exhortation to the English army fighting the French, ‘Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’ holds no resonance for contemporary, or historical socialists of the SPGB as there is no god, gods spring from human imagination, we reject the notion that we are ‘subjects’ of a self perpetuating monarchy and we reject nationalism. Far more relevant, uplifting and purposeful is the call for Workers of the World Unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!

On Bill’s birthday it’s worth reading his biting piece about money:

Gold ! yellow, glittering, precious gold ! No gods,

I am no idle votarist: roots, you clear heavens !

Thus much of this will make black white; foul fair; 

Wrong right; base noble; old young; coward valiant. 

. . . Why, this

Will lug priests and servants from your sides;

Pluck stout men’s pillows from behind their head;

This yellow slave

Will knit and break religions; bless the accursed;

Make the hoar leprosy adored; place thieves,

And give them title, knee and approbation 

With senators on the bench: this is it

That makes the wappen’d widow wed again;

She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores 

Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices 

To the April day again. Come, damned earth.

Thou common whore of mankind, that putt’st odds 

Among the rout of nations . . .’

Timon of Athens Act Four, scene three.

Date first performed not known but it is to be found in the First Folio of 1632.

The quotation below is from Karl Marx’s Capital Volume One, Chapter 3 "Money" (part 3) Everyman's Library (page 112)

As the circulation of commodities extends, the power of money increases, of money which is an absolutely social form of wealth, ever ready for use. Columbus, in a letter from Jamaica penned in 1503, says "Gold is a wonderful thing! Whoever owns it is lord of all he wants. With gold it is even possible to open for souls a way into paradise!" Since money does not disclose what has been transformed into it, everything, whether a commodity or not, is convertible into gold. Everything becomes saleable and purchaseable. Circulation is the great retort into which everything is thrown, and out of which everything is recovered as crystallised money. Not even the bones of the saints are able to withstand this alchemy; and still less able to withstand it are more delicate things, sacrosanct things which are outside the commercial traffic of men.’

The below is from Vaux Populi blog 23 April 2008.

Things have moved a long way since Enoch Powell's rivers of blood speech 40 years ago. Today, all the mainstream parties are against immigration, as long as it's illegal of course. A border police force has even been set up to keep them out. St. George's Day was once celebrated only by fascists. Now the red-and-white coloured rag is even flown on public buildings. The gentlemen of the League of Saint George (see http://www.leaguestgeorge.com/) must be happy.

Yes, unfortunately, St George's Day is upon us again, but what is this mythical saint supposed to have done?

We all know that, according to legend, he slew a dragon but in The History of the Seven Champions of Christendom we are told that, among his many feats of valour, he did away with two.

He was, so the story goes, born in Coventry, son of Lord Albert, High Steward of England. Having been abducted as a baby and held captive by the witch Calyb for 14 years, he tricked her into revealing her magic whereupon he split a rock and imprisoned her in it. This freed not only St George but also St Denis, patron saint of France, St James (Spain), St Patrick (Ireland) and St David (Wales), after which they went their separate ways on great adventures and acts of valour. These included sorcery, battling against incredible odds and rescuing princesses.

George, the legend continues, fought and won many battles, apparently single-handed. In the course of one he also freed St Denis who had carelessly allowed himself to be captured. And, of course, he slaved that dragon.

On his return to England he wanted to turn to a contemplative life but the king asked him to slay one more dragon which was terrorising the people of Dunsmore. This time, although he killed the beast, he also died from the poison spewed on him by it. He was, we are told, buried in the chapel at Windsor Castle and his sons - no mention of a wife - were given high office by the king.

If you believe all this you'll believe anything, including that St George's Day is anything more than an excuse for xenophobia - and for pubs to sell more beer.

We shan't be celebrating today but will continue distributing our leaflets in favour of world-wide socialism where the planet and its resources will have become the common heritage of all humans and the world won't be criss-crossed by frontiers.

https://spgb.blogspot.com/2008/04/st-george-and-flag.html




Socialist Sonnet No. 190

Spectacle

 

Fascist is a lazy pejorative.

Too often a head of state struts and preens,

Engineering unedifying scenes;

His rhetoric and bluster combative.

The president becomes the spectacle

Personified, appears more an unsurer

Il Duce, than some latter day Fuehrer,

In his pomposity. The debacle

Unfolding of governance by whim,

And ideology of “what I say

Is forever true”, at least for today:

All resolution dissolves in him.

Endorsed by a cabal of the willing,

Willing themselves a financial killing.

 

D. A.

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

War preparations

 

The adage, Si vis pacem, para bellum, would appear to be more and more interpreted by the UK and western European countries as Si vis bellum, para bellum. Those with a far better knowledge of Latin than this Blog will no doubt correct us as to the the accuracy of our adaptation.

Whilst such intentions and actions may benefit the Underwood's of the world they place the majority in danger of death and destruction.

Since it is the majority who run capitalism on behalf of, and for the benefit of, the minority exploitative class can we suppose that a section of the working class will welcome the employment opportunities that such pre-war preparation offers?

As the propertyless majority have little choice but to to sell their labour power to the capitalist class in order to obtain wages and salaries in order to acquire the necessities of life and to reproduce themselves should those who choose to work for the various merchants of death concern themselves with the use and consequences of their labour?

Many workers are already employed in various positions which reinforce the repression of others in diverse ways on behalf of capitalists and of the state.

The resonant lines from a Percy Bysshe Shelley poem deserve to have more impact, 'we are many, they are few.'

The solution is not if you want peace you must prepare for war. The solution is a society where quality goods and services are produced for use not profit – a moneyless, leaderless, stateless society. War and weapons manufacture, and the horrendous outcomes of such will have no place in socialism.

'The UK will sharply boost explosives production to reduce dependence on the US, The Times reported. The outlet cited a growing concern over the reliability of American military support.

According to the report, shipping containers will be deployed across the UK to manufacture RDX, a key explosive used in 155mm artillery rounds and other British weapons.

BAE Systems, Britain’s only producer of the rounds, also plans to build three new sites to improve the system’s resilience, according to Steve Cardew, business development director at BAE’s Maritime and Land Defence Solutions.

“One large facility is clearly a big security threat. If you have dispersed facilities, it is much more secure,” Cardew told the outlet.

Traditionally, RDX has been made in large, inefficient plants. Cardew said the container-based model would be faster, cheaper, and more efficient, with each unit capable of producing up to 100 tonnes annually.

He said the ramp-up was essential “to effectively match Russia and other hostile nations,” adding that rising global demand had “forced” BAE to speed up production.

The report noted the UK had supplied much of its 155mm ammunition to Ukraine as part of its multi-billion-pound military assistance.

It also cited US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy – including tariffs and a temporary halt to military and intelligence aid to Kiev – as a reason the UK and EU are increasingly wary of relying on American weapons.

Currently, 155mm rounds made with US-sourced explosives are subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (Itar), restricting their use and resale without US approval.

Cardew said BAE, which previously imported RDX from the US and France, will be able to market its own ‘Itar-free’ products globally once local production ramps up.

The company aims for a 16-fold increase in 155mm rounds when its new plant in south Wales opens this summer.'

'The UK would support Germany if it decides to give long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, The Telegraph reported citing British government sources.

London has long backed arming Kiev with the German-made weapons, which have a 500km range and are capable of striking targets deep into Russian territory, the report stated. Moscow has warned that supplying long-range missiles to Kiev and allowing it to strike Russian territory will be considered an escalation of hostilities.

“We continue to work with our partners, including Germany, to equip Ukraine as best we can to defend its sovereign territory,” a British foreign policy official told the outlet, commenting on the potential Taurus deliveries.

The report follows recent remarks by incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who signaled he was willing to supply Taurus missiles to Kiev.

“I have always said that I would do it,” Merz told German state broadcaster ARD.

“Our European partners are already supplying cruise missiles… The British are doing it, the French are doing it, and the Americans are doing it,” he added, referencing the UK’s Storm Shadow and France’s Scalp missiles respectively.

The move must be agreed upon with Berlin’s European partners, Merz said. His CDU party has said the missiles could be used to strike Russian command centres and supply routes, including the Kerch Bridge to Crimea.

Merz’s stance contrasts sharply with that of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has repeatedly refused to give Kiev Taurus missiles and warned that the move could escalate the conflict and draw Germany directly into war with Moscow.

Merz is expected to take office in May, once his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) finalize a coalition agreement. CDU defence spokesman Roderich Kiesewetter told The Telegraph that the missile delivery issue “remains a point of contention” in coalition talks.

SPD members have expressed concern over the Taurus’ range and power, arguing it poses a greater escalation risk than British or French systems. Party leader Matthias Miersch this week suggested Merz might change course once he receives classified intelligence on the missiles.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, an SPD member, has previously stated there are
“many good arguments” against the delivery, citing confidential national security concerns.'